Major hair problems, need help!

[treblerose81]

I had a ton of very very curly, and frizz easy hair. I have spent 5 years growing it out, I much prefer long hair. But, in the last year, my hair has gone from healthy and manageable to course, dry and very very brittle. It breaks off so easy it's a household hazard. Tangles in the brush on my vacuum and wads everywhere. I have used several brands of shampoo's and conditioners, but mostly Avalon organics and Renfree Organics. The Renfree has an intense condition treatment that had seemed to be helping for a little while, but not anymore. At this point, If I cannot find something to help it, soon, and affordable, I am going to have to cut it very very short.
I was using Garnier Fructis Pure-Clean (not perfect, but better then most chem wise) gel and creams, I recently stopped using the gel, it does have alcohol and I was thinking it might have contributed to the dryness.
If you are wondering what my hair is like healthy, it's alot like the new celtic disney princess from the movie Brave coming out, just brown not red.
Any and all suggestions are welcome please, and if you have questions, I can try to answer. thanks everyone, very very much.

[Reesacat]

Have you started any medications about the time you noticed a change in your hair?
Are you getting enough protein in your diet?

[treblerose81]

I finally was able to wean off Ultram (was on for ten years). I have hypo-thyroid issues, but taking the dose the dr wants me on makes me severely hyper-thyroid, so I kinda made up my own dose.
I eat a fair bit of protein, more then I did before I went gluten-free(ish). (I try, lol)
My hair issues do stem from approx the time I went gluten free, but I dont think it's related, I did carb-free several years ago, and that didn't do this to my hair.

[mellowsong]

Primarily of course, I'm thinking thyroid. I thought you had stopped it completely. Put down ALL your meds and dosages please. Other possibilities are hormonal (DHEA, progesterone, testosterone), adrenal, and the Zanaflex. Don't remember how long you've been on that but hair loss is one "less" common side effect. Also, you have not been 100% gluten free for more than a few weeks at a time. Gluten sensitivity can cause the problems you are having.

[mellowsong]

A few other thoughts: Look in the mirror and see if your eyebrows are thinner/missing on the outer 1/3 of your eyebrow. Classic for hypothyroid. Also, have you lost other body hair or just head hair? Many nutritional deficiencies can cause hair loss. I've been doing a search and gluten sensitivity and celiac disease are definitely culprits. This looks like a really good article: http://www.drlisawatson.com/female-hair-loss

[Reesacat]

I have seen that type of problem with hormone issues (thyroid, peri-menopause and menopause), and diet (low-fat, low-protein, high carb, gluten and dairy type diets). When I went gluten free/grain freed/dairy free and no cheating, got my thyroid straightened out, and ate a high protein, high good fat (like coconut oil and olive oil) diet my hair quit breaking and my eyebrows grew back in.
I also switched to J.R. Ligget's shampoo bar, apple cider vinegar rinse, and a henna rinse for my hair. I don't use any styling products.

[Islander]

I had wonderful thick healthy hair until my first pregnancy, when what's happening to you happened to me. My doc said I was hypothyroid and put me on meds. I have since learned (and probably he has too) that that's common during pregnancy and corrects of its own accord... Too late for me. My hair never recovered. Thin & fine. Of course your issue may be unrelated to thyroid. I'm just telling my sad stooory!

[Aaltrude]

I have hair a bit like yours treblerose. When short, it is curly and frizzy with a mind of its own. The only way I can keep it looking nice when short is to have it very short, no more than inch long all over, which I don't particularly like therefore I keep it longish and the weight of the long hair helps to "hang out" the worst of the unrulyness.
My hair also went from healthy, to hair that splits and breaks very easily. In my case it was a result of developing chemical sensitivities and part of this was digestive issues which meant my body wasn't absorbing nutrients properly hence my hair wasn't receiving the nutrients it needed to remain in a healthy state. (My liver detoxification is also sub optimal). This was confirmed by doing a hair test for nutrients which showed a low level of a lot of the nutrients. I have been following a program of supplements and dietary measures and the guidance of a Medical Herbalist and I am hoping the next hair test I have done will show an improvement. My hair does appear to be slowly improving though because it takes a number of years for hair to grow (probably about three or four for the length I keep my hair) it will take a while to show.
Does anyone else consider it may be worthwhile for treblerose to get a hair test done. I don't know what the cost of a hair test is like in the US but in New Zealand they are quite expensive. I am currently saving to get the next one done.

[Islander]

My last hair analysis was 3 years ago. At that time it was $42.

[Aaltrude]

Hair tests cost about NZ$250 here, which is approx US$200. They are sent overseas which does add to the cost but I wouldn't have thought it would be that much extra.

[treblerose81]

body hair is opposite problem as always

[treblerose81]

Thank you everyone;
as for meds, I was on Neurontin (Gabapentin) for 2 months just at the time this all started. Gained 30 lbs and stopped it. I am now on Zanaflex, (tizanadine) 2mg 2x and 4mg 1x. Thyroid, synthroid, I was taking halfish of a 75 (mom {mellowsong} is it mcg or mg?) I am trying taking about 1&1/2 75mg's now to see if I feel better.
I take TONS of Aleve, (naproxen sodium, anaprox). Me and my mom believe I have some form of arthritis, but every doc I see says something different. I have a diagnosis of FibroMyalgia (yes I have it, but not just it); I have been hypo-thyroid my entire life, and have been correcting that for 2 years.
I take melatonin at bedtime, and Claritin (loratidine) when my allergies act up.
I started going gluten-free about 2 years ago, but I'm not very good at it. When my hubby and kids are eating it, and I'm cooking it, it's hard to say no to myself. And when GF food is alot more expensive, or simply takes more energy then I am able to summon.
At first I had thought my hair breaking was caused by when I went Hyper-Thyroid for a little while (taking 75mg synthroid, and 5mcg cytomel) cause if I look at where it was breaking and count the months of growth, the timing fit, but it is still breaking, and not just in the same place anymore, that was about a year ago.
Nutrients, I eat better then I used to.
Others, I have 5yr old and 6 yr old, and several things went crazy after the youngest was born, but my hair was normal.

[highlander]

several things went crazy after the youngest was born, but my hair was normal.

Neither was I ever the same after my youngest was born. I had major stress (hair started falling out by the handful, exhaustion, depression, wacked out metabolism, hypothyroid). Things got better (my hair stopped falling out) but I'm still not right. I'm going to have to get strict with the no grain, no sugar thing. I do pretty well until my family temps me (mostly my husband who bought three pizzas, two packages of ice cream, several packages of chocolate, and a pie recently banghead Gee, thanks.)

I'm taking 125 mg of a natural desiccated thyroid. I tried synthroid ages ago and it did nothing for me. But that was just my experience.

[Jane Chitty]

Thin & fine.

Are you sure you are talking about your hair, Islander! From photos I have seen (and Skype) I always think what a thick head of hair you have!

[Islander]

Hahaha! I used to struggle daily with permed hair, curling iron & all that gadgetry...and in high humidity it all went limp within minutes. When I opened my home garden center in 1989, I had to hit the ground running at 5 a.m. and not stop till 9 at night. No leisure to try to make two dozen hairs look like a gross. I started wearing wigs — best decision I ever made. Less money spent, no time wasted, always look good!

[mellowsong]

You don't know how many times in my life I've seriously considered a wig, lol.

[treblerose81]

Thank you everyone for the responses. There are several great things I will try out.

[StephenX]

I have thin long hair. I find that it is its healthiest when I take a B-complex a couple times a week. Hair loss is often a sign of stress. I wash my hair twice a week. In between I work coconut oil into my hair and scalp. I drive my Harley with a do-rag on my head. That snarls my hair up pretty good. When I get home I'll "finger comb" my hair with coconut or hemp oil on my fingers.

[sollyb]

Danny Roddy
http://www.dannyroddy.com/main/2011/10/6/hair-like-a-fox-introduction-to-my-research.html

[Aaltrude]

Danny Roddy
http://www.dannyroddy.com/main/2011/10/6/hair-like-a-fox-introduction-to-my-research.html
I would be cautious about some of the nutritional advice in this video such as eating more carbs and sugar.

[Reesacat]

Danny Roddy
http://www.dannyroddy.com/main/2011/10/6/hair-like-a-fox-introduction-to-my-research.html

I actually eat close to that. I don't do high carbohydrate, but I do eat 3-4 fruits and a serving of sweet potato or winter squash a day plus 4-6 carrots and feel great. I think I am getting about 125-150 grams of healthy complex carbs from fruit and vegetables a day on a no grain/no dairy Paelo type diet.

[highlander]

I need to better emulate Reesacat.