new thread
Hello guys. I'm new here but I've been growing my hair since june of 2010. I'd cut it a bit in march of 2011 because my hair was getting damaged and I didn't really treat my hair properly. Now it's february 2012 and I have a major problem with my hair dropping out.
I've read the "on being a longhair article" and I followed the procedures. I wash my hair one a week, I put my hair in a loose ponytail when I go to work, I don't comb my hair often just finger comb it, and I wash my hair in cool water.
Today my mom decided to treat my hair with olive oil, she put the olive oil in the roots of my hair to treat it.
I went into the shower and washed my hair twice with some axe 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, as I was washing it my hair started to drop (my hair drops every time I wash it). After I washed my hair (and I'm still in the shower at this point) I started to run my fingers though my wet hair to make the (still) damaged hair fall out. So many hair fell out that it clogged the drain and there was still more hair in the bathtub.
My mom and dad both had long hair when they were young and they both said to me that there hair NEVER dropped like mines when they were my age.
My questions to you guys is that, what can cause my hair to drop so much? Could it be the shampoo? The water? Is my body lacking some kind of vitamin/mineral? Is my hair roots too weak?
Even if I run my fingers though my dry hair, still some hairs fall out, I don't know what to do, please help!
Just off the top of my head (no pun intended)...
1. Stop using "Axe" anything, and get away from the "2-in-1" products. Find a good shampoo, and a good conditioner.
2. If you smoke, quit.
3. Make sure you're eating healthy, including plenty of protein, a good multivitamin, and an omega-3 (fish or flax oil) supplement.
4. Get adequate physical activity.
5. Take 3,000 to 5,000 micrograms of biotin daily (note: MICROgrams--mcg, not MILLIgrams--mg).
Good luck, and keep us posted! :)
--Val
Hello it's me again. First I'd like to say that my real name isn't Lionel lol, I put that name because my dentist can't pronounce my real name :p.
Sorry about the long delay but I've been really busy this week.
I've finally got around to taking a picture of my hair. I'm 20 years old and I've been growing my hair for the past 2 years now (but I cut it before and now it grew back). I guess my hair is the wavy/curly type. As you can see by the picture that my hair is very thick and coarse.
Is my hair damaged in any way? More likey I'm referring to the top my head and my bangs?
Hi Lionel,
From what I can tell, nothing looks wrong with your hair... actually, your hair looks pretty darn fine :D - very thick and healthy. Your hair look a bit similar to mine, except that yours looks quite a bit more coarse. I'm right at about two years, too, and I think you might be having the same situation I'm having right now - just a bit a shedding. Also, I've noticed that my ponytail likes to pull a few hairs out a day from around my bangs / top of my head to above my ears, so it's nothing unusual to be loosing hair and seeing it shorter hair there :p . I wouldn't worry ^_~ . Might try looking at the Mane 'n Tail products for your hair - they might help a bit. Otherwise, take it easy and good luck to year three ^_^ !
Sincerely,
yoshiki
Thanks for the kind words. My concern is that some of the hair on my bangs are dry/damaged and frizzy. What can I do about frizzy hair, should I cut it off? The worst thing about it is that it looks even more frizzy when I put my hair into a ponytail.
Hi Lionel,
This is what I think... you could trim off the damaged ends - that never hurts, although trimming off too much is the worst-case scenario for anyone trying to grow out their hair. If you finger comb or just comb out your bangs the way they are right now with a wide-tooth comb and you can get through them without any problems, then the damage might not be all that bad. Try a different shampoo and condition separately more often - stay away from the 2-in-1 stuff. Use a deep-moisterising conditioner, perhaps twice a month to repair the damage. Oiling helps. Taking biotin could help with your hair falling out.....
I don't know, those would be my suggestions. Wishing you the best of luck with your frizz - please come back with any more questions :) !!!
Sincerely,
yoshiki
What Validus said- 2 in 1 products are only good for convenient washing of short hair. Right now is the time to take care of it. Buy a good conditioner, because it's worth it.
It's hard to pinpoint your problem with no knowledge of how long your hair is, what type it is, your age and how often you wash and comb.
That being said, it's much easier to see existing shedding when your hair gets longer. I have thick, wavy/curly hair, and I wash it with shampoo only at the scalp once a week. It's not difficult to cover the drain in one washing.
If you are only finger combing and not washing every day, you are going to have a buildup of shed hairs on your head that haven't worked their way loose. That could be causing the huge amount of hair coming off your head when you do wash it.
Try working out the loose hairs by either a good quality, wide-toothed comb very gently, and use water to wash it every day. This may cut down all the hairs coming out at once, if that is the problem.
Hi Lionel,
Much of what Validua already said makes good common sense, especially just basic good healthy eating habits & regular physical exercise will always serve you well. Also the suggestion to get a good quality shampoo with a separate bottle of conditioner is what I highly recommend as well. Just your basic shampoo technique of washing and rinsing with plenty of warm water, followed by conditioner and rinsing that with COOLER water... and giving your hair a break now & then by not shampooing any more than when the scalp feels too greasy / itchy, etc., should help.
I use olive oil on my hair ends; but NEVER apply it to my scalp (other than whatever minute amount might happen to travel upwards when I comb or brush it). Beneficial oils of any kind are best applied to the lower half of your mane only -- the ends are the part of the hair that gets frizzy and/or splits because of being too dry, so leave the scalp area alone (free from applying any oil to it) is my suggestion.
I don't know anything about those vitamin supplements mentioned; but if the situation gets any worse, my suggestion would be to consult your doctor, first.
I hope my comments have helped!
- Ken in San Francisco