Really? As if you don't have enough to deal with during your seemingly endless sleepless nights – courtesy of bouts of insomnia, hot flashes, mood swings, and lack of interest in sex - but now you're losing your hair!?!

Although understanding that it happens to all women during menopause helps a little, it really doesn't take the full sting away.

There's nothing worse than seeing the amount of hair near the shower drain grow larger, as your ponytail begins to require more and more wraps of the elastic to hold it in place. As if the little bit of extra belly fat didn't already make you feel unattractive, now you have less hair, too? Thanks menopause!

But wait! We do have some good news! You didn’t think this article would be all “doom and gloom,” now did you?

While you can’t completely halt the frustrating occurrence of hair loss in the magical world of menopause, we do have some simple solutions that can help you “fight the good fight” and slow this unwelcomed process a bit.

Once menopause hits, the amounts of progesterone and estrogen in your body begin to slowly fade into the distance. These hormones play an important role in many of your body's systems, from how you digest food and store fat to your mental health.

Plus, they obviously effect the amount of hair on your head as well. In addition, when those two hormones begin to drop, your androgen levels begin to rise.

Androgen is mainly known as a male reproductive hormone, although women have it (as well as testosterone) in their bodies as well, just in lower levels. When menopause hits, your androgen levels go up a bit, just enough to affect your hair.

It's a hair loss double whammy! But on a positive note (or as positive as it can be), you'll usually just lose volume overall. Most women don't end up with bald patches. Thank goodness!

Ok, so how do you “fight the good fight” and not let menopausal hair loss consume your life? The best thing is that you don't have to watch those hairs continually fall out of your head.

Instead, you can proactively take control to ensure that you hang onto your follicles for dear life - or at least lose as few of them as possible! Here are a few tricks of the trade that will help you keep your locks (and your sanity):

It pains us to say it, but heat styling does a number on even the healthiest hair. And it's even worse for hair that's been thinned by the hands of menopause.

Instead of using a hair dryer, curling iron, or straightener every day, allow your hair to air dry, and take a break from the heat.

Take advantage of your natural texture. Not only will you save time, but your hair will grow in a bit stronger.

Everyone loves Biotin! There are a number of supplements out there designed to strengthen your hair and nails.

Biotin is one of the most common, although supplements that contain combinations of vitamins and minerals work just as well, if not better.

They'll make your hair, nails, and skin extremely healthy and help you feel less self-conscious about any hair loss you do experience.

We know it’s easier said than done. But did you know that stress and hair loss often go hand in hand?

When you're stressed out all the time, your entire system suffers, and you may see the number of those strands on top of your head shrink in number. When you get your work-life balance under control, your hair and body will rebound.

Speaking of health, eating a healthy diet, one filled with plenty of fruits, veggies, and the right types of lean meats and whole carbohydrates will positively affect your overall wellness, including your hair.

Make sure to drink plenty of water as well, and your hair will thank you!

Of course, these are just a few of many suggestions for brushing away the stress of menopausal hair loss. We understand that no one wants to wave goodbye to their beautiful locks thanks to menopause, so taking advantage of a couple of these tips – or finding other solutions that work for you, like an all-natural hormone-balancing menopausal support tea – will do wonders!

While menopause will affect your hair, it doesn’t have to consume your life. Remember, it’s your hair, so you’re in charge!