"Kitchen" Issues..

O

onepraying

Healthy Hair Quest..
\"Kitchen\" Issues..

Generally, two inches from the nape up is either really short, damaged, bald(ing) or breaking.

What's a girl to do? /images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'm sure the most of us have had these issues with our kitchen area at one time or another.

Please post any success stories and reasons for this success of getting a barren land to produce abundant radiant growth./images/graemlins/weird.gif

Here's what I've been doing. I'm not sure if I'm on the right track:

I am refraining from pulling my hair tight back there: If I wear a pony, do bantu knots, twist or braid outs I leave that hair out and set with pillow soft rollers.

Of course, I moisturize it like no ones business.

I'm considering leaving it untouched at my next touch-up

Will anyone share their successes?

Thanks!

~op~
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

Honestly my "kitchen" grew with the rest of my hair when I quit relaxing. My kitchen hair is just as long as the rest of my hair. I don't know if you are open to wearing your hair natural or not.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

My kitchen is the same length as my hair except for maybe the last 1/8 inch or so.

I think your plan to get your growing back is a good one! /images/graemlins/up.gif
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

i would say to stop perming and or pressing that part.

i had to do that to my hairline and my kitchen--it helped tremendously.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

When I went natural that section gre normally. SInce my problems with permanent color and relaxing it's breaking off.

I not going to perm that section or my hairline anymore for thickness and growth. I might even shave the back and let it grow back now. My hair is very fine in those two sections and really don't need a relaxer when I think about it.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I have decided to touch up that section every other touch up. When I wore braids during the summer I sprayed my nape area with Surge and castor oil. I was so happy when I took the braids out at how much that area grew. To maintain my length in that area I continued to use Surge and Castor oil. So far so good.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

OnePraying, I have a question because it's the only thing I can think of regarding this issue. I see that you are relaxed and am wondering if you or your stylist might be applying the relaxer to your nape area for too long.

I ask because I have always read/heard that the nape and hairline are more susceptible to damage. For that reason, I have always applied my relaxer to those areas last. I'm not sure if my hairdressers used this method back when I used to go to salons, but I've been doing my own relaxers/texturizers this way for at least 10 years. My nape area has always been the same length as the rest of my hair.

Maybe you already apply your relaxers this way, but I thought I'd mention it, just in case.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I only texturize my hairline (nape included) for 1-2 minutes when I touch up. Maybe it's overprocessed???
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

Thanks for for the comments, suggestions and success stories.

Renee: I've consider those issues. I've currently stop going to the salon for touchups.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

When I stopped relaxing, my nape started to grow. I just moisturized it day and night and made sure not to make my ponytails too tight.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I have the same problem with my kitchen and am encouraged by the Kitchen album in dontspeakdefeat's fotki journal. Check it out.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

My kitchen area is my weak spot and I had success growing it back using Surge and Profectiv Anti thinning creme.
I am very consistent using these products.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I have problems with my kitchen too OP. You're not the only one trust me. I think it does have something to do with the relaxer. Lately, I've been making it a NOTE to tell my stylist that as soon as the relaxer has been rinsed out of my hair, and shampooed, to take the old towel that was draped around my neck off of me. Sometimes residue relaxer is still on there and can get on your hair after you've had the relaxer rinsed off. This has helped a little bit.

The way I know it's the relaxer is because the last time my stylist relaxed my hair, she didn't put the relaxer right near the edges of my hair in the front. She left it alone, and I've noticed that my little baby fine hair (although curly) is coming in again at the front. Before, my hair was starting to receed because the perm was too strong for the little baby hairs around the edges in my front. Do you know what I'm talking about? Now that she didn't put the perm there, my hair is growing back. I actually kind of like it.

I always wondered too why most of the perm applications tell you to start towards the back first. If anything, my hair in the middle is the curliest, so I think THAT should be relaxed first don't you think?

I may consider like some of you mentioned not relaxing that back part (kitchen area) of my hair at all. It needs a rest I think. Sure, my hair won't look AS "polished" with the back of it still curly...but nobody will notice if I don't wear my hair up.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

Crystalicqueen123:

There are a lot of reasons why our hair is fragile back there. The main reason is the relaxer. Either from the towel with residue on it, to the sink lip having residue on it as well.

I think that since it is so short, if we don't keep it moisturized it will get brittle and break.

The middle is where I like mine started as well. It's the thickest and seems to have the most newgrowth.

I know what you mean about the baby hair. I was checking out my hairline wondering if I hadn't ruined it by having relaxer applied there. I took a look at my baby pic when I was 4 months old and noticed I had the very same hair line.

~op~
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

OP:

Yeah, my kitchen area is pretty fragile also. I'm wondering if I should just ask my stylist not to relax that part next time? And my hairline has benefited (I believe) from not having it relaxed each relaxer time.

So, what's a good moisturizer for a dry kitchen? haha That sounds funny. I try to make sure to condition and moisturize this area a lot, but for some reason it continues to be dry and curly.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I had a lot of problems with this area as well when I relaxed it. Now that I am going natural, this area is growing and stronger than ever. I am currently transitiong with about 5 inches of natural hair and about 6 inches of relaxed hair except the nape area. Funny thing is my nape area is 5 inches all natural with about one inch of relaxed hair left. This is proof that my hair in its natural state will grow.

I hope this helps.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I have noticed that the hair at the back of my head was somewhat damaged. I equate it to constant overlapping in the past. Therefore, I have decided to relax less often. That way I will have much more growth and a smaller chance of over-lapping.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I shaved off my entire nape last year. It measured 23 inches long before I shaved it. Now, it's 8 inches long and still growing.

I did the usual deep conditioning and moisturizing. When I put my hair up, which is often, that hair went right up like the rest of my hair. I didn't brush it when putting my hair into a ponytail or bun, though. I just smoothed it with my hand. I also made sure to put more moisturizer there.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

Which moisturizer did you use Boadicea? That's what I've been having trouble with. I don't know a good moisturizer to use!
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I had this problem too, and I'm finally recovering! I agree that the relaxer and tight ponytails are the biggest culprits. My hair along my nape and front is baby fine- looks kinda like Hairlove's hair /images/graemlins/smile.gif (wish it looked like that all over). The problem is that I was relaxing it the same way I relaxed the rest of my much more coarse hair, for the same processing time. Now I don't relax the nape area at all, and it has filled back in. If I lifted my hair up, it's a completely different texture, but it's cute for updos because I can have naturally curly ringlets.

Just leave it alone, apply some type of growth serum/moisturizer, watch those towels, ponytail holders, and sweaters (especially turtleneck) and you should be fine.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

Yup it's the relaxer. It's damaging the nape area. Too tight ponytails will also do it. When I stopped relaxing that area grew in.

Now that I am texturized again, I've noticed my nape area isn't as long as it was before. I mean the very very nape area of my hair is an inch past shoulderlength. I've been using surge on that area of hair. In regards to my hair its an 1/8 of an inch area. The rest of my kitchen area hair is just about the same length of my regular hair.
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I'm with the concensus here: I believe it's the relaxer on top of some other factors probably.

What I did to cure my kitchen woes was to cut/clip it just like the rest of my hair so I could start w/a healthy canvas. Once the ends were clipped, I made sure to either relax it every other perm OR relax it with the rest of my hair by using my fingers to "pinch" the base of the kitchen where the new growth was. I DO NOT drag it through to the ends, even by accident. Also, I keep it moisturized. My kitchen is totally healthy and breakage free now.

I'm no expert, therefore, I KNOW you can nurse your nape back to health, too. /images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

I saturated this area w/ S Curl consistently and the hair just shot out of my head. Now the kitchen hair is a long as the rest of my hair. HTH!
 
Re: "Kitchen" Issues..

I stopped relaxing my kitchen area early last year. So far, so good! :up: Its growing along as if I was transitioning. I stopped tying knots in that area with my satin scarves too. I keep my kitchen well moisturized in two braids, which cannot be seen in the styles I've been wearing. I just leave it alone.
 
Re: "Kitchen" Issues..

I'm glad I saw this as I was about to post about this same issue. I have already decided to stop relaxing that section. I am going to moisturize it well and I know I need to trim it because although it is short, it is brittle in the nape area and I noticed a few split ends. :p
 
Re: \"Kitchen\" Issues..

They make a good point about relaxing. I texturize that part only every other time, because my scalp is very sensitive in certain parts around the hairline.
 
Re: "Kitchen" Issues..

I relax my kitchen area once every six months. I have no problem maintaining the length.
 
Re: "Kitchen" Issues..

OnePraying,
have you considered giving your hair a rest. Your problem sounds like you are using the wrong strength relaxer and too much manipulation, why not try stretching out your retouches for at least 3mths and wear braids? Then try a milder or if using a lye try a no-lye formula.

MeechUK
 
Re: "Kitchen" Issues.....NEW QUESTION

MeechUK said:
OnePraying,
have you considered giving your hair a rest. Your problem sounds like you are using the wrong strength relaxer and too much manipulation, why not try stretching out your retouches for at least 3mths and wear braids? Then try a milder or if using a lye try a no-lye formula.

MeechUK
Click to expand...

Thanks Meech. You are so right. When I would touch up that area I would cover it with relaxer instead of hitting the newgrowth only so it was being over processed. Plus, I was pulling that part taunt ALL THE TIME!

Since joining the board, I have been stretching 3 mos and I didn't relax my kitchen at this last touchup(atleast the very last inch up from my neck). I've tried braiding that part but it felt like I was pulling on it too much. No matter how loose I made the braids it felt tight.

However, I did notice when I relaxed this last time I didn't protect it from the relaxer. After rinsing and styling and drying, I noticed that part was very hard and brittle feeling. I didn't break off, because I started to immediately moisturize and condition it. I've been going over in my head about how to protect it. I believe I'll smooth it down with lots and lots of vaseline, then try to cover it with something like saran wrap or something, I'm not sure yet....

Those of you who have stopped relaxing that area, how do you protect it from the chemicals?

~op~
 
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