My hair was once long, thick, and wavy.  If only I had a clue how to style it then, haha.  Over the years it has changed to being fairly thin, oily, and much finer than before.  It's still healthy - luckily - though I do get random bouts of dandruff as well, which is something else I never really struggled with before.

All of these changes happened so gradually... I wasn't really aware of what was going on.   Recently I was looking at old photos of myself while contemplating a hair change.  The massive changes in my hair from my teen years to now (mid-20's) was ... well, shocking!  The only things I had actually DONE to my hair in that time was color it a few times a year.  I rarely use products, heat, or anything damaging - so what in the world could have happened?

The lush locks in my past were a distant memory and I really had no idea what could have happened to them... so I started to do some research.  I was shocked to find that birth control pills have been linked to hair loss (and my hair thinness has reached fairly epic proportions).   I personally was put on them as a teenager for medical reasons, and have been on them for over 10 years now.   I don't like it, but there's not really an alternative. Over the years, I've been on many different types of pills, and even the patch for a short time. Each one has it's own side effects, not to mention my body itself and my life have changed over the years and different things have gone on with them.  What I found when I did some specific research on BC and hair loss was the following: The high androgen birth control pills I've been prescribed over the last few years accelerated this process that likely began with other androgen inclusive pills I've taken over the years. In fact, the switching types has likely made it worse (interrupting and altering the growth cycle over and over) and going off of it wouldn't help either (again it would likely accelerate the process for a while).

So just in case you know someone on birth control too, I'd urge you to tell them to inform themselves about the contents of what they take, the possible side effects, and what they can ask for. They also need to know it takes 3-6 months to adjust to a new pill and the new hormone cycle. So it's important not to judge a pill by the first month or even the second on it, which is hard to do.

Here's some resources I found and printed and took with me to the doctor this time in order to get a more informed birth control prescription. I've been put on Ortho-TriCyclen Lo, which is OTC with less estrogen. One of the lowest androgen options out there. 6 months from now we'll have to see what my hair looks like! :) If not, it's on to Yasmin (which has anti-androgen properties) for me.

American Hair Loss Association & Birth Control Pills
Different Types, Breakdowns, and Best Uses of Birth Control Pills
Progestin & Androgen Activity in Birth Control Pills

As for my current hair: Aren't I lucky that skinny headbands and adorable short haircuts are so in?  I cut my hair off once I realized what was going on - and it looks and behaves so much better.  I've learned to handle the oiliness (put shampoo on it dry, don't use many products, blow dry it occasionally) too. 

I really just wanted to share some notes from my life that might make someone else happy or informed!

I love my ipod.  It was a gift, and it is a bit on the large side (80gig video model), but after I got a cute little $5 sleeve (translucent white) for it and an armband to hold it while I work out - my ipod and I were inseparable.  

Sadly though we've had to shed a tear when I hopped in the car and had to turn to the radio and CD's for my tunes.   My poor ipod playlists and I were also forced to be apart while I took a shower, leaving me to sing whatever horrible thing happened to be running through my head without backup.  No wonder my cats were running when I headed in there in the morning!  Finally there were those saddest of the sad moments when I would wake up in the morning to the horrifying local radio station....

Times have finally changed now!! I've found ways to keep my ipod with me EVERYWHERE and I couldn't be happier.  For me - music really has the power to alter my mood.   So it's important that I be in control of just HOW that mood alteration goes!  :)

Here are some of the awesome things I got for Christmas or purchased for myself that have been changing my life - song by song.

• iHome Alarm Clock for iPod : In fact this week it's been all about waking up to Ingrid Michaelson's Be Ok.  That song almost turns me into a morning person. (Gift)
• PillowSonic Stereo Pillow Speaker: I have a lot of trouble sleeping sometimes, but being able to plug this little puppy into either my ipod or the headphone jack on my iHome Alarm Clock has helped a lot.  I put some cool sound therapy stuff on there that sometimes makes all the difference. (Reccomended by a doctor)
• iHome Portable Speaker: This one lives in the bathroom, or on the porch when I read for class in the sun, or in the kitchen when I cook... well basically by my side all over the house.  Very nice quality for such a small and inexpensive set. (Gift)
• Griffin iTrip Roadtrip: This makes me able to play my ipod over my radio (I can't do it through any other method because my car is old and lacking amenities and options for any other method.) anytime, anywhere.  It also charges it up so it's ready for me to cart it off to the gym, the shower, or anywhere else I'm going.  (Purchase)

So this is my token Singles Appreciation Day or Valentine's Day post (pick your poison): I love my ipod, and I'm not afraid to shout about it!

(I thought I'd never do the blogazine thing, but I wanted to share just in case I could help turn someone else's mood around too.  :D )