Making Thin Hair Look Good

Like sagging skin and wrinkles, thinning hair appears to be a reality with aging. Thus, I paid particular attention when Vibrant Nation and it cadre of experts tackled this age-old dilemma. Here's what they recommend:

1. Identify the best hair loss treatment for you by determining the cause s of the loss with your internist, endocrinologist or dermatologist. You'll need to consider genetics, hormones, thyroid dysfunction, iron or protein deficiency, disease, stress, fad diets or medications or a combination of these factors.

2. Learn where you are losing your hair. There is a difference between a lot of space between hairs vs. a look of overall thin hair.

3. Learn how to keep your hair fuller and healthier. Rogaine can help women who are just starting to experience thinning hair and is widely available over-the-counter. Stay away from shampoos and hair treatments that claim to accelerate or re-grow your hair. However, some shampoos and hair treatments can prevent breakage and give short-term volume, body and lift by minimizing weighing the hair down.

4. There are things women over 50 can do to stop or minimize hair loss and help jumpstart regrowth: these include Rogaine, Propecia (it inhibits production of the hair follicle killer), spironolactone (prevents shrinkage of the follicles), corticosteroid injected directly onto the scalp, 300-5,000 mcg of biotin vitamin B 7. Keep in mind, however, that not everything works for every woman. Oftentimes the solution is a series of trial by error.

5. Get a great hairstyle for fine or thinned hair, choose the right hair color, and use the right blow dry technique, and styling product.

"Quickly rough dry your hair with your blow-dryer on a high heat setting using your hands and fingers to lift and move the hair." Eliminate most of the water before applying a light non-greasy lotion or mousse styling product. Continue to rough dry and then polish the end with a round or flat brush.

Use a permanent color to thicken hair. Go for color variations (highlights) with the darkest color at the scalp.

6. Check out hair transplants, wigs, hairpieces. and fillers (as opposed to extensions). For a receding hairline, famous specialist in supplemental hair John D'Orazio has developed a great filler that tapes on like a bandaid. If you ever look for a synthetic (vs. human hair) wig, make sure it is not too shiny and can be restyled easily.