HRT effects on hair?

[JulieAllana]

I am very concerned about how my hair will look when I transition.  I have had long hair as a man for about 11 years now which I have kept in a pony tail at the nape of my neck and it goes about half-way down my back, but my hair shafts are SOOO thin.  When I have it all bundled together, it is only about as thick as my thumb (big man thumbs, but still not much hair)  When I wear it down it just lies limp (it is so soft and silky smooth though!).  Since coming to terms with being transgender, I have started to take care of it better (I used to just wash it every day, DUH) and now I understand how bad that is for my hair.  I have read some places that some people on HRT get noticeable changes to their hair quality, texture, volume etc.  Is there anyone here who has had that experience and that might want to comment on it?

       Thanks,
                 Julie

[Dani]

I experienced no changes due to Estradiol, but when I started Finasteride the thinning stopped and some hair did regrow, but not much.

If you are going to get any changes in the texture of your hair, it will start at the roots. Once hair is grown, only shampoos and conditioners can change the texture, if at all.

[Doreen]

I am very concerned about how my hair will look when I transition.  I have had long hair as a man for about 11 years now which I have kept in a pony tail at the nape of my neck and it goes about half-way down my back, but my hair shafts are SOOO thin.  When I have it all bundled together, it is only about as thick as my thumb (big man thumbs, but still not much hair)  When I wear it down it just lies limp (it is so soft and silky smooth though!).  Since coming to terms with being transgender, I have started to take care of it better (I used to just wash it every day, DUH) and now I understand how bad that is for my hair.  I have read some places that some people on HRT get noticeable changes to their hair quality, texture, volume etc.  Is there anyone here who has had that experience and that might want to comment on it?

       Thanks,
                 Julie

HRT helped my hair thicken up some, but mostly it was a combination of taking biotin supplements daily for a long time, and.. believe it or not... getting it colored.  Whatever they used to color it, my hair really really thickened afterwards, and its stayed thick.  Almost to the point of being (for lack of a better word) nappy.  Please don't take offense... none meant, but it really is that thick.

I actually love it, but it takes some getting used to in the morning when its going every direction I don't want it to go.   

[Jessica]

I don't know how to modestly say that women would kill for my hair.  Wavy with lots of body.  I had it long for several decades then cut it.  In the last few months I have been growing it longer so my hairdresser (she told me she envied my hair) can style it.  My hair is behaving the way it did before I cut it.  The one difference is the small thinning patch on the very top in the back is gone after 6+ months of E and spiro.

[Roll]

I don't know how to modestly say that women would kill for my hair.  Wavy with lots of body.  I had it long for several decades then cut it.  In the last few months I have been growing it longer so my hairdresser (she told me she envied my hair) can style it.  My hair is behaving the way it did before I cut it.  The one difference is the small thinning patch on the very top in the back is gone after 6+ months of E and spiro.

My step mother and sister were analyzing my regrowing hair and said they were jealous because i was going to have so much body to it. I don't even know that means honestly.

[JulieAllana]

So I don't have like male pattern baldness or a receding hairline, it is just the individual strands are very thin.  I have been taking a hair/nails/skin biotin supplement since I decided to transition (about a month now) but have noticed no changes.  How long is "a long time" when speaking of Biotin?  I really want to have hair that I can style and do things with and the idea of wigs and weaves isn't too appealing.  Are there any other ways to convince those follicles to make bigger hairs?

[Jessica]

I don't know how to modestly say that women would kill for my hair.  Wavy with lots of body.  I had it long for several decades then cut it.  In the last few months I have been growing it longer so my hairdresser (she told me she envied my hair) can style it.  My hair is behaving the way it did before I cut it.  The one difference is the small thinning patch on the very top in the back is gone after 6+ months of E and spiro.

I need to clarify that my hair has always been wavy with a lot of body.  The only change is the thickening of that one area.

[Roll]

So I don't have like male pattern baldness or a receding hairline, it is just the individual strands are very thin.  I have been taking a hair/nails/skin biotin supplement since I decided to transition (about a month now) but have noticed no changes.  How long is "a long time" when speaking of Biotin?  I really want to have hair that I can style and do things with and the idea of wigs and weaves isn't too appealing.  Are there any other ways to convince those follicles to make bigger hairs?

For widening follicles you want Minoxidill or castor oil, and then biotin for the hair itself. I feel like biotin kicked in pretty fast for me, like a few weeks. I can't judge it on hair in a vacuum (since I'm on a number of hair meds), but my nails got substantially stronger which is another effect of it, so I can only extrapolate it's doing its thing for hair too.

Regarding minox, what it actually does, is increase the follicle diameter and blood flow, which makes the hair stronger. The reason this is usually used for regrowth, is the idea that hair follicles arent always gone, they are just so tiny (micronized) it prevents hair from growing. So by opening up the follicles, hair is able to grow again. Blood flow is just good all around, and I've heard some say regular scalp massages help a lot. (One member said she believed that her using castor oil, the success was probably partly the massaging it in and increased blood from from the massage.) Castor oil btw has a similar effect to minox, and supposedly should not be used at the same time (as in literally at the same time, you can use both if you use them when the other isnt actively in the hair).

[JulieAllana]

Ok, not really familiar with minoxidill.  Is any growth you get permanent?  How does it work?  How does the castor oil work?  Never even really heard of that.  The hair in your avatar pic looks nice btw


            -Julie

[Harley Quinn]

I have read some places that some people on HRT get noticeable changes to their hair quality, texture, volume etc.  Is there anyone here who has had that experience and that might want to comment on it?

I was a Norwood III Vertex (almost a Norwood IV), and my hair was fine and straight when I started hormones.  I got new growth on the crown (vertex), and it almost completely filled in over the first 6 months of hormones.  It also all changed in texture.  It is currently "fine" and quite curly.  Yes, my hair went from straight to super curly.  So yes, you may notice some changes.

[Harley Quinn]

So I don't have like male pattern baldness or a receding hairline, it is just the individual strands are very thin.  I have been taking a hair/nails/skin biotin supplement since I decided to transition (about a month now) but have noticed no changes.  How long is "a long time" when speaking of Biotin?  I really want to have hair that I can style and do things with and the idea of wigs and weaves isn't too appealing.  Are there any other ways to convince those follicles to make bigger hairs?

Biotin will only affect the health of new growth.  So 6 months to a year and you'll probably notice a change.

MSM suppliment is sometimes used to strengthen hair.  Vitamin E has also been proven to be helpful.

Once you start on hormones, a reduction in DHT will encourage your hair to grow stronger.  DHT causes the folicle to miniaturize and produce finer hairs.  Once DHT is no longer choking out your hair folicles, they will more than likely recover and give you thicker hair.

[Roll]

Ok, not really familiar with minoxidill.  Is any growth you get permanent?  How does it work?  How does the castor oil work?  Never even really heard of that.  The hair in your avatar pic looks nice btw

It's a wig in my profile unfortunately. Still too thin to grow my own hair out fully, but Ive had great results to meds so far.

Minoxidil is Rogaine, you might know it by that. But you can get it cheap buying the costco(kirkland) brand. I don't really know the exact mechanisms. (Finasteride and HRT type meds have an impact on DHT, which is what causes the baldness. Minox does not affect DHT, just sort of mechanically encourages growth. That is why they are often used in conjunction, to knock out the DHT and then help the hair grow back after.)

Castor oil is not clinically tested, but I've seen enough evidence for it from people here and elsewhere to count its effects as true. Here is an article that has some of the claims about it, but who knows whats right and whats not: https://wellnessmama.com/35706/castor-oil-hair/

[FinallyMichelle]

I don't know if it is normal, my hair is not as strong as it was before HRT. Not thinning, I have just as much as ever, but each individual strand is thinner. My nails and eyelashes are wimpy now also. I have recently started to take Sugar Bear Hair vitamins, we will see how it goes.

I just got it cut today, abracadabra new avatar pic, maybe 4 inches off. Just the thin stuff on the ends to keep it healthy. I had her straighten it with a dryer and round brush and it is still curled enough at the bottom that I can't tell how long it actually is. Find out tomorrow when it goes back to curly normal I guess. I want it to get long even though I know that there are not many 48 year old women who have really long hair but I have wanted it for so many years that I don't care. I will do what it takes even if it means rubbing potato and onion water into it every day. 😜

Isn't it weird how we are? I despise pictures of me, yuck! But I love my hair so I changed my avatar to show off my hair even though it makes me want to scream to look at the rest of me. Thin hair strands don't have to look bad, we can work around it to get volume. There is also seemingly endless amount of information on the internet to sift through for stronger, thicker hair.

[Allison S]

I don't know if it is normal, my hair is not as strong as it was before HRT. Not thinning, I have just as much as ever, but each individual strand is thinner. My nails and eyelashes are wimpy now also. I have recently started to take Sugar Bear Hair vitamins, we will see how it goes.

I just got it cut today, Abadan kadab

I take those vitamins too! I think I ordered 6 months worth when it was on sale... lol

I've noticed 4 months on hrt that my hair is much softer. I've been using coconut oil and as I mentioned I take the same vitamin as Michelle. As far as texture and volume I'm not too sure that's changed but I've always had very short hair. So I guess I wouldn't really know for sure/be able to compare from before.

I think just owning our hair types, whatever they may be, is most important. I'm really just trying to be patient while growing my hair out but I know in a couple years it will be long(er). I'm mostly just trying to take good care of it and myself. Eating healthy, drinking water and exercising.

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[FinallyMichelle]

I take those vitamins too! I think I ordered 6 months worth when it was on sale... lol

I've noticed 4 months on hrt that my hair is much softer. I've been using coconut oil and as I mentioned I take the same vitamin as Michelle. As far as texture and volume I'm not too sure that's changed but I've always had very short hair. So I guess I wouldn't really know for sure/be able to compare from before.

I think just owning our hair types, whatever they may be, is most important. I'm really just trying to be patient while growing my hair out but I know in a couple years it will be long(er). I'm mostly just trying to take good care of it and myself. Eating healthy, drinking water and exercising.

Hahaha, I did too! It has everything that is supposed to make hair grow faster and thicker in them.

I had to edit my last post when my "technology marvel" autocorrected incorrectly and I accidentally hit post in my ensuing panic attack.

You are absolutely right, own your hair type, it's what we all have to do eventually.

[Roll]

Isn't it weird how we are? I despise pictures of me, yuck!

But, you're gorgeous!

[FinallyMichelle]

😁 Thank you Ellie!   You are being nicer than you need to be but I will take it! As of today, you are officially my favorite person!

😊😊

[DawnOday]

I saw how nice my gray hair looks that I decided to enhance the gray and brighten it up. I have been using Matrix violet shampoo and Blondie conditioner. It's soft and manageable and looks even better..

[natasha]

My hair is thin (diameter) and has always been, no change with hormones.

[FinallyMichelle]

And now my hair is back to normal. Lol, oh well I had a whole day. 😆 I really need to learn hair and makeup.

Sorry for hijacking your thread. From the way your avatar looks, you have plenty of hair. 😊 Of course you will worry but it'll be okay.