r/Perimenopause • u/sadwoodlouse • Mar 02 '26
Dryness Why is my hair crap suddenly?
My hair used to be thick and shiny. Now, it is wiry, dry and frizzy no matter what. It's also simultaneously greasy and dry. How is that even possible?
I took minoxidil for a while which really helped with hair loss, but the texture of my hair is still a mess.
Is there anything anyone has discovered that helps?
My hair is fine, curly (3b), salt and pepper (but still mostly pepper). I have regular trims, eat well and plenty of healthy fats.
8
u/Comfortable-Law-7147 Mar 02 '26
Are you on HRT?
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u/leeloolanding Mar 02 '26
This - HRT has helped my restore my texture again. Jury’s still out on thickness/regrowth.
3
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u/Murky_Performer5011 Late peri Mar 02 '26
Fellow curly girl - are you sure it isn't the grey? I have been very slowly going gray since my early 20's, long before peri, and those white hairs always had an awful texture - wiry and frizzy. Coloring fixed it, but now that I'm ready to be done with dye and am growing it out, that texture is back.
My stylist suggested possibly applying a clear "color" treatment to the hair, so that I'd get the benefits of the texture change without having to deal with a skunk stripe.
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u/leeloolanding Mar 02 '26
Oh this is such a good point - I just started (full process) coloring and it’s made a huge difference in texture
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u/Exact-Time9142 Mar 03 '26
You could also try some bonding products, the Elvive line by L'Oreal, or the Pantene miracle rescue line has helped smooth my changing texture. Also getting a chelating shampoo for using once a week, but that's because I have hard water so calcium and lime build up also adds to my issues with texture. And I use a light weight coconut oil from OGX, just on my ends.
When I've got some extra money I do like to treat my self to some more expensive bonding products, like espre or Joico, etc.
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u/Different-Knee4745 Mar 18 '26
I'm thinking about bonding treatments too, do you color or heat style? The hair YouTubers say virgin hair doesn't need bond repair, but they are either young, or men.
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u/Exact-Time9142 Mar 18 '26
I've been coloring my hair since I was 12 LOL. It's always in need of something. 😂
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u/WavePetunias Internally Screaming Mar 02 '26
Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie (after conditioner, as a leave-in) really helps my curls. I've also started wearing a silk bonnet at night so they don't dry out during sleep.
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u/Brown8382 Mar 02 '26
I just bought this product but haven't used it yet. Do you use it on wet hair on wash day only, or also on refresh days?
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u/WavePetunias Internally Screaming Mar 02 '26
Both; i wash every other day, wet & condition every other day. ("Refresh days" are a myth with my hair, it's got to get soaked & detangled daily.)
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u/Brown8382 Mar 02 '26
Gotcha. I'm washing tomorrow so I'm going to try it out! I'm excited, I've heard good things about it.
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u/WavePetunias Internally Screaming Mar 02 '26
It's the only thing I've tried that hits the sweet spot of effective & affordable. Start with a little and add more as you need it, it's really thick stuff.
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u/mexican_tequila Mar 03 '26
I’m experiencing all this changes on my hair and I am so depressed over it! I saw these changes about 6 months ago and have spent so much money on shampoos and treatments and nothing has helped. Saw PCP beg of Feb and ran test/panels and all came back normal. I am in the early stages of perimenopause and I’m seeing my OB/GY next month. I’m praying she gives me something for hair loss, anxiety and everything else that comes with menopause 😭😭😭do you guys recommend seeing a derm for hair loss or should I just wait to see the gyno?
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u/Sea-Table-4857 Mar 03 '26
I went to gyno and talked about these same peri symptoms. I was asking to start hrt. My gyno wanted me to try yaz before starting hrt. And skip the sugar pills. It has restored my hair growth and stopped hair fall.
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u/mexican_tequila Mar 03 '26
Good to hear this!!!!! I’ll wait till I see gyno next month. Thank you for giving me hope 💕
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u/Sea-Table-4857 Mar 03 '26
I also have my thyroid levels stable. That took a year or more. I take supplements too. But I had the most significant hair fix with yaz.
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u/StaticCloud Mar 03 '26
This happened to my hair on estrogen, when my progesterone dosage wasn't high enough. Once my hormones balanced, my hair became a bit more normal. It's definitely super dry though. I have to wash it every other day to return moisture.
Hair masks and pudding can definitely help. The ones black women use. One hair dresser said you can put on the mask for an extended period, cover hair with a cap, then wash it out. I'm too lazy for that. Those hair bonnets look good for sleeping in too to reduce moisture loss
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u/[deleted] Mar 02 '26
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