I need help!!!

[BamaBelle]

Hey y'all!

I need help: I had another Dominican Blow-out this weekend only to reveal that I have some dry ends that occur in patches over my ears and along the nape. I have been struggling with this for some time now. I have no idea what's causing it - had a major trim/cut in the past three weeks in attempt to rectify this. When I noticed I still had some dryness two weeks ago, I started my major moisturizing efforts by co-washing every night, followed by leaving in either Humecto or Humectress with WGO on the ends and my MTG concoction on my scalp. I washed and deep conditioned every Wednesday and Saturday, clarifying every Saturday.

What gives? Do I need to trim some more? Should I wash and deep condition more often? Any products/methods y'all can suggest?

I have updated my Fotki album with recent pictures of the Blow-out and the aftermath. www.fotki.com/BamaBelle (look at the Hair Challenges folder, in the Progress Check-in for June, 2006 album).

MTIA!
BamaBelle

 

[JLove74]

are you using MTG or Surge - I've heard those products cause dry patches....

 

[BamaBelle]

are you using MTG or Surge - I've heard those products cause dry patches....

JLove, my girl! I knew you'd be one I could count on to help! Yes, I've been using my MTG concoction (MTG, Comfiderm, Apricot Oil, Island Oil, WGO) for the past two weeks: every nite for the first week, then every other nite the week following that. What do folks usually do to combat dry ends when they occur in a situation like this? Humecto as a co-wash and leave-in (with a plastic cap overnite) isn't helping...

 

[Mestiza]

The times when my hair felt dry, I increased my use of S-Curl spray or put water on my hair and used a small amount of shea butter or castor oil to seal it in, nicely. HTH!

 

[Je Ne Sais Quoi]

I really don't know much but it looks like you definitely need more moisture. Your hair is coming in nicely though!! I know that I have to moisturize the hell out of my hair since it tends to be on the dry side regardless of what I do. How often are you deep conditioning?

 

[BamaBelle]

I really don't know much but it looks like you definitely need more moisture. Your hair is coming in nicely though!! I know that I have to moisturize the hell out of my hair since it tends to be on the dry side regardless of what I do. How often are you deep conditioning?

Thanks Bre-Bre! I am deep conditioning twice a week - Wednesday and Saturday... *sigh* I'm using either my version of Anky's Puerto Rico conditioner concoction or Humecto (or Humectress, but less often than the other two). After rinsing the deep conditioner (or after a co-wash) I put my MTG concoction on my scalp, Giovanni Direct leave-in on my hair and WGO on my ends...

Can y'all suggest other products? Are the ones I'm currently using known to cause dryness? I searched the threads to check out the MTG story and it has been known by some to cause dryness. Problem is, I didn't start using the MTG until after I first noticed my dry ends. That's what prompted me to get a trim (which turned out to be a plain ol' haircut!).

I want to thank all of y'all in advance for your help.
I sho do 'preciate y'all!

 

[Je Ne Sais Quoi]

do you put a scarf on at night? If so do you actually wrap your hair or just throw it on there (like I do)? When I wake up in the morning my hair is ROUGH!!

 

[BamaBelle]

do you put a scarf on at night? If so do you actually wrap your hair or just throw it on there (like I do)? When I wake up in the morning my hair is ROUGH!!

Girl, you crazy!!! I usually wear a scarf (unless the husband wants to be... well... anyway) and even then, I have a satin pillowcase! (Oh be quiet!) Anyway, most times I tie a scarf on it because I've been working the plastic cap with the Humecto as a leave-in after my co-wash. I put the scarf on top of the plastic cap.

 

[Tene]

Have you thought about using something different for a leave-in? Are you maybe using something with too much protein in it?

 

[JLove74]

From reading you regemine I think some of the products are too drying and your scalp isn't getting any direct moisture. Maybe take a break from the MTG and baby the dry areas. Do some simple cleaning & deep condition, followed by your leave in and oils. I know when my scalp gets like this (usually in the winter), I grease the scalp w/Mizani Rose H2O (just my favorie) and that really helps.

 

[BamaBelle]

See, if only it were simpler... It's not my scalp that's dry: It's the ends of my hair and only in a few places. I have stopped the MTG concoction and have been co-washing every night with Humecto and using either it or Humectress as a leave-in, oils on the ends and covered with a plastic cap and scarf. Twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday) I shampoo (clarifying on Saturday), deep condition usually with Anky's PR concoction and use Giovanni Direct Leave-in, oils on the ends... The only thing about switching leave-ins is that I don't think that's what caused the dryness, especially in the case of the Giovanni or Humecto because I just recently started using them - after I noticed the dry patches. As a matter of fact, now that I think of it, and maybe because I've only had 3 blow-out/straightening episodes since I BC'ed in August, I noticed the dryness after my stylist texturized my hair with the Affirm in January. Now that I've said that, let me ask this: Does underprocessing cause the appearance of dryness? Maybe that's the problem: Maybe, in an attempt to not leave the relaxer on for very long, my hair was underprocessed in these areas... HUM...

 

[Tene]

You know it could also be the relaxer. I've heard some people complaining about affirm giving them dry hair.

 

[seeminglysweet]

Maybe I missed it but what do you shampoo with?
The first thing I would do is stop clarifying once a week that can be very harsh on the hair. If you must do it, try once a month.

I would also get a moisturizing cream to apply to the ends daily and then apply oils over that to seal it.

I would start with that and limiting the the cowashes to only twice a week...not daily.

 

[BamaBelle]

I shampoo (Wednesday and Saturday) with Elasta QP Creme Shampoo or ORS Aloe Shampoo (Olive Oil line). In Saturday, I clarify with KMS Clarifying Shampoo prior to my regular shampoo. I have only been clarifying on Saturdays for past three weekends because I have been co-washing and leaving in some of the conditioner in response to this dry-ends battle so I doubt that clarifying or co-washing caused the dryness...

Thanks, everyone, for your help.