Advert 'offence' over ginger hair

The ASA said it implied “people with ginger hair were unattractive”
Virgin Media have been accused of using an advert which was prejudicial against people with ginger hair and likely to cause them offence.

The ad for a programme called “Dating in the Dark”, asked the question, “How do you spot a ginger in the dark?”

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it considered the ad was unlikely to be interpreted to be light hearted in tone.

The authority ruled the advert should not be used again.

In its response to the authority, Virgin Media said the advert was not intended to cause offence but to promote the programme “Dating in the Dark” by reflecting participants’ comments and emotions.

Not offensive

It said the premise of the programme was to challenge people’s perceptions of attractiveness and encourage decisions based on personality as well as looks.

Another ad had featured the text: “He says he works in radio. I just hope he doesn’t have the face for it.”

Virgin Media said the advert which appeared in The Metro newspaper was a one-off and although it did not intend to show it again, it did not accept it was offensive.

The Metro said they felt the ad was suitable for publication because their readers were young, intelligent, professionals in major British cities.

Tesco trouble

The ASA ruling followed an apology by Tesco for selling a Christmas card that apparently mocked people with ginger hair.

The card carried the slogan: “Santa loves all kids, even ginger ones.”

Tesco said it removed the card from all its stores.

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Tesco apologises over 'ginger jibe' Christmas card

A Christmas card has been withdrawn from two Tesco stores in York after complaints that it makes fun of children with ginger hair.

The card shows a child with ginger hair sitting on the lap of Santa Claus, and the words: “Santa loves all kids. Even ginger ones.”

Davinia Phillips, 30, of York, whose three daughters are redheads, said she found the card offensive.

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Hair transplants increase in five years

Increasing numbers of men are turning to hair transplants in a bid to beat baldness with the number of operations carried out increasing almost five-fold in five years.

It is thought the increasing popularity is due to celebrities making it more acceptable to undergo the surgery – which typically costs £3,000 – to beat hair loss.

Actor James Nesbitt and comedian Rob Brydon have both been spotted with thicker thatches this year promping rumours they’ve undergone treatment.

New figures released by leading hair transplant provider, The Hospital Group, show a 444 per cent growth in treatment between 2004 and 2009.

During the first nine months of this year 1,166 hair restoration procedures were performed.

The cosmetic surgery group, which carries out more hair transplants than any other British clinic, also saw the amount of treatments for women rise by 300 per cent over the five year period.

Dr Peter Williams, of The Hospital Group, said: “There seem to be more younger people losing their hair these days. It has also become more of an issue when men and women suffer from hair loss.

“Both men and women can be left feeling frustrated about losing their hair.For women, it can be very embarrassing, with stress causing patches to fall out.

“For men, it is more likely to be hereditary and something they feel they can’t change. The effects of hair loss can cause irritation, anxiety of even suicidal depression.

“Hair transplants have become more acceptable because celebrities have no problem with talking about it. The technology has gradually improved and the results are a lot more natural.

“Both men and women have come around to thinking about the alternatives to hair loss and they are now willing to do something about it.”

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Hair Growth Methods: What Hair Replacement Options Are Available Today?

In its early stages, there´s a greater chance of arresting hair loss. The key is to strengthen hair follicles or neutralize follicle-weakening enzymes in the body. But at its later stages, baldness may not be as easily addressed without expensive topical medication and maintaining the ceremonious rigor that attends them. In this case, the treatment may be more focused on hair replacement rather than hair regrowth.
But that doesn´t mean efforts can cease to slow down the thinning process. Unless you have given up all hope to restoring a natural head, both hair replacement and hair growth can be pursued with equal fervor. But for faster results, hair replacement can be your only choice.

There are around 100,000 hair strands on any one´s head. 90% of them grow at about the same time. The balance is often in the resting stage that fall off after a few months and be replaced by new hair. This is basically the pattern of growth that happens to many. But for some people, this cycle of growth and regrowth gets disrupted and the onset of male pattern baldness begins.

Male Pattern Baldness
Androgenetic alopecia is more commonly known as male pattern baldness or MBP that afflicts millions of men at their prime due to hereditary factors. It occurs with over-production of the testosterone enzyme DHT which clogs hair follicle roots, preventing them from getting their protein nutrients to produce hair. Hence, hair strands, deprived of nourishment, grow thinner and finer and the follicles themselves eventually die. When many of these follicles die and the remaining ones only produce fine strands, you get a bald spot. MPB is not curable. It can be slowed down but there are cosmetic procedures that can replace hair.

Hair Plugs
Hair plugs or hair restoration enters the surgical realm where groups of hair follicles from one part of your head, often the back and sides, are taken out and implanted or grafted into the bald scalp area. These follicle groups are what we call hair plugs. In the US, each graft can cost between $4 and $5 on the average. Hundreds of these plugs can be implanted in one to two surgical sessions so it is not uncommon to have multiple surgical sessions to get the bald spot covered depending on its extent. Because the hair plugs come from pre-existing healthy hair, the hairs are more likely to grow in their new location.

Artificial Hair
In its advance stages, a balding head may not even have the right amount of natural hair to provide the hair plugs to cover the bald spots. In this case, artificial hair has been known to give the same look and feel as natural hair. For men who can´t provide enough natural hair plugs, artificial hair has been used as a hair replacement. The same surgical procedure is observed.

With modern advances in synthetic products, hair pieces or wigs can be customized to match your hair color, type and texture so that they look natural – a lot more natural than any in the past. They can be interwoven and blended with your existing hairline that can belie their artificiality. They behave with the wind like natural hair and you can handle them, swim with, shampoo and comb them like real hair.

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The Claim: High Blood Pressure Will Increase People's Risk of Losing Their Hair.

THE FACTS Hypertension has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and early mortality. But hair loss?

Scientists are not exactly sure why, but a number of studies have suggested a relationship between blood pressure and men’s baldness, particularly the early-onset kind.

In a study published in 2007, for example, researchers looked at 250 men ages 35 to 65. After controlling for age, high cholesterol, smoking and other variables, they found that hypertension was “strongly associated” with male pattern baldness: those with a blood pressure reading above 120 over 80 had twice the risk of the others.

Other studies have suggested a link between baldness and heart disease. For a 2000 study in The Archives of Internal Medicine, for example, researchers analyzed health records for 22,000 male doctors over 11 years, examining many aspects of their health. Men with mild balding of the crown had a 23 percent higher risk for heart disease, and those whose crowns were completely bald had a 36 percent greater risk.

But the relationship is only a correlation. Researchers suspect hair loss could be among many markers of an increased risk of hypertension, caused in part by higher levels of testosterone and other hormones, and more androgen receptors in the scalp.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Studies suggest that hair loss may indicate an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

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