Haircare Products I Use For My Over 50 Thinning Hair
My hair has always been baby-fine, poker-straight, and very thin. Add menopause and thyroid issues to the mix, and you have the perfect storm for hair loss. It’s always a struggle to find a hairstylist who knows how to cut my fine hair, so I’m thrilled to have discovered one near me. I’ve learned from experience how tough this all is and how no one ever talks about it. For that reason, I’m sharing how I’ve been updating my haircut and the products I use for my over 50 thinning hair. I hope this post helps you feel less alone if you’re also suffering from thinning hair, and this gives you hope in discovering new products.
Hair Loss in Women
Let me start by saying…midlife hair loss is not unusual for women. In fact, it is way more common than you think. While it’s talked about in men all of the time, it seems to be rarely talked about in women. I’m here to tell you that you are not alone. I know firsthand how it can impact your confidence and cause you to feel embarrassed. Sometimes even to the point of wanting to avoid your hairdresser.
I’ve discovered that the way my hair is cut, the products I use, and how I blow dry it are my best hope to camouflage hair loss and make it look thicker and fuller.
My Over 50 Haircut
As your hair changes and thins, you will likely need to change up your typical haircut and possibly go even shorter. This is why finding a stylist you trust is so important. Having someone knowledgeable about what will look best is crucial.
My old haircut shown in the video is a short, blunt bob with no stacking in the back. It’s the same length in front as it is in the back. Then she cut a blunt layer around the top of my head which allows me to get some lift.
But recently, my hair has gotten so thin that my stylist and I agreed it was time to grow out my layers and go a bit shorter. The result looks dangerously like a bob. I say dangerously because bobs feel so expected on a woman with fine, thin hair, and I’d prefer a more unique style. It’s the best haircut for my current hair, so I’m getting creative with products and experimenting with new ways to style it. Below, you’ll find a picture of my new haircut.
I’ve made a little video you can watch here to help deconstruct my haircut, the products I use, and the process I go through to style it.
I use a round brush, mousse or gel, dry shampoo, and hairspray. I use a lot of products, yet when I’m done, it doesn’t look like helmet hair.
Best Treatment for Thinning Hair in Females
Products to Use for Regrowth
My physician suggested I try 5% Rogaine for men to slow the thinning and encourage regrowth. It’s something that I truly can’t live without. I’ve found the best pricing on Amazon and order 3 bottles every 3 months. If you stop using Rogaine, the new hair will fall out, so I continue to use it daily.
You can see how I apply it to my hair in this blog post.
I’ve dabbled with other shampoos and conditioners but never found one that I preferred in every way until I switched to Olaplex. Every product in their line is paraben, sulfate, phthalate, gluten, and cruelty-free, so I feel as good about using them as they feel on my hair. It’s highly moisturizing and leaves my hair feeling healthier and looking shinier. The No.5 Maintenance conditioner helps hydrate my hair without weighing it down.
Once a week, I spray the No.0 Bond Building on dry hair and let it saturate for 10 minutes.
I am a big fan of this Kevin Murphy Anti-Gravity Oil-free Gel. It adds volume but isn’t greasy, no matter how much I apply.
Any dry shampoo helps make your hair look like it has more volume, but this Perfect Hair Day is my very favorite.
I recently tied this Color Wow On Steroids styling spray, and it’s amazing. It doesn’t have the dry shampoo feel, yet it adds tons of body.
I spotted this hair foam with the same BioPeptin Complex as the brow serum and decided to give it a shot. This is not a budget item, but it makes a big difference in my hair which feels thicker all over. I still use my Rogaine, and then I add a tiny dollop of the foam directly on the spots around my hairline that are receding the most and comb through. I only use it once daily in the front, so 1 bottle lasts me close to 6 months. Reviewers say they’re going through the bottle way too fast to be cost-effective, so I assume they’re using much more than I am.
I love this round brush for helping to add extra body too. I have several sizes based on how long my hair is.
I’ve also discovered that just being gentler with my hair has made a big difference. I now squeeze the water out of my hair with my towel rather than rubbing it vigorously. I comb it with this wide toothcomb before I add any products.
I swear by these velcro rollers. My ultra-fine, thinning hair needs all the help it can get, and a few moments in these rollers while I shower gives it some nice lift.
I use these hot rollers on my freshly washed and dry hair for tons of volume.
I also upgraded my drugstore hairdryer to this Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer last year. It’s got a cult following that I now understand. My hair dries in half the time it used to take just using medium speed and heat which is much gentler on my hair.
More Products to Help with Thinning Hair
While I haven’t used these products before, I have heard good things from others about each of them and wanted to share.
Do you struggle with thinning hair?
What products do you use? I’d love to hear what has worked for you!
Thank you for this tutorial. I also have fine hair, thyroid issues also. At age 74 I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at the hair that is coming out. You gave some great tips, I appreciate you taking the time.
Happy and Blessed Easter
Happy Easter!
Beautiful and helpful video, and a beautiful person. Thank you for these tips and the time you take to inform us. So appreciated.
Thanks so much XX
Thank you for sharing your styling techniques through the video. I have the opposite problems with my hair in that it is big and course. However, I certainly appreciate knowing that I am not alone in using many products and spending more time than I ever imagined I would at my over-65 age on my hair. Your video was very well done.
If you are feeling adventuresome, you might consider platelet rich plasma or fibrin injections with Acell for hair growth where you are thinning at the front.
Hi Jennifer,
I’m brand new to your blog today! And, I’m thrilled to see this post as my first one! I too, have very baby fine hair, but a lot of it, so I’ve been told by many stylists. But now mine is thinning too. I loved your video and your list of products. I am usually too lazy to use any products, even though I have a ton in my cabinet. I do really need to do more with my hair and your video has inspired me! Thank you.
I’m curious; why do you use dry shampoo everyday? I’ve used it many times before, but only when I don’t want to wash my hair for a few more days.
Welcome! The dry shampoo adds body and bulk to the roots and hair so it gives lift.
Oh, okay! Thank you. I’ll have to try that.
I also have fine thin hair, a body wave helps, but I like it straight with the body wave to thicken it, color also helps. Two products I always use after shampoo are MARK ANTHONY INSTANT THICK VOLUME CREAM IN A TUBE, I work it through wet hair on top and sides, then comb out, after that I put on make up and then use PAUL MITCHELL’S INVISIBLE VOLUME WHIP FOAM, a GREAT HAIR THICKENER a salon stylist told me about, it really does thicken
your wet hair before the blow dry. Sometimes I use hairspray but not much after the volume whip.
That volume whip is a miracle worker!
Jennifer,
Do you think the Kevin Murphy volumizer is only good for fine, thin hair? My thinning hair is rather coarse with some natural curl and I don’t know if this would work for me. Thanks!
Thanks for sharing these! I’ve always struggled with very fine, thin hair and I’m always on the hunt for new products!
I hope you like these. Dry shampoo is a real game-changer for me.
I love your hairstyling video!! I don’t have your same problem, but I certainly have problems of another nature with my hair. Thanks for sharing. I would love to see other instructional videos from you….
I’m going to try making more, and smile next time 🙂
Thank you so much Jennifer for the excellent post. I have very fine thinning hair and l am seeing a dermatologist and trying the products he recommended for three months. He said it was very common for women in my age group 57 to experience hair loss. But treatment is expensive so l might be looking at wigs too soon:) What is useful to pass on check your vitamin levels when you get your blood work checked as they do make a difference to hair growth and health. Happy day !
This might be the best, most enjoyable and most helpful video on hairstyling Ive ever seen. I look online CONSTANTLY for help with my fine, stick straight, thinning hair. I swear mine is an exact clone of yours!
I can’t thank you enough for sharing this. It made me smile, laugh and feel so so so much better about the hair I have and how I can help it look better without a ton of work, and it will give me a confidence boost as well.
You are definitely a GOAT in my book, Jennifer!
Lol, I’m so glad you liked it:). I need to remember to smile in videos. Hair loss really beats on our confidence so I’m happy to do anything I can to help! Xx
Thank you for sharing how you style your hair. I have always had straight thick coarse hair. The gray hair started in my 30’s , so I have always colored it and it has given me body. My gray hair has been coming in baby fine, so adjusting to this complete change has been hard. Now well past menopause, my hair is all gray and over time the top is thinning. The rest is not thinning much at all. So my top is getting to be a problem.
I’m thinking about Rogain, but wonder about irritation from both products? Have you noticed any? I tried to grow out my gray but my top looked thinner with no color. I may try some of your suggestions here.
I use men’s 5% ROGAINE liquid morning and night and have had no reactions other than my hair thinning has slowed down. I’d highly suggest you ask your Dr about trying it.
Thank you Jennifer. This is great video, and information. I have always had fine blond hair. Mine went to a darker blond in my forties, now I am getting some grays and some curl. I have a tall forehead and a receding hairline (female pattern baldness). The changes as we age. I use men’s Rogaine . I am always trying different volumizing products. May have to try the Kevin Murphy products. My favorite hairspray is Get Layered by Sexy Hair.
I use the men’s Rogaine 5% too. I’m trying it all!
Thank you for the very informative article. I had not related my hair loss with the thyroid issues I have been dealing with the last two years. I’ve also gone au natural with my colour and had put the changes in my hair down to that. I now have lots of avenues to try. The only thing I have to add is I’ve switched to a boar hair brush and find less tug and pull and I think less hair breakage.
Have the Dr do a complete thyroid panel and not just the TSH. There can be lots to be learned by testing all the functions and how the ratios relate to each other.
Thanks for the response, it could possibly help others. I have been through a hyperthyroid diagnosis , thyroid ablation which causes hypothyroidism and then over a year of dosage changes to get the thyroid replacement right. Hopefully it’s good for now. I was surprised to see how many ladies have mentioned thyroid issues here today. Perhaps another posting to consider.
You’ve had a rough time of it, I’m sorry, Linda. Our thyroids are so fragile and critical. I hope you’ve got things sorted now.
I enjoyed your post. I too have thin, fine hair along with a high forehead. I recently started trying collagen. My life got easier when I started wearing wigs. Not only does it take years off of me, but I get stopped constantly by women who want to know where I get my hair done, can they take pictures to show their stylist.
I’m hoping the collagen will help me too:)
I really liked your video and thinning hair. I too have thinning, fine (albeit a lot of hair), and poker straight. Even before my hair started thinning, I have been using this trick. First I use volumizing mousse and let it soak in for a couple of minutes. Then, I bend over and let my hair fall toward the floor and blow dry. I just use my hands to fluff it up and out. When it is nearly dry, I stand up, dry a bit while moving it into the style I am wanting. Then I bend over again and use good old Paul Mitchel maximum hold hair spray (not aerosol) all over, stand up (hair is definitely fluffy) and run my hand through to arrange and respray. Works for me.
I love the sound of your technique!! Thanks for sharing it
I too have thin straight hair, although when cut short it is curlier. I have been wearing it in a short bob for the last 6 months. My last stylist advised me not to wash every day, so now I actually go all week without washing it. I know it sounds strange, I didn’t believe it at first either. I do use a dry shampoo on the third day and then every day until I wash it. What shampoo do you use, and do you use a conditioner – I no longer use one as it was just weighing my hair down so much. My best friend is hairspray and I always carry a travel size in my purse in case I get caught in the wind or it goes flat midday…my daughter can always tell where I’ve been as she recognizes the scent.
Thank you Jennifer! I look forward to watching the video later this afternoon. Have a glorious day and thank you for being my favorite blogger!
You are the best!💐
Can you post pics of side and back to take to my hairdresser? They are always in a hurry and won’t watch the youtube video .
I will try to get some snaps of it.
Thanks for sharing, Jennifer. Thinning hair is not an issue for me, but I was interested to hear how many women only wash their hair every three days.I’m a lifelong every-other-day shampooer, but in the last six months I have stretched it to every three days. As I get older it seems I don’t need to wash as often.
Anyone else find that to be the case?
Yes…absolutely. And now that I’m not working, I don’t feel as compelled to wash it daily. It’s much healthier now. 🙂