Hair gone flat and lank during peri and HRT (plus WLI?) - any tips?

[Iwanttobeafraser]

I've alwys had very thick, dry, course hair. Which i learnt to manage well and frankly, it was (mostly) glossy and soft. As I got older, I noticed it was a bit less thick, but that was frankly a blessing! . But the last year things have changed and I think it's probably some combo of peri, HRT and now, WLI.

Basically, my hair is, for want of a better word, lank. It's not greasy (although does get greasy/dirty looking much quicker) but it is flat and is never really shiny and soft even immediately post colour and blow drying etc. It's flat. This is weird for me as I've spent my life trying to reduce volume and now suddenly I feel like I need volume. When I wash it, it never feels completely clean and when I condition it, it's soft, but it doesn't have that true all-the-way-through softness. It got a LOT worse when I added testosterone to my HRT and I think that the WLI might be impacting the flatness/thickness.

Are there supplements or products I can try? I was thinking of buying a hot brush as a way to add a bit of volume when my hair is dry or almost drying? Any other ideas?

I'm quite bad at supplements but do take omega 3. I'm historically low in vitamin D and iron so trying to get better at taing those reliably too.

Sea kelp is good.

I think maybe u could do with a clarifying shampoo before u wash with normal shampoo specially as u say hair doesn't feel very clean after shampooing !

This can make hair feel lank build up of silicones ect ect ( hairstylist here )

That’s a point. I may try that too. My hair looks better day after a wash when I use dry shampoo.

Actually, I think my hairdresser was going to give me a clarifying one and they didn't have any so she gave me something else. Perhaps I need to ask her again when I see her next.

Also, I don't use a lot of product but do use a hair oil - could that have silicones in it? I'll have to check.

Yes oils contain silicone and so do some shampoo and conditioner they work by keeping the hair silky and stops friction which is good but they can build up and cause lank heavy hair so I always advise clients to use clarifying shampoo once a week 😁

Okay, that's really helpful, thank you. And I admit, I don't even use a high end hair oil - I found some Pantene (a brand I usually hate) somewhere at some point, and quite liked it so just kept using it. I just uploaded the ingredient list to ChatGBT....a nd yes, silicones. I have tended to mostly only use salon-quality products on my hair. I feel like this is a reminder not to mess with that!!!!!!

I think I will a) stop using it and see if I can find one that is NOT with silicones and b) buy some clarifying shampoo.

It's actually ok to use silicones it stops friction friction can cause breakage !
You just have to stop the build up once a week by clarifying the hair !
Pantene is well known for silicones especially in there shampoos x

As soon as I turned 40 my hair just went to shit. I use menoplex shampoo and conditioner or cantu shampoo and conditioner. All sulphate free which has made a huge difference.

I have the Redken Clarifying shampoo on its way. Can't wait.

Not quite same for me but def in my 40s. Had to try lots of products for it to look nice. And get a good hairdresser.

I use the joico one but do love redken products

The Tigi small talk stuff is brilliant for giving volume without grease. Often recommended on here.