BREAKAGE issues..Please come in here and look :( (pic)

[Adaoba2012]

I just recently relaxed after a 14 week stretch. I had braids in for 7 of those weeks and took them down a week before I relaxed. I had roller set my hair for my length check and I noticed the left side of my hair was a little rough..but I didn't realize that I had breakage. So I had my brother take another picture of it a few days later and this is what I got

My hair kinda looks like 2 face. It seems that the right side is thriving while the left side looks like the forgotten step child. I don't know what to do. Should I just do a mini chop and start over or should I just try to grow it out and trim it slowly? I'm a little devastated because I've really been trying to keep my hair healthy...I don't understand where this breakage is coming from. Any advice would be appreciated...TIA.

 

[PinkPebbles]

I'm sorry this happened to you. You do have some options but personally I would trim the splits. If you keep the split ends too long it would cause more damage than good. Split ends cling to other strands which causes even more breakage and tangles.

 

[MummysGirl]

I had a similar issue December 2008... it was worse actually :-(

It had absolutely nothing to do with the stretching... in my case, it must have been over-processing of my ends coupled with bad hair care for about a month. The only explanation for the overprocessing is the relaxer being rinsed out after application, I wasn't protecting my previously relaxed ends during the relaxer process and although I avoided getting relaxer on those parts during application, it couldn't be avoided when rinsing out. I ended up with hair ranging from SL to very close to BSL... in my case, I cut/trimmed back to SL and I love how my hair's been since then

I'm not sure what to say in your case though... how's the general health of your hair right now? Is it breaking or shedding? Does it feel like it's doing well? If you will be hiding your hair and length i.e.e braids, or half wigs or weaves or curly hairdos, as long as your hair's in good health, I guess you could hold on to those ends. If the ends are damaged (you'd know that), then they'd have to go, I guess.

Or you could do a v trim cos the longest bit is the tip of a 'v'.

A suggestion - try to take pictures with your hair spread out evenly across the back, it might not be as bad as it looks in this picture.

 

[CarolinaGal]

If you find your hair getting really tangled and matted where you have breakage, ITA that a trim may be in order. I'm sorry this happened. It will get better though.

 

[belle_reveuse28]

It is possible that you may have stretched too long with the braids. I am not sure, hopefully someone will chime in that knows about stretching and braids. I know that when most people stretch and when I was relaxed before going natural, if I was strectching, then I had to seriously up my moisture and DC game. I'm not sure if one can do that while in braids. Your hair was probably seriously dry under those braids and therefore, the breakage results.

Going forward, you may want to trim your splits if you have any, but I wouldn't do a serious trim on the hair. It sucks to have to look at it that way for awhile, but I'd just be patient and let it grow out by wearing buns and french braids, if you can. I'd seriously baby my ends like crazy, by coating them with some Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-In followed by sealing them with castor oil and do this daily, and then tuck them away by bunning. I'd deep condition no less than once a week, and during the week, be sure my hair is moisturized. From the pics, it seems that your hair is really dry. Also, once weekly, do a porosity control treatment, that way if your hair is as dry and porous, it will then retain more moisture.

I'm sure with a few simple things like this and some patience, your hair will grow back out fine. But do these things religiously and they will pya off. They have certainly paid off for me. And next time, if you do decide to get braids, you may want to figure out a way to keep the hair moisturized while in braids and possibly don't keep them in as long. My hair always needs serious moisture, and so for me, its never a good idea to keep the hair in a style too long that wont allow me to take it down and condition it and add a ton of moisture that's needed. HTH

 

[Helpmeblongagain]

I'm sorry this happened to you. You do have some options but personally I would trim the splits. If you keep the split ends too long it would cause more damage than good. Split ends cling to other strands which causes even more breakage and tangles.

ITA. I had this issue...I just cut in to an even and healthy length...

 

[*Muffin*]

Did you do a protein/moisture balance test the week before you relaxed to see if you needed a protein treatment? Sometimes it isn't necessary to do a strengthening treatment before you relax because your hair may already be strong from using products that have protein in it, but often times (especially after taking out braids) it's necessary to do at least a light protein treatment to give your hair the strength it needs to go through that process.

 

[Monie24]

I agree with Mummysgirl, if your hair is overall healthy then don't cut right now. I feel like a lot of people get setback by cutting their hair every time a small problem comes along. When I was having that issue I stopped relaxing for seven months to give my hair a break. I maintained my hair by wet bunning, half wigs, and phony ponies. I when from ear length to past shoulder length during that time.
So I would just say hang in there and give you hair a break.

 

[Adaoba2012]

I had a similar issue December 2008... it was worse actually :-(
I'm not sure what to say in your case though... how's the general health of your hair right now? Is it breaking or shedding? Does it feel like it's doing well? If you will be hiding your hair and length i.e.e braids, or half wigs or weaves or curly hairdos, as long as your hair's in good health, I guess you could hold on to those ends. If the ends are damaged (you'd know that), then they'd have to go, I guess.

Or you could do a v trim cos the longest bit is the tip of a 'v'.

A suggestion - try to take pictures with your hair spread out evenly across the back, it might not be as bad as it looks in this picture.

My hair is healthy right now..I don't have much shedding and it isn't breaking. I'm was going to get a sew-in in a few weeks so I will be hiding my hair a bit this summer..and when its out I mostly wear spiral curl sets..I'll take pics the next time I wash and roller set. I'm just so sad because I feel like I'm not making any progress...but I know..health over length.

It is possible that you may have stretched too long with the braids. I am not sure, hopefully someone will chime in that knows about stretching and braids. I know that when most people stretch and when I was relaxed before going natural, if I was strectching, then I had to seriously up my moisture and DC game. I'm not sure if one can do that while in braids. Your hair was probably seriously dry under those braids and therefore, the breakage results.

Going forward, you may want to trim your splits if you have any, but I wouldn't do a serious trim on the hair. It sucks to have to look at it that way for awhile, but I'd just be patient and let it grow out by wearing buns and french braids, if you can. I'd seriously baby my ends like crazy, by coating them with some Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-In followed by sealing them with castor oil and do this daily, and then tuck them away by bunning. I'd deep condition no less than once a week, and during the week, be sure my hair is moisturized. From the pics, it seems that your hair is really dry. Also, once weekly, do a porosity control treatment, that way if your hair is as dry and porous, it will then retain more moisture.

I'm sure with a few simple things like this and some patience, your hair will grow back out fine. But do these things religiously and they will pya off. They have certainly paid off for me. And next time, if you do decide to get braids, you may want to figure out a way to keep the hair moisturized while in braids and possibly don't keep them in as long. My hair always needs serious moisture, and so for me, its never a good idea to keep the hair in a style too long that wont allow me to take it down and condition it and add a ton of moisture that's needed. HTH

Thanks alot. I think it was the braids that did it. I was asking my sister about it and she thinks its the way I was sleeping while I had the braids in too..I wasn't covering my hair everynight with a satin scarf cuz I would forget alot..also I sleep on my left side. Also I didn't really deep condition with the braids..I don't really know how. I think I'll probably just trim it a little bit and hide my hair for the rest of the summer. Could you explain the porosity control test??

Did you do a protein/moisture balance test the week before you relaxed to see if you needed a protein treatment? Sometimes it isn't necessary to do a strengthening treatment before you relax because your hair may already be strong from using products that have protein in it, but often times (especially after taking out braids) it's necessary to do at least a light protein treatment to give your hair the strength it needs to go through that process.

I didn't really do a test because I was using MT while my hair was in braids too so I figured I should leave the protein alone so I wouldn't risk protein overload. But after I relaxed I did use Aphogee 2 min after I rinsed out the relaxer and before I neutralized. Do you think it could have something to do with the protein as well??

 

[HairBella08]

I went to one Aveda sytlist who told me that stretching too long is not for everybody. She mentioned something about the hair getting to a weak point after stretching for too long. She suggested that stretchers continue to monitor their hair during a stretch and look for signs that the hair is breaking. I imagine it would be hard to this in braids. I'm currently transitioning and haven't had a relaxer since September 08. My hair actually seems to be stronger as I grow out the overprocessed hair I had and I'm able to take down my weave to keep a check on it.

 

[SEMO]

I agree with Mummysgirl, if your hair is overall healthy then don't cut right now. I feel like a lot of people get setback by cutting their hair every time a small problem comes along. When I was having that issue I stopped relaxing for seven months to give my hair a break. I maintained my hair by wet bunning, half wigs, and phony ponies. I when from ear length to past shoulder length during that time.
So I would just say hang in there and give you hair a break.

I agree. I think you can nurse your hair back from this without cutting it all off.

 

[joib]

Don't forget that hair grows different lengths in different places on your head.

 

[LongiLox]

Don't BC, let it grow out. Do a protein/moisture balance check also.

 

[belle_reveuse28]

Ada,
Porosity control (check out the porosity control challenge thread as well, lots of info there) is a product by a company called Roux. You can get it as sally's or the BSS. If your hair is naturally very dry or breaks easily, you may have porosity issues, especially if you do moisturizing products but the hair doesn't hold the moisture, you may have these issues..

Characteristics of porous hair is also hair that dries extremely fast after being wet... So I would get the porosity control product by Roux and use it once a week on wash day. I use it after I deep condition to seal the cuticle and help the hair retain the mositure that was provided by the deep conditioner.

Also, porous hair has an off balance PH and the cuticles are usually raised on the hair, causing it not to be able to seal in moisture, and therefore, that's why many people do apple cider vinegar rinses, it's basically the same thing, but I like the Roux product better. It will seal your cuticles, make the hair shaft smooth and help you retain more moisture. For people like me with very dry hair naturally, this is something that's a MUST once a week. My hair has developed amazing moisture retaining ability and elasticity, which is what you should aim for... HTH

 

[topnotch1010]

Since you are going into a sew in, I would not cut it. But you will have to cut it eventually. I think your moisture balance is off. Make sure when you get that sew in that you are still moisturizing your hair.

 

[simcha]

It might have been the braids and if that's the case you might re-think the sew-in. My hair is on the fine side and braids, pony-tails essentially anything where my hair is bound up causes it to break.

I can put it up loosely but nothing tight.

 

[*Muffin*]

I didn't really do a test because I was using MT while my hair was in braids too so I figured I should leave the protein alone so I wouldn't risk protein overload. But after I relaxed I did use Aphogee 2 min after I rinsed out the relaxer and before I neutralized. Do you think it could have something to do with the protein as well??

It might. I read somewhere online that it's good to do a protein treatment the week before you relax, but not directly after a relaxer. I'm not sure if this is a set in stone rule or not. Some ladies here might do protein treatments after relaxing, but I notice that my hair behaves strangely if I do a protein treatment directly after relaxing, so I do one the week before and wait atleast another week before I do another one.

 

[Adaoba2012]

Ada,
Porosity control (check out the porosity control challenge thread as well, lots of info there) is a product by a company called Roux. You can get it as sally's or the BSS. If your hair is naturally very dry or breaks easily, you may have porosity issues, especially if you do moisturizing products but the hair doesn't hold the moisture, you may have these issues..

Characteristics of porous hair is also hair that dries extremely fast after being wet... So I would get the porosity control product by Roux and use it once a week on wash day. I use it after I deep condition to seal the cuticle and help the hair retain the mositure that was provided by the deep conditioner.

Also, porous hair has an off balance PH and the cuticles are usually raised on the hair, causing it not to be able to seal in moisture, and therefore, that's why many people do apple cider vinegar rinses, it's basically the same thing, but I like the Roux product better. It will seal your cuticles, make the hair shaft smooth and help you retain more moisture. For people like me with very dry hair naturally, this is something that's a MUST once a week. My hair has developed amazing moisture retaining ability and elasticity, which is what you should aim for... HTH

Thanks so much you are such a doll! I think I'm going to try this...maybe I'll start with acv rinses and work my way up to the Porosity control conditioner later..my hair does seem to dry out really fast after washing it and even when I moisturize and seal at night in the morning my hair is still dry I don't think I am as devastated as I was at first..I feel like I can grow it all out by the end of the year.

It might have been the braids and if that's the case you might re-think the sew-in. My hair is on the fine side and braids, pony-tails essentially anything where my hair is bound up causes it to break.

I can put it up loosely but nothing tight.

See thats the thing I have been getting braids all my life and I've never had problems like this...but I remembered that I was in a rush the day I was going to braid my hair and I got this really cheap hair that was like $.99 per pack..I think it did a number on my hair..plus I only applied MT to my scalp and I didn't really condition or use braid spray...I get so lazy when I get individual braids..I guess I had to learn the hard way.

 

[Chevelure618]

I'm going to be the voice of dissent here.

I don't believe it is breakage. I think after long stretches the appearances of the ends is deceiving. I think the thinner ends are growing down from the other hair which is much healthier and thicker.

I have this very same problem but I refuse big trims. I do it myself with small dustings maybe every 2 weeks then reassess. DUST...meaning 1/16 -1/8 inch with sharp scissors. You wouldn't believe the difference it makes without traumatizing you. I don't believe the ends have to be so even all the time anyway.

Try this for a month before you go get a hairstylist induced depression.

 

[Adaoba2012]

I'm going to be the voice of dissent here.

I don't believe it is breakage. I think after long stretches the appearances of the ends is deceiving. I think the thinner ends are growing down from the other hair which is much healthier and thicker.

I have this very same problem but I refuse big trims. I do it myself with small dustings maybe every 2 weeks then reassess. DUST...meaning 1/16 -1/8 inch with sharp scissors. You wouldn't believe the difference it makes without traumatizing you. I don't believe the ends have to be so even all the time anyway.

Try this for a month before you go get a hairstylist induced depression.

How can you tell the difference between breakage and..non breakage or shedding..and if it isn't breakage the why is it just on that 1 side?

I don't mind self trimming..I just have to get some sharp scizzors..I'll give your method a try..I just want to get rid of those ends ASAP so I can continue to grow in thick healthy hair..I also think those ends could come from over processing pre-LHCF. Thanks for the helpful advice.

 

[Caramel Jewel]

cut it into a nice style and keep tight synthetic hair out of your hair....