Let's talk about hair thinning (again)
And just like that, it seems like everyone I talk to is concerned about thinning hair (including myself—again). There’s no doubt age and hormones play a role, some studies suggest COVID infection and pandemic stress are leading to extra shedding, and in the case of me and my breast-cancer friends, tamoxifen isn’t helping anything. Taking all of the above into consideration and having noticed that my hair is certainly not as bountiful as it used to be, I’m scheduled to get a major chop next week. I’m ready to make lemonade out the lemons that are decreased volume—and perhaps try a new low-maintenance ‘do that embraces my natural texture and just does its thing without too much effort. Stay tuned…
If you find yourself in the same boat (although I am not advocating a dramatic cut), I have a few suggestions (natch). I recently lent these products to my friend so she could try them before she buys them, and she has confirmed her satisfaction. So here we go…
Shampoo: Rene Furterer Replumping Shampoo
Formulated to increase the look and feel of density, promote a healthy scalp and revitalize your strands, this shampoo is a tested and confirmed winner. Be sure to follow the instructions on this shampoo, because the directions say to leave it one for one to three minutes after you lather up.
Conditioner: Rene Furterer Triphasic Texturizing Conditioner
Conditioner is always a must, but many formulas can weigh down fine or thinning hair. This ultra-lightweight formula detangles and leaves you with a soft, smooth, fluff-free finish after styling.
Treatment: Klorane Strengthening Serum with Quinine and Edelweiss
With quinine (yep, the same stuff in tonic water that probably makes gin-and-tonics so good) and edelweiss extract (cue the Sound of Music), this leave-in treatment supports micro-circulation and provides essential (natural) nutrients to combat hair thinning.
In addition to these products that have been officially vetted by at least one outside source, I have a few additional suggestions.
Dry shampoo: Vegamour GRO Dry Shampoo
Full disclosure: I never tried the original Vegamour GRO Serum, (which has some impressive clinical results), but I did try the dry shampoo that contains the same blend of proprietary growth-stimulating botanically-based ingredients (although I’m assuming at a lower concentration). The incredible scent alone was enough to help me blow through the can in record time, but I can’t necessarily attest to its growth-stimulating benefits simply because I didn’t use it exclusively (along with the complementary products) for an extended period of time.
Supplements
OK, I’ve tried more than my fair share of hair supplements, but truthfully it’s hard to definitively say they work without adhering to the same regimen for at least three (and optimally six) months. I have used SugarBearHair and Nutrafol for at least this period of time over the years and believe I saw results, but I can’t say for sure that these supplements alone were solely responsible for any results since I was using other products in addition to taking other hair-health measures. (That would be misleading.)
Just remember that (unfortunately) there’s no quick fix for thinning hair, and it’s imperative to stick to a regimen for at least three months to start seeing results. If you’re really concerned, talk to your dermatologist. There are so many options from prescription-based topicals to microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP is an office-based treatment that has shown great promise for hair thinning and loss, but it’s not one and done. You need to commit to a series of treatments as well as follow-up maintenance sessions to maintain results.
If you’re experiencing hair thinning, you’re not alone! Taking a few simple steps starting right now can help restore a full, bouncy, healthy-looking head of hair!
