Effective home remedies for hair loss in women?

July 30, 2016 5:56 AM

Do you have any good home remedies for hair loss in women? I have noticed that my hairline is receding somewhat. My part looks a bit wider and you just see a bit more of my scalp generally. I cannot identify a cause but it happened over the course of 4-8 months. I eat a good diet with plenty of protein (eggs, etc.). Thyroid tests normal. I have noticed a bit more hairs shed in the shower, but nothing that unusual. No hairs on the pillow, but some on the floor. Scalp okay but a bit of dandruff. I have been using a new hair color but I can't imagine it would cause my hair to fall out at the roots when rest of it is long and healthy looking. The loss is mostly at the temples and top third of my head. I used to have A LOT of hair. Any suggestions or home remedies are welcome!
posted by mintchip to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

First a trip to the doctor to find a cause. For me it is PCOS. Rogaine has given me back a lot of what I lost.
posted by cecic at 6:06 AM on July 30, 2016 [3 favorites]

I had a vitamin d deficiency and noticed some hair loss. I took a 50,000 iu dose daily (doctor prescribed) and noticed regrowth.
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 6:11 AM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]

In the course of trying to figure out why I have the same hair loss pattern you describe I learned that my ferritin levels were nearly in the single digits. The doctor was unconcerned but I've since read that you should try for ferritin levels that are much higher--70, for instance.

My testosterone levels were normal but doctor didn't test for estrogen/progesterone. I've also read that changing levels of these can trigger hair loss. It's something to look into, anyways.
posted by whistle pig at 6:19 AM on July 30, 2016 [2 favorites]

Are you taking any prescription medications? This happened to me almost exactly when my doctor adjusted the dosage of my SSRI.
posted by Pizzarina Sbarro at 8:13 AM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]

I have been using a new hair color but I can't imagine it would cause my hair to fall out at the roots when rest of it is long and healthy looking.

If you're having an allergy or other reaction to this new hair dye, it could absolutely cause problems with your hair follicles. Your follicles are where the hair grows from - the length of your hair is dead, whether or not it's in good condition. If something is affecting your follicles, then your hair will fall out, even if the length looks like it's in perfect condition.
posted by erst at 9:20 AM on July 30, 2016

Definitely check ferritin, vit D AND B12 levels. My hair loss really turned around once my serious B12 deficiency was fixed. Your hair is basically what your body gives up on working on when the rest of you has a vitamin deficiency.

But I also would go back to your old hair color.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:14 AM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]

Stress can definitely make your hair fall out. My sister went through a bed period where she was really depressed, and lost a lot of her formerly very thick hair. Regardless of cause, if some of these recommended vitamin supplements don't help, Rogaine is indeed very effective. (Although I have heard it can make ALL hair grow, even in areas where it was not applied.)
posted by catatethebird at 3:02 PM on July 30, 2016

Biotin is a supplement many women take for hair loss.
posted by vitabellosi at 2:36 AM on July 31, 2016