Friend In Hair Trouble - LHCF Advice Needed

[GoingNatural]

Hey, guys. Below is an e-mail a friend sent me about her hair troubles. She knows I am obsessed with hair so she turned to me for help. I want to suggest a protein treatment, maybe even offer her a better DC option, and a definite yes to the multivitamin. I've never experienced her issues so I wanted to see what you guys would suggest. Let me know if you need any more info, I can always ask her.

TIA!

I need help ASAP my hair is horrible...... its is shedding and
breaking everywhere.. here is the story...... I have natural hair that I
press.... In december I was really stressed and stuff and it was
breaking off asymmetrically (more on the left side) so I cut it myself
unevenly.... Then I went to hair cuttery to get it trimmed..... then I
got it nicely styled and color and whatnot.... But I don't think I was
doing a great job keeping it up because I work out often and wash/press
once a week.... About 3 weeks ago I got it trimmed again.. (not a trim
if u ask me, more like a cut) and then got it styled and the lady said
there is a lot of breakage and damage..... when I washed my hair
yesterday and let my friend flat iron it, it was horrible.. even when I
curled it, its not the same, its patchy and doesn't hold a curl... there
is breakage and shedding everywhere, I don't ever rmember seeing so much
of my hair come out! What should I change and what products should I
use? When I condition I do it once a week and leave it on for about 15
mins, my hair is horrible and I don't know what to do. I hve been
stressed the past few months and im not sure if my diet has anything to
do with it as well. Do I need a multivitamin? Do you know any
hairdressers? I don't think braids are a good idea but if I got a weave
would it help growth? Keep in mind I don't have a perm and I cant
exactly do the wash and go thing...... HELP ME..... thanks!

 

[locabouthair]

my first thought is that she should lay off the heat. pressing every week is too much, IMo especially if it's a hard press.

that might be why it doesn't hold a curl.

having a healthy diet can help her grow her hair stronger and healthier so she should try that also.

 

[vivEz daNs lamouR]

I don't think she should get a weave if her hair is already breaking, she might neglect the braids underneath and not moisturize them.

For the shedding maybe she should try the garlic/evoo mixture to stop shedding? She should also take a look at her products, is she using actual moisturizing products or things containing mineral oil/petroleum? Those are only coating the hair follicle. I think for her right now healthy hair is more important then length. How short is her hair? A cut to where she can manage the healthy hair she has might also be best...

HTH

 

[JLove74]

protein treatment sounds like it may be in order and some serious DC, daily moisturizer and sealing.

 

[cmesweet]

It really sounds like she is using alot of heat.

I'm guessing she is using heat often because she works out and can't keep it straight without using it. Maybe she can find an alternative method of protective styling, wigs or half weaves.

In addition, I don't think she should have gotten her hair dyed and pressed while it was breaking, that probably did not help the situation. It seems more of heat damage that she is dealing with.

You made excellent suggestions and make sure she is using a heat protectant.

 

[mochamadness]

protein treatment sounds like it may be in order and some serious DC, daily moisturizer and sealing.

ITA..With all the pressing and on top of the coloring, I'd definitely recommend a protein treatment to strength and repair (if possible) the strands. Just make sure to tell her to follow up w/ a nice deep conditioning treatment. Also she should be sure to deep condition and moisturize on a consistant basis in order to see an improvement.

 

[didirose]

ITA with protein, better DC, and multivitamin.

I also cosign everyone who tells her to use less heat.

Ask her if she can take a break from heat for a couple of months. Find out what type of products she's using. Does she use leave-ins that are heat protectants? Does she blowdry her hair while wet and then flat iron it straight? Find out what type of flat iron she uses and whether or not it's heat controlled. Perhaps she might consider throwing in a cowash and during a twist out or puff in the middle of the week.

Ease her into this info a little at a time. I remember getting excited telling my cousin some info and she was like...look:.

 

[KAT25]

Since she is using heat she needs to use a good heat protectant

 

[mscocoface]

If her hair was already breaking and shedding and she put color in it, that only makes matters worse in some cases. Was her color permanent or a rinse?

 

[remnant]

I don't have anything to add LHCF ladies gave you good advices

 

[Keep1Belle]

She is going to have to lay off the heat and find a protective style that works for her. For me that was a weave. But as others said you still have to maintain your hair that is underneath.

I know she cant do wash and go. But maybe depending on her lifestyle she could do flat twists and then twist out maybe 2-3 times a week.

Or even more simple a pony puff with a head band to keep the edges smooth
She needs to find a new style for her hair other than heat..

 

[GoingNatural]

Thank you all so much! Such great and detailed advice. I gave her the link to this thread and she seemed excited about trying you suggestions--of course I had to explain to her about what protective styling means, protein treatments, etc. I think she is a bit overwhelmed but with your advice I will be able to help guide her through this. I will try to get her to take a picture of her hair now and try to come back to this thread in a few months!