My last set of hair products purchased today

[TopShelf]

As of today I vow to not purchase another hair product. If these don't work nothing will and I will be going natural as of October.

I found out that I have eczema of the scalp a few years back, maybe 2007 and that was the reason that my hair was falling out. I BC'ed and waited for it to grow back a decent length because I had found lhcf and i figured i now knew how to care for my hair "issue". Last February i decided to relax again myself which went "so so" as my hair was underprocessed, but ironically not breaking. As of last summer i decided i would start going to a salon to deal with the underprocessed hair. She relaxed the entire head from root to tip with Mizani at my request and the hair seemed to be on track. But then in October my hair began to change color starting at the roots...it was a brownish reddish color. I had no fear, at first, but it them began tp break. It was still growing the breaking would literally bring me to tears.

I tried the Nano Keratin which helped but I actually dont like my hair to be that straight plus i sweat at night so with a day or two my hair would beging to revert at the root. I changed relaxers, shampoos, used more protein etc, all to no avail. Last week i cut my ends, maybe an inch b/c i noticed that there was always pulling at the ends when i passed my big tooth comb thru. there has been less hair coming out but there are still strands that are clearly broken hairs vs. shedding, but then there is also lots of shedding.

Anywho, todays last purchases were the following: wheat germ oil (for the ceramides), coconut oil and amla oil (sealing and hot oil treatments), henna ( strengthen), JBCO (thicken), pimento oil (growth, strengthen and ceramide).

Wish me luck ladies!

Some pics:
Breakage...pretty much like this whenever I wash myself...whooooo knows what it looks like when I'm at the salon:

Current hair: (looks are definitely deceiving)

Reddish/brownish color change:

nanokeratin treatment:

Underprocessed hair (last summer):

 

[sithembile]

Your hair still looks good in spite of your setbacks. I hope this works for you.

 

[TopShelf]

me and you both!....thanks hun!

 

[Aireen]

Your hair looks lovely. I would say try to stay on a regimen and try to stick to it for at least 3 months. I know sometimes it can take anywhere from 3-6 months to see any improvement. You said you used more protein, are you sure you didn't use too much by not balancing it with moisture?

 

[libertysince05]

Good luck.
but i would advise you to use a sulfate free shampoo and natural hair products on your hair.
I too suffer with eczema and occasionally dermatitis (not on my scalp) and using sulfate free, paraben free and often unscented products has really made a difference. Since you have eczema on your scalp sulfates are likely to aggravate the condition.

 

[TopShelf]

thanks Aireen....well i meant more protein than before....i used to only do it every 6 weeks but i bumped it up once the breakage began.....i definitely would deep condition with a with a non protein dc everytime i used protein, but i also dc every week whether I used protein or not.... i would also mositurize daily as my hair always seemed dry

 

[TopShelf]

@ Liberty...thanks for the suggestion....i purchased the Marakesh line of products and the poo and condish are sulfate free but i will have to go thru my stash to see which one have sulfates so i can get rid of them.

 

[Vashti]

I had to deal with eczema in the past and i found that making the move to use more natural products helped. Using all natural hair care products will probably help you. Good luck on your HHJ.

 

[TopShelf]

vashti ....i agree...i think the more natural products the better in regards to the eczema...all of these issues only came about when i started relaxing after taking a 7 year hiatus from relaxing...i wore my hair super short and natural during that time and all was well with my hair and scalp......so if the relaxer has to go via the hair then so be it....but i would like to give it these next two months b4 i bc for the last time

 

[TopShelf]

My breakage as of this morning. the strands were long so there maybe excess shedding involved. After the clarifying wash with Elucence I put pimento oil on the scalp and then put a henna mixture on my hair (honey, water, conditioner, henna):

hopefully this is the last of the breakage!

 

[IDareT'sHair]

My breakage as of this morning. the strands were long so there maybe excess shedding involved. After the clarifying wash with Elucence I put pimento oil on the scalp and then put a henna mixture on my hair (honey, water, conditioner, henna):

hoepfully this is the last of the breakage!

I think it looks alot better and hopefully this will be the end of the Breakage/Shedding. You've done alot to your hair in a short amount of time.

This may be it's rebellion to just want to be left alone for a while. And hopefully, you'll find good products that will help with your scalp issues and allow you to have Healthy Relaxed Hair with low manipulation and low 'experimentation'.

There are alot of good natural products out there that can help allievate some of the problems you are having. I've tried Christine Gant's Mixed Greens, Claudie's Temple Balm Revitalizer and recently Darcy Botanicals Eucalpytus & Mint Hair Balm which have all helped my scalp settle down some. So, there are products out there that will help you with that.

I've noticed since I've been using more natural-based products, both my hair & scalp has thanked me for it.

Hopefully, the Pimento Oil and other things will help. I'll be watching your progress and praying for you too.

 

[TopShelf]

thanks IDTH.......what I'm really looking for is a rinse that was written in Jolie magazine years ago. (Vivica fox's magazine, it was the one with Ciara on the cover) It was an herbal rinse that did wonders for my scalp. I kept that magazine for years and when i moved i was never able to locate that magazine amongst my stash. I've even tried contacting the distributor to get an old issue but to no avail.

I think you're right about the rebellion. in my quest to find the right products and maintain relaxed hair maybe i have just done "TOO MUCH". I'm going to look thru my stash and see what has more natural vs synthetic products b/c there's got to be something hidden in the 7 boxes of products that i have.

thanks for the positive words (greatly appreciated) and the prayers

 

[IDareT'sHair]

thanks IDTH.......what I'm really looking for is a rinse that was written in Jolie magazine years ago. (Vivica fox's magazine, it was the one with Ciara on the cover) It was an herbal rinse that did wonders for my scalp. I kept that magazine for years and when i moved i was never able to locate that magazine amongst my stash. I've even tried contacting the distributor to get an old issue but to no avail.

I think you're right about the rebellion. in my quest to find the right products and maintain relaxed hair maybe i have just done "TOO MUCH". I'm going to look thru my stash and see what has more natural vs synthetic products b/c there's got to be something hidden in the 7 boxes of products that i have.

thanks for the positive words (greatly appreciated) and the prayers

Girl, Multiply that x1000 and that Hair Loss was me back in January 2009 from a Salon Mishap. So I know how terrible it can be.

I just had to let my hair rest. I was relaxing, coloring, etc.....constantly (Salon weekly client) and it was just too much.

But, that's when I decided to take over my own hair care and let my hair rest for awhile. I researched everything in an attempt to help re-gain what I had lost (and do it by my own hands). Which led me to LHCF. So, I understand completely. It can be devastating & depressing.

But through Research, and being on this Board, I was able to find some things to help turn my situation around. Hope you find that rinse especially since you know it works. If not, I am use there are other rinses out with the same/similar properties as well.

I will be watching this thread and waiting for your progress report.

 

[TopShelf]

so i told a small lie and broke down and purchased the original sulfur 8 (yellow container).. i must say that sometimes you've gotta take it back to the ole' school. i applied the grease to my scalp on sunday and tuesday and i am happy to report that the shedding has scaled back tremendously.

i think that because of the eczema i scratch and when i scratch i use my nails and i think the nails were ripping the already fragile skin which allowed the hair to easily detach from the scalp. as of late if i do get an itch i try and "rub" the area as opposed to scratch...

guess we'll see what happens