My hair keeps breaking off!! HELP ( natural hair woes)

[DancingAlison]

I have been natural since 2007. My hair is still just above should length. Every time I wash my hair I find many snapped short curled hairs in the tub & on the walls. I haven't really treated it in over 2 years.
My revaluation! I recently (one week) started finger detangling and DC under a steamer and sectioning my hair in the shower and washing section by section. Now I plan on protective styling 3 weeks out of the month and wearing my hair out for one week out of the month. Do you think this new method will assist me in a more successful way? I want healthy, strong & long hair!

Can you share some of your personal reggies with me? How offend should I trim/dust? How do I stop the breakage?

My past hair before wash day. Excuse this hot mess photo of me...smh could get the picture down.

 

[Blairx0]

Someone will come in with a pile of info for you. But to get better answers you may want to describe your process. What do you put in your hair, the frequency of product use and how you typically style your hair. There are, as always, a lot of different reasons for your recent difficult, but it may be a simple as getting your protein moisture balance in check and not letting your ends rub against your choltes. Is your hair unbalanced?

 

[LightEyedMami]

Like Blair said there could be a number of things wrong. I, like you have been natural for years (since like 2004) but i never deep conditoned like NEVER for years, i also avoided trims like the plague!..Now my hair has did a 180 these past couple months, im dc'ng like every 3-4 days and trimming!...my hair refused to stopped breaking until i trimmed then it almost instantly went away, now im on a trimming on a scedule and im very consistant with Dc'ing....once you find what it is that is stopping you your hair will flourish!

 

[manter26]

What are you DC'ing with? Make sure you use protein. I think you should get a good trim to start fresh. Your hair is probably breaking due to weaknesses in the strand like partial splits.

Your overall plan sounds good.

 

[Pompous Blue]

My hair is natural 4Z and is fine/medium density. I, too, would have little broken pieces all over the place on wash day. I finger-detangled and finger-combed my hair to style it. No help. I upped my protein. My moisturizing game was on-point. I did a hard-core protein treatment every 2 weeks for 2 months. Problem solved.

I use Aphogee 2-step and steam with Darcy's Pumpkin Seed Conditioner afterwards (30 -35 min). Never fails. My hair is soft and strong afterwards.

And I agree, regular trims will help immensely.

 

[offthechainliz]

Have you tried baggy method with coconut oil I have found that to by my best friend

 

[SEMO]

In addition to what was already recommended, I would suggest using an oil (jojoba, grapeseed, olive oil, etc.) or shea butter to seal moisture into your ends (after you shampoo, condition and apply your leave-in). And I would also recommend using a satin or silk bonnet (not cotton) to protect your hair at night (if you already aren't).

Also, welcome to the forums. I hope you're able to figure out what's going on.

 

[bride91501]

I agree with manter26....your PS plan sounds good. Be sure to incorporate a heavier regular protein tx, followed by a moisturizing DC, until the breakage subsides. Then you can decide on a more moderate way to add PTs to your regimen.

My hair is 4b, mostly fine and dense. I've learned that it will break easily without regular PTs. I PS for 4 weeks at a time, and DC and do a light-medium PT weekly. I also M&S daily, cowash 2-3x per week, and clarify poo and henna when I take my braids down at the end of the month. Oh, I apply megatek to my scalp 2-3x per week.

If your hair is like mine, you'll find that protein is the key. Moisture I get easily from my DC and daily moisturizers, but I've learned I retain well if I'm incorporating protein regularly.

HTH... good luck with your new regimen!

 

[Seamonster]

I think your hair is beautiful, and it looks like you have a trim, but if it is breaking there are bound to be broken ends. Everyone gave you some good advice, looking forward to watching you grow.

 

[southerncitygirl]

DancingAlison

tell us what products you are currently using? everybody gave great feedback, but we could suggest adding to your reggie.

 

[Whimsy]

Welcome! Sounds like your new method is a great start. What else will you be doing?

 

[sunshinebeautiful]

Protein treatment then a nice trim. Then I'd monitor the progress from there.

 

[Ajna]

Here is my two cents I agree with the protein treatment and your plan sounds good with the steamer and finger detangling.

Personally my hair went through a lot of changes getting from ear length to shoulder length and it took awhile for it to grow. I really do not have a routine but here are some things that work for me.

1. Henna is a must and I do it every four to six weeks.
2. My hair likes protein but it is rather picky I have better luck with keratin than most of the other types and I do a keratin treatment about every twelve weeks. On a regular basis I use GPB (Aubrey Organics) or the protein conditioner by HQ.
3. I trim my hair once a year and mostly it is to even it up because one side of my hair grows slower than the other. I do not have an issue with split ends because I mostly do low manipulation hair styles or a bun. The other reason why it is so infrequent is because I am lazy and hate to straighten my hair.
4. Last is moisture, my hair loves oil when it is wet and hates oil when it is dry so I am a huge fan of oil rinses and that probably is what has made the biggest difference in my moisture balance. I still need to spritz my hair daily with water and use some kind of daily conditioner but it is no longer all dry and it has a silky feel to it. My suggestion here would be find a really good daily conditioner that absorbs in you hair not lays on top.
5. Last is manipulating the hair, I think I broke off a lot of hair due to error. While I love my hair being wild and free, that causes me tons on tangles and knots. For me this means no wash and go, my hair is almost always in a twist out or a bun. Before bed my hair needs to be twisted or braided and this is with a silk cap otherwise I have tons of tangles. Also I prefer a detangling comb to finger detangling and normally I do this when I have conditioner in my hair with lots of slip. I then twist my hair and rinse the conditioner out with the twists. This has really cut down on breakage.

I hope this is helpful really it is just a lot of trial and error when you figure out what works for you. Good luck!

 

[ajoke]

From what I see, OP, you are lying down on your unstretched, uncovered hair. For dense extremely coiled 4 hair, that's a recipe for disaster. You would have to be extremely patient and to condition properly to reduce the amount of breakage you would get.

 

[DancingAlison]

Wow! All this feedback from all you lovely ladies is awesome. I am do excited to be a part of this forum.

As for my previous reggie & products:
I washed my hair every week or so with Terriensials Lemon mud wash ( i didn't section to wash) while in shower I would use shower comb and then denman brush to detangle. Use a deep condition treatment by My Honey Child Olive You Deep. Sit under my Huetiful Steamer. Wash out then put type 4 cream moisturizer from MY Honey Child on and sometimes seal with any oil around the house. Blow out my hair most times on high heat. Then twist for a twist out for the next day. No re-moisturizing post wash but maybe some type 4 cream if it feels dry on day 5 or 6. I have been lazy and for the past 5 or 6 months I have been sleeping with out my satin cap. Mold hair the next day with my finger and weather the storm. Smh I have not trimmed my hair since June 2012. I have been lazy with it lately because it seems no matter what I do it still breaks and is unhealthy. After I did a generous trim in June I was hopeful but my hair was still doing what it does best BREAK!

These pictures are how I wear my normally

 

[HanaKuroi]

Terressentials is too drying to use weekly. Try once a month.

The denman! This brush is great for some but an evil hair shredding machine for others! Midshaft splits and major mechanical damage to my hair was caused by this brush. I had even modified it. Do not buy the tangle teaser either.

Try finger detangling or get a good,seamless, wide-toothed comb.

 

[Evolving78]

finger detangle with an oil of your choice! that will help with the washing process.
you are not getting a enough moisture in. you may need to moisturize daily. you don't have to use a cream, but you can use a moisturizing spray daily. also, you need to not blow dry your hair on high heat every time. you may want to stretch your hair and just go over it when it is almost dry (using the tension method just using your hands) or just stretching you hair and not use heat at all for awhile.

 

[offthechainliz]

My hair is just like yours and an indian Ayurvedic filled hair reggie have helped a lot! Such good advice from all the ladies!

 

[manter26]

The high heat has to go. That's probably what's causing the splits and breakage.

 

[softblackcotton]

My hair is like yours OP. My hair was breaking all the time. I have gotten much little to no breakage since I trimmed about 4 inches in the last year, stopped using tangle "the type 4 hair devil" teaser, and moisturize daily with a simple mixture a home made spritz if 50/50 water glycerin. I now finger detangle using the technique from Cipriana at urban bush babies. I moisterize weekly with shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie, and seal my ends after spritzing with castor oil. I plan protein condition with megatek also followup with a deep moisturizing condition.

 

[southerncitygirl]

i'm actually anti-henna cause its too much work and there are too many types of mixes that may or may not work for your hair. everyone is right the heat gotta go!

here's a few suggestions:

drinks lots of water, lots of salads, steamed veggies and fresh fruit. eliminate or watch your intake of wheat, refined grains/sugars, and processed food.

get some exercise, walking, yoga, dancing are just a few options.

what about co-washing or a sulfate free poo?

you need to keep your hair tied up for bed always

do a hardcore protein treatment every 4-12 weeks or alternate btw a moisturizing and protein based deep conditioner every other week.

trim/dust those ends every 3months.

pick a low or no manipulation style and stick with it.....twists, braids, weaves, wigs and /or bunning.

moisturize and seal your hair 3-5 times a week.

wash your hair in sections so it will be easy to detangle and style.

do searches on moisture drenched pre-poos, heavy sealing, ceramides, and moisture/protein balance.