When we talk about midlife changes, we often hear about hot flushes, mood swings, and missed periods. But no one told me my hair would start thinning before any of that happened. I never imagined that in my late 40s, I’d be standing in front of the mirror, quietly wondering where my hair was going.

As an aesthetic therapist, I thought I was well-informed. But it wasn’t until I noticed more hair gathering in my brush, a little extra scalp showing near my part, and that dull, lifeless texture replacing my usual volume, that I began to understand what so many of my clients had tried to describe. It was subtle, at first. Easy to dismiss.

Maybe it’s stress.
Maybe it’s the weather.
Maybe it’s just “getting older.”

But deep down, I knew my body was shifting — and it was more than just age.

The Quiet Beginning of Hormonal Change

Pre-menopause is sneaky. It doesn’t announce itself with flashing lights. It’s a gradual recalibration, often starting in your early-to-mid 40s. Hormones that once kept everything in rhythm — oestrogen, progesterone — begin to fluctuate like a seesaw. One month you feel fine, the next you're weepy, irritable, anxious. Your sleep gets lighter. Your patience thinner. Your energy, unpredictable. And all of this… affects your hair.

Why Hair Loss Happens Before Menopause Hits

What most people don’t realise is that oestrogen plays a key role in keeping our hair thick, shiny, and rooted. As levels begin to drop, even slightly, the protective effect diminishes. 

And if progesterone dips too, testosterone becomes more dominant — which means increased DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles and shortens the growth cycle. The result?

-Hair that falls out faster

-Regrowth that’s slower and finer

-A scalp that suddenly feels more exposed

-And a creeping anxiety that something’s out of your control

-Add in chronic stress, disrupted sleep, low iron, or thyroid issues — and it’s no wonder so many of us begin to panic quietly, feeling like we’re losing more than just hair.

But It’s Not Just Physical, Is It?

Hair loss is more than a cosmetic issue. For women, it can feel like a slow erasure of identity. We don’t talk about it enough. We try to mask it with clever styling or supplements we found online. And while self-care helps, this is a deeper transformation — hormonal, emotional, and existential. You’re not just watching your hair change. You’re watching yourself change.And it can feel incredibly lonely if no one talks about it honestly.

What Helped Me — and What Might Help You Too 

What helped me most was understanding that I’m not broken — I’m evolving.
And there are ways to support that evolution, gently and holistically. 

At DERMESTHETICA, I don’t just offer aesthetic treatments — I offer the kind of care I wish I’d had earlier: care that listens to the whole woman, not just her symptoms. Hair thinning during pre-menopause can feel like one more frustrating change among many, but I believe it’s something we can address with compassion, science, and a holistic approach.

One of the most effective ways I’ve found to support both myself and my clients through this stage is by combining in-clinic regenerative treatments with targeted at-home care:

💧 We begin with the scalp — the foundation of healthy hair.
Using HydraFacial technology, I deep-cleanse and exfoliate the scalp to unclog follicles, remove build-up, and boost blood flow. This creates the perfect environment for stronger, fuller hair to grow.

💉 Then we go deeper with regenerative therapies:
Microneedling with mesotherapy cocktails or exosomes helps to stimulate the scalp, activate dormant follicles, and encourage healthy regrowth. Injectable mesotherapy using Revitacare Haircare nourishes the scalp with vitamins, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to promote long-term results.

🍃 And at home, we support the internal picture.
I personally recommend the Hush & Hush DeeplyRooted system — a clinically backed supplement range including capsules, shampoo, serum, and conditioner. These products are designed to support hormonally driven hair loss from the inside out, addressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and nutrient imbalances linked to thinning hair in midlife.

Together, these treatments don’t promise a miracle — but they do offer a real, grounded plan to support your hair, your hormones, and your sense of self through this transformative stage.

To Every Woman Walking This Path

If you’re feeling confused, frustrated, or even grieving what used to be, I see you.
I’m right here with you.
And there are ways through this that don’t involve shame, silence, or giving up.

Let’s talk. Let’s share. Let’s support one another.

Because pre-menopause isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of a new phase.
And we get to choose how we meet it.

With warmth, 

Marlena 

Aesthetic Therapist & Founder of Dermesthetica