Q I am in my late forties and have thinning hair – are hair extensions the solution?

Debbie, Leeds

A In a word, no. If you have thinning hair, adding hair extensions is possibly the worst thing you can do.

Thinning hair can be caused by a number of factors, and given your age, it may have something to do with your hormones. As you approach or enter the menopause, levels of oestrogen fall, and this can affect hair growth and the rate at which it falls out. Other contributing factors could be low iron levels or a hereditary predisposition.

The best, most practical thing to do is to have your hair cut as short as you can bear it, in a soft, layered style. If you have thin hair and you wear it long, the weight makes it look flat and even thinner. Imagine adding extensions to this; what little hair you have would be dragged down by the add-ons.

A light, layered cut, on the other hand, will add lift and volume. Wash your hair daily with a good volumising shampoo; Redken has an excellent range for fine hair, and I also like John Frieda’s Luxurious Volume Thickening Shampoo (£5.49 from Boots).

Please e-mail your beauty questions to sarah.vine@thetimes.co.uk

Times recommends

• Live chat: Thrifty ways to update your winter wardrobe
• Is anybody out there really listening?
• Nutrition Q&A: Will eating late make me fat?