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Original poster

What women's hair loss products have worked for you please???

84 replies

Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 19:08

I had another thread about me losing hair. Iv had a very stressful few months and wasn't looking after myself aswell as I normally do. It's the crown and at the side although it's the crown that is the worse and more on one side. Iv over hauled my diet and taking various supplements (upped my iron big time etc) I have been using rogaine for women for approx 2 weeks each night and using the plantur 39 shampoo. I don't think it's coming out as badly as it was and I know it will take a few months before the hair grows back. What shampoos/tonics have you used that have helped please?

Toa

OP posts:
Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 19:08

Tia I mean!

OP posts:
ScarletForYa · 05/09/2016 19:10

Honestly for me, iron. And waiting. Almost from the day I started iron it stopped shedding over 100 hairs a day.

Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 19:21

I'm taking feroglobin and my mutli vitamins have iron in them plus a boots hair, nails and skin supplement. My nails have been growing very quickly since taking them. I want to try to attack it from the outside in aswell if I can. How much iron did you take?

OP posts:
dailymaillazyjournos · 05/09/2016 19:59

Ferritin supplements from the GP along with Vitamin D supplements from the GP.

I was referred to a dermatologist because my hair was so fine that it was hard to actually see an individual strand they were so thin. It was falling out as well as just breaking off. The dermatologist said that ferritin needed to be above 70 to support hair growth and my Vit D was 30 and also needed to be nearer 100.

It took a while, (around 18 months) for a significant improvement but though I can't describe my hair as 'thick' by any means, it no longer falls out and has some elasticity to it. I was at the stage where I was about to start looking into head coverings/wigs.

I am on 125 mg of ferritin twice a day and 1000 mg Vit D twice a day. For good measure I added in extra strength biotin tablets from Holland & Barratt, Vit B 12 and Silica! Just because I'd heard they were supposed to help. But I do think it's the ferritin and Vit D that have helped. I was taken feroglobin but it was no way near as strong as what the GP has prescribed and didn't seem to make any difference.

Oh and my blood tests for ferritin were 'normal' - which they were in terms of not being anaemic. It's just that apparently for hair growth/health, it needs to be much higher than the minimum accepted 'normal' iykwim.

The other thing that helped was giving up on trying to have mid to long hair and to have a short style.

dailymaillazyjournos · 05/09/2016 20:01

I haven't answered your question Blush. In my case no particular shampoo/conditioner/sprays/mousses etc helped make my hair look any better/thicker sadly.

Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 20:11

Thanks. My ferritin was 59 so GP said it was fine as was everything else but I also read it needed to be above 70 for new hair growth. Without having monthly blood tests there isn't a way of knowing it had raised? She won't prescribe anytbing as she said the levels are fine and that were my hair is thinning it is 'uniform' therefore nothing she has to say other than it isn't alopecia which wasn't particularly helpful.

I've read you have to be careful not to take too much iron? But no where says how much is too much?

The fereglobin is 14 mg and my vi lt tablets are about that so that's a lot lower than what you take? You say you take ferritin? Not iron? I have already been taking a vit d spray at 1000mg also.

OP posts:
Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 20:13

Also do you not get tummy troubles with that much iron?

OP posts:
SpeckledyBanana · 05/09/2016 20:30

Minoxodil 5% foam, for androgenetic alopecia. No scalp peeping through anymore (6 months in).

dailymaillazyjournos · 05/09/2016 20:30

I don't get tummy trouble no. Apparently ferrous fumarate is gentler in the stomach than ferrous sulphate (I think it's sulphate anyhow).

If your gp won't prescribe it can you ask for a dermatologist referral? Or have you a more sympathetic gp in the practice. Technically they're right, your level.is normal but not high enough to support hair health.

Hair loss is such a dismal thing and really affects confidence and happiness imo so GPs need to take it seriously. Mine isnt alopecia either and where my hair was going was also uniform but the gp was lovely about helping. The dermatologist asked for blood test after 3months and then again after 6. My gp is also happy to test annually to see what the levels are doing.
I don't understand the difference between iron and ferritin but it seems to be ferritin that's important pairwise as far as I can tell.

SpeckledyBanana · 05/09/2016 20:31

Think spelling might be minoxidil. Brand name Regaine for Women.

Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 20:35

Speckle thank you. That is what I have been doing for the last few weeks in the evening. It's a pain making sure it gets onto the scalp even though I do part the hair and I find it leaves white stuff in my hair so I have to wash it daily (although I would normally) .

Maybe I need to up my iron then. Other than my diet I'm only taking 28mg and if a gp prescribes 1000mg ferritin I must be able to safely take a lot more than I do! Is ferrus the same as ferritin?

OP posts:
nilbyname · 05/09/2016 20:37

Just saw this and delinking to see what gets suggested.

My hair is fine and thinning a bit, but the doctor would tell me to go home!

Can you buy any of the suppluments rather than have to get it on prescription?

SpeckledyBanana · 05/09/2016 20:38

Hang in there. I have no obvious regrowth but less hair falling out in the brush, so it's taking a while but is lots better. I had a dermatology referral and got diagnosed that way. I find the foam a pain so usually use it before bed then wash my hair in the morning.

SpeckledyBanana · 05/09/2016 20:39

Nioxin System 4 shampoo and conditioner have also been really good for general plumping up of what's left, I buy it on eBay to keep the cost down.

Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 20:39

I think you can buy any supplements you like nilby. My GP although nice wasn't concerned or remotely helpful! I have long hair, it's fine but I have a lot of it. Iv recently had it dyed darker and I think this has made he scalp showing through more on the crown more noticable

OP posts:
Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 20:41

Sorry speckled cross posts. Iv seen that range I think, is that the really expensive one in boots?

OP posts:
SpeckledyBanana · 05/09/2016 20:43

It's horrifically pricey from salons but you can get 1 litre bottles on eBay for about £25 and they last months.

Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 20:46

Ok, would it be ok on coloured hair? Although using the plantur shampoo I think has stripped the colour quite abit but then I would rather have hair that he colour looked rubbish then a good colour on barely there hair

OP posts:
nilbyname · 05/09/2016 20:47

I use nioxin- I get it from TK Max.

Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 20:50

How have you found it nilby? Does it wash through ok?

OP posts:
nilbyname · 05/09/2016 20:54

I really like it and I have coloured hair too and it doesn't strip the colour.

Original poster
Anothernamechanger1 · 05/09/2016 21:01

From what Iv read it seems it's more about thickening hair up rather than stimulating the hair to re grow? The plantur 39 shampoo, for example, is specifically to help the hair to regrow using caffeine?

OP posts:
nilbyname · 05/09/2016 21:06

youre right- it's just working with what you have got.

It sort of maintains the health of my hair.

SpeckledyBanana · 05/09/2016 21:55

The version I use is for chemically treated hair, and I find it leaves my colour ok.

MoonlightMojitos · 05/09/2016 22:35

This might not be helpful but I've recently tried watermans grow me and it's rubbish. Unfortunately made no difference for me at all despite lots of raving reviews so just wanted to say don't waste your money :(