Change in Daughter's Hair Texture

Updated on June 26, 2012
J.R. asks from Coleman, MI
17 answers

My daughter once had silky, straight hair. Somewhere between 9 and 9 1/2 years old, her hair became very wavy, coarse, and frizzy. We have no idea why. My husband and I both have stick straight, smooth hair. I researched thyroid issues, but she doesn't fit the whole description, just the hair change. Has anyone else noticed this in their child? If so, what did you do? She's in ponytail mode most of the time because she hates her hair. A straightening perm is out of the question. I just wanted to see if there could be a medical or hormonal issue involved. Thanks for your input.

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your time in answering my question. I had a feeling it might be a hormonal thing, but since nothing like that had ever happened to anyone I know, I got a little nervous. My husband (her dad) had thyroid cancer, and his sisters have thyroid issues. Thanks again for all the great tips! We'll be sure to try them out.

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G.B.

answers from Boise on

Watch out for SOY, which mimics estrogen. It is in so many foods now, even ice cream and chewing gum, for gosh sakes. You need to watch labels. I fed my DD SOY formula as a baby- she is now 13, and has thyroid issues/arthritis. Chlorine and Floride, both found in tap water, are both estrogenic.

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C.S.

answers from Detroit on

Hi there. I have noticed it in my teenage son a few times over his 15 years and in my own hair. The girl that cuts my hair said it is not uncommon for the texture of hair to change many times over your life time. It can be caused by lots of different factors including hormones and the food you eat. She is getting older and aproaching the age for her body to start changing so it might just be because of that. I honestly wouldn't worry about it and hopefully it will change again soon. If not there are lots of hair products that can help control frizz. I use John Freida collection Secret Weapon and also Frizz-Ease depending on the day and my hairs behavior(haha it's a curly mess some days). They work really well to keep hair tamed and doesn't have all the harsh chemicals that a straigntening perm would have. Good luck!

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B.K.

answers from Chicago on

I have a good friend whose son woke up one day -- I believe he was 12 or 13 -- and his hair felt different to him. Over the course of a few weeks his hair went curly and coarse! Almost afro-like. It freaked them all out. I guess they found it had something to do with hormones changing it. His hair is still curly and he has gotten used to it. I hadn't heard of this happening to anyone else until I saw your post.

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A.R.

answers from New York on

I cant answer the hormonal question but I can tell you from personal experience on how to maintain her new hair! I have that wonderful wavy, curly, dry, frizzy hair since birth! If I didnt do the following I'd have a giant frizz ball on my head! I use the Aussie shampoo & conditioner w/ moisture (the purple bottle w/ the kangaroo in the commercials!) I then comb out the knots IN the shower while I still have the conditioner in my hair. After the shower I put a nickel size drop of either John Freida Frizz Ease or Biosilk Silk Therapy. If I'm gonna leave my hair curly I use a little more - like maybe a quarter size...if I want it straight I let my hair dry naturally then use a flat iron & it works awesome! I never blow dry my hair. This is the same routine I use for my 3 year old daughter & my 6 year old neice & my 15 year old neice. My 15 year old neices hair is the driest & nappiest & this is a life saber cause she doesn't have to get any chemical processes done to her hair! (We are spanish & all tend to have that dry frizzball nappy hair!) Also we use a $25 Conair flat iron that has 4 different temperature settings & it doesnt burn our hair! It actually gives it a silky shine & there was no need to buy those expensive $80 irons they sell @ the mall!! Hope I helped some!

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L.A.

answers from Dallas on

I'm a hairstylist. It is very common for hair to change color and texure as we age. Hair usually darkens, and fine childhood hair usually becomes more course and unruly as well.

Issues such as thyroid can dry out hair, but it often causes thining as well.

Also, some medications can cause hair changes. If she is on a special vitamin, supplement, medication, check with your doctor to see if this is a symptom. If you have hard, well water or drink lots of mineral water, it can cause hair courseness as well.

As for helpig her love her hair, eating a healthy, well rounded diet, drinking ,lots of water and protecting it from the sun are the basics. Use a good shampoo and moisturing conditioner daily. About once a week, you can use an additional conditioning mask. Towel dry softly and comb out from ends to roots. Blow dry it with an ion dryer and a flat brush, lightly curling under at the ends. Blast it with the cool shot at the end to smooth the hair cuticle down for a nice, shiney surface and to set the style.

Follow up with a small amount of gloss syrum.

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A.S.

answers from Miami on

i am in the some situation,my hair for about 29 years always straight ,shine,very healthy hair,but after a moved dawn to florida now it is terrible,my hair it is very oily(always was) the all hair .the hair it is not growing to fast anymore,like before always did in just 6 monthes was enough for grow a lot,now i have always to dry my hair with a dryer,other wise does not stay straight anymore with out just drying it with my hands only and the dryer,it is not like before anymore.if i air dry it stays frizzy ,kindy curly,but always different ways,i just dont know what it is going on,water maybe? or something else,i just dont know.someone knows what could be?please help me,seems very complicade,i just hate it.

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Not certain, but I would say hormones are a factor. My hair changed when I had the baby and I have heard that happening. No doubt about hormones changing there. I have always had straight hair and received some awkward waves after the baby. Be sure to bring up to the PED on your next annual visit. However, does seem as though her body may be preparing to make some changes.

A.H.

answers from Denver on

My sisters did the same thing. Hers was caused from too much straightening and curling also she wasnt using that much conditioner. But other then that i have no clue but good luck

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D.M.

answers from Detroit on

Hi J.----Can't remember what my hair did, by my youngest son, who did have loose curls when a baby, now has VERY curly hair. When he was in 7-8th grade, we noticed that he developed 'waves' in his hair. He was keeping it short, hence the waves. But when he quit participating in competitive sports, he started to let it grow longer and he now has hair so curly, it could definitely be called an afro. I'm sure it was his hormones. But we do have curly hair in the family. His older sister has had ringlets all of her life. She used to hate it. Can't say she loves it because she is unwilling to learn to work with it, but it looks good. Most people marvel at it and share that they have to pay big bucks to have anything other than stick straight hair.

So, I would say, yes, it is hormones, but a problem, no.

Find a good stylist that knows how to work with curly hair. Your daughter will, in time, learn to deal with it. She has no choice. So as soon as she can embrace it and learn how to care for it, she'll do just fine. Good luck. D.

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M.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

This is likely an early puberty. Hormonal changes can cause hair changes. During pregnancy my hair got very wavy and unruly, normally I wear it very short, but it was wanting to stick out on the sides and just looked a mess, nothing seemed to fix it. Now that the baby is born my hair is back to normal.

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A.M.

answers from Detroit on

I think it's just hormones, much like how my friends hair went from straight to curly when she got pregnant and stayed that way.

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K.R.

answers from Detroit on

hi J., my name is K.. i had hair like your daughter when i was her age. when i started through puberty, it began to change. i ended up with naturally curly hair! it is a pain in the but on humid days, but can be blow dried straight. you would just need to find a product that she can put on her hair to help tame the frizz. still to this day, on humid days, my hair is in a ponytail too. or she could try out the curly side of things with some gel! hope this helps:)

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

#1 important fact: do NOT make a big deal out of this. As long as you have ruled out any health issues (& please be careful not to scare your daughter or make her feel "different" than you).....then leave it alone!

Find products which will aid her in styling/controlling her hair .....& most importantly, keeping it healthy. I truly advise not chemically treating it!

Change can be good, change is a part of life. Be thankful that her hair is not thinning, not balding.....nor that the hair is changing due to serious health issues, such as the side effects of chemo. My vote is with the other moms who think this is related to hormones, & along with those raging hormones.....it's very easy to adversely affect that all-important self-esteem! Please, please be very careful. Peace.

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K.D.

answers from Detroit on

I would have to say it's probably due to the hormones. I used to have super straight hair and when I got pregnant it turned curly-& stayed that way! I now use a CHI flat iron & love love it! (I tried the cheaper ones & they ripped my hair out-definately worth the small investment-& you are not putting chemicals on your head either).

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J.S.

answers from San Antonio on

It is normal for our hair to change about 4 to 5 times throughout our lives. Just use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner on her hair to keep it moisturized. This will cut down on the frizz. Also there are many frizz control products on the market. But healthy hair starts with a healthy diet. Hair is the last place to recieve nutrients it needs. If you arent giving your body enough nutrients then the hair is the one who loses out.

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C.H.

answers from Daytona Beach on

The very same thing happened to my daughter when she was 10-12 age range. Her hair went from being fly away fine to very course and wavy. It stayed the same even after she just gave birth to her daughter at age 24. Now she professionally straightens it. She never had hormone or thyroid issues, out of the norm.

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C.H.

answers from Detroit on

I agree with the puberty answers. I had straight hair as a kid and at puberty it got really really curly. When I had kids it went straight again but I still have some frizz. I feel for her because I always hated my curly hair too. I started straightening it when I was 20 or so. Before that I just left it long and never blow dried it. There are products she can use to help with the frizz. John Frieda frizz serum helps and I'm sure there are others.

Also check out the curly girl method. My friend swears by it and I've noticed that I don't need product to control the frizz in my hair since doing this:
http://www.wikihow.com/Follow-the-Curly-Girl-Method-for-C...

and if you look around on the site you can find the reviews for the best sulfate and silicone free products:
http://www.naturallycurly.com/

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