I need HELP.

[zzirvingj]

So this is a thread about my hair thinning problem. Some of you read the other thread from yesterday about my salon visit and how I felt about my hair last night when I got home (on the verge of tears ). Anyways, I've posted about this before but not in THIS much detail.

So here's the deal:

-I noticed my hair was thinning around September of last year. I was wearing it pressed and some friends who hadn't seen me in months commented on it. I didn't press it again until yesterday. It is still thin. It is not breaking off in little pieces; it's still long, but thinner.

-I can't tell if the strands are thinner or if I have less strands. I am thinking I have less strands because I remember seeing long strands of hair in the shower last year.

-Here are some things that could be causing this problem:

1. Using the denman too often. I've been wearing my hair like in my siggy on the weekends for like the past 4-5 months. To wear it that way, I've been detangling with my denman and conditioner in the shower, twisting it up, then untwisting it. So last year I used the denman way more than every before.

2. Using the wrong band(s) or tying them too tight. I used to use scrunchies on my hair (the big, silky soft ones) to tie my hair back in a bun. I've been using the long Goody bands to do this now. I wrap two of them around my bun; I wear a bun usually Monday-Friday. I hadn't been seeing many of the big silky ones which is why I switched over to the thinner Goody ones one day...and I just hadn't switched back to the scrunchies yet.

3. Hormones and/or age. Over the past 12-16 months I'm not gonna lie: I've noticed some changes in my body. Not to be TMI but I'm growing body hair faster than before. I've seen 1 or 2 other changes in my body and I have attributed it to age or hormones...but I had my hormones checked about 3 months ago and they were all normal. (I can post which ones were checked if anyone wants to know...)

4. Blood pressure medication. I started on BP meds May of last year. I really think this is the culprit but of course I'm not 100% sure.

5. Dominican visits. I've had a dominican blowout maybe 4-5 times over the past 16 months. Last one was about 6 months ago.

6. Regimen. Over the past year, I've done 4-5 coconut milk/lime treatments, 2 henna treatments, and dyed my grey roots black 4 times (2 times with Bigen, once with henna/indigo, and once with Clairol Natural Instincts).

 

[zzirvingj]

Another thing to note:

My hair texture is also looser. I posted about this before too. This makes me think it's something external (heat damage??). There is also a very small patch of hair in the crown of my head that is broken off down to like 3 inches. Looks like someone took scissors and just cut it there; it's weird. Perhaps the dominicans broke it off? Or my Goody band broke it there (I kinda doubt that one tho')? But I find it weird that I'm experiencing the thinner hair AND a looser texture. FYI, friends have commented on the TEXTURE of my hair being looser, too. And they were unsolicited comments, meaning, more than one person has said, "ZZ, your hair texture is different now....what are you doing different?"

Here is my current regimen:

Wear hair in a bun M-F. CW w/Trader Joe's Nourish Spa, add coconut oil and tie back in bun. Wear hair in puff like in Siggy on the weekend. Shampoo/DC on the weekend: Trader Joe's NS poo&con, steam with ORS pack, Aphogee 2 step, detangle with Denman and Lekair Cholesterol, use AOHSR as conditioner/leave-in, seal with a little coconut oil.

-----------------------------

So....I'm looking through pics to try to pinpoint when the thinning started happening. At this point, I'd just like input on where I should start?

Do I:

-See my PCP and get my bp meds changed?

-See a dermatologist first?

-Can I go ahead and start on some multivitamins/supplements? If so, which ones? I was thinking 1 mulit. and an Omega.

-What about styling my hair? Should I continue bunning it because it's a protective style? Or should I wear it straight and down more so it's not pulled back as much?

-What about products for thickening? Castor oil? Joico? Should I continue with my weekly Aphogee 2-step treatments? Do I increase or decrease my protein treatments?

My hair has been through hell and back in the past (when I had no regimen, wore weaves, never DC'ed, etc.) and was always THICK so I have no clue what the cause is right now or where to start.

Sorry this is so long but I know this is the best place for me to get help! I don't want to up and change a hundred things at once, but I do need to at least start SOMEwhere....ASAP.

 

[Platinum]

I can't help you on the styling options but have you considered researching natural remedies for your BP? (Garlic, red wine vinegar, etc)? Your BP meds may be the cause of your hair thinning. My mother's hair started thinning when her doctor put her on blood pressure pills.

 

[zzirvingj]

^I haven't researched natural remedies...I'm all for herbal remedies but kinda scared in this case only because:

Before the BP meds my BP was 140-180 over 90-110 range, which is very high, and I'm a pretty average size. I was thinking I could try a different bp med first, rather than the natural remedy first? I guess because its controlled now, I'm kinda scared to experiment on my own with the natural remedies because it may take a while to find something that works and I'd be scared to be back at BP that high for a long period of time....

Even with all the above things I wrote, in my heart, I do believe its the BP meds too....

 

[Platinum]

Check the natural living forum for natural remedies. In the meantime, I would definitely talk to your doctor about changing your meds if you're not comfortable with the natural route.

 

[Tiye]

I clicked on your fotki album and I can't see the thinning - but you know your hair and obviously your friends who see you in real time can spot changes better than we can. Maybe lay off the denman, stop wearing buns for a while and consider protective styling. I also agree with Platinum - your meds may be playing a part so that's something to look into.

 

[Platinum]

I would also like to suggest that you consider looking into an herbal detox as well. DO you drink a lot of water, do you exercise? I'm sure both of these factors can also help with keep your BP regulated.

 

[mzteaze]

I would research the type of medication that you are on and see if there is a link to thinning of hair, etc. It could be linked to your medical issues.

I would also suggest that to pinpoint the potential styling issues, I would eliminate the obvious potentials one by one. For example, with my hair, bunning is not an option as it causes breakage and other problems for me. Same with wearing my hair puffed (the ends get hard and crinkly). I would start with heat and mechanical issues after health issues because it could be related to heat and or mechanical manipulation issues (seems to be second best route cause).

I do think you have a good list, it just needs to be pared down into chunks that make it easy for investigation.

 

[NaturalBoss]

First of all I want to say that I thought you were about 21, so when you started talking about age, hormones, gray hair....I was shocked. You look very young...

Anyways, I would go to a naturopath instead of a regular doctor. Sometimes they have natural remedies that work just as good but are not as harsh on you. I'm not saying that naturopaths are always the best in every situation, but it's worth a shot.

I wouldn't wear my hair out in a puff on weekends for a while IF it is causing you to have to detangle more. Bun on the weekends too. I know it's kinda boring but it looks like you will kinda have to figure this out by process of elimination.

I still would really like to see a pic of what your hair looks like now.

Best wishes ZZ

 

[Nonie]

OP, I'm with Platinum on the natural remedy. If you like you could just start eating more garlic in your food, so you're not really taking a supplement if that makes you uneasy. As I've shared umpteen times, I had a friend who had high BP and she started boiling garlic and drinking the water. She said when chilled, you couldn't really smell the garlic. She'd use this water in her iced tea, or whatever she was drinking. (For me, it'd be mixing it with apple juice coz that's how I like to drink my water--just a few drops of apple juice to change the color and I'm good.) When she went to see her doc, he was so impressed by her improvement he reduced her meds and eventually took her off them. And TBH, methinks if you can heal naturally, you're better off. Meds usually have side effects and can be habit forming. At least when you have garlic, you're not really taking "medicine" but just eating a healthy herb that everyone eats even when not ill.

I would also like to suggest you give up the Denman. I just don't trust brushes at all, and you'll only see me use them along my hairline/kitchen to tidy it up because a comb can't do it. A comb's teeth go between strands separating them, yet combs have been known to rip at hair if they have rough seams. A brush to me is the debil coz it just rakes over strands just tearing them up. I don't believe it's an essential tool for smoothing hair back to put into a bun. My hair is kinky and I don't use a brush when I put it back into a puff. I comb it backward then use my hands and a friendly elastic to smooth it and get it to lie down, both when stretched and when just freshly washed.

If you haven't been taking multivitamins, you could perhaps start with those, because if your body isn't getting all the nourishment it needs from food--which is hard considering the crap in food and the deterioration food goes through during preparation losing nutrients-- or if your body is getting just enough, then your hair follicles are just being left to starve. Essential fatty acids are also important. Another thing to consider is every time you eat junk (sugar, too much salt...etc), it takes up the space that could have better been filled by something that nourishes you and your hair. So try to eat healthily so you're reaping the best you can for your body out of food. (You asked for which kind, IIRC, someone once shared that the Vitamin Shoppe's brand of Hair, Skin and Nails is actually a complete multi and has a lot of the necessary nutrients for the body and not just for hair, so if you wanted a multi for hair, I'd suggest that one.

Thinning can be due to so many things, including aging, hormones...but if you can at least start by making a few changes, you can at least make the pool of causes small enough for a doctor to decipher.

 

[Drtondalia]

Try Noni Juice. One of my customers said that her hair has gotten thicker since she has been drinking her juice daily. She originaly started drinking the juice for her High Blood Pressure and Diabetes so maybe there is a connection in the side effects of the meds.

 

[MrsIQ]

Could it be the dye/henna indigo combo? I know that most hair color say not to put color over a "compound henna". I wonder if henna/indigo is considered a compound henna.

You hair is gorgeous, in any case. I've been peeping your fotki on the sly for a minute.

 

[Carrie A]

Is it more thin at the front, like at the crown or at the temples?

 

[zzirvingj]

Is it more thin at the front, like at the crown or at the temples?

Nope, it's my entire head.

 

[NicWhite]

I completely agree with what Nonie has advised you to do. People don't realize that the medications they take can block the bodies ability to absorb and use the vitamins and minerals from their food.....especially B-vitamins. Try to find a good liquid multivitamin if you can. They are usually much easier to absorb.

You should also increase your water intake and physical activity, if you are not doing so already.

BTW - Stress can be a cause as well.

 

[Bnster]

My mother has to take BP pills and her hair has thinned considerably. Go back to your doctor and discuss the matter, that you want to start taking lower doses and what you need to do to reduce the dosage. It wouldn't hurt if you do some more research in how to reduce your BP, with all the suggestion above it is a starting point. Start adding castor oil into your regimen and garlic. Document to see your progress. Good luck!

 

[zzirvingj]

Thanks for all of the input thus far ladies...I've made an appointment with my PCP and dermatologist. Currently researching ways to reduce my BP naturally (thanks for suggesting this)....

I just want to stop taking my meds but I know I can't do that....

 

[QueenFee]

My mom had this same thing @ one point and its because her scalp did not agree with the henna she was using so she stopped all together. Maybe you should maybe start with something to thicken and add growth MT ans castor oil. Try maca root, my mother was also going through the change. HTH

 

[prettybyrd]

Could it be the dye/henna indigo combo? I know that most hair color say not to put color over a "compound henna". I wonder if henna/indigo is considered a compound henna.

You hair is gorgeous, in any case. I've been peeping your fotki on the sly for a minute.

I've been told that hair dye can cause thinning. If your meds are causing the problems, dying may certainly not be helping.

 

[hairoffire]

i'm sorry i don't have any suggestions for your hair. but i can tell you that celery can help lower your BP naturally. my BP was a little on the high side.....high enough that my doc was concerned, but not high enough that he felt meds were necessary. he suggested losing weight(which i need to do, been eatin like a pig lately) & watching my sodium intake. i try to limit a bunch of processed food because of the high sodium & i only use sea salt at home. i did some research & celery is really good for lowering your BP. it has phthalides that help relax the smooth muscles around your arteries which causes them to dilate & lowers the pressure of the blood flow

i started eating 4 stalks/day & when i went back for a follow up 30days later my BP was in the normal range. i hadn't changed anything else or exercised/lost any weight so it must be the celery. i also noticed i didn't have headaches as much anymore either. try it & see. HTH