I'm just really frustrated... I really don't know what I'm doing wrong.

[spellinto]

Sigh. I really don't know what's up with my ends. I know it's probably a porosity issue and I'm doing everything in my power to stop them from splitting. I'm trying different types of leave ins (although I have my staple) and I moisturize at least 1-2x a day. I used to seal with oils religiously, from light oils like jojoba to heavy ones like castor oil, but my they never seemed to actually seal in any moisture, so now I don't use them. I've tried ACV rinses and there wasn't much effect. I finger detangle lightly, and if I do use a comb, it's a seamless wide-toothed comb only during wash day. I only wash 1x a week with a sulfate-free shampoo (and now I'm reducing it to 2x a month), I deep condition and cowash frequently, I use a medium rinse-out protein 1x a week (since I'm sensitive to hard proteins), and I dust regularly with new, sharp scissors. I protective styled with buns for years until recently because manipulating my ends into styles only seemed to exacerbate the problem...so now I'm wearing my hair down more, which my hair overall seems to like but my ends still appear indifferent about it.

I just had a major trim that set me back a few lengths. I don't want to keep cutting away at my ends only to have them split again, but I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Plus as a college student, it's a little irritating to spend excess money and time on different products and techniques. This is so frustrating.

 

[PureSilver]

I feel your frustration because my ends are all fried and dry and has more single strand knots than a tangled doll

 

[LdyKamz]

Things didn't get better after your major trim? If you are wearing your hair down a lot, that could be the problem.

Have you done anything else differently in your regimen lately that might be causing this?

 

[spellinto]

Things didn't get better after your major trim? If you are wearing your hair down a lot, that could be the problem.

Have you done anything else differently in your regimen lately that might be causing this?

KammyGirl: What's weird is that before I got my trim, I wore my hair in a bun almost every day. I retained a lot of length, but the protective styling chewed up my ends and I had to get them cut. (I've also tried other styles...they were a little nicer to my ends, but they still split.) Now that I'm wearing my hair out a little more, they FEEL a lot better but are still splitting. Basically they split whether I protective style or wear low manipulation styles

I can't think of anything else I do in my regimen other than what I've posted. I'm really diligent about my hair, and the REST of my hair really responds positively, so I'm baffled as to my ends are constantly splitting.

 

[*CherryPie*]

Are you using a clarifying shampoo at all? You could have product buildup that's keeping moisture from the hair. ACV just made my hair hard because I have low porosity hair.

 

[DarkJoy]

Sounds like fine hair problems. You have skinny strands?

Also are you on meds like birth control or anything else?

 

[LdyKamz]

Are you using a clarifying shampoo at all? You could have product buildup that's keeping moisture from the hair. ACV just made my hair hard because I have low porosity hair.

This was going to be my next guess but then it makes me wonder why buildup is only bothering her ends. But I do agree with this. Try clarifying and then moisturizing and sealing and see if that works.

 

[spellinto]

Sounds like fine hair problems. You have skinny strands?

Also are you on meds like birth control or anything else?

No, I have naturally thick hair (see my album photos). I did start using birth control, but I've only been on it for 2 months and this has been a problem for much longer

 

[*CherryPie*]

Because the ends is the oldest part of the hair, I think the ends would feel the damage first.

This was going to be my next guess but then it makes me wonder why buildup is only bothering her ends. But I do agree with this. Try clarifying and then moisturizing and sealing and see if that works.

 

[ckisland]

I found out that I can't bun or twist my ends without them knotting up and getting raggedy. If I want to wear my hair up, I use a octopus claw or goody barrette to clip it up but leave my ends out. If I bun, I leave my ends free but the length tucked into a messy bun. I also can't do bantu knots (a bun can end up just being a big bantu knot) because they have literally ruined my ends in one night . If oil doesn't work for sealing, you might want to look into old fashion grease (which is an amazing sealant), vaseline, or pure mineral oil. Many ladies have had much better success with this no-no products because they are truer sealants than natural products.

 

[Saludable84]

What kind of scissors so you use. When I used my husbands scissors that he got with his razor, I still had frizzy ends but when I invested in a more expensive pair of scissors I stopped getting split ends and frizzy ends.

That could be the problem regardless of sharpening. The blade HAS to be good. I use tweezerman scissors btw.

 

[spellinto]

*CherryPie* and KammyGirl: Thanks for the suggestion. I clarified once in September with a Sauve shampoo and my ends completely freaked out at the sulfates. I think they actually worsened the situation so I haven't touched my sulfate-shampoo since.

Saludable84: I use scissors that were deliberately made for hair cutting that I bought at Sally's. They were pretty expensive too! I will eventually look into buying different blades though.

ckisland: I joined a vaseline/heavy sealing challenge for awhile but my entire head of hair hates mineral oil! I experienced more breakage with it. I may actually invest in non-petroleum jelly though (I've seen it at whole foods) and see how my ends feel then. Like you, I've also noticed that I really can't bend my ends into buns/updos without them deteriorating from it, so I've started to just clip my hair with my ends out too.

 

[curlycrocheter]

I had a similar problem. No matter what I do, my ends are always full of knots, ssk's, and splits.

I found that straightening my hair (not excessively, like once a month or so) was what saved me. Giving my ends a break from constantly curling up on themselves was key for me.

The very nature of curly hair is that it wants to curl up on itself. This results in ssk's that grab onto other strands of hair & creates bigger knots & splits. I had to learn to kind or "accept" that that's what will happen when I leave my hair curly for extended periods of time.

No amount of leave in, sealing, or protective styling will change that.

 

[faithVA]

^^FoxxyLocs has said the same thing.

 

[ilong]

OT: This is one of the reasons I love LHCF. A member rings the "fire" alarm for help and LHCF firewomen run to the rescue.
It doesn't get better than this!
I so admire all of of my LHCF sistas'!!

 

[virtuenow]

It sounds like Trichorrhexis Nodosa

 

[HairPleezeGrow]

Hey ma'am,

this was the advice I rcvd recently and I'm going to look into it for my mid shaft splits I was told I have trhough my Komaza Analysis...HTH


So, have you tried using ceramides? I like to use wheatgerm oil but there are others like hemp oil, safflower oil, etc. They act like protein (without being protein) giving strength to the strands as well as elasticity. There are lots of products out there or just add some oil to your deep conditioners and leave ins/seals. I really think that would help.

 

[mshoneyfly]

spellinto
I agree with curlycrocheter and HairPleezeGrow. Even though Im texturized (not natural) I still get the SSKs and splits. I am high porosity and you may be as well. I used to have trouble retaining moisture. I wear my hair down and straight most of the time. I straighten with JBCO as a heat protector and hair stays moist for days. That stuff is like a miracle in a bottle. Great as a massage oil for stiff joints too. I add essential oils to improve the smell. My hair has gotten noticeably thicker around the edges too.

I got the Split Ender and it works great at keeping my length while getting rid of the splits. Just used it for the 2nd time last weekend.

I also use henna which seems to tame the curl some and keeps my cuticles sealed. I have lot of cracks down the shaft but they don't bother me anymore. The henna glosses temp seal them. Before that I would have a lot of tangles.

You may wanna straighten a section of hair and then examine a shed strand under the light looking for cracks. This is a sign of high porosity hair

I LOVE this HHJ!!

 

[FoxxyLocs]

Straightening my hair is the only thing that protects my ends. I fought it for years because I prefer my hair natural, but nothing else worked and I ended up having to cut my hair every few months due to ssks. For me the issue was length related.

 

[southerncitygirl]

ss knots have yet to hinder my hair growth journey...i agree with adding ceramides or ceramide oils to your routine. i also do a hard core protein treatment once a month.

 

[southerncitygirl]

virtuenow could you expound further on this condition....i know i could goggle but i think it would be useful to other posters. your hair has come so far in terms of progress!!!

It sounds like Trichorrhexis Nodosa

 

[kxlot79]

What I would suggest, beyond what's already been suggested, is overnight baggying a few times a week. And/Or using perm rods or rollers on your ends after sealing.
I had a spell where I experienced REALLY bad SSKs and splits and tangles. I would wear a plastic bag/shower cap/processing cap every other night or a few times a week under my bonnet. I did this with a treatment on my ends (oil/conditioner) or with nothing at all, and it really reduced my end problems. I now overnight baggy at least once a week and my end problems are very manageable.
Also, as someone who rarely uses heat, I've found that just stretching the ends helps a lot. And you can do that by straightening them. But you can also control your curls on the ends. My curls are naturally pen spring size but I use about a dozen finger-sized perm rods on the last 4-6 inches of my hair and they stay stretched out and controlled without the opportunity to tangle on themselves or break randomly.

HTHs!

 

[virtuenow]

@virtuenow could you expound further on this condition....i know i could goggle but i think it would be useful to other posters. your hair has come so far in terms of progress!!!

@southerncitygirl thank you, I have more time to post. I have researched this condition extensively b/c I suffered from it. I am in year 2 of recovery. Here's some of my notes & links:

Trichorrhexis nodosa: What is it:

Trichorrhexis nodosa is a problem in which thickened or weak points (nodes) along the hair shaft cause your hair to break off easily. In other words, TN is the scientific term used to describe extreme breakage-- reoccurring in the same spot. It comes in two forms: It can occur at the roots (where hair appears to be not growing). This is called proximal TN. Or it may appear farther out and at the very ends. This is called distal TN. When the problem appears at the end of a hair shaft, its in the form of split ends, thinning hair, and hair tips that look white.

Excerpt from 1st link: Trichorrhexis nodosa is the most common hair shaft disorder. The hair is especially fragile, owing to the presence of tiny grayish-white nodules along the shaft. People with [distal] trichorrhexis nodosa have hair that breaks easily, leaving short, stubbly broken ends. The trichorrhexis may affect only isolated patches of hair, or may affect the entire head. Even gentle bending of an affected hair can break it off.

Cause & treatment:

Mechanical trauma: Certain things you do to your hair -- such as blow-drying, combing, brushing, perming, coloring, chemical use, shampooing, or sun/salt-water exposure -- appear to trigger the condition. Avoid harsh chemicals such as those used in straightening compounds and permanents. Do not use a hot hairdryer for long periods of time. The hair should not be ironed. Avoid harsh shampoos, but always use hair conditioners.

Prognosis:

Both acquired forms of trichorrhexis nodosa will disappear within about 2-4 years, if the trauma to the hair shafts is stopped. In the meantime, cream rinses and protein conditioners are helpful.

Links:
http://www.drgreene.com/qa-articles/trichorrhexis-invaginata-trichorrhexis-nodosa/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001449.htm

Note:

I also did a post about a couple of guys [Asian] that acquired TN from using a brush like the Tangle Teezer: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=679723

 

[TamaraShaniece]

KammyGirl
When I use to PS my hair doing buns- those popular black hair scunci/goodie ties would tear up my ends. When I used a moisturizer, it would dry crunchy and when I used oil, it would give me too much tension/stretch until I took my PS down.

Conclusion: I can't PS my hair and tuck my ends all crazy. I have yet to develop and neat tuck for my ends.

I also air dry my hair a lot which results in ssk's because my relaxed ends likes to dry curly. HTH

 

[Honey Bee]

OP, if you think it might be porosity related, have you tried anything like Roux PC, French Perm Stabilizer, or Zoto's Porosity Equalizer (a l-i)?

 

[Mahsiah]

I'm not sure but maybe try the baggy method on your ends?

 

[spellinto]

@southerncitygirl thank you, I have more time to post. I have researched this condition extensively b/c I suffered from it. I am in year 2 of recovery. Here's some of my notes & links:

Trichorrhexis nodosa: What is it:

Trichorrhexis nodosa is a problem in which thickened or weak points (nodes) along the hair shaft cause your hair to break off easily. In other words, TN is the scientific term used to describe extreme breakage-- reoccurring in the same spot. It comes in two forms: It can occur at the roots (where hair appears to be not growing). This is called proximal TN. Or it may appear farther out and at the very ends. This is called distal TN. When the problem appears at the end of a hair shaft, its in the form of split ends, thinning hair, and hair tips that look white.

Excerpt from 1st link: Trichorrhexis nodosa is the most common hair shaft disorder. The hair is especially fragile, owing to the presence of tiny grayish-white nodules along the shaft. People with trichorrhexis nodosa have dry, flat, short hair that breaks easily, leaving short, stubbly broken ends and patches of partial baldness. The trichorrhexis may affect only isolated patches of hair, or may affect the entire scalp. Even gentle bending of an affected hair can break it off.

Cause & treatment:

Mechanical trauma: Certain things you do to your hair -- such as blow-drying, combing, brushing, perming, coloring, chemical use, shampooing, or sun/salt-water exposure -- appear to trigger the condition. Avoid harsh chemicals such as those used in straightening compounds and permanents. Do not use a hot hairdryer for long periods of time. The hair should not be ironed. Avoid harsh shampoos, but always use hair conditioners.

Prognosis:

Both acquired forms of trichorrhexis nodosa will disappear within about 4 years, if the trauma to the hair shafts is stopped. In the meantime, cream rinses and protein conditioners are helpful.

Links:
http://www.drgreene.com/qa-articles/trichorrhexis-invaginata-trichorrhexis-nodosa/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001449.htm

Note:

I also did a post about a couple of guys [Asian] that acquired TN from using a brush like the Tangle Teezer: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=679723

virtuenow: Hmmm! Thank you so much for posting this! I think I may have TN on the ends. I wouldn't say that I have "extreme breakage" though, because I am still able to retain length and I don't see many broken hairs...just chronic splits. Some of my ends have white bulbs at the tip/further up the strand, but most of them just look scraggly and not as straight as the rest of my hair shaft. I do not have dry, flat, short hair at all, and I certainly don't have bald patches--instead it is big/poofy, thick, and I was able to grow it to WL before I had my trim. I only relax every 3-4 months, I do not use heat (only on my bangs), and I never brush anywhere but my edges & nape...but a few things I think could have caused this include combing with my seamed comb (which I was using aggressively despite the seams starting to tear off) and using sulfate shampoos for quite some time before I finally switched to my staple sulfate-free one.

I guess the answer is just to keep doing what I'm doing and allow those 4 years to pass before my ends can finally reach a noticably healthier state. I'm going to continue wearing my hair down (since bending my ends causes my splits and PSing encourages tangles). I'm also focusing on cowashing every other day, and reducing my shampooing to 2x a month with a sulfate free shampoo. I will dust monthly, use a light protein spritz 1-2x a week, and I plan on buying Roux Porosity Corrector after I finish up another conditioner. I will continue finger detangling and only using my seamless Magic Mini comb 1x a week. Does this regimen sound effective to you?

 

[virtuenow]

spellinto yes, the bald patches and short spots is describing Proximal TN (breakage at the root). Distal TN is breakage at the ends-- which can also be spotty. I think 2-4 years to recover is more accurate (based on my overall research). I will update my post. The fact that you trimmed and your hair keeps breaking w/o explanation sounds like the TN has to run its course.

As far as your regimen, you mention using a seamless "mini" comb. As long as it has long, wide teeth then it should be fine (although finger detangling solely would be even better). Also, detangling while hair is covered in conditioner could help prevent breakage & roughing up your cuticles.

You should also consider doing a weekly reconstructor DC on your ends (or whole head!). The effects last about a week and strengthen the hair. Aubrey Organics GPB or Nexxus Emergencee are excellent. Komaza's Protein Strengthener is a little stronger and can be used bi-weekly. AO Gpb is my favorite b/c you DC before you wash-- further protecting your hair from the harsh washing process. Other ways to avoid roughing up your cuticle: try using a T-shirt to dry your hair instead of towel if you haven't incorporated this already.

Lastly, you should consider regular trims to rid your hair of the damaged areas. Even if its every 8weeks, that's something.

 

[spellinto]

spellinto yes, the bald patches and short spots is describing Proximal TN (breakage at the root). Distal TN is breakage at the ends-- which can also be spotty. I think 2-4 years to recover is more accurate (based on my overall research). I will update my post. The fact that you trimmed and your hair keeps breaking w/o explanation sounds like the TN has to run its course.

As far as your regimen, you mention using a seamless "mini" comb. As long as it has long, wide teeth then it should be fine (although finger detangling solely would be even better). Also, detangling while hair is covered in conditioner could help prevent breakage & roughing up your cuticles.

You should also consider doing a weekly reconstructor DC on your ends (or whole head!). The effects last about a week and strengthen the hair. Aubrey Organics GPB or Nexxus Emergencee are excellent. Komaza's Protein Strengthener is a little stronger and can be used bi-weekly. AO Gpb is my favorite b/c you DC before you wash-- further protecting your hair from the harsh washing process. Other ways to avoid roughing up your cuticle: try using a T-shirt to dry your hair instead of towel if you haven't incorporated this already.

Lastly, you should consider regular trims to rid your hair of the damaged areas. Even if its every 8weeks, that's something.

Thanks so much! I feel a little more hopeful now about the state of my hair, just knowing what it could be going through and how to go about reviving it. I will purchase the AO GPB (which I've read great things about) as soon as I finish up my Redken Extreme CAT Protein mist.