BREAKAGE, BREAKAGE, BREAKAGE, BREAKAGE (long vent)

[shellzfoshizzle]

For some reason, even though I'm not sure if I like this product, I always seem to buy another bottle throughout time and always end up pulling it out of the back of my bathroom sink to use.

It's Keracare Oil Moisturizer with Jojoba Oil.

I dont know if I like it or not because me and Oil moisturizers...well... . They all seem to have Petrolatum/Petroleum/whatever and Mineral Oil at the top of the ingredients list. Plus they all take me back to the memories of that big pink bottle that everyone grew up on and we like to call Lusters Pink Oil Moisturizer, which I HATE!

But contrary to all of that, I think my hair likes this product. Keracare that is. I need something for breakage. The only two products I use is Hot 6 oil and Surge. Do any of ya'll use Keracare Oil moisturizer? I dont put it on my scalp, but for those who DO use it, do you use it for breakage or what? I like how it gives my hair shine but I need something to protect against major breakage! Not shedding. Not breakage. BUT MAJOR BREAKAGE! I'm going to have to buy some Draino soon. No joke. I'm 9 weeks post relaxer (which is probably nothing compared to the many weeks that you ladies stretch). I am starting to think that my one and only option is just getting a relaxer. I just need something to stop all this breakage.

Ya'll....

I just dont know what to do anymore.

I'm at my wits end with my hair. Last year I cut my hair to a really short length. It was like Fantasia's cut. The purpose of this cut was because my hair was so damaged and could not be saved. I'm thinking about going back to this cut because it seems that all else has failed. Right now it's not as bad as it was last year when I had to get it cut, my only problem is breakage and my ends are in great condition except for on the sides where my hair is thinning but its breaking and snapping off all over!

Aahhhhhhhhhh!!!

 

[Faith]

My first suggestion is STOP using the SURGE. Do you think it could be protein overload? My hair breaks if I have too much protein and not enough moisture.

 

[UmSumayyah]

I agree it could be the Surge. What else do you use (shampoos, conditioners, etc.)

 

[shellzfoshizzle]

Stop using Surge?

But I just bought a new bottle...?!? It's slap full! I only surge my nape and edges, will this stop breaking and snapping alll over if i stop surging?

 

[shellzfoshizzle]

I shampoo with Keracare Moisturizing Shampoo

I condition with Keracare Humecto Conditioner

I surge my edges and nape 2x a day

I oil my hair scalp daily.

I take Vitamin E, B-6, and Biotin

I wash once every week and a half.

Thats my regime.

:-\

 

[LoriLOCX]

Hi shellzfoshizzle
I can share some stuff with you. I use AFFIRM and KeraCare religiously. I find that the Oil Moisturizer is more of an oil to my hair than a moisturizer. I have MAJOR breakage too, but I can't attribute it to KeraCare. My problem is my food diet and health.

To combat breakage, I've started daily co-washing my hair. What is your hair-type? I have a mix of 2,3 and 4a. Add S-Curl to your new growth to keep the moisture. Deep condition your hair ALOT and use a light protein atleast once a week....like adding an egg and mayonaise to your conditioner. DON'T USE ANY HEAT!!!! Find a protective style that works for your length.

My hair is so short, I hate talking about it, but I've decided to wear it all back and apply a bun-like hair piece.

What do I do? I wash nightly with V05 instead of shampoo, rinse, and then apply NTM hair serum, NTM daily conditioner as my leave-in, QP Mango butter to my ends, and a little BBD Keala Oil all over to seal in the moisture. I went from MAJOR BREAKAGE in 2 weeks to virtually none. My hair looks like someone else's...not the poor excuse for hair that I was use to. I love it. My ends look healthy, and this was in just 2 weeks....all thanks to the ladies here on LHCF.

I think you may benefit from the NEWCOMERS GROWING OUT CLUB which just started. There are some experienced LHCF members that are guiding us. Check it out!!

LL

 

[ChosenbyGod]

Maybe you should go ahead and relax. It's been 9 wks. right? Some ladies can't stretch for long periods of time without breakage. Is it your roots giving you the trouble? What's helped me is making several ponytails (after I wash and deep condition) and drying that way. This straightens the roots and make my hair WAY easier to comb and manage. Therefore, less breakage. Oh yea, using lots of oils has helped too.
It seems like your regimen is ok, maybe you could try using a light protein conditioner for your next deep condition.

HTH!

 

[brownhaired_bonanza]

Curiously asking Shellzfoshizzle, why are you stretching your relaxer 9 weeks? As you siad before, perhaps your only option is to get a relaxer asap... I know if I stretched my relaxer that long, my hair would be seriously breaking too. Since I've discovered this site (that i love sooo much), it seems that some ladies here can stretch their relaxers to ridiculous lengths. I and some others cannot. Maybe relaxer stretching for so long a period is not for you, I don't know.
So sorry to hear about your problem and I hope you find a quick soloution.

 

[luvSLave]

It seems like your regimen is ok, maybe you could try using a light protein conditioner for your next deep condition.

I second this. People truly underestimate the importance of protein treatments.

 

[Poohbear]

A lady on this forum gave me a partial of a bottle of KeraCare Oil Moisturizer with Jojoba Oil and I really liked it. I used it on my hair as a moisturizer and placed my hair into a bun. I used up the bottle and that's all I used it for.

Do you use this moisturizer on your hair when you wear it out? If so, as far as protecting your hair against breakage, seal the moisture with an oil or serum.

Do you have fine or thick hair? And do you apply Surge to your scalp or whole hair shaft? How often? I don't see a problem with applying it to your scalp but don't apply it to your whole hair shaft too often if you have fine hair because protein overload can cause breakage.

HTH!

 

[Poohbear]

I shampoo with Keracare Moisturizing Shampoo

I condition with Keracare Humecto Conditioner

I surge my edges and nape 2x a day

I oil my hair scalp daily.

I take Vitamin E, B-6, and Biotin

I wash once every week and a half.

Thats my regime.

:-\

How often do you use the moisturizer? I would suggest using it on your hair before you apply oil.

 

[Solti]

I shampoo with Keracare Moisturizing Shampoo

I condition with Keracare Humecto Conditioner

I surge my edges and nape 2x a day

I oil my hair scalp daily.

I take Vitamin E, B-6, and Biotin

I wash once every week and a half.

Thats my regime.

:-\

It sounds like you need moisture. You know oil is not moisturizing. How do you style it? Do you think you could incorporate a conditioner wash in there?

 

[IvyMichael]

Hi Shellz,

I had major breakage too. We are talking pieces of all different lengths falling onto my clothes, in the sink, in the shower, virtually everytime I touched (including moisturized) my hair. Thanks to all the advice on this board, I abandoned using direct heat on my hair, shampooed or conditioner washed every 3-4 days, and started moisturizing 2x daily. I even add deep conditioning treatments with heat occasionally and I only combed my hair while it was wet with conditioner. I surged for about a month or so with results, but the whole time I was still having a LOT of breakage. So I definitely understand what its like when you feel you are doing everything right but STILL have breakage.
The major change was when I did an Aphogee protein tx 3 weeks ago. Since then, my breakage is sooooooo much less. Like everyone else has said, protein treatments are definitely important in strengthening one's hair, esp if its damaged from overprocessing. Try doing an Aphogee or using Nexxus Emergencee once every 4-6 weeks, and see if that helps.

IvyMichael

 

[Faith]

See it's a fine balance. You have to know what you're doing on a regular basis. Too much protein can hurt you and not enough can also hurt you. I would suggest more moisture first before I do more protein. I was experiencing breakage many months ago and instead of doing protein which my hair is not too crazy about I bumped up on moisture and the breakage decreased. Do you use scurl or any thing like that then maybe seal it in with some oils?

 

[Champagne_Wishes]

Instead of protein, use more moisturizing conditioners and leave-ins. That's how I gotten my breakage to slow down. That and cutting off the unsaveable parts.

 

[shellzfoshizzle]

Thanks ladies for such wonderful advice. To answer some of the questions...

I did conditioner washes every 2-3 days and that didn't help because my hair was soooo dry. I guess I didn't balance it with moisture.

When I surge, i dont spray the entire hair shaft, just the scalp.

Also, I have aPhogee 2 minute reconstructor. I didn't see a big difference when I used that product.

Also, the reason why I am stretching my relaxer is because my hair is overprocessed. I wanted to give it a break. In some areas I dont even need a perm, some areas I do.

I'm seriously contemplating getting a relaxer next week if this doesn't stop.

 

[A_Christian]

Hey Shellz

The only thing that has stopped major breakage for me a few years back was letting my stylist give me a very strong protein treatment. I would have to sit under the dryer in the salon to let the treatment be activated, then get it rinsed out and have a moisturizing conditioner applied to my hair. I do not know what the products were, but I will definitely ask my stylist the next time I go to the salon and post the info if I can remember to. It may be the Dudley DRC-28 or one of the other LHCF favorites for strong protein treatments, but I'm not certain.

Whatever the protein treatmnet is it is very strong and has to literally "bake" into your hair under the hooded dryer in order to strengthen it. I would recommend only getting the treatment done in the salon; a treatment this strong could cause more breakage if it's not done by a stylist who really knows what they are doing. I love doing my own hair but doing my own touch-up's and doing this strong treatment are the only two things I don't trust myself to do.

 

[Trinity1]

Hi Shellzfoshizzle,

First of all I'm sorry that you are experiencing breakage and I hope that you are able to get it under control soon but may I say that the very LAST thing you should do is relax your hair if you are experiencing this type of breakage. Relaxers already weaken the hair which is why it is so important to have healthy strong hair before relaxing. Why put something in your hair that will weaken it even more? Not only will the relaxer weaken your hair even more but it will dry it out too because right now your hair is not in its strongest state. If I may I would like to suggest that you hold off on the relaxer and do condition washes every other day for 2 weeks. Follow up with a deep conditioner after each wash but prior to putting in the deep conditioning product,put some Olive Oil (the kind you buy at a grocery store) in your hair before applying the deep conditioner. Sit under the dryer for as long as you do for your regular deep conditioning. Eliminate protein all together during this time. Each time you put protein on your hair it is getting dryer and dryer. In normal circumstances protein is great but right now your hair needs more moisture than protein. Try using a conditioner for your washes that doesnt contain protein and a deep conditioner without protein. About 3 years ago I had the same problem you're having and after doing the aforementioned,my breakage stopped within a week.

Good luck whatever you decide and let us know the outcome


TeeTee2

 

[LoriLOCX]

Hey Shellz

The only thing that has stopped major breakage for me a few years back was letting my stylist give me a very strong protein treatment. I would have to sit under the dryer in the salon to let the treatment be activated, then get it rinsed out and have a moisturizing conditioner applied to my hair. I do not know what the products were, but I will definitely ask my stylist the next time I go to the salon and post the info if I can remember to. It may be the Dudley DRC-28 or one of the other LHCF favorites for strong protein treatments, but I'm not certain.

Whatever the protein treatmnet is it is very strong and has to literally "bake" into your hair under the hooded dryer in order to strengthen it. I would recommend only getting the treatment done in the salon; a treatment this strong could cause more breakage if it's not done by a stylist who really knows what they are doing. I love doing my own hair but doing my own touch-up's and doing this strong treatment are the only two things I don't trust myself to do.

Hey...I think I can benefit from this...THANKS!