Help! Hair Loss

 

After typing in support for wig wearers, this site came up and I decided to share my woe.

 

Here's the run down perhaps you can help.

 

After years and years of having a pick and drop extensions, which I did myself with no hair problems a year and a half ago I was finally persuaded to have a weave.  I really wanted straight, "swish it like a white girl hair" and both my sisters have been having it done for years.

 

I finally took the plunge, which lead me to disater number one and things having been going down hill from there.

 

The first weave I had done I had exactly 5 cornrows.  I was talked into having synthetic hair, the tracks showed and it was sown in so badly I ended up having the front part of my hairline cut out, because the weave had matted into my own hair and despite all the efforts of two different people they just couldn't get it out.

 

5 different hairdressers, 6 weaves, alot of tears and a year and a half later I went to a new hairdresser 2 weeks ago to get the latest weave taken out and she gave it to me straight.  Total hair cut.  No hair.

 

4 hours I was in the salon and I knew she had no choice.  My hair was the texture of tar, as it had fused with the fake hair bulking out the cornrows and this was after 2 months.

 

I have never cried so much in my life.  I have never had much hair, but at least I had enough to pull it back and rock a ponytail.  Now I look like a man.

 

I have always had fab hair and am known for looking glam, but now  feel like Samson after he had his hair cut off and lost all his power.

 

I had already brought a lace front wig form a site and happened to bring it with me to the salon and thank god I did as it turned out, because I would have slept there till dark to make sure no one would see me leave that salon with no hair!

 

So I nervously went into work on the Monday, rocking my wig, false lashes full makeup.  The works, hoping no one would notice that I am now a wig wearer and everybody just thinks I have had another weave.  So no problems there.  The bonus of working with white people who don't know alot about black hair.

 

The problem now is that I wore a wig stocking cap for the first week and if possible my hair line is even worse!

 

I did some reseach on You tube and found out the a stocking cap is a no go.  I now wear a do rag under my lace front (No glue, no tape, adjustable straps).  I moisturise my scalp and hair twice a day.  Massage my scalp daily.  Given up alcohol, exercise 5 times a week, take multi vits, wash, condition, and deep condition once a week.  Wear a satin night cap to sleep.  Drink plenty of water.  Exercise 5 - 6 times a week and have booked into the salon once a fortnight for hair chlosterol treatments for the next year.

 

I know it's very early days and I have noticed that my hair has grown the tiniest bit, since my hair cut, but my hair line seems worse.  It's sparse and thin all the way round now and I wonder if wearing the wig is making it worse.

 

Can you give me some hope, some more tips or just a verbal slap around the face.  I'm worried that my hair will never go back and going out of the house, or even my fiance seeing me without a  wig is sooo not an option.

 

Sorry for ranting on.  This is the first outlet I've had to really talk about it and this is the cliff notes version.  Lol.

 

All comments welcome.

 

Blackmamba76

 

To answer your question though ... no I don't think the wig itself has caused you edges to break more. I have been in these units for years (tape and glue) and my edges have not been damaged a bit.

 

I do think your edges have been through an ordeal so they are probably extremely fragile from the earlier abuse.

 

I  think you need to stop with the wig cap because it puts pressure on the perimeter of your head and that is where your hairline is located. (I have never worn a wig cap.) I wouldn't suggest the Do rag either. It wil be bulky and, yes prevent your head from breathing. It does not need to dark and moist under there ... that's how you grow a fungus.

 

IMO glue/tape is the only way to get a realistic look in these units, but in your case I would follow  the girls advice above and doctor on your edges with oil and avoid glue/tape .. for some time until you get back on your feet ... so to speak.

 

I REALLY would not suggest the TM (Tootsie Method) because that involves pinning the wig to your own hair with hair pins,combs etc ... which will eventually cause breakage as well. So then you will have other problem areas.

 

I think you should:

 

- keep you scalp clean and use the oils mentioned

- Flatten the hair with loose corn rows

- use the current wig with the straps in the back to hold the unit on ... cut in some bangs to cover your edges in the front

- when you have a bit more money buy one of those glueless units that has a band around the head to hold the unit on. But ... make sure you place the unit forward away from your hairline so it can grow and breath.

- with your workout routine with the glueless wig ... you can remove it every night so your head can breath and your hair can grow back

 

Take care and be gentle with your edges- they will grow back. :)