I'm at a Lost????

[diamondlady]

I have been trying to grow my hair since July 2002. At first, I had a lot of sucess and my hair was looking good. It grew from 4" to 12". Then, all of the sudden it started shedding like crazy, but was still growing and getting thin.

It grew another 2" to 14" and now it started breaking. My stylist cut 3" and it kept breaking and knotting on the ends. Now it's a 9", thin, ends chewed up mess. What I'm I doing wrong?

I haven't done anything different.

Does anyone have any suggestions???

 

[NeeSee]

How closely do you pay attention to your stylist. It may not be on you, it may be on her.

 

[Je Ne Sais Quoi]

Has your diet changed? Any illnesses? Extreme stress? Are you taking care of yourself?

 

[Isis]

What is your hair regimen?

ETA: many times when hair starts breaking off for no apparent reason it's because of a lack of iron in the body. That happened to me in the past -- I couldn't figure it out until my doctor ran a hemoglobin test and I learned my iron levels were low. The breakage stopped in just a couple of days as soon as my body started absorbing the iron.

 

[Supergirl]

Checking with a dermatologist is always an option if you can't seem to find any other cause for your hair problems.

Also, the following information is wonderful. I have used it several times over the last couple of years and it works well. When I am noticing hair trouble, I will combat it with this. It's from a post by Tene in 2004

Special Emergency Procedure for Destroyed Hair

This recipe for hair repair is loosely based on a review of Redken Deep Fuel at Makeupalley.com. I don?t remember the name of the reviewer- please contact me if you are the Belgium hair stylist that designed it.
PS> I have not tried this recipe myself, so I cant vouch for it yet. But It does have all the main ingredients for hair repair; protein treatments followed by moisturizing and common sense:

Warning! It is time consuming and unless you already own these products or ones similar to them, expensive!

You will need:
Clarifying shampoo (try Redken Hair Cleansing Cream shampoo, or Suave Clarifying shampoo)
A creamy protein treatment (try Redken Deep Fuel, or Joico K-pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor)
A moisturizing cream conditioner (try Nexxus Humectress, or Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep conditioner)
Spray on Moisturizer (try Redken All Soft addictive hair transformer)
A final creamy protein treatment (Nexxus Keraphix)

THE ROUTINE:

1. Wash your hair with the clarifying shampoo and towel dry.
2. Mix the creamy protein treatment with the creamy moisturizing conditioner in your palm and apply all over. Put on a shower cap and leave on for 30 minutes. (You can also apply hot wet towels or a hair dryer to use heat)
3. Remove shower cap- do not rinse. Apply spray on moisturizer all over. Blow dry hair until mostly dry.
4. Rinse
5. Towel dry hair again and apply the final protein treatment. Leave this is your hair overnight.
6. The next day, shampoo and condition as normal.

She says to do this twice a week for 2 weeks and you?re hair will be fixed. She also advises against only using moisturizing or softening products on hair that is spongy and severely damaged. Use them in conjunction with protein treatments.
If you are not sure if your hair is severely damaged, then its not. Hair that is severely damaged stretches even when its dry, is white in some areas, (from over bleaching) feels spongy, and feels like it never really dries.


Do not underestimate your power to fix your own hair. Before you chop it off, really try to fix it. I thought all hope was lost, and in less then 2 weeks, my hair is almost back to the health that it was before I lost my mind. Try it!

 

[MizaniMami]

What is your hair regimen?

Isis beat me to it! Do you mind posting your regimen WITH the actual brand of the products you are using?

 

[diamondlady]

Thanks to every one who responsed.
I did go to a dermatologist when the extreme shedding started. I went several times and they found nothing. I did the heavy protein when the breakage started. (At the suggestion of my then stylist)
I have dropped three stylist because one I did not trust any longer, one used too, too much heat (My hair was soft and beatiful but didn't like that much heat on a regular basis) and the other was scissor happy. Now I just do my hair myself.

I wash once or twice a week and I use CON shampoo or Motions

For conditioner I use UBH.
Heavy proteins I use Aphogee or Nexxus Emergencee
Moisturizers - I use UBH and sometimes Nexxus Humetant, and sometime when I wear the phony pony, I use S Curl.
As a leave in I use Infusium and occasionally I use Surge.

I am a Product Junkie but I usually go back to same staples. I have a million other products in the bathroom.

 

[onepraying]

Thanks to every one who responsed.
I did go to a dermatologist when the extreme shedding started. I went several times and they found nothing. I did the heavy protein when the breakage started. (At the suggestion of my then stylist)
I have dropped three stylist because one I did not trust any longer, one used too, too much heat (My hair was soft and beatiful but didn't like that much heat on a regular basis) and the other was scissor happy. Now I just do my hair myself.

I wash once or twice a week and I use CON shampoo or Motions

For conditioner I use UBH.
Heavy proteins I use Aphogee or Nexxus Emergencee
Moisturizers - I use UBH and sometimes Nexxus Humetant, and sometime when I wear the phony pony, I use S Curl.
As a leave in I use Infusium and occasionally I use Surge.

I am a Product Junkie but I usually go back to same staples. I have a million other products in the bathroom.

Hmmm...sounds like you are doing all the right things...How about your relaxer..have you changed up or would you consider changing up? Also, have you considered transitioning?

 

[MonaRae]

DiamondLady

Did you go thru any major changes recently?
How about stress? Stress is a sneaky little creature.
How long have you been on your current regimen?
Are you eating something new?
Are you taking vitamins? If so, which ones and how much?
How long have you been using Nexxus? I few Ladies have been complaining about this product line.
Dropping your stylist - GOOD IDEA, 3 inches hmm - nuff said!

With everyone's help we should be able to find the culprit!

Isis - How much iron is needed daily?

MonaRae

 

[Sistaslick]

The other ladies have offered great advice Look into your diet.

Also, How are you styling your hair? How much heat are you using? What about relaxing? How often? How exactly is your hair breaking? Is it a stretchy kind of breakage or just a snapping with very little stretch? From looking at your regimen, there may be a problem with your protein and moisture balance. It seems like you may not be getting enough moisture. You may consider looking into that. Are you moisturizing daily and sealing them in? How often are you using protein based products in your regimen and doing treatments?

Some people cannot handle regular does of supplemental protein. I'm not familiar with UBH products- but the conditioner from what I've read is pretty heavily protein based. I know right off the Infusium leave in tends to be very protein rich-- weekly use may be more than what your hair can stand. The surge as well. Those two alone can wreak havoc on your moisture levels. Make sure you are alternating your regular conditioner and your leave in conditioners with more moisturizing ones.

 

[diamondlady]

Thanks again to all of you.

I use Keracare moisturizing conditioner and UBH Dew twice a day. After heavy protien I use Motion oil Moisturizer (I know, it's a little greasy and heavy but I only use it after heavy protien besides they have changed the formula and I don't like the new one at all)

Vitamins-
400mg vitamin E
B complex
Vitamin C 400mg
Flaxseed oil
Centrum

I tried transitioning but after a year I broke down and relaxed again. I usually relax every 12 weeks.

I have little knots on my ends and little pieces of hair in the sink plus the knots come right out in my hand or wide tooth comb and they are a longer than the pieces. Now my ends are thin and staggley.

 

[dlewis]

Your hair may not like protein, I had 6" cut last year because I over did the protein treatments.

 

[amy1234]

ahah!! it looks like your missing some daily moisture!!
Try misting your hair daily with water, that should put some moisture back into your hair without the buildup that other products can give you. You'll see less breakage and your hair will feel soft again.

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

The same thing I was thinking, sounds like you need more moisture and keep up w/a balance of the two.

Your hair may not like protein, I had 6" cut last year because I over did the protein treatments.