53 Comments
Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

Your pixie cut is darling, I vote you go back to it!

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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?

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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!

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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...

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

I love your hair both ways...so I think just wear the wig if you feel like it and don't if you want an easy no-fuss do. The pixie is adorable but the wig looks so natural a person would never know you were wearing it. Thanks so much for sharing your concerns.

I'm in my 70s and I have never coloured my hair...it's dark brown with some grey coming in. I know...I get it from my dad's side of the family so I consider myself lucky. But it is thinner than it used to be. That happened to my mom, I remember. You can't tell (yet) and my hairdresser said I still have plenty of hair. She didn't say it's not thinning, however. I'd for sure check out wigs if t comes to that.

So great that the book is doing well. Kinda hard to believe it hasn't been published in France, yet!! I'm an American expat in England and am so eager to travel as long as I can...if I ever get to France (and I will) I would be so thrilled to meet you.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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!

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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

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Jan 12, 2023Liked by Gabrielle Blair

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.

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