I Just Don't Get It!!!

[Neen]

I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

I posted a few days back that I cut my hair 8 days ago. For some weird reason I already have split ends! How could I get split ends ALREADY?

I only had heat on my hair when I got it curled at the salon and yesterday. I conditioned twice and I've kept Wild Growth oil on it. Should I get a natural and REALLY start over? I have type 4a hair and to be honest I am not sure a natural will look that great on me. It's hard to really define the curls, ya know? Plus, other people make comments, ya know? I had a natural before and ended up putting in a texturizer to make it 'better' looking but I really didn't want to put chemicals on it. It's like people get offended if you go natural but don't have 'good' hair. I guess I am just self concious after hearing nappy jokes and stuff

Oddly enough though they came from other black people with the SAME hair as mine. The only thing I could figure was that since I was light skinned they assumed I shouldn't have nappy hair

Sorry to ramble. I am at my wits end with all this. What should I do?

To be honest, I would could completely shave my head if it were acceptable. Are there any scarves or any head wraps one could wear if they did get a Q-Ball? I am seriuosly considering it.

 

[inthepink]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

When you got your trim 8 days ago, how much did you get trimmed? Could it be possible that your split ends weren't cut completely off? I know I've had this happen - get a trim and then get home and still see split ends. I don't think you necessarily need to start over. Just give it some time and maybe get another 1/2 inch trim or so in another month.

 

[Neen]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

I didn't get a trim, I got a CUT. My hair was 2.5 inches past my ear. Now it's about Halle Berry's lenghth.

 

[sweetpea5000]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

I know what you mean about being light skinned with "nappy hair"...my mom's black and my dad's white, and i am so fair that when i wear a weave, sometimes people don't even know i'm black!! But I've worn my hair in an afro( not an afro nouveau with curls, a real picked out 70s style fro!) and i got lots of compliments on it( and a lotta people yelling "Angela Davis!) but i definitely think you need have lots of self confidence to wear it, because you will get looks, and maybe the occasional ignorant comments. I have worn head wraps before too, i made my own using a material that was kind of a heavy stretchy cotton jersey (like a heavier t-shirt material) and i tied it in a way so that there was a big knot at the back so it kind of looked like a big bun. I was inspired by a girl i saw on the subway... one thing i notice that helps make these styles work is by wearing big earrings!! I used black material and wore big silver hoops, but of course you can do it however you want...this style has helped me get through rough patches with my hair. I have the same hair type as you, and am on the road to figuring out how to care for it and make it healthy...but i know it's frustrating!!

 

[itismehmmkay]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Neen, I hear your frustration.....

I just recently got my hair cut and am still experiencing breakage. Heck yeah I'd shave my head if I could.

I'm thinking about just making the best of it. It is true that I've been using the flatiron to straighten my natural hair (that still has a few relaxed ends scattered).

Eh....we'll see

 

[SweetNic_JA]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Neen,

Sorry to hear about your dilemna. It sounds like you've

been doing all the right things to maintain your cut.

Washing, conditioning, etc and perhaps hairlove is right;

Maybe you didn't get the ends cut all the way. The thing

with splits ends is, if they aren't caught soon enough,

they can travel all the way down the hair shaft.

Unfortunately it sounds as if that happened to your hair.

Another thing that maybe happening is heat damage and,

depending on the starting condition of your hair and the

type of heating tools used, 2 times could be

enough to cause a sizeabler degree of damage.

 

[Spagirl]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Hi Neen

I wonder about your routine.

1. How do you comb your hair? Do you start at the ends and work up as you detangle your hair? Do you have a seamless comb or comb with filed down seams?

2. Do you use a brush. If so what kind, how often and when (wet or dry)?

3.How often do you use direct heat on your hair (blowdyer, curling irons, etc.)?

4. When your stylist hot curled your hair how did she/he prep your hair (leave-in/heat protectant, etc.)?

5. How often do you normally get your hair trimmed/cut? Do you wait until your hair is in bad shape?

6. Was your hair in layers prior to last cut?

7. Did your stylist indicate your hair was in very bad shape? or extremely dry? Or that you needed more off than what she cut off?

8. Other than WGO what other products do you use now and prior to cut?

9. Do you clarify? If so how often?

10. What is your hair routine before bed?

 

[sassygirl125]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Maybe the hair was split further up the shaft than you thought and the stylist didn't get them all. That's all I can think of...

@ sweetpea5000:

@ afro nouveau! I've never heard that before. I like it!

 

[Supergirl]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Perhaps it was the scissors. Bad scissors can make the ends worse.

 

[Karonica]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Yip. Shoddy scissors will make them worse. They should be nice and sharp for trimming.

Also, are you sure your hairs are actually split, as in split in two? I used to think split ends were just when my ends were frizzy (this is what hairdressers led me to believe so they could rack up on dough). But I've learned that the hairs are actually split in two.

 

[Neen]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

They are split ends because I can see them split in two. As far as my routine, I wrap my hair with a satin scarf every night. I use a brush sparingly like to smooth my edges. I normally use a comb. I did have color on my hair which is making it even worse. That is why I would like to just start over. I am tired of trying to save this hair.

 

[ms_kenesha]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Neen if you really feel like starting over...START OVER!

And try not to worry about the ignorance that may be spewed by people who have natural hair just like yours...that's their stupidity and shame, don't make it yours.
Find ways that you can make a natural style your own and jazz it up; also if you act like you and your hair are the 'ish other people will have to recognize that too!

 

[keylargo]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Neen, I feel your pain. If I look at my hair wrong it breaks off..

I have to be oh so gentle with it.
This time last year I had relaxed hair that was permanently colored and literally falling out. I had no choice but to start over. Maybe you should gradully cut the damaged parts off like down to the newgrowth and get braids? Then, your hair can rest and grow out again without all the aggrevation. I wore braids until my hair was long enough to do ponytails.

 

[Neen]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

Thanks for all of the replies and inspiration. I have decided not to get a bald head

but I will be transitioning to a natural

. I really want to embrace the hair God gave me and I am really curious as to what my hair is really like...Isn't it weird that after 23 years I still don't know what type of hair I have! I know it is 4A but I am not sure what kind of kinks and curls to expect. It's really kind of exciting.

 

[Nonie]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

When Wanakee's website was up and running, she had a section that pointed out that when you trim hair, you get a new exposed end that's susceptible to dryness and so in no time, it may start to look frizzy (which in my mind led me to imagine a split waiting to happen). So she recommended one use her Constant Care for Ends (grease) the same way those on the Vaseline challenge are using Vaseline, ie to seal the ends. And even after apply Constant Care for Ends, she insisted you wear protective styles if you want to keep your ends healthy.

So it could be that not enough was trimmed off as has been stated, or it could be that your new ends are just falling victim to the "li'l things sent to try ends" when we don't take extra steps to protect them.

Anyway, I'm not sure whether the following link will tell you anything you don't already know, but it doesn't hurt to post it, just in case: Split Ends?

 

[Daughter]

Re: I Just Don\'t Get It!!!

I hear you, I tried to go natural twice before I transitioned successfully. Only you will know when you are indeed ready to go au naturel.

If people make "nappy jokes" and cruel comments, understand that this reflects on THEM, not your natural beauty. they are showing themselves to be ignorant and blind to the beauty of natural tight curls. I found the more I wore my hair in a style I KNOW looks good on me (eg twists) the more confident I became and now I wear my hair however I want to.

If you want to experiment with scarves, there's almost endless possibilities. Bright and bod colours if that's your thing, muted shades if that's what you prefer.

When all is said and done make sure you're doing it for YOU and try to forget about any "haters". Don't forget you have us at LCHF to support you!