The Best Products For Thinning Hair
I was recently looking at pictures of myself from a few years ago. My hair was much thicker and longer in those pictures. However, I’ve noticed more hair in my brush each morning, and more unruly gray hairs keep appearing on my head. How could this happen? Along with getting older, this added to me feeling a little blue and wishing for youth. Since the time of the picture a few years ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid disease, had a hysterectomy, and had incredible stress from my divorce, not to mention I’ve gained a few years. ALL of these things contribute to hair thinning. So, I began to search for the best products for thinning hair.
In my quest to have youthful hair again, I have found ways and products to combat and even improve my hair. Yes! This is a widespread issue amongst middle-aged women. Thinning hair can be caused by several different sources or, like me, a combination of contributing factors. Many women also feel discouraged by thinning hair, and it is often difficult to talk about since hair is part of our visual identity.
What Causes Hair Thinning Hair Happen in MidLife?
There are many reasons for hair thinning for women. Stress, lack of proper nutrition, hormonal issues, genetics, and just the natural aging process can all be culprits of thinning hair. We will look into each of the reasons we are losing our tresses and then ways and products to improve our heads of hair. So we can still have desirable luscious hair as we mature!
Stress
Stress is the number one culprit for hair loss and weakness. Continuous stress shocks the hair follicles and interrupts their natural growth cycle causing premature shedding of the hair. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium and can result from ongoing stress or the aftershock of trauma. When your body feels threatened, it will use its resources to protect the things necessary for life, such as breathing and ensuring your organs are working correctly. Ongoing stress causes your hair to be in a constant fight or flight mode, thus causing hair follicles not to function correctly. Luckily, this can be a temporary reason for hair loss. Working to eliminate stress or recovering from trauma will allow hair follicles to function properly.
Nutrients
Protein -Hair is made from a protein called Keratin. Lacking protein affects hair growth. Diets low in protein can contribute to brittle hair, a receding hairline, and hair loss over time.
Iron– Iron deficiency or anemia may cause hair thinning and loss. Iron not only helps our red blood cells carry oxygen to cells, but it is also vital to hair growth. Once a deficiency is addressed, then the hair growth cycle should return to normal.
Biotin -Biotin plays an important role in energy metabolism, nerve function, and cell turnover, including the cells on our scalp. Scalp health is important to the health of our hair follicles. A healthy scalp can determine hair growth or loss.
Hair loss due to improper nutrition is also temporary and can be reversed by consuming the lacking nutrients. Have your doctor run a blood test to see if you might lack the above nutrients and if supplements may be of use for you.
Hormones
Thyroid -Hair loss may develop slowly with hypo or hyperthyroidism. It is normal to lose between 50-100 hairs a day, but with improper thyroid hormones, hair isn’t replenished as quickly. If thyroid hormone production is disrupted, it may not be replaced by new growth when the hair falls out, resulting in thinning across your scalp.
Menopause– 40% of women experience hair thinning during menopause. Reduction in hair growth during menopause is due to a drop in the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Their reduction causes hair loss. If you are in menopause or perimenopause and experiencing symptoms, ask your doctor to check your hormone levels as these can be addressed.
Aging
Hair Ages– Shine and volume associated with youthful hair may become thin, dull, and brittle associated with aging. A single hair has a normal life cycle of 2-7 years. That hair then falls out, and a new hair starts to grow in the same follicle. With aging, the follicle weakens, and your hair becomes fine and weak. To put it bluntly, the follicles just get tired as they age. Oil glands shrink over time, not producing as much oil to coat your hair, and drying becomes a problem. This also causes loss of elasticity and therefore makes the hair brittle, so breakage happens.
With all of these things working against our hair as we age, we can use products to lessen thinning hair or give the appearance of a thicker head of hair. Different steps can be made to have the best hair possible.
Best Products to Treat Thinning Hair
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Supplements
Quality hair begins with proper nutrition and supplements. Here are some of my recommendations for supplements to repair and strengthen hair from the inside out.
Hairfluence- Hair Growth Formula
Hairfluence is a supplement for longer, stronger, healthier hair. I like Hairfluence because it delivers a powerful complex including B vitamins, biotin, and collagen. This blend combines several essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that work in harmony to deliver maximum results.
While it may take 3-4 weeks of consistent use for significant, visible changes in your hair, the benefits to your skin and nails should appear after 2-3 weeks of consistent use.
Zhou uses only the highest-quality ingredients in an FDA-certified facility.
Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder – Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides 20 0z
- Nutrient-dense: Collagen Peptides offers 20g of collagen per serving. It is digested and absorbed quickly for maximum results.
- Many benefits: Helps support hair, skin, nails, bones, and joints
- Easy to use: Easily mixes and dissolves your favorite hot and cold beverages, like coffee, smoothies, and tea. I like to mix mine with my oatmeal in the morning.
- Gluten and dairy-free and offers 28 servings.
- NY dermatologist Yoon-Soo Cindy Ba participants reported thicker hair after 3-6 months.
Elon R3 Extra Strength for Thinning Hair
- Elon R3 promotes healthier and thicker hair growth for thinning hair.
- This pharmaceutical-grade supplement not only has the benefit of biotin, but the tablets also have fish collagen peptides and silicon dioxide for hair shine and elasticity.
Hair Care Products
Some products can nourish the scalp which will optimize the hair follicles to produce healthy, stronger hair. Other products enhance your hair to appear thicker or have more volume.
Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam-
Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam is a hair growth treatment. It is an FDA-approved non-prescription foam made with 5% minoxidil and claims to regrow up to 25% more hair. It works to boost hair follicle activity and hair protein production by conditioning the scalp.
It also uses the added alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) to promote natural skin exfoliation to help keep hair follicles open, allowing the hair to grow. This works especially well for all-over growth on the head. Results can be seen in 3-4 months.
Bumble and Bumble Hair Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Bumble and Bumble Hair Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner are ideal for fine and thinning hair. It is a lightweight formula that adds volume while smoothing the hair shaft, allowing hair to look and feel fuller.
BOLDIFY Hair Thickening Spray- Hair Volumizer + Texture Spray for Fine Hair
Boldify Hair Thickening Spray gives you thicker, more voluminous hair in 60 seconds.
The super light weight formula won’t leave a sticky residue or buildup.
- Great for your hair – Packed with minerals and nutrients, our thickening tonic’s ability to absorb excess oil and moisture makes it one of the best volumizing hair sprays for women & men for healthy looking, voluminous hair!
Hair Densifying Products and Fillers
Other products can be used to aid with thinning hair
Hair Max Laserband 82
My daughter, who is an esthetician, swears by laser hair stimulating to activate hair follicles. Hair Max Laserband 82 is an FDA-cleared at-home medical laser treatment. The follicles are stimulated through medical-grade lasers to promote hair growth.
It is clinically proven to reverse the thinning process and helps to grow denser, fuller, longer, and stronger hair.
Toppik Hair Building Fibers
While your hair is growing fuller from the above products and nutrients, Toppik Hair Building Fibers instantly give you the look of thicker, fuller hair.
Made of natural, colored Keratin protein, TOPPIK Fibers intertwine with your existing hair for a completely natural look. TOPPIK resists wind, rain, and perspiration but removes easily with shampoo.
The Last Thing You Need to Know About Hair Thinning
Hair thinning is a common problem in middle-life women. The great news is there are things you can do to reverse the hair thinning. Most can be taken care of with proper nutrition and hormone balance. New growth can be prompted with the right products to give us a healthy scalp and hair. By addressing nutrition and hormone deficiencies with your doctor and using products that promote a healthy scalp, you will again have healthy hair that you will be proud of.
