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Really thing hair - extensions?

9 replies

flipsidany · 08/10/2023 14:59

I've always had fine hair for as long as I can remember, but as I've got older (now mid thirties) and 2 DCs it has gotten so thin it now really gets me down.

My youngest DC is now 2 so I'm out of the immediate post partum phase, and it's not improving. I take vitamins and think about diet, so I try and help my hair as much as possible from that perspective. Don't do much straightening and use heat protection etc. All the basics!

I go through phases of growing it a bit and then cutting to a chin length bob. As soon as it's cut into a bob it goes a bit thicker, but within weeks it goes thin on the ends and limp and looks awful down. I then start tying it up and growing it (grows really slow and just stops/goes thinner once it hits shoulder length) but at least when longer I can tie it up. I tend to do sort of knot with it and then use a big scrunchie to make it look like there's something there, as it's so thin it's just a teeny tiny pony tail or knot. But I never feel like it looks nice and if I go out or to an event I can't really do the 'quirky' massive scrunchie look.

I've been to a few events recently where I've just felt really self conscious about my hair.
I've always been able to not worry about it too much but it really bothers me now.

I don't know anything about extensions and it's not something I've previously explored as I always have the (probably outdated) idea that they look obvious, cheap and fake. However, I'm sure they've moved on in the last 10-15 years since I ruled them out!

Anyone know much about different types of extensions, whether this would work for fine hair (I want thickness not necessarily length)

OP posts:
flipsidany · 08/10/2023 15:00

Post should say really thin hair, obviously Grin

OP posts:
BlackSwan · 08/10/2023 16:25

Rather than getting extensions, which would likely put more strain on your already fragile hair - I would try to find out what's causing your hair to be so thin. Go to the GP and have your ferritin levels checked.

If they're low (under 70), then that could be the problem.

BlackSwan · 08/10/2023 16:27

Should mention you might also want to consider getting a 'hair topper' - which goes on top of your own hair & makes it look thicker.

beenwhereyouare · 08/10/2023 17:08

Mine started with female pattern thinning at 38 or so. I'm not completely bald anywhere yet, but one forehead/temple area is extremely thin. I started looking at toppers, hair helpers, etc. which led to a multiple posts in my Tik came up in my Q

beenwhereyouare · 08/10/2023 17:08

Mine started with female pattern thinning at 38 or so. I'm not completely bald anywhere yet, but one forehead/temple area is extremely thin. I started looking at toppers, hair helpers, etc. which led to a multiple posts in my Tik came up in my Q

flipsidany · 08/10/2023 17:10

Thanks for the advice, I don't think I've tested folate specifically but have fairly recently had full bloods and bloods for possible early menopause, nothing coming up as out of normal range.

What impact would folate have and is this something you can take as a supplement if low?

OP posts:
beenwhereyouare · 08/10/2023 17:37

Sorry, my mobile has a mind of its own, apparently.

Posts came up in my TikTok and IG feeds every day. I learned more about all the options, and am contemplating it again.This is one of the companies I was looking into:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cv3pB3FAIqq/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Good luck!

Really thing hair - extensions?
BlackSwan · 08/10/2023 17:56

Not folate, ferritin; ie iron levels. I had hair loss a couple of years back and the dermatologist I saw said my low levels wouldn't be helping (mine was in the 30's despite twice daily oral iron). He said it needed to be above 70's/80's for new hair growth. I ended up having an iron infusion privately.

flipsidany · 16/10/2023 14:32

@BlackSwan ah thanks. I didn't realise that was the term for iron levels.
So I've have everything tested in the past deficiency wise, and taken every multivitamin under the sun for long periods of time, tried diet changes etc. Nothing seems to make a difference, including iron supplements.

I think my hair is just made like this. It's not thin on top and I don't have hair loss or thinning areas, it's the ends that just disappear and look so wispy, no volume to it.

I have also seen the hairpieces and wondered about trying those.

I am concerned about proper extensions putting too much breakage pressure on fine hair. Anyone know much about this?

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