Thank you very much :hug:

Hang in there, it can take a few months. And when it does start to grow back, like Catherine said, it starts with baby hair. I had that almost a year ago, and I'm going through that again. Those baby hairs take a long time to become as long as the rest of your hair!

Thanks Julie, I feel better now :hug:

4 months in and here is what I see, no change

beginning pic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...ay/balding.jpg

Today pic

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...pray/bald2.jpg

I dont know if anyone mentioned it, as I skimmed through this kind of quickly - but be sure you aren't pulling your hair back in a really tight pony tail. I try to alternate with it pulled back loosely with a clip, than with a band. I wasn't getting thinning hair, but a lot of breakage from the constant pull with the pony tail.

And with olive oil - it seems expensive, but when you portion it out, as I'm sure you would :) it lasts a long time. And you can usually buy the store brand for less too.

Its hard to tell with your pictures, but it seems a little thicker. It may take a few more months for it to start growing back in.

And I've always heard that pre natal vitamins are really good for hair growth. I've never taken them, as I dont have children, but I've heard that from various people.

Thanks Lizzy :)

I never wear ponytails cause my hair is pretty short. I have been taking biotin and omega3 capsules for about 4 months. I will look into getting some olive oil.

Hi Onederchic,

I hate to be pessimistic - but do you think you may have female pattern baldness? Unfortunately, I do. My hair is very thin on the crown and bangs, and my mom's hair is the same way. Thankfully, my sisters don't seem to have the problem. My hair was very thick throughout my childhood and my 20's, but started to thin when I was in my 30's. I'll be 52 in February and though the hair I lost hasn't come back, things seem to be holding steady for now.

I considered minoxidil but chose not to go that route though I know others who are very happy with it. My dermatologist doesn't believe that shampoo type or frequency of shampooing has much to do with FPB, though he cautioned about over processing and rough brushing/combing because breakage will make thin hair look even thinner.

A good hair cut makes a huge difference. I saw your hairstyle thread and the styles you're thinking of going with. Both look great, but be sure to talk about your concerns with your stylist and see what he/she recommends. My hair looks best when it's quite short on top and when I have no visible part. It fluffs up and covers my scalp well that way. When it gets a little weight it starts out nice in the morning but by mid day has flattened out and I've got shiny pink/white scalp showing through....

Good luck to you! I'll be anxious to hear (or see) how you look after your visit to the stylist tomorrow! :)

Thank you very much Heidi. I will be sure to post a picture after I get my hair styled tomorrow :) :hug:

Heidi -

Wanted to add, I very well could have female pattern baldness though no one is my family has ever shown any signs of it including my momma or 7 sisters. I keep begging my bf to buy me a wig but he is a cheapskate and won't :(

I think a good haircut will be a much better solution than a wig anyway.
I'll be thinking about you tomorrow - sending good thoughts your way! :)

Wonderchic...:)

Please forgive me, but this is worth the copy and paste

(from the Mayo Clinic)

"Causes of specific types of hair loss -
Telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss is usually due to a change in your normal hair cycle. It may occur when some type of shock to your system — emotional or physical — causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. The affected growing hairs from these hair roots fall out. In a month or two, the hair follicles become active again and new hair starts to grow. Telogen effluvium may follow emotional distress, such as a death in the family, or after a physiological stress, such as a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or metabolic disturbances. Hair typically grows back once the condition that caused it corrects itself, but it usually take months."

And YOU, my friend, have had an excessive weight loss! NOT a bad thing...but your body is responding to that. And your hair is stuck in the "telogen" or resting, phase. It normally will last three to four months.

All good advice on the prenatal vitamins, iron, omega3 capsules, I even take vitamin D.

I had a very stressful incident back in July, and noticed my hair falling out in huge quantities September. Freaked me out as well. Even knowing what caused it, it was still awful. Dreading washing, or combing my hair, and seeing ALL that hair in my hands.

Went to my stylist a month ago, and he noticed new growth, and also noticed little bumps on my scalp. Like little zits. He said my oily scalp was causing break-outs on my head! Sheesh...as if losing my hair wasn't bad enough, now the follicles trying to regrow my hair are getting clogged...

He recommended the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo. The Lavender Mint. Now, it's not going to regrow my hair. But it's suppose to clean the scalp and help clear up the little bumps. (I'm sure any good shampoo will do that) Shampoo...massage your scalp...let the shampoo sit in your hair for a good minute...rinse. But, this lavender shampoo is THE BOMB, just for the smell alone! It's like some aromatherapy in the shower every day! ;)

So please...don't stress over the hair loss, stress will only make things worse. You have accomplished so much over this past year. I'm sure, once your body hits a weight you're happy with, things will balance out. In the meantime, the fish oils and vitamins will make your new hair growth healthy and shiny.

And, just to be safe, it's always a good idea to have blood work done, to rule out thyroid problems.

Thanks you very much Suzy for the info and support. I try very hard to not stress about my hair but I have such very low self esteem already that really seeing my scalp doesn't help it any, heh. I will keep holding out and not give up hope though. At my bangs area, there's some new growth..like significantly shorter hairs there..that my bf and I have noticed so I just keep praying and hoping :) :hug:

Heidi - you rock! Thank you :D :hug:

Suzy - I had to go google telogen effluvium and also read this

http://www.hairlosstalk.com/hair-los...article225.php


I am feeling somewhat more calm about it but I just wish if that's what has happened, my hair would grow back already, heh :| :hug:

That's what happened to me when my hair started regrowing. It takes a long time for hair to regrow, and all the follicles can't restart at the same time. I first noted those little short hairs maybe a year ago, and they've grown out a bit now. They helped but I still felt a little sparse at the temples. Recently I've had another batch of those short hairs, and *now* it feels like my hairline is really filling back in.