Greetings to all:

I really hope I can find some good answers here! Looks like a good source of information.

I'm (still) 50 (BD is end of Aug.), have straight hair just above my waist that I've been growing since I was 14. I've worn it pinned up for most of that time. It's very fine hair which is what we have in my family. I have never colored it so it is now "dark and silver," with a prominent natural "skunk stripe" up front which is my trademark.

Since my early 20s, I have noticed the gradual but constant loss of hair. Used to be able to put my hair in two braids (thin braids, but 2 anyway) and wrap them around my head.

Now there is hardly enough for one braid. In my perimenopausal state, it really has thinned to the point that I can't pin it up the way I used to. I used to comb the front of my hair backwards and fasten it with combs, then pinning the rest up in a bun, which to me looks graceful and dignified but also looks a bit "Amish". I wonder if the combs and use of hairspray has damaged the hair.

My mother went through the same thing at about my age; her hair wasn't as long as mine is now, but she ended up getting her ponytail cut off because there just wasn't enough there anymore.

I'm trying to find more creative ways to deal with the hair loss . . . like to come up with some type of hair "clothing", more than a scarf, that could be worn to either contain the hair in a kind of net, or have strings of beads or other enhancement to "augment" my shadow-of-its-former-self ponytail.

I really don't want to cut it short yet! But I may follow the advice on the homepage and cut it shorter for its health's sake. Then maybe I can regroup and figure out how I can wear it.

Losing my ability to wear my hair the way I am accustomed has been a huge blow to my sense of self.

Sorry to be so whiny on first introductions, but I hope you'll understand!

-Tracy

p.s. maybe this gives you an idea:

Hello and welcome from another menopausal warrior!  I too shed alot during the perimenopausal times and my hair thinned significantly.  I found that besides being super gentle with my hair, adding MSM, Biotin and Silica to my supplements, helped with the thinning.  Supplements that are good for the nails tend to be good for the hair.

To add "thickness" to your styles, you could try braiding your hair with ribbons added, or a silky scarf.

French twists work very well for thin hair.  Adding a "rat" to the twist can add a lot of volumn to the style.  Similarly, a thicker bun can be created by rolling the hair over a hair donut or other styling aid.

Take care of that hair and let us know how things go.  Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Welcome! Its so nice to see older women with long hair and not giving into standard hairstyles for mature ladies. I hope you find the articles around here helpful and can start having some new growth! Good Luck!!! 

HI and Welcome to the board!  There is a device called a hair cinch that has beads that you kind of cinch around your hair. Hair Cinch ... http://www.haircinch.com/index.html
it's really easy to use. The ones on that site are kind of expensive but there are lots of other sites that sell them for less. I got a couple on ebay and then after I bought them and saw how they were made I was able to make some of my own.

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RAGBRAI is quite the ride!  I've not done it myself, but I do SAGBRAW in Wisconsin - a 6 day bike ride with about 1200 riders.  We camp out at local schools and trucks carry our gear each day.  It is a fun time - and the mileage is a bit more friendly for my arthritic joints.    I'm in the Twin Cities - what bike shop is your daughter at?  (PM me if you prefer).

Can't believe I missed WELCOME!!

I too have been dealing with the peri and menopausal sheds.  I do think they settle down at some point *hope,hope, hope*...g