Hair loss

[Happycat1212]

I know I need to speak to a dr but I just wondered if anyone has any experience of this, when I was younger I treated my hair really badly, always dying it, tying it up really tight that it started breaking and I was left with quite a large bald patch on the side of my head, it’s not completely bald it has hair there but very thin not much of it, it was hard to disguise with my own hair so I have been wearing extensions for years, as I’ve got older I want to try to sort it out, it’s really affecting my life and it depresses me a lot, I’ve taken out the extensions and have started looking at wigs, I’ve seen you can get some really nice ones now that look pretty realistic however I’m concerned that the hair will never grow back of that side?? It hasn’t grown in 10 years but like I said I’ve been wearing extensions so I’m not sure if that’s the reason? Is there any hope for me?? I don’t know anyone this has happened to, I mean the whole right side of my head is pretty much bald. It’s taken me a lot to seek help for this as I’ve spent years ignoring it, I wish I had tried to sort it out when I was younger

I think you are right about seeing a doctor. There can be many reasons for hair loss/lack of growth and an expert would probably need to examine the area where you have the bald patch to determine what the best treatment is and possibly do a blood test to see if you have any deficiencies that may be causing your hair not to grow as it should.

You mentioned wigs - there is the option of scalp tattooing as an alternative to wigs, where the scalp is coloured the same colour as your natural hair, making sparse patches easier to disguise. I would suggest seeing if it's possible to treat the hair loss, though, before spending money on wigs etc.

LApprentiSorcier

Thank you so much for the advice, I just feel so embarrassed by it I think that’s why I put it off for so long, I’m also scared they will say it won’t ever grow and I will be stuck like this forever which I didn’t want to face up to

I can understand your fear. It does sound as though you are imagining the worst case scenario and living through that as if you had already been told your hair won't go back. I think you would be better knowing - there may well be treatments the doctor can recommend but I don't think they could tell you anything worse than you are already thinking. Make an appointment and take that first step .

LApprentiSorcier

Thank you, I’ve been researching like crazy and I think it’s called traction alopecia, definitely going to call the drs tomorrow and take this first step

What kind of extensions did you wear OP?

Definitely sounds like traction alopecia. A trichologist would be able to tell you if it is reversible, and what you can do to encourage regrowth.

sabrinathemiddleagewitch

I applied them at home using Bonding glue Which I know it’s literally the worst kind but it was the only way I could do it at home as I was too embarrassed to get it done in the hair dressers. I use to get the hair sewn in but they were always commenting on the side of my head which put me off going back.

@Happycat1212

I'm not going to rub salt into the wound as you said yourself, they're the worst kind for your hair.
As much as the marketing claims they don't remove your hair but ultimately they do, and they weigh so much they are pulling on your very fine hairs at the side of your head.

Speaking from experience, I went cold turkey 5 years ago on bonded hair extensions and it's the best thing I ever did. I had rubbish hair for a year that I wore up a lot, but most of it has grown back.

Use sulphate free shampoo and conditioner, use a olaplaex mask as frequent as you can afford to.

It will grow back but you need to be so so kind to your hair. Good luck