Long hair over 50?

[seaurchin]

I use minoxidil on my scalp twice a day and it does work. In fact, it used to be by prescription only in the US, so it had to pass those rigorous clinical trials, as opposed to all the other alleged or possible hair regrowth remedies that don't have that solid evidence to back them up.

Minoxidil works but it does not restore the hair all the way back to the thickness it had in high school. It can also cause an itchy or sore scalp. Finally, it is based in alcohol, which is quite drying to the hair.

There are also at-home hair growth lasers, which seem to work from what I've read.

And the so-called "vampire treatment," a medical procedure where they do something with blood they take from you then inject it all over your scalp, which I believe also works.

Hair transplants are only for male pattern balding, not the typical female kind of overall thinning at the top one third of the scalp. (But some women do have male pattern balding).

 

[missy]

I use minoxidil on my scalp twice a day and it does work. In fact, it used to be by prescription only in the US, so it had to pass those rigorous clinical trials, as opposed to all the other alleged or possible hair regrowth remedies that don't have that solid evidence to back them up.

Minoxidil works but it does not restore the hair all the way back to the thickness it had in high school. It can also cause an itchy or sore scalp. Finally, it is based in alcohol, which is quite drying to the hair.

There are also at-home hair growth lasers, which seem to work from what I've read.

And the so-called "vampire treatment," a medical procedure where they do something with blood they take from you then inject it all over your scalp, which I believe also works.

Hair transplants are only for male pattern balding, not the typical female kind of overall thinning at the top one third of the scalp. (But some women do have male pattern balding).

I am glad it is working for you @seaurchin and it is very good to hear.

I went to an alopecia specialist a few years ago. He offered me scalp injections (PRP) and we also discussed applying topicals etc. I chose not to do any of those. For me that was the best decision but I know people for whom the treatments have worked. Not to go into unnecessary details for me it was best not to take any action.

I do use the topical med bimatoprost on my left eyebrow due to hair loss and it seems to be helping somewhat. I also use it on my lashes (twice a week now) and it has helped my lashes to grow as well.

 

[seaurchin]

The statistic I keep finding on an internet search is that 40% of women experience noticeable hair loss by age forty. We think of hair loss as just a male thing but it's really not. Women just tend to have more overall thinning than the completely bald patches that men tend to get.

 

[Made in London]

The statistic I keep finding on an internet search is that 40% of women experience noticeable hair loss by age forty. We think of hair loss as just a male thing but it's really not. Women just tend to have more overall thinning than the completely bald patches that men tend to get.

Thank goodness for that! I would hate to have a comb-over!

 

[Made in London]

I have been using Lilash for the last few years with fantastic results.My lashes used to be short,stubby,downwards pointing & thin.Now they are much longer with a nice curl.I use Chanel mascara,just 2 coats & they look so much better than before

 

[Fabulous50]

This was my hair two years ago in a bob.I had it cut into a very short pixie. Now I'm thinking of going back to my bob

So beautiful!!!

 

[Begonia]

The menopausal hair loss thing really hurts. I used to have a huge ponytail, then went pixie for 25 years and regrew after meno. The thinness dismayed me, I wondered where did my hair go???

I'm going longish but if it thins further (and it likely will), I'll lob it off. I'm like you @missy, lots of hair in the hands as I shower and wash it. Sigh. The gifts meno keeps on giving.

I see plenty of older ladies come through our port and 99% have short hair, mostly thin and fine, but I take comfort that many have it well cut and shiny and they look really nice IMO

 

[missy]

The menopausal hair loss thing really hurts. I used to have a huge ponytail, then went pixie for 25 years and regrew after meno. The thinness dismayed me, I wondered where did my hair go???

I'm going longish but if it thins further (and it likely will), I'll lob it off. I'm like you @missy, lots of hair in the hands as I shower and wash it. Sigh. The gifts meno keeps on giving.

I see plenty of older ladies come through our port and 99% have short hair, mostly thin and fine, but I take comfort that many have it well cut and shiny and they look really nice IMO

Begonia, how are you feeling today? Any updates? You’ve been on my mind. I hope all is well.

As for hair thinning and loss I think the key is in acceptance. There are some things we can control and many things we cannot.

Yes it’s hard to lose our hair. From a young age it’s been ingrained into us that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory. Well as a mature adult we know true beauty comes from within. But that’s not to say we cannot take measures that make us feel good. And more power to us for knowing ourselves and knowing what we need in order to feel our best.

(((Hugs))).

 

[Made in London]

The menopausal hair loss thing really hurts. I used to have a huge ponytail, then went pixie for 25 years and regrew after meno. The thinness dismayed me, I wondered where did my hair go???

I'm going longish but if it thins further (and it likely will), I'll lob it off. I'm like you @missy, lots of hair in the hands as I shower and wash it. Sigh. The gifts meno keeps on giving.

I see plenty of older ladies come through our port and 99% have short hair, mostly thin and fine, but I take comfort that many have it well cut and shiny and they look really nice IMO

I think you have hit the nail on the head Begonia.Hair loss is the culprit of why women over 50 cut their hair short.Thinning is no joke.I'm still going to try growing out my pixie with the help of lots of hair products! If it looks awful, I will chop it short again

 

[Begonia]

Begonia, how are you feeling today? Any updates? You’ve been on my mind. I hope all is well.

As for hair thinning and loss I think the key is in acceptance. There are some things we can control and many things we cannot.

Yes it’s hard to lose our hair. From a young age it’s been ingrained into us that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory. Well as a mature adult we know true beauty comes from within. But that’s not to say we cannot take measures that make us feel good. And more power to us for knowing ourselves and knowing what we need in order to feel our best.

(((Hugs))).

Hi @missy. I'm anxious as heck right now, sonething I struggle with daily anyway but it kicks into high gear when a health issue arises. Had a chat with God just now, asking if he would be so kind as to help me carry my fears. He's willing, but suggested I let go first. Gonna check in a few hours for my results (come on bacteria!).

Yes! Once I started to accept the thinning, it was easier. Most things are I find. It's hard for women to age. Thank you for the hug! I might hang on in the hug a bit if that's ok.

 

[missy]

Hi @missy. I'm anxious as heck right now, sonething I struggle with daily anyway but it kicks into high gear when a health issue arises. Had a chat with God just now, asking if he would be so kind as to help me carry my fears. He's willing, but suggested I let go first. Gonna check in a few hours for my results (come on bacteria!).

Yes! Once I started to accept the thinning, it was easier. Most things are I find. It's hard for women to age. Thank you for the hug! I might hang on in the hug a bit if that's ok.

Hugs are the one thing I have plenty of and I am sending so many more your way. I hope you can feel them @Begonia ((((hugs)))).

 

[nala]

As a person who has struggled her whole life with tangled hair and who has lost chunks of it daily—all her life—I have to wonder if menopause will be any different when it comes to thinning? In spite of the fact that I lose my hair daily—I still have to get it thinned twice a year when I go for my haircut. My hair is all tangles and frizz and nothing nothing nothing works to detangle. The closest I come is to a one-hour routine after I put gobs of conditioner and detangling product. I guess I’ll find out soon enough as I did just turn 47. But if anyone out there can relate to the daily loss with no significant thinning, or differentiate the menopause hair loss, would love to know.

 

[Austina]

I’m over 60 @nala and have always had really thick hair and lots of it, and there’s been no thinning since menopause.

 

[Austina]

Here’s a recent photo

 

[Matata]

But if anyone out there can relate to the daily loss with no significant thinning, or differentiate the menopause hair loss, would love to know.

All I can offer is anecdotal observation. In general, women I know who were born with thin hair experience more thinning at menopause. Those of us born with thick hair (even though it comes with challenges) are more fortunate and lose less at menopause.

I have thick wavy curly frizzy hair that has fallen out in staggering numbers for as long as I can remember with no noticeable overall thinning. As I went through menopause, my hair thinned a bit but I still have a lot more than average or thinned hair women and I still lose a staggering amount daily. I suppose that daily loss is offset by new growth or I'd be bald by now, My stylist was looking forward to my hair thinning a lot more when I hit menopause because it would have meant a lot less work for her, lol.

Average daily hair loss for women is between 50-100 hairs per day. It's possible that 50-100 thick wavy curly frizzy strands looks like a lot more.

 

[nala]

Here’s a recent photo

Beautiful hairstyle, color and texture!

 

[missy]

As a person who has struggled her whole life with tangled hair and who has lost chunks of it daily—all her life—I have to wonder if menopause will be any different when it comes to thinning? In spite of the fact that I lose my hair daily—I still have to get it thinned twice a year when I go for my haircut. My hair is all tangles and frizz and nothing nothing nothing works to detangle. The closest I come is to a one-hour routine after I put gobs of conditioner and detangling product. I guess I’ll find out soon enough as I did just turn 47. But if anyone out there can relate to the daily loss with no significant thinning, or differentiate the menopause hair loss, would love to know.

I can.

When I was younger (before menopause) I lost hair daily but my hair wasn’t thinning per se. I always had fine hair but lots of it. Now it’s noticeably thinner. Dramatically so. I have no ponytail thickness.

However this is probably partly due to my hypothyroidism and not solely menopausal. I became hypothyroid during menopause. Though I was sub clinical for decades and actually got diagnosed when I was 17. I stopped treatment a few months after that initial diagnosis and seemed fine til my late 40s.

So the answer is you might not experience thinning during menopause. Many women don’t. Mine is probably due to a few factors and not just menopause.

I hope you keep your lovely thick hair @nala.

 

[missy]

I’m over 60 @nala and have always had really thick hair and lots of it, and there’s been no thinning since menopause.

Exactly. Most of my friends hair is just as beautiful as when they were younger. You have gorgeous hair @Austina

 

[Begonia]

I think you have hit the nail on the head Begonia.Hair loss is the culprit of why women over 50 cut their hair short.Thinning is no joke.I'm still going to try growing out my pixie with the help of lots of hair products! If it looks awful, I will chop it short again

Yup, that's what I'm doing. Pixies are fab. I'm curating pierced ears so I'll just go nuts with those

 

[VRBeauty]

All I can offer is anecdotal observation. In general, women I know who were born with thin hair experience more thinning at menopause. Those of us born with thick hair (even though it comes with challenges) are more fortunate and lose less at menopause.

I have thick wavy curly frizzy hair that has fallen out in staggering numbers for as long as I can remember with no noticeable overall thinning. As I went through menopause, my hair thinned a bit but I still have a lot more than average or thinned hair women and I still lose a staggering amount daily. I suppose that daily loss is offset by new growth or I'd be bald by now, My stylist was looking forward to my hair thinning a lot more when I hit menopause because it would have meant a lot less work for her, lol.

Average daily hair loss for women is between 50-100 hairs per day. It's possible that 50-100 thick wavy curly frizzy strands looks like a lot more.

I went through an extremely early menopause - more than thirty years ago. For what it’s worth, that experience did not trigger sudden, significant hair loss. Mine didn’t occur until over 25 years later. Now 65, my hair volume is much thinner than I remember my mother’s being at the same at the same age. That, combined with the suddenness of significant loss and what else was going on at the time, causes me to suspect “stress” rather than just the usual aging process. But who knows, really? I do think very few women escape age-related thinning and yes, that contributes to hairstyle choices.

 

[Begonia]

Mine. It's wavy frizzy and looks ok for thickness, but it really isn't...

 

[missy]

Mine. It's wavy frizzy and looks ok for thickness, but it really isn't...

It’s so pretty @Begonia
Waves/curls help disguise thinning hair. If I blew my hair straight there would be zero volume. And it would show exactly how thin it is.

 

[Begonia]

It’s so pretty @Begonia
Waves/curls help disguise thinning hair. If I blew my hair straight there would be zero volume. And it would show exactly how thin it is.

Ours is not that far off from each other is it @missy?? I think the same about yours

I've decided to embrace it's graying, frizziness and thinning. I can always go shorter and this is my last go at length.

 

[Begonia]

I'm a very fashionable person as you can see. Jeans are hand-me-downs from my son, and sweater is hubbies old one. This is me dealing with the pandemic the best way I can...

 

[missy]

Ours is not that far off from each other is it @missy?? I think the same about yours

I've decided to embrace it's graying, frizziness and thinning. I can always go shorter and this is my last go at length.

I’m just waiting til I feel comfortable re Covid safety and cutting it shorter. It doesn’t look good as is and my last hair cut being over 10 months ago isn’t helping the appearance. My hair guy is in Manhattan and I’m not going anytime soon so I guess for now I’m stuck. I would cut it myself (chop off at least 8”) but I wouldn’t do a good job so I will be patient.

Here’s how thin it is. A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[missy]

I'm a very fashionable person as you can see. Jeans are hand-me-downs from my son, and sweater is hubbies old one. This is me dealing with the pandemic the best way I can...

Haha you look beautiful!

 

[Begonia]

I’m just waiting til I feel comfortable re Covid safety and cutting it shorter. It doesn’t look good as is and my last hair cut being over 10 months ago isn’t helping the appearance. My hair guy is in Manhattan and I’m not going anytime soon so I guess for now I’m stuck. I would cut it myself (chop off at least 8”) but I wouldn’t do a good job so I will be patient.

Here’s how thin it is. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Well I can say this, it sure plumps up nicely, and (no #$%@ here), it does not look thin. Sure maybe once in a scrunchy but not otherwise??

I'm coming over, mask and glove up. Put the kettle on. I'm a a hot damn with the . I cut both son's hair. Sigh. If only...

That will be something to look forward to!! Along with the scalp massage. Pretty much the only reason I go to the salon.

 

[Made in London]

Here’s a recent photo

Austina, you have such beautiful hair & I love the style

 

[stracci2000]

When I was younger, I always heard people say that long hair on older women ages them.
Now that I'm "older" I say....who cares???
Do what pleases you. I've had long hair and short hair. Right now it is shoulder length.
I might let it grow all winter and see how it looks in the spring.
My hair seems to be much thicker these days, I think the white hairs are much more coarse and add a lot of volume.

 

[Rons Wolfe]

I'm in my late 50's, my hair has faded to a silvery blonde. For the last several years, I'd get my hair chopped to shoulder length every year after pool season ended. This year I was going to do it in August, just before our wedding. When I mentioned it to my now-husband, he commented that he understood the need, but had been enjoying seeing it grown out. So I went to the salon and explained that I only wanted enough cut off to get rid of the ends that were too dried our from the pool. I still had to lose about 4 or 5", but had been planning to have about twice that cut. So now it's between my shoulder blades in long layers, and my husband loves that I kept it.