My Thoughts On Nioxin
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Sometimes you want to stand out: with those killer heels, that statement lipstick, the interesting hair that invites questions. Other times, you don’t want any fuss – you just want to blend in. In which case, a spray to cover bald spots and thinning hair is VERY handy.
Hair loss can reduce self-esteem, trigger anxiety/depression and make you scared to socialize, even with close friends. And no matter how great the thinning hair products you’re using to treat it, it can be a while before you see visible results.
So any hair care products that can alleviate the fear and shame of alopecia and bald spots – if only for an hour – can be a real gift.
Here’s how a fine and thinning hair concealer spray helped me get through the festive period a few years back, plus some other popular cover-ups for bald spots…whatever your hair type.
A few years ago, I needed to blend in at some Christmas gatherings – a work party, a girls’ night out, a family reunion… y’know, festive stuff. I still had a relatively full head of hair then, aside from one medium-sized patch at the back.
I hadn’t yet worked up the courage to tell people about my alopecia areata; so I was relying on strategically placed hairclips across my thinning hair to keep my secret safe. Of course, at that time of year, the weather had other ideas.
As soon as I stepped out the door, a gust of wind would send my hard work out with it. If I wore a hat, I couldn’t take it off when I arrived at the restaurant like a hair-bearer could. Instead, I’d have to beeline it to the bathroom, where I could remove the hat in peace before carefully rearranging my clips.
Sometimes, I ended up sitting through the entire evening in my party dress and woolly hat. Bit of a strange look.
Christmas came early when I found hair thickener in a can: a L’Oréal spray that’s made to cover grey hair between coloring treatments or to cover hair extension tracks with the customer’s natural hair color.
As well as covering gray roots, it’s also designed to help those with a fine and thinning hair type and to conceal bald spots: starting at the ‘root’ of the problem and giving the appearance of thicker hair…and real hair!
I wondered if I could use this hair thickener to hide my bald patches, too. It seemed different from the cover-up sprays of red-faced men in cheesy Rogaine ads. This was a thinning hair care product that lots of women used – and praised – so I was willing to give it a try.
Rest assured, this clever concealer and hair thickener is much more than spray paint for your head. It’s a lightweight formula of dyes and nanofibres, for seamless blending with the hair and the hair color you’ve already got.
This plumps up and thickens your thinning hair, providing coverage over your bald spots when you need it most. It’s instant. And effective. And pretty subtle, if you use the right amount – it actually looks like real hair!
Note: Since the hair thickener clings to existing strands, it’s probably best for those with hair thinning rather than those with widespread bald spots. But if you’ve got smallish bald patches, this natural looking concealer can work wonders for the illusion of thicker hair. At least, it did for me.
BTW, I’ve no connection to L’Oréal other than cringing at all those “You’re Worth It” ads with Jennifer Aniston and their made-up “science bit” when I was growing up. I just found this thinning hair spray to be really useful to cover bald spots.
But the other hair thickener products in this post could be equally as effective, if not more so.
L’Oréal’s range of patch-covering fine and thinning hair sprays give you:
+ It’s very effective. The dark brown color I chose didn’t quite match my auburn natural hair color, but it still did a great job of camouflaging my bald spot – even when my thinning hair was too short to layer over it.
– It’s fine from far away but… if you don’t use the right amount, close up it might look a bit like you’ve turned to dark brown shoe polish for help. Plus, although it has a lightweight formula, it also can also be a bit flaky on dry hair. So if you have very short hair and are covering larger bald spots with the hair spray, don’t let people get too near your noggin!
+ It lasts for ages. Until the next time you shampoo your hair, in fact – so if you don’t wash it every day, you can enjoy the hair spray benefits for longer. Especially useful for summer festivals!
– Unless it’s a rainy festival, of course. Because the hair thickener spray is more “water resistant” than “waterproof” and if your head gets soaked, you could be dealing with a streaky dark brown mascara effect. All down your face and neck. Not the look you intended for those party pics.
+ It comes off easily. Fortunately, there’s not much scrubbing involved when you do want to remove it. A quick shampoo or a dab with some baby wipes and it’s bye, bye dye.
– It comes off a little too easily. Like all over your bed sheets and pillow cases. Because even though the thinning hair spray lasts a couple of days, the hair color residue still rubs off on pillow cases at night. So take it off before bed, and wash your hands free from hair color after each use.
Shake the can of hair spray well. At first, hold it 8 inches from the patch and spray the lightweight formula over your bald spots or thinning areas before patting dry any excess residue.
If you want thicker hair coverage, hold the can an inch or two closer and cover bald spots as directly as you can. Practice makes perfect…you’ll figure out the right amount eventually! Best applied on dry hair for visible results.
Again, apply the hair thickener to dry hair. Shake the can, then hold it 4–6 inches from the thinning areas of your scalp. Spray both the root and partly up the length of the hair to blend the colors. Pat dry.
Et voilà, as those Parisians say – L’Oréal to the rescue for your thinning hair!
If you don’t fancy L’Oréal thinning hair spray, bear the following in mind when shopping for a hair thinning or bald spot concealer.
You don’t want the world to know you’re wearing a spray concealer to cover bald spots, just like you don’t want people to know you’re wearing a wig to hide your hair loss.
This one ties into the above point. Because if you’re a pale blonde with a big ol’ patch of dark brown spray on your head, you ain’t taking the subtle approach! A lighter skin tone will match lighter sprays and so on. So look for a spray to cover bald spots that gives you a wider palette for blending with your existing hair.
To avoid damaging your existing hair strands, look for a thinning hair spray that’s made from all natural ingredients. The best ones have natural fibres in them (like human hair and Keratin fibers) that blend easily with the rest of your thinning hair.
The best sprays to cover bald spots and hair thinning will do so for an entire day… or even two. You want to have to scrub it off at night rather than it disappearing in the midst of seducing your crush from work. So always look for one that’s long-lasting, and waterproof.
Magic Root Cover Up is the only bald patch concealer I’ve used. And for me, it was a great product; it worked out just fine.
But there are other plenty of other hair thinning products available for men and women, some of which get glowing reviews for their ability to cover bald spots and add volume to thin hair.
Hair loss powders get a good rep nowadays for disguising bald spots, thanks to some serious static electricity bonding by negatively or positively charged hair fibers for thinning hair. (Ooh, magic!) Most brands have several shades to match your natural shade – from dark brown to grey hair and for men and women.
According to this small study, participants reported “improved hair volume and increased perceptions of confidence and attractiveness” after applying natural hair fibers for thinning hair, while 92.5% of the men and women were highly satisfied with the hair fibers’ color match capacities and scalp coverage.
Toppik is one of the leading hair building fibers to cover bald spots and I’ve written a full review about Toppik fibers here. Or, for more natural hair fiber brands, like Boldify hair fibers, and to read how hair fibers for thinning hair actually work, check out this post.
These hair thickener products usually dye the patch and also contain real hair fibers to give the appearance of instantly thicker hair. I think they rub off a little too easily though, so I’d choose hair fibers that you can sprinkle over your roots or thinning hairline instead.
If you’re worrying about thinning hair and a visible scalp, mineral makeup could be your key to covering those bald spots and areas of thinning hair. Its ingredients help it to stick to the skin better, even if you’re sweating – so goodbye, streaks and flakes! Simply apply it to cover bald spots using a makeup sponge. Boldify hairline powder is a popular choice.
Oh, and some hair loss forums rave about using dark brown or black eyeshadow to hide bald patches of alopecia, too. Although I’m not sure how waterproof it would be… so skip this if you live in a very rainy or sweat-inducing climate – no one wants dark brown streaks running down their face!
Check out these top hair thickener products and say “bye bye Baldielocks”!
Toppik tops the list in many alopecia forums, alongide Boldify hair fibres. It’s super easy to apply and cover bald spots – just sprinkle the Keratin natural hair fibres directly onto your bald patches or around your thinning hairline – and watch your new dark brown roots sprout (or whatever color you’ve chosen!)
Toppik’s cruelty free hair thickener for men and women, and for all hair types, doesn’t merely dye the patch like other products. Instead, the electrically charged hair building fibers bond with your natural hair upon contact.
Another leading hair thinning brand for men and women, Caboki uses natural plant fibres to cover bald spots – for a cruelty free, hypoallergenic product that saves you from an irritated or itchy scalp. Perfect for all hair types, including those with a sensitive scalp.
Apparently, these negatively charged fibers for thinning hair create a stronger bond and eliminate the risk of the flat, dull hair that positively charged fibers for thinning hair – found in other concealers – can create. It’s all terribly technical, really. But it sounds good to me!
Caboki reviews are really positive for its hair building fibers – but they recommend covering most of the applicator with tape for a smoother distribution. Alternatively, watch the cheesy product video to perfect the art of natural hair fiber application.
Another massively popular product in the world of hair fibers for thinning hair is XFusion Economy. Like Toppik, the Keratin fibers bond with existing thinning hair strands in some sort of romantic chemical plot.
You can sprinkle on hair building fibers to your heart’s content or use the spray applicator pump nozzle to cover bald spots if you prefer – just make sure to hold it at least 6 inches from your scalp.
Reviews from the men and women who use XFusion suggest that for even better results, get the finishing spray to help the Keratin fibers stick and to give a nice ‘n’ healthy sheen to your locks, whatever your hair type.
Of course, maybe you don’t feel like using a concealer for your bald spots or thinning hair at all. In these cases, I can offer up a few ideas:
Easier said than done, right? Obviously. Otherwise Lady Alopecia wouldn’t exist. But by making a few dietary changes (like avoiding inflammatory foods) and some lifestyle changes to lower stress, you might start to see regrowth.
And don’t neglect your scalp, either. Use the best products for its health, with all natural ingredients and essential oils, and go for a head massage as often as you can.
You can even make yourself up some DIY hair care treatments using natural oils like neem and a few drops of essential oils to boost scalp circulation further. Go on, you deserve it. (Or should I say, “Because you’re worth it”?!)
It’s what I did for years and although I eventually got sick of styling and wearing them, wigs gave me an enormous confidence boost at the time.
Whether you choose synthetic or human hair wigs, full headpieces or extensions, you can cover bald spots entirely with natural hair… even if it ain’t yours.
I now have a full drawer of headscarves, for when I need to cover my baldness all day long. They give me a splash of color and I always get compliments for them!
I love them so much, in fact, that I started making and selling my own. These scarves are now my best way to feeling confident in my alopecia.
If you’re sick of constantly worrying about your bald spots showing, do something that puts you back in control. Shave all your hair off, like I did. Nothing to hide, so no need for a concealer. ’Nuff said.
That study on hair fibers I mentioned stated there were no adverse effects for the men and women who applied them. However, I’m not sure I could say the same for thinning hair sprays – it’s an awful lot of strong and potentially harmful chemicals to be spritzing on your already damaged hair!
I’d stick to products with more natural ingredients and fewer harmful chemicals when you can – here are some of my favorite shampoo options and my top natural hair serums.
I guess it depends on what you hope you use it for, and how extensive your bald patches are. See my Buyer’s Guide section for more.
Yes, the products I’ve mentioned here are safe for all hair types, for men and women, and come with a range of natural hair color options, too.
My bald spot spray covered my bald spots and helped my confidence during the holiday season. But I made sure to nip it in the bud come January, as I didn’t want to rely on it too much.
Why? Well, just like I wouldn’t recommend teasing and freezing your hair into place with hairspray on a continuous basis, I can’t advocate daily use of these products, either.
Because with all those harmful chemicals, you’re not doing your existing thinning hair any favors. And although the Magic Root Cover Up is ammonia and peroxide-free, and the other options use natural fibres, I still don’t like what they could do to hair that’s already in a weakened state. (Psst…to protect chemically treated and colored hair, you could also try Nioxin.)
I wouldn’t recommend root touch-up spray as a more permanent solution for covering bald spots or thinning hair. But rest assured, it DOES make a great quick fix in times of crisis!
My advice? Keep a bottle in the bathroom for special occasions, when you don’t want to worry about your hair for a change. The rest of the time, let those bald spots breathe!
Forget about blending in, prepare to stand out, and let yourself shine.
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Alopecian. Yoga Teacher. Copywriter. Here to share information, offer support and show people the adventures that can lie in hair loss. I’m proud to have alopecia and I want to help others embrace their baldness, too!
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I’m Emma. I’ve had alopecia for 24 years and I’m here to inform/hopefully empower people like me! Read my full story here. But I’m not a doctor, so any advice here is based on my own research and experience. I’m also in a few affiliate programs – see my disclaimer page for more. Or contact me here. Also, why not join a thousand fellow alopecians and get my-semi regular hair about life with irregular hair?
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24 responses
Do you think using the L’Oréal could cause any more damage to the patch? Thank you
Hi Michelle, thanks for your question! To be honest, I don’t think spraying such high levels of chemicals regularly on your bald patch is a good idea. As hair needs a healthy scalp environment to grow, it’s best to avoid using too many products that could irritate or dry out the scalp. However, if you’re using it for special occasions – like weddings, or nights out – I don’t see the harm in using the spray from time to time. That’s what I did anyway! But as my patch grew bigger I knew I didn’t want to keep using the spray…so I began wearing headscarves instead. I hope that helps!
Love the joy and openness with which you write about a topic that people feel a lot of shame about, definitely alleviated some of that feeling for me today, I know this article is pretty old now but hope you are thriving out there!
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback (and the virtual coffee, too!) I’m really happy to hear that reading this has lessened those feelings of shame for you (we have enough to deal with, without beating ourselves up too…but of course, that’s easier said than done, right?!) Anyway, know that you’re not alone and that you can always reach out if you need support. I’m thriving as much as my bald head and postpartum hormones allow me to, some days they don’t allow at all, but that’s ok! Sending lots of love and thank you again for your kind words. Take good care xxx
Will youkeep my email address for me and thank you
Sorry Mary, I’m not sure what you mean??
I’m type one diabetic with thyroid problems and my hair been going thin for a long time nothing helped I had exstsions in but they have fell out of the side leaving a big bold patch and I bought topik but there’s no hair there for it to cling to what else could I use please help I’m so embarrassed
Hi Alex, I’m really sorry to hear about your thinning hair and your other struggles, too…sounds like you’ve been going through an incredibly tough time and I’m sorry this is happening to you. In your case, yes, hair fibers probably won’t work (I also had too big a patch to try Toppik). What about the concealer spray I mention, from L’Oreal? That’s the one that helped me!
Otherwise, you can try to treat your hair loss in other ways…like going on an anti-inflammatory diet, or perhaps trying a hair thinning shampoo. Bearing in mind there’s no miracle cures here but treating your scalp with natural ingredients that are a little kinder to it, is a good way to start!
And feel free to join my monthly newsletter, where I continue to share latest treatments, alopecia news and advice.
All the very best!
Emma x
Hi! Did you see Topik now also has a cover up spray? It’s great
Hi Grace! Oh thanks for sharing…I didn’t realize they did a spray too, will check it out! Thanks so much. so
Great site!!! Great information!!! Thank you for all that you do to help us fellow AA sufferers. I just ordered some Revita, hopeful that it will help me get thru this latest episode that started 14 months ago at Christmas (worse one in 25 years). Im also on second week of the peppermint oil, as The standard steroid shots just dont seem to be working well like they always did in past episodes- so, decided trying recommended different treatments. Thank you again and drive on with the mission! James H.
Hi James, thanks so much for your positive feedback – I really appreciate it. (Psst…if you wish to support the site, you can do so here!) I hope Revita works as well for you as it did for me, and good luck with the PEO, too! A great call to go more natural, instead of with those steroid shots. Good on you! And wishing you all the very best with your journey, take care!
Emma / Lady Alopecia 🙂
Hi Emma,
I’m 55 and experienced hairloss after the pandemic hit. I thought it was just stress, but it’s a year later, and no change. It’s made me feel depressed. Then I feel bad for feeling that way when people have died, lost their jobs etc… its ‘only’ hair, right? I’m looking into PRP or PRF therapy right now as its shown some promise for hairloss. Thanks again for all the great info!
Hi Tracy,
Thanks so much for your comment and I’m very sorry for the late response…I just had a baby a few months ago so I’ve been taking a little break!
My heart goes out to you for your recent experience. It’s been a tough enough 2 years, without having to deal with hair loss also! As I wrote in this post, rates of hair loss have risen higher than ever as a result of the pandemic, so you’re not alone. And try not to beat yourself up about feeling depressed about it…sure, I can look back now and say it’s ‘only’ hair, but I wasn’t always that way! You’re totally entitled to your feelings and emotions and they are very real. There’s absolutely no suffering scale here, just our own experiences and yours is no ‘less’ than anyone else’s. So please be kind to yourself, and to your body as much as you can.
Wishing you all the very best with the therapies you’ve mentioned and if you’re interested in a holistic appraoch, feel free to check out my post on nutrition and this one on oils.
All the very best, Tracy. Take good care of yourself.
Emma /Lady Alopecia xxx
I have alopecia for 21 years the only thing that works is the Rogaine extra strength for men I’ve tried everything for my alopecia my dermatologist said thats the only thing that works a little Rogaine
Hi Roberta, thanks for sharing your experience! I personally wouldn’t advocate the use of Rogaine products as they contain minoxidil, which can have pretty nasty side effects (headaches, dizziness, thinning of the scalp and long-term immune system problems). Unfortunately, so many dermatologists will prescribe minoxidil as it can be a ‘quick fix’ – but at what cost? These products only address the symptom (hair loss) rather than the root cause – which could be anything from hormone imbalance to gut inflammation to stress. I only share this because I used to use minoxidil – and wish someone had told me about its negative side effects before.
Unfortunately, your dermatologist is being a little narrow-minded to say ‘the only thing that works’ is Rogaine. That’s simply not true. Alopecia can be triggered by lots of different things so it will take different things to encourage regrowth. A few examples: I’ve heard personal accounts from plenty of alopecians who’ve found that switching to an AIP anti-inflammatory diet has reversed their symptoms. Nioxin worked for me in the past. Plus, if you read my post on peppermint oil, you’ll see it can be just as effective as minoxidil, without the toxic side effects.
I just share this with you to offer up some more natural alternatives, or a holistic approach, rather than using something that’s so chemical-heavy. But of course, you have to do what feels right for you!! Thank you again for sharing your experience and wishing you all the very best.
Emma / Lady Alopecia
I absolutely LOVE Loreal Root Cover For hiding my scalp. However, I truly believe it has caused increased hair loss. I have decided to only use it on special occasions.
Hi Louise, thanks so much for your comment! Yes, I see your point – I didn’t love using so many chemicals on my bald patch, either. But I did love having it as my “secret weapon” for special occasions like you said! 🙂
Love that I found this site. Recently diagnosed with alopecia (they are guessing stress induced) it has been a very emotional month for me. I am trying and learning to be more accepting of it to hopefully help reduce the even greater stress I have from going through this… but I think I’ll feel more comfortable disguising it with sprays for now. Baby steps 🙂 Thank you for this though…. it’s comforting to know that I’m not a “lepper”.
Hi Shontel,
I really appreciate your lovely comment, thank you so much! It’s why I’m here. 🙂 And I’m so sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis, I know how frustrating it is to be told it’s stress-induced and feel like there’s little you can do to stop it. But rest assured, the hair will often grow back independently without any treatment – and to feel like you have some control over the condition, you can always treat yourself to a nightly scalp massage with coconut, neem or castor oil! And there’s nothing wrong with disguising it for now while you’re not comfortable. Do what works for you, you’ll get there! Never feel like you’re alone or that there’s something wrong with you – alopecia is in fact incredibly common and since starting this site I’m realising just how many people – even some close friends of mine – either have it or know someone who has. Chin up, you’re doing amazingly. And thanks again for your message, it means a lot. x
Really helpful to have found this website. I’ve had alopecia areata for many years now but it’s currently in the worst condition it’s ever been which is becoming harder to disguise. Just wondering if you have ever tried Chinese medicine herbs or acupuncture? I’m currently looking into this option as not keen on going back to the gp for a dermatology referral. I had a successful round of steroid injections a few years ago but the patches are so large and joined up now around the whole bottom of my head that I’m not sure what other options would be available to me. It definitely impacts on my stress and anxiety levels.
Hi Laura,
I’m so sorry to hear about your AA getting worse. I know how bloody frustrating it is – I myself was perfectly happy with my teeny mohawk until postpartum hair loss took even that away from me! Yep, I’ve tried acupuncture a few times, but it didn’t make any difference, unfortunately. I did get some medicinal herbs when travelling in Indonesia before and they helped out in the short-term but the patches came back eventually. For me, the most beneficial thing was going to see a Functional Medicine doctor, who took a holistic approach to treat the root cause. I’ve long favoured natural remedies (as I mention here) and had terrible side effects from those steroid injections you mention…also don’t think they’re a long-term solution as you’re not meant to get more than a couple of rounds without them damaging the scalp. I was diagnosed with gut dysbiosis, meaning I’d inflammation present and a couple of food intolerances. Since starting an anti-inflammatory diet and taking key supplements, I was able to reverse this and saw a lot of hair growth (but I fell off the wagon when pregnant and started having gluten again).
I’d advise exploring other options as you suggested. Like going to an FM doctor, a nutritionist, taking up a stress-relieving activity to lower inflammation or using all-natural products like Revita (full post here!) You can start to treat your AA with a gentler, more long-term strategy than with the ‘quick fixes’ your dermatologist recommended. I’m not a doctor, I can only speak from my experience, but that’s an approach I’d recommend for you, especially if you’re feeling stressed or anxious. And in the meantime, there’s always my headscarves, or my yoga for alopecia course, if you like!
Take care Laura, all the very best.
Emma / Lady Alopecia xo
Hey, just want to say you’re great! I have traction/stress alopecia. Been bald at the sides of my head 15 years now. I’m 38 now. I am still trying to convince myself it’s not that bad I’m not that bothered about it but the truth is I am. As I’m getting older it’s bothering me a lot more, plus I’ve noticed it’s starting to spread into my hairline at the front of my head so it’s getting a lot more noticeable. The sprays are great but like you said I was getting into a habit of wearing it every day and knew it couldn’t be doing me any good. I am thinking of getting a nice cut to stop me from wearing my hair up but I just can’t help it. I don’t think I look good with my hair down, my face is small and round so in my head I look thinner when it’s up, jeez I can’t win with myself 😣 anyway sorry for the rant
Hi Emma! Thank you so much for your lovely comment and for sharing your story. I know what it’s like to watch the patches spread and to feel helpless about it. And even though I’ve come to terms with it, right now my hair is going through a serious shedding phase and it can be so frustrating (not to mention, seriously annoying to clear up after – my poor bathroom floor! 😉 ) I would say go for the chop if you think it would cause you to worry about it less during the day. Talk to a hairdresser about a funky style so you can wear your hair down while emphasising your best features. They know what they’re doing! And it might give you huge relief to not have to tie it up every day or to apply sprays. I know I’m much happier now that I stopped trying to hide it…but that’s just my experience. I wish you all the best with whatever you decide!! x