For many years, I wore my hair short. Really short. I couldn’t stand for it to get long. And it was dark:
Then I started working as a park ranger, and more often than not people called me “SIR”. So, I decided to let my hair grow out so I would look a little bit more feminine when I was at work:
And then I stated being able to see my scalp through my hair! I could not believe that the dark, thick hair I used to have is now not only gray, but thinning as well!
You can see in the photo above that my hair really is thinner, and my scalp is showing so pink through that gray hair! I am wondering what there is out there in the way of products that prevent hair loss in women, or at least make my hair look thicker.
All this could just be from me getting older, but I have been wondering about it for some time. Whenever I wash my hair it seems like handfuls of it comes out and clogs up the shower drain, and whenever I brush it, my hairbrush is full of hair. It could just seem like a lot because it is longer now, and I just didn’t notice as much when it was short.
What about you? Do you seem to be losing hair as your get older?
Yes. I’m in the midst of “the change” and my hair is definitely thinning. I’ve always had fine hair, but plenty of it. Now, it is falling out in the shower and with the brush and I’m finding thinner spots that weren’t there before.
*sigh* Just one more thing.
Thanks for the comment, Mary Beth. I feel a little better about it now.
Berta is having a hair loss problem and discovered chemicals in most shampoos can be a problem. Also throid. Plus she colors her hair and has now changed over to natural henna.
Thinning hair is quite common with celiac disease. I belong to a group on Facebook “Ontario Celiacs” and they have been saying that.
My hair has been thin and fine since I started having kids. I haven’t thought much about it for years…I just live with it. Then a week ago my sister looked at a photo on my blog and commented on it. She says she has been using Biotin and it is growing new hair for her. I haven’t checked into it, but I believe her and told her I might try it.
Hugs, GraceinAZ
You should speak to your doctor about this. Some hair loss in women is hereditary but often it is caused by a medical condition like hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalances or more serious illnesses. I read recently that by the time you notice that your hair is getting thinner you have probably already lost as much as HALF of your hair. There are definitely things available to treat hairloss but it is important to determine the cause first. A product that works for one person could actually make your hairloss worse if your underlying condition is different.
Good luck. Don’t fret about this as that just makes it worse but see your doctor!
I’m in my forties and just starting menopause….I always had lots of fine hair and now I’m losing
A LOT….it’s no fun 🙁 I’m going to get my thyroid checked, but, I think it’s the change.
There’s a ladies form of Rogaine that was available a while back, but I have never tried it. It may be available over the counter, you could ask at any pharmacy, and I would think it might be pricey..I wish I could afford the eyelash enhancers they have now, the kind Brooke Shields uses, because even my eyelashes have thinned out, too. But I’ve also heard that when you quit using it your eyelashes go back to the way they were before.
I’ll be 61 in April. I went through ‘the change’ when I was forty eight, and what a change it has been! Ever since then and somewhat before then, I started to notice the thinning of my fine textured hair, and I slowly built up to losing what I feel is a lot after hair washing and brushing. Since I have always been a natural blond with fine silky type hair I didn’t get that shock of going gray that dark haired ladies sometime do, but fine blond hair sure lets that scalp shine through in the worst way! My thinning is mostly on top and especially in the bang area.
Here’s a little thing that some natural silver/grayish haired ladies may want to try, it is something my 84 year old moma does and suggested to me. It may sound somewhat odd or even funny, but it does help conceal the scalp ‘somewhat’, and you’ll smell great, too! haha.. Unfortunately this is just a temporary hairline aide. Use talcum powder lightly on the ‘skin showing’ areas, tapping a puff lightly while holding it a couple of inches above the ‘skin’ to be covered up. Then gently tap or comb/brush the spot to blend the powder in and keep it from being so obvious. Even a blush brush could be used to get it right to the scalp. Just remember this is for us silver haired girls! Maybe some of the darker haired ladies could come up with some sort of colored powder, like an eye-shadow close to their hair color, tapping the are awith a blush brush. Hey, when you get thinning hair you’ll try anything once. ha…Joan Rivers sells on QVC a product that you use a brush to apply to the thin spots, but it’s also out of my price range. Rather like the eye shadow idea I mentioned above, but her name is on hers so it probably would work better. ha..
Biotin~Around the age of 50 or a little later I took Biotin as I had also heard it helps with thinning hair. I chose to quit taking it after three months or so when I noticed that I was getting a lot more fine facial hair, and with this lovely little moustache I developed I sure don’t want anymore hair on my face, even thought it’s texture is fine as silk, too. It was my experience only, and it may not happen to others that try taking it. For me it could have been a natural result of being post menopausal.
Seems our golden years may contain some lead, mine seems to have settled around my waist! My mother-in -law stated it perfectly….when you get our/my age, you lose hair where you want it, and get hair where you don’t.
I’ll be checking back to see if anyone else has some great hints I could try….
OMG! Yes that happened to me too! My hairdresser said it was from a medication but I sorta blew off that theory and guess what? she was right! I had started on a new med & once I stopped it my hair stopped falling out and is now nice and thick again. For a Leo, that’s really important.