Hair thinning terribly. Shampoo suggestions?

[LunaDeBallona]

I’m 50 something, with thinning hair especially at front.
Im on HRT.
Im horrified.
Ive always had fine hair but this is now getting frightening.
Ive been using Plantur shampoo & conditioner for 6 months and I think its made a bit of a difference - but I think I need more help!

My Facebook advertising is full of shampoos for thinning hair - but some seem quite expensive (Champo) and the reviews are full of 5 star and one star, and frankly I don’t trust any of them anymore.
So, lovely MN ladies of a certain age - can you reccomend any shampoos? And any natural supplements? The type you can get from Holland and Barrett would be wonderful.

Rosemary oil is good for hair growth.

You can’t use it neat though, I mix a few drops in with my normal shampoo and leave it on my scalp for a few minutes before washing off.

My hair is a bit better than it was.

Ask your GP for blood tests to investigate your thyroid and iron levels.

I’ve been using rosemary hair tonic by weleda and it’s nice and doesn’t make hair oily. It does help eventually.

but more importantly I’ve been taking biotin tablets for the last 7 months or so. My hair loss suddenly reduced dramatically after 6 months. I even posted about it on mumsnet such was my shock. It’s not expensive and seems to be worth a try (I am 51 and suffering the same issues - or was).

www.amazon.co.uk/Weleda-Revitalising-Hair-Tonic-100ml/dp/B00ANYARFG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3JH7DNX1NSSIG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.J1ZPIM6C1uOXVZz-F0HYkGlSaxxPazrNhCYAiEaarWpw-d8pT65rLk0nxatuJjbCDOmI0NRcdbK5rEFgkj5B_MSr1O1-70pqujEnSnPmd3L3uDI2dYAARN_cPnXZG9ElNCrq9p3JPxoMZEihZ_0lQg7KMZFDhYH5Q1TNfzvM0xHsIhG1W5IoHLRbYmJGOEmUSK8zTNSWEaQM8P84G8PHYg.JiGbKIl11j5svJz7n_NXMQ9SGuCdbc4ikRPRoEzc1tU&dib_tag=se&keywords=rosemary+weleda&qid=1754897833&sprefix=rosemary+weleda%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-3

Hairburst has really improved my hair. I take Biotin.

Following in desperation and despair. I found myself googling turbans last night and wondering if I could get away with a “turban, wacky earrings, big art teacher necklace” style. Used to have lovely hair.

Have a look into Hair&Me. It’s the same people that do Skin&Me. It’s prescription strength minoxidil I think. I haven’t used it myself but a colleague has had good results with it.

Mid forties and feel your pain, getting a bit obsessed about looking at my thinning parting! I am upping my iron and protein intake. Already take collagen. Considering pumpkin seed oil capsules to see if they work. Hair thinning is v stressful.

I also found my hair thinning and have found it better since taking collagen supplements. Also, spoke to a dermatologist who specialises in scalps recently (not about my hair thinning) and asked her about red light treatment and she confirmed there is evidence it can help female pattern hair loss. Might be worth a try, although i appreciate the outlay is not cheap…

Hi @Pineapplesunshine - can I ask what collagen you use? Thanks

I had this problem my hair was starting to get very thin at the front at the hair line I'm 59. Rosemary oil did help Also Nioxin shampoo and conditioner is very good my daughter recommended it she is a hairdresser. Being very gentle when brushing at the front. It is a lot better now.

I had thinning hair due to menopause and then hormone therapy for breast cancer. I’ve used Nioxin anti hair loss serum for two years and my hair is much thicker. It really works.

Hiya, of course. I use absolute collagen. I actually started it for my skin and achey joints, but found it helped my thinning hair too

I use Watermans Grow Me shampoo and conditioner - I don't need it all the time now because it seems to have evened out but I was going through a stage where I seem to be shedding more hair than usual and I've always shed quite a lot Luckily I have a lot of hair so it wasn't too noticeable to anybody else.

I follow a woman on instagram called the facial cupping expert And she uses a 7 star plumber which is supposed to encourage her growth.https://sereniteskin.com/pages/needle-tapping

I tried Absolute Collagen for 6+ months but unfortunately the only difference it made was to my bank account. 🤦‍♀️

However the Kerastase Genesis range has been a huge help. I started just using the serum but now I use the shampoo and conditioner too and there’s been a visible improvement. It was recommended to me by my hairdresser (first time in 25 years that he’s even recommended anything!)

Ive recently started taking Hair & Me’s minoxidil. I take it in tablet form. It’s a bit early to be certain if there’s any improvement but it looks promising.

My hair was thinning. COVID lockdown helped. I'd already stopped using hair colourants because they stung. All I did was wash every five days, air dry, it recovered . Now unless I'm going somewhere I stick to the regime. I'm completely grey now with thick hair.

I would go to the GP for testing though.

Thank you so much to everyone who has commented.
My main issue is that there are so many products nd so many women who say ‘This is great’ - which is invariably rolled by a number of women who say ‘it’s crap, did nothing for me’.
I suppose it’s hot and miss - what works for some might not work for others,
Does anybody know if there’s such a thing as a product that coats your hair to make it thicker, but not greasy like a serum? Or am I just wishfully thinking?

Gosh, I wish I could have my lovely 80s hair back.
Im going to write a book called ‘It’s shit getting old - things a woman needs to know’!!

I tried Champo, very expensive and didn’t seem to help.
I’ve tried most other things suggested without much success.

Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. There are, I think, 4 grades depending on whether, for example, your hair is coloured.
They also do a product called Sandalor which reduces hair loss by improving the ‘grip’ of hair follicles. This worked for me.
I also take Biotin and my nails are better so I think they will have helped my hair.
A good cut can make your hair look thicker even if it isn’t.

Well if you keep on throwing dyes at it, straighten, curl, every day it will rebel when you get older. It's a bit like my basil, gentle neglect, pinch out the leaves for cooking but don't shock it.

My great granny was 80 plus. Hair down to mid back. Washed in Irish rainwater and gently teased into a bun it was beautiful. I recall she used eggs to feed it.

I do wonder about our water these days. Friends who stay with us rave about our Welsh water when they wash their hair.

I've just started using the pantene menopause range and my hair definitely feels thicker. I got it from amazon and it wasn't expensive.

I second getting iron and thyroid checked.

Another Nioxin recommendation, been using it for 18 mths my hairdressers can really see the thickness.
unfortunately once the hair folicle goes you can’t do anything about that.
Nioxin really makes my thin hair look and feel thicker.
Not nice op for us women I understand how you feel.

I think my follicles are gone 😭

My hair is just getting thinner and thinner. I had what a dermatologist thought was a BCC biopsied, and the pathology came back with "inflamed follicles".

I always had a sensitive scalp, and use Body Shop Ginger Shampoo and occasionally Nizoral. With some Betnovate thrown in for good measure when I get eczema flare ups which comes when my scalp gets sweaty.

I think I am a lost cause. I was in HRT, no difference, take Biotin, but my nails have always been great, so I don't think that's an issue..... Trying Evening Primrose as that helped when I was younger, and Rosemary Oil and massage.

You have my heartfelt sympathies.

I am trying out 50's style scarves ala The Durrells, looking quite good 😊

I’m not of a certain age but my hair started falling out mainly due to stress. I tried so many (some with biotin which made it feel thicker but seem to just knot your hair when brushing and end up pulling out more anyway!) I looked for some sulfate-free which helped massively without breaking the bank. My favourites are Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend which were around £8.50 each for shampoo and conditioner, and the rosemary OGX which was around £9.00 on offer. I’m currently using the OGX lightweight repair which is also fine. All can be bought in the supermarket. Once I started using them, my hair stopped falling out. As soon as I switch back to sulfate it starts again within a few days. Sure it won’t work for everyone but it helped for me.

The only thing that has really been proven to work is Minoxidil - the most common brand is Regaine scalp foam.

It will work while you're using it but the new hair will fall out again if you stop so it is a commitment!