What Is a Trichologist? What They Do and When to See One

Guys: You have a barber and (hopefully) a dermatologist, but do you have a trichologist yet? This kind of specialist may have a place among the experts who care for your hair and scalp.

When you’ve got issues up top, a trichologist takes into account everything from your lifestyle and nutrition habits to the products you’re using to find out what’s happening beneath the surface—and get it under control. 

To learn more about what a trichologist actually does, when you might need one, and how to get a consultation, we spoke with trichologist and licensed medical esthetician Shanna Bynes Bradford, CEO of Grow Out Oils Clinical Aromatherapy Company, who’s been helping people take control of their hair and scalp health for more than two decades.

Alma TransEpidermal Delivery (TED) is an FDA-cleared treatment for hair thinning and hair loss. It uses ultrasound waves and air pressure to create microchannels in your scalp — no poking or needles required. Then, a serum blend of growth factors and peptides is applied to help stimulate hair growth. The idea is that your scalp acts as a shield guarding your hair follicles, and the Alma TED device helps to open that barrier to allow the serum to deeply penetrate them in a pain-free way.

This non-invasive treatment is designed for people who are experiencing hair loss or thinning, and not for people who are fully bald. It usually requires three treatments, scheduled a month apart, to achieve the best results, and it’s typically a good option for people who aren’t ready for more invasive treatments such as hair transplants.

Alma TED is a fairly quick treatment that usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes to complete. During the process, a device is moved across your scalp, and it uses ultrasound waves and air pressure to painlessly create tiny openings in your skin. Next, your provider will distribute a serum made with vitamins, peptides, and growth boosters to help improve blood flow and scalp health, and to “wake up” inactive hair follicles.

The treatment is meant to be mostly pain-free, but it might feel like a warm, tingly mini-massage. Unlike more intensive hair loss treatments, there is no numbing, downtime, or cleanup before or after treatment — the entire process is noninvasive and doesn’t require prep on your part.

Treatments are usually done once a month for three to four months on average. According to a small study with 50 participants, after three treatments, patients saw a 64 percent increase in hair density, and 89 percent of patients reported reduced shedding and increased growth after treatment.

While many people start to see changes after two to three sessions (like reduced shedding or thicker hair), results can vary, and you should speak to your provider about individual expectations.

Below, you’ll find reviews of the Alma TED treatment from Dr. Knox Beasley.

• Type of Product: Ultrasound device

• Key Ingredients: Ultrasound waves, peptides, and growth boost serum

• Cost: Varies, but can average around $3,500 for complete treatment

• Purpose: Claims to rejuvenate dormant hair follicles in people who are dealing with hair loss and hair thining 

“This can be a helpful option to supplement a hair loss regimen. Since it does not use needles like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), it can be a good option for those who prefer to avoid needles,” Dr. Beasley says.

• Efficacy: ★★★ 

• Side Effects: ★★★★

• Ease of Use: ★★★★

If you’re considering Alma TED treatments, there are a few things to consider. Here’s what to know before booking an appointment.

Pros

• It’s virtually pain-free

• There’s no downtime afterward

• It’s non-surgical

• Appointments are quick

• It helps promote blood flow in the scalp, which can promote hair growth

Cons

• It’s expensive ($600 to $1,000 per session)

• Requires multiple sessions

• Results can vary

• It’s not permanent, and it can’t regrow hair on fully bald patches

• Long-term studies and research are limited

Below, we’ll answer some commonly asked questions about Alma TED.

Does Alma TED Work?

Though more research is needed to be sure, Alma TED treatments have shown potential to work in brand-funded clinical trials, especially for people in the early stages of hair loss and are only seeing minor changes in your hair density.

Most people who fit in that category start to see optimal results like thicker hair after about three sessions, though results may vary.

Like most hair loss treatments, consistency and timing matter, and you’ll need to follow up with your provider to get the best results for healthy hair.

That said, Alma TED isn’t for everyone. If you are completely bald, you won’t experience hair regrowth from these treatments.

Why Is Alma TED So Expensive?

Alma TED is a medical-grade ultrasound device, meaning it requires professionally trained providers to administer treatment. The serum that’s pushed into your scalp also includes vitamins, peptides, and other ingredients formulated to help with hair growth, which adds to the overall cost.

So, like other cosmetic treatments, with Alma, you’re paying for advanced tech, in-office care, and professional application from a licensed provider.

How Long Do Alma TED Results Last?

Results aren’t permanent, but they can last several months, especially if you keep up with monthly appointments and touchups and practice proper aftercare, such as avoiding washing or coloring your hair for 24 hours after treatment.

The similarities between Alma TED and PRP begin and end with the fact that they are non-surgical treatments for hair thinning that work by administering growth factors to the scalp. The treatments themselves, however, work very differently.

PRP is an invasive treatment that involves drawing blood, isolating the platelets within it, and injecting them back into your scalp to help stimulate growth. Alma TED skips the needles and uses sound waves and air pressure to inject a ready-made serum into your skin.

Alma TED is a newer treatment and has less scientific research to support it, but it is FDA-cleared, and reportedly gentler and more comfortable than PRP, though it may leave you with more subtle results.

How Much Does Alma TED Cost?

Alma TED sessions can range from around $600 to $1,000, depending on your location and provider. Most people will need at least three sessions for visible results, so the total cost can get quite expensive. Because the treatment is considered cosmetic, it likely won’t be covered by insurance.

Alma TED’s biggest selling point is that it’s gentle, pain-free, and doesn’t require heat, needles, or exfoliants to work. Because of this, it’s generally well tolerated and doesn’t seem to cause major side effects. However, it’s normal to experience a warm, tingly feeling after treatment.

There is also no recovery time after treatment. You shouldn’t experience any peeling or flaking from the treatment, and you don’t need to avoid specific hairstyles or products. (However, you should avoid washing or coloring your hair for 24 hours.)

That said, talk with your dermatologist before treatment if you have a preexisting scalp or skin condition like psoriasis or eczema, to avoid issues like skin irritation.

While Alma TED seems promising in terms of revitalizing hair growth, it’s not your only option. If you want a less costly treatment specifically for male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), you have options.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine^®) is an over-the-counter topical treatment that is FDA-approved to help treat hair loss. Much like Alma TED, it works by increasing blood flow to the scalp to help reactivate dormant hair follicles.

However, minoxidil has more scientific backing than Alma TED. A 48-week study showed that the drug’s effects could increase hair thickness and growth by up to 18 percent, and other studies support this information. On the downside, those results usually take longer to see.

Minoxidil is also more affordable than Alma TED, as you can typically find it for around $15 to $30 per month.

Finasteride

Finasteride (the active ingredient in Propecia^®) is a prescription drug that lowers levels of DHT, a hormone linked to hair loss. It’s FDA-approved and often recommended alongside minoxidil; research shows the two work better together than alone.

Unlike Alma TED, finasteride works from the inside out to treat hair issues. It also tends to be more cost-effective: Hims offers finasteride (if you’re approved by a healthcare provider) starting at $22 per month.

If you’re interested in an Alma TED alternative, we can help you book an online consultation with a healthcare professional who can help you asses your treatment options.

Here’s the TL;DR on Alma TED for hair loss.

• Alma TED is a non-invasive, needle-free treatment meant to help improve hair density and scalp health by using ultrasound waves, air pressure, and a growth-stimulating serum delivered directly to the scalp.

• It’s a gentle, low-risk cosmetic treatment with minimal side effects, but it is on the pricier side, and the clinical evidence around it is limited.

• There is no long-term data on Alma TED, but the limited research available on the results seems promising. However, results can vary, and other treatments like PRP may deliver more noticeable results.

If you’re ready to speak to a healthcare provider about the best solutions for your hair, start a Hims hair loss consultation to talk about treatment options. Also, check out our guide on science-backed tips for hair growth.