He tells you what ails your scalp

When I was told that I will be speaking with Dr Tariq Mayun, a certified Trichologist from the United States, the first question that came to my lips was, “What is trichology?” Simply put, trichology (pronounced try-col-uh-gee) is the scientific study of hair and scalp disorders, and is the branch of medicine that has to do with hair, its anatomy, growth and its diseases. Dr Mayun was here to launch the local chapter of the Caribbean Association of Professional Trichologists (CAPT), which took place at the Kapok Hotel in St Clair. For him it was almost like a reunion, as he had trained most of the special guests, including Trinidad’s first certified Trichologist (and CAPT President Marcia Smith). The word trichology is taken from the Greek word “tricho” meaning “hair” and although it is a very unique field of study, it is by no means a new science; it first began in England in 1902. “So you can say trichology more than 100 years old,” said  the ever smiling Dr Mayun. “Actually it was first done in London, and sort of grew by word of mouth, spreading to Australia and various parts of the United States, where this practice is becoming common. It is something that all people in the cosmetology field should be familiar with, especially when it comes to treating hair problems.” According to Dr Mayun, he didn’t choose the field, “it chose him.”

The Philadelphia native began at the University of Alabama to study business. He studied cosmetology after that and went into the field of professional hair care in a big way. Even as a youngster, he somehow knew that he would be involved in hair care. “I remember gently scratching my momma’s scalp... then she would fall asleep,” Dr Mayun said. “Then I would play with her hair. She realised that I loved doing it, and as I grew I started to cut my own hair, trying to follow her, because she would cut my hair with these hand held clippers from back in the day, y’know? And I’m talking like, age 9 or 10. When I turned 12 she gave me my first clippers. So now I had my tools; razors, scissors, comb and now these clippers. I was so proud. I loved hair so much I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” Within the hair industry, Dr Mayun was considered one of the best, and as a result of this, he wished to honour all those in their field within the Northern California area and Southern Tennessee. It was then his search took him to a lady by the name of Hattie Thompson, a woman who had been in the business of hair care for over 50 years. “After I interviewed her I saw this plaque on the wall and I asked her what it was for, this ‘trickology” (sic) thing. She corrected me and said, ‘No, you’re saying it wrong, it’s try-chology... a scientific study of hair and scalp disorders.’ So I was all flip and like, ‘Well, I’m a hair doctor!’ You know how it is, my chest was all out ‘there,’ pretty big (laughs). But she set me down and showed me some photos and talked about different treatments for different conditions. By the end of the interview I felt so small. I thought I knew so much, but I didn’t know anything at all.”

Hattie Thompson offered to train him, but he turned down her offer at first, because of an impending trip to Europe. However, it nagged him that he did. Upon his return, he became her student, bringing her out of her semi-retirement. Dr Mayun studied with her for 2 ? years obtaining his cosmetology degree in 1990, followed by his Masters and PhD in trichology from the Institute or Trichology. He worked closely with her over the next four years, four days a week travelling over 130 miles a day to Alabama. Eventually, the constant driving got to him and he settled in Alabama, where he’s been for the past 18 years. At present, he is the director of the International Institute of Trichology and lectures and educates worldwide to all who are willing to learn about trichology and its related case studies. “I believe that in the next five to ten years, trichology will become a household word,” said Dr Mayun. “Few people (even within the hair industry), about less then ten percent of the hair care industry, know about trichology. They may have heard the name or know a little about it, but would you believe that in the state of Florida alone there are over 17,000 trichologists? That’s how it is there, and this is why I take pleasure in educating. I believe that every cosmetologist and hair care practitioner should know about trichology, because everything goes hand in hand.”

Often times a client is referred to a trichologist for treatment of scalp conditions that can range from sebhorrea, to hair loss and thinning, dermatitis, dandruff, psoriasis, or even dry, oily and itchy scalp conditions. Consultation follows, where the trichologist takes the client’s medical history, family history, diet and exercise information, etc. A pre-diagnosis is next, where they determine what kind of disorder the client has. Examining the hair is done with both hand held and electronic microscopes. Hi-Frequency, a machine that stimulates the scalp is also used, along with infrared and ultra violet light. Tricholoscopes and Woods Lamps can show up any fungus or bacteria on the hair. “So basically we analyse and diagnose, then try to find the cause. Some things we can treat on our own, other things we need alternative help from health care practitioners, sometimes dentists, dermatologists, nutritionists, endocrinologists... we sometimes see problems within the endocrine system, either too many or too few hormones in the bloodstream. So it’s not just about hair alone, we do this from a holistic approach, because in most cases, a person’s diet or particular lifestyle has a lot to do with hair loss or any other condition.” Now 50, he’s also a single dad with four children of his own, ranging in age from 16 to 32. He’s leaving our shores today, but he made sure to get himself a ‘Trini to the Bone” t-shirt to take back home. “One thing I can say about Trinidad and Tobago is that I feel really at home here,” he laughed. “I have a great admiration for how hard you work here, especially in trying to educate the public about trichology. I believe that every medical professional should know about this, and everyone should work together to promote healthy bodies, which in turn will promote healthy hair. That’s why our approach is a holistic approach. It works both ways. Healthy hair means a healthy person and vice versa.”