Air drying +protective styling=breakage

[melodee]

It just doesn't work for me. Maybe it's due to having fine strands.

I know these two methods work wonders for keeping many ladies ends moisturized and thick. But I find that when I use these two together, I get breakage the next day when i try to comb or style it. I took my bun out this morning and used my shower comb (I don't even use a regular comb anymore). i was getting 3 and 4 inch pieces all over the place. I just carefully flat ironed my hair and it softened up quite a bit. The breakage has stopped.

Shout out if these methods have been giving you a hard time! I know it's not just me.

 

[Huggette]

i cant air dry in a bun, in a pony, none of that!!

i can only do like 70% dry and then put it up. as far as combing after i've air dryed=BREAKAGE!! big time!!

you are not alone!!

 

[melodee]

Good to know Huggette. Anyone else?

 

[ChosenbyGod]

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I am starting to make that discovery myself. I get breakage after I airdry in a bun/ponytail when I try to comb out. The only way I can airdry in a way that's beneficial to my hair is in a rollerset.

 

[Isis]

It just doesn't work for me. Maybe it's due to having fine strands.

I know these two methods work wonders for keeping many ladies ends moisturized and thick. But I find that when I use these two together, I get breakage the next day when i try to comb or style it. I took my bun out this morning and used my shower comb (I don't even use a regular comb anymore). i was getting 3 and 4 inch pieces all over the place. I just carefully flat ironed my hair and it softened up quite a bit. The breakage has stopped.

Shout out if these methods have been giving you a hard time! I know it's not just me.

I've learned from many of the ladies here at LHCF never to comb my hair after it has been airdried. That can break off the hair. I only comb my hair while detangling under a shower or combing conditioner or leave-in through, when my hair is wet.

 

[simplycee]

Melodee,

I NEVER comb air dried hair! EVER! I carefully comb my freshly washed hair into a ponytail to air dry. When 80% dry I twist into a bun. In the evenings I take my bun down to moisturize and into the baggie it goes till the next morning. I don't comb again until the next wash. I wash twice a week (Wed & Sat). I never get breakage because I basically comb on wash days. I use my hands or a baby brush to smoothe the hair along my hair line.

If I'm going to wear my hair out I air dry and then flat iron on a warm setting. Again, no breakage.


HTH

 

[sengschick]

I second what Isis wrote.
combing + air dried hair= breakage

Somehow you just learn how to arrange your hair w/o combing. Maybe do some light surface brushing, but that's it. Not a thing more . My protective style involves just clipping or pinning, so arranging is fine. And even when I make a bun I don't comb my hair anymore unless it's really, really needed (& only that section or part of hair). If it's that bad, I skip it and grab a claw clip.

 

[Kalani]

I can't comb my air dried hair without major breakage unless I first spray it down with a good leave-in, and even then there is still some light breakage. Overall I try to avoid combing my hair unless its wet with some conditioner in it or after a rollerset.

 

[Poohbear]

I second what Isis wrote.
combing + air dried hair= breakage

DITTO!

I have fine hair and I learned this while experimenting with airdrying hair. My hair does best when airdried in rollers. Then, I will style it when it's completely dry.

 

[MonaLisa]

DITTO!

I have fine hair and I learned this while experimenting with airdrying hair. My hair does best when airdried in rollers. Then, I will style it when it's completely dry.

Co-signing w/Pooh.

 

[landakaye]

My hair is fine and I cannot do that or my hair will pop off. I have not found a method that works yet.

 

[NewlyNature12]

Mel,
I've had this problem for a while now. I guess this is why I hate airdrying, because I know that when I comb it out, no matter how gently, I'm going to get some breakage. Maybe we should give the "no-comb" suggestion a try!

 

[QVEE]

You are right about that. This is so true. I just don't comb my hair so much when it's wet. I just put it in a baggie and don't mess with it for the whole week. This seems to work for me.

 

[aqualung]

I have to rollerset my hair after wetting it.

If I do several washing and airdryings in succession, the roots get tangled and matted. They need to be pulled straight during the process of drying.

That's why I don't bother to wet my hair often... It's such a project to wash, detangle, and then rollerset.

 

[taivillo]

I have noticed breakage when I air dry my hair and comb it. I try to comb my hair while I'm in the shower with the conditioner and leave in conditioner. I find this much better on my ends

 

[Dolapo]

I have fine hair too and when i tried to air dry in a bun, my hair didnt dry! but when i air dry in a ponytail, it dries in a max time of an hour. Luckily, my hair dries straight and after i put in a leave in, i can comb with a fine tooth comb

 

[kristina]

I have the same issue- slowing discovering that my hair really doesn't like combs much. I tried to comb yesterday after satuating my hair with surge and water and my hair still broke a bit- then I asked myself, why the heck am I combing in the first place. I think that I'm going to continue air drying (especially since my blow dryer broke!!!) BUT i'm going to avoid combing it and if I desire to style it I'll flat iron it out.

 

[Poohbear]

I have to rollerset my hair after wetting it.

If I do several washing and airdryings in succession, the roots get tangled and matted. They need to be pulled straight during the process of drying.

That's why I don't bother to wet my hair often... It's such a project to wash, detangle, and then rollerset.

In Total Agreement!

 

[ms_kenesha]

*raising hand*

ME TOO, ME TOO!

 

[sengschick]

I have to rollerset my hair after wetting it.

If I do several washing and airdryings in succession, the roots get tangled and matted. They need to be pulled straight during the process of drying.

That's why I don't bother to wet my hair often... It's such a project to wash, detangle, and then rollerset.

That's why the ponytail method rocks! Even w/12-14 weeks of new growth it dries smooth. My natural hair just keeps is wave pattern, just in a loosened form.

 

[Hair2day]

I have 4a Medium hair. I comb my hair with the shower comb while conditioner is on hair. After I rinse the conditioner out I spray Surge & Sa Sof Fro on my hair,lightly spray shower comb with evvo & gently comb thru. After my hair is air dried I apply my moisturizing lotion creme onto hair & use Jam holding gel on the hairline & nape and put hair into pony tail with hands only using an oiled metal free pony tail holder. Then I apply the baggie method. Spraying the Surge & Sta Sof Fro on my hair really made it very soft & easy to comb thru after hair was airdried.

Tips
only use shower comb
always make sure you lightly spray comb with some type of oil everytime you use it.

This may help. I cannot comb my wet hair into a pony tail. The stretching of the har is too much stress for my medium density hair.

 

[sharee]

I am so glad this was posted! I am going to try the no comb method too when air drying! I have been losing so much hair when I airdry!

 

[kombov_dymond]

I've been only airdrying for awhile now without much breakage. I just wash my hair like I normally do and then add Infusium and let it drip dry. I comb thru a few times to help with drying time. (It takes about 30 minutes for it to dry. I have all kinds of lengths...)When it's 80% dry, I add my oil to sections and put it up into a ponytail.

HTH

 

[equestrian]

bump . this is interesting

 

[teysmith]

I did this for the first time a few days ago and had crazy breakage...never again!!

 

[My Friend]

It just doesn't work for me. Maybe it's due to having fine strands.

Shout out if these methods have been giving you a hard time! I know it's not just me.

Air drying = Breakage for me too. I seal in the water with a oil, then I put my hair in 6-8 braids.

 

[nymane]

I love air drying but only in braids (or flexi rods).

 

[drappedup]

I'm confused. I've been washing/air drying the last 2 times I've washed, and again tonight. My hair is actually about 80% dry right now as I'm online; mostly just a bit wet in the back still. I haven't had any problems combing my hair after it's been air dried, but I can't say I haven't had breakage? How do I tell if my hair is "breaking" as I'm combing it?

I've been having severe breakage problems a couple months ago (completely unrelated, btw), but I feel like since I've been doing my own washing/drying my breakage has gotten much better. Just a few weeks ago I literally could not fit my hair into an actual sock bun. I can now do so easily without the top half of my hair being too short.

Also, what is protective styling? What kind of buns are you guys doing? How are you sleeping with your hair when you air dry? I'm air drying tonight, and I was just going to go to sleep with my hair and my satin pillowcase. Is that a big no no? Am I supposed to put it in a bun? Sorry, for the 20 questions, I'm still super new to taking care of my own hair, so I'm learning as I go along.

 

[equestrian]

yay glad i revived this thread. I've been having this problem. I get light-moderate breakage when i comb air dry hair. although it's not severe i want to retain as many strands as i possibly can. i'll have to try the minimal combing method.

also got to try some leave ins to tame that air-dry frizz.

 

[Christelyn]

Mel,
I've had this problem for a while now. I guess this is why I hate airdrying, because I know that when I comb it out, no matter how gently, I'm going to get some breakage. Maybe we should give the "no-comb" suggestion a try!

This is the ONLY solution for me. I wash and bun my hair in the shower. I only comb while under the shower stream then my hair doesn't see another comb until wash day. Why do you feel you need to comb if it's in a bun anyway?