Menopausal, straw hair. Can it be transformed?

[bornonvalentines]

Morning
Almost overnight, my shoulder length, highlighted hair has turned to straw, Nothing has changed apart from my age (49) but it's totally unmanageable. If I dry it straight it goes wiry, if I try and curl it the result is almost matted.

Are there any products which have worked for you? I'm having a couple of inches chopped next week (in despair). Willing to spend on products if someone can vouch for them. Thanks in advance.

I like that banana hair food stuff,

Also, Elasticiser - often on offer in M&S.

I stick the elvive extraordinary oil on overnight. Which helps for a few day. Also washing it less. But I feel your pain.

Mine has settled now menopause is done, I just use warm olive oil on my hair occasionally.

Same here. I'm 54 now.
Lots of things start to dry up at this age, unfortunately 😞 My hair has also randomly turned curly! Here's what I think has helped me:

A good cut will help, with regular follow up trims.
Ditch the dye, unless it's henna or something. The ammonia/peroxide dyes trash hair.
Use shampoo sparingly. I shower without shampoo for a couple of days, then use a little the next. Conditioner every time.
Dry naturally.

Drink heaps of water and take omega 3.

Osmo Deep Repair Mask. Heaven sent.

Pineapple hair drink helps mine. I tend to use it for special occasions do not sure how it would be if you used on a regular basis

Yes to other things drying up too. If anybody has recommendations for that as well, I’d be grateful!

Good quality omega 3 oils, olaplex. I hear mixed reports but it worked well for me.

Reading with interest.

Mine is particularly bad in winter . I go to get it cut when it gets over frizzy.

I had terrible trouble as well almost overnight (age 48), no matter what I used I was ending up with sticky patches and hair that was frizzy on top and quickly went lank underneath. I tried shampoos for hard water (our water is very hard), organic shampoos, clarifying shampoos, purifying shampoos - it was endless.

Anyway after trying about 10 different shampoo and conditioner combos I ended up trying the no poo method. Basically a teaspoon of bicarb in half a cup of warm water, poured over and massaged well into my hair, rinsed out then a splash of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water poured over. I was anxious because I'd read people saying 'I used 3 table spoons of bicarb and I think I've completely ruined my hair forever'. Any way I finally gave in and tried it for the first time at the weekend - afterwards my hair wasn't sticky, frizz was reduced by about 90% and it's still looking good, not lank at all and it's been 5 days since I washed it! So I'm a complete convert.

The only thing that worked for me was a good cut and transitioning back to my natural colour. I stopped using any lightening products as we went into lockdown. It has taken until now but I currently have midback length dark blonde hair and it actually suits me better.

I never found any external products that worked, but I have been taking liquid chlorophyll and collagen powder for around 9 months now, and my hair looks like it did 10 years ago - I look at pictures of me from a year ago and my hair looks just awful, stringy and thin, completely different to how it looks now. I think you have to try and fix things from the inside rather than with lotions and potions.

Can you say which brand? Agree about inside out

Coconut oil left on over night.

Of course - the chlorophyll is this one and the collagen powder is from Ancient and Brave. It took around 3-4 months to notice a difference, so you do have to commit for the long term, but I wouldn't ever be without these products now :)

Thank you to all who gave advice.

@Luana1 interestingly I've been taking 15g of Ancient and Brave collagen for a year. I'm glad that it has worked for you.

I'm about to step into space nk. As advised above, am already taking collagen so let's see if a treatment works....

The problem ....

Interested to know what you're getting - my hair is going the same way ☹️

I use:

L'Oreal Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Shampoo, wonder water and conditioner, Dream Lengths cream through and the no cut cream at the ends, I use a Kérastase serum daily as well.

I'm 53 with long, dyed and slightly highlighted hair

It’s in pretty good nick

I really like the Cornish seaweed company shampoo and conditioner. It's expensive but leaves my hair soft and silky.

@ghostyslovesheets your hair is lovely!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie Vagifem.

I've heard good things about that shampoo n conditioner.