Relaxer question

[FemmeCreole]

Can a relaxer cause shedding?

It seems like my hair is sheddiing quite a bit lately. I'm not sure if I just didn't pay attention when it was natural but I find that more than 20 hairs come out the comb when I wash.

When it's dry...everytime I comb through a strand or 2 or 3 comes out.

 

[Southernbella.]

I don't think they cause shedding.

I think it's highly possible that you either didn't notice as a natural, especially if you didn't comb your hair every day. When my natural hair sheds, it's coily and wrapped around each other, so it doesn't look like as many as it would straight.

 

[ShiShiPooPoo]

Can a relaxer cause shedding?

It seems like my hair is sheddiing quite a bit lately. I'm not sure if I just didn't pay attention when it was natural but I find that more than 20 hairs come out the comb when I wash.

When it's dry...everytime I comb through a strand or 2 or 3 comes out.

I stopped using Afirm for this reason. Usually I stop shedding immediately after but then it starts up again around retouch time (10 weeks post or so) and it gets really bad.

20-30 isn't bad though (for me anyway, everybody's different)...I think the norm is 100 a day. I don't stress about shedding because I think it is natural. Now if it is clumps or irritated spots where the shedding is coming from THEN I get concerned.

 

[cocoagirl]

I notice that right after I get a relaxer and even after the first wash my hair sheds a lot. To combat that, the first wash after I poo with ORS Aloe Rid shampoo ans do an Aphogee 2 minute protein condish, followed by a moisturizing condish. I do this 2 washes in a row after my relaxer, usually 1x does it though. Also, I moisturize my ends and hair with Profectiv Break Free and it works really well, it seems to moisturize well and keeps my ends in check.

 

[FemmeCreole]

I can't remember what relaxer the stylist used in my hair. I plan on using profectiv for my next touch up 5 weeks.

100 shed hairs a day sound like too much.......well if that's normal there's nothing I can do about huh?

Does shedding occur in cycles?

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

These are good questions. I heard someone say that their hair sheds less when they use grease on the scalp...something to do with the hair being dry.

It's all in that grease thread...

 

[FemmeCreole]

These are good questions. I heard someone say that their hair sheds less when they use grease on the scalp...something to do with the hair being dry.

It's all in that grease thread...

I read that thread the other day. My scalp is not dry....I oil it every other day so I don't knowerplexed

 

[ShiShiPooPoo]

I can't remember what relaxer the stylist used in my hair. I plan on using profectiv for my next touch up 5 weeks.

100 shed hairs a day sound like too much.......well if that's normal there's nothing I can do about huh?

Does shedding occur in cycles?

I think it does. Mine tends to shed more in the winter than in summer (some people it's the opposite). I also think it has to do with the telogen, anagen cycles, etc.

 

[texasqt]

I stopped using Afirm for this reason. Usually I stop shedding immediately after but then it starts up again around retouch time (10 weeks post or so) and it gets really bad.

20-30 isn't bad though (for me anyway, everybody's different)...I think the norm is 100 a day. I don't stress about shedding because I think it is natural. Now if it is clumps or irritated spots where the shedding is coming from THEN I get concerned.

This is what I've been going thru for the last 2 weeks. After washing, I've been scarrrreed to detangle. Comb full of hair. I actually counted my hairs based on how many were shed hairs (the ones with the bulb on the end) and the ones that were not. The majority of them were in the no-bulb stack which means - BREAKAGE!!! And I'm eight weeks post, with about 1/2 inch of new growth and my last relaxer didn't take to well so I have another 1/2 inch of underprocessed hair attached to the newgrowth. I've been doing conditioner washes this week, every other day, and that has helped some. So I would have to say it has something to do with relaxed hair, the line of demarcation, and dryness. Take time to separate your shed hairs so you'll know for sure what you are dealing with.

 

[MonPetite]

This is funny because when I transitioned I had HORDES of shedding as if my scalp was purging.

Though while relaxing...I had none.

I have none currently as a natural.

Let me clarify too, by saying, when I say "none" I mean: An amount normal for my head that all have white bulbs.

This could be your scalp readjusting to relaxers, it could be a coincidence with your shed cycle meeting a time when you relaxed, or your hair doesn't like relaxers IN CONJUNCTION with some product you've been using that it didn't mind before when you were natural.

I'm no shedding-guru, but I hope my two cents might help you figure things out.