New...Help

[TurtleBlue]

Hi i'm new here and i have a few questions. My hair has been midback length all my life until about 2 years ago when it started breaking and falling out. It is now neck length and has been this way for the last two years. i really miss my long ponytail . I wanted to know if any of you guys have any tips on how i can get my hair back healthy and start growing again (such as how many times a week to wash it, when to get a relaxerblow dry vs air dry, etc). Also how do i know what my hair type is?

 

[Lucky's Mom]

Hi there! Good morning!!!

Well, You will have to tell us more about your hair.. if you are relaxed, natural, what you use, how you use it, etc, etc.....

Then I suggest you look at the newbie Sticky here on the forum. This will help tremendously.

You also might want to take a pic or two of your hair.

Good luck to you! You Definately found the right place!

 

[MichL]

The first step would be trying to narrow down the causes as to why your hair started breaking. Since it was healthy for so long- were there any changes to your regimen? What products do you use? How is your moisture/protein balance? And we'd need to see a picture of you natural hair (sans product) to help you determine your hair type. Or you can try doing a search and see if you find any hair twins.

And welcome by the way ! HTH

 

[baddison]

Hi i'm new here and i have a few questions. My hair has been midback length all my life until about 2 years ago when it started breaking and falling out. It is now neck length and has been this way for the last two years. i really miss my long ponytail . I wanted to know if any of you guys have any tips on how i can get my hair back healthy and start growing again (such as how many times a week to wash it, when to get a relaxerblow dry vs air dry, etc). Also how do i know what my hair type is?

Wow...that's a "loaded" question...

YOu have come to the right place to get all your questions answered. When I was new, the first thing I did was like previous poster said, I started with the Newbie thread. WHat also help me develop my regimen was to look at the various "Feature of the Month" ladies. Some have hair types like mine, some don't....some are relaxed, some are natural. BUt they all have the same thing in common: they have found the best way and the best products for THEM, to help them grow healthy long beautiful hair.

Please don't be shy. Read all you can. We're all in this hair thing together...

 

[Lucky's Mom]

Wow...that's a "loaded" question...

YOu have come to the right place to get all your questions answered. When I was new, the first thing I did was like previous posted said, I started with the Newbie thread. WHat also help me develop my regimen and was to look at the various "Feature of the Month" ladies. Some have hair types like mine, some don't....some are relaxed, some are natural. BUt they all have the same thing in common: they have found the best way and the best products for THEM, to help them grow healthy long beautiful hair.

Please don't be shy. Read all you can. We're all in this hair thing together...

Yes lawd......

 

[TurtleBlue]

Thanks so much everybody. i'm not really sure what has caused my hair breakage...it was so unexpected. Also i have been using all kinds of different products to find something that works. Here are some pics of my hair now right after i've washed it and let it air dry.

You cant really see but the middle back of my hair is shorter than all the rest

 

[Denise11]

Are you relaxed? Were you wearing braids or weave?

 

[lilsparkle825]

can you think of ANY reason why your hair might have broken off? did you start (or stop) doing something different to it? health issues? different stylist? different relaxer? in my opinion MBL hair doesn't just break off to NL for no reason.

welcome <3 you'll be back there in no time.

 

[Platinum]

 

[TurtleBlue]

Yes my hair is relaxed. I've never done braids or weave. My mom thinks i may have gotten a bad perm from a stylist. We're not exactly sure if that was the case but needless to say i haven't been back to her.

 

[yuriko]

I was a newbie here myself not too long ago so I know how it feels with all the confusion on what to do. First you have to tell us about your hair care regimen. I think your hair looks pretty healthy, so its just the length that you need. But here are the tips I can give right away

1. Stretch your relaxers, don't do them too often. I suggest a minimum of 8 weeks. I personally stretch anywhere between 16-24 weeks, and make sure it is only applied on the new growth
2. Deep condition at least once a week with a plastic cap and heat, if you have no heat source, then just keep it on for an hour
3. Moisturize your hair daily or as needed, and pay special attention to the ends
4. Sleep with a satin/silk scarf or bonnet, a satin pillowcase will also do
5. Avoid manipulating your hair with brushes, combs. be very gentle with your hair
6. Avoid direct heat, like flat irons, blow dryers, (they are the Devil, but if you must make sure to use a heat protectant.
7. I would suggest shampooing once a week, use a mild shampoo. You can also wash with just conditioner on other days ( I co-wash everyother day, only wash with poo once a week)
8. Always use a leave-in after washing your hair.
9. Mostly importantly, don't let scissor happy stylists cut off all your progress, I self trim every 4-5 months and occasionally search and destroy single split ends.

If you wear braids or weaves, you can search about how to care for them. Let us know your regimen and products, how your wear your hair, and we can help you out a bit better

 

[Denise11]

Everyone can't stretch without lots of breakage so maybe you should begin stretching at 7 weeks and add a week at a time if you can without getting too much breakage. Your hair looks like it's been overprocessed. The others have given great advice on conditioning etc. I just don't agree with the long stretches. If I stretched like that, I would have breakage and terrible looking hair.

 

[TurtleBlue]

I was a newbie here myself not too long ago so I know how it feels with all the confusion on what to do. First you have to tell us about your hair care regimen. I think your hair looks pretty healthy, so its just the length that you need. But here are the tips I can give right away

1. Stretch your relaxers, don't do them too often. I suggest a minimum of 8 weeks. I personally stretch anywhere between 16-24 weeks, and make sure it is only applied on the new growth
2. Deep condition at least once a week with a plastic cap and heat, if you have no heat source, then just keep it on for an hour
3. Moisturize your hair daily or as needed, and pay special attention to the ends
4. Sleep with a satin/silk scarf or bonnet, a satin pillowcase will also do
5. Avoid manipulating your hair with brushes, combs. be very gentle with your hair
6. Avoid direct heat, like flat irons, blow dryers, (they are the Devil, but if you must make sure to use a heat protectant.
7. I would suggest shampooing once a week, use a mild shampoo. You can also wash with just conditioner on other days ( I co-wash everyother day, only wash with poo once a week)
8. Always use a leave-in after washing your hair.
9. Mostly importantly, don't let scissor happy stylists cut off all your progress, I self trim every 4-5 months and occasionally search and destroy single split ends.

If you wear braids or weaves, you can search about how to care for them. Let us know your regimen and products, how your wear your hair, and we can help you out a bit better

Thanks so much, your hair looks beautiful. How do you get it that shiny and smooth with no heat. I usually wash every one or two weeks and sit under the dryer and flat iron it then. And I wrap my hair every night and just wear it straight down during the day. I have yet to find a moisturiser that keeps my hair from drying out withiut being too heavy so I have been using olive oil recently. I also get relaxers about every four to five weeks because i have trouble managing it otherwise. But I'm going to try to stretch it out like many of you have suggested. I'm going to start doing the deep conditioning too. How long do you have to sit under the dryer? Another thing i have heard about is a hot oil treatment, what is your opinion on that?