Our hair is one of our strongest visual characteristics and often the first thing people notice, so it is important to keep it looking good.  Womens’ hair, however, has a lot to put up with during adolescence, pregnancy and particularly the menopause, with hormone imbalances causing hair to grow in areas you’d rather it didn’t and to thin on top, where you really need it. 

At the menopause, some women find that their hair becomes much thinner than it used to be and they also start to lose body hair while others find that unwanted hair starts to grow on the face.  If your hair is thinning mainly on the top or you are noticing growth of facial hair, this is probably due to the change in the balance of hormones.  Unwanted facial hair can be easily  dealt with by using a bleaching or hair removal treatment especially for the face.

What causes hair growth?

As oestrogen declines at the menopause, testosterone, the ‘male’ hormone becomes more dominant resulting in symptoms of male pattern baldness and other male characteristics like facial hair.1 An excess of the chemical called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which all men and women produce, causes hair follicles to become increasingly thinner until the follicle eventually stops producing any hair at all.2 Lower levels of oestrogen  cause collagen fibres to disintegrate and the protein elastin to weaken, reducing the strength and suppleness of connective tissue on the scalp, which also affects  hair growth.

Hair falling out?

It is normal to shed between 50-100 hairs a day so check your hairbrush and if you are losing considerably more than this, it is important to see your doctor to rule out problems such as anaemia and thyroid disease.  Stress and a poor diet as well as hormone imbalances can also exacerbate hair loss, so make sure you find time to relax and stick to a healthy diet including plenty of vegetables, fruit and protein to boost hair growth.

One of the main deficiencies linked to hair loss is zinc.  Vitamins C and E are also important for hair health and play a part in reducing male hormone levels in women so it may be worth taking these as supplements.   An excess of salt and copper in the diet can also wreak havoc on the hair so it is wise to avoid foods high in copper such as milk, chocolate, oysters, nuts, high fat meats and salmon and to steer clear of processed foods high in sodium.

Going grey?

As well as unusual patterns of hair growth, many women will also be noticing an increase in grey hair, as they get older.  Grey hair is simply new hair with no pigment and is just as healthy as pigmented hair and doesn’t need any special treatment.  Grey hair can look stunning and highlight a radiant complexion but for those who feel it makes them look a little washed out, it can be blended or hidden with temporary or permanent colouring.4 Be careful to choose the right shade for your skin; too dark a shade can be harsh on older skin and will contrast against the much paler scalp emphasising any thin patches and too light a shade will also tend to highlight thinner hair making the scalp more visible.  Some colouring techniques like high and low lights and permanent hair colour, however, can thicken hair as well as cover grey.  The molecules in the dye expand in the hair shaft making the hair seem fuller whereas the dye in semi-permanent colour just sits under the hair cuticle blending grey hair into your natural colour and fades over a few weeks.

Sun protection

It is just as important to protect your hair from sun damage as it is to protect your skin so if you are going to be in the sun keep a sun protection spray with your suntan lotion to spritz your hair every time you reapply.  Salt water and chlorine also strip the hair of its natural oils so either cover up or rinse your hair with fresh water after swimming.

Looking after your hair and having a cut that suits you will go a long way to disguising thinning hair and keep your hair looking luscious and healthy.  Take care not to tug or pull at wet hair as you comb it or scrub your scalp when washing your hair as this can loosen hairs from the soft hair follicle and tear the hair.  Use a wide-toothed brush or comb and do not brush or comb your hair too frequently as it may make it look lank and dull.   Have a trim every 4 –6 weeks to keep it in top condition and choose a soft style with layering to add the illusion of fullness and flatter the face rather than flat, close to the head styles which can make the hair look even thinner.

If you’re feeling a little flat, don’t forget changing your hair style and colour is a great way to give yourself a total lift and boost your confidence.

Web:06/09 Aug 2006

 

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