Hair Club For Men Opens its Doors at Hacienda

By George Walsh, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

International Company Offers Surgical and Non-Surgical Alternatives to Baldness

Hair Club for Men, well known for commercials featuring the company founder announcing "I'm not only the Hair Club president, I'm also a client," recently opened a new facility in Hacienda at 4695 Chabot Drive, Suite 101. The company, started by Sy Sperling in 1976, has since grown to comprise 88 offices in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. In addition to Hair Club for Men, the company also has offices that serve women and children.

Hair replacement technology has improved greatly in the years since Hair Club for Men was founded, including innovations that include surgical procedures such as micro hair transplantation. Hair Club's flagship is the Bio-Matrix process, which is a non-surgical procedure that adds real human hair to the client's own hair. The company also offers hair extensions and certain FDA approved remedies. "We make a constant effort to bring new procedures and products to the marketplace," says Mike Smith, vice president of marketing for Hair Club. "We try to give people unbiased information on what is actually proven to work." Hair Club for Men offers a free consultation and microscopic hair and scalp analysis to potential clients.

On an initial visit to Hair Club for Men, clients are met by a hair loss expert familiar with the benefits and limitations of different hair replacement options. "Basically, they give you the information you need to help you decide what's best for you based on your concerns, expectations, age, and level of hair loss," Smith says. Hair replacement options include medications such as propecia, surgical procedures that move hair follicles from the back and side of the head to areas that are thinning, and Hair Club's Bio-Matrix process, which requires a visit to Hair Club for Men every four to six weeks.

Because some people want to keep their hair loss treatment a personal matter, Hair Club strives to provide a very discreet and confidential setting at its offices. "We're usually in an office or a medical building and often, there's nothing on the door except for an 'HCM' to signify that it's a Hair Club for Men office," Smith says. "We keep everything very private, including making sure that any materials we send to people are confidential so that nobody knows they are treating their hair loss."

Hair Club's 2,500 square foot Hacienda facility will serve as a satellite office to the company's San Francisco and San Jose operations and is expected to provide service to around 40 clients per week. While procedures such as the Bio-Matrix process will be performed at the Chabot Drive location, medical procedures such as surgery will be referred to Hair Club for Men's other local offices.

Photo: (Left to right) Stylist DeAnna Ellington, administrative assistant Colean Cox, managing director Jennifer Kane, and stylist Denise O'Farrell make up the Hacienda Hair Club team.

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