Thin hair

[Smiley]

When I was younger, I had a lot of thick, healthy hair.. But in the last few years it is so thin and seems to be easy coming out. Like if I have a bath or brush my hair, quite a bit comes out then. I dont have bald patches or anything, just limp, sad hair, and I wondered if anyone knows why, and what can be done? I'm 20 and dont want it to go any thinner!

[tartanwiz]

You can buy hair thickener in most chemists. This thickens what you have, but if you are losing your hair, there's nothing you can do about that. Products such as Regaine only work partially, are expensive and stop working when you stop applying them. Alternatively, get it cut really short. e.g. a No.2.

[5029]

It could be due to a lack of iron - visit your doctor to see if you are anaemic and he'll prescribe you iron pills stronger than you can buy.

[Casey]

Smiley are you male or female?

[Smiley]

I'm female : )

[tartanwiz]

Sorry Smiley, didn't realise you were a girly. Forget about the No.2 then (unless you want to go for the Sinead O'Connor look) and ignore the bit about Regaine. The advice about hair thickener still applies, though, so get yourself down to Boot's.

[Casey]

I had a feeling you were female, try calcium tablets and drink lots of milk and water (not together though!!) and try taking vitamin supplements. On top of all this buy a good thickening shampoo, if you google 'female thickening shampoo' there seems to be some good results.

[ouch!]

Smiley, is it possible your memory is deceiving you about how thick your hair used to be? People who have long, thick hair tend to have a lot of fallout, and it makes them worry they are losing it when it is quite normal.

[Smiley]

I suppose that could be right, and it has always been coming out quite a bit. But my nails are also very soft and peely in kind of layers. I had a feeling it might be some kind of vitamin deficiency, because I'm vegetarian. But I take vitamin C, iron and B12. I also drink plenty of milk and water.