MY GRAY HAIR LOSS
Let’s Talk Hair Loss
In a previous post called “My Gray Hair”, I basically wrote a love letter to my family and our hair. I talked about how we are born with this crazy thick, dark hair. How, in our teens, we start to see our first grays. How, when we are older, we have a striking white head of hair, like my Grandma Rosie. That is our trademark. I have aspired to this since I was young. But there is one thing I did not consider and it is a trait I did not talk about in my previous post.
After menopause, our hair starts to thin out.
Dramatically.
My mom was recently complaining about how thin her hair is. My Grandma Rosie’s hair was so thin, you could see her scalp. And, over the last 10 years, I’ve noticed that my hair has thinned, especially within the last year or so. There is a little more hair in the shower drain. Our bathroom floor is littered with it. The floor under the desk in my office is covered. I would have to vacuum every day to keep up. Obviously, I’m not gonna do that. That would be crazy.
Unfortunately, it is normal for post-menopausal women to start to see their hair thinning, but that knowledge doesn’t really soften the blow when you look in the mirror and it is noticeable. And as much as I love my mom and Grandma Rosie (both ladies are/were sincerely beautiful), I don’t want to see my hair thin out that much, so I started to do some research.
First things first. WHY does it happen?
Menopause brings on a lot of changes to your body. Most of those changes, including hair loss, stem from your hormones shifting. The levels of progesterone (the hormone in your body that regulates your period, prepares your body for conception, and maintains pregnancy) and estrogen (the hormone that is responsible for helping to develop and maintain your reproductive system and developing female characteristics such as breasts) drop. Since these hormones also play a role in helping to grow and maintain your hair, when those hormone levels drop, so does your hair.
To add insult to injury, when these hormone levels drop, your body increases androgens (the hormone that helps to develop and maintain MALE characteristics) that shrink hair follicles on your head and can even increase hair growth on your chin.
So that’s fun.
So WHAT can you do about it?
This is all based on research I have done and conversations I have had with my doctor. I’m NOT a doctor. Please talk to your doctor before taking on any of these options.
As it turns out, there are some steps we can take to slow down and possibly reverse hair loss due to menopause:
Go Easy On Your Hair: Overprocessing, pulling, and over-styling can all lead to hair breakage and loss. Also, hair color is full of chemicals that can weaken your hair and can have a negative impact on your scalp over time. As luck would have it, gray hair is totally on-trend right now, so go natural.
Eat a Balanced Diet: Hair loss is just one symptom of menopause. Weight gain is another common issue post-menopausal women encounter. A healthy, balanced diet can help with both. I found this great blog post that breaks down the right foods and nutrients to consume to see positive results (go HERE). This includes Vitamins C, A, and B12, Folate, Zinc, Iron, and Niacin. It all adds up to a balanced and healthy diet that is good for your waistline and your hair.
And hydrate! Have you ever grabbed a glass of water for just a sip and chugged the entire glass because you didn’t realize you were thirsty? It happens to me several times a week. Drinking plenty of water will help keep your scalp (and your skin overall) from drying out and your hair from becoming brittle.
Protect Your Scalp: If your hair is thinning or you are starting off with thin hair, make sure you wear sunblock or, better yet, wear a hat. Sunburns on your scalp can cause permanent damage to your scalp making it difficult to grow hair. So take care.
Exercise Regularly: This is so important across the board. This will help to reduce stress levels which can contribute to, among other things, hair loss. It can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Walk 30 minutes a day or join a gym. A lot of us have issues we need to work around, but start small and set manageable goals. The important thing is that you get moving.
Medication - Specifically Rogaine: Around New Years I realized just how much hair I had lost (see images below) so I finally decided to address it. Just over two months ago, I began to use Rogaine for Women, 5% Minoxidil Foam. Everything I read on this is that it is a safe and effective way to combat hair loss. My doctor and hairstylist both recommended it so I thought I’d give it a shot. The Pros? This is really easy to use. You apply a small amount to your scalp on your problem areas once a day. It has been super easy to work into my daily routine. Also, the cost is not as bad as I thought it would be - about $48 for a four-month supply. The Cons? It can take up to four months to see results. I do see a few tiny hairs popping through which is encouraging, but it takes time. And once you start using Rogain, you can’t stop or you will lose your hair. This makes sense, but it is a commitment.
In addition to the Rogaine, I am exercising regularly and eating better. I definitely feel better - just waiting a little longer for more hair growth. I will post an update in the next two months with my progress. I’m cautiously optimistic.
I’ll admit, I was a little apprehensive about sharing this. I guess I was kind of embarrassed. But the reality here is that a lot of women go through this and don’t talk about it. Not talking about things can feel isolating and lonely. So let’s continue the conversation.
Is this something you are experiencing? How are you managing it? Have you seen success with what you have tried? Please comment below.
Until next time.
#grayhairblogging