Dreadlocks...and the hairloss issue

Hi everyone,

Anyone post-op with dreads out there???  I haven't posted much but this issue has been on my mind for quite some time.  The wheels are really (finally) beginning to turn towards the direction of having surgery and I can't help but think about how much I love my dreads (I've had them for 15 years) and the nagging possibilities of thinning hair and baldness post-op.  Can anyone shed any light on this?  Believe me, having surgery and losing weight IS my goal, first and foremost and I'm trying to prepare myself for the possiblity of having to trim/cut my beloved vines.  Just wondering if anyone has been dealing with this.  Thanks, in advance, for your responses.

You are preaching to the choir.  I had rny in January and that was one of my biggest concerns, I've been growing my locs for 5 years and at the time of surgery they were just below my shoulders.  I too asked this question and everyone told me that they didn't have any hair loss that they noticed. 
However, I had to be the exception, around 4 months I noticed about 25% of my locs thinning and it drove me crazy, I seriously contemplated cutting them of if they got any worse.  My hair is very thick and it wasn't noticeable to anyone but me and my beautician.  What's weired is that although it was thinning in spots, it is growing like mad, now my hair reaches the middle of my back.

I'm now a little more than 10 mos. out and the thinning seems to have stopped about a month ago and some locs are thickening up again.  I take hair and nails supplements but I really don't think that that had anything to do with it but it doesn't hurt to take them. 
My advice is to take all of your supplements consistently and be sure to drink your protein shakes daily.

Hope this helps,
Good luck on your decisions.

Hugga

Thanks, Hugga.  This definitely helps.  I swear I'm gonna make a poster with your advice about taking all of my supplements CONSISTENTLY and getting my protein in and mount it above my computer (the first and last place I go to everyday). My dreads have been a part of my life for so long now, I don't want to let them go.  I recently gave them a trim because they've become so heavy over all of these years -- they were past my butt, but I cut them to my mid/lower-ish back and they're much lighter now.  Your post has given me some hope!

I don't have locks but a friend of mine has serious hair loss due to medications.  She locked her hair because of the hair loss. 

The locks hide the thinning that other styles could not.  She just trimmed hers locks to the center of her back.  When she has periods of major thining, I've never been able to tell.  Hope this helps. 

i started my locs about 6 months ago and have not experienced any hair loss

Congratz on starting your locs -- and your weight loss!  Thanks for responding.  You guys are putting the wind back in my sails.

Thanks for your response, M.S.  This definitely helps.

I had locs till about 2 weeks ago.I still ahve loc pics on my profile page.  I took 5Kmg biotin, all my supplements, and high protien. Didn'y notice anything with the hair on my head. The hair on my face on teh other hand started growing like crazy! Stopped taking the Biotin after about 3 mos. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice, Shani.  You look great!

Ms StarJones, Are you saying biotin leads to wiskers??? 

Well damn!  No wonder I look like its time to join the circus.  I've got steroids and biotin growing me a beard that would make any grown man proud.