Thread: My hair is falling out...

So, I've been worried about this for some time, but its reached a new level here recently.

My hair falls out by the handful. When I brush my hair in the morning, there is enough hair on the floor to make a wig for a small child. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but its close.

I know my hair is damaged because I color it, but I'm going back to my natural color, as much as I hate it. ;)

I'm wondering if any of you have any ideas for vitamin supplements or anything dietary I can do to stop it from falling out so fast. :(

:) thanks in advance everyone

Try products with rosemary. Or make vegetable or nut oil infusion with rosemary essential oils that you massage into the scalp nightly.

Hairs that come out are either due to shedding or breakage. Shedding is when the hair falls out from the follicle, usually at the end of its normal growth/rest cycle, but stress/nutrition/health issues will accelerate this.

Breakage is different. To minimize breakage you need to treat your hair very gently, as if it were a piece of antique assuit (Oh wait, I cut, chop, dye, and boil antique assuit -- bad example). Anyway, you need to gently detangle your hair with a wide tooth comb, not rip through it with a brush. Start at the ends when combing and don't run the comb near the roots until the ends are detangled. Whatever you do, never brush wet hair as a means to detangle it.

How long is your hair? If you are growing it out it may seem like you are shedding more when in fact you are not.

Take Biotin avaoilable in vitamin aisle or vitamin store
My hair also falls out in handfalls..It happens when seasons start to change..Then it will stop suddenly like it never happened..

Same boat, except mine was crunchy after hair highlighting smoking hair disaster. Protein (but not too much-I overused and it became crunchy) and high quality conditioners.

Have you googled alopecia? Here is Wikipedia's blurb, which mentions that it might sometimes be related to iron deficiency.
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alopecia]Alopecia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

is your hair dry and brittle too?, how about skin and nails ? maybe you should get your thyroid checked, if you haven't done so lately

Have you been losing weight and not getting enough nutrients? I seen you were on the P90X program, so I am not sure what the diet is on there and how much you are really getting in your body.

I agree with treating your hair kindly.

Sometimes things like this just happen. Here is a link.

Help My Hair Is Falling Out -- How Much Hair Loss is OK?

But, if you see baldness, extreme thinning, I agree that you could give a phone call to your doctors office.

Maybe go to the doctor?

My teenage daughter was in the same boat as you - her hair fell out so badly I had to hide it from her. She wore a hat all summer so she wouldn't burn her scalp. We put her hair loss down to a constant 12-months of bullying at high school (have since moved schools). The hair loss seemed to run its course but I got her heaps of herbal supplements, an Australian company called Blackmores had a good hair, skin and nails product, but anything with silica will improve hair health. I also had another herbal product which I rubbed into her scalp. I'm not 100 % sure if this worked but her hair re-growth has been phenomenal! Thick and curly, you would never know now. I would also go to a doctor to rule out alopecia though.

Originally Posted by ssipes

Hairs that come out are either due to shedding or breakage. Shedding is when the hair falls out from the follicle, usually at the end of its normal growth/rest cycle, but stress/nutrition/health issues will accelerate this.

Breakage is different. To minimize breakage you need to treat your hair very gently, as if it were a piece of antique assuit (Oh wait, I cut, chop, dye, and boil antique assuit -- bad example). Anyway, you need to gently detangle your hair with a wide tooth comb, not rip through it with a brush. Start at the ends when combing and don't run the comb near the roots until the ends are detangled. Whatever you do, never brush wet hair as a means to detangle it.

How long is your hair? If you are growing it out it may seem like you are shedding more when in fact you are not.

I was going to say this.

It really depends on why you are losing hair.

A number of long hair growers swear by taking MSM/silica/biotin etc to boost growth.

Switch to a gentle shampoo without SLF in it. Try doing a conditioner only wash once a week, when I do this I have very little hair fall (make sure it has nothing with the word 'cone' in it.)

Never brush wet hair, it it more prone to breakages. If you feel you must do something, run your fingers through it.

Hope it's nothing more serious than one of those hair blips, I know I get them from time to time.

over 10 years ago mine started to come out breaking and from the root in large quantities. I realise now it coincided with the very start of the meonopause but my hairdresser did say at the time any hormone change can affect the hair so I am not suggesting that you are of a certain age..forgive me if you are a stripling (Grin) I second the no brushing and gentle shampoo whatever the reason. Gentle with drying too.
My frizzy manic hair returned to normal within a couple of months.

It wouldn't hurt to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist. Is your scalp sensitive or does it tingle at all?

Both my boss and my neighbor have experienced alopecia in the past year, for no discernable reason.

I think you should go to the dermatologist. I experienced my hair falling out (I did feel a tingle). Turns out I have Sebhorra Dermatistis (sp.?) which caused me to have alopecia. I was given a topical steriod and a REALLY expensive shampoo to help deal with it. It worked and my hair where it was lost is in the process of growing back. I still use the shampoo about once a month because I tend to trigger it when I get stressed out, which is a catch 22, because I then get really stressed that my hair falls out. But, using the shampoo has really helped me.

Someone else mentioned menopause -- and you don't have to be of menopausal "age" to have something whacky happening with hormones that might effect hair growth (that's what my doc checked for along with thyroid).

I was counseled by a hair growth "expert" to avoid hair products with lauryl sulfate (or anything coming close to that in spelling) in shampoos and other hair products. There are a few out there that don't have it, but quite frankly, I'm not sure it made much of a difference....

(It seems ironic to me now that I was so obsessed over my hair thinning for a number of years, when I lost it ALL this year becuz of chemo! I now have just a hint of stubble and am horribly impatient! Of course this thread caught my eye! I am definitely going to look into the resources suggested in the above responses (and I already have the Lady Rogaine and Latisse- waiting for the yucky drugs to be completely out of my system before using them.)

Good luck -- I totally empathize!

Losing weight and not eating enough or eating right has a lot to do with it. A former hairdresser told me that the right balance in your diet along with vitamin supplements help prevent hair falling out as well as getting the proper rest. I know you've lost some weight so this may be a temporary side effect.

Also, certain times of the year it seems like I shed more, especially during the change of seasons. In addition, you might want to re-color your hair with a demipermanent color or a gloss of some kind, if you still want to color it. But highlighting just burned my hair pretty bad.

Originally Posted by bellabelly

Someone else mentioned menopause -- and you don't have to be of menopausal "age" to have something whacky happening with hormones that might effect hair growth (that's what my doc checked for along with thyroid).

I was counseled by a hair growth "expert" to avoid hair products with lauryl sulfate (or anything coming close to that in spelling) in shampoos and other hair products. There are a few out there that don't have it, but quite frankly, I'm not sure it made much of a difference....

(It seems ironic to me now that I was so obsessed over my hair thinning for a number of years, when I lost it ALL this year becuz of chemo! I now have just a hint of stubble and am horribly impatient! Of course this thread caught my eye! I am definitely going to look into the resources suggested in the above responses (and I already have the Lady Rogaine and Latisse- waiting for the yucky drugs to be completely out of my system before using them.)

Good luck -- I totally empathize!

RE: SLS in washing products. It's advised to avoid it because it can be harsh. If I use a shower gel with it really dries out my skin - So I prefer no to use it. If people are happy to use it then fine.

Are you getting enough protein in your diet? That can affect hair.

Thelonghaircommunity.com

Join there, go to the "Mane Forum", search for the word "growth". I have a rather large file of tips and info I got there on getting hair thick and long, but its too large to post here. Give me your email address and I'll send it to you. That'll give you enough info to get you started. I used the info to get the thickest head of hair I ever had, and I got almost an inch growth per month. Barring any health issues, some of that may help you.

The Long Hair Community Try that link instead! They do have a lot of good advice, helped me get my hair from a stacked A-line bob down below my waist!

I second the thyroid checking - my hair was falling out like crazy when I had post partum thyroiditis. Thyroid problems are very common, and having levels even a little bit off from normal can cause hair loss.

I had a bad experience the only time I chemically treated my hair (permanent curls).
I must have lost quite a few over a few months, suddenly they were thinner (I'd always had masses), and not exactly black anymore, but dark brown. Sounds like no big deal but it freaked me out :)

Growing the damaged parts out will solve your problem mostly.. although you might still wonder from time to time "is it like it used to be"?
I used no regular hair masks (L'Oréal and this other drug store stuff) because I noticed they lightened my hair even more the more I used. some chemical reaction.

I started using a pharmacy no chemicals brand called "phyto". all natural, shampoo and mask, that did wonders.
I started taking a good hair/skin/nails combo for 2 months or so and then switched to something with biotin/ vitamin H (I can check what it was exactly, brand wise, if you like).
My Mom had been on a crazy diet and started losing lots of hair 3 months later (which is normal because the damage done - non storing of important hair building substances - shows its effect of course only much later) - this product helped her lots.

So I cannot pinpoint to what it was that made my hair better - good food supplements, preferably from the pharmacy rather than your regular drug store, the good natural hair line with no chemicals, and simply growing it out.
I also purchased a chestnut brush, or you could use some animal hair brushes.. they are very good for damaged hair too.

Else be patient! if the problem is the chemical stuff it should go away with time! else you might really want to check health reasons for it.. malnutrition maybe in the past months?

You could be anemic. Anemia causes hairloss. Happened to my mom several years ago, she had to take iron supplements. Her anemia was caused by fibroids. But iron supplements are not something you should take without consulting a doctor first, too much iron can be very harmful.

I think you should check with a dermatologist or doctor to make sure you're not anemic or dealing with some hormonal imbalances or other physical condition that could be responsible for your hairloss. I would rule those issues out first before trying to self-medicate with herbal supplements or dietary changes.

Originally Posted by Shaharazade07

My teenage daughter was in the same boat as you - her hair fell out so badly I had to hide it from her. She wore a hat all summer so she wouldn't burn her scalp. We put her hair loss down to a constant 12-months of bullying at high school (have since moved schools). The hair loss seemed to run its course but I got her heaps of herbal supplements, an Australian company called Blackmores had a good hair, skin and nails product, but anything with silica will improve hair health. I also had another herbal product which I rubbed into her scalp. I'm not 100 % sure if this worked but her hair re-growth has been phenomenal! Thick and curly, you would never know now. I would also go to a doctor to rule out alopecia though.

Shahrazade, would you by chance remember what that massage oil/herbal product for the scalp was, name or content-wise?

Ok, like others have said, go get a check up at the doctors.

In my experience it could be a high testosterone level or a thyroid problem. Ive had both and can be easily checked with a simple blood test.

All great advise, especially the doctor bit.

Mine has been doing the same thing lately, but I chalk it up to grad school.

One thing not mentioned yet (I think) is based on the problem being hair breakage. Over here in Davis, we have notoriously bad water. It was suggested that I get a charcoal filter to strip the chlorine out of the wather so it doesn't damage the hair, causing it to break and then fall out.

I can't say it has been a magic cure, but I think it has helped. My skin is a lot better too now that it isn't being constantly dried out by the chemicals in the water.

The charcoal filters are $20 and have to be replaced every 6 months.
Culligan Shower Filters, Charcoal Shower Filters - FreshWaterSystems.com

Well, I know where to come if I have any health problems. You guys have great advice.

Wow, you ladies sure have a lot of great advice for me!

I'm going to definitely talk to my doctor, I'm going in on Monday about my knee (I think I pulled a muscle, it HURTS!), so I will bring it up.

I am on anti-depressants, so that might be part of it.

It all seems to be really long, like its coming out from my scalp. I have a really dry scalp, and tend to get dandruff every now and then. (Embarrassing!!!) I'm eating LOTS of protein on P90X, and doing more veggies and fruit too. I have been a little stressed, but I"m really working on that too.

I appreciate everyone's advice and willingness to help though! Thanks!

Originally Posted by dinavienna

Shahrazade, would you by chance remember what that massage oil/herbal product for the scalp was, name or content-wise?

I don't know if this is what Shahrazade was talking about, but you might check out a product called Chrome Dome. I don't have a link to the exact stuff so google it. A note I saved on it says:
"Chrome Dome is Blended with Essential Oils of Bay, Basil, Cedarwood, Cypress , Grapefruit, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Rosemary."

thanks Darbla!

Have you heard of Viviscal? It's said to be one of the best treatments.

Viviscal Hair Products Hair Vitamins for Hair Growth