Going to a scalp consultation? Ask these.

A checklist for your consultation

Ask as many of these as you need. You can bring this page with you.

• Are you licensed, and in what?
• Where did you train for hair and scalp work?
• Can you prescribe, or will you refer me if I need a prescription?
• What happens during the assessment?
• What does this option involve, how often, and for how long?
• When could we reasonably tell how it is going?
• What are the full costs, written down?
• What if I want to stop?

A few notes save time

Consultations go more smoothly when you have a few facts ready. Note when it started, and bring photos that show your hair at different times. Write down medicines you take, including over-the-counter ones and supplements. Mention any recent illness, a new baby, surgery, weight change or stressful stretch, since these can matter. Finally, list the products you use: shampoo, conditioner, styling products, dyes or treatments. If you are unsure whether something matters, write it down and let the provider decide.

What a careful consultation looks like

A careful provider asks about your history, looks at your scalp, explains what each option involves, and tells you who does what. They talk honestly about uncertainty and give you costs in writing.

So it is worth slowing down when you see the opposite: a push to buy a package, talk of hair coming back as a sure thing, suggestions made with no assessment, or vagueness about who performs a procedure. You can thank them, leave, and decide later.