Hair Loss in Cuba

Cuba! Cuba! Cuba! Ain’t nothing cooler than Cuba

I’m currently planning my wedding, during which the discussion of the bridal car came up. I could not help but go back in time to my trip to Cuba and the super cool vintage muscle cars we got to ride around in. And just like every country in World, Cuba has Hair Loss stories too. 

You hear it all the time, but Cuba really is like taking a trip back in time. As you walk the streets of Havana, you are surrounded by the loud thrum of vintage cars. Everywhere is like a scene from Grease (the movie).  While in Cuba we caught a ride in an Oldsmobile 88 (from roughly 1949–59). My friend and I bounced along the couch like pleather car seats, laughing with every bump- well I was, I got the front seat, my friend opted for the back seat only to realize we were sharing it with two strangers, so she spent most of her ride bouncing into them, which the lack of air conditioning did not help. As we drove down the highway heading towards Viñales it was a common occurrence to see horse and carts trotting along the road, and old fashion manual mowers being pushed by men.

Cubans are gorgeous- I have already set the rule that my fiancé cannot go there without me (haha wink wink). I clearly have an obsession, but my gosh, Cubans all seem to have lush eyebrows and eyelashes (don’t act like you don’t like people watching hahaha

As I have said before, hair loss and imperfect hair are international, and Cuba is no exception. I did not spot hair loss as frequently as I have in other countries, but it exists. If you google hair loss in Cuba, which I strongly recommend you do not do in Cuba- I came home to a phone bill well over $1,000 due to data usage…which I barely used. Google comes up with lots of Cuban treatment facilities and explanations for hair loss including alopecia. This intrigued me immediately, especially because when I think of Cuba I think of a small Island in the Caribbean. What I have learned is that my view was very ignorant and that Cuba is actually substantially larger than New Zealand with a population of 11.5 million.

Cuba has world renown hair loss treatment facilities that they market to international visitors, and which are carried out over a number of days- now that is far more rigorous compared to anything I have previously had. One of their main marketed treatments includes human placenta! The method was developed by Cuban scientists in the 70’s and has a clinic which specifically focuses on alopecia!

I’m definitely very intrigued. However, I am also very skeptical, as I am sure many of you are, who, like me have already tried tonnes of treatments and spent tonnes of money only to have your heart broken when the results don’t work. My skepticism may be even more intense as I am the third generation to suffer my hair condition in my family. I can’t help but think a cure or solution is impossible. Thankfully I am a dreamer and I have learned that if you can dream it you can achieve it as long as you work towards it one step at a time. 

Human Placenta – Hair Loss in Cuba

My intrigue in the human placenta solution and high success rates led me to meet @elenavega who used to write a blog called the hair journal. Elena has tried some very interesting hair loss solutions, which you can read all about in her blog, but one which I am particularly interested in sharing is the use of human placenta!

One of the first questions I asked Elena is what was it like using HUMAN PLACENTA??? If you are like me, your eyes are popping out of your head at the idea. But Elena’s response was calm and dignified. The Placental Histotherapy Center has specifically been researching the benefits of placenta since the 70s and specifically focused on placenta as a cure for alopecia since the 90s. People from all over the world travel to Cuba to apply the cure, which has a 75% success rate. And the cure is a lotion! Appearing just like any other lotion you may have in the bathroom cabinet. “The lotion and the shampoo are said to stimulate hair growth and regeneration, they increase blood circulation to the scalp and regulate the sebaceous secretions. They are also said to improve the protein synthesis that happens normally inside every hair follicle.” “The lotion is clear like water, with an alcohol like smell”.

Elena has mostly cured her alopecia now, only getting odd spots every now and again. Unfortunately, Elena is not able to confirm whether it was the human placenta, or the many other solutions she tried, or just her body naturally fixing itself which cured her alopecia.

I also asked Elena if she had a message to share with others who are going through hair loss, her advice is “TALK about it… you will find ideas, success stories, and support. And think that the chances are the hair will come back and if it doesn’t there are still many options to help you look great.”

Her advice is brilliant and one I agree with, having now applied it myself. It took me years to be open about my hair loss, and my only regret is that I did not open up about it earlier. So many people I know have been impacted by hair loss and people that they know- but because I didn’t talk about it, I didn’t know, and instead, my hair loss caused me so much despair and loneliness. I could have avoided these feelings, and now work in hopes of ensuring others don’t feel that way. 

Cuba specializes in support and cures for alopecia, it is not a new concept to them at all, and that seems to resonate within the community. Elena said she felt supported the entire time she suffered alopecia while in Cuba. Health care including alopecia treatments are free for Cubans within Cuba, otherwise, insurance usually covers treatment. The treatment costs roughly USD$240.00 plus travel and accommodation.  One thing not actively available in Cuba, however, is wigs and other aesthetic solutions. Elena stated, that the only way to get a wig would be by requesting friends or family to bring it with them when visiting from overseas.

I have promised my dad a trip to Cuba, so I will be returning in the foreseeable future, at which point, I plan to bring a wig or two with me, so I’m able to help someone going through hair loss, but is not able to obtain a wig as a solution. I will also have to pay the Placental Histotherapy Center a visit. 75% positive results it brilliant and I have heard great things about the power of placenta (as odd as that sounds). Definitely adding this one on the bucket list.

What do you think? Would you try human placenta?

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