I'm Really Depressed

[Lucie]

Hi Ladies. I took some pictures. I will be back to post. I have to upload them. I covered my face because it's so early in the morning and I am NOT THAT GIRL, LOL! Be back.

 

[Lucie]

Here are some before pics of how thick my hair was.

 

[Lucie]

This is now. I also included what I normally find in the comb after combing my hair. And just miscellaneous loose hairs. I did not show you all the actual amount. What you see in my hand and in the comb is only 10% of what normally comes out. I didn't want to freak you guys out and show you what I swept up afterwards. I've always had this issue, even when my hair was natural looking like Rudy Huxtable. erplexed

 

[shtow]

Girl! Imma hurt u! LOL

It does not look that much thinner to me. A little, but that could be stress like u said, different products, etc. Still looks healthy.

The hair that u showed, is that from rollersetting? Did u rollerset in the before pics too?

 

[Lucie]

i'm not in the right frame of mind because i'm in a bit of a mild depression with my hair too. but i would like to offer my support

Thank you. ((( HUGS ))) I hope you can get the help you need to get out of your funk and hair happy again.

i hope you feel better. protein is supposed to make your hair feel thicker so if you leave the 2 minute on for hours i cant see how that would be the curl prit.
do you flat iron or rollerset? i know when i was flat ironing weekly my hair thined out a lot even though i did everything else right.

I rollerset my hair. I don't own a flat iron or curling iron. I don't know if the quality of my dryer is to blame. I dunno.

Maybe its the conditioner? I remember using emergencee and it having that effect bcuz I used 2 much of it and too often...I would switch conditioners 4 a while and c if there is any changes.

Dont b depressed...your hair will b fine...its gorgeous

Thank you. I bought the Alter Ego yesterday and I didn't realize how much I could miss a conditioner. Only you all would understand. Although it has garlic in it, I love the smell.

Wrapping can be a lot of manipulation. Are you doing the two sided wrap? If not maybe you can try that way. It seems to be less manipulation.

I give up on wrapping my hair and will go back to my high loose buns.

The Caster Oil sounds like a good idea! I don't have any independent advice but I wanted to let you know that hair is gorgeous. And I'm sure some LHCFer will chime in with some on point advice for you!

Thank you very much. I have some castor oil at home from Haiti but I will go buy some JBCO. I need to figure out how the posters prepoo with it as it is very heavy and sticky.

I don't have any suggestions, besides using castor oil. Hopefully your hair will bounce back to full thickness soon. ((hugs))

Thank you!!!!

I totally understand about the depressed part. Today I was so depressed about my hair progress and like you, I cannot pinpoint what is causing my slow progress.

Just wanted to let you know that I totally understand. Hope the ladies will be able to help you find a solution.

Thank you and I hope you find a solution for your hair as well.

I totally understand what you mean about hair depression. It's frustrating. I say just treat it gentler than usual, that may be all it needs...

I am going to do that. Thank you Sharifeh.

Your hair may not actually be thinner it may just feel that way from the wrapping.

Also your hair may be used to your products so they may not be working the same anymore.

Maybe switch up for a few months and try a rotation. I hope that helps.

Are you seeing any broken hair?

If you look at my thread with NOW pictures in them, I always have broken hairs. Been like that my whole life.

I don't think it's the Aphogee...unless you've noticed increased shedding or breakage at all?
It could be the wrapping....lots of people complain of wrapping thinning out their hair. Are you cross-wrapping, or at least alternating directions?
And lastly, could it all be in your mind? Or can you take pictures to compare with one from when you felt better about your hair?
Sometimes, I get hair depressed and I think my hair looks really really bad, and I itch to chop it off. But after a couple of weeks, I look again, and it's fine.

I really hope you can find a solution to your problem. You have such beautiful hair.

I only know how to regular wrap and that took me way too long to learn. I took pictures. Look above. Thank you for the suggestion to take pics. It is a better way to really see, what's going on instead of being a contortionist in the mirror.

Un-PC but it could be the conditioner. My hair was not happy when I was over-conditioning so I cut back on it and it improved a lot. But I honestly think DCing is overrated. All I do now is use Aphogee 2 min or Balancing moisturizer every 2 weeks while I shower.

The "mush" from over conditioning could be doing to your hair what it did to mines which was make my hair very "dull".

I think overconditioning may be my issue. Also, I just remembered that I self-relaxed last month (did a bad job but oh well). I used Precise, no-lye but SUPER. But I don't know if that is it as well because many women use super strength with no problems.

Also, stress is no joke. I am not a serious shedder but when I was seriously stressed last year, I washed my hair and I had, I kid you not, a handful of hair in the shower (which is a lot for me). I know stress was the culprit. I hope everything gets better for you.

Thank you Shtow.

I'm sorry to hear that Lucie. Stress can really wreak havoc on hair growth. I hope you find a solution. BTW I think your hair looks gorgeous.

Thank you Luna!!!

I remember when I read Carolyn Gray's book, she has a six-week regimen. Each week she rotates a different treatment dedicated to fixing a certain hair issue, i.e. one week is to restore moisture, another is to replenish to give the hair a boost.

I followed that regimen for about a year and a half. And my hair thrived. Anyway, I stopped in order to simplify my product rotations. But the point I am making is that maybe your hair is no longer receiving the same benefits from those products. Also, you may want to experiment and revamp your routine, both with products, styles, and everyday wear and tear.

Lastly, wrapping thinned my hair out. And as soon as I stopped, my hair thickened up. Henna, Dominican Rinses, and Porosity Control are great to keep the hair under control too.

Thank you so much for your advice. I am wearing my hair up more and really trying to pay attention to what I use in my hair.

I'll join the Un-PC band wagon. Leaving conditioner on for extended periods of time gave me mushy, weak, and thinned stretched hair.

MilkChocolateOne, I think this may be issue. Well, one of them. Sometimes, I'll put the Aphoghee in my hair at 2PM and rinse it out by 7/8!

 

[Lucie]

Girl! Imma hurt u! LOL

It does not look that much thinner to me. A little, but that could be stress like u said, different products, etc. Still looks healthy.

The hair that u showed, is that from rollersetting? Did u rollerset in the before pics too?

All of the pics are from rollersetting. The rollerset I did tonight was poofy, I didn't sit under the dryer long enough but I get dryer-crazy sometimes and just want to get the hell off the chair. I do not flat iron. At best I will wrap my hair right after a rollerset and achieve flat-ironed looking hair. Or sometimes I do pincurls.

 

[Lucie]

That had happen to me recently when I felt my hair had thinned out, but it was due to some breakage. To help my hair get back thicker really quick I mixed 2 eggs with some moisturizing conditioner and left on my hair for about 30 minutes. I saw instant results and have been using this combination everyweek. Sometimes I deep condition with aussie moist afterwards for about 30 minutes or overnite to prevent protein overload, but I don't use any other products with alot of protein the rest of the week. Maybe this will help your situation. Things will get better.

WOW!! Thanks!!! I am definitely willing to try that.

, I’m so sorry to read of your recent troubles , I really hope you start to feel better soon. I completely understand the feeling of being down about your hair and its associated frustration’s . I just wanted to give you a >massive hug< . Please take care and I’m sure you will receive fantastic advice from this thread (so sorry I’m unable to help you with this one). Wishing you the very best of luck and I know you will overcome this soon.

Thank you so much!!!! I love that smiley that is waving!!!

As another poster has mentioned, I think it may have to do with your wrapping action. Your regimen is simple enough, so I doubt it has anything to do with your product use.

I had some serious shedding these past few months after my last texlax at the beginning of August. I didnt change anything in my routine, and I wasn't severely stressed beyond the usual "mother-of-two-tots" kind of stress.

My hair just had started getting a thin hand to it.

I figured it had to do with my thyroid.

BUT, in the meantime, I decided to take some garlic supps and do the rosemary/jojoba on scalp massages... as well as continue my oil prepoos.

I also decided to halt a texlax until next year beginning Jan.

Also, instead of blowdrying religiously straight, I left some texture in the strands.

Lately, as in the last month or so, my hair feels thicker... and the shedding has decreased significantly.

Oh, I am happy to hear the good news on your thicker hair! I have definitely decided not to wrap anymore.

Maybe you should add some Salons visits to your routines. When I saw your thread I thought you've been playing with scissors again.

I don't want to go back to the salon honestly. I know something is causing my hair to thin. I want to figure it out and get back to my thicker hair. Well, I have been playing with scissors again. I just don't learn. My hair issues do not stem with my scissor-happy self.

(((Hugs))) Aww Lucie, just wanted to let you know that you and your hair are beautiful. I think it would be worthwhile to look at managing your stress, your regimen really seems pretty good, so it may be something internal. Your body may be reacting to stress differently now. Just baby your hair, maybe put it up for awhile, destress and I'm sure it will be back better than ever before you know it.

Oh, and I hear you on OT and ET, I saw some progress pics that have brought me back here (to the Hair Board) where I started!

Thank you. I have been bunning a lot. My hair is in a bun now. I normally rollerset and wrap but I have a loose bun.

Wow...You use the Aphogee 2 min reconstructor weekly and for hours?? Do you use a moisturizing DC afterward? That seems like protein overload to me, which can cause breakage which could be making your hair feel less thick. Here's an article on protein reconstructors that might be helpful.

P.S. Hope your hair feels better .

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, yes I do use it for hours and no Ido not use a moisturizing DC afterwards. I will lay off the 2-Min Aphoghee for a while!!!!

Just wanted to stop by and give u a ((hug)). Hope things get better soon, I'm still a hair novice so not many suggestions. I love the alter ego garlic, I hope it works for you.

Isn't Alter Ego garlic the best!!! I love it!

I was just'a scrollin thru waitin to see if someone would say this

Lucie, I really do think that is the culprit or at least adding to any problem

Thanks Irresistible!!!

I wish the BEST for you. I'm going through almost the SAME thing, and it is really starting to get to me. Usually when I get down I try to tell my self its hair.. it will grow back, tomorrow is another day. I still have a change to make good with what I have.. at least

I hope you feel better... I really do

Thank you and I wish you the same as well.

I honestly don't think it's the aphogee 2 min in itself that is the issue. I think I remember (or I may be wrong) reading a thread in which Gym stated for some ppl it could be a moisturizing conditioner as well. Personally, although I def feel the protein effect, I find it to be more moisturizing than anything. If this was the only DC someone (especially relaxed) used, IMO it would be smart because they would not have to worry about rotating DC's. They are getting mostly moisture, with some protein consistently.

I think the culprit is using any conditioner on for hours at a time, be it a moisturizing conditioner, protein conditioner, or both.

But once again, that's just IMO.

 

[shtow]

All of the pics are from rollersetting. The rollerset I did tonight was poofy, I didn't sit under the dryer long enough but I get dryer-crazy sometimes and just want to get the hell off the chair. I do not flat iron. At best I will wrap my hair right after a rollerset and achieve flat-ironed looking hair. Or sometimes I do pincurls.

Well maybe the hair came from shed hair when rollersetting?

Either way, your rollersets come out really nice. I wish mines came out that nicely.

IDK tho. Could be a combo of things. Maybe the relaxer was too strong? Or it could have been from all of the conditioning as well. Whatever it is, I hope you find the culprit so that you are happy with your hair again

 

[SerenavanderWoodsen]

Lucie, from the pics you posted, your hair still looks super thick! I certainly dont see scraggly hair. Some of us always have thin fine hair like me lol. If i dare to relax it would pretty much eat through my hair. I did go through a phase where my hair was seriously feeling thin and this was shortly after I stopped going to the salon for blowouts with I guess made my hair bulkier. Are you possibly stressed and shed some extra hair? If so, itll grow back in soon....

Have you trimmed lately? Even a mini trim can help thicken up the hair but dont go nuts cutting, I think i just cut a bit too much off mine but my ends were so damaged I also agree with the person who suggested eggs! Those things made my hair feel too thick, but they were kinda drying so make sure you deep condition after. ( I had a thread titled "eggs made my hair thicker" lol) I also regularly use Nexxus Chelating Solution because I have hard water and my head wont get clean very easily, have you tried heavy clarifying? I hope someoone can give you a tip to getting your hair back thicker...

Oh yeah, and just for safety Id stop wrapping. I dont know how it effects your scalp/hair but it did not seem to agree with me and Id bet if Id kept it up my hair would be thinner and my scalp might be damaged...

 

[Irresistible]

This is now. I also included what I normally find in the comb after combing my hair. And just miscellaneous loose hairs. I did not show you all the actual amount. What you see in my hand and in the comb is only 10% of what normally comes out. I didn't want to freak you guys out and show you what I swept up afterwards. I've always had this issue, even when my hair was natural looking like Rudy Huxtable. erplexed

what?! your hair looks friggin gorgeous

ok I just don't see a difference

pretty before, gorgeous after

what am I missing here Lucie?

 

[AnitaTheLengths]

Lucie, your hair is thick and lovely! I hope u find the issue but your hair still looks great to me!

 

[halee_J]

Wrapping coud be the culprit. Especially if you are brushing it smooth. Try laying off the wraps of maybe try a two sided one as others said. And castor oil and it does no have to be JBCO or the haitian one. The regular 'ol stuff from the drugstore is awesome . I pre poo with it. I dampen my hair with water in a sprtiz bottle and apply enough to evenly coat my hair (not dripping LOL) put on a plastic cap and leave in for about 2hrs. I noticed a difference the 1st time I did it and my hair looked strikingly different after the 4th consectutive time try it

Hope you feel better ((hugs))

 

[Lady Esquire]

Ok, Pretty Lady! That hair of yours is still as beautiful, shiny, full and bouncy as ever! I agree with the poster who suggested an egg treatment. I have done that with Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayo, add an egg to it. Then I follow with a delicious deep conditioner. About a month or so later, try the Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment (it comes with the stinky liquid that makes the hair hard and followed by a creamy white conditioner to add moisture). I have breakage and after doing that my hair felt fortified.

Keep up with proteins and follow with a conditioner, and maybe even with porosity control or a conditioner rinse. Good luck, Lucie! Keep us posted.

 

[Lucie]

Lucie, from the pics you posted, your hair still looks super thick! I certainly dont see scraggly hair. Some of us always have thin fine hair like me lol. If i dare to relax it would pretty much eat through my hair. I did go through a phase where my hair was seriously feeling thin and this was shortly after I stopped going to the salon for blowouts with I guess made my hair bulkier. Are you possibly stressed and shed some extra hair? If so, itll grow back in soon....

Have you trimmed lately? Even a mini trim can help thicken up the hair but dont go nuts cutting, I think i just cut a bit too much off mine but my ends were so damaged I also agree with the person who suggested eggs! Those things made my hair feel too thick, but they were kinda drying so make sure you deep condition after. ( I had a thread titled "eggs made my hair thicker" lol) I also regularly use Nexxus Chelating Solution because I have hard water and my head wont get clean very easily, have you tried heavy clarifying? I hope someoone can give you a tip to getting your hair back thicker...

Oh yeah, and just for safety Id stop wrapping. I dont know how it effects your scalp/hair but it did not seem to agree with me and Id bet if Id kept it up my hair would be thinner and my scalp might be damaged...

Thank you. I do trim, sometimes too much. I am a bit compulsive with the scissors. I think the wrapping is the culprit. I do use a brush to wrap but back to my trusty night buns I go.

what?! your hair looks friggin gorgeous

ok I just don't see a difference

pretty before, gorgeous after

what am I missing here Lucie?

LOL! I see it and feel it.

Lucie, your hair is thick and lovely! I hope u find the issue but your hair still looks great to me!

Thank you very much.

Wrapping coud be the culprit. Especially if you are brushing it smooth. Try laying off the wraps of maybe try a two sided one as others said. And castor oil and it does no have to be JBCO or the haitian one. The regular 'ol stuff from the drugstore is awesome . I pre poo with it. I dampen my hair with water in a sprtiz bottle and apply enough to evenly coat my hair (not dripping LOL) put on a plastic cap and leave in for about 2hrs. I noticed a difference the 1st time I did it and my hair looked strikingly different after the 4th consectutive time try it

Hope you feel better ((hugs))

I wish I knew this before I did my hair this morning. I am going to follow your advice next week. I cannot wait!!!!

Ok, Pretty Lady! That hair of yours is still as beautiful, shiny, full and bouncy as ever! I agree with the poster who suggested an egg treatment. I have done that with Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayo, add an egg to it. Then I follow with a delicious deep conditioner. About a month or so later, try the Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment (it comes with the stinky liquid that makes the hair hard and followed by a creamy white conditioner to add moisture). I have breakage and after doing that my hair felt fortified.

Keep up with proteins and follow with a conditioner, and maybe even with porosity control or a conditioner rinse. Good luck, Lucie! Keep us posted.

Thank you so much Lady Esquire. I am going to follow the advice I received here and I will update with pics.

THANK YOU SO MUCH LADIES!!!!!!!

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

Looking at your updated pictures and your hair looks lovely to me, but I completely understand the "something's not right" feeling that you're having. I'm confident that you'll find a solution soon!

 

[MAMATO]

Lucie, honestly if your hair breaks when it is dry, it is a protein overload. My hair is naturally strong, so I never mess with protein, even a light one like the 2-min. I use protein once a month or whenever my hair feels mushy from overconditioning. I just make sure to do a protein treatment a week before my relaxer and on the day of my relaxer. Other than I let my hair tell me when it is needed. HTH

 

[Lucie]

Looking at your updated pictures and your hair looks lovely to me, but I completely understand the "something's not right" feeling that you're having. I'm confident that you'll find a solution soon!

Thank you!!!

Lucie, honestly if your hair breaks when it is dry, it is a protein overload. My hair is naturally strong, so I never mess with protein, even a light one like the 2-min. I use protein once a month or whenever my hair feels mushy from overconditioning. I just make sure to do a protein treatment a week before my relaxer and on the day of my relaxer. Other than I let my hair tell me when it is needed. HTH

Thank you, I will keep this in mind. Do you consider the Alter Ego Garlic Conditioner to be a protein?

 

[PrincessLinzz]

Hey Lucie,

I'm going through the same thing. I have mentioned numerous time about my thinning sides and how I "feel" my right side is not as thick as my left. I just took my hair out of a doobie as we speak and said "WAIT MY HAIR LOOKS SHORTER THAN IT DID LAST NIGHT." I followed that quote with a "GET AN EFFIN GRIP LINZZ, AHORA!"

It sucks and we begin to obsess over it when we already obsess and worry about everything else which adds to it.

I would just listen to all of the ladies advice, continue evening scalp massages and try to lay off the worrying because it will just worsen your depression and your ALREADY VERY GORGEOUS hair.

HUGS!!

 

[MAMATO]

Thank you!!!



Thank you, I will keep this in mind. Do you consider the Alter Ego Garlic Conditioner to be a protein?

Honestly, I have never used it so dont know. But I've heard it is a good conditioner for shedding (not breakage though). Good luch

 

[Nefertiti0906]

I think it's the wrapping, my hair was going through the same thing.

 

[Stepiphanie]

Your hair looks gorgeous! Hopefully when you stop wrapping the issue will resolve. I know when I wrap too much my follicles on one side of my hair actually hurt, so I rarely do it now. Alter ego garlic is def not a protein conditioner.

 

[meecee]

Lucie your hair is so pretty in the before and after shots. I'm having the same problem right now. I honestly think the culprit in my case is relaxer runoff and possible protein overload. I'm in the process of changing products to remedy the problem. I hope you stop the thinning soon

If you feel your hair dryer is the problem, try checking out some new ones. I saw your thread on Pibbs alternatives and I posted my review of a dryer in there. I got the salonsrus.com dryer for my birthday. I love it. Its just a regular dryer, no ionic features, but it works great. It completely dried my rollerset in 50 minutes and my hair is MBL.

 

[Mimi22]

Love you hair pitit! Have you tried using shea butter? I've been using shea butter on my ends for a year and thinning has amazingly reduced. I have less thin scraggly ends and more thicker ends

And defo agreeing with castor oil, if u can handle the smell of the raw haitian one, power to u lol My moms made a lighter version that I've also been using and my hair is now quite thick and full.

Hope that helps!

 

[Daughter]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I know I am way too old of a member to have this issue. I should stay out of ET and OT and more time here.

Just wanted to say that I'm an old-timer here too and up until this very year was doing stupid stuff/not doing what I should have been to my hair. Don't be too hard on yourself!

 

[jamaraa]

Lucie Aphogee stuff is specialty prod and is to be used as directed and only as needed. Nothing wrong w/ the prods, but you really must never go over what they recommend. Always better to do less than more w/ this stuff.

 

[silenttullip]

Okay my hair isn't long but I'm just sliding out of this experience. I'd suggest:

futurebiotics hair skin and nails do a youtube search first if you like, it helped mine sooooooooo much BUT take the whole bottle if you like I can send u a bottle when I get mine second one which will be this month because I'm almost out.

Next try to follow the 2 min directions for aphogee because you can have damage from too much protein I did that with the cantu that so many people love and omg it ruined me but anyway. Try using a moisturizing conditioner like dpr 11 to make sure you have your moisture/protein balance on.

Also give your hair a rest. Stop thinking about it, I know it sounds crazy but really I'd worry and stay up 24/7 searching on youtube and on here because my hair felt sooooooo thin and that's not my hair at all so I feel your pain but you being depressed will only worsen the situation. When I stopped sweating it started to get better.

Make sure to massage "not scratch" your scalp when you shampoo.

Also a nice relaxing: walk, trip, bath, shower, etc will be great. Your hair feels good when your body feels great. I hth at least a lil

 

[Arian]

^^^I agree with mslittlelala...I think worrying about your hair sometimes makes us see things that aren't there...or at least make us believe our hair is worse off than it really is...your hair is gorgeous. If you believe wrapping is the problem (although I don't personally), maybe try just wrapping loosely with a wide-tooth comb and don't worry so much about smoothing it...and I'd go with the vitamins too...lol, I just ordered that same kind she mentioned above...

 

[southerncitygirl]

have you had a physical lately? you sure its not your thyroid, hormones, vitamin/mineral deficiency or something else serious?

 

[GodivaChocolate]

Lucie, I hope you are feeling better. You and your hair are beautiful but you gotta let the stress go...try meditation (prayer) or at least a day at the spa for a massage..I little pampering always makes me feel revived.

 

[YankeeCandle]

This thread was very helpful to me, Lucie.

I am experiencing some of the same things you are.

Correct me if I'm wrong: reading between the lines, it seems that before you really paid attention to your haircare "game," your hair was coasting along looking and feeling same as always (i.e. doing fine). When you started recently to try and pay it more attention and follow some of the common regimen advice, you ended up with your current problems.

Well, that's what's been happening with me.

My hair was never "doing fine" because it is too FINE, THIN , and hereditarily thinning for my tastes. However, since I've been trying to take extra special care of my hair via hair boards, I have experienced more problems.

I have been experimenting with proteins and deep conditioning over the past 2 months. Some here might remember when like a 1/4 of my curls refused to revert back after I washed out a press. People recommended protein to try to get them to spring back to their genetic curl pattern.

I began doing a protein treatment (Emergencee once a week for 2 weeks and then Joico J PAK every other week afterward) and always following with several hours' worth of a low or no-protein Deep Conditioning (like Biolage Hydrating Balm mixed with something like shea butter or honey or coconut oil). The weeks I didn't do the above protein treatments, I would just use ORS Mayo by itself (because I heard it was a mixture of moisture and light protein) and also leave it on for several hours or overnight.

Anyway, the past two washes, I used the Mane and Tail conditioner as a light leave-in and put coconut oil over it.

My goal has been to try to fortify my naturally mushy, soft, too-fine hair so that it gets some backbone, LOL. I knew I should be careful with proteins because I heard of the side effects, but my hair was so soft and mushy to begin with, so I thought the protein would correct for that.

This past wash, I decided to prepare the top of my head for a drawstring ponytail by slicking back the wet curls into a bun. The next day, my dried hair had been stretched out so that you can't see the indiivdual curls; it looks almost like a very shoddy, half-baked blow-dry that left a lot of texture in the straightened hair.

This is the scary part: every time I run my fingers through this artifically stretched hair, at least ten long hairs snap out of my scalp (I can hear them snap!) and lodge themselves in the webs between my fingers. My sister began yelling at me telling me not to get hair all over her carpet, and I told her in a bewildered voice that I didn't mean to lose this hair and that this was unusual even for me.

Like you, I have always lost a lot of hair in my comb, throughout my life. I lose an insane amount, IMO (a tennis ball each weekly wet detangling/conditioning session). But I usually do not have DRY hairs snapping off when I gently finger comb my hair. And certainly not in this amount!

I don't know if this is protein overload or if it's just because it's artifically stretched or what.

I'm trying to figure out what the culprit is. I plan to isolate the problem by removing everything I've been doing except for one product. I think I will ditch the Mane and Tail as a leave-in, continue NOT using Emergencee or J-PAK, stop using ORS Mayo, and stick to low-protein deep conditioning once a week.

About castor oil: you are right that it is SO thick and gloppy, especially the white stuff from the drugstore (JBCO is a little bit thinner, IMO). In fact, I believe that my scalp massages with either/both have encouraged MORE hairs snap out at my edges...because it is so thick and sticky, that it pulls the hairs at the scalp. I know I must be using it wrong.

Sorry to go into so much detail, but I wanted you to know that I agree that even if others can't see a change, you know your own hair and can just FEEL that something's wrong.

Please update us on your progess.