Reggie:
-Wash 1x a week currently using Paul Mitchell Special Tea Tree Shampoo & the Matching Conditioner. Sometimes I use Aphogee Shampoo for damaged hair and the balancing moisturizer afterwards
-After Wash I rollerset 90% of the time using Paul mitchell leave in conditioner & paul mitchell super skinny serum. I don't really experience much breakage from rollersetting. I end up with less shed hairs after rollersetting than if I air dry
-List of Moisturizers I currently use: HE LTR, Hairveda Whipped Ends
-List of Oils/ serums I currently use: Hairveda Vatika frosting, organix macadamia styling oil, organix anti breakage coconut serum, hot six oil, argan magic argan oil
-Topical Treatments/ Growth aids: Bee Mine Oil w/ sulfur about 1-2x per week & i take biotin, hair skin nails & fish oil pills whenever I rememeber but I'm trying to get better at taking them every day
-Protein Treatments - APhogee 2 step, Aphogee 2 min (did the 2 step protein after my relaxer and also 2 weeks after that I used the aphogee 2 min because I felt like my hair was mushy)
-Other DC - ORS Replenishing pak (havent used in a while), macadamia natural oil deep repair masque (haven't used in a while)
I usually relax every 12-15 weeks. I don't use direct heat EVER... I dont even own a blowdryer or a flat iron. I trim my own ends but its hard because its all different lengths and I have shorter pieces near the crown with some breakage. My last trim was around April/ May
I know my hair is growing because I get a lot of NG but the length is staying the same so I am getting zero retention. I dyed my hair about 1.5 yrs ago and its all grown out to about SL but the ends still have some color damage.
I moisturize and seal at least 1 time a day. I am guilty of sometimes not sleeping with a scarf or when I do it comes off. I have been wearing high buns & sometimes low buns everyday. And I only wore my hair "down" 3 times since may
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lovebug10 ~ I am happy to hear that you notice your hair is growing so you know you WILL have long flowing locks ... now, we need to figure out if the bunning is a protective enough style for your hair at this stage.
When I read your post, all I kept thinking was 'hard protein treatment needed stat' but it seems like you have done that.
For clarification, when was the last time you did a hard protein like Aphogee 2 step? I know it was after your last relaxer but I am uncertain of when that was. I was getting a bunch of broken hair (while PSing with wigs in June) and realized I was not giving my hair enough protein. What do you think about the possibility of giving yourself another 'hard' protein treatment and doing a lighter one on your wash days to improve the moisture/protein balance of your hair?
In reference to the buns ... do you think a style that allows you to have your hair put away (twists/braids) would be a wise choice until your hair gets in the state that you would like it to be in? I wonder if the daily manipulation of taking the bun down, moisturizing, and sealing is making your hair mad.
{{These are just random shots in the dark ... }}
Oh ... I had to edit to post so I can type what just hit me. Do you think the breakage could be related to a porosity issue? I had (maybe I still do, Ion know) porosity issues-- overly-porous hair that would break, break, break. I began using Roux Shampoo/Conditioner for porosity control and it worked wonders for me. Nonetheless, I hope this helps and that you are able to find a remedy to the breakage.