Growing in thicker, denser hair post-meno.
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free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:35 pm

Hi guys! Wasn't sure where to post this but it needs to be posted. All my life I've had fine baby hair and not much thickness to it when in a pony tail. Since my hair was falling dramatically in my 20s, and all the females in my family are either completely bald or have very, very thin hair, I've been on minoxidil since my 20s. Four times, I've tried to quit it, including last Christmas.

In April, it started to fall out again (minoxidil's MO is to retain hair in the anaphase longer, so less is falling over the long-term). So I went straight back on minoxidil. Keep in mind I've done this before, three times and, within two months, I start to see very fine diffuse growth again that always forms true hairs and not just vellus hairs.

As you likely know, I get sent a lot of products to review on the the blog. As coincidence would have it, I was sent two hair stimulating products and started to use them at the same time I restarted the minoxidil. The products are Ducray's Anastim vials and Garraud Labs (Paris) Hair Micro-patches.

I noticed a couple of weeks ago, about 1.25 inches of extremely thick growth in the temple area, where my hair has always been extremely sparse as well as fine. It's the same on both sides. All over my hair, thicker hair than I've ever seen is growing, but particularly in the temple area. This hair is so noticeable that I am having to clip it down as it grows as it looks weird.

So here I am, nearly 60, with the thickest hair I've had in my life. If anyone had asked my opinion on these products before I used them, I would have said "likely snake oil..." Unfortunately, since I started both at the same time, I can't say which of the two is exerting the incredible effect (or whether it is a combination of both). I can't say either if it would be the same for you if you tried it without minoxidil. It definitely isn't the minoxidil alone. It could even be all three in sync.

I took pics yesterday and when I have time next week, I will post them here and on my blog. I am floored and thrilled. this is twice that I have been able to change my skin and hair through experimentation with combinations of products. Now if I could only do something about the crepey skin on my arms... Very Happy

A-R XOX

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 1:44 pm

That's neat to hear Antonia. Now you're going to have to just use ONE of those products and decide which one gave you all that thick hair. LOL

Have you ever tried Skin Biology's Folligen lotion? I've heard good things about that for thinning hair.

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 2:20 pm

I haven't, Foxe...I have it but I had heard that it could turn blonde hair a little green (?). I've never done well with Skin Biology's products. No idea why. I have, of course, thought of using just one of the products I mentioned but I am scared to in case the hair drops out. Lol. Even my husband shook his head when I showed him. The hair at the temples is so strange that I feel like a hobbit. I can't wait for it to grow as my hair has always been very thin at the front of my face. The Garraud Labs patches are hard to find. I know there are pharmacies in Montreal that have it so I might have to fly over Very Happy

The Anastim is in most pharmacies in Canada I think and London Drugs always seems to have it at half the cost of anywhere else. I'll post the ingredients later. Got a deadline at the moment Sad

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:24 pm

Antonia - this is very helpful for those who suffer with thin hair issues. I'm so glad you posted. I love your blog too. Intelligent discussion and product evaluation that tries to be free of bias.

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 4:39 pm

Thanks Sister Smile

I keep going into the powder room to check it out. It's very exciting.

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 4:53 pm

Antonia -
So great to hear. I also have thinning hair - and it is great to hear some hope.

thanks for posting,
Smile

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:34 pm

Any time Erg. Minoxidil helps hair stay in, but this actually has grown hair where there appeared to not be hair (obviously it didn't grow follicles, but they certainly weren't producing much...)

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 8:19 pm

Antonia wrote:

I haven't, Foxe...I have it but I had heard that it could turn blonde hair a little green (?).

The regular Folligen can definitely do that, but the Folligen for Blondes won't (it's a tin peptide instead of copper) and works very well.

free skin care · Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:15 pm

Ah-ha... I'm not sure which one they sent me. It's good to know that we can grow hair back though...

free skin care · Mon Aug 30, 2010 11:45 am

Antonia,
Thanks for the review. Do these products work on colored hair? Do they change the color? I"ll get them for my mom. Her hair is thinning so much! I just can't picture her doing what I'm doing.

A few years ago my hair line started receding and hair thinning. I cut bangs to hide the now long looking forehead.

I've been using CP and emu oil on my face since May. Just last night I noticed that my widow's peak got longer and hair is growing back at the hairline. The new hairs are only about an inch and a half long. They're not the fuzzy type.

Other thing that might have caused this is that I have derma rolled there (0.25), maybe about four times. I wasn't paying attention and rolled the roller into my hair which caused my hair to get tangled in the needles. Rolling into hair was not intentional. The emu must have penetrated when I applied it to my face.

free skin care · Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:10 pm

It sounds exciting, but it doesn't seem easy to purchase either of these items.

Keep us updated Smile

free skin care · Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:07 pm

lorimcp,

I found the Ducray Anastim on Amazon. Shock

at the price!

free skin care · Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:47 am

wow that would be great if there is something that works safely. have the hairs on the temple grown in normally as they got longer? I also have a receding hairline and thinning at the front... not great as I already had a high forehead. I use Minoxidil at 5% as prescribed by a doctor who specializes in hair transplants (not for me). She said ...you have great hair...which was nice but it is at the back and sides.

thanks for the information and keep letting us know how it goes. is there any downside to the 2 new products? and Antonia. what is your blog again, I also liked it but have forgotten it's name as it has been a while. thanks. Harriet

Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:14 pm

harriet wrote:

and Antonia. what is your blog again, I also liked it but have forgotten it's name as it has been a while. thanks. Harriet

Here's the link, Harriet: http://www.middle-ageless.com/ Smile

free skin care · Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:15 pm

tks Eyebright!
but the price !!! I think I'll skip for now Laughing

I am curious about Minoxidil. Do most use the percentage for women, or just go with the Men's version?

free skin care · Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:45 pm

Thanks Havana8. What is the percentage for men and women. I use 5% but I started it after menopause. Has anyone found a good way to apply Minoxidil? I find sometimes it leaves a powdery film.

Fri Oct 29, 2010 10:10 am

Antonia, may I ask how long you were using this combination of products before you started to see results?

free skin care · Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:06 am

Yes, I have always been on minox since I was 22 I think as my family has female baldness. I started losing hair at age 18. So, during the intervening years, I have gone off minox a few times just to see if I still needed it and, each time, after three months or so, my hair has fallen. Same after this most recent episode. So, this time, I had at my disposal the Anastim and the Garraud patches, so I used both and went back on minox expecting to see the usual regrowth in three months. After three-four months I noticed about 1/2 inch of growth unlike any I've seen before: much thicker and almost in tufts. It is now over 3" long and a little annoying as it looks like breakage.

free skin care · Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:19 pm

I wonder if this product has similar ingredients to Latisse, which makes eyelashes grow strangely.

I've used minoxidil for about 20 years. I've inherited thin hair but at least it keeps it from thinning even more. I use the 2% because the 5% leaves my hair greasy since I don't shampoo everyday.

I also have been taking bioidentical hormones for several years, which is very important, and Life Extension vitamins of all sorts for over 25 years. Sondra Locke, Clint Eastwood's ex-girlfriend, once told me Clint was obsessed with aging and took handfuls of Life Extension vitamins and insisted she take them, too. She said they made her hair thicker and her natural white streak disappeared, but when the relationship ended she stopped and her naturally blonde hair thinned out. Natural blondes, including me, always seem to have thin hair. I've often thought that if she had continued with the vitamins, she might not have gotten cancer. I wonder where she is now.

free skin care · Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:31 pm

SoftSkin, the Anastim product does have the same MO as Latisse/Bimatoprost in that it lengthens the anaphase of the hair.

free skin care · Sat Jan 15, 2011 11:56 am

My intuition was right then. Interesting. I would only be using that product around the hairline and sides of my hair, so that might really look strange if the rest of my hair is smooth and silky. An alternative use might be to use it as you would extensions -- in the back and lower parts of the scalp to give the hair on top lift. I'm not willing to experiment at this time, though.

What that company should do is go to an old people's home and let the residents try it for six months or so, taking before and after photos. I think those photos might be very convincing. If an eighty year old has a thick head of hair where she had been bald before, that would be very dramatic!

How on earth do you wear a Garraud micro patch? I can't imagine putting a patch in my hair.

free skin care · Sat Jan 15, 2011 5:32 pm

SoftSkin wrote:

How on earth do you wear a Garraud micro patch? I can't imagine putting a patch in my hair.

They look very sexy! Actually, you stick it "somewhere close to the scalp" such as the back of the neck if you have long hair that covers, or under your collar if you don't.

Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:49 am

I used the Garraud patches for a month. I can't say I notice any difference. Even so, I would have continued for a while, as a month is barely long enough to expect results, and I think Garraud says one should use them for at least two months. However, when I wanted to reorder, I found that the German internet shop I bought them from was no longer stocking them - I don't know why. It doesn't seem possible to order directly from Garraud. I haven't tried Antonia's other recommendation, but it sounds as though it would be worth giving it a trial.

free skin care · Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:06 am

Hi Antonia,
Are you still using either of the products? I found the Anastim from a Canadian pharmacy for 54.99, shipping is 9.99, so it would might be good to combine with other things or get 2. It says that is 3 months of treatment, so I guess that's not too bad if it works.

https://www.getcanadiandrugs.com/view_product.php?ProductID=3836

I just started Folligen again (I have dark hair) and 2% minox, and KGF Serum Smile

Of course if I add this, then I won't know what worked. LOL. I also have been swiping these on my eyebrows and it seems to be working there.

free skin care · Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:16 am

Just throwing this out there for consideration - but you could try using a Violet Ray or High Frequency Wand:

Quote:

As Applied for Specific Conditions and Ills, The Hair, Scalp and SkinIf you do not feel well you cannot look well. Many women realizing that good health is essential to real beauty and the prolonging of youth use the Master Violet Ray with faithful regularity The results obtained through its applications will be a revelation to you and in a remarkably short time will bring your body, health and appearance to that condition that Nature intended it should be. Rich, red blood is brought to the skin with the use of the Violet Ray. It nourishes the tissues and cells and brings the radiant hue of health and beauty to the skin. All facial blemishes quickly vanish.

Practically every disease of the scalp and hair, as dandruff, falling hair, etc., can be traced to the improper circulation of the blood flowing through the scalp. The roots are fed through the blood, which flows through small capillaries in the scalp almost microscopic in size. Because of their smallness, they become clogged very easily, as a consequence of which most persons are affected with some form of scalp disease. To overcome scalp disease, it is first necessary to remove the cause, and as this is poor nutrition due to faulty circulation, the Violet Ray naturally suggests itself as the ideal remedy.

For treating the scalp we have a special comb electrode which conforms to the shape of the head and pulls easily through the hair. Millions of tiny electric sparks from the applicator to the scalp, carrying with them pure ozone which acts as a germicidal agent and destroys any foreign organism which may be present. The tiny nerve and blood vessels are gently massaged, the blood starts flowing and nourishment is brought to the roots of the hair.

By the first treatment a warm, glowing, healthy feeling is brought to the scalp, and with a few successive treatments great improvement will be noted. The hair very quickly takes on a natural, glossy and healthy appearance. The use of The Violet Ray for a few minutes each day will make the hair thick, healthy and beautiful.

The Violet Ray is used by all modern beauty specialists in the treatment of the hair and skin.

http://www.electroherbalism.com/Bioelectronics/Tesla/VioletRay.htm

Before I say anything else, I should mention that this type of therapy is considered quackery and bogus by some - but I've had allot of success with it. If you do a Google search you'll find lots of interesting information.

I started using my HF wand on my scalp after I had a bout of dermatitis. I have very fine baby hair and have also suffered from an itchy scalp my entire life. Not a dry and dandruffy scalp, rather it was always greasy even though I wash my hair everyday. After the dermatitis, I stopped buying commercial shampoos and starting making my own using Castile Soap. I now don't have any itching or greasiness. Also, my hair seems to be slightly thicker because my husband was always pointing out the bald patches on the back of my head if I hadn't combed my hair properly - I don't have this problem anymore - although, I have never suffered from actual hair loss, just fine, thin hair.

I use the comb attachment on the wand and comb it through my hair every evening. It definitely stimulates the scalp and maybe it is the stimulation of blood that can help.

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