Keratin? Brazilian blowdry? Hair Botox?

[OldAndUngraceful]

I’m 55 and really struggling with my hair. I am already on HRT and take Biotin and Vitamins.

My hair used to be my pride and joy but now it’s a source of frustration. It’s very fine and where I used to have plenty I don’t anymore, especially in the front sections where it's thinned a lot.

It always had a wave I could work with, either straight or curly depending on products, but now it won’t do either. It just sits as a wispy frizzy mess and it gets me down.

It’s finely highlighted and I get that done at a friend's house alongside a trim (she is a hairdresser by the way).

I despise going to the hairdressers so that’s not going to happen. I don’t want a treatment that makes it completely flat because there isn’t enough hair for that and it would just look limp, but I do want something to help the front sections stop frizzing constantly. I already use good products like Aveda and Kerastase. Has anyone tried the at-home straightening treatments that claim to give a salon finish and would you recommend any?

I always recommend Shea moisture products (have only used the milk), plus an oil but tbh that’s recently stopped working for me. My hair sounds the same as yours op and am gutted, it’s gone from thick and glossy to meh😅 🤞 for us both

I know where you are coming from op.
I loathe going to the hairdressers. It has been a battle with my hair which I feel in my perimenopausal years I am losing.

i do have a home straightening keratase treatment bought online in my bathroom unopened as I’m too scared, but it’s there!

For a few years I used to get a straightening keratase treatment at the hairdressers: yes my hair was more manageable but it was getting thinner, flatter and I had such an itchy scalp. It was over £200 twice a year and as I dislike going to the hairdresser I hated being there was nearly 3 hours.

I have tried enhancing my frizzy hair back into the curls of my former youth, with curlers and setting my hair (a la 1940/50) and bought one of the drying hoods to go over my hairdryer. Lots of tutorials online and curlers and products were inexpensive. It worked a bit on the frizzy part of my hair, but as my hair is straighter underneath it looked like a was wearing a Cossack hat.

I tried only curls and merwave without success.

Olaplex no. 7 is good for calming those wispy frizzy hairs.

what is working for me at the moment is L’Oréal glycolic shampoo, conditioner and serum (pink bottle) or their bond repair range (white bottles)
depending on how my hair feels.
I invested in a Dyson hairdryer with the attachments. I dry it straight with the attachment then can use my cloud nine straighteners. My hair is shiny, smooth and straighter but not flat
and I’m so much happier. The condition of my hair lasts all week. I try to only wash my hair once a week but it’s hard as I have an outdoor job and like to go swimming.

I had the same issue and tried everything - chemicals, special conditioners like Opalex etc. I was resorting to heat straightening it which only flattened it and of course made it break. I tried the curly routine etc. Nothing worked properly.

The only thing that works is the Dyson Air Strait Straightener. It uses air and you have to do it in sections so it’s not quick. But I finally have normal every day hair again.

I've had a keratin blowdry, from keratin revolution. Pricy but my hair looks 100% better than the frizzy mess it was previously xx

Try Cocochoco, it's available from Amazon at a much cheaper price than a lot of salons can straighten your hair for. You'd have to do it at home, most likely, but it's pretty decent. I used to have Nov Max keratin treatment (Brazilian, but it contains formaldehyde)

I've started taking a bovin based collagen powder for my joints and have found it's also led to new hair growth, so might be worth a try with your other supplements. Added benefit is it really has worked wonders for my knees, they no longer click with every movement up some stairs

Try Viva NMN and collagen supplements. Honestly, completely stopped my hair dropping within a week of me starting them both and my hair looked and felt so much healthier! I have ran out of my supply and plan to replenish my stock next week but already

Would you mind sharing which collagen powder you use? It sounds like just what I need as well. Thank you!

Another vote for cocochoco, except I get it done at the salon. I was on Kerastraight for years but their latest formula change left me disappointed with the result so I’ve only just found a local hairdresser doing cocochoco and I am delighted

Thank you for your replies so far. If I was to try Cocochoco at home, I'll only do the front sections, just the upper layer. What exactly do I need to buy through?

Is this what I need to get?

Sorry, now with the photo

I personally found a Brazilian blow dry very overrated, it made little difference to my (long and thick) hair. I dye it though, so I think that makes a difference.

I’m not sure it sounds like you need to straighten your hair. I’d really recommend the Philip Kingsley Hair Elasticiser (the honey and peach is fabulous) and also a good blow dry styling cream to reduce frizz and add volume. JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk is great.

Oh, and using a good ceramic plated brush makes all the difference too.