What Happens To Your Hair During Menopause
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If you’ve gone through menopause or are dealing with it now, you know that it comes with plenty of body changes—our skin, sleep patterns, body composition, you name it. But one lesser known side effect of menopause is hair changes. I talked about menopausal hair loss a bit a few blog posts ago, when I recommended the Nutrafol supplement, but I wanted to elaborate on the changes our hair can undergo and tell you about the options you have.
What menopause does to our hair
Menopause is very complicated, but a large chunk of it can be summed up in two words: hormonal changes. Because of the major hormone shift our bodies experience before, during, and after menopause, our hair can change—namely its texture and growth patterns. Estrogen and progesterone play a role in our hair health, and those are the two hormones that our bodies make less of during menopause. For that reason, you may experience hair loss, hair thinning, changes in texture, dryness, dullness, and even scalp sensitivity.
If you’re someone who has always had healthy hair, these changes may be a rude awakening for you. But fear not! Now that you know what can happen (or you knew this was happening, but now you know that it’s menopause-related), you can take some action and piece together a menopause hair plan.
What you can do about menopausal hair changes
When I first had to think about how to handle my menopausal hair loss, I tried to think of both steps I could take to prevent losing my hair and steps I could take to make my hair grow. Below, I’ve included a list with a mix of both:
1. Take a hair supplement
My favorite one/the most effective one I’ve found has been Nutrafol—which I wrote all about in a recent blog post. Nutrafol can help prevent hair loss AND stimulate hair growth, so it really could be on both lists. Check out my review of Nutrafol here!
2. Hormone replacement therapy
Hair loss and hair changes are caused by hormonal changes…so it follows that something like hormone replacement therapy, which is just like it sounds, can help ward off hair changes and other menopause changes. This step would involve seeing a doctor, but if you have that ability, it’s worth you doing some research on it.
3. Take care of your scalp
When’s the last time you took care of your scalp? I would bet it wasn’t recent (don’t worry, me too). Keeping your scalp clean/clearing out any buildup can help reduce inflammation and support your hair follicles. Plus, stimulating your hair follicles with tools like a scalp care shampoo brush has been shown to help with hair growth.
4. Sleep on silk or satin pillowcases
Not only does this help with your skin and aging, but silk or satin pillowcases are easier on your hair and can help prevent breakage. In a similar vein, try not to go to bed with your hair wet—hair is much softer and weaker when it’s wet, so it’s more prone to break. (And it’s generally not recommended you go to bed with wet hair anyway…bacteria and all of that.)
5. Eat a balanced diet
I know it may seem like eating a balanced diet is the health world’s advice for everything, but that’s because it has such a huge impact on the body! What goes inside reflects on the outside, so make sure you’re eating lots of vegetables, fruits, and protein. For a look at a day on my plate, check out this blog post.
6. Look into red light therapy
We’ve seen that red light therapy can help with a lot of skin issues—scarring, acne, signs of aging—and it’s also been shown to stimulate hair growth. (See a recent study here.) I know many people have seen success with the iRestore Hair Growth Cap, but you can also go to a spa or salon that has red light therapy. It’s noninvasive, painless, and effective!
7. Put on a hair mask
Hair masks can condition, strengthen, and nourish your hair, and some even help with scalp health! My current favorite is from Briogeo—their Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. It’s been clinically proven to strengthen already damaged hair as well as prevent future damage. I use this once a week for 10 minutes, and I can see and feel a difference in my hair’s texture and strength.
8. Try a product that contains minoxidil.
Finally, if your hair doesn’t seem to go no matter what you do, you can try a product that contains minoxidil. Minoxidil is a commonly used treatment for those dealing with hair loss—we know it as Rogaine. You can order topical minoxidil online (the Kirkland brand is surprisingly well reviewed) or at a drugstore.
Bottom line: If you’re dealing with hair loss or changes with your hair related to hormones, you are not alone! There are plenty of options for dealing with it, and if all else fails, your best bet is to speak to your doctor about what you can do.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll join the Pure Joy Squad, which is our PJW’s private community for women over 50! As part of the Squad, you’ll receive exclusive access to me, PJW experts, and a supportive group of women who are ready to welcome you!
Xo,
Renata