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Reila
October 25th, 2008, 01:20 PM
Hi everyone. Now, as some of you may know I already have very thin hair and I'm only 19. It used to be thick about 5 years ago. I'm not sure if it has thinned down because of all the straightening and dying I had done or what.

I stopped dying my hair about 5months ago, and recently completely stopped straightening it all together. I wash my hair almost every day and lose about 20-30 hairs in the shower. (Is that normal for almost every day?? :()

Anyways -- for the first time, I oiled my hair last night. I put a little bit of olive oil in it, with a VERY small amount of tea tree oil and left it in over night. This morning I brushed my hair -- losing about 10 hairs there and then I showered. Losing almost 70 hairs!! 68 to be almost even more exact. I was really scared when I saw all this hair coming out.
Now, I don't know what to do. It is my time of the month also -- could that have anything to do with it? Or is it normal to lose this many hairs after oiling?? I'm really concerned and feel like crying!! :( Will my hair EVER become decent?! Or increase to a type ii thickness? I'm only 19!! :wail::wail::wail:

HeeelpT__T;;;;

-A very sad Reila

princess_ashton
October 25th, 2008, 01:24 PM
First, don't freak out. Losing 100 hairs a day on average is normal.

I do lose a lot of hair when I oil because it lets the shed hairs get loose from the other hairs that are still attached, if that makes sense.

If you have severe shedding (bald patches) talk to a doctor, it may be a health concern. BC pills can cause it.

If you cut out the damaging things you do, your hair will break off less, and thicken up. Also, henna and cassia thicken hair. Castor oil is supposed to help, too.

longhairbraid
October 25th, 2008, 01:26 PM
reila.......plz dont worry.....i guess u check ur diet also..coz not oiling would have caused so much hair loss..may be change in water or food also results in it....1
have u consulted any hair specialist......u will surely get help, no need to be worried!

Reila
October 25th, 2008, 01:29 PM
Thank you for the response. Now, I'm not on BC pills. I do lack iron - but I've been on iron supplements that my doctor advised me to take. However, whenever I complain to my mom about my hair. She'll always blame something like... my straightening. Or just this morning I was complaining to her about some dandruff. And she tells me, "It's all those products you use!" I got really defensive with her and told her I don't use anything!! Except shampoo and conditioner and the oiling for the first time today. I don't even know where she would come up with that since I dorm and it's not like she could watch what I do. So I really don't see her taking me to the doctor if I complain about my hair. It's also really hard to find time to go seeing as how I dorm. She's always like, "there's nothing wrong with you". T__T;

aslanslucy
October 25th, 2008, 01:39 PM
I had a lot of hair fall out while I was living in the dorms as well. I think it was a combination of a lot of factors: lack of sleep, poor nutrition, constant stress from classes as well of friend and boyfriend problems. I tried to focus on getting to bed on time and eating well. I also switching roommates because there was just too much drama with the roommates I had before. I did a lot better with quieter roommates, less social drama, more rest, and better nutrition. These things may not apply to you but it's worth thinking about.

Reila
October 25th, 2008, 01:44 PM
aslanslucy, that makes a lot of sense. and I can see that that probably affected me my freshmen year last year. this year it's a lot better. there's no drama that affects me. my boyfriend is now the boy i stressed so much about second semester last year, and there's no stress with him at all right now. i TRY to get enough sleep but i'm up late studying sometimes so that probably has something to do with it also. as far as nutrition goes, i try to eat well and i take a multi, biotin, and b-complex. maybe i have to wait for those to kick in and help out?

NightDaemon
October 25th, 2008, 01:46 PM
So I really don't see her taking me to the doctor if I complain about my hair. It's also really hard to find time to go seeing as how I dorm. She's always like, "there's nothing wrong with you". T__T;
Just remember, you know your body a whole lot better than she does. What's normal for one person can be rather unusual for another. I'd say watch what happens with it for the next little while, and see how your hair starts to behave without the dying/straightening.

freznow
October 25th, 2008, 01:55 PM
I deep oiled last night and I shed much when I combed it out. I think that's just how it goes, I'm not really sure why. For me it seemed that the oil made my hair a bit grippier (isn't it supposed to do the opposite?) so pulling my hands through grabbed onto more.

Also, it's fairly normal to shed more when you have a change in routine, or do something different. It's if the shedding continues, then it's a problem to address (health, stress, allergy, etc)

ChloeDharma
October 25th, 2008, 02:06 PM
Often when you start scalp oiling/massage there can be an increase in shed hairs. I know with me whenever i've not done a heavy scalp oiling or i've neglected scalp massage then the first couple of times i loose tons of hairs. But by about a week later my shedding is down to a tiny amount.
I wouldn't panic too much, just keep an eye on it and see how things go.

Reila
October 25th, 2008, 02:11 PM
Thank you guys for your replies. I'm not as concerned as I was, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for more big sheds. :( Hopefully they wont come!!

Beatnik Guy
October 25th, 2008, 02:55 PM
reila.......plz dont worry.....i guess u check ur diet also..coz not oiling would have caused so much hair loss..may be change in water or food also results in it....1
have u consulted any hair specialist......u will surely get help, no need to be worried!
longhairbraid, I realise that this is your first post, but if you intend to spend more time here, please note that we expect all members to use standard english, which means no "u", "ur", "plz", "coz" or similar.

heidi w.
October 25th, 2008, 03:25 PM
I would not oil your hair using Olive Oil nor Tea Tree Oil.

I would not oil the hair close to the scalp. Begin from the earlobes on down.

I would recommend you see a doctor and get a blood screen for at least these two things:
any thyroid issues
any problems with anemia (borderline or more definite anemia)

both of these issues will cause hair thinning.
thyroid hair falls out in chunks
chronic low-grade anemia is loss over a great deal of time

I don't know your age or health but diet and health can definitely show in hair. Further, we do not retain our volume of hair all our lives. By age 20, we are out of the timing of the thickest our hair will likely be. By age 30-35 we will have noticed some loss in volume. (If you've been pregnant then you will have seen this in a smaller scale -- how hormones can directly affect hair cycle.) Eat protein. Make sure you have enough zinc, such as what's offered in a multi-vitamin. By 55 and beyond, we definitely notice the thinning.

Then illness can affect hair volume: diabetes; heart concerns; diseases that affect oxygen in the body (heart, for example); polycystic fibrosis, endometriosis, any variety of hormone issues such as too much testosterone (women's testosterone levels change during the coarse of their life which can explain the onset of a seeming moustache and thinner hair). Women DO experience male pattern baldness! Not that you are: I'm sure you're not. BUT you just need to know that hair is one of the lowest priorities for the body's systems to care for: organs such as heart, kidney, brain and so on come first. The body, when deprived of nutrition over an extended period of time (and btw, eating some appropriate fat daily is necessary for many minerals and some vitamins to be delivered/uptake by the blood/cells, so no fat, after a time one's hair can fall out and even if eating a healthy diet beyond excluding fat, you actually can be nutritionall deficient) will show problems in hair earliest, lethargy, irritability and so on. In more emergency situations, such as being caught in bad ice/snow, the fingers, the toes go first - all in an effort to keep the organs alive. (Just to dramatize what I am saying).

Losing up to 150 hairs per day is in the normal zone.

There is an Article on Oiling Tutorial in the Articles section of this thread. As a new member, I am not sure you can see that part of the LHC forum. Maybe someone can link it in and then you can see if you can access it.

Use Jojoba Oil or Coconut Oil or Sweet Almond Oil.
If hair is wavy to quite curly do this while hair is damp (not sopping wet -- damp), and spritz it in by blending the oil with water in the spritzing.

Do not use a brush; use a comb

If hair is sopping wet, do not detangle! Wait til only damp to begin the process of detangling, slowly, from the bottom.

Tea Tree Oil is a strong anti-bacterial oil and if used in too much volume some have reported that when applied too much to skin, then their hair fell out.

Olive Oil is the wrong kind of oil. It's acid content is fairly high and intended for withstanding high heat as in cooking.

You want a different kind of pressing situation that carrier oils that I mention explain.

Also, A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY. Take it easy. You can heavily oil and remove the following day, but when using as your leave-in (not in lieu of conditioner though, only in lieu of a leave-in), then a tiny, tiny bit where there's only a sheen on the palms of the hands. No pooling of oil.

Go read that tutorial if you can access it. If you can't get it or find it ask someone. We'll help you out.

heidi w.

Honey39
October 25th, 2008, 03:50 PM
When I was shedding, I did not oil much. I find that adds to shedding. When I think I'm shedding, I try to treat my hair gently, put it up, and basically leave it alone as much as possible. For me, giving up heat had an amazing effect!

Go and get it checked out, but I think the amount you're shedding is in the average zone, so try not to worry....

yogachic
October 25th, 2008, 04:13 PM
Oiling makes me loose alot of hair too. I don't know why but I don't heavy oil now because of so much shedding after.

jojo
October 25th, 2008, 05:09 PM
I notice when i oil too, but my theory is the hairs were loose anyway so would have come out regardless. But I totally agree with Heidi's post, a few blood tests to rule out the disorders she mentioned wouldn't go a miss. I also think you would benefit with a good multi vitamin, one with iron and zinc would be a good choice.

I know how distressing it can be, I too have been going through this and loosing a good 100-150 hairs a day, mine is decreasing now and my hair getting back to normal.

I hope this gives you some comfort and helps you in some way xx

Diamondbell
October 26th, 2008, 04:25 AM
Often when you start scalp oiling/massage there can be an increase in shed hairs. I know with me whenever i've not done a heavy scalp oiling or i've neglected scalp massage then the first couple of times i loose tons of hairs. But by about a week later my shedding is down to a tiny amount.
I wouldn't panic too much, just keep an eye on it and see how things go.

The same thing happens to me when I neglect the scalp massage for some days/weeks and start all over again. I have heavy shedding but then the shedding comes back to normal (very little) after regular, daily scalp massage, in about 2 or 3 days after starting the scalp massage routine! So now I always do the scalp massage. This helps!

Eryka
October 26th, 2008, 05:18 AM
longhairbraid, I realise that this is your first post, but if you intend to spend more time here, please note that we expect all members to use standard english, which means no "u", "ur", "plz", "coz" or similar.

:applause Not all teenagers have to put the "x" in text message generation.

ktani
October 26th, 2008, 05:41 AM
Shedding at different times of the year are "normal". Also shedding more can be because of certain products. Some conditioners can contain too much wax and oils that can clog pores. No big deal, just play with different brands. Hormone changes cause shedding too. Any unusual shedding, more than 100 - 150 hairs per day should be looked at by a doctor IMO, to rule out medical causes, like thyroid, diet deficiencies, hormone imbalances etc.

heidi w.
October 26th, 2008, 11:03 AM
If oiling dry hair (can oil damp or dry hair), be sure to have detangled hair already.

If one ever believes or knows they have an iron issue, do NOT take an iron pill. Just a multi-vitamin with a little bit of iron in it will suffice.

Too much iron easily becomes a toxic problem. Iron pills should only be taken with APPROPRIATE DOCTOR/MEDICAL supervision as this can cause constipation; some interactions with other meds; and mostly, it can be toxic.

Keep out of reach of children: they are even MORE susceptible to iron overdosing. It can be very bad for children.

NEVER give to children without a specific instruction to do so from a qualified medical doctor.

heidi w.