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!

Good luck OP. I'd be interested in hearing how you get on. I started using Regaine and I'm finding it a faff. I used Nioxin about 6 /7 years ago and thought it worked really well. I stopped using it and it's only the last few months I've been worried again. Nioxin might just be cosmetic but it definitely helps me.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle Thank you. Were you using the Regaine mousse or serum please? And ditto Nioxin; was that a serum or shampoo? I'm not sure which product to put on my Christmas wish list.

My hair started to thin at temples 15 years ago, so i spent some time looking into it. This has been what I do since then:

Nioxin shampoo, or the other one with a similar name (the conditioner is rubbish and it doesn't go on your scalp or roots)
Grow gorgeous/ordinary peptide serum (whichever is on special). Applied to thinning areas only, rather than whole scalp
Perfectil skin/hair/nails daily supplement
EPO capsules
oily fish
Wash hair often: Greasy dirty hair will not help those follicles and dirty hair is grim

There has been very little change at all in hair density since I started

PS the oily fish goes in your mouth, not your hair

Silica and biotin. Also presribed iron tablets due to anemia.

I use the three step nioxin. You can get a travel size trial set to try.

Thank you, that's a good idea re: travel size. Though most of these products say results will show in around 12 - 16 weeks, so not sure if that would be enough (though I have a bob, and not much hair! So would probably last a couple of months).

Regaine mousse. Nioxin 3 step.

None of them. Save your money and pay for a trichologist and find our properly what will work for you.

I agree with @ForPearlViper and consider going to a trichologist or a dermatologist who specialises in hair.

On IG, Dr Aamna Adel (dermatologist_adel) does quite a bit about hair so may be of interest.

with regard to vitamins, vitamin D is essential for hair, 2000iu/day. I’d start there first. There is no evidence for Biotin unless you are actually deficient as I understand it.

Why to choose between biotin and collagen? 🤔Maybe try this complex biotin for hair growth - I take it for 4 or 5 months already, and I can tell that it helped me not only to grow a long hair (finally!) but also my skin and nails changed for better, my sister even asked me why am I glowing hahaha. These pills have biotin, collagen, keratin and other vitamins that are necessary for every woman. And when you refill the lack of these vitamins, then you may start using additional shampoos or sprays. Otherwise it is a waste of time and money if you body doesn't have enough vitamins with food or supplements

@Emillia I'm not sure where you are, but it says this on Amazon when I click your link

This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. Please choose a different delivery location.

I do already take Vitamin B12 drops, Vitamin D, Iron, Magnesium and Vitamin C. The biotin supplements I've started taking are 10,000mcg like yours. I'm glad your skin, hair and nails are noticeably healthier!

Up your protein

That's a good combo of vitamins you've chosen, wish you luck, hope you'll see the results soon! 🤗
The link looks strange in my previous post, it should look like this: www.amazon.com/Biotin-Vitamins-Collagen-Keratin-Supplement/dp/B09RKDGYJD

Another one popping on to say collagen-I take absolute collagen-big difference to skin, hair, nails and joint pain, and Kevin Murphy. So expensive but I'm yet to find one of his products that doesn't do what it claims to.

I use this range. Due to some stressful times, my hair started thinning and breaking to the point my hairdresser was calling me at home concerned. I read about this and have it ago and felt the difference in a few weeks. I ran out and used my partners shampoo for a few weeks recently and my hairdresser commented my hair was thinning again. Needless to say I bought this again!

My beautition who does aesthetics including scalp injections (not for me) sold me this to try .

https://fusionmeso.com/product/efficient-serum-for-androgenic-alopecia-hair-men-fusion-meso/

only been using a week so no view as to how effective it is.

Regaine. The mens one.

Mousse or serum?

Spotted this thread a few days ago and have just found it again and been reading with interest.

I am 60 and my hair has very definitely thinned a lot since menopause. I also lost quite a bit of weight on Wegovy which didn’t help.

Ive noticed it seems to be worse recently so I need a plan of action.

In the past I have used Viviscal which I found good but stopped using. I switched to Biotin which seemed to help a bit but I stopped that too a while ago as I was having blood tests and they said to stop before and I never restarted.

I know I’m low in folic acid and Vit D.

I have been using Plantur 49 shampoo which seemed to help a bit. But someone I follow on Instagram who was also on Wegovy recommended Nioxin and said she definitely noticed a difference when she stopped using it.

So my plan going forward is to take Vit D and folic acid and a hair supplement called Ionicell which I got from Victoria Health ages ago. Once that is gone I will get Viviscal again I think. Unless I find the Ionicell amazing obviously. I will also start taking the collagen I have more regularly! (I’m terrible at buying stuff but not using!)

I have the rosemary oil linked to up the thread and will start using that. And I’ve ordered the Nioxin 3 step programme. And the Kevin Murphy hair thickener and powder.

And I have an appointment for a hair cut next week and will probably go shorter. It’s currently in a bob. I’ve also been growing out the colour so it’s white/grey mostly and I think I might need to rethink that as I think it makes it look even thinner.

I also have some silk pillowcases somewhere so will hunt them out.

I have never been on HRT but will investigate if that will help.

I feel I look so bloody old at the moment and my hair definitely doesn’t help.

Following as my hair makes me feel so self conscious as it's so thin. I am 39.

Everyone… it’s my twelfth wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks so just had a quick Google what it’s associated with so I can think of a gift for my husband - it’s only silk…. my hair doesn’t have to wait until Christmas for a silk pillowcase… 🥳

Please all do try regaine or a similar minoxidil type treatment for your hair… my hair is still painfully thin and wispy and crap but there’s more of it for sure to cover up my balding scalp bits - I used to have to use a brown eyeshadow in my hair to colour in the bald scalpy bits showing through but I can get away without doing that now x

but do note it’s a long term solution and you have to keep it up to maintain results and also do read any product information before you go ahead as it’s not suitable for those with heart conditions I think and it’s not recommended for use over a certain age (could be 70 I’m not sure without checking so do confirm). X

I can't vouch for it thickening (though extra hair growth technically will make it thicker!) BUT I made my own solution of clove water which has been amazing!
You can also make clove oil which works the same however I went with water based because I don't like the feeling of oily hair.

Method:
Bing a handful of cloves to a boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes. Let it cool then transfer to a spray bottle. Put in the fridge, it'll last for at least a month, and spray it generously on your scalp/hair and massage it in. I do it after a shower and just leave it in until the next wash day. I've only used it once a week because I forget but in two months it's grown a couple inches & my bald spots in the sides of my hairline are miraculously sprouting hairs!! I've never worn my hair up without side "bangs" and I can now, honestly do try it!!!

I'm not getting royalties from cloves, honest 😜 just want to spread the word

One pic is a couple months ago and the other is last week. I'm growing so many that I now have an extremely mini fringe across my forehead made up of new hairs that I have to sort out somehow 😂