I love being natural (question and pics)

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

I am enjoying my journey as a natural. I had my last relaxer Feb 4th, 2009 and big chopped on July 28th, 2009. It has been such a learning experience, but I am loving it.

As a relaxed head I suffered from a lot of breakage, which I still find as a natural. My hair is very dense so I never notice thinning of my hair, but the breakage does concern me....it's growing well too, just thinking about how much better it would be growing if I got the breakage under control.

If anybody has any tips that would be great. I DC 2-3x per week on dry hair (using steam twice out of the 2-3x) my steamer is a new purchase, so I don't think its what contributing to the breakage. I practice low mani...I have been cornrowing my hair for 4 weeks at a time. I shampoo 1-2x per week. I air dry my hair and havent used direct heat since July of last year. I moisturize morning and night and seal with oil. Not sure what I am doing wrong.

Anyway...in the mean time...here are some pics of my hair (this is my first time trying to put pictures into the thread, so hopefully it works)

ETA: hair couple months post big chop

here is my hair right after I took down my cornrows

another angle (not sure why the brown tones...maybe the henna???)

length check

combed out

bare hair...ANYONE KNOW MY HAIR TYPE???

ETA: more bare hair, different angle

Thanks for viewing

 

[Mook's hair]

I discovered that air drying was contributing to my breakage. 'Sounds weird right?
Well, as is frequently advised...listen to your hair.
Mine doesn't really like being airdried.
Drying under the hood or using some light blow drying works much better for me and my hair is happier.

Your regimen sounds fine. Maybe add some light protein like Silk amino acids or infusium.

Lovely pics.

 

[CurlTalk]

Pretty hair.
Not totally sure, but I think you're a 4a, by Andre's system, and a Type VI (Coiled) by Mizani's (http://www.mizani-usa.com/?m=93&rid=300).

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

Do you think even air drying in cornrows would be contributing to breakage? I was thinking about trying some direct heat this coming week and see how my hair likes being straight. I feel like a lot of the breakage comes from the middle of my hair...the texture is like a 4a-z and it's confused. LOL!!!

I discovered that air drying was contributing to my breakage. 'Sounds weird right?
Well, as is frequently advised...listen to your hair.
Mine doesn't really like being airdried.
Drying under the hood or using some light blow drying works much better for me and my hair is happier.

Your regimen sounds fine. Maybe add some light protein like Silk amino acids or infusium.

Lovely pics.

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

Thank you

Pretty hair.
Not totally sure, but I think you're a 4a, by Andre's system, and a Type VI (Coiled) by Mizani's (http://www.mizani-usa.com/?m=93&rid=300).

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

bump bump bump

 

[Mdmommy99]

I discovered that air drying was contributing to my breakage. 'Sounds weird right?
Well, as is frequently advised...listen to your hair.
Mine doesn't really like being airdried.
Drying under the hood or using some light blow drying works much better for me and my hair is happier.


Lovely pics.

My natural hair is the same way. I can air dry from time to time, and more often in summer when I can go outside and have it dry quickly, but my hair likes heat on occasion. I don't use it all the time, but I find that if I blow dry lightly every couple of weeks or even twist and sit under the dryer my hair thanks me for it.

 

[cocoaluv]

Cute hair!

 

[tada1]

your hair is VERY pretty and it's growing like weeds! Have you tried cutting down on the washing? to maybe once a week?
how much protein do you use? your moisture/protein balance may be a little off. HTH

 

[Nonie]

I'm guessing 4B. Your hair reminds me of mine, but it's hard to tell type 4 hair after it's been manipulated. I'd love to see it after you wash it and before you braid or comb it. The waves we're seeing are from braiding and are therefore misleading.

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

I think it is a protein/moisture balance issue, but I am not very good at knowing what my hair needs...unless it's dry erplexed
My hair feels strong...but I still get breakage. It never feels mushy though... I am not sure how to figure out that balance.

your hair is VERY pretty and it's growing like weeds! Have you tried cutting down on the washing? to maybe once a week?
how much protein do you use? your moisture/protein balance may be a little off. HTH

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

The last picture is my hair right after a shampoo and conditioner, with no products in it. I know that the front texture is different from the middle texture though. I was thinking 4B as well.

I'm guessing 4B. Your hair reminds me of mine, but it's hard to tell type 4 hair after it's been manipulated. I'd love to see it after you wash it and before you braid or comb it. The waves we're seeing are from braiding and are therefore misleading.

 

[Fhrizzball]

You seem to be shampooing your hair alot too which may strip your hair of too much of it's natural oils leading to breakage.

 

[LoveisYou]

I think you should cut down on the shampooing. I only shampoo 2x per month, otherwise I cowash or use a baking soda rinse to clarify.

 

[Cheekychica]

Lovely hair. I can't wait to be natural again.

I'm not sure of your hair type but it looks like 4b to me.

 

[ryanshope]

Looks 4b...congrats on your natural journey! For my hair, I have found that my hair LOVES moisture and Rusk Deep Shine conditioner---it is GREAT!

I wash, twist, twist out, afro puff, repeat(that is my week). My natural hair is so easy to care for, love it!

 

[Truth]

Lovveee-leeee hair

 

[MrJohnsonsRib]

I love being natural except for when I relaxed I can always detect my newgrowth quicker, lol! Anyways I have noticed I got split ends and single strand knotting going on a whole lot along with breakage, but it's harder to understand my breakage when I am natural cause when I was relaxed I could tell it broke if there was not curly at the top which would indicate shedding at the root from newgrowth for me...now it's harder ot detect but I am hoping I find a way to preserve what I am getting cause it is growing. I just don't want to have to end up trimming all the hair I did get.

 

[poookie]

gorgeous hair!!! no advice, but just wanted to say thanks for sharing how long your transition was. the front of your hair looks the front of my hair at the roots. i see i have much to look forward to when i chop!

 

[ceebee3]

Your hair looks nice.

What type of shampoo are you using, is it moisturizing? Maybe you can co-wash one week and shampoo the next?

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

I have been using shampoo bars...1 is the shikakai bar from hairveda, the other is carrot seed shampoo bar from afroveda, and the other one is a shampoo bar from chagrins valley. I used mizani clarifying shampoo last night after I took out my braids. Might have to cut down the shampooing to 1-2x month. I just find my hair reacts better to products when its shampooed

Your hair looks nice.

What type of shampoo are you using, is it moisturizing? Maybe you can co-wash one week and shampoo the next?

 

[andromeda]

your bare hair! No advice to give but you might find this thread to be of use.

 

[bablou00]

Great progress!!! I luv being natural too!!! I miss my flowing, big rollerset hair from time to time but I luv my coils much more!!! I also shampoo 1 or 2 a month so maybe cut back on the shampooing!!! Other than that gorgeous hair

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

Thank you so much!!!! Gonna go check out the thread!

your bare hair! No advice to give but you might find this thread to be of use.

Thank you. I love your hair too...Been stalking your hair

Great progress!!! I luv being natural too!!! I miss my flowing, big rollerset hair from time to time but I luv my coils much more!!! I also shampoo 1 or 2 a month so maybe cut back on the shampooing!!! Other than that gorgeous hair

 

[Katherina]

Are you brushing / combing / manipulating your hair while it's dry? This used to cause me a lot of breakage. Also, try braiding and removing your cornrows while they're soaked in water and conditioner. HTH

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

I dont really manipulate my hair too much. I detangle with lots of conditioner in my hair in the shower with a wide tooth comb. It's only combed dry when my hair is getting ready to be cornrowed.
I will try unbraiding with conditioner and water.

Are you brushing / combing / manipulating your hair while it's dry? This used to cause me a lot of breakage. Also, try braiding and removing your cornrows while they're soaked in water and conditioner. HTH

 

[LivinMyLifeLikeItsGolden]

 

[aa9746]

I wash with shampoo only 1X a week. Co washing throughout the week works well for me because it doesn't dry my hair out.

 

[KittyMeowMeow]

I have been using shampoo bars...1 is the shikakai bar from hairveda, the other is carrot seed shampoo bar from afroveda, and the other one is a shampoo bar from chagrins valley. I used mizani clarifying shampoo last night after I took out my braids. Might have to cut down the shampooing to 1-2x month. I just find my hair reacts better to products when its shampooed

Pretty hair!

I wonder if the shampoo bars is something to look into. I was interested in trying some myself and did some research on them. I don't remember exactly, but I think I read that you have to do some special things (something with oil? using a regular shampoo sometimes?) so that they don't build up.

I read this on the Hairveda site about shampoo bars:

http://hairveda.com/guide.aspx

Basically, it says to do some special steps if you have hard water in your area. I googled Calgary...it might have hard water (which could possibly cause other problems if it does).

I could be wrong though...just thought I'd post in case you wanted to look into this. I have had waxy buildup (from actual wax) before and it is no joke- serious breakage. Since you are using oil, though, this may not be an issue...

 

[Prettyeyes]

I love your hair.