In this newsletter: What happened when someone asked me if I've been wearing a wig, a report on my hair loss/hair thinning, and news about seven new editions of my book in lots of languages!
This is a terrific post. I wear a wig every day. I have progressive alopecia and am 51. I am pleased to say I have never had such beautiful hair in my life! Lovely wigs are an investment and quite expensive, but so worthy.
Are you referring to me or Ms. Blair? For me it was such a relief not to be in public with “see through” hair, that I quickly became accustomed. What a thrill. I know women that have toppers and they look and feel fantastic and confident. Toppers require less maintenance. I would love to see acceptance of men wearing hair pieces the same as women. We all should feel comfortable in our skin.
Go for it. Find an excellent wig shop and look fabulous! The expertise of a wig shop as opposed to Amazon was helpful.
I was hospitalized for sepsis a little over three months ago and have been losing hair like crazy lately as a result. Hoping now that my health issues are resolved the loss will eventually level off, but it is a little disconcerting to see all the hair in my brush and in the shower lately.
Today with social media a good hair day is such a big part of our self image as women--and men. Thanks for sharing your hair journey even when there are frustrating hair days. Your honesty made me smile. And maybe smiles are even more important to our wellbeing than good hair days. Peace and love.
My hair started thinning really badly in my late '40s. I changed to a biotin shampoo and my hair is back to my youthful thickness. I am not a salesperson and I don't usually recommend products but I use Pura D'or hair thinning shampoo. It really made a difference.
Just hearted this on Amazon. They're not giving it away lol but I've been looking for a better shampoo for my husband and me. The scent says 'herbal'.. can you tell me what it smells like? I can't stand lavender or sandalwood. Thsnks for the rec!
I don't do heavy smells either. It's mild and lovely. I have a sensitive scalp and can't do herbals, so this isn't flowery either. My husband loves the smell of it. There are other brands that don't smell as good, but aren't as expensive, Orica makes one too. Just look for Biotin.
Right there with you on the hair thinning, the biotin not working, and the pixie / wear-it-longer debate. I've read that thinning hair is a natural part of female aging, but I've also read that it may have a genetic component. What is or was the state of your parents' + grandparents' hair?
I'm a bit younger than you (almost 44) and have been losing a lot of hair over the last couple of years. I have always shed a lot and had fine hair, but it is noticeably thinning. I just returned to my pixie cut and it does look thicker, and I don't notice the shedding like you say. It's a little worrisome because my grandmother's hair started thinning when she was around my age and by the time she was in her early 50s it was thin enough that she wore a wig, and it never grew back. I'm already being treated for hypothyroid, but I want to get my iron levels looked at because I think that makes a difference too. Anyway, it's kind of nice to see we're not alone but I have a lot of the same questions you have!
Iron is a common cause of hair loss in women because many of us are chronically iron deficient. After reading some papers on it, it seems like a lot of the medical community isn't aware of what ferritin (safe iron stores) ranges should be, and lab ranges reflect the averages of test populations, not what is optimal for good health. This paper says ferritin needs to be at 70, minimum for hair regrowth. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8435917/ Ferritin isn't even normally checked during an iron panel in the US unless you ask for it. A really helpful FB group I recently joined is called The Iron Protocol, if that might be of help to you. Good luck.
I had really thick, very curly auburn/red hair until it started gradually changing in my 40’s. I colored it when the red started fading until I was 60, and it was grey and white, and the color became sort of an ash blonde. I really miss my red hair, I was quite vain about it.
Now in my 70’s, it is only slightly wavy, and I find white hairs everywhere, especially in shower. So far, no bald spots, and I have a really good hair dresser who cuts it so well. I’m not sure what I’ll do if I get a bald spot...I wear a sort of pixie hair cut and have for many years.
I’m 50 and had been seeing handfuls of hair falling out in the shower. My Dr recommended Nutrafol supplement. It has helped me. I don’t take the full recommended 2 capsules a day because they taste terrible and it’s expensive so I want to stretch it but one capsule 5-6 days a week works for me! I can tell it’s working because twice I’ve forgotten to take it with me on vacations and the two weeks after that miss showed much higher hair loss than when I consistently take it.
I'm sorry you are also dealing with hair thinning. My issue is a little different, about 7 years ago, my thyroid tried to kill me, so I had to have it removed. The doctors will tell you that a little pill is going to replace your thyroid function but it doesn't really equate. My hair stopped growing then, and really never started up again. My fingernails got brittle, my skin cracked open on every finger and toe. My hair now grows maybe 1/8" a year. And I really dislike how I look. Now with perimenopause it's also started thinning. I have autism and sensory issues so i doubt a wig would work at all. My research led me to collagen supplements as a possibility, so I've been taking that and hoping for the best. So far no big results, but my skin seems s little more springy. I work hard to love this body that struggles with so much, and at the same time acnowledge that there are things I'd rather were healthier about it.
Have you seen a dermatologist about your hair loss? I saw one recently and got two prescriptions to help, one to slow the shedding and another to help with regrowth. My derm at least said she didn't think collagen does anything. I read plenty of reviews of people online who said it was great, but I've been taking it for over 8 months now and have seen zero difference on my hair or nails. Oddly it has almost eliminated the pain I had in my feet after sitting or laying for extended periods of time (like getting up first thing in the morning).
My hair began thinning eight years ago, in my mid-forties. It started when I had serious thyroid issues but despite having achieved perfect thyroid, iron (which was low), Vitamin D, B12, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen levels—ie anything my doctors could think to address—and eating a good diet with plenty of protein and veg, it remained a serious problem for me. I tried Ayurveda and acupuncture and herbal medicine from both of those traditions as well as every hair supplement known to woman. It got worse after my second and subsequent Covid boosters (I say this having continued to get the vaccine; I'm not against it). I cried a lot. I was going to try minoxidil, which you have to stay on for life if you want to keep the hair it grows, but then stumbled upon a natural serum called Vegamour. I honestly never thought it would work but I figured it might at least make my hair less dry? Within two weeks my hair was shinier, to the point where my hairdresser noticed. Two months in my hair loss is back to normal (I always have lost a lot, but also had a lot of hair). I still can't really believe it. I use it 3-5 times a week and am hoping to see lots of new growth in the next few months. I know I sound like an ad but if you're at all interested, take a look at reviews and before and afters and decide for yourself. Vegamour says to give it three months (three bottles) to see results so my quick results may be a bit anomalous. I've also read that dermarolling the scalp helps but I haven't tried it. There are lots of videos on YouTube about it.
My hair loss is likely a mix of genetics and age, as perimenopause is a thing and my grandmother has very thin hair. But I blame 20 years of undiagnosed celiac disease, too. I was atypical, and my most noticeable symptom was chronically low ferritin. I found out about the celiac when my copious hair loss made me realize I was likely not absorbing nutrients like I should be. Turns out chronic headaches are also a celiac symptom. I recommend seeing a doctor who will check your essential nutrient levels. You can then proceed to explore for why a nutrient might be low (don't accept "eat more iron rich food" for a decade, when you know you eat well.) I also recommend seeing a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss, because they will be able to tell you a lot more about why and what you can do about it. P.S. I'm also pondering a pixie cut, because I'm sick of the wisps. I'm just afraid it will make me look more bald.
I think a pixie is an excellent choice! Every time I've cut my hair short it always looks thicker.
A friend was diagnosed recently with celiac's after recurrent pregnancy loss. She, like you, had none of the classic symptoms, so it went undetected for years. I hope you are getting healthier now that you know what is going on.
A post-menopausal friend had been experiencing hair thinning for quite awhile. She was tested for vitamin and mineral deficiency, under/over active thyroid, etc. She was then referred to a dermatologist. She was prescribed an oral and topical medication to use every day and that has helped.
I might start by asking my hairdresser what she sees and then consulting a physician for a more precise diagnosis. I have had both major types of hair loss. Minoxidil helps for AGA but not for teligen effluvium. With AGA, the sooner you treat it, the more effective treatments will be. And maybe the hair color and the blow drying are taking a toll.
My dermatologist diagnosed me with chronic telogen effluvium, caused by chronic iron deficiency. I would have thought chronic TE was a bit of a misnomer, but apparently not :). I'm on minoxidil and spironolactone.
Don't know why these links are so long or if either of these are deliverable to France. I also take biotin and condroitin glucosamine. I asked my doctor first.
Maybe if possible see if your calcium is low. If it is maybe get a dexa scan. I had bad hair thinning at menopause and then later osteoporosis. I'm 57. My doctors barely warned me I could get this. They didn't go out of their way to find out my calcium levels. I have no baseline bone density images. If they had they probably would have seen what direction I was going in with bone density because once it's gone it's gone. All they can do is make what's left stronger with prescription pills.
This is a terrific post. I wear a wig every day. I have progressive alopecia and am 51. I am pleased to say I have never had such beautiful hair in my life! Lovely wigs are an investment and quite expensive, but so worthy.
I’d love to hear more about your experience. How did you deal with the initial discomfort/itchy scalp or feeling hot in the summer?
I lost a lot of hair when menopause hit and my mother wore a “topper” due to thin hair on top, so I’m preparing myself, thanks!
Are you referring to me or Ms. Blair? For me it was such a relief not to be in public with “see through” hair, that I quickly became accustomed. What a thrill. I know women that have toppers and they look and feel fantastic and confident. Toppers require less maintenance. I would love to see acceptance of men wearing hair pieces the same as women. We all should feel comfortable in our skin.
Go for it. Find an excellent wig shop and look fabulous! The expertise of a wig shop as opposed to Amazon was helpful.
C.
Ps… I buzzed my pitiful hair down to half an inch—looks like peach fuzz—about 6 months in. I started wearing a wig four years ago.
Yes, I was asking you---thank you so much for the reply and generous information!
Thank you!! It’s a personal journey for all.
Your pixie cut is darling, I vote you go back to it!
I was hospitalized for sepsis a little over three months ago and have been losing hair like crazy lately as a result. Hoping now that my health issues are resolved the loss will eventually level off, but it is a little disconcerting to see all the hair in my brush and in the shower lately.
Today with social media a good hair day is such a big part of our self image as women--and men. Thanks for sharing your hair journey even when there are frustrating hair days. Your honesty made me smile. And maybe smiles are even more important to our wellbeing than good hair days. Peace and love.
My hair started thinning really badly in my late '40s. I changed to a biotin shampoo and my hair is back to my youthful thickness. I am not a salesperson and I don't usually recommend products but I use Pura D'or hair thinning shampoo. It really made a difference.
Just hearted this on Amazon. They're not giving it away lol but I've been looking for a better shampoo for my husband and me. The scent says 'herbal'.. can you tell me what it smells like? I can't stand lavender or sandalwood. Thsnks for the rec!
I don't do heavy smells either. It's mild and lovely. I have a sensitive scalp and can't do herbals, so this isn't flowery either. My husband loves the smell of it. There are other brands that don't smell as good, but aren't as expensive, Orica makes one too. Just look for Biotin.
Pura Dor has been a game changer for me as well!
Right there with you on the hair thinning, the biotin not working, and the pixie / wear-it-longer debate. I've read that thinning hair is a natural part of female aging, but I've also read that it may have a genetic component. What is or was the state of your parents' + grandparents' hair?
I'm a bit younger than you (almost 44) and have been losing a lot of hair over the last couple of years. I have always shed a lot and had fine hair, but it is noticeably thinning. I just returned to my pixie cut and it does look thicker, and I don't notice the shedding like you say. It's a little worrisome because my grandmother's hair started thinning when she was around my age and by the time she was in her early 50s it was thin enough that she wore a wig, and it never grew back. I'm already being treated for hypothyroid, but I want to get my iron levels looked at because I think that makes a difference too. Anyway, it's kind of nice to see we're not alone but I have a lot of the same questions you have!
Iron is a common cause of hair loss in women because many of us are chronically iron deficient. After reading some papers on it, it seems like a lot of the medical community isn't aware of what ferritin (safe iron stores) ranges should be, and lab ranges reflect the averages of test populations, not what is optimal for good health. This paper says ferritin needs to be at 70, minimum for hair regrowth. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8435917/ Ferritin isn't even normally checked during an iron panel in the US unless you ask for it. A really helpful FB group I recently joined is called The Iron Protocol, if that might be of help to you. Good luck.
I had really thick, very curly auburn/red hair until it started gradually changing in my 40’s. I colored it when the red started fading until I was 60, and it was grey and white, and the color became sort of an ash blonde. I really miss my red hair, I was quite vain about it.
Now in my 70’s, it is only slightly wavy, and I find white hairs everywhere, especially in shower. So far, no bald spots, and I have a really good hair dresser who cuts it so well. I’m not sure what I’ll do if I get a bald spot...I wear a sort of pixie hair cut and have for many years.
Sorry for writing a book here...
I’m 50 and had been seeing handfuls of hair falling out in the shower. My Dr recommended Nutrafol supplement. It has helped me. I don’t take the full recommended 2 capsules a day because they taste terrible and it’s expensive so I want to stretch it but one capsule 5-6 days a week works for me! I can tell it’s working because twice I’ve forgotten to take it with me on vacations and the two weeks after that miss showed much higher hair loss than when I consistently take it.
I just hearted this on Amazon. I like to know about anything that works! 😀
I'm sorry you are also dealing with hair thinning. My issue is a little different, about 7 years ago, my thyroid tried to kill me, so I had to have it removed. The doctors will tell you that a little pill is going to replace your thyroid function but it doesn't really equate. My hair stopped growing then, and really never started up again. My fingernails got brittle, my skin cracked open on every finger and toe. My hair now grows maybe 1/8" a year. And I really dislike how I look. Now with perimenopause it's also started thinning. I have autism and sensory issues so i doubt a wig would work at all. My research led me to collagen supplements as a possibility, so I've been taking that and hoping for the best. So far no big results, but my skin seems s little more springy. I work hard to love this body that struggles with so much, and at the same time acnowledge that there are things I'd rather were healthier about it.
Have you seen a dermatologist about your hair loss? I saw one recently and got two prescriptions to help, one to slow the shedding and another to help with regrowth. My derm at least said she didn't think collagen does anything. I read plenty of reviews of people online who said it was great, but I've been taking it for over 8 months now and have seen zero difference on my hair or nails. Oddly it has almost eliminated the pain I had in my feet after sitting or laying for extended periods of time (like getting up first thing in the morning).
My hair began thinning eight years ago, in my mid-forties. It started when I had serious thyroid issues but despite having achieved perfect thyroid, iron (which was low), Vitamin D, B12, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen levels—ie anything my doctors could think to address—and eating a good diet with plenty of protein and veg, it remained a serious problem for me. I tried Ayurveda and acupuncture and herbal medicine from both of those traditions as well as every hair supplement known to woman. It got worse after my second and subsequent Covid boosters (I say this having continued to get the vaccine; I'm not against it). I cried a lot. I was going to try minoxidil, which you have to stay on for life if you want to keep the hair it grows, but then stumbled upon a natural serum called Vegamour. I honestly never thought it would work but I figured it might at least make my hair less dry? Within two weeks my hair was shinier, to the point where my hairdresser noticed. Two months in my hair loss is back to normal (I always have lost a lot, but also had a lot of hair). I still can't really believe it. I use it 3-5 times a week and am hoping to see lots of new growth in the next few months. I know I sound like an ad but if you're at all interested, take a look at reviews and before and afters and decide for yourself. Vegamour says to give it three months (three bottles) to see results so my quick results may be a bit anomalous. I've also read that dermarolling the scalp helps but I haven't tried it. There are lots of videos on YouTube about it.
Happy to report I bought a copy of Ejaculate Responsibly here in Austria (US version via amazon.de) and already bought another copy for a friend!
My hair loss is likely a mix of genetics and age, as perimenopause is a thing and my grandmother has very thin hair. But I blame 20 years of undiagnosed celiac disease, too. I was atypical, and my most noticeable symptom was chronically low ferritin. I found out about the celiac when my copious hair loss made me realize I was likely not absorbing nutrients like I should be. Turns out chronic headaches are also a celiac symptom. I recommend seeing a doctor who will check your essential nutrient levels. You can then proceed to explore for why a nutrient might be low (don't accept "eat more iron rich food" for a decade, when you know you eat well.) I also recommend seeing a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss, because they will be able to tell you a lot more about why and what you can do about it. P.S. I'm also pondering a pixie cut, because I'm sick of the wisps. I'm just afraid it will make me look more bald.
I think a pixie is an excellent choice! Every time I've cut my hair short it always looks thicker.
A friend was diagnosed recently with celiac's after recurrent pregnancy loss. She, like you, had none of the classic symptoms, so it went undetected for years. I hope you are getting healthier now that you know what is going on.
A post-menopausal friend had been experiencing hair thinning for quite awhile. She was tested for vitamin and mineral deficiency, under/over active thyroid, etc. She was then referred to a dermatologist. She was prescribed an oral and topical medication to use every day and that has helped.
I found these articles informative:
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/diagnosis-treat
https://www.healthline.com/health/laser-treatment-for-hair-loss
There are different types of hair loss and figuring out what is going on should help you find better solutions. This article provides a summary: https://www.medicinenet.com/telogen_effluvium_or_androgenetic_alopecia/article.htm.
I might start by asking my hairdresser what she sees and then consulting a physician for a more precise diagnosis. I have had both major types of hair loss. Minoxidil helps for AGA but not for teligen effluvium. With AGA, the sooner you treat it, the more effective treatments will be. And maybe the hair color and the blow drying are taking a toll.
My dermatologist diagnosed me with chronic telogen effluvium, caused by chronic iron deficiency. I would have thought chronic TE was a bit of a misnomer, but apparently not :). I'm on minoxidil and spironolactone.
Hair thinning happened to me as well around when I was going through menopause. I got a red led light helmet on ebay. I want to get this one next: https://www.ebay.com/itm/404024708777?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201018205123%26meid%3D84b757af381e49d2ab2c8a9d20708c32%26pid%3D101286%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone%26itm%3D404024708777%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26algv%3DWatchlistVariantWithMLR%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2380057.c101286.m47999&_trkparms=pageci%3A496bde59-929d-11ed-98f9-b2bf0d6304d5%7Cparentrq%3Aa6fe830f1850a764fc1dc299fffd4f22%7Ciid%3A1
Sorry about the long link. I wear it every other day until my hair feels warm. Maybe 10 minutes.
I take biosil:
https://smile.amazon.com/Natural-Factors-Supports-Strength-Generator/dp/B003J4N16O/ref=sxts_rp_s_a_sp_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.e1d0fd65-dbff-454d-9e35-926f4c285911%3Aamzn1.sym.e1d0fd65-dbff-454d-9e35-926f4c285911&crid=3L226HQT3E12G&cv_ct_cx=biosil&keywords=biosil&pd_rd_i=B003J4N16O&pd_rd_r=707b29e6-a006-456d-8dec-76b5e610f317&pd_rd_w=oNngz&pd_rd_wg=lZbik&pf_rd_p=e1d0fd65-dbff-454d-9e35-926f4c285911&pf_rd_r=AWTE9BHAAV7BAYEVVVRG&qid=1673544229&sprefix=biosil%2Caps%2C185&sr=1-1-3a65484d-1c95-4bed-b564-9469fdeef107
Don't know why these links are so long or if either of these are deliverable to France. I also take biotin and condroitin glucosamine. I asked my doctor first.
Maybe if possible see if your calcium is low. If it is maybe get a dexa scan. I had bad hair thinning at menopause and then later osteoporosis. I'm 57. My doctors barely warned me I could get this. They didn't go out of their way to find out my calcium levels. I have no baseline bone density images. If they had they probably would have seen what direction I was going in with bone density because once it's gone it's gone. All they can do is make what's left stronger with prescription pills.