BKT Diaster/ Hair Issues

[deborah11]

On Nov. 29th, I BKT'ed my hair using dream hair. I have shoulder length hair and I used about 2 oz and flat iron at 320-350 degrees. I know that I used too much of the BKT product and I beklieve that it is causing major issues with my hair. It is very dry, brittle, and breaking. I have washed and conditioned it serveral times. It does not appear to be falling from the root in mass (no more than usual) but it is snapping and breaking. My hair is definitely thinned and shorter. It is almost as if the hair has disintegrated and disappeared into thin air.

If anyone has had this problem after using a BKT, I would appreciate your thoughts and insight in terms of what I should do to get the moisture level back up and to stop the breakage. I would rather not have to cut off all my hair and start anew but at this point, I am thinking that I might not have any other option and that it might be best to just get it over with. I know that if there is anything that an be done, that someone on LHCF will know and tell me what to do. You all are wonderful. Thanks for your help.

 

[deborah11]

bumping for responses

 

[Irresistible]

I don't know much about BKT's but I know if you have damaged hair, you have to grow your hair back out. I don't know of any ways to save the hair if it's as you describe it. Disintegrated. not much you can do with that-I don't think. But be encouraged you can grow your hair back out. I know you said you don't want to go the 'cut' route, I am not sure if that is the route you would have to go, Maybe someone will be able to help more

 

[Moonpie8]

dont have bkt experience but if it is dry and brittle maybe you should lay off shampoo just do co washes and dc a lot and moisturize moisturize sorry you are experiencing this

 

[deborah11]

What I mean by disintegrate is that hair is thinner and shorter but I don't have massive breakage when I comb or wash my hair. Still seems to be the about the amout that i lost before the Bkt. Even though I don't see it falling out, the hair is apparently gone, so that's why I said disintegrate. I hope this makes sense. Sort of like, if one has ever had a bad relaxer, the chemical does something to destroy the hair strain itself, which is what I suspect happened her. I guess the next few months will determine my outcome, in terms of whether it can be saved. If it has be cut that is what I will do as hair does grow back but I would rather not have to start anew. Thanks so much for your response and support. I really appreciate it and congrats on making it too TBL!

 

[africanqueen456]

Just do more deep conditioning and moisturizing and sealing...Maybe get a weave in between time

 

[alive]

Maybe youre just not used to the way bkt makes your hair feel? I wouldn't cut it right away. Give it a month or two to see what happens. Also if I remember correctly the effects of bkt are supposed to wear off after a while so u might get lucky and this will pass in a few weeks

 

[Irresistible]

What I mean by disintegrate is that hair is thinner and shorter but I don't have massive breakage when I comb or wash my hair. Still seems to be the about the amout that i lost before the Bkt. Even though I don't see it falling out, the hair is apparently gone, so that's why I said disintegrate. I hope this makes sense. Sort of like, if one has ever had a bad relaxer, the chemical does something to destroy the hair strain itself, which is what I suspect happened her. I guess the next few months will determine my outcome, in terms of whether it can be saved. If it has be cut that is what I will do as hair does grow back but I would rather not have to start anew. Thanks so much for your response and support. I really appreciate it and congrats on making it too TBL!

oh dang, this was a real post. I was wondering kinda pls forgive me. so many jokie jokes going on right now

yeah I didn't understand disintegrating hair. well I do know that the same with a relaxer there isn't much you can do once it's shot from damage. Sorry for the set back-they suck--I know-sorry there might not be another answer-but you will make a come back in no time. also thank you! :Rose:

btw you could transition damaged hair much like relaxed to natural, or relaxed to texlaxed. You could hold on to it for styles for a little while if you are able to

 

[DREAMIN]

I put a BKT in my hair and my daughters hair. My daughter has natural hair and her hair is thriving. I have relaxed hair trying to transition and my hair behaved just like yours. It has broken and thinned out. Lots of moisture made it worse for what ever reason. What has worked for me has been the joico hair reconstructor followed by moisture. I have increased protein then moisture.
My 4 inches of natural hair is doing well. It's just the relaxed hair that has broken off. Ultimately, it's going to shorten my transition because I am having to cut the thinness off.

 

[missjanelleb]

Sorry OP. There have been stories about the safety of BKT lately. It is said to have formaldehyde in it and whatnot. Call me old fashioned, but I'll take a hot comb and a stove over the chemis anyday.

 

[deborah11]

I put a BKT in my hair and my daughters hair. My daughter has natural hair and her hair is thriving. I have relaxed hair trying to transition and my hair behaved just like yours. It has broken and thinned out. Lots of moisture made it worse for what ever reason. What has worked for me has been the joico hair reconstructor followed by moisture. I have increased protein then moisture.
My 4 inches of natural hair is doing well. It's just the relaxed hair that has broken off. Ultimately, it's going to shorten my transition because I am having to cut the thinness off.

Actually, this is kinda of what I am finding. Prior to BKT, I have both natural hair (about 5-6 inches at the root), texlaxed in the middle, and relaxed ends. During the past 2 years, I had 2 texlaxs, the last texlax was about 13 months prior to getting this BKT. So I had no other chemicals for 13 months before getting the BKT. I didn't even apply the BKT to my relaxed ends because I saw no point in doing that since the end were already straight. Still I sustained damage. This is what is so difficult to understand. Maybe my hair is just not strong enuf for the BKT or maybe I failed in the application by using too much. I just chalk it up to the fact, that everything is not for everybody. I tried and failed so I'll just keep it moving. Will do everything that I can to heal the hair and cutting what needs to go. In the future, I will stick with what works for me which is texlaxing 1-2 a year. Thanks so much everyone for your comments. Love this board.

 

[Dellas]

I am natural now but when I tried BKT for the first time my hair was texlaxed. It was not in good shape prior to BKT. I did the treatment myself and it was coated and sticky and looked terrible. I waited a week or so and had it professionally done. My hair looked great. I used the wrong shampoo and gradually the treatment wore off....my hair thinned out and broke off. It was almost immediate. It was rather unfortunate since I was out of time and in a fancy hotel and all I could see was hair on my pillow. It was very obvious. It was so obvious that within 5 days I started to see bald spots.

I started to read other BKT threads and noticed that texlaxed and relaxed women tend to have the same experience with BKT while Natural women do not. I am natural now but my hair has been shedding due to stress and other factors. I want to do BKT but I want to make sure my hair is healthy and strands can withstand the heat.

What you have said, I have read and experienced. BKT is better seem to do better on Natural hair and hair that is not shedding or breaking already.

Note: I am not a BKT expert but I wanted to at least share my experience and what I have read. I am sure if you do a little research on this board you will find the answers you are looking for.

 

[Vashti]

I would think that since you already have texlaxed/relaxed hair if you put another chemical treatment (the BKT) on top that, breakage would be a natural result. I had a similar situation years ago. I'd trim off the ends a little bit each month so you don't have to lose too much hair all at once, but I think they're going to come off at some point anyway.

 

[JJamiah]

I did my BKT November 1, 2010 and haven't experienced any extra breakage at all. I haven't flat Ironed my hair since the BKT and I do Deep Condition as normal under the steamer. I use Aphogee 2 minute and a DC of my choice. I PS most of the time, I just BKT'd in between relaxers. I am finding my scalp is extra itchy since I BKT'd though so that is the only negative I see right now for myself.

 

[ms.blue]

BKT have different strength and I'm not familiar w/ dreamhair brand to know the the strength. BKT is suppose to work on damage hair but in this case it caused the damage. If you do try bkt again, try to go w/ a formaldehyde free version (it still has some form of aldehyde but not as strong).

I really hope you can remedy this.

 

[deborah11]

Actually, others who have relaxed hair have not sustained problems with BKT. Someone advised that I might have needed more heat to bake the BKT into my hair. Last night, I flat ironned by hair again using 370 degrees and my hair now has "the shine" and very little breakage after that. it does not now feel rough or brittle. I am hoping that will resolve the problem. My hair actually looked very good, soft and silky after flat ironing last night. Baring no further issues, it should be fine, I believe. I certainly can see why people like the BKT given the shine and hair body and bounce, but I will probably not do it again. I am concerned about the formalydehyde and health issues which kind of scare me. I think that I will just wait it out because in the future I bet it will be perfected without the formalydehyde. Thanks everyone for your help. I really appreciate it.

I would think that since you already have texlaxed/relaxed hair if you put another chemical treatment (the BKT) on top that, breakage would be a natural result. I had a similar situation years ago. I'd trim off the ends a little bit each month so you don't have to lose too much hair all at once, but I think they're going to come off at some point anyway.

 

[deborah11]

I did my BKT November 1, 2010 and haven't experienced any extra breakage at all. I haven't flat Ironed my hair since the BKT and I do Deep Condition as normal under the steamer. I use Aphogee 2 minute and a DC of my choice. I PS most of the time, I just BKT'd in between relaxers. I am finding my scalp is extra itchy since I BKT'd though so that is the only negative I see right now for myself.

what does PS mean? My scalp was itchy after the BKT too but it is almost normal now.

 

[LilMissSunshine5]

Thank you for the post OP! I was considering BKT to aid in my transition to natural hair, but it is too risky in my opinion after doing research...I will stick to PS (PS=Protective styles) for now. Debating between kinky twists and individual braids

Sidenote:
@JJamiah- I bought that wig from hairsisters and can't wait to try it on! But I wanted the model color and they sent me my 2nd choice Can I send it back?

 

[Lovelylocs]

It sounds like a line of demarcation problem. The relaxed ends are a lot weaker than the natural roots so the hair broke off at the ends.