Fighting Thinning Hair: Kerastase Initialiste and Bain Stimuliste GL

I've spoken a fair bit about the effects of my contraceptive implant, which I had installed about eight months ago, and finally removed two months ago.  My skin was pretty badly affected, but my biggest concern was (and still is) hair loss.  I estimate about half of my hair has fallen out, and I've gone from having thick hair which needs controlling with anti frizz product, to having hair which is flat and thin and requires a lot of volumising.

It's heartbreaking, particularly since my bright red hair is one of my most noticeable features.

Anyway, my hairdresser and good friend Silvie suggested I try Kerastase's latest treatment product, Initialiste, alongside their classic stimulating shampoo Bain Stimuliste GL, to try to reduce the hair loss and make my hair look and feel thicker.

Initialiste is a scalp serum which claims to make the hair feel thicker, look shinier, and prevent damage via breakage.  After washing and towel drying, I part my hair four times and apply dots of serum along the parting using the pipette.  I then massage my scalp quickly before blow drying.

For me, sticking to the same shampoo and treatment when washing my hair is somewhat novel - I usually have at least four shampoos, conditioners and serums on the go.  But I really feel like the combination of Bain Stimuliste and Initialiste has slowed down the hair loss a little - instead of a large clump of hair coming out every time I wash, it's now only a strand or two.  My hair is also growing back more quickly: my head is currently crowned with a halo of fuzzy red short hairs.

Granted, this hasn't been the most scientific of experiments, and at least part of using these products is psychological, creating reassurance that I'm doing everything I can to help my hair situation.  Whether they're genuinely having an effect or not, they do make me feel better about my hair, which is half the battle at the moment!

Initialiste is expensive, at £40 a bottle, but a little goes a long way, and if your hair is suffering like mine is, it's probably a price you'll happily pay.  Bain Stimuliste GL is expensive for a shampoo, but not for a Kerastaste shampoo, at £16.50.  Feel Unique are currently running a good deal on Kerastase at the moment, with Initialiste costing £34 and Bain Stimuliste GL costing £13.20 with free delivery.