Feeling crap about my thin hair. Any thin hair to thick hair stories to cheer me up??

[u32ng]

My hair is thin and I have a really noticeable area of scalp on the crown of my head. Putting my hair up into even a simple ponytail is like a game of 'hide my scalp'

Anyway, I'm feeling a bit crap about it today and was wondering if anyone has managed to grow more hair so it's a bit thicker? (I'm taking iron supplements and hoping that maybe has an effect??)

What's wrong with sodium laurel sulphate and what's bad about washing too often? If I don't wash every day my hair is a greaseball

I could have written this too. Mine is constantly falling out, everytime I run my fingers through, brush, it's horrid. Much thinner than it was two years ago, and the hardest thing is the texture has changed, too really frizzy and whispy/flyaway/dry. Does anyone have any miracle suggestions to calm the frizz (I think I am quite wavy now)?

Naice
I recently bought Philip Kingsley leave in spray (daily damage defence) and blow dry brush which prevents tugging and breaking - I see a good improvement with using them. I got the Elastisizer and hair wrap free which I also really like.
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Have you looked at Philip Kingsley's website, there is lots of advice about nutrition and hair care.

I had thinning hair on top (post menopause) and I have been to his clinic and follow his treatment plan. It is not cheap, but for me it works. I don't have thick, thick hair, but I definitely have an average head of hair all over with no see through bit on top. I see one of his advisors as it cheaper than appointments with either him or one of the top advisors. I have been going for the last 2 1/2 years and noticed the difference within 6 months.

Disclaimer - I do not work for PK and he is not a relation either.

The main ingredients of Elastisizer are Castor oil & olive oil but it also contains silicones - which are considered bad for the hair, no? I already use castor oil as a treatment (see upthread) so for those who want a natural approach that might be a way forward?

Am definitely interested in the blowdry brush though.

That's great to hear a positive outcome Chottie, are you able to outline the treatment plan you've been following?

Will check out his website. Thanks!

My hair is very thin and I have a noticeable patch at the front that I could count the hair that is left

I've tried thickening shampoo's etc and I didn't like how they left my hair feeling. I've recently started using the babyliss big hair and it's great, my hair looks so much thicker.

All my family apart from my dad have lovely thick hair and I definitely get mine from my dad's side.

I use a round brush from Boots* that, in conjunction with a heat protect spray, I use Tony&Guy, works .

The spray has the effect of making the hair slippery, and the brush just runs effortlessly through with no snagging or tugging. That really gives the hair volume and shine.

*I actually have two, one large, one small diameter.

Just to say if anyone is thinking of buying the Philip Kingsley brushes or hair products, Look Fantastic has a 20% off code today. Code is FALLBACK

Regaine is pretty much the only product on the market with proven results but it doesn't work for everyone. I think you have to know if you have female pattern baldness which is genetic or something medically wrong, like thyroid or iron issues or stress etc. if you have fmp then it's supposed to work for 8 out of 10. Once you start using it, then you need to use morning and night for life. I've been using the female strength for a while but not seeing an improvement so gone to make strength. There's meant to be a higher risk of facial hair for women but tbh mine is no worse and I can't tell if it is doing anything on top either. Not sure if I have been using it long enough. I did see a dermatologist before making this leap. He wasn't sure but seemed to think it is fmp as my mum and nan had thinning hair and now my sister is too. I wear my hair on a side parting and then nanogen hair fibres to thicken up and disguise my thin parting. As far as I can tell it is pretty realistic. I apply it under a v strong light in the bathroom. I'm 42 and I only noticed it 2 years ago. It coincided with getting the mirena coil. I don't know if that is the cause but the fact that my mum and nan had it make me doubtful and also I can't stand the thought of having horrific periods again, if I had it removed but I hate my hair. I think I get away with it not looking too obvious for now, but it's hard to know what people can really see. Have a?ways been quite vain and image conscious so it's hard.

Sorry that was male strength not make strength.

MrsDesperado I had a meeting in the London Clinic and an examination and blood test. I was diagnosed with fpb. I had suffered from hair loss in the past (stress after DM died) and my hair grew back then, but this time post menopause, it had not grown back. I was losing hair on the top of my head and it was not being replaced by regrowth.

I use a scalp treatment once a week and put drops on the top area on my head every evening and massage them in. It takes a couple of minutes, no more. I also take PK hair vitamin tablets every day. I go to the clinic once a year for a check up and blood test. The hair did not regrow overnight, but within a few months I could see some little downy fluff growing between the hairs on the thinning area of my head. This grew and thickened and now I would say I have an average head of hair.

I was told of PK on another thread on another forum. I have been using the drops for about 2.5 years now. The only downside is the cost.

Thanks for the code Beewooohooove

OP, I know exactly how you feel. My hair is very fine and noticeably thinner on top, scalp very obvious

I look at other women's hair with envy and like another poster said, if only my hair could be as thick as when I was pregnant - it was amazing!

I have tried various 'remedies' but nothing successful yet, iron levels ok. Currently taking silica as read somewhere that can help .......

Read an article about Lucinda Ellery Hair Loss Consultancy recently which seems very good but as usual everything offered costs a fortune!

I am convinced I will need a wig in a few years time, I am 47 now ......

My hair is very thin too.
I've been using Big shampoo from Lush as well as Roots which is a mask designed for thin and fine hair. It does give my hair more of a lift.

I don't know if this will cheer you up but I sat in the hairdressers for four hours today having my ridiculous hair chopped and thinned out. Naturally thick hair isn't all it's cracked up to be: highlights take hours, washing & drying takes hours, most styles look triangular or enormous. Most mornings I wake up hot, sweaty and feel like I'm tangled up in it all (hopefully the new chop will help there). It still manages to be flyaway, takes ages to detangle and I've spent thousands on products to tame/sleekify/minimise it. I've often thought I'd much rather have thin hair and fake it than this unmanageable mane. Grass is always greener I guess.

I had very thin hair. Now it (looks) lovely and thick. I got it chopped off in to a bob (no choice-it was in appalling condition). Now I use fibrology- loreal elvive and have to wash and dry my hair with a big round metal vent brush everyday. People often say that they couldn't be bothered to wash and dry it everyday, but my hair is so fine/thin it dries really quickly and I used to spend double the time desperately trying to get my thin hair to look nicer. I also use a heat protector now. I think because I'm not pulling it about so much, because I don't use straighteners to create volume anymore and because I use the heat protector, it isn't breaking- so it is still getting thicker. Finally, I got highlights. It's because I'm going so grey but it has def added to the effect of depth/volume. In a happy hair place now but resigned to never having longer than chin length hair.

I could have written that likklemum, all except for the Fibrology bit, I use Tony&Guy for fine hair, but I'm happy with it.

I really think that a good cut and colour/highlights helps to give texture and depth. I keep mine chin length too, anything much longer has the effect of pulling it down and, on me it draws attention to the thinness of my hair

I know a lot of people in our boat are embarressed about their hair, but don't be, do the best you can for yourself ladies, you hairdresser is your friend.

MrsDesperado, SLS is very harsh. Just google SLS hair. Also, if you wash your hair every day, that could be why it's greasy, your scalp is producing more oil to make up for the oil you just washed away. You can compare it to the oil cleansing method for skin - many people stop having oily, greay skin when they start using oil on the skin. So if you massage your scalp with oil and leave it in for a whilte or over night and then wash, you should see improvements. Use a mild shampoo without SLS. I no longer have dandruff.

That's really interesting misscph1973 - I actually do do the oil cleansing method on my face and it never occurred to me to put oil on my scalp to stop it getting so greasy. Will definitely try that! Am off to google sls hair too. Just about to run out of shampoo so this is good timing.

Thank you Chottie for coming back and sharing your method. I'm really pleased that you got to the bottom of why your hair had thinned and it's brilliant that you have been able to remedy it. I love hearing such a positive stories, it gives me a lot of hope!

MsJupiter It doesn't massively help me, but I really do have sympathy for you. It's like anything at the extreme ends: there's downsides people at the other end maybe don't realise. It's probably expensive for you too I'd imagine?

I just want enough hair so that my scalp isn't so visible!

Been some really interesting posts. I did get my iron/ferritin levels checked in the last few months and a still taking iron tablets I've got left. Is hard tho as docs won't give me any more as I'm now within 'normal' range (ferritin 63 at last blood test), but Ibread somewhere that it needs to be about 70 for a few months before hair decides to grow in. So I'll keep on with that as long as the tabs last and then have to get some Floradix or something. I'm hoping it's just a medical thing rather than fpb. Want to go to docs about it but I'm worried I'll get the brush off and be regarded as vain. I don't need to have amazing hair - just normal hair.

I'm using fancy Kerastase shampoo/conditioner just now but think I will check out the loreal one.

Also my hair is too long I realise (a couple of inches below collar bone). So will get a chop. I just despair at getting my hair shorter as I don't really think I suit shorter hair & have hated the last 2 shorter cuts I got. Some bravery needed I think!

I like the look of the supplements (viviscal was it??) but my oh my its expensive . So bit disappointed as that isn't really an option!

Try the stimulating range from Fushi!! The stimulator lotion, stimulator herbal shampoo and stimulate & balance conditioner, the best stuff i've ever tried!

U32g look into nanogen hair fibres if you are concerned about scalp showing. A months supply lasts me for 4 months probably. I don't use it all over, just on the part and it is amazing. It wouldn't work for huge patches of scalp on show but is great for 'wide parts.' It'll keep you hanging on in there, whilst looking for other solutions.

Me, too. I used to have really long and thick hair as a child but now it's really fine.
I don't suppose straightening and changing the color every freeeekin week helps though.