Nape Woes.....

[curls4daze]

So.....the middle of my hair is APL. The nape is NL. I had a sew in a few months back. When I took it out the nape was broken off. Should I nurture the nap until it grows to match my crown? Or should I hack it all off, make it all NL, and start from there? I don't know what to do. I feel disheartened. My hair looks extremely thin. I have been bunning it. I planned on damp bunning for the next six months so the nape can catch up. I just don't know which is the best way to go.

 

[HairPleezeGrow]

I would say nature your nape and the rest of your hair as well. That way you can give your nape a break from all the tension and your hair time to thicken back up. Are you deep conditioning? Maybe look into cowashing since you plan to damp bun. There is a lot of women here who bun and have had wonderfully success. I can't remember if they have a challenge to join but maybe they will chime in.

Eta: my phone sucks. Supposed to say nurture lol. Also make sure your hair stays moisturized.

 

[Nonie]

I say nurture your nape. I'd trim the nape slightly to get rid of rugged ends left by breaking off so they don't continue splitting at a crazy rate and cost you all the hair, and then just give the nape some TLC. You can easily hide that length.

When you say your hair looks thin, from base to ends? Or just near the ends. Thinning toward the ends of your strands means splits have occurred so holding onto those skinny ends is a waste of time as they will break off. If it just looks thin coz you're used to seeing fuller fake hair, then just do what I said in the first paragraph. I hope you dust regularly coz if you don't, then this paragraph hold more true and you do need to give you hair a good trim or it'll break off anyway on its own.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

I would personally: trim my nape, baby it, keep it balanced (protein & moisture) and tuck it away with Bunning as you plan to do for the next 6 months and hopefully you'll get things back on track.

Be careful with Bunning too i.e. how tight, changing locations, etc..

And look at some Bunning Threads. There are plenty of Full-Time Bunners that should be able to help you make the most of Bunning and help get the results you're looking for.

 

[curls4daze]

I say nurture your nape. I'd trim the nape slightly to get rid of rugged ends left by breaking off so they don't continue splitting at a crazy rate and cost you all the hair, and then just give the nape some TLC. You can easily hide that length.

When you say your hair looks thin, from base to ends? Or just near the ends. Thinning toward the ends of your strands means splits have occurred so holding onto those skinny ends is a waste of time as they will break off. If it just looks thin coz you're used to seeing fuller fake hair, then just do what I said in the first paragraph. I hope you dust regularly coz if you don't, then this paragraph hold more true and you do need to give you hair a good trim or it'll break off anyway on its own.

It just looks thin because I am missing the length from my nape. It doesn't match up with the rest of my hair. Thanks for the tips. I will nurture nurture nurture!

 

[Flawlis1]

My sister has wore sew ins for 2 years back to back now, and her nape hair is basically gone, her edges are longer than the nape. I told her to shave it off (thats how bad it is). Try and protect your hair as best u can, avoid any tight pulling on the area, do some daily massaging and if you can take some sort of hair vitamin to help hair grow in thicker.

 

[ChanelNo5]

Just out of curiosity, what braid pattern did you have with your sew-in? Is there anything specific about the way the sew-in was done that you contribute to the nape breakage?

I am asking because I have a sew-in now and I am expecting growth NOT breakage. You got me scared.

 

[curls4daze]

I wouldn't be scared. I went to a stylist who just braided horizontally. I left it in for a month. Took it out and put another in. The crown of my hair grew a lot, but it was too much for the nape. Plus at the time I didn't know about healthy practices...I just didn't want to deal with my hair!

Don't be worried. You will be fine. But just pay attention to your hair when you take it out. And I recommend letting it breathe a few before you put another in......

 

[lamaria211]

Sistawithrealhair has a video on YouTube about this exact problem. Hth

 

[SunRai Naturals]

I have to treat my nape differently when I PS with cornrows which I do most of the time. For some reason, that hair is softer and easier to break so I literally have to baby it with moisture, protein, and it can only be braided a certain way. I will also experience breakage if it was braided horizontally (that pattern works for some people though). I separate into four sections and braid each one individually and re-do it after 3 weeks. That's how I've been able to grow it out.
I'm glad that you decided to nurture it back to health instead of cutting all your hair to neck length. I think it will definitely catch up if you nurture it.

 

[curls4daze]

Sistawithrealhair has a video on YouTube about this exact problem. Hth

Wow. thanks! I checked out the video and I am inspired!!!!! That was really helpful.