Hair, health and the prom. Stylish people, please help!

[dotdotdotmustdash]

Hello, this is my very first venture into this section as I'm very much a wash'n'go type of person. I hope some people on here have more vision and ideas than I do and can help me guide my daughter.

The problem: She's 17 and (even if I say so) very pretty, tall slim and with a lovely complexion. Unfortunately last year she was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid (Graves disease) and it's affected her hair growth considerably, effectively it stopped growing last summer and hasn't started again. Her condition isn't yet stable and she's still undergoing treatment and tests.

Her hair seems to have fallen out at the normal rate, but there's been no new growth so it's very, very thin and straggly. She's never had thick hair but now if she pulls it back into a ponytail there's barely any bulk to the 'tail' at all. She's taken to wearing it down all the time and in a centre parting. She won't contemplate having it cut to tidy it up as she's already self-conscious as there's so little of it.

Prom time is coming and she' has a beautiful dark-red slinky dress and she wants her hair up on the night. I'm not sure how that can be achieved with so little hair? Would it look better to have it curled and down, or some up and some down? Is there a product that could help?

Her 'normal' hair from a couple of years ago, and her hair now are pictured.

Anybody know how to help her look and feel good on the big day?

Many thanks.

[Liska]

I'm afraid I haven't got any ideas sorry but I've had chemo so wanted to send sympathy and bump the thread at the same time! Sounds like a sympathetic hairdresser could help though.

[dotdotdotmustdash]

Thanks for answering Liska, and you would definitely be able to identify with her, although she still has enough hair that people don't comment luckily. I hope your chemo gave you the best results and that you keep well.

The prom is in another city and the girls are staying over in a hotel. She plans to book a hairdresser in the city and go in with a photo on the day and ask them to style her hair. I don't think it's going to be that easy unfortunately and she will need some more preparation.

[gracefull]

Perhaps extensions would help re. adding thickness. I know some friends who have extensions to the same length as their natural hair just to make it appear thicker.

[Haggisfish]

Can she go to hairdresser before the prom and explain the issue and ask for their suggestions?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I know it's not what she wants to hear, but getting the bottom few inches cut off would almost certainly make it look a bit thicker. L'Oreal Fibrology stuff might be worth a try too - I've recently started using the conditioner and it's definitely making my rather lank, fine hair seem thicker.

I agree with you that trusting to an unknown hairdresser on the day probably isn't the best idea. Is it worth having a play with one of those clip-in hair extension thingies? I know nothing about them, so that may be a silly idea. Sorry if so.

[dotdotdotmustdash]

I'm not sure her remaining hair is strong enough for extensions? I wouldn't want any weight to pull any more out as we don't know when it will start growing naturally again.

I'm not sure if we'll get a chance to go in earlier (and the city centre salons are very pricey!), but it's certainly worth looking into.

I guess I'm looking for a 'style' that I can suggest that isn't going to look too severe and doesn't take loads of hair to make it look nice. She's got a lovely face, it's quite angular and she suits a softer look.

[dotdotdotmustdash]

Remus, I think you're right and I'll encourage her to do that, but she's desperate to hold on the illusion that she has 'long' hair and couple of inches off would make a difference.

Thanks for the recommendation about the Loreal stuff, I'll get some of that ASAP and see if it helps.

[pollylovespie]

Would curling it before putting it up give it a bit more volume? She could use a volumising mousse before curling too?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I've just been googling pictures of Keira Knightley with her hair up. The pic of your dd reminded me a bit of her. Might it be worth a look, to see if there's any she likes as a starting point?

[miniswin]

Clip in hair extensions! Not for length, but for bulk if she's having her hair up. This is what I did for my wedding for my fine hair, also had a fairly substantial hair 'doughnut' thing in amongst it too - looked like loads of hair! Hair doesn't need to be that strong to hold them as they are very light and lots of the weight will be taken by pins etc anyway.

[dotdotdotmustdash]

Remus! You are a genius! I've just had a look at images of KK and quite a few of the styles look like they might be manageable with Dd's hair, particularly if we can get a product or two that would thicken it up. Keira has a very similar bone structure to my girl and she certainly pulls off a 'low-profile' updo.

Thank you for the inspiration, I'll have Dd look at the pictures.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Hurray!

[dotdotdotmustdash]

I'm liking this...

[AgathaMystery]

I think she needs a Balmain hair piece. They are amazing ferris lumpy cheap (£55-£60) but they look the bomb. I have a few and they match my hair brilliantly & I get compliments. You can ring Balmain directly & order or get from eBay/Amazon. There are lots of different types. I can't find a link to the one I mean but it's like a mass of curls on a long wire with a hidden clip. You clip it in & bend the wire and have instant prom hair.

[Haggisfish]

That's great! Fwiw I think any decent salon would gladly see your dd before the prom for free, particularly if you explain the circumstances.

[AgathaMystery]

Wow. Amazing auto corrects.

amazing but not terribly cheap

[dotdotdotmustdash]

I did wonder what ferris lumpy was!

Thank you all ladies.

I've just been having a look through her FB pictures and it's quite depressing to see how just how much hair she's lost even since Christmas. She's leaving school soon and going out to do exciting stuff, initially to spend a year studying in China, so I really hope her hair starts to recover.

[dotdotdotmustdash]

I know this is an old thread but it's prom night tonight!

She went along to the hairdresser armed with a photo of Keira Knightley's updo and came out with this...

The hairdresser has done well to make a little hair go a long way :-) Thanks for the advice.

[HesMyLobster]

It looks absolutely beautiful! I hope your DD has a wonderful time at her prom

[NewIdeasToday]

Beautiful. You must be feeling very proud this evening. Hope she has a brilliant time and you get some lovely photos of her.

[itsbetterthanabox]

Looks perfect. Hope she had a great night.

[Liiinoo]

That is beautiful. I hope she had a wonderful evening.

[Tanaqui]

It looks lovely! I believe Graves' disease sufferers can't eat gluten- can I recommend Nigella's flourless brownies as the best easy gluten free cake ever?!