Hair Loss... and it’s not coming back

[CarbFree]

This video is helpful!

[kaclp]

You could try evening primrose oil. I’m taking it to help with hormonal balance (hair loss, acne, boob tenderness). It’s only been a week, but my hair has been really full and I swear it’s growing back already…

Congrats on your weightloss!

[Shortstuff]

evening primrose oil

Try starflower (borage) oil instead. It’s like evening primrose on steroids, has the same benefits but much, much more effective.

[kaclp]

interesting!

[Meerkatsandy]

I lost A LOT of hair after the first 6 months of keto, but it’s finally growing back, about a year later. It will take about a year or so for you to notice any change in volume Don’t forget about protein, hair and nails are the last on our body’s “build it” list - if you don’t take in enough protein, no collagen, MSM and/or other supplements will help. It will grow back, you just have to be patient, it takes a while for our bodies to figure out we’re not out to kill ‘em.

[JJohnson]

What do you do with starflower oil? Where do you find it? I’ve never heard of it.

[gingersmommy]

Anything other suggestions to get my hair back?

I wish I had some.

I am 61 and have lost 60 lbs. I started to lose my hair about six months before starting keto (total about 1.5 years now). I would say I’ve lost at least half of my former hair volume. Been waiting for it to come back but it hasn’t - yet (I hope!). I have low thyroid and am taking levothyroxine. My hairdresser thought it was from an iron deficiency, so I now take an iron pill, vitamin C and a multivitamin. I am hopeful, but if I keep losing hair, I am going to be in sad shape soon. As it is, I have to style my hair in such a way as to make it look like I have more volume than I do. Very concerning, but I am eternally optimistic - until I can’t be anymore. Fingers crossed.

Good luck to you.

[gingersmommy]

I fixed my issue by following Mr. Clean’s lead and shaving my head.

Harder to do when you’re a woman.

[gingersmommy]

You could try evening primrose oil.

Is that a pill or a topical?

[atomicspacebunny]

Probably not enough Vitamin C (chili peppers have the natural C not pills/the fake stuff) in the diet to bind the keratin with the collagen?

[Anna-no-banana]

I started to loose my hair a lot in my early 30’s and spent all my 30’s and 40’s with a short bob haircut, and if my hair would get just a bit longer than that, not even touching my shoulders yet, I’d have to trim it right away because it would start falling our really bad.

Now in my early 50’s I have really long hair several inches past my shoulders, it’s fuller and healthy and when I leave the shower there are just a few hairs in the drain catcher, not a whole ball of hair like I used to find.

For me it was the mineral silica or silicon supplements that seemed to help the most. I’ve tried collagen, biotin and many others that are supposed to help, but didn’t see much results. I’d imagine I’m just low on these minerals and have to supplement with them. Now I’m taking this stuff called BioSil which is great.

[anon24390425]

I’m sorry, I just saw the thread title and posted without reading.

My wife has started using prenatal vitamins and I believe a biotin supplement in addition to some sort of spiky hair thingy she keeps in the shower.

I don’t know what it is, all I know is that it feels good when I use it on my head.

[kaclp]

Pill form. I’m using bulk supplements brand.

[Wahinewanders]

I used to drink a lot of bone broth but then I got sick of making it and kind of sick of drinking it. As soon as I stopped, my nails, which had always been strong and healthy became brittle and my hair started falling out. So I began throwing a tablespoon of grass fed gelatin (Great Lakes brand) in my morning coffee and giving it a whir with a stick blender. My skin rehydrated, my nails strengthened and my hair stopped falling out. I even have new baby hairs sprouting throughout my scalp. Using gelatin over collagen drink mixes means I don’t have to buy another product for a specific purpose, as I use gelatin in a variety of cooking and baking recipes as well.

[Atlanta_Girl]

I have used Vital Proteins & Swanson Vitamins house brand for years - no breakouts (but I am not sensitive to breakouts).

I definitely noticed an improvement in my nails first (never had to file my nails down in my life), skin (people compliment my face asking what I am doing differently) and my hair is growing a lot faster… I cannot say it is thicker… I also do biotin & a castor oil mask once a week on areas that are thinner.

[collaroygal]

So I began throwing a tablespoon of grass fed gelatin (Great Lakes brand) in my morning coffee and giving it a whir with a stick blender. My skin rehydrated, my nails strengthened and my hair stopped falling out.

I might have to try putting beef gelatin in my coffee. Good idea, thanks.

[Shortstuff]

Just take a gel cap every day, I get mine on amazon as 1000mg and take one daily.

[VirginiaEdie]

I posted this on another thread about hair loss over a year ago. It was my theory as to why I was losing hair.

https://www.ketogenicforums.com/t/hair-loss/5829/53?u=virginiaedie

This past summer, when I did my first attempt at carnivore, I went through another period of hair loss. When I changed to carnivore, I just couldn’t eat that much and so I think I, once again, had a calorie/nutrient deficit.

I’m eating more now that I’m adjusted and the hair loss stopped. It is also starting to fill back in since I have a lot of little stubby hairs sticking out all over the place.

I would take an honest look at how nutritious your food intake is.

[Ruina]

throwing a tablespoon of grass fed gelatin (Great Lakes brand) in my morning coffee and giving it a whir with a stick blender

I inherited a 10g pack of gelatin from a friend who moved. So I thru it in my coffee slurry this morning. I’m going to have to track down some more to test it long enough to see if it helps. Almost two years on keto, I feel like my nails are finally getting stronger, but if gelatin in my coffee could make stronger and my hair thicker, I’m all for that! And probably easier to find and more affordable than collagen supplements. Thanks for the idea!

[Elian]

I lost 50 pounds over 6 months and since then have been maintaining for over a year now. I read all about hair loss and have been waiting “patiently” for the regrowth that I have heard so much about. I seem to have lost my hair and it has not bounced back. I currently take a prenatal vitamin daily (not pregnant) and 5,000 mg of Biotin. Anything other suggestions to get my hair back?

If you have the means to, I strongly recommend you get your levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) hormone in your blood tested. It is not uncommon for weight loss (or gain for that matter) to trigger hormonal imbalances, particularly in women. If this is indeed the case, no amount of topical treatments will ever help you.

I’ll spare you most of the medical talk, but when you have high levels of DHT it attaches to your hair follicles, depleting them of oxygen and nutrients, basically asphyxiating them from within, which in time results in hair thinning and eventually hair loss. It’s true DHT is an androgen (male) hormone, but it doesn’t mean women are spared. Your glands can secrete it excessively in times of stress, imbalances and/or illness.

Conventional medicine has approved effective treatment (like Finasteride) for high DHT and hair loss, but it comes with serious side effects. Natural, safer inhibitors for the 5α-Reductase enzyme which facilitates DHT synthesis are: Zinc, Saw Palmetto and Pygeum. Also, I’ve seen high rates of success by maintaining optimal levels of Magnesium and Silica through bio-available supplements in addition to what I just mentioned.

I’d say you get some blood-work done. You really got nothing to lose. Other than your hair that is.