Anyone with demon SSKs been able to retain length?

[davisbr88]

So, I've pretty much given up trying to get rid of SSKs.
I have tried everything recommended on this board to prevent them.
Naturally, when I let my hair shrink, I get them. Which is why I have not done so in a very long time, BUT...
When my hair is kept stretched, I get them.
Washing in braids, I get them.
Washing loose, I get them.
When I sleep in braids, I get them.
When I sleep loose, I get them.
With or without a satin head covering, I get them. (I sleep on a satin pillowcase)
When I have my hair in a stretched protective style or a wet bun, I get them.
When I don't seal, I get them.
When I seal, I get them. I've tried sealing with light oils, heavy oils, butters, and even vaseline. Still got em.
When my hair is protein/moisture-balanced, I get them.
When it is heavily moisturized, I get them.
When it is heavily proteined, while it hardly ever breaks, I still get them.
When I've gone through and cut them all out (including huge cuts I've done in the past), they come back.
I will admit that my diet isn't that great, but I take a myriad of supplements including fish oil, iron, garlic, and a multi. I drink about 10-12 cups of water per day on average.
WTF am I doing wrong?
And finally...
... for those who have given up (if anyone), were you able to gain length?
At this point, I feel like completely letting them be and seeing if I can get to my goal with them. I know my ends won't be that great, but I am really tired of cutting away all of my progress all of the time only to have the same problem resurface.
Currently, I cowash and wet bun daily. Shampoo/protein/moisture monthly.

 

[faithVA]

I don't have length to talk about about but I have stopped trying to cut them out and am not just working to reduce them and keeping them from being problem children (pulling out other hair). I did a big trim last September thinking I was gaining something and within a week they were all back.

I have increase my moisture, included oil rinses and lately added henna and it seems to help reduce them. I can tell they are reduced because now they only sit on the bottom inch of my hair versus going all the way up the strand.

I have mini twists in now and have greased the ends and am hoping that will keep them from playing rough with their siblings.

I haven't found anything to completely work. I don't wear my hair out. And I do everything I am "supposed" to do.

 

[Curlykale]

wet bunning is the thing that gives me the most ssk: one year ago I was wet bunning and I got the max amount of ssk.

Yes, I do have them but air drying in any stretched style (i.e. braidout) allows to not have one or more knots per strand > to grow my hair. Sealing with wheat germ oil (for some reason this works very well for that purpose, must be the ceramides), air drying in braids and letting them be for 6 months or more are THE 3 things that have turned around my situation. The difference in number could be seen in few months. I think it is impossible to not get them and I was going crazy one year ago, but with this routine I definitely see no problems at all.

 

[cinnespice]

I think oil rinsing helps a lot with ssk's.

 

[Prudent1]

Yep, SSKs are the debil plain and simple. I don't think I will ever be SSK free (unless I recently cut them out). I try to minimize the amounts instead. The advice I've received here has helped greatly but I still have someerplexed. I have noticed for me sealing with a heavier oil (castor), wearing protective styles like 2 strand twists, corn rows or box braids, wearing collarless shirts, and wearing shirts made of synthetic materials, have helped reduce the amount of SSKs I have though. Oh, and sometimes I have to sleep with a silk scarf and a bonnet. This is because my trusty bonnet's band was giving me SSKs as I slept from my head moving- SMH. They are still around. Just not in large numbers... I have managed to retain length but it is aggravating and not something I can neglect.

 

[g.lo]

So, I've pretty much given up trying to get rid of SSKs.
I have tried everything recommended on this board to prevent them.
Naturally, when I let my hair shrink, I get them. Which is why I have not done so in a very long time, BUT...
When my hair is kept stretched, I get them.
Washing in braids, I get them.
Washing loose, I get them.
When I sleep in braids, I get them.
When I sleep loose, I get them.
With or without a satin head covering, I get them. (I sleep on a satin pillowcase)
When I have my hair in a stretched protective style or a wet bun, I get them.
When I don't seal, I get them.
When I seal, I get them. I've tried sealing with light oils, heavy oils, butters, and even vaseline. Still got em.
When my hair is protein/moisture-balanced, I get them.
When it is heavily moisturized, I get them.
When it is heavily proteined, while it hardly ever breaks, I still get them.
When I've gone through and cut them all out (including huge cuts I've done in the past), they come back.
I will admit that my diet isn't that great, but I take a myriad of supplements including fish oil, iron, garlic, and a multi. I drink about 10-12 cups of water per day on average.
WTF am I doing wrong?
And finally...
... for those who have given up (if anyone), were you able to gain length?
At this point, I feel like completely letting them be and seeing if I can get to my goal with them. I know my ends won't be that great, but I am really tired of cutting away all of my progress all of the time only to have the same problem resurface.
Currently, I cowash and wet bun daily. Shampoo/protein/moisture monthly.

I can feel your frustation, i decided just to live with them. from december to march, i did trim my hair about 4 times to get rid of them!
until i decided to live with them, my hair is still growing fine! i have notice not wearing twist out and braids out did help!

 

[davisbr88]

Now, I have to say that even though I wet bun everyday, I don't have more SSKs than I've always had. It's about the same and maybe a bit less. And they also are only on the ends of my hair. Usually the last inch to inch and a half.
But even when I wear braid-outs and such and keep my hair stretched, I still get them, so I'm thinking, why waste the time braiding and un-braiding, or wearing two-strand twists for 3 weeks or whatever, for the same result of just cowashing in the morning and throwing it in a bun in less than 5 minutes? Either way, I'll still have these friggin' frustrating arse knots. I am thankful that I only get them on my ends but enough is enough. I am so tired of stressing about them!!!!

ETA: I have tried oil rinsing at least 5 or 6 times. It does absolutely nothing for me for whatever reason... smh.

Thanks for the responses, ladies!

 

[angelgrl135]

This is the very reason I am 25 mos post relaxer and still transitioning. I did cut my relaxed ends in one section and the SSK's were so bad that I knew I would never be able to do a wash and go. Since I knew I only would be doing braid out, twist out, or whatever type of "set" styles, the relax ends don't bother me b/c I just throw a rod on the end of the braid, twist, etc... I only have about 3 inches of relaxed hair left (my hair a V-shape that falls between bsl and apl) but I'm holding on to them for dear life, not for length purposes, but because they are protecting me from SSK's.

 

[lisajames96]

OP, I've tried alot of the things you did and I still get SSKs. I remove the ones I can, but gave up the idea that I would be free from them. I found a reggi that I can stick with and I have been able to retain some length. I should have been waist length by now, but I'm scraping BSL and that's okay. When I dust, it grows back. I'm getting there too, slowly but surely.

ETA: Oh and as some have stated, finding that right oil for my ends helps me alot. Not SSK free, but it helps.

 

[silenttullip]

YES YES!! I was gonna ask if u tried it...
I was in ur boat a month or less ago and oil rinsing has made it so much better
Have u tried it like a prepoo under a cap 30-60mns before shampooing? Before I shampoo I finger detangle dry with the oil in and then section. Also using a seamless comb has decreased my ssks

I think oil rinsing helps a lot with ssk's.

 

[GaiasDaughter24]

I hear ya!! I'm just dealing with them. No matter what I do they keep coming back. I refuse to cut anymore progress off. I plan on straightening my hair again in December. Hopefully, my ends will be okay.

 

[davisbr88]

This is the very reason I am 25 mos post relaxer and still transitioning. I did cut my relaxed ends in one section and the SSK's were so bad that I knew I would never be able to do a wash and go. Since I knew I only would be doing braid out, twist out, or whatever type of "set" styles, the relax ends don't bother me b/c I just throw a rod on the end of the braid, twist, etc... I only have about 3 inches of relaxed hair left (my hair a V-shape that falls between bsl and apl) but I'm holding on to them for dear life, not for length purposes, but because they are protecting me from SSK's.

I wish I would have transitioned longer now. I could have done it at least til I got to my goal, so I could at least TOUCH waist-length before these devil spawns took over. I ALMOST wish I could relax again and do it all over!!!! Lol.

 

[Nayna]

Yea I've pretty much accepted that I get them and I just don't focus on them anymore as much as I did before. I trim sort of regularly and figure they will get cut off eventually. I've tried oil rinses as well and I must be doing something off cus I don't find them helpful either. I've also stopped wet bunning. I think my hair being smooshed together like that causes more tangles for me. I notice that when I go for too long without detangling I get more knots as well. I've been trying to finger detangle daily. Seems to be helping.

 

[faithVA]

I refuse to cut anymore progress off. I plan on straightening my hair again in December. Hopefully, my ends will be okay.

I am dusting my ends to cut the color out, but I gave up the idea that I could cut the SSKs out.

Last year I started hacking at the back and I realized I would cut myself bald if I kept that up. They feel terrible but as long as they don't pull out other hair I don't bother with them. I cut the ones that wrap around other hairs.

 

[davisbr88]

Yea I've pretty much accepted that I get them and I just don't focus on them anymore as much as I did before. I trim sort of regularly and figure they will get cut off eventually. I've tried oil rinses as well and I must be doing something off cus I don't find them helpful either. I've also stopped wet bunning. I think my hair being smooshed together like that causes more tangles for me. I notice that when I go for too long without detangling I get more knots as well. I've been trying to finger detangle daily. Seems to be helping.

Yeah, since I cowash daily, I finger detangle everyday and detangle with a seamless comb every couple of days. I did have problems when I wasn't detangling and was just being lazy.
Honestly, I feel like I have no other options anymore. I can't wait until I have enough length to wear my hair in a braid or two everyday and call it a day. Maybe I can interweave some wet and wavy in with my hair to make a braid.

 

[Evolving78]

the only way i would be able to get rid of them would be to go back to just having 4-5 inches of hair. i am learning to accept them. they haven't hindered my progress at all, so to heck with them!

 

[iri9109]

i just snap them off...but it's so many i dont think i could ever get rid of them all...i was thinking about cutting some inches off, but if they're just gonna come back then i dont wanna lose my length for nothing...but i think keeping your hair/ends as straight as possible probably will help, thats why i want to start straightening/rollersetting more often

 

[GaiasDaughter24]

the only way i would be able to get rid of them would be to go back to just having 4-5 inches of hair. i am learning to accept them. they haven't hindered my progress at all, so to heck with them!

Yup, this is how I feel. I'm about 1 1/2in to APL. I refuse to chop off hair to get rid of them. I've considered a 2 in chop but I don't want to. My hair is still growing fine so I'll deal. I dust every 3-6 months.

 

[keepithealthy]

i just snap them off...but it's so many i dont think i could ever get rid of them all...i was thinking about cutting some inches off, but if they're just gonna come back then i dont wanna lose my length for nothing...but i think keeping your hair/ends as straight as possible probably will help, thats why i want to start straightening/rollersetting more often

Yeah that's why I think I am going to start roller setting more during the winter months. I have been able to reduce them alot from doing the "right' things. But I still have them grrrrrr...OP I feel ya pain!!

 

[Victorian]

My natural hair is extremely coily and I never could get rid of mine
My goal length was WSL as well, and I bailed at MBL because I was tired of detangling. I was cowashing/rinsing and bunning daily, shampooing and deep conditioning once per week.

So technically I could retain length even though SSKs still existed, I just wasn't happy with how much work I had to do to even keep the SSKs (and bigger knots) down as much as I did.

It was nice to see my hair reach new lengths and all, but I just couldn't deal with all that...

 

[davisbr88]

^^ Girrrrrrl. I will take MBL! Shoot, if I gotta bail, so be it! But I need to get there first.
I'm happy I'm not the only one who decided to leave those little jerks alone.

 

[ZkittyKurls]

SSK's!!! the debil!! I will be doing a trim tonight before i put my hair up in yarn braid for two months. hopefully the less frequent i have my hair out the better off i can be. I think it is all time that we accept SSK's and

unfortunately i dont have good quality hair sheers so would i be able to get away with a good pair of regular good quality scissors just this once?? or is it a

 

[NappyNelle]

For many of us, SSKs are inevitable. I'm half an inch from BSL and I still get them. I have very fine type four hair, and I'm still retaining length. Concentrating castor oil on my ends seems to be working well. I'm also deep conditioning more than I ever have in my natural journey. Moisture really does seem to be the key.

 

[davisbr88]

ZkittyKurls: BAD idea!!!!!

 

[ZkittyKurls]

^^ crud! thanks tho.

 

[davisbr88]

i just snap them off...but it's so many i dont think i could ever get rid of them all...i was thinking about cutting some inches off, but if they're just gonna come back then i dont wanna lose my length for nothing...but i think keeping your hair/ends as straight as possible probably will help, thats why i want to start straightening/rollersetting more often

Yes, honey. When it gets cold out, I am totally keeping my hair straight this year. Forget that daily cowashing business. Hopefully that will help, but honestly, I'm done with it.

 

[dicapr]

I have given up on trying to be SSK free. I actually think I had more SSK when wearing twists than my current daily CW and puff routine. I am still retaining length and when a strand has more than few I break or trim them off. I figure once I get to my goal length I will trim on the regular to be SSK free. Right now they stay on the last few inches of my hair and I am still retaining length so I am ignoring them.

 

[LiveLoveLife]

SSKs suck! When I wear my hair in braid outs or twist outs, I don't notice them as much, but as soon as I straightened my hair---I was shocked at how many I had. My ends felt horrible. But I have definitely been able to retain length with SSKs. I do prefer to wear my hair lightly pressed and in a bun now tho, because I can't stand the way SSKs make my hair feel

 

[nisemac]

until i came to LHCF, i thougth ssk where just part of the deal. i didn't know they were 'da debil'

my hair literally curls up like the spring coil in an ink pen--the more moisture/humidity, the tighter the coil. i've actually seen strands curling up on each other--as someone mentioned, you try to "keep them from playing rough with their siblings". i usually start getting them at 2 1/2 to 3 inches (perpertual bc-er here!) and actually liked them because then, i could do twists or braids knowing the ends would actually stay! if i find that the ends feel too 'ratty' then i just snip off the tip.

i only get them on the coarser parts of my hair--mainly the crown and top back--never the front top or nape, but that's where my hair texture is finer. i don't know if you can ever escape then, but i think you can effectively manage them. i've never seen them as a retention deterrent.

 

[Damaged but not out]

knots+natural hair= life