Menopause dry hair: How to Treat Menopause Hair Changes, Loss, and Thinning

08.09.202313.06.2023 by alexxlab

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How to Treat Menopause Hair Changes, Loss, and Thinning

“The change” doesn’t happen all at once. In fact, you’ll likely start to notice smaller shifts during a phase called perimenopause—which can be quite the hormonal roller coaster. For the eight to 10 years preceding menopause, hormone levels rise and fall and rise and fall. It can be confusing: Was that a hot flash, or is it warm in here? Do I have insomnia, or did I drink my latte too late? Is my period gone for good or just a few months? And, surprisingly, you can add this one to your list of questionable symptoms: Is it just a bad hair day, or is it my hormones?

Yup, your hair is among the many things your hormones can alter during both the perimenopausal and post-menopausal years. The hormones involved—mainly estrogen and progesterone—affect your hair’s growth cycles, your scalp and follicle health, and the natural oils that keep hair smooth and lustrous. Because of that, you may experience thinning, lack of density, texture changes, and dryness as estrogen wanes. But, again, it’s not a linear process. “During perimenopause, it isn’t that your estrogen is gone; it’s fluctuating,” says Debra Lin, PhD, hair science expert and chief scientific officer at Better Not Younger, a haircare brand. “So sometimes your hair may look thicker and healthier; other times it may be thinner and duller,” she says. When your menstrual cycle has stopped for an entire year, you’re officially in menopause—and those less desirable hair changes may be permanent. To get to the root of these hormonal hair shifts, we asked experts—some of whom have experienced these changes firsthand—to break down exactly what’s happening and recommend ways to combat it.

Hormonal Hair

Whether you’re in perimenopause or have gone through menopause, you may experience the following hair changes.

Thinning

If your ponytail feels lighter these days, you’re not alone. A recent study in the journal Menopause found that more than half of the nearly 200 postmenopausal women studied had experienced female pattern hair loss. “As estrogen starts to decline, the delicate balance between estrogen and the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for masculinizing changes such as hair loss, gets disrupted,” says Audrey Kunin, MD, a dermatologist in Kansas City, Missouri, and founder of DERMAdoctor, a skincare brand. Women who have a genetic predisposition to hair thinning may begin to see an increase in hair loss. “I’ve seen my hairline recede—a telltale sign of hormonal hair loss,” says Kunin.

Low estrogen levels can also affect your hair growth cycle, shortening the growth phase and delaying the stage when the hair regrows, says Lin. Your hair follicles also miniaturize with age, so the strands coming out of them are finer, resulting in an overall lack of density.

Dry, Dull Strands

While she hasn’t noticed significant shedding, Ellen Marmur, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and founder of MM Skincare, has seen changes in her scalp and strand quality while in perimenopause. “My hair and scalp feel more fragile,” she says. Just as your skin gets dry as estrogen is on the decline, your scalp and, by extension, your hair strands lack hydration, too. “A reduction in estrogen results in reduced sebum (oil) production, which normally lubricates the scalp. The result is dry skin and a flaky scalp,” says Kunin. And, since that hydrating scalp oil isn’t there to work itself down your strands, hair is also drier, as well as duller, more brittle, and breakage-prone.

Scalp Sensitivity

Dryness can make a scalp cranky. The skin’s barrier (the outermost layer) forms tiny cracks when it’s dry, which allows irritants to get into it and cause inflammation. “Plus, if you’re experiencing thinning then your scalp is more exposed to environmental aggressors (such as UV rays) and harsh ingredients. This leads to more inflammation,” says Lin.

Texture Changes

“You may find that your hair feels wirier, or it’s suddenly curly in the back, and you have two textures on one head,” says Katelyn Ellsworth, owner of The Roslyn Salon in San Diego. Hormones can affect the shape of some hair follicles, changing them from, say, circle-shaped follicles that produce straight hair to oval-shaped follicles that produce curly hair.
The coarse, wiry feel of some strands stems from the lack of natural oils. Sebum helps to maintain hair’s pH in a healthy acidic range. “Acidity keeps the hair cuticle cells lying tightly against each other like shingles on a roof,” says Kunin. But less sebum throws that pH balance off-kilter. “Without the acidity, the cuticle cells begin to lift up and pull apart, leaving hair looking dull and feeling rough,” she says.

Your Menopause Hair Plan

Hormone replacement (HR) is one way to stave off the changes in your hair—and the rest of your body—so speak to your doctor to see if this is an option for you. You can also consider these topical treatments, supplements, and styling tips.

Stimulate Growth

Topical treatments can help keep hair in the growth phase longer. “If you’re losing more than 100 hairs per day, using a product with 5 percent topical minoxidil for women can help reduce the rate of hair loss,” Kunin says. Research has also put a spotlight on LED therapy, in particular red light. A study in the Annals of Dermatology found that red light stimulated growth and reversed the miniaturization of the follicle. Marmur says research has also suggested that a pulsed red light setting is optimal for follicular stimulation; she recommends doing four 20-minute sessions a week.

Virtue Hair Growth Treatment with Minoxidil 5%

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Credit: Virtue

MM Skincare MMSphere 2GO

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Credit: MM Skincare

Incorporate Scalp Care into Your Routine

“Caring for your scalp leads to healthier hair,” says Lin. Keeping it clean, reducing buildup, and conditioning it will help reduce inflammation and support the follicles. Scalp serums provide lightweight hydration that won’t clog follicles or leave roots greasy, and also moisturize hair. Look for one that has collagen-stimulating ingredients such as niacinamide, barrier-supporting lipids such as ceramides, and agents that wake up groggy follicles such as caffeine.

Better Not Younger Superpower Fortifying Hair & Scalp Serum, 2 Fl Oz

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Credit: Better Not Younger

Julien Farel Hydrate Restore

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Credit: Julien Farel

Plump Up

The products you use can temporarily thicken the diameter of your hair shaft, making the hair you do have feel fuller. Look for thickening shampoos and treatments that include biotin, hydrolyzed wheat or rice proteins, and kaolin clay, says Ellsworth.

Aveda nutriplenish™ Treatment Masque

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Tame Texture

At-home smoothing treatments and deep conditioners packed with nourishing oils such as coconut and avocado can soften coarse, brittle strands and help calm frizz, which stems from dehydration. But if you have really unruly hair, Ellsworth suggests an in-salon keratin treatment, which seals the cuticle layer. “It’s going to make your hair more manageable and easier to blow out at home,” she says.

UNITE Hair BOOSTA Volumizing Spray

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Credit: UNITE Hair

Try a Hair Supplement

“Vivascal and Nutrafol are very popular with my patients,” says Marmur. “There is only anecdotal evidence that these home supplements work, but I still believe in trying a holistic approach to improving your hair,” she says. And the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals will help optimize hair growth and health. Look for blends containing vitamins A and C, B vitamins such as folic acid and biotin, and minerals including zinc and silica.

Nutrafol Women’s Hair Growth Supplement, Clinically Proven for Thicker-Looking, Stronger-Feeling Hair and More Scalp Coverage

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Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements for Women

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Krista Bennett DeMaio

Krista Bennett DeMaio has nearly two decades of editorial experience. The former magazine-editor-turned-freelance writer regularly covers skincare, beauty, health, and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in national publications including Oprah, Shape, Parents, Cosmopolitan, Allure, and websites such as HealthCentral. com bhg.com, and prevention.com.”

10 Menopause Frizzy Hair Treatments

There was a time when frizzy strands were synonymous with summer. Sure, those hot, humid days were a drag, but a better hair day was always right around the corner.

With age, and especially as we enter menopause, frizzy hair can become an everyday battle. Along with greater fatigue, hot flashes and thinning hair, a change in hair smoothness from hormonal fluctuations is yet another menopause symptom (though one that often surprises many of us), and the hot, humid days of summer only make matters worse.

But unruly, frizzy hair during or after menopause doesn’t have to be part of the plan. Keep reading for our list of 10 ways to tame menopause frizzy hair for smooth, manageable tresses all year round!

1. Lock Out Humidity and Heat

High humidity is one of our hair’s worst enemies. Straight, fine hair tends to fall flat when it’s humid outside, and curly as well as high-porosity hair (remember, aging hair is often highly porous) become frizzy and unruly due to the moist air forming weaker hydrogen bonds on our hair. To banish frizz when it’s hot and humid, try a frizz-fighting spray that does double-duty as a heat protectant, like our No Remorse Heat Protection & Taming Spray. It has nourishing vitamin E and argan oil to help smooth frizz and avocado oil for heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit!

2. Protect Your Tresses Overnight

Yes, it’s true—you can fight menopause frizzy hair while you sleep! If you’re sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, it creates friction on your tresses every time you move during the night. Swap your regular pillowcase for a silk or satin one to fight daytime frizz. These create less friction on our hair than regular pillowcases.

For extra protection, you can also invest in a satin bonnet to wear to bed. If you opt for a bonnet, be sure it is well-fitted to your head. Tight bonnets can leave red marks on your forehead and temples, and a loose bonnet won’t hold your hair securely.

3. Amp up Hydration to Combat Menopause Frizzy Hair

We know that our hair gets drier as we age. We lose the shininess and silkiness we had in our youth. To restore hydration to your hair, treat your locks to a weekly deep conditioning treatment in place of your regular conditioner. We love our Hair Redemption Restorative Butter Masque for its ability to instantly seal hydration into dry, unmanageable strands with a custom blend of rich, restorative plant-based butters. Hair Redemption is also formulated with caffeine, biotin, vitamin E and argan oil to help repair damaged hair and restore smoothness and elasticity to aging locks!

4. Opt for a Low-Tension Hairstyle

Tight ponytails and updos cause breakage and damage to our hair, and damaged, brittle strands have more frizz and flyaways than smooth, healthy hair. Try a low-tension hairstyle to fight damage from tight updos.

Our favorite low-tension styles are low, loose braids and buns. These are effortlessly chic, and a stylish low-tension style can go from the gym to the beach to the office in the hot summer months! One of our favorites is a loose knot bun, and the best part is that this cute style works great on freshly washed and second-day hair!

To try it: Gather your hair into two low ponytails at the nape of your neck. Gently tie one piece over the other like you would tie your shoes or start a knot. Repeat once more, and then use bobby pins to secure the style. Adjust the bun and any loose pieces to your liking and mist with a light-hold hairspray to prevent flyaways. Et voilà—a chic, damage-free style!

5. Switch to Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Sulfates are detergents that can strip your locks of their natural oils, leaving your hair dry and frizzy. To combat menopause frizzy hair in any season, opt for a sulfate-free repairing shampoo like our Second Chance Repairing Shampoo for Dry or Damaged Hair. Using natural ingredients like argan oil, passion flower extract and rice bran oil, Second Chance nourishes and moisturizes taxed, damaged hair while gently clearing away dirt and oils!

6. Smooth Frizz with a (Clean!) Mascara Wand

The tiny brush heads on mascara wands are great for touching up flyaways throughout the day! Because the brush bristles are small and dense, mascara wands work best on thinner spots, like the temples and hairline. You can use them alone or with a small amount of light-hold hairspray to touch up any stubborn flyaways.

7. Pack a Frizz-Fighting Spray in Your Bag

We’ve all been there: We leave the house with a cute hairstyle, only for frizz to take over, sometimes even moments after we walk out the door! And nothing ruins a good hair day as much as frizz and flyaways! Pack a frizz-fighting spray like No Remorse in your bag so you can make minor touch-ups to ensure your gorgeous out-the-door style stays frizz-free all day! Plus, No Remorse contains restorative vitamin E and weightlessly protects against damaging UV rays, so your hair won’t get greasy or weighed down!

8. Find a Heatless Hairstyle You Love

Styling your hair without heat is playing the frizz-fighting long game! It might not immediately reduce frizz, but styling your hair without heat over time will help reduce breakage and damage. Dry, damaged hair tends to look frizzy and feel straw-like. Check out our list of 17 heatless hairstyling hacks for stylish ways to fight frizz and banish damage from heat styling!

9. Fight Frizz at the Root

Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, and balanced sebum production is essential for preventing dry hair, especially after menopause! To optimize scalp health, avoid drying sulfates and parabens, and look for a scalp treatment that supports balanced scalp oils like our Superpower Hair & Scalp Duo. This award-winning, lightweight and non-greasy serum rebalances scalp oils while conditioning skin and hair at the roots for visible improvement to hair quality and scalp health! And the Superpower Liquid Comb ensures that you deliver the right amount of serum exactly where you need it, evenly and with no mess!

10. Talk to Your Doctor About Help for Dry Hair After Menopause

If you feel you’ve tried everything to combat dry, frizzy hair, it might be worth mentioning your concerns to your doctor. As we enter midlife, our estrogen levels drop, and this hormone change can cause hair loss, changes in hair texture, dryness, frizziness and hair thinning.

Your physician can run tests to determine if there’s an underlying cause for your hair concerns, such as an estrogen deficiency, and offer treatment. If you don’t have a regular doctor, look for a practitioner with certification from the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). You can click here for a list of certified physicians to help you get started!

Tell Us: Have you dealt with dry hair during or after menopause? Do you have a go-to method for taming menopause frizzy hair? Share in the comments below!

Like what you read and want more hair-care content delivered directly to your inbox? Sign up to receive our weekly newsletters for the latest hair intel and exclusive promotions for your mature hair needs!

Reach out to us on Facebook and Instagram, or check out our blog for more aging hair-care info! Better Not Younger has everything you need to fight frizzy hair after menopause as well as help for dry hair during and after menopause! Let us help you achieve your healthiest, most vibrant hair yet!

Facial hair in menopausal women [why grow]

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Dermatologist-venereologist. Specialist in the field of aesthetic medicine. Wroclaw, Poland

With the advent of menopause, the level of female hormones estrogen in the body decreases, against which testosterone, the male hormone, begins to predominate. We will tell you how the imbalance of hormones during menopause can affect the female body.

How does menopause affect the growth of unwanted hair?

One of the most likely manifestations of a decrease in female sex hormones is unwanted facial hair. In women of any age, follicles are located on the face, from which a barely noticeable, thin hairline grows. Due to a hormonal imbalance (lack of female hormones and an excess of male hormones), facial hair can noticeably thicken, become darker and thicker. Therefore, with the onset of perimenopause, many women begin to notice that the “fluff” on the chin, along the jaw line and above the upper lip becomes more noticeable.

With the onset of perimenopause, many women notice that the almost imperceptible fluff on the face becomes darker and thicker. Do not worry, because of this you will not lose your feminine charm!

According to studies published in the British Journal of Dermatology, the clinical picture is as follows: 39% of postmenopausal women had excessive facial hair growth, predominantly on the chin.

In a similar study published in 2009

- in a group of 656 American women aged 50-79 years, the journal Menopausal Health noted that 33% of women aged 50-59 had unwanted facial hair,
- and 54% of women aged 60–69 years.
No significant differences in facial hair growth between Caucasians and African Americans were observed in these studies. According to the data obtained, it can be concluded that increased facial hair growth in women at the menopause stage is a common phenomenon. Don’t worry if you have to deal with this side effect. Fortunately, there are several effective ways (depending on the degree of its manifestation) to eliminate the problem of unwanted facial hair.
How to get rid of facial hair during menopause?
If there is not too much hair, a topical cream can be used to slow down hair growth and make it thinner. If the facial hair is rather hard and dark, you can turn to radical methods of its removal: waxing (and analogues) hair removal, electrolysis (destroys hair follicles with current), or laser hair removal (destroys hair follicles with laser radiation). Even if the problem of excess hair has arisen against the background of menopause, you should not worry. With the help of modern cosmetic procedures, you can forget about it, if not forever, then for a long time!
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How to stop hair loss during menopause
Many women experience severe hair loss during menopause. Due to hormonal changes, hair follicles die off, curls lose density, become dry, brittle and lifeless. To solve such a problem, doctors can only offer hormone therapy, which has many contraindications and side effects. Complexes with vitamins will help maintain both the health and beauty of hair during menopause.
The complex of vitamins from hair loss during menopause should include a number of important components. Specialized bio-complexes for women, aimed specifically at restoring hair, will help restore strength and shine to curls. In the composition of such complexes, in addition to vitamins, there should also be minerals, biologically active components, natural plant extracts. For mature ladies with hair loss, it is useful to take:
- L-cysteine - an amino acid that provides the synthesis of collagen and keratin; the maximum effect will be when taken simultaneously with vitamin C and selenium;
- marine collagen – in composition close to human, therefore, it is perfectly absorbed; not only protects against hair loss, but also prevents the appearance of cellulite and improves skin elasticity;
- copper – slows down the formation of gray hair, maintains the elasticity and health of curls; when taken simultaneously with vitamin C, it slows down the aging process;
- zinc – protects collagen fibers from destruction, prevents the appearance of stretch marks and wrinkles;
- black pepper extract – with menopause has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole; improves blood supply to hair follicles, ensures maximum absorption of vitamins and nutrients;
- nettle extract – a natural plant antiandrogen; Hair loss during menopause is often associated precisely with hormonal imbalance, so nettle will help solve this problem.
Thick and beautiful curls – at any age
All the vitamins, minerals and trace elements necessary for health, beauty and hair growth are contained in the biologically active complex created specifically for women, Lady’s formula For Hair ™. It is useful for women of any age who complain about the condition of their hair. With menopause, the complex will protect against loss, help maintain elasticity and natural color of curls. For young women, the biocomplex will help restore strands damaged by frequent dyeing and styling, and get hair of the desired length.
To achieve the desired effect, the complex with vitamins should be taken in courses, at least for a month. If the hair loss is severe, the hair is very weak and damaged, immediately after the first course, you can start the second one to consolidate the result. You will find detailed information about the procedure for admission in the instructions for the complex.
Vitamins for women during menopause are vital.