Starting to panic about my hair loss....

[Princess Elaine]

Ive posted this before...dont seem to be doing anything wrong...Im into my 8th month raw...my diet before consisted of some chicken and fish and some processed food...Im probably 98% raw, if theres actually a way to measure that.

Im willing to go through detox which I did minimally 3 weeks into raw...I keep asking myself, whats different other then NO meat and NO processed food and Im eating so good...the last time I posted I got suggestions and was already doing everything suggested....I see hair everywhere and I just looked with a mirror from a top vew...and yikes, the top is noticeably thinner....

....so what to do????? I have at least one green smoothier a day with every kind of leafy greens, I have fruit, seeds, avo...I have an extremely varied diet of fruit and veggies...

Help!...Elaine

I apologize for no apostraphes in my post...the wierdes thing has happened...this happened one other time a few months back...every time I type an apostraphe it jumps to the bottom of the page.....but Im (whoops, there it went again) not concerned with that...I want my hair to quit falling out.

[eatyourbroccoli]

http://www.askshelley.com/faq.php?p=default&cat=53#a107

[chilove]

Hi Elaine,

Don't Panic!!! Don't worry. Temporary hair loss is very common in new raw fooders. I believe that they body releases a lot of the old material and makes way for new better material made from raw food. I believe it is part of the cleansing process.

I experienced hair loss for about a year and my hair got a lot thinner. I actually cut it short because it didn't look good long anymore. I had faith that my body knew what it was doing. Now it is growing back in, little baby hairs sprouted up all over and are getting longer. I am now in the process of growing it out again.

I know it's hard to be patient, but trust your body. Trust nature.

Wishing you all the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[Ama]

Are you taking digestive enzymes? I have read that until your body gets acclimated to digesting raw foods and using all of the vitamins and minerals that it can just pass through your system. Make sure to chew everything really well and try the enzymes if you aren't already taking them. Also, I'm sure that you know this already but you normally loose about 100 or so strands a day. For me, I have longish hair so it seems like I lose a LOT but in reality, it's just really long... one hair seems like 10 LOL. There will be a clump of hair in my comb when I brush it at night but if I separated them there wouldn't really be that many...

[punkspirit]

Don't panic!!!
Temporary hairloss is not a catastrophe... Of course you get worried especially coz everyone is saying you dont get all the vitamines etc you need!

To me happened the same last year in september.. (after great raw-success) I was terribly worried coz I found so much hair in my comb and under the shower I lost so much... But as suddenly as it came it was over again! I don't know... it was for a few weeks.. Afterwards my hair didn't really seem to be thinner...

At the moment it seems to begin again...Maybe I am an animal that changes it fur twice a year:D :p

I ALSO HEARD THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO OTHERS TOO! Raw-foodists as well as "healthy cooked-eater" and in all in different ages..

[Lunar*Fey]

My hair thinned a lot too and hasn't grown back in. But it had thinned before raw even worse from malnutrition in general.

Eatyourbroccoli,
thank you for that link...I really think that low stomach acid may be my problem. I have like all the symptoms. Where can I get the hydrochloric acid to take? must it be prescribed or?

[RawChicky]

Ummm yeah I think that's not a good sign

It could be a "normal part of becoming raw" or whatever but you should get a blood test to make sure it's not something serious

If you really care about your health, you'll do the responsible thing and get a blood test

Definitely a sign of zinc deficiency

[eatyourbroccoli]

i know health food stores carry them. "betaine hydrochloric acid." dunno about like..normal grocery store chains/pharmacies like jewel/osco or walgreens or costco. havent been to one of those in a couple years now.

[Lay-Lay]

I loss alot of hair for a long time and it finally stopped and got healthier, thicker, & fuller

[Tovonia]

Hi there brocolli,

Here is a link to a web site for a topical treatment for your scalp. The woman who created these products had alopeicia. Now she has fabulous hair. Her products are all handmade and she is expanding her products to include skin care too. I started to use the hair oil and the hair tea myself about a month ago and have seen good results.:) It is very lightweight so it won't weigh your hair down. She makes an even lighter version for caucasian hair. The hair tea is a leave in conditioner. Here's the link. Blessings on you.....

http://theherbalnatureway.com

[Tovonia]

Hi there,
Here is a link to a web site for a topical treatment for your scalp. The woman who created these products had alopeicia. Now she has fabulous hair. Her products are all handmade and she is expanding her products to include skin care too. I started to use the hair oil and the hair tea myself about a month ago and have seen good results.:) It is very lightweight so it won't weigh your hair down. She makes an even lighter version for caucasian hair. The hair tea is a leave in conditioner. Here's the link. Blessings on you.....

http://theherbalnatureway.com

[Bethanie]

My hair was shedding and just wouldn't grow back, i took to wearing a wig, hated it.
Now i use aloe vera on the thinning place and it's growing back quickly. I use the leaf from the plant and it doesn't leave the hair sticky so i use it daily and it gives my hair shine and volume.
It really helped me and i love the results, also i started taking a good hair vitamin supplement along with protein powder in my smoothie and yes i forgot kelp.
I hope some of this helps you it really helped me. I really love my hair now and can't wait for it to get fuller and longer.
B.

[Raine]

When I started to do a lot of raw, I also, noticed an unusually larger amount of daily hair loss about 3 months into it. It lasted about 4 weeks.

[RawVee]

Ive posted this before...dont seem to be doing anything wrong...Im into my 8th month raw...my diet before consisted of some chicken and fish and some processed food...Im probably 98% raw, if theres actually a way to measure that.

Im willing to go through detox which I did minimally 3 weeks into raw...I keep asking myself, whats different other then NO meat and NO processed food and Im eating so good...the last time I posted I got suggestions and was already doing everything suggested....I see hair everywhere and I just looked with a mirror from a top vew...and yikes, the top is noticeably thinner....

....so what to do????? I have at least one green smoothier a day with every kind of leafy greens, I have fruit, seeds, avo...I have an extremely varied diet of fruit and veggies...

Help!...Elaine

I apologize for no apostraphes in my post...the wierdes thing has happened...this happened one other time a few months back...every time I type an apostraphe it jumps to the bottom of the page.....but Im (whoops, there it went again) not concerned with that...I want my hair to quit falling out.

Elaine,

I use Dr. Hauschka's Neem Hair Oil. It's about $26 for a bottle but it lasts forever. Also, Jason makes a thinning hair shampoo and conditioner that's great. I'd also recommend taking Biotin as a supplement. I was losing tons of hair before I went raw and now it's growing in a lot better. Everyone's bodies are different, but giving yourself healthy, nutritious food is the best thing you can do for it. :)

[StarFire]

Geeze hair loss :eek: I just read about hair loss on another post - this is the first time I've heard or read about that. It seems like all my research has shown that when you're raw your hair grows faster, longer and stronger - and nails get stronger too. I am only on day 13 but since I've gone raw - my hair seems to have had a growth spurt! It's very long (past my bottom), and my nails seem stronger. Now I'm a bit concerned about long term raw :( . Okay -- and there is one other thing -- here in Hawaii - a lot of hula dancers use .... well.... horse shampoo :eek: ! Yes I said horse shampoo! We have done it for generations! It works - it makes your hair shiny, thick and beautiful ... it's an island secret! :D

[punkspirit]

Horse shampoo???:p a special brand or something..?:D

[Eva]

I'm not sure if it's a complete secret, you can get it at beauty supply stores. I always used horse shampoo as a kid. May as well, I have a LOT of hair!

[punkspirit]

I never heard of it... Is "horse-shampoo" the name of it..? Or is it shampoo to wash horses hair??

(I live in europe.. so far its not familiar to me...But I could buy a bottle real "horse shampoo":p

[Wendee]

I had fine thin hair a few years back...then I went 90 percent raw and began loosing the hair. Went 100 percent and sorta panicked.... my hair got even thinner.

Now, since being mostly all raw for all these months, my hair at the crown is thicker then it's ever been in my life, and I am waiting for it to grow. It was never fluffy at the top becasue of it's thinness. Now, it's very fluffy and full.

I believe your body knows what it's doing and I wouldnt be at all concerned.


Raw food is the best for the body.

[LovingLife]

I posted about this here about a year ago because I got alopecia (lost hair at the top of my head -- started the size of a dime -- got to about a 50 cent piece size or bigger. I tried every topical remedy I heard about (vodka & cayenne pepper , rosemary oil , I can't remember the rest). This went on from last January until about August.

I don't know if it was just time for regrowth or what, but just before it grew back, someone told me that this happened to their daughter and they tried taking Red Raspberry Leaf tea (which is supposed to help with hormonal imbalances). I tried the tea and really can't stand tea, so I took the supplements instead. My hair was growing again within the month.

[VeggieMel]

Bethanie, I'm wondering... how do you get the aloe from the leaf onto your scalp efficiently. Doesn't a lot of it come off in your hair? Do you have a technique?

[StarFire]

Yep - for those of you that are curious - it's shampoo for horses. There are different brands but they all seem to work the same. I always wondered who in the heck was the first person to think of putting that on their hair :p Glad to know it's not a complete 'secret'!! AND that us Island girls aren't the only strange gals using horse shampoo on our hair ;) !

[punkspirit]

:D Yihaaaa, will def. try that as soon as my current shampoo bottle is used off:p

[jocelynAZ]

Starfire ~ What does the horse shampoo smell like?? Just curious! I would be willing to try it but if it smells awful, that will definitely deter me from using it. LOL!

[punkspirit]

most horse shampoos do not smell very much at all... Some have a smell I cant define, but its nice, fresh, warm...
some a bit like teatree oil...

[LovingLife]

I used to use horse shampoo too. Hoped it would make my hair thicker. They sell it usually on a bottom row near all the other shampoos at places like K-Mart and Target, but it's in a big white 32 oz. bottle.

[jerseygirl1969]

Go to your doctor and have your thyroid checked. Hair loss is a common symptoms of thyroid disorder. you should get a physical exam of your thyroid and a lab draw with a TSH, T3 & T4.

[honeybee joy]

Originally Posted by eatyourbroccoli
http://www.askshelley.com/faq.php?p=default&cat=53#a107

Thanks for that page! Very helpful. My hair has been falling out the past few years, and my naturopath just found out I had low stomach acid too! I have alot of those symptoms on the list!

[Princess Elaine]

Oh, thank you everyone...I just got back on line and what a gift to be able to read your helpful posts....

I understand we do lose some hair, I do know the difference though and what's coming out now is a lot...I see it everywhere!!!...

...and if this is just a phase I can deal with it....this started about two months into 98% raw...again, I use the 98% number cuz though I strive for 100% sometimes things just slip in....

Everything else is great!!!...I felt a change 4 days into eating raw...my skin changed within two weeks...my energy is unbelievable...I sleep about 5-6 hours and feel great!!!....giving up coffee has added to my energy...yes, I'm an advocate for raw, it's just this thin hair thing that has me think'n about 'okay, just wear a pretty scarf cuz your not going back to SAD'....

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, love, Elaine

[Conscious Midwife]

I was just going to post that scarfs are definately an option.

I also think keeping the product that's applied to hair simpleand natual is the best way to go.

I normally us Dr. B's to wash, and coconut oil as a comb through and for braiding up while it air drys, no heat. I've used henna once this year and will do another after summer swim time is over.

I also wear scarfs, just because like 2-3 days per week. that just because, is just because I don't feel like combing.

I find the less I manipulate my hair the thciker and fuller it has become.

If not scarfs then maybe consider getting locs, their quiet a holistic apporach http://www.motionshair.com/M_images/swt/hw_p.gif


http://www.celebshades.com/images/madraswrap_xsm.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/DreadlockWoman.jpg/190px-DreadlockWoman.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/40945790_bc25e1a7c0_m.jpg

[Trolltyget]

Nutritional yeast helped me alot in the beginning. My hairloss stopped almost immediately

[Beckla]

Ok. Three and 1/2 months in and last night I realized it's coming out in droves. Lordy. I'll have to handle this.

[Donna]

When I'm not raw my hair falls out but it seems I only have to go back to raw eating one day and I stop losing so much hair. It seems to be the opposite of what happens with some. When I was 100% raw for about 3 months my hair started to grow. I've always had very thin hair but lots of it. I'm hoping that if I can stay raw that it will be thicker and more of it. Ya, I'm greedy like that.