Hey girl!
You sound like you are doing the right thing by going slow and smooth. That is what I am doing now.
But to answer your question, I never experienced any out of the ordinary shedding. I wash and detangle only once a week, and it DID look like a lot don't get me wrong, but it is normal for me because 1. my hair was pretty long and 2 it was just built up sheddage from throughout the week. So I didn't worry about it. I take care of myself pretty well internally so, I knew if is was shedding not breakage, it was seasonal (which I do have problems with shedding from changes of the seasons).
Now I can't blame everything on ruff detangling because I think the baggie and bun I was doing created a small portion of the problem along with my weakened nape. BUT I do think ruff detangling was the meat of the problem. Anyways, when I would detangle, I would get frustrated and LITERALLY just start pulling the comb through my hair. I would hear the tears and everything. But I would just be so mad at my hair and all the different textures and it was my way of socking it to it lol. There were times ( I can't believe I am about to admit this) that I would try and run the comb throo my head and a knot would stop it and I would stop and literally
cry , sitting right there. Imagine that, a 23 year old woman on the floor crying with a wet head and a comb stuck in it.
Then I would become angry and that's when hell would break loose.
I was frustrated because I use to flat iron my hair every week and I NEVER had to deal with tangles and knots before and they are very very frustrating for me. Not to mention I do not handle frustration and stress well AT ALL.
erplexed
So like I am saying, you sound like you are doing the right thing by going slow and smooth. Just take your time and be patient. Another thing I noticed is that when I wait late at night to do my hair I am usually more tired and have less patience. So now I do my hair earlier in the day or I take a good nap before I do it.
But my steps are pretty much the same as far as detangling except I do my main detangling while rinsing out my shampoo (creme of nature red OR green label).
- I use the jilbere comb to rinse it out, run it throo a few times and then switch to my Goody comb (pic in fotki).
- Then once I DC I rinse the conditioner out and comb again with my Jilbere.
- Then once I am out of the shower, I add my leave-ins and I comb AGAIN with the jilbere, then finger part my hair in very little sections (about .5 inches thing,a nd 3 inches wide) and detangle little by little to make sure I got all the small knots out.
I know it seems like a lot of combing but 1. I am VERY gentle now, and 2. I only comb once a week and I want to make sure all tangles are out because I have had dreads and matts before and those are NOT fun.
Okay so I just wrote you a whole biography but I hope it helps you. Anymore questions PLEASE feel free to ask me. I am more than happy to help others learn from my mistakes. I am pissed at myself for wasting a whole year of my social life for dumb ass mistakes like this...
Oh yeah, back to the topic.
You will do fine girl as long as you are patient with your hair.