Relaxed hair problems??

[cutiepiesensei]

I posted this also in the relaxed hair thread, but I just wanted to make sure I got some responses because I'm not sure if I posted it in the right section >_<

I'm brand new here and I'm in desperate need of some advice

I am a relaxed 4b and my hair needs desperate help. For the longest I've gone through this site reading tips and tricks, but finally I decided to join to get some personal help. My hair currently is breaking off like crazy, but the weird thing is I can't find many split ends. I find a few here and there but for the most part, I don't have a whole lot. My hair is a bunch of different lengths, the shorter ones being ear length, longer ones a little past chin length. I can barely put my hair into a ponytail :/ My hair especially in the front is short because I used to have bangs and with breakage and growing out, they are super uneven

I'm not sure what to do This is what my regimen is:

-Shampoo once every two weeks with Creme of Nature Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo
-Deep Condition every two weeks with Creme of Nature Professional Extreme Moisture Conditioner (put on shower cap and sit under heat for an hour)
-Follow with Aphogee Keratin 2 minute reconstructor
-Rinse and apply Creme of Nature Lemongrass and Rosemary Leave in Conditioner
-Apply heat protectant and Chi silk infusion, then blowdry with warm air
-Apply more heat protectant and flat iron

I wrap my hair with a silk scarf every night and every other night I apply Bioinfusion olive oil moisturizing hair lotion to my hair.

I don't apply anymore heat until next wash day, I'm so confused as to why my hair is still breaking off even though I don't have many split ends. Currently I wear clip in extensions every day to even my hair out because I do not feel comfortable wearing my own hair out the way it is right now by itself with all the different lengths going on and whatnot. I tend to get my hair relaxed (by my mom) about every 10-12 weeks.

What I recently started doing is once a week I mix miconazole nitrate 2% with bioinfusion olive oil hydrating hair creme to my scalp and the day before I wash I don't wear extensions. That day I will wear a hat and under it I will apply a whole bunch of leave in conditioner and olive oil to soak in my hair.

I know that eventually I will have to get my hair cut evenly, but I wanted to wait a few months to let my hair grow out a little more before I cut it. My ULTIMATE GOAL is to be APL. If I get past that, great! But I mainly just want to be APL. I will stop wearing clip ins once I get to SL. I don't feel comfortable without them until that point :/

Thank you for your help in advance

 

[Evolving78]

i am a firm believer in deep conditioning every time after you shampoo. you also need to lay off of the heat every week. try wet wrapping instead. if you want a bump, put a few rollers in at the top. leave that Aphogee 2min alone for awhile. you need to clarify too. you may have buildup.

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

Welcome!
Some things that stick out to me about your reggie are:
1. The frequency with which you DC. I honestly think that it'll be better to DC once a week. I'm also a relaxed 4b, and have tried doing the every other week thing and it spelled disastuh. This might be especially true for you because you use heat after every shampoo.

2. The order of the Aphogee and DC. I actually think that a weekly light protein treatment is great for relaxed heads, so I think you're on the right track doing that. I do recommend switching to doing the protein first and then following with moisture...I don't have a scientific reason, but I know that's how most people do it, so I figure it can't hurt.

3. The frequency of your heat use. I'm not against heat, but I think blowdrying and flatironing the whole length of your hair after every wash may be a bit much. You might find more success with learning to rollerset, and reserving the heat for your roots. In order to retain length, you really want to baby your ends, and keeping the heat on them to a minimum is going to help with that. And as an aside, for a relaxed head, I really think that blowdrying and flatironing is overkill. I know it's common, but if the technique is proper, one or the other should be enough to get your hair straight.

4. You may want to change how you do your hair at night. I find that wrapping every single night is alot of manipulation, and I think if you can cut back on the day to day manipulation of your hair, you may have more success with retention. Try putting in a few pincurls or flexi-rods at night, instead of wrapping.

5. I know that you said that you wanted to wait before cutting, but I would recommend going through your hair in sections and trimming off where there was breakage, because when hair breaks, it doesn't break cleanly. It leaves a jagged end, which just keeps drying out and unraveling, so you have to get rid of it in order to reach optimum retention.

I hope something in there helped!

ETA: I would also suggest reading some of the free articles on http://blackhairscience.com/index.html.
They were one of the first things I read when I started with the haircare thing and they really help you diagnose your hair issues and give you some direction on where to go with your hair when you first start up.
The breakage solutions and regimen building sections may be especially useful to you.

 

[cutiepiesensei]

Thanks for responding!

I'll definitely try to up how often I wash my hair, it gets annoying lol but if I want results I understand I must do what needs to be done. Switching the order shouldn't be too hard for my protein. Right now I blowdry just because it seems that when I airdry, my hair breaks more. Eventually I guess I need to save up for a hooded dryer. I might just settle for a ponytail or something at night for now. Don't get me wrong, I adore pin curls. I used to wear them a lot when my hair was slightly longer. But right now, when i wear my own hair super curly, it makes me look like an old lady because of the length I'll try my best thought to incorporate your advice. Thanks again!

 

[Evolving78]

don't do the ponytail. try cross wrapping instead.

 

[cutiepiesensei]

I've never done that before; I'll give it a try!

 

[demlew]

@cutiepiesensei - Welcome! Not sure if these answers are in your other post but...

1. What type of relaxer do you use and how long have you used it? (brand and lye vs.no-lye) If you recently changed brands, what brand were you previously using?
**My personal experience has been a dramatic improvement after switching to lye (less dryness and breakage), but it's different for everyone.

2. What is your process when you relax your hair and how soon do you wash your hair after relaxing it (one day, one week, etc)?

3. Do you take vitamins or medications that could affect the condition of your hair?

4. I agree with @Chaosbutterfly - a. It's possible you may need to shampoo/DC more often. My hair is extremely dry if I don't at least co-wash every 3-4 days. b. Your protein conditioner is applied first, followed by your moisturizing conditioner. You want your protein to be closest to your strands to strengthen them and then DC. A great conditioner that combines the best of both worlds is Aubrey Organic's Glycogen Protein Balancer (referred to as AO GPB). I don't have to do two separate sessions with this.

Speaking of protein...many of your products use some type of protein (the olive oil lotion, Chi infusion, reconstructor), so it's possible you have protein-overload.

5. I'm not familiar with the shampoo you mentioned. Is this it? http://www.amazon.com/Creme-Nature-Ultra-Moisturizing-Shampoo/dp/B001KZG5D0

If so, I noticed "Sodium Laureth Sulfate" is one of the primary ingredients. SLS is sometimes a stripping ingredient; I would recommend alternating with an SLS-free shampoo (or using SLS shampoos only to remove buildup). I can't think of any right now except Costco's private brand Kirkland Signature. I've been using it for almost 2 years and still love it. I hope the other ladies will come recommend brands for you.

One last thing...not everyone will agree, but I've found for my relaxed hair that petrolatum and mineral oil actually act as barriers by creating a waxy buildup that prevents moisture rather than increasing it. A few of your products include these ingredients, so maybe your hair would prefer a light oil like grapeseed, jojoba, or Hairveda's Cocasta shikakai or AvoSoya. I mix either of those two with Mane N Tail Detangler as a light daily spritz.

Sorry I listed so much information lol. It's just that I was exactly where you were when I first joined. The ladies on this forum were so generous with their information/advice/tips that I want to pay it forward.

All of the info on here may be overwhelming at first, so pace yourself lol. Good luck to you!

 

[cutiepiesensei]

First, thank you for trying to help me so thoroughly! I really appreciate any advice given

The relaxer I use is a no-lye by Profectiv. I'm not sure what you mean by process though. I have never done them myself, but when I can get my mother to do it, I always put doo-gro hair grease on my ends and edges, part in four sections, and she applies it to my roots in 20 minutes. Rinse out with neutralizing shampoo and then proceed with my normal regimen. I usually don't wash my hair again until exactly 2 weeks after.

Um only medication I'm on at the moment is BC pills. I was on antibiotics at one point a few weeks ago but that was only for a week. I try to take 5000 mg of biotin a day as well as one multivitamin.

I'm probably going to up it to washing and DCing once a week, but I'm not sure if I would feel ok with co-washing my hair. I'm almost scared it would be too much manipulation and I HAVE to flat iron when I wash to get my hair to blend with my clip ins (like I said, I'm not comfortable with my length at the moment to go without them). I don't want to be hooked on them forever, I just want a few inches before then. So that's why I figured I probably shouldn't blow-dry after every wash anymore. I was also thinking about blowdrying but with cool air. Would that be ok?

Typically I actually try to stay away from Creme of Nature shampoo. The one you listed is very very similar to the one I use. I have used CoN on the last couple of washes, but that's only because I ran out of BioInfusion Professional Shampoo Rosemary Mint. Most likely, I'm going to go back too it though because the first listed ingredients seem very good and I don't see SLS in it.

The moisturizer I use isn't ok? The first three ingredients are Water, Soybean Oil, and Coconut Oil. No petrolatum or mineral oil listed. The only thing I dislike about putting a straight oil on my hair (so far I have tried jojoba and olive oil) is that they seem to make my hair feel greasy :/ But I might be doing something wrong....They also tend to make my extensions greasy too lol.

Did I answer all of your questions? Thanks for your help!! I'm so thankful for you ladies getting me started

 

[EbonyCPrincess]

Well, everything that I was going to say has been said! Awesome advice ladies!

SLS, protein overload perhaps, follow the Aphogee with the moisturizing DC (instead of the order in which you do it).

The only thing I have to add is to make sure you are switching around where you apply your clip-ins so that a particular area of your head doesn't consistently have the tension and wear and tear of the wig clips. I would completely eliminate direct heat for now and opt for rollersets (then wrap) to achieve a smooth look, at least until your hair stops breaking. Good luck!!! And come back and update us!

 

[jerseygurl]

What don't you like about the CON shampoo? It's a mild cleanser and non-stripping. Since you use a no-lye relaxer, I'd suggest you get a chelating shampoo to remove the calcium build up.

I know you don't feel comfortable about your length but you need to reduce the heat for the time being till your hair is in better shape. HTH

 

[prettypithy]

I don't know if this has been mentioned but it strikes me that you might be doing too much. It sounds like you use a lot of products and fairly frequent heat. Have you tried airdrying instead of flat ironing every two weeks? Have you tried trimming some of those products from the roster? Based on your regimen, it sounds like you use 6 products each wash day. By contrast, I use 3. With so many products, it might be harder to isolate what is affecting your hair and how. I would say maybe try just washing and DCing, putting your leave in and air drying for a few weeks and see if the condition changes.

 

[cutiepiesensei]

jerseygurl Just the way my hair feels after I use it. It doesn't feel quite as moisturized as when I use bioinfusion, but I've only used it a few times so I'll give it more time.

EbonyCPrincess Hmmm do you have any good video suggestions for how to do a really good roller set and wrap? I might be good at that instead of completely airdrying all the time I've tried it before but it has never turned out good for me in the past

prettypithy I'll try less products. Hopefully that helps

I'm just so thankful for so much advice I've been given so far lol. I'm really looking forward to getting my hair back in shape

 

[Lynnerie]

Welcome to the board!!! I know when your hair is at an in-between length it can be hard to avoid using heat to style it. I suggest getting a wig and doing the baggie method because it will give your hair a break.

Also, if you have splits just get them cut. You may have to have a deep trim but in the end it will pay off. Your hair will retain length better if your ends are healthy and you minimize the various lengths. My ends were terrible and after getting a good amount cut off the breakage has subsided.

 

[EbonyCPrincess]

Sure thing! Here is a blog post I did with Tips for Rollersetting. I'm really not self-promoting here, I just so happen to have what you asked for compiled in one spot with links to different videos already. Hope you find it helpful!

http://longing4length.blogspot.com/2011/12/tips-for-successful-rollerset-incl.html

 

[demlew]

@cutiepiesensei - It looks like the ladies are giving you great advice!
Followup to your answers:

1. Your "process" for relaxing your hair is just how you prep to relax your hair. For instance, do you clarify or do a protein treatment a few days ahead of relaxing? Another step is to detangle your hair days before (don't comb your new growth "NG" while it's dry - spritz something like Mane N Tail detangler or another moisturizer). I've never used Profectiv, so I have no opinion on it, but I would recommend shampooing your hair sooner than two weeks after relaxing. I usually wash mine the following day (using the neutralizing shampoo again) because you want to be sure all of the activator was rinsed out.

2. Since you use a no-lye relaxer, I recommend using a chelating shampoo like @jerseygurl mentioned. The relaxer coats your strands with calcium hydroxide so the shampoo rids your hair of the mineral (similar to clarifying). A great one is Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) Creamy Aloe Shampoo. It's also a neutralizer. Btw, if you find your hair is constantly dry, it's possible your hair has low-porosity. The ClifNotes is that strands are porous and don't hold moisture well. Think of a grater or colander, the larger the holes, the more liquid falls through. A way to correct it is by using Roux Porosity Control (PC) or apple cider vinegar (ACV) as your final rinse (after your deep condition (DC). This also helps lower the ph in your hair after chemical treatments. It can be found at Sally's or other beauty supplies.

3. Have you considered using a lye relaxer? You'll find it's 50/50 on here, but I'm definitely for it! My hair used to shed and break alot when I used no-lye (even though ORS no-lye really is a great product). Many readers say they have to do more protein treatments with no-lye and I know my hair is sensitive to protein and would break alot. I stretched for as long as I could (about 10 weeks lol) before I switched to ORS lye about 2 years ago. I haven't looked back! My hair doesn't break, minimal shedding, it holds moisture better, and...I've stretched to 14 weeks this time (and still counting). That's just been my experience.

4. Regarding the hair creme - is this the one? This one has petrolatum (but they could have changed the formula). It also has wheat extract (another light protein).

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/bioinfusion-olive-oil-hydrating-hair-creme/ID=prod3460658-product

I would reduce the number of protein products for now.

5. How has your hair reacted to the miconazole nitrate 2%? What interested you in trying this method? Maybe there are other alternatives to consider...(I personally am not for or against it).

6. I agree with the ladies about reducing heat. Blowdrying on cool is usually for setting a style and may be the same as airdrying, to be honest. A compromise may be to blowdry your hair on warm just enough that it's damp, not wet (maybe 50% dry) and then airdry. A good leave-in for airdrying is Neutrogena Triple Moisture (NTM) Silk Touch. In other words, you may not need to blowdry your hair 100% dry if you're going to flat iron.

7. Regarding the hair oil, I found that I was heavy-handed and I looked like the family on Coming to America LOL. Your hair may not need as much as you think. Plus, if your hair really is low-porosity, you'll find that correcting it allows you to use less product.

Sorry my posts seem to be the longest here lol.

 

[jerseygurl]

demlew thx the chelating shampoo I used to use was the ORS creamy aloe but couldn't remember the name.

cutiepiesensei do you like weaves, braids with extension and twists? You could use that method to grow out your hair till it gets to a length where you don't have to rely on hair pieces. HTH

 

[sonychari]

It might be a problem that you are sitting under the dryer so long with the CON. I read the instructions for that condish and they say for you to leave it on for 15 min if you use heat with it. I used to sit under the dryer for longer than the directions recommend too, but I stopped when I realized that it was making my hair feel hard, rough, and dry. Recently I've been deep conditioning without heat (just leave the condish on with a plastic bag for about 30 min) and I find that it works better for me. U might want to try following the directions on the bottle or using no heat at all with it to see if that makes a difference. HTH

 

[SmilingElephant]

As others have stated...it may be protein overload....try to limit using the Aphogee...maybe once a month with that

 

[cutiepiesensei]

EbonyCPrincess thank you!

demlew as far as MN goes, I just have heard a lot of good things about it. Not even considering my breakage, my hair grows really slow (like 1/4 inch a month). So I figured it couldn't hope. And if that is the case with the hair creme I'll stop using it. Luckily, that's not the one I use for my typical moisturizing. I'll just have to find something else to mix MN with.

I also am going to wash my hair more often and I might just start going to a salon every time I need a relaxer lol. I'll see if I can't try out lye.

sonychari I'll probably just stop applying heat to my DCs

jerseygurl unfortunately, I'm not a huge fan of braids or weaves. When I have had braids in the past, I never could find anyone who didnt do them too tight. Plus, I have a big forehead so I feel weird going without some type of bangs lol. And sew ins were always too itchy for me and I never liked the fact that I really couldn't get to my hair as well as I wanted. That's why I opted for clip ins. I felt that I could probably moisturize my hair better and I could wash more often without the fear that I'm messing up my weave lol

To everyone else, thank you for all of your ideas! I never would have thought I would get this much help You all are very supportive

 

[Raspberry]

Welcome to the board!!! I know when your hair is at an in-between length it can be hard to avoid using heat to style it. I suggest getting a wig and doing the baggie method because it will give your hair a break.

Also, if you have splits just get them cut. You may have to have a deep trim but in the end it will pay off. Your hair will retain length better if your ends are healthy and you minimize the various lengths. My ends were terrible and after getting a good amount cut off the breakage has subsided.

Hold up Lynnerie you relaxed? I remember admiring your hair pics when you were natural.. you look fabulous in your avi btw What made you relax again?

 

[jerseygurl]

@EbonyCPrincess thank you!

@demlew as far as MN goes, I just have heard a lot of good things about it. Not even considering my breakage, my hair grows really slow (like 1/4 inch a month). So I figured it couldn't hope. And if that is the case with the hair creme I'll stop using it. Luckily, that's not the one I use for my typical moisturizing. I'll just have to find something else to mix MN with.

I also am going to wash my hair more often and I might just start going to a salon every time I need a relaxer lol. I'll see if I can't try out lye.

@sonychari I'll probably just stop applying heat to my DCs

@jerseygurl unfortunately, I'm not a huge fan of braids or weaves. When I have had braids in the past, I never could find anyone who didnt do them too tight. Plus, I have a big forehead so I feel weird going without some type of bangs lol. And sew ins were always too itchy for me and I never liked the fact that I really couldn't get to my hair as well as I wanted. That's why I opted for clip ins. I felt that I could probably moisturize my hair better and I could wash more often without the fear that I'm messing up my weave lol

To everyone else, thank you for all of your ideas! I never would have thought I would get this much help You all are very supportive

That's why we're here. I used to be relaxed and I know what you're going through. One last suggestion on DCs, I use Silk Elements Mega Deep Conditioning Treatment from Sally Beauty Supply. Try it out and see if it helps.
http://s7d3.scene7.com/is/image/Sal...1&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.9,1.0,4,0&iccEmbed=0
http://s7d3.scene7.com/is/image/Sal...1&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.9,1.0,4,0&iccEmbed=0

 

[Lynnerie]

Hold up Lynnerie you relaxed? I remember admiring your hair pics when you were natural.. you look fabulous in your avi btw What made you relax again?

HeyRaspberry

I decided to texlax because I needed a change and I wanted to enjoy my hair again. I was unable to enjoy my natural hair because I wanted to wear it out and for me that meant lots of knots which led to split ends. I will say that I didn't trim as much as I should've when I was natural because I didnt think I needed to because I didn't use heat that much but I was sadly mistaken.

I loved wearing wash n gos but as my hair got longer I got more knots. I tried the heat training thing but I was never consistent with it and my hair would always revert back after a few days and it never got easier to straighten so that was pointless for me.

After texlaxing I had to get a lot trimmed off because those splits will just continue going up the hair shaft. I am still able to wear my hair in a wash n go but I don't have to deal with the shrinkage or knots. I can rollerset easily and do braidouts. I texlax for 7-8 minutes in sections. I'm still getting to know my hair and I'm glad I did the natural thing and I'm glad I was able to relax on my own terms and know that its really just hair and I'll be wearing my hair in the styles that fit me best.

 

[Raspberry]

Hey@Raspberry

I decided to texlax because I needed a change and I wanted to enjoy my hair again. I was unable to enjoy my natural hair because I wanted to wear it out and for me that meant lots of knots which led to split ends. I will say that I didn't trim as much as I should've when I was natural because I didnt think I needed to because I didn't use heat that much but I was sadly mistaken.

I loved wearing wash n gos but as my hair got longer I got more knots. I tried the heat training thing but I was never consistent with it and my hair would always revert back after a few days and it never got easier to straighten so that was pointless for me.

After texlaxing I had to get a lot trimmed off because those splits will just continue going up the hair shaft. I am still able to wear my hair in a wash n go but I don't have to deal with the shrinkage or knots. I can rollerset easily and do braidouts. I texlax for 7-8 minutes in sections. I'm still getting to know my hair and I'm glad I did the natural thing and I'm glad I was able to relax on my own terms and know that its really just hair and I'll be wearing my hair in the styles that fit me best.

Thanks for sharing @Lynnerie . I remember those gorgeous wash-n-gos.

I definitely hear you on styling woes and SSKs, that's what made me choose to relax as well, the styles that look best on me took more time/effort/planning to work out as a natural than I was willing to give as my hair got longer. I'm definitely lazy with my hair.. which is ironic considering I spend so much time on hair boards . Yesterday I figured out how to do a banging twist-out from two big twists braided at the root and I was thrilled..

Good luck on your hair journey