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curls and birth control pills

Hello all,
I'm new to the forum, though I've been lurking around this website for quite some time. Long story short, I'm having a minor hair crisis. My hair went from stick straight to thick, coarse, curly (3a type) hair during puberty. I am now 21 years old and started on birth control pills a year ago, as I started having painful periods during college. Over the past year, I've noticed my that my curls have gotten looser and looser. Now I have no idea what kind of mood my hair will be in from day to day. It certainly has body/wave to it, but now I get simple loose waves, if I'm lucky. I miss my curls desperately. I recently switched to a low estrogen pill (Ortho tri cyclen Lo) from Yasmin, and I am hoping to see some some of my thick curls return.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice? Will my doctor think I'm crazy for even bringing this to her attention? I know hormonal changes can have a big effect on hair texture, but I am really hoping to get my signature curls back.
I'm new to the forum, though I've been lurking around this website for quite some time. Long story short, I'm having a minor hair crisis. My hair went from stick straight to thick, coarse, curly (3a type) hair during puberty. I am now 21 years old and started on birth control pills a year ago, as I started having painful periods during college. Over the past year, I've noticed my that my curls have gotten looser and looser. Now I have no idea what kind of mood my hair will be in from day to day. It certainly has body/wave to it, but now I get simple loose waves, if I'm lucky. I miss my curls desperately. I recently switched to a low estrogen pill (Ortho tri cyclen Lo) from Yasmin, and I am hoping to see some some of my thick curls return.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice? Will my doctor think I'm crazy for even bringing this to her attention? I know hormonal changes can have a big effect on hair texture, but I am really hoping to get my signature curls back.
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Comments
Sorry I don't have anything helpful, except once I was off the curls came back with a vengeance.
I don't think a decent doctor would think this is a silly thing to bring up. She may not have a solution if you want to stay on the pill, but she may be able to at least offer validation that it is something people mention. (This is pure speculation, IANAD and I do not know.)
And your theory totally makes sense. My mom's always told me that her aunt's curls completely disappeared with all 3 of her pregnancies and very simply, the pill tricks your body into thinking its pregnant. Her hair just went stick straight, but as soon as she delivered, her curls came back. Personally, I like my curls looser, so the pill is a blessing for me I guess, in more ways than one.
My HG: Sabino Lok & Blok
Through the years I have relaxed my hair straight twice...BIG mistake!! But through it all I've learned to embrace and love them. Now, to my dismay, my curls have slowly started to dissapear. I had considered it being my birth control (I recently switched to the NuvaRing due to my Endometriosis). Looking back now I realize that every time I go on birth control my curls fade. This last change has caused me quite the doozy. I miss my curls so much and have tried EVERYTHING to get them back.
I was so excited to see this posting cause I know for sure that it's not just me. I'm gonna take the brave step and go BC free as of today. If my Endo gets bad enough I'll have to go back on it but I desperately want my curls back :-\ I'm kinda excited to get my ringlets back......fingers crossed.
rockin' to the tune of her own beat...
Scheduled dosing would be taking the medicine before the onset of your period, and then following up every 6-8 hours as advised as prophylaxis to the pain, instead of trying to abort it. It's actually becoming more standard treatment now, and it works well (from what we are told).
Just something to keep in mind if you ever determine you no longer want to stay on OCPs.
But, speaking from personal experience, I have been on Yaz and did notice my hair would fall out in chunks. I have also been on ortho-low almost all of high school and I thought it was a much nicer combination of hormones in contrast to Yaz.
Keep us updated!
The Ortho tri cyclen Lo seems much better than Yasmin, though.
So the point of all this blabbing is that yes, my hair definitely relaxed on the pill, but it was NOTHING compared to what I went through after I gave birth! During pregnancy it relaxed a tiny bit, but about 4 months after giving birth I went from 3c to 2a practically over night. It was devastating, but thankfully it began growing in 3b about two months later. I chopped the ends off a few months later and am now growing it back out.
Hormones are crazy! I hope you get your curls back!!
What I like
LLL Green Tea shampoo
JC CCSS, Biotera gel, HETT mousse, GF curl shaping spray gel
I tried that and it failed so miserably. If it works more power to ya! The pill was a lifesaver for me. And sometimes its trying different pills to find the one that does everything well. Ortho Tri-Cyclen was also miserable I put on a ton of weight, and then switched to Ortho 1/35 a 28 day pill. Ah the wonders of hormones.. My acne stayed clear, my camps went by the wayside, no weight gain and it actually did nice things for my hair. The curl on my head is by sybil, depends on the day on how late I'm running so I won't really go there.
I also take Lexapro 20mg daily for chronic depression, I've been through a bunch of this class of meds and this is my last stop since its the only one that doesn't tear up my stomach or make me gain a ton of weight, well it does but it is slower than the others so I can fight it. But it does make my hair almost fall out or shed way more that it does on its own. The pill put a stop to that for me too. Weird.
What I am trying to say is, don't be afraid to say "Can we try something else? Since this one is not working for me." You can always go back or try another if you don't like what its doing for you.
Current styling products:
Biolage Gelee or BRHG on top of
KCKT as a leave in or CK when humid
or just Joiwhip alone for moderate weather conditions
I, too, have lost my beautiful curls due to messing around with BCPs. I've been on and off, and noticed (regardless of what the pill does to my hair) when I go off I get a MASSIVE shed that is completely devistating. So I end up going back on it to stop the fallout. I really want to get off it since I think it's really make my hair dry, thin, fragile, and straight (but not in a good way...just krinkly) - but I can't endure another shed. Any suggestions?!?
Thanks,
A.
I am hoping my pre-pill hair comes back. Hormonal birth control does change your body. I actually posted an album showing the changes in my hair (in my sig, the one called hair diary). Talk to your doctor, and if he/she brushes you off, find a new one. I was brushed off many years ago when I brought this up and never followed up. I now wish I had.
http://public.fotki.com/jojo2454/hair-diary/
PW: redcurl
Shameless self-promotion: I make artisan silver jewelry - check out my website
Thank you for taking the time to tell me your story. Your advice is comforting and helpful! I'm glad you're finding solutions for yourself. I definitely know what it's like to be brushed off by doctors. I've been struggling with this problem for 7 years!
Wishing you good hair days!
A.
Then I found that they did studies on women and Niacin. They gave women 100mg of Niacin 10 days before their period started and somewhere around 90% of the women's cramping were reduced.
I started taking Niacin 3 months ago and I can say it has been my life saver. I take it 12 days before I am due for my next period. It worked immediately. I only have to take around 200mg of advil and I was good to go! I also take it with Evening Primrose Oil and I make sure I get enough Vitamin C.
If you do decide to try Niacin talk to your Dr first. Added bonus: Niacin stimulates blood circulation and helps hair growth!
The only other thing I have found to work for me is potent THC in liquid form but that's not legal here in Arizona so I don't use it.
CG: May 18, 2008
Natural: Oct 2007
Products:
Qhemet's O&H
Giovanni SS & TT
NG
Flaxseed Gel!
Honey
Henna
Fenugreek
Mango
Banned: Suave, VO5, Excessive Oils
I am struggling with stopping BC pills and hair loss. I have been off of them for about 2 months and my hair is falling out pretty significantly. I used to have alot of hair but over the years and now this, it is about 1/4 of what it used to be. I am trying to be patient and not go back on the pill. Can someone PLEASE tell me if this madness will stop and if my hair will possibly thicken back up? Thanks so much...
Im currently on 'the pill' and I was considering coming off it soon. Is it a general problem that hair can fall out when you come off the pill?
Using VO5 Moisture Milks Passion Fruit Smoothie for co-washing and conditioning.
Using Boots curl creme
Considering going Mod-CG and using H&S once a week to prevent build up, flakes and other nastys.:confused3:
I was put on Loestrin 1/20FE and though many people have issues with hair loss on this, I never saw a change. My curl is way more predictable, and my hair much softer since going on the pill.
Shampoo: Giovanni 50:50
Conditioners - CJ Strengthening, CJ Beauticurls Argan and Olive Oil, CJ Rehab, CJ Curl Fix
Leave-in: CJ Smoothing
Deep Conditioner: CJ Hibiscus and Banana Deep Fix
Stylers - Tigi Curls Rock Amplifier, AG:Recoil, KCCC, Mop-C Curling Cream, Paul Mitchell Sculpting foam
I have not noticed any difference in my curls.
ETA: Oh, and my facial hair has dramatically decreased since starting it.
Wow, you basically just described me in that post! I was on Yasmin for almost a year and then Yaz for a couple of months, and it totally changed my hair! It made the curl a lot looser, and also changed the texture to more coarse. I've been off the pill for about a year now, and my natural curl and texture still don't seem to be back. Unfortunately that means that I am getting horrible menstrual cramps again, but honestly all of the other side effects were just too much for me.
I don't think your doctor would think you are crazy at all, unless you have a bad/uncaring doctor. My obgyn listened to all my concerns and told me to try Loestrin 24, but I'm too scared to try it so far, lol. As far as your hair, I have no idea what kind of advice to give you. Just thought I'd let you know that there is someone else out there with the same problems! I guess just talk to your doctor, maybe she will have a recommendation or something.
Current product favorites
Cleansers: Giovanni TTTT shampoo, Deva No-Poo, Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing Conditioner
Conditioners: Tigi Moisture Maniac, Yes to Cucumbers, GVP Conditioning Balm, AOHR
Stylers/Gels: KCCC, SS CEJ and FHG, AOMM, BRHG, LA Looks Sport Gel, Lustrasilk (winter), Pink Boots (winter)
Henna glosses!
Semi-CG: No sulfates or 'cones; still unsure about proteins.
HG's: AOHR and MOP-C for sure! Still searching for the perfect gel. :tongue5:
Loving the Curl-Ease towel! :smurfin:
For EmilyJ - Yaz and Yasmin have the same hormones, but in different amounts. You can google each one and compare. I think that Yasmin is higher in the estrogen-type horomone. Please double check.
Caution on the tri-phasic pills: with the dose of hormones changing so frequently, your may get moody. I had a hard time with the ortho tricyclen.
Emilyj, sent you a PM... might have something that could help
HATE: plopping, FOTE on wet hair, BRHG