Hair Replacement Schools

Many people suffer from hair loss as a result of stress, genes or disease. According to the Hair Replacement Training Academy in Dublin, Ireland, most men and women suffer from hair loss at some point in their lives. Hair replacement schools teach about hair restoration through the use of non-surgical hair attachments. These hair attachments blend in with natural hair and add volume to hair.

Topics Covered

Students attending hair replacement schools learn about adding volume to hair and treating a variety of hair loss conditions. These conditions include Alopecia, hereditary hair loss, baldness and trichotillomania, a psychological disorder that involves pulling hair from the root. In these courses, all aspects of hair replacement are covered. Students learn how to communicate with clients and learn the skills needed to treat these clients.

Courses Available

Dublin's Hair Replacement Academy offers an intensive two-day course that covers the art of hair replacement, at the end of which students receive diplomas. Students attend a range of training courses that cover a large number of topics related to hair loss and hair replacement. Many hair replacement programs are available in Europe and the U.S. In the U.S., the Brandy System for Surgical Hair Restoration covers necessary knowledge and skills needed for hair restoration in a clinic. However, such courses are not a substitute for the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery board certification.

Surgical Hair Replacement

There are many surgical hair replacement programs available in the U.S. and Europe that offer individual courses interested students can take. However, these courses are not always recognized by the appropriate board, especially if the student desires to do surgical hair replacement. The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery is an internationally recognized society that administers the only validated exam covering hair restoration surgery. Students who complete training at a validated school and pass this examination are granted an "International Board of Hair Restoration Surgery" certificate. Requirements for the application for this board examination include 60 credit hours, experience or completed fellowship, and a M.D. or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) license. This examination and these requirements are required only for students who wish to do surgical hair replacement, not non-surgical hair replacement.

Non-surgical Hair Replacement

A person who does non-surgical hair replacement does not need to be a doctor, but rather is usually considered a hair replacement specialist. This person completes several hours of appropriate courses, which may even be taught at a salon. Completion of cosmetic or hair school may be required. Non-surgical hair replacement is also taught at many Hair Extension schools, such as at the Academy of Vocational and Professional Training in the UK. These courses are also one-to-three-day courses, which cover a range of topics dealing with non-surgical hair replacement and hair extensions.