Half of my hair is gone.....long story

[devin]

Well I can barely type this without crying, but I figured you all would understand. I have been growing my hair for two years quite successfully thanks to this board, and all of that came to an end in one night. I had been stretching my relaxers for three or four months for the last two years and then decided to stretch longer, b/c I had an install put in. We were on vacation last week and just got back and I decided to take the hair out. I unbraided my hair and got in the shower and put a clarifier and that's when I was in hair hell! My hair tangled up and matted like a dog! HUGE clumps of hair matted up all over my head. I tried not to panic, but then it got worse. I slathered conditioner, porosity control and still no help. My husband then started to help me slowly comb out the tangles. Even with the largest jilbere comb, wide tooth comb we could not get the tangles to budge. We combed for hours and then huge clumps of hair just started coming out. I looked at half of my hair get dumped into the trash can. I have never experienced something so horrific in my life. All I could do was cry. My husband tried to be encouraging, b/c he knew how much pride I took in my hair and how long my journey had been. I felt like finally I was successful at something. Now I fell like everything I learned is down the drain. To make matters worse my hair stylist is constantly on vacation and I don't know where I am going to go to get a relaxer and cut to get back on track. I am so at a loss and feel so down and discouraged. This has been one of the worst weekends ever, I feel like I am in a nightmare and will never wake up. Just wanted to get it all out. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this.

 

[cocoberry10]

I’m sorry about your hair loss. I hope things turn around for you!!!!!! I experienced this back in March, and this is one of the reasons I’ve decided to transition. I don’t want to deal with stretching disasters anymore. And I’ve had several!

 

[candy1214]

Well I can barely type this without crying, but I figured you all would understand. I have been growing my hair for two years quite successfully thanks to this board, and all of that came to an end in one night. I had been stretching my relaxers for three or four months for the last two years and then decided to stretch longer, b/c I had an install put in. We were on vacation last week and just got back and I decided to take the hair out. I unbraided my hair and got in the shower and put a clarifier and that's when I was in hair hell! My hair tangled up and matted like a dog! HUGE clumps of hair matted up all over my head. I tried not to panic, but then it got worse. I slathered conditioner, porosity control and still no help. My husband then started to help me slowly comb out the tangles. Even with the largest jilbere comb, wide tooth comb we could not get the tangles to budge. We combed for hours and then huge clumps of hair just started coming out. I looked at half of my hair get dumped into the trash can. I have never experienced something so horrific in my life. All I could do was cry. My husband tried to be encouraging, b/c he knew how much pride I took in my hair and how long my journey had been. I felt like finally I was successful at something. Now I fell like everything I learned is down the drain. To make matters worse my hair stylist is constantly on vacation and I don't know where I am going to go to get a relaxer and cut to get back on track. I am so at a loss and feel so down and discouraged. This has been one of the worst weekends ever, I feel like I am in a nightmare and will never wake up. Just wanted to get it all out. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this.

Wow..I'm so sorry to hear this. I know I'd be just as devastated if it were me. This hair thing is serious business.

How long had u had the weave in? Usually after 5 to 6 weeks it HAS to be removed and the first thing you do is detangle and apply conditioner to the hair before washing it out. Maybe that's where everything went wrong.

But atleast you do know healthy hair practices and how to baby your hair back to health. It will grow back.

 

[ToyToy]

I'm so sorry that you had to go through this!!!!!
I'm sure your hair will recover soon!!!

 

[Lovelylocs]

I'm sorry to hear this. I hate it when stuff like this happens. I wish I could understand the science behind it all. My hair has been getting like this too. Ever since I colored it that one time, it has not been quite the same. It's like how do u know when ur hair is going to react like that?

Did u detangle under running water? That usually helps a lot.

 

[danysedai]

I'm so sorry Devin, but remember you now know how to take good care of your hair, I know it's very hard for you at this moment to see into the future, but you can do this
a million hugs to you

 

[devin]

Wow..I'm so sorry to hear this. I know I'd be just as devastated if it were me. This hair thing is serious business.

How long had u had the weave in? Usually after 5 to 6 weeks it HAS to be removed and the first thing you do is detangle and apply conditioner to the hair before washing it out. Maybe that's where everything went wrong.

But atleast you do know healthy hair practices and how to baby your hair back to health. It will grow back.

I had it in for 2 1/2 months. that's where i made the mistake. i didn't detangle with conditioner before hand.

 

[scarcity21]

I am so sorry this happened to you..the same thing happened to me last summer about 3x b4 i realised i didnt detangle properly b4 washing...Next time just make sure u detangle section by section properly and PREPOO ON DRY HAIR for a couple hours b4 u proceed to poo......
Im sorry u had to go through this...Im sure ur hair will grow back thicker and longer in no time.


ETA: MODS can we make this a sticky , add it to the "did u know" banner or something....this seems to be a common problem.....one other member just went through the same thing this weekend!

 

[blackmaven]

Oh my goodness Devin just don't know what to say so sorry this has happened to you. In time will get length back with all the techniques on this board.

 

[sareca]

Yikes a lot of this is going around lately. I'm truly sorry.

 

[locabouthair]

Devin I am so soprry you are going through this. I have always admired your hair. One time I had a weave in and I left it in for so long I had a lot of knots. Your hair will recover. ((((((hugs))))))

 

[Vshanell]

I'm sorry this happened to you. I know this must be devastating. Things will get better and your hair will grow back with your care and dilligance. Take this as a challenge and really get focused on growing your hair back. Don't worry about it too much but I know it's hard.

 

[MissJ]

I know how you feel. This happened to me a couple years ago, right down to the clarifying shampoo and other people helping to get the tangles out. It was horrible! All I could do is get it cut after that. I'd suggest you find a good stylist who cares about your hair and start with a fresh cut and learn from this experience. There are some tips on the board about washing hair after removing extensions. I don't know where they are, but if you do a search you can find them.

 

[blazingthru]

yes this has happen to me. I immediately washed my hair after I came out of braids big mistake I lost a lot of hair on top. my hair was so matted --there was nothing that could be done but to cut it all off. I was so devasted. MY top is still very fine and thin. This was back in February. So I certainly feel your pain. I have been afraid to put anything in my hair - that I can't take out right away since. I haven't done so either. but it will come back you just have to have more patience and work with your hair gently. I wish you so much luck with it I am sure you will be fine. Oh and I am natural so it happens to us as well. It might be because I have a color still in my hair I am not sure but I don't honestly know I get tangles all the time.

 

[tenjoy]

This happend to my daughter hair (she's 10) my grandmother undid her cornrows (no weave) and did detangle it properly then washed it with a clarifying shampoo. OH MY GOOOODNESS. She had matted dreads everywhere. It took 7 hours one day and 3 hours the next. Talk about breakage! Hers too is 3/4 of her original length.

 

[yodie]

I completely understand how u feel. I had a similar experience with all of my progress knotting into one big mess.

the benefit that you have over me is that now you know how to nurture your hair back.

be patient with your progress. we're sisters here and we love you.

 

[shunta]

Im sorry this happened, Devin. Just give your hair plenty of TLC right now. What did you clarify with???

 

[devin]

thank you so much ladies for all of your support and well wishes. you all have really made me feel better. my hair is really dry now, do you all think i should put some conditioner on it and do a deep conditioner? i am scared to do anything to it.

 

[mzhotniz86]

girl girl i know how you're feeling. i had this same exact problem before my last retouch. i made a thread and i have pics of the hair loss in my journal. when i went through the clumps of hair, i realized alot was just dead hair because i hadnt combed my hair for a week and a half. but then the next day itr started to break because of the line between the relaxed and the newgrowth. try a reconstructor or hair rebulder by dudleys. i used it on my dry hair a couple days after that nightmare and my hair was back to normal with barely any breakage.dont be depressed. i was up until it was time for my retouch and then i saw my little bit of progress and was relieved and revived again lol

 

[aprilj]

I'm so sorry that this has happened to you. I had the same thing happen to me coming out of braids a month and a half ago. My hair was also tangled, had lots of shedding and had a weird feeling to it...almost like a dry, strawlike feel to it. Keep your head up...things will get better.

 

[lboogie2679]

I am so sorry to hear this happened to you.The same thing happened to me with braids a few years ago. I only had them in for 7 weeks. I wish I had some words of advise for you. I had to cut my hair down to the new growth because my hair was in dreadlocks.

 

[bluefolli]

{{{HUGS}}} Sorry to hear about your experience. Baby it and keep it moisturized...HHG again!

 

[WomanlyCharm]

Oh Devin, I'm sorry!

I've been through this as well, kept two tracks in for 2 months...and lost sooo much hair in the back of my head, I was heartbroken.

Deep conditioning using natural oils like jojoba and peppermint and plenty of moisture has my hair growing back pretty well, but man, I understand the agony of seeing yourself lose what you've worked so hard to gain.

 

[DivaRox]

Aww this is sad. I'm hoping the majority of the loss was shed hair since you had it up for almost three months. Definitely do a deep condition w/a good moisture replenisher and baby your hair. Depending on how well you were able to care for it while it was up, you may want to try an aphoghee keratin reconstructor first, then follow with the dc. So sorry for your distress.

 

[the_UnPrettiest_pretty]

All I can say is wow I'm sorry this is happening to you girlie. You'll be on the right track again in no time and we're all here to support you. My heart goes out to you right now and I really do hope things get better for you soon.

 

[charmtreese]

Im sorry that this happend to you Devin. Something similar happend to me last November due to an improper ACV rinse. This was a major set back for me. I truly understand how devastated you must feel. It will take time to move on from this, just stay optimistic and continue to care for and love your hair! Best of luck to you!

 

[HoneyA]

I understand how you feel. This happened to me a while back when I used to wear braids. I took the braids out, combed it through a bit but obviously not enough, didn't use a detangler or anything. I started to wash my hair (the way I used to before without the sections) and I got a tangled mess and lots of knots that I popped off because I couldn't get them untangled. Your hair will recover, just baby it and be extra gentle with it. Chin up... at least you know what not to do next time.

 

[santia]

This so devastating and I'm sorry this happened to you. All is not lost though.

 

[BMoreFlyy]

Awww... I like all the rest am sorry to hear that this happened to you... but will add like some others have said... since you've gained the know how and skills to baby your hair, you''ll have that hair garden growing again in no time. I know it's sickening thinking about this setback in your progress, but turn it around and make it work for you.

 

[growth2come]

You poor thing. I am sorry read what happened to you. Similar thing happened to me(hence why I started all natural). In 2005 I had just taken out microbraids and then used that vatika shampoo...my hair just clamped up in bunches as if someone had glued it together...after tirelessly trying to comb it I just took a scissors and chopped away with tears streaming. I hope you can somehow save your hair otherwise all is not lost you can restart your journey with the lenght you can manage to retain. With the forum behind you - you will be back to even greater lengths. So chin up and goodluck with the hair stylist.