Naturals - At what length did you start seeing a significant amount of SSKs?

[KurlyNinja]

Newly Natural here I have about 6 inches of hair and I've only been doing WnGs since I BC. The only worry I have is the possibility of gettin SSKs. I know a lot people say that they didnt really have SSKs in their TWA stage, but saw more when it started to grow out. So I just wanted to know what length did you really start seeing SSKs and how did you prevent them? TIA.

 

[Guitarhero]

What are ssk's?

 

[KurlyNinja]

What are ssk's?

Single Strand Knots. Sorry about that.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I have them and I have a TWA. I don't know how to get rid of them.

 

[faithVA]

I don't know the exact length because I kept my hair in extensions from 3 to 5". When I took the extension out and started working with hair that is when I started having issues or noticing it as an issue. Because of the intense coils at the end of my hair, I get SSKs whether I protect style or not but it is definitely worse when my hair is out.

I have reduced the number and the frequency of occurence over the past 6 months. I am trying out various products to see which help keep moisture to my ends. So far for me water/glycerin helps a lot, KCCC helps. I am experimenting with misting my hair with water 2x a day right now to see if that helps.

 

[cinnespice]

I don't really get them any more ever since i started moisturizing and got the right kinds of conditioner. I don't do wash and go's i just keep my hair twisted up and put on a wig or the occasional weave. I know that if do wash and go's my hair will be a great big nap ball.

 

[kandake]

I have them in my TWA.

 

[~~HoneyComb~~]

I noticed them on myself and my youngest DD almost a year ago.

Is there a danger in having them---they don't bother me--DD and I find them interesting how they knot up like that She had one strand that had 3 knots on the end, it tickled her.

Again, is there a danger in having ssk's?

 

[D.N.A.]

Didn't really notice much at first (but I did transition for 16 months before I big chopped, so maybe that's why), but now that I'm getting closer to the 2 year relaxer free mark, I'm noticing that the SSKs are getting extra brolic.
Edit: I'm about apl now.

 

[Amoreofcurls]

Believe it or not I got more of them when my hair was shorter

 

[PPGbubbles]

I saw a lot between NL and SL after I chopped

Now I see very few. I keep my hair stretched so I do not run into this problem often.

I am in between APL and BSL now.

 

[iri9109]

i voted 6-9 inches...i wouldn't call the amount i get now significant, but when i had a TWA i didnt even know what a SSK was (i had to look online) because i didnt have any...now i have some but they dont bother me...i dont go out of my way to undo them with a safety pin or anything, but if i see or feel one, i just snap it off

 

[kandake]

I noticed them on myself and my youngest DD almost a year ago.

Is there a danger in having them---they don't bother me--DD and I find them interesting how they knot up like that She had one strand that had 3 knots on the end, it tickled her.

Again, is there a danger in having ssk's?

For me, I don't see the issue. They don't bother me. But I'm interested in knowing what people think.

Can someone with more experience with natural hair answer this?

 

[PPGbubbles]

For me, I don't see the issue. They don't bother me. But I'm interested in knowing what people think.

Can someone with more experience with natural hair answer this?

@kandake

1) when straightening hair they cause bends in the strand *mainly a cosmetic issue

2) they put stress on the strand and often break off and leave a split end

ETA: this is a microscope image of how the tension of the knot can split the strand

3) They can cause more tangles and knots. If you have a ssk it may get caught in a newly forming ssk loop and the two hairs can lock together like legos

(^this is from personal experience) finger detangling has opened my eyes to the reasons why my tangles exsits. Now more often than not, I can remove any tangle without breakage. If I see a ssk loop forming I take a saftey pin or needle and remove it, but if the knot is formed I clip it with my shears

now that I eliminate splits and ssk's often detangling is a breeze. I spent about 15mins detangle on my entire head and I am between APL and BSL

 

[Roux]

right after my BC I measured my hair and it was between 5-7 inches and after my recent blowout I noticed a few SSK's

 

[MissSenegal]

At 6-9 inches. My hair is always in a ps when I take my braids down to detangle I notice them. I never see them on my nieces and they are at least bsl. I need to moisturize more but I am hair lazy.

 

[danigurl18]

I started getting them around SL or 6-9 inches.. I rarely get them now though.. I pin my hair up alot and keep it stretched out most of the time

 

[Mandy4610]

I saw a lot between NL and SL after I chopped

Now I see very few. I keep my hair stretched so I do not run into this problem often.

I am in between APL and BSL now.

What method of stretching do you use?

 

[Mandy4610]

@kandake

1) when straightening hair they cause bends in the strand *mainly a cosmetic issue

2) they put stress on the strand and often break off and leave a split end

ETA: this is a microscope image of how the tension of the knot can split the strand

3) They can cause more tangles and knots. If you have a ssk it may get caught in a newly forming ssk loop and the two hairs can lock together like legos

(^this is from personal experience) finger detangling has opened my eyes to the reasons why my tangles exsits. Now more often than not, I can remove any tangle without breakage. If I see a ssk loop forming I take a saftey pin or needle and remove it, but if the knot is formed I clip it with my shears

now that I eliminate splits and ssk's often detangling is a breeze. I spent about 15mins detangle on my entire head and I am between APL and BSL

This is my experience too. SSK= Splitsville for me.

 

[silenttullip]

I saw them most at 6-9
Moisturizing and sealing and switching from twists
to regular braids helped and trimming more frequently.

 

[PPGbubbles]

What method of stretching do you use?

Short Answer:
Bantu knots, explained below ETA:realised post was long

I pre-poo with oil (coconut or grapeseed) and spray with a condish/water mix just to get hair damp.

When adding the oil, I smooth hair in a downward motion and place my hair back into a bantu knot. I have about 8 to 6 knots when done depending on how tangled or dig my hair is. This is THE best method for me!

As I wash or cowash I remove each section, add product shampoo or what ever I am doing. rinse with the same downward motion and put hair back into the knot.

by time I am done my hair has been detangled from the smoothing and the knot keeps my hair stretched.

I either style or airdry over night in the knots.

This technique has simplified my wash time and decreased my detangling.

* note I used to use plats or twist but I notice I wasnted getting adequate product coverage in my crown. This method solved that. and it is easier to remove a knot than undo a braid or twist.

 

[kandake]

PPGbubbles

Thanks for the explanation. Maybe I shouldn't be so dismissive about them.

 

[PPGbubbles]

@PPGbubbles

Thanks for the explanation. Maybe I shouldn't be so dismissive about them.

yea try not to be dismissive. I wrote off ssk's and splits off untill I realized that I was suck @ APL for 6 months. And this was the reason

once I got those bad boys in check and cut out heat usuage I started seeing length progression again

I share this because I want ladies to be proactive instead of re-active

 

[Priss Pot]

I would get a knot every now and then when my hair reached SL, but they didn't start happening in abundance until I reached APL. Constant wash 'n gos were the cause. Now that I keep my hair stretched (via braid-out), I get less knots.

 

[Aviah]

I first started noticing them after SL.

 

[BraunSugar]

I've never had one. Not looking forward to finding one either lol

 

[Oasis]

i probably always had them but i didn't start noticing them until i was about 2 years post BC.

i would like to ignore them but they cause split ends and breakage for me.

 

[allmundjoi]

I have 4a/b hair, noticed SSKs at 5-6". Lots of broken hairs at this length. I've been wearing it straight (and uber moisturizing of my ends) and haven't really noticed any.

Sent from my DROIDX using DROIDX

 

[ManeStreet]

I know that they exist but I've never had one. What causes them anyway.

 

[RubyWoo]

My first bad experience with ssks were last year when my hair was about 7-7.5 inches. My SSKs were caused by the following:

-washing my hair loose.
-detangling after washing
-improper detanging (I was only finger combing up until this point).

Once I started washing in twists (not allowing my hair to tangle), detangling stretched hair before washing and using a comb to detangle my SSKs have been dramatically reduced. I also keep my hair in stretched styles and that has also helped.