Hair Set back

[SLondonlady]

Hey ladies,

I would love the benefit of your wisdom hair.

So I joined in January as I hoped to learn as much as could about caring for my above shoulder length natural hair. In November 2008 I stopped wearing hair weaves (I was hiding behind it for around 2 years or so) only to realise that I was thinning badly around my hair line and that the crown section of my hair was about 3 inches shorter then the rest of my hair - which is still the case! My back is the longest part but I cannot get my hair to a length where it is all even.

I started taking multivits, biotin, hair tablets, protein shakes and bought the following products:

Phyto Optimal Hydration Shampoo
Phyto Vital force creme bath conditioner
Phyto Intense Nutrition Mask
Keracare essential Oils (an old favourite)
Keracare Silken Seal
Keracare Blowdry lotion
Jojoba Oil
Aveda hair detoxifier
Aveda smooth infustion conditioner

In order to help my hairline growth I used the Phyto hair growth serum capsules. I wash my hair every 3 - 5 days depending on how it feels, admittedly I use heat to dry my hair, and moisturise 1- 2 times per day with the light oils or jojoba oils. During the day I tie my hair back but have been using those ponytail comb clips to avoid sngas (not the most professional looking but well!). At night I wrap my hair and wear a satinised cap. (kinda like a doo-rag thing.)

However, I recently read about protein and moisture treatments, so I tried the Aphogee 2 minute reconstructer (along with the damage remedy shampoo and moisturising conditioner afterwards) - disaster! My hair was so hard, dry and brittle and I had lot's of breakage. I am DC'ing my hair to death and it is almost back to normal (3 weeks later) with minimal breakage but I feel so discouraged. I also feel like I cannot get to grips with my hair.

Will my hair ever grow beyond it's current length? What am I doing wrong? It may be impossible but I would appreciate any suggestions or tips.

Miserable in London,
SLondonlady

 

[Lanea87]

Why was your hair breaking in the first place, do you think it was from the sew-in? Are your ends damaged?.....
If your natural I wouldnt suggust alot of protein....

 

[Christelyn]

Was you hair breaking before using Aphogee? Here's a quick rule of thumb: if your hair is coarse and wiry, you need less protein and more moisture. If it is fine (like mine), you need more protein.

 

[SLondonlady]

Hi Ms B Haven06,

You know, I had always thought I had difficult hair anyway, very fine. I had the sew in put in as a last resort as I had a relaxer which was badly applied and my hair basically thinned out in shock and what was left hardened (I didn't believe it was possible for my hair to get any thinner btw) so I had to let it rest. I think the sew in may have been too heavy over time and didn't allow enough opportunity to keep it as moisturised as it may have needed. I did maintain my hear over the 2 years but didn't necessarily get regular trims or have deep conditioning treatments in between.

I have trimmed the ends but I probably need a good cut now. It was improving pre the protein mishap but still not much movement in length.

Thanks for your reply Ms B Haven!

SLondonlady

 

[SLondonlady]

Hi Christelyn,

My hair is coarser at the roots then it is basically more wavy then curly, apart from the middle section of my head were it is very tightly curled and dense. It's the shortest patch of hair though. The hair at the back on the my left side of my head is a tighter coiled and doesn't blowdry start very well at all. (It always reverts quickly)
Then my right side is more or less straight so maybe I need to treat these patches differently?

Thanks for your reply to my post.

Oh I love your name!

SLondonlady
x

 

[Missi]

My suggestions: oil isn't a moisturizer: you have to use a water based moisturizer and w/ protein conditioners: you can use a moisture shampoo (Keracare Hyrdating shampoo) and use ApHogee 2 mins...then use a moisture con or leave in conditioner and it should be fine. I never overload on the protein: in the past: wen i did: my hair came out locky & stiff: and extremely difficult to comb.. HTH's HHG

 

[SLondonlady]

Hello Missy,

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I do have some Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Moisturizer so I could maybe try using that of a night time whilst sourcing other products.

I read that maybe using a lot less of the reconstructor could produce better results to, so I may give it one more try in a few weeks.

Thanks again and btw your hair is beautiful.

SLondonlday x

 

[Christelyn]

Hi Christelyn,

My hair is coarser at the roots then it is basically more wavy then curly, apart from the middle section of my head were it is very tightly curled and dense. It's the shortest patch of hair though. The hair at the back on the my left side of my head is a tighter coiled and doesn't blowdry start very well at all. (It always reverts quickly)
Then my right side is more or less straight so maybe I need to treat these patches differently?

Thanks for your reply to my post.

Oh I love your name!

SLondonlady
x

It sounds like you have 4-5 different textures! Yes, I believe you may have to treat those areas differently. Perhaps you might try putting protein only on the ends and away from the coarser roots? Phyto has great ingredients, so I'd stick with that. L'occitane also has a wonderful repairing shampoo and mask that works well because it moisturizes AND smoothes and repairs hair fibers without protein overload.

Have you tried the Phyto vitamins? I'd read rave reviews for those as all. Good luck!

 

[Lanea87]

Ummm I think you should DC 2x wk until you hair is back to normal, once may not be enough.
How long were you leaving your sew-in ups?

Hi Ms B Haven06,

You know, I had always thought I had difficult hair anyway, very fine. I had the sew in put in as a last resort as I had a relaxer which was badly applied and my hair basically thinned out in shock and what was left hardened (I didn't believe it was possible for my hair to get any thinner btw) so I had to let it rest. I think the sew in may have been too heavy over time and didn't allow enough opportunity to keep it as moisturised as it may have needed. I did maintain my hear over the 2 years but didn't necessarily get regular trims or have deep conditioning treatments in between.

I have trimmed the ends but I probably need a good cut now. It was improving pre the protein mishap but still not much movement in length.

Thanks for your reply Ms B Haven!

SLondonlady

 

[kimmy89]

Hey welcome fellow londoner!
I think that these ladies have said more than what I already would suggest. But do not be discouraged, you will see the effects of your hard work paying of in no time.

 

[SLondonlady]

Hi Christelyn,

Yes I think you are right, I will have to look at my haircare differently. I did look into the PHYTO vitamins but currently have a stack of Perfectil from Vitavbiotics so will resume those and see how that progresses.

Thanks again for your kind suggestions!

SLondonlady

x

 

[SLondonlady]

Hi Ms B Haven06,

So far I have DC 3 times in the past two weeks, another one is due tomorrow so have noted some tips from another thread regarding applying conditioner (w /heat) to dry hair, oil rinse and sealing with oil so will try this and see how that turns out - thanks for the suggestion!

I used to have the sew in from 3 - 5 weeks! (at the time it was what I could financially afford, however if I ever did it again I would want to change it to every 14 days max. I doubt I will though.)
The sew-ins helped in one way, providing my hair with the break from relaxing it needed but I realised that my hair is way to fine to take any tension/stress, particularly around the hairline areas.

Thanks again for your pointers.

SLondonlday x

 

[Ganjababy]

You used too much protein hence the breakeage. Next time use either one but not both.
You need to give yourself at least 4 months to truly start seeing thick longer hair.

Ensure you moisturise and then seal in the morning and at night. A proper moisturiser has water or aqua as the first ingredient or you can use a leave in conditioner- organic root stimulator olive oil cream in the jar is ok (not the bottle) redken smooth down detangling cream, Paul Mitchell The Cream

Maybe try a sulfate free shampoo which will reduce dryness or try shampooing with a cheap conditioner and only shampoo when you really have to- when you have build up and when you do shampoo only lather once.

Change your pillowcase to satin or silk- this really helps with the edges that is not covered

Eat 15-20 almonds per day

Ensure really dry the excess water from your hair and you really smother (put a lot on) on the conditioner and leave for at least 30 minute with heat or at least an hour without.

Slather on oils like olive, castor, coconut, amla etc the night before you wash and cover with plastic overnight.

Wear your hair up and off your shoulder until it is at least well past your shoulders

Deep condition 2-4 times per week sometimes apply dc to clean dry hair for 2-3 hours

 

[SLondonlady]

Hi Kimmy,

How are you? You're a londoner too? Fab it's good to find local-ish people on here.

I am trying not to get down about it, it's silly but I would love to have BSL hair at least once in my life My sister has recently gone natural too (after much persuasion by me to ditch the sew-in) and she is terrible at hair care but luckily her hair grows like grass regardless of what she does (or doesn't!)
I guess it is all a learning curve! Onwards an upwards as they say.

When did you start your hair journey Kimmy and have you set yourself a challenge? Also, do you sometimes find it hard to find decent products?

SLondonlady x

 

[Ganjababy]

Alternate between moisturising and protein conditioners. I would use protein oncer per week and use moisturising 2-3

 

[Ganjababy]

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=280741

 

[SLondonlady]

Hi Evsbaby,

Thank you so much for both the suggestion and the thread link - subscribing!

X
SLondonlady

 

[LushLox]

SLondonlady, you asked about where to buy stuff. I don't know South London that well, but I'm sure that there are loads of BSS down there, particularly places like Peckham!

Failing that you could always go to Finsbury Park. There is literally a whole road dedicated to black hair care stores there!

ETA: Sorry, I misread what you wrote. Yes it is sometimes difficult to find certain products. If I'm really after a particular item I tend to go to Ebay, and hope not to get ripped off in the process!

 

[Nya33]

Just popping in to say hi to a fellow Londoner!

The others have pretty much covered everything, wishing you well.

Oh i love Finsbury Park, thats the only place i can get my mizani thermasmooth!

 

[luckiestdestiny]

Was you hair breaking before using Aphogee? Here's a quick rule of thumb: if your hair is coarse and wiry, you need less protein and more moisture. If it is fine (like mine), you need more protein.

Aphogee caused a setback for me over a year and four months ago. I was at midback and had to cut a lot from the breakage. I'm now back to midback but am still evening some of it up. I could be tailbone by now but oh well. Some people don't need that much protein. I am one of them. Sadly I knew this at the time but was convinced by some lady in Sally's like she knew more than me! I was doing just fine before she came along. Live and let learn. IDK my hair is coarse but soft not wiry, and thick, but it CRAVES moisture. So this could be the case too. I use protein once in a blue moon when needed and even then it's NOT the hardcore protein. It's just an egg in my conditioner.