Hi
Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll
Thank you soo much for starting this thread. This is a subject close to my heart and I also consider myself to be a survivor. However I attribute my problems to a combination of poor hair care, lack on understanding of chemicals, hair abuse and some deficiencies (I have been anaemic all my life). I also feel that the use of braids and weaves made my problem worse.
0 – 5 years – Living with my granny in Nigeria who has a simple approach to hair. Wash it once a week and oil it regularly. Schoolgirls in Nigeria also have to have very short hair so there is little fuss and my hair is very healthy. There are pictures of me as a child with a serious beautiful fro.
5 – 10 Living with parents in London. I remember my mum not having a clue (bless her). She seriously mistreats my hair. Infrequent washing, harsh scrubbing, blowing with those old fashioned Braun tooth blow-dryers. I can’t remember how old I was when I got my first perm but I was pretty young – I would say under 10. It was one of those “Kiddie Kurl” kits (BTW does anyone remember these and can you confirm if this is a relaxer or otherwise). On top of the perm I am subjected to bi-weekly washes and braiding Nigerian style (the kind that gives you Chinese eyes). My hairline is getting a little weaker.
10 – 14 – Various Jherri Curls and a Relaxer which grow out a few times and then is big chopped and then processed again and then big chopped again... repeat pattern I cannot tell you how many times. Ironically my hair is growing pretty fast all these times. The Jherri curls made my hair grow so damn fast that at one point my hair is grazing BSL.
14 Years old – APL hair is Relaxed Professionally for the very first time. It turns out beautifully however I don’t have a clue how to care for it so it breaks like crazy.
15 Years old – Start braiding hair with the old fashioned synthetic very heavy hair extensions (SUCH A NO NO). I have no clue about hair care and neither has my mum so my hair line is starting to take the toll and people are beginning to notice. I am also relaxing in between braids 2 or 3 times a year.
16 to 20 Years – Last of relaxer is growing out. Various braid styles for 2 years.
18 to 20 Years – Get a Gherri curl again because I remember it made my hair grow. My hair is VERY thin now. Not the same but still grows quickly. I then get fed up of the Gherri after a few months and switch to braids and weaves and relax the front to blend the hair (what was I thinking???).
20 to 29/30 Years – Rocking the braids and weaves. Occasionally I relax the front of my hair to blend. My hairline is now seriously damaged. It is about 1 – 1.5 inches from where it should be and I have a small bald patch at my Widow’s peak from braiding. I start lurking on hair boards but the idea of giving up the comfort of my big hair (especially now that I have met my boyfriend and later husband) seems too scary.
30 years old – Had enough – take braids out, start steaming and treating hair. Relax hair about 2 months later and do a BC – about 6 inches of WEAK (not damaged hair). Hair is very fine, thin and my hair line is in a terrible state. Its clean bald. I start researching on hair boards and trying to learn about hair. I lurk until the summer of this year. I have since worn the odd weave mainly once or twice a year as I love big hair but I am planning on going on a WEAVE amnesty for 2010 and plan to use Wigs to transition (I am also considering BKT or a mild texturiser but need to do much more research).
Sorry ladies this has been soooooooo long. If anything I feel this thread has actually been good “hair therapy” because it has allowed me to see on paper what “I have done” to my hair. In fact I believe everyone starting a journey should do this process so that they can be honest with them self and start to take responsibility for their hair.
I can’t believe it now that I see it and in all this I am not even sure what chemicals were being used as my mum was in charge and I was not that into hair until much later so didn’t have a clue what was going on.
I am not sure how to grow back my temples. To date I have seen 5 or 6 different trichologists in London and New York and they haven’t really said anything of great help. One of them also ripped me off to the tune of 300 Pounds GBP (so London ladies beware of GARY HERON at the WESTMINISTER PRACTICE). He is a thief and apparently I was lucky he has taken thousands of pounds off other patients. I smelled a rat so said I was only willing to pay a deposit.
Anyway any suggestions for hairline growth ladies greatly appreciated. Ironically my sideburns always grow back which I cannot understand...???
Thanks
sg
ETA : I am also thinking of using Ayurvedic powders to look after the health of my scalp as I believe they are supposed to have Antiseptic properties.