911 Need advice badly

[rwanda]

I am in a dilema and don't know which way to turn. I went natural 4 years ago and stayed on a healthy hair schedule doing everything possible for the health of my hair. No heat, cones, sulfates, and all natural products you name it I have done it. Then all of a sudden my hair started breaking badly, not from the roots although some were long strands, but it was breaking midshaft and near the roots as well. I concentrated on protein and moisture balance, low manipulation, you name it I have done it. Well I came to the conclusion that maybe my 4b coils was too tightly coiled and was snapping off due to the strands wrappig around each other, so I decided to do a light texlax with a lye relaxer to make manipulation easier. What did I do that for, my problem just got worse. I am still experiencing breakage and am afraid I am going to lose all my hair or either I will look like a chicken with my hair chopped up. I take vitamins as well as exercise and am perfectly healthy. I don't know what to do, I have even checked my water at home and there seems to be no reason why my hair is breaking so badly. When I wash my hair, comb with a wide tooth comb, deep condition it just seems as though anything will make it snap and fall out. It just seems as though my hair strands are so weak. I am wondering should I just cut it all off and start over because I don't know what is going on.

The picture above and below is before I went natural.

 

[Anakinsmomma]

Are you doing any protein treatments?

Pagine Nonie

 

[Nonie]

@Anakinsmomma Why you gotta embarrass a chica? You know I know nuffin 'bout processed hair.

OP, do you use brushes? Do you trim regularly? I don't know why hair would be breaking mid-shaft unless you have mid-shaft splits which I think can be caused by brushing or heat (bubble hair effect). And yes, I don't think relaxing was the solution. It tangling was your issue, I could see how you could reason loosening the curl would help...but relaxers break bonds so if your hair is already weak and breaking, you'd only be making the problem worse by chemically processing it. Also, if you don't trim regularly, splits tear up your strands leaving you with hair which looks like this:

So depending on how far the tears go, you end up with weak strands which will break and could appear to be breaking midstrand. If you trim regularly, you cut off the weak section before it grows so big that it costs you length.

What I'd do if I were in your shoes, is BC and braid with extensions. Or if you know how to do your own braids, braid it up now and wear the braids for a year, undoing one at a time and cutting off a chunk...gradually reducing the snips to tiny trims for maintenance of healthy ends. It's how I transitioned and I didn't have to struggle with figuring out how to style short hair. (I find extensions easy maintenance.) If you don't know how to do your own braids, you could get a big trim, get it braided for two months and follow the Crown and Glory regimen for braids (www.growafrohairlong.com) and then get another trim before the next install. In time you'll be rid of the damaged hair and so can start dusting to maintain your ends.

 

[NappyNelle]

Yes, I must repeat the necessary questions: When was your last trim? How often do you use protein? Is your hair porous? How do you generally style your hair? What products are you using?

 

[rwanda]

Thank you for the replies ladies. Yes I have had several trims and actually had one not to long ago before the breakage started. I use apoghee or nexxus emergencee as my protein treatment, and the apoghee moisturizing treatment, suave humectress, or aussie moist as my moisturizing conditioner. I also use a leave in, a moisturizer and then seal in with grapeseed oil, castor oil, or argon oil. I am really considering doing a few big chops and keep braids in until all the perm is gone.

 

[Anakinsmomma]

@Anakinsmomma Why you gotta embarrass a chica? You know I know nuffin 'bout processed hair.

OP, do you use brushes? Do you trim regularly? I don't know why hair would be breaking mid-shaft unless you have mid-shaft splits which I think can be caused by brushing or heat (bubble hair effect). And yes, I don't think relaxing was the solution. It tangling was your issue, I could see how you could reason loosening the curl would help...but relaxers break bonds so if your hair is already weak and breaking, you'd only be making the problem worse by chemically processing it. Also, if you don't trim regularly, splits tear up your strands leaving you with hair which looks like this:

So depending on how far the tears go, you end up with weak strands which will break and could appear to be breaking midstrand. If you trim regularly, you cut off the weak section before it grows so big that it costs you length.

What I'd do if I were in your shoes, is BC and braid with extensions. Or if you know how to do your own braids, braid it up now and wear the braids for a year, undoing one at a time and cutting off a chunk...gradually reducing the snips to tiny trims for maintenance of healthy ends. It's how I transitioned and I didn't have to struggle with figuring out how to style short hair. (I find extensions easy maintenance.) If you don't know how to do your own braids, you could get a big trim, get it braided for two months and follow the Crown and Glory regimen for braids (www.growafrohairlong.com) and then get another trim before the next install. In time you'll be rid of the damaged hair and so can start dusting to maintain your ends.

Sorry, but you have a way of breaking it ALL the way down

 

[Foxglove]

Just wanted to add I would also go to the doctor and get a checkup, make sure you're not anemic or hypothyroid or something like that

 

[beauti]

maybe a hardcore protein treatment like aphogee 2step followed by moisterizing dc....what moisterizer are u using right now?

 

[TeeMBL]

Not sure how to say this but, perhaps you need a better moisturizing DC. Nothing against the ones you listed, but you listed some very strong protein treatments. Also do you comb your hair often, how do you detangle & how often, how often are you using protein, etc. Relaxers should never be used to try to correct damage.

 

[Trini_Chutney]

^^ Yes. How often are you using protein? You may be experiencing protein overload which can cause breakage.

 

[rwanda]

Ladies since I have had this breakage I have tried to treat my hair at least once a week with protein to strengthen my hair strands. I then use a moisturizing dc afterwards to soften but my hair still feels brittle. I am trying to concentrate on moisturizing more now. I try to comb my hair once a day when I am moisturizing it and just wear protective styles such as buns. I have come to the conclusion that I will just big chop and start over again with sengalese twists and box braids. When my new growth comes in I will certainly baby it.