> Mom is 40 years old, takes no medications or hormones.  Did have some
weight
> loss prior to this situation. she has breastfed four children.  Upon
weaning
> her youngest at 2 1/2 years, her once straigh hair began growing in "very
> curly" and has stayed so forthe last 18 months.

Could be hormone related.

I don't have a reference but I remember reading at sometime and  somewhere
that pubic hair which  tends to be very curly in young women becomes
straight in older  women  and this is due to decrease in the estrogen
level.