Transcend Hair and Body

“I’ve been going down a bit of a rabbit hole lately… Estradiol, HRT, and what actually happens to our hair and body as we age.”

I’ll be honest—this isn’t just professional curiosity.

It’s personal too.

Over the past few years, I’ve seen so many women (myself included) experience:

• Thinning hair

• Dryness that won’t budge

• Texture changes

• Increased shedding

And the conversation almost always circles back to one thing…

Hormones.

💡 Let’s talk Estradiol:

Estradiol—one of the main forms of estrogen—plays a much bigger role than most of us were ever taught.

When it declines (especially in perimenopause and menopause), it can affect:

• Hair growth cycle

• Scalp health

• Oil production

• Skin + tissue health overall

🌿 What I’ve been learning (and this surprised me):

Doctors like Dr. Rachel Rubin, a urologist specializing in women’s sexual health, are speaking very openly about the benefits of topical/vaginal estradiol cream.
(There’s a great podcast with Mel Robbins and Dr Rubin).

And not in a scary way—in a supportive, body-restoring way.

She shares that low-dose estradiol cream can help:

• Restore tissue health and elasticity

• Improve dryness and irritation

• Support urinary and vaginal health

• Reduce recurrent UTIs and Urinary frequency

(even for your grandmother)

• Improve overall comfort and quality of life

And one of the biggest takeaways?

- It’s localized, meaning it works primarily in the tissue where it’s applied

-It’s considered a no risk and only benefits

✨ Why this matters (beyond just symptoms):

So many women have been told:

“This is just part of aging.” Including me.

But what I’m learning is…

We’ve been under-informed, not unsupported.

💇‍♀️ From behind the chair:

When hormones shift, hair shifts too.

That’s why I’m exploreing:

• HRT

• Estradiol support (when appropriate)

• Minoxidil

• Scalp health routines

• Gentle, organic hair care to support scalp health

And when these are aligned…

✨ Hair often becomes more manageable

✨ The scalp feels healthier

✨ And confidence starts to come back

🤍 My perspective:

This isn’t about “anti-aging.”

It’s about:

Understanding your body

Having options

And not suffering in silence

If you’re in this phase and thinking:

“Why didn’t anyone tell me this?”

You’re not alone.

I’m learning too—and I’m always happy to share what I’m discovering along the way. 🤍

Beautiful ginger hair! Created with Goldwell color.

My life began to change when I started questioning what I believed was real.

For a long time, many of the things I held as truth were actually stories my mind created from past experiences and my upbringing.

Without realizing it, I was looking at life through the lens of protecting myself from being hurt again.

But living that way only created more hurt.

When I began to see those thoughts for what they were — stories, not necessarily reality — something inside me shifted.

I started looking at life differently.

Instead of immediately reacting when something felt hurtful, I began pausing.

If someone was upset with me, rather than becoming defensive, I would try to listen and respond with something like:

“Thank you for sharing that with me. I’ll have to contemplate that. I’m sorry that hurt you.”

That simple shift changed a lot for me.

From that place, my life began to take beautiful and unexpected turns.

Today I find myself with a partner who is truly wonderful, a beautiful business that brings me joy, amazing friendships, and enough income to support and sustain me in a way that allows me to live with gratitude rather than fear.

And for that, I am deeply grateful.

Sometimes the biggest changes in our lives begin with a small shift in how we see things.

As my heart breaks,
there is a silent grief that sits deep inside.

Life goes on —
for most, it has to.

But loss is layered.
It doesn’t move in a straight line.
It doesn’t make sense on command.

There is the ache.
The confusion.
The questions that never quite settle.

And still — appointments are kept.
Hair grows.
Roots come in.

They sit in my chair
after losing a mother…
a father…
a child.

A sister.
A brother.
A cousin who felt like a sibling.
A husband or wife.
An aunt who helped raise them.
An uncle who was steady and strong.
A best friend who knew everything.

Grief doesn’t discriminate.

I hear it all.
I see it in their eyes.
I feel it in the way their shoulders drop
when I wrap the cape around them.

Sometimes the stories spill out
between the rhythm of scissors.
Sometimes tears fall quietly
into the sink as I wash their hair.

Sometimes they don’t say anything at all —
and the silence feels sacred.

I wonder —
how do they carry this?
How do they stand upright
when the ground has shifted beneath them?

And quietly, inside myself,
I ask another question:

How can I take this pain away —
even just for a few minutes?

Do I distract?
Talk about something light?
Movies. Weather. The new café in town.

Or do I listen?
Let the story circle again.
Let their person live in the telling.

Sometimes the answer isn’t clear.

Sometimes all I can offer
is warm water,
steady hands,
a gentle touch,
a mirror that reflects back
someone still here.
Still breathing.
Still worthy of care.

Maybe we don’t take the pain away.

Maybe we simply hold it
long enough
that they can rest.

I see it every day.

And I still wonder —
how do they carry on?

~Debbie Doolittle
Transcend Hair

Some exciting news! Transcend is EXPANDING to include a private salon suite available in a peaceful, professional setting in Ithaca, NY. that's perfect for an experienced or up and coming stylist ready to grow their business in a supportive environment. What it includes: ~Private suite ~Styling station + chair~ Shampoo station~ Utilities included (Electric, heat, water, Wi-Fi~ Washer dryer on-site~ Help with marketing and growing your clientele~ Beautiful, clean space with natural light~ 24/7 access. Rent: $950 per month. Great location with free parking and easy access for clients. Be your own boss, set your own hours and create the vibe you love. A Cosmetology License is Required. Please message me if you're interested or have any questions.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our clients and friends!we could not me more grateful for all of you. 🦃🍁❤️🍽

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