DRY HAIR - Please Help!

[Lintayo]

I think I am a 4b hair type. I can't seem to find anything that will moisturize my hair. I've been natural for awhile and I can't seem to grow the hair. It breaks and I get the little balls on the ends. WHY? I'm thinking about going back to the relaxer if I can't get this under control. Please help! What should I use to fix this?

 

[mzteaze]

What products are you using? or have you tried? What is your regimen?

The balls sound like single strand knots (SSKs). Do you use a scarf or bonnet when sleeping?

 

[AHeadOfCoils]

Get you some Qhemet Alma and Olive Heavy Cream.. Or Burdock Root Butter Cream. They will solve all of your dry hair problems.

& Protective style! Buns, wigs, braids, twist (idk if these are what are already causing your ssks) and weaves could possibly be your bestfriend...

 

[Etherealsmile]

A better understanding of your regimen and routine will be helpful in providing solutions to your problem

can you post what you've been doing?

 

[Lintayo]

I guess I should put my regime up! I wash my hair 1-2 per week and use Suave conditioner to co wash. I use ORS to condition. Then I put on Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship and then almond oil. I wrap my hair at night.

 

[Nonie]

Do you wash your hair loose?

How do you wear it from day to day?

You say you wrap it at night. I'm guessing you mean cover it? How is it worn before you wrap it and what do you wrap it with?

Forgot to ask how long your hair is.

 

[virtuenow]

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/ha...-discussion/150965-dont-sleep-oil-rinses.html
This has done wonders for my hair thus far, I do it w/castor oil. I keep spreading the news about this technique b/c it does so well for moisture retention in my 4b natural hair. It has helped w/my dry hair problems thus far.

I use heat (blowdry) to help w/single strand knots. Well, that's not really why I use heat...I just prefer it for the [stretched] look, and the residual effect is little to no ssks

 

[Urban]

Nonie, where's your picture of the Scurl bottle? lol.

 

[butterfly_wings]

Try chelating with Paul Mitchel three shampoo, maybe you have product build up

 

[carameldelight87]

I would suggest trying different oils. See if EVOO or EVCO works for you. Braid or twist your hair nightly with some leave-in or moisturizer if possible. That really helped my hair stay moisturized. Also keep a spray bottle of water (or u can mix your fave oils, etc) and spray it in the morning.

If I were you, I'd just try things as much as possible. If you're using shampoo during both of those washes in a week, I'd reduce it to one and maybe a co-wash for the 2nd one.

As for the knots - hopefully you're not doing daily wash n go's because that would probably be the cause. Try applying more oil to just the ends as often as possible. It may just be your styling choices that you have to change.

How do you typically wear your hair?

 

[SimJam]

Nonie, where's your picture of the Scurl bottle? lol.

so true ... I was kinda surprised she didnt mention it

who's that typing from Nonies account

 

[Honi]

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/ha...-discussion/150965-dont-sleep-oil-rinses.html
This has done wonders for my hair thus far, I do it w/castor oil. I keep spreading the news about this technique b/c it does so well for moisture retention in my 4b natural hair. It has helped w/my dry hair problems thus far.

I use heat (blowdry) to help w/single strand knots. Well, that's not really why I use heat...I just prefer it for the [stretched] look, and the residual effect is little to no ssks

Co-signing on the oil rinses. You should get really good results as far as keeping the hair moist. I currently do this for my daughters 4b hair. Love it.

 

[kroeskop]

I used tpo get those balls really badly before and it stunted my growth (retention). baggying has helped me a lot!!!

 

[Makenzie]

Are you deep conditioning regularly?

 

[curlyninjagirl]

My brother has coarse 4b hair that was always dry and brittle. I put him on a regimen and now his hair is sooooo soft!

He was shampooing twice a week and I told him to replace one of those wash sessions with a co-wash (Yes to carrots or AO HSR). But what really turned his hair around was moisturizing daily with a spritz of water and AO HSR conditioner (5:1 ratio). Also DCing at least every 2 weeks with AO HSR or Yes to Carrots Hair Mask! HTH.

 

[Nonie]

Nonie, where's your picture of the Scurl bottle? lol.

so true ... I was kinda surprised she didnt mention it

who's that typing from Nonies account

Give me time, Girls, give me time! I was just getting warmed up....

Truth is, I'm waiting for OP to answer my questions coz methinks that's the main place where she screws up. Once we get that part fixed, I'ma get on the pulpit and this is what will ensue:

• I will start a charismatic preaching of the gospel of S Curl, punctuated with the condemnation all products that are not it, damning them to hell.

• To drive the message home, I will be presenting props of before/after pics of my mom's hair as an demonstration of the glory that can be found in the blessed juice.

• In conclusion of my sermon, I will beseech ye all to take a moment of silence as we behold the sacred bottle of this wonder we call S Curl.

So now you have the agenda for today's lesson; come one, come all and prepare to be blessed.

Please note that service will begin as soon as I am aware of OP's return to answer my questions. Until then, tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT will lead you all in song...

Peace be with you all, my children.

 

[msbettyboop]

Give me time, Girls, give me time! I was just getting warmed up....

Truth is, I'm waiting for OP to answer my questions coz methinks that's the main place where she screws up. Once we get that part fixed, I'ma get on the pulpit and this is what will ensue:

• I will start a charismatic preaching of the gospel of S Curl, punctuated with the condemnation all products that are not it, damning them to hell.

• To drive the message home, I will be presenting props of before/after pics of my mom's hair as an demonstration of the glory that can be found in the blessed juice.

• In conclusion of my sermon, I will beseech ye all to take a moment of silence as we behold the sacred bottle of this wonder we call S Curl.

So now you have the agenda for today's lesson; come one, come all and prepare to be blessed.

Please note that service will begin as soon as I am aware of OP's return to answer my questions. Until then, @tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT will lead you all in song...

Peace be with you all, my children.

Hey Nonie, prior to OP answering your question, could you please let me know if this is the scurl you are referring to ----> SCurl. I have dryness issues too and this and oil rinsing seems to be the last solutions. Thanks.

 

[Nonie]

Hey Nonie, prior to OP answering your question, could you please let me know if this is the scurl you are referring to ----> SCurl. I have dryness issues too and this and oil rinsing seems to be the last solutions. Thanks.

Just because you came to see me in the backroom, I'ma cut you a slice of the sermon.

I personally have only had experience with the holier looking S Curl. The one dressed in white:

BEHOLD THE ONE AND ONLY, FAITHFUL AND TRUE:

:notworthy

Er...I say, oke: this is where you make a solemn "Aaaaah" sound of awe as you raise your hands to partly shield your eyes from the glow of the mighty juice that reaches deep within the hearts of our hair and makes the soul glo'!

Can I get a witness up in here?!!!!:bouncegre

Yes indeed, it makes the

Time for a Praise Break:

​

ETA: @Lafani Do not be deceived: many have gone out into the world disguised as "moisturizers" in order to mislead. The S Curl stays true to the end.
​

​

 

[tHENATuRALhAiRpRoJEcT]

roflmao!!! guess i'm the only one overmoisturized

i had to do a hard protein after henna... i'll be back later with my song.....

thinking gucci mane?


eta: OP baggy like your life depended on it! (and yeah make sure you've clarified)
heck if it's really bad jump in all those moisture challenges until you find your prize routine(maybe get under a steamer w/ your glycerin products)

 

[msbettyboop]

Thanks Nonie. So, how do you use it?

 

[Lintayo]

Do you wash your hair loose?

How do you wear it from day to day?

You say you wrap it at night. I'm guessing you mean cover it? How is it worn before you wrap it and what do you wrap it with?

Forgot to ask how long your hair is.

Hi Noni, I wash my hair loose, I wear a wig all the time except at home. My hair is loose underneath. I cover it at night and my hair is short, about 2 inches right now.

 

[Evolving78]

do you deep condition your hair? what do you moisturize with?

 

[Nonie]

Hi Noni, I wash my hair loose, I wear a wig all the time except at home. My hair is loose underneath. I cover it at night and my hair is short, about 2 inches right now.

WHAT????



You CANNOT do that. OMG... I'ma be back...

Need my smelling salts.... *Feeling woozy....*

 

[divachyk]

Just because you came to see me in the backroom, I'ma cut you a slice of the sermon.

I personally have only had experience with the holier looking S Curl. The one dressed in white:

BEHOLD THE ONE AND ONLY, FAITHFUL AND TRUE:​

:notworthy​

Er...I say, oke: this is where you make a solemn "Aaaaah" sound of awe as you raise your hands to partly shield your eyes from the glow of the mighty juice that reaches deep within the hearts of our hair and makes the soul glo'! ​

Can I get a witness up in here?!!!!​

:bouncegre​

Yes indeed, it makes the

Time for a Praise Break:

​

​

​

ETA: @Lafani Do not be deceived: many have gone out into the world disguised as "moisturizers" in order to mislead. The S Curl stays true to the end. ​

Maaaaan, wish Scurl did it for me in the winter. Can wait for spring/summer to roll around because I love me some scurly juicy juicy! Words can't describe how well Scurl works for me in the spring/summer.

 

[Nonie]

OK, I'm back OP. Sorry for the dramatics, I promise I'll try to stay calm. I'll post two separate posts just so I don't put folks to sleep. (Actually, I'ma just cheat and post old posts).

Here's something I posted when we were having a discussion about people who transition and think they like their new growth then hate it when they finally "meet" their natural hair. I know that doesn't apply to you but your response tells me you have a lot to learn about your hair type. Which is not unusual when it may not be a type you've been acquainted with as long as I have.

And the reason they hate their texture is they decided before they transitioned what they wanted their hair to look like and behave like. You cannot do that. Your really have to ignore other textures and focus on your own. Indeed, it helps to have an idea of what your hair looks like. If you've always been relaxed, that can be hard to do, but if you have photos of back when you were natural and hopefully pics of hair that isn't pressed, and you were not an infant, then that sort of gives you an idea.

I knew my hair was 4B just from its general appearance and Andre's weird description which seemed to describe hair that looked like this:

See the enlarged photo here: Beautiful African Girls | Photo

I grew up around people with hair like that, which resembled mine. I knew when you washed it, it shrunk and looked like this:

And I knew that if I didn't keep it braided, it'd turn into a compact mass that could not be combed. (Think of those doormats you scrape mud on.) This foreknowledge from years of having natural hair helped me when I transitioned to know that things like WNGs were clearly so foreign to my hair that I didn't even want to do them. I grew up seeing how my hair was worn (braided, in a pulled back puff/pony) and those styles were beautiful to me. My type of hair was most beautiful when combed and styled, not left to do it's own thang. My type of hair was most versatile when long coz it could be shaped into so many different looks. I knew it coz I'd seen it in people with long hair. And I dreamed of one day being able to wear elaborate styles like them because I'd one day have hair longer than 3 inches.

What I didn't know about my hair was that its strands actually had a uniform pattern. Years of wearing it stretched to keep it from turning into a compact mass (the smartest thing I ever learned, BTW!) kept me from seeing the uniform, spirally coils that form this beautiful mane:

So Andre's definition went out the window as far as I was concerned in terms of describing my true texture once I found that out. What Andre's 4B describes for me is the state you're most likely to find my type of hair on any head that is trying to grow long hair. Keeping it stretched keeps tangles and knots at bay. So I wear it mostly like that. But when I give it free, and wash it allowing it to return to rest, watch it coil back to its natural mass of coily awesomeness. Learning of this coily state also taught me how to handle it so that I don't ever yank a comb through it without first stretching out the coils with one hand to open them up, even when drenched in conditioner. Yes conditioner does make a comb glide through without the stretching, but it's likely the coils will hug and contract above the comb and you'll hit a snag. So the image of springs stretched out, creates for me the image of a comb gliding through and proves true to form when I do it.

Trust me, get to know YOUR hair and yours alone. Don't believe the hype about products that others swear do wonders to their hair if you already have something that is working for you. I don't use any of them or buy into it because I listened to my hair and found what it liked. And I couldn't be happier for that. People ask me why I don't do WNGs when they see the cute spirals from wetting my hair.

It's simply because I know what is "normal" for my hair and WNG isn't it. Why would I do WNGs if I'd only end up dealing with hours of detangling and single strand knots later? Just to pull off a style that isn't "normal" to me? A style that doesn't even look right from afar? A WNG looks like uncombed hair on me, which I find not cute at all:

I'd rather have a nicely combed out puff coz that looks good on my hair IMO:

When you know your hair so well that no one can tell you what is good for your hair and be surer about it than you, and so that you're not fighting it, but just seem to have this wonderful marriage with it where you just get it, then you will be truly happy with it.

(Source)

 

[Nonie]

Lintayo

Two inches isn't too short to be start plaiting your hair at night. I got a BC I didn't ask for in 2007 and found myself with hair three inches long. If I didn't plait it for the night, I wound up with very tightly shrunken hair that was hard to comb or style. But plaiting it for the night did two thing: stretched it a bit so it was easier to comb; kept it from curling back on itself and knotting up.

These pics show first my puff if I don't braid my hair but just twist when it was 3 inches long:

...and then the fluffy, easier to comb and bigger looking puff if I plait at night after applying S Curl and baggy:

I would also like to recommend that after you wash and condition, and towel dry, you apply S Curl to your hair and comb through and pat your afro into a nice cute shape. When your hair dries, it may feel hard but reapply again once your hair is dry. To ensure you cover every strand, you may find it easier to work in sections: using a comb or your fingers, pull aside a small section and spray S Curl on it or spray plenty on fingers and smooth it on that narrow section from base to ends. Then move onto to another part and do the same.

If it is nighttime when you reapply S Curl to your now dry hair, you may save time by just plaiting the hair as you apply. And when I say braid your hair, I'm not saying you make tiny plaits. Make them as big as your hair will allow. You may apply to a few narrow sections before you get a good size of a braidable section and then braid it. You will be getting it out the way so you can focus on other sections but you will also be preparing for the night.

Once your hair is plaited, put on a plastic cap. This will keep the product from soiling our pillow or getting on your face and giving you acne, but you will also discover the wonders of baggying and how well this allows moisture to soak into your strands. In the AM you will have beautifully soft hair that will comb with ease. You will not need to reapply S Curl.

Now I will tell you this: I know a lot of people say S Curl dries their hair in the winter. I just started to use it on my twists in August and I'm still using it on the ends when I plan to wear my hair out. The one thing I do that those who hate glycerin in the winter might not be doing is: I do not go outside with my head exposed. If I am outdoors, my hair is usually under a baggy and under a hat or scarf. Sometimes I carry S Curl in my handbag so I can "fix my hair" once I get indoors. If it's dry indoors due to the heat, perhaps keep a spritz bottle handy and replenish the moisture. You'll find that it will help to keep your hair feeling OK.

I just had to run to the store a few minutes ago and didn't feel like putting on a hat, so what I did was spritz my hair which previously had S Curl with a dilute solution of ACV and nip to the store. Today is wash day so I didn't feel like applying S Curl to hair that will soon be washed, so I spritz and will wash it in a bit. My hair felt soft and was easy to style. (I'm in twists so there isn't combing going on here. But if I had to comb it out, I'd probably have applied more S Curl to provide slip.)

Just coz I'm lazy, here's one post where I shared the difference S Curl made to my mother's hair:

My hair used to seem hard and dry. No matter what I'd do, it'd feel soft initially then be hard and dull looking later. I had that experience with Shea Butter and oils. So I'd slather on creams--whatever folks recommended--and my hair would be nice but later feel hard. When I decided to focus more on better conditioning and ACV rinses and using only S Curl (In other words, simplified my regimen and stopped trying 1967987 things at the same time), my hair responded beautifully.

I tried this on my mom. She's of the old school that believes in grease and what not. And yes, she's heat happy. Also she didn't know any better than to comb her dry hair not caring how much broke off. She'd just take off the broken hair from her comb and proceed to combing again (Brings memories of how I and everyone I knew treated natural hair before I learned from all you LHCF ladies ). Made my eyes water to see her do this and my heart race coz I was sure any moment then she'd start a fire with all that friction noise. I couldn't get to her fast enough. I stopped her from combing her hair and begged her to hear me out. We shampooed her hair w/ Elucence Moisture Benefits and conditioned w/ Elucence Moisture Balance (hope I've got the names right). We didn't deep condition coz we didn't have a dryer handy at the time, but we did leave the conditioner in for a bit. Then I forbade her from combing her hair until it was well-covered w/ S Curl. And told her she could also comb in when wet and drenched in conditioner The difference in the look and feel of her hair was like night and day.

I'll try to see if I can enlarge the S Curled hair pic below w/o it becoming blurry. Otherwise I hope you can see the difference:

Old school regimen (Regular use of heat to straighten and curl, grease as hair balm, and combing hair when dry) regimen. Hair looked dull and felt dry and strands looked like they had no definite shape:

New school KISS regimen (Washing and conditioning with moisturizing products and using S Curl) results. Hair looked and felt very soft w/o being sticky and oh how beautifully her curls/coils popped so that they formed a nice circular afro w/o much effort:

My mom now sleeps in a baggy and uses S Curl. And when she wants to wear her hair straight-ish with curls, she uses Curlformers w/o heat. She recently had a trim so I know her hair's thriving. She doesn't care for long hair but she's thoroughly enjoying the simple regimen. I'm ecstatic about this coz we all know, it's not easy to convince older folk of stuff we know. Oh, she also loves DCing under a dryer every once in a while. I'm so proud of her.

ETA: Enlarged pic of the S Curled hair:

(Source)

 

[Lintayo]

You are the bomb! Thank you for taking the time to provide me with all this information. I now know what I am doing wrong and it stops today!

Thanks again!

 

[Nonie]

Lintayo, you're welcome. I just realized that when I was telling you to apply S Curl and plait your hair, I didn't mention combing. Please use the slipperiness provided by the S Curl to comb through your hair before you plait. One thing I found about my hair is because it's made of coils, stretching it before passing the comb through it makes it so easy to comb. In this video, my hair was drenched in conditioner. So I use the same method to comb S Curled hair as I use to comb conditioner hair. Combing hair before braiding for the night and baggying makes morning combing feel like the most fun thing you ever did. (And you can start by combing each narrow section that you moisturize before combing the braid section as a whole, to make the task easier.)

 

[Nonie]

I got the funniest PM in response to this thread. I just had to share it (with permission of course) coz besides the fact that the feedback was positive, the sender had me in stitches. She definitely attended chuch that day!

Thank you!
Hey Nonie!

I want to say thank you. I'm fairly new here, and recently I was having a problem with breakage. I was reading a thread for help and saw your replies there, where you sang the praises of S-Curl. And lady, I was moved. A spirit came down and placed his hand on my back and steered me to Walgreens, and I picked up the white bottle of S-Curl, specifically remembering the picture of it in your post.

I went home, and washed my hair, and conditioned it, and put in my S-Curl. And the tangles melted away. And the Denman went through my hair in silence. And little spirals of hair appeared, like in your profile picture. And everything just... worked. No pulling, no fighting, no *RRRRZZZ* *RRRRZZZZ* *RRRZZZ* as I detangled, no *ping!* *ping!* of popping strands. It was... hair nirvana. Everything was beautiful. The pope wept. Somewhere in the world, a baby opened its eyes. And then that little spirit flew away because he had earned his wings.

So again, thank you. Really, my hair and I cannot thank you enough!
__________________

@ the pope wept.

 

[Kiki0130]

I got the funniest PM in response to this thread. I just had to share it (with permission of course) coz besides the fact that the feedback was positive, the sender had me in stitches. She definitely attended chuch that day!

@ the pope wept.

The Pope wept!

Just bumping this because it's because of Nonie's generous sharing
of the wonders of S-Curl that my hair and my 12 year old son's 'fro are
changed forever.

Even in the winter. We just seal it with EVOO or Proclaim Argan Oil
Treatment and use more frequently throughout the week.

Although I'm thinking of trying another similar product for comparison,
S-Curl has been very very good to me

Thanks Nonie