Perimenopause Hair Texture Changes

Each week we spotlight an unexpected (and frustrating) symptom of menopause that no one warned you about. Because menopause is so much more than hot flashes and missed periods.

This week’s symptom: Hair texture changes (coarseness, dryness, or loss of curl)

You look in the mirror and think, Wait… was my hair always this frizzy? Or maybe your once-bouncy curls are limp, your straight hair has turned wiry, or it suddenly takes twice the effort to manage your ends.

Hair texture changes are one of those sneaky symptoms that often get dismissed or blamed on aging or styling—but for many women, it’s a hormonal story.

What’s going on?

Estrogen and progesterone help keep your hair full, shiny, and manageable. When these hormones drop in perimenopause and beyond, your hair’s natural oil production slows down, and the follicles can shrink or become more fragile.

This shift can lead to:

• Dry, brittle strands
• Loss of natural curl pattern
• Hair that’s thinner, rougher, or harder to style
• Sudden frizz or increased breakage

Androgen dominance (a relative increase in male hormones like testosterone due to falling estrogen) may also play a role by changing how hair grows—or doesn’t grow.

You’re not alone.

Up to 40% of women experience noticeable hair changes by menopause, and texture change is often one of the first signs. But it’s rarely talked about in the doctor’s office unless you bring it up yourself.

What can you do?

• Use hydrating shampoos and conditioners that are sulfate-free and protein-balanced
• Avoid heat styling or harsh treatments (chemical straighteners, bleach)
• Try scalp massage or rosemary oil to support circulation and follicle health
• Look into collagen (I take Puori and make my own bone broth from chicken bones), biotin, or marine protein supplements (but choose wisely and check for evidence-based formulas)
• Consider HRT if hair thinning or texture issues are part of a broader hormone decline pattern. Just be sure to test your testosterone to see if you’re androgen dominant.

What worked for our girls?

I haven’t experienced any texture changes, but I also started bioidentical hormone therapy while still in perimenopause. That being said, some of the women in our community say they started rotating in a richer conditioner and stopped over-washing. Some supplemented with collagen and upgraded their hair brush to a gentler boar-bristle one. But what really helped? Supporting hormones overall. If the driver of this symptom is the loss of hormones, then replenishing is a simple solution. But HRT isn’t for everyone, so if you’re not comfortable with taking them, try some of the other tips.

Want to learn about more strange symptoms that can show up during the menopause transition? Check out this article for a deeper dive or for a quick recap, watch this Instagram reel.And if you’ve ever felt these symptoms, hit reply or tell us your story in our free Facebook group Biohacking Menopause. You just might help another woman feel seen.