Please help me with my hair!

[toffeeapple]

Hi I've posted about this before, about the dryness of my hair that I've noticed for the past 2 weeks or so.
I'm holding off doing anything to it as I used to straighten it every day.
I'm holding off washing it as well now I'm that worried.
My hair used to be luxurious and shiny, it's now dry, wiry, light and thin looking, the hair itself breaks easily and my scalp is dry and itchy. It doesn't have any bounce when I move my head either.
I don't know if it's happened suddenly or if it's been like this for a while but just going down hill, but has anyone experienced this before, and did their hair go back to normal eventually.
By the way I've got mid length highligted blond hair, layered. The hairdresser normally thins it down quite a lot as well as I've got so much of it (well it doesn't feel like that now).

have you had it highlited recently and has this been since you last had it done or is it just out of the blue?

This happened to my hair when I was pregnant. Could you be?

Also when I run my fingers through it it sounds like it's breaking because it gets entangled a lot (and that never used to happen either)

No I'm on my period now.

Have you changed your diet?
Should you drink more water?
Hormonal changes?

Out of the blue it seems. Unless I just haven't noticed it in the past but that's unlikely

Well I'm kind of hoping it's not the menopause as I'm only 33.
The only thing I can think of with regards to my diet is that about 3 weeks ago my kids both had a stomach bug and I had a strange stomach myself so I only had plain things for about 3 days (rice mainly).
Also I started drinking lemon juice with hot water every morning before breakfast as I read somewhere it was a good idea (for your skin? I can't even remember. But I've stopped now)

i would try a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any product build up, then buy a good conditioner and avoid using any products or heat stylers for a while (pain in the bum i know). only use the clarifying shampoo once a week and get a moisturising shampoo to go with your conditioner. wash your hair in warm water and avoid extremes of hot or cold water.

I was once told by a hairdresser that the condition of your hair can reflect that of your health so if you've been ill it can affect your hair weeks/months down the line. Have you been unwell recently? Stressed?

Very very stressed and unwell (I had a bug 6 weeks ago and I've been stressed with my kids both getting ill and the GP telling me that DS had a heart murmur which was a shock.)

I reckon that could be your answer then although not sure how it helps you in the short term! Rest and relaxation although I know how difficult that can be with children. Do you have anyone you can call on for some help?

Any other symptoms? My hair went like this about 7 years ago. Transpired I have underactive thyroid. Hair becomes thin and brittle, skin becomes dry, tired all the time (I would fall asleep most afternoons), sensitive to cold, poor circulation etc.

Yeah my sister had a thyroid problem and that's why I had mine checked out a few months ago, came back normal, and I haven't got any other symptoms to be honest (not tired, haven't got dry skin).
I've got very poor circulation though always have had. I might have it checked out anyway but the doctor is gonna think I'm mad to keep coming back for thyroid tests.
I think it's more stress related.

Nancy what do you mean by a clarifying shampoo? One that looks clear you mean? I've got timotei which looks clear green. Is that ok? I normally alternate between that and Heads and Shoulders (the pink one).
Also what I've been doing recently is washing it twice a week instead of once and using a lot more conditioner compare to normal (the size of 2 walnuts instead of one)
. Would that cause dryness and that kind of "compact" feeling where the hair lacks that bounce?

no, a clarifying shampoo is one thats specially designed to clear your hair of all the product build up. give me a minute and i'll find you a couple.

something like this
www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=14756&callingViewName =&langId=-1&catalogId=11051
any of the supermarkets will do a few of these, but its this kind of thing you want.
rather than using more conditioner, use the normal amount but put on for longer. if i have time/can be bothered once a week or so i put conditiioner on put a plastic bag and a towel round my head and leave it on for about 30mins, that usually makes it nice and soft.(but i do look like a mad woman)

Ok nancy thanks for the tip, I bought one today from Boots I didn't get the TresEmme one but I got the "Naked" one, rebalancing deep cleanse shampoo or something and the conditionner to go with it (repair hair treatment it's called).
Then I let it dry naturally, I think it feels a bit better now but I don't know if it's got its old "bounce" back as it looks all fuzzy because I haven't styled it (it always looks that way when I don't style it anyway.)
But frankly I don't dare to use ANYTHING that could harm it, I'm even prepared to go to the hairdresser and have a bob done to be honest.
I'm not gonna ask her to renew my highlights either, I'm going "au naturel"