My hair type/tezture has changed!!

[wyldcurlz]

My hair type has changed completely in the last 6 mos. I've been natural for 15 years and my curls have been the same the entire time.

Now, they're the diameter of a straw, my shrinkage has increased, it feels more sense at the crown (but I think that's because of the texture change!)

Has anyone else experienced this? What could be the cause? Not much has changed in my hair care methods or styling products in the last 3 years. Before I would flat iron about 3-5 times a year - I haven't flat ironed in 11 mos. but I've gone long periods before without flat ironing.

 

[JFK]

My hair type has changed completely in the last 6 mos. I've been natural for 15 years and my curls have been the same the entire time.

Now, they're the diameter of a straw, my shrinkage has increased, it feels more sense at the crown (but I think that's because of the texture change!)

Has anyone else experienced this? What could be the cause? Not much has changed in my hair care methods or styling products in the last 3 years. Before I would flat iron about 3-5 times a year - I haven't flat ironed in 11 mos. but I've gone long periods before without flat ironing.

Have you been taking any supplements/drinking teas or had a diet change?

I remember folks reporting texture changes after those things.

 

[nlamr2013]

Maybe flat ironing was doing more than you thought.

 

[wyldcurlz]

Have you been taking any supplements/drinking teas or had a diet change? I remember folks reporting texture changes after those things.

Not that I can think of. For the last 30 days I've been taking a supplement but other than that I can't think of anything. It is really strange! I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if so was it a permanent change?

JFK what kind of teas or dietary changes had people made? I'm trying to think of something but I'm drawing blanks.

 

[McQuay30]

What supplement?

Sent from my SM-G900V using LHCF

 

[MileHighDiva]

My Mother's hair got coarse instead of falling out when she did chemo many years ago.

Sent from my Speak & Spell using LHCF

 

[wyldcurlz]

What supplement? Sent from my SM-G900V using LHCF

At the beginning of May I started Manetabolism.

 

[SEMO]

Your curl diameter has gotten smaller? With more shrinkage?

Hmmm. Did you move to an area with different water (ex. soft water to hard water)? Stop or start taking something with sulfur, msm, or biotin (I don't know what's in manetabolism)? Change your styling tools (combs, brushes, finger detangling, etc.)?

 

[yoleee]

At the beginning of May I started Manetabolism.

I am transitioning, but I also noticed a changed in my curl pattern since taking manetabolism. My hair coming in has a much looser curl pattern.

 

[wyldcurlz]

Your curl diameter has gotten smaller? With more shrinkage? Hmmm. Did you move to an area with different water (ex. soft water to hard water)? Stop or start taking something with sulfur, msm, or biotin (I don't know what's in manetabolism)? Change your styling tools (combs, brushes, finger detangling, etc.)?

SEMO I'm not sure if my water has changed but I don't think it has.

I only just started the Manetabolism and my hair was already getting smaller and tighter before that. I've attached a pic of Manetabolism supplement info.

It's a mystery because other than my current no heat challenge absolutely nothing has changed. And I've gone what free before without this drastic curl pattern change.

 

[SEMO]

I don't see anything in the manetabolism that would cause what you've experienced (though I see some things that could possibly cause a person's texture to become slightly looser - due to the sulfur/msm).

I'm not sure what could cause what you've experienced other than starting some medication or something else that may have a hormone effect.

 

[wyldcurlz]

Thanks SEMO. It's really frustrating. And scary.

 

[fluffyforever]

My dad's hair changed when he hit 40. He had a tight 4b texture like mine and now it's in the 2 range. My grandmother, his mom, had her hair change when she was only 13. It went from type 4 and black to type 3 and white. Sometimes it just happens.

 

[krikit96]

My dad's hair changed when he hit 40. He had a tight 4b texture like mine and now it's in the 2 range. My grandmother, his mom, had her hair change when she was only 13. It went from type 4 and black to type 3 and white. Sometimes it just happens.

I noticed that with my father too... one day I was sitting in the back seat, he and his wife picked us up after a car accident... I was looking at his hair and it was just pretty curly soft waves of hair... I never ever in my life saw his hair look like that before... but yes, as he got older, his hair changed. He definitely wasn't doing anything special or different besides grease/water/brush. He used head & shoulders or pert... so yeah, maybe your hair is changing with age? He wasn't too old either...

 

[wyldcurlz]

fluffyforever thanks for your reply. I've heard so many stories of curl patterns getting looser with age but I've never heard of a tighter curl pattern. And it happened in the last 3-6 months. I'm not sure exactly when it happened because I haven't been doing wash-n-go's.

krikit96 your example is like others I've heard too. Looser curls with age but never heard of such a drastic curl type change. If this is a permanent change, I'm gonna have to re-learn everything.

 

[krikit96]

Wow @ relearning everything... I haven't even figured it out for myself and it's been a mess trying! I can't imagine starting all over again!

Best of luck to you hun!

 

[tru4reele]

Yes my hair type changed to very tightly coiled after I grew it out and cut off damaged ends. I have also been taking supplements. It is thicker, longer and healthier but also harder to manage.

 

[wavezncurlz]

After I resorted to only flat ironing 2 times a year, my hair curled tighter too. The heat damage made it looser and easier to comb. I love that my hair is more ringlet-ly and less wavy now though.

 

[wyldcurlz]

Yes my hair type changed to very tightly coiled after I grew it out and cut off damaged ends. I have also been taking supplements. It is thicker, longer and healthier but also harder to manage.

tru4reele thank you so much!! I was beginning to think I was alone out here. I've gone long periods without flat ironing but I did have some damage (still do) at the ends. Maybe this is just my new normal. It makes me sad. I miss the curls I grew up with. But, if this is a permanent change, I'll just have to figure it out.