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Health

Thinning hair

(62 Posts)
Quokka Wed 14-Aug-24 13:42:44

I’m nearly 80 and just recently I’ve noticed my hair is much thinner. I’m worried it’ll eventually all disappear!

I’ve tried supplements like biotin and collagen to no effect. I’ve tried washing it less often. Used that German shampoo advertised on TV to prevent hair loss. I’m too old for HRT. Sprays do give an appearance of thickness but don’t stop the underlying problem.

Any suggestions that others have found to work please. Are there any products you have found that stimulate new growth or ar least preserve what I have left?

MissAdventure Thu 15-Aug-24 11:44:57

Very true.

By the way, I don't know if anyone has tried it, but rosemary is supposed to be good.

You can grow your own and rinse your hair with it.

knspol Thu 15-Aug-24 11:45:25

I've been taking Viviscal for over 12 mths now but have to say I haven't noticed any difference although I know someone who sings it's praises. I've recently been using Champo hair serum that I've seen some very good reviews about but too soon to notice any difference at the moment. I live in hopes

janeainsworth Thu 15-Aug-24 11:50:40

Agree Baggs re so-called natural products.
I use Nioxin products. They’re expensive to buy but you don’t need to use much, and they’ve worked for me. Hair only grows at the rate of 1/2 inch per month so you don’t see an instant result, but when I look at photos taken 4-5 years ago I can see a definite improvement.
The other thing I use is Hask brand Argan Oil, in a spray form. It’s cheap as chips & doesn’t actually make your hair oily. I massage some into my scalp at night if I’m going to wash my hair the next day.

Gilly1952 Thu 15-Aug-24 11:59:52

My hair seems much thinner these days and lots come out in the brush and when I wash it! I read that taking Saw Palmetto can help but be warned, it can act as a blood thinner too. I bought some from one of the online health sites, it’s often advertised for men and their problems, but after taking it for a few weeks, I imagined my hair felt better and was coming out less. Then I had to have an operation so stopped taking it due to the possible blood thinning effects. I haven’t re-started it again. As an aside, I didn’t realise that Evening Primrose can also have a blood thinning effect!

JustkeepswimmingDonna Thu 15-Aug-24 12:28:04

I was at the hairdressers yesterday and I mentioned my hair loss. My hairdresser recommended Glowwa gummies. But they're not cheap: £35 for a month's supply. They have good reviews though. This is their website:
www.glowwa.com/products/hair-food-30-day-supply

fluttERBY123 Thu 15-Aug-24 12:33:29

Advertised on gransnet no less a few years ago. Game changer. It stimulates the follicles. I use a couple of times a week and my "bald patch" has disappeared. It is not a quick fix, took a couple of years. I thought all.that time that each hair was covered in some coating that made each hair thicker. Anyway, fantastic now and I know why.

Bluedaisy Thu 15-Aug-24 13:42:59

I use Champo shampoo and conditioner, which I find helps. Also I dry my hair 80% before putting Morocco volume mousse and root boost which are brilliant for thickness when used together on practically dried hair then styled, and a couple of days later when the style starts to drop a quick squirt of dry shampoo and a wave of the hairdryer thickens it up again to get a few more days out of your wash & blowdry.
(Was a hairdresser for 30 years so hope this helps a bit). I’ve yet to find a quick fix tablet wise unfortunately.

Seakay Thu 15-Aug-24 13:53:47

I use the Champo serum. My hair shed has gone from a handful every day to a very small amount, and I have some very fine baby hairs growing. The shedding reduction took 4-6 weeks.

MissAdventure Thu 15-Aug-24 13:55:42

fluttERBY123

Advertised on gransnet no less a few years ago. Game changer. It stimulates the follicles. I use a couple of times a week and my "bald patch" has disappeared. It is not a quick fix, took a couple of years. I thought all.that time that each hair was covered in some coating that made each hair thicker. Anyway, fantastic now and I know why.

I'm going for that one now, thanks!! smile

SewnSew Thu 15-Aug-24 14:47:04

I have found that Vitamin D tablets help both hair and nails.

meddijess Thu 15-Aug-24 14:54:08

CountessFosco Wed 14-Aug-24 17:14:00
Many years ago, a hairdresser in Switzerland explained that a daily dose of millet flakes [it's pretty disgusting but seems to work] will prevent further hair loss. I have had very thin, fine hair all my life. Seems to work - have now been taking it +30 years. Obtainable from H+B.

I have just ordered millet flakes from Amazon. Quite cheap, and worth trying if you don't have Holland & Barrett nearby. Thank you for the info!

grandtanteJE65 Thu 15-Aug-24 14:58:53

Nothing works, unfortunately. All you can do is choose a hair style that makes the most of what hair you have.

Don't go throwing money away on vitamins, supplements, specail shampoo or other aids you see advertised. They are all scams basically.

Cateq Thu 15-Aug-24 15:02:19

Many years ago when my gran started to loose her hair, she started rubbing some Laphroaig malt whiskey through her hair, as someone told her that people who worked in the whiskey distilleries didn’t suffer from thinning hair due to rubbing their hands through their hair after handling the whiskey. Her brother was raging at her for wasting good whiskey especially as it didn’t help her.😂😂

BettyBoop49 Thu 15-Aug-24 15:03:35

I have recently tried a product called Thickening Cream by Windle Lab. I was despairing of my thin, flat straight hair but this cream has made such a difference. You squeeze about 1” out of the tube, rub it between your hands and apply through your hair then style as usual ( it’s large rollers and a hair dryer for me) I recommend it - it’s the only solution I have found after trying various products.

Kate1949 Thu 15-Aug-24 15:12:06

It depends on the cause. Before I was diagnosed with alopecia, I tried everything. Some of the treatments/old wives' tales I tried were -
Regaine
Zinc
Every vitamin under the sun
Hair and nail supplements
Caffeine shampoos
Various products supposedly to add volume
Head massage
Rinsing my hair in ice cold water
Drinking beetroot juice
Drinking diluted cider vinegar
Drinking cherry juice
Rubbing an onion on my scalpconfused

I still have alopecia (no hair).

pably15 Thu 15-Aug-24 15:15:51

I have an underactive thyroid and take thyroxine for it , my hair has never been thick, but it did get thinner with the underactive thyroid, another thing that I found caused my hair to get thinner, was statins. I stopped them years ago, I also take vit E which is good for hair nails and skin, I have heard of a product called Nanogen, it's keratin thickening hair fibres, there's also Nanogen shampoo and conditioners, I've never tried them, I've seen them advertised on Allbeauty website...

Nicky7of7 Thu 15-Aug-24 16:22:41

I have been using Viviscal for some time . I also take Vitamin D and have Flaxseed on my breakfast every day. I don’t know which works but combination seems to!!!

Greciangirl Thu 15-Aug-24 16:53:20

Constant dying of hair has made mine thinner, unfortunately.

I notice it not on the hairbrush, but in the bathroom plug hole.

I never had thick locks anyway.

Primrose53 Thu 15-Aug-24 17:19:30

My cousin now wears a topper but I would not have known if she didn’t tell me. Prior to this she used some little shake in fibres and they made it temporarily look thicker.

She saw the leading Consultant at one of Europe’s largest hospitals who told her not to waste her money on shampoos, thickeners, lotions and potions as there is nothing on the market that will do the trick or he would be prescribing it.
He recommended a healthy diet, not washing hair more often than it needs, avoiding very hot hair dryers and avoiding stressful situations if she could.

MissAdventure Thu 15-Aug-24 18:17:41

I wore a thick headband for a while.
It covered up my worst bald patches.

Then my grandson said I looked like a singer in an 80s rock band. grin

MissAdventure Thu 15-Aug-24 18:46:45

Also,depending where the worst areas are, you can get buns or ponytails, which literally go onto your hair like a hair bobble would. Very easy, very cheap, and very realistic.

welshgirl2017 Thu 15-Aug-24 19:21:09

No idea if it works as I have never used it - but it seems to have great reviews. Link below.

www.uklash.com/products/uklash-hair-growth-serum

Nana56 Thu 15-Aug-24 19:32:13

I take Biotin and vitamin B complex. I think it helps. Good luck

petra Thu 15-Aug-24 19:54:27

I’m very pleased for those who have found a solution.
For myself the best I’ve achieved is that my hair has practically stopped falling out.
I went to see this woman. She is hailed as the best Trichologist in the country. She examined my hair and scalp with a high resolution lens.
My diet was talked about. She gave my Dr a full list of all the blood tests she wanted done.
I take the supplements that she developed www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/23/the-trichologist-who-lost-her-hair-i-learned-it-isnt-about-how-you-look-its-about-how-you-feel

Quokka Thu 15-Aug-24 21:44:15

Skydancer

Stress can make hair fall out. I know because it happened to me.

I’ve read everything carefully and thank you. Followed up your suggestion of stress skydancer and found I have many of the symptoms associated with high cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and hair thinning is way up there.

I can’t remember who said it depends on the cause but spot on.

Trouble is there’s no easy way to reduce my stress levels. Going to lie down in a darkened room for 10 minutes and meditate perhaps.