Feeling crap about my thin hair. Any thin hair to thick hair stories to cheer me up??

[u32ng]

My hair is thin and I have a really noticeable area of scalp on the crown of my head. Putting my hair up into even a simple ponytail is like a game of 'hide my scalp'

Anyway, I'm feeling a bit crap about it today and was wondering if anyone has managed to grow more hair so it's a bit thicker? (I'm taking iron supplements and hoping that maybe has an effect??)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Me too with the added bonus of my psoriasis showing through :( very self conscious about it.

[Notcontent]

I feel your pain. I used to have really nice hair but very thin now.

Just about ok now if styled the right way, but worried about the future. I am only 40! I now comfort myself with the thought that it's only hair - all other parts of me are atill going strong!!!!!

[Bewooohooove]

Have you had your thyroid etc checked? Also I have read that taking a good Biotin supplement can help with hairloss.

[Rummikub]

I'm not there yet but have had improvement with high dose iron and vit d3.

[MargotThreadbetter]

Same here (and with the psoriasis too kitten)
I've been using that new thickening shampoo/conditioner which helps a bit - will find name tomorrow as I'm in bed and don't want to move! I think it's Loreal Elvive.
Problem is though, you sacrifice condition for a little extra fullness. I look like Worzal Gummage right now...

[BlueberryMuffins76]

I've got really thin hair, but it has improved a bit since I started taking iron supplements when diagnosed with anaemia. That loreal shampoo makes a difference as well, it's the blue and pink bottles.

[starsandunicorns]

I have thin hair at the front with bald patches with scalps sigh its not piosoris drs think its stress realted had it 10 yrs now i have storid scalp lotion i use for bad flare ups when the scalps go the area becomes white and looks like a scars

I wear headbands wash my hair x2 a week with baby shampoo

Just got used to it now ish

[mowglik]

Feel your pain, my thinning hair is the bane of my life! Started when I was 27..35 now. I had lots of success though (not pre thinning levels but 75% better) through using viviscal max supplements. It got pricey though so now I take tesco or ocado hair and nail vits which are only £3 for a months supply.

There are loads of other things to try (I researChed this madly back in the days) and loreal fibrology has been pretty good. I also use volumising dry shampoo (mark hill dirty stop out).
Others: coconut/argan/castor/emu oil in hair, hair thickening fibres (toppix I think), teaspoon of msm every day which my cousin swears by.

It's just a case of managing it and disguising it so you can forget about it most of the time! Def try the hair skin nail vits, only £3 and I did see a difference when I stopped taking it for a couple of months x

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

When I'm not using steroid shampoo I use the fibrology stuff. It's ok, but not great. I'll have a lookout for those hair and nail vitamins, I didnt know there was such a thing.

[burnishedsilver]

My gp recommended silica and selenium. It made a massive difference in my case.

[missmartha]

I have thin hair, have had blood tests and there is nothing obviously wrong with me.

I use Tony&Guy shampoo and conditioner, they are light and don't weigh my hair down, plus plumping mousse from the same range.

I get a good cut and colour regular too and am convinced that this helps very much. My hair dresser is great, knows the problem, is not judgy neither does he laugh at me. I'm sure we are embarrassed that hair dressers will, but trust me, mine is brilliant.

I have it coloured and highlighted so that it really disguises the thinning and gives the illusion of thickness.

I think I'd give up without my hair dresser, he's fab.

[oneofthosenicemuslims2015]

Older generation where I'm from swear by oils in hair as a pp mentioned. Almond or mustard seed oil ,coconut oil etc. Pick one, rub it into your scalp really well, leave overnight (use an old pillowcase) and wash in the morning. Do it two-three times a week. My mum did it for a few months when her hair was thinning and says it helped a lot.

[Shrugs] worth a shot and inexpensive. Good luck!

[firstposts]

A vote for Moroccan oil .. It doesn't exactly thicken it but makes it look healthier, it's really made a difference. I also use fibrology shampoo and conditioner which helps a bit. If budget would allow I would have subtle extensions but it doesn't!

[littlewoollypervert]

Watching with interest, have tried loreal but did not like the straw effect.

[misscph1973]

I have thin hair, and so does my mum. Both of us have been eating paleo for a few years, and it has made a difference, although it is not miraculous. So essentially lots of good fats (best from wild fish, butter and meat from grass feed cows, olive oil and coconut oil), no gluten and lots of greens.

I do a hot oil treatment when I have the time. Get a good olive oil or avocado oil (a few table spoons) and warm it (a pot of it in a bowl of hot water), rub it into scalp and ends, shower cap on, immerse a towel in freshly boiled water, wring it out (wear rubber gloves!) and drape it over your head (with shower cap on) for 10-20 min. Wash, maybe twice. This makes my hair easier to untangle, so I lose less when I brush it.

[Bewooohooove]

The thing to remember is that hair grows in cycles so if you decide to try a supplement it may be as long as 6 months to see any difference at all. It's easy to pay a lot of money for something then give up because there's no improvement after a few weeks, so persevere.
I have an underactive thyroid so take a good kelp supplement to support thyroid function. I'll dig out the research paper that recommended this.
In addition I take Viviscal for hair and nail support - I am seeing a difference in my hair just recently after nearly 8 months, (although my nails improved almost immediately, I even get to file and polish them now!)

[Bewooohooove]

Glasgow University
Napiers

This is the information I read.

[jasmine1979]

I feel your pain! I have long fine thin hair. It's always been fine but has thinned a lot in the few years and really affected my confidence
It's not helped that my husband has a big thick long mane of curly hair to die for.
It's really tricky with this kind of hair as I feel you need to concentrate on the condition being the best it can be so it grows healthily, but all the products that thicken it up dry it out and aren't great for the hair.
The things that have worked for me though are

Dying your hair. I want to look after the condition though so Henna really improves this. I have found that because the henna coats and stains the hair, it builds up with each application and makes a big difference to each strand thickness. It's worth researching though to get the exact colour you want, and only use body art quality henna. Stay away from premixed henna with added this and that. This site is great for info.www.hennaforhair.com/mixes/index.html
If you don't want to go down the Henna route, I found that Daniel Field watercolours are great and made my hair very shiny and healthy looking.
www.danielfieldmailorder.co.uk/natural-hair-colour/
Nice & Easy loving care dye is also good for bulking up the hair. These are the ones that only last up to 8 washes though. NOT the semi perm or permanent ones though as over time they will ruin the condition of your hair. www.superdrug.com/Save-%C2%A31-on-selected-Nice-N-Easy/Nice%27N-Easy-Hair-Lasting-Colour-Medium-Brown-765/p/404707#.VEjM8Ge24YE

Shampoo wise, I have found that using sulfate free ones have worked the best for me. Pureology hydrate is excellent. Biorganics balancing shampoo from amazon is also great.
For conditioner I like redken extreme as I've found it doesn't weigh my hair down but gives me enough slip to avoid damage. The loreal ever riche nourishing range is also good occasionally. For intensive conditioning I like The Green People intensive conditioner. None of these make my hair lank.

Dry shampoo or texturising spray works really well, but I try not to use them too often as I feel like they dry the hair a bit much. Dove dry shampoo is actually the best I have found, and I've tried many!
Osis dust it also gives loads of volume at the roots, but I can't stand the feeling of it personally.

Adding a wave to my hair also helps it to look thicker. To do it without heat, I'll often put it in a sock bun whilst damp and then take it out a while later. Makes my hair feel much thicker as well as look it.
Hope that helps a bit!

[squoosh]

Have your ferritin levels checked OP.

[Ujjayi]

My hair was so dry, brittle and thin that I looked to be balding, with a receding hairline. The following things have helped me.

Three drops of Castor Oil massaged into dry hair at the roots and through the lengths (it's very thick & sticky and a little goes a long way). Leave overnight wrapped in towel or shower cap (I just cover my pillow with the towel, tbh). Shampoo & condition the following day. Try this twice a week. This has made a massive difference to my thin, lacklustre locks.

I would also suggest go for hydrating rather than volumising shampoos. According to my hairdresser, hair will look much fuller if it is in good condition. I use Kerastase Bain de Force.

Although you have had blood tests, how are your stress levels OP? I have found that my hair and skin suffers greatly when I am stressed.

Diet: handful of almonds daily can be beneficial (packed with Vit E). Ensure you are getting enough protein in your diet too. I thought my protein intake was fine until I tracked it on My Fitness Pal. Protein is essential for healthy cell growth, including hair cells.

I was also recommended protein treatments here on MN but haven't tried any myself yet as the other things are working well for me.

Good luck.

[aoife24]

I saw something at my hairdresser last week for encouraging thicker hair that was originally developed for people having chemo, Nioxin I think. Some of the staff raving about it.

[MrsDesperado]

Watching with interest. I've always had fine thin hair but it's got so much worse after having the DCs. My Mum is the same, and, now in her 60s, it's got so, so much worse and she is very self-conscious of it. Knowing this is likely to be my fate too is quite depressing!

I've had Florisene (Iron) and the nioxin system in my amazon basket for a few weeks whilst I decide whether to get them or not. Has anyone had success with these?

Been taking skin/hair/nail supplements, high strength fish oils and biotin for the past month but obviously too soon to tell. Will probably add the seaweed/kelp to that list too and will also check out the viviscal mentioned up thread.

Is it easy to get your ferritin checked? Do you just make an appointment at your surgery for it? (They don't question it?)

I was chatting to my beauty therapist who was waxing my legs this week and was moaning that my body hair is thick and course but my head hair was the opposite and how unfair it was. I then said it's depressing cos everyone seems to have long thick hair these days! She then confessed that her hair is actually thin but she has micro loop extensions put in - and speculated a lot of people with naturally thin hair probably do too! I had no idea! Does anyone have any thoughts on using these? I know they're expensive, but I'd love to try them once just to experience lovely swishy hair. I expect they damage your hair in the long run though.

And, really, I'd like to just get back to the hair I had pre-DC (or my pregnancy hair - which was fab!!!)

Sorry for the mega post.

[MrsAtticus]

I've been dealing with this since my early twenties, I recommend a sweeping fringe, or at least a side parting.
I also use a shampoo from a health shop with no sodium laurel sulphate, I think that has helped a lot.

[PrincessTheresaofLiechtenstein]

I have tried a few different things for my crap thinning hair - been treated for very low ferritin and am on medication for underactive thyroid. Tried supplements, Nioxin...

The only thing that I think has made a visible (but very small) difference in a patch at the front is Kerastase Densifique. Costs a fortune though.

www.feelunique.com/p/Kerastase-Densifique-Capillaire-Hair-Density-Programme-30-x-6ml

[misscph1973]

I second using shampoo/conditioner with less crap in and not washing too often. I use Faith in Nature.