By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Jan. 21, 2001
Cynde Powers spent almost 20 years taking away hair as a beautician in Meridian. For the past 10 years, she's made her living by giving hair back.
From 1974 to 1991 Powers cut, trimmed and touched up thousands of heads of hair in the Meridian area and then she began giving back … literally.
In 1991 Powers opened Integra Hair Replacement Center, located at 2512 15th St.
Making the transition from a beautician to being the owner of a regionally successful hair replacement and loss prevention center was easy, according to Powers.
Powers said the inspiration to make her change in fields came from a client, whose hair had been thinning.
According to Powers, what has followed has been an intensive crash course in the latest hair replacement techniques and a steady education in different treatments. Powers said in just a few years she's gone to hair replacement academies in Las Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale, Baltimore and countless other locations searching for the most recent, high-tech advancements in hair replacement.
The education has paid off with several non-surgical techniques that Powers now focuses on that can help to prevent hair loss or to replace hair. From complete custom-built prosthetic wigs to hair integration systems that can attach hair to the scalp where it's being lost, Powers said the techniques are painless and undetectable.
Integra is one of the only clinics in the region that offers a new laser system designed to circulate 15 lasers over the scalp and encourage a far more rapid growth of hair.
According to Powers, the nearest other laser treatment center is in Nashville, which may be one of the reasons clients travel from as far away as Louisiana and South Carolina for treatments.
But Powers said her center caters to a variety of clientele who may require hair replacement.
In fact, Powers said so many people have been taking advantage of her center's treatments she is planning to expand into a new location at 1215 25th Ave. in March.
Once renovation is complete in her new space, she plans to also offer massages, manicures and pedicures.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.