Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Hair loss support thread

389 replies

Marasme · 17/11/2017 11:37

I did find an old 2012 thread and thought I'd post something new here.

After a shitty year or so at home and at work, I noticed that my scalp was showing more than usual along my parting. Further investigation using the selfie camera on my phone revealed an awful little bald patch at the top of my head, as if the parting was widening at this place.

Absolutely terrifying :( and not helping the fact that I suffer from some pretty bad health anxiety.

I now feel sucked by the entire "remedy" industry despite the strong belief that they are just snake oil peddlers.

Looking for anyone, from the old thread or not, to join in sharing positive stories...

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
lauryloo · 11/12/2017 22:01

Hi all

I’d like to join if that’s ok

I lost all my hair in December 2015 and it grew back a year later. But it’s seriously thinning again and I’ve lost most of the eyelashes in my left eye this week

I rocked the baldness before. Just not sure I have the strength to do it again!

Thegiantofillinois · 12/12/2017 21:07

I'm terrible at tablets(apart from the pill), so supplements are pointless. I have many half empty packets around the house.

I'm seriously considering giving up cerelle. I love it and love not having periods, but I think I prefer having hair and the past 4 months since starting the pill have made a noticable difference. However, I was having some hair loss before I started. No one has hair loss in my family-both sides; men and women.

ilovecherries · 12/12/2017 21:12

laury, that's really where I am. This is the second time of losing my hair. First time round, I felt I coped really well, and rocked the baldness, this time I'm really upset. I think the difference this time is that the loss is slower - last time it nearly all fell out over a few weeks, this time it's just diffuse thinning with the odd bald patch, so somehow it looks a lot worse, and I'm constantly trying to conceal it.

lauryloo · 15/12/2017 11:59

sorry for taking so long to come back

the shedding has ramped up a bit now this week and when i touch my hair i get a few loose hairs. My scalp feels irritated too, which i now remember happened last time too. Its so odd - it was exactly this time of year it happened last time too. If i continue losing it and get patches i am just going to shave it off and wear my wig again.

Original poster
Marasme · 15/12/2017 20:56

gosh yes - the loose hair when I barely touch it, the horrible scalp itch. It's grim. And the shower - GOD the shower. I could cry. But my hair is soooo greasy even after 24hours that there is no escaping.

@lauryloo, did you lose your hair, grow it back and now are losing it again over the course of 1 year?

and how the hell does one manage to rock baldness :) it takes some bottle!

OP posts:
lauryloo · 15/12/2017 21:44

I lost all my hair, it grew back, stayed about a year and now I seem to be losing it again

It’s just the familiarity of tingling scalp that I recognise as the same as before. I’ve got shorter hair this time round too which helps

Twoweekcruise · 15/12/2017 22:58

I’ve suffered with low iron levels for a number of years now and am slowly getting the levels back up. I’ve always had fine hair (runs in the family unfortunately) but my hair has been much finer since the low iron levels (hate having a downlighter above me as I can see my scalp
!). Two years ago I started wearing a hair topper and it’s changed my life. I’ve excepted that I will probably have thinner hair from now on but the topper has given me much more confidence and I get loads of compliments on my hair and it’s very natural looking. Its not like a wig because it’s a fine top piece which clips over the thinning area and then blends in with your own hair. They are not cheap but I would recommend them to anyone losing their confidence over thinning hair.

Original poster
Marasme · 15/12/2017 23:17

@twoweekcruise - sounds very positive. Would you mind telling us more re your topper? I have zero idea about these.

Otherwise, has your hair improved with restoring your iron levels?

OP posts:
koffeekween · 15/12/2017 23:58

I don't have any helpful advice merely just wanted to say everyone has my sympathies as it's such an awful and worrying thing for a woman to go through. aged 15 all my hair fell out and I was diagnosed with alopecia. I wore scarves, hats and various hairpieces. Aged 20 I met an amazing man who in the 12 years we've been together has never once caused me a seconds anxiety by commenting about my condition. My 3 awesome DC don't give a single toss about my lack of hair nor my friends and work colleagues. I've had a variety of truly fabulous wigs and 95% of the people I've met over the years have never guessed my 'hair' is not natural. I have come to terms with not having any natural hair and instead focus on how fabulous the rest of me is Glitterball

Twoweekcruise · 16/12/2017 09:49

marasme it took me about a year of googling before I plucked up the courage to purchase a topper. Most come from the states as they seem to be ahead of us on these things but there are a few UK based online stores I have used. Have a look on YouTube, if you put in women’s hair toppers or top pieces there will be lots to look at. My favourite is June Penny she’s US based and Beautiful Betsy, she is UK based, I am saving up for one of her pieces as they look lovely. The prices of toppers range from about £120 and can go up to around £3000!! The expensive ones are truly gorgeous (one for when I win the lottery!). Also have a look at Jon Renau, I have an Easipart topper which is synthetic but I am moving onto a human hair one soon. Also have a look on the Alopecia UK website, they list all of the UK based suppliers.

Original poster
Marasme · 16/12/2017 12:36

Thanks @twoweekcruise - I was impressed by the BeautifulBetsy site (but still a bit confused about the whole thing, what product would be right etc). It would be a great relief to know that I can step out of the house with a semblance of normalcy.

What about itchy scalp? mine has gone crazy in the past 2/3 months - to the point I suspected nits from DDs again. Would a topper not make this worst?

But altogether, I like the idea of having "a plan" and not feel so helpless.

OP posts:
Twoweekcruise · 16/12/2017 15:57

Yes it took me a long, long time to find the right one. I joined several forums (wigsupport.com is a good one, they have a topper section) and there are a few poor women who have been ripped off in the past (in the US it seems) as some are very expensive. But in the end I just jumped in with both feet and started with the Jon Renau Easipart which is one of the cheapest. I got my hairdresser to cut a fringe in and cut it to the length of my own hair. It took me about a month of wearing it around the house to feel ok enough to step out into the outside world with it on and even then I did feel self conscious for a while and needed constant reassurance from my husband and close friends but now it’s second nature and no more uncomfortable than wearing your hair up or clips in. I too suffer from an itchy scalp (never found out why) but again the topper doesn’t really bother me.

ilovecherries · 20/12/2017 20:32

Well, today was nice. Not. Hairdresser pulled out a huge clump of hair while running his fingers through it. I actually don't it was attached, I didn't even feel it. We were both upset :(

CiderwithBuda · 20/12/2017 21:41

Sad Ilovecherries. That sounds really distressing.

Original poster
Marasme · 21/12/2017 15:21

I am so sorry to hear ilovecherries - this is crap.
Do you think it's the minoxidil kicking in?

OP posts:
Redrobinonspade · 21/12/2017 23:33

I’ve been reading this thread with interest as I’ve lost a lot of hair and the texture has changed too over the last few years. It’s disappointing to read of so many of us having this problem.
I’ve been using the nioxin system for nearly 2 years and I do think it helps, along with olaplex treatments, although they are expensive!
I was wondering if anyone has tried both the regaine and nioxin and if they have, what they think of the two products?
I do think the nioxin has helped with regrowth, and when I stop using it my lovely new short hair sheds☹️ The intensive treatment worked well for me too but cannot always afford it. Just looking at options and wondering if anyone has tried both products and can share what they found? Thanks.

Original poster
Marasme · 22/12/2017 07:48

have not tried either - I did look at Nioxin but struggled to understand what yhe system is?

i am generally anxious of solutions requiring long term commitment- sthg i am not good at!

OP posts:
Redrobinonspade · 22/12/2017 08:43

I know what you mean about the nioxin system being confusing 😊 It took me ages to pluck up the courage to visit a local salon to seek advice.... as it turned out I was the only customer there for most of time and the owners daughter, who was training there, had suffered with severe hair loss since childhood on and off- they couldn’t have been nicer. Gave really good advice about products and didn’t try to sell. The daughter was very sensitive about all the hair I was shedding whilst washing my hair, and spoke honestly about what she had experienced.
The continual need to use the products regularly is annoying though... I completely agree with you there!

Amoregentlemanlikemanner · 30/12/2017 22:37

About to buy my first lot of Regaine here.... how is everyone else doing?

I have recently gone back to work full time and wonder if this is related even though I enjoy my job. I'm an IP lawyer so at least once a week have to suddenly check whether a deadline might have been missed or a point missed and there is a surge of (I assume) cortisol in the body in those moments.
Or is that crap?

Original poster
Marasme · 31/12/2017 14:54

gosh - I wish there was a logical, plausible explanation for all this crap :/

I have had a fairly shit week following the discovery of my DDs latest present: I found a nit :( :( :( which prompted heavy usage of various products and more shedding. Gutted.

OP posts:
gingerclementine · 31/12/2017 16:06

Just been directed onto this thread, as it's started happening to me. WTF is going on? Not on chemo but handfuls of hair coming out. I do tend towards anemia so have started taking an iron supplement. But it feels so odd to have handfuls of hair coming out every time I wash or brush it, and so many hairs falling down onto my clothes. I spend half the day collecting them.

Original poster
Marasme · 31/12/2017 16:07

Hi @gingerclementine - yep bonkers and crap.
Loads of snake oils out there too, which complicates the matter...

OP posts:
Amoregentlemanlikemanner · 31/12/2017 16:32

Are you using hedrin? (Would recommend)

Original poster
Marasme · 31/12/2017 17:14

yep - use the "hedrin once". It's not my first rodeo with nits (sadly - and they still freak me out) but I usually aggressively nit comb my hair - if I did this this time round, I'd end up with nothing left on top.

I am just hoping that the hedrin nuked all the little bastards... I'll have another go in 6 days, just in case. I hate the fact that I need to shampoo twice at least to get the grease out afterward - hair shed was 200+ that day. The anxiety it triggered made me want to vom in the shower....

OP posts:
Amoregentlemanlikemanner · 31/12/2017 17:15

Oh so sorry.
Hedrin is better than alternatives though so you made a good choice.