Hair texture changes? Hyper or hypo?

[Tomchr]

What condition(s) makes hair go:

a) from wavy/curly to straight?

b) darker at the back of your neck?

c) grey/blonde -> brazzy/orange?

Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism? Possibly other conditions?

[FAB-jellybean]

Good question Tomchr . I really don't know although my mum tells me that I had quite curly hair before having flu as a child of 6, during which I lost a lot of hair and what remained became poker straight for a while. Over time after I recovered it grew back in wavy/curly again. I do notice now that my hair becomes much more dry and frizzy (as well as falling out in handfuls) when I'm undermedicated (hypothyroid). Can't comment about being hyperthyroid.

[Tomchr in reply to FAB-jellybean]

So, from wavy/curly → straight due to becoming hypo. What about overall strand thickness? Have you noticed hair strands becoming thinner or thicker, when hypo or medicated?

[FAB-jellybean in reply to Tomchr]

Can't say my hair became straight due to hypo (only after that illness as a child, 25 years before being diagnosed as hypo) and haven't noticed any difference in hair strand thickness at all. Just the moisture levels.

[arTistapple]

I think weird and not so wonderful things go wrong with hair for hypothyroidism anyway. Mine has gone from poker straight to almost frizzy (unfortunately left with straight bits as well as frizzy). Not delightful. Darker at the back of my neck though!

[Tomchr in reply to arTistapple]

It seems that curly/wavy hair changes to straight due to hypothyroidism. Did your hair at the back become darker before medication or after?

[arTistapple in reply to Tomchr]

I would say before medication but about two years on, still very dark - almost black. Otherwise it’s turning white. It’s the texture that I can’t get used to and I used to be blonde. However I am grateful I have got it!

[Tomchr in reply to arTistapple]

What about nails changes? Did you notice changes before medication when hypo and after treatment? My nails have gone from hard and straight to soft and curving downwards.

[arTistapple in reply to Tomchr]

I lost all my toenails before diagnosis. Thankfully grown back. Look fine but are a little fragile. Finger nails look better but I am aware they too are fragile. This is 18 months since diagnosis/medication. Flexitol at all opportunities helps.

[twinkiegal]

Growing up my hair was very straight and medium brown. After I had my first child 22 years ago, it turned quite dark, almost black. I was diagnosed with Graves in 2008. Whenever my levels are hyper, my hair gets VERY dry and brittle but doesn't fall out. After time on ATMs, and my levels start to go anywhere hypo, I lose hair. The first couple times I thought it was the ATM pills but it didn't really match with the timing because it would usually be 1-2 years after I started taking them (I have always refused RAI and have been on and off PTU and methimazole since 2008). I then realized it was when my T3 went low is when I would lose hair. After I lost a lot of hair in about 2015, it all grew back grey and some brown, but very curly! It was great. That lasted a couple of years. Now it's back to being straight again. And also still a brown and grey mix. I do have a couple of obvious grey streaks in my hair as well. Most of the grey is scattered around but I have two spots where there is about inch circle of all grey hair. People think I streaked it on purpose! My levels have been good for a couple years now and my hair is finally healthy again.

[Tomchr in reply to twinkiegal]

What about overall strand thickness? Have you noticed hair strands becoming thinner or thicker while your level were hyper vs hypo?

[twinkiegal in reply to Tomchr]

I never noticed a difference in the thickness...

[Tomchr in reply to twinkiegal]

What about nails changes? Did you notice changes before medication when hyper and after treatment? My nails have gone from hard and straight to soft and curving downwards.

[Hidden in reply to Tomchr]

Curving down nails can be a symptom of low iron. Have you had an iron panel done recently?

[twinkiegal in reply to Tomchr]

Mine got brittle when I was hyper and grew really fast.

[Joyya in reply to twinkiegal]

Wow! I had stick straight hair growing up. Then it became wavy / frizzy and was the way it was my whole life UNTIL (in retrospect) I began to develop hypothyroid symptoms a decade ago (along with TSH on the borderline of over). No other tests, of course 😥. Then I lost 1/2 my hair — despite being post-menopausal and eating very well. I was tired, and asked for an iron panel and "thyroid test", which my MD refused, so I came back on his day off and asked the locum. I got the tests, and the results showed low ferritin, low iron saturation, high TIBC and TSH was "still within range". I started myself on heme polypeptide and over time, my hair grew back but curly! I have since worn it curly. I became very ill over the past year and in June was pretty sure I had hypothyroidism. To make a long story short, after being diagnosed severe hypothyroid, I began on medication (first NDT, then T4/T3 mix) and 3 months later, lost 1/2 my hair due to telogen effluvium as the result of being l hypothyroid. My hair is starting to grow back now that my thyroid hormones have been optimized and I am treating nutrient deficiency secondary to hypothyroidism. The new hairs look straight! I am wondering if I will loose my "curly girl" locks, but am glad to have HAIR!