Can i slow down hair loss?

[Macaronicheese1234]

I'm early 40s and have thick long hair. My hairdresser commented that my hair is thinning at the front and I hadn't actually noticed til he said it, so I'd say it's in the very early stages. Not pregnancy or postpartum related as my youngest is 6.
Is there any thing I can do to slow down the thinning process before I get visible bald patches? E.g. supplements or products? Preferably something low budget and low maintenance?
I'm hoping that by addressing this early there might be some chance of prevention of further loss. Or am I just being optimistic?

Have you had your iron levels tested?

My hair started thinning when I was around 35 and it turned out I had very low ferritin. Started taking iron tablets and also eating more meat (had been almost vegetarian before that) and it actually seems to have reversed the hair loss for now.

I use hair oil weekly and take powder collagen supplement daily. I’ve been doing this for a couple of years and my hair is thicker, however it is hard to be sure it is due to what I have changed or just how it was always going to go.

What sort of hair oil?

Any chance it’s the styling/weight of your hair causing it to thin? I think it’s called traction alopecia, where if it’s styled too tightly it falls out.

Bloods. Iron, vitamin D and thyroid deficiencies all cause hair loss.

Rosemary oil (few drops in my shampoo once a week) and collagen supplements have really helped me. But it's a complex issue, lots of trial and error needed. I seem to have seasonal sheds and my hair is very fine anyway. I do now have hair around my hairline at the front that I've never really had before which is amazing - and I'm perimenopausal.

I had similar, and have done a couple of things, including not tying it back as much to prevent stress on hair, using a water softener - I live in a very hard water area and noticed how much better my hair looked when on holiday in a soft water area - and I started taking biotin with zinc. After 3 months I have about 3cm hair regrowth along the hairline at the front, and I seem to be losing less hair when I wash it.

It's not back to how thick it was in my teens, but to me it looks noticeably thicker and with more body.

@GreenSmithing yep, agree with that as well. I only wash twice a week and much more careful with heat styling and brushing more gently.

Another vote for checking iron levels. Mine was really falling out and I found out I had borderljne low iron. Took some supplements and the shedding in the shower stopped really quickly and now several months later is starting to look much better. Weirdly I also think it stopped me feeling so cold all the time

Those with low iron levels, was dark under eye circles also an issue ? My hair is about a third thinner than it was, I’ve always had super thick hair and it’s really bothering me. Sorry to jump on OP!

The only thing proven to slow or reverse hair loss is Minoxidil - available as Regaine. Use the 5% strength (marketed as for men, with a 2% strength available for women, but the 5% is actually fine for women). And do get your iron levels, vitamin D and B vitamins checked. Be aware that for hair growth your levels have to be at the top of the acceptable range, not the bottom.

https://www.champohaircare.com/products/growth-serum?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuKOX-bScgwMVGYxQBh1BqQONEAAYAiAAEgLO2PD_BwE. I have this serum and it is very good for the hairline.

Thank you. Can I go my GP in the UK and ask for vitamins and iron to be checked on the basis of hair loss?

Yes. They will take bloods for this.

Could be perimenopause.

Can I go my GP in the UK and ask for vitamins and iron to be checked on the basis of hair loss?

Yes, you absolutely can. And if your GP isn’t helpful go to a different GP.

I have had hair loss for a long time. The things I feel have helped are non-SLS shampoos, and turmeric and black pepper capsules.

I went to see a private dermatologist as my hair started to fall out so much I could no longer wear it down. That was 14 months ago and my hair has substantially improved. Frosty, go to your GP and ask for your ferritin levels to be checked. NHS guidelines are Mon 60 is satisfactory but she said should be at least 90 bit closer to 100 is preferred to maintain healthy hair. Mine was in 30s so star tree d taking 210mg ferrous fumerate daily alongside high strength vit c (both bought online and the vit c helps iron absorb) and mine is now 126 so I've reduced iron to once every 4 days.

Secondly she recommended regaine 5% minoxidil foam (men's version as stronger % and cheaper) and I apply around 5/6 nights a week to scalp at from of my hair and down to ears as that's where my hair was falling.

Both these things massively helped and cost me £££ for the appointment. Hope that helps!

Definitely get your bloods taken.

I was losing hair last year, it was so thin I couldn’t tie it back without the bald patches being noticeable and I was constantly shedding hair. Iron supplements and biotin capsules stopped it and it’s pretty much back to normal now.

I’m 45 and suffer with both. I don’t think they’re connected but dark under eyes must be genetic as my mother and grandmother had the same!

my hair is not great but possibly improved a bit by vitamins including biotin and plantur 39 shampoo. Mine is seasonal, I lose lots in the autumn and then it thickens up again but that just means lots of short bits! I lost a lot when I had the babies too.

I have had hair loss for a long time. The things I feel have helped are non-SLS shampoos, and turmeric and black pepper capsules.

Genuinely, if you’ve had hair loss for a long time, these things aren’t helping. And there’s no evidence that they will. I do recommend you try Regaine, which is evidenced.

Thanks for this info. I’ve noticed my hair (always fine but not thin) is really starting to show patches of scalp, and I had a traumatic appointment with a relatively new hairdresser recently that left me feeling very low after she seemed terribly unsympathetic over doing the (perfectly standard, not remotely complicated) cut I asked for. I’d been wondering about biotin so I think I’ll give it a try, along with upping the iron.

Mine was cured in an odd way. During all the lockdowns I decided to go grey. So no more colouring. I also pretty much gave up on the hair dryer. Letting it dry naturally and washing much less often. As it grew it was thick and shiny.

I've no idea which worked but relieved that it did.

I'm 46 and have been experiencing this issue for a couple of years. Things that have helped: New Nordic hair gummies, Viviscal tablets and Champo pitta scalp serum. None of them especially cheap but for the first two you can take advantage of Holland and barrett special offers. You have to give them a few months to see a difference but for me it was worth it- much less hair loss when I wash it and the loss seemed to increase again when I stopped treatment, implying it was working.

Please could you say what supplements you took?