Which (probably) overpriced over-hyped supplement should I buy to help my thinning hair grow?

[ForeverTipsy]

Please help me choose?! I've always had fine hair, not much of it. But I'm 43 now, entering peri menopause I think, and looking to try either a collagen supplement like Ancient + Brave:

https://ancientandbrave.earth/products/true-collagen-powder?variant=16401984028706

Or a dedicated hair loss support supplement with biotin, like Feel:

https://wearefeel.com/products/hair-support?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0bEEgNbyLTj2XIs4I4nXg5PwsOFXcJ0KVNCPhCmknu_pi2Pv5m-DUQNpQ_aem_zOcZcRC114MRORzBvXUrpA

Has anyone tried either for hair growth and strength?

Just to add, I am following a healthy diet and exercise regularly, do all the right things, hardly drink alcohol any more etc. I also take iron, B12, Vit C, Vit D and Magnesium every day, and have the Rheal Balance Tonic I take most days (which all help with the tiredness, low mood, mood swings etc). I'm also cutting right back on using heat and hair clips in my hair to try and look after what I have left.

Thank you!

Nothing really, biotin, collagen, b12 etc, all very helpful, particularly iron as well

But its thickening products that have had the most effect on my hair, to make it look as if its thicker and fuller

I use Kevin Murphy

There is a hair treatment called Nyoxin too although I havent tried it yet, I will do though.

No experience with either for hair loss though mine is fine but the we are feel collagen had a decent taste so I guess at least theirs would be palatable?

Nioxin shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatment are brilliant. The thickening effect is amazing.

A friend of mine had amazing results using biotin. Her hair looked ten times better and thicker after only a couple of weeks.

I've not heard of Nioxin nor Kevin Murphy shampoo and conditioner, so will do some research - thanks. I've recently bought the Charles Worthington protein/growth shampoo and conditioner, after doing some research and them coming out top for mid-budget range, but don't think they're doing much so far. I'm trying to wash my hair less often too; normally it's every other day, but I'm trying to stretch it to two days when I can.

@Autumnweddingguest do you know which biotin supplement your friend takes please?

Thats not possible in a couple of weeks, the new hair growing through might be improved but not hair already on the head.

Regrowth is what us thinning ladies need, anything else just supports slightly thicker hair via products on the hair, or thicker hair when it grows by using supplements. But the hair that originally fell out needs replacing really and for me that has not yet grown back

Kevin Murphy also do a plumping spray in a pink bottle, I cant live without it.

Folic acid, B12 and bananas were all that were available to help with thinning hair when I had very early peri back in the dark ages. It wouldn’t harm to try those.
Will take a while to get supplements into your system and have effects on hair growth though.
Good luck.

I'm taking Boots biotin pills and their Hair and Nails pills. They seem to be having a good effect on my hair loss and growth. I checked the ingredients and the hair and nail tablets are almost identical to the "name brand" equivalents.

@SqueezeItOut thank you. I buy high strength B12 drops that I put under my tongue, from Amazon. It's about £20 for a small bottle that last around three months. This helps with my lethargy. I eat a banana every day actually! Along with a two handfuls of plain nuts, when I break my fast (try and do 16:8 most days, though failing at the moment to a small hot chocolate addiction in the evenings!).

You just need to eat eggs for breakfast and take a biotin supplement and that’s about it.

I had Covid really badly in 2020, then long Covid ever since.
I was horrified at hair loss !
I use Superdrug hair gummies, John Frieda products and take biotin.
It's improved but as pp said it's not a quick fix.

Op wishing you well.

I have thin hair and a new hairdresser put nioxin on once. Made me look just like my elderly aunt who had thin puffy hair (probably also from nioxin). I hated it and it took ages to wear off.

So if you want big hair it can work but might be a dramatic change.

@FaiIureToLunch I have a couple of poached eggs on toast for my lunch 2-3 times per week, so that's good news.

Perhaps I'll try the Ancient + Brave collagen powder then, as a few friends are raving about it for their skin, nails and hair. Tbh my nails are really strong, it's just my hair that's brittle and thinning. I've got dull acne-scarred skin on my face, and my jawline is getting saggy, so perhaps the collagen powder may help that...

@parietal oh no no, that doesn't sound good! I don't really want big hair, just a bit more of it. You can see my scalp when I put my hair in a ponytail, and the front section has breakage from where I've had it bleached a few months ago, and it turns out my hair was too fragile for that...

That isn't my experience with Nioxin.

I'm tempted by this...will be the most I've ever spent on hair products though! Although I'll be saving money over the next year or two, as have decided to stop having bleach/highlift tint highlights and grow my natural colour out...

Nioxin Scalp and Hair Thickening System 4 for Coloured, dry and damaged hair Treated Hair with Progressed Thinning, Trial Kit - Boots

Following with interest. Have been using champo and getting some small results I think

I'm sure you are right and it was probably more than a couple of weeks between times when I saw her. I just remember seeing her when she was struggling with thin very dry hair and next time I saw her, her hair looked amazing - glossy and a lot thicker - and she told me she'd started taking biotin supplements. Even an inch of hair growth can give volume to long hair at the scalp.

Hi OP I have been on a bit of a journey with this.

Bovine collegen tablets - tried 6 months and did fuck all.

Holland and barret 'hair, nails and skin' 6 months and did fuck all

Nutrition Geeks Biotin 5 months and I've been growing baby hairs! It took 3 months before it started working though.

In addition to the above I have always taken a daily multivitamin with Iron.

Finasteride isn’t prescribed for women, only men.

I use Regaine ffrom Amazon it’s £38.00 for a 4 month supply so very reasonable. It contains minoxidil which restarts hair growth and prevents further loss.

no supplement will match the results of actual new regrowth from this. Once you start using it you have to use it continually to keep the results. Baby hairs will be visible in 12 weeks.

it totally worked for me. I had to colour my scalp when I put my hair up as I had very visible bare patches and it was really getting me down. I too have very thin and fine hair but now more of it I no longer have to colour my scalp to hide patches it has made a massive massive difference. Don’t bother wasting time with just supplements please do start using this now and I hope it works for you 🤞 x

I have just bought some copper peptide patches, obviously I don't know if they're working yet. I think it was on here that they were recommended.

I think it is to do with the hair growth cycle being interrupted by oestrogen being all over the place during peri meno

So not to do with vitamins etc