OMG!! Someone PLEASE help me!! Crisis goin on here.....

[Supergirl]

I've been doing the lo-manip thingie for about a month or so, and I poo at least 2xs a week.


Aww...thank you Supergirl. I just broke out the ol' Mizani and already slapped some on. It was one of the first things I thought of!!!


Karma?!? What do you mean?? I haven't done anything to anybody!!!

Okay, I hadn't read your entire thread when I posted. I see you are way ahead of me with the Mizani treatment. I think you'll see some relief with that. The other suggestions here are good ones as well.

 

[sareca]

Awww.....thank you Sareca. That really put a smile on my face. Funny thing is that when I told my friend that I wasn't combing daily, she advised me not to do it and I didn't listen to her. I guess she knew what she was talking about.

I get that reaction from people all the time when I tell them I only comb my hair twice/month (actually now it's once/month). It's a knee-jerk reaction. I usually get it from the same people that say I have to relax my hair every 6 weeks or it's gonna break off. I've had 2 dreads (in the last 2 weeks from trying something new) during the entire 3 months I've been doing lo-mani. I've found oil rinsing and how you detangle make the most difference. I use Robin's method on soaking wet, well oiled hair and I never have problems.

 

[the_UnPrettiest_pretty]

My bad I didn't realize you were transitioning. From my experiences with it, the more natural you have, the greater the tendency for the relaxed hair to snap off. IMO and my experience , natural hair needs wayyy less protein than relaxed. You might not need as many protein treatments, say one half or one fourth as many as you already do on the natural hair. I would try only doing the protein treatments on the relaxed portion, starting maybe a little above the line of demarcation.

Also, like someone said moisture, moisture, moisture. My natural hair sucks the moisture out of the relaxed hair.

I suggest you try detangling in sections (start as small as you feel comfortable using) with your fingers first, and with some moisturizing product at least on the natural part. It will take forever, but it saves hair., be it cheapie or a dc. After detangling, you might want to wash, cowash or whatever and let it dry in large braids or loose twists with a barette or clip where your relaxed hair starts. This may cut down a lot of the tangling. I hope I am saying something that will help you. Don't worry too much, I'd be worried if your whole head was relaxed.

Yeah, I'm off to baggy right now before I go to bed. I'm going to lay off of the protein treatments for awhile, at least the hardcore ones. I'm going to start making better use of the silk & wheat proteins I have for now. But for the next few weeks, it's all about moisture. Again, thank you for your suggestions and support. I really do appreciate all the help I'm getting from you gals.

 

[SerenavanderWoodsen]

Are u sure your hair is breaking or is it falling from the roots becuz that very different things...?

 

[Je Ne Sais Quoi]

Miss cherokee i believe you need to stop with all the shampooing! 2x per week (and you said at least 2x which leads me to think you may do it more than that on occassion) is way to much in my opinion. Shampoos are usually very very harsh on hair and strip the moisture. Add that to all the protein and it appears this is where your problem is.

 

[Softresses]

Me too. Any tiny amount of protein (that wasn't silk or wheat) caused me major problems.

I agree on this, my hair hates protein, any amount causes me problems. I stopped trying to use it when I began using Henna.


Softresses

 

[*Muffin*]

OMG! I don't know what to say. I'm on low-manipulation right now, and everything seems to be going all right. I do experience A LOT of shedding because I don't comb my hair all of the time (only two or three days out of the week), but it's not breakage. Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet? Also did you do a product change recently?

 

[NAKISH66]

I agree with all of the ladies here. The lo-mani thing was great the first time I did it, but the second time I lost so much hair it scared me. I know that going a week without the combing is not for me. I still don't comb everyday, but I can't go the enitre week anymore. I noticed that all the hair that was suppose to normally shed through the week was getting tangled into knots, so on wash days I was geting a lot of breakage trying to get through some of the knots. Definitely stick to what works for you!! I was the same way I wanted it to works so bad, because it was so easy. Good luck, and by the looks of your hair I know you will bounce back quickly!! HHG!!

 

[glamazon386]

Are they short pieces or long pieces? Did it ever occur to you that it might look like more hair than it is because your hair is really long?

 

[sunnydaze]

Are they short pieces or long pieces? Did it ever occur to you that it might look like more hair than it is because your hair is really long?

This is my thinking...about two months ago I had something really similar happen to me..at that time I was about 5 months into my transistioning and also not detangling my hair..I had about the same amount of hair come out as you did and my hair is about 2-3 inches shorter than yours.erplexed

After I calmed down I realized that 95% of the hair was long pieces that had gotten matted together rather than extreme breakage...looking at your hair and hearing you say you are doing low manipulation, I am thinking that is what is happening to you.

After that, I always made sure to thoroughly detangle my hair in the shower after applying heavy conditioner.

 

[wannabelong]

I'm sorry I don't have any advice because I'm a newbie. I just wanted to give you a big ((((((((((HUG)))))))))).

 

[Serenity_Peace]

The only thing that I can add right now is that protein treatments...or harsh ones anyways don't work well for everyone. My hair really does hate them and doesn't react too kindly. On the other hand, my hair does just as poorly with too much moisture, i.e., baggying. While doing protein treatments and baggying was enthusiastically raved about on this forum, I found that what was working for so many lovely ladies on here was actually very damaging to my hair. With both protein overload and baggying, my hair was breaking tremendously and thinning out and I couldn't understand why. Then it hit me: I have very fine hair, so my hair was being weighed down with both techniques. The objective is to find a protein-moisture balance that is right for your hair and only yours.

I do hope you're able to figure out the culprit.

Please keep us posted.

 

[MissLawyerLady]

I have followed your posts on the board and I know that you take good care of your hair so perhaps it is the lo-mani thing. Lo-mani didn't work well for me. I still comb everyday, but I just do it gentler, smarter, and not as often (usu. 2x per day instead of throughout the whole day).

Anyway, be encouraged! Your hair is really beautiful.

 

[trini_rican]

Hey you, first I want you to know that you have a gorgeous head of hair. Big hugs for the stress you're going through. I'm a newbie but I am a firm believer in ALTER EGO's Garlic Treatment. It will stop the breakage with one use. HTHs, you can get it on ibeautyny.com

 

[DDTexlaxed]

I have no advice to add, but I just wanted to say that your hair is very pretty. I know you will overcome your obstacles. There's alot of info here to help you be successful.

 

[the_UnPrettiest_pretty]

Are u sure your hair is breaking or is it falling from the roots becuz that very different things...?

Yes, my hair is breaking, I checked strand for strand for the little white bulb. And in that big clump of hair were way more broken strands than there were shed ones. So yes, it is some major breakage goin on.

Are they short pieces or long pieces? Did it ever occur to you that it might look like more hair than it is because your hair is really long?

Some of them are short, some are long. I know they weren't shed b/c the little white bulb was missing.

 

[the_UnPrettiest_pretty]

Miss cherokee i believe you need to stop with all the shampooing! 2x per week (and you said at least 2x which leads me to think you may do it more than that on occassion) is way to much in my opinion. Shampoos are usually very very harsh on hair and strip the moisture. Add that to all the protein and it appears this is where your problem is.

Bre, I think I'm going to give co-washing a try or cut my pooing down to once a week. I actually thought pooing twice a week was helping me. I'm going to switch it up a bit and see how it goes.

OMG! I don't know what to say. I'm on low-manipulation right now, and everything seems to be going all right. I do experience A LOT of shedding because I don't comb my hair all of the time (only two or three days out of the week), but it's not breakage. Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet? Also did you do a product change recently?

Yes, I take my vits consistently every night before bed and I really haven't done a product change recently, except for adding dominican conditioners into my regimen, but they seemed to work really good for a while.

I agree with all of the ladies here. The lo-mani thing was great the first time I did it, but the second time I lost so much hair it scared me. I know that going a week without the combing is not for me. I still don't comb everyday, but I can't go the enitre week anymore. I noticed that all the hair that was suppose to normally shed through the week was getting tangled into knots, so on wash days I was geting a lot of breakage trying to get through some of the knots. Definitely stick to what works for you!! I was the same way I wanted it to works so bad, because it was so easy. Good luck, and by the looks of your hair I know you will bounce back quickly!! HHG!!

Thanks nakish!! The no-combing thing is out for me, I can't handle it. I thought I was doing myself a favor, but oh well..........I see that I was really doing more harm than good. It's better to learn the hard way what works and what doesn't work....I guesserplexed

 

[MoniintheMiddle]

I hope the co wash works out for yu. Pkease keep us posted!

 

[the_UnPrettiest_pretty]

Big thanks and hugs to the rest of you ladies for your suggestions and support. It really does a girl good to know that she has somewhere to turn for support and help. After crying my eyes out last night, I've managed to calm down and initiate a plan of attack. I will keep you guys posted about my results and my progress over the next few weeks. Again, thank you all. It really means a lot to me.

 

[sareca]

This is my thinking...about two months ago I had something really similar happen to me..at that time I was about 5 months into my transistioning and also not detangling my hair..I had about the same amount of hair come out as you did and my hair is about 2-3 inches shorter than yours.erplexed

After I calmed down I realized that 95% of the hair was long pieces that had gotten matted together rather than extreme breakage...looking at your hair and hearing you say you are doing low manipulation, I am thinking that is what is happening to you.

After that, I always made sure to thoroughly detangle my hair in the shower after applying heavy conditioner.

I didn't want to say anything, but I shed only slightly less than that. Experience has taught me it's just 2-3 weeks worth of shed hairs. You get used to it after a few weeks. In the beginning it was scary. But pretty early in the thread syvler2 (the lo-mani queen) gave us the heads up about the gigantic hairball so I just ignored it. I'm so glad I did. I would have still be wearing buns, braids or combing away all my progress.

 

[jade998]

Ladies suggesting moisturising conditioners, what would be the best one, I have seen the Mizani one being stated, is there any other?

I think I went protein crazy and my hair is snaping literally

 

[the_UnPrettiest_pretty]

Ladies suggesting moisturising conditioners, what would be the best one, I have seen the Mizani one being stated, is there any other?

I think I went protein crazy and my hair is snaping literally

Girl, tell me about it. I know exactly how you feel. It seems that I can't even touch my hair without seeing it all on my fingers.

 

[Evazhair]

Ladies suggesting moisturising conditioners, what would be the best one, I have seen the Mizani one being stated, is there any other?


I think I went protein crazy and my hair is snaping literally

For that purpose Humecto is good IMO. I would apply generously and leave on at least 30 min 1 hour at most, with heat. I got that from Sistaslick's guide. I also think I saw from Artemis E. a technique of checking and reapplying after 15 minute increments to trouble spots.

 

[Nicole1976]

I too did the protein overload thing

I am working my way pass though through protein free conditioners!

I have actually been putting the conditioner in my hair and leaving it a lone for the day and washing it out at night (I am very careful about it though, I've been doing this once a week), this method is working....

I have done it once now, and I feel like I may need to do it once more...I usually leave a conditioner in for about 15-60 minutes

 

[Leslie_C]

What are u using on it daily for moisture? Check the ingredients to make sure it doesnt have protein. I found out I cant use any kind of moisturizer that has protein in it. Like a couple of others mentioned, I can only handle silk and wheat protein and even that has to be in the form of a rinse out conditioner. Ive also noticed since I started using vatika oil my shedding/breakage has come to a screeching halt.

 

[the_UnPrettiest_pretty]

I think I'm going to order some Humecto for X-mas since I heard so much about it. Right now, I'm trusting my beloved ORS pak & Pantene R&N masque. We'll see how that goes.