*help* why does my hair hair break excessively when wet?

[Ese88]

Guys can you please help me.
I am a 4b recent natural with a twa. My hair is no longer than 2 inches
I don't blowdry, I wash once a week alternating protein and moisture, I also moisturise & seal daily. A few strands do break off during the week, but not many, maybe like 10 or less altogether. However when washing, I see so many broken hairs, and I know they are broken beacuse I collect them with a tissue and analyse whether they are shed or broken
This happens every wash day without fail. I have tried aphogee 2 step and various moisturising treatments. Its always the same. My hair will hardly break after i've washed the conditioners out (although there is still some breakage) but when wash day comes around again it's the same thing. Breakage galore.

Its heartbreaking for me. I wouldn't mind if they were shed hairs but they aren't and this will hinder my retention. When i was relaxed i did not really loose hair during washing but it broke a lot when combing. Now it's the other way around.

 

[Ese88]

sorry forgot to add, I do not manipulate my hair when wet like combing, the breakage occurs as the water is running through my hair & i am massaging my scalp

 

[LovingLady]

When your hair is wet how does it feel? If it is mushy, that means you need to add more protein to your hair. It is feels brittle that means you need more moisture. How you are handling your hair during the week?

Keep this in mind, just because you alternate using protein and moisture products, that does not mean you hair is in balance. Some people are able to go weeks without using protein, others might have to use a light protein conditioner every week. You have to do what works for your hair.

 

[Ese88]

@ Abdujiz
My hair feels normal when wet. I use a light protein every week and then deep condition with moisture.
i have a twa so i dont do anything except moisturise and seal during the week

 

[Spring]

It sounds like it could be the protein.....

 

[bride91501]

I've read that all hair is naturally weaker while wet, something about hair losing protein while wet. So, I think what some of what you're experiencing is pretty common to all hair types.

My oldest daughter's hair is the same way....she has fine strands (but very dense) that tend to break with little manipulation. Pre-LHCF I thought this would happen b/c her hair lacked moisture (which was true, but wasn't the main culprit); I now know that this is definitely a protein issue.

What works for my daughter is to infuse protein into all aspects of her reggie, NOT just during her DCs.

Her daily moisturizer is protein based (infusium 23 or giovanni mixed with aloe and oils) & I try to apply a protein-based moisturizer to her ends (the name escapes me). I give her the Aphogee 2 step monthly. I've also added ceramides to her regimen (and mine too), like WGO, hot 6 oil, and sunflower oil, and these have helped as well.

HTH.

 

[Ese88]

It sounds like it could be the protein.....

hey spring, honestly i don't know. I just started doing the light protein for the past 3 weeks because i thought, if my hair was breaking when wet, it must be too fragile. However, when i was previously using only moisture, my hair was breaking off too.
I'm also keeping in mind that the problem reduces AFTER my conditiong treatments and hardly breaks during the week, but as soon as it's time for washing, the problem starts

 

[Ese88]

I've read that all hair is naturally weaker while wet, something about hair losing protein while wet. So, I think what you're some of what you're experiencing is pretty common to all hair types.

My oldest daughter's hair is the same way....she has fine strands (but very dense) that tend to break with little manipulation. What I've found works for her is to infuse protein into all aspects of her reggie, NOT just during her DCs.

Her daily moisturizer is protein based (infusium 23 or giovanni mixed with aloe and oils) & I try to apply a protein-based moisturizer to her ends (the name escapes me). I give her the Aphogee 2 step monthly. I've also added ceramides to her regimen (and mine too), like WGO, hot 6 oil, and sunflower oil, and these have helped as well.

HTH.

Thanks, this could explain a lot. I don't really have much protein in any of my daily moisturisers. I tried recently but they left my hair dry and hard. Maybe i can infuse some type of protein into my hair before washing

 

[diadall]

I don't have an answer but maybe a good prepoo the night before will help?

 

[Spring]

hey spring, honestly i don't know. I just started doing the light protein for the past 3 weeks because i thought, if my hair was breaking when wet, it must be too fragile. However, when i was previously using only moisture, my hair was breaking off too.
I'm also keeping in mind that the problem reduces AFTER my conditiong treatments and hardly breaks during the week, but as soon as it's time for washing, the problem starts

Okay.... well at least you're able to rule out protein overload... could it have been how you were styling your hair previously (tight buns & braids,) that may have damaged your cuticles?

 

[Ese88]

Okay.... well at least you're able to rule out protein overload... could it have been how you were styling your hair previously (tight buns & braids,) that may have damaged your cuticles?

#

No all this hair is fresh from my scalp. i only transitioned for 4 months b4 the big chop. My hair wasnt in braids or buns. I didnt have much newgrowth because my hair grows slowly. My hair natural hair hasn't been blowdried or flatironed either.

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

when i was having breakage a few months ago, i was so confused. i would do a moisture dc, and my hair would feel still stretchy. then i would try a protein dc, and the effects wouldn't last; as soon as the next time i washed my hair, it'd be stretchy but dry feeling. then i started to mix my moisture and protein into one dc, with some added oils also, and my breakage stopped. i guess mixing them gave me a perfect moisture/protein balance that i couldn't get using the products seperately. maybe you could try that. and when you apply your dc, take the time to do small sections to ensure you coat most of your strands. i apply my dc using teri's curly primer technique. since making those two changes, my hair has turned around. ♥

 

[Ese88]

Just thought i would give a little update because it may help someone. Today i prepood with protein. i used hairveda's 24/7 protein condish and added a little aphogee 2 min. i left in for about 45 mins and then proceeded to wash. My hair loss was very minimal today and i'm very impressed.
Becuase i prepood with protein i decided to not to use my aphogee 2 min for 2 mins before my moisturising dc and proceeded straight to my AOHSR. My hair felt nice & soft afterwards but my hair broke off more than usual with manipulation when applying my leave-in and moistirisers so from now on I will mix my protein and mositure dc's as usual.
I also like to spritz my hair with water/rosewater mix before applying my moisturisrs because i have dry 4b hair and it gives me added moisture and helps my product to be distributed easily,however i obviously get a little more breakage than if i do it dry so i will be getting some aphogee green tea to mix with the water for whenever i feel the need to spritz.
Thanks everyone especially bride 91501