Advice from hairdressers please- depression hair

[Aqua2468]

I have depression, anxiety and ptsd. Getting washed and dressed is a real task and my hair has become a matted mass and a mess. I've just combed it, it was really painful but I've pulled chunks of matted hair out and I feel like shit. I've put a hair mask in, wrapped it in a towel and I'm going to leave it on.

Have I damaged my hair completely? I had thin hair to begin with but looking at the mass of matted hair that I've just pulled out is worrying me.

Any hairdressers that could give me some advice I would really appreciate it as I cannot step into a salon through sheer embarrassment.

💐

Order an intensive conditioner online, it doesn’t have to be an expensive one (boots is fine). Shampoo your hair gently (don’t worry if it’s mega mega knotty / matted) towel dry and slather your hair in the conditioner. Put some fresh PJs on and wrap your hair in cling film (ideally) or a warm dry towel. If you can, leave it on overnight. Rinse out in the morning. That should budge the worst of the knots and make it easier to comb through.

You’ve made a huge step to comb through it and that’s the first step. Can I ask if you have had COVID-19 as I think hair loss is an after effect? Do you know mobile hairdressers that could come out to you?
Could you get a tangle teezer and some Superdrug Argan pre shampoo elasticising treatment? It’s pretty cheap and really helped the condition of my hair and made it v easy to comb.

Ps I wet my hair and towel dry it. Comb though with tangle teezer and put the Superdrug stuff though and then wrap a towel over it for the evening. Tie it up in a bum to leave on overnight.
It may just be the hair that you would have naturally shed but haven’t because it’s been tangled that is coming out now.

Thank you for your advice, I will look into intensive conditioner and I've got a head towel that I've currently got on as I have a lot of pain in my scalp from the brushing, it seems to be easing a bit now.

I have never had Covid however I have a hormone imbalance, I'm not sure if that would contribute though.

I'll try to take more care, thank you for your kindness.

Mine gets horribly knitted if I wear it in a pony tail. The underside of the ponytail rubbing on my back as I move seems to have a back combing effect on it. Nightmare.

Try what a pp said about the treatment overnight. I do mine during the day and just have it on a towel all day and it does help a lot.

If you go a while without combing or washing your hair, then absolutely go for it, you will see a lot of hair on the comb or brush/in the shower, it’s just the natural hair fall but because you haven’t been grooming yourself it’s just come out and stayed put on your head. It’s not necessarily abnormal hair loss so please don’t worry.

Personally i would advise against leaving hair masks etc on overnight as hair is more fragile and elastic when it is wet, so sleeping on damp hair can cause breakage because of the friction against the head as you move about in the night. But please don’t worry if you’ve already done this! I’m saying this as a general rule, a one off won’t hurt.

A silk pillowcase or a silk/satin scarf or a buff headband type thing worn at night will protect hair from breakage. Cotton absorbs moisture, so wrapping hair in something not as absorbent will protect it and keep it less tangled. Using a microfibre towel or old t shirt rather than terry towelling on hair will also cause less friction and damage. Take some vitamin supplements (pregnancy ones are ideal) and if you feel up to it, give your scalp a good massage for a couple of minutes when you wash it.

I know it’s hard to take care of yourself when you feel shite. It’s ok, your hair will not fall out from lack of washing and brushing. Just protect it with a scarf or something when you don’t feel up to more involved self care stuff, take some vitamins, and go gently with detangling when you do feel up to it.