There is so much information and research focused on men’s hair loss, but what about women’s hair thinning or hair loss?!
“The information seems so varied and random… I don’t know what to believe… I need advice that fits my situation.” Is this you? Are you wanting to grow your hair back and still look and feel good in the process while it is growing back?
You are not alone. I have battled with hair loss for 30 years. Answers and options do exist. Information on the internet seems random and confusing because your hair thinning is unique and special to you. One answer or product will not address all situations. Multiple factors influence your hair thinning; answers will involve a set of solutions used together for not only growth but also protection, styling, and enhancement. Your specific situation will direct the path you take on your journey to feeling happy and healthy about your hair. Whatever your situation, there are options for you.
Assess your situation
The first step on this journey is self-awareness. Your hair is a direct reflection of your general health and assessment to understand the causes of your hair thinning will identify the appropriate path that is specific to your situation. There are actions you can take right away to get on your path to healthy hair while you diagnose the cause. Potential causes include but are not limited to medical conditions, significant weight loss, food intolerance, mineral imbalance, or hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause. While a self-assessment will provide valuable insight, I encourage you to consult and work in concert with a dermatologist. To get an insight to the questions your dermatologist may ask and approach they may take you can refer to an article from Journal of American Medical Association, Approach to the patient with hair loss (Piliang, 2023).
Get started right away
Check your vitamins. Vitamin deficiency or toxicity could be a factor in your hair loss. Start taking a daily multivitamin if you aren’t already. Popular supplements for hair growth include Biotin, Vitals Protein Hair Boost, and Hair Skin and Nails Gummies. Beware though that too much of a good thing can also cause hair loss. Vitamin or iron deficiency can cause hair loss, but so can too much causing vitamin toxicity. Rather than guess, work with your dermatologist or check out a home test to get an understanding of whether you are experiencing food intolerance, environmental intolerance, imbalance, or metal or mineral imbalance. Any of these imbalances could be a factor in your hair thinning. Your dermatologist will likely run additional tests to assess your hormone and thyroid levels and medical condition.
Grow new hair
The most significant cause of hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss (FPHL). Female-pattern baldness is a pattern of hair loss caused by hormones, aging and genetics. Unlike male-pattern baldness, female-pattern baldness is an overall thinning that maintains the normal hairline. While addressing the results of your home and dermatologist testing, there are additional longer-term actions you can take to promote hair growth using products approved by the US FDA to treat Female-Pattern Hair Loss. Minoxidil in the 2% and 5% solutions such as Rogain® for Women are available without prescription.
Protect the hair you have
While you are focusing on new hair growth, it is key to protect and maintain the hair you still have. Hair can be damaged while you play or while you sleep. Ensure your hair is completely dry before going to bed as your hair is at its most fragile while wet. Even while dry, tossing and turning in your sleep can generate friction of the hair with the bedding and cause breakage. After gently brushing your hair, use a silk pillowcase or a silk sleeping cap to reduce hair breakage and you’ll wake up with smooth, untangled hair. Sun and surf can be damaging as well. Make sure to wet your hair and use a leave-in conditioner before swimming so your hair will not absorb as much of the chlorine or salt water and then rinse again upon getting out of the water.
Style your hair with care
T3 AireLuxe Digital Ionic Professional hair dryer and use a thermal protectant. Choose a gentle hair brush such as the Mason Pearson Sensitive Boar Bristle Hairbrush. If you are seeing more of your scalp through your hair, you can use Overall Scalp Powder Coverage to camouflage larger areas of the scalp and Scalp & Hairline Concealer Powder to create the appearance of hair density around the hairline.
Enhance for the look you want
Growing, protecting, and gently styling your hair will become a natural habit over time. As you are finding the right balance of nutrition and hair care habits for your situation you may be impatient to see results. Addressing medical, nutritional, or environmental causes takes time to see results. You do not need to wait. There are non-damaging options to enhance your hair through this process. With minimal to moderate hair thinning, you may consider a hair topper an clip-in hair extensions. For high-quality results find a hair stylist that specializes in thinning hair and has experience coloring and resetting toppers and extensions. Matching the coloring of the topper with your hair will make all the difference in a seamless, natural look and you’ll have the look you want while you continue your hair growth journey.
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