Thinning hair - recommendations please!

[tactum]

Hi, please tell me what shampoos/products you have found work on menopausal hair. My hair literally used to be my crowning glory - it was my 'thing'. Now it's lost probably over half it's thickness and I dread brushing it as it's falling out.

I've had blood tests and it's not a thyroid problem - my iron is at the low end of normal so I've started iron tablets and also HRT. I've also just started on antidepressants and have had a lot of family and personal health stress this year, so all together there's a LOT going on!!

It could be menopause, stress or a combination of the two, but in the meantime what products work for you and make it feel a bit fuller and not so brittle?

Thanks in advance

After having Covid I found Weleda hair tonic quite effective, along with a good multivitamin with Biotin.

And make sure you’re eating enough protein.

My partner has seen some regrowth using the wasabi shampoo from lush x

I’ve started taking collagen as a trial, to see if it made any difference really to skin/hair/nails, not for any specific reason.

I was quite taken aback that my hair was shedding less even though my shedding was not excessive anyway.

It’s noticeable when I condition my hair and there are fewer strands on my hands and I noticed the difference within a few days.

I use Dose & Co marine collagen powder, 2 teaspoons in my coffee every morning.

Also, I do eat quite a lot of protein (somewhere between 80 - 110g a day) as I lift heavy. The Dose & Co collagen powder delivers 10g of protein in one serving.

Could it be Covid related? I’ve had a lot of extra hair fall, starting about three months after having it and going on for several weeks each time. My hair is noticeably thinner now. I felt really ill the first time, but the second infection was only like a mild cold. Yet the hair still fell like mad afterwards. I dread catching it for a third time. I’ll be half bald. 😢

Yes it could be covid I suppose - got it for the second time last July (not poorly at all), and now when I look back at pics from Oct onwards it's definitely thinner, even tho I didn't notice at the time!

I've already ordered a collagen supplement, thanks , so that sounds hopeful. I'm vegetarian, but do follow an healthy diet - portions of beans/lentils and quorn every day plus a fair amount of dairy.

I'll have a look at the products suggested, thanks.

My GP and hairdresser both said that basically, you're new best friend should be biotin.

Take a good biotin supplement, worth paying a bit more and getting a 'real' one from a Holland & Barret type shop, as opposed to one of the supermarket/celeb endorsed ones.

Also, pantene have a range of rose shampoo with biotin. It's a decent price, but really effective.

I've been using that shampoo and taking the supplements and I've noticed a real improvement.

I tried hormones (COC) but felt that made it worse if anything so I started using minoxidil lotion 5% (the mens version can be bought without prescription) about 4 months ago after suddenly experiencing a lot of shedding and feeling like my scalp was becoming very visible (damn harsh over head lights at mirrors!)

I feel moxonidil has stopped the shedding and that I'm starting to see a benefit. I only use it at my hairline/ crown where I felt it was worst / most visible. I also started taking iron tablets so can't be 100% sure it's just the minoxidil working.