Shaving my head and vegan?

Question

I'm shaving my head for Shear Hope soon. I've been on and off vegetarian ever since I was little, but I have been a committed vegan for about a year now. I'm not sure if I'm getting all the vitamins and minerals that I need, and I'm horrible with remembering to take my supplements (even though people insist that I don't need them, I just like to be safe). I take great pride in my hair, it's gorgeous. Long and thick. This is why I'm giving it to someone who is less fortunate than I, but I'm worried about it growing back thinner because I'm lacking vitamins. :[ Can this happen? And what should I be taking more of as my hair grows back in to make sure it doesn't? Also, my mother told me that my hair might grow back in curly. It's naturally straight now. Is this possible?

Answer 1

Who knows what will happen with your hair? It might change, it might not. If it does, then it already has changed but you haven't noticed because of the way new growth blends with old growth.

Your hair certainly could grow in curly. The average person's hair changes at least once or twice during their life. (I used to have thick, wavy hair. Now it's soft and fine and curly. The changes happened probably due to hormonal changes that occurred during puberty.)

I have shaved my head before and it didn't grow in any differently than it was before I shaved it. Your hair won't just randomly change type because you cut it. The hair itself is dead. Its texture and type is dictated by the roots, which are not effected by cutting.

Answer 2

I've done the buzz cut on my hair a dozen times with no bad effects. If anything some people say that shaving makes it come back thicker.  I wish shaving did make it come back curlier.  

Answer 3

If your hair is straight that means you have a circular follicle.  Unless you've had cancer, your follicles don't change shape.  Your hair will be fine.  Stop worrying.  As a vegan hairdresser, I promise your hair will grow back just fine.

Answer 4

You're a great person! I think your hair won't have any problem growing back.  

Answer 5

wrong category

Answer 6

If you've been vegan for a year, a lot of that length you're cutting off was grown as a vegan.  If it were going to grown back in thinner, you'd have noticed that already... has your hair been falling out?  If not, why would you be worrying about it starting now, a year later?

Your mother's theory makes no sense.  Whether your hair is straight or curly depends on the shape of your hair follicles.  Cutting or shaving your hair doesn't affect the shape of the hair follicles under the skin.

Answer 7

This is a question you need to answer yourself. Nobody here can answer it for you. You probably will best answer to a person whose answer sounds good, but none of us know what you do everyday, so we can't answer.

Sorry if that was a little harsh.

-L

Answer 8

dont SHAVE your hair!!!

Cut some of it but dont SHAVE it all of

=0

Answer 9

you will regrow as many hairs as you have hair follicles and cutting your hair won't change that.  You say your hair is great now and you sound like you have never had a hair cut before.  shaving your head is no different.  Sweet that you are donating hair.  Here in Rochester Minnesota, shops do a thing called locks of Love so if your hair is very long and you have at least 10 inches cut off, they will do the cut for free if you donate those 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love which makes wigs for cancer patients.  You also don't have to shave your head to donate the hair.  The hair donated needs to be long lengths so it will be cut off smoothly.  You don't need to shave your head after that, just get a short haircut.

Answer 10

That is awesome what you plan on doing. Just make sure you are getting your nutrients! Here is a good vegan nutrition article:

http://veganpeace.blogspot.com/2008/02/v...

And make sure you physically take care of yourself as well like exercise and sleep right, and not stress out, all these can factor in overall health.

Answer 11

Don't worry. I shaved my head and it's growing back fine and very quickly! I was already a curly head though!

Answer 12

First of all, I think what you're doing is awesome. I hear about so many people who donate to Locks of Love, and they're a horrible organization for reasons I won't get into now. Shear Hope is an awesome alternative, and they help so many more people.

Secondly, I don't think you have to worry. If you were lacking important vitamins, you'd be feeling it elsewhere. Unless you feel sluggish, weak, or are severely underweight, you should be doing fine. :]

Answer 13

You described your hair as gorgeous, long and thick. These are indicators of good health. If you are enjoying a varied diet there is no need to worry about lacking vitamins.

Reducing your stress is probably the most effective thing you can do to improve the condition of your hair because stress depletes nutrient levels, in turn making your hair dull and more brittle.  

Being vegan doesn't mean lacking nutrients. Keep eating what you are eating, try to remember to take your multivitamin everyday and don't worry.

Oh- and I think shaving your head for a good cause is a very kindhearted thing to do! :)

Answer 14

Don't do it!

Answer 15

It is great that you want to donate your hair but you don't need to shave it.  You can just cut it really short.  You have to donate at least nine inches.  I am vegan too.  You have to make sure that you are getting enough protein and calcium.  B-12 is very important.  I get enough of eat because I drink Rice Dream rice milk which has B-12 in it.  You shouldn't be a vegan unless you can be healthy.  Your hair could grow back curly.  It's possible.  Just eat right and take vitamins if you think that you aren't getting enough nutrients.  I drink protein shakes to supplement my diet.  I got Vegan protein powder at the Vitamin Shoppe.  I'm sure that GNC would have it too.