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!
I was shocked recently to discover several small bald spots on top of my head. I immediately ordered Rogaine. My haircut is very similar to yours. After shampooing I blow dry it until it’s just damp and then use large foam rollers which I keep in for 30 minutes or so. My husband is much amused with this! I look forward to watching your video & trying some of these products.
Foam rollers sound super gentle. Husbands are easily amused 🙂
First of all I would like to tell how fabulous your new style is! You look gorgeous!! I too was the victim of the Toni perms when I was a child. My hair was poker straight and thin. Then on top of it all my Mom used to pin curl my hair on Saturday evening for church on Sunday 😱😱 since starting my periods at age 12 my hair miraculously became curly but still thin. I thought this was a blessing but turned out to be a curse!! So when I started high school I would get up very early to wash my hair, use my rollers and sit under one of these bonnet type dryers! Good to go unless it was damp outside or humid and I was transformed into one huge frizz head. Now at 72 years young I am still struggling with my hair. I keep it short but can’t ever get it to do what I want. My stylist (new) is ok, my girl went home to be a full time mom. The new girl is still working with me, but so far it’s just ok!! I will be patient but hopefully will soon come home with the perfect cut🤩🤩
Lol, I had a bonnet dryer too! Then hit rollers all through high school. Those perms were torturous.
First off, I love your new hairstyle. I think it is youthful and flattering.
I don’t have thinning hair but a girlfriend does so I’m thinking of forwarding this post. Do you think that would be offensive? 🤔 Undecided here…
I’m not sure because I don’t know your friend. If she’s talked about struggling with hair loss you might suggest this could be of interest to her. If she’s too embarrassed to mention it, I wouldn’t go there.
Jennifer, How do you travel with your hair products? When you fly do you always check your luggage? If you carry-on, how do you deal with the travel restrictions on liquids. Advice is appreciated,I always struggle with this. Thank you!
I never check a bag. I buy travel sizes of my products and decant hair gel into a smaller bottle. My Rogaine goes everywhere so I just remove the dropper and pack it separately then put the cap back on while on the move. Travel restrictions involve the number ounces for each product not how many products! That’s how I get around it. Everything is small, but there are many of them. They all fit into a quart ziplock. Sort of like a jigsaw puzzle 🙂
Before cancer I had almost your exact hairstyle! It was thinning bad and I started using Rogaine then. But then I had cancer and lost all my hair from chemo. It actually grew in thicker on the top but real straggley on the ends so my hairdresser suggested a pixie, which I absolutely hated but it does look thicker and I think it suits my small face. I still depend on Rogaine. I love checking out all your products.
I’m glad you’re cancer free, Rosemary!!
Jennifer, first I would like to thank you for addressing such a sensitive subject. I suffer from fine, thinning and wavy hair. I found with each month it is getting worse. My grandmother and mother both suffered from hair loss. I have found a styling mousse by Kenra, Thickening Mousse 12 , that works very well along with Paul Mitchell , Flexible Hair Spray. I will be trying some of your recommended products. Your new hair cut is so cute on you. Could please show us the back? Is it stacked ?
It is not stacked. I prefer more hair on the back of my neck because my shoulders are so broad. Plus if I stack it, you can see through the bottom, shorter layers.
Thank you for this post. I also have very thin, fine hair which is getting thinner. But mine is a little wavy and I wake up with crazy bedhead so I blow dry it every day to make it smooth and I know that is sooo bad. I can’t tell you how much money I have spent on hair products, very few of which turn out to be good for me. I’m going to try some of these!
Blow dryers seem hard on hair. Perhaps just brush it gently then put in huge Velcro rollers while you shower. That might smooth it out for you without the dryer.
I agree with the post and the comments. I now put collagen in my coffee and am seeing a nice difference in my hair! During COVID I quit highlighting and my husband trims my Bob and I use natural instincts #7 from the drug store. My hair never looked better. Their conditioner in the package is perfect! I do use the dyson dryer with the diffuser. I turn my head upside down and sideways. Then only use my round brush to smooth and turn under. The less I do to my thin, fine hair the better it looks! For special occasions I love the Velcro rollers, or my ceramic hot rollers. But I try to spare my hair. To lift the roots, I found Sexy Hair Big Root Pump the best, but just at roots. I use color biology, sulfate free, from Target that I think Jennifer recommended. Less is more! I now actually get compliments on my hair!
It’s funny you mention the diffuser. I’ve never tried mine! I’ll have to give it a shot. I agree the less I do the better for my fragile hair.
The struggle is real. I started following you Jennifer when I saw one of your styling videos and saw that your hair is just like mine. And I also suffered with the Toni perms as a kid. My daughter is a hairstylist and knows my struggle too. She recently brought me a product from Surface called Awaken Texture Spray. It is amazing. I just bend over and spray the underside of my hair then flip it back, lightly comb, and use Kenra 25 hairspray to finish. It really works.
I’ll check out the Awaken. Texture is so important to help with volume!
Do you have bangs with this cut?
Yes, a very thin fringe. I always have one because my forehead is so high.
Dear Jennifer,
I enjoy your articles and posts and always learn a new trick or two to try. I listened to this thinning hair post today and your product information was helpful. I am totally understanding of the problem and even share your issues with thyroid and graying hair. My gynecologist suggested I try collagen. I-needed help with hair thinning but also joint pain and found it helped. Even my dermatologist commented how much more hair I had and that the hair texture was thicker! My joint stiffness and pain is better and I am slowly increasing exercise.
It s a slow process but noticeable over the course of the year. I use the powder and sprinkle a scoop into my morning coffee. No taste, pleasant texture and hardly noticeable. I enjoy it. And, I am a black coffee fan. You may want to check it out!
I agree! Collagen is really helpful for so many things. I use a marine blend by Collagen For Her that I’m quite happy with.
Excellent video! Good tips.
I hate when the video says “styling thin/fine hair” and these women have tons of super thick hair. Your video was actually helpful!
Love these tips. But what about the shampoo?
What shampoo and conditioner do you recommend?
Desperate in my search….!
I have used Kevin Murphy for years. Just recently I’ve begun using Olaplex and love all their products!
My hair is very thin and straight. What can I use to help me look good all day?
I really recommend a small spray of dry shampoo to add volume
Thank you so much. My hair looks much the same as yours and I suffer what th a lot of hair loss as well. Planning to try your secrets. Thanks!!
Lovely! Thanks for the tips 👍👍
I absolutely understand your predicament as I have exactly the same type of hair. So frustrating as my hair used to be my “crowning glory” as my mother often called it! The cut is certainly the key, but based on your comments I’m going to start using more products too. Have ordered the Kevin Murphy volumizer and hope it will help out. Sadly, my long-time hairdresser is moving out of town so now I have to find someone else! Oh well, perhaps a new opportunity and a new cut will come out of it! Cheers, and thanks for your video. Judy ☺️
It’s so stressful when you need to replace a favorite stylist. Good luck!
My hair is thin also. I asked my stylist what haircut should an old lady at 76 should have she told me a pixie or a wedge cut. I went with the wedge don’t care REALLY SHORT HAIR!!!!!!
I’ve had super thick, easy hair all my life. This summer I had a short bought of the crazy flu and about a month later my hair. Started falling out. I’m 77 and I don’t like this. I love your video. I have never curled or fussed over my hair and maybe I’ll try this before I shop for a wig. Thanks
I’m so sorry you’re struggling with this. I swear by the Mens Rogaine too. Best of luck.
I have the same hair. Do you use a hair protector before blow drying?
I do not, but I think I need to start using one.