Help on porosity issue

[theAlist]

Man...i don't think I've been more frustrated in my life than I am right now...

I've tried searching but the threads have only confused me more. Here is my issue

I've noticed for about 6 months now that my hair is really dry, but recently (about 2 months now), my hair will not get wet when I wash it. No matter how long I keep my hair in water it still has a moist feeling, but not a wet feeling. Then when I am about to dry my hair it is pretty much already dry anyway...I haven't been able to rollerset my hair since January.

This past Sunday it was the same way, but this time as soon as I took the towel off of my head my hair was tangled and matted all over. Mind you I had just spent an hour detangling (I'm about 7 or 8 months post...haven't had a relaxer since Jan....I know...that's probably bad, but I don't have bad menstral cramps when my hair isn't freshly relaxed...sounds weird I know.)

Back to the story, I had detangled well for an hour, then I washed my hair, I still only got the moist feeling, but I had no problems using my wide tooth comb to detangle more against the water. But like I said as soon as I took the towel off of my head it was matted and a tangled mess. I've been using Aphogee Keratin Reconstructor and the moisturerizing condition, alternating between weeks.

My hair type is 4a and my hair is very very thick. I did get the tangles and matts out, but lost a lot of hair...about the size of a softball, but from what I can tell my hair is the same length and same thickness.

Do I have to cut my hair, is it fixable? What products can I use or does my hair sound really bad...should I go to a stylist? Is my hair too porous or not porous enough? Should I get a relaxer?

Thank you, and sorry this is so long I just really wanted to explain myself well.

 

[Barbie83]

Oh goodness, I'm so sorry ur having trouble! I would think that using Roux porosity control shampoo and then an ultra-moisturizing deep conditioner with heat might help your hair open up and retain moisture better. And maybe put down the Aphogee, for just a few weeks.
This is just my opinion. Hopefully other ladies who've been on LHCF for longer than me will chime in and help you!

 

[SweetSpirit86]

Do you cowash? Or use a lot of silicones period? If you do, when was the last time you clarified? Also, do you have hard water? Sorry for all the questions, but sometimes it's little things that have nothing to do with porosity at all. It sounds like you may just have product buildup, and nothing's getting to your hair in the first place.

If you had high porosity, you'd absorb too much. Mid, this topic wouldn't exist. Low porosity, I can see that being a possibility...but even my hair gets a "wet" feeling. =/

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

I agree with Barbie. My suggestion would be to:

1. Stop using the Aphogee until your hair gets back into shape.
2. Clarify with a clarifying Shampoo like V05 clarifying, Pantene Clarifying, etc.
3. Apply Roux Porosity Control according to the directions.
4. Deep condition with heat using a VERY moisturizing conditioner for the time it states on the directions (usually 15 minutes to an hour). Make sure your hair is wet but not too wet when you apply the DC.
5. Rinse out your DC and apply a moisturizing Leave-in conditioner.
6. Style as usual.

HTH

 

[butterfly_wings]

Try clarfying with Paul Miatchel Three shampoo, DC, then as a final rinse mix ACV with water, this should help

 

[theAlist]

Ok all the advice sounds great, thanks ladies

Now that I think about it, I haven't clarified in....I don't even remember...hasn't been this year I know that much. I do have the pantene clarifying shampoo though and I have ACV.

I looked up the Roux, looks like Sally's may have it, but the one down here where I live is...meh, so I'm going to call first.


Also

I don't cowash, use to when I was natural last year though
I don't think I use a lot of silicones, I really don't use any leave ins. When my hair was healthy I could just use a dime size of keracare cream and coconut oil, and chi silk infusion... needless to say that doesn't work now lol
And no I don't have hard water

Thanks again ladies

 

[theAlist]

http://public.fotki.com/sweetfacekay/2008/for-my-3-year-natur/relaxed2009.html


sigh that's an old pic from last year when I first relaxed...I want to cry lol

 

[isabella09]

I’m so sorry for your current troubles, I concur with clarifying and ACV. An ACV rinse (75ml of ACV to 1 litre of spring water) as my final step after a steam DC was definitely the missing link in my regimen. After incorporating this as my final step, honestly, my hair was soo soft, smooth, locked-in more moisture and was virtually tangle free This is amongst some of the most important steps in my regimen that I've learned on this forum.

 

[msa]

I agree with everyone else. Clarify, do a real moisturizing dc, and use the roux. That should really help. The aphogee moisturizing conditioner you've been using isn't all that great according to reviews on the board so find something that is better.

Also, since you have thick hair when you detangle a section you should braid it up or something. It seems like leaving your hair loose contributed to the tangles/matting that you got.

 

[beana]

I agree with Barbie. My suggestion would be to:

1. Stop using the Aphogee until your hair gets back into shape.
2. Clarify with a clarifying Shampoo like V05 clarifying, Pantene Clarifying, etc.
3. Apply Roux Porosity Control according to the directions.
4. Deep condition with heat using a VERY moisturizing conditioner for the time it states on the directions (usually 15 minutes to an hour). Make sure your hair is wet but not too wet when you apply the DC.
5. Rinse out your DC and apply a moisturizing Leave-in conditioner.
6. Style as usual.

HTH

I'm having a similiar issue... after i rinse out my moisturizing DC my hair feels really soft , but when it comes times to detangle it gets hard all of a sudden

This weekend i'll be using a similiar regimen as listed above sans the PC control step... i really think my hair is in need of a good clarifying shampoo and moisturizing DC.

 

[lovenharmony]

I'd have to agree with the rest of the ladies. Clarify then use Roux and deep condition. I use roux every wash to keep my porosity levels in check and my hair is thriving! HTH

 

[gymfreak336]

If your hair can't get wet, it sounds like low porosity which roux doesn't address. I really need you to clarify with a real clarifying shampoo. Acv only removes buildup from the current wash so it alone won't do it. Acv and porosity control are geared toward more porous, high porosity hair , using the cuticle constricting properties of acid to help improve it. And if you haven't clarified in a while, one wash might not do it. Also, make sure you don't have hard water.

 

[theAlist]

Thank you so much for the responses, lots of good stuff! I was too scared to wash again, but I think I can tackle it now. I'll update wash day.

 

[Wildchild453]

Was there ever a solution found for hair with low porosity?

 

[msa]

Was there ever a solution found for hair with low porosity?

I don't know if anyone has discovered a surefire solution. I was saying in this thread that people with low porosity should probably do things the opposite of what those with high porosity do.

 

[theAlist]

Thanks for bumping this, because I never gave an update.

The porosity control definitely worked. My hair is still a little dry, however my hair is getting wet and it is not matting up when it hits water so that is a plus. I still have more work to do...but I didn't expect things to change over night. I went to a dominican salon a couple of weeks ago and they gave me a special treatment with steam and a towel (i'm not sure what it was called or what conditioner) but that was the best my hair has turned out in a while.

So yea the porosity control worked really well for me. Thanks for the help ladies.