At any one time some 13 million women will be going through menopause in the UK and there are at least 34 symptoms associated with this time. One of them is hair loss. It’s time to talk about tips for midlife hair.
Many women experience dry, brittle hair, changes in texture, limpness and falling hair as the first sign that hormones are changing.
You might notice it just more before your periods and it can feel really quite distressing – at least that’s how I felt when it happened to me. I was 46 at the time.
I didn’t know I was in perimenopause and I felt panicky when I saw how much hair I was losing. I was going through an intense period of stress with teenagers taking exams, my partner was away and my client’s needs were high, all of which is a common scenario for women in their 40’s.
Since managing my own menopause, I’ve specialised in helping women navigate the myriad of symptoms associated with menopause with one-to-one workshops, courses and retreats.
The difference between midlife falling hair and shedding hair
Shedding tends to happen in cycles, which is what was happening to me, and the hair loss was at the temples and the nape of my neck.
Tests later showed I was hypothyroid, which was a symptom of my perimenopause journey and one that I often see in my practice, even though it is not officially listed as a menopause symptom. Hair shedding is likely to be related to the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped organ in the throat that helps look after our immunity and protein metabolism. Remember that hair is made of protein.
Falling hair is the sense that you are seeing more on your hairbrush, experiencing more hair loss when you wash your hair and your hair begins to look thinner, become less manageable and has less volume.
Falling midlife hair relates much more to changing hormone levels
We all know that oestrogen levels are dropping but so is progesterone and thankfully there are many natural health solutions to help create balance.
Midlife hair boosting vitamins
I recommend seeking out superfoods and plant-sourced supplements as the body knows how to metabolise them better than the isolated elements that are in most over the counter products.
B vitamins, Vitamin C and iron can be found in green superfoods like chlorella, spirulina and blue green algae.
Add in Vitamin D3, sourced from algae or lichen, if you tend to also suffer with colds, coughs, flu or if you know that you tend towards a hypothyroid profile.
Minerals at menopause
Zinc is needed for healthy hair and hormonal health and enough can be found in a tablespoonful of organic pumpkin seeds or a slick of pumpkin seed oil added to salad or drizzled on a soup.
Foods rich in silica such as oats, bananas, spinach and wholegrain rice will help. A delicious smoothie made with oat milk, two handfuls of spinach, a banana and two medjool dates is a great way to start your day.
Another mineral for hair health is biotin found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, sweet potatoes and also bananas.
Try eating a little seaweed everyday. It’s easy to source these days and you can add seaweed sprinkles to soups and salads.
Fatty acids to support dry hair
Pumpkin seeds are also rich in essential fatty acids to support dry hair and help nourish skin and nails too.
There are specialist herbs too and homoeopathic remedies but it’s best to consult a qualified practitioner to get recommendations that are specific to you and your health needs.
With supplements always read the label. Get to know the names of fillers and binders that you’d rather not consume.
Here’s my favourite, Renew Skin Hair & Nails UK/Europe and USA/Canada use code to save 50 euros or $50 on your first order.
I’ve also seen plant-sourced proteins like Blue Green Algae and Master Amino Acids really help reset protein metabolism and hair growth and there is a Chinese Medicine formula called 8 Treasures Tea.
Turn back the clock on menopausal hair
Whatever the cause, when it comes to products that really work for fine, thinning and menopausal hair I recommend Swell Hair UK.
Swell has a two-pronged approach to bring volume as well as improve hair growth, reduce shedding and give hair back health and vitality.
Swell’s formulas are packed full of active botanicals and vitamins that feed follicles with powerful growth boosters including Peruvian Root Maca to increase hair thickness, Swiss Apple Stem Cell Extract and Silica for hair strengthening and anti-aging properties.
Rooibos, Dong quai, Wild Yam and Saw Palmetto are all specially chosen for their effectiveness in treating menopausal hair symptoms.
For immediate uplift in hair volume, density and thickness and to boost your confidence, you can use Swell’s Root Complex alongside their silicone free shampoo and conditioner.
Happy Hair & Healthy Collagen Workshop
A 45 minute video workshop on Happy Hair & Health Collagen as part of my Mini for Menopause series. Understand what causes changes in connective tissue, skin, hair and nails at menopause and how to look after ourselves as we go into our wise years.
Discover solutions for thinning & lacklustre hair, greyness, dry skin, brittle nails, changes in skin texture and tone. The role of collagen in maintaining our connective tissue, muscle loss and aging gracefully.
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