Best Vitamins for Hair Loss During Menopause to Boost Growth & Thickness

We all need enough vitamins and minerals during our lifetime, but some are particularly helpful during menopause: biotin, vitamin C, and vitamin D. Why these three vitamins?

Let’s learn first what happens to your body during menopause. Hormonal fluctuation prior to, during, and after menopause may affect many aspects of your body, including your hair, so understanding how to support hair growth is crucial. Other influences, like heredity, diet, stress, and lifestyle, may also contribute to hair changes during menopause.

Below is a rundown of the ins and outs of menopause, how your hormones change, and how that affects hair health, with vitamin recommendations to help support your hair. We’ll also tell you how Hairy Hair can help with hair loss.

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a natural part of the ageing process that typically occurs between 45 and 55. It can happen earlier in cases of smoking, high alcohol intake, physical activity and blood lead levels, among other factors, according to the Turkish Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 

The first signs are often when you notice your periods become irregular before stopping completely. This marks a decrease in oestrogen production, which can produce uncomfortable side effects.

These include:

• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Anxiety
• Night sweats
• Changes in sex drive
• Difficulty sleeping
• Aches
• Hair loss

What are the Stages of Menopause?

Menopause occurs over many years in three stages:

1. Perimenopause: These are the 4 to 8 years where hormonal changes start and symptoms first present, and is sometimes known as menopausal transition. It can begin in your 30s, but it typically presents between 40 and 44.

2. Menopause: In this 7-14 year period after perimenopause, there is a significant decrease in hormones, and symptoms intensify.

3. Post-Menopause: After periods have stopped for more than 12 months in a row, it’s considered to be the post-menopause period. Symptoms can continue or change in this stage as hormone levels take time to level out. This usually lasts for 4-5 years.

How Does Menopause Affect Your Hair?

The combination of hormonal changes, genetics, and reduction in cell activity all have an impact on your hair. This includes hair thinning and hair loss, with over half of women aged between 50 and 65 experiencing female pattern hair loss, according to research in Menopause.

Hair loss looks different in men and women. While men can see dramatic patches of hair loss and bald spots, female hair loss is more diffuse. Most women see thinning hair at the front, sides, and top of the head, a widening hair part, hairline recession, and overall shedding.

The abrupt loss of oestrogen during menopause results in hair being in the growth phase for a shorter period; hence, it will grow more slowly compared to before menopause. As oestrogen levels reduce, testosterone builds up, which contracts hair follicles and ultimately stops hair production.

In addition to hair loss, menopause will also alter hair volume and texture. Oestrogen is associated with the natural oil (sebum) on your scalp. This means that your hair is no longer smooth and shiny but becomes greasy or dry and brittle, depending on whether there is overproduction or underproduction. Menopause can be detrimental to healthy hair by speeding up greying and altering hair texture from straight to curly, too.

What Factors Can Contribute to Menopause Hair Loss?

Changes in your hormones from experiencing menopause aren’t the only reasons your hair may fall out. A combination of factors can all add up to result in increased shedding, including:

Genetics

Your family history can often dictate whether you’re more prone to hair loss, as it’s passed down through the family tree.

Stress

Elevated stress levels can lead to hormonal changes, resulting in temporary hair loss known as telogen effluvium. This is when your body feels threatened, rerouting nutrients to your essential organs, so your hair follicles get starved.

Hair Styling

Constrictive or tight styles, such as braids or high ponytails, tend to pull weakened hair from menopause. This further weakens it and makes it break more easily. Heat styling at high temperatures can also contribute to premature shedding. 

Not all heat styling is bad, however. Research from the Annals of Dermatology found that using a dryer on a low heat setting with continuous motion 15 cm from your hair is less damaging than letting your hair dry naturally.

Diet

If you’re not eating the right foods, your hair is not getting the vitamins and minerals it needs for healthy growth. 

How Can You Treat Menopause Hair Loss?

While it might be impossible to escape, menopause hair loss can be treated and minimised. Below are some of the most effective ways of treating hair loss during menopause.

Haircare Products

Using the right products can prime your hair for success. Shampoos containing harsh chemicals can further stress your already brittle locks. For oily hair, scalp scrubs can keep the sebum balance in check, and a deep conditioning treatment can provide dry and brittle hair with some TLC. 

Medication

If you’re worried about menopause affecting your hair, you should talk to your doctor. Some treatments they may prescribe include hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This helps to balance out the lost oestrogen, but it can take 4-6 months to see a difference. Other prescription options include spironolactone, which helps to counter high DHT levels. 

Over-The-Counter Solutions

Some treatments are available over the counter, including minoxidil. This helps widen the blood vessels in the scalp, increasing blood flow to hair follicles so they get enough oxygen and nutrients. It can be purchased as a spray, lotion or used in a shampoo.

Hydration

Hydration gives hair the health and strength it needs, especially during menopause, when hair will easily break. Proper circulation of nutrients also comes through drinking enough water, which is necessary during menopause because you can get dehydrated faster.

Exercise

Exercise eliminates stress, improves blood flow, and improves mood, all of which are required to achieve hormonal balance.

Vitamins

You should obtain your vitamins and minerals through your diet before resorting to supplements, but they can be used alongside healthy foods to assist your hair health. Get a blood test from your doctor to determine your nutrient levels before taking any supplements.

Some of the most critical vitamins for hair loss and menopause include:

• Biotin: Also known as vitamin B7, biotin is crucial for creating keratin. Keratin forms the structure of hair and the development of hair strands. Biotin can be found in egg yolks, spinach, and oats. Biotin supplementation is most effective if you have a deficiency in the nutrient.
• Vitamin C: It helps to keep your hair shiny and robust as a component of collagen. It also acts as an antioxidant to protect follicles from free radical damage. Free radicals are harmful molecules that can accelerate the ageing process of your hair. Vitamin C-rich foods include citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers.
• Vitamin D: The sunshine vitamin is necessary for hair growth by supporting the anagen (growth) phase. Vitamin D is also needed to develop cells that form hair follicles. You can obtain vitamin D from salmon, tuna, and yogurt.

What Can Hairy Hair Do To Help With Your Hair Loss?

Every woman experiences menopause in her own way, and keeping your hair might require changing some habits. Hair loss can hurt your ego and self-esteem, but you can stop losing hair and promote new hair growth by making changes. What has worked with the hair products and equipment you’ve been using might not work while going through menopause, but you have to listen to what your body is telling you and make the necessary alterations.

Being gentle with your hair can work. Ensure that you provide your hair with the vitamins that it requires, i.e., biotin, vitamin C and D, to strengthen your hair when it’s weakest. In case your shedding has gotten out of hand, supportive therapies like an alternate shampoo or vitamin complex won’t be enough to prevent you from losing the battle and commencing regrowth.

Enter Hairy Hair. We have targeted solutions for men and women to help them effectively tackle their hair loss and help create improved hair growth. Our treatments contain potent ingredients to help increase nutrient delivery to your follicles and lower DHT levels. This hormone shrinks hair follicles in those with pattern hair loss, eventually leading to permanent hair loss.

When you’re ready to get started, fill in our online questionnaire. After providing us with a few details, one of our qualified Australian GPs will create a personalised treatment plan and call you to answer any questions. Your prescription will then be ready to be delivered straight to your front door, meaning no trips to the clinic or pharmacy.