Give me your star ideas for female hair loss - please!

[lborgia]

I have had a rough few years, and have been left with much thinner hair, slightly more at the hair line.

I'm now past a slightly early menopause, but still in a very intense/ stressful situation.

Can anyone give me their experience of anything that has or hasn't worked - Nioxin, biotin, other supplements...

I am making peace with the fact that I can't change the situation, so hope that my stress levels will start to go down, but I also think I'd feel better about myself if my hair was a bit thicker/ younger.

I have also had Greater Lengths hair extensions put in. They are high maintenance but make me look like I used to!

Ooh, even more helpful advice, brilliant, thanks!

Get checked for iron, thyroid, vit D and B vitamins. You want to have optimal levels not 'normal'. The low end of normal is not good health.

If you're tying your hair back stop. It can cause hair loss.

I saw a Medical Herbalist when my hair was falling out and the GPs were crap. A liquid solution of murky brown stuff helped me in so many ways and stopped my hair loss really quickly. Money well spent.

Is the murky brown stuff to put on your head or to drink?

Right, I will make sure my vitamins are up to scratch, stop tying up my hair (I do this ALL the time, with elastic bands ), and also make sure I’m up on the protein and biotin.

I will consider hte brown murky stuff, but I’ve drunk it before, and the more I drink, the more it made me gag, rather than getting easier!

Silk hair ties are a decent compromise if you do need to tie your up. They will help with breakage at least.

Tying your hair back doesn’t necessarily cause hair loss, it depends on the specific condition you suffer with. It’s worth having a consultation with a dermatologist to get a diagnosis. Many offer consultations for free, and some offer them virtually (where you send them photos instead of visiting in person due to the pandemic)

Really pleased to discover this thread, though obviously sorry to hear so many are experiencing hair loss - it's rotten. Saw a dermatologist today who wasn't overly helpful, told me that my hair loss was due to high progesterone levels and gave me a private prescription for Regaine (minoxidil). Feeling rather deflated.

@lborgia - Have you had blood tests to rule out any underlying conditions? Sometimes hair loss can be a result of deficiencies in certain vitamins or minerals. It might be helpful to establish if anything is lacking before spending loads on supplements! Years ago it was found that my iron levels were low and that contributed to my hair loss.

Good luck!

@NonsensicalHair hey, wondering how much you are saving by buying regaine on prescription? I have been using it for almost a year and it does add up.

@Scalphelp - just checked with the pharmacist at Boots and she said it would certainly be cheaper and checking against what was on the shelf, it seemed to be half the price. The prescription isn't with me yet, it's gone straight to the GP so don't know what amount she's prescribed and if it's lotion/foam. Though both seemed to be half the shelf price. I'll report back when I find out how much has been prescribed.

@NonsensicalHair that’s amazing, I’ll have to look into dermatologists in my area. Thanks for the tip

i take these (when i remember): www.amazon.co.uk/Phyto-Phytophanere-Food-Supplement-Nails/dp/B07MB2F5DV/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&crid=3C0KAE3G04C0X&keywords=phytophanere+capsules+hair&sprefix=phytophan%2Cstripbooks%2C159&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1609866063&sr=8-8

you're supposed to take 2 months on, 1 month off so 4 months worth is actually 6 months supply. they've definitely helped a bit (think it's just genetic with me as my mum/aunts all have thinning hair despite having mops of hair when younger), to the extent that the hairdresser i was seeing when i first started taking them commented on it.

i have also given up dying in my hair and am embracing the white/grey/whatever look and I think that is helping as well. i'm now 20months since i last dyed my hair and while the front is still thinner than i'd like there has been an improvement.

Essy hair growth oil from Amazon, alongside washing my hair less, and minimal use of heat stylers. The last time I had my hair cut, my hairdresser said my hair seemed thicker and in good condition.

Nonsensicalhair i had no idea you could still get Regaine on prescriptiomn i thought they didn't do that now,
I have been using it for 5 months and no improvement yet
Very depressing, and expensive
Have you any idea how much less it will cost on prescription?
My dermatologist has been prescribing a steroid lotion, but it has done no good,he said mine was down to stress

Scalphelp have you see any improvement using Regaine,I have been using it for 5 months now,almost 6,and not seen any improvement?

Minoxidil.

Hi OP, I sympathise, it is very distressing.
I had it terribly a few years ago with thyroid disease and recovery post thyroidectomy. Peri menopause didn't help either!
Mine is under control with Menopace vitamins, evening primrose and a Vit D3 supplement. All very cheap and readily available.
I don't use a specialist shampoo/conditioner, but I do use nice quality ones and I'm careful not to scrub at my scalp when towel drying. I don't bother with a hairdryer, my hairdresser (well, pre lockdown!) cut my fine lank hair into a short flippy bob that dries on it's own and looks heaps better than when I had it longer.
Easy to say as I'm a terrible worrier, but stress does seem to make it worse. Hope you get it under control soon

@princessTiasmum yes, I have! Within a few months I had a lot of short baby hair and the the sparse bits of my scalp filled in. Now the regrowth is a few inches long, but is at that awkward length where it sticks out all the time! I know it will take years for it to match the length of the rest of my hair, but really happy so far.

I had stress related hair loss though, so my hair should have grown back without regaine as it was only temporary x

My sister had alopecia after her husband died, when she met her current husband it went away. Try to find a way of reducing that stress

Stopping dying my hair made the biggest difference. It's thick and soft now.

Scalphelp thanks for your reply
i was told by my dermatologist that mine would have grown back by the end of the summer, but it hadn't,
My daughters hair is getting very sparse now too, I think hers is menopausal, but she has found she has a thyroid [mild] problem, and is on medication for it, but it is still coming out in handfuls
Mine didn't do that ,at least I never noticed it
I saw on another forum last week that some had found taking turmeric with black pepper capsules really made a difference
I had 2 shocks close together which I think might have contributed to it

I
Use mane and tail shampoo and spray conditioner it has brought my hair back to its original thick glossy condition after it all fallling out in clumps after baby number 3 last year now it's waist length and that's the only thing that's helped

www.amazon.co.uk/SILISCRUB-Original-Silicone-Shampoo-Brush/dp/B07JJ4L8FB/ref=asc_df_B07JJ4L8FB/?hvlocphy=9045785&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=226508958186&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-717789221261&hvrand=10034574914985663393

I bought one of these scalp massage brushes to help my shampoo get right into my roots and I have noticed more growth in my hair.

Sorry for massive link!

@goose1964 - I know you didn’t mean to, but you really made me laugh! I love the idea of just getting a new husband and all will be well. Thank you

@risefromyourgrave - weirdly, I have just had one of these arrive in the post, and really like how it feels... will see if it makes any difference to volume at least.

Thank you to everyone else too, I will work my way through all the suggestions!

@Scalphelp - Sorry it's taken me a while to get back to you re the minoxidil. It seems the first pharmacist was probably wrong about it being about half the price, so not sure what she was looking at! It's looking like it's going to be only a few pounds cheaper getting it via private prescription. The dermatologist prescribed the 5% lotion, 60ml. I think the price was £34 and on prescription, £29.

Not entirely satisfied with the consultation with the dermatologist though - she didn't even look at my hair! Have asked for a re-referral. She asked many questions, but even so, surely even a cursory look at my scalp would be warranted??