Today I want to take a brief departure from DIY projects, crafts and the other things I do to make my home beautiful. I want to talk to you a little bit about personal beauty...specifically my hair. If you are a woman suffering from genetic hair loss, you are not alone! My hope is that as I share my journey with Women's ROGAINE® Foam, I will experience dramatic results which will, in turn, give you hope for your own journey!

Writing about a touchy subject like hair loss makes me feel extremely vulnerable. So if it's okay with you, I'm just going to pretend that we're sitting in the comfy chairs in my living room, sharing a cup of coffee and getting real with one another. Like friends do.

Hair loss is yucky, right? It makes us feel uncomfortable!

It's not fair that guys can shave their heads (and look somewhat cool), while women have very few workable solutions to disguise their own thinning scalps.

In my own case, I've been noticing some thinning on the crown of my head for the past several years, and it has been getting progressively worse. I realize that some hair loss can be attributed to the simple act of aging...and while I like to think that I'm still young and hot (ha), the reality is that I'm 47 and on the verge of menopause. A recent visit to the doctor confirmed my hormones are imbalanced, which can contribute to hair loss!

I know I'm not alone because I see women with thinning hair everywhere! Kinda like when you're pregnant and you suddenly notice all the other pregnant women! Hair loss in women is a very real thing; I've read that 1 in 3 women have or will experience thinning hair!

HOW HAIR LOSS HAS AFFECTED ME

As a woman with thinning hair, I experience a lot of shame and embarrassment. Logically I know I'm not to blame for this hereditary condition, but emotionally it's another story. My hair is difficult to style, and I'm very self-conscious in windy conditions and when my hair is wet. I feel like everyone is staring at the balding patch on the top of my head! Bad hair days have become the norm.

It's not like I've just been sitting back, waiting for all my hair to fall out before I take any action. I've seen the doctor ('yep, you're definitely losing your hair' - gee, thanks!), had cortisone scalp injections, tried herbal formulas and essential oils, even changed my diet. Six months ago I stopped coloring my hair and starting using an all-natural shampoo and conditioner exclusively...until I couldn't handle the gray roots and went back to highlights. The point is, I've tried to stop my hair from falling out, but nothing I've tried has worked!

It has been a devastating process, and one that I wouldn't wish on anyone. If you're still reading this, then I'm pretty sure you know exactly what I'm talking about!

Let me share a picture with you of my hair loss. This is my 'bad spot', the area at the top of my hair and along my hairline. This picture was taken today, and you can see how much hair I've lost compared to the image in my profile, taken just last summer!


While I dislike having coarse hair that is prone to frizz, I'm fortunate to have a lot of body, but it doesn't completely disguise my thinning hair, especially in my bangs area. A side part is a must for me because I just don't have enough hair to maintain bangs that look good.

HOW I'M FIGHTING BACK AGAINST HAIR LOSS

A lot has been written about female hair loss, but up until recently there have been few (if any) long-term solutions.

I don't want to just disguise my thinning hair with fancy hairstyles, makeup or a hair piece...I want my own hair back, longer and thicker!

My doctor recently asked me if I'd tried Women's ROGAINE® Foam. I didn't realize that 81% of women see a difference in their hair after 3 months of use! It contains 5% Minoxidil, which works to reactivate dormant follicles and help them enter the growth phase, as well as lengthening the time that hair spends in its active growth phase so hair can once again grow long and strong...and stay put on my head, where I want it! Plus, new hairs come in 48% thicker than before! It's also the only FDA approved once daily treatment for hair loss.

I really didn't think this product worked. I admit I'm pretty skeptical about magic formulas, but for the first time in a long while, this information gave me hope! Women have had success regrowing their hair with Women's ROGAINE® since it became available in 2014! I know that if left untreated, my hair loss will continue to worsen and I don't want that!

So I've added Women's ROGAINE® Foam to my regular beauty regime. It only needs to be applied once a day, and I'm doing that at night. I'm so relieved that it's safe to use on color-treated hair as I'm not ready to go gray yet!!

This is part 1 of a 2-part series; I'll write another post to share my progress and my experience with Women's ROGAINE® in 12 weeks time.

If you're experiencing genetic hair loss, I want to say two things to you: first of all, I feel your pain! As someone who also battles depression, I've found that the emotional issues that arise with women's hair loss have been a real challenge for me. I've cried lots of tears! Second, if you haven't already, I hope you'll try Women's ROGAINE® along with me for the next 3 months! What have you got to lose (other than more hair?)


If you decide to go on this journey with me, please let me know in the comments (or you can send me a private email). I have all my fingers and toes crossed that I will be one of the 81% of women who experience hair regrowth...and that you will too!

In the meantime, here are a few additional things to try:

• see your doctor and get tested for hormonal imbalances
• as much as possible, remove sugar and processed food from your diet and try to eat clean
• start taking Biotin or a Hair, Skin and Nails formula; this is the one I use
• be gentle to your hair; try to limit shampooing and styling to 2-3 days/week instead of every day
• buy a cute hat or two so when you're having a bad hair day, you can still leave the house in style (I wear this boutique-style hat all the time; the flower was easy to add)

bringing beauty to the ordinary,