Since hair seems to be the big topic...what about having your hair chemically treated post...

So I'm biracial, half white, half black.  My hair is fine, but thick, and pretty curly.  Every 10 - 12 weeks I get my roots relaxed to make my hair more manageable, allowing me to wear it straight or curly.  If I didn't do this, I'd have a limp afro!  My plan is to get my hair done immediately before surgery, but I don't know what to do after surgery.  I am guessing people who color their hair are in the same situation.  I don't want to put chemicals on hair that is already falling out, or about to fall out.  But yet I will look like a hot mess if I don't get may hair done until I stop losing hair.  Not to mention, if the new growth gets too long it begins breaking where it meets with the old hair.  The last thing I need is hair falling out AND breaking!  I'm just curious what others who get their hair chemically treated in some way did after surgery.  Thanks!

My beautician has a LOT of clients that have had Bariatric Surgery and seems to be well versed in the subject.

She told me that the hair loss is an internal process and chemical treatments (perms, colorings, etc.) will not have an adverse effect on the hair loss.  When I asked her about the Nioxin and the other products that I've seen people talk about on here, she said "Save your money -- nothing is going to stop it because it's from the internal stress your body goes through from surgery."

I've continued having my hair colored and permed post op.  I've had "some" hair loss -- not the patches and handfulls I've seen others post about, but I'm definitely shedding.  But I had a thick head of hair to begin with.

Thanks for the response.  I was kinda thinking that the chemical wouldn't really have any effect.  I mean, if the hair is responding to a physiological change, if its going to fall out, its going to fall out.  Whether I put a relaxer, perm, color, or just shampoo on it.  I know its bad to over treat "damaged" hair, but our hair isn't damaged, its an internal thing.  Thanks again!

i did extensions (weave with a cap) because im afraid of what might happen...it seems to happen at the 3-6 month mark. worst case if it does fall out i have it covered until it grows back.

Good post...

I'm pre-op so I'm not sure. BUT I scheduled my relaxer for a week before surgery. I figured if I can't get my hair chemically processed for a while I should go in a straight as possible so to speak. I used to wear a natural (afro) for years. For me (not speaking for others) my hair is easier to take care of straight only because I'm not raking through it. My fear is that if I try to go natural again the tension on my hair while combing it will cause my hair to get pulled out. Even when wet and slicked with conditioner I had palmfull of hair each time I combed it compared to a few strands when straight.

I'm going wig shopping soon.

I'll be watching this post closely. Thanks for bringing up the issue.


'pea

I ended up not getting a touch up this week thinking it was probably pointless. Maybe I should have. I don't know. I'm just going to play the hair thing by ear and try not to stress about it. If all else fails, there are thousands of wigs that would love to be my friend until I can get my hair together.

 I have a texturizer in my hair...I got it done 5 weeks post op... no problems at all... I'll have it done again a about two weeks that will be 14 weeks post op... 

post op i have had A LOT of hair loss, first from rapid weight loss and then as a result of my ferritin tanking. i recently did the brazilian keratin treatment and am really happy with it- my hair is looking muuuuuuuuch healthier. and i havent had any issues thus far- infact since I did it i have hair virtually no hair loss. really have no idea if its a result of the treatment or bc ive actually been taking my supplement- likely the supplement but my hair looks 10x better than it did- much healthier. I should add though that I am white so my hair texture will be much different than yours; but I recall someone on here replying to my thread about this treatment before i did it who was black and had done it as well- she was very happy with her results too.

Christine-
I am curious what is this brazilian kerotin treatment?  I have never heard of it.  Is it something you have to get done in a salon or can you buy it and do it yourself?  Thanks!
Stacy

Kertain is what your hair and nails are composed of- and this treatment applies keratin to your hair and then seals it using a flat iron. It is not something you do on your own- it is applied professionally and can actually be quite expensive; I was charged $200, plus another $40 for special shampoo and conditioner that you have to use- but I found it to be worth the expense. My best friend has the treatment done by someone who comes to her house and charges her $175 and herhair is actually a lottttt thicker and longer than mine- and I think her hair looks better than the way mine does even though I am very happy with the results. The salon I went to uses la brasiliana (la-brasiliana.com) although I am sure there are several different brands available- the shampoo and conditioner the salon gave me are from the same company. They first washed my hair with a special shampoo, applied the keratin treatment with a spray bottle, blow dry, spray again and flat ironed it (my hair would sizzle it was very scary lol). They do very small sections at a time spraying and then using a fine tooth comb to spread it out evenly over each strand. The biggest down side is that you can not wash your hair or even get it wet for several days (the salon said 3, the products website said 4 so i went with 4 to be safe) and youre not supposed to pull your hair back or clip it either. I looked like a real greaseball by day 3 it was gross. The treatment lasts about 2-4 months depending on the person and I guess how well you care for it. We'll see how long it lasts for me, but I'm really happy with the results and I have seen nearly no hair loss since doing it.