new thread
Just a few concerns. I've had long hair for about 2 years now, and I usually just let it hang down. I'd like to try something different and do pony tails more often though. My concern though is going bald. Seems like every older long-hair I see that has a pony tail has a bald spot. I guess from so many years doing it. Also, I have some other concerns about hair loss. Is it normal to see a lot of hair strands in a brush after combing (especially since I never brush)? Seems like I always have some strands of hair on my shoulders from my hair. Is this normal, or should I be concerned?
Most older longhairs have bald spots because they are older. So do most older shorthairs. Pulling hair in a ponytail does not cause baldness... otherwise we would see a lot more bald women.
It's probably normal. I always have a brush full of hair, and my hair never gets any thinner. Everyone loses a fair amount of hair each day. When hair is shorter, it tends to fall out during the day and not even be noticed. The longer hairs tend to get caught and held by other hairs, so you tend to get them out when you brush. Plus longer hairs take up more space so it looks like more than with shorter hair.
Don't worry too much about baldness. If you have the gene for male pattern baldness, there's not (to my knowledge) a lot you can do about it except use minoxidil and hope for medical breakthroughs. If you don't, then keep good eating habits (plenty of protein and don't live on junk), take care of your hair, and you shouldn't have any difficulties with it.
MJ
Good lord... I heard that extended use of minoxidil can cause, of all things, heart murmurs or some kind of heart trouble. That's pretty strong for something you rub on your head. I mentioned in a section of the thread WAY down at the bottom that I used something called Nioxin, which was an herbal concoction of a shampoo and conditioner, which had some kind of mint/menthol ingredient which literally left my head feeling like I'd rubbed Icy Hot or BenGay on it. It felt really good and my scalp was a pinkish color after using it. It's the one shampoo that actually left my head feeling like it was clean. Of course the feeling doesn't last all day, so perhaps the only benefits come when you can actually feel it working. At any rate, I could pull my long hairs down and see little tiny hairs growing. Now I'm using Quantum clarifying shampoo, and Quantum conditioner from the ears down since I have a bit of an oil problem close to the roots. I just ran to the mirror to check and I still see little hairs. I don't know if they're leftovers from hairs that have been broken or new hairs coming in. Anyway, a cosmetologist told me that once the follicle dies, there's no way to ressurect it. So I guess if you see it thinning, the best thing to do would be to eat a good variety of foods. Seems like I heard someplace that spinach and kelp had lots of the vitamins needed for hair growth, but the only way I can eat spinach is raw, lightly steamed or as an ingredient in another food. Don't expect me to eat spinach that's been cooked to death and never mind canned spinach. Blach!
I just wanted to make a comment. You mentioned that this Nioxin was "the one shampoo that actually left my head feeling like it was clean." I just wanted to mention to you that you might give Physique Pure Shampoo a try. I have tried it, and I think it is awesome! I had used Pantene, and could never get my hair completely clean. Now, I have no problem getting it clean, and it's clean the first time! If you go down the thread, just a little bit from the top, to a post titled "A NEW SHAMPOO..." you will find a link to go to that can get you a coupon for a free FULL SIZE bottle of Physique. So, I suggest you give it a try!
I think if ponytails caused bald spots, a LOT of women would have them too. I think what you're seeing is many older guys with long hair AND male pattern baldness, which I don't think looks bad at all. If you look hard enough, you'd probably see just as many older longhairs with a full head.