Hair loss

I'm still struggling with my hair after cancer and chemotherapy in 2012.
[Think Albert Einstein on a bad hair day, but much thinner on the side where I had radiotherapy burns!]
I'd be really interested to hear if anybody has found a solution to thinning hair.
I have been thinking about the Plantur shampoo, but I haven't tried it yet.

I have tried virtually everything since having breast cancer and nothing works. I am thinking of getting a "topper" hair piece and there was a thread on this topic a while ago but I can't seem to find it now. Does anyone wear one, and are they easy to keep in place?

Solar Biotin tablets (you can get from Holland and Barrett). You will definitely notice a big difference and worth every penny. Major surgery and stress definitely doesn't help, so consider ways to de-stress also. Yoga or Pilates maybe - or if you're not keen on the idea, regular idillic walks in a lovely park.

Biotin has changed nothing for me, DJW. I've been taking a high strength dose for 3 months.

Have used Plantur shampoo & conditioner for a couple of years due to hair loss/thinning from some medication taken few years ago. My hair is still thin but is helped by using Plantur. Whether it will help everyone i guess depends on each person but it is worth a try.

My hair was thinning fast and have been trying Philip Kingsley tricotherapy which is expensive but after 3 months I can see all the new growth. It is 3 product vitamin supplement and 2 products you rub into hair and scalp. I think it is great.

Having noticed a lot more hair than usual on my comb and round the plughole of the shower, I realised with shock that my fine hair had thinned dramatically over a few months. No real reason for this - stressful life but that is ever present. By coincidence I read in a magazine that Evening Primrose Oil might well help. Have been taking it now for almost a year and the excessive shedding on the comb has become the usual few hairs, and my hair does definitely look 'more like its old self'. This could just be coincidence but is perhaps worth a try - it will do no harm.

Yes, DJW, I was going to suggest special products from Health Food outlets. Though they are expensive; perhaps cheaper by internet?
If you can manage to practise "Salute to the Sun" each day, that will certainly help with mobility, and the calming effect of the breathing, (not to mention hanging of head in "inverted V") might make a noticeable difference.
Hoping you are feeling much better again soon.

I use John Freida's Thickening shampoo and conditioner and then spray with the "Luxurious Volume" root booster. All this makes my hair look thicker. Oh, and also I run a little coconut oil into it before and after I shampoo (for extra shine). Not at all sure how good all this is for my hair, but it does consequently look OK most days. I also take Biotin extra strength.

I suffer from hair loss, and have been using caffiene shampoo and my hair is restoring nicely it is a slow process but keep with it, the best thing, "easily said" I know but try not to worry or think about it as it just adds to the problem, I also lost my eyebrows and found out was due to arthritus treatment stopped using them and have noticed a few starting to sprout through, but we are all different so it's what suits you, don't give up though.

I lost a lot of my hair after my husband died suddenly from a heart attack when he was 46 (I was 42) It did grow back but was and is baby fine which makes it look thinner. I decided to try the caffeine shampoo and found Dove make one for men which is a fraction of the price of the one you see advertised on the TV. I have been using for over two months now and I can feel the difference in my hair, it looks a lot thicker too. I am also taking Hemp oil capsules as this helps with hair loss.

Kiehls Ultimate Thickening Shampoo for Thin Hair is wonderful.
My mum was on chemotherapy (in tablet form) for almost eighteen years due to leukaemia, so you can imagine what that did to her hair.
We tried all sorts of shampoos, conditioners, treatments etc with no luck, but when we finally hit upon Kiehls it was brilliant. It worked wonders for mum, I can't recommend it highly enough!

I use Nioxin as recommended by my hairdresser daughter. Available in salons, Amazon and EBay. A salon can provide advice on which one to use. I started with number 3 but following a very nasty virus and subsequent struggles maintaining blood sugar levels I moved on to number 4. I have also used their overnight treatment which was fantastic, Imodium for hair! Unfortunately I think this product has now been withdrawn due to H&S reasons. My daughter thinks my medication affects my hair but the Nioxin counters the thinning/loss. I have to say that having short hair probably helps but I'm fine with that as although I'd love a lot of long hair it really does suit me better short. Good luck and I agree with PP's, destressing techniques are beneficial too.

I have lost all of my hair due to alopecia. When it first started thinning, I tried every shampoo/remedy known to man I think. Nothing works for alopecia but I think maybe some of the recommendations above may be useful if it is something other than alopecia, stress for instance. Have you read the hair loss blog on GN tanith ? This subject has come up a few times on here. I think it is becoming a big problem for many women.

Pink posts

I use Nioxin shampoo and conditioner; not cheap but they last for ages. My hair loss wasn't noticeable to anyone but me - I have lots and lots of straight brown hair - but it was certainly causing the plug hole a lot of stress. The Nioxin products do seem to have slowed the rate of loss a bit. Also they smell of mint which is gorgeous. There are various strengths depending on the amount of loss, whether your hair is chemically treated, and whether you've had chemotherapy.

www.megamane.co.uk

I've just started using it but it's getting rave reviews and all natural.

A lot of people are vitamin D lacking my Dil had hair loss and the doctor told her her levels were extremely low and put her on Vitamin D tablets now her her hair looks lovely perhaps you should get tested before spending out on stuff that might not work

tanith I cannot help you re buying a new product but my feeling is that the root (excuse pun) cause is your DH's ill health and the worry that entails.

It is 4 months since your major surgery and you had similar previously- I am certain it is DH and that is not going to improve until he starts treatment and you slowly see the results and hopefully relax.

I am also suffering dry, brittle damaged hair and nails following on-going serious health issues and an operation to remove my kidney.
I have definitely seen an improvement since I started on Perfectil tablets about 2 months ago.
I use Elive Repairing Shampoo/Conditioner for Damaged Hair (white bottles) which also helps.

I have had two recent (within the last four years) bouts of hair loss following major trauma/illness. I didn't change my habits, though my hair wasn't getting washed as often as I would have liked, but after about four months each time the hair loss lessened without any special shampoo/medication. So it can right itself and I wish you luck.

Please go to your GP. Could be low iron. You are obviously suffering from stress which is depleting nutrients. Nature prioritises internal and necessary organs when there is a crisis and hair isn't vital. You can use all the shampoo you want but if you are not feeding the hair growth nothing willhappen. Very best wishes as must be very upsetting.

Have you had your iron level checked? Anemia can cause hair loss. I started losing a lot about six months ago, I'm always stressed about something so hard to blame anything in particular! I have been taking an iron tablet per day plus a general multivitamin for over 50's for 8 weeks. Don't know to what to attribute the fact that it's improving, but Plantur didn't do it for me. No doubt that walks in lovely places and worrying less is the best medicine. Good luck

There's an article on the Daily Mail online today, "Anti-age your hair". Might be worth a look.