My hair died and is trying to tell me something (hopeflly it has 9 lives) PICs

[Hairsnob]

I'm really hating my hair this week. It's limp, spongy and straw-like and just plain old BLAAAAH!! I can kick myself for not leaving well enough alone because my hair was just fine before that darn Aphogee 2 minute thingie. I can't blame it all on that but my hair is definitely trying to tell me something that it needs.

Anyway, I did the 2 minute and DC'd with a moisture condish. I've never used a moisturizing conditioner (CON extreme moisture) until this time. I followed-up with a little CHI SI, IC Heat protector and flat-iron. My hair came out okay, but nothing great. I noticed as I detangled with my fingers that more hair than normal was coming out but there was not much more than normal breakage when I flat-ironed right after. However, as the days went on I noticed my hair feeling more dry and coming out on my fingers (not a whole lot but more than normal) each time I tried to moisturize at night (with Cantu shea butter and coconut oil). I spray it with CHI Keratin Mist daily also as normal. So last night I clarified with Nexxus Aloe Rid and DC'd with the ORS and it felt great..... until this morning when I woke up to this stack of hay with frizzy ends that won't hold a curl.

What do you ladies think, do I need more protein or more moisture??? These pictures make it look much better than it really does in person but hopefully you can see the frizziness and dryness. There is absolutely no shine to my hair even though the pictures give it a little sheen.

TIA!!!

 

[Browndilocks]

Your hair looks super dry. I'd nurse it back with plenty of moisture. Clarifying shortly after a protein treatment will certainly dry you out. I'd stay away from clarifying and protein for at least 6 weeks. Think of your hair as a parched flower that just needs a little water and TLC in order to stand up and bloom again.

 

[1QTPie]

Skip the protein. Moisturize like your life depended on it. Just start co-washing and deep conditioning. If you can, avoid flat ironing it too until it recovers. Especially if it's breaking.

 

[january noir]

Hmmm....

Have your tried Roux Porosity Control?

I haven't used it in years, but it's a great product (smells nice too) that should help porous hair hold on to moisture and make other treatments more effective.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/367189/hair_porosity_help_for_dry_damaged.html?cat=69

 

[xcuzememiss]

deff moisture. as we speak i am doing a moisturizing deep condish. Honey, olive oil, sea salt, and a bit of Vo5 lavender condish with a plastic cap. try that. its cheap and gets the job done for me. I did it alot when i was strectching. I just ended my 12 week stretch yesterday!! and it helped smoothe out my NG and left it soft.

 

[january noir]

I really think your issue is porosity.

Here is a thread about Porosity. There are more, so you can search for additional information later.

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=262597&highlight=porosity+control

 

[Hairsnob]

Thank you for the third eyes ladies because I had no idea what it needed. It's so confusing. I'm headed to Sally's after work to get a good moisturizing leave-in and look into the porosity control thing too. No more flat-ironing any time soon, even though I normally only do that after a wash anyway.

Thanks bunches!!

 

[LaBelleLL]

deff moisture. as we speak i am doing a moisturizing deep condish. Honey, olive oil, sea salt, and a bit of Vo5 lavender condish with a plastic cap. try that. its cheap and gets the job done for me. I did it alot when i was strectching. I just ended my 12 week stretch yesterday!! and it helped smoothe out my NG and left it soft.

xcuzmemiss,
what are the benefits of salt?

 

[Miamori]

MOISTURE.

Try the Porosity Control, or an ACV rinse (cheaper, and pretty much a natural solution to get the same effect... I've also found that my hair responds better to ACV over Roux... my hair can start to act funny with Roux, but I've never had a problem with an ACV rinse), then go about focusing on moisturizing your hair.

I'd also say make sure you stop with the keratin, coconut oil, and DEFINITELY the Cantu! (At least for a time.)

I've seen several (if not more) ladies complain of this, and it was definitely true for me - Cantu in large quantities/over time can build up heavily, and make hair stiff and/or drier. It has a bit of protein in it, though it isn't a hard protein.

Coconut oil is not a protein, and though most consider it to be extremely moisturizing, for me it is softening (not moisturizing) and a good tamer. It has strengthening properties, and I discovered through trial and error that it is a no-no when I'm having protein (or lack of moisture) issues in the first place, especially when I use it constantly.

Sometimes, I have found that using a "moisturizing" shampoo also helps, though it's kind of counter intuitive. It sets my hair up to take in moisture better. Right now I use Joico's Moisture Recovery shampoo (Joico's Moisture Recovery line is also pH balanced. Which is relevant, because when people say they think your issue is porosity, it's another way of saying that it's your hair's pH. It needs to be balanced out. Hair that is relaxed, colored, or both [like mine] has more porosity issues.)

 

[Hairsnob]

MOISTURE.

Try the Porosity Control, or an ACV rinse (cheaper, and pretty much a natural solution to get the same effect... I've also found that my hair responds better to ACV over Roux... my hair can start to act funny with Roux, but I've never had a problem with an ACV rinse), then go about focusing on moisturizing your hair.

I'd also say make sure you stop with the keratin, coconut oil, and DEFINITELY the Cantu! (At least for a time.)

I've seen several (if not more) ladies complain of this, and it was definitely true for me - Cantu in large quantities/over time can build up heavily, and make hair stiff and/or drier. It has a bit of protein in it, though it isn't a hard protein.

Coconut oil is not a protein, and though most consider it to be extremely moisturizing, for me it is softening (not moisturizing) and a good tamer. It has strengthening properties, and I discovered through trial and error that it is a no-no when I'm having protein (or lack of moisture) issues in the first place, especially when I use it constantly.

Sometimes, I have found that using a "moisturizing" shampoo also helps, though it's kind of counter intuitive. It sets my hair up to take in moisture better. Right now I use Joico's Moisture Recovery shampoo (Joico's Moisture Recovery line is also pH balanced. Which is relevant, because when people say they think your issue is porosity, it's another way of saying that it's your hair's pH. It needs to be balanced out. Hair that is relaxed, colored, or both [like mine] has more porosity issues.)

Thank you so much! This is all good info and I appreciate you explaining everything. I was just sitting here thinking about putting some coconut oil or Cantu on tonight and I'm glad you said to give it a rest for a little while. I ran to the store right after work and bought some Hawaiian Silky 14-1 moisture leave-in and my hair drank it up like a thirsty camel . I already drenched my head twice in it and it feels MUCH better. I'm going back to my bun and leaving it alone for a while. I just hope I don't see anymore broken hair.

Thanks again all!!

 

[january noir]

Thank you so much! This is all good info and I appreciate you explaining everything. I was just sitting here thinking about putting some coconut oil or Cantu on tonight and I'm glad you said to give it a rest for a little while. I ran to the store right after work and bought some Hawaiian Silky 14-1 moisture leave-in and my hair drank it up like a thirsty camel . I already drenched my head twice in it and it feels MUCH better. I'm going back to my bun and leaving it alone for a while. I just hope I don't see anymore broken hair.

Thanks again all!!

DONT FORGET TO GET THE POROSITY CONTROL by ROUX. You need that.

 

[Hairsnob]

DONT FORGET TO GET THE POROSITY CONTROL by ROUX. You need that.

Yeah, I'm definitely going to get that tomorrow. That is, if they sell it in the stores. I was so desperate today that I ran in and bought the moisturizer and put it on when I got in the car because I couldn't wait to get home. So I completely forgot about getting the porosity control. From what I read in that thread, it's a conditioner?

I just looked at the picture again and it almost makes my skin crawl how dry it looked. Uggh!! And I walked around at work like that all day

Thanks again!!

 

[Jenn22588]

I agree with Miamori. Cantu has protein in it so when your hair is suffering from protein overload, Cantu is a no no. What I've been noticing is that alot of "moisturizing conditioners" have some amount of protein in them. I read all of the labels now even though I don't know what some of the ingredients are. Also keratin is protein so you should stop using the CHI for now.

Good luck with the Hawaiian Silky. I've never tried it because of the glycerin.

 

[Solitude]

I know you've gotten a lot of suggestions already, but I don't think it's your products. I think it's the heat from flat-ironing. Trust me, I am NOT a anti-heat, but if your hair is out of balance (moisture/protein), then flat-ironing it will cause it to break and split.

Frizzy ends are a key indication of heat damage, in my personal experience. You may want to try roller-setting or bunning until your hair is in better condition, and if your ends are still frizzy after trying the other suggestions, you probably need a trim. JMHO HTH

 

[tiffers]

Besides the Roux, no heat and moisturizing, I also suggest deep conditioning overnight. Deep conditioning with heat is great, but the conditioning effects are magnified when done overnight. The conditioner has all that time to marinate and moisturize
I've found that conditioners that were just "okay" with heat are phenomenal when used overnight. Good luck!

 

[virtuenow]

Are you relaxed or natural? I think natural heads should stray away from aphogee and other protein treatments. Naturals have an abundance of protein in their strands- and adding to it can more easily lead to protein overload. Focus should be on moisturizing!

However, if you are relaxed, your focus is a combination of protein and moisture. I'm not relaxed and even when I was, I never could figure out how to balance the moisture/protein factor. Which is why I am natural now. My hair aways turned to mush when I relaxed. My hair was too unpredictable-- or predictably breakable rather.