Micro Braids ruined my hair

[strenght81]

A little over amonth ago, I decided I was going to get braids to give my hair a break.A few days before putting in the braids I permed my hair and cut it one lenght.The braider told me it wasn't a good idea that my hair was freshly relaxed for braids to be put in; Long story short, my hair came out beautiful, I recieved so many compliments. The problem is it was way too tight, I couldn't even sleep that night. One week later I see little tiny white balls all over the front of my hair, I knew it wasn't dandruff; I was a little worried but I didn't pay it to much mind, until I began reading about braids being too tight and what the effects are. Tonight I decided to take a few braids out so I can see what was going on with my hair. Low and behold all those little white balls were my hair that came out from the roots. It seems like I have very little hair left in the front. I was going to take the braids out but it's been over a month and the damage has already been done. I am planning on leaving them in until july 1st. (making it 2 months) I just can't deal with it right now.


Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should do to nurse my hair back to health after I remove these braids? And what should I do in the meantime to not make the problem worse? I know this is all my fault. I take 100% blame.

 

[Je Ne Sais Quoi]

My suggestion is to take the braids out. IMMEDIATELY!! Assess the damage and take it from there.

 

[Missi]

Its ok: you just gotta except ur hair the way it is: You just got to stick to ur normal hair regimen as before: your will grow back: its growing back right now even: its just gonna take time for your hair to return to its length for: some strands will thicken up while others are starting over from scratch. ~HTH~

 

[Everything Zen]

I am so sorry that this happened to you. Personally, I would still take them out and try to ease the tension on the other strands.

 

[bablou00]

Take them out and baby your hair. Your hair will grow back believe me 3 years of micro braids killed my hair but I didnt know about this site. My hair as done a 180 since I have been taking care of it and keeping tight hair styles out of the picture. Good luck to you girl

 

[tricie]

Hi, hon!

Sorry this happened; I know it was a lot of money, but I would take the braids out and let your hair relax. And if you do ever get them again, I think it's best to wait at least 4 weeks after a relaxer to get them; that way, they are tying onto stronger new growth as opposed to weaker, chemically altered freshly permed hair.

Check out the Crown & Glory method for braid extension according to Robin Woods: www.growafrohairlong.com

HTH!

 

[tsturnbu]

I will suggest not doing anything to your hair. Your hair and scalp has suffered much stress already, and the tugging, pulling, and cimbin associated with taking the braids will further the damage. Leave the braids in, but make sure u wear them in an EXTREMELY loose low ponytail to take all teh tension away from your scalp. I certainly would not add anymore tension to your scap right. the first 2 weeks that your braids are in is when teh tension and pulling is at its greatest. Once the new growth kicks in (about 2 weeks) there will no longer be that pulling of the braid aainst your scalp. I would wait a few more weeks to take them out.


HTH

 

[Nonie]

I agree: take them out. As someone who wears extensions a lot, I can tell you that as you get new growth, the braids do tend to dangle painfully especially along the perimeter and while I've never waited to see if that's a sign of things to come (I usually touch them up as soon as I feel some growth), I wouldn't doubt that it's a warning. Also the longer you wear braids, they more likely they are to matt at the base - esp if you're using products - which means it may break when you are undoing...esp if you're impatient. (Since I touch mine up often, I don't give that matting a chance.) And since the braider seems to have been clueless - pulling your hair so much - chances are she put a lot of hair per section...which means that the strain exerted is enough to cause further alopecia. Undoing will not cause any stress to your scalp if you're slow and gentle. Use your fingers, not a come and start unraveling from the ends. If you used human hair, undoing the day after a wash might make the task easier.

So take them out. You remind me of myself when I was a kid. One stylist cornrowed my hair so tight, I almost couldn't close my eyes (slight exaggeration). I was too polite to say anything. When I got home, my mom was livid. She was mad at me too for not speaking up. She marched me back to the salon to get them all undone, then she (mom) braided my hair herself - albeit so simply. So in future, please speak up when it hurts. It's not worth it. If you have to leave and go elsewhere, do it.

I usually tell people that when looking for a braider, find one who works on kids. I imagine they'd be a lot more gentle. I once braided a lady and she kept complaining that she didn't want them loose. I'd swear they were not loose. But she kept whining. So I told her to let me finish one and then if she doesn't like it, then I'll quit. She was surprised to find it was firm. I used to braid my friend's 2 year old (not with extensions) and my other friend's nine year old (with extensions). In both cases, the kids would go to sleep. That's the sort of braider you should look for. What's more, insist that they use less hair per section of your hair. I've heard of braiders who ask you to bring 4 or more pieces of extension hair. That's insane. I usually use about 2 pieces. In fact, this time I only used 1 and 1/8 (human hair). So that's another way to tell if the additional hair will exert too much strain (due to weight) on your scalp.

For the areas where you've lost hair, maybe the concoction I used to grow back my hair might help. I shared my experience here. (More progress pics later in the thread.) And what I would do now is whatever styling exerts the least pull on your hair. I'm so sorry you have such a bad experience with braids.

(((Hugs)))

 

[coconow2007]

I have worn micro braids for a number of years - with what you are experiencing I suggest you take them out. Be very gentle when you take them out and condition, condition. Your hair will thank you

 

[sareca]

I've had those many many many times. I still have a full thick hairline, I didn't suffer any setbacks, and didn't take them down until I was ready. If you did this all the time I'd be worried, but once... eh!

 

[strenght81]

Thank you all for the great replies. I know the best thing to do now is to take them out, but I can't. I know, shame on me, :spank but funds are low,looowwwwwwwww right now. The braids still look good (when I remove them, that's another story ). I Can't risk looking like a hot mess at this point without a fallback plan. I am going to save a few dollars a week until July so I can get a professional hair cut, (I think i'm going to need it, after removing these braids erplexed .) I do plan on waiting 2 weeks after removing the braids before perming again. I will just have to treat my hair gentle like you all recommended and even more gentler after removing. Thank you all.


Any suggestions on relaxers that won't be too strong.? Would a dominican blowout be acceptable those 2 weeks I am waiting to perm?

 

[Candy1978]

I really do feel your pain, I wore micros for like 6 years and it did a lot of damage to my hair, and hairline. I thought that since I was wearing braids that my hair would "grow", but I achieved very little length. My suggestion would be like the other ladies have already told you, take them out, deep condition your hair, and just keep a steady regular regimen. I personally have decided not to ever put micros in my hair...to high of a risk for breakage. I think medium size braids are best for protecting hair, and gaining length. If your braids are too tight go back to the braider and tell her to take them out and do it a little looser. I remeber I had this one lady braid my hair so tight that I had to take tylenol for 3-4 days just so I could go to sleep at night and function during the day. I didn't want to take them out cause I thought I was looking sooooo cute...lol, big mistake in the long run...lol

 

[EMJazzy]

I'm STILL trying to grow my edges back from wearing those damn micros

 

[sunshinebeautiful]

Awww man. Ya'll got me scared now. I was just about to head down to the African braiding shop to get some micros tomorrow. Now I think I'd rather not take the risk.

 

[ina]

I would say take them down as soon as possible. If you're planning on having braids in the future make sure you do medium sized ones. Also, tell the braider not to do them too tight especially in the front. If you feel like they're tight have her redo them right away before you leave the shop!!
After all, it's your money and you're paying to have them done the way you want.

 

[Radianthealth]

The same thing happened to me, I started the Thicken up that hairline challenge to get my hairline back together after wearing microbraids for too long. In the beginning My hairline looked like it started behind my ear By being gentle doing scalp massages and loose protective styles I nursed my hairline back to health . There are before, during, and after photos in my album.

There are lots of tips in this thread

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=89518&highlight=Thicken

I hope this helps

 

[SandySea]

I'd take them out for two reasons. First, to prevent more damage. Second, to either ease my worries or start nursing my hair back to health. I say this because it is possible that the hair loss may not be noticeable. I've had this happen to me and the damage was not visible when I took the braids out. You may be worrying over something that is not as bad as it appears. Sure, it's upsetting, but maybe you won't be able to see the difference.

 

[daedae157]

Awww man. Ya'll got me scared now. I was just about to head down to the African braiding shop to get some micros tomorrow. Now I think I'd rather not take the risk.

let this be a warning to you sunshinebeautiful:

I'm STILL trying to grow my edges back from wearing those damn micros

DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT get micros! i am a hairstylist, and i have NEVER in my life braided someone's hair in micros.

they are EXTREMELY risky and there's at least a 75% chance your hair will come out.

DON'T DO IT!

there are other ways to grow your hair or give it a rest.

 

[longhairluva]

Micros did the same thing to me. I will neva eva eva eva get them again. I'm still babying my hairline a year later.

 

[ajargon02]

Well the braider was right. It's way too much stress on the hair to have a fresh perm, then go into tight braids. I would take them out completely, or atleast go back to the braider, let her know the sections that are too tight, and have her take them out and re-do them so they are comfy. I do braiding myself, and have for years. Tight braids are not good, and they lead to pulling hair out at the root, and increased breakage, headaches ect. Good luck to you. Hth

 

[KweenZ]

The key to the upkeep of micros is to keep the hair MOISTURIZED way more than u would just wearing your hair out because your scalp is vulnerable to the harsh elements & the tightness of the braids just makes it that much worse...
If you slack on the moisture then the white bulbs will start poppin up.

 

[shynessqueen]

A little over amonth ago, I decided I was going to get braids to give my hair a break.A few days before putting in the braids I permed my hair and cut it one lenght.The braider told me it wasn't a good idea that my hair was freshly relaxed for braids to be put in; Long story short, my hair came out beautiful, I recieved so many compliments. The problem is it was way too tight, I couldn't even sleep that night. One week later I see little tiny white balls all over the front of my hair, I knew it wasn't dandruff; I was a little worried but I didn't pay it to much mind, until I began reading about braids being too tight and what the effects are. Tonight I decided to take a few braids out so I can see what was going on with my hair. Low and behold all those little white balls were my hair that came out from the roots. It seems like I have very little hair left in the front. I was going to take the braids out but it's been over a month and the damage has already been done. I am planning on leaving them in until july 1st. (making it 2 months) I just can't deal with it right now.


Do you guys have any suggestions on what I should do to nurse my hair back to health after I remove these braids? And what should I do in the meantime to not make the problem worse? I know this is all my fault. I take 100% blame.

I only have one advice for you. Take the braids out now if you haven't already taken them out.

 

[Kacie]

I don't think you should perm your hair for a while. Your plan to relax again two weeks after you take out your braids doesn't sound good to me. IMO, you should wait as long as possible to relax by possibly using wigs, cornrows, or medium box braids. This sounds like a great time to give your hairline a break by doing a long stretch.

 

[strenght81]

Update: I still haven't removed the braids yet ....yeah I know shocking. But I have rebraided some of the front over and it's not as bad as I thought it would. I am taking the suggestion of not relaxing for a while. I don't plan on relaxing for about one year. I want to really start all over with fresh new healthy hair. I don't know if I want to transitioin but I do know that I won't be relaxing no time soon. thanks for all the advice.


Btw I plan to keep the braids in until the end of this month, that will make it 3months total.