As women age, after childbirth and especially around the menopause, their bodies go through many subtle changes. Thinning hair is often one of them, as one iVillager found out. After posting about it, fellow iVillagers' offered support and advice on how to deal with the problem.

Member problem
I'm 51 and for the past few months my hair has gone really thin, so much so, that my scalp is showing through on the top. I've not needed to have it trimmed for a few months because of this. I was also diagnosed with depression a couple of months ago, could there be a connection here?

Why it is happening?
Try not to worry too much about it, as some hair loss can be stress related and is not permanent. Some of the most common reasons for hair loss are hormone imbalances, caused by thyroid problems, the side effects of medicines, diet and stress. Have a word with your doctor to try to identify and eliminate possible causes.
sweet_hope

As women age, hair often becomes fine and the hair follicles start to lose the ability to maintain the colour hence the grey comes through. The hair shaft also pares down which is why hair often appears to be thinning.
nigelsmum

What can you do?
Eat healthily and take a good multi-vitamin supplement. Head massages can stimulate blood to the hair roots and help hair growth. Use hair products designed to add volume, and go for blunt haircuts, which make your hair appear thicker. Also remember that we all lose between 50-100 strands of hair each day!
cl-makeupartist2003

Try to look after your hair by eating a good diet, use a gentle shampoo and invest in a good quality brush that will not tear hair that may be fragile at the moment. Use a wide-tooth comb and never brush your hair when it is wet.
sweet_hope

If the hair around your parting is starting to look thinner, try changing it to make your hair look thicker and giving yourself a whole new look. I changed from middle to a side parting and I feel much less conscious about thinning hair now. Also, I had long layers cut into my hair to give some volume as I had lost a lot of my volume and bounce. As for strengthening your hair, try a coconut oil treatment in your hair a once a week (it is available in most health shops, or Indian food stores). Coconut oil helps to moisturise and strengthen the strands, and the following day your hair will look really shiny and you'll feel much better. Taking sea kelp supplements also helps - these are also available in health shops.
iamafreak

Why not swop and share advice with fellow iVillagers on the Hair Care message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions taking place right now on the board: