How do you feel?

Let's talk about hair loss.  As I've mentioned before, my hair started a major shedding process during my supervised weight loss phase.  It started in December and continues today.  My surgery was 4/13 and the shedding has even increased now.  It's disturbing to see your hair falling out regardless of who you are!  I'm really toying with getting it chopped off.  I have shoulder length, thick hair that is naturally curly.  My hair has always defined me - even when morbidly obese.  It's always been that one thing I know I'll get tons of compliments on.  It's the joke with my friends that when we go somewhere I will have at least 2-3 people give me a hair compliment - and that's typically true.  So why would I want to chop it off?  Being overweight, I've never felt I've had the face to pull off a shorter hairstyle.  I kept my hair in the style that rendered me compliments and made me feel pretty even when my body felt gross.  I think now, with the shedding, I feel like cutting it off might be a bit freeing and letting go of that mentality and just focusing on the fact that I've changed.  My body has changed.  I think it would feel empowering to chop it off and let that piece go (yet I'm scared I'll wind up looking horrific - like a curly mushroom head)! What to do?  Chopping it off would lessen the shedding - well it would make it less obvious anyway.  Less hair = less hair in the drain = less stress seeing it in the drain.  Hair grows back, right?  I have an appointment for a cut/color on Wednesday next week.  I will make my decision by then.  Thoughts from others on how you feel about the hair cutting?  

JC

I'm actually considering the same thing. I have just passed my shoulders thick wavy auburn hair that everyone has always told me I'm lucky to have but the shedding is disturbing. I had RNY on 3/9 so I'm about 4 months out and the hair loss is slowing down a little...I think. It's hard to tell. I'm not noticing any thinning on top but the sheer amount of hair in the tub or in my brush is upsetting. I'm in the same boat though, hair is a point of pride because you could always do something with it no matter how big you got. I'm not brave enough to chop it off completely because even when I was at my smallest I never looked right with short hair, in my opinion. But I do want to do something exciting with the color for sure, the length is still TBD.

Now my husband would be devastated if I chopped it off, but he'd get over it. I have a hair appointment towards the end of this month so I have some time to think about length. My philosophy has always been "hair grows." I've taken risks with my hair when I was younger with color and length and never stressed because it always does grow back. We're reinventing ourselves in the most drastic way we can with our weight loss, I figure we have a right to take risks in an effort to find ourselves again. It's not just my appearance, I'm getting bolder with my social life too and I have to say it feels GREAT to break out of my shell again. I say go for it. Hair grows, and you can really explore your look as your body changes. Good luck!

I wondered what my hubby would think but when I asked him - he said, "it's just hair - do what you want".  I loved that.  I knew he wouldn't care, but it's nice to hear it from him too.  It does grow back.  We are reinventing ourselves - so I agree.  I want to break out of my shell too - such a great analogy there.  I think I'm going to go for it!

I am 11+ months out.  I had my shoulder length hair cut short when it was shedding so bad.  Now it is growing back in, am keeping it short and layered until the new catches up with the old.  I love the cut, short, much cooler and easy to wash, blow dry quickly and stlye.  Good luck on what you decide!

I do wonder if, once cut, I'll ever want to go back to a longer style.  I like the idea of being edgy/trendy vs. just having the "pretty hair".  It's time to find out I think!  I appreciate your insights!

So I cut off all my hair when I started the 90 day pre-opp stuff for insurance.  Seriously. ALL of my hair.  I have a little bit on top like guys in the military (but it's long so I can make it look like I have hair at work) but the rest is shaved.  In fact, I shave my head every week.  

I too received lots of compliments on my hair in the past.   Ya know what? I still get them.  And even more now because people think it's awesome that I shave my head.  Apparently it's just edgy enough to be 'brave' in the eyes of others.  For me it's easier and faster to shower and get ready in the morning (i have 4 kids. this is important!) and frankly, it's hot as hell right now and this hair is perfect for the weather.   

I can't tell you what to do ith your hair, but I will tell you that cutting it all off isn't the horrible thing people think it is.  And if you hate it, it will grow back or you can put extensions in it.  It's all up to you!

What a great story!  Yeah, I don't think cutting it is horrible per se, but maybe just out of my comfort zone.  I think this entire body changing though is out of my comfort zone - and I like it!  :)  Hair grows back!

I've had short hair almost all of my adult life.  I actually tried letting mine grow but then only got it until about chin length.  Then I wacked it off.  So my only benefit to losing hair is that when mine came back, it came in with a curl.  I have always had board straight, fine but thick hair.  Now I have a curl, fine and not thick hair.  It is thin on top but I can keep it looking ok. 

Even thin hair is better than fat.

LOL on "Even thin hair is better than fat".  So true!!  Not sure what to expect as mine starts to grow back after shedding, but I know something new is so desirable right now.  

At about 30 pounds weight loss I did a significant cut to my hair and it was funny but everyone kept complimenting me on the cut, and not noticing the WLS. Everyone kept saying how much thinner my face looked with the new cut, lol. For me since I hadn't told anyone it was a good "distraction" technique.  I did tell everyone once I lost @50 lbs because I felt id been successful.  Now all I hear is the Ms thin comments, and no one sees my "new hair" anymore.  Can't say im too disappointed in that   Whatever works for you I say, youll love the next few mths regardless!