:)

[FrozenBritannia]

Hi I'm new here, but not new to long hair, though due to a hair horror storey I find myself starting back at the beginning. I'm hoping to find some help and advice here as well as new friends. I live in BC, Canada, and I'm a SAHM of two boys who keep me busy.

Not sure if this is the place to tell my storey or not, but here goes!


Current hair type: 1b/F/i, flip length


I have come here to tell you my hair horror storey in the hopes of finding advice, help, information, or any little tidbit you can throw my way. I have been reading various threads, but not found anyone with a situation quite like mine, although the thread about hair loss after surgery was close it didn't quite have the answers.


Let me start at the beginning, (or at least one year ago). This time last year, my hair was bsl length, healthy, and bleach blonde, though it hadn't been died with peroxide for about three months due to being vastly over charged at the salon and tired of battling the iron orange with purple and blue shampoos and conditioners. I had virgin hair prior to going blonde (the hairdresser said it was “too healthy and wouldn't do anything”) so it was still in good shape. However, that was the last time I had anything resembling a good hair day.


I had been battling an unknown health issue for a few months, and was on ulcer meds along with my thyroid meds, and birth control.


By the end of October, my hair was falling out. Not in clumps, but strands everywhere, handfuls in the shower, a brush full every time I brushed. All the strands had root bulbs on them. Since I couldn't go off the medication, and was still getting quite sick, I'm not sure to this day whether it was one thing or all of the above, but it looked horrible. My hairdresser cut it almost to my shoulders (she was only supposed to take an inch or two off my bsl hair- my hair was quite thick and I thought perhaps that it was just too heavy or maybe had reached terminal length) and still my hair fell out. By Christmas my hair was no longer than my ears, and patchy (you could see my scalp). I started using a hair growth serum from the drug store and a sulfate, alchohol and paraben free shampoo as well as spray in conditioner and I did get regrowth but it looked BAD.


The hairdresser said it was/is just like baby hair.


Prone to sticking up, sticking out, and no two strands the same length, I wore a toque for the next few months, during which time I visited a specialist for the health issue and was taken off most of the meds, and put on restricted diet.


Happily, my hair is now flip length (the longest bits at least, it's still not all the same length) and I have been trimming it slightly to try to get it even at least at the bottom, and it doesn't seem to be falling out anymore. It is very straight (except where it flips out, which I'm not sure why it does, but it does), and very fine and thin. There are one year olds with as much hair as I've got, and I must say it looks better on them. (the circumference of my ponytail is about the same as a pencil, though I must admit most of the hair on the front part of my head doesn't reach the ribbon, as I do have bangs, which I am growing out so that my hair looks thicker.)


I don't use a hairdryer unless its cold outside (to stop wet hair from freezing) and I don't straighten or curl my hair except for special occasions, (I really don't straighten it ever, and the last time I tried to curl it for my brother-in-laws wedding I gave up because it wouldn't curl) and I've never been one to use much product. My ambition is to have long hair again (and yes, I'll stay away from the bleach). I rinse my hair with vinegar every few days and rarely use rinse out conditioner.


Before this my hair was 1c/m/ii so I'm a fish out of water here, the old tricks don't work anymore! Even the longest parts won't stay in a ponytail without copious amounts of hairspray...(Which I hate to use because the smell gives me a headache.)


Is there anyone out there who has had a baby girl and remembers what they did with her hair to make it look presentable while it was growing? (Adding to the horror- I have three cowlicks, two at the crown -think alfalpha from little rascals- and one at my forehead on the left side.) I've also got this weird thing going on where about an hour after my hair is dry it seems to explode- flyaways and sticking out and nothing will make it lay down. My hair is very soft (which I love) so I don't know what the problem is but I would really like it to stop. Could this have something to do with latitude? I live about 56.14N (of the equator).


Basically, for the last 10 months, I cry every time I look at my hair. My ultimate goal is to have tail bone length, non flyaway hair.

[julierockhead]

Wow, you are going through so much! I hope your health issues are resolving. {hug}

You've certainly come to the right place to get support. The people here are very sweet and there is so much information, you are going to be up nights reading!

Some things for you to put in the search box;

castor oil for growth

coconut oil

extra virgin olive oil or EVOO

MSM

biotin

CO washing

Is your hair growing in healthier, or is it still fragile?

[FrozenBritannia]

Thanks! It seems to be growing in healthier, aside from the sparseness, and I'm not loosing much any more (thank goodness) so I'm hoping that it's done falling out. I'll get busy searching those topics!

[longhairedlady]

Wow I am sorry about the health problems you were having and the hair problems also. I would make sure you are taking a good multivitam at least. I take lots of vitamins and supplements and I drink wheatgrass juice 1-3 times a day. Its nasty tasting but oh so healthy for for hair!

[FrozenBritannia]

I do have a multi vitamin that I take, and I'm just on my way the store to pick up some biotin (I'm going to give it a try!) and a really good non cone (etc etc) conditioner so I can work some CO' into my routine.

I think I'm going to have to pass on the castor oil one though, as one post said it was darkening?