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Reader Q&A: Thinning Hair

Posted 02/07/11 at 01:46PM by Audrey Fine

Want your beauty questions answered? You've come to the right place. Each week we're going to respond to a reader-submitted query. (Have a question? Submit it on the main "My Beauty Life" page...after reading this, of course.)

Now, for our first...

Question: I used to have thick, curly, shiny hair but as I age it's getting much thinner -- what should I do? -- Beverly

Answer: First, Beverly, understand that you're not alone. Up to 40 percent of American women suffer from hair loss of some kind. There are several contributing factors including hormonal shifts (especially during menopause), trauma and/or high levels of stress and, good old heredity.

To get your hair back on track, regardless of the root cause, hair health expert Dr. Philip Kingsley suggests getting more sleep, taking vitamin B supplements and using an intensive scalp treatment -- look for one that is designed to stimulate hair growth like Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask, $6.25.

Also, understand that as you age, your hair is bound to get harder to work with. As celebrity hairstylist Marie Ferro says, "as women move toward menopause, textural changes and the problems they create are compounded as gray hair becomes more prominent," because as she explains, those grays have less pigment and are much more coarse.

The good news is that there are many hair care lines designed specifically to address the needs of aging hair. (Try PHTYO Phytocane Revitalizing Shampoo for Women with Grapeseed Procyanidins and Ginkgo Biloba, $24 and PHYTO Phytocane Revitalizing Serum for Women with Grapeseed Procyanidins and Ginkgo Biloba $50.)

If you feel like your hair loss is significant, you should make an appointment to talk to your doctor. In some cases, thyroid issues may be involved and you should definitely rule them out. Your doctor can also best advise you on whether a hair growth treatment like Rogaine for Women, $21.99, is necessary.

Want to ask a question of your own? submit your beauty query here and, if you're tired of wrestling with your hair, try this cool, no-fuss undone bun.
And the survey says...
1-6 of 8 Comments

  • Posted by EricaC123 on 04/13/13 at 02:56pm

    Nice info

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  • Posted by LipglossandSpandex on 07/21/11 at 09:35pm

    I hope I don't lose too much hair as I age. :(

    Report Abuse

  • Posted by lea_m_gibson on 04/21/11 at 10:29pm

    nice

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  • Posted by lea_m_gibson on 04/21/11 at 10:29pm

    stgertgege4g

    Report Abuse

  • Posted by ChrisanneSkye on 03/20/11 at 07:38am

    So glad my hair is nice & thick

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  • Posted by GlamAllure99 on 03/10/11 at 07:25am

    Pravana makes a great biotin supplement and hair care regimen. It even helped with my hair that was damamged by a relaxer. I had one spot I thought would never grow back. My hair was cut into an akward longish pixi (it had been shoulder length) to get rid of the damage. The back comes down 2 inches below my nape (it was completely gone) and the front is a little longer than chin length. It has also thinned as a result of the series of bad relaxers, but is back to it's original fullness. I thought it was my age or something, that it was just time. Turns out my hair just needed a little more TLC. Good luck!

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