Best products from r/trichotillomania

Congrats on starting therapy! I can’t recommend it enough for this.

When I first talked to my therapist about my trich it was a new thing for her to treat, but she treated it the same way as any compulsion she would treat and we dug to the root cause of it, which turned out to be anxiety brought on by low self esteem, which was caused by some very specific events in my childhood. I really thought we would talk more about the trich itself, and we did in the beginning, but most of my sessions focused on growing in my own self esteem and truly realizing that I’m worth just as much as any other person. That’s what eventually helped me overcome trich. And I still have some setbacks and pull occasionally but it’s nothing like what it used to be and now I have the tools to handle the regressions and calm my anxieties on my own.

My one recommendation would be to get some porcupine eggs—they’re a sensory toy that I used a lot in the beginning and still sometimes now to calm my anxiety and satisfy the tactile need my hands have. They’re like $10 for two dozen on amazon. Egg Shaped Porcupine Balls- 12 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0037BT1UE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_u4BADbZDMY4Q5

Good luck!

This all natural creosote lotion from Siphon Draw Apothecary is cheap yet amazing. It heals skin issues faster than anything else I've ever tried, including skin picking trauma. I originally bought the $10 small 2 oz size for spot treatment, but I love it so much I've been using it all over, especially on triggering KP bumps on back of arms, (which are now smooth). I use as facial moisturizer, & it's helping my puny eyelashes get longer, stronger, & harder to pull out. Noticing same with brows. It has a rain scent that I don't mind, but my daughter thinks is weird.
However a little goes a long way, & I've barely put a dent in my bottle despite using it daily for the last month.

My other favorite lotion is Pure Emu Oil by Naturals New Zealand. I purchased my last bottle at xmas 2017 & only half way thru it, again a little goes a long way. I use for everything including scar healing, mosquito bites, scapes, cuts, bumps, & every other skin/hair issue I have. It's unscented, absorbs quickly, & non greasy. It's $25 for 4oz bottle & lasts forever. I'm on my 2nd bottle in a little over a year, (only because I gave my 1st bottle away to a friend whose daughter had a burn mark & needed something for the scarring). Helps with hair growth, originally bought for bald spot on scalp that was unnoticeable after only a few weeks of use.

Sorry for your setback, but keep your chin up. I hope this helps, hugs.

If you want something hair related - I think a headband would be nice. Helps to make our hair feel pretty and can help her notice urges if she touches it or something. One thing I love is this fidget ring from amazon. I got it and loved it (it is currently lost somewhere ugh), and I got it for my sister who struggles with skin picking/dermatillomania, and she loves it too.

I’m currently reading The Hair-Pulling Problem: A Complete Guide to Trichotillomania , I was fortunate enough to find this book in my school library and I think you’ll find it helpful. Right now I’m at work but I don’t mind taking some pics of the pages for you that might be beneficial as a family member.

Also just want to point out that it’s so amazing you’re here making an effort to be more supportive for your brother. I come from a family/culture that doesn’t even acknowledge mental health issues so this disorder has always been something that is “all in my head” . It really makes me happy to know that you’re supporting a fellow trichster in as many ways as you can.

Just found this subreddit and wanted to comment to let you know I'm in a very similar situation. I even pull from the same place as you! (left side of my jaw)

I've been pulling consistently for about ~7 years, and I started when I was in college going through a bad bad breakup.

I actually started pulling when I was just starting puberty. I have thick bushy eyebrows and growing up anybody with a unibrow was made fun of or considered gross. As soon as I noticed hair growing in between my eyebrows I started plucking them with tweezers.

That never really got out of control but eventually when stress got to me I moved on to my face.

> It's oddly specific too. I look for certain hairs: isolated, course, and long; a hair that really stands out among the rest.

This is also true for me. I work at a desk on a computer all day and many times I find that I will be pulling without even realizing it. By then it will be too late and I will have 30+ whiskers on my desk.

I'm not sure how much you've looked into it, but I just recently came across this website which has some great resources.

I'm also thinking about reading this book and I might post my thoughts on it.

Support from fellow Trich sufferers is important to treatment!

Good luck with your finals and remember if you're feeling stressed about pulling come back and talk it out.

Thanks for posting and helping me out a little.

To anyone else suffering with eyebrow trich issues: This product has been a lifesaver. I have almost no brows at all but this stuff looks insanely natural (well, the best I can get with no brows) and lasts for days. It's not available in stores in the US but I got mine on Amazon. You paint on the gel, let it sit for 20 mins or longer, peel off, and you have "tattooed" brows that look so much better than anything I could do with pencils, powders, etc. I use medium brown. ANd unlike other makeup, it doesn't come off throughout the day as I pull and pick at my brows. Highly highly recommend!

I just tried these tape-in extensions and I'm so happy and impressed with them! I'm too bald to wear my hair down and the regrowing "feathers" on the crown of my head stick up through my hair when I wear a ponytail. The tape attaches to either side of a tuft of "feathers" and I angled them so they go in the direction of my hair when it's in a ponytail. Now I have a decent looking ponytail. It's an amazing relief. Maybe consider these extensions. I'd recommend trying them out before the day of the event. They're reasonably priced for human hair.

Can't remember the original thread, but someone on this subreddit posted about using this make up to cover up eyebrow bald spots, and it's worked wonders for me!

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B074VG3CCZ/ref=snk_ddb_dp_pfimg_mdpajx?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&ie=UTF8

I've never pulled all of my eyebrow hair out, so not sure how this would be in that scenario, but it's great if you have some hair left. The thing I like about it most is that it's almost like applying a thick layer of paint, so the pokey hairs are less noticeable, which helps me not to pull.

Also, I totally relate to your story. I'm also a 30F and started pulling about 2 years ago from job stress. I keep telling myself that if I was able to go all those years without pulling, I can get back to that again by better managing my stress, and actively fighting to break the habit. You can too! :)

Edit: corrected spelling- auto correct, you failed me.

Vlasy False Eyebrows

Edit: I think the lace backed ones look more natural than the plastic backed ones. They come in 2 different colors and four different styles. I recommend trying a few different styles to see which fits your face best. I tried 732, 733 and 734. 734 was a little too thick for me and 732 was a little too long. The ones in my picture are KS-W733 color #3.

They also have them in men's.

Before I shaved my head, I used a knock-off brand of Toppik I bought off of Amazon. It's a bag with 57 grams worth, I would just get a spoon and scoop it into an empty Toppik bottle and use that. I had a huge bald patch on the top of my head and that would last me for a little over a month. It does shed worse and get all over everything a whole lot worse than Toppik, but it essentially did the same job. I would recommend this route if you're still interested in using hair fibers or willing to give it another try though. It's a cheaper alternative for sure.

https://www.amazon.com/Hair-Building-Highest-Bottles-Competitors/dp/B01BMORA3M/ref=mp_s_a_1_26?keywords=toppik&qid=1556199940&s=gateway&sr=8-26

Hey there, Feeling Good by Dr. Burns is a pretty solid book regarding CBT. It has a lot of exercises in it you can do to help yourself as well as a lot of information on emotional awareness. I have this book. It helps me deal with anxiety and depression.

My hair can't really do oils - just makes it look greasy. But I've had good results using Keune shaping fibres

https://www.amazon.com/Keune-Shaping-Fibres-3-4-Fl/dp/B001R9FNJG/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1536119546&sr=8-1&keywords=keune+shaping+fibres

One container lasts me for most of the year.

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Also - - I think your hair looks great in the pic! I would never suspect that you have trich!

I've used oils to help with moisturizing my hair, but I didn't notice any direct effects on my pulling. I pull from my beard too, and even when I put the oils in that I still pulled. It just made them softer and easier to get ahold of lol.

Here's the oil: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009R14T0?pc_redir=1411014967&robot_redir=1

I'm a little new to reddit and a mobile user so I think I formatted everything wrong... Whoops!

Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B3GLKK6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wS81Db2VR1V3Q

I use these on my thumbs only and they really detract me from pulling from my scalp. Usually my thumb is the common denominator with my pulling habits so these "numb" the sensation of feeling out the hairs I like to pull.

They're also really small and portable so I have them stashed at my desk, in my car, at my vanity, etc. Of course there are lots of times when I take them off, like to eat or to go to the bathroom, but if I wear them for a good part of the day, they really nullify my urge to pull by a good bit. When I was in college, I used these so consistently that I actually stopped pulling for a several months-long period!

N-Acetyl-Cysteine


There have been some small studies that show it helps so I asked my psychiatrist about it and he said to just give it a whirl cuz if it works then cool, if it doesn’t, oh well.

There are very minimal drug interactions and side effects of the supplement so it’s pretty safe.

I use elf eyebrow pencil - I pretty much have to draw my brows on everyday and this one seems to be the best one I’ve found

You’re beautiful!! I use these four products to cover spots:
Hairline:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

Crown/side spots:
Toppik Hair Building Fibers

Toppik Fiber Hold Spray

The thing that helps me not pull the most is putting athletic tape on my pointer finger.
Athletic tape

And using a streaks app on my phone

Good luck! I know it sucks ☹️ 😞

Now Supplements, N-Acetyl-Cysteine 1000 mg, 120 Tablets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KT3H13C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_76DCDbZY2B0G6

I have the same crown, but im all brunette. I've recently used This

Basically a topper that clips in. I also use This to put in my hair so i don't have a bare scalp in some places.