Haircut Products I Use For My Over 50 Thinning Hair
My hair has always been baby-fine, poker-straight, and very thin. Add menopause and thyroid issues to the mix, and you have the perfect storm for hair loss. It’s always a struggle to find a hairstylist who knows how to cut my fine hair, so I’m thrilled to have discovered one near me. I’ve learned from experience how tough this all is and how no one ever talks about it. For that reason, I’m sharing how I’ve been updating my haircut and the products I use for my over 50 thinning hair. I hope this post helps you feel less alone if you’re also suffering from thinning hair, and this gives you hope in discovering new products.
I’m updating this post with the current products I’m using in my routine.
Hair Loss in Women
Let me start by saying…midlife hair loss is not unusual for women. In fact, it is way more common than you think. While it’s talked about in men all of the time, it seems to be rarely talked about in women. I’m here to tell you that you are not alone. I know firsthand how it can impact your confidence and cause you to feel embarrassed. Sometimes even to the point of wanting to avoid your hairdresser.
I’ve discovered that the way my hair is cut, the products I use, and how I blow dry it are my best hope to camouflage hair loss and make it look thicker and fuller.
My Over 50 Haircut
As your hair changes and thins, you will likely need to change up your typical haircut and possibly go even shorter. This is why finding a stylist you trust is so important. Having someone knowledgeable about what will look best is crucial.
My old haircut shown in the video is a short, blunt bob with no stacking in the back. It’s the same length in front as it is in the back. Then she cut a blunt layer around the top of my head which allows me to get some lift.
But recently, my hair has gotten so thin that my stylist and I agreed it was time to grow out my layers and go a bit shorter. The result looks dangerously like a bob. I say dangerously because bobs feel so expected on a woman with fine, thin hair, and I’d prefer a more unique style. It’s the best haircut for my current hair, so I’m getting creative with products and experimenting with new ways to style it. Below, you’ll find a picture of my new haircut.
I’ve made a little video you can watch here to help deconstruct my haircut, the products I use, and the process I go through to style it.
I use a round brush, mousse or gel, dry shampoo, and hairspray. I use a lot of products, yet when I’m done, it doesn’t look like helmet hair.
Best Treatment for Thinning Hair in Females
Products to Use for Regrowth
My physician suggested I try 5% Rogaine for men to slow the thinning and encourage regrowth. It’s something that I truly can’t live without. I’ve found the best pricing on Amazon and order 3 bottles every 3 months. If you stop using Rogaine, the new hair will fall out, so I continue to use it daily.
You can see how I apply it to my hair in this blog post.
Vitamins for Thinning Hair
I’ve taken this Nutrafol Balance for several years on the advice of both my stylist and my dermatologist. I figure I have to take a multivitamin anyway, so why not take one formulated to help with hair loss?
Products to Use for Styling Thinning Hair
I’ve dabbled with other shampoos and conditioners but never found one that I preferred in every way until I switched to Olaplex. Every product in their line is paraben, sulfate, phthalate, gluten, and cruelty-free, so I feel as good about using them as they feel on my hair. It’s highly moisturizing and leaves my hair feeling healthier and looking shinier. The No.5 Maintenance conditioner helps hydrate my hair without weighing it down.
Once a week, I spray the No.0 Bond Building on dry hair and let it saturate for 10 minutes.
I am a big fan of this Kevin Murphy Anti-Gravity Oil-free Gel. It adds volume but isn’t greasy, no matter how much I apply.
Any dry shampoo helps make your hair look like it has more volume, but this Perfect Hair Day is my very favorite.
I recently tied this Color Wow On Steroids styling spray, and it’s amazing. It doesn’t have the dry shampoo feel, yet it adds tons of body.
I spotted this hair foam with the same BioPeptin Complex as the brow serum and decided to give it a shot. This is not a budget item, but it makes a big difference in my hair which feels thicker all over. I still use my Rogaine, and then I add a tiny dollop of the foam directly on the spots around my hairline that are receding the most and comb through. I only use it once daily in the front, so 1 bottle lasts me close to 6 months. Reviewers say they’re going through the bottle way too fast to be cost-effective, so I assume they’re using much more than I am.
I love this round brush for helping to add extra body too. I have several sizes based on how long my hair is.
I’ve also discovered that just being gentler with my hair has made a big difference. I now squeeze the water out of my hair with my towel rather than rubbing it vigorously. I comb it with this wide toothcomb before I add any products.
I swear by these velcro rollers. My ultra-fine, thinning hair needs all the help it can get, and a few moments in these rollers while I shower gives it some nice lift.
I use these hot rollers on my freshly washed and dry hair for tons of volume.
I also upgraded my drugstore hairdryer to this Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer last year. It’s got a cult following that I now understand. My hair dries in half the time it used to take just using medium speed and heat which is much gentler on my hair.
More Products to Help with Thinning Hair
While I haven’t used these products before, I have heard good things from others about each of them and wanted to share.
Do you struggle with thinning hair?
What products do you use? I’d love to hear what has worked for you!
My mother and I were looking at some of my childhood pictures when I asked her why my bangs were soooo short. She said she had given me a Tonette perm and burned my hair off! “Tonette, with the younger woman in mind”. If you look on YouTube, there are some cute commercials for Tonette perms! Luckily, my hair grew back but it’s still stick straight and baby fine.
Sorry to say, I’ve had that same disaster. My mom also used to cut my hair and the bangs were always crooked and miles too short. Luckily it grows but some of my pictures are hilarious.
we have very similar hair and by your description exactly the same cut. I have moved quite a bit and the. Last time my stylist offered to be on call for the new stylist. It worked! I would drive to get a good cut but that last move was 4 hours each way and I couldn’t do that!
Four hours would be pushing it for me too, Catherine.
You don’t feel good if your hair doesn’t look good. I moved 12 hours away from my stylist so I had to get my new one trained right. It took me four years but I finally got her cutting my hair exactly like I like it. We live in a small town and I reall did not have many other options.
Your hair looks great and I would definitely drive two hour shift to keep it the way I wanted it.
I wish I’d been able to get through to this local gal, but honestly, she’s just not that talented. Good for you Debbie!
Small rural town in Colorado! I got lucky with a wonderful stylist! My is a sort of Bob also. I have white and silver striped hair, fine, thin but wavy. The waves always put off stylists but Danita has wavy hair and understands how to dry cut my hair. I use EvolVh Ultrashine shampoo and conditioner, every few times a pump of their protein repair treatment, style with Kenra 6 styling cream, one dime amount mixed with gel. All over my wet hair, comb with wide tooth comb and scrunch my waves back all diffuse with my Dyson.
Your waves sound so wonderful. I would love to have a few 🙂 I’ll check out the Kenra 6. What gel do you mix it with?
The blu capelet or shawl in the first photo is a fabulous color, who makes it please? Your hair always looks great in your photos but I hear your pain!
It’s several years old Deanne from a company in England called Catherine Robinson Cashmere. I’m not sure they still make this color but you could google them.
Your new haircut looks great Jennifer! My hair is not really thin but looks like it is thinning which is noticeable on my fine straight hair. I always appreciate your recommendations!
Is the WOW hairspray very scented?
The shine spray has a minimal odor, nothing overpowering but it does have some.
I can relate. I’ve been driving an hour each way for the last few years to get to my old stylist, in very heavy traffic. So I am going to try someone here locally. Yesterday was my last appointment with my stylist, she gave me the formula she uses for my hair color and when I got home I took a few selfies so I can show the new person how my hair looks right after I get it done. My hair is a simple below chin-length bob but I can’t do layering, it just makes my fine hair look thinner. I’m not good at blow-drying. I am probably one of the few people who still uses hot rollers, it gives my very straight hair the body it needs. Hair is so important, if its not right, nothings right.
Good luck Debbie. I hope your new stylist can copy what you have. Non-layered cuts are usually easier for them to get right.
I’m currently experiencing exactly what you’re talking about Jennifer! I think it’s a new trend in haircutting :/
My current cut looks like your first picture and resulted in all of the body being taken out of my hair. My hair is thin only in the front but now my entire head of hair feels thinner than ever after this cut. In the 4th picture down of you, your hair looks beautiful – very full in the back. Is this the front of your old hair or new haircut?
These are my old haircuts before we moved. With fine hair, every hair counts and I wish stylists would be more careful. I’m sorry you’re struggling with this Laurie. It sounds like you need a new stylist.
I love your new haircut on you! It is very flattering and full looking! My hair is fine, thin and wavy which challenges stylists. I wear a sort of Bob also, not quite as short as yours. Too bad we can’t add pictures in comments.
Hi Jennifer. Am I correct that you’re living in the Sacramento-ish area? If so, my aunt has a stylist in Woodland that she’s gone to for years that she swears by and she also has fine, thin hair that’s a little below chin length and always looks good. Let me know if you’d like the stylists contact info and I’ll get it from my aunt
Hi Valorie. I am going to stick with my gal for now but will keep your suggestion in mind and may ask for her name later. Thanks!
My hair is thick (not as thick as it used to be though – thanks menopause!) and curly, but very fine. It has to stay short because the weight of it will make it flat and I have to have some height on top! Thank goodness for hair products! BTW Jennifer – I always think your hair looks great!
Hair products to the rescue, Barbara!
I my self have thin hair from Menopause, and try so many tricks in my bag , but the dry shampoo , I’m giving it a try .
thank you so much!! Marilyn.B
I too had lots of hair, but fine and curly. About 65 it started thinning and the frizz, yuck. We have to spend a fortune trying to get the right formula for our individual needs. The best for me is a combo is Routine shampoo & conditioner with Olaplex #6 finish.
I have a theory that stylists create styles the exact opposite of what they themselves have. Hence Christina, with her gorgeous curls, loves blow drying me sleek and straight. Everytime. Nothing like the pictures I show her. Nothing can be done about it. We’ve been friends since our children were born. -Lily
At least it’s just how she blows it out. You can fix that part at home;)
Well, at least I’m not the only one with stylist frustration!
The latest thing after years of going to the same stylist? She suddenly cut my hair about 1/4″ long at the crown. This led it to stick straight up for several months until it regrew. I have no idea why she did this, because I would have said no. Maybe the cut was taking too long?
Now that is sorted, so she cut my bangs crooked. Always something lately.
Sounds like it’s time for a new stylist!
Yes, Jennifer, I will never forget the smell of the Toni perms my mother gave me in attempts to give my fine hair some body! My hair and haircut is very similar to yours. For me, It’s worth the extra cost and 1+ hour drive out of my small town to go to a Gene Juarez salon where my young haircutter seems to know how to give me a cut that makes me feel good about being 62. You look amazing!!!
Thanks, Penny, I hope to get this shape back after some growing time. So glad you’ve found someone who can style it for you. It’s worth the drive!
Do you have the video you mentioned posted anywhere online? I used to wear a very similar haircut, but since I moved I can no longer find anyone who can replicate it, and unlike you, I was not smart enough to take pictures of a fresh cut. Driving to my former stylist is not an option :(.
I didn’t post the video anywhere, sorry. You could show them the photo of the back of my hair which might be a good visual…although it didn’t help me;(
Love the haircut. I have just the opposite hair. Mine is coarse, thick and straight. But thankful for a good hairdresser who gives me a great cut and recommends products. That all being said my hairdresser recently received her Real Estate License and I am always teasing her about making that big sale and no more cutting hair. She said she doesn’t think she can totally give it up though.
Oh, oh…they make a lot more with a real estate sale than cutting hair. For your sake, I hope she stays cutting at least part-time.
Having been extremely dissatisfied with my colorist near my home and my haircutter “retiring to be a new full-time Mom”….I was faced with a similar challenge. Living 75 miles from NYC I chose to try my daughter’s haircutter and salon and have been thrilled ever since. I make the drive every couple of months and try to stretch out in-between colorings/trims etc. But to me – it is definitely worth the time and effort to get there…even with NY traffic!!
NYC has some of the best stylists ever. You’re so lucky you live in proximity and have found a good one.
It’s fabulous. Typically, I suit long hair. I’m growing out my highlights, which is taking forever so I might shorted it at some point since, otherwise, uniform colour is about 5 years away!
Thanks, I hope I can get it back to some good shape. Several bad haircuts in a row have really messed it up. Growing out always feels torturous.
Oh, Jennifer! I can sure identify with your hair struggles over the years. My mother, a Shirley Temple lover, subjected me to the same awful Toni perms when I was in grade school. Believe me, my perms looked nothing like Shirley Temple’s hair and I still groan when I look at old photos of myself. Fast forward to now: I have been with the same stylist for over 15 years and have tried more hairstyles, colors and products than you can know. Most times I have been pleased, but I can never seem to replicate the way she styles my hair. I do like your current style and wore a similar style myself for several years. Now I wear my hair just about shoulder length with interior layers and a darker base color to boost texture and volume. Dry spray powder, dry shampoos and root boosters have been my best bets.
I’m a huge fan of dry spray too Kathy. I do need some deeper base in my hair but it will take time to get the color back in shape.
Your hair looks great! I have a similar cut and find it hard to describe. I don’t personally like my stylist very much and she is expensive but she gives a great cut. Of course I choose the great cut over great personality! Hair IS important.
I’d choose cut over personality every day!
You look beautiful. The haircut and style are perfect for you. We’re lucky when we can find the right style and stylist. Happy holidays.
Happy Holidays to you too Libby
I dont blame you, your hair looks great! What color lip stick do you have on in the pic? I love it.
I am wearing Lip Fixation in “Fascination”. It’s one of my very favorites. The link is here https://shopstyle.it/l/WTGm
Good, timely information, Jennifer. Thanks so much!
I too have very fine, straight hair. My haircut is very similar to yours.
I have this same problem!!! My Mom always told me that I couldn’t wear long hair (even chin length) because it was fine and limp. My hair has always been short and looked good. Then I lost nearly 100 pounds 5 years ago and discovered my face shape wasn’t round … and at 60 (earlier this year) I decided to grow it out. With volumizing products it works! I’m loving doing something new. And I found a new stylist who “gets” my hair!
Congratulations Lezlie, that’s wonderful! Our face shape makes a big difference for our hairstyle.
It’s all about the haircut–if you don’t have the right haircut, nothing works. It is so stressful to have to try to find a new hairdresser. I can understand the drive back to your old one. My husband learned a long time ago that if my hair is not right nothing is right. Good luck.
Lol. Your husband is a wise man Sarah.
I have a different problem with my hair. I have very thick hair. I keep it short because it has no body at all! And I hate hair spray and only use it when going out to dinner or the theatre. I only use styling products in the winter since I live in Florida and keeping a “style” here in the summer is next to impossible! My hair looks great in my house but once I step out the door, my hair just flops. Using Styling gel in the summer just makes my hair gummy. I did find a really great stylist when we moved here, but it took 6 months before she got my hair the way I like it. The style is short and layered. I get it trimmed every 5 weeks. I would like to keep it a little bit longer, but I cannot deal with the hot weather and longer hair. I think your hairstyle looks great on you! It is very becoming. and I love the color!
Humidity is tough on most hair textures. It would make mine look like a skull cap. I’m glad you found the perfect cut Linda That’s more than half the battle.
It’s really cute on you Jennifer…..I’m trying to let my hair grow out from being short for over 20 years. I just want a change as I age, my face is slender and my neck is long. I have a lot of body so therefore I can go a bit curly……which I love to finally show off my curls. I would drive a far distance if I had the right stylists who I loved and made me look beautiful!
A stylist that can do that is priceless Holly. It sounds like a nice pretty change for you.
I have had the best stylist for my thick unruly hair for about 2 years when she decided to move about 6 hours away to NOLA ! So I am lucky so far she comes back here once a month to check in at her salon here. Before her my hair was always am embarasing challenge!
That’s what my stylist is doing!! She left the state after I moved but comes back every 6 weeks so I’m driving to see her.
A good haircut is so worth the drive and yours looks very good.
I agree! I’d drive a long way to see here. After all it’s not every week
Here’s a thought: Immediately after having your old stylist do your hair, visit a local stylist and say, “This is what I want.” Let the stylist play with your hair, check out the layers, see how your hair falls. Then *maybe* you’ll get a decent cut. But maybe just stick with your original stylist. I love your hair style. It’s flattering and breezy.
That’s a great idea Susan but I’m so happy to have my old one back, I’m afraid to go elsewhere now. Maybe I can work my nerve up later
I agree that finding the right stylist makes all the difference!! I have very curly hair and I finally found a stylist who knows how to cut and style my hair in a way that is just right for me. She also knows how to straighten it for those times I don’t want to wear it curly. She is a gem!! And, I would drive hours to keep her!!
By the way, love your hair style!
You’re so lucky to have found her Beth! Thank you
I travel an hour to my old stylist. I tried 2 stylists when I moved and they didn’t get it! I would call your style a stacked Bob. I like it!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one traveling to see her stylist.
Hair cut, stylist is sooooo important. Most seem to want the clients hair SHORT. No. I too have a squarish full face, and short is wrong! I need a longish bob, with layering on top. I get compliments with longer hair(shaped) and when I do it myself…..why?
Probably because you know how it looks best and know how to style it. We have to listen to our instincts.