I have so much breakage it's unreal!!

[CharUK]

I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Listen up.

My hair has grown too much since I gave it another cut mid July, I really couldn't believe it, anyway, I chopped all the growth off (about 1.5 inches) so my hair was thick and bouncy.

I just did the regimen I posted about and OMFG the amount of breakage/shedding was AWFUL!!!!!!! When I poo'ed my hair, hairs all over my hands, when I applied the treatments, hair all over my hand, on my shoulders, I just don't understand it, where am I ALWAYS going wrong? This is really stressful, I dread de-tangling time, will I have any hair left?

 

[Falon]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Char...I know you probaly posted this somewhere else...but could you give a detailed account of your hair type and regimine and be very specific? I'm sure the ladies will be more than willing to give you detailed advice.

There has to be something that can turn this around for you.

 

[Tai]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

I'm sorry to hear about all the breakage. It's not uncommon to have more shedding when coming out of braids. I thought I heard you mention that the braids were done too tight. That may have also contributed to some of the breakage because you have to be gentle when braiding transitioning hair. It's prone to breaking at the line of demarcation.
Hang in there. It will get better.

 

[CharUK]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Thanx ladies, I guess I just feel beat you know?

Falon, I am currently transitioning with about 3 inches of growth so far.

I'm growing out a wave nouveau, I don't know my natural hair type, but it's in the 4's I'd say.

I alternate conditioner and shampoo washes every 10 days, if you know the W.N you know that it frizzes out so badly and your hair needs to recover before washing again.

I usually moisturize daily, previous with activator and oils, lately with my spritz bottle (glycerine, water, rosemary E.O, coconut and castor oil)

I chop and change my routine quite frequently, i'm still trying to find what works.

But it doesn't seem like anything does right now..

 

[Tai]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Are you planning a long term transition or will you be BC soon?

 

[CharUK]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

I'm planning a long term (15 months) transition.

 

[Falon]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Maybe you need a back to basics routine.

1. Moisture

You add moisture to the hair through frequent washing...water is necessary for moisture. Wash the hair at least twice a week.

You should use a leave in that doesn't have petroleum or mineral oil as it's first ingredient.

2. Minimal/No heat

Heat strips moisture from the hair and dry hair breaks especially at the ends.

Since you are really having a lot of breakage try to use NO heat at all for a few weeks.

3. Combing and brushing

You know the does and don'ts...don't comb several times a day...do gently detangle when wet. Don't use a fine toothed comb...etc. If you have a problem with breaking hair you probaly should avoid using a hair brush as much as possible.

4. Sleep in your satin bonnet or on a satin pillow case.


Maybe you need to get rid of a lot of your products...stick to washing your hair twice a week and find a deep conditioner with protein to help with your breakage. Do the basics and minimize on switching your routine and so that you will know for sure that "o.k this does or does not work for my hair...so I won't do that or use that product again"


If all else fails it's possible that your hair has been damaged to the point that it may take a year or better and you will just have to cut the hair down and start from scratch.

Always keep the basics in mind and if you are about to do something that goes against that then question yourself.

 

[CharUK]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Thanx a lot Falon, I dread washing my hair again really, I'll keep what you said in mind.

Thanks again, but I think you are right, I think my hairs had it, I mean, it's always had bad breakage, but it's getting worse. I'm going to try nexxus emergencee next time, I've never used anything like that before.

x

 

[PretteePlease]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

oh no sorry to hear this maybe you need an aggressive trim

 

[M_BYRON_M]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

The way your describing your brakage is similiar to how mine is when i take my kanerows out .I get about a full large jar of hair .but i still see progress in my growth .

Dont be to worried about the breakage .I also found that leaveing in my kanerows longer reduced the amount of breakage.(dont know if thats true but thats what it looked like)

 

[nurseN98]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Sorry to hear that Char, I can relate. about 6 months into my transition, I started shedding like crazy too. What slowed it down for me was a conditioning shampoo, then ACV rinse, then protein followed by deep conditioning treatments with heat. Also I learned I had to stop rubbing so much and just focus on the scalp for shampooing and gently putting the conditioner on my hair. After I started making those routine, my hair has been much, much better.

Good luck with everything

 

[AJamericanDiva]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

I have a feeling that it has something to do with the relaxer and the WN applied interchangeably... if I recall that last post....

 

[SoAnxious12]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Sorry about the breakage. But when your transitioning your hair will break more than normal because it's weaker. I recommend more moisturizing than you usually do.

 

[Carlie]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Char, you haven't mentioned anything about protein. Have you tried doing any protein treatments....usually when hair is breaking off THAT much, protein usually is the thing that does the job, backed up by intensive moisturizing.

 

[CharUK]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Thanx a lot guys, I feel a little better, some how, my hair is a lot thicker than before cornrows and like I said, it really did grow! It's just stressful.

But from what i'm hearing it could be due to a number of things... I am going to buy nexxus emergencee and see how that goes, I'll use it before I get my kinky's done, maybe on Thursday? (getting kinky's on saturday) then every time I take them out, do the emergencee again?

I am cutting off all the length I get to make transitioning quicker.

Thanks so much for all your help, I was so stressed out yesterday.

P.S AJ Diva, I did that relaxer/w/n thing in 2000 But I did grow out the relaxer by 2002 I'm not sure if my hair could still have been affected all this time, but you could be right, never the less, all my perm is coming off one way or another.. If I didn't need a fringe (bang) I would do the B/C

x

 

[Leslie_C]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

char,
do u plan to wear braids, etc during your whole transition? If u dont plan to do the BC u can expect moderate breakage, but I think with patience it can still work.

All I did was go 10 weeks w/out a relaxer and I had quite a bit of breakage at the demarcation line. And thats just 10 weeks! My hair just cant take the 2 textures. Now I have these annoying little fly aways that are driving me nuts. they stick up where my part is and I cant make them lay down.

Anyway, I would suggest u keeping your hair as moisturized as possible while in braids and u have to have lots of time and patience when taking them down, detangling very carefully. when I used to wear braids I would rip my hair out taking them out because I would have no patience. Ive heard u really have to drench your hair in conditioner/leave in and slowly detangle in small sections. If u give your hair a break b/t braids I think your phony pony is a good alternate style to give it a rest.

other than that just hang in there! my breakage seems to have stopped but it will take a few months for the fly aways to get long enough to lay down and not stick out so much.

 

[TigerLily]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Char, I think you should give yourself a protein treatment before and after you get braids to ensure that you have minimal breakage.

 

[Tai]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Definately do at least one protein treatment before putting in your braids. That should help with the shedding and breakage you're experiencing.

 

[CharUK]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Once again, thanx guys!

Leslie, yes, i'm going to do the whole transition with braid extensions so I take on board your tips about managing my hair whilst in them.

I'm off to get that nexxus thingy today, I hope it works!

x

 

[Tracy]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

I don't think products are the problem Char. I think you need to accurately determine what's causing the breakage, and then figure out what you need to do about it. I did some reading on a wave nouveaus and other curl perms, and I don't think transitioning out of them is the same as transitioning pu of a relaxer. I can't remember exactly why, but I think you may just want to go ahead and chop soon. If you're going to be using braids to transition anyway, it shouldn't matter.

 

[CharUK]

Re: I have so much breakage it\'s unreal!!

Thanx Tracy, I know what you mean about it not mattering regarding the BC, but I will be having weekly breaks during transistion with braids, So i'll have to wear my hair out in some kind of style.

x