Help!

[MarquitaM]

So I've been lurking around on here for a few years, and became somewhat of a pj when I first discovered this. When I was on here regularly, my hair was doing pretty well. Then I moved and kind of forgot about it. I started going to a salon near my home and I started noticing my hair thinning out and every time I told her that I didn't want "bone straight" hair, she disregarded me. Therefore after the second relaxer I received from her, I quit going back. Ever since then my hair hasn't quite been the same.
.
Recently I started going to this new woman and had to get a short cut, which was sometime in October, now it is probably less than half an inch below my shoulders. When I was going to her regularly, my hair was dong really well. At this point in time, my hair is in horrible shape. I'm in my first year of college right now and I'm not even remotely close to my hair dresser and I don't trust anyone besides my mother, my hair dresser and myself with my hair.Therefore right now my hair is in ponytails a lot because I'm always on the way to class, and can hardly make much time to dedicate to my hair.

My hair is relaxed, I haven't determined my hair type just yet. Right now my hair is really dry and my ends are bad(getting them trimmed this weekend though!)For my moisturizer, I try to use Mizani Rose H2O at night and wrap my hair. I wash my hair with the Mizani Fortifying shampoo and condition with Elasta QP Deep Penetrating Re-moisturizer and a protein based conditioner. For those I alternate each time when I wash every two weeks.

So in light of all of my rambling, I'm asking for tips, and anything else that you feel I should know. Thank you!

 

[Platinum]

 

[doobiequeen88]

Tips:
*DC weekly
*Protect your hair (your ends mostly)
*NO dirrect heat
*Strech your relaxers (If you usually relax every 8 weeks try 10)
*Moisturize and seal your hair (It is NOT a moistruizer unless it is water base, EVOO, jojoba oil, coconut oil is great for sealing)


Hope this helps

 

[shopgalore]

Welcome! You could aid your hair by sleeping with a satin cap or satin pillow case, I am sure the ladies here will give you more tips!!



Note: I am new myself (hair in bad shape) so I am not really qualified to discuss hair, but I will always mention a satin something.Lol!

 

[My Friend]

Hello and welcome aboard. I'm sure the experts will chime in soon.

 

[MarquitaM]

Thanks you all! I do wrap my hair with a satin scarf every night, that's the one thing I make sure I do!

 

[CarolinaGal]

Welcome!!!!

Have you checked Sistaslick's post on Breakage/Moisture?
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=84746

Also, you may want to re-evaluate your product selections if they are not working for you. I am not encouraging you to become a PJ, but you have to find the right chemistry for your hair. Sometimes you have to make adjustments depending on climate, water hardness, pollution levels, etc. Good luck!

 

[SEMO]

You may want to try using ORS Creamy Aloe shampoo (or another chelating shampoo that gets rid of calcium buildup). I don't know why, but it seems like college campuses are often notorious for having hard water. Mine did.

Hard water has calcium in it, which can build up on strands and form a coating that blocks moisture. So you may want to consider trying a shampoo to counteract this (if you think the water is an issue at your school).

Also, I almost forgot to say, welcome to the forum!

 

[MarquitaM]

I think the water here is pretty hard, because the shampoo I have is fortifying and it says it gets rid of the buildup, but within the next few days my hair seems dull and dry. Another problem is that my hair has thickened back up again, thank goodness, but when I let it air dry or wrap it under the dryer it comes out as a big puff ball!