massive setback in 5th yr

[Spongebob]

I was really looking forward to flat ironing my hair, as i've been heat free pretty much all of 4.5 years, maybe flat-ironing my hair a total of 3 times max. 2 days ago, I decided to remove braids in the shower, as I always do, with lots of conditioner and running water. Forget combing, I couldn't even unbraid my braids. I was having mini panic attacks. In the end I just stepped out of the shower and cut large pieces of braids out. I really want to cry.

I know what's caused this that I've been doing for the past 2 weeks. I've been doing 13 hour shifts, and hopping in the shower twice a day without touching my hair. I shed like a dog, and clearly all the shed hair has been pooling down the braids. My hairs all uneven now

lesson learned

 

[prettybyrd]

I"m so sorry! How long was your hair and how long is it now?

 

[southerncitygirl]

@Spongebob
i'm very confused and not understanding what happened? hair sheds 75-100 strands per day on average and sometimes when seasons change ppl get slightly more shedding. was it really that serious to be hacking off pieces of braids? did you encounter matting/tangling or something? how long were the braids in & did they have hair added? was it natural or synthetic hair? how did you maintain them day to day?

 

[SuchaLady]

I think you acted too fast.

 

[southerncitygirl]

@Spongebob
if you kept your braids 2 wks thats about 1400 strands of hair ( keep in mind there's always someone above or below these averages)... also when hair is longer or thicker shedding looks far worse than what it really is.

SuchaLady

i agree, i'm trying not to seem mean or insensitive, but me thinks she's being overly dramatic

 

[Jace032000]

I was really looking forward to flat ironing my hair, as i've been heat free pretty much all of 4.5 years, maybe flat-ironing my hair a total of 3 times max. 2 days ago, I decided to remove braids in the shower, as I always do, with lots of conditioner and running water. Forget combing, I couldn't even unbraid my braids. I was having mini panic attacks. In the end I just stepped out of the shower and cut large pieces of braids out. I really want to cry.

I know what's caused this that I've been doing for the past 2 weeks. I've been doing 13 hour shifts, and hopping in the shower twice a day without touching my hair. I shed like a dog, and clearly all the shed hair has been pooling down the braids. My hairs all uneven now

lesson learned

Oh no--I'm so sorry to hear this hun. I know how it feels to have a setback after so much hard work.

Question(s): Was your hair braided with synthetic hair? Why were you unable to unbraid your hair?

I'm so sorry again---you may have acted a little too soon...but hey...when you're frustrated...you're just frustrated.

 

[havilland]

I'm sorry to hear that. Setbacks are learning experiences but they are the worst! Sending u a hug.

 

[pre_medicalrulz]

***spank***

Removing braids in the shower before dangling is a no-no.

Grrrrr!

I'm sorry you had a setback but I feel like spanking you again!

 

[felic1]

I was so sorry to hear this. I hope your hair recuperates soon!

 

[divachyk]

Spongebob, sorry this happened to you. I had a similar experience. Before my HHJ, I had braids with synthetic hair. I removed the braids, washed the hair without detangling and the hair was severely tangled and matted. I had to chop a lot of hair to recover. I bounced back and so will you.

 

[SunRai Naturals]

Yeah it is definitely best to get those tangles out before putting that much water on them. You should sit down when you have time & are not frustrated & then gently take them out using oil and/or conditioner that has a lot of slip. You just have to work those shed hairs out no need to cut. I saw my cousin detangle/take down her LOCS after 10 years with a dental pic & Vo5 conditioner & she is Mbl now with thick full hair so that solidified for me that tangles or matted hair can be undone. It just takes patience & the right products and methods.

 

[Spongebob]

I"m so sorry! How long was your hair and how long is it now?

thanks, my hair was waist length and parts of it are now ear/ chin length.

@Spongebob
i'm very confused and not understanding what happened? hair sheds 75-100 strands per day on average and sometimes when seasons change ppl get slightly more shedding. was it really that serious to be hacking off pieces of braids? did you encounter matting/tangling or something? how long were the braids in & did they have hair added? was it natural or synthetic hair? how did you maintain them day to day?

I have to say my hair extremely fine and dense, so i probably shed more than the average person, i'm also highly stressed with work so maybe that's adding to it, don't know. No, it may not have been that serious, although at the time it felt like it, and bear in mind that I could not do nothing, as the longer i leave it the worse it gets with me. I had already left it for two weeks. there was a lot of matting, the bigger the braid the worse it was matted, i managed to unbraid small once with patience. i spent a good 6 hours in the bathroom. no there was no additional hair just my own, which made cutting it all the more painful. I would hop in the shower twice a day, and like i said not touch them which was a big mistake. the longer my hair gets the more work it needs, and the less I get away with leaving it untouched

I think you acted too fast.

In a way I agree with you, but on the other hand who would have done it for me? I couldn't leave it any longer, the matting would have gotten worst, and i would have cut more. or maybe more sensible come to LHCF for advice

@Spongebob
if you kept your braids 2 wks thats about 1400 strands of hair ( keep in mind there's always someone above or below these averages)... also when hair is longer or thicker shedding looks far worse than what it really is.

SuchaLady

i agree, i'm trying not to seem mean or insensitive, but me thinks she's being overly dramatic

I agree with you, as my hair gets longer the more frustrated i get with the tangles, my hair matts so badly. I think I was just so stressed, knowing i could not afford those 6 hours i spent in the shower. in hindsight I did the wrong thing

Oh no--I'm so sorry to hear this hun. I know how it feels to have a setback after so much hard work.

Question(s): Was your hair braided with synthetic hair? Why were you unable to unbraid your hair?

I'm so sorry again---you may have acted a little too soon...but hey...when you're frustrated...you're just frustrated.

thanks, no synthetic hair, and yes I couldn't unbraid some of braids, which in the end I just cut off. very sad. I acted out of frustration. no good at all

I'm sorry to hear that. Setbacks are learning experiences but they are the worst! Sending u a hug.

Thanks, i learned my lesson.

***spank***

Removing braids in the shower before dangling is a no-no.

Grrrrr!

I'm sorry you had a setback but I feel like spanking you again!

welllllll I learned the hard way didn't i. lol thanks

I was so sorry to hear this. I hope your hair recuperates soon!

Thank you felic1

Spongebob, sorry this happened to you. I had a similar experience. Before my HHJ, I had braids with synthetic hair. I removed the braids, washed the hair without detangling and the hair was severely tangled and matted. I had to chop a lot of hair to recover. I bounced back and so will you.

I'm so glad you say that, it felt like forever getting here, only to mess it up.

Yeah it is definitely best to get those tangles out before putting that much water on them. You should sit down when you have time & are not frustrated & then gently take them out using oil and/or conditioner that has a lot of slip. You just have to work those shed hairs out no need to cut. I saw my cousin detangle/take down her LOCS after 10 years with a dental pic & Vo5 conditioner & she is Mbl now with thick full hair so that solidified for me that tangles or matted hair can be undone. It just takes patience & the right products and methods.

see the problem was that I didn't have time. the longer i spent in the shower the more frustrated and panicky I got knowing i had so much to do and could not be wasting time on this hair. still i didn't do the right thing. lesson learned.

 

[Fenaxa]

Aww I did this exact thing almost 2 weeks ago. Just put your hair away (in braids or just keep things super simple) and push it to the back of your mind. It's just hair it'll grow right back.
Setbacks should propel you forward in some way so don't be discouraged!

 

[spelmanlocks]

I had this happen instead of cutting it I went to a hair salon and paid someone to detangle it. I knew I would get impatient and frustrated so it was better to pay someone. In the end I lost little hair. I know if I had continued to mess with it I might have broke out the scissors.

 

[Lilmama1011]

thanks, my hair was waist length and parts of it are now ear/ chin length.

I have to say my hair extremely fine and dense, so i probably shed more than the average person, i'm also highly stressed with work so maybe that's adding to it, don't know. No, it may not have been that serious, although at the time it felt like it, and bear in mind that I could not do nothing, as the longer i leave it the worse it gets with me. I had already left it for two weeks. there was a lot of matting, the bigger the braid the worse it was matted, i managed to unbraid small once with patience. i spent a good 6 hours in the bathroom. no there was no additional hair just my own, which made cutting it all the more painful. I would hop in the shower twice a day, and like i said not touch them which was a big mistake. the longer my hair gets the more work it needs, and the less I get away with leaving it untouched

In a way I agree with you, but on the other hand who would have done it for me? I couldn't leave it any longer, the matting would have gotten worst, and i would have cut more. or maybe more sensible come to LHCF for advice

I agree with you, as my hair gets longer the more frustrated i get with the tangles, my hair matts so badly. I think I was just so stressed, knowing i could not afford those 6 hours i spent in the shower. in hindsight I did the wrong thing

thanks, no synthetic hair, and yes I couldn't unbraid some of braids, which in the end I just cut off. very sad. I acted out of frustration. no good at all

Thanks, i learned my lesson.

welllllll I learned the hard way didn't i. lol thanks

Thank you felic1

I'm so glad you say that, it felt like forever getting here, only to mess it up.

see the problem was that I didn't have time. the longer i spent in the shower the more frustrated and panicky I got knowing i had so much to do and could not be wasting time on this hair. still i didn't do the right thing. lesson learned.

from waist length to chin and neck length?! omg!!!!!

 

[MzSwift]

I don't have anything to add - just wanted to give you a ((BIG HUG))

I hope your work situation improves.

 

[isawstars]

I can relate. I took out micro braids and washed my hair with out detangling 7 or so years ago. And of course when I discovered my hair was matted, the LHCF site went down so I called my stylist crying. It took me 2 days DCing with heavy duty conditioner and detangling.

Sorry that happened to you. It's pretty scary.