Major Hair Woes!!!!

[NessaNessa]

Okay, first let me introduce myself. My name is NessaNessa and I am a long time lurker of this site. Thanks to all the women for the invaluable information I have received from this site. I have learned more about hair than I ever thought I would.

Now to the question at hand. Since joining this site, I have taken extra care of my hair, but for some reason, I have MAJOR BREAKAGE in the back of my head. I didnt have this problem before I began taking 'proper care' of my hair and I am unsure what I am doing wrong. I really dont want to cut my hair to the point of breakage and will do anything to salvage my length. I must add that I am 4 months post relaxer and this is the longest I have been without a perm (thinking of transitioning), so I am unsure if this is a contributing factor or not.


Pic#6 shows the comparison pic of the breakage I am speaking of, while the 4 pics before that show my hair before 'proper care'

I moisturize daily using ORS olive oil
Seal in with oil of choice or mango butter
Wash at least once a week followed by a deep conditioner---I sometimes do this more than once depending on the time I have
I do protein treatments once a week or every other week---I use Motions CPR or Elasta QP Breakage Control Serum
I always follow protein treatments with moisturizing conditioner

I wear buns or flexirod styles

I have gained length, but I also have breakage. Is there anything I can do to save my hair without cutting it all off? TIA

 

[NessaNessa]

bumping cuz I need help!!! LOL

 

[Stormy]

Gosh... I don't know what that could be from. Do you wear buns often? How tight do you wear them? I experienced breakage once on one side which left a gap in my hair. I was told that it was because my hair was damaged from wearing buns too tight for a long length of time. I wore braids for a couple of months and now the spot has filled back in.

I hate to tell you this, but your only recourse may be to cut it (or keep trimming as the short part catches up?) because that's a lot of breakage in the back.

Hopefully some of the experts can shed some light on this.

 

[Angelicus]

NessaNessa, I see your name lurking on the board all the time. I hope that the knowledgable ladies on this board can solve this issue that you are having with your hair. Stay positive and happy hair growing!

There are a slew of women who believe that protective styles produced havok on their hair.

 

[senimoni]

When did you get the "weave damage"......?? Have you had a weave since you started taking care of your hair?

 

[Champagne_Wishes]

Hey NessaNessa *waving*! Well since you mentioned that you are 4 months post relaxer, if you want you can relax your hair and hopefully that will slow down. May I ask if your hair seems dry to you? If so maybe you should concentrate on moisturizing conditioners. Hopefully that will help. Anyways keep us updated.

 

[NessaNessa]

Thanks to all the wonderful ladies who answered my post!!!

Stormy, I think my buns may be a bit tight at times and I do draw it back in the same spot at all times...in that spot where the damage occured!!

Anky, I believe wearing the bun may have contributed to the hair damage. I use to wear them before joining these sites, but not nearly as often as I do now!!! I am not going to be wearing the bun nearly as often and see how this affects the condition of my hair.

Senimoni, that damage from the weave occured last November after I began taking proper care of my hair. Prior to the weave experience, my hair was still in really good condition. I havent had a weave since then. The stylist did the weave waaay too tight and I only kept the weave in for 2 weeks. BUT, I HAVE MAJOR GROWTH IN THAT AREA NOW. It doesnt look nearly as bad as the pics in my fotki. I will update my fotki later this month and have comparison pics. Once again, thanks for all the comments and more are wanted and welcomed!!!

CHAMP!!! Hey Girl!! How ya doing?! LOL Well, my hair doesnt appear dry to me and I use moisturizing conditioners whenever I wash my hair. I am 4 months post relaxer because I really was thinking of going natural. I am undecided at this time but I really want to go natural. I dont want to do the big chop, so I may relax. Who knows, I'm a bit confused...LOL

In conclusion, I think my hair is going through these horrible changes because I may have been doing too much to my hair. Before this damage I was wearing flexirods and cornrows only. Occasionally, I would wear my hair pulled back in a bun (bad hair days). I've decided to trim that area to a healthy length, but only that area. So the back of my head will be uneven, but I am sure I can handle that since I'll go back to wearing flexirods and cornrows. Once again, thanks for all the comments and more are wanted and welcomed.

 

[angellazette]

Good luck!

 

[Champagne_Wishes]

Thanks to all the wonderful ladies who answered my post!!!

Stormy, I think my buns may be a bit tight at times and I do draw it back in the same spot at all times...in that spot where the damage occured!!

Anky, I believe wearing the bun may have contributed to the hair damage. I use to wear them before joining these sites, but not nearly as often as I do now!!! I am not going to be wearing the bun nearly as often and see how this affects the condition of my hair.

Senimoni, that damage from the weave occured last November after I began taking proper care of my hair. Prior to the weave experience, my hair was still in really good condition. I havent had a weave since then. The stylist did the weave waaay too tight and I only kept the weave in for 2 weeks. BUT, I HAVE MAJOR GROWTH IN THAT AREA NOW. It doesnt look nearly as bad as the pics in my fotki. I will update my fotki later this month and have comparison pics. Once again, thanks for all the comments and more are wanted and welcomed!!!

CHAMP!!! Hey Girl!! How ya doing?! LOL Well, my hair doesnt appear dry to me and I use moisturizing conditioners whenever I wash my hair. I am 4 months post relaxer because I really was thinking of going natural. I am undecided at this time but I really want to go natural. I dont want to do the big chop, so I may relax. Who knows, I'm a bit confused...LOL

In conclusion, I think my hair is going through these horrible changes because I may have been doing too much to my hair. Before this damage I was wearing flexirods and cornrows only. Occasionally, I would wear my hair pulled back in a bun (bad hair days). I've decided to trim that area to a healthy length, but only that area. So the back of my head will be uneven, but I am sure I can handle that since I'll go back to wearing flexirods and cornrows. Once again, thanks for all the comments and more are wanted and welcomed.

Oh I see. Well good luck and try not to manipulate your hair too much.

 

[Healthb4Length]

Hey girl, I was noticing in your fotki pics and the damage IMO is not too bad. I was also wondering if you ever had your natural hair (not weave) straightened with a stove iron thingie. When I saw your pics I immediately taught of this because I whole back sectin of my hair was burnt off due to those stove irons and it looked just like your back section. Your regime seems just fine, so all I can say is do what you're doing and if you must do buns then do them in different spots and not too tight. You just need to baby your hair and everything will be alright. The products that I used to help baby this back section was lots of EOs and butters, staying away from heat and I did my own braids (never tight) and in a year and a half my back section grew in nicely...no one can even tell that I had that problem, look at my album and you'll see . And if you are not allergic maybe try surging the area and upping your vitamins. Good luck...can't wait for the updates.










www.fotki.com/nubian7
password:hair

 

[adrienne0914]

based on everything that you'd said, i believe that the breakage and damage are the result of your hair being stressed too much in that area, first with the weave then with the bun. if you do continue with the bun, loosen it up A LOT and also try placing it at the bottom back of your head rather than the crown area. whether you take proper care of your hair or not, styling it too tight will result in breakage.

i think you'll be doing the right thing by going back to what worked (flexirods and cornrows). so you'll just be incorporating what you've learned here with what was already working. i would not cut that area until i had some more length accumulated, especially if you'll be wearing cornrows.