This is my hair nine months after sharing that it fell out a few months after starting the peptide semaglutide. Many know this weight-loss peptide as Ozempic.
I want to add that I love semaglutide, and it’s helped me tremendously; however, there can be side effects, such as hair loss.
My hair shed lasted a few months during the fall of 2023 and stopped in January 2024. Once it subsided, my hair was colored and cut on February 20, 2024. I’m using the hair color line as an example of how much my hair has grown over the past eight months. I notice new follicles, which make my crown thicker, and my length is returning.
Therefore, is my hair growing back after using semaglutide, and what did I utilize to help encourage hair re-growth?
This is a follow-up video to the one I released last year: “Ozempic Weight Loss Before and After vs. Gastric Sleeve: Did Semaglutide Ruin My Hair?”
In that video, I shared a detailed accounting of my weight loss journey following the births of my four sons. Make sure to check that video out if you want the whole story.
It’s October 2024, and I’m sharing the hair growth I can see, what products I liked or didn’t care for, the hair treatments I’ve received, and the reality of regrowing hair at 42 years old.
As a side note, my under eyes were treated with Curenex Eye mesotherapy in my skin and wellness app yesterday, and they are currently recovering.
WHAT I USED FOR HAIR LOSS
As we age, our hair naturally thins based on our genetics. I’ve always had very thick, long hair naturally. I’ve never had to do anything special; it simply grows, and it’s one of those physical aspects I’ve taken for granted.
I realize you see a lot of hair and wonder, “Why is this girl complaining?”
I completely understand, and although I do have hair, thank goodness, it’s not the same density.
This is an example of how much hair was shed per week during the fall of 2023, and it was incredibly alarming.
I’m reminded of the 1994’ film “Little Women” when Jo March chops her hair off. Her sisters were horrified, with Amy saying, “Oh, Jo, how could you? Your one true beauty!”
My hair has always been my “one true beauty,” so naturally, I wanted it back, and I started buying everything online that claimed to restore my hair.
Here is a laundry list of products I’ve tried over the past nine months:
- ORAL PRODUCTS
- Hers, a prescription Minoxidil oral tablet.
- Hair growth gummies. I tried two: Nature’s Bounty Hair Skin & Nails. And Smarty Pants Prenatal’s.
- Supplements: Bolster Beauty Grow and Behold and Mary Ruth Liquid Hair Vitamin.
- HAIR CARE PRODUCTS
- Grande Hair Peptide Shampoo
- Pura D’Or Anti-thinning Biotin Shampoo & Conditioner
- Bondi Boost HG Shampoo and Conditioner
- Necessaire Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner
- Bolster Beauty Hair Savior Shampoo and Conditioner
- Nioxin #4 Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment
- TOPICAL
- DEVICES
- Current Body LED Hair Regrowth Helmet Code: KAOS-10
- LED Hair Regrowth Helmet from Korea Code: Kaos20
- High-Frequency Wand
- RED Light LED Bed
- HORMONES
- In January 2024, I started Testosterone and Thyroid replacement therapy.
- HAIR TREATMENTS
- I had a scalp treatment at H2O Hair Spa; that video is linked here below.
A few weeks ago, I received the most beautiful Brazilian Blowout treatment.
Ada Garcia Brazilian Blowout Specialist Instagram
DONT FORGET TO JOIN THE NATURAL KAOS APP
TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM
Before discussing what I liked and didn’t like, I want to clarify that I was not balding due to genetics, but rather, I experienced Telogen effluvium.
Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that causes hair to shed rapidly, usually in patches.
- Symptoms Hair loss can be sudden and noticeable, and hair may fall out easily when washed or combed.
- Causes
- Stressful Life Events
- Surgery
- Significant Weight Loss
- Hormonal Changes
- Certain Medications
- Treatment
- Telogen Effluvium is typically reversible once the stressor stops. And 95% of people recover in 2-3 months.
I want to ensure you understand that my hair would likely have returned without my interventions. Therefore, if you experience a massive hair shed from losing weight quickly, I hope this video gives you hope and settles your fears.
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WHICH PRODUCTS DO I STILL USE?
Nine months out, my hair feels much healthier, and I’m more hopeful that my locks will return. With this said, which hair products did I find value in, and which did I stop using?
First, the Oral products:
I want to be fully transparent: I’m horrible at taking vitamins and supplements daily.
- I took the Hers Minoxidil tablet once per week at best. Therefore, I did not follow the protocol; had I, perhaps I would have seen more follicles.
- It was the same with the Nature’s Bounty Hair Skin; I took them sporadically once per week.
- I took the Bolster Beauty Grow and Behold supplement 2 or 3 times per week. By the way, this company has rebranded itself as Caitera.
- I was the most consistent with the Mary Ruth Liquid Hair Vitamin. I went through four bottles this year because squeezing them into my water bottle was easy. I’m currently out of this liquid vitamin, but I saw that Mary Ruth now offers a Hair Growth Max liquid vitamin, which I plan to order.
I didn’t experience any issues with these vitamins. However, I wasn’t consistent with one in particular. Moving forward, I plan to stick to the Mary Ruth liquid vitamins because this product works best for my lifestyle.
Second, the Hair products:
I can’t be sure which of these products worked the best. However, I will tell you which ones I still use and why.
- I like the Grande Hair Peptide Shampoo. It cleanses my hair without causing dryness and provides a good lift. This is a professional-strength Nutra Peptide shampoo that helps to boost hair follicle health. It is infused with Hextapeptide-11 to naturally exfoliate the scalp and improve the appearance for more shiny, healthy-looking hair.
- I thought the formula of the Pura D’Or Anti-thinning Biotin Shampoo & Conditioner was acceptable. However, the second time I used it, the nozzle snapped off. I hated unscrewing the top to use it, so I stopped using it because I had many options to try. Biotin shampoos like this product promote natural hair growth and help combat dryness, breakage, and hair loss.
- I liked the Bondi Boost HG Shampoo and Conditioner because my thinner hair never felt weighed down. This product line is seriously hydrating, sulphate, and silicone-free and will boost hydration while fighting signs of thinning, shedding, and hair loss. I’d prefer it if it came in larger bottles; I don’t like using these small bottles with pumps.
- The Necessaire Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner has a beautiful scent. I like the shampoo. However, I found the conditioner too heavy for my thinner hair. I stopped using the conditioner but would alternate with this shampoo during the week. And I liked the bottles.
- The Bolster Beauty Hair Savior Shampoo and Conditioner has a great formula that has never weighed my hair down. Biotin helps support the hair follicle. Saw Palmetto, Turmeric, and Aloe Vera help reduce thinning while encouraging hair growth. Castor Oil adds brilliance. Rosemary and Peppermint Oils support healthy hair follicles. Cucumber Extract boosts hair strength and shine. The small pump bottle annoyed me, but I just checked, and they have rebranded to Caitera and repackaged. The new squeeze tubes look much better.
- The last hair care product I tested was Nioxin. I purchased system number 4 two months ago, in August 2024. I’m currently using the orange number four for color-treated hair. Nioxin utilizes ingredients like niacinamide, caffeine, biotin, peppermint, and mint oil to target hair thinning & hair loss; they claim that in only 30 days, you will notice new hair growth. Of everything I’ve tested this year, this is my favorite. First, I love the large squeeze bottles. The shampoo is excellent at removing sebum from the scalp, and the conditioner never weighs down my hair. The foam scalp treatment is a bonus because it gives your roots a great lift.
I plan to continue using the Nioxin #4 Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment because it best fits my lifestyle. I enjoy the formula and believe it offers the best value among these options.
Third, the Topical:
I tried using Keeps, a 5% Minoxidil solution, earlier this year, but I stopped using it quickly because it made my scalp look greasy and weighed it down. Due to this experience, I have decided not to use it again. If you choose to use Keeps Minoxidil, I recommend applying it at night and then showering in the morning.
Fourth, the Devices:
Among the devices I have for scalp stimulation, I use my High-Frequency Wandmost frequently. While I’ve tried both LED helmets a few times, I’ve found that visiting my local red light LED bed suits my lifestyle best. This year, I’ve been using the red light LED bed three times a week.
Fifth, Hormone Replacement:
In January, I started hormone replacement therapy. Every three months, I get a testosterone pellet implanted in my backside, which can trigger hair growth. I’m not sure if it’s helping my hair, but it has improved my overall health. I also take a thyroid pill every morning since I have Hashimoto’s. Again, it’s hard to know if either of these hormones has impacted my hair growth, but I wanted to include this information since there could be an effect.
Sixth, Hair treatments:
- Scalp Spa In March, basically, six months ago, I tried one of those new scalp spas so I could experience this amazing ritual and have the provider check my scalp. She said it was healthy and that she could see new hair growth. If you’ve never been to a scalp spa, I highly recommend it, not necessarily for hair growth but for the overall treatment and the visual insights you get from the up-close scalp camera. My scalp was analyzed a month after my hair was colored and three months after the shed was completed.
- Brazilian BlowoutA month ago, in August, I enjoyed a Brazilian Blowout in San Francisco from my friend Ada. She’s found at the Joe Hamer Salon,linked. Ada gave me great insight into my hair, which was dehydrated, rough, and lacked shine.Ada explained that a Brazilian Blowout is a professional hair smoothing treatment that uses a liquid keratin formula to create a protective layer around each hair strand, reducing frizz, enhancing shine, and improving manageability. This treatment became incredibly popular in 2000 due to its ability to transform unruly hair into sleek, shiny locks.
- The Brazilian Blowout Process?
- It begins with washing the hair to remove buildup and open the cuticles. Then, the stylist applies the Brazilian Blowout solution, which contains a blend of keratin and other smoothing ingredients.
- The original Brazilian Blowout formula contained formaldehyde, which was classified as carcinogenic. In response, Brazilian Blowout created a formaldehyde-free alternative called Brazilian Blowout ZERO+. Brazilian Blowout Zero has Zero percent formaldehyde released before, during, or after the treatment, which has reduced the fear-mongering associated with this treatment.
- First, Ada deep-cleaned my hair and scalp with a fantastic hair wash.
- Following, she detangled my hair, which I knew would be crazy because, after the thorough wash, my hair was a jungle.
- Once detangled, she brushed the straitening solution into my hair with a fine comb to coat each strand. Then, it was wrapped in plastic and heated.
- Following the strand marination, she dried my hair.
- Now, it was time to flat iron small sections of hair to set it straight with less frizz.
- You can see that my hair is weighed down and flat. This is when she trimmed the ends of my hair.
- You might think this treatment is complete, but we are returning to the wash basin for another rinse.
- Once the Brazilian Blowout solution was removed from my hair, she coated it with the Brazilian Blowout Deep Conditioning Masque, then wrapped my hair in a towel and placed me under a steamer to infuse this hydration deeper. Look at how fun this hair steamer is!
- After steaming my hair, I returned to the wash basin to rinse this deep conditioning masque. I love this hair masque!
- Then we returned to the chair to dry and style. Ada used the Brazilian Blowout Ionic Bonding Spray, which has a fabulous scent.
- I loved how my hair turned out. It feels much smoother, has fewer tangles, and has added a beautiful shine that my hair lacked.
- I will be at a yoga retreat in Bali the week this video premieres, and I’m excited to see how much easier my hair is to manage in the humidity of Southeast Asia.
- Contact Ada if you live in the Bay area and are interested in this treatment. She has been offering this service for over 15 years and is very well-versed in how to smooth and hydrate your hair safely. Find her Instagram link below and get in touch.
- Brazilian Blowout products for home
- While I was with Ada, she introduced me to a few new hair items I decided to pick up, including:
- The Brazilian Blowout Deep Conditioning Masque
- The Brazilian Blowout Ionic Bonding Spray
- Milbon Strong Hold Hairspray 7. This stuff is intoxicating, holds, and is very flexible; I love it. The Amazon listing says “unscented.” This is false, so don’t buy this if you can’t do scents.
- Ada recommends Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil as her preferred scalp oil. I have tried it a few times and found it can make my scalp oily. As a result, I use it in the evening before early morning yoga sessions, allowing me to wash my hair after it becomes oily and sweaty.
My Future Hair Plans
It’s been a year since I first experienced telegon effluvium, and thankfully, my hair is returning. However, at 42 years old, my hair is far from what it was in my twenties. Many of you know that I’m looking into medical tourism in Turkey for 2025, and one of the procedures I’ve looked at is hair grafts.
Turkey is packed with hair transplant clinics that can provide 5000 grafts with a 98% acceptance rate for approximately $3500. This includes a week’s stay at a five-star hotel, VIP airport transfers, and many other treatments for aftercare.
I have a really tall forehead that continues to elongate as my hairline thins. I can reduce this by getting hair grafts to bring more proportion to my face and thicken up my crown. Additionally, they even do eyebrow hair transplants. Yes, please!
Coincidentally, a recent news program about Turkey hair grafts was shared with me as I was planning this video. Thank you, Neena. I’m sharing it to ease your mind and provide further information.
CBS Hair grafting in Turkey expose.
I visited Turkey in 2018 and thought it was incredible. When we landed in Istanbul six years ago, the airport was a massive marketing campaign for medical tourism, and it has only become more extensive. I will keep you informed on options as I navigate Turkey’s booming medical tourism market. There is so much one can get done in Turkey for a fraction of the cost compared to the US. This is why medical tourism will continue to rise abroad, offering exceptional service for less. You can also visit Turkey, experience the rich culture and fantastic food, and see ancient sites.
Stay tuned for my future hair journey. I promise to openly share the pros and cons of everything I experience. xo- Kim
