In this guide, I will provide some straightforward tips to help you capture quality photos for tracking the progress of your hair. This step is often overlooked by many, including myself, but it is, in fact, highly beneficial for accurately assessing the effectiveness of our treatments.

Hair changes occur slowly, making it difficult to perceive the ongoing transformations. This is where the practice of taking regular follow-up photos becomes invaluable. By aligning these photos chronologically, you can easily compare the before and after results spanning several months and gain a clear understanding of the changes that have occurred.

How to take quality photos for hair tracking?

Certainly, many of us know how to take photos, but there are specific tips that can help you capture the best possible images for tracking the progress of your hair. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Consistent location and lighting: Always take your photos in the same place with consistent lighting. Opt for indoor locations like your bathroom or bedroom and prefer artificial lighting in the evening to avoid the natural light variations throughout the day.
• Clean, dry hair: It’s essential to take photos when your hair is clean and dry. Greasy hair can make your hair look less dense. The best time to take photos is usually a while after a shower.
• Maintain consistency in hairstyle and length: To accurately track changes in hair density, ensure your hair is roughly the same length when taking photos. Having significantly longer hair can lead to misleading results. Try to maintain a similar hairstyle in your photos as well.
• Mind your camera settings: Different smartphones may produce images with varying tones and sharpness. Avoid adding filters or excessively adjusting settings such as vibrancy, contrast, and sharpness, as this can distort the true appearance of your photos.
• Date your photos: Most modern smartphones automatically timestamp photos. This is convenient for tracking. Make sure to store your photos separately or on the cloud to prevent loss.
• Angle consistency: When comparing two photos, they should be taken from the same angles for an accurate assessment. For comprehensive tracking, consider taking three photos in each session: one of the frontal hairline, one of the top of the head, and one of the vertex. Generally, photos of the sides are not needed.

• Utilize a chart for monitoring your photo sessions : Utilize a chart to monitor your photo sessions effectively: By scheduling your sessions, you can maintain consistency and avoid excessive photo-taking. It’s advisable to capture one photo per month rather than every few days. Remember, hair typically only grows a few centimeters each month and needs time to reflect any changes. For assessing the effectiveness of a treatment, it’s best to wait around 6 months for significant results to become apparent