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Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there, hair!
Shoulder length, longer (hair!)
Here baby, there mama, Everywhere daddy daddy...

Now that I've got this song in my head - and will probably be singing it for the rest of the day - I'm pissed, and I don't even know if I want to talk about it, DAMMIT!

Surfing through Hairlosstalk.com - a comprehensive guide to male and female hair loss prevention - I have to admit, I was a bit surprised to learn that not only is hair loss common in women, I am NOT the only woman, who's sick and tired of having to feel as if a little piece of my heart is being ripped out everytime I brush my hair, or take a shower, and watch whatever's left go down the drain...one strand at a time:

There are many other stories we could tell of women experiencing this incredibly devastating condition known as hair loss. It's hard enough for a man to lose his hair, but at least it is socially acceptable. For a woman losing her hair, the experience can be 1 thousand times more difficult. Confusion, fear, and anxiety can set in, and the feeling of helplessness is paramount.

I have my mother's hair - naturally dark and very fine - and (in hopes that she forgives me for saying so) I hate the fact that I can't help but stare at the top of her head and think that (at 42 and already thinning) this is the best my hair will ever get.

I'm not saying men don't worry about hair, but - having their own scale of hair loss progression - thanks to the likes of Bruce Willis, society can now accept a man with a well-formed head as being very, very attractive.

Today, we begin to appreciate the fact that bald men can stand proud and "going bald" will undoubtedly be the biggest hairstyle trend in 2006.

For women, too?

I mean, it's not like there's "a hairless club for women," not that I've found...unless I want to continue to surf through a bazillion porn sites...or articles that discuss sexy bald women...shaving anything other than their vagina...anyways.

Let's face it, bald men are stylish - balding women, not so much - and a disturbing fact of hairloss is, there are more of us than you may know:

More than 4 out of every 10 women in the United States experience thinning hair. That's about 43 million women -- more than have green eyes or freckles.

What are the causes of hair loss in women?

The most common causes of hair loss in women are hormonally related. Whether it be an overactive thyroid, or the after effects of menopause or pregnancy, there usually is a "good" reason why women lose their hair. The key is to find out what the reason is, and to then evaluate your options in dealing with it. If and when this is not possible, we will give you the steps on how to proceed. First things first though, let's find out how to help your doctor diagnose your condition.

[via: Hair Loss Talk]

One of most devasting causes of hair loss in women is disease (for example, the autoimmune disease Alopecia areata) and when she is being treated for cancer - most people undergoing chemotherapy will experience a complete loss of hair or a thinning of the hair.

Perhaps the reason why so many women are pissed (and rightfully so) with companies marketing the "icons" in beauty and fashion (like Mattel) that don't seem to get it - "being fashionable" may be trendy...but, "keeping it real" can be, very pretty:

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One thing young women with breast cancer don't feel like is Barbie. Especially a Barbie that looks like this picture. Some of the members of the YSC have a few suggestions for the Mattel Company.

- Barbie should be bald and have assorted wigs
included instead of the bouffant hairdo.

- Barbie's skin should be more grayish and she
should be at least 10lbs overweight from steroids.

- Some accessories in the box should also include a
little toilet to throw up in, many prescription
bottles that she can't keep track of and clippers
for when she needs to buzz her hair.

[via: The Cancer Blog]

Dealing with hair loss can be difficult - believe me, these women know- but, talking about it shouldn't have to be.

Should it?

I believe Dr. Kimberly Flemke sums it up beautifully, as women (like me) try to find ways to cope with losing their hair, and "gets to the root of my problem:"

Acknowledge reality and grow from it...

Whether your hair loss is due to illness, a certain condition or just genetics, accept the reality of what it is and decide how to live with it.

There are medical treatments, over-the-counter products, hats, scarves, wigs, different hair styles (including bald), etc.

You have a variety of choices.

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Contributing Editor Elizabeth Thompson also writes for the eZine, The Imperfect Parent

[lyrics and photo credit: Hair (the musical) via Wikipedia]