A BUSINESS owner who suffered extreme hair loss due to stress has revealed how she was able to regrow her tresses.
She now runs a salon that specializes in offering treatments to other women, many of whom have lost their hair to conditions including alopecia, PCOS, and cancer.
Rachael E. D Sey started her haircare brand after suffering extreme hair lossCredit: Rachael E. D Sey/ Cherub London
Rachael said her hair loss was worsened by stress when she had to close her business during the pandemicCredit: Rachael E. D Sey/ Cherub London
Rachael E. D Sey (@cherub.london) has over 14,000 followers on Instagram, where she gives a glimpse into her career as a certified trichologist.
The 35-year-old, from London, revealed to The U.S. Sun that she was just age 19 when she opened her first hair salon.
Growing up in a strict African household, her parents were determined that she had to get a university degree.
However, her interest in hair never went away and after a brief stint in the corporate world, she opened another salon, Red’s Beauty Bar.
“It was a hair salon catering to natural hair,” Rachael said. “There was a huge gap in the market at that time.
“Prior to that, I was selling hair extensions. Hair has always been my thing.
“I would travel back and forth to the States with one of my aunties, who would import products to the UK to supply to the beauty shops in London.
“I would get my silk press done in the States and did my training there as well, for most of the natural treatments that I offer now.”
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Rachael revealed she has been offering clients Ker Release treatments since 2010.
The formaldehyde-free process temporarily straightens hair, in a similar way to Avlon’s popular texture release.
She decided to rebrand from Red’s Beauty Bar to Cherub London in 2019.
The haircare expert said she was wearing her hair in natural styles before the pandemic triggered telogen effluvium.
“That’s when your hair starts shedding excessively due to stress and hormones,” she explained.
“Years before that I was diagnosed with PCOS [polycystic ovary syndrome], with that too causing a lot of shedding.
“But I think it was the increased amount of stress from having to close my salon during the pandemic that made my hair fall out almost completely.
“It was devastating because we had just moved to that salon.
“We had spent so much money fixing up the place just a year before, and having to close it down completely was heartbreaking.
Rachael said she began to style her hair in ways to hide the thinning areasCredit: Rachael E. D Sey/ Cherub London
“I also got Covid and became really, really ill. I couldn’t get to work for about two months.
“Everything was limited because of Covid.”
Rachael said she began to self-diagnose the cause of her hair loss, as it took place at a time when getting a doctor’s appointment wasn’t easy.
Luckily, she had already started a trichology course and had some knowledge of what could cause hair loss.
“Having Covid for a prolonged time increases the chances of having excessive shedding,” she said.
“We were in lockdown so not really going anywhere. I found hairstyles where I could cover my edges with a center parting.
“I started using a serum that I bought in the States and mixed natural oils.
“I used rosemary oil on my hair but not on my scalp.
“From a trichologist’s perspective, we don’t recommend that you use oils directly on the scalp, we recommend that you use a serum as it’s a lot more hydrating.”
Rachael said she felt “depressed” and didn’t want to speak to anyone about her hair loss at the time.
When she tried to show a hairstylist friend her thinning locks, they were unable to offer any useful advice.
It took her over a year to regrow her hair, after figuring out a combination of effective products and supplements to take.
“The first thing I did was reduce the stress,” she said.
“I started taking biotin supplements, juicing, and taking sea moss, which is amazing just for your general health.
“Also magnesium and calcium, which are general vitamins that everyone needs.
“I now tend to do the Ker Release every six months because it allows me to have some versatility with styling my natural hair.
“It’s all protein-based, I love it.
“I use caffeine and biotin serum on my edges. I can use that if my hair is straight or in its natural state as well.
“I use that fortnightly, if you have excessive shedding I say use it twice a week or every other day. It depends on the extent of the hair loss.
“I also use caffeine and biotin shampoo.”
Biotin is one of eight B vitamins and can be found in foods such as eggs, Brazil nuts, and fatty fish.
According to MedicalNewsToday, a deficiency can cause hair loss.
Studies show that caffeine can slow down hair loss progression.
Rachael has a range of products, sold at Cherub London, that are suitable for all hair types but formulated with Afro-Carribean hair in mind.
She said many alternatives on the market aren’t hydrating enough for Black and Asian hair.
As many as 40 people a month contact Rachael’s salon specifically for hair loss treatment.
She said “No money can buy” the joy people experience when their hair starts to grow back.
“Hair loss can be dampening on not just your self-confidence,” she said.
Rachael said she regrew her hair by taking dietary supplements and using products that contain caffeine and biotinCredit: Rachael E. D Sey/ Cherub London
“We have lots of success stories and also with clients who have CCCA.
“This is when their follicles have completely shrunk and they’ve been told there’s no chance their hair will grow back.”
Hair loss treatments at Cherub London can range from a period of six to 12 months.
Clients also go to the salon for other hair treatments and to buy the products.
“What I love is that we get to build a community with these women,” Rachael said.
“We’ll get two clients come in on the same day and they start talking to each other about their different hair journeys.
“In the past, most Afro-Carribean hair salons have not been so welcoming to work with women who experienced hair loss.
“So I find that when they do come here, they are a bit anxious and they don’t know what to expect.
“But then when they meet another woman with the same issue, it helps with their whole journey.”
Treatments at Cherub London start from £90 [$114] while their hair growth kit is available from £145 [$184] and is shipped internationally.
“The Tricho restore heal and grow kit includes the caffeine and biotin serum as well biotin gummies,” Rachael said. “You also get a shampoo and conditioner.”
Clients are given a consultation before treatment begins and despite being intense Rachael and her team try to make it a relaxing experience.
She advises anyone experiencing hair loss to get a blood test, as vitamin deficiencies can be part of the problem.
She added that people should also be mindful of how often they wash their hair.
“Afro Carribeans don’t need to wash our hair too often, because that way you’re getting rid of the natural oils,” Rachael said.
“I’d say a reasonable ratio would probably be every two weeks.
“However, if you are someone with excessive dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis, or psoriasis, you would have to wash your hair regularly to get rid of the flakes and the build-up.
“With Caucasian and Asian hair I’d say wash weekly.”
Rachael said it took over a year for her hair to grow backCredit: Rachael E. D Sey/ Cherub London
Rachael said her locks have grown back and she now helps up to 40 women a month with their own hair lossCredit: Rachael E. D Sey/ Cherub London