What Is a Trichologist and Why it Matters for Your Hair Health

When you think about haircare, your first thought is probably shampoos, conditioners, or maybe your hairdresser. If you’ve never heard of a Trichologist before, you’re not alone. But there’s a whole branch of science dedicated to your hair and scalp, and those hair and scalp health professionals are called Trichologists. 

 

 

As Arey’s Trichologist, my training has played a big part in the formulation of Arey’s haircare products. I got together with fellow Trichologist and hairstylist Sara Hallajian, to talk about advances in haircare, scalp health, and what exactly a Trichologist is – what we do, why we matter, and how we can help you achieve healthier hair and a healthier scalp. 

 

What Is a Trichologist?

A Trichologist is a specialist who is trained in the science of your hair and scalp. The word trichology comes from the Greek “trikhos” – meaning hair – and “logia” – meaning study. Trichologists don’t just look at your hair as a cosmetic feature — they study its structure, growth cycles, and the underlying health of your scalp and hair follicles.

 

 

Trichology sits somewhere between dermatology and cosmetology. While a dermatologist is a medical doctor who can treat skin diseases (including those affecting the scalp), Trichologists are all about your hair and scalp health. 

When to See a Trichologist?

You may be noticing unwanted changes in your hair color, texture, thickness, or ability to grow. Or you may have an irritated and sensitive scalp. These are all good reasons to seek help from a Trichologist. But, even if your hair seems fine now, a preventive care appointment with a Trichologist can help you prevent future problems. 

 

 

Proactive, preventive haircare is at the core of everything Sara and I do as Trichologists, because we know that great hair isn’t something that you can get instantly out of a bottle. It’s about making informed, proactive choices about your hair and scalp health.

Why Trichologists Love Preventive Haircare

Just like you go to the dentist for checkups, seeing a Trichologist for a preventive hair and scalp health screening can help keep your hair and scalp in optimal condition.

Here’s how a typical session with Sara or me might go:

1. Initial Discussion – we’ll talk about your hair and scalp concerns, medical history, stress levels, diet, and haircare routine.

2. Scalp Examination – we might use a magnifying lens or trichoscope to inspect your scalp and hair shafts up close.

3. Lifestyle & Nutritional Assessment – since hair health is closely linked to diet and general wellness, we’ll ask about your eating habits and lifestyle.

4. Personalized Recommendations – you’ll receive a tailored treatment plan, which may include scalp treatments, topical applications, supplements, or changes to your hair care routine.

5. Follow-Up – depending on your needs, we may recommend follow-up appointments to monitor progress and adjust treatments.

Trichology is a holistic approach to your hair and scalp health. That means focusing on your whole lifestyle and haircare habits in order to have your healthiest hair. We may refer you to a dermatologist or other healthcare provider if we believe there’s a medical condition involved in your hair or scalp health issues. 

 

 

When you're not seeing healthy hair growth, thickness, and shine, the culprit is often a lack of the right nutrients to support healthy hair growth and hair pigment production. The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in Not Today, Grey help replace what your lifestyle or age is taking from your hair health.

 

What Does a Trichologist Do?

Trichologists like Sara and I deal with a wide range of conditions affecting your hair and scalp health, including:

• • Hair loss (male and female pattern baldness, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium)

  • Scalp disorders (dandruff, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, folliculitis)

  • Hair breakage and damage (often caused by styling, chemical treatments, or nutritional deficiencies)

  • Itchy or inflamed scalp (often caused by chemical treatments or allergies)

  • Changes in hair texture (due to hormonal shifts, aging, or illness)

Sara and I both have backgrounds as salon hairstylists, which is where we became curious about going deeper into the science behind hair health. As a haircare formulator for Paul Mitchell and now for Arey, I also bring a deep knowledge of haircare ingredients to my Trichology practice.

 

 

A Trichologist bridges the gap between a hairstylist’s aesthetic expertise and a Dermatologist’s medical knowledge. We’re not there to give you a new haircut – we’re there to make sure the hair you have is as healthy as possible.

Healthy hair growth depends on several factors: genetics, hormones, nutrition, scalp health, and environmental influences.

Here’s what your Trichologist will focus on:

• • Your Hair Growth Cycles (anagen, catagen, telogen)

  • Any Nutrient Deficiencies (iron, zinc, biotin, protein)

  • Your Follicle Structure and how it responds to hormones like DHT

  • The Impact of Stress on hair-shedding patterns

  • Your Scalp Microbiome (is it imbalanced?) 

This scientific approach helps Sara and me create interventions that address the root causes of any hair and scalp health issues –  not just the symptoms.

Read more about Jay’s recent scalp health clinic.

3 Common Haircare Myths a Trichologist Can Debunk

Myth 1: Cutting your hair makes it grow faster.

• False – Trichologists know that hair growth happens at the follicle level (hair roots) under your scalp skin, not at the ends. 

Trichologist Tip – to boost hair growth, take this two-pronged approach:

1 - Boost hair growth from the inside-out with Not Today, Grey targeted nutrition.

2 – Boost hair growth from the outside-in with To The Root® hair growth serum.

Changes in the health of your hair and scalp health won’t happen overnight, but participants in our clinical trials of our two-pronged approach – The System – saw results in as little as 3 months of consistent use.

 

Myth 2: Dandruff means your scalp is too dry.

• False – Trichologists know that dandruff is usually caused by excess oil production (sebum) and an overgrowth of a natural yeast called Malassezia.

Trichologist Tip – switching to a sulfate-free gentle cleansing shampoo like Wash will help balance out scalp oils. Plus, regularly exfoliating your scalp with Scrub can gently cleanse away excess sebum and dead skin cells that can cause a flaky, itchy scalp.

 

Myth 3: You need a shampoo with a lot of lather

•  False – many super-sudsy shampoos contain sulfates that are harsh cleansers that over cleanse and strip too much of your scalp’s natural oils.

Trichologist Tip – always look for a sulfate-free shampoo and the lightest conditioner for your hair type. You will get a balanced, gentle cleanse which won’t leave your locks and scalp skin parched.

 

Arey – Trichologist-Backed Haircare for Your Best Hair

Hair is more than just a style statement — it’s often a reflection of our overall health. By paying attention to the scalp, nutrition, and hair care habits. As a Trichologist, I am proud to be behind Arey haircare products that help you maintain stronger, healthier hair for the long term. 

Your scalp and hair health are important to us. That's why we offer up to 25% off on all subscription orders to help keep you on track with your hair health goals. Because we believe that science + consistency = results.

We are Arey.

Have questions? Check out our FAQ page or say hey@areygrey.com.

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