Feeling meh about my hair

[kuroi]

I was really happy about my hair when I joined and loved trying out new stuff. But since I got anemia a few months ago my hair growth dropped dramatically. I used to get an inch per month sometimes even more and now less then an inch per month. Which probably doesn't seem like slow hair growth to most but for me it made me feel worse about my hair.
I just feel so meh about my hair now, I don't feel like taking any effort in styling it and I feel very bad about even microtrimming cause I feel like my hair doesn't grow.
I don't know how to deal with this and be happy with my hair again.

[animetor7]

Are you taking iron supplements? I have anemia and the effects are almost completely eliminated by taking an iron supplement. This could help you get back to hair growth that you're used to. I'd also suggest eating lots of dark green vegetables as these help with anemia too. As for feeling meh about your hair, I'd just put it up in a simple style for a while to help yourself forget about it. Good luck!! :) :grouphug:

[kuroi]

Yeay I take iron supplements and eat tons of fruits of veggies so that should be okay. My body just couldn't keep up with my period anymore. Hopefully that's solved now (September has been normal for a change). I don't know how long it will take for my body to recover though.

[sharonluvscats]

I've had issues with anemia too. I now take prescription iron pills daily. I was having a ton of hair fall and it wasn't growing. It is getting better, but sadly my ends still look really thin. I agree with previous comment, put your hair in a pretty style! This always makes me feel better about my hair.

[Decoy24601]

I'd try to focus on pretty styles as well and buy a few nice hair toys if you can.

I'm in a similar situation right now. I was getting about 1.25" of growth per month and the last month my hair both grew and lost .5" overall. I think my longest strands were mostly shed and that's why my hair measured shorter a couple times, and then steadily grew back to 39.5". I think it's also vitamin related for me, since the only difference in the last month is I stopped taking my multivitamin every day (it has iron in it and I do tend to get anemic). I also had a very very heavy menstrual cycle that left me very anemic for a few days, which couldn't have helped. My hair is also shedding more lately too.

[kittengirl]

I had anemia twice- after giving birth and again really badly after a surgery and complications- and my hair really suffered. But now it's on the mend and coming back...hello fuzz halo! So it should get better for you! It takes a long time for sheds to stop and regrowth to begin. I hope you get to feeling better and your hair perks up!! :grouphug:

[sarahthegemini]

I'd try to forget about it for a while. I felt the same about my own hair not too long ago. Just ignore it and don't do anything rash. See how you feel in a few months.

[lapushka]

I'd try to forget about it for a while. I felt the same about my own hair not too long ago. Just ignore it and don't do anything rash. See how you feel in a few months.

Yes exactly this. Meanwhile focus on your health, and on taking your iron; the rest should follow! Have faith in that. :flower:

Wishing you all the best!

[meteor]

Ugh, anemia is no fun! :( So sorry you are going through this! :grouphug:

I agree with all the recommendations to start iron supplementation on doctor's recommendation as soon as possible. Sometimes it takes a bit of experimentation to find the right form of iron supplement to take (some provide less elemental iron but are absorbed more easily with fewer gut problems - it just depends, so make sure you let your doctor know if you get any side effects) and it can take many months to raise ferritin levels to a healthier range.


A few ideas on iron consumption in regular meals, since it's important to try and consume sufficient iron in meals, too (while supplementing):

- Iron absorption increases when you combine iron with Vitamin C-rich foods:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2507689
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15743017
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6940487

- Iron absorption can be somewhat inhibited by presence of caffeine, calcium and fiber in the same meals (so you might want to space them out a bit):
Caffeine and iron absorption: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6402915 , http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11029010 , http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2598894
Calcium and iron absorption: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19087437 , http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21462112 , http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1600930
Fiber and iron absorption: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2820048 , http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6267927 , http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6313466 , http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2820047

- Absorption of non-heme iron (which is primarily plant based) may increase in the presence of heme iron (which primarily animal based, though animal sources contain both heme and non-heme forms), and heme iron has significantly higher bioavailability:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6299808 , http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10731500
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/

- Regularly cooking in iron pots/skillets might help a little bit:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12859709
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10073514
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12667149

Hugs to you! I hope you'll feel much better soon! :grouphug:

[kittengirl]

Yes exactly this. Meanwhile focus on your health, and on taking your iron; the rest should follow! Have faith in that. :flower:

Wishing you all the best!

yeah that's pretty much what I did! It does work.

[spidermom]

fuzz halo; that's my problem. I have witch hair.

[kittengirl]

fuzz halo; that's my problem. I have witch hair.

Me too! But sometimes I think I like it....or at least try to convince myself that it looks wild and sexy and not like i have my finger permanently stuck in an electrical outlet. :p

[kuroi]

Thanks for the support everyone. I'm going back to my doctor in a few weeks and get my blood checked again to see if my levels are going back up.
Hopefully I'll start my love my hair again then as well.