If you see this when you comb-You have a problem

[ceebee3]

I was going through some old photos preparing for my update next year drunk when I found a picture showing how badly my hair was breaking. I didn't realize how bad it was (this pic was after I started caring for my hair). This is what I saw every day after raking the comb through my hair.

I'm so greatful to all of you ladies here who offer so much advice. I started my journey on 1-24-09 and I've made great progress so far. My hair is healthier and I don't see this anymore. I started using Aphogee and I deep condition every week. For those of you still experiencing this - please continue to read all you can about protein and moisture balance.

I needed both really badly.

 

[BroadstreetBully]

Girl, I've been there. Keep the protein/moisture balance straight and you should be fine.

 

[ellebelle88]

Hmmm...my hair has definitely grown and I think it is healthier. But I still get this. No matter what I do. I sometimes think relaxed black hair is doomed for breakage whenever it is combed or put in a ponytail.

Please tell me your method for getting little to no breakage when you comb or style your hair. I do alternate protein and moisture treatments weekly. Still no luck.

 

[Serenity_Peace]

What did you do to combat this breakage?

I have really bad shedding. I don't know what to do to stop it, but I may be going through the shedding phase, anyway. I've tried protein, reconstructors, deep conditioning, garlic pills, everything. I think it's just going through that phase.

 

[msa]

What did you do to combat this breakage?

I have really bad shedding. I don't know what to do to stop it, but I may be going through the shedding phase, anyway. I've tried protein, reconstructors, deep conditioning, garlic pills, everything. I think it's just going through that phase.

Shedding is normal, no, you can't stop it.

Unless you're getting bald spots I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[ceebee3]

You know I didn't consider that I may have been going through a phase, that is something to think about. I still have shed hair, but not the long and short broken hairs all over the place. My hair is stronger now that I do protein treatments and deep condition often.

 

[krikit96]

I see even more than this EVERY TIME I do my hair... my husband even says, I shed like a cat... My hair is always ALWAYS coming out when I come it, like 50 strands and then the second comb thru will be about 25 strands and then the third I'll probably see about 15 and then I'll get about 5 or 6 stragglers the 4th time. I have NEVER combed my hair and saw nothing in the comb after wards...WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME????

This is why I've been at APL for 5 months...

 

[ceebee3]

Krikit, I don't think there's anything wrong with you. You have a head full of thick hair girl. Some people do shed a lot more than others. My problem was a lot of broken hairs. This has stopped drastically for me. I still have the shed hair when I comb, but it took me a while to know the difference.

 

[msa]

I see even more than this EVERY TIME I do my hair... my husband even says, I shed like a cat... My hair is always ALWAYS coming out when I come it, like 50 strands and then the second comb thru will be about 25 strands and then the third I'll probably see about 15 and then I'll get about 5 or 6 stragglers the 4th time. I have NEVER combed my hair and saw nothing in the comb after wards...WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME????

This is why I've been at APL for 5 months...

Nothing is wrong with you.

Humans shed between 50-150 hairs per day. You are probably on the upper limit of the average.

Remember, there is a difference between shedding and breakage. Shedding won't cause you to stay at one length but breakage will. So make sure you're not experiencing breakage.

 

[HoneyA]

Before I started taking care of my hair, my floor used to look like that. My hair used to break left, right and centre. I used to wonder if I was ill. I definitely had a problem.

 

[prospurr4]

Wow, that photo brought back memories!

My white tile floor in my bathroom used to be covered with broken hairs like that....I thought it was normal. In fact, I had a special portable vacuum cleaner that I kept in the bathroom for quick cleanups after doing my hair. No wonder, I remained at shoulder length for years...even without trimming.

Thank God, it's been years since my floor (and sink, and countertop) looked like that.

 

[MizzCoco]

Wow, there was a time when my floor looked like that, and i thought it was normal! I'm glad you got that taken care of

 

[Lucie]

I thought this was normal. My hair has always been like that.

 

[ceebee3]

The shedding was normal, but those broken hairs. My relaxed hair actually broke off in a matter of years and I was natural with no BC. I never paid it any attention though. I just kept throwing my hair in a ponytail.

It seems crazy looking back considering all that I know now. So much info on this board.

 

[~VicTorIAn~]

Bad memories. :shivers: Thank God I found out how to stop it before all my hair broke off.

 

[that_1_grrrl]

Lol, I see that much hair everyday because of shed hair or at least what I am hoping is shed hair. When I was "transitioning", I used to see a lot more than that on a daily basis.

 

[that_1_grrrl]

I thought this was normal. My hair has always been like that.

It might be normal for you. You might not be seeing breakage but shedding. Do you know for sure it's broken hair?

 

[Fine 4s]

I was going through some old photos preparing for my update next year drunk when I found a picture showing how badly my hair was breaking. I didn't realize how bad it was (this pic was after I started caring for my hair). This is what I saw every day after raking the comb through my hair.

I'm so greatful to all of you ladies here who offer so much advice. I started my journey on 1-24-09 and I've made great progress so far. My hair is healthier and I don't see this anymore. I started using Aphogee and I deep condition every week. For those of you still experiencing this - please continue to read all you can about protein and moisture balance.

I needed both really badly.

This is what my bathroom floor looked like when I use to heat treat my hair every other week. Thanks for reminding me how far I've come!

 

[Lucie]

It might be normal for you. You might not be seeing breakage but shedding. Do you know for sure it's broken hair?

It's broken hair. I've been here for too long not to know how to fix it, but what stops this? I've tried protein and it seems to make it worse. I learned to accept it I suppose. Any hope for me?

Sorry to jack your thread OP.

 

[blackpearl81]

Umm, my floor still looks like that and I don't think its shedding b/c there are no bulbs at the end...I actually started a thread about my problem and got some good advice from msa and some other ladies. I really need to figure this moisture/protein thing out...

 

[ycj]

I see even more than this EVERY TIME I do my hair... my husband even says, I shed like a cat... My hair is always ALWAYS coming out when I come it, like 50 strands and then the second comb thru will be about 25 strands and then the third I'll probably see about 15 and then I'll get about 5 or 6 stragglers the 4th time. I have NEVER combed my hair and saw nothing in the comb after wards...WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME????

This is why I've been at APL for 5 months...

I have to comment on this! When I was relaxed I noticed alot of hairs too on my sink and floor, but the only product I remember vividly that helped me immensley and by the way did not have one hair in my comb or the floor that I used as a deep cond. was Hansen Cholestorol treatment. But I was so impatient with my progress that I did the bc in Nov and regret it ever since! So I think if you use the cholestorol treatment you will see a huge difference!

 

[Aspire]

Wow, that photo brought back memories!

My white tile floor in my bathroom used to be covered with broken hairs like that....I thought it was normal. In fact, I had a special portable vacuum cleaner that I kept in the bathroom for quick cleanups after doing my hair. No wonder, I remained at shoulder length for years...even without trimming.

Thank God, it's been years since my floor (and sink, and countertop) looked like that.

Oh gosh, this is/was me. When I blew dry my hair it was horrible!! Hair from the ceiling to the floor, all over the door frames, the tile, my sink, my DH's sink and across the bathroom in the next corner.

I am not sure if it has improved or not though. I am not blowfrying my hair at the moment because of bootcamp. I still get it in the comb though and on my shoulders and neck. I have NO idea how to stop it.
-

 

[leona2025]

I still have this problem too. I don't have as many broken hairs as I use to and most of the long ones are shed hair, but there is always hair on the floors and sinks. I don't use a blow dry at all and I have cut my flat ironing down to maybe 1 or 2 times a month.

 

[ellebelle88]

I have noticed that whenever I have just washed my hair, it hardly breaks off or shed. However, if I go anywhere close to a week without washing or cleansing my hair, it starts going haywire and anytime a comb hits it, out it comes!

I'm sorry, but I just dont have the means to be washing my hair every 2-3 days. I'm in California during research and that is just not feasible. I need my hair to hold up at least a week before it is washed. Does anyone have any advice about how I can go a week without washing or my hair falling out?

 

[ceebee3]

I have noticed that whenever I have just washed my hair, it hardly breaks off or shed. However, if I go anywhere close to a week without washing or cleansing my hair, it starts going haywire and anytime a comb hits it, out it comes!

I'm sorry, but I just dont have the means to be washing my hair every 2-3 days. I'm in California during research and that is just not feasible. I need my hair to hold up at least a week before it is washed. Does anyone have any advice about how I can go a week without washing or my hair falling out?

It sounds like your hair needs more moisture right now. Do you deep condition after your wash? Maybe you could baggy overnight to add more moisture.

 

[lilsparkle825]

thankfully, the only time i see hair now is in the shower when i am cowashing or detangling, and i check for those bulbs like a maniac! however, i do remember when i was relaxed/transitioning and the sink would be COVERED with broken hairs when I was done flat ironing, brushing, even combing. i was so happy the other day when i rollerset and flat iron my hair, and from all that i saw maybe 3 hairs max on the sink. (granted, i had just detangled in the shower, but still) i should have taken a picture but i thought that would be weird to just take a random pic of a piece of hair in the sink. LOL

 

[lilsparkle825]

I have noticed that whenever I have just washed my hair, it hardly breaks off or shed. However, if I go anywhere close to a week without washing or cleansing my hair, it starts going haywire and anytime a comb hits it, out it comes!

I'm sorry, but I just dont have the means to be washing my hair every 2-3 days. I'm in California during research and that is just not feasible. I need my hair to hold up at least a week before it is washed. Does anyone have any advice about how I can go a week without washing or my hair falling out?

How often do you moisturize in that week, and what do you use?

 

[msa]

I have noticed that whenever I have just washed my hair, it hardly breaks off or shed. However, if I go anywhere close to a week without washing or cleansing my hair, it starts going haywire and anytime a comb hits it, out it comes!

I'm sorry, but I just dont have the means to be washing my hair every 2-3 days. I'm in California during research and that is just not feasible. I need my hair to hold up at least a week before it is washed. Does anyone have any advice about how I can go a week without washing or my hair falling out?

Sweetie, if you're not manipulating your hair for a week, when you finally do comb it all the shed hair from that week is built up and going to come out. Humans shed 50-150 hairs per day. After 7 days you'll have 350-1050 hairs built up. It is normal and no big deal that those hairs are coming out.

Now if it is breakage, that's a whole different issue. Is it breakage or shedding?

 

[LongiLox]

My bathroom floor used to look like that before I started taking care of my hair. My hair still breaks but not as bad. It used to bother me that I could not fully stop the breakage, but I figured since I am still making progress, perhaps it's inevitable and not that bad?

 

[Eluv]

When I was relaxed my floor and sink was covered with hair everytime I used a blow dryer. I started using Aphogee products and I also stop using heat. I wrapped my hair daily. On wash days, I air dried and wrapped my hair again. But my hair is thin so it didn't take long to train my hair to wrap without curling it first.