I would like to share sth that may seem pretty obvious but which to me was like a new discovery.
As you know, I keep my hair in braids all the time. Well, a few months ago, I undid the front section of my hair and washed it, deep conditioned and then took a good look at my natural hair. I was fascinated to see that each strand resembles pen springs. These springs stay contracted when in their natural state and because they are closely packed, they sort of intertwine. (Picture two springs pressed against each other and then allowed to contract.) What I realized is, the only way to comb my hair with the least stress on the strands and least risk of breaking it was to stretch it up with one hand and hold it stretched and then insert the comb at the base with the other hand and slide it through gently. If I just inserted the comb at the base of my shrunken hair and tried to pull it through, what I'd wind up with is, stretched hair below the comb (stretched by my pulling the comb) and tighting contracted springs that are wrapped around each other above the comb which are impossible to penetrate. Even if I started combing from the top/ends, moving the comb lower and lower on the strands each time, my hair strands would still wrap around each other once the comb had passed through and we'd be right back to where we started.
So I believe that's what happened to you Tamala. Your stylist was only concerned with getting the comb through by hook or by crook. (She is probably used to working with straighter hair.) So instead of gently seperating your springs, she just yanked them off coz they were in the way of her getting the comb through.
My acquaintance with my springs further confirmed to me the importance of washing your hair in braids and letting it air dry still in braids so it's a little straighter and easier to comb. And even then, gentleness and patience have to be a part of your care regimen if you have any intention of keeping your hair.