Hair breaking/falling out - HELP!

[NotdeadyetBOING]

In the interests of full disclosure I am late forties (GAAAAAAAHHHHH). Hair definitely breaking loads and coming out when I brush it. I get that this is probably just perimenopause related stuff, but doesn't mean I have to like it….. Can anyone recommend any products/supplements/lifestyle changes that might help??? Or do I just have to cut it short and embrace fleeces and elasto-pants.

[ShesAStar]

I'm in my late 30s and had the same problem. I went and saw a top hairdresser who said it was because I had kept dying it all over for so long. She recommended I just dye the roots and let the ends recover. This was about five months ago and my hair has improved beyond belief. It's stopped falling out and has even become shiny again.

I know this might not apply to you but thought I'd mention it in case.

[ShesAStar]

And also should mention there is never a problem big enough that means it's okay to embrace fleeces or elasto-pants

[TheSpottedZebra]

Is it gradual or sudden?

My hair suddenly started falling out a lot - turns out I was quite anaemic. I take supplements mow and it's definitely falling out less. But now I have a delightful halo of frizz where I have loads of new, short hair growing through.

[Dowser]

What supplements do you take?

[thelaundryfairy]

Try to brush and comb very gently. You probably need to brush or comb less than you do - sometimes combing through with your fingers is enough. Also let your hair dry before you brush it and if you must comb it when wet/damp, use a really wide toothed comb and go very gently.

Have you tried any of the anti-breakage shampoos? There is a L´Oréal one I´ve seen advertised by Jennifer López and I think there are others on the market too.

I agree with the previous poster who recommend giving your hair a break from dye, also you could try reducing your hair´s exposure to heat. Intensive conditioning masks like the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle range could also help reduce the breakage?

Lastly, I might be wrong but I think autumn is the season when our hair falls out the most - ?

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and reminder that no problem is big enough to warrant fleeces and elasto-slacks. I take a strange hotchpotch of supplements (immeden, or whatever that stuff is Christy Turlington advertises, an SSRI, some tablet for HRT, cod liver oil, Vit D and some sort of multivit).

Change is gradual-ish, but markedly worse over past 4 months or so.

If I stop dying my hair it will go GREY in which case we can refer back to earlier comments about fleeces

I am extremely lazy so tend not to use dryers/straighteners etc. much.

Wondering about the iron/anaemia thing .Unlikely ,but not impossible and anything worth a try.

I have started waiting for my hair to dry before brushing (and then doing so v. gently), but tricky to let it sit there in wet, matted, frizzy state for ages.

If oestrogen/menopause related, then I would have thought the HRT would offset it, no?

[thelaundryfairy]

A good iron supplement is Spatone from Boots (and no doubt elsewhere), take a sachet in a small glass of orange juice each morning. Also make sure you are not depleting your iron levels by drinking too much tea (this is a crass non-scientific generalisation, but if you´re a big tea drinker look into it as it can reduce your iron level).

Can you alter your daily routine so that you shower at a different time and it´s less of a bother to be waiting for your hair to dry?

As a previous poster mentioned, can you dye just the roots of your hair instead of all of the hair, to reduce overall damage? (If you´re not doing this already).

[burnishedsilver]

Hair and nail vitamins can make a massive difference.

[Beautifullymixed]

Try biotin. Brilliant for nails and hair. I get mine from amazon (incite nutrition) - can't remember how to do links
Read up about it, my hair has grown a lot since taking it, and got some for mum for xmas.

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Going to Google it NOW!!!!

[Beautifullymixed]

Bet you buy it!

I have bitten my nails for thirty years, and I'm now trying to grow them, they are so hard and strong. So excited.
I didn't break out in spots, which was a surprise, as they normally don't need an excuse to plague me. My dd said she grew a moustache but I had no problem. Just thicker, longer hair.

Hope it works for you!

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Blimey - not sure I want to risk a tache….. !!

[Cattington]

I've always had thin/fine hair but it got thinner/breakier and really falling out after I started HRT a few years ago. It got so bad my gp referred me to a dermatologist who said while my iron level was ok in terms of anaemia, it wasn't at a level to support hair growth. She said it needed to be as near to 100 as poss. Mine was at 35 or something simiilar. She prescribed ferrous fumerate 120mg tabs twice a day. My vit d level was also low and GP also gave me a supplement. Both levels went up over a year and my hair isn't any thicker but it doesn't fall out as much and isn't breaking off. It was so bad i was contemplating wearing a wig/scarf or something. Really upsetting.
So I would definitely recommend getting your iron, thyroid and vit d levels tested and even if GP says iron is normal you could ask for tablets because of your hair.

I also take biotin and silica tabs from Holland & Barratt. Don't know how much they have contributed to improvement.

[Cattington]

Oh and forgot to say, apparently hair loss is a side effect of HRT. Not a common one, but it happens. The dermatologist said maybe I could come off it if it was really bothering me. I'm gradually reducing the dose now as I think I'm (hopefully) over the worst of the constant hot flushes etc, and it will be interesting to see if hair improves more.

[NotdeadyetBOING]

That is VERY interesting, but somehow surprising. I assumed HRT would prevent hair loss rather than exacerbate it. Wonder if some types have that effect and others not - so I could switch….. Really helpful, many thanks Cattington

[Cattington]

Yes, I expected my hair to be the best it had ever been on HRT! Was so surprised (and not at all happy) when it was dropping out and breaking. Was really surprised when dermatologist said it can be a lesser known said effect if the HRT (I'm on Elleste Duet 2mg -) that it falls out more

[Beautifullymixed]

Yes, I also take vitamins D3, iron and B vitamins too.
But........was hotfooting it to the doctors in the New Year to try and get some HRT. Although I'm only 43, the hot flushes, irritability, flooding and sleeplessness are debilitating. But, I don't want to loose my hair!!!!
Why is it a choice??

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Oh Beautifully, I refuse to believe there isn't a solution….. For me it was the irritability or more accurately wanting to murder pretty much everyone was the main factor.

Surely there must be either a) a type of HRT that doesn't have that side effect or b) some offsetting action one can take (i.e. go crazy on supplements or similar). Am going to Google furiously today.

[Cattington]

I didn't mean to scare anyone about HRT. The dermatologist said it was a RARE side effect of HRT. And I seem to be particularly sensitive to a lot of drugs and get lots of unusual side effects to stuff generally. I totally wouldn't let the potential of hair loss stop you taking it to relieve the horrid flushes etc. I don't know anyone else who has had this issue on it.