Check out Harklinikken. I've journaled my success over time with it in Off Topic. I have been using it for 3+ years, and my hair is really healthy and much thicker than it's been in a very long time. Sorry you are going through this.

My derm recommends vitamin D, iron and zinc supplements, plus Rogaine 5 percent solution. He says that should make improvement in 4-6 months. Haven’t tried any of those yet myself.

Yesterday I got so fed up, I bleached the whole thing to lessen the contrast between hair and scalp. At least this makes it a bit more fun and less depressing!

Love your hair jessikams! So cool.

Jessikams, you have done a wonderful job dying your hair.

Suntiger, 18 months ago my hairdresser talked about putting some hair extensions into the front section of my hair (which had breakage due to too much heat styling) as she thought it would help thicken up my hair. As long as you have a good stylist who is experienced with extensions, I think you should be OK. My stylist does loads of extensions and wears them herself, so I would feel fine having them. Personally I have not given them a try, but use a protein treatment on my hair 2x week and have been heat styling my hair less - which over the last year has worked out well to stop breakage and improve my hair condition.

Thanks all! Sorry to disappear, lots going on this week!
I talked to my hairdresser yesterday, and she gave me a couple packets of Malibu treatment to use this week. And she told me to wash my hair with bottled water, and also rinse w bottled water before swimming. Did both this morning, and my hair definitely feels cleaner. She also suggested using flax, which I was already, but now will take 2 a day instead of 1.

Suntiger, I'm glad you spoke to your hairdresser and have a plan. Sounds promising. Good luck, and hoping for the best.

What if you got a REALLY fun swimming cap!

Nah I actually have a bright swim cap, green and blue, but definitely prefer black. The trouble with swim caps is they're horribly uncomfortable, and I'm pausing a lot to fuss with it.

Hair update: dermatologist said use rosemary oil, so doing that 2x a day. It's not just the pool, it's genetic Hair is so damaged it'll need a chop, but I'm Really not pretty enough for short hair. Will start looking into wigs!

It's been a while since we've seen your face, but I'm certain you are "pretty enough" for short hair. Also dynamic and interesting enough.

I don't post or even take facial selfies, and haven't for probably 20 years, but trust me! Dynamic and interesting I can do

I echo, Stag.

Sweet, Suntiger. I'm SURE you can wear your hair just short enough to chop off the damaged bits, and regain some condition. Let it grow out in a healthy way from there. And I assume not colour it again.

Feel free to PM me with a current facial and hair photo, and I'd be happy to help out with some suggestions.

I'm also sure - by about a billion percent! - that if you posted a current face and hair photo here asking for guidance on how to go shorter, you'd be showered with heartfelt compliments, as well has very kind and supportive suggestions

For what it it’s worth - I find using a hair conditioner on my dry hair before putting on a stretchy nylon swim cap followed by a rubbery sticky traditional one both helps protect my hair and keeps the cap in place for limited fussing. I have very fine straight hair and love to swim but often feel sad about the effects of the chlorine on my hair. Also, is salt water all that damaging? Does it actually need a shampoo each time when it’s salt water and not chlorine water? Maybe a rinse is sufficient. With the bottled water. And wash only every second time you swim? Might that help reduce the wear and tear?

There is no such thing as "too ugly" for shorter hair. It sounds silly and trite sometimes, but I truly believe - and have often experienced - that beauty comes from the inside. If you were to post a photo (and I am not suggesting you do if that makes you uncomfortable), I am POSITIVE that we would view you as beautiful because of both how you look and because of who you are.

But I am glad that you have a suggestion that will hopefully help. Regarding the extensions, I unfortunately agree with Star and Peri - they tend to damage existing hair. But many women experience hair loss with age, just like many men; it just tends to be slightly less radical in women. But Rogaine, recommendations from a dermatologist and protection from damaging elements (heat, chlorine, intense sun, woven styles that pull hair too tightly, color, etc.) can help a lot. In the meantime, if a wig makes you feel more confident, I hope you are able to find a great one that suits you.

I can feel your sadness and frustration from here I’m sorry this is happening .
As one who has had short hair forever , it’s my view that you have to just own it . It’s all about finding a skilled cutter and stylist - it can make a world of difference . Extensions are not great for damaged / thin hair . Wigs are better .

Thanks all- I'm not comfortable w photo though! I am looking at some shaggy wavy bob styles that look ok, on a search for styles for thin hair. I should have time to go to hairdresser Tuesday.

I wet my hair pre- swim and put Olaplex. Then cover it with silicone cap.
Post swim I wash and condition with bar shampoo and conditioner, which is probably gentler. I don't swim daily, just on days off. Days I don't wash it looks absolutely awful, so I end up clipping it up with a little claw clip.

At home I use the rosemary oil w coconut oil 2x a day. Derm suggested that or rogaine, but apparently if you stop rogaine your hair falls out :0 Nope! I don't want to use any chemical like that for the rest of my life! Then I wash and condition w color depositing shampoo/conditioner. Probably colored about 2-3 weeks ago, but my ends are blonde again, which makes it look extra thin. When it's dark it doesn't look as bad.

Gave up on the extension idea, but definitely will talk to wig shop when I'm in the town that has one.
Last time I had short hair was when I was a kid, and I truly looked like a little boy
Maybe I should do more dramatic makeup?

Very late to this. I actually have done sew-in extensions off and on the last few years. Mostly for crazy colors over done.
One, very expensive. There’s the upfront cost and then each sew in takes the better part of a day. So $$$$. I haven’t done a sew-in for quite a while due to time constraints. You need to get them re-done every few months due to regrowth. Basically moving them up and re-sewing them in. My hairdresser is great and has mine on “hold”.
Two, swimming is actually against the “rules”
And even when they are in, there are pretty stringent rules for taking care of them.

If you color your hair you might consider going natural. It will help. I swim 4 times a week. I have fine hair and not a lot of it. I apply conditioner when I wash it after swimming and shampooing it about twice a week.. overwashing is too drying. I avoid using a blow dryer or other heat tools. When I had my hair at it’s thinnest, I did a gentle scalp massage daily before going to bed. Hair growing takes a lot of time and patience. Good luck!

Clearly this conversation strikes a chord with many of us! I also started swimmng regularly last year, and I didn't realize how much my hair has thinned until I looked at the blog I kept about a decade ago. So. Much. Hair. So fluffy and volume-tastic. Now all my hair growth seems concentrated on my eyebrows.

I won't do Rogaine, because a friend used it and the effect stopped as soon as she stopped using it. Plus she said it was goopy and hated the feeling. I tried Biotin supplements with no effect.

I am tempted by various shampoos and treatments, but so much $$! Now I kind of want to bleach it because it gives it so much volume. But will it be worse in the long run?

A former Fabber had a wonderful collection of wigs and I read her posts with great interest. She was committed to daily wear, though.

An article from Healthline might interest you:

https://www.healthline.com/nut.....air-growth