Back and natual after Forced big chop. Help!

[Miel]

Hey ladies, its been a while.I got the best advice here and life changes came and hair care went to the back burner. I we nt back to the creamy crack and after a year or so it had done me in. I was getting a LOT of breakage and became very concerned and rightly so because soon I was noticing patches of nothing but new growth...everything the perm had touched was gone! There was no saving what was left so I was forced to do the big chop this week and I have been wigging it every day since.

Now I'm ready to start with a fresh head of hair, barely a half inch and I knew this was the place to come.

So let me have it, the good, the bad and the shame on yous.

extreme 4b
completely natural
habitually dry
coping method wearing various wigs

 

[daaiyah]

It happens.
We learn and move on, smarter than before.

 

[Miel]

Self bumping for a little HELP!!!!

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

Welcome back! annd whatever u were slacking in b4 don't go down that road again, relaxed or natural all hair needs care and consistency. Join a challenge or 2 that should help keep u on track. Don't forget to take pics so next yr this time u can see your progress, cause some of us be getting hair anorexia. LOL

 

[that_1_grrrl]

Meh, I did the exact same thing twice. I went natural in '05. Towards the fall, I couldn't handle it anymore, so I relaxed. I decided to go natural again, but by November 2006, I got relaxed again. I went natural again in March of 2007, and I've stayed that way since. I no longer even think of relaxing as an option.

I took until September/October of this year for me to really realize how I'm supposed to take care of my hair. Until then, my hair would get so dry that it would mat, and I couldn't do anything with it until I washed it. It was terrible and probably the reason I don't have the 10 inches of growth I should have (my hair ranges from 4-7 inches).

What I'm getting at here is mistakes happen. You'll get it right sooner or later, relaxed or natural.

 

[TrustMeLove]

Well you had what it seems like some crazy things happen in life. During those times we usually go back to what is familiar instead of staying on the path that we know we should be on.


And now you see and understand what is best for YOU and YOUR HAIR. So stick with it.

This actually reminds me of something that happend in the bible w/ Peter. Peter was a fisherman, but he met Jesus and was called to be a fisher of men. Traumatic life event, Jesus was crucified. Instead of doing what he was called to do he went back to fishing for fish. Eventually he got back on track.

 

[Miel]

Thanks ladies for all of the encouragement. I'm a newbie all over again. Where do i start?
How do I keep my natural hair moisturized, growing, clean and healthy?

 

[Nonie]

Wear do you start?

I'd suggest getting S-Curl the spray and using that to moisturize. If you can stand it, wear a plastic cap under the wig or Saran wrap. It will keep you from losing the moisture--you might find you don't need to use too much S Curl to moisturize when baggying. When your hair can be plaited--even tiny ones--plait it. You'll have less manipulation and your hair will grow "quietly". You can redo the braids a few at a time when you're home. Do regular DCs on weekends. Your hair will grow w/o you even knowing it. If you like twists and can do them, then you can wear them instead of braids, but braids might keep you from having tangles and might last longest w/o the need for too much detangling. Redoing them regularly will keep them from matting at the base. When you have some length, you can rock an braid-out or twist-out 'fro.

Enjoy wearing your TWA out with accessories...even a tiny puff looks cute with big earrings. Enjoy it before you no longer have it. Enjoy having clean collars.

 

[ycj]

Girl, we all have to find our way when it comes to hair and what works and does not work best for us. I was in your situation and was natural for 2 yrs until last year and thought I can have another relaxer. Well to my dismay my hair like yours was falling out all over the place. But since I have found the ladies here on this site my hair has began to turn around.

I just bc 3 days ago and it was the best thing I could have ever done to my hair.

So I do know exactly how you feel. But when you're ready to join us nappy heads I want to be one of the first to say come on home and enjoy what you were born with.

 

[babygrl79]

This must be all too common! I went natural October 08 only to perm it Oct 09. Once I permed it I knew it was damaged. I used Olive Oil perm and only left it in for 5min. but that was all it took. All the permed hair was week and kept falling out even after treatments. I just bc'd today and don't plan to ever relax again.

 

[bermudabeauty]

you can check out my fotki for twa styles. Even though your hair is short...you still have options. Remember with patience and nurture your hair will grow

 

[chebaby]

if you are looking for products you can get anywhere i would say

co wash with suave tropical coconut conditioner

deep condition with ORS replenishing pack

misturize with shea butter and oils like evoo and evco and castor oil

and shampoo with black soap or any moisturizing shampoo.

welcome and congrats on the big chop

 

[julzinha]

It happens. My little sister and my cousin suffered from intense relaxer damage and had to cut all of their hair off, but it all grew back and a new start is good most of the time and the tips on this forum make having a new start a lot easier!