faithVA
Well-Known Member
It may not be as bad as you are thinking. They always send you the bad pictures. Often there are simple fixes for the issues. Good luck!
MHM Hangout
- Thread starter faithVA
- Start date
LavenderMint
Well-Known Member
Thank you @faithVA! That helps!
@Ajna, I didn't think so either. I'm wondering if it's because of the non-traditional way I maintained them (mostly by latchhook) or if this would have happened with my hair anyway. Basically the photo notes were: my hair is a "little" dry, the cuticles were slightly raised (it was visible in all pics, does that mean hi-po?), lots of ssk (I knew that), a LOT of cuticle damage (really worried about that) and something about diminished root sheaths.
@Ajna, I didn't think so either. I'm wondering if it's because of the non-traditional way I maintained them (mostly by latchhook) or if this would have happened with my hair anyway. Basically the photo notes were: my hair is a "little" dry, the cuticles were slightly raised (it was visible in all pics, does that mean hi-po?), lots of ssk (I knew that), a LOT of cuticle damage (really worried about that) and something about diminished root sheaths.
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
I'm thinking I may not be low porosity after all...not sure either way. My hair is always dull unless I put oil or shea butter on it. My ends are rough and dry to the touch even when wet and they cling to each other no matter how much I detangle. My hair seems to never be full detangled. So yesterday I cut most of my color treated ends, did a conditioner prepoo, cleansed with Babo Swim & Sport Shampoo wash and steam DC with Shea Moisture High Porosity Moisture-Seal Masque and used CR coconut water leave-in (love). Afterwards my hair felt incredible soft, easily detangled and my flat twist doesn't look as dull and dry as before.
I'm going to start treating my hair as if it's high porosity for a few months to see if I notice an improvement, it's possible my ends needed to be trimmed.
I'm going to start treating my hair as if it's high porosity for a few months to see if I notice an improvement, it's possible my ends needed to be trimmed.
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faithVA
Well-Known Member
You very well could be. A lot of what you said sounds like my hair but when you got to the coconut water leave in I had to say good bye
.Hopefully this change works for you.
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
Lol! I remember having that issue a while back with the coconut milk but for some reason my hair loved this product. My flat twists looked so good, my husband asked who did my hair, that was a first!You very well could be. A lot of what you said sounds like my hair but when you got to the coconut water leave in I had to say good bye
Hopefully this change works for you.
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LavenderMint
Well-Known Member
So, @faithVA, you were right my Komaza consult wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Most shocking to me was the revelation that my hair is high porosity!
I was also strongly recommended to incorporate protein treatments into my regimen, at least every other week, to help balance my moisture levels and deal with the cuticle damage; it should also help with the ssk. No more extended deep conditioning or greenhouse effect.
A more aggressive trimming schedule was suggested: up to a 1/4 inch every 6 to 8 weeks for about a year to get rid of the cuticle damage.
The diminishing root sheath was an indicator of the start of traction alopecia due to the weight of my locs on the crown of my head.
Other recommendations: no more co-washing, weekly shampoo use (clean scalp, happy new hair), no oil unless it's a coconut oil pre-poo (but that makes my scalp hurt and itch so probably not), clay is still fine but upping protein is likely to have more effect, and some information about the kinds of products I want to use when ps versus wng.
Overall, I feel like it was worth the money. I know a lot more about my hair then I did before and just being certain of my porosity alone is a huge benefit. I'm not sure where this leaves me in terms of MHM..... I need to think about it and see what will work for me.
Most shocking to me was the revelation that my hair is high porosity!
I was also strongly recommended to incorporate protein treatments into my regimen, at least every other week, to help balance my moisture levels and deal with the cuticle damage; it should also help with the ssk. No more extended deep conditioning or greenhouse effect.
A more aggressive trimming schedule was suggested: up to a 1/4 inch every 6 to 8 weeks for about a year to get rid of the cuticle damage.
The diminishing root sheath was an indicator of the start of traction alopecia due to the weight of my locs on the crown of my head.
Other recommendations: no more co-washing, weekly shampoo use (clean scalp, happy new hair), no oil unless it's a coconut oil pre-poo (but that makes my scalp hurt and itch so probably not), clay is still fine but upping protein is likely to have more effect, and some information about the kinds of products I want to use when ps versus wng.
Overall, I feel like it was worth the money. I know a lot more about my hair then I did before and just being certain of my porosity alone is a huge benefit. I'm not sure where this leaves me in terms of MHM..... I need to think about it and see what will work for me.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
Im glad it turned out well for you. Having the information is usually a big help. Knowing your porosity is going to help you make better decisions.
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
Thasks for updating us. This ^^^ is my question as well.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
Yeah just wait it out. You can wash again when your clay arives.
LavenderMint
Well-Known Member
I only recognize a few of the traits: easily tangles even after a thorough and lengthy detangling session, feels bumpy when I slide my fingers up a hair from tip towards the root, dries relatively quickly now (complicated to tell because I have a LOT of hair) & seems to absorb products pretty well.
She said something else that I thought was SUPER interesting but tends to go against one of the basic beliefs of MHM for type 4 hair: it's less common for curly/coily hair to be lo-po because in order for the hair to be curly, it has to flex; pin straight hair, like Japanese/Chinese/Korean/etc, that refuses to hold a curl or stay in a braid is most likely to be lo-po. The cuticles are closed so tightly the hairs just slide off each other with nothing to hold on to. (That was her explanation, don't shoot the messenger!!) of course, in any case, there are outliers for every standard so I feel like that statement is a total ymmv type thing.
As far as causes of the cuticle damage, it's related to the length of time I wore locs. She said she was actually expecting to see worse damage because I had them so long.
She said something else that I thought was SUPER interesting but tends to go against one of the basic beliefs of MHM for type 4 hair: it's less common for curly/coily hair to be lo-po because in order for the hair to be curly, it has to flex; pin straight hair, like Japanese/Chinese/Korean/etc, that refuses to hold a curl or stay in a braid is most likely to be lo-po. The cuticles are closed so tightly the hairs just slide off each other with nothing to hold on to. (That was her explanation, don't shoot the messenger!!) of course, in any case, there are outliers for every standard so I feel like that statement is a total ymmv type thing.
As far as causes of the cuticle damage, it's related to the length of time I wore locs. She said she was actually expecting to see worse damage because I had them so long.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
I would agree with her about it not being common for curly hair to be low porosity. When I first came on this board and described my hair all I got was crickets. Most people were not experiencing anything like it. There were products for normal porosity and even the roux porosity control for high porosity but nothing for low porosity.
Once we started talking about it on the board more people joined the low porosity group but many of them are high porosity based on their descriptions. Many people doing MHM aren't low porosity which is why there are so many different modifications.
There are just a few of us.
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
I'm so interested to see how my hair does with a hi-po regimen. I knew my ends were high po due to the permanent color but it just might be that my ends were just higher due to chemicals and that my virgin hair is high as well. I wouldn't be surprised seeing that the MHM or modified virgins never really did anything for my hair. I believed the baking soda caused irreparable damage as well. If my suspensions are proven true, I am going to be so happy that finally I can give my strands a chance to flourish.
LavenderMint
Well-Known Member
That makes a lot of sense. It actually seems like the main benefit of MHM for hi-po hair is a more thorough sealing technique.
I originally assumed my hair was lo-po because of the curl pattern/texture and because of that bad science water test.
I originally assumed my hair was lo-po because of the curl pattern/texture and because of that bad science water test.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
Yeah MHM really isn't that useful for high po hair. But if it helped you seal better that is great.
Maybe one day there will be a simple test for porosity so people can learn early on so they can make better choices.
I hate that water test but its hard to get away from.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
I hope it didn't damage it too much. What damage have you incurred?
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
Damaged to the point where I had to cut it off. I had my color installed by a colorist and only lightened one level...virtually the same tone as my hair but some color waa deposited to cover my oddly placed grays. My ends were frayed...highly porous with wispy/weakened.
When I clipped my hair this past weekend, ALL of my ends coiled without having to do any manipulation like before. I was doing the MHM heavily back when I had my hair colored. It could be a combo of the baking soda and color but I'm sure most of the damage occurred with the BS which is why I stopped a long time ago. I still have less than an inch of color left which looks and feels pretty healthy.
Honey Bee
Well-Known Member
I'm probably med-high po, just because I have fine hair and mechanical damage has always been a part of my life.
I still MHM. I use shampoo. I use regular (hydrolyzed) protein. I just incorporate them into the MHM reggie, so I'll replace ACV with shampoo, or a Cherry Lola treatment with protein, etc.
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
I found this pic of my hair done about six months ago. Look how frayed my ends were, not keep in mind I had a a wash n go regimen for more than half the year and a very low manipulation style. They had to go!
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faithVA
Well-Known Member
Yeah my ends looked like that but it was due to the color because they were like that before I started MHM. They got better after I started doing a reconstructed for days after the color treatment.
MHM could have made yours worse but I think it's moreso the color.
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
Yeah it's hard to say which caused my damage the most but I do know I'm not doing either again.
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
I kept my hair flat twisted for a week and did a twist out today. What a difference a hair cut makes...and I didn't have to yank my ends apart to untwist. One more inch off and I think all the color will be completely gone and my twistout wil look even better.
Health over length
Health over length
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faithVA
Well-Known Member
Great job. It looks good.
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
Thanks you.
Cattypus1
All loced up...
Love, love, love. Your hair is growing out so nicely. I love it!
KiWiStyle
Realtor & Foodie
Thanks you! I'm trying to catch up with you!
GGsKin
Well-Known Member
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