In the summer of 2021, I started losing my hair. At first, it was hard to notice — a few stray strands falling out in the shower here, a slightly widening part there. Then, suddenly, the situation became extreme. I started to see hair floating off my head throughout the day, gathering on my sleeves. When I sat back on the sofa one night, I could feel my scalp against the fabric. My hair brush held enough human fur to look as if I’d been sheared.
As it turned out, the problem — while still horrifying — was much more normal and common than I knew. According to recent studies, at least half of all middle-aged women will experience some type of female pattern hair loss. In fact, by age 50, 40% of women shed enough strands to make this hair loss noticeable to observers. It can be caused by all sorts of issues — including vitamin deficiencies and certain health conditions — but for women of a certain age, it’s often yet another not-so-joyful side effect of menopause. I was in my late 40s when I started losing my hair and, in the years since, I’ve talked to tons of doctors about the most effective treatments for thinning hair (including the best shampoos). Over time, and with a lot of trial and error, I learned the exact right formula to keep my perimenopausal shedding at bay — and even reverse it altogether. Here’s what I did.
Quick Overview
1. First things first: a trip to the doctor
The first step I took when I realized I was basically balding was to make an appointment with my doctor. Hair loss can indicate all manner of health issues that cannot be addressed via Google, so it was important to source exactly what was going on before I tried to solve it. While I was generally fine, my doctor saw low iron and vitamin D levels in my bloodwork and told me start taking supplements for both. This made me feel more energetic, but it did not grow my hair back.
2. Nutrafol. Spoiler: It works
Most doctors I’ve interviewed about hair loss have recommended Nutrafol as a safe option for reversing thinning hair, so I decided to give it a go, though — as with any new supplement — it’s best to consult with a health professional before clicking to buy.
Amazon
A quick Nutrafol review: I did not want to like this product. It’s waaayy too expensive. And I don’t like swallowing four horse pills every morning. BUT — and this is a big “but” — when taken consistently, Nutrafol really works. After two months on this hair-growth supplement, I stopped shedding; after six months I started showing significant growth. Within a year, I was nearly back to my pre-shedding thickness.
3. Better scalp hygiene for the win
Earlier this year, I reported a story about dandruff where a hair-restoration expert told me, “Scalp health is an indication of overall bodily health.” Translation: All the usual health advice, like drinking lots of water and eating a balanced diet, affects your head too. If you want to extra support hair growth, the main thing to remember is to make sure there’s extra blood flowing up there. Also: You definitely do not want a crusty noggin.
The Ordinary
I did not know you could (or should) use an exfoliator on your scalp until I came across Reddit threads discussing The Ordinary’s glycolic acid toner for dandruff and flaky buildup. It’s a water-based product, which means you can let it absorb into your skin without your hair looking like a greasy mess. I noticed it makes my scalp a lot less dry and my head feels cleaner overall.
Heeta
File this silicone brush under “things you don’t think you need until you try them.” According to researchers, regular scalp massages are one of the best ways to stimulate hair growth.
This brush makes it easy — just apply your shampoo or hair oil and go to town in circular motions for a minute or two. Not only will you be helping unclog pores on your scalp and improve circulation, it’ll feel great.
3. Break up with your shampoo
Well, not quite. But, in order to keep more hair out of the drain and on my head where it belongs, I had to start washing my aged locks a lot less and change what I was washing them with. I’ve tried about 50 shampoos in the last couple of years and, while there are loads of quality products made specifically for thinning hair, I’ve found washing with a gentle bar version two or three times a week to be the best for my fine mane (it’s also less wasteful/better for the planet). More specifically, what’s working for me is alternating between a gentle bar shampoo and a follicle-fortifying bonding cleanser. These are the ones I use.
Amazon
When I was younger, my hair would tolerate even the cheapest motel shampoo, but now that I’m a “mature” blonde, I’ve realized I have to be careful about what I use, or I risk damaging my strands. Many shampoo bars I’ve tested feel like you’re just rubbing soap on your scalp, but this one from Kitsch is actually super nourishing and leaves my hair smooth and soft.
Verb
This up-and-coming line, which is known for its affordable, high-quality hair-care products, is becoming more popular by the day. My stylist uses this bonding formula as an Olaplex swap for damaged hair, and I myself use it once a week because it truly strengthens (perhaps even thickens) my strands.
4. The right styling products will change your whole hair life
Interestingly, the new hair I grew after taking Nutrafol was different — somehow simultaneously coarser, frizzier, flatter and greasier (not exactly what you want in hair!). So I needed products that would boost shine and volume while giving this new texture some oomph. Based on years of testing, these are the best I’ve tried.
K18
This repairing mask is, by far, not only the best leave-in conditioner I’ve ever used, but is the best hair product I’ve come across in … as long as I can remember. Every stylist I’ve interviewed has recommended it, even those who have ambassador deals with other brands, which is saying a lot.
One of the few truly “worth it” expensive beauty products, K18’s repairing leave-on hair mask makes your locks silky and shiny and bouncy and young. It’s among the only beauty products I buy on repeat. Everyone I recommend it to comes back and says something along the lines of ” OMG, you were right!” Seriously, it is that good.
VEGAMOUR
Washing hair is where a lot of the dreaded shedding happens, but then grease is the thief of follicular joy, so the solution here is a dry shampoo. This particular option is transformative in a number of ways. Vegamour is an award-winning brand known for its bestselling hair-growth products and its formula is made with the same scalp-nourishing, growth-promoting ingredients (including mung bean and biotin) as its super-popular serum. It’s also made with rice powder, which absorbs oil and texturizes the hair. I love this product so much, I named it our best dry shampoo of the year.
T3
If you have thinning hair, one of the worst things you can do is overdo your heat-styling, which is why you need a blow dryer that works lightning fast. This anti-frizz model from T3 is actually specifically designed to give you the blowout of your dreams in literal seconds. When I use it, my medium-length hair is dry in no more than 3 minutes, which makes a huge difference — since I started using this device, it has never once looked dry or fried.
I hate recommending an item that costs more than a week’s groceries, but this happens to be the Cadillac of hair dryers, a well-made investment you’ll have for years and, as they say, “buy nice or buy twice.”
Me today (actually last night in the back of an Uber): My hair is as thick and healthy as it’s ever been.
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