kochakaden
July 14th, 2014, 12:23 PM
Hello everyone!
Not so long ago, I had hair so thick that the stylist would thin it out for me at the salon. It's very fine, and I wore it waist-length for most of university. Then, about five years ago, it started massively, massively shedding. Thick and fine became thin and fine, not to mention scraggly and limp. I cut my length back to BSL and eventually to chin. The drain was constantly clogged and we had a plumber in twice because there was no way to put a hair trap in at that apartment. I went to the doctor to have iron, thyroid and anything else checked. Took Biotin daily, used the "Hair, Skin and Nails" vitamins, etc etc. Tried Nioxin and a few other speciality shampoos, scalp treatments, and the like. I henna'd for the first time after hearing that it was good for your hair, but I saw huge hairfall in the days after henna, so I went to see a "hair loss specialist" who told me that he believed the problem was clogged follicles. I signed on for ten very expensive treatments there, but discontinued them when I didn't see any immediate effect.
From there on I decided to try self-treating the "clogged follicles" issue and save myself the outrageous treatment fees, hoping this would really be the root of the problem. I started tracking the hairfall in the shower (shampooing every third day without brushing right before the shampoo) with a hair trap and settled on the best routine I could come up with. I'd shampoo once using Lush's "NEW" shampoo bar and then shampoo with Neutrogena T-Sal to remove gunk, leaving the T-Sal on for at least 3 minutes. Then I'd rinse with ACV and a squirt of jojoba oil, and sometimes with herbal tea. I did see some reduction in the hairfall after starting this regimen last October. I also noticed that my henna faded very very quickly. Eventually I started using Aveda's Invati scalp treatment twice a day as well, and did some coconut oil heat treatments to emulsify any sebum buildup. Lately I've started using Lush's "Roots" conditioning treatment as well, which really feels like it's invigorating my scalp.
I still feel like I lose too much hair, but I can't really remember anymore what the "normal" shed should be.
Either way, my hair is in a much better spot now than it was a year ago, and just yesterday I did henna for the first time since then (I was hesitant before because of the huge hairfall) using a 50/50 cassia/henna mix. I'm really pleased with it, but now I want to preserve it - without causing my earlier problems to return. I think I may need to switch off of some of these products to better protect the colour, but I'm uncertain which to continue with, and which new ones I might try. I just used up a shampoo bar so it's a good time to make this switch, I think. I have been using J&J Baby Shampoo since the bar ran out but I've heard it's not so great for adult hair. Would anyone have any recommendations for me on how to proceed from here?
Currently regularly using:
Lush "Roots" fine hair treatment (1x week, 30 minutes before shower)
Lush "NEW" Shampoo Bar (3x week for first wash), Neutrogena T-Sal Shampoo (3x week for second wash)
4 tbsp ACV and 1 tsp jojoba oil in a small bucket of warm water (3x week after shampooing)
Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Deep Conditioner (1x month)
Aveda Invati Scalp Revitalizer (1x day)
I got some sample size containers of Aveda's Madder Root products and Smooth Infusion shampoo so I'll be trying them soon, too.
I use Batiste Dry Shampoo to hold me over sometimes as well. Have tried making my own dry shampoos but they just feel awful in my hair and the application is so messy.
FYI, I almost never blow-dry or heat style (1-2 times a month at most). It looks much much better when I do, but I'm trying very hard to limit damage. My hair is not overly dry or overly oily, it's fairly normal; just fine - and now thin.
Any thoughts?
Not so long ago, I had hair so thick that the stylist would thin it out for me at the salon. It's very fine, and I wore it waist-length for most of university. Then, about five years ago, it started massively, massively shedding. Thick and fine became thin and fine, not to mention scraggly and limp. I cut my length back to BSL and eventually to chin. The drain was constantly clogged and we had a plumber in twice because there was no way to put a hair trap in at that apartment. I went to the doctor to have iron, thyroid and anything else checked. Took Biotin daily, used the "Hair, Skin and Nails" vitamins, etc etc. Tried Nioxin and a few other speciality shampoos, scalp treatments, and the like. I henna'd for the first time after hearing that it was good for your hair, but I saw huge hairfall in the days after henna, so I went to see a "hair loss specialist" who told me that he believed the problem was clogged follicles. I signed on for ten very expensive treatments there, but discontinued them when I didn't see any immediate effect.
From there on I decided to try self-treating the "clogged follicles" issue and save myself the outrageous treatment fees, hoping this would really be the root of the problem. I started tracking the hairfall in the shower (shampooing every third day without brushing right before the shampoo) with a hair trap and settled on the best routine I could come up with. I'd shampoo once using Lush's "NEW" shampoo bar and then shampoo with Neutrogena T-Sal to remove gunk, leaving the T-Sal on for at least 3 minutes. Then I'd rinse with ACV and a squirt of jojoba oil, and sometimes with herbal tea. I did see some reduction in the hairfall after starting this regimen last October. I also noticed that my henna faded very very quickly. Eventually I started using Aveda's Invati scalp treatment twice a day as well, and did some coconut oil heat treatments to emulsify any sebum buildup. Lately I've started using Lush's "Roots" conditioning treatment as well, which really feels like it's invigorating my scalp.
I still feel like I lose too much hair, but I can't really remember anymore what the "normal" shed should be.
Either way, my hair is in a much better spot now than it was a year ago, and just yesterday I did henna for the first time since then (I was hesitant before because of the huge hairfall) using a 50/50 cassia/henna mix. I'm really pleased with it, but now I want to preserve it - without causing my earlier problems to return. I think I may need to switch off of some of these products to better protect the colour, but I'm uncertain which to continue with, and which new ones I might try. I just used up a shampoo bar so it's a good time to make this switch, I think. I have been using J&J Baby Shampoo since the bar ran out but I've heard it's not so great for adult hair. Would anyone have any recommendations for me on how to proceed from here?
Currently regularly using:
Lush "Roots" fine hair treatment (1x week, 30 minutes before shower)
Lush "NEW" Shampoo Bar (3x week for first wash), Neutrogena T-Sal Shampoo (3x week for second wash)
4 tbsp ACV and 1 tsp jojoba oil in a small bucket of warm water (3x week after shampooing)
Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Deep Conditioner (1x month)
Aveda Invati Scalp Revitalizer (1x day)
I got some sample size containers of Aveda's Madder Root products and Smooth Infusion shampoo so I'll be trying them soon, too.
I use Batiste Dry Shampoo to hold me over sometimes as well. Have tried making my own dry shampoos but they just feel awful in my hair and the application is so messy.
FYI, I almost never blow-dry or heat style (1-2 times a month at most). It looks much much better when I do, but I'm trying very hard to limit damage. My hair is not overly dry or overly oily, it's fairly normal; just fine - and now thin.
Any thoughts?