Hair thinning - menopause - what really helps?

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Due to cancer treatment I have been put into early surgical menopause at age 38. I had no symptoms before. In fact I only had my last baby 18 months ago.
I can’t take HRT or anything else hormonal due to the cancer treatment.

I’m struggling with hair thinning and hair loss. My hair has always been long and thick. I cut it to my shoulders to try and combat some of it. But I feel it’s a losing battle. Every day so many hair strands are falling out and it’s becoming thinner and thinner. Especially around the hair line.

Searching online I am flooded with adverts - all promising me the world and a full head of hair.

But has anyone here tried anything for menopausal hair loss/thinning that actually worked? I’d appreciate any advice.

Sometimes menopausal hair loss can be due to low iron. Have you had your ferritin levels tested? They should be between 70 - 120 but a lot of women have significantly lower levels. You can raise it by taking supplements although it can take a while. It would definitely be the thing I'd look at first before splashing ££ on Kerastase serums.

I have heard amazing things from friends with menopausal hair loss about this product….

https://theordinary.com/en-gb/multi-peptide-serum-for-hair-density-hair-scalp-treatment-100434.html

I honestly don’t believe so op unfortunately, or the male market would have got there by now. I’ve tried expensive and cheap but aside from making hair glossier I’m still losing and it’s still weak looking. I take biotin which makes it feel a bit stronger but no thickness and I don’t know if it would affect your treatment as I had to come off it for blood work. Hugs op x

I’m sorry you’re going through this OP, it’s really shit. My hair started thinning while l was peri & on HRT, before my cancer diagnosis last year. From the research I did then the online dermatologists seemed to recommend minoxidil (5%), though this ended up being a few weeks before my diagnosis & then I had to shave my hair off for chemo anyway. My hair’s coming back now & is still thin but I’m not going to try anything on it until after the radiotherapy’s finished. If you’re still seeing your oncologist/having treatment do get their advice to make sure whatever you choose is safe to use. If you’ve got an allocated nurse at the hospital it might be worth emailing them for some suggestions too. Good luck.

Good nutrition!

Different genes...

You should try the BeConfident range from Dr gary he sells shampoo conditioner and other serums it’s basically got ingredients like pumpkin seed oil in it he’s a hair surgeon from America this has slowed my hair thinning it’s not cheap but I like them and think they help. But as another poster said everyone is different if it’s hormonal it can be pretty much the same as men and down to DHT levels in the scalp.

Just to add what your trying to do with these products is slow the hair cycle and fall so your hair kind of catches up I really hope you find your soloution

I had cancer treatment and early menopause, can’t take hrt etc etc.

I did find that it settled down over time and the hair loss was not quite so extreme- - it was falling out in huge clumps, and nothing to do with chemo, because I didn’t have that. But it was very distressing at the time.

Things like pumpkin oil that someone suggested upthread you need to be careful of because it’s a phytoestrogen. It might be fine but do double check. Biotin is not a good idea, and nor is collagen, usually - it’s a definite no-no for me.

I now use rosemary oil, which I think helps.
Also the charity Cancer Hair Care - I think that’s what it’s called - were useful. I had an appointment with them and they showed me ways to style my hair so hairloss could be disguised. Eg, for me they showed me how to emphasise the waves in my hair so it looks fuller. Receding hairline and widow’s peaks are tricky though .

Ives been using Pantene’s hair loss serum and hair is looking better 8m on

Nothing helps, unfortunately.

A good haircut that disguises hairloss.

I had a big bald patch during menopause. Someone said try organic seaweed shampoo so I did and all my hair grew back. No conditioner just the shampoo.
I had been considering buying a wig.
I didnt believe it would work but it did for me.
I bought this one:
www.amazon.co.uk/SEAWEED-ORGANICS-Scottish-seaweeds-Notification/dp/B0CYZYZZ6Z/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=25LRNTTG5TGZY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OTAm2Ucv_yYKVyhQynzr3MlxN983ls_jjgksQhVblfeufyCUyEefbwSvLNkFxPRtwa6VMvUasPTgAs_sQOgn4hrc2D7Vanvrkh8QG_3gQkXzCshl2NQI8tLXI131sKQRKx-t914aAg8x_cOpRVIH0Os1Pq13T_nkGNFo4YCLIb4Yqi4MUDNwJvszAkFd4053VYTz0Rl9-YVWPVsBxpRSQQ.cnQxwtdGjarkck-1Y7qX1IciNcKGoZ1QvtIUKZp7498&dib_tag=se&keywords=organic+seaweed+shampoo&qid=1780814279&sprefix=organic+seaweed+shampoo%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-2-spons&aref=vG4yiwD6PY&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

ReGaine prescribed or OTC, does help, but takes some time to kick in so be patient. Now I'm a few years post menopause it's been better, so try and be hopeful, though never as thick and smooth as when I was young. A good conditionioner will help you feel better about it in the meantime. I joined Liberty's beauty drop thing and so I could try lots of samples, Ouai fine hair works for me.

Appreciate all the replies. Thank you.
Lots of suggestions here for me to look into further.

Echo good nutrition. Iirc enough zinc can also be an issue.

Mine is thinking at the moment due to menopause and tamoxifen but it did grow back last year a lot. The only think i remember doing then was taking some more zinc and I was using a red light lamp. I switched to a face mask but that’s not doing my head so I’m thinking of using the lamp on my scalp again. (No idea which helped.) I may be low in zinc sometimes as I’m hypothyroid, on thyroxine and also eat a high fibre diet.

phytoestrogens from food are not an issue; Liz O riordan has a good video on that. They may even be helpful re cancer etc.

I found plantir shampoo (and the topical lotion), iron tablets and b12 tablets seem to help. Didn't find biotin or collagen made a difference to me. Was going to get a minoxidil prescription from hair and me but have put that off as my hair has started to thicken up anyway.

Kerastase genesis anti hair fall serum. It works like magic for me, although you can only use it for 6 weeks once or twice a year. My hair loss has a different cause (WLIs), although I also have the cancer/early menopause thing. And low iron. I suspect it would work for you, but the shedding might come back when the 6 weeks is up - still might be worth it as a temporary fix though

Iron amd biotin. Good overall diet.
Don't brush hair when wet - start to dry it then style it (hairdressers told ne this).

I was long, got v thin so went short, and am growing it out again. It's not thick like it used to be, but I'm happier with it.

I wouldn’t waste your money on shampoo or hair serum brands. I would go straight to evidence based, prescription strength products from
companies like Hair and Me. They will probably recommend minoxidil which is one of the few evidence based treatments for thinning hair. I have used it for years (although I just buy online now) and feel it works well.

I’m having hair extensions put in tomorrow in the front of my hair. It’s thinned out over the past few years due to menopause and although HRT might have slowed it down I still don’t have any regrowth. I asked ChatGPT to show me what front hair extensions and although I’m sure it won’t look the same it will look much better than it does now!

Minoxidil is what you need. It’s the only thing that worked. The first 6-8 weeks is horrible as you shed a lot, then you stop shedding and regrowth starts. I’ve been on it a year and I probably have almost a third more hair than before I started.

I went to the London Skin and Hair Clinic for a consultation and prescription, but I now buy them online. There can be rare side effects such as mild heart palpitations or low blood pressure, but I’ve had none.

Minoxidil is extremely toxic to animals, especially to cats, so something to look into if you're a pet owner.

I have also gone from having very thick swishy hair to having much thinner, frizzy hair. It is better than it was but whether that is because of the things I am using/taking or just because it would have got better anyway, who knows.

I take biotin every day - it's not expensive, I buy the Evo brand from Amazon and it's like £8 for 400 one a day tablets. Also take vitamin D. Hair products - the best things I have found are the head and shoulders anti-hair fall shampoo, and the Pantene grow strong conditioner or the Head and Shoulders repairing moisture one. Also washing your hair less frequently - I used to have to wash mine every day because it got greasy, and now it's every 3 days.