Sorry, I am new but . . .
I know I may be slightly out of line here, as the new girl, but I am a big skeptic when it comes to hair. I am not saying Cathy or the Hair Lady is better, but I have learned to believe only half of what I see. I used to be one of those people who would try every supplement and hair product that promised growth--fast, until I just took a deep breath and realized the only think that had changed was that I had less money in my pocket.
The average person (who does not take supplements) can grow about 6 inches of hair a year. Cathy says this, I know, but it is actually a medical fact. When I saw the Hair Lady's photos, it kind of struck me as strange that she could get about 2 feet of hair in 2 years. (I am not saying this is bad, at all--it's actually excellent!) Actually, my own hair grows about 1 inch per month without supplements, and I think it's abnormal--but good.
In my line of work, research and the presentation of it are very important. Although not complete, Cathy's research was presented slightly better than the Hair Lady's. The website the Hair Lady had left me saying, "but why does this work? but why should I use these specific products for my hair? what exactly are they doing to make it grow?"
I wanted to know more about what she was doing for her hair! I think Hair Lady's site could be better if she backed up her techniques a little more. (I know, I know, her hair is proof enough for many of us, but still the research will benefit her when she becomes more successful).
Also, the hair industry has taught me that shiny, trimmed hair means that it is healthy. Man, I've been there and done that, and I can say that it's not necessarily true. In Cathy's picture, I don't think she trimmed or oiled it because she wanted to prove that her hair was growing and that you don't have to trim it or oil it to death to make it grow.
I also think the difference in growth periods between Cathy Howse and the Hair Lady has to do with who was experimenting with their natural hair and how long they were doing it. During those those 1987-1989 photos, Cathy was in a major state of trial and error, so there wasn't much growth happening. I think the Hair Lady must have read a book or joined a hair discussion board earlier on becuase all of her bad hair habits seemed to suddenly change.
Also, I happen to have some inside information that Wanakee, another woman who is compared to Cathy, actually attended one of Cathy's hair seminars and asked about hair trimming and developed her product line, partially based on her findings. I know it sounds strange, but then I began to understand why Cathy is kind of hostile at the mention of Wanakee. Also, to note, Cathy's first book came out in 1989, Wanakee's products were launched in the mid 90s. Could be coincidence, but in the business world, it's all about competition. I think that Cathy's major problem is that she is not a very good salesperson. The first think you are taught is to be plesant. I think her anger at the hair industry has clearly come out in her website.
