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Rebeccalaurenxx
October 7th, 2011, 11:37 PM
So, a little over a year ago, for graduation photos I got strand by strand glue extensions. The hair dresser suggested this method even though I wanted a different one, but I went a long with what she wanted because she ssid it would be better.
But as it turns out, i believe she jacked up my hair.
Because of those extensions using glue, the glue would bond to other hair, matting underneath. I had them for about 3 months before I had to cut them out. The pulled out a lot of hair, and I lost about 1/3 thickness or maybe more, from my hair.
It did a lot of damaged, and im never doing that again, thats why im growing my hair out.
But it has been a year, and the hair has not seemed to have grown back.
I pull up my hair and still see a lot of scalp even a year later.
Is it possible that I will NEVER grow those hairs back? That I possibly got alopecia (or however it is spelled) from them pulling hair out?
My hair is already fine, and now its fine AND thin and it makes me really sad :(
What do you guys think could maybe help with this issue? Ive been doing castor oilings on my scalp for the past week and have seen a half inch in growth but no regrowth. Any suggestions?

Aveyronnaise
October 8th, 2011, 01:49 AM
I'm in a total rush right now but check out castor oil treatment threads.I had some hormonal hair loss and it grew it back with a quickness!

Roscata
October 8th, 2011, 02:31 AM
I am sorry to hear about your troubles. I would reccomend to check out these options and see what works best: iodine (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57627&highlight=iodine), castor oil (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18265&highlight=castor+oil), rooibo (http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71576&highlight=rooibo) and monistat (http://www.suicidesevemonistat.blogspot.com). Coconut milk and other natural cures found here (http://www.cure-for.info).

Good luck, I hope you find something that works! :D

discoisntdead
October 8th, 2011, 03:59 AM
1. Cut off all split ends
2. Get plenty of sleep
3. Get a satin/silk pillowcase
4. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of protein (animal or plant), carbohydrates, healthy fats (olive oil, avocado, dark chocolate etc.) and the necessary vitamins and minerals
5. No more peroxide/ammonia dying - I believe it thins hair by killing hair follicles
6. Stop heat styling
7. Wash as little as possible
8. Style your hair in gentle hairdos that don't put tension on your hair roots
9. Be patient!

This is the best advice I can give you. Good luck!

luthein
October 8th, 2011, 09:48 AM
It's highly unlikely that you'll experience permanent hair loss in your situation. Try to keep your stress levels down and your patience up. You can also measure your new growth monthly to see progress.

Rebeccalaurenxx
October 8th, 2011, 05:58 PM
I feel like no one has really read the thread... But thanks anyway.

Rocket22
October 8th, 2011, 06:13 PM
Awe I read the thread but I didn't really know how to answer, I'm sorry. I really think if you do what you are doing and you keep away from the extensions it's not a forever deal. I'm sure your hair will grow back. You didn't have them in that long, but if you had breakage it will take time for it all to come back. I know you said you lost a lot of thickness and you probably did lose some but from my own personal experience when you take out extensions you feel pretty darn bald. I had to take pictures just to help me from thinking I was going bald after every take down. It was nice to see by the pictures that my hair actually started out pretty darn thin. Unfortunately when we have all that hair put in and take it out it's a big shocker. So basically my advice would be do what you are doing I have heard wonderful things about the castor oil and just take good care of your hair with what you are learning on the forum.

Cassie 123
October 8th, 2011, 06:14 PM
I feel like no one has really read the thread... But thanks anyway.

Aww. :flower: It's just hard for us to really know. It seems unlikely to me that somebody so young would have permanent traction alopecia, but you'd have to see a trichologist to know for sure. Sorry I can't be of more help.

ktani
October 8th, 2011, 06:24 PM
It is possible that you have alopecia from the extensions. However, that does not mean that it is a permanent result. If the hair loss is caused by what is called "traction alopecia" or stress to the folicles, it can reverse itself over time. Here are more details http://www.traction-alopecia.com/.

You can dye your hair without worry if you like in terms of it not damaging your scalp, depending of course on what products you choose.

PixxieStix
October 8th, 2011, 06:32 PM
Seeing as the definition of Alopecia is "loss of hair from the head or body", then yes, you definitely had alopecia from the extensions your stylist glued in for you that you then removed three months later. However, alopecia can be caused by several factors, such as underlying medical conditions, physical removal (such as you had), iron deficiency, hormone changes, and hereditary patterns.

I have alopecia from trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder), and when my hair is removed along with the root and hair follicle (which I assume likely happened during your extension removal as well) , for me, it takes about 2 years for the area(s) to fill back in again, and that's just for the hairs to be there physically, that does not include any significant length.

From a one time ordeal, I highly doubt it is permanent, but you may have environmental, social, psychological, or physical barriers preventing you from seeing the regrowth as fast as you would like (such as stress, lack of proper nutrition, inadequate exercise and sleep, use of chemicals on your head, poor circulation, iron deficiency, unintentional mechanical damage, etc.)

For me, the best thing to encourage the hair follicles to grow back has been scalp massages. Second up, improved diet and exercise (which greatly improves overall circulation in the body, which helps to bring adequate blood supply to your hair follicles, essential for hair growth.)

The re-growth is super slow, I'm not going to lie to you.( I had a relapse in May on one spot on my head, and don't expect it to fill in until at least early 2013) Plus, being that you are the one who looks at your head the most, it puts you in a position where it is difficult to determine how much hair is growing back. I have one of my close friends or my FH look for me about once a month to tell me the progress they see on my scalp, because they can see the "baby hairs" better than I, and it feels much less frustrating when I can hear from someone that they do see new hair coming in. Don't have them looking all the time though, because then they won't be able to discern a difference either.

Those are my thoughts on the alopecia and what you can do to help improve your situation, and hopefully provide you some support and hope. Don't give up on the hair for at least another year or two.

And, I do think everyone has read the thread, they are indeed answering your inquiry for suggestions on help with the re-growth. :)

MrsGuther
October 8th, 2011, 07:34 PM
OP sorry to hear about your hair loss from the extensions. I don't assume it will be permanent hair loss. I do think it might take another year or two for you to see your hair regrow to a decent length and thicken up. Hugs to you, and hang in there.

Kristamommyx3
October 8th, 2011, 07:52 PM
I have heard of celebrities that have had permanent alopecia from extensions, like, supposedly Christina Aguilera, but I doubt you would get it after one time. I am guessing that many of those follicles were shocked and have gone into hibernation for a while. I'll bet one day soon you'll see little fuzz growing all over.

Rebeccalaurenxx
October 8th, 2011, 08:22 PM
Awe I read the thread but I didn't really know how to answer, I'm sorry. I really think if you do what you are doing and you keep away from the extensions it's not a forever deal. I'm sure your hair will grow back. You didn't have them in that long, but if you had breakage it will take time for it all to come back. I know you said you lost a lot of thickness and you probably did lose some but from my own personal experience when you take out extensions you feel pretty darn bald. I had to take pictures just to help me from thinking I was going bald after every take down. It was nice to see by the pictures that my hair actually started out pretty darn thin. Unfortunately when we have all that hair put in and take it out it's a big shocker. So basically my advice would be do what you are doing I have heard wonderful things about the castor oil and just take good care of your hair with what you are learning on the forum.

Thank you. Really, i hope it does get better in another year. It just makes me really sad to put my hair into a pony and see all those, scalp spots like on the sides above my ears.
But thank you everyone, ill stick to my castor oil massaging, and my hair care regimen and hopefully something will improve.

You know, this site has really helped me actually feel better about my hair. Everyone on here has always been so informative and helpful and sweet, it makes the process of getting over VERY BADLY tortured hair, easier, so I really am glad for LHC and the lovely girls of LHC, so thank you all. Really, from deep in my heart.

Kristamommyx3
October 8th, 2011, 08:35 PM
((hugs))
I know the anxiety of hair loss, too. I suffered from trich when I was younger, and although I catch myself pulling out hair daily, it's usually only one hair a day, and it's not conscious, just a nervous habit. I also lost about half my hair's thickness after having my third son three years ago. One day the hair on the left side if my head started coming out in handfuls! I eventually leveled out my hormones and started taking good whole food vitamins, fish oil and several other supplements to help my body, and my hair is almost as thick as when I was a teenager again. :). I really think yours will come back too. Fish oils really really help grow hair!

glitterbug
August 30th, 2013, 02:33 PM
I think you should see a doctor or a hair care specialist to get a DEFINITE answer. Depending on what was in that glue, could help solve some of this mystery and misery.

Magalo
August 30th, 2013, 02:39 PM
It's been a year. If your hair is APL, it's probably 18-22". There's 4-8" of growth in a year... so yes, the regrowth is nowhere near your hemline. You said you don't see regrowth, but it may be just well blended in at this point. I would give it more time. I don't think it's alopecia... it's the kind of thing that happens after YEARS, not in 3 months. Just wait!

ETA: forget it, I didn't see it was an old post... haha. I wish people stopped bumping old thread though.

Allychan
August 30th, 2013, 11:43 PM
My sister insisted on wearing extensions until her hair 'grew out' she never checked it out from the back and believe me it looked like a bird had nested in it, so I have never been much of a fan. Like you she ended up having them cut out.

Extensions can cause traction alopecia and damage to your hair follicle. But don't despair, there are studies out there with successful hair regrowth from damaged follicles using Iodine. Castor and coconut oil are great for scalp conditions and thickening up hair, but the scalp massages with these oils would be their best benefit for you.

I mix some colourless Iodine in with my oils when I do my scalp massage each night before braiding and going to bed. I conditioner wash it out the next morning. PS: Only use Iodine if you know you don't have allergies to it (or seafood allergies)

chen bao jun
August 31st, 2013, 02:59 PM
I don't mind this old thread having been bumped because I hope it will be a warning to people who want to do extensions even once.
They are so prevalent.
Last night we went to play miniature golf and ahead of us on line were three girls, all with extensions down to their waists. They looked like expensive extensions but you could tell even from the back that they were not the girls' real hair because their body types and the hair did not match. They all had the typical African American body type of long, thin legs, and high-set larger backside (not that all African Americans have this, but a lot do) and the hair was clearly from somewhere in South Asia. (Too black, too shiny, too 'swingy' --I could go on and on). And when they turned around, the faces and the hair really did not match. They were pretty girls and the hair made them look a bit odd, like mismatched china.
What was sad was that one of them was really playing with her hair-weave, combing it out very carefully and arranging it very delicately and clearly really proud and happy to have it on her head, no matter what it looked like to other people. I just found this so sad. She is happy now with the very expensive but fake hair, however, it is going to ruin her real hair entirely. I have a sister in law who was the same with her hair extensions (in her case, the hair was braided onto hers,it wasn't a weave). She wore that hairstyle 20 years while she got balder and balder and balder. Now she is so bald that she is wearing a wig 24/7.
I wish the word would get out to these women that they can grow their own hair with some patience and care and the right techniques and it will look much better AND they will keep it on their heads. The information is all over the internet, but people tend to think, not me, my hair will never grow for reason X or Y and just to be generally uninformed.
The girl in the line in front of us was probably no older than 16.

Rebeccalaurenxx
September 17th, 2013, 10:41 PM
I guess I can update you guys on the thickness, I didn't even know I had replies on here til now. xD

The castor oil did help a lot, I regained the thickness by the summer of 2012, but I was still wearing clip ins on and off.
(I got so obsessive because I hate the thickness of my hair.) But I didn't wear them at all for a good 8 months, wore them once for an occasion sometime in October 2012, then that made me go to wearing them on and off from 2012-early 2013.
I have been 100% extension free since March, and I am 100% weened off of them since my hair is so short I can't hide extensions anymore so I am now getting used to not wearing them again like I did in 2011-2012. I have regained thickness, but not anywhere close to the thickness I had in say 2010, which is what I am for. Im taking much better care of my hair now, haha.
But yeah, don't know what else to say xD ahaha

chen bao jun
September 18th, 2013, 06:34 AM
Thank you for the update.
I'm glad things have improved.
I can understand the temptation to keep using the clipins when you want to look the way you were, kudos for not wearing them since March. We have been hearing recently from people who want to try extensions, I think its good to have your thread visible, because some of them think that anyone who warns against extensions is just being mean! Or an alarmist. But I'm really sorry that you went through all of this, after initially only wearing them once and it would be nice to spare others some of this grief.
Castor oil has helped my mother recover from extensions also. She's allergic to sea food and wouldn't be able to use iodine.
Let's see where you are in another year.

Liz_park
September 18th, 2013, 11:42 AM
I guess I can update you guys on the thickness, I didn't even know I had replies on here til now. xD

The castor oil did help a lot, I regained the thickness by the summer of 2012, but I was still wearing clip ins on and off.
(I got so obsessive because I hate the thickness of my hair.) But I didn't wear them at all for a good 8 months, wore them once for an occasion sometime in October 2012, then that made me go to wearing them on and off from 2012-early 2013.
I have been 100% extension free since March, and I am 100% weened off of them since my hair is so short I can't hide extensions anymore so I am now getting used to not wearing them again like I did in 2011-2012. I have regained thickness, but not anywhere close to the thickness I had in say 2010, which is what I am for. Im taking much better care of my hair now, haha.
But yeah, don't know what else to say xD ahaha

Thank you for the update! And it's good to hear that your hair is growing back!


I have researched and thought about getting extensions, even just clip-in ones, a number of times, and reading this thread has helped me make a decision just to be patient with my shorter hair until it gets long.


That's a great tip about castor oil! I wonder how castor oil actually works? Do you apply it directly to the scalp? Or is it more for the ends of the hair, to protect them?


I don't know if this will help you, but I started taking biotin, MSM, and biosil and it really seems to have thickened my hair growth over the past year. Maybe it will help your growth along a bit?

AmyBeth
September 18th, 2013, 02:22 PM
If anyone is still here, please don't discount daily scalp massage. I believe it has helped not only with rate of growth, but also the thickness. I just hang my head over the edge of my bed to help increase blood flow to my scalp and massage for 2-3 minutes daily. My hair grows so much faster and has come in thicker since I started this. A huge payoff for so little investment.

Rebeccalaurenxx
September 18th, 2013, 03:47 PM
Thank you for the update.
I'm glad things have improved.
I can understand the temptation to keep using the clipins when you want to look the way you were, kudos for not wearing them since March. We have been hearing recently from people who want to try extensions, I think its good to have your thread visible, because some of them think that anyone who warns against extensions is just being mean! Or an alarmist. But I'm really sorry that you went through all of this, after initially only wearing them once and it would be nice to spare others some of this grief.
Castor oil has helped my mother recover from extensions also. She's allergic to sea food and wouldn't be able to use iodine.
Let's see where you are in another year.

Ill have to say, that extensions were like a quick fix for me but in the long run, bad idea. They covered up my ends, so I never saw the damage and that lead me to almost never get trims and then when I would get a cut it would be a big chop. So it was kind of like, a pointless cycle. And who knows, I could have had 5x better hair now if I had 100% stopped wearing extensions since I have done several big chops since 2011. So yeah, I always suggest to try something else when people ask about extensions, and usually tell people it is a bad idea.

Yeah, I honestly can't wait. One year and I will hopefully be at APL again. :-)

Rebeccalaurenxx
September 18th, 2013, 03:54 PM
Thank you for the update! And it's good to hear that your hair is growing back!


I have researched and thought about getting extensions, even just clip-in ones, a number of times, and reading this thread has helped me make a decision just to be patient with my shorter hair until it gets long.


That's a great tip about castor oil! I wonder how castor oil actually works? Do you apply it directly to the scalp? Or is it more for the ends of the hair, to protect them?


I don't know if this will help you, but I started taking biotin, MSM, and biosil and it really seems to have thickened my hair growth over the past year. Maybe it will help your growth along a bit?

With your fine hair, I would strongly advise against using extensions! I have fine hair, extensions are way too heavy for our hair type.

You can use castor oil both ways! Nowadays I dilute mine with coconut oil because the smell isn't too great and it is thicker of an oil by itself, it can weight the hair down so I wouldn't put it on your hair unless you were prepared to stay at home that night/day lol. In 2012, I used castor oil straight to my scalp every single night for the summer, so 3 months, and I saw a lot of growth. Just massage it in and wear your hair up, when I use it as a DT I will leave it overnight and wrap my hair in a silk cap.

I actually bought MSM recently! But the pills are HUGE. So I'm a little frightened ahahaha

Rebeccalaurenxx
September 18th, 2013, 03:55 PM
If anyone is still here, please don't discount daily scalp massage. I believe it has helped not only with rate of growth, but also the thickness. I just hang my head over the edge of my bed to help increase blood flow to my scalp and massage for 2-3 minutes daily. My hair grows so much faster and has come in thicker since I started this. A huge payoff for so little investment.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. :-) I saw a lot of growth from daily massaging!

Liz_park
September 18th, 2013, 03:56 PM
Yeah, I honestly can't wait. One year and I will hopefully be at APL again. :-)

You know, you may gan back the thickness as your hair gets longer. My hair *seemed* really thin when it was just past chin but shorter than shoulder length. But once it was past shoulder it seemed to get a lot more volume and I started liking my hair a lot more!

Best of luck with your growth!

torrilin
September 18th, 2013, 04:04 PM
Yeah, extensions are not all they're cracked up to be. I have pretty average thickness and fine hair, and so I can definitely get the bald or drowned rat look easily... but my hair is fine enough and fragile enough that pretty much any kind of heat styling (even blow drying) will cause epic splitting. So I tend to assume that extensions would cause massive breakage from the extra weight. It really doesn't take much to break a hair for me, so I'd rather not take the risk.

I tend to think I'm lucky... my sister and sister in law both have much thicker hair. There's definitely nice stuff with thicker hair, but I'd need something on the order of an extra foot of hair to wear a lot of my favorite looks at their thickness. I can be a lot more of a slacker with my fine and average hair. And well... My sister is just as capable of looking like a drowned rat even with her much thicker hair. Compressible straight hair does tend to compress!

mscm
September 18th, 2013, 04:15 PM
I think it is highly possible to grow it out! patience is the key, allthough I should follow my own advice sometimes.. I think what you need to do is take REALLY good care of it, the castor oiling is supergood! ;) When I feel my hair is too flat and thin, Joico beach-hair spray works wonders for me by lifting the hair. Here is a link http://www.sleekhair.com/21402.html this has worked for me and my hair is THIN! good luck :)

Rebeccalaurenxx
September 19th, 2013, 06:37 PM
You know, you may gan back the thickness as your hair gets longer. My hair *seemed* really thin when it was just past chin but shorter than shoulder length. But once it was past shoulder it seemed to get a lot more volume and I started liking my hair a lot more!

Best of luck with your growth!

Thank you so much!!!!! :-) You as well!!!! Im pretty jealous of your current length.

Rebeccalaurenxx
September 19th, 2013, 06:48 PM
Yeah, extensions are not all they're cracked up to be. I have pretty average thickness and fine hair, and so I can definitely get the bald or drowned rat look easily... but my hair is fine enough and fragile enough that pretty much any kind of heat styling (even blow drying) will cause epic splitting. So I tend to assume that extensions would cause massive breakage from the extra weight. It really doesn't take much to break a hair for me, so I'd rather not take the risk.

I tend to think I'm lucky... my sister and sister in law both have much thicker hair. There's definitely nice stuff with thicker hair, but I'd need something on the order of an extra foot of hair to wear a lot of my favorite looks at their thickness. I can be a lot more of a slacker with my fine and average hair. And well... My sister is just as capable of looking like a drowned rat even with her much thicker hair. Compressible straight hair does tend to compress!

You know what was the most irritating thing that I just realized????
I never knew my hair was fine until 2011, when the stylist that did my bonded hair extensions told me so.
"Your hair is fine, it'll need a lot more extensions to blend properly"
=
"Your hair is fine and will probably break off after this, but buy more extensions because I am the stylist and I "know" better than you and i need this money sooooooooooooo."

That was what it sounded like to me. After really thinking about it and going through what I did...
And yet after she saw my hair and knew it was fine and would break off from the glue, she did it anyway.
Guess when it comes to like 500$, as a stylist you'll do almost anything even when you know inside you shouldn't.
At 250$ a packet of "human" hair extensions, bleh. Worst purchase ever. My hair looked awesome, did it for graduation photos. Do not regret that, because my grad photos look great, first school pictures I ever liked of me. But idk if the damage was worth it or not.
I wanted to sue the salon though, ahahaha.

jacqueline101
September 19th, 2013, 08:32 PM
I read it I'm at a loss I've never had extensions. I've had bad hair cuts grew it out with Monistat, vitamins, and time.

Firefox7275
September 20th, 2013, 12:02 PM
You know what was the most irritating thing that I just realized????
I never knew my hair was fine until 2011, when the stylist that did my bonded hair extensions told me so.
"Your hair is fine, it'll need a lot more extensions to blend properly"
=
"Your hair is fine and will probably break off after this, but buy more extensions because I am the stylist and I "know" better than you and i need this money sooooooooooooo."

That was what it sounded like to me. After really thinking about it and going through what I did...
And yet after she saw my hair and knew it was fine and would break off from the glue, she did it anyway.
Guess when it comes to like 500$, as a stylist you'll do almost anything even when you know inside you shouldn't.
At 250$ a packet of "human" hair extensions, bleh. Worst purchase ever. My hair looked awesome, did it for graduation photos. Do not regret that, because my grad photos look great, first school pictures I ever liked of me. But idk if the damage was worth it or not.
I wanted to sue the salon though, ahahaha.

Extensions are damaging period, they are more damaging on fine hair or if done badly. Many things stylists do are damaging - chemical services, heat styling, razoring, teasing, ripping a comb through - they are not there to make your hair healthier they are there to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Ultimately it's down to us to research healthy hair if that is our priority, there is piles of scientific information and anecdotal evidence online about what is damaging and what is beneficial. Stylists are not responsible for how we care for out hair at home, our heath status, what we eat and so on. At the end of the day you are starting on your healthy hair journey at a young age so have decades of long beautiful hair ahead.

Liz_park
September 20th, 2013, 04:54 PM
You know what was the most irritating thing that I just realized????
I never knew my hair was fine until 2011, when the stylist that did my bonded hair extensions told me so.
"Your hair is fine, it'll need a lot more extensions to blend properly"
=
"Your hair is fine and will probably break off after this, but buy more extensions because I am the stylist and I "know" better than you and i need this money sooooooooooooo."

That was what it sounded like to me. After really thinking about it and going through what I did...
And yet after she saw my hair and knew it was fine and would break off from the glue, she did it anyway.
Guess when it comes to like 500$, as a stylist you'll do almost anything even when you know inside you shouldn't.
At 250$ a packet of "human" hair extensions, bleh. Worst purchase ever. My hair looked awesome, did it for graduation photos. Do not regret that, because my grad photos look great, first school pictures I ever liked of me. But idk if the damage was worth it or not.
I wanted to sue the salon though, ahahaha.


Oh man, when I read this my heart went out to you! I can empathize with trusting a stylist because I thought they must know best, and then feeling like I wanted to sue the salon when it was all done! With my disastrous haircut, I was really clear I just wanted a simple blunt cut, no layers, one length. I even brought photos! Somehow she just cut a whole bunch in anyways! Ah, I was so sad when it was all done! She didn't even cut it straight -- the left side of my head was more than an inch longer than the right side. I came back the next day to complain to the manager and the stylist and the manager tried to make me feel like everything was all my fault. They tried to convince me that I looked just like Alexa Chung. They even accused me of cutting my own hair (this is how they explained why one side was shorter than the other...they had the nerve to say I had done it after the fact!).

In the end, I made peace with the fact that the damage was done, and I wasn't going to spend any more time being angry. I decided never to step foot inside a salon again. I put all of my energy into researching vitamins, nutrition, hair oils, hair damage....everything. And I'm glad I did!

Another remedy that has really helped my hair is Snowymoon's Conditioning Treatment. Have you read about it yet? My hair and scalp loves that treatment and the aloe would be really good for your regrowth, I think :) I'll post it below here:

SMT Recipe
4 parts conditioner
1 part honey
1 part clear aloe gel

Heat in the microwave for a few seconds til it's warm, then apply to wet or dry hair (especially the ends). Cover hair with a shower cap/shopping bag/clingy food wrap/whatever, and let it sit for as long as you can stand it (30 minutes to overnight). Rinse out, do not shampoo.

A few notes:

Conditioners work best when they have minimal protein. Many people also avoid conditioners with silicone compounds for this. (I haven't experimented with protein ones, so that's word-of-mouth. I think protein-containing conditioners are likely to give lumpy, blobby results.)
No, the honey shouldn't leave your hair sticky. Try it with the honey first.
Aloe gels should be free of alcohols and numbing agents. Usually, the clear ones (as opposed to the green and blue ones) are best in this regard.

chen bao jun
September 20th, 2013, 08:59 PM
Yes, smts are very moisturizing which helps with stopping hair from being dry and breaking off at the ends.
I lvoe them!
Be aware that the aloe and honey are both humectants though and in winter weather, when the dew point gets low enough, can suck the moisture OUT of your hair, instead of taking it in from the air.

Rebeccalaurenxx
September 25th, 2013, 02:54 AM
Oh man, when I read this my heart went out to you! I can empathize with trusting a stylist because I thought they must know best, and then feeling like I wanted to sue the salon when it was all done! With my disastrous haircut, I was really clear I just wanted a simple blunt cut, no layers, one length. I even brought photos! Somehow she just cut a whole bunch in anyways! Ah, I was so sad when it was all done! She didn't even cut it straight -- the left side of my head was more than an inch longer than the right side. I came back the next day to complain to the manager and the stylist and the manager tried to make me feel like everything was all my fault. They tried to convince me that I looked just like Alexa Chung. They even accused me of cutting my own hair (this is how they explained why one side was shorter than the other...they had the nerve to say I had done it after the fact!).

In the end, I made peace with the fact that the damage was done, and I wasn't going to spend any more time being angry. I decided never to step foot inside a salon again. I put all of my energy into researching vitamins, nutrition, hair oils, hair damage....everything. And I'm glad I did!

Another remedy that has really helped my hair is Snowymoon's Conditioning Treatment. Have you read about it yet? My hair and scalp loves that treatment and the aloe would be really good for your regrowth, I think :) I'll post it below here:

SMT Recipe
4 parts conditioner
1 part honey
1 part clear aloe gel

Heat in the microwave for a few seconds til it's warm, then apply to wet or dry hair (especially the ends). Cover hair with a shower cap/shopping bag/clingy food wrap/whatever, and let it sit for as long as you can stand it (30 minutes to overnight). Rinse out, do not shampoo.

A few notes:

Conditioners work best when they have minimal protein. Many people also avoid conditioners with silicone compounds for this. (I haven't experimented with protein ones, so that's word-of-mouth. I think protein-containing conditioners are likely to give lumpy, blobby results.)
No, the honey shouldn't leave your hair sticky. Try it with the honey first.
Aloe gels should be free of alcohols and numbing agents. Usually, the clear ones (as opposed to the green and blue ones) are best in this regard.




I actually have the post with this recipe saved to my tabs xD
I just haven't had the time to go pick up the honey and aloe.
But thank you. I will give it a try as soon as I can!

Rebeccalaurenxx
September 25th, 2013, 03:09 AM
Extensions are damaging period, they are more damaging on fine hair or if done badly. Many things stylists do are damaging - chemical services, heat styling, razoring, teasing, ripping a comb through - they are not there to make your hair healthier they are there to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Ultimately it's down to us to research healthy hair if that is our priority, there is piles of scientific information and anecdotal evidence online about what is damaging and what is beneficial. Stylists are not responsible for how we care for out hair at home, our heath status, what we eat and so on. At the end of the day you are starting on your healthy hair journey at a young age so have decades of long beautiful hair ahead.

The glue the stylist used, matted and formed globs within 2 showers, I had to cut the glue from my hair out. It wasn't properly done, I could tell when it started matting and slipping off. One broke off at the root, (Like it broke off hair, at the root, it was horrible, I started crying.) the same day I had it done, and I called the salon and she said that was "normal". Obviously not. I did everything the stylist told me to, I took very good care of my own hair, bought 50$ worth of tools, special brushes and shampoos and such, and I did a lot of research beforehand but the glue she used itself, melted and matted my hair together. She then wanted to charge me another 200$ to remove them when I came in a month later to get them out. You are supposed to be able to keep them for at least 3 months and I HAD to get them out after a month, and, at 500$ I think that requiring to have them taken out after a month is a load of rubbish then to charge me another 200$, eck. I think the stylist that did the extensions was pretty responsible for the way the glue formed and cracked apart after 1 day, not to mention pulled my hair out from the scalp, with NO pulling at all. I was VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY gentle, because I could feel after 8 hours, a few slipping and starting to break, then the next morning, *lightly brush with special extension brush* *break* 2-3 of them begin to break off periodically. *commence crying*
It was just horrifying and I had never ever ever even after all my years of coloring and styles I had done to my hair since 13, had I ever experience something like that.
My hair has improved a lot since this though, since this happened back in 2010. So I have learned. But I still blame the stylist for the way the extensions began to form after day 1.

Liz_park
September 25th, 2013, 09:59 AM
Oh my goodness, Rebeccalaurenxx, again my heart just goes out to you! I cannot even imagine what that must have been like.

And I cannot believe that any stylist would claim that all of that was "normal"! And want to charge you more money just to take them out. It's like a cruel joke.

**HUG**

Astraea
September 26th, 2013, 02:15 PM
I read the OPs post but not the entire thread but - I've been there. Glue, braiding, sewing extensions - been there. I've pulled out chunks of hair, cut off hair, lost patches of hair. In my experience it may take more than a year or two or more to heal the scalp damage and for the hair to grow back in certain areas and with the density and hair thickness you were accustomed to. And worst case scenario - yes, it could be permanent damage.

There are numerous women who've experienced this problem, perhaps not on this board, but on others. Honestly, my hairline has never fully recovered its natural thickness and shape after one particularly nasty incident. What worked for me was time and patience and like others have mentioned, a high-protein, zinc, vitamin D, omega-3, etc., diet. I had to go real high dose and added biotin and MSM (only noticed increased tensile strength with the last two), stop eating refined, sugary crap, exercise, flush out toxins, get sleep and get new hobbies to stop obsessing/stressing. You may inadvertently be doing things that complicate your hair repairing itself. It's possible new-found sensitivity may not jive with your old products and new treatment efforts.

You may also want to try a dermatologist to inspect whether the hair follicles look damaged or overly smooth in areas you knew you'd grown healthy hair before. I hope it works out, in my case it was a longer process partly because of the worry, intervention efforts, continuing routines that no longer benefited my hair and average diet. If any of this has been discussed, apologies. HTH!

woodswanderer
September 26th, 2013, 02:35 PM
Don't feel too badly if your hair never regains 100% of the original thickness. My hair is thinner in diameter now at 30 than it was in my teens and early 20's. It is still "thick" I guess, for which I try to be grateful, but it used to be super thick. This isn't due to any damaging things I have done (because my hair care routine has gone from non-damaging to nurturing), but I suppose just that I am getting older. Bleh...

divinedobbie
May 3rd, 2014, 01:18 AM
I'm necromancing this thread :stirpot:

I had micro ring extensions done in June (for grad, just like OP). I took them out 10 weeks later (kept them in long enough to attend a wedding, took them out the night I got home). I only felt the pulling feeling for the first few days but it must have been really heavy on my hair because my hair is super fine and I don't have a lot of it so I had about a 1:2 ratio of my hair to the extension hair. It's been almost 9 months since I took them out and my hair feels thinner than it did before. I'm really worried that my follicles are damaged but it's great to hear that it might take two or so years for them to be repaired and that's why I haven't regained thickness. I lost about a small handful of hair when I took them out which I think is normal since it's all the hair that was shedding for those two months but couldn't fall off because it was trapped in the micro ring. I don't recall seeing any red bulbs (maybe one?) which are apparently permanent damage so that's a good sign.

OP - how about another update? :D

CremeTron
May 3rd, 2014, 03:18 PM
I will admit, I have not read thread but I will. But I read your question and I had a similar thing and my hair will not grow back. When I look closely at my scalp I can see scar tissue over some follicles. If you can, examine your scalp in a magnifying mirror and see if you have empty follicles on your scalp or unusually shiny or scaly skin. If so, the hair may never some back.

I can see some suggestions have been made so I could be wrong and by following those methods your hair could come back. I myself will be reading through as I am convinced mine will not grow back in as has been this way for 10 years. But who knows?

CremeTron
May 3rd, 2014, 03:32 PM
I'm necromancing this thread:stirpot:

I had micro ring extensions done in June (for grad, just like OP). I took them out 10 weeks later (kept them in long enough to attend a wedding, took them out the night I got home). I only felt the pulling feeling for the first few days but it must have been really heavy on my hair because my hair is super fine and I don't have a lot of it so I had about a 1:2 ratio of my hair to the extension hair. It's been almost 9 months since I took them out and my hair feels thinner than it did before. I'm really worried that my follicles are damaged but it's great to hear that it might take two or so years for them to be repaired and that's why I haven't regained thickness. I lost about a small handful of hair when I took them out which I think is normal since it's all the hair that was shedding for those two months but couldn't fall off because it was trapped in the micro ring. I don't recall seeing any red bulbs (maybe one?) which are apparently permanent damage so that's a good sign.

OP - how about another update? :D

:laugh::laugh:

Just realised it is an old thread but still useful anyway.

Rebeccalaurenxx
February 14th, 2015, 10:46 PM
I'm necromancing this thread :stirpot:

I had micro ring extensions done in June (for grad, just like OP). I took them out 10 weeks later (kept them in long enough to attend a wedding, took them out the night I got home). I only felt the pulling feeling for the first few days but it must have been really heavy on my hair because my hair is super fine and I don't have a lot of it so I had about a 1:2 ratio of my hair to the extension hair. It's been almost 9 months since I took them out and my hair feels thinner than it did before. I'm really worried that my follicles are damaged but it's great to hear that it might take two or so years for them to be repaired and that's why I haven't regained thickness. I lost about a small handful of hair when I took them out which I think is normal since it's all the hair that was shedding for those two months but couldn't fall off because it was trapped in the micro ring. I don't recall seeing any red bulbs (maybe one?) which are apparently permanent damage so that's a good sign.

OP - how about another update? :D

Hello! I totally forgot about the forum! I have been so busy with life and relationships, but I had been still lurking without logging in and then found my thread on accident through google. Im so silly, lol. Gosh its been years! Anyway, you asked for an update:
Its been about a year and a half since the last update, I would say that a lot of my thickness HAS come back "fully". I do however have 2 spots that still, forever feel.. funky. My scalp just feels "scaly" behind my ears, but I think that might be some sort of dry scalp or scalp issue because it will get itchy and dry and whatnot, especially when I am stressed out. But the scalp feels odd, the hair feels finer and thinner at the root, right behind my ears. And i do have little itty bitty sparse spots still, but so far after growing out a lot of layers, which has meant like... 4-5 different pixie cuts over the last couple years, I am at shoulder/collar bone and my ends are MUCH MUCH thicker. I have the most blunt hemline I have seen in years. Before the canopy of my hair was my only length. I had sooooo many short layers, but now everything has caught up and im growing everything together at once and keeping my hair as thick as I can at the ends.
Hope that update was helpful. I know you asked for it, well about a year ago. Apologize for the delay. XD

monaaa75
February 20th, 2015, 10:34 AM
why would anyone wear extensions, i can't understand that at all. they are soooooo obvious, like false lashes and nails. ugh

Rebeccalaurenxx
March 20th, 2015, 10:45 PM
why would anyone wear extensions, i can't understand that at all. they are soooooo obvious, like false lashes and nails. ugh

I know its been a couple months since this response, but I feel like I should say something but this response kind of, hurt my feelings.

I beleive everyone has the right to do with their bodies whatever they feel like doing, be it fake nails, extensions or globs of make up.
If it makes someone happy, I don't think it is my place to judge even if I personally find it unattractive.
People sometimes do things like fake nails and false lashes because they like it, they like the way it looks, it makes them happy and comfortable with their physical appearance. I wore extensions because I hated my natural hair, I hated my face the way I looked, I hated my hair and hated myself. Extensions relieved that. Its been a couple years and my self-love has improved, but it takes time for a lot of people, so I just think you shouldn't be so, mean about it.
:p

chen bao jun
March 20th, 2015, 11:05 PM
They don't always look fake. Actually, if they are expensive enough, they look amazing. Unless you do something like get light blonde ones and you're dark-skinned, but even that can look nice on people like Beyonce the singer.

People get them for various reasons, but I think the main one boils down to, that they feel long hair would make them more attractive and they don't have the knowledge of how to grow long hair, or else they don't have the patience, but I truly think lack of knowledge is the number one reason.

Rather than putting people down about it, I think the information needs to be out there how VERY destructive they are. People horribly lose their hair with these things, and sometimes it is permanent. It is sometimes an immediate loss like the OP had but more of the time, it takes years and then it is too late and it is devastating. It is sad that people who feel unattractive with their natural hair tend to be the ones to do this and then end up with problems with baldness which were avoidable, as baldness, you know, makes you feel even less attractive.

I haven't had personal experience with extensions but I have many close family members who do and have seen many, many disasters over the last 20 years. In fact, I don't know anyone who has used extensions for any amount of time, especially the sew ins who doesn't have problems with baldness, sometimes permanent. I just think people should be warned.

Sarahlabyrinth
March 21st, 2015, 02:58 AM
Yes, I do feel that warning and educating about damage extensions can cause is more constructive than criticism. I don't like extensions myself and would not want to wear them. But other folk wouldn't like the fact that I like to have long hair, but, we are free do what we please with our hair and whatever that may be, there will always be those who don't approve and criticise.

chen bao jun
March 21st, 2015, 09:25 AM
My mom is the person close to me who got awful bald patches from extensions, it was a nightmare, fortunately JBCO brought her hair back.

Her extensions actually did look fake, but they looked tidy and made her happy, for a while. She has type 4c hair and this is a difficult hair type to grow even to ear or shoulder length for people who don't have the knowledge which all too many still don't. Her hair is so fragile that it can literally rub off in your fingers, unbelievable to people who haven't experienced this. This is very stressful to her and always has been. I don't think people 'get' this and many don't get how insensitive even well meant remarks can feel when you are struggling.

Her hair loss experience led to us finding out how to preserve and grow her hair.