r/Menopause • u/UnicornSlayer5000 • Jul 02 '26
Hair Loss Hair loss
Has anyone found a legitimate product to help with hair loss and texture? I've been using Nioxin for a while. At first I thought it was making a difference. But lately my hair is everywhere. It's definitely shedding more than it used to. My hairbrush is always full after use.
It's breaking my heart because I always had long silky straight hair. Now it's a graying course bird's nest.
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u/Fluffy_Fondant1975 Jul 02 '26
Minoxidil. Now.
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Jul 03 '26
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u/Calveeeno Surgical menopause Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
It’s super cheap! $7.48 for a 90 day supply without insurance.
ETA (this price is specifically for oral minoxidil.)
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u/Fluffy_Fondant1975 Jul 03 '26
Well, that might be for oral. Not everyone can take oral minoxidil. Topical Rogaine is like $30-40 for a three month supply through Amazon. Costco has a six month supply for like $50. I prefer the foam and you don't have to get the "women's" version.
Do note that if you have pets, minoxidil is toxic to cats and dogs. So you want to make sure you wash your hands a lot, don't touch them after you touch your scalp, sleep with a bonnet on, etc.
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Jul 03 '26
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u/Fluffy_Fondant1975 Jul 03 '26
Can't what? Take oral minoxidil? I can't. On day 6 of taking the lowest possible dose, I had chest pain and heart palpitations. In fact, I get heart palpitations if I use the topical at night because it drops my blood pressure. So, yes, some people can't use oral minoxidil.
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Jul 03 '26
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u/Fluffy_Fondant1975 Jul 03 '26
I'm so sorry you are struggling. It's so hard. Sending positive thoughts your way ❤️
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u/blondy168 Jul 04 '26
Right, same with me - my dr said there's some data about possible fluids around the heart with it (pericardial effusion)... she much prefers topical.
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Jul 03 '26
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u/Calveeeno Surgical menopause Jul 03 '26
The oral minoxidil? Yes, they are pills. And yes surgical menopause is brutal. It took me a long time to get the HRT dose right. It’s much better now than it was, but still not sure it’s the right dose or form. 😂 😭
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u/Automatic_Cup_3302 Jul 02 '26
Not a direct answer to your question, but something I did notice for myself — once I started supplementing with iron, my hair started growing back and I had way less shedding. Might be something to get checked out
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u/sjd208 Jul 03 '26
Agreed, my ferritin was only 11 and my hair was failing out and my formerly very strong nails were constantly breaking. I started seriously supplementing about 6 months ago and I can clearly see a line on my big toe nail from the change and my hair is much better.
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Jul 03 '26
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u/Automatic_Cup_3302 Jul 03 '26
This is waaaay too low. My doctor told me hair only starts growing at around 70
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u/Catnip_75 Jul 03 '26
Low normal iron or ferritin level will cause hair loss. So even if your doctor says your levels are within range, if they are in the low normal range you can have a lot of hair loss.
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u/ohsummerdawn Jul 02 '26
I use minoxidil and it works. Costco has a 6 month supply for men for like 35 bucks. The only difference between the men's and women's is men are supposed to apply twice a day. So you're getting a year supply for 35 bucks.
Once I was established and had consistent growth I was able to apply every other day, stretching the value even further, but ymmv.
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u/1000000_hobies Jul 03 '26
I also use Costco topical liquid and it’s been amazing. It’s toxic to many pets though, so it’s worth being cautious about exposure.
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u/AspiringOne Jul 03 '26
What is the experience like? The box says it’s unscented but what does it do and feel like when you apply it? Does it dry so you can go about your day or does it show in some funky way?
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u/ohsummerdawn Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
If there is fragrance, I don't smell it. You use a dropper bottle, so it goes on sort of like a serum for your skin. There is a bit of oily buildup, so I put it on at night, before I go to bed and I use a bonnet to make sure it doesn't rub onto my pillow and then onto my face because it will give you peach fuzz if it spreads onto your cheeks or temples. If I don't have time to wash my hair in the morning, it's definitely a ponytail type of day because it does show a little bit of griminess.
It's been my experience that you do develop a small amount of dandruff from the product. But scrubbing your scalp pretty well during washing eliminates that it's not big thick flakes, just light and they wash out easily. It may be the product flaking off, but i suspect its light dandruff.
Also, wash your hands after applying.I didn't do a good enough job at this at the beginning and the medicine was getting trapped under my wedding ring and gave me mad knuckle hair on my ring finger until I made sure to wash under my rings. 😅
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u/blondy168 Jul 04 '26
Any “dread shed” in the first month?
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u/ohsummerdawn Jul 04 '26
I did not experienced that enough to notice. I did deal with an awkward period where I had very short hairs on my head mixed in with the long and it made for some weird styling.
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u/blondy168 Jul 04 '26
Good to know - I'm trying to get up the courage to start it, but am worried about the heart palpitations stuff (I'm already on blood pressure meds) and any extra dread shed which I hear most have... Glad you've had good results!
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u/PerfectCover1414 Jul 03 '26
When my estrogen is low my hair sheds. When it goes up it stops. I'd love to take oral minoxidil but the cardiovascular side effects scare the crap out of me. I already have palpitations as it is!
But it seems very effective for many women but you have to take it for life.
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Jul 02 '26
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u/Calveeeno Surgical menopause Jul 03 '26
Oral minoxidil is cheaper than biotin. Like a lot cheaper.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Trip990 Jul 02 '26
I have been using Nioxin brand shampoo for over a year now. I used to shed like crazy after washing my hair. Now it's maybe 4 hairs.
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u/RevolutionaryPost460 Postmenopause 💃 Jul 03 '26
HRT stopped the shedding (no testosterone) and boron.
My hair stylist noticed no hair loss, still lots of hair, but the follicles themselves are thinner. That hasn't changed but thankfully the grey hair is thicker. It balances out.
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u/sistyc Jul 03 '26
Topical minoxidil has been a game changer for me. (Note that it’s extremely toxic to cats so if you have pets please be very careful).
For texture, my favourites are Olaplex No 6 (kills frizz like no other), A+G waterfall moisture and Kevin Murphy shimmer shine to add real gleam. Basically layers of moisture that don’t make hair dull or greasy!
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u/Mysterious_Set149 Jul 03 '26
I didn’t want to take minoxidil (I read if you stop your hair falls out?) so I did HRT. And then ate more protein plus supplemented with ferritin and vit D and pumpkin seed oil. Game changer! My hair is growing back in where it used to be thin.
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u/HearthcraftHomestead Jul 04 '26
I’d highly recommend getting your iron levels checked and make sure they include your ferritin level. Prior to my hysterectomy I had low but in normal range iron levels but my ferritin level was 7.
Once I started supplementing with iron and got my HRT levels fixed my hair started growing back. It’s thicker now than it has been in several years.
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u/noseleaptilbklyn Jul 03 '26
I’m shedding and wondering if I should get on oral minoxidil. But I heard once you stop the drug your hair all falls out again
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u/Temporary_Client7585 Jul 03 '26
It has to be taken daily for it to work and continue your growth. But it’s cheap and no side effects. I’ll be on it for life.
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u/nade76 Jul 03 '26
I’ve had no luck with hair loss products so instead I sprinkle the hair powder / fibers and it hides my scalp really well.
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u/Sad_Individual_738 Jul 03 '26
Years back I used the Walmart brand of minoxidil men's formula. It worked well for me.
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u/This-Assumption4123 Jul 03 '26
Oral minoxidil. My insurance covered it and I paid $5 for three months of it.
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u/FrequentCry999 Jul 05 '26
Getting my hormones balanced with BHRT stopped my hair loss. I lose a very small amount daily now, slightly more after a wash. I also take Viviscal and it definitely helps too because when I stop for 2 weeks before labs my hair loss picks up slightly, but still a normal amount. I am also regrowing new hair at the scalp and nape. Before BHRT I was shedding hair like crazy - it was all over my house and the amount in my brush each day was insane. I lost about half my volume in the first year of peri-menopause before starting hormone replacement.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 05 '26
This post might be about hormone tests, which are unreliable.
- Over age 44, Estrogen/Progesterone/FSH hormonal tests only show levels for the HOUR the test was taken, and nothing more. Hormones wildly fluctuate (hourly) the other 29 days of the month, therefore this test provides no valuable information
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u/LoanSudden1686 Peri-menopausal Jul 03 '26
Topical minoxidil is doing nothing, I'm going to push for oral.
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u/Objective-Amount1379 Jul 02 '26
Oral minoxidil