Does Menopause Cause Hair Loss?

The hair follicle, a complex mini-organ with its own blood supply, requires a great deal of metabolic energy to reproduce itself, and it’s one of the most sensitive among all of the organs. That means it is easily affected by even subtle shifts in energy, which can lead to hair loss.

The long-standing belief is that the hormonal imbalances that occur during menopause — when the body produces less estrogen and progesterone — trigger the production of androgens (male hormones), leading to hair loss. This is caused by an increased sensitivity to testosterone, the androgen, which turns into or DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Over time, the DHT causes the hair to miniaturize, until the hair is barely visible. This is known as post-menopausal hair loss.

Before a woman has her last period, she may be “estrogen dominant,” meaning she has too much estrogen relative to her body’s progesterone production. This happens when the estrogen begins to overstimulate the body and the brain. “Estrogen dominance” may occur for 10-15 years, beginning as early as the age of 35, until menopause officially begins. All of these symptoms are exacerbated by stress of many kinds.

Progesterone Therapy for Hair Loss

Plenty of medical professionals use progesterone therapy for hair loss in menopausal women as a “go-to” treatment. Since progesterone is a precursor to testosterone, it can help inhibit DHT (that tricky little devil that causes the follicles to shrink) and stop more loss from occurring. Of course, progesterone isn’t the only cause of the loss, and there are other things that might be triggering the loss. We will look at those next.

Is Menopausal Hair Loss Permanent?

We’re constantly researching ways to re-trigger those dormant follicles as they relate to menopausal and post-menopausal hair loss. In most cases, the hair loss is not permanent. We recommend a comprehensive, holistic approach that includes: lifestyle, diet and scalp health.

How to Stop Menopausal Hair Loss?

There are many things you can do right now to help improve your hair health and quality.

#1: Reduce Stress

To help with the mood swings and anxiety, be proactive about relaxation. Make it a part of your day; learn breathing and meditation methods to help you. The more stress you have, the higher the cortisol levels in your body. That means the estrogen and progesterone will stop interacting with your cells as they should, leading to oxidative stress, thinning and hair loss.

#2: Manage Your Weight

Extra weight means more stress on the body, leading to further imbalance. Incorporating some exercise into your daily routine will leave you feeling stronger and happier, and more in control of your life. Managing your weight helps prevent some of the other symptoms of menopause. All of these factors are important for maintaining hormonal balance, which promotes healthy hair growth.

#3: Estrogenic-Inducing Foods

Certain foods contain higher levels of phytoestrogens (naturally-occurring plant compounds that are structurally and/or functionally similar to mammalian estrogens and their active metabolites). Foods such as soy, peas, cranberries, prunes, apricots, sage, oregano, flaxseed and sesame seeds are high in phytoestrogens. This doesn’t mean you should never eat them, but keep them to a minimum.

#4: Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin B plays a key role in the metabolism of estrogen in the liver. If estrogen isn’t metabolizing properly, a buildup of it can occur, leading to lower levels of progesterone, thus an imbalance. Foods that have Vitamin B include tuna, salmon, beef liver, ground beef/high-quality muscle meat and cottage cheese. Vitamin C and Zinc are known to be helpful in regulating the production of progesterone.

#5: Glucose Control

Insulin resistance has been linked to low progesterone absorption, so it’s important to keep those glucose levels under control. Watch those refined carbohydrates, and instead choose lower glycemic-index foods. You might want to get help from an endocrinologist or a registered dietitian.

#6: Gut Health

Research shows the gut microbiome not only supports the production of nutrients needed for hair growth, but it also supports all of the hormones that control the transition between the anagen (growth), catagen (maturity), and telogen (resting) hair phases required for healthy hair growth. We recommend a high-quality prebiotic and probiotic to keep your gut in good health.

#7: Drink Water

Our bodies must be hydrated to function properly. Load up on water, and pass on the juices, sodas, and flavored drinks that contain sugar and chemicals that are harmful to your body. While the amount of water needed varies from person to person, shoot for eight, 8-ounce glasses of water a day.

#8: Scalp Health

A healthy scalp is critical to healthy hair. When there are chronic inflammation and hormonal imbalances, our vessels and soft tissue begin calcifying and become fibrotic. Some people express calcification and fibrosis through hair-thinning scalp calcification. This simply makes it more difficult for the follicle to break through and survive, due to hypoxia, poor blood flow, and nutrient loss.

#9: Microneedling

Microneedling, which uses nano-needles to create shallow perforations on the skin to create a controlled injury, is the best scientifically validated method to help with calcification. Improvement from micro needling occurs because of the body’s natural healing response to minor, superficial trauma. It is non-invasive, requires no medications, surgery or painful injections.

 What Is Rice Water Hair Rinse?

A rice-water rinse is the process of coating and then rinsing one’s hair with the water kept from boiling or soaking rice. The amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants present in the grain have fantastic benefits for hair and have traditionally been used for hundreds of years as a strengthening treatment.

Rice-water rinses are said to have originated in Heian, Japan (794 to 1185 CE). Women had floor-length hair that they regularly bathed in rice water to maintain. This practice isn’t just limited to Japan; women of the Yao tribe in current-day China cut their hair once in their life, maintaining their sometimes-floor-length locks by bathing them in rice water. There’s a reason why this traditional rinse is still in use today; it works.

Rice Water Hair Rinse Benefits

There are many, MANY benefits to doing a rice water rinse. Hair feeling limp and lifeless? Rinse. Hair lacking shine? Rinse. Having trouble growing your hair out? Rinse.

A rice water rinse can:

• Strengthen hair;
• Increase shine;
• Improve hair elasticity;
• Reduce hair breakage;
• Detangle hair;
• Improve curl structure;
• Help hair growth.

My Rice Water Hair Rinse Recipe

There are three ways you can make a rice-water rinse: via fermentation, soaking or boiling. Note that fermentation is the traditional method; I prefer the boiling method so I can line this rinse up with my dinner. The below recipe works for short-to-medium-length hair. Double the ingredients for longer hair.

1. Rinse ½ cup (97g) rice in a strainer. Add to a pot with 2-3 cups (472-717g) of water.



2. Bring pot to a boil on medium-high heat. Once boiling, turn down to low. Cover and simmer until fully cooked, about 10-15 min. Make sure to keep an eye on the pot so that the water doesn’t cook off completely.



3. Use a fine mesh strainer to strain water into a bowl or jar. Set in the fridge until cool. Use immediately or store it covered in the fridge for up to 1 week. (Save the rice for dinner.)

How to Use Rice Water Hair Rinse?

There are multiple ways you can use rice water. I tend to like doing a straight rinse as my hair is usually on the verge of being over moisturized (more on that later). Here are two ways to use your treatment:

Read Also: How Often to Rice-Water Hair Rinse?

#1: Straight Rinse

Doing a straight rinse involves putting the rice water directly onto your hair and nothing else.

1. Shampoo hair as normal.
2. Apply rice water to soaking wet hair by scooping it onto your hair, dipping your head in a bowl, or dumping it onto your hair.
3. Rake rice water from roots to tip and make sure that strands are fully coated. Leave on for 5 minutes.
4. Once the 5 minutes are up, rinse completely. Condition and style as usual.

#2: Deep Conditioner Rinse

Many people like to get two treatments in at once and mix their rice water in with another treatment.

1. In a small bowl, scoop in one portion of deep conditioner. Use the amount that you’d typically use when deep conditioning your hair.
2. A spoonful at a time, add in your rice water. Make sure the mix doesn’t get too runny. For me, this is about 3 spoonfuls. Mix thoroughly.
3. Shampoo hair as normal.
4. Apply deep conditioner mix on your length; skip the roots, if using this method. Rake through your hair to ensure it is fully coated. Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
5. Once the time is up, rinse completely. Condition and style as usual.

My Results

After doing a rice water rinse my hair IMMEDIATELY springs up. There is such a difference in how the curls behave; my style lasts for days after a treatment.

Here are my results after one of my first rice water rinses. These photos were taken mere days apart. You can really see just how much body I’ve gained in the after.

Here are my results after a recent treatment. Note the differences in my curl pattern, particularly near the ends of my hair!

 Once a week would be the shortest amount of time in between rinses that I would recommend, but it’s important to recognize when your hair needs it. To understand how often you can do a rice water rinse, you have to understand the concept of protein-moisture balance.

Hair products and DIY treatments can contain ingredients that are moisturizing and/or contain protein. A rice-water rinse falls into the protein category. If you use too much of either category, your hair can become off-balance. Too much moisture can lead to limp and lifeless hair, whereas too much protein can lead to hair that feels dry, straw-like and frizzy.

So, how do you know when your hair needs what? To give a personal example, I have curly hair and have a TON of different styling products in my arsenal. If I use too many moisturizing products in a row, I find my hair becomes limp and lifeless, which means it’s in need of a protein treatment.

I also have a lot of high protein stylers that I love using. If I do a rice-water rinse after consistently using my favorite high-protein gel, my hair may start to feel a bit dry and stiff. In this case, I would hold off on doing a rinse and deep condition instead.

By paying attention to how your hair feels and what products you are using on a regular basis, you can gauge when it’s time for another treatment! For me, every 3 to 4 weeks seems to be my sweet spot.

Rice Water Hair Rinse Alternatives

Don’t want to go through the trouble of making rice water, or don’t have rice on hand? There are plenty of other protein treatments that work just as well with similar benefits.

• Add high protein products into your rotation: While this method won’t necessarily give you the immediate results that a rice-water rinse does, it’s a great way to keep your hair balanced and strong! Take a look at the back of your hair products and look for the words protein, keratin, amino acids, wheat, rice, soy, silk, quinoa, oats, or peptides. If you see these words near the top of an ingredients list, that’s a high-protein product.
• A gelatin treatment: Similar to a protein treatment, a gelatin treatment involves coating the hair with a gelatin mixture, leaving on for a few minutes, and then rinsing.
• Using a premade protein mask: My absolute favorite is The Mender by Botanika Beauty. Other recommendations are Aphogee Two Minute Treatment and Shea Moisture Protein Power Treatment.

A rice-water rinse is an awesome way to give your hair a boost. It’s cheap, easy, and you probably already have everything you need in your pantry.

#1: Honey, Banana, and Olive Oil

This mask is my personal favorite to do and always leaves my hair feeling super soft, shiny, and moisturized. It takes only 3 ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 3 tbsp of honey
• 3 tbsp of olive oil

To get started, cut the banana into slices so that they’re easier to blend. I recommend blending, instead of mashing with a fork, so you don’t have to worry about small clumps getting stuck in your hair. After slicing the banana, add the honey and olive oil and blend until smooth. I like to apply the mask to damp hair because I feel my hair absorbs the ingredients better that way. After applying the mask generously all over your hair, let it sit for 30 mins before washing out with your favorite shampoo. Proceed with your regular hairstyling routine as normal.

#2: Honey and Castor Oil

This is another great mask for hair growth. Castor oil is one of the best oils you can use to stimulate hair growth. It contains fatty acids and vitamins that make hair strands strong, and it also acts as an antifungal to help fight off scalp infections. This honey hair mask recipe includes:

• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp castor oil

Add both ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together with a fork until the ingredients are blended well together. Section your hair into four sections to make it easier to apply the mask. With a spray bottle, spray your hair until it’s damp to help the mask penetrate the hair better.

Generously apply the mask to each section of hair until your entire head is covered. Place a plastic shower cap on your head to hold in heat and leave on your hair for 30 mins. Shampoo the mask out and proceed with your regular styling routine.

#3: Honey, Aloe Vera, and Yogurt

Aloe vera is great for hair as it contains antifungal, anti-inflammatory properties and vitamins B2, B6 and folic acid that help maintain scalp health and contribute to hair growth. Yogurt is great for adding protein and also contains lactic acid that helps cleanse the scalp and remove dead skin cells. Use these ingredients:

• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp aloe vera gel
• 2 tbsp plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp olive oil

To mix this mask, combine the honey, plain yogurt and olive oil into a bowl. For the aloe vera gel, I like to use the plant because I feel it gives the best results and is the most natural. To remove the gel from the leaf, slice the leaf down the middle and add the gel from the inside of the plant into the bowl with the other ingredients. Mix well with a fork until all the ingredients are mixed well together and are smooth in texture. To apply, section your hair into four sections and dampen each section with a spray bottle to help the mask penetrate the hair better. Add a generous amount to each section and leave the mask in for 30 mins. Wash out with your favorite shampoo and proceed with your regular styling routine.

#4: Honey, Avocado, and Mayonnaise

Avocado is a great source of biotin, which contributes to hair growth. Mayonnaise acts as a great protein treatment because of the eggs and also leaves hair strong and shiny. Combining these ingredients is another way to make your hair look and feel healthier. You’ll need:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 of an avocado
• 2 tbsp honey

In a blender, combine the mayonnaise, avocado, and honey until all the ingredients are blended smoothly together. Section off hair into four sections and dampen with water. Apply the mask generously to each section of your hair and make sure to cover each strand from root to tip.

tip. This way your hair will be able to get the full benefits from the mask. Allow the mask to sit for 30 mins before washing out with your favorite shampoo. Style as desired and look at that shine.

#5: Honey and Your Favorite Deep Conditioner

If you want to keep it simple, adding honey to your favorite deep conditioner is a great and easy way to add extra “oomph” to your deep-conditioning routine. This mask takes only 2 simple ingredients:

• 2 tbsp honey
• A handful of your favorite deep conditioner (mine is Stellar Strands by Kinky Curly)

To get started, just combine a handful of conditioner and the honey to a bowl. I say a handful because let’s face it, there’s no such thing as too much conditioner when it comes to curly hair. After mixing the two ingredients together until smooth in texture, add the deep conditioner to your hair from root to tip until all of your hair is covered. Use a plastic cap to help keep heat in and allow the conditioning treatment to do its job. Leave the conditioning treatment on for 15-20 mins and rinse out. Proceed with your normal styling routine and you’re all set.

#6: Honey and Egg

Eggs aren’t only great to eat, but they’re a great source of protein for your hair also. If you have heat-damaged or color-treated hair, adding protein to your hair-care regime will help nurse your hair back to health. The ingredients for this honey hair mask recipe are:

• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp honey

In a bowl, add the eggs and whisk until blended. After the eggs are whisked, add the honey and stir again until well blended. Section off your hair into four sections and apply the mask to damp hair until all of your hair is generously covered in the mask. Put on a plastic shower cap and let the mask sit for 20-25 mins. Wash the mask out in the shower and proceed with your regular styling routine.

#7: Honey and Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is amazing for your hair. Not only does coconut oil deeply nourish hair from within, but it also reduces protein loss and protects against UV damage. When combined with honey, it’s almost impossible not to love. Simply combine:

• 1⁄4 cup honey
• 1⁄4 cup coconut oil

If your coconut oil isn’t already melted, place it in the microwave for about 10 seconds or until it’s fully melted and not too hot. After your coconut oil is melted, add the honey and mix well until the two ingredients are well blended. Apply the mask generously to your hair from root to tip until all of your hair is covered. Put on a plastic shower cap and let the mask sit for 15-20 mins to allow it to fully penetrate the hair. After the mask has done its thing, shampoo out and proceed with your regular styling routine.

 What Is a Hair Mineral Analysis Test?

The Hair Mineral Analysis Test is a reliable way to look into the levels of minerals and heavy metals in the body. Our hair is an excretory tissue, and it offers a stable picture, unlike blood and other fluids. Blood and other body fluids do not give accurate results because they are in constant movement, therefore cannot be utilized to offer a true clinical picture.

Minerals play an important role in our health, and their concentration and balance in ratio with each other impact our overall wellbeing. Often, in clinical practice, I observe mineral imbalances in 99% of my clients.

As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, the ratio is of crucial importance to one’s health, because all elements compete for absorption, and a high presence of an element, for example, copper will drastically reduce the absorption of zinc. Often, I observe copper toxicity and low zinc levels, which are present, especially in people with low immunity, unstable moods and digestive issues.

Unfortunately, heavy metals are part of our daily lives, and they play a big role in worsening our health. Heavy metals are considered one of the root causes of diseases, and to address it, as a first step, you need to find out their levels in the body. To do this you need to perform the Hair Mineral Analysis Test. Furthermore, you can work with a professional, like me, to address heavy metal toxicity.

The Hair Mineral Analysis Test gives you insight into the cause of various health symptoms, deficiencies, and diseases. That’s why it is a great tool to better health. The most common causes of poor health often result from nutritional deficiencies, imbalanced biochemistry, and heavy metal toxicity.

Three Reasons to Do a Hair Mineral Analysis Test

The reasons to get a hair mineral analysis test may vary from person to person, but here are some basic advantages I’d like to highlight:

1. A Hair Mineral Analysis Test is able to provide insight into mineral deficiencies or excess and heavy metal toxicity.
2. It is a low-cost, non-invasive reliable tool that your health practitioner can use to improve the outcome of your treatment plan or simply optimize your health to improve performance and prevent many diseases.
3. The Hair Mineral Analysis Test can also be very helpful in monitoring the performance of a detox or a health program.

Eight Symptoms to Get the Minerals in Your Hair Analyzed

If you experience any of the below symptoms, you would definitely benefit from doing the Hair Mineral Analysis Test.

• Thin hair and hair loss.
• Brain fog and forgetfulness.
• Frequent headaches and/or migraines.
• Quick metabolism and intolerance to cold.
• All thyroid disorders and metabolic diseases.
• Chronic tiredness and difficulty waking up in the morning.
• Pain in the body especially joints and muscle pain e.g., fibromyalgia.
• Digestive disorders (acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, parasites, etc.).

All of the above symptoms and conditions occur as a result of a mineral imbalance and accumulation of toxic elements in the lymphatic system. Another reason is if you are on any medication that may badly affect your micro- and macro-elements absorption, utilization and excretion.

Even if you do not experience any of the symptoms or diseases mentioned above, you would still benefit from knowing the levels and ratios of the minerals and heavy metals present in your body. This information will help to prevent many health conditions and optimize your performance.

Seven Benefits of a Hair Mineral Analysis Test

In order for you to optimize your physical and cognitive abilities and/or reverse a health condition, I advise you to get the Hair Mineral Analysis Test. This screening tool is very affordable and non-invasive, but provides very useful information for the health practitioner and yourself. Below are the benefits you may experience after you get the Hair Mineral Analysis Test and address imbalances:

• Increased energy.
• Higher resistance to stress.
• Improved cognitive function.
• Improved emotional stability.
• Increased fertility in both men and women.
• Better performance of the digestive system.
• Better overall health and prevention of many health conditions.

How to Get a Hair Mineral Analysis Test?

Performing the Hair Mineral Analysis is a great way to start on your health journey. This analysis can be done from any part of the world. In my clinical practice, I use well-trusted laboratories from the USA and UK.

The test can be done from the comfort of your own home and only a very little amount (a tablespoon) of your hair is required. The full instructions for the Hair Mineral Analysis Test will be sent when you will place the order.

 Aging, as we know it, is certainly a beautiful thing in its own right, however, it can also be unbelievably frustrating. You find your perfect remedy to one ailment, only to be struck a week later by the next in what seems like a never-ending saga of bodily changes. So what is it about getting older and your hair changing so much, – we’re talking thinning, color change, coarseness, and curl – and what on earth are we supposed to do about it?

The good news is, it may be somewhat reversible. By that, I mean your hair may be negatively reacting to one or more factors in your life that can be easily changed. And while it may still be genetic, there are a number of things you might be able to do to repair your otherwise unruly hair to get it back to its former glory.

Fluctuating Hormones

Let’s be real, there are a lot of reasons your hormones may be doing the shuffle. It could be birth control, menstruation, pregnancy, or simply age (hello menopause)! All of these could cause any number of changes to your hair. A significant loss of estrogen causes hair follicles to shrink, which can lead to a reduction in the thickness of the hair. Additionally, during menopause, estrogen levels tend to drop and are replaced by androgen. This rise often results in a finer texture, and can also send varying signals to your hair follicles, physically changing their shape and creating a curl where your hair used to be straight, or vice-versa.

One way to combat this is to introduce naturally estrogen-saturated foods into your diets, such as nuts, seeds, plant-based proteins like tofu and soybeans, berries, and red wine. While post-partum hair loss may seem extreme, it is temporary and simply due to your body getting back on track. Of course, if you think this is due to a change in birth control, talk to your doctor about what your other options may be.

Environmental Hazards

Have you ever noticed that your hair seems to have a mind of its own on a humid day? That’s because water molecules are like tiny magnets that are pulling on your hair creating a lot more hydrogen bonds than would happen in a dryer climate. This causes it to react in different ways, i.e. become wavy or curly. Hard water can also wreak havoc on your locks, as it may be contaminated with chlorine, calcium, magnesium, or other harsh chemicals. This can cause your hair to seem dry and dull.

A simple way to correct both of these is to use a hydrating shampoo. These shampoos and conditioners are not only hydrating, bringing life back to your hair, but can also be incredibly restorative. They can work to repair breakage and split ends and strengthen hair against future damage.

Loss of Collagen and Protein

While collagen is most known for its ability to keep wrinkles and cellulite at bay, it is also a key player in the heath of your hair. As we age our bodies naturally begin to produce less collagen. Surprisingly this change typically begins around age 25, but as we now know, the hair follicle plays a huge role in the texture of our hair. So, as our skin loses elasticity and the follicle becomes weaker, it’s not so surprising that hair is the next thing affected. Collagen acts as an antioxidant, which your body uses to fight free radicals, or the buildup from environmental pollutants on the scalp, then causing damage and thinning to the hair itself. It also may lead to premature graying.

Along with this, too much or a lack of protein in your diet may be the culprit. Protein functions to support fine or medium hair, giving it strength and silkiness. However, if you have thick, curly hair, too much protein can actually do the exact opposite resulting in rough, brittle, or dry strands.

There are a few ways to introduce more collagen into your routine, including shampoos, Collagen infused vita-gummies, and powders you can mix into food such as smoothies, coffee, and homemade energy bites like these raspberry chocolate ones. As far as protein, the suggested amount of daily intake is about 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. However, you know your body best, so don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you.

Routine, Routine, Routine

We all know that too much stress for too long can catapult us into premature aging resulting in hair loss, hair thinning, and hair turning gray. What you may not realize is the hair re-growth cycle lasts anywhere from four to seven years, meaning every four to seven years each strand of hair is completely replaced by a new one. This new mane is likely to have its own set of properties that may or may not look and feel like the old one.

We are constantly bombarding our hair with heat tools, styling products, over-brushing, and over-cutting. Heat and color can damage the hair, while overuse of products can clog pores and cause damage to the follicles themselves. While your body is taking care of the hair by re-growing it, you can try the New Dawn scalp cleanser from Better Not Younger to give it that extra boost. Note this can also help with those free radicals we mentioned earlier.

There are an alarming amount of seemingly minuscule factors that can cause the texture of your hair to change. Although certain changes are inevitable, like thinning and graying, there are certainly ways to slow these processes down, and even reverse some premature effects. The top things I recommend paying close attention to our protein intake, if you’re coloring or heat treating your hair often and the types of products you’re putting on your hair. If none of these seem to be the culprit try combatting texture changes with specially formulated products, diet, and supplements, as they can make an incredible difference. And of course, don’t forget to drink water.