Thinning hair, SO upsetting

[Whereismyjoiedevivre]

Despite taking HRT my hair is noticeably thinner than a few months ago and totally different in texture from a few years ago. I really notice it when I tie it back very loosely, there’s so much less in the ponytail 😭

Please can you wise women recommend a genuine product that stimulates new growth and stops the shedding? Should I go to the GP? I’m willing to spend some money on this but only if I can be confident that it’ll work.

Hopeful thanks.

Iron and vitamin B complex

I lost a lot of hair in peri and got a weave for thickness before I lost too much. It's growing back thankfully.

As well as low iron, low vitamin D or an underactive thyroid could cause hair loss. Easy to check with a blood test.

I’m really pleased to get so many helpful responses! Thank you all very much.

Just to add something else it (which I came across from that Instagram doctor previously mentioned) is that big Current Body LED hair helmet thing. I’ve been using it postpartum for about 12 weeks now and definitely feels like my hair is thicker. Results are meant to be after 16 weeks.

You could try a NMN supplement?

What’s this please?

I've tried absolutely everything for my thin hair since it started thinning in perimenopause but nothing helped.
I now wear hair toppers, they have given me back my confidence, I wouldn't be without them.

This article tells you a little about NMN supplementation.

I've started taking it recently and it's had a very positive effect on many areas of my life - energy, sleep, focus, skin and hair.

www.my-hair.uk/guides/nmn-hair-growth

Could you recommend any particular brand?

This is something that I've been thinking about recently but I do not know where to start looking. Would prefer recommendations to help narrow it down a bit.

This is only for male patterned baldness I believe.

Place marking

Nope. https://www.regaine.co.uk/products/women

I’m taking biotin and collagen. Links below. I’ve been doing this 2 months now and I think I’m brushing out slight less hair than before. My doctor suggested the collagen. I take a 5g spoonful of the collagen in my coffee, no taste.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B4BBND37?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_4&amp=&crid=3PQBX85NM4G73&amp=&sprefix=anci

https://amzn.eu/d/egynyJd

Ohhh interesting!! I am definitely going bald so thanks :)

Iron levels need to be above 70 and at least 50

No it’s not. It can work on female pattern as well as some other kinds of female hair loss. Doesn’t work for everyone and if you do achieve any regrowth it will stop and go back to how it was if you stop using the minoxidil.

I started losing my hair the same year my periods stopped. It may have been shedding a little during peri but I don’t think so. But when I hit menopause it was like it was leaping off my head.

I went to the GP in desperation and she suggested minoxidil, plus I’d heard that HRT could both help or hinder re hair loss so didn’t know what to do. It got to the stage where I could see right through to my scalp from the front of my hair so I bit the bullet and took both the monoxidil and began the HRT. I’d been having hot flashes for a couple of years but it was only the hair loss that spurred me on to take the HRT.

Within months of taking that and using Regaine foam, I started to get some regrowth around my temples and the shedding really slowed down. I relaxed a bit and breathed a sigh of relief, but then a year later my hair started to shed again really badly. I was referred to the dermatologist/trichologist because I was really distressed about it. They took one look and said it’s female pattern hair loss and just to keep using the Regaine or to see a specialist because the NHS doesn’t treat FP - I suppose because so many women go through it. oh, they did blood tests but nothing out of the ordinary.

My hair is still shedding quite badly but I have persistent regrowth at the front, just not on top of my scalp. It is really distressing so I empathise with everyone else going through it.

Now I’m in the position where I’m not sure which thing has helped my hair: the minoxidil or the HRT because I started them both the same day and have continued using them in conjunction with each other. But I also don’t know if either is now making the shedding worse and I’m far too frightened of going completely bald to stop either of them!

I strongly suspect I’ll end up using toppers like a PP. I worry a bit with the toppers that they’ll pull more hair out of my scalp because they attach with kind of clips/comb type things?

Anyway, OP. I hope you find something of use from this long, rambling post.

One really good thing about using HRT, though - from day one, my hot flashes stopped. Completely.

I use collagen and biotin - I have no idea which has worked but I now have a lot of new hair growth and strong nails (at 53, this is the first time I've had to buy a nail file and shape my nails as they've always broken and flaked off before). As I say I don't know which worked so I'm now planning on taking both forever 😬

Skin+me have just launched this: https://www.hairandme.com

Really interesting to read, and sympathies with all. I've always had fine hair but it’s never been thin. I'm well post-menopause at 65 (never been on HRT, though) and I've probably been having a degree of hair getting gradually thinner in a normal-ageing way for a few years now, but something went dramatically weird a few months back when my hair just seemed to go completely crazy over a period of a couple of weeks.

Since then it’s been like the hair I’ve known all my life has gone forever. It's been totally unmanageable, about half the volume it was before, and the amount of scalp I can see is worrying. I’ve always been very keen on keeping my hair looking as good as possible so I’ve tried loads of products and it’s probably slightly better since using a hear-protecting spray to dry, taking Perfectil Max every day and also massaging rosemary oil into the scalp.

I'd considered Regaine but I’m a bit put off by the fact that any improvement just stops once you stop using it. I’m also really surprised by how upset I am about it all.

Looks interesting, thank you!!!

DirtyDensDog LizzieSiddal

I made so many mistakes when I first purchased my toppers but have found some great suppliers and sources over the years and have it down to a fine art these days.

My most favoured supplier in the UK is Perfect Fringe (she has a YouTube channel), her toppers are the best I have ever had (had 4 so far), I always opt for silk part and human hair toppers as they look the most natural. Sadly though her prices have shot up, I just can not afford another atm.
However, I have purchased from a lady who runs a company called Dream Hair by Prestige (she showcases on Tik Tok and IG), her prices are reasonable and the toppers are good quality.

Outside of the UK I have purchased a topper from Uniwigs, they are a well-know US site and their toppers are good value. But if you just want to experiment with toppers for a while before making any expensive purchases you can actually get some ok standard toppers from Shein, not very ethical I know but I do have 2 Shein toppers as my standby ones and they really are not too bad quality wise.

If you look on YouTube I recommend watching Lacie Rodriguez tutorials, she gives really helpful tips and advice.

Whatever you do, do not purchase from a company called Beautiful Betsy in the UK, my last topper came from there, it cost £300 and within a month it became like matted barbie doll hair (I am very careful with my helper hair). I am pretty certain it's not human hair at all.

@WearsBlackEatsChocolateAvoidsPeople do you find the toppers pull any hair out when you use them? I’ve only seen them with little clips or comb attachments. Plus how do they stay on if you’re really thin on top!

Has anyone on here tried hair fibers?

@ConstantlyFuriosa - yes, I used them back when my hair was very thin, and I'd really recommend them. They really DO make your hair look thicker and cover any visible scalp. Think they fibres cling to any hair that's present and just bulk it up. It's almost magical. I still have a lot in the bathroom cupboard in case I need it in future!