I give up...time for a change (relaxer)!!

[lady_brown]

My Story:
Okay, I did my BC while I was in boot camp in 2006. Could not really do much to it then because we were not given a lot of things to care for our hair. When I left there; I was in a school for like a month and a half and I got a few products but I didn't really know what to do with my hair still. After I left there, I went back to my hometown, and got micro braids. I received orders to Italy, so the entire time I was there I wore micro braids back to back with no breaks...(after joining this forum I understand now how terrible that is).

I have never really known how to do my hair, I have always just gone to a salon or had someone do it out of there home. I found out about LHCF from a friend who is on here around this time last year when my ship pulled back into the states. I started paying more attention to my hair over the course of this year...switching to wigs instead of the braids (keeping my hair moist and platted underneath).

Okay, the problem I am experiencing is living in Washington state, the weather here does not seem to agree with my hair/skin. I have been experience a lot of breakage, and less growth. It's really thin in the front and really thick in the back. My hair has reached barely shoulder length since 2006. So, I have been thinking, and I have decided to go to a salon for my first relaxer and then every relaxer after that I will do myself.

Please, Please, please...I need all of your help, advice and support out there as I am just so tired of my hair. I want to be able to enjoy it and not dread it.

Here is my plan (a few ideas):

• (I will be experimenting with Aphoghee products)
• I will stretch my relaxer at least 8 weeks...maybe longer if possible
• deep condition at least once a week (in the beginning) w/ heat
• Thinking about utilizing sew ins to help with growth...
• Co wash a few times during the week for extra moisture ( I know I will need it)
• Little heat (experiment with rollers)

Well that is all I have come up with...Please, I appreciate any advice/help you can give.

Sorry so long!!

 

[msa]

If your hair is constantly covered up I don't think the weather is affecting it, but it definitely could be hard water. And that would affect your hair and skin.

Also, your hair may be thin in front from the combs or rubbing from the wigs. I have to be very careful when wearing my half wigs for exactly that reason.

I hope you can figure your hair out and leave relaxing as an absolute last resort. If your hair is dry or having breakage problemsbnow, relaxing is definitely not going to fix that. Anyway, I'm sure others will chime in. Good luck!

 

[Transformer]

I wouldn't do the sew-ins. Your scalp needs all the oxygen it can handle. Sew-ins or any wig can lead to thinning. Don't try to do too many things at once. You are going with a relaxer, so wear just your natural for few months before you introduce a "foreign body" to it. Keep your maintenance routine simple with as few a products as you can.

Wearing the military hat--the rubbing can also induce thinning--25 years of experience to back up that claim. I'm assuming you on the coast where you have a bit of humidity. I lost a lot of hair--junks and an inflamed scalp/hairline when I moved to a mountainous area with a drier climate. I was given a steroid cream and coal tar shampoo by the dermatologist.

I've only used aphogee a few times but had very good results. I took the advice of other board members and used a moisturizer immediately after treatment.

 

[Whisper29]

WOW your story sound very similar to mine. I went to boot camp with braids in my hair after 6 weeks my hair looked crazy so i took it out for graduation and my hair was so damaged. SO when they sent me to my first duty station in England I decided to go natural after the base beautician messed up my hair. I kept it natural for the 3 years i was there experimenting with braids and twist and blah blah blah but i missed having a perm. I just couldnt trust anyone there with a chemical. My next duty station was Guam and so for another 2 years i was natural but after i came back home for good i have found the best beautician in New York. She is in to hair care and growing my hair so im where i need to be....Sorry back to youerplexed...Since you are still in and theirs a great chance you will be traveling my suggestion would be to stalk the diffrent members on LHCF and find what worked for them. Purchase products that you will be able to find on the internet and ones that can ship to diffrent locations. I would also not recommend wearing weaves start taking care of the hair you have now. Also since you are in washington state there is a thread about salons in diffrent states in here maybe you can find one in your your area that comes highly recommended. Good Luck!

 

[DMJ's Mom]

Another thing do you live in the barracks? Almost all the barracks that I lived in has had hard water which is damaging to the hair and maybe part of the reason you havent seen much growth. My hair broke off like mad when I lived in the barracks

 

[lady_brown]

WOW your story sound very similar to mine. I went to boot camp with braids in my hair after 6 weeks my hair looked crazy so i took it out for graduation and my hair was so damaged. SO when they sent me to my first duty station in England I decided to go natural after the base beautician messed up my hair. I kept it natural for the 3 years i was there experimenting with braids and twist and blah blah blah but i missed having a perm. I just couldnt trust anyone there with a chemical. My next duty station was Guam and so for another 2 years i was natural but after i came back home for good i have found the best beautician in New York. She is in to hair care and growing my hair so im where i need to be....Sorry back to youerplexed...Since you are still in and theirs a great chance you will be traveling my suggestion would be to stalk the diffrent members on LHCF and find what worked for them. Purchase products that you will be able to find on the internet and ones that can ship to diffrent locations. I would also not recommend wearing weaves start taking care of the hair you have now. Also since you are in washington state there is a thread about salons in diffrent states in here maybe you can find one in your your area that comes highly recommended. Good Luck!

So on point, I just found out I have to do another year of sea time...so, off I go to another ship or overseas...hair maintenance is even more difficutlt when you are military. Thanks for your suggestions...I will be using them plenty.

 

[lady_brown]

Another thing do you live in the barracks? Almost all the barracks that I lived in has had hard water which is damaging to the hair and maybe part of the reason you havent seen much growth. My hair broke off like mad when I lived in the barracks

you are so right, and yes I do live in the barracks. That is another big challenge...The water on the hair/ and the skin is just so harsh. When we first came here last November (home port change), my skin was doing well...around February it started looking like I had an allergic reaction. (Using Clinique now..., and that is helping with the skin issue at least). Thanks

 

[lady_brown]

I wouldn't do the sew-ins. Your scalp needs all the oxygen it can handle. Sew-ins or any wig can lead to thinning. Don't try to do too many things at once. You are going with a relaxer, so wear just your natural for few months before you introduce a "foreign body" to it. Keep your maintenance routine simple with as few a products as you can.

Wearing the military hat--the rubbing can also induce thinning--25 years of experience to back up that claim. I'm assuming you on the coast where you have a bit of humidity. I lost a lot of hair--junks and an inflamed scalp/hairline when I moved to a mountainous area with a drier climate. I was given a steroid cream and coal tar shampoo by the dermatologist.

I've only used aphogee a few times but had very good results. I took the advice of other board members and used a moisturizer immediately after treatment.

That's a really good point, and there is no way around that one unfortunately. I'm going to take your advice about "more oxygen to the scalp..." Though, I haven't been that active on the forum...I have learned a lot this past year. So, I am ready for a turn around, I just I have to see how I can work around my hair maintence with my current job.

 

[lady_brown]

If your hair is constantly covered up I don't think the weather is affecting it, but it definitely could be hard water. And that would affect your hair and skin.

Also, your hair may be thin in front from the combs or rubbing from the wigs. I have to be very careful when wearing my half wigs for exactly that reason.

I hope you can figure your hair out and leave relaxing as an absolute last resort. If your hair is dry or having breakage problemsbnow, relaxing is definitely not going to fix that. Anyway, I'm sure others will chime in. Good luck!

Really, good point...I think part of the reason is I am not comfortable with my own hair yet ( I guess since it has been in hiding so long), but I am willing to try at this point, because there is just too much breakage and not enough growth...thanks again