Women with significant hair loss - what are your solutions?

[FairTurtle]

I really need a way to just feel good again. I've looked into hair systems and such but they're so expensive and looks like they damage your bio hair. But wearing a wig you have to remove every night just doesn't feel like an option either.

I've seen people shave the top of their heads and attach toppers etc with tape and stuff that stays on for a few weeks. Does anyone do this kind of thing? It's affecting my confidence so much and I hate going out

Oh, and all my bloods etc are fine. Iron levels and Vit D levels very good in fact. Doctor said it's probably just genetic. Tried minoxidil but didn't work

Following
its really difficult isn’t it
have you got any reason for your hair loss. I have found that increasing my iron and vit d levels have helped a bit

I have always had very fine hair. At 62 with fibromyalgia it's finer than ever. I dye it dark then use Superdrug's own brunette dry shampoo. It stops that awful visible scalp thing. Works really well for me.

I don't think there is a solution without some compromise. I have chosen to wear toppers, which I am mostly happy with and I feel they are more comfortable than a full wig. Obviously, it depends on the extent of your hair loss. I find it comfortable, and it definitely makes me feel more confident/attractive.

Following.
I have 2 autoimmune diseases so may be the medication but both my mum and nan have incredibly thin even bald in patches hair so sadly I think it's genetic.
I have had hairdressers ask me why my hair is the way it is presumably as I am 39 and a bit on the young side to have this issue. I dread to think what my hair will look like after menopause.
I have long layers put in mine and I don't keep it too long although I prefer longer hair, it just doesn't work on me. I've heard rosemary oil can be good so maybe that's worth a try.

Thanks! I am guessing you remove it before sleeping etc? I have heard of people getting them semi attached to their scalp for weeks at a time

If you can afford it, seeing a dermatologist privately would be a good idea to see if you have some form of alopecia. There may be treatments to stop or even reverse hair loss.

I mostly just wear a hat, but have a wig and when I do wear it it’s not that much of a hassle taking it on and off

Yes, they simply clip in and out. I tend to remove mine as soon as I come in, if I know I'm not going out again. I like the temporary nature of it. There are some hair pieces that can be glued which stay on for longer periods, but I don't have any experience of those. I don't know if you have watched any YT videos, but there are loads explaining the ins and outs of 'helper hair'.

I have a clip on hair topper and it is brilliant, very natural. If you can go to a shop specialising in them it is so much better, no wasting time or money trying toppers from online. You can get powder to put on thin patches of scalp or hair thickening fibres but a hair topper is my choice. Makes getting ready to go out so easy. Good luck whatever you end up with. Worth asking to test for Coeliac disease as that caused my hair loss with no other symptoms.

I wore wigs and scarves. I had alopecia for 30 years, it varied enormously. One trick I did use was putting eyeshadow on my scalp. I had dark hair and so dark brown eyeshadow meant my very white scalp didn’t show through as much.

Even though you’ve had iron levels checked. Get your ferritin levels and also your transferrin saturation levels checked.

using a Bank analogy, if your iron levels are ok, this means your “current account” is ok, but if your ferritin or transferrin binding levels are low it means your “savings” account is low, which means you use your money in your current account for the basics (food, bills) but can’t afford any treats, just like your iron levels will make sure your important cells work but you may not have a healthy storage of iron (ferritin levels) for non-essential cells to be at an optimum (ie. hair and nails).

Yeah I've had my ferritin levels checked they're very good

I have lost most of the hair on top of my head so a topper couldn't be fixed to my hair. I just wear a full wig. I am totally used to it now after many years and it actually makes me look a lot younger. The only problem really is it being very hot in warm weather.

Has anyone been prescribed spironolactone? I want to try this but not sure which doctor to go to!

@Peaceloveandhappiness can you recommend where to buy one in London by any chance? Thank you!

Sorry, don't know about London, but most salons with hair toppers will give a consultation for a small fee which will be redeemable against a purchase. Also, you could ring Morgans of Chester and see if they can recommend someone in your area. Good luck.

Google Aderans. I've had very positive experience with one of their non London branches. But they do have London ones

i’ve been shedding hair at an alarming rate for 3 years. It looks really lank and thin though no bald spots yet.

anyway I have tried lots of different shampoos and supplements which have mostly been a waste of time and money though some shampoos can def help with the illusion of thickness. However, I have to say I’m really encouraged by pumpkin seed oil that I’ve been taking for not quite a month. I noticed a significant difference in the amount of hair I was shedding within only 5-6 days. It’s too soon to see significant regrowth I think but if my hair stops falling out so much I am optimistic I can get a fair bit back in time.

anyway have a google there is some science behind it-it’s a DHT blocker and in many cases DHT (I think a hormone?) triggers hair loss.

im just using the cheapest stuff I can get on amazon. A month’s supply (I am taking 3 a day at the moment) is about £8. Am going to see if I can get it cheaper in bulk. Worth a try.

I went bald at the top during the menopause. It all grew back when I started taking vitamin and mineral tablets everyday.

@Clearinguptheclutter That sounds very hopeful and after a bit of reading it sounds like it is also good for overactive bladder, getting up in the night several times for a pee for example so that would be win/win for me lol.

Can i ask which one you have found that works for you?

@superstar63
I'd def recommend giving it a go, I just bought this stuff - there are loads of ads on facebook for branded ones but i think they're all the same.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pumpkin-Seed-Oil-Softgel-Additives/dp/B09883RWZW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8QpiSb4zHo7SpasJCCDID8CALtAFKUEsN92hpp8W-khXR3lRC9bdEusdsv0D7yQTZde3PwALA3yDKOQvrdeZs7QosoP6CqjxOMZiyX9HyBeeAGGduvOkGFNeL5a2mqdKovTSk3cJUJmwREPRFPhFRYqxZBgqd5wzL_K0PPH11qEdm8H1PjSqFBPVFLJGduhTRdBUGJrfSQIfLfuCEqeO4NS-JxVdknzzquHoc-dcqgLJNEgmae_2_hq6tmVDYAWrJ0HbIvF17v0UIWeZkQsiAqR0P5BxFdLU2mGOlKOtrmM.xYEsXOo3JAVHBLm3XfL8rgYg18hmkqc5QaEnSGjoyuo&dib_tag=se&keywords=pumpkin+seed+oil&qid=1744101835&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

No side effects for me whatsoever. It's only been three and a half weeks but I think this morning i can see the beginings of tufty bits coming through which I couldn't be happier about! So much less shedding. And results (for me at least) within a week.

as an aside I'm really hacked off with all the adverts I'm getting on social media for "magic formulas" that seem to promise a full head of shoulder length hair in six weeks. Yeah right. It's a right battle trying to deal with hair loss. Nothing is magic, some things will work for some people. Lots of it has no clinical proof or science behind it or if they do it's dubious at best, they are praying on women with very slow self esteem.

Thank you @Clearinguptheclutter that was the one I was looking at on Amazon so will give them a go, some people say they are big to swallow but they are cheap enough and worth a try so thanks.

I have been using Rosemary oil on my hair and biotin etc. and think there is some growth as i have a halo of hair but just a question of time to see if it breaks off or not as that is what seems to happen in the past. Unfortunately, it is a long drawn out process to see if anything works.

Yes they are big to swallow but you’ll get used to it, big mouthful of water works for me