Advanced Hair Studio is hair loss treatment company founded in Australia by Carl Howell that has approximately 70 treatment centres worldwide. They regularly advertise on TV and in newspapers using celebrity endorsements, usually from Antipodian sportsmen.

Business acumen

Since being founded by Carl Howell in the 1970s, Advanced Hair Studio has become one of the most technologically advanced hair clinics in the world, with locations in Melbourne, Brussels, Stockolm, London, Johannesburg and Hong Kong.

Advertising

It has become most famous for its television advertisements, in which the hugely popular catch phrase "Yeah Yeah" has been used and became part of Australian popular culture. Starring in the advertisements early days was former cricketer Greg Matthews, whose uber-hip approach in the ads has seen him parodied by the likes of The Twelfth Man and John Safran.

Also appearing on the advertisements were Graham Gooch, Martin Crowe, and more recently,Shane Warne, who has sung the praises of the new laser technology and at one stage even suggested captain Ricky Ponting should consider the treatment.

Treatments

AHS currently offer three hair treatments:

‘Strand-by-Stand’ - A hair replacement system that involves an adhesion process that sees donor hair integrated onto the client’s scalp.

‘Advanced Laser Therapy’ - A treatment that combines low powered laser therapy with topical application of solutions of minoxidil, Serenoa Repens (generic equivalent of Finasteride) based capsules, serum and shampoo.

Criticisms and controversies

The company has attracted a number of criticisms from consumers and consumer groups [2235] :

Use of consultants who are salesmen rather than qualified trichologists.

Misleading “before and after” type testimonial photos that give the impression of hair growth by use of different camera angles or by wetting of the hair in the before picture. [2236]

The cost of the Laser Therapy is expensive, typically costing several thousand dollars, considering it does not use expensive medical equipment or training. The treatment includes a supply of minidoxil, but this can be bought over-the-counter (as Rogaine/Regaine) relatively cheaply.

Although minoxidil is a clinically approved hair loss treatment there are doubts on the effectiveness of laser treatments. As a result, the British Advertising Standards Authority has banned some of the company’s advertisements in the UK [2237]

External links

Official International Site

“Gooch battles for hair-loss ad”

ASA Adjudication