Coloring Hair After WLS???

Ladies- this question is for you who color your hair. I'm having my surgery this coming Friday. Ever since I first started researching WLS, I have seen posts about NOT coloring your hair afterwards (or getting perms), for a year or so, because your hair is already stressed by the surgery. Even my packet of information from my surgeon says this. On other posts, someone will mention they just got their hair cut and colored.I have been coloring my hair for over 20 years and can imagine how terrible it would look if I stopped now that I have a lot of gray. I'd like to hear from others about your experiences.  Did you stop coloring, keep coloring, if so did it have any effect that you noticed?

I figure I'll already be going thru somewhat of an identity crisis, and not being able to color my hair would not be good! I just colored it tonight. so I'm good to go for the next few weeks, but sure hoping I can color as usual when needed!

Thanks,
Rhonda

Cant help you ....but I can also say the NOT coloring my hair postop will NOT be an option for me either.  I will look like a hot mess if I don't...some blond, some mouse brown and a whole lota gray.  Not a look that works for me!

My feelings exactly. And what you decribed would be my exact same look too!

I permed my hair the week before my surgery so I wouldn't have to maintain it while I was down there and so it would look thicker and fuller when my hair started falling out in a few months (relaxed perm...think waves not tight curls *lol*) and to be honest with you, I've coloured my hair since my surgery to no effect.  Mind you my hair isn't scheduled to fall out for another month or so so...I can tell you more about the effects then - but my hair looks as healthy as it always has.  I just make sure to do a deep conditioning treatment every few weeks and avoid really tight ponytails/sleeping with elastics in to prevent breakage.  Otherwise - no weird effects and the colour took just like it usually does - no effects from all my hormones being out of wack (just like if you're preggers!) at all!

I would suggest getting your hair dyed before you go but done professionally and if you have a lot of aggressive greys, my mom ended up streaking grey through her hair - so it didn't look so stark when it grew in a bit - gave her more time between colourings too.

Hope that helps?! Best of luck on your new journey - despite these little inconveniences...you're going to love it.  I look back at pictures of me pre-op and I don't even recognize myself...I'm excited for the person I'm becoming...and I'm only 2.5 months out! *lol* This is an exciting time for you! Congratulations!!!

I probably dyed my hair before surgery ( I do it myself) and then dyed it again 8 weeks later when needed. You can dye it, it will be fine.... believe me!!!!

Thanks Ladies, that is what I was hoping to hear! And yes, I am excited and can't wait to start my new life.

Rhonda

Good question~

I discussd this with my hairdresser and she suggested a mild, single process color (no lifting or highlighting, like I was doing pre-WLS) - for at least several months.

I had issues with pattern alopecia (hereditary hair loss, lucky me!) before.....now, at 4.5 mos out, I am losing LOTS of hair despite taking my vits, protein, biotin, etc.

It  is really disheartening....I used to have super-thick, long. hair...oh well..

I guess if worse comes to worse, I can buy some hair to go on my smaller, healthier bod :-)

Amen! 

I color mine every 6-8 weeks, like clock work, both before and after RNY.

I began losing hair around four months, and it continuted for some time; but that is fairly normal from what I've read here and from what my stylist told me.

I also took Biotin capsules and used Nioxin from four months-nine months to help some.

--Danelle

Start taking BIOTIN along with your vitamins, it will help reduce hair loss.  As for dying, I would suggest using a semi-perm color or something amonia free (I think Garnia)  I am NOT a hairdresser, but have been doing my own color for over 20 yrs.  Following my surgery I had a significant loss following color because I didn't believe those who said I shouldn't do it, however, the worst part was how DRY and damaged feeling my hair became.  Needless to say, I was amonia free dying from that point on.  GOOD LUCK!!!