Help! Hair loss is driving me crazy.

Hello everyone.  I am upset, frustrated, busted and disgusted.  My hair is making me nuts.

I am almost 7 months out and I am at the end of my rope with my hair.  I have not had a relaxer in over a year.  I anticipated that I would lose some hair and wanted it to be as healthy as possible.  Between August and December 2009 I wore goddess braids and my hair did well.  I had shoulder length hair before this started.  I have been getting it flatironed since January of this year.  I go weekly since with no perm I am unable to do it myself.  This is costing a fortune and it doesn't appear that it is doing any good.  (At least if I had a perm I could wash and curl it myself in between visits.  Of course the whole situation is made worse by the fact that exercise and perspiration ....oh well, you get the picture.

I have had to cut it twice.  It feels brittle and like straw.  I can tell that it is thinning out and of course have no idea of when this is going to stop. 

I have thought about just getting some wigs and wearing them until this nightmare is over.  I also thought about cutting it short and putting a texturizer in it--don't really want an afro (will remind me too much of my college days in the early 70s).  The only thing is that I am afraid those chemicals might leave me in worse shape than I am today.

I am so happy about my weight loss--if only I could resolve this issue.......

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I went through hair trauma too!  Now my hair is thicker and longer than it has ever been.  I got twists and left it alone for about two years.  No relaxers, etc.  I would just get it re-braided.  Be sure to keep your protein levels high, your stress levels low (as they can go), and your water intake high.  Also, I got hair, skin, and nails vitamins.

This too shall pass.  This whole journey is about giving things up, to let others flourish.

It will slow down ...however I think putting heat in it daily is not gonna help it get better ....Im not sure if you are a weave person but thats what I did. My real hair is pretty long (middle of my back)but i wanted to put no chemicals in it and wanted it to rest so I weaved it up and still have it weaved up. I keep it conditioned very well. And I also take biotin? What type of hair products do you use? I think you should go with a weave or braids or wig which ever one is best for you. Sounds like a good hot oil treatment would be good as well. Do you wrap it up every night?

My hair is natural, wash and wear, and the length is at the top of my shoulder since I had my surgery.  I load up on the biotin, 3 capsules a day (Water soluble so over doing it is fine.)  and I keep the protein at 100g minimum. 

I don't heat style except for rare occaisions.  I condition wash daily.   With leave in conditioner and alchohol free styling gel its a pony tail.  If I leave it loose I throw in a few cornrows or thick braids as a "set" and use a hair dryer.  Once dry, I loosen the plaits and lightly separate with fingers.  This is great for the gym and quick styling after a workout. 

Last at the advice of a BAFer with long natural hair, I wrap my ends in plastic at night then wear a silk cap at night.  If I do this regularly I have no more fallout.  If I skip the biotin or the protein drops my hair thins again. 

I thank each of you for your comments and suggestions.  Thanks much for coming to the rescue. 

The bottom line is that although I have have no chemicals in my hair recently, I am not helping myself with the daily heat.  I thought this versus the braids would at least give me the opportunity to see what was going on daily. 

Now eliminating stress--wish I could.  High stress job--attorney handling family law (otherwise known as baby momma) cases.  No help there.  Frankly I am surprised I had any hair to begin with.

I am not sure what products the stylist is using but a WLS friend recommended Nioxin and I have been applying the follicle booster daily for the past few weeks.  No change.  I have been taking biotin consistently since surgery--2  5 mg capsules daily.

I have never had a weave before but I like the idea.  The goddess braids are also still an option.  I am going to go with one of the two within the next week. Either will make hair care easier right now, especially in light of the heat and exercise regimen.

Thank you ladies so much.  I feel so much better.

Walterswife aka Dewey (Dewey is my new nickname--(will tell that story in another post)

I have never worn weave a until I had surgery but I love it. I didnt know what I was missing. I had really long relaxed hair and it just fell out in clumps. I wasnt getting enough protein. Since then I take in about 100 g of protein a day. I cut off ALL of my relaxed hair. So now it's shorg but my hair is growing back. Not as thick as it was but it's getting there. I have baby hairs all over the place. I also take 1000 mcg  of Biotin  per day and it seems to help. 

This is my kinda thread!  The other message board I read all day is Long Hair Care Forum, a black beauty and hair board.  I have been natural for 4 years and my hair is almost

First, I would start taking a GARLIC supplement as garlic helps you keep your hair on your head. 
Also, you mentioned that your hair is dry and brittle.  I would discontinue all protein conditioners and treatments immediately and focus on MOISTURIZING treatments.  There are a few I like-- Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Mask, Aubrey Organics--Honeysuckle Rose, Silk Elements Moisturizing Treatment.   I would had a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the conditioner and apply a VERY generous amount.  Put on a plastic cap and exercise or do chores for an hour; I like to  let mine set over night.  It's even better if you have if you have a heat cap or a steam machine.

Repeat this process weekly, and your hair will be fine.  It sounds like you're transitioning to natural.  Focusing on moisture will help your new growth soften to match the texture of your relaxed hair a little more.

As a complimentary step, you could also try sleeping with a humidifier.  You want to keep as much moisture as possible everywhere.

Good luck...I love all things hair, so feel free to ask away.

Thanks Lashaun and Cyd for the additional help,

I am going to try these suggestions one at a time.  After reading your responses I do feel much better.  I was almost in tears last week but at this point I really do hlep that the worst is over.  Even if it isn't, I do not feel like the lone ranger here.  I was feeling so good about the weight loss.....I am truly grateful tof that but it would be nice to get everything on the same page at the same time (if at all possible). 

Interesting about the protein conditioners.....I was getting those once per month in addition to other weekly stuff.  I am going to see to my braiding person later this week.  She also does weaves.  She is a licensed cosmotologist but is more non-traditional than my regular stylist.  I think I will be able to get her to use some "less conventional treatments."  I think I am going to try the weave for now and talk to her about some of the products mentioned.  With the amount of money I have been spending on this head since the first part of the year, I deserve a FULL head.

Thanks again to everyone.  You guys have brought me back to reality.

I knew I would find my answer this morning! I'm 5 months out and I have dreadlocs and my hair was already thin but now its become thinner on my temples. I been taking my biotin pills etc.... I guess I just need to accept this phase of the post surgery. I read that there's protein pills you can take if you don't want the extra calories of a protein shake brings 

Yeah, I am kind of thin around the hairline also.  Almost everyone has the complaint of lost hair.  Those who have not experienced it are blessed.