The truth about MY hair nearly 2 years out

Your hair is beautiful Elina and I know you aren't the only one who has better hair afterwards. I think mine will be eventually too. 

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Hair loss is something I'm so curious about!  I figured, since it was inevitable, that I might as well shave my head for St. Baldricks 7 weeks after surgery.  So I did.  I raised $1500!  :)  

I'm now 5 days shy of 3 months and I feel like I'm just starting to notice some thinning in places, but it might be my imagination and paranoia.  I really wonder what's going to happen in the next few months - worst case, I'll just shave it off again, no big deal.  (Only this time I won't bug all my friends and family to donate money.)  

Awesome

As a former hair stylist, I find these posts very interesting. 

I probably would have suggested an allover perm with super large rods rather than straightening on your hair.  After straightening, which used to be pure lye, I definitely would not do any more processing.  But in your case, I might have done the straightening too.  Hair that is part straight and part curly is a particularly difficult challenge for a stylist. 

Thanks for posting about your hair.  It is extremely interesting to learn about your experience and the experience of others.  I cut mine super short and it was more than three years before it finally grew in enough to grow it longer again. I had it mid back length for a while and now have it about chin length.

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Thanks for your comments. It's all a learning process and a part of our ReAl journey, after all. 

Your after WLS hair is my all the time hair lol I have always had wavy hair underneath and straighter hair on top. The benefit is that it can be straightened or curled and it will hold it's shape. Best of both worlds I say. ;) 

I am only 3 months out and just started to notice hair coming out in the shower, but after I had my last daughter I lost A LOT of hair. Like receding hairline loss and I'm only 31. Took time, but it grew back :) 

After I was banded my hair thinned but I have enough hair for 2 women.  So I kind of liked having a little less.  Then when it started coming back, it did come in wirey (I used to say it was the texture of pubic hair - sorry TMI).  But that didn't last long and it wasn't noticeable. 

I have a coworker who has gone through double mastectomy and chemo.  Prior to this she always had straight hair.  She lost every strand of hair and now it's growing back in curly and she looks so cute!  She's been a trooper through all this.  I don't think I could have been as brave as her to walk around completely bald.

Mine is in the process of coming back in right now. I have tufts here and there, one on my left temple, one behind my right ear. I don't remember it coming out in clumps but it is growing back in that way.

The baby hair is definitely a little different than my existing hair. It, too, seems curlier but I was assuming it was because it was short and the weight/length didn't pull it down. It definitely is more prone to frizzing now that our weather is hot and humid. I call it my dandelion hair. Here are some photos:

Cool post that hits close to home for me! In my early 20's I had a life changing event and went on a year plus long diet that saw me losing (not in a totally healthy way, as I didn't track anything- just ate very low cal (800ish ) with lots of working out) from 310+ to 155. I shed like mad.. and even when I evened out the weight for a short while, still had not recovered my hair. Went to an endocrinologist, had lots of testing incl biopsies (I had a LOT of hair loss, nearly wig-time.) And it was ruled as female pattern baldness. Men's Rogaine was suggested, and used- still to this day, 15+ years later.. 

I regained almost all the weight slowly over a decade+ up to 280 when I made the decision to get WLS, and hair loss was still a fear of mine as it was thin, but normal-thin at the time. This time I went in with a lot more knowledge, and kept protein up, cals low.. and was using (and still am) the Rogaine foam.. I still shed at lot, but based on what I saw and read here- the normal amount, not anything like before when I was undoubtedly undernourished.

Since getting to maint a few years ago, upping cals, keeping protein moderate.. my hair has actually gotten thicker than it was or at least as thick as it was pre-1st time weight loss. More wavy/curly too. Female pattern hair loss does run in my family, all other causes like thyroid ruled out.. so yes, nutritional status is a biggie, telogen effluvium will likely happen with any major stressor on our health as expected, but recovery of hair growth is possible providing nutrition and adequate caloric/fat intake is restored. My skin also looks much better since upping both calories, but especially fat, and keeping protein moderate for my needs- about 70g a day. Texture changes seem common, and for some- color changes. I have several friends who have went through chemo, and the regrowth is very different. It's a very extreme version of what we go through when we go through surgery and go from eating 2000-3000 cals a day, to sub 600 for months.. that is not easy on the body, thus effluvium happens.

What seems to be the best way to prevent the hair loss pre-surgery? I see Biotin, but I'm not sure what that is. My PCOS already causes my hair to be thin and fall out. I don't color or do any processing. I rarely get it trimmed and it is long down to my waist.  

Also, how have your significant others dealt with the dramatic differences in hair styles due to hair loss - or even shaving bald for charity? My hubby loves my long hair and I think it would devastate him if I cut it off or shaved. I know that is the least of my worries, but I try to maintain a style that we both like. I haven't told him about the possible hair loss yet.

I guess since it really is a personal thing, I'll just have to wait and see what happens to me.

Good luck to everyone and positive wishes for hair growth! :)