Is smooth glossy hair achievable after 50?

[Bellendula]

If so, what products do I need to use? My hair is in overall good condition but the greys I have are wispy and coarse especially at the top/parting area.
Santa got me Boots vouchers so I’m prepared to throw money at this 😀

I’m 68 and was totally surprised to find how thick my hair was when I let it grow during lockdown. I had had a sensible shortish bob for years, now I have a shiny blonde mane achieved with lots of highlights as I don’t have much grey. It is straight hair and I use John Frieda products which keep it really glossy, especially the serum. I get lots of compliments. I am on HRT which I suspect helps and keep heating to a minimum, just using dryer on a low heat to dry it and a quick going over with a styling brush.

Plopsofa can I ask about your ferritin levels? Mine was 6 when i finally went to have my blood tested (along with lots of other abnormal’ readings like low white blood cells. What advice did you get from the doctor? I was just told to ‘buy iron tablets.’

Oh no that’s not good. Maybe look at an iron infusion? There’s a private place in Oxford but it’s about £1000.

iv found that Gentle Iron from Solgar is good. You need to take it with vitamin C. Solgar also do 1000mg vitamin C (helps with absorption).

I take two tablets on an empty stomach 40mg of iron, then wait about an hour before eating.

did they look at your vitamin b12. Your vitamin D?

my ferritin was 47 but hair falling out. They said I must get it to 100.

I supplemented and got to 70 but then hair falling out again.

You must have co-factors with iron - vitamin D, vitamin b12 and folate. All need to be checked first supplementing.

@Istilldontlikeolives sorry forgot to tag you

@PlopSofa thanks for the reply. I wish there was somewhere affordable that you could show your blood tests readings to and they could suggest next steps. GPs are almost impossible to get hold of then seem disinterested. My results from August show ferritin levels of 36. Serum folate levels of 6, total white blood count of 3.5 (below low level ref a bit but a bit better than my previous results) and neutrophil count 1.6 which is also below the low level ref. And yet their only advice was ‘ buy iron tablets’ not even which ones or how many to take.

Olaplex 3, 4 and 5 have worked really well for me, with OGC coconut milk anti breakage serum to finish. I also take marine collagen, which has really improved my hair growth/condition. I've tried all sorts of 'internet sensation' products and none of them did anything, but Olaplex has been a gamechanger. Good luck!

I don’t use the henna but use the castor oil and I’ve blond hair. It worked for me but I am late 40’s but I have had huge hair issues since my 20’s and having kids. I did it about twice a week - also did tea rinsing which she recommends and I’d say in about 5/6 months my hair had never been better. It’s the absolute worst as I think bad hair is more aging than bad skin tbh.

Ha. Not allowed HRT, sadly. Even so, my hair was one of the few things menopause did not fuck up, and although I lost it during chemo, it grew back as thick, if not thicker. It's now a lot more grey than it was but so much softer.

Probably not helpful, sorry

I hear medichecks is reliable for blood tests but really GP should test.

I asked for a retest after supplementing and then when no change and hair still falling out they did b12 folate and iron binding studies.

my b12 and was low but folate fine. Ferritin still low…

For folate I don’t if you like chickpeas, lentils, beans but they are a great source of folate. I eat them every day.

I also eat lots of meat protein but I don’t seem to absorb b12 so now eating liver once a week. Very good source of b vitamins.

keep pushing your GP.

@Istilldontlikeolives

Have you tried rinsing your hair in rice water? That helps make my menopausal coarse hair shiny. I have also stopped using shampoos with sulphate in them, and have recently bought those soap bar style shampoos and conditioners from a place called KinKind. I was skeptical as I thought they wouldn't lather up, but they do, and they give my hair a shine that no traditional liquid shampoos do. I have also invested in a silk pillow case and only wash my hair twice a week. After I wash it I never rub it with a towel anymore, but wrap an old t-shirt round it. This helps stop breakage and split ends from towel friction. I also use a boar bristle brush which encourages the natural oils to be distributed throughout the hair which helps it look shiny. Not sure if any of this will help you and apologies if you are already doing any of this! My hair has changed drastically because of the dreaded menopause! It used to be swingy and shiny and non frizzy and I used to be able to grow it really long. I will say though that since adopting the things above, I have noticed it has grown about an inch longer than the point at which it used to snap off. If I didn't do the stuff described above, it would be just a ball of coarseness. Damned menopause! 😂 Good luck!!