Please help my ends :( and vote

[silenttullip]

Please help my ends one pic

Maybe I'm tripping *which I admit I do when it comes to my hair* but the last time I flat ironed I realized I was sl finally so I was happy but the dreaded but...
Now I'm looking at the pics that were taken with a camera instead of a pc cam and to me my ends look horrible. Is this just how some naturals hair looks after a flat ironing or does it look like breakage?
If its breakage is there anything I can do to avoid cutting it? All I usually do is protective styling (individual braids or twists with my hair), I trim when I get knots, and I always dc and baggying does nothing. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Background info
My ends were rough like this before I went natural but didn't look this bad
My bangs never look this way or feel dry
I rarely flat iron
I did a protein treatment like 10 or 12 weeks before this pic
I take hair vitamins they help with growth but ahhhhhhh okay I just need some good advice

Done ranting

 

[lboogie2679]

Is your hair different lengths throughout? My two cents is I would trim the thinner ends at your bottom layer and keep protective styling. When I was natural and flat-ironed my ends would not cooperate with straightening so it could be that your hair is not "used" to being straight. HTH

 

[shakenspirit]

okay i really wanted to vote both options because perhaps your ends are somewhat dry but i think a lot of ppl have that problem,i do! just tonight i was twisting and freaked out and said "MOM FEEL MY ENDS THEY ARE SOO DRY!!" now i just did an overnight DC last night so how bad could it be? i flatironed a while back and felt like my ends looked extra dry but it was really just the technique because my hair looks different everytime i flat iron. okay so loonng story short trim it a little baby it for sayyy 3 months? and then get it professionally flat ironed...if it still looks dry then you know you need some intensive conditioning and moisturizing and such HTH

 

[HauteHippie]

After I officially reached shoulder length (not just the back), I freaked out and chopped off a few inches b/c I thought my ends looked bad...but I didn't have any split ends. If you don't have splits ends, I'd say just make sure you have a great moisture/protein balance and wait it out for a few months. It could just be your flat ironing technique (or your flat iron. Ceramic doesn't always mean ceramic. Ain't that a blip? I think I burnt my ends and that's part of why they looked crazy!) Still, looking back, I realize that my hair looked a lot like most people at that length and beyond, it's just more noticeable at shoulder length (I think because of the shoulders).
So, if your ends aren't split, they may not need to be cut. Also, if it's a softness issue, adding some (or some more) MSM into your vita reggie may help.

 

[silenttullip]

u know what, you're right because when I don't flat iron everything feels great and moisturized but when I iron omg. Thanks for the info

After I officially reached shoulder length (not just the back), I freaked out and chopped off a few inches b/c I thought my ends looked bad...but I didn't have any split ends. If you don't have splits ends, I'd say just make sure you have a great moisture/protein balance and wait it out for a few months. It could just be your flat ironing technique (or your flat iron. Ceramic doesn't always mean ceramic. Ain't that a blip? I think I burnt my ends and that's part of why they looked crazy!) Still, looking back, I realize that my hair looked a lot like most people at that length and beyond, it's just more noticeable at shoulder length (I think because of the shoulders).
So, if your ends aren't split, they may not need to be cut. Also, if it's a softness issue, adding some (or some more) MSM into your vita reggie may help.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

all you need is a little trim, about 1/2 inch and you good. i hate the flat iron..... no more comment.

 

[hothair]

Ok this is the problem I had which is what made me up my heat usage/BKT. I think if you intend to wear your hair curly most of the time leave your ends alone, they're not damaged just dry so concentrate on moisturising and sealing - baggying may work for you (didn't really for me) HTH

 

[pringe]

When I flat Iron my own hair that's how it looks and when I go get it professionally done they really get my ends straight. I would continue doing your routine and then in a couple of months revisit the hair salon to get it professionally done. don't cut off unnecessarily if it feels ok and you haven't noticed anything.

 

[C@ssandr@]

Does not look like damage to me. My ends looked like that when I was natural because of it's resistant nature. It's moisture and the flat iron technique if you ask me.

 

[fivetimestwo]

I'd say your hair may just be uneven. There have been many times I trimmed what I thought were split ends but really my hair was just several different lengths which, IMO, creates the illusion of ends that need to be trimmed. Only you know for sure by looking at your ends (search & destroy method) if they really need to go or not.

As far as flat ironing, I find that the comb pass method works really well for getting natural ends straight (and a really good flat iron).

HHG

 

[Hair2Here]

Cutting or trimming your hair will just make your ends straight. This will not resolve your dry end problems. I had very dry ends from not moisturizing my hair while it was in a protective style (before LHCF). I cut my hair but still had dry hair. I shampooed with Roux Porosity Control Shampoo, followed by an ACV Rinse. I also followed this up with Aphoghee 2 minute. The 2-minute protein condish left my hair hard but had to use this in order to close the hair cuticles. Afterwards, I did a dc which included the following: honey, evoo, salt and a dc brand that did NOT contain protein. I left this on either all day or overnight and sat under my hooded dryer. This routine took exactly three months to get under control using this regimen constantly. I also wore my hair in a wet-n-go style. I moisturized each night and bagged my entire head. I say that it took three months only because I do a length check every three months. It may have been shorter. Now that I have things under control, I only co-wash as my hair does very well w/o the harsh ingredients in the shampoos. Each night, I apply a moisturizing mask directly to my ends and spray with Carefree Curl Instant Moisturizer and bag. As a natural, we require extra moisture.

 

[silenttullip]

Great info u know I'm about to cut and paste this into my little hair file thanks soo much

Cutting or trimming your hair will just make your ends straight. This will not resolve your dry end problems. I had very dry ends from not moisturizing my hair while it was in a protective style (before LHCF). I cut my hair but still had dry hair. I shampooed with Roux Porosity Control Shampoo, followed by an ACV Rinse. I also followed this up with Aphoghee 2 minute. The 2-minute protein condish left my hair hard but had to use this in order to close the hair cuticles. Afterwards, I did a dc which included the following: honey, evoo, salt and a dc brand that did NOT contain protein. I left this on either all day or overnight and sat under my hooded dryer. This routine took exactly three months to get under control using this regimen constantly. I also wore my hair in a wet-n-go style. I moisturized each night and bagged my entire head. I say that it took three months only because I do a length check every three months. It may have been shorter. Now that I have things under control, I only co-wash as my hair does very well w/o the harsh ingredients in the shampoos. Each night, I apply a moisturizing mask directly to my ends and spray with Carefree Curl Instant Moisturizer and bag. As a natural, we require extra moisture.

 

[naturalgyrl5199]

Thanks for asking this question OP.I am keeping a note of all this info!

 

[silenttullip]

no prob

Thanks for asking this question OP.I am keeping a note of all this info!

 

[Barbie83]

I dont think they look damaged, just a little dry. I would do a major moisture DC, then get it professionally flat ironed so u can see them better.