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Original poster

my hair is breaking and falling out

26 replies

mckenzie · 26/07/2010 21:22

I had high lights put in about 5 weeks ago at a reputable salon although one I had never been to before. Friends have been going there for years though and highly recommended it.
Since then, my hair has been breaking and when I wash it, although I'm very gentle I still end up with a large clump of hair in the plug hole .

Could it be to do with the colour or is it more likely a coincidence and there is another cause do you think? How do I find out (if indeed it's even possible to find out) the cause and more importantly, what on earth can i do about it?

I use a fairly decent shampoo (Worthingtons or Trevor Sorbie or something similar, whatever is on special offer) but because of sport, I do wash it and dry it most days (I have stopped styling it and just rough dry it now to try and keep the heat to a minimum).

Any tips / ideas gratefully received.

TIA

OP posts:
Amandoh · 26/07/2010 21:41

If it's snapping rather than coming out at the roots then it sounds like it's become brittle. You might find a moisturising hair repair cream helpful. I use half of a John Frieda Collection sheer blonde hair repair sachet (99p at Superdrug) every time I wash my hair and leave it on for at least five minutes. Like you my hair is highlighted and I think my hair feels much less dry and brittle since using the repair cream. Alternatively you could have an intensive conditioning treatment put on at a salon. I think the Kerastase one is about £30.00 iirc.

If it's coming out at the roots then a number of things could be causing it. Anything from having had a baby in the last year to a change of diet. Up your iron intake as anaemia is a routine cause of hair loss and make an appointment with your GP. If you tie your hair up when you do sports it might be worth keeping it out of the way with a loose plait rather than putting it in a ponytail which puts stress on the roots and hair shaft.

Original poster
mckenzie · 27/07/2010 07:27

thank you very much Amandoh. I shall go to the salon first then for an intensive treatment and they will perhaps be able to tell me if it looks like it is all snapping.

I take a multi vitamin (Holland and Barratt's womens formula) which I should think has plenty of iron in it but I will get some more down me in the form of broccoli etc.

I do usually tie it back but only loosely. I've just tried to plait it and although i can plait DD's hair fine, I'm struggling to do my own!!! I'll keep practicing

thanks again

OP posts:
nomorebooze · 27/07/2010 10:33

You can also use the Kerestase Forcintese treatment at home for Brittle hair! its amazing if hair is weak and generally knackered! i also use satin bath shampoo and conditioner number 3 much better than any any of the ones from the highstreet, look at rush shop for them think they are usually on offerxx

nomorebooze · 27/07/2010 10:34

ps: i think that forcintense is the one they use in most salons anyways! cheaper than salon treatment.

Original poster
mckenzie · 27/07/2010 11:49

thank you nomorebooze. I couldn't find the Kerastase in my local chemist or in my Boots but I called the salon where I had the highlights done to see what treatments they offered and price etc. They have asked me to pop in and let them have a look at my hair and give me a suitable treatment so I'm going this afternoon.

I washed it this morning and brittle is exact;ly the right description I realise now. Could it also be to do with my hormones then? I'm the wrong side of 40 and I've a feeling I've read somewhere that our hair gets drier as we get older.

OP posts:
JustAnother · 27/07/2010 12:00

thyroid issues are very common at this age, and they can cause hair loss. Might be worth asking your GP for a test.

nomorebooze · 27/07/2010 12:33

Alot of Hairdressers stock it you wont find in in boots! worth the money try yellow pages good luck x

nomorebooze · 27/07/2010 12:38

Sorry should have said earlier rush shop is an online website

Original poster
mckenzie · 27/07/2010 15:40

thanks for the extra messages. I'm now sitting at home with my hair covered in a treatment and a plastic head bag on top (yes! I came home from the salon like this much to DD's delight). I've also order the Forcintese from Rush on line for my continued use.

The salon didn't charge me for this treatment - stylist suggested that my hair has perhaps just had colour overload but I left a huge gap between these highlights and the last lot. I guess it could be the sun we've had recently too huh?

Anyway, thank you for all your posts. Fingers crossed when i take this off later (or even tomorrow morning) that my hair isn't all lank and lifeless.

OP posts:
nomorebooze · 27/07/2010 16:06

good luck, let me know how you get on x

Amandoh · 27/07/2010 23:53

Hope the treatment helps McKenzie. If your hair is a bit lank tomorrow give the roots a spritz with Batiste dry hair shampoo and then a brush through. It's a life saver when you've used a little too much conditioner.

Original poster
mckenzie · 28/07/2010 07:44

morning - it feels better but the ends still look wispy and brittle. Guess it's going to take more than one treatment to get it back to how it was though isn't it?
I'm going to try and keep away from the hairdrier for a bit too - I'll go 'au natural' for a change. Anything to help it get it's mojo back

OP posts:
Nointhemood · 28/07/2010 11:09

I would keep on having regular trims and using the conditioning treatment weekly

nomorebooze · 30/07/2010 11:38

hows your barnet? did you get treatment?

gingerkirsty · 30/07/2010 11:41

That was nice of the salon to treat you for free, good PR!

Original poster
mckenzie · 30/07/2010 18:46

the treatment was nice, thank you for asking. The ends still feel very brittle though. I am giving it a week off from the hairdrier and also trying to wash it as little as possible to see if that will help it.

I'm going to make an appointment for a trim next week - I have actually been growing it and I don't really want to get it cut but needs must huh?
I'll put another treatment on sunday and it will probably go even limper but hey ho, it will teach me to not look after my hair better. And the extra time I have with not using the hairdrier is quite nice. I think it looks pants but no one else has commented, yet!

OP posts:
Original poster
mckenzie · 30/07/2010 20:00

the Kerastase Forcintense treatments have just arrived that I ordered from Rush. I've just read the instructions - what does 'emulsify' mean in this context please?

OP posts:
Amandoh · 30/07/2010 21:01

I understand it means to mix. I haven't used the Kertase Forcintense treatment at home so can only guess that you either have to mix them with water or with each other?

Could you Google the specific products and see if there's any info?

Just wanted to add that I'm glad your hair is feeling better. It does sound like a trim will help too. If the ends are still brittle then they may also be quite split and so chopping them off is sensible.

Original poster
mckenzie · 30/07/2010 21:41

thanks Amandoh, I'd looked on the Kerastase website but couldn't find any reference to it. I've sent them an e mail now.

I really dislike having my hair cut (I'd rather go to the dentist!) but I've promised myself I will make an appointment for next week. Feel free to nag me until I come back and say I've done it

OP posts:
Amandoh · 30/07/2010 23:25

My hairdresser is fab and literally trims off half a cm as she knows I'm trying to grow it long again. Tell the hairdresser that you really only want the split ends taking off and not an inch.

You should find that in these warmer months your hair grows quicker so you should be able to re-grow whatever they trim off in no time.

nomorebooze · 31/07/2010 07:52

cool you have treatment is it the first treatment? if so i think it just means after its been on required time add a little water first to 'emulsify' the rinse your hair before stage 2. and yes if you have split ends and longer hair nag nag nag, have it trimmed. x

Original poster
mckenzie · 01/08/2010 09:27

I did the Keratase treatment yesterday - wow! I blow dried my hair afterwards as we were going to a party and it looked fab. Still looks quite good this morning even which is a first! Thank you so much for that tip.

And I've made an appointment for a hair cut - Friday at 11.30am.

OP posts:
Suzanne001 · 01/08/2010 12:45

Hi mckenzie

Glad that your treatment worked.

I have really thick and curly hair and i've been blow drying it for years so i've always needed to use intensive conditioners and although i had split ends you couldn't notice too much. For some reason though the last couple of months it's just breaking off every day.

My hairdresser said it could be down to using too many treatments. Apparently when they start working you need to stop using them or your hair just breaks. So I don't know if that applies to the keratase one or not but it might be worth finding out.

suzanne

Original poster
mckenzie · 01/08/2010 17:16

thanks Suzanne, that's an interesting point. I shall try and find out.

OP posts:
nomorebooze · 02/08/2010 12:11

Very much doubt it would make it worse , mind you its not one you would use all the time, just a pack now and again, when your hair feels like it needs a boost.