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Menopause hit me hard, and my hair had potentially the roughest ride – although honorary mentions to my skin, sleep, and mood swings. Ah, the joys. But once upon a time, I had what I’d still consider to be (without sounding too vain), a full head of dreamy corkscrew curls.
By my late 40s, though, things had… shifted. What used to be effortless became a full-time job, and now my hair can best be described as just a little sad – the curls need so much more TLC. So, like many other women in my peer group, I’ve just stopped bothering.
This feels like a peculiar kind of self-betrayal. My hair had always been my crowning glory, and I was once that deeply irritating person who could “just wake up like this” and get away with it. No rituals, no strategy and no effort.
All of sudden I was trying everything to resuscitate my curls – if there was such a thing as a defib for follicles, I would have tried it. I've tried everything from thickening shampoos and miracle lotions to supplements, diffusers and prayer. Although some of these (or a combination of them all) helped my hair slightly, it still hovered on the wrong side of “kempt”.
How your hair looks can have a big impact on your confidence, but I didn’t have the time or the finances to undo what I felt was out of my control, so I pitched myself a spot in the “I give up” camp. However, when our senior beauty writer, Florence, asked me if I’d like to try out the Gustav Fouche ‘Love Seat’ treatment that he dishes out to four mid-life women a month, completely free, I was excited, albeit nervous – I hadn’t been in a salon chair for so long.
But I needn’t have been. Gustav, as it turns out, is just the sort of person you want wielding scissors near your face. Warm, engaged, and clearly in love with what he does. I’d gone in ready to surrender entirely, telling him he could do whatever he liked, which I imagine is a hairdresser’s nirvana.
But instead of charging ahead, he asked questions. Lots of them. Likes, dislikes, habits, small details that suggested he wasn’t just cutting hair, he was building a picture. We spent a good 20 minutes talking through cut and colour before he even began.
Then, quite blissfully, I just sat there. Coffee in hand, in a space that managed to feel modern and airy without tipping into the clinical. Friendly, but not overfamiliar.
What is the Gustav Fouche ‘Love Seat’ treatment? How can I experience it?
“The Love Seat is designed to help women who would genuinely benefit from a fresh perspective on their hair,” explains Fouche. Each month, he selects four women to receive a complimentary cut and colour consultation and transformation – for free.
Applications open via Instagram Stories on the 15th of every month and are submitted through direct message. Rather than dramatic seven-hour makeovers, the focus is on creating healthier, more flattering and more manageable hair that improves how women feel day to day.
Kim’s verdict on her menopause makeover
Gustav uses a technique called 3D dry cutting, shaping the hair while it's dry rather than wet. For curly hair, this is a game changer, as it allows him to see exactly how the curls fall naturally and avoids the dreaded post-cut Shirly Temple surprise when it turns out to be a lot shorter than expected.
As someone who colours her hair at home, I also picked up a valuable tip: only colour the roots. Repeatedly applying dye through the lengths can create unnecessary build-up and leave your hair looking flat and over-processed. Four weeks later, I'm still impressed by how natural the colour looks and how well it's covering my greys.
The biggest difference, though, isn't the cut or the colour – it's how I feel. Before the treatment, I wore my hair tied up almost every day to hide thinning areas and minimise frizz. A month later, I still haven't tied it up once.
I left the salon feeling like I'd been reintroduced to a version of myself I'd slowly lost along the way.
Midlife has a habit of shifting your confidence in unexpected ways, but sometimes a small change can make you feel more like yourself again.
Tips for caring for menopausal hair
“During perimenopause and menopause, it's common for the hairline to become finer and for lengths to feel drier, frizzier or more flyaway,” says Fouche. “Focus on nourishing, hydrating products and avoid overloading the hair with heavy silicones, which can build up over time. Just as importantly, look after your scalp with scrubs and serums, as healthy hair starts there.
"If your hair feels harder to manage, prioritise improving its condition before making drastic changes to the cut. Glosses, conditioning services and strengthening treatments like hair Botox can make a real difference to texture and overall hair quality. The most flattering style is always one that works with your natural texture and density, rather than fighting against it.”
Our menopausal hair routine picks
Kim Hawley is the Senior Health & Fitness Tester at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she leads the independent testing of health, fitness, wellness and sleep products using evidence-led protocols and her extensive industry expertise.
With more than 30 years' experience in the health and fitness industry, Kim has worked as a lead personal trainer, fitness instructor and health writer, teaching at some of London's leading health clubs, including The Harbour Club, David Lloyd and The Chelsea Club. Kim has a particular interest in women's health, especially pre-, peri- and post-menopause, and combines hands-on industry experience with rigorous product evaluation. From fitness trackers and smartwatches to home gym equipment, recovery devices, wellness tech, supplements and sleep solutions, she oversees comprehensive testing to help consumers make confident, informed purchasing decisions they can trust.
