Thin hair destroying confidence

[Thinhairhelp]

Hi all

I'm really struggling with hair thinning. I no longer feel confident wearing it down as it's so thin and areas of my scalp are often visable.
I'm not sure what to do to make it look better, I'm already using a good shampoo and conditioner (redken volume injection). I also use the philip kingsley elasticizer mask once a week.
I'm getting bloods done next week to check if I'm lacking in anything but I already take a multi Vitamin every day plus a biotin supplement.
I'm late 30s so maybe an age thing? I've always had fine hair but never as bad as this, I've been on the contraceptive pill for the last 5 years so came off it 4 months ago in case thats caused the thinning but too early to tell.
I'm reluctant to get extensions as had them in the past and find them quite itchy and uncomfortable plus nervous they cause more hair loss. I've also had hair cut a bit shorter in past and makes no difference as looks just as thin.

Help and advice appreciated.. I've attached pic to show level of thinness!

Thanks in advance

I tried iron supplementation for several months (twice daily at the direction of GP) & my levels barely budged. I went for an iron infusion privately and my levels went way up and have stayed there for a couple of years.
Unfortunately for the NHS to cover an infusion your levels have to be rock bottom & private infusions are ridiculously expensive in the UK. Sadly though it seems the upshot is that NHS gaslights women into thinking their levels are fine, when they really aren't.

@blackswan did you find your hair was in better condition after the infusion?

I have recently been told I have low iron - I though the hair loss was peri menopause related but glad I’ve found out and am now really trying to raise my iron levels with diet and supplements. Hoping the hair loss stops and it regrows.

Can’t help directly but feel your pain. I’m 45 and although my hair is/was thick it seems to go through 3/4 month cycles of falling out and thinning and although it grows back it’s very uneven. I am going to ask for blood tests and also HRT (for many reasons not just my hair). If I can’t sort it then I think I will have to investigate a topper or something. It’s so disheartening.

i found cutting mine really short helps it look better. I have had iron deficiency due to previously undiagnosed coeliac disease and it's been a very slow comeback.

Rosemary oil has really helped mine (very diluted in a spray bottle of water and sprayed on the roots)

And florisene iron tablets and biotin

I also brush it upside down every evening for about 30 seconds as I've read on here that gets the blood flowing to the scalp

Well when I stopped having awful bleeding from a fibroid and had an ablation my iron levels came back. Before that I was taking iron supplements and eating a lot of beef casseroles.

I’ve got thin hair here too. I have to keep it shorter or it looks ridiculously straggly. I normally have a chin length bob which makes it look better. At the moment it’s shoulder length as needs cut and it just looks a mess.

Thanks for the Viviscal recommendation. Mine suddenly thinned a year ago after a period of intense stress and although it hasn’t got worse it is nowhere near what it used to be. Get very envious when I see people much older than me v with long luxuriant hair 😁😁😁. Doc recommended Minoxidiol (spelling? ) which I bought but have been too to lazy to do

@Fahrenheit111 actually I had alopecia areata which is why I was desperate to address everything which could be affecting my hair growth & that resolved. It would likely have resolved anyway, but I wanted to support new hair growth.

I think I may try viviscal.. the shampoo I'm using now is supposedly a decent one but I maybe need to try something different that can actually help with hair growth. Oh what is minoxidil?!

I've been looking at pics of shorter bobs but I'm nervous to get the chop! I've never had really short hair, never been above collar bone length.

I was actually wondering if mines is maybe caused by perimenopause, not sure if late 30s is too young tho? Sorry to hear you are going through the same thing, it is upsetting isn't it.

I bought Nioxin shampoo, conditioner and something you use to style your hair. It definitely made mine look better and my hairdresser commented on it.

When I went through menopause after years of really heavy periods, my GP stopped prescribing iron tablets as they said my iron level was ok now. My hair didn't get any thicker though and my hairdresser really upset me by saying thin hair is down to diet end of. I know that's not true. My diet is very good, I know people who live on junk and fizzy drinks with beautiful thick hair. Viviscal is very good, and has helped a bit. Somebody took a photo which showed the back of my head a few weeks ago, I was so happy not to see any bald patches.

Yeah I don't believe it's down to diet either as I have a good diet too. Glad your hair is looking better now, I hate seeing my hair in photos when it's down!

Thanks to this thread I ordered the Viviscal and it just arrived! Thanks to the Amazon driver braving the storm -have him n all n the compliments.

I would imagine there are various reasons for it, in my case I think it is just down to age but even in my 70s I don't want to see my scalp shining through.

My hair was like yours with ferritin of 5 and another time when I was really stressed. Hope you figure it out op. Your hair is a beautiful colour by the way.

Was in the exact same position as you and paid to see a private dermatologist. She recommended I get bloods tested for ferritin levels (I already have low thyroid which can effect but if managed). She said ferritin levels should be at least 90 but closer to 100. Mine came back from GP at 45 but GP said was fine. Dermatologist said that level is fine for overall health but hair is the last place to get iron and has a big impact.

She recommended I start supplementing iron, I got online 210mg ferrous fumerate that I took daily for a year. I was getting stomach ache so I take them with a high strength vit c (amazon) that helps the iron absorb and that helps lots.

After a year my hair is growing back lots and my ferritin is now 126 so I just take the iron once every four days or so.

She also recommended regain 5% minoxidil (the men's bottles as stronger and cheaper than women's). It's a foam you apply nightly to scalp. It works great but once you start you have to keep it up or you can lose progress.

Both of these things have massively helped my hair and I've had lots of regrowth that's now at my chin with my original linger hair underneath.

I found I wasn't absorbing iron well so I take mine with a high strength vit c tablet and it helps it absorb. Now my ferritin is at a good level I only take my ferrous fumerate once every four days to maintain

Hey! @ThinhairhelpI totally feel you; dealing with hair thinning can be tough. Your efforts with the good shampoo, conditioner, and supplements are on point. Coming off the contraceptive pill could indeed be a factor, but it's early days.
Considering your situation, have you thought about trying products specifically designed for hair health?

Hi all

Looking for shampoo recommendations for thinning hair. Has anyone used faith in nature or would a hair growth shampoo be better? Open to all suggestions! I currently use redkin volume injection but wondering if it's contributing to my hair loss.

Thanks in advance!

I had unexplained hair thinning in my 20s which gradually righted itself. My confidence took a massive hit though- I was really low. I bought a good wig but never wore it, just having it made me feel better, iyswim. Young women are often chronically low in iron.

Waterman's is meant to be very good.