to ask you if this looks normal and show me yours

[hairwoes]

I turned 40 recently and My hair is not as nice as it used to be. I am worried that my parting is getting wider. What do you think? If you are 40 or above, would you send me a photo of your hair parting?

I am not sleeping and going crazy about this.

Thanks

[StopLookingAtMyAccount]

It looks fine to me. If your hair is dyed you could try going to a lighter colour so it's even less noticible, better still would be to have subtle highlights to break up the look.

[allegretto]

Mine is a lot bigger and you can see my scalp through most of my hair. I have been diagnosed with hair loss but it's not getting better. Really yours looks fine but it depends what you are comparing it to. Ask your dr if you're worried.

[Zaurak]

Have you been to the doctor for a physical checkup? It's worth getting the following done
Full thyroid panel ( not just TSH but free t3/4 and antibodies.)
Ferritin
Blood sugar
Vitamin d

When you get the thyroid results get the actual results - you can have significant symptoms with in the 'normal' range ( in he USA and many other countries they treat at a level that's dismissed as normal here.) thyroid issues can affect hair a lot.

[ToucheShay]

Yes, mine head hair seems thinner, making the parting wider. Eyebrows seem thinner too.

Moustache and beard getting thicker WFT?

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

Your hair looks full to me.

[hairwoes]

I had all the blood tests and they were fine but I really used to have lots of hair, I turned 40 and almost overnight my hair became thinner and the parting visible.

I am going to have blood tests again, privately this time (the GP is fed up with me). I take ferritin, cholicalciferol and try to eat healthily.

I used to smoke but I quit, I drink 2-3 units of alcohol /year (Christmas, new year and birthday) but I can live without.

Is this just inevitable at this age? I don't feel that old

[Coldtoeswarmheart]

I am 41 and mine is much thinner than yours (androgenetic alopecia). After bloods showed nothing GP sent me to a dermatologist, and I'm now on a trial of minoxidil.

But take a quick look around and you'll spot lots of women with the same problem, it's not uncommon.

[ilovesooty]

If your GP has checked you out I don't see what you have to worry about.

[Jodders]

You can get this spray called magic touch and it's really for covering grey between colours. I started using it and I noticed that it also hides the white scalp where my hair is parted. If you are really feeling insecure about it then maybe it's worth a go.

[Birdsgottafly]

I lost my hair during the peri Menopause, but I've regained some of it.

If you are entering the PM, you need to look honestly at your diet and lifestyle.

I'm taking Suppliments and using a Biotin shampoo, 'fat hair' and one off QVC also gets good reviews.

[Katedotness1963]

I used to have really thick hair. Now it comes out in handfuls when I brush or comb it. I have to loop as crunchy three times to stop it just falling out of my hair. The individual strands are much thinner than they used to be. But, I have more facial hair than my teenage sons. Middle age is wonderful!

[hairwoes]

Thanks it is reassuring. I used to have so so much hair, but then it started to become thinner. Since I noticed this, I did see many other women with thin hair (if you ever are on the tube in London, I am that crazy person that looks at your hair, nothing personal I just can't help it).

But I want to do everything I can to avoid it becoming even thinner. And I don't know if I am slightly paranoid (this is entirely possible).

[hairwoes]

And I am really, really sorry for all of you going through even worse hair loss. I find it incredibly distressing, I try to rationalise that it is not such a big deal, it is only hair, but I never ever thought this would happen to women, I had never noticed it before.

[ApocalypseSlough]

Flippin eck OP I'd never thought about it but

[NeverbuytheDailyMail]

I know it's easier said than done but try not to get stressed or lose asleep over it because it will only exacerbate hair loss. I had terrible hair loss after the birth of my two kids and again during a period of high stress. But it started to come back in again when things had calmed down. I think your hair and paying look absolutely normal but you know best what is normal for you.

[Wolfiefan]

You do sound overly anxious. Guessing hair is slightly thinner with age. But no big deal. Change hairstyle if it bothers you?

[hairwoes]

Wolfietan, I am stressed about this, but in general I am not anxious. When I got my blood tests, it shows that my metabolism is of a 28 years old and my lungs of a 35 years old. I have no wrinkles and look young, except for this.

I am a bit puzzled about why my age suddenly decided to show up in my hair, if you know what I mean.

[hairwoes]

Apocalypse, thanks for the photo. It seems as wide as mine so maybe it is "normal". Maybe I just want to be 25 again, growing up is hard to do...

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Did you have your vit B12 levels tested? I had low B12 and my comb was thick with hair every time I washed it Since having the B12 deficiency treated, it's gone back to normal.

[hairwoes]

Thanks, Like, I will have that checked. I found a place in London that does blood tests for a reasonable price and want to do ferritin, vit D and now I guess vit b12. Will go next week and let you know.

[GarlicSteak]

Mine did it, too, hairwoes, around my late forties. I always had a ridiculous amount of hair - then quite suddenly found I "only" had normal thickness. Since then, it's been very thin at times but I was eventually diagnosed with borderline hypothyroidism. When it starts coming out in handfuls, I up my dose a bit until regrowth starts.

I think you & I are probably lucky! If you had thick hair to start with, an average amount of loss isn't too damaging. It's mainly a matter of changing the way you see it - so, switching to more appropriate products as needed and thinking about giving the roots some lift.

[ElaeudanlaTeiteia]

It looks fine to me. I am always (surreptitiously) checking out women's hair, as mine is thinning (due to thyroid) and I just can't help but notice others'.

It is very distressing so don't feel bad about that! I am 37 and every now and then have a little mope about how just a few years ago I was slim and had lovely hair!

[blitheringbuzzards1234]

I don't think your parting looks too bad. Why not take another pic in about 4/6 weeks time and compare? See if there's any noticeable change. You might feel reassured.
On the other hand are you feeling a bit run down? They say this has an effect on your hair health.
If the worst really happens there are some fantastic wigs out there. I had to wear one when I was on chemo and the doc said that he is constantly amazed at how good they look. You really cannot tell the difference between them and real hair. I'm sure it won't come to that though.

[hairwoes]

Thanks all, I will keep this thread and post in 6-8 weeks to see if there has been any change. I work full time, have two children, a husband who doesn't help so much (but that is fine, I actually prefer to do things my way, I must have chosen him subconsciously ), so taking care of myself is not always easy.

[spankhurst]

I suffered mild hair loss as a student and it was one of the worst times of my life. I feel a bit pathetic saying that, but as a woman hair loss is very traumatic. I think your hair looks OK, though. I'm 45 and my parting is bigger but my hair is very light which partially disguises the pale scalp.