My Ends Like to Play Tricks on Me. What Am I Doing Wong? (PICS)

[Hairsnob]

My hair always plays tricks on me. erplexed Every time I do a length check I take a section of hair from the back while it's wet and stretch it to the front to see how much closer it is to APL and I say yay, I'm there. Then that piece that I'm holding breaks off. This CANNOT be good!!

I barely use heat... at least not as much as I used to. But I just can't seem to hang onto my ends!! I moisturize and seal DAILY and bun it during the week. I don't see ends coming out anywhere normally, it's only when I pull my hair down for a length check mainly. The strands are like 1-2 inches long that come off and this is usually while I'm moisturizing and sealing every day. When I put in my bun I don't overcomb or anything and the bun is not too tight so I'm thinking this is shed hair??? But my hair is filling in nicely everywhere else with the layers catching up and it looks fuller and all but it's just not getting longer!! Uggh!

What's the deal? Does this happen to anyone else?

Here's my reggie:

Week 1:
Clarify w/Mizani purifying poo
DC under steamer with ORS Replenishing Pak & Honey
Spray with CHI Keratin Mist
Dime size of CHI SI
Airdry
Spray with IC Heat protect
Lightly flat-iron on VERY low heat (Only that wash day)
Bun it every day after
Moisturize & seal daily with NTM leave-in, seal with castor oil

Week 2:
Wash with Tresseme Moisturizing poo
DC under steamer with Silk Element Cholesterol & Honey
Spray with CHI Keratin Mist
Dime size of CHI SI
Airdry
Spray with IC Heat protect
Lightly flat-iron on VERY low heat (Only that wash day)
Bun it every day after
Moisturize & seal daily with NTM leave-in, seal with castor oil

Here are pics from May and July and the May pics actually look longer. I'm so frustrated.

Look closely and you'll see the piece that's about to pull away when I stretch it.

July

May

 

[curlyninjagirl]

If your hair can't stand the heat, get thee out that kitchen! J/K

But seriously though, weekly heat AND chemically treated hair? Your hair no likey! My hair didn't like that combo either

 

[frizzy]

I think we're all gonna say "give up the flat ironing" for starters.

Even though its mild, the keratin mist might not agree with your hair...how long have you been using that product.

I would go hard with the moisture in the mean time.

Do you use any products with ceramides in it? They improved my hair a lot.

 

[AuNaturalMaMa]

I have to be really careful when my hair is wet (wet hair is more fragile) because if I pull too hard, detangle too rough, it CAN cause breakage. Not the usual shed hairs but breaking hairs. After, I wash I take a long time and be really careful with my hair detangling, adding product, and styling. When I rush to detangle I get breakage.

 

[Gemini350z]

I have the same problem, regardless of how moisturized my hair I have little ends break off. I have come to realize that it is due to the fact that I am relaxed and I use heat too much.

I feel like the only way my hair will get long is to stop using heat or chemicals, I dont know which to give up though.

 

[SuchaLady]

I had to stop with moisturizing and sealing daily. I would always see little pieces of hair when I did and that was the only time. I deep condition really well and use a leave in conditioner. I will moisturize mid week if needed. If you use heat though you will need to increase moisture though. Do you not like airdrying?

 

[NappyNelle]

You're flat ironing 4x a month... if you're wearing your hair in a bun during the week, why are you flat ironing so often? All of the heat protectants are locking moisture out, so I don't think your hair can benefit from the NTM with the regimen you're currently using. You're also clarifying, 2x a month; do you get that much buildup? You may be drying out your strands further.

As others have said, I would give up the heat and deep condition with a purely moisturizing conditioner every week, air dry, and continue to bun. I also would cut shampooing down to every two weeks, and co-wash for the other times.

 

[tiffers]

1) There's no reason to flat iron if you're wearing a bun. Cut that out!

2) NTM leave-in has caused lots of breakage for lots of members. It just doesn't agree with some folks' hair. Try a different daily moisturizer. One without cones.

3) Don't stretch your hair when it's wet. Wait until it's dried to do a length check.

4) Are you clarifying every two weeks? If I read your regimen right, that's waaaay too much. Once a month is more than enough.

5)Telling you to cut out the keratin spray will be pointless because you're cutting out the heat and, in doing so, putting a stop to the spray.

 

[glamazon386]

If they're short hairs, it's breakage. Shed hair comes from the root and has the little white bulb attached.

 

[glamazon386]

I had to stop with moisturizing and sealing daily. I would always see little pieces of hair when I did and that was the only time. I deep condition really well and use a leave in conditioner. I will moisturize mid week if needed. If you use heat though you will need to increase moisture though. Do you not like airdrying?

ITA. My hair is fine and this would definitely be too much manipulation. I don't usually need to moisturize between washes if I DC first and use a leave in. OP, I would cut back on the heat. You're flat ironing too often and it sounds like you're frying your hair. You wouldn't have to moisturize as often if you cut back on the heat. Try airdrying.

 

[hothair]

Personally with the relaxer and weekly heat I would incorporate some more protein into you reggie. Also if you're bunning why flat iron at all? You can just airdry in your bun and tie down the front to smooth it out.

Alternatively you can try rollersets.

 

[PinkPebbles]

You're flat ironing 4x a month... if you're wearing your hair in a bun during the week, why are you flat ironing so often? All of the heat protectants are locking moisture out, so I don't think your hair can benefit from the NTM with the regimen you're currently using. You're also clarifying, 2x a month; do you get that much buildup? You may be drying out your strands further.

As others have said, I would give up the heat and deep condition with a purely moisturizing conditioner every week, air dry, and continue to bun. I also would cut shampooing down to every two weeks, and co-wash for the other times.

ITA!

I'd like to add if your hair is not properly moisturize with a moisturizng deep conditioner your hair is not benefiting from the daily use of NTM.

NTM only works for me as leave-in on wet hair after I've done my mositurizing deep conditioner w/ heat.

 

[Hairsnob]

Such great responses. Someone mentioned the heat protectants blocking the moisture and I never would have tought of that.

Also, I didn't realize NTM had cones in it and I guess the daily use isn't so good.

And I flat-iron my hair after I wash because if I go out I like to wear it curled and I usually go out once a week. But the next day I put it right back in the bun. I just started using the NTM the last month or two so I probably am using it too much. I will definitely not moisturize as much.

I guess I'll have to stop stretching it when it's wet since someone said that's bad. I did notice that's the only time I see the hairs coming out. I always did complain of seeing hair in my hands when it was wet.

And yes, I always airdry and I love it. I haven't blown it dry in well over a year and will never do that again.

I tried roller sets before and wasn't too happy. One time it was horrible because I didn't give it time to dry fully. What a mess. But I have to practice that so that I can finally move away from the heat. I thought I was doing good by turning my iron down so low.

ETA: Oh yeah, also, someone mentioned clarifying every 2 wks is too often. I was thinking that because of the cones I use that I needed to get rid of them. But I will cut back on doing that also.

Thank you so much ladies!!

 

[lp318lp]

I also learned from the replies. Thanks, ladies!!!!

me~

Sent from my Desire HD

 

[Baggettcindy]

I airdry 99% of the time....I read where you should always use a leave-in cond when you air dry.

 

[Missjae09]

Op, if there is a "white bulb" at the base of the strand it's a shed hair, if the bulb is absent, it's breakage. Knowing whether you are dealing with natural shedding or breakage will help you in your decision on how to proceed.

Hope this tid bit help! HHG!!

 

[lilyofthenile]

Low heat is still heat! That could be it! Also look if you're overmoisturising hair, overmoisturising can make it weak and break off easily.

 

[LadyRaider]

I have the same problem, regardless of how moisturized my hair I have little ends break off. I have come to realize that it is due to the fact that I am relaxed and I use heat too much.

I feel like the only way my hair will get long is to stop using heat or chemicals, I dont know which to give up though.

My hair did that when I was relaxed and used a curling iron EVERY DAY.

I think the heat was the problem because I kept my relaxed ends for over a year, but once I gave up that stinky curling iron, the little broken ends disappeared.


I used a curling iron for the first time last weekend, and drat if I didn't see one or two of those little broken ends again.