Long & Raggedy Ends.

[chavascandy]

I am hoping to grow my Mid-Back Length Hair to WL. It seems that the longer my hair gets, the more difficult it's getting to retain length. I am quite confused because I mostly wear protective styles and keep my hair moisturized.

Every time I look in the mirror I get frustrated at how 'see-thru' my ends look....as a result I am constantly chopping away with the scissors.

Help… can anyone give me advice about this issue?

 

[AllAboutMoi]

Are your ends breaking? It could also look that way if its growing more in some areas than others.

 

[LushLox]

How often do you protective style, do you wear PS every day of the week? I've said it before, I don't think everyone can do it. Even when my ends are moist and sufficiently hydrated, my ends can still look rather raggedy after being up in a bun all day. I do protective styles but I can only wear very loose buns, with curl tendrils framing the face. I can't do tight, structured buns otherwise my ends suffer. Although I'm looking for a good light moisturising spray to add during the day - I'm sure this will help.

PS: From what I can see your ends look lovely by the way!!

 

[chavascandy]

Are your ends breaking? It could also look that way if its growing more in some areas than others.

They seem to breaking and some areas seem grow faster than the other. I don't know what may be causing the breakage.

How often do you protective style, do you wear PS every day of the week? I've said it before, I don't think everyone can do it. Even when my ends are moist and sufficiently hydrated, my ends can still look rather raggedy after being up in a bun all day. I do protective styles but I can only wear very loose buns, with curl tendrils framing the face. I can't do tight, structured buns otherwise my ends suffer.

PS: From what I can see your ends look lovely by the way!!

Everyday I wear cornrows and half wigs but I, think my hair is hating that. You seem to be right when you say that everyone can't do the long-term protective styling.

 

[sharifeh]

Are you far along in a stretch?
that also makes your ends look bad cause of the new growth
maybe you should try a different style

 

[C@ssandr@]

Are your ends breaking? It could also look that way if its growing more in some areas than others.

If you are texlaxed they might just look raggedy as well. And I agree with the above. Since your hair is longer it could just be that some areas are progressing faster than others and it's more noticeable.

 

[shtow]

I know exactly what you mean. I didn't have this problem until I hit BSL. It could be from you hair growing in at different speeds. Mines does this, so when I trim, I am very careful. Lately I have been dusting after my relaxers and it's getting better.

Either way, the longer you hair is, the older the ends are, so I don't expect my ends to be perfect unless I get a blunt trim.

 

[tocktick]

Imo, you shouldn't trim more until you know what is going on. Personally, I would stop doing what was causing breakage once I discovered it yet would not cut again until I was a little past goal length. This is in order for the ends to be blunt without winding up back above goal. Of course, if the ends are really damaged then you'll have to cut before then.

 

[Luscious Locks]

Imo, you shouldn't trim more until you know what is going on. Personally, I would stop doing what was causing breakage once I discovered it yet would not cut again until I was a little past goal length. This is in order for the ends to be blunt without winding up back above goal. Of course, if the ends are really damaged then you'll have to cut before then.

Sheesh. Can I come in a thread without someone taking the words out of my mouth? LOL. but I guess great minds think a lot. I agree with ticktock 100%. DO NOT CUT YOUR ENDS UNTIL YOU DISCOVER THE PROBLEM. Since you mainly protective style anyway, no one will see those ends but you. And I normally don't trim until I've reached or somewhat surpassed a goal. Pay close attention to your ends, and what you're doing to them. One thing I noticed is that sometimes your ends need a little something extra that the rest of your hair doesn't need.

For instance, I'll put a protein conditioner on just the hair that makes a ponytail. What 3-5 minutes, and then put on a deep moisturizing conditioner. It gives my ends the strength they need and the rest of my hair stays moist and balanced as well.

I really hope you figure it out. HHG

 

[ladytea]

If I knew then what I know now...

My ends were the bane of my existence, dusting every 2 weeks because the ends were ALWAYS raggedy no matter what I did and I wore protective styles all the time. Constant shedding/breaking from the ends and I couldn't retain length. My hair looked great, but wouldn't continue to show growth. I just really enjoyed having my hair up -- It's hot in Miami. I went natural thinking the problem was the relaxer. But I had the same problem as a natural, but with more issues. I searched LHCF high and low and found the answer. I was missing one step in my regimen.

Unrefined African Shea butter. My ends are PERFECT! And for a natural to say that -- chile please! lol After wash/condition, I apply leavin condish and oils and shea butter to the ends (last 1.5 inches). During the week when I re-moisturize, I apply shea butter to damp ends. Now I only trim every 6 months. Rarely will I lightly trim the end of a plait -- growing out a textlax. The shea has made a huge difference in my hair life and hair attitude. Grow baby Grow!

Shea can be heavy, but you wear protective styles anyway. I get my shea from a beauty supply store $8.99 for 16 ounces. It lasts me 2 months. I'm heavy handed and use it for my skin too. If I knew then what I know now...

This has worked for me. Hope you find what works for you.

 

[GabbanaGirl]

Could be the cornrow/halfwig combo, and the length of time that you wear these styles. From experience, my hair will get as dry as the Sahara desert from anything covering my scalp for an extended period of time, whether it be a half or full wig...and breakage, or thinning is just the next stop if I don't correct it.

IMO if you aren't abusing heat, and your regimen is on point, it could be your protective styling that is causing the damage. Maybe a looser ponytail with the ends carefully tucked under (to give your hair a break from the stress of the cornrows, and let your scalp breathe from being covered up with a wig) will yield better results.

HTH. Your hair is gorgeous BTW...

 

[growinstrong]

Man, I wish I would have read this thread before my stylist chopped off about 2" of my hair. I was heading toward MBL when I realized I was not happy how thin my hair looked at the ends . Yeah, I would say leave it alone until you have relaxed and then see what they look like.

 

[pcRN]

OT...I have always admired your hair and growth. I am having the same issue. Bumping for more answers.

 

[Traycee]

This is true..At least for me...The longer your hair gets the older the ends are...What keeps my ends healthy and thick....

I dust my ends...1x to 2x a month....I do search and destroy method...I also take small sections and twist them. The hair that sticks out of the twist I cut off....I don't lose any length doing this....

But it gets rid of splits or scraggly ends thoughout the length of my hair...

I'm able to stretch out my trims for long periods doing this...

 

[chavascandy]

If you are texlaxed they might just look raggedy as well. And I agree with the above. Since your hair is longer it could just be that some areas are progressing faster than others and it's more noticeable.

Now that you mention it, you may be right. I never thought about the new growth difference could be causing the ends to look uneven and raggedy.

I know exactly what you mean. I didn't have this problem until I hit BSL. It could be from you hair growing in at different speeds. Mines does this, so when I trim, I am very careful. Lately I have been dusting after my relaxers and it's getting better.

Either way, the longer you hair is, the older the ends are, so I don't expect my ends to be perfect unless I get a blunt trim.

Thank you. I need to hear that. I guess I was hoping for perfect hair.

Imo, you shouldn't trim more until you know what is going on. Personally, I would stop doing what was causing breakage once I discovered it yet would not cut again until I was a little past goal length. This is in order for the ends to be blunt without winding up back above goal. Of course, if the ends are really damaged then you'll have to cut before then.

I wish I read this part before I picked up the scissor to trim.

Sheesh. Can I come in a thread without someone taking the words out of my mouth? LOL. but I guess great minds think a lot. I agree with ticktock 100%. DO NOT CUT YOUR ENDS UNTIL YOU DISCOVER THE PROBLEM. Since you mainly protective style anyway, no one will see those ends but you. And I normally don't trim until I've reached or somewhat surpassed a goal. Pay close attention to your ends, and what you're doing to them. One thing I noticed is that sometimes your ends need a little something extra that the rest of your hair doesn't need.

For instance, I'll put a protein conditioner on just the hair that makes a ponytail. What 3-5 minutes, and then put on a deep moisturizing conditioner. It gives my ends the strength they need and the rest of my hair stays moist and balanced as well.

I really hope you figure it out. HHG

I should have read this whole insert before I tried to trim away my worries.

 

[chavascandy]

Could be the cornrow/halfwig combo, and the length of time that you wear these styles. From experience, my hair will get as dry as the Sahara desert from anything covering my scalp for an extended period of time, whether it be a half or full wig...and breakage, or thinning is just the next stop if I don't correct it.

IMO if you aren't abusing heat, and your regimen is on point, it could be your protective styling that is causing the damage. Maybe a looser ponytail with the ends carefully tucked under (to give your hair a break from the stress of the cornrows, and let your scalp breathe from being covered up with a wig) will yield better results.

HTH. Your hair is gorgeous BTW...

You may be right. I think I am going to give the cornrows a break. I must have been putting the ends of my hair under great damage. I will allow my scalp to breathe more.

This is true..At least for me...The longer your hair gets the older the ends are...What keeps my ends healthy and thick....

I dust my ends...1x to 2x a month....I do search and destroy method...I also take small sections and twist them. The hair that sticks out of the twist I cut off....I don't lose any length doing this....

But it gets rid of splits or scraggly ends thoughout the length of my hair...

I'm able to stretch out my trims for long periods doing this...

Thank you. This is very helpful information. I really admire the health and length of your hair and I can certainly see that you know what you are doing.

 

[Lucia]

This is true..At least for me...The longer your hair gets the older the ends are...What keeps my ends healthy and thick....

I dust my ends...1x to 2x a month....I do search and destroy method...I also take small sections and twist them. The hair that sticks out of the twist I cut off....I don't lose any length doing this....

But it gets rid of splits or scraggly ends thoughout the length of my hair...

I'm able to stretch out my trims for long periods doing this...

I do this too. The title sounds like something my ex stylist would say. Uneven hair oe scraggley doesn't mean its damaged, even hair is just cut to stay even @ a certainn length that's why it takes longer to grow hair out and keep it even cause you loose a lot of length that way. I haven't seen eanyones hair yet that grew even somewhat even. Some part grows 1st then the rest catch up, get to you goal length 1st by doing s&d on the splits only then trim even when your at least 2 inches past your goal that way you'll have a nice blunt ends look at your goal length. You should check out chicoro's fotki and her hair book "grow it" hth

 

[Prettyeyes]

I know exactly what you mean. I didn't have this problem until I hit BSL. It could be from you hair growing in at different speeds. Mines does this, so when I trim, I am very careful. Lately I have been dusting after my relaxers and it's getting better.

Either way, the longer you hair is, the older the ends are, so I don't expect my ends to be perfect unless I get a blunt trim.

ITA!!! The longer the older.

 

[beans4reezy]

This is a good thread. Good info for taking care of those ends.

 

[KhandiB]

Your hair looks great! I always clip my ends, even though they may not be damaged, I like my stuff to look fresh and sexy, so I dust quite often, well generally, since Ive had my baby, I will get back with the program.

But your hair looks good lady, Keep up the good work!

 

[hillytmj]

Great information ladies!

 

[mahogany_horizons]

Another great thread! thanks ladies!