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African American Hair (and loss)



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Hello everyone. I'm still in the pre-op stage, but I'm curious as to how the African American ladies have dealt with the inevitable Hair loss. Any and all suggestions are welcomed.

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Hi chocolate butterfly,

I have asked this question quite a bit. I just had surgery this week on 11/24. I have met some African American Sleevers who have said that they had no hair loss. I have met and seen others who have had loss.

From what I have researched is the best thing is to make sure you get in all your Protein. I have really been trying to get in high amounts of Protein. I also braided my hair before surgery. I will more than likely keep it braided or maybe weave it to protect it from me combing my natural hair.

Good Luck!

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I haven't had surgery yet but info wonder if Protein treatments for the hair can help in conjunction with the high protein diet...

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I'm mixed race so I wouldn't say my hairs on the top end of the Afro scale it's more just thick and curly . But I like thick and curly do not want thinning out hair as I'm natural and haven't straightened my hair or been harsh with it in like a year to try and make it fully healthy pre op. As I knew surgery was on the cards ! that is actually the worst thing about this surgery makes me want to cry . Has anyone done any research or heard of a way to stop this . I'm pre op but this is the only downer for me along with sagging skin but I'm hoping I can prevent that by building muscle strength and elasticity at the gym post op when recovered .

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I've just been using raw organic coconut oil and coconut milk hair treatments . And taking Vitamins . Was juicing 2x a day but is quite time consuming with work and all ..so need to get back in the habit of juicing because I did see more Hair growth when I was juicing a lot .

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Great info. I just spent the last year and a half "going natural". My surgery probably won't happen until May or June (which is my going natural 2 yr anniversary). I don't want to see all of my work fall out in my brush. A friend who had it done 2 yrs ago said she just kept her hair cut short and didn't notice any loss. I don't want to do that. I read on another thread that sew in weaves weren't good because the excessive shedding will get matted into your braids.

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Wow 2 years is great so your hair must be stronger . Yea And snap I don't have a surgery date but from my dates I have already from consultants ,dietitian and how long it took other people from the day they got approved I'm guessing my surgery will be around may too ! And yea I can imagine that especially when it's time to take it out because it won't have been brushed in a while the hair would just build up . Hmm it's a tough one I think the Vitamins and Protein will play a big part but next time I see my consultant I will ask but I will do my own research to see if there's anything that will really help :(

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I've not lost much hair at all. I also have very thin fine curly hair rather than coarse thick kinky texture. I'm 7 months out as of 12/5.

Despite my hair being straight in my picture, it is unrelaxed and has been for the last three years as my stylist refused to highlight my hair if I was relaxing it. So I went with the highlights.

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I just started experiencing hair loss.....mostly I shed. I am at month 4 and from what I've read on other threads, this is the month that the loss starts and around month 6 it stops.

I am of mixed race and my hair is straight/wavy texture and tends to be dry. I stopped using daily heat a long time and had hoped that would prevent Hair loss but it didn't. I use grape seed oil and Jane Carter and deep Protein masks but it is still dry.

I am assured that by month 6 or 7 the hair will return to its usual state and I'll stop shedding.

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Good question. I'm also part of team natural and have managed to grow thick hair in the last 4 years. Set to be sleeved in March and hoping to retain growth without weaves.

I do take Hairfinity hair Vitamins but I'm not the most compliant lol

Edited by Sleeve_Sistah85

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Protein and zinc and good luck are the 3 things that most minimize hair loss. :)

I have uber curly fine hair- Caucasian but doubtful that has much impact. Words of encouragement. .. a little hairloss was a minor hassle compared to obesity. It is SO worth it.

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I've been natural almost 4 years. I had Locs and combed them out in March. My hair is t as thick as if like it to be ( or as long) so lord knows I don't want to have to deal with Hair loss. But if I have to, they made wigs for that. ???? I wouldn't suggest anyone who is dealing with hair loss get a weave. It could cause more stress on your hair and you could lose more than you would without it.

Edited by laurenella82

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I may try Hairfinity. Great info everyone. The pros outweigh the cons. I would rather welcome the regrowth of hair than the return of pounds & an unhealthy lifestyle. Blessings to everyone!

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I have been natural for 5 years thick and curly. Frankly I can use some hair lose. Is that crazy of me?

I am so jealous. LOL! ????

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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