Has your hair suddenly stopped feeling like your hair?

Perhaps it seems finer than it used to, your parting looks wider or you are noticing more hair in your brush. It may feel dry, brittle, frizzy or simply much harder to manage. The products and styling techniques you have relied on for years might no longer give you the same results.

If this sounds familiar, you are certainly not alone. Lauren, owner of Belle Ame, sees and hears about menopause hair changes regularly in the salon.

Women often come in concerned that their hair has changed, without necessarily realising that perimenopause or menopause could be contributing to it. For some, it is the amount of hair they appear to be losing. For others, it is a change in texture, condition or volume.

The good news is that, while your hairdresser cannot medically treat hair loss, there are plenty of ways we can help your hair look and feel healthier, fuller and more manageable.

Can menopause cause hair loss?

Hair thinning or hair loss is recognised as a possible symptom of perimenopause and menopause. In fact, the NHS includes “hair thinning or hair loss” in its list of possible menopause symptoms.

Changes in levels of hormones such as oestrogen can affect the natural hair growth cycle. Some women find that their hair grows more slowly, sheds more noticeably or becomes progressively finer.

Female pattern hair loss can also become more apparent around this time of life. According to the British Association of Dermatologists, it most commonly becomes noticeable in women in their 50s or 60s, although it can begin earlier.

This type of thinning often develops gradually. You might notice that your central parting looks wider, that there is less density across the top of your head or that a ponytail feels smaller than it once did.

However, menopause is not the only possible cause of hair loss. Stress, illness, thyroid problems, iron deficiency, rapid weight loss, certain medications and hereditary factors can all play a part.

How else can menopause affect your hair?

Hair loss is only one of the changes women tell us about.

Your hair may become:

• Finer and flatter, with less natural volume
• Drier or more brittle
• More prone to snapping and split ends
• Frizzy or difficult to smooth
• Coarser or more wiry
• Curlier or straighter than it used to be
• Less shiny and more difficult to style

The scalp can change too. Some women experience greater dryness or sensitivity, while others find that their scalp becomes oilier.

Changes in natural oil production can leave the lengths of the hair feeling drier and less supple. If your hair is coloured, regularly heat styled or naturally fine, that additional dryness can make it more vulnerable to breakage.

That is why it is important to distinguish between hair falling out at the root and hair breaking along the length. They may look similar when you find hair in the shower or on your clothing, but they can require very different approaches.

What can you do to care for menopausal hair?

The first step is to stop judging your hair by what used to work. Your hair may now need a different combination of products, treatments, styling and maintenance.

Try to handle wet hair gently, as it is more vulnerable to stretching and breakage. Avoid rubbing it vigorously with a towel and use a wide-toothed comb or suitable detangling brush.

Heat can make already fragile hair feel even drier, so turn down the temperature on your hairdryer, straighteners or curling tools. Always use heat protection and avoid repeatedly going over the same section of hair.

The right shampoo and conditioner will depend on whether your main concern is dryness, fragility, thinning or a lack of volume. Very rich products can leave fine hair looking flatter, while products that are too light may not give dry or coarse hair enough moisture.

Avoid wearing your hair in very tight ponytails, buns or other styles that repeatedly pull at the hairline. Gentle styling will help protect the hair you have from unnecessary tension and breakage.

A balanced, varied diet is also important for general health. Be cautious about supplements marketed as miracle solutions for hair growth. If you think you may have a nutritional deficiency, it is better to speak to your GP rather than trying to diagnose or treat it yourself.

Hair also responds slowly. Even when the underlying cause of increased shedding has been addressed, it may take several months before you notice a meaningful difference.

How can your hairdresser help with menopausal hair?

Your hairdresser will not be able to diagnose the cause of hair loss, but we can look closely at your hair and help you understand whether you are dealing with reduced density, dryness, breakage or a combination of problems.

The right haircut can make a considerable difference. Fine hair often looks fuller with a stronger, blunter outline, while too many layers can remove weight and make the ends appear thinner. That does not mean everyone needs to have a short bob. The best shape will depend on your hair, face shape, lifestyle and how much time you want to spend styling it.

Colour can also be adapted. Carefully placed highlights, lowlights or a subtle root shadow can create the appearance of greater depth and dimension. If the hair has become drier or more fragile, we may recommend gentler colour choices or a little more time between chemical services.

Sometimes, the most helpful advice is to do less rather than more.

At Belle Ame, we assess each client’s hair individually. If we feel a requested colour or chemical service could place already fragile hair under too much strain, we will explain why and discuss safer alternatives.

Professional hair treatments can improve moisture, strength, shine and manageability. At our Lancaster hair salon, options include personalised Schwarzkopf Professional Fibre Clinix treatments, INNOluxe bond-building treatments and moisturising treatments for dry or stressed hair.

These treatments cannot correct the hormonal or medical cause of hair loss and they cannot create new follicles. What they can do is improve the condition of the hair you already have, help reduce breakage and make it feel softer, stronger and easier to manage.

We can also recommend realistic changes to your home routine and show you how to create volume without relying on excessive heat or heavy products.

When should you speak to your GP about hair loss?

Please speak to your GP if you are worried about hair loss, especially if it is sudden, severe or patchy.

It is also sensible to seek medical advice if you have:

• Redness, soreness, itching or scaling on your scalp
• A noticeably receding front hairline
• Loss of eyebrow hair
• Unexplained tiredness or weight changes
• Other new or troubling symptoms
• Hair loss that is affecting your confidence or wellbeing

The NHS recommends seeing a GP to get an idea of what is causing your hair loss before approaching a commercial hair-loss clinic.

A hairdresser may be able to spot that something has changed, but we cannot tell you whether it is caused by menopause, a deficiency, a health condition or medication. Medical investigation and diagnosis should always come from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Your hair may have changed, but help is available

Menopause can affect your hair in several different ways. It may become finer, drier, more fragile or harder to style, and it can be upsetting when your hair no longer looks or behaves as it once did.

You do not have to struggle with it alone or feel embarrassed about bringing it up at your appointment. Our Lancaster hairdressers hear these concerns regularly and will always approach them with sensitivity and honest advice.

A thoughtful cut, carefully adapted colour, appropriate salon treatments and a more suitable home-care routine can all help you feel better about your hair.

If your hair has changed during perimenopause or menopause, book a consultation with the Belle Ame team at our Penny Street hair salon in Lancaster. We would love to help you find an approach that works for the hair you have now.

Sources and further information

• NHS: Symptoms of menopause and perimenopause
• NHS: Hair loss
• British Association of Dermatologists: Female pattern hair loss