HELP - HAIR DISASTER

[PrimeExample]

Hi all. Back in 2010 I decided to go natural and was natural for 2.5 years. It was okay, but I got tired of putting in all the curly hair products and wetting my hair every day and all the inconvenience and work and decided I wanted to go back to a “relaxed” lifestyle. So I got a relaxer on Thursday, 6/14/2012 and MINUTES after putting the relaxer in, and rinsing it out, my hair would not stop falling out!!!! It fell out from the root AND broke off. It is WRECKED. It’s overprocessed like the relaxer was left in for hours when it was only in for 10 minutes. I don’t have bald spots but I have SHORT (too short to bun), THIN, THIN, broken off, spaced out, damaged, dry, brittle, horrible hair. I have NEVER had this happen to me. Not when I was relaxed for 32 years, or when I was natural for 2.5. I’ve ALWAYS had healthy hair. I am so devastated right now and really need help BADLY. I don't know what to do. I've NEVER in my life worn weaves, but I'm considering it now. The only thing is that the ultimate goal is to grow my own hair back (of course), and hopefully it will return to the way it was before this disaster, so my only fear about a sew-in is that I don’t want to damage my scalp with a tremendous amount of tension – if that makes sense. I don’t want the braids to be done so tight that I risk scalp damage and my hair not growing back in properly. I'm in Atlanta, if you are local and have suggestions, I would GREATLY appreciate it. I'm really devastated. My hair was such a part of me. =(

I need advice DESPERATELY!!!

 

[lamaria211]

How long ago did u relax cause I wouldnt put a sewn in over a fresh relaxer. Can you bun? Whats your current regimen?
Im sure more ladies will be in to help shortly

 

[trendsetta25]

try 3/4 wigs. It's less stressful on your hair.

I've made a few videos on how to make one on my youtube channel.


Hang in there chica!

 

[Golden75]

I was going to suggest wigs too. Did you get relaxed at a salon or at home? What brand?

If this has never happened before, did you apply anything to hair and scalp close to the time you relaxed? You should probably try to figure out what caused this and possibly see a derm to be sure you do not have any scalp damage.

Good luck OP, hope your issue is resolved soon, and that this was just a one time bad reaction.

 

[PrimeExample]

How long ago did u relax cause I wouldnt put a sewn in over a fresh relaxer. Can you bun? Whats your current regimen?
Im sure more ladies will be in to help shortly

I relaxed it on Thursday (4 days ago). And that's what I figured. It's too short to bun and by the time I cut off all these scraggly, troll doll-looking ends it will be even shorter still. *sigh* This is the worst!

 

[PrimeExample]

I was going to suggest wigs too. Did you get relaxed at a salon or at home? What brand?

If this has never happened before, did you apply anything to hair and scalp close to the time you relaxed? You should probably try to figure out what caused this and possibly see a derm to be sure you do not have any scalp damage.

Good luck OP, hope your issue is resolved soon, and that this was just a one time bad reaction.

Home - Motions - the same I've always used. Nothing new, only that was new was that I had virgin hair. That's it. Thank you.

 

[PrimeExample]

try 3/4 wigs. It's less stressful on your hair.

I've made a few videos on how to make one on my youtube channel.


Hang in there chica!

Thank you - I don't even know where to begin to find 3/4 wigs. To the cloud, I guess. I just need something quick. I feel a mess right now.

 

[Americka]

I was going to suggest wigs too. Did you get relaxed at a salon or at home? What brand?

If this has never happened before, did you apply anything to hair and scalp close to the time you relaxed? You should probably try to figure out what caused this and possibly see a derm to be sure you do not have any scalp damage.

Good luck OP, hope your issue is resolved soon, and that this was just a one time bad reaction.

This! What products did you use prior to relaxing? List everything from poos to cons to leave ins out used on your last wash day to the day you relaxed.

Sent from my Toshiba Thrive

 

[Fyne]

How did you prep your hair for relaxing?
Did you do a protein treatment on relaxer day?
Has the shedding slowed down or gotten worse?

 

[alive]

would you consider getting a nice short cut and enjoying a short do until it grows back out? so sorry to hear that this happened to you. hopefully, it all grows back soon

 

[PrimeExample]

This! What products did you use prior to relaxing? List everything from poos to cons to leave ins out used on your last wash day to the day you relaxed.

Sent from my Toshiba Thrive

I was using some Wen products and Miss Jessie's stuff (can't remember all of the stuff) - I was also using Curl Enhancing Smoothie and some Shea Naturals shampoo.

 

[PrimeExample]

would you consider getting a nice short cut and enjoying a short do until it grows back out? so sorry to hear that this happened to you. hopefully, it all grows back soon

Yes. I really don't have a choice. I'm going to have to just cut it really short and start alllll over. I'm just hoping it grows back. I'm crying on and off every time I think I'm okay, then I talk about it and cry again. *sigh*

 

[PrimeExample]

How did you prep your hair for relaxing?
Did you do a protein treatment on relaxer day?
Has the shedding slowed down or gotten worse?

I guess that's where I went wrong. I didn't prep it at all. I just relaxed it. I was so used to relaxing it, I didn't think about the fact that this was all BRAND NEW hair that had never experienced chemicals before. Well, lesson learned. No more relaxers for me. I am going to have to do the big chop all over again and PRAY that it fills in and grows back. This is reallllly bad. =(

 

[PJaye]

I'm so sorry that this is happening to you.

The first thing that popped into my head after reading the OP was to check the expiration date on the relaxer box to see if it still viable, or something that has been sitting on the shelf for the last 8 years.

 

[PrimeExample]

I'm so sorry that this is happening to you.

The first thing that popped into my head after reading the OP was to check the expiration date on the relaxer box to see if it still viable, or something that has been sitting on the shelf for the last 8 years.

I threw it out, but I don't know, that's something to consider. *sigh* Thank you. I'm really devastated. Everytime I think I've accepted it, I see my hair, or see an old picture and I want to cry. This really sucks.

 

[nurseN98]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I wouldnt do a weave right now either. I agree with a wig for right now and just doing a lot of good protein & moisturizing dc..good luck to you.

 

[JazziLady!]

What happened to you is so crazy given.how you used the same relaxer and method as before which had your hair super full and healthy looking. Seems like something chemically or processing wise went very wrong. How old was the relaxer? Are you confident you mixed it correctly and neutralized properly as in did you let the neutralizer sit for a while and did you neutralize more than once? What happened to you is so scary. I'm so sorry!

 

[auparavant]

Don't chop yet! Let it get stronger and see how the texture will be first.

I feel you...same happened to me with hair color...the big MELT!!! I didn't learn my lesson a few years ago that I cannot use it (any % vol. peroxide). It is very "soft" and weak and was falling in long strands. I saved it thus far with high protein treatments and very little manipulation. If you have access to Arouse Rezz-a-rect that you have to order from an online source, get it. It's extremely good product. If not, get Aphogee 2-step process and the moisturizing conditioner. Do the treatments every 2-3 weeks or as recommended. In the between time, use their Keratin reconstructor conditioner and shampoo. You need protein. To style it, do not manipuate much and slick back. You could part on the sides or middle and make a sleek look (Paris Fall look anyway) by smoothing it all back.

Try and hold onto as much of it as possible before you cut. You need to rebuild. If you can't find those products or don't want to try those, I'd recommend getting K-pak Reconstructor by Joico at Ulta or Sephora etc. You could use Sebastian (or Sally's Generic brand) Potion 9 to use as a gel. Do not use regular gels like Fantasia or anything like that..it's too goopy. You need a very conditioning and high-end styling creme and get something macademic nut based or use Ojon products for additional oil/styling/conditioning. Let us know how it's going.


There's also a protein shampoo you can get at the pharmacy...but I can't seem to find it cuz I can't remember the name of it. But don't shampoo much. Do not use heat on your hair at all. Get cute clips to hold down parts/style and I'll say a prayer for you. :hugs:

 

[prettybyrd]

I'm sorry this has happened to you! Have you done a DC since you put in the relaxer? I hope that your shedding and breakage has lessened some since last week.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

Hi all. Back in 2010 I decided to go natural and was natural for 2.5 years. It was okay, but I got tired of putting in all the curly hair products and wetting my hair every day and all the inconvenience and work and decided I wanted to go back to a “relaxed” lifestyle. So I got a relaxer on Thursday, 6/14/2012 and MINUTES after putting the relaxer in, and rinsing it out, my hair would not stop falling out!!!! It fell out from the root AND broke off. It is WRECKED. It’s overprocessed like the relaxer was left in for hours when it was only in for 10 minutes. I don’t have bald spots but I have SHORT (too short to bun), THIN, THIN, broken off, spaced out, damaged, dry, brittle, horrible hair. I have NEVER had this happen to me. Not when I was relaxed for 32 years, or when I was natural for 2.5. I’ve ALWAYS had healthy hair. I am so devastated right now and really need help BADLY. I don't know what to do. I've NEVER in my life worn weaves, but I'm considering it now. The only thing is that the ultimate goal is to grow my own hair back (of course), and hopefully it will return to the way it was before this disaster, so my only fear about a sew-in is that I don’t want to damage my scalp with a tremendous amount of tension – if that makes sense. I don’t want the braids to be done so tight that I risk scalp damage and my hair not growing back in properly. I'm in Atlanta, if you are local and have suggestions, I would GREATLY appreciate it. I'm really devastated. My hair was such a part of me. =(

I need advice DESPERATELY!!!

What the hell? awww this is terrible! Well if this ever happened to me, I'd completely shave my head and start over. Im sorry.

 

[Keshieshimmer]

The stylist Tamika Bell seems to be on point when it comes to healthy hair or sharon at salon balisli.

Good luck! Rock a colorful scarf?

 

[PrimeExample]

Yes, I've been deep conditioning and I did the Aphogee 2-step protein treatment. It hasn't been shedding anymore, but I haven't really manipulated it much. It's so damaged. It's really awful. I cut some of the scraggly ends off myself, because it was so raggedy. I'm going to a consultation tomorrow to see if I can get a sew-in, or should, she's going to tell me what she suggests and at worst, she'll cut it for me and have me looking human. I am going to look into the 3/4 wigs AND I'm ordering a Huetiful steamer tonight so that I can give it steam treatments. I hope it grows back. That's my biggest fear, that I'll have this thin, spaced out hair forever. I'm traumatized right now.

 

[JJamiah]

Sis, that sounds like it could have been heat damage. Same thing happened to my cousin. You don't have to cut it all off. Just get a style at the longest it looks decent, continue to treat it and relax. Don't stress, that is a whole next issue for shedding.

Sorry this happened to you,

 

[JJamiah]

My cousin was natural for about 6 years and during that time she did straighten her hair in the salon. WHen I saw it, I told her it had some damage, since it was harder for me to twist it when natural, I knew. SHe didn't care, just do it. I did and it melted right off her head. I was like and she was like meh, it's okay. I was like I ran grabbed the emergencee and it did help 95%. I felt like I should have followed my gut, but she would have put it in anyway and wouldn't have had any back up for controlling the situation.

 

[PrimeExample]

Sis, that sounds like it could have been heat damage. Same thing happened to my cousin. You don't have to cut it all off. Just get a style at the longest it looks decent, continue to treat it and relax. Don't stress, that is a whole next issue for shedding.

Sorry this happened to you,

Heat damage makes sense!!! I was getting it done at the Dominican salon like once a week. Flat irons, blow dryers, all that. It looked healthy and felt soft and healthy, but my curl pattern was jacked up, which was why I just kept straightening it, because wearing it curly wasn't cute with the straight pieces. Hmm... THAT makes sense to me. So natural hairk, heat damage and relaxers apparently don't mix. I will not be relaxing again. It will be au naturale for the kid from now on and no more flat irons!!! *sigh* Starting over. I hope it works out.

 

[Mische]

Sorry this happened to you. Out of curiosity, which relaxer did you use?

 

[JJamiah]

Heat damage makes sense!!! I was getting it done at the Dominican salon like once a week. Flat irons, blow dryers, all that. It looked healthy and felt soft and healthy, but my curl pattern was jacked up, which was why I just kept straightening it, because wearing it curly wasn't cute with the straight pieces. Hmm... THAT makes sense to me. So natural hairk, heat damage and relaxers apparently don't mix. I will not be relaxing again. It will be au naturale for the kid from now on and no more flat irons!!! *sigh* Starting over. I hope it works out.

From what you just said! That sounds exactly like what it was. Her curl pattern was also not normal and all spots that were, are the ones that fell out. I was so panicked, so I understand your delimma.



So sorry this happened. Just get a half wig for now. Think of a way you normally like to wear your hair, or something different to make you feel better.

 

[TXChic254]

Sorry this happened to you OP! The same thing happened to me when I got my first relaxer at 15. I would say just rock it short and nurture it back to health. Wish you the best!

 

[sckri23]

What was the strength of the relaxer it might be the cause of your problems. Most ppl think once they go natural and straighten or try to relax they need the highest heat or the strongest relaxer and their hair cant handle it

ETA: Nvm saw you used the same relaxer

 

[NappyNelle]

I'm also sorry this happened to you OP. It was indeed caused by heat damage, not the relaxer. If you want to relax your hair in the future, you have to be sure that your natural hair is as healthy as possible by prepping your hair adequately for heat services.

ETA: We can definitely help you get your hair back on track. I hope my post did not come across scoldingly.