Does putting off touch up cause shedding?

[AnnDriena_]

Okay i was just looking at godzooki photo album (beautiful by the way) and she said she had to get a touch up at 10 weeks instead of 12 due to shedding. Does letting your new growth grow a little wild make it shed? And how do you ladies deal with new growth?

 

[Poohbear]

I dont think so

 

[candibaby]

i hope not, because i'll be at 19 weeks (god willing) by the time i get a touch up.

 

[CheerBear]

I think it does for me...like right now, I am a little past 8 weeks post relaxer and OMG...for the past week my hair has been shedding like crazy...i try to not manipulate as much as possible to spare some strands, but when i do end up have to do something to it, it sheds even more! Also, right now, I'm opting to NOT deal with my new growth...those nice springy curls i had 2 weeks ago have turned into a packed down non combable fro and I have shrinkage out of this world so i wash it or wet it, clip it up and go on about my day

 

[debyjay]

Well it for sure causes stress on the hair and scalp. And some people's hair break off where the two textures meet. I make sure to put castor oil on my new growth as that makes it super soft. I remember one time I had great results -- I put the castor oil as usual and sat under the dryer then I removed the rollers and applied coconut oil to the new growth and blew dry the roots. Well I had almost straight hair! It was a lot of work but worth it.

 

[Karonica]

In my case, it tends to. That's why I prefer to keep my hair in hands-off styles once touch-up time is nearing or has past already.

 

[Bobbie]

so when people say shedding, do they mean breaking? I'm confused on how hair sheds when new growth comes in.

 

[Boadicea]

Shedding is geneally long, whole hairs. Breakage is generally shorter hairs. They're not the same.

I haven't experienced any increased shedding when I extend touch-ups, and I usually put my touch-ups off for months at a time.

I keep my new growth moisturized and wear protective styles like ponytails (while waiting for my hair to dry). The decreases the frequency with which I have to comb my hair (which makes a ponytail a somewhat protective style) so I don't get any breakage and minimal shedding.

 

[Bobbie]

So...how can hair shed more when you extend a touchup? I always thought breakage was the problem.

 

[candibaby]

my old stylist told me your hair sheds more when it gets closer to touch up time. mine usually sheds the most at 6 weeks and then stops. (i usually perm at 7-8 weeks)

 

[calbear]

Yes, for some people shedding occurs when stretching out a relaxer. I stretched to 19 weeks last time and it was a problem for me. I had shedding AND breakage. I think 16 weeks should be my max. Dealing with the two different textures (and the weakness of the area where the lines meet) can be a major problem for some.

 

[Allandra]

For some it does, and for some it doesn't.

It hasn't caused me any more shedding (just the regular ole shedding that I get).

 

[Tami]

i'm at 8 weeks and my hair is very fine so I have to minimize on combing because I can feel it snapping and there are always hairs on the comb. so I have to wear a bun or some other protective style

 

[LABETT]

I extended my touch up time to 16 weeks and my hair began shedding a little so I had to keep it moisturized more and I had less shedding.

 

[godzooki]

I guess by shedding I meant it is more fragile and breaks off and /or releases easier. When I think of breakage, I think of strands that are visably shorter or just tips, not the long strands I kept loosing. I just notice that the amount of long hairs that just "fall" increase the longer I go without a touch up. I tried to check them to see if they were in fact breakage but I kept seeing white bulbs. Maybe my "turn over" rate just coincides with my touch up schedule, lol!

 

[Isis]

I've timed how long I can put off a relaxer which is up until it starts shedding (13 weeks for me). I use very little manipulation anyway with braidouts or a French Twist - both require no combing and no tension.

 

[LEOLADYSW]

For me it does. I would rather relax more, than lose so much hair to shedding.