The Basic Guide: Hair Care

How I Used ChatGPT to save my hair

Toward the end of 2024, my hair was in the worst state it had ever been. After a year and a half of going through the most stressful events of my life, the trauma had finally reached its literal breaking point. I wrote about my story back in October when I shared about taking Minoxidil. It was also around that time I felt like I hit a plateau because my hair still wasn’t feeling healthy, even with the new growth from taking Minoxidil. I can’t believe it took me so long to think about asking ChatGPT for help.

I found myself sitting at the salon and my hair colorist said that my hair seems to be having more hormonal issues than anything. It was growing, but it was not getting nourishment and support that it really needed to thrive. Around that time I had also just been to my endocrinologist for my regular bloodwork. I had previously been told that I had a strong Vitamin B and D deficiency, so in addition to Minoxidil (I take a 1/2 pill of 2.5 mg daily) I take a Women’s Daily Vitamin and a Vitamin B.

But there was still a piece to the puzzle I felt I was missing. I wanted my old hair back (see below).

This is a bad screen shot picture from a video at the end of 2023, when my hair hadn’t lost itself yet

When my colorist asked me what product(s) I was using I shrugged. “I dunno, whatever is easy and available!” This might sound crazy but I have NEVER been in to beauty products. I just wasn’t that girl. I used Ponds Cold Cream up until brands started sending me products (I’m a Drunk Elephant girl now through and through) and Herbal Essences too. Whatever mailers I got seemed great to use! I’ve been fortunate that my job lands me with some pretty amazing product to test out.

I figured why not ask ChatGpt what to do! I uploaded my bloodwork to ChatGpt and explained that I have PCOS and Adenomyosis. I also told Chat what I was currently doing for my hair. Boy was I missing the mark. After a few rounds of prompts and specifics, I asked Chat for products that could be found at CVS, but also luxury items too. I didn’t want to go out and spend a ton of money if this plan didn’t work so I did a blend. I finally settled on using the below breakdown of products I cannot begin to tell you how absolutely amazing the results have been.

I don’t know who needs to hear this (I most certainly did back in October) but the products we use REALLY DO IMPACT our hair, nails, skin and more. I know it sounds moronic, but I just didn’t think to narrow in on specific products for my hair type. Apparently I’m just now realizing that my "low-maintenance" routine was actually just "negligence" with a better publicist.

Here are a few before/afters since I started using products specific to my hormonal imbalance.

I styled both photos exactly the same but do you see how much fuller the hair in the right photo is? The front pieces look stronger and my scalp looks stronger as well.

The Basic Hair Care Breakdown

First, Chat explained that with PCOS and my specific deficiencies, my scalp was basically “clogged” and my strands were too “brittle” to hold the growth Minoxidil was producing. It was like trying to grow a garden in cement. So, it gave me a list of products to use. In all fairness, I asked things like “Would the Living Proof” brand work? Because I have some things gifted to me I wanted to take advantage of products I already had (but wasn’t using). Here’s the full list of what I landed and what I have been using since September.

• The Scalp Prep: The night before I plan on doing a full wash, I will apply a generous amount of scalp serum to my roots. I rotate between Living Proof Scalp Density Serum and Act + Acre. Hormonal hair issues, especially with PCOS, create a unique challenge: your body produces higher levels of androgens (like DHT), which shrink hair follicles and shorten the growth phase. This is why you might see "new growth" that never actually gets thick or long, it’s being cut off at the pass.

• The Shampoo Swap: Based on my specific hair needs, Chat suggested I ditch the random mailers and get intentional with my wash. I started rotating between Vegamour and Biolage, and the ingredient science actually explains why they work for hormonal hair. Rotating your products ensures you aren’t choosing between growth and strength, allowing you to block DHT at the root one day while repairing brittle, hormonal strands the next. This “cross-training” approach prevents product buildup and keeps your scalp responsive so the active ingredients can actually penetrate the follicle.

  • Vegamour (GRO Hair Serum/Shampoo): This is the PCOS powerhouse. It uses Mung Bean and Red Clover, which contain high concentrations of isoflavones. These act as natural inhibitors to DHT, the hormone responsible for shrinking follicles in PCOS patients. By blocking that DHT at the scalp level, it keeps the hair in the growth phase longer.

  • Biolage (Hydra): When your hormones are a mess, your hair loses its “glue.” This contains Vegan Squalane, which mimics the natural oils our bodies often stop producing correctly during high-stress or hormonal shifts. It reinforces the hair’s keratin structure, which is exactly what stopped my strands from reaching that literal “breaking point.”

• The Heavy Hitter (Conditioning Masks): I had NEVER used a mask before other than during hot yoga because I was convinced it would just weigh my hair down and leave me greasy. Within two weeks of rotating between Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, Living Proof, and Act + Acre Conditioning Hair Mask, the “crunchy” feeling at my ends was gone. Chat explained that when you have PCOS, your hair lacks the lipid barrier it needs to stay supple, which is why mine felt like hay. The Argan Oil in the Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask provides essential fatty acids that my hormonal strands were starving for. This is my favorite to use. I will not leave home without one of these if I’m planning to shower away from home. Instead of weighing my hair down, these masks gave it the “weight” of actual health, making it swing and move instead of just snapping off. It’s been a game changer.

• Post Shower Line-Up:

  1. Another game changing addition to my routine that I never thought about using was a leave-in conditioning spray. I know! A conditioning mask PLUS leave-in? Trust me! I love, love, love Unite. It’s been a favorite of mine for years post beach or swim. I used it on my daughter too. Never did I imagine using it after every shower but A leave-in conditioner is the essential final step for hormonal hair because it acts as a 24-hour protective shield against environmental stress and mechanical friction. While a rinse-out conditioner helps in the shower, the leave-in stays behind to keep the hair cuticle sealed, which is vital for PCOS strands that are naturally more porous and prone to drying out the second you step out of the water.

  2. Oribe Hair Alchemy Fortifying Treatment uses a "Curative Blend" of chia seed, bio-fermented bamboo leaf, and plant-based proteins that actually penetrate the hair cortex to build strength from the inside out. Think of it as a microscopic scaffolding that reinforces the hair’s structure. It also contains Multi-Action Hyaluronic Acid, which is a game-changer for hormonal hair because it rehydrates the internal structure of the strand, giving it the elasticity it needs so it bends instead of breaking when you brush it.

  3. Oil, Oil, Oil - My new all time favorite game changing product is the ROZ Oil. Because I have that “I’m not a beauty girl” fear of looking like a greaseball, I was terrified of oils. But Chat explained that PCOS hair often suffers from a lack of natural sebum distribution, leaving the ends completely unprotected. Never in a MILLION YEARS did I imagine I’d use oil on my hair DAILY. This is the best product in my vanity. I swear it somehow extends wash days. It’s incredibly lightweight because it’s formulated with Jojoba, Argan, and Sea Buckthorn oils. Unlike the cheap stuff that just coats the hair, these oils actually mimic the scalp’s natural lipids. It creates a smooth seal that blocks out humidity and prevents the “frizz-to-snap” pipeline. It’s the final step that took my hair from “clinically recovering” to actually looking like I stepped out of a salon.

  4. I’m slowly implanting more ROZ products into my rotation since I saw the massive difference the oil made and I recently started using this thickening spray. It really was the final piece of the puzzle. It uses Mushroom Extractand Rice Proteins to create volume and texture without that sticky, “crunchy” hairspray feel I’ve always hated. It’s a volumizing spray that actually makes the hair look and feel fuller while providing a thermal barrier.

  5. Heat Protecting Spray - Lastly, I give my hair a little sprtiz using Bumble and Bumble Heat Projecting Spray.

The Result

I’m still not a “beauty girl” who spends hours in front of the mirror, but I am a “results girl.” For the first time in years, the hair growing out of my head feels like it actually belongs to me again. It’s thick, it’s shiny, and it’s staying on my head instead of in my brush. If you’re sitting there with your bloodwork results feeling like you’re missing a piece of the puzzle, don’t sleep on using AI to help you connect the dots. It took my “I dunno” attitude and turned it into a plan that actually worked.

I hope this helps anyone who has been feeling bummed out about your hair. Please know that you are NOT alone! I’ve been there too. This is the plan that worked for me and I understand it might not work for everyone, but I really hope it can help at least one of you.