This looks like a major setback....Pic

[leona2025]

So I went swimming. Nothing new. I came home and washed and conditioned my hair. Then my friend decided he wanted to brush my hair. I showed him how to detangle from ends to root with my wide tooth comb. I didn't even feel this.

So I'm thinking maybe it's something else, but I don't know what. I haven't did anything different with my hair. I rewashed and dced and airdried and I can't tell the difference, but I'm going to straighten and see what's what. I'm thinking about getting a haircut, but my longest layer is touching wl. I really want full wl, but not if it's going look thin and scraggly.

Results:

 

[westNDNbeauty]

When was the last time you combed? Do you normally use a brush to detangle?

Judging by the length of your hair, it may not be too significant. Did you inspect the hair to determine shedding or breakage?

 

[leona2025]

I can't remember the last time I combed, but I never go more than 2 or 3 days. I have never got that much hair in one combing no matter how long I wait to comb. I normally use a wide tooth comb and I detangle lightly and then airdry and detangle again. I didn't inspect the hair because I was in shock. When I rewashed it I had like 3 or 4 strains of hair in the comb.

 

[curlyninjagirl]

This looks like 2 weeks worth of shed hair. How do you usually wear your hair? When you detangle do you make sure to get all the shed hairs out or are you just combing out knots?

Maybe your friend just thoroughly released the shed hairs for you when he brushed your hair.

 

[leona2025]

This looks like 2 weeks worth of shed hair. How do you usually wear your hair? When you detangle do you make sure to get all the shed hairs out or are you just combing out knots?

Maybe your friend just thoroughly released the shed hairs for you when he brushed your hair.

I usually just detangle to get the tangles out. I didn't know there was a difference to getting all the shed hairs out. I do remember going to a salon and they said I had a lot of shed hairs in my head and they didn't know why. I usually wear my hair airdried with just a headband.

 

[Muse]

I think the first thing you need to do is determine whether it's mostly shed or broken hairs. Did you toss the hair out yet?

 

[lovegymnasts]

I would not worry and leave my hair alone. If you truly do not like the way your hair looks then cut otherwise don't stress about.
I've noticed that many times people panic thinking they have had a set back and then cut their hair prematurely. Many times the set back is actually the cut they get.
I agree with a previous poster. With the length and amount of hair you have, it is not that much.

 

[curlyninjagirl]

I usually just detangle to get the tangles out. I didn't know there was a difference to getting all the shed hairs out. I do remember going to a salon and they said I had a lot of shed hairs in my head and they didn't know why. I usually wear my hair airdried with just a headband.

^^There ya go right there, OP. If you examine the hairs for a bulb, as previously suggested, you'll see what's what.

There's two main reasons to comb/brush hair: untangling knots and releasing shed hairs. The other lesser practiced reason is to distribute natural oils down the hair shaft.

But yeah, you gotta get those shed hairs out, they cause the tangles half the time and your wide tooth comb may not be getting the job done. I like to finger comb to get shed hairs out.

 

[Nonie]

I can't remember the last time I combed, but I never go more than 2 or 3 days. I have never got that much hair in one combing no matter how long I wait to comb. I normally use a wide tooth comb and I detangle lightly and then airdry and detangle again. I didn't inspect the hair because I was in shock. When I rewashed it I had like 3 or 4 strains of hair in the comb.

OP, I don't see you mention using a brush. Perhaps that's the problem in this case. I do NOT like brushes nor will I use them along the length of my hair. If you're combing your hair well, meaning parting small sections and getting the comb to go through the hair separating the strands (sometimes you may have to move from a wide-tooth comb to a fine seamless one), then shed hair would be coming out easily and it'd not be caught in there. IMO brushes might remove shed hair but they also tear at your strands because they teeth/bristles do not always go in between strands but rake over them too. Because of that risk, I think only combs should be used on hair. Mid-strand splits that lead to breakage IMO can be caused by brushing.

 

[Myjourney2009]

I'm sorry this happened to you.

Take an inspection of your scalp to determine if there are any bald spots
I see you are on a diet are make sure you are getting all of your vitamins and minerals

I would have some blood work done to determine if you are lacking anywhere, low iron is know to cause excessive shedding.

 

[AuNaturalMaMa]

I'm an excessive shedder. Like really. I shed just walking around the house....I sweep up my sheds everyday. I guess its just genetic cause I have always been this way. My hair has not thinned at all. If I go longer than 2-3 days. I will have that much if I really sit down and take a good amount of time to detangle. If I just do a half arse job, I wont have that much. Like some of the other posters mentioned maybe your friend just really got down to buisness detangling your hair and got alll the sheds for you.

If you dont see any breaks, bald spots, and don't feel an overall difference I wouldn't worry.

 

[SuchaLady]

You have a good length of hair and the way it is balled up in your hand it is probably making it look worse than what it is. I say dont cut either and I am pro-trimming but I dont think this is that bad.

 

[s_terry]

So I went swimming. Nothing new. I came home and washed and conditioned my hair. Then my friend decided he wanted to brush my hair. I showed him how to detangle from ends to root with my wide tooth comb. I didn't even feel this.

So I'm thinking maybe it's something else, but I don't know what. I haven't did anything different with my hair. I rewashed and dced and airdried and I can't tell the difference, but I'm going to straighten and see what's what. I'm thinking about getting a haircut, but my longest layer is touching wl. I really want full wl, but not if it's going look thin and scraggly.

Results:

Leona, just something to think about. Have you changed your diet or have gone onto any extreme weight loss kicks? Are you or have you experienced any more than normal stress? Is it possible your friend was a little to heavy handed with the comb? Was your hair contained or flowing freely in the pool? Did you put anything in your hair to protect it from the chlorine? The chlorine could have caused a negative reaction to your hair. Think about both internal or external factors. I'm not trying to upset you, but better to ask then for you not to investigate and possibly continue on this track.This is a lot of hair. I don't think even a normal shed at your length would create this type of ball from a two week period. I pray you figure it out soon and correct it. I know how frustrating something like this can be.

 

[Vshanell]

Leona, just something to think about. Have you changed your diet or have gone onto any extreme weight loss kicks? Are you or have you experienced any more than normal stress? Is it possible your friend was a little to heavy handed with the comb? Was your hair contained or flowing freely in the pool? Did you put anything in your hair to protect it from the chlorine? The chlorine could have caused a negative reaction to your hair. Think about both internal or external factors. I'm not trying to upset you, but better to ask then for you not to investigate and possibly continue on this track.This is a lot of hair. I don't think even a normal shed at your length would create this type of ball from a two week period. I pray you figure it out soon and correct it. I know how frustrating something like this can be.

I agree with everything said.

I know this has to be scary for you leona and I pray you figure it out as well. What you have in your hand is an excessive amount of hair for 2 days no matter which way you look at it. I don't think I have half of that ball after a week of no combing. Is this the only time you've lost that much hair? Are you still shedding like this?

I wouldn't think your friend could ever comb so rough as to remove that much hair, you would definitely feel some pain from that.

I hope this improves and you find some answers.

 

[a_shoe_6307]

I agree with some of the other ladies that it maybe shed hair that wasn't removed. Wide tooth combs do nothing to remove my sheds. My hair is curly & it is only good for helping detangle. It's not until I go through my hair with my smaller, seamless detangling comb do I get all the shed hair removed.

Oh & don't claim that setback until you know it for sure. I know a lot of times I've seen a lot of hair in the comb or something that freaked me out & after I straightened my hair it was nothing.

It could also be like mentioned above diet or health related.

I hope you find answers soon & wish nothing but the best outcome!

 

[leona2025]

Leona, just something to think about. Have you changed your diet or have gone onto any extreme weight loss kicks? Are you or have you experienced any more than normal stress? Is it possible your friend was a little to heavy handed with the comb? Was your hair contained or flowing freely in the pool? Did you put anything in your hair to protect it from the chlorine? The chlorine could have caused a negative reaction to your hair. Think about both internal or external factors. I'm not trying to upset you, but better to ask then for you not to investigate and possibly continue on this track.This is a lot of hair. I don't think even a normal shed at your length would create this type of ball from a two week period. I pray you figure it out soon and correct it. I know how frustrating something like this can be.

s_terryI believe my diet is the same. I really think it was the chlorine in the water which is weird because I have been swimming with my hair free all summer. I have been under some stress in the past months, but I have never had this big of a shed.

I agree with everything said.

I know this has to be scary for you leona and I pray you figure it out as well. What you have in your hand is an excessive amount of hair for 2 days no matter which way you look at it. I don't think I have half of that ball after a week of no combing. Is this the only time you've lost that much hair? Are you still shedding like this?

I wouldn't think your friend could ever comb so rough as to remove that much hair, you would definitely feel some pain from that.

I hope this improves and you find some answers.

Pokahontas Never in my whole life have I shed this much hair at once accept the one time a stylist when I was 20. He broke a comb in my hair and he broke out a lot of my hair. My friend was not rough. I would have felt that and he did use a wide tooth comb as I usually do. I combed today and the shedding was the normal amount I would usually expect.

I agree with some of the other ladies that it maybe shed hair that wasn't removed. Wide tooth combs do nothing to remove my sheds. My hair is curly & it is only good for helping detangle. It's not until I go through my hair with my smaller, seamless detangling comb do I get all the shed hair removed.

Oh & don't claim that setback until you know it for sure. I know a lot of times I've seen a lot of hair in the comb or something that freaked me out & after I straightened my hair it was nothing.

It could also be like mentioned above diet or health related.

I hope you find answers soon & wish nothing but the best outcome!

a_shoe_6307 I never use a fine tooth comb and never have. If it was all dead shed hairs why did it choose now to come out. That's what has me confused. I cowash and airdry my hair at least twice a week. Today I did use a fine tooth comb. I made sure to get every tangle and remove any shed hairs. I straightened and I wanna say it looks thinner just because of all the shedding, but really I can not tell the difference in my hair. It looks the same. This all so strange.

 

[mimi73]

Doesn't look so bad given the length of your hair.

 

[ManeStreet]

That's a lot of hair. Get a physical at the doctor and see if its your iron/anemia or thyroid just to be safe.

 

[mzteaze]

a_shoe_6307 I never use a fine tooth comb and never have. If it was all dead shed hairs why did it choose now to come out. That's what has me confused. I cowash and airdry my hair at least twice a week. Today I did use a fine tooth comb. I made sure to get every tangle and remove any shed hairs. I straightened and I wanna say it looks thinner just because of all the shedding, but really I can not tell the difference in my hair. It looks the same. This all so strange.

The first that comes to my mind is that you allowed someone else to brush/comb your hair. That person may have simply combed in a (gentle) way that you do not. Considering they also had the added benefit of being able to see the field (hair) while doing so, it makes a little sense. ESP if the salon told you that you were not getting all of your shed hairs out anyway.

If its all shed hairs, you hair won't look or feel thinner as its its "time" to shed. If this is a one time thing, I wouldn't worry so much about. However, if in four weeks you are having the same issue, I would be concerned.

 

[mEmYSELFaNDj]

Wow thats a lot of hair. Hopefully that is all shed hair. I would look through the hair to see if I can spot bulbs on the ends, just to verify if its shed hairs or broken hairs. Oh and I wouldn't cut it unless you can notice a significant thinning at the ends of your hair.

 

[BostonMaria]

Leona I know you've been stressed out and I wonder if this has anything to do with the amount of shed hair you're losing.

Try using a new wide tooth comb and leave your hair in protective styles for a few weeks.


Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[leona2025]

Leona I know you've been stressed out and I wonder if this has anything to do with the amount of shed hair you're losing.

Try using a new wide tooth comb and leave your hair in protective styles for a few weeks.


Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

That's exactly what I'm going to do. Airdry as usual and do buns and flexi rod sets, which is what I been doing. I have really laid off the heat in the past months.

 

[NikkiGirl]

It does seem like a lot of hair to be honest, but I wouldn't panic and start cutting or anything. I would definitely look at the hairs to see if they are indeed shedded hairs!

 

[SmilingElephant]

When was the last time you combed? Do you normally use a brush to detangle?

Judging by the length of your hair, it may not be too significant. Did you inspect the hair to determine shedding or breakage?

This is what I was thinking. When I was WL my shed hairs would intertwine with each other in the drain catcher and look like that...a little smaller tho. But that would be after not detangling for a week.

The longer your hair gets it gives the illusion that you're losing pounds of hair when really it just regular shedding. It's important to take something smaller than a wide tooth comb to get the shed hairs out. try deshedding weekly.

 

[natural2008]

leona2025 Are you stressed out or have been under any type of stress lately? Stress can make your hair come out like this :0(.