OK, So I know that hair loss is pretty much inevitable. I have been growing my hair out for some time and it is really long. Its an inch or two past my bra strap. Black/mixed race hair tends to be more dry and brittle therefore it can take a long time to grow out our hair. I was wondering when you guys lost your hair was it more volume or length?? And how did you cope?

I am getting ready for the emotional loss of my hair.

I started losing very early... about 2 weeks out if I remember correctly. I'm almost 4 months out now. I don't chemically treat my hair at all and I've been taking biotin since a week post-op. I think everyone is different and I've lost weight very quickly (for a low BMI person) so that's probably where mine comes from. I imagine the hair loss will stop eventually ... or I'll go super short (I was growing mine out too).

From what I have been reading it more of a thinning shed then a length shedding, so you should be ok.

I think it's a bit of both.

Thanks for the info! I relax my hair once every 2 years and I color it about once a year. I am fully prepared to lose it I'm just wondering what to expect.

I went in with my eyes wide open, I prepared for the worse case scenario and informed my stylist well in advance of the surgery for preventative measures.

I've thought about this too. Of course I'm preop' date=' but I have thought about just doing micros until after surgery then a sew in so I won't have to deal with seeing the hair shed when it starts. How far we're you guys out before you started to lose hair?[/quote']

I am only a week post op, but I am prepared since it seems inevitable.

I lose a lot of hair ANYWAY, so i'm not even sure I'll notice. :/ I do plan to braid it up and either do a weave or a wig so I am not messing with it and it has less chance to fall out.

I think it's a bit of both.

I went in with my eyes wide open, I prepared for the worse case scenario and informed my stylist well in advance of the surgery for preventative measures.

Thats what I did also

I color my hair. I am currently wearing it natural and cut it short. I can tell the hair loss, but with it being short I don't think others can. My hair tends to grow fast so I am not overly concerned.

My hair is naturally thick (so my stylist and everyone else says). So hopefully when it sheds it won't be so apparent. I have had times where it shed really bad mainly due to stress and I thought it was so noticeable. I cut it short and could hardly tell but I don't want to go back to a short do. It's so much maintenance.

OK, so today I met with my dermatologist. My dermatologist explained that the type of hair loss we are experiencing is called telogen effluvium and is more due to recent shock to your system, ie., weight loss, pain, recent surgery, over or under active thyroid, childbirth, medications and other underlying conditions not just lack of Protein. The dermatologist mentioned that one could lose over 50% of your hair, but that it will grow back in 5-8 months. She suggested using minoxidil, which will stimulate the growth of new hair faster. The less expensive brands are: (both 2%)

* Equate which can be purchased at Walmart

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=976760&search_query=minoxidil&facet=brand%3AEquate&_refineresult=true&cat_id=976760

* Kirkland Minoxidil which can be purchased at costco.

Important instructions on use:

It is important that if you do use the minoxidil, it is to be placed on your scalp, do not rub it into your hair, it will just make your hair more brittle and susceptible to breakage. Do not let it drip onto your forehead as it will cause headaches. The best application is laying back preferably into a shampoo sink.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/effluviums

http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/telogen_effluvium.html

I hope this helps.

I have dreadlocs down to the middle of my back. I'm so worried how the loss/thinning is going to affect my locs. I've been thinking about cutting them into a short bob style, so the sure weight of them won't make things worse.

I'm mixed (mom is Cuban and dad is black) and I haven't noticed a change in my hair. My hair has always been thick and most people assume it's fake. I relax my hair (at home) and started coloring (at the salon) it in December. My surgery was almost 4 and a half months ago and I haven't noticed any change in shedding or thinning. It can still happen but it hasn't yet. I do get in all my protein (around 100+grams a day and sometimes about 130g), I take my vitamins every other day, exercise, breastfeed, etc. I also added a iron pill to my vitamins but I only take it once a week. I'm also a slow loser and maybe that's why I haven't lost any (knock on wood). My hair is so thick that I get my stylist to thin it because it gets so heavy that it just lays flat and I like when it has body and movement. I've been growing it out and it's a little below my shoulders (recently had it cut) but if it ever starts to thin I don't have a problem with cutting it back above my shoulders into a bob I also eat a balanced diet of carbs, fats, and protein. My carbs are around 100g per day. I don't take biotin because I heard it causes you to grow some unwanted hair and it's just not worth it to me. I heard that protein is very important and I figure if I'm getting too much protein then I will just piss it out lol I'd rather get too much than to have to little. I still drink at least 1 protein shake a day

Also I get in about 80+ ounces of Fluid a day. I eat 5-6 small meals a day.

Good Luck everyone The good thing is that the hair will grow back and that's what keeps me from thinking about it but that's probably easy for me to say since I haven't lost any yet :/

I am losing quite a bit of hair. I have been adhering to all of the Protein and Vitamin guidelines' date=' yet still experiencing loss. Seems like the majority of the loss is volume but there is some breakage so most likely I may be cutting it off and starting from scratch. I frequent the salon bi-weekly and have had protein and moisturizing treatments, and nothing has stopped the loss. I did speak with my PCP and checked blood panel and everything is normal, she seems to think that it is just part of the rapid weight loss. I will be seeing a dermatologist tomorrow so I'll keep you posted. It is what it is, It certainly isn't the worst thing that has happened in my life and may be just part of the process.....it's just hair and it will grow back. I hope you will be ok.[/quote']

I am nine months out. I have lost more than half of my hair, but it is def growing back!! Keep doing what your doing bc it will work. I cannot believe how quickly it is growing back. My hairdresser said I was a level 3 in nioxin, but I use level 2 it def helps!!!

I am nine months out. I have lost more than half of my hair, but it is def growing back!! Keep doing what your doing bc it will work. I cannot believe how quickly it is growing back. My hairdresser said I was a level 3 in nioxin, but I use level 2 it def helps!!!

Yes, the derm did say that it would grow back. I'm definitely going to have my stylist start with the minoxidil.