Naturals or those transitioning... what is Scab hair??

[jainygirl]

I used the search feature to see what i would find about scab hair and alot of it didnt go in depth. I wanted to know how long does it take for the chemicals in the relaxer to finally be out of your hair? I mean the hair that's new and just growing in, not the relaxed ends. TIA /images/graemlins/wink.gif -- jainygirl

 

[Ayeshia]

Hey Jainy..I had a little bit. Maybe about a half inch or so...but then I cut almost another 2 inches to get my hair even. But i think it took about 4 months after my BC to have completely soft hair all over /images/graemlins/smile.gif But I think if you transition for a long time, you wont notice the scab hair because it will be towards the ends of your hair and by that time you would have chopped it off. But of course I noticed mines because all I had was .5" of hair. And it felt like straw for the most part /images/graemlins/ohwell.gif

 

[GodMadeMePretty]

When you have a pretty good amount of new growth, you'll be able to tell. With me, the hair right next to my permed ends, about 1/2 to 1 inch, is a totally different texture than new growth past that mark. It's less soft and more resistant than the rest of my hair. But it's not like that all over. Just in some areas.

 

[jainygirl]

Thanks Ayeshia and GMMP /images/graemlins/wink.gif I was curious because i always hear about it but i never knew how long it took for it to be "out of your system". -- jainygirl

 

[Divastate]

The original topic of scab hair is in the book "Let's Talk Hair" by Pamela Ferrell. According to her it can take up to 2 years for the relaxer chemicals to be completely out of your system. I think a lot of it depends on several factors- such as how often you relaxed your hair, technique (never getting any chemicals on your scalp), level of follicle damage from relaxers, etc. Some people never experienced scab hair while others may see their hair change in softness or even texture over an extended time.

I definitely had scab hair because I was never good at basing my scalp or being sure to never let the chemicals touch my scalp. However because of how infrequently I relaxed it was only an inch or two of my natural hair that was affected and I transitioned long enough that it was cut away with my big chop.
HTH!

 

[jainygirl]

Off Topic: Divastate, your son looks exactly like mine except your son is younger!! too cute.

 

[gabrielle2]

my scab hair phase lasted a good YEAR! i did a 2nd big chop last december and it was on from there.

 

[SoAnxious12]

hmmmm i think i have scab hair... what should i do? I always wondered why it was so hard in the back. I never had my scalp based when i was relaxed. I'm a little confused.

 

[Tru_Mind]

Wow, so that's what I had!!!!!!! Thanks!

 

[pookeylou]

I honestly dont remember experiencing this. My hair seemed really soft and I just attributed it to the shea butter I was using to twist my hair.

 

[TigerLily]

I had scab hair. Hair that has to get used to not being connected to the relaxed hair. WHEW!! Ayeshia's right. Feels like straw, no matter what you put on it!!!

I think it varies from person to person as to how long it lasts.

 

[brittanynic16]

I had scab hair for about 3 to 4 months but I cut it off and I am a lot happier for it. I think I may still have some in the back but I think it is just at the ends and will come off when I trim all over.

 

[brittanynic16]

My scab hair was always dry and real ruff. The little left in the back gets tangled all the time.

 

[DelightfulFlame]

I'm just now recovering from mine some...my scalp is still recovering! Lasted a good year! Of course I had permed since I was very young...and never based.

 

[Xerxes]

Hmm, I'm still adjusting to my hair and I probably won't know for sure if I have scab hair or not for a couple of months. <feeling my hair> LOL

 

[jainygirl]

Thanks so much for replying everyone. I relaxed for 22 years so my hair may rebel with scab hair for a while /images/graemlins/look.gif

Gabrielle, your mini braids look really nice!! I like that style on you alot. Did you do this yourself or was it done at the shop??? I'm saving this style down as one that i want to try in the future. -- jainygirl

 

[jetcitygirl]

I recollect that for me the first 3-4 inches of new growth was scab hair. That includes the inch I was left with after my CHOP. The only way I could tell was after my hair had continued to grow out, then I could tell by the comparison that I had been experiencing scab hair previously. It wasn't so much a different texture as it felt softer. My hair was SUPER prickly right after my big chop! It felt like porcupine quills. And after I had trimmed away that first few inches I noticed that it started clumping together in curls when wet rather than frizzing out in individual strands as it had been doing. Like I said, I never knew I had scab hair until later, I just assumed it perfectly normal for my hair since didn't know what to expect anyway.

 

[RavenMaven]

The original topic of scab hair is in the book "Let's Talk Hair" by Pamela Ferrell. According to her it can take up to 2 years for the relaxer chemicals to be completely out of your system. I think a lot of it depends on several factors- such as how often you relaxed your hair, technique (never getting any chemicals on your scalp), level of follicle damage from relaxers, etc. Some people never experienced scab hair while others may see their hair change in softness or even texture over an extended time.

I definitely had scab hair because I was never good at basing my scalp or being sure to never let the chemicals touch my scalp. However because of how infrequently I relaxed it was only an inch or two of my natural hair that was affected and I transitioned long enough that it was cut away with my big chop.
HTH!

Oh my gosh, up to two years! Whoaaa... I can't wait to be fully natural and without scab hair!