To think that hair thining in 30/40's is common, but our mothers' considered themselves too old to care by then so never thought to prepare us for it?

[Justheretogiveaviewfrommyworld]

I guess I'm asking for reassurance more than anything else really. I am mid 40's but since I was 30 (had my kids at 19 &23) my hair started to thin and curl noticeably and become, well, scraggly for want of a more elegant word. Now, there are funny (strange, not ha ha) bald patches on my crown, parting and near the front. It makes me feel quite low to be honest. Never been much of a looker and can't and never have been able to afford expensive clothes and make up, also had to use food banks for a bit over the years.

Anyway what made me ask my question was, I was at work and the TV was on and there was that advert for the green anti hair loss shampoo in women and it set me thinking that it must be quite a wide spread thing, but afaik no-one really talks about it and I never see women in the media with similar issues, unless alopecia like Gayle Porter. My Mum never talked about it. Anyone else wondering...

I am over 60, my hair is thinking. I am still not too old to care. Odd to think someone in their 30s in the 70s or 80s would view themselves that way.

This has happened to me. My hairdresser sent me to the GP and I was diagnosed with anemia. Have been taken iron plus "perfectil for hair" supplements and hair has stopped falling out in clumps in the shower. I even have a few whispy bits of regrowth now. I don't think you should just accept it as inevitable!!

I started using Alpecin double action when in early 30s. It actually worked. I could see new growth and my hair git bit better. The latter might be caused by having total of 4 products to go through so good 20 min (with waits) washing regime.

I did colour them quite brutally incl stripping colour for over 15 years so they need all the help they can get...

I do agree with PP that with bald patches you should visit gp. My classmate had bold patches at high school... It turned out to be cluser of something (white blood cells I think?)

My hair thins when I have low (but not treatable) ferritin. Generally, I've got loads at 37 and four kids.

As for generations above me, my mum still has the layering scissors through hers and my gran at 90 was still glamourous with curlers in every night.

My hairs as thick as its always been (now 50) and my Mum who is in her 70s has really thick hair too

I don't think that's normal know. Get your GP to check your iron (including your ferritin) and your thyroid. Other low vits can also cause hair loss. Ideally you want most vitamins to be optimal not just in range. So you are generally looking for the levels to be mid range. You can ask fur a copy of your results (they are your data they have to give them to you). You want the results with the reference ranges.

Incidentally I also read today that l-lysine can help with hair loss, but it also seems to raise ferritin levels so not sure if it's a separate benefit or as a product of that.

Low ferritin (below 50) can cause Anaemia like symptoms (incl hairloss) so don't be fobbed off with "it's normal for menstruating women to have low ferritin" crap. Yes it's not unusual but it doesn't mean it doesn't cause symptoms. I'll link to a couple of relevant pages/studies below if I can find them.

www.healthline.com/health/ferritin-and-hair-loss#takeaway

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414597/

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414597/

I'm 44 and went through menopause at 36. My hair is fine. Maybe not quite as shiny as it used to be but still thick and long.

My dd is 17 and has had patchy hair loss, with noticeable bald patches. She has low ferritin and low b12 which is now being treated.

Don't just assume it's due to age.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12190640/

See the ferritin thing has me interested because when I was tested during pregnancy it was ridiculously low - below 5. I might have to look into it

Also just came across this which you might find helpful - in particular the table that you find if you scroll down...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/

How can I get ferritin and vitamins levels checked without bothering the doc? I went a few years ago and was just told everything was fine. Don't want to bother them again and happy to pay!

You can buy blood tests online. However, the reference ranges aren't always 100% and you can still have symptoms if you're at the bottom end of the scale. You could perhaps ask to get a set of check up blood tests via your practice nurse, then get the numbers and if you're just "ok" make your own decision on supplements.

OP go to the GP, you aren't wasting their time, it could be a sign of an underlying issue.

Mine was Vit B and a few others. I take a range of supplements and have Vit B injections.

During the Peri-Menopause and post Menopause, hair loss is common. It's the change in hormones.

That's why short perms were so popular. A bit of backcombing and the bald patch was covered.