For many of us, our identity is closely tied to our appearance, and our hair is one of the main features of the way we look. For our hair to thin on our heads, go gray, and sprout in places we don’t want it brings dilemmas we need help for – but discretely!

Beginning with the most obvious sign of aging, especially in darker haired people is the loss of color in our hair. As melanin stops being produced, hairs come through with less and lees color, and in time become colorless. The age graying begins seems to be hereditary, and while some of us will go completely white comparatively young, others never become completely white. What to do? It is becoming more acceptable to go gray gracefully, and enjoy the process. Models are being used with salt and pepper hair, and people are becoming accustomed to seeing graying hair as dignified, not dowdy.

Research suggests that 3/5 people do die their hair, and with the prevailing idea that youth is the only look, many feel compelled to maintain their hair color. After scares in the 1980s that hair color caused cancer, newer more ‘natural’ hair colors are new available, in addition to henna and lemon juice that have always been around. It seems that there is a direct correlation between price and harshness of chemicals involved, so if you color your hair at home, don’t buy the cheapest products.

For those who are becoming more aware of the harm they may be doing to their bodies, what are the options for backing away from coloring their hair? The most obvious solution is to cut your hair very short and let the color grow out, then resume growing it once the colored hair has gone. Another possibility is to gradually lighten your hair until it is close to the root color, and let the colored hair gradually grow out.

For some, color is the least of their concerns! At midlife menopause can sometimes cause the thyroid to get out of balance, and one of the symptoms is hair loss. Before self-medicating, it would be wise to get your thyroid checked and talk to your doctor to make sure that is not the reason for your hair loss. Before self-medicating, it would be wise to get your thyroid checked and talk to your doctor to make sure that is not the reason for your hair loss.

Although adverts would have you believe that only men lose their hair, in reality 2/3 of all women lose hair, but unlike men it is usually all over rather than the patterns of male baldness. While this can be alarming, there are treatments available. It has also sometimes been found that after menopause, once hormone levels stabilize, that hair growth resumes.

How to handle your thinning hair? Although you may not like the idea, cutting your hair shorter and having it layered will make it look thicker, while long, thin strands look . . . thin. When washing and styling your hair, use good, soft hairbrushes, and dry your hair the opposite way from the way you have it to gain volume. Use a good quality mousse to protect your hair from the heat. when styling avoid combs, barrettes and tight bands that may pull out hair when you remove them.

The opposite problem that arrives with menopause is the appearance of new, and unwanted hairs on the face. Once again this can be a sign of thyroid imbalance, so check with your doctor before self-medicating or treating. These hairs have been held at bay by our hormones during our reproductive years, but as estrogen and progesterone diminish, the androgens have nothing to stop them from producing more masculine characteristics.

Although it may seem as new hairs are sprouting from nowhere, we are all born with all the hair follicles we will have for the rest of our lives. Much of our bodies except our hands and the soles of our feet are covered in soft vellus hair. This hair is largely un-noticed, however, if it is stimulated by hormones or some medications, it thickens and becomes coarser due to hypertrichosis. If it isn’t too much of a problem, plucking is a good solution, and there are other hair removal products available, but if it causing distress, then go and see your doctor to get checked, and for treatment.