hair growth

[Raven1981]

Hello All

 

So I was just wondering if anyone knows or can advise how to get your hair to grown long and faster?

 

Thank You

 

Amy

[Charlize]

If i knew an answer to this i'd be at the patent office and looking into a good financial advisor.  I simply made the decision to shave what i had left and wear a wig.  The damage T had done was beyond any chance of repair for me and no growth procedure was worth the money or time.  Sorry but if you find something please let me know!

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Jani]

Unfortunately hair only grows at a steady rate.  Mine is consistent at a half inch per month.  At some point some areas may max out.  My front hair, what would be bangs, only seems to grow to 7 inches and no more.  Certain drugs may encourage regrowth but I don't have experience with them.  I don't believe there are any accelerants on the market.  

 

Jani

[Raven1981]

Hello

 

Thank you again.  I was reading online about the effects of HRT and guess that HRT does stimulate the DHT which causes the hair to grow and in men, they will start to lose DHT which is why for the male pattern baldness.  But was told and reading that HRT does activate the DHT for the hair growth but everyone is different.  I was also reading that vitamin B12 helps out for hair growth and healthy shine.

 

Thanks

 

Amy

[jae bear]

I certainly hope you’re right about that, I could certainly use a little bit of filling right there in my bangs, I guess I could get away with what I’ve got but my hairline did receed a little. However my family usually has really good thick hair so I did luck out there, sure would be nicer if my hair would fill in the front,so I totally get what you’re saying!

Hugs,

Jae

[tracy_j]

It is always helpful to take care of your hair. Overwashing and harsh treatment will not be good. In my opinion - Treat gently, and find a style which suits your hair type well.

 

Tracy

[Gwen]

There could be an entire website devoted to hair issues for trans women. (Maybe there is!) I think it's important to sort out fact from fiction and find out what works best for you and the characteristics of your hair. I agree with Tracy that over-washing and abusing one's hair can be destructive over time. I'm still figuring this all out and wish I had unlimited funds to experiment with hair care products!

 

Gwen

[jae bear]

 My wife actually has very thin hair on the front of her scalp from thyroid and hormone issues, and is always quite self-conscious about it, I’ve been seeing lots of commercials for hair clubs that somehow transplant hair into your scalp I have no idea how that works. I’ve been urging my wife to come with me and go look at one of those hair clubs and see what it’s all about, as she would benefit greatly if it worked, but since she’s on blood thinners she’s really worried about participating in anything that might poke little holes in her. I on the other hand might really look into this as just filling in the front of my hairline would make me feel much better and I seriously want to be able to have a hairstyle that works for me even if that is a year away.

Hugs,

Jae

[Jani]

4 hours ago, Gwen said:

I agree with Tracy that over-washing and abusing one's hair can be destructive over time.

This is true especially as we age and our hair becomes physically thinner.  Mine used to be really thick and I've noted the change.  I've always taken care of my hair (vanity!).

 

4 hours ago, Gwen said:

wish I had unlimited funds to experiment with hair care products!

There are lots of good products available that don't cost an arm and a leg.  I tend to be wary of the boutique brands as I think there is a high price for the marketing hype and limited distribution.   I'm using Garnier Whole Blends now.  There are several types dependent upon hair type.

 

I think the hair transplants depend upon a strong growth in the back of the head to harvest from.  It's said to be effective but I don't know the costs.  I can't imagine its not expensive.

 

Jani

[Gwen]

18 hours ago, Jani said:

This is true especially as we age and our hair becomes physically thinner.  Mine used to be really thick and I've noted the change.

I'm using Garnier Whole Blends now.  There are several types dependent upon hair type.

I once had long, luxurious hair and now struggle to find a style that's suitable due to my thinning. But my expectations are reasonable and this helps. Jani, I use a Garnier shampoo and love it. It smells wonderful and really adds body to my hair. My trouble right now is that I have an odd collection of shampoos and conditioners and they seem to last forever! The frugal part of me can't throw them away. A small problem in the scope of things.

 

Jani, you seem to have found a hair style that works well for you. It's very pretty in your newest avatar photo

 

Gwen

[VickySGV]

Hair grows in four distinct cycles, one of which is a dormant follicle which has no hair in it at that point in time.  When you begin HRT, those follicles that are dormant are the first ones affected by the new hormones as they wake up and begin growing a new hair shaft from them.  Some of those follicles were perma-sleeping due to your T. and those will wake up in the process of getting the E.  It will not happen to all of the old follicles, but it will happen to a good portion. A warning is that the new hair shafts that start growing will be softer and finer than your male hair,. so heavy, thick male hair will be gone and replaced with the finer, silkier female hair that you are programmed for.  My entire replacement took about 2 and a half years as the old male stuff died and was shed, clogging my hair brushes the whole time.  I began HRT at age 60 and age has affected some of my hair as well, but mine reached maximum length at about 3.5 years of female texture.  I do see a stylist who knows my full story, and who does my chosen color which is mine mine mine!!  She trims off my split ends but leaves my back hair at shoulder-blade length , but we have found that my hair will not take waves or curl for longer than a couple of days.  I use a special color safe shampoo about every ten days unless I am out doing dirty work, but use conditioner on my ends every time I get my hair wet, and use a leave in spray conditioner every day or two depending on how dry the weather is.  This pic from my gallery shows the damage that male pattern baldness did to me -- the picture is part of a series I made about putting on wigs a few years ago--

[Jani]

Thank you Gwen.  I had let it grow out quite long and when I decided to cut it I had 6 inches taken off.  Then the next appointment I had another inch or so.  I like where its at now and it does look feminine.  I'm the same as you when it comes to not throwing out old products.  I should just wait until what I had is used but I wanted to try something different.  At least it didn't cost me a lot.  I use a color safe shampoo now although I don't see a lot of fading between treatments.  

 

Jani  

[Gwen]

On 3/27/2018 at 11:59 AM, Jani said:

Thank you Gwen.  I had let it grow out quite long and when I decided to cut it I had 6 inches taken off.  Then the next appointment I had another inch or so.  I like where its at now and it does look feminine.  I'm the same as you when it comes to not throwing out old products.  I should just wait until what I had is used but I wanted to try something different.  At least it didn't cost me a lot.  I use a color safe shampoo now although I don't see a lot of fading between treatments.  

 

Jani  

It sounds like you had a plan for your hair and it's paid off very very well. I think I'll adopt this attitude towards mine, which I'm afraid to get cut after just 7 months. My sister just sent me a box of old hair care products that she wasn't using. Some of it was very expensive and organic. What a difference! I put my old stuff in a drawer

 

Gwen

[Jani]

Somewhat of a plan...  I loved my hair long but it just wasn't working for me.  Some older women can wear long hair gracefully but many that I've seen let it grow without really caring for it (trimming ends, straightening or curling).  My philosophy going in to get the cut was that it will grow back if I freak out.  It's now just long enough to pull back into a short pony tail when I want it off my face.  

 

There are some expensive products that work well.  My spouse uses one.  My hairdresser uses a line that is very similar to the Garnier products I use.  She gave me a sample and I didn't find a difference but I have a different water supply which could explain it.  One trick I did learn was to focus on how your hair is finished after a cut and/or color.  Once I paid attention to how my hairdresser dried and straightened my hair I was able to duplicate the process at home.  I'm much happier with my own results now.  

 

Jani

[jae bear]

I have been following along on this topic and there’s some really good stuff here, you girls really know what you’re doing. I had borrowed something from my daughter and I do believe it’s a Garnier product, if I’m not mistaken it’s the fructis sleek and shine shampoo, and for daily use it seems like it works really well for me, much better than what I was using before.  It doesn’t seem to fade my out of a box hair color at all, and I haven’t had to touch it up in nearly a month so that’s not too bad, except of course for the gray roots that are definitely starting to show if I part my hair too much. I’m only in the very beginning stages of letting it go past the last haircut so I’ve got quite a way to go, hopefully my hair will stay as nice and full as it always has and allow me to have a style that will work for me. I would love to have the same hairstyle and color as my profile pic, that’s at least a starting place, but that’s pretty long hair so I might have to try something different first.

Hugs,

Jae

[Jani]

One trick to hide roots is to move your part about a quarter inch.  The hair that was laying over in one direction will tend to stand up if combed the other way.  This tends to lessen the impact of the part and the line of grey.