Caroline Gaskin MCPH, is the Swell resident natural health practitioner and homoeopathy expert.
This month you might know that 18th October is World Menopause Awareness Day.
At any one time some 13 million women will be going through menopause in the UK and there are at least 34 symptoms associated with this time.
One symptom of menopause is hair loss, so it’s a good month to be talking about tips for midlife hair.
Many women experience dry/brittle hair, changes in texture, limpness and falling hair as the first sign that things are changing.
my personal journey through perimenopause
You might notice it just more before your periods and it can feel really quite distressing – at least that’s how I felt when it happened to me. I was 46 at the time.
I didn’t know I was in perimenopause and I honestly just felt panicky when I saw how much hair I was losing. I was going through an intense period of stress with teenagers taking exams, my partner was away and my client’s needs were high, all of which is a common scenario for women in their 40’s.
Since managing my own menopause, I’ve specialised in helping women manage the myriad of symptoms associated with menopause with one-to-one workshops, courses and retreats.
The difference between falling hair and shedding hair
Shedding tends to happen in cycles, which is what was happening to me, and the hair loss was at the temples and the nape of my neck.
Tests later showed I was hypothyroid, which was a symptom of my perimenopause journey and one that I often see in my practice, even though it is not officially listed as a menopause symptom.
Hair shedding is much more related to the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped organ in the throat that helps look after our immunity and protein metabolism. Remember that hair is made of protein.
Falling hair is the sense that you are seeing more on your hairbrush, experiencing more hair loss when you wash your hair and your hair begins to look thinner, is less manageable and has less volume.
falling hair relates more to changing hormone levels
We all know that oestrogen levels are dropping but so is progesterone and thankfully there are many natural health solutions to help create balance.
Whatever the cause, when it comes to products that really work for fine, thinning and menopausal hair I recommend Swell.
Swell has a two pronged approach that will naturally bring volume to hair from day one, as well as improving hair growth, reducing hair shedding,and giving hair back health and balance, which is essential in combating the effects of menopausal symptoms on hair.
Swell’s formulas are packed full of active botanicals and vitamins that feed follicles with powerful growth boosters.
To name a few, including:
- Peruvian Root Maca, which increases hair thickness and improves growth
- Swiss Apple Stem Cell Extract and Silica are used for their anti-aging properties.
- Rooibos, Dong quai, Wild Yam and Saw Palmetto are all specially chosen for their effectiveness in treating menopausal hair symptoms.
hair products that provide a lift in hair volume
For immediate uplift in hair volume, density and thickness and to boost your confidence, use Swell’s Root Complex daily alongside their silicone free shampoo and conditioner to help to turn back the clock on menopausal hair!
I recommend seeking out superfoods and plant-sourced supplements as the body knows how to metabolise them better than the isolated elements that are in most over the counter products.
B vitamins, Vitamin C and iron can be found in green superfoods like chlorella, spirulina and blue green algae.
Zinc is another mineral needed for healthy hair and hormonal health and enough can be found in a tablespoonful of organic pumpkin seeds or a slick of pumpkin seed oil added to salad or drizzled on a soup.
fatty acids to support dry hair
Pumpkin seeds are also rich in essential fatty acids to support dry hair and help nourish skin and nails too.
Foods rich in silica such as oats, bananas, spinach and wholegrain rice will help. A delicious smoothie made with oat milk, two handfuls of spinach, a banana and two medjool dates is a great way to start your day.
Another mineral for hair health is biotin found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, sweet potatoes and also bananas.
Add in Vitamin D, sourced from algae or lichen, if you tend to also suffer with colds, coughs, flu and if you know that you tend towards a hypothyroid profile.
Try eating a little seaweed everyday. It’s easy to source these days and you can add seaweed sprinkles to soups and salads.
There are herbs too and homoeopathic remedies but it’s best to consult a qualified practitioner to get recommendations that are specific to you and your health needs.
More about Caroline
A dedicated natural health practitioner and one of the foremost homeopaths in the UK. Her unwavering passion lies in empowering you to take control of your health journey.
With a wealth of expertise spanning over two decades, Caroline excels in homeopathy, offers valuable dietary and lifestyle guidance, and specialises in the therapeutic use of flower essences.