Bad Hair Day

[piglette]

I got this ad today with some ideas for products that might possibly help with the side effects of some of the medications we take on our hair. I am not sure how good or useless they all are, but thought they may be of interest, as a trial.

lookfantastic.com/health-be...

[Tiggy70]

Thanks for the heads up on these products. I have a bathroom cupboard full of different shampoos/leave in conditioners/hair masks etc. but I’m still open to try new things. Not sure if we’re allowed to advertise on the forum but I’ve found Nexxus shampoo and conditioner has really improved my hair texture🌸. For those in the UK I get mine in Boots.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tiggy70]

Anyone can say "this worked for me" ...

[Tiggy70 in reply to PMRpro]

That’s true but to be honest I’d try just about anything to improve my hair texture. Pre PMR my hair was always my crowning glory and having a haystack on my head now just adds to my already anxious state of mind with this disease. It’s just one more thing to deal with.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tiggy70]

No - I meant in the sense you mentioned about advertising. If it worked for you, you can say that. Blatant advertising isn't allowed.

Mine is no longer smooth or soft and I would like that - but I certainly don't need to look thicker!!!!! I like my shining white curls and get loads of compliments about them. One guy told me I looked like the Christkindl so I took it as it was meant

alamy.com/stock-photo-chris...

[Tiggy70 in reply to PMRpro]

sorry, I took your response the wrong way. Shining white curls sounds wonderful. I have white hair too and it’s now curly at the nape of my neck but not anywhere else. I’d like to go shorter but the pred induced hamster cheeks prevent me from doing this!🌸

[Stills in reply to PMRpro]

Just how I imagined you 😉

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Stills]

The other descriptor is Crystal Tipps - at least it isn't Alistair! Or purple ...

[Stills in reply to PMRpro]

I’m in the style of Worzel Gummage at the moment, I think it’s the omeprazole

[piglette in reply to Stills]

That sounds very up market!

[MamaBeagle in reply to PMRpro]

Wow, I'd take that as a compliment!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MamaBeagle]

I did!

[MamaBeagle in reply to PMRpro]

I'll now recognise you now should we ever meet!

[autumnlass]

I too have a trunk load of shampoos and conditioners - I’m not sure whether any of these hair products deliver the magic bullet. I was told by a hairdresser some while ago that the ‘thickening’ shampoos and conditioned makes the hair shaft swell on contact with the hair washing process giving the illusion that the hair looks thicker when it’s dry… I think she could be right, and it certainly gave me more confidence when I first started on Pred. Hair still sheds but normal loss … I think folic acid helps stop shed too being on MTX … but that’s personal opinion.

[Missy3134 in reply to autumnlass]

I am also on Methotrexate and folic acid in addition to Pred. My doctor increased my dose of folic acid from 1 mg to 2 mg when I complained of hair loss. I also purchased shampoo and conditioner for hair loss. My hair stopped shedding.

[autumnlass in reply to Missy3134]

I’m really glad for you Missy3134 …..hair shedding is very distressing. My post yesterday was rather bleak about all hair products which haven’t worked, so I’m glad you have one which works!

My Rheumy prescribed 5 mg daily x 6 (excepting MTX day) of Folic Acid. I think that has helped too. All the best to you. 🍀😀

[piglette]

I have curly brown hair, I got the curls from the steroids and the colour from a bottle full of brown stuff!

[Flutterbies57 in reply to piglette]

😂😅🤣

[Billiebobdog]

Well I managed to stop it falling out with a Biotin shampoo but I hate my hair these days, my wavy hair is now basically unruly, slightest damp weather and it goes mad, it just isn’t sensible anymore, and it was never that brilliant it’s just so much worse

I changed hairdressers recently (post COVID changing) first one was just wrong, latest one decided I needed to embrace my curly hair - I’ve never had curly hair - not a good look for me and not curly, just unruly

I’m now trying to use smoothing shampoos to get some control!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Billiebobdog]

"slightest damp weather and it goes mad"

Ah yes - those of us with life-time curly hair know that! And be grateful you have someone who tells you to embrace it - they probably do know how to deal with it. You have to go with it, you cannot impose your will on it and a hairdresser who knows that is worth their weight in gold. I have sacked many for trying to do their thing, some tried it from the start, others fell into bad ways! Once it is well cut it will behave better but it takes time to get the wrong cut out.

[Flutterbies57 in reply to PMRpro]

I am starting to change my mind about this . I have always had wavy hair , but recently I got the wrong cut at the time when the super curl kicked in . It looked ridiculous the second time around , just like large curlers had just been taken out and never combed . Some curled up , some down , no consistency . I have been determined to pose my will on it ! Every single day with the hairdryer! I didn’t think I had a chance of making a change , but I think I am slightly winning . I am going to try a couple of products mentioned on here tho , that have worked for others .

[autumnlass in reply to Billiebobdog]

Tresemmé do a keratin smooth range shampoo conditioner and a heat protect spray which controls frizz and damp for 72 hours. They’re not expensive either and smell is not noticeable. I use it and find it works pretty well really. I’ve had FRIZZ city all my life. In teen years it was dense and so frizzy to tears for me, as it was so uncool in the 1960’s… now in my ‘70’s it’s fine frizz … you gotta laugh 🤣🤣

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to autumnlass]

With you re the 1960s - I was desperate for hair like Jean Shrimpton, the actress & model -

“ not a cat’s chance in hell” comes to mind!

Although did have the length….😉

JS

[autumnlass in reply to DorsetLady]

She was gorgeous wasnt she! Celia Hammond was another model at the same time .. she was lovely too. I remember seeing her in a London shop when about 20! Happy Days! 🌺

[Stills]

thanks for sharing, since an episode in February I’ve been having cancer investigations and my hair has turned to straw and sheds much more. I will take a look.

[piglette in reply to Stills]

Straw is a very good description of how my hair looked and felt.

[Yellow-dog]

I’m so jealous of all you people who have curly hair. I wish meds would do that for me!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Yellow-dog]

It can be a very mixed blessing!

[piglette in reply to Yellow-dog]

I think it is actually caused by damage to the hair follicles, although I always wanted curly hair. Now my hair has improved since I have got to a lower dose I really like it anyway!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to piglette]

It not damaged as such -it’s the angle of the follicles.

“If the follicle angles into the dermis this will lead to a curve which will curl as it grows. It's because of this curving that curly hair generally is drier than straight hair as the curving makes it more difficult for sebum to travel the length of the hair.”

[piglette in reply to DorsetLady]

It seems that hormones, androgens, are what causes the changes to the hair follicles. I suppose they are not damaged as such but they are changed!!

‘The main hormones that determine the nature of your hair follicles are Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine, androgens and insulin. A lack of Thyroxine and Triiodothyronine can make hair feel dry and brittle. Whereas an increase in androgens are more closely connected to affecting shape. A lack of insulin, on the other hand, is often connected to unwanted hair loss. All of these hormones are controlled by different regulators, and shifts in those levels cause changes throughout the body. ‘

[autumnlass in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks Mum and Dad … 🤣🤣🤣 .. not fair! Both my siblings have lovely straight hair..

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to autumnlass]

All us kids took after my dad - had a lovely head of curly hair…. so do both my children…. and my daughter’s sons…. some strong genes there!

[autumnlass in reply to DorsetLady]

I took after my dad … his hair nearly took off in photos of him as a young man. An enormous thatch. He went into RAF and the cap flattened it in war years and it straightened! Both my kids have lovely hair - wavy and easy to tame!

[Hulotsholiday]

I’ve always believed that hair is effectively dead and the beauty and health(s)care industry has been clever in finding ways to market ‘treatments’. I’m sure that some may improve the look, feel texture of hair by coating it or whatever, but the key to hair health is diet and lifestyle.

I guess most of us with PMR try to follow sensible eating habits and I think that’s more likely to help maintain good hair growth and condition. Keep the follicles nourished much like skin. Avoid chlorine, sun etc…

[piglette in reply to Hulotsholiday]

My hair changed totally with steroids, my hair turned into a haystack. I had straight, slightly greasy hair, it turned into a curly, very dry haystack. Diet and lifestyle did not come into the picture.

[Jackoh]

Thanks Piglette. Good reference point. Mine has gone wavy/ curly too but fortunately I like it. To improve the condition of my hair my hairdresser has been using Olaplex which I’ve now bought the shampoo and conditioner for home. It’s certainly improved the shine and texture of my hair. 💐

[AshPen9 in reply to Jackoh]

Olaplex is great, really makes a difference. I use the leave in conditioner (number 6) and the oil (number 7).

[Jackoh in reply to AshPen9]

👍