See, I thought it was just a seasonal shedding.  Like, I wash every other day, sometimes every 3.  I do wear it in a pony tail a lot (5 kids, kinda have to sometimes, plus I work out 6/7 days a week).  So yeah I do damage it that way I know for sure.  I do straighten, but I use heat protectant.  I avoid brushing it at times because it freaks me out to see large amounts of hair come out.  But my hair is naturally frizzy/curly, and an all around general hassle.  So yep, I do damage it, but I still think I'm losing way too much.  I did have it trimmed last week, hoping that was make it ease up, and my hair dresser said it still looks the same to her and doesn't see any thinning (spotted a gray hair though..  ).. so I switched to Redkin shampoo to keep it healther.. ugh I don't know.  It's been about 1.5-2 months of this!

re-posted this in a different spot.