Chop! (pic heavy)

[Zebra Fish]

EDIT: I will be updating the thread to keep the info on one place and maybe one day it will help someone. I'll add update links at the and of 2nd post.

After being quite unhappy with how my hair looks, I cut 15 cm during last fall, and 20 now (one trim). During years I did try regular trims every 3 moths, microtrimming, and year w/o trimming challenge (was supposed to be this year), but started tangling, ends were dry and veery thin.

This is 7th day hair, all week in a bun, so it was curling, had to keep it stretched with fingers, but it looks even thinner then. Plus, strong light from side makes look right side (my right arm side) more see through than it is.
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2016_nov_length_stretch_zpsf99kdlfd.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2016_nov_length_stretch_zpsf99kdlfd.jpg.html)
My palms are weird positioned but left one is waist, so stretched almost hip.

Left alone, after some combing and stretching (it's bun waves, not natural ones)
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2016_nov_length_zpshacz3uct.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2016_nov_length_zpshacz3uct.jpg.html)

20cm off after:
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/cut_zpsupfbnvdh.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/cut_zpsupfbnvdh.jpg.html)
You can see what I meant with the light from the right, it is not that much see through as it looks here. Also the shirt is too big, I though it might be good coz of stripes... Arms at waist. Again this are bun waves.

Stretched would say somewehre mbl-ish?
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/cut_stretch_zps99hjyxo7.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/cut_stretch_zps99hjyxo7.jpg.html)

I took some afterwash pics, but phone sd card is not cooperating atm, so will upload them as soon as it decides to show the gallery again xD I'm feel pretty down that my length is not getting anywhere and keep doubting whether it is genetics or what? :( When I look at photos during the years, I can see some progress, but, oh my, it is so slooow!

So... Just to show the "timeline" - sth like almost 4 years ago I started "consciously" growing my hair, after the hairdresser ruined it. Before that, I did everything at the hairdressers' coz I was afraid to ruin it myself and believed they know what they do. And most of my life they did (or was it just luck), but the the same one I was going for years, long story short, ruined it. I did go for another year, and we "agreed" what to do to "repair" it (regular trims and so on). After a year... well it was quite shorter and worse. I'm sorry I cant find the pics from then - it wasn't even a length shot, but a pic that SO took like so but made me realize the status of my hair. The oldest pic I could find today is from august 2013
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2013-08-01%2016.11.21_zpsuys4fbod.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2013-08-01%2016.11.21_zpsuys4fbod.jpg.html)
Henna over red hair dye (dyed 3 times only!!!! last time a year before this photo).

November 2013
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2013-11-19%2017.10.45_zps2lcoco93.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2013-11-19%2017.10.45_zps2lcoco93.jpg.html)
MP vampire red

November 2014 (this two were taken in two consecutive days)
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2014-10-31%2023.51.58_zpsnfmpz5u1.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2014-10-31%2023.51.58_zpsnfmpz5u1.jpg.html)
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2014-11-01%2009.12.27_zps3jzqq4pn.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2014-11-01%2009.12.27_zps3jzqq4pn.jpg.html)
Shirt colour changes how it all looks like.

[Zebra Fish]

continuing...

June 2015
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2015_18_jun_zpss5wahyi7.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2015_18_jun_zpss5wahyi7.jpg.html)

This photo is taken a bit from above, so the longest bits are just waist.

January 2016 - wanted to do a no trim year (after trimming 15 cm in 3 months)
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2016_06_jan_zpskevqc8qj.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2016_06_jan_zpskevqc8qj.jpg.html)
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2016_06_jan1_zps0ucxw5mv.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2016_06_jan1_zps0ucxw5mv.jpg.html)

June 2016 - Rusty photobombing (hands at waist)
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2016_21_jun_zps51ntpicv.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2016_21_jun_zps51ntpicv.jpg.html)
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2016_22_6jun_zpsucz8xwio.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2016_22_6jun_zpsucz8xwio.jpg.html)

Different positions for better hair status. And just ends.
http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah116/hengroen/hair_timeline/2016_21_jun1_zpssgvn1hqp.jpg (http://s1378.photobucket.com/user/hengroen/media/hair_timeline/2016_21_jun1_zpssgvn1hqp.jpg.html)

So then, 10 days ago I just couldn't stand it so thin. Decided to cut. I was contemplating it for a month (wasn't an impulse of the moment thing). Looks and feels so much better (although would need another 5-10cm off to get all the thinner parts, I think?). I'm just sad that it looks that maybe I'm not able to get over bsl with a hemline

What do you guys thins, is there any improvement, or my genetics might be this?
Oh, and I don't have problems with splits (used to have, but learned how to deal to avoid them as much as possible) and with breakage. My diet is good, no deficiencies, nor any health issues (that I am aware). I do shed alot in autumn, but that is every year (and every year I feel like I'm gonna go bold xD) and it stops in some weeks. So no pathological excessive shedding.
And I forgot xD One year (9months actually - autmn 2013 - before summer 2014) I used MP, but all else is henna since autumn 2012.


Update 1 - post 29 (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=140451&page=3&p=3350221&viewfull=1#post3350221)

[missmelaniem]

It looks better... I think it was a good idea to trim. Your hair looks pretty healthy in general... what is your day-to-day care like?

[lapushka]

I think the thickness is traveling down, but very slowly. It was about APL last year, and is roughly between APL & BSL this year, IMMHO. I can see progress, at least. It is hard to come to terms with, but perhaps this is your terminal. From the fairytaling I would gather as much.

[Zebra Fish]

Thank you missmelaniem! Yes, I would say that my hair is healthy in general. At least that you could say definitely improved comparing 1st pic to last). I know I should have cut to pixie/bob 4 yrs ago to get all the damage out, but that's sth that looks bad on me. My daily routine? Lets say mostly 2 variations: oil on length (rotate between coconut, olive and sunflower, depending on what hair wants :p) lets say shoulder/apl down - on day before or few hrs before depends on other stuff, diluted shampoo (sulfate free), conditioner (cone free). panacea on ends. 2nd: oil on length day before/few hrs before, conditioner on lengths, rye flower shampoo, conditioner, panacea on ends. Rarely I use acv. During experimenting I realised that less I do on scalp, better it is (so no CO wash, scalp massage, deep oilings that go on/near scalp 1-2x year...).

Yeah lapushka that's what came to mind :/ I'm just not ready to accept it at this short :( :( and I already had longer hair all one thickness (sth bsl-mbl, don't have a good photo to deduce the right length it was)

[lora410]

Is your hair naturally thin? If not have you tried vitamins like biotin and msm ? Possible you're deficient in something?

[Annalouise]

Your hair is very similar to mine in thickness. And like you, my hair tends to drizzle down into nothing at waist. It is quite possible this is our terminal length. With that said, Never give up! Never surrender! lol :p We don't really know what our terminal is until we've lived there for a couple years and nothing has happened in terms of growing. And even then, I have heard that after a couple years its possible for more growth.

However, if I was you, and I really wanted to keep growing, then I would give up the henna. From what I know, its not good for the hair. And imagine if you have Fine hair, and every time you henna you are lifting the cuticle then you are wearing out the strand. In other words, you are degrading the integrity of the hair.

Other than that I think you are doing everything right. I would also take a hair vitamin. It can't hurt you, and its possible you need nutrients.
I started taking a hair vitamin a few months ago. Oddly enough I never read the instructions carefully and I was supposed to be taking 4/day and I was only taking 1 a day. When I realized that about one month ago I've been taking 4 a day and my hair is definitely not getting thinner. I would say the vitamins help. I've gained 2 cm. Not much but at least its not going in the other direction.

The other thing that helped me is a bbb. Before washing and carefully detangling I brush upside down. This stimulates the scalp and carries the oil off your scalp down the length. I swear it is good for the scalp and hair if done right. So that NO hair gets broken. I also gave up using a comb because I feel combs break hair.

I've trimmed back to bsl many times but I have not been able to move the thickness down the hair. That is what makes me think this is my natural hair growth. However, with that said, it is always possible to gain thickness by improving your health in which case you will get more thickness eventually.
It just depends on how much you want long hair.:D

I think your hair is pretty and I like the length despite its thinness. I've accepted how thin my hair is and I don't criticize it for being "thin". Think of it as "angel" hair or "fairy" hair. If you can learn to not fight it, then it will be what it is. :toast:

[missmelaniem]

Your care routine sounds great.. do you keep it up and take protective measures? It just seems like you should be able to grow it longer and have more lush ends .. I actually really like your ends in the "henna over red dye" photo. They make you look kinda surfer-girlish. :)

[Kat-Rinnè Naido]

:grouphug:You have beautiful hair. I may not have noticed the thinness without you bringing my attention to it. Not everyone has thick hair. Some just give the illusion of it.

A lot of strands of hair on my head is at different lengths. This is due to previous shedding, breakage and poor handling. But my hair is growing. When I measure, the bulk of my hair is higher up and the hair at waist is much less but it is growing they are all growing. There is a half a centimeter difference in circumference between the hair at my nape and bsl an so on.
Because each hair is at a different growth phase they do not all give me an even full hemline. They just grow as hair grows.

[Zebra Fish]

@lora410 - yes, my hair is very fine. The circumference is around 7cm. I'm taking msm coz of knee. I do take some hair vitamins during winter every year, rest of the year depends on the diet. I used to have iron deficiency, but that didn't happen for over 10 yrs now (I control it once a year). No other deficiencies detected.

@ Annalouise - I thought henna was supposed to help hair? Especially as my hair gets so silky and too slippery, no dryness or anything. Anyway, I was thinking about leaving henna for a while and use just some cassia as treatment. I tried a bbb, but couldn't make it work in any way :/ I use a wide tooth comb and that's the best for me. I tried fingercombing, but oil/sebum accumulates and I look like a greaseball in 2-3 days. Comb through the greaseball twice (evening and morning) and all distributes fine I can easily got up to wash day.

@missmelaniem - sry, it was very late when I was writing the answer, so I wrote just half :p I wash every 7-10 days. I keep it up in a bun most of the time with a single hairstick. Since after the trim, as I'm missing the part of the hair that I used to wrap around and around at the end and that would hold, my buns dissolve quite quickly. If I'm sitting still at work, might keep 2 hours, but as soon as I move it starts dissolving. So I braid more. And use a ficcare (back to size small), just can't have it all day as they are too heavy for my scalp (but the best options for when I need firm bun - like walking Rusty or working in the lab). Sometimes it is loose at home. And in a bun secured with 3 clawclips when running - to distribute the weight.

Haha, thanks, yeah I like it too, except the lighter parts were totally destroyed and should have been cut. But that was too short for me to go.

@Kat-Rinnè Naido Thank you! :) Yes, I know that, but in 4 yrs I kinda hoped to get some hemline at some decent length. My hair was always growing really slowly, but in 4 years some ppl get from 0 to wiast, I'm still at same length. Ok, with much healthier hair :)

[lapushka]

@ Annalouise - I thought henna was supposed to help hair? Especially as my hair gets so silky and too slippery, no dryness or anything. Anyway, I was thinking about leaving henna for a while and use just some cassia as treatment. I tried a bbb, but couldn't make it work in any way :/ I use a wide tooth comb and that's the best for me. I tried fingercombing, but oil/sebum accumulates and I look like a greaseball in 2-3 days. Comb through the greaseball twice (evening and morning) and all distributes fine I can easily got up to wash day.

Normally, yes. It, however, made my hair really porous, same effect as bleach had on me. I noticed with product use, with how it was when it had to be washed. Yeah, it wasn't great for me. And contrary to what happens normally, I had more wave pattern develop than usual. Normally it diminishes the wave or curl. It was fun while it lasted, but I'm glad henna is out of my life, honestly. Virgin hair feels so much better to me! But YMMV.

[Annalouise]

@lora410 - yes, my hair is very fine. The circumference is around 7cm. I'm taking msm coz of knee. I do take some hair vitamins during winter every year, rest of the year depends on the diet. I used to have iron deficiency, but that didn't happen for over 10 yrs now (I control it once a year). No other deficiencies detected.

@ Annalouise - I thought henna was supposed to help hair? Especially as my hair gets so silky and too slippery, no dryness or anything. Anyway, I was thinking about leaving henna for a while and use just some cassia as treatment. I tried a bbb, but couldn't make it work in any way :/ I use a wide tooth comb and that's the best for me. I tried fingercombing, but oil/sebum accumulates and I look like a greaseball in 2-3 days. Comb through the greaseball twice (evening and morning) and all distributes fine I can easily got up to wash day.)....

Hi:) You've got a good amount of hair if you have a ponytail circumference at 7cm. Bigger than mine that is 5cm or 2".
I just realized right now that I qualify as ii hair, not i. So that means you are an ii which is average! YAY!!! This is confusing.:brains:

Some people believe henna is good for the hair because its natural, however its still dying the hair by lifting the cuticle and putting color into the strand. I'm not a hair scientist, I'm just repeating what long hair specialists say which is don't dye your hair or henna it as it weakens the hair. Everyone does what they want, naturally. I'm just saying better not to. But the choice is yours.

Your hair not being "dry" is not a bad thing. Dry hair is not a goal of hair care. :p
A wide tooth comb is fine. No problems there. :) That is the preferred choice among most long hairs.

If your scalp is oily then try experimenting with a few different shampoos to find the right one for your scalp.

[lapushka]

I have an oily scalp and dry lengths; ever since hitting BSL it got dry on the lengths as it got longer. I buy a shampoo specifically for oily hair if I can (I have some for "normal" hair to use up right now as in the past I experimented with milder ones), and a conditioner for dry, damaged hair, even though my hair is not damaged. But it works! I don't let the rich conditioner get on the scalp! I don't let anything on the scalp except for my shampoo! HTH.

[Zebra Fish]

Don't have problems with oil scalp. I can easily go 15 days without washing as far as the hair looks or greasiness is concerned. Sometimes I do out of laziness :p

Same here, lapushka, nothing goes on scalp except with what I wash it with. By trial and error I realized that less I mess with my scalp, happier it is :)

[lapushka]

Don't have problems with oil scalp. I can easily go 15 days without washing as far as the hair looks or greasiness is concerned. Sometimes I do out of laziness :p

Same here, lapushka, nothing goes on scalp except with what I wash it with. By trial and error I realized that less I mess with my scalp, happier it is :)

2 weeks? That's amazing! :) My mom can go a month (or thereabouts, sometimes more, sometimes less, depends on when she has time to wash). I can't even imagine what that's like. Most I went was 2 weeks for a while due to medical reasons, and that flared up my SD gigantically! So I stick to weekly washes and that seems to not aggravate anything.

[Annalouise]

2 weeks? That's amazing! :) My mom can go a month (or thereabouts, sometimes more, sometimes less, depends on when she has time to wash). I can't even imagine what that's like. Most I went was 2 weeks for a while due to medical reasons, and that flared up my SD gigantically! So I stick to weekly washes and that seems to not aggravate anything.

If you don't mind me asking,:) I was wondering how you got to being able to wash once a week? I was wondering since you have an oily scalp/dry hair like I do? I can only go about 3 days before my scalp is itchy.

[lapushka]

If you don't mind me asking,:) I was wondering how you got to being able to wash once a week? I was wondering since you have an oily scalp/dry hair like I do? I can only go about 3 days before my scalp is itchy.

I used to need to wash 2/3 x a week. Then a combination of factors happened. My hair was beyond BSL, so I could go twice a week by that time due to the length. Then due to medical reasons I was only able to wash every 2 weeks. For a long time. That ended up flaring up my SD *big time* but after that I suddenly found that I could go a week without washing (also still due to the medical issues, I had to limit my hair washing). I can't go into detail but it had to do with Menière's disease and the diagnosis and treatment leading up to a point of stability. My scalp sort of "normalized" as well due to the longer periods of not washing. It was odd! Just plain odd.

If you find you can't go longer than 3 days, and it gets itchy, it is a sure sign that you *have to* wash. I'm sorry. Not everyone can stretch their washes. For a long time, I thought I couldn't either. But there you go. It's a very individual thing, though.

[Annalouise]

lapushka - that must have been uncomfortable when your SD flared up. Lucky you didn't experience hair fall. So do you have to use a "dandruff" shampoo if you have SD or do you just use a regular one? Sometimes I wonder if I need a dandruff shampoo. I don't have flakes, but I do have an oily itchy scalp. When I tried to go 3 weeks with just water rinses, my hair fell out big time. This makes me wonder if I do have a fungal issue, albeit without the flakes.

[lapushka]

lapushka - that must have been uncomfortable when your SD flared up. Lucky you didn't experience hair fall. So do you have to use a "dandruff" shampoo if you have SD or do you just use a regular one? Sometimes I wonder if I need a dandruff shampoo. I don't have flakes, but I do have an oily itchy scalp. When I tried to go 3 weeks with just water rinses, my hair fell out big time. This makes me wonder if I do have a fungal issue, albeit without the flakes.

It was, yes! And some amount of shedding *always* comes with it, but I just don't mind anymore - it is what it is and you can't change it.

I have Nizoral 2% for when it gets beyond bad. I do also have a regular dandruff shampoo (a H&S knock off from Aldi that has no silicones in it) for when I see a few flakes, but there's no itch or redness and it's not too bad.

In between "bouts" of SD, when it's under control, I just use a regular harsh sulfate shampoo, like Pantene Aqua Light or any other shampoo for oily scalp. That usually works for me.

[OhSuzi]

Looking at the pics hair seems pretty thick up to mid way between bra strap and shoulders. About shoulder blades. APL ! Maybe trim to that point and then, wear it up in Protective styles/micro trim to maintain thickness? Maybe stop dying / hennaing? Since I've chopped/grown all dye/ bleach out my hair seems healthier and the individual strands are thicker and stronger. See if the growth / fullness ratio improves and then maybe once you've reached desired length then consider dying it again.

[OhSuzi]

Looking at the pics hair seems pretty thick up to mid way between bra strap and shoulders. About shoulder blades. APL ! Maybe trim to that point and then, wear it up in Protective styles/micro trim to maintain thickness? Maybe stop dying / hennaing? Since I've chopped/grown all dye/ bleach out my hair seems healthier and the individual strands are thicker and stronger. See if the growth / fullness ratio improves and then maybe once you've reached desired length then consider dying it again.

[Zebra Fish]

If you don't mind me asking,:) I was wondering how you got to being able to wash once a week? I was wondering since you have an oily scalp/dry hair like I do? I can only go about 3 days before my scalp is itchy.

Uhm, probably I wrote it wrong somewhere. I don't have oily scalp and dry hair. I just mentioned my scalp feels greasy if I don't comb. You can't tell from the looks, but when you pass the fingers through the hair it feels greasy (maybe it is not greasy, but that how I interpret it). If I comb, it goes away in a day, without washing. When I wrote my ends were dry, that was referring to the bottom 5-10 cm, and I used that term because that part started tangling. And that was still the hair that few years ago was dyed - so I kinda concluded it is dry. Again, not by looks or by touching, but by tangling and used to be dyed. As a hairtype, I'd say my hair is quite "normal" - not dry or oily. I used to have oil scalp and dry length, but somewhere in early 20s that just stopped. I kinda didn't pay attention when and why tbh. I never had my scalp itchy just from not washing and, out of laziness, I did even 3-4 weeks between washes few times. But my scalp starts hurting from buns and braids after 10 days. Actually, it is when the single hairs are always in the same position and then you change it, it, let's say, hurts but at the same time feels good :p

Fortunately, I don't have any scalp problems, so I cant relate there. I know that my scalp doesn't like CO wash for a longer period, dandruff shampoos or shampoos for oily/dry hair.

@ OhSuzi - yeah, I decided to stop all for a while. I'm not chipping shorter coz then it gets hard to keep the hair up, but to maintain here to see what happens.

[Annalouise]

Zebrafish - I put some pictures up in an album on my profile of my hair thickening results over two years. If you want to look at them maybe they will give you hope that you *might be able to move the hemline down. It just might take a long time as its taken me two years to move the hemline down about 3 inches or so. Anyways, I encourage you to keep growing the length. :cheer:
Hair growing is a bit more challenging for some of us but we can make progress, it just takes longer.:)

[diddiedaisy]

Zebrafish - I put some pictures up in an album on my profile of my hair thickening results over two years. If you want to look at them maybe they will give you hope that you *might be able to move the hemline down. It just might take a long time as its taken me two years to move the hemline down about 3 inches or so. Anyways, I encourage you to keep growing the length. :cheer:
Hair growing is a bit more challenging for some of us but we can make progress, it just takes longer.:)

I remember you replying to a thread I did a couple of years ago as I had a similar problem with taper. You have made a massive difference to your hair, I think at the time you was worried it was just genetic. I am so pleased with your progress. Mine isn't as bad as it was neither, but it does take forever to get to goals when you have to keep trimming. I'm planning on maintaining in another couple of inches to allow new growth to catch up. You have given me hope that I will one day get there :)

[Annalouise]

I remember you replying to a thread I did a couple of years ago as I had a similar problem with taper. You have made a massive difference to your hair, I think at the time you was worried it was just genetic. I am so pleased with your progress. Mine isn't as bad as it was neither, but it does take forever to get to goals when you have to keep trimming. I'm planning on maintaining in another couple of inches to allow new growth to catch up. You have given me hope that I will one day get there :)

Aww, thank so much for remembering me and my hair trials.:blossom: I just looked at your picture from 2014 to now and WOW, you have grown a lot of hair too! Good job on that!:D
Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad I can encourage someone. My hair has thinned since I am in my 40's (from my 20's) but I am recovering for a massive shed due to a health crisis. I didn't know if it would grow back or not? It has grown back albeit slowly. It is growing a lot from the scalp, new hairs, but most of the longest hairs shed out. So I barely gained any length this past year but it is thicker.
Hair is so weird the way it grows. :p

[höpönasu]

Wow it's crazy to watch these pics because we are at the same length AND color! Plus I was always wearing striped shirt when taking hair pics.

I did a chop too, last year. Can't say much of if my hair is in better condition now but it gave a nice fresh start.

[diddiedaisy]

Aww, thank so much for remembering me and my hair trials.:blossom: I just looked at your picture from 2014 to now and WOW, you have grown a lot of hair too! Good job on that!:D
Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad I can encourage someone. My hair has thinned since I am in my 40's (from my 20's) but I am recovering for a massive shed due to a health crisis. I didn't know if it would grow back or not? It has grown back albeit slowly. It is growing a lot from the scalp, new hairs, but most of the longest hairs shed out. So I barely gained any length this past year but it is thicker.
Hair is so weird the way it grows. :p

Thank you :). I'm also recovering from hairloss and have also recently had a shed in which a lot of my longer hairs jumped ship. Growing hair is not so easy for many of us unfortunately. We will get there in the end though :)

[Strands]

It looks like you have a lot of progress! Eat well and protect that hair - you will get there! :)

[Zebra Fish]

So - un update!

I checked my iron levels and they were really low. I am and will be on Fe (and vit C) supplement for a while. A little bit more than a year ago (was the last time I checked) Fe was alright. Other blood results as well as liver enzymes, coagulation and thyroid are all fine. I also stopped taking birth control pills. By looking at the pics I realized that the thinning started around 1,5 yrs ago. So, now it was almost 9 yrs that I was on bc pills all the time (no pauses). 2 yrs ago gynecologist suggested to move form Yasmin to Yaz (just coz it has less hormones). During the 7 yrs on Yasmin I never had any problems, but I agreed to try. After 2 yrs on Yaz I realized there were some problems (nothing serious, more just as discomfort). Gynecologist, ofc, said that it is not the cause of hair thinning coz the estrogen is there all the time and to check my thyroid. Now, I know how all this cycles work, but even in the Yaz booklet it says it can cause hair loss. I know I'm risking a shed now coz of the estrogen gone (same as after pregnancy), but I think that Yaz just didn't suit me. As I didn't have any special benefits from getting on the pills (except for less bleeding), I hope I won't have negative ones from getting off.

Also, I trimmed about 1 cm a week ago. Will keep posted how thing are going. Keep your fingers crossed I don't get a huge shed now. :pray: