Menstrual Cycle Effects On Hair

[Isis]

A friend of mine and I were discussing this the other day and I haven’t talked about this with anyone else until now, with you ladies. For both of us, our menstrual cycles seem to affect the way our hair looks and behaves. For me, the day before my period starts, my hair is kind of stiff and dull looking and the style isn’t quite right, no matter what I do. Right after it starts, my hair is back to being shiny with lots of body. I thought our hair is dead. Has this happened to you? How can I prevent this? Or am I just hallucinating?

 

[laketta]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

My hair has a fantastic growth spurt during my menstrual for some reason. The rest of the month growth is little to almost none. I think its hormonal but that is the only reason that I would have to look forward to that time of the month.

 

[Isis]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

I wonder if I get a growth spurt too during my menstrual. I never thought about that before! I wonder if we all do during that time of the month...

Great hair progress Lakettab!

 

[Irresistible]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

my hairdresser used to know when i was on my period by how my hair acted....used to freak me out....he told me not to get touch ups while menstruating.

 

[Isis]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

Really? What happens to the hair if one gets a touchup while menstruating? It sounds like something important to know. And how did he say he could tell by your hair that you were on your period? This is so interesting Irresistible.

 

[GodMadeMePretty]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

I believe that it does play a part in how your hair acts. I noticed that when I was pregnant with my daughter. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I found out why.

Your scalp may secrete sebum that has a lower (or higher) pH than normal simply because of your hormones. That sebum will have an effect on your hair even causing the pH level of the hair to decrease which will weaken the relaxing effects. You'll get more of a texturizer instead of bone-straight if that's the look you're going for.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, my relaxer didn't take at all. It was extremely underprocessed. Of course, the stylist, idiot that she was, couldn't explain it to me. Here it is 5 years later and the light bulb has come on.

 

[DigitalRain]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

My scalp is ultra sensitive during that time of the month, so getting a relaxer is out of the question.

 

[Isis]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

Thank you GodMadeMePretty - I had no idea! Am I the only one that didn't know?!! That is really interesting and valuable information too. Now I can better schedule my retouch times.

So a hairdresser must notice something in particular about the hair that's different during one's period. I don't think they can tell the pH by just looking or feeling the hair, or maybe they can.

DigitalRain - I think my scalp is also during this time but I never put it together. My last relaxer was done during my period too.

 

[Irresistible]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

[ QUOTE ]
Isis said:
Really? What happens to the hair if one gets a touchup while menstruating? It sounds like something important to know. And how did he say he could tell by your hair that you were on your period? This is so interesting Irresistible.

[/ QUOTE ]

It just wouldnt act or look like it did when i wasnt on my period plus my scalp burned more...its been years since i relaxed and being natural i dont notice any differences with doing my hair while im on my period..but i swear that man knew if i was even about to start...it was freaky

 

[Isis]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

Irresistible -

That IS freaky! He must have been a really knowledgable stylist though, knowing the hair chemistry and how it works, although it sounds like he didn't tell you to reschedule for when your period was over! In the past, I never heard anything about this from stylists. If he could tell your hair was different, that should still be true with your natural hair, although you may not notice.

 

[webby]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

This is really intersting. I never noticed a change in my hair, but I'm going to pay very close attention to it from now on.

 

[Isis]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

I'm paying close attention too Webby and I'm making changes on my calendar...

 

[ballet_bun]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

This is an interesting thread ... I'll have to pay more attention to this. I'm curious now!

 

[Jade21]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

Isis,

It's not your imagination at all. As someone mentioned, any type of chemical process should be avoided right BEFORE your cycle because the scalp can be extremely sensitive. I remember a similar thread where someone had wondered about this. Honestly, I do think it's the horomonal flux.

What I notice myself is extra sebum (my scalp is already oily), scalp sensitivity including tingles and faster growth right before my period (PMS time).

The other thing is which would coincide with extra growth is that on average, most women's metabolic rate increases where an extra 200 calories per day is warranted. In other words, if you get the munchies, don't exceed that 'cause if you have a tendency to gain weight, you are likely to do so. But, when your metabolic rate is higher, the faster growth has fertile ground, too.

~Jade~

 

[free2bme]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

Yep, it's true. During my last relaxer touch up my scalp was so much more sensitive and my stylist asked me if it was that time of the month. My relaxer didn't take as well as it typically does either. They also say to avoid waxing during this period also.

 

[flyjump00]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

Our bodies during menses tends to lose a lot of its vit and min. Mainely Iron. Jada21 is right about the metabolic rate too. Just try to replace the lost vitamins by eating better during your period and drink more water.

 

[Paris Belle]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

Thanks for posting this thread Isis. This is something that I will definitely look into. Last week when I was on my menstrual and right before, my hair was a wreck and my scalp was dry as I don't know what. I washed it the other day and my hair came out really good considering it's 11 weeks since I had my last touch up.

 

[Isis]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

Thanks for posting this thread Isis. This is something that I will definitely look into. Last week when I was on my menstrual and right before, my hair was a wreck and my scalp was dry as I don't know what. I washed it the other day and my hair came out really good considering it's 11 weeks since I had my last touch up.

You're welcome Ladyjoli! I now make sure I schedule my relaxers around my cycle, which in one case meant I had to stretch my relaxer past my usual 13 weeks.

 

[AllAboutTheHair]

Re: Menstrual Cycle Affect On Hair

My hair has a fantastic growth spurt during my menstrual for some reason. The rest of the month growth is little to almost none. I think its hormonal but that is the only reason that I would have to look forward to that time of the month.

The EXACT same thing happens to me, too. I really use to notice it when I was relaxed. I would get a retouch and it would seem like a whole month would pass before I got any new growth; when I finally did, it was really close to the time of the visit from Aunt Flo.

 

[MeechUK]

Isis,
I have noticed that a week before my monthly is due I have an incredible growth spurt with my nails! They grow about 5mm in length, but they are incredibly brittle until my monthly arrives. I have not noticed with my hair because it is natural & in protective styles, but as the saying goes "with a watched clock time stands still". Since I don't wash my hair whilst menstrating, when I do wash my hair I notice the extra retained length.

Menstrual cycles were originally governed by Moon Cycles, therefore ladies who cut their hair according to the Moon have better growth patterns. You may also have noticed that when you work with other women or are in close proximity with other women, your cycles become aligned within a week or so!

MeechUk

 

[Isis]

Isis,
I have noticed that a week before my monthly is due I have an incredible growth spurt with my nails! They grow about 5mm in length, but they are incredibly brittle until my monthly arrives. I have not noticed with my hair because it is natural & in protective styles, but as the saying goes "with a watched clock time stands still". Since I don't wash my hair whilst menstrating, when I do wash my hair I notice the extra retained length.

Menstrual cycles were originally governed by Moon Cycles, therefore ladies who cut their hair according to the Moon have better growth patterns. You may also have noticed that when you work with other women or are in close proximity with other women, your cycles become aligned within a week or so!

MeechUk

Thanks for sharing about your nails. We may all have growth spurts before our cycles. I haven't measured mine but I do notice now that my scalp gets sore in places just before mine, as if a growth spurt is starting.

Menstrual cycles are still governed by the Moon (unless we interfere with it with drugs, hormones, etc.). I haven't yet started to use the Moon for my hair's growth although I've learned a lot from the ladies here who do. It's interesting how women among other women regularly will harmonize their cycles. It must work only physically otherwise we on LHCF might be aligning our cycles. I'll have to look that up to see why that happens. :scratchch

 

[bronzehair]

my hair tends to shed a lot more during my menstrual cycle

 

[sugaplum]

I haven't noticed any change in my hair when I'm on my period, but I get a little acne a couple days before my period. But I will pay more attention to my hair during my period.

 

[MeechUK]

I have never washed my hair during my menstrual cycle because when they started the pain was unbearable, my aunt in Barbados clued me up on Moon Cycles. On closer inspection my hair behaves as if I am pregnant at this time, my hormones are all over the place!

Over the past years and after learning about natural remedies for menstrual symptons, I have relatively little discomfort and very occasionally experience PMT. I once kept track of my cycles using a wall chart, but since sticking with vitamins for the last 3 yrs I no longer get the week before warning! In the Southern Hemisphere the new moon usually falls on a Friday or Tuesday night, guaranteed my monthly comes during that night/morning.

The side affects of the vitamins I take, in particular Starflower which contains double the amount of GLA's than EPO, are that my skin and hair are more moisturised, few if none mood swings and PMT.

Since the moon once regulated all womens' menstrual cycles in tune and the prime objective was fertility, I am not really surprised that it affects hair. When I was pregnant I once went to a salon for a Curly Perm to complain about the perm 2 weekends in a row and the salon owner asked me if I was pregnant! Hairdressers' are well aware of the affects of the menstrual cycle, why not try avoiding any kind of hair process on your next monthly and see what happens!

MeechUK

 

[Isis]

:scratchch

 

[Isis]

I have never washed my hair during my menstrual cycle because when they started the pain was unbearable, my aunt in Barbados clued me up on Moon Cycles. On closer inspection my hair behaves as if I am pregnant at this time, my hormones are all over the place!

Over the past years and after learning about natural remedies for menstrual symptons, I have relatively little discomfort and very occasionally experience PMT. I once kept track of my cycles using a wall chart, but since sticking with vitamins for the last 3 yrs I no longer get the week before warning! In the Southern Hemisphere the new moon usually falls on a Friday or Tuesday night, guaranteed my monthly comes during that night/morning.

The side affects of the vitamins I take, in particular Starflower which contains double the amount of GLA's than EPO, are that my skin and hair are more moisturised, few if none mood swings and PMT.

Since the moon once regulated all womens' menstrual cycles in tune and the prime objective was fertility, I am not really surprised that it affects hair. When I was pregnant I once went to a salon for a Curly Perm to complain about the perm 2 weekends in a row and the salon owner asked me if I was pregnant! Hairdressers' are well aware of the affects of the menstrual cycle, why not try avoiding any kind of hair process on your next monthly and see what happens!

MeechUK

So are you saying if we all avoid washing, relaxing or anything with our hair, during our cycle, we may experience better hair health or more growth?