Going bald..

I have a hair system. I too have compliments about my hair. I can't feel it on my head. I can wash it, style it, wash it in the shower just like everyone else does with their hair. I had to do it. I was suicidal.

Unless you've suffered with this problem nobody, absolutely nobody can understand the impact it has on your self esteem.
I started with thinning hair at 43. I thought it was stress at losing my mum(Pancreatic cancer) but soon realised it was Alopecia Androgenetica, or the horrible nam male/female pattern baldness. I saw a dermatologist (NHS) and a photo was taken of top of head, before and after, using Minoxidil, which I was given a repeat prescription for to use for 6 months. It made my scalp itch but I persevered and it made no visible difference. This product available in chemists but expensive and if you notice a difference you have to keep using it.
I'm now 65 and I hate the fact my scalp is so very visible with hardly any fringe at all. Also I've got the lovy family gene of early greying. Totally white by 46 so am dyeing it all the time, it looks dreadful after 2 weeks.
The hair system I've looked into Kate1949 but no hairdresser in my area does this.
I do understand how ashamed and humiliated it makes one feel. I'm sorry for those who have this problem and I'm very grateful that you have brought this up MissAdventure. It made me feel not so alone while reading of others feelings.

It does feel somehow a bit shameful, and it's utterly ridiculous, of course!
That's why I thought I would post about it, because I was sure there must be others it will help.
I'm glad it did.

Incidentally, do women ever have hair transplants?
It's only just occurred to me that I have never heard of a woman having one.

It is absolutely ridiculous that we should feel like this, *MissAdventure,
I agree.
Theres no 'right' weather either. Sun shines through - exposing. Wind blows-exposing and birds nest. Rain-disaster. Hat on--can't take it off again in company.
Oh dear. Sorry. Actually not sure if many women do have transplants. They're not guaranteed to work of course. The wigs that others have said have worked for them sound good and had me thinking--maybe. People would realise though if I suddenly went from sparse to thick.

Kate1949so sorry you were driven to feel this way. I did get extremely depressed about it for a long time. I can imagine your pain. ?

Mine is so greasy.
The ends look like something from a 70s rock band singer - all frazzled and dry, then the top looks as if I've smeared lard all over it.
The ends are blonde, and the roots dark because I'm afraid to do anything to it.
I think people must question how I can possibly walk around looking so unkempt and grubby, but I do wash it!

Sweetpeasue
And what if people do realise? Wear your wig with pride ?

Thankyou MerylStreep. I know you're right. I guess it just takes some courage. Which with one thing and another lately, is running out fast.
I don't use conditioner in mine MissAdventure as I feel it makes it flatter but we all have our own way of trying to deal with it.

MissAdventure
Apologies if I’ve missed it in the thread, but have you seen a doctor? In the hope that you could see a dermatologist.
I can’t remember if you said you were still working?
If not, please try to not wash your hair so much, and when you do try to use a natural shampoo bar.

That's the thing isn't it?
To not care if people notice.
Men don't worry about toupees, however noticeable they are.
They wear them with pride.

Sweetpeasue Thank you. I'm sorry for what you went through/are going through too. It's horrendous isn't it? There have been several threads on hair loss on Gransnet which may help you. I never imagined loss of hair could be so traumatic. I think the reason it has affected me so badly is that, with apologies to those who've heard it all before, was that I had all my teeth taken out through neglect aged 11. It seems doubly cruel. And yes I do feel sorry for myself.

I'm seeing docs for other health issues, Meryl, which are causing the hairloss, I think.

At the moment my health is the main thing I need to try and sort out, and it's taking what little energy I have, so I've left my hair for now.

I worried about what people would think when I went from thin and balding to thick with my hair system. I only had lovely comments and wish I'd done it sooner. It's my life at the end of the day.

Sweetpeasue
Please try and use the least amount of products as you can on your hair. I only use a natural shampoo bar.
I don’t always wear my wig, so when I do my own hair I use this product. It’s not cheap but it really helps a lot ?
www.regissalons.co.uk/shop/redken-thickening-lotion-06?gclid=CjwKCAjwzt6LBhBeEiwAbPGOgaH6viF9uD1rpD_0ENXUaB-CB4q3vsJqye-gXaLxHeOwANrrSAvUCBoCkXAQAvD_BwE

MissAdventure
I get that. There’s only so many health issues you can deal with at once. I hope you’ve got a good Dr.

No.
Hence I have lots of health issues
If he had listened to me 2 years ago when I told him I wasn't well I might not be in this state now!

I hope when your health issues are sorted out that your hair improves MissA

Thanks Kate.
Me too, and in that respect it would be helpful to know what kind of alopecia it is, but it'll keep.

Thankyou for your suggestions MerylStreep. My hair is completely white now so I feel I have to use hairdye more often than it is meant to be used.
I'm so sorry*MissAdventure *. Life can be crap sometimes. I too am having other medical issues, caused by a simple procedure being botched last October made worse by Dr's covering up(other story).
Sincerely hope your own issues can soon get sorted.?

In one way lockdowns gave me some relief but in other ways I was desperate to get back out so people would not get a shock when they next saw me. My own doctors have never heard my concerns when I have brought up my thinning hair over the years. I get unusually hot so a wig would be unusable. I used to look forward to woolly hats in the winters but rarely am able to wear them now and of course you cannot sit inside with a woolly hat on.
Just thought to share as I feel alone all the time with my thinning hair, but threads like this help me to see I am not.

It could be your hair thinning is to do with your health then MissA and you've reason to think it could be temporary. Easy to say but don't give up hope. Sending good wishes. (some Dr's, eh? ?)

Well threads like this show that we are not alone Lollin. There is no help for women with hair loss. It's not right in my opinion.

That's what I worry about with a wig.
I'm a hot person (not in looks, as you can tell!) so the thought of sweating away under something I I can't whip off is unbearable.
Plus, my head is beginning to get a bit sore. Plus, it also has some horrible looking moles on it.

It's the truly 'shameful' secret that lots of women carry but it shouldn't make us feel this way lollin.
I subscribed to a monthly news brochure by a top British Dermatologist specialising in hair loss (can't remember the name now) but found it only made me focus on the problem more. Take care of yourself.

I was surprised when I looked on youtube at how many women, a lot of them very young, have hairloss.
Then I was jealous because the ones with dark hair can touch up the patches with dark powder and it blends beautifully.
I'm not even sure what colour I would use, as the blonde is too yellow.