Howdy! I am crossing over from the newbies forum, so please forgive me if I ask too basic a question.

Now that the helpful people here have set my misguided Atkins aright, I am noticing my hair and skin are MUCH oilier than nomal. Am I out of my mind, which is also plausible, or has anyone else noticed similar changes?

On the plus side, my nails are super!

Any ideas on how to keep my hair looking clean for at least 10 hours?

Thanks much!

I noticed after a month or so without eating sugar and high carbs my skin cleared up. I dont have dry skin now but it's not oily at all. This winter after about 6 months on Atkins I noticed my hair was softer and not brittle as it use to be. Hair and nails take a months to grow, I would not think there would be much of a change with them after a few weeks on Atkins.

Edoggiee,
May I ask if you live in a cold climate? Maybe that makes a difference?

My hair and nails grow like weeds, so maybe I am seeing some changes on a faster scale? Not sure, just looking for ideas.

Re: hair: If your diet was previously low-fat, I wouldn't be surprised that it was no longer dried out. Better oil production at the scalp level is distributed to the whole hair shaft if you brush. Unable to go 10 hours without a shampoo ... well, that seems to be an extreme reaction. For me, this way of eating has just gotten my hair closer to normal. ... on the other hand, I'm old as dirt and pour bunches of toxic chemicals on it to achieve an unnatural color, so any little bit of moisture is a plus.

Nails should be better over time. With the increase in essential fatty acids and good protein intake, they should be wonderful in time. Mine have been. As Ed mentions, however, changes in nails usually take some months to be visible.

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Well, I am overdue for a good color. I like your color, Maggie (You don't look as old as dirt, BTW). Can I ask what shade of red? Sometimes monitors give a differing view. It looks like a bright auburn to me.

Yeah, it's a sort of medium auburn with coppery overtones.

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I think a lot of people experience changes in their hair, skin and nails when they switch to low carb style of eating, and it's nearly always for the good. You might find that the hair & skin products that have worked well for you in the past are not the most suitable for you any more. You may no longer need that shampoo for dry hair. If you use conditioner, maybe a lighter formula would be better for you now. Or try using less of your current brand, or apply it only to the ends of your hair, not the roots.

I used to need much heavier hair conditioner and skin moisturizers than I do nowadays. For me, there was a dramatic improvement in my hair, skin and nails within a few weeks of LCing....that leveled off after a few months, and then I had another surge of improvement when I started taking Omega oil supplements (pharmaceutical grade fish oil and evening primrose oil). It's truly amazing how our bodies respond to what we put in them - I shudder to think of the torment mine endured in the past!

Best wishes~

Sky
Atkins since 8/02
196/144/under 150

I had to switch from an anti-frizz serum to an anti-frizz spray about 3 weeks after starting Atkins. As sky suggested you may just need to change your hair products.

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HW /SW /CW /GW
230/173/159/140