Menopausal hair loss can leave you feeling confused, embarrassed, and unsure of where to turn — especially if hair loss isn’t something you’ve dealt with before. But the thing to remember is that many women experience hair loss as a menopause symptom — more than 50 percent, according to Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OB/GYN, sexual medicine gynecologist, menopause specialist, and host of . You’re not alone in this, and there are plenty of menopause hair loss products that can help you address this common issue.
Best Products for Menopausal Hair Loss, at a Glance
Best Scalp Massager: Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Scalp Massager, $18
Best Hair Growth Supplement: Nutrafol Women’s Balance Hair Growth Nutraceutical, $224 for three months
Best Red Light Treatment: HigherDOSE Red Light Hat, $449
Best Prescription Solution: Minoxidil from Ro, prices vary
Best Vitamin Supplement: Vitamin D, $18
Best Mineral Supplement: Iron, $10.59
Best Hair Loss Shampoo: Kérastase Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo, $44
Best Hair Loss Serum: Vegamour GRO Hair Serum, $64
So what actually causes menopausal hair loss in the first place? According to Dr. Rahman, “it is complicated and often multifactorial.” As you might guess, hormones play a big part, especially “hormone deficiency and the imbalanceof estrogen to androgens,” she explains.
For one thing, hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause lead to changes in the hair cycle, “causing the hair to get to the resting phase prematurely and promoting shedding of hair,” explains Dr. Maria Sophocles, a menopause specialist, FemTech advisor, and member of theFlowSpaceAdvisory Council. Your estrogen levels are also decreasing, which leads to hair loss because estrogen naturally helps your hair grow. Your levels of androgens, including hormones like testosterone, therefore increase in relation to estrogen, also contributing to hair loss as these hormones “shrink and thin existing hair follicles,” Dr. Sophocles explains.
Add to that the midlife stressors that women experience during this time, like parents and kids to care for, deaths, divorce, and other health concerns, and you get “a perfect storm of reasons for people to losehair,” Dr. Rahman says.
How to Manage Menopausal Hair Loss
Both lifestyle changes and medical treatments can make a difference when it comes to treating menopausal hair loss, Dr. Sophocles says. Reducing stress is a good place to start (easier said than done, we know), as well as using gentle hair care products and avoiding chemical treatments. Both experts stressed the importance of avoiding tight hairstyles that pull at your scalp; “ponytail alopecia [aka traction alopecia] leads to hair loss at the hairline,” Dr. Sophocles explained. She also recommended making sure your diet is rich in vitamin B12, zinc, and iron; using scalp massage (more on that later); and staying hydrated.
Medications also play a part — both good and bad. Medications like Minoxidil (aka Rogaine) and finasteride, which “blocks 5 alpha reductase which stops hair growth,” can both help with growth , Dr. Sophocles says. Hormone therapy can restore your estrogen levels, which can also encourage hair growth, she says, while microneedling “can stimulate collagen production and improve blood flow to scalp.”
On the other end of the spectrum, some medications can lead to further hair loss. According to Dr. Sophocles, these include statins (cholesterol lowering agents), blood pressure medications, blood thinners, retinoids, anti-seizure medications, some arthritis medications, and excessive Vitamin A or selenium. If you’re currently taking any of these medications, speak to your doctor to see if they might be exacerbating your hair loss.
In general, it’s important to speak to both a dermatologist and a menopause specialist “to hep you navigate the process,” Dr. Rahman adds. Make sure to get a doctor’s sign-off before you start a new medication or supplement as well. “Seek professional help, do not go for a quick fix,” Dr. Rahman stresses. “Find someone who can listen to and evaluate your situation, and work with you to achievehairsuccess.”
There are plenty of solutions to menopausal hair loss, and we’re rounding up a few you can get started with today. Keep reading for eight menopausal hair loss products that can help your hair grow back healthy and strong.
Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Scalp Massager
best scalp massager
Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Scalp Massager
Buy Now from vegamour $18
Buy Now On Amazon $18.00
“Scalp massage can potentially stimulate hair growth,” Dr. Sophocles noted, and while scheduling a scalp massage with a professional masseuse might be a little out of the way for some of us, this scalp massager from Vegamour is a great way to get those benefits at home. You simply press the tips to your scalp (wet or dry hair is fine!) and massage in circular motions all over the surface, which some studies say can stimulate blood flow to help with hair growth.
Nutrafol Women’s Balance Hair Growth Nutraceutical
best hair growth supplement
Nutrafol Women’s Balance Hair Growth Nutraceutical
$224 for three monthsBuy Now from nutrafol
$18.11 for one monthBuy Now from walmart
If you’ve looked into hair growth supplements at all, you’ve likely heard of Nutrafol, one of the most popular options on the market. This supplement line has “moderate success,” Dr. Sophocles confirmed, and the brand even makes an option specifically for women over 45: the Women’s Balance Hair Growth supplement. This hormone-free supplement contains a blend of 21 different vitamins, minerals, and natural ingredients to help your hair grow back thicker and fuller.
HigherDOSE Red Light Hat
best red light therapy
HigherDOSE Red Light Hat
$449Buy Now
For an innovative hair growth solution, we recommend a red light therapy cap like the HigherDOSE Red Light hat, which is designed to increase blood circulation to the scalp and improve hair follicle function to help your hair grow strong and healthy. While these are a newer solution on the market, Dr. Sophocles says the technology looks “promising” and they couldn’t be easier to use — simply turn the hat on, put it on your head, and let it sit for a 10-minute daily treatment.
Minoxidil
Best prescription Solution
Minoxidil Prescription from Ro
Explore minoxidil from Ro
Both our experts recommended minoxidil as a hair growth solution for menopausal women — and menopause expert Dr. Mary Claire Haver takes it herself. “Minoxidil taken orally when prescribed appropriately by a clinician who is knowledgeable (such as a dermatologist or gynecologist) can also benefit [hair growth] over time,” explains Dr. Rahman. For convenience, you can get a prescription from an online health service like Ro and have your medication delivered straight to your door, following an online consultation with a doctor.
Vitamin D
best vitamin supplement
Vitamin D Supplements
$18Buy Now
Taking Vitamin D can help address menopausal hair loss, according to Dr. Rahman, although you’ll want to speak with your doctor before adding this supplement to your regimen. Vitamin D interacts directly with hair follicles, per studies, which means a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to hair loss
Iron Supplement
best mineral supplement
Iron Supplement
$10.59Buy Now
Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which can cause hair loss, Dr. Rahman explains. If you think this is the case for you, speak to your doctor before starting to take an iron supplement, which may help your hair grow back.
Kérastase Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo
best hair loss shampoo
Kérastase Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo
$44Buy Now
If you’re experiencing menopausal hair loss, it’s a good idea to take a close look at your haircare routine. Switching out your shampoo for a hair growth shampoo like this option from Kérastase is a good place to start. This shampoo contains hyaluronic acid to prevent hair breakage as well as gluco peptide and ceramides to strengthen your strands, and reviewers say it’s helped the gain moisture, volume, and thickness in their hair.
Vegamour GRO Hair Serum
best hair growth serum
Vegamour GRO Hair Serum
$64Buy Now
This hair growth serum from Vegamour is formulated to reduce the amount of hair you shed, prevent hair thinning, and lead to fuller and healthier hair when you use it consistently. It’s also super simple to apply: simply squirt a dropper-full onto your scalp, massage it in, and let it settle without rinsing. It’s an easy addition to your daily hair care routine, and reviewers say they’ve seen a visible difference after a few months of use.
