Charlotte and I go way back! I’ve known her since I was 16. Back then, I was the trusty salon apprentice, and Charlotte was the client with extra-long, extra-thick hair; the kind that took two hair bands to tie up. Once I qualified, she became one of my regulars, and over the years we’ve done it all: dark, blonde, back again… short cuts, long styles and up-dos for black-tie balls. We’ve shared big life moments too, weddings, pregnancies, job changes. It’s been a journey we’ve taken together.
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So when Charlotte came into the salon recently and asked, “Why am I shedding hair? And why is my hairline getting finer?”
I knew something was up. For someone with such naturally thick, healthy hair, it was a noticeable change.
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We started with the basics. I asked about her diet, hydration, and haircare. She ticked all the boxes; balanced diet, good water intake, and using salon-quality products. That’s when I gently brought up the idea that this might be hormone related. Because I’ve known her for so long, the conversation flowed easily, and when I said the word perimenopause, it was like a light bulb went off.
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“Oh,” she said. “That would make so much sense for so many things. I hadn’t put two and two together. I must be in perimenopause… I just didn’t realise it would affect my hair.”
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We had a good, open chat about what happens to our hair during menopause. I explained how oestrogen plays a huge role in the hair cycle, and what happens when our levels drop. From texture to thickness, it’s all connected.
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Because Charlotte was already doing great with her haircare routine, I suggested introducing a Biotin supplement. We talked about managing expectations, and I let her know she’d likely start seeing results in around three months, this was a great step in the right direction.
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Six weeks later, she was back in the salon for her regular trim and colour and we both noticed a difference. The shedding was non-existent, and her hairline was already starting to fill back in. It was so lovely to see her smiling about her hair again.
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