Help me please!!!Relaxed hair issues

[HeChangedMyName]

First off all, I have learned so much on here and my hair is much healthier since joining LHCF. I have significantly lessened the amount of heat I use and streamlined my products down to some basics. Now I am having a problem. My hair feels great, It moves, silking feeling but it is DULL and looks a hot mess. I don't know what to do anymore because my old self would have just saturated my hair is some blue magic and let it "look" good. Now I wonder if there is something that I can do for my poor hair to make it look good but maintain the health and lweightlessness that I have? Here is a rundown of what I have in my regimen:

coconut oil
mango butter(pure not QP)
candu shea butter leave in
hot six oil(I mostly use for skin, but occasionally on my hair)
lacio lacio
lottabody
silicon mix treatment


Now, I just did an aphogee treatment last week and trimmed about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch today. My hair lightens very easily in the sun and lately as sunny as it has been, my hair looks DEAD and ugly. No pop in the color at all. What can I do?

 

[Irresistible]

for dullness I would think the coconut oil would fix it, for the color , I have no clue

hopefully others can help with that

 

[HeChangedMyName]

for dullness I would think the coconut oil would fix it, for the color , I have no clue

hopefully others can help with that

Thanks. I am learning more about my hair every day. I just realized that when I use moisterizers heavily, which is usually during dry(hot) or dry(cold) weather, that my hair doesn't like to be oiled up that much. But during times like now, when it is humid, my hair needs much less moisturizers but lots of oil to seal in the moisture that it sucks Yaaaay!!! I may be able to make it through winter without being all dry and bushy.

Anyway. I just oiled up with some coconut and mango butter. My hair was drinking that stuff up---I know, I know, supposedly and allegedly the molecules of oil are too large to penetrate hair, but whatever it was doing to my hair was good. my hair got it's shine back and still feels light and soft even afer all the oil I used. I did some two strand twists all over, so hopefully I will see some good results in the morning for church--otherwise I will have to put it in a pony

 

[Irresistible]

Thanks. I am learning more about my hair every day. I just realized that when I use moisterizers heavily, which is usually during dry(hot) or dry(cold) weather, that my hair doesn't like to be oiled up that much. But during times like now, when it is humid, my hair needs much less moisturizers but lots of oil to seal in the moisture that it sucks Yaaaay!!! I may be able to make it through winter without being all dry and bushy.

Anyway. I just oiled up with some coconut and mango butter. My hair was drinking that stuff up---I know, I know, supposedly and allegedly the molecules of oil are too large to penetrate hair, but whatever it was doing to my hair was good. my hair got it's shine back and still feels light and soft even afer all the oil I used. I did some two strand twists all over, so hopefully I will see some good results in the morning for church--otherwise I will have to put it in a pony

yeah yeah to all that too, my hair drinks it right up too!

 

[Sistaslick]

Sounds like there may be some issues with porosity going on. You might also be dealing with some overprocessed hair. The fact that your hair is lightening easily in the sun is a problem, and the sun is pretty much bleaching (destroying cuticle/proteins) in your hair. The bulk of your moisturizing should ideally come from your deep conditioning, not daily products. How often are you clarifying your hair?

Other questions, sorry

1) How often are you using moisturizing deep conditioners on your hair?
2) How are you styling your hair?
3) Is hard water and issue for you?
4.) How often are you relaxing your hair? Which kind/brand? And how are you getting your hair prepped up for that service?
5.) Is your color permanent? Rinse?

 

[HeChangedMyName]

Sounds like there may be some issues with porosity going on. You might also be dealing with some overprocessed hair. The fact that your hair is lightening easily in the sun is a problem, and the sun is pretty much bleaching (destroying cuticle/proteins) in your hair. The bulk of your moisturizing should ideally come from your deep conditioning, not daily products. How often are you clarifying your hair?

Other questions, sorry

1) How often are you using moisturizing deep conditioners on your hair?
2) How are you styling your hair?
3) Is hard water and issue for you?
4.) How often are you relaxing your hair? Which kind/brand? And how are you getting your hair prepped up for that service?
5.) Is your color permanent? Rinse?

I definitely know for a fact that I have an issue with porosity. that is why I used the aphogee, but it doesn't seem to have worked. As far as my hair, I think it is natural for it to get bleached, I blame it on genetics because now my son is that way too and doesn't have any type of chemical process. My hair has always been that way too, even as a child it would get red in the summers. I don't have a schedule for clarifying. I just do it when my hair tells me it needs it. I usually do baking soda and/or ACV. When my products don't seem to be working I know there is an issue with buildup and I clarify.

1) I try to rotate my moisterizing conditioners every other wash. When I do that I usually just doctor up something by adding olive oil, castor or coconut oil, honey or molasses, maybe some glycerin.
2) I've been wearing braidouts for most of the summer--been a part of the no heat challenge and thus, I have been airdrying. Or just putting it in a pony.
3)I don't know. Is there some way I can find out if I have hard water, because that might be the case.
4)I am formerly a 6 week relaxer(I stopped that last summer), now I wait until 8 or 10(which is usually when my hair begins to break from the stress on the demarcation line. I have curly,kinky, fine hair which makes it so easy to break). I've been using ORS relaxer and basically prepping by using extra oils for a couple of days prior and letting my hair go a little longer than I do between normal washes(usually once a week) Before a relaxer, I may go two weeks.
5)I don't have color because of past experience I know that either my hair can't handle it or I just don't know how to take care of it properly and my hair ALWAYS breaks off from color.

 

[HeChangedMyName]

After going to this site

http://www.inspect-ny.com/septic/Hard_Water_Detection.htm

I would have to say that yes, my water is EXTREMELY hard. I have almost all of those issues. terrible water pressure when I use hot water. permanent staining in my tub, deposits on the faucets.

So, I checked into it. This site offers some further information on the effects of hard water elements on the hair.

http://www.malibuwellness.com/content/Cn_Hair_Solutions_Hard_Water.aspx

 

[Sistaslick]

I definitely know for a fact that I have an issue with porosity. . .

Oh okay. For the reddening hair thing, that is normal if you've been out in the sun for awhile. I thought you were saying it was doing this more than normal.

I asked about clarifying because you do seem to be using alot of oils and heavy stuff in your regimen. I would try to un-doctor the conditioners and let the formulas work on their own a bit. Sometimes too much of a good thing can backfire on us. This might help you get the maximum benefit from your moisturizing deep conditioning. Make sure you're adding heat to that mix too. You can do a final rinse with your ACV diluted in cool water to help seal your cuticles.

Rollersetting would also help you keep your cuticles smoothed in a nice orientation, but you're on that no heat thing. Sometimes airdrying hair that is already really porous makes the issue a bit worse- unless you're airdrying your hair into a sleek position (tied down, bun etc). Deep conditioning along with that ACV cuticle work will be important for you as an airdryer and if you're gonna be wearing airdried "free form styles".

You can have your water tested for its hardness with a water kit which are usually free of charge from filter companies. You'll likely know if its hard though-- barely sudsing soaps, buildup on tubs, dull lifeless hair, dry skin. There was a map of the US posted on here awhile back that showed where hard water is most prevalent. I asked about your relaxer b/c if you're using no-lye, you might also be dealing with the mineral buildup just from that. In both cases, you'll probably want to add a chelating shampoo to your regimen.

 

[Sistaslick]

After going to this site

http://www.inspect-ny.com/septic/Hard_Water_Detection.htm

I would have to say that yes, my water is EXTREMELY hard. I have almost all of those issues. terrible water pressure when I use hot water. permanent staining in my tub, deposits on the faucets.

So, I checked into it. This site offers some further information on the effects of hard water elements on the hair.

http://www.malibuwellness.com/content/Cn_Hair_Solutions_Hard_Water.aspx

Oh wow! See! And that could be it right there! Ignore my previous long winded post. Hard water is a HOT mess. It can be expensive getting a good water filter. A chelating shampoo is going to be your best friend. Joico and Kenra make good ones.

 

[HeChangedMyName]

Oh wow! See! And that could be it right there! Ignore my previous long winded post. Hard water is a HOT mess. It can be expensive getting a good water filter. A chelating shampoo is going to be your best friend. Joico and Kenra make good ones.

Thanks. I never thought about hard water effecting my hair, but it could be the blame for my whole family's dry skin, hair, aggrivated eczema, itchy scalp, ect. I guess I need to get some Joico or Kenra which I keep hearing about and also stock up on gallon sizes of ACV for baths and stuff. I am sooooo mad, I thought I was doing something wrong to my hair for years. may have been the water all along. I have some Vitale chelating right now, so next time I wash, I'll use it ans see if I notice the difference.

 

[HeChangedMyName]

Oh okay. For the reddening hair thing, that is normal if you've been out in the sun for awhile. I thought you were saying it was doing this more than normal.

I asked about clarifying because you do seem to be using alot of oils and heavy stuff in your regimen. I would try to un-doctor the conditioners and let the formulas work on their own a bit. Sometimes too much of a good thing can backfire on us. This might help you get the maximum benefit from your moisturizing deep conditioning. Make sure you're adding heat to that mix too. You can do a final rinse with your ACV diluted in cool water to help seal your cuticles.

Rollersetting would also help you keep your cuticles smoothed in a nice orientation, but you're on that no heat thing. Sometimes airdrying hair that is already really porous makes the issue a bit worse- unless you're airdrying your hair into a sleek position (tied down, bun etc). Deep conditioning along with that ACV cuticle work will be important for you as an airdryer and if you're gonna be wearing airdried "free form styles".

You can have your water tested for its hardness with a water kit which are usually free of charge from filter companies. You'll likely know if its hard though-- barely sudsing soaps, buildup on tubs, dull lifeless hair, dry skin. There was a map of the US posted on here awhile back that showed where hard water is most prevalent. I asked about your relaxer b/c if you're using no-lye, you might also be dealing with the mineral buildup just from that. In both cases, you'll probably want to add a chelating shampoo to your regimen.

I know rollersets are best, but I hate doing it now. with me doing the kids hair and I also do a friend of mine's hair. I hate doing anything to my own that will take time. I need to get out of that because I do really good rollersets too. Didn't know that airdrying could be not so good for porous hair. Thankgoodness I am done with the no heat challenge. My hair feels ten times better for it, so I wont go all out and give myself heat damage, but I know now that heat is my friend for certain processes such as rollersets, deep condish, etc. thanks sistaslick, with this info, I may be able to get back my shiny purty hair that is in my avi.

 

[Sistaslick]

Let us know if the chelating helps. Depending on how hard your water is, it may take awhile to come around. If after some weeks you're still at square one, you may have to consider a water filter.

 

[HeChangedMyName]

Ok, so I got some Generic Value Products versions today. I got their version of Joico K-Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructing Conditioner and their Nexxus Humectress Moisterizing conditioner. I also have some aphogee pro-vitamin leave-in conditioner(the old formula). Can I get some suggestions on how to use the two conditioners to best optimize the results and save my hair. Since I know I have hard water, I chelated a couple of days ago and my hair feels absolutely naked.

 

[HeChangedMyName]

Oh, I have also come to the conclusion that since I don't know how to maintain my hair on any type of stretching that I will have to go back to every six weeks until my hair is strong enough to handle stretches and until I am educated enough to take care of my hair to prevent breaking.