So what would you do: Snap, crackle, pop

[lana]

So what would you do? You run your fingers through your flat ironed, texlaxed hair and everything is fine, but when you get to the ends you hear snap, crackle, pop!

You JUST trimmed this past week. The ends look fine. You just did a light protein conditioner (Nexxus Humectress (has enough protein in it for me)) and a nice creamy, moisturizing conditioner following that (Paul Mitchell Detangler).

What would you do?

Should I oil the ends, put them away, use a moisturizing lotion or a serum? What?

I'm at my wit's end. And even though my hair goal has been reached...I still need help. Thank you!

 

[nysister]

Perhaps you've had too much protein? Maybe a nice deep conditioner with a plastic cap for an hour or so and then twist and air dry?

 

[faithVA]

The dry, cold weather is coming. I think it is time to put your ends away. You may want to moisturize them regularly and then seal with an oil and tuck them away.

That air this time of year is trying to suck moisture from whatever it can find.

 

[PJaye]

How do your ends look? How do they feel? Do you see any breakage?

 

[BostonMaria]

It could be the weather. Try adding a light oil to your ends. I like Jojoba and grapeseed oil.

 

[lana]

I'm not finding any broken pieces when I run my hands through the ends. My hair is 4a/b so it always kinda "looks" like it needs a trim.

I've learned to literally search for split ends and look for uneven areas when I do my trims. I'm basically keeping it cut at bra-strap length.

My lips and skin have also been dry, so maybe it really is the change in the weather and the heat in the house. I'll have to up my moisture game.

Edited to say: Vitamin E oil saved me from dry, crackling ends. It's the only thing that worked.

 

[lana]

I hope this thread and the responses help someone else with the same problem. Thanks ladies!

 

[naturalmanenyc]

Since you have freshly trimmed ends I'd guess you need to try the LOC+B method. I'd sealed the ends with a heavy cream and/or butter and hide them in a bun. The weather change can wreak havoc on your hair.

 

[BostonMaria]

I'm not finding any broken pieces when I run my hands through the ends. My hair is 4a/b so it always kinda "looks" like it needs a trim.

I've learned to literally search for split ends and look for uneven areas when I do my trims. I'm basically keeping it cut at bra-strap length.

My lips and skin have also been dry, so maybe it really is the change in the weather and the heat in the house. I'll have to up my moisture game.

This weather usually messes up my perfect summer/early fall hair routine.

By the way, have you used coconut oil? Because in cold weather this oil can freeze up in your hair. I know! It happened to me! LOL

 

[Honey Bee]

Every year, I used to have a pattern. Grow like weeds in the spring summer, break off in the fall and winter. I got a humidifier. I'm finally seeing progress from one year to another.

 

[tjrj1998]

Your ends always need extra TLC. Your hair is considered text book long so you have to always ensure they get something extra.

 

[southerncitygirl]

get a humidifier as soon as you can

it could be any number of issues:
maybe you need a reconstructing conditioner or harder core protein with a heavy duty moisturizing conditioner (you may need more protein)

try protective styling

try the loc or lco methods

what about a porosity issue?

Just putting a few ideas out there....

 

[Eiano]

Agree with humidifier...
Also, S-Curl has yet to fail me, but I don't keep my hair straight.

 

[PJaye]

Since your hair looks fine and your experiencing dryness in other areas, I would advise using a heavier moisturizer before tucking the ends. As for your skin and lips, cocoa butter laced products have worked wonders for me (and for my hair, too).

 

[overtherainbow]

This thread is so helpful. I just relocated to a much colder region and my scalp and skin is suffering. I'm going to look into humidfiers asap!

To answer the OP, I would use more moisture, less protein and protective style until winter.

 

[nurseN98]

I agree with the suggestions for dealing with the cold weather. I'm not relaxed but i've noticed my hair has been extra dry since the change in weather. I'm going to try to steam more and try the LOC method. I usually have this issue but it is starting up much earlier this year.

 

[DoDo]

Too much protein makes my ends pop off when I am doing every thing right. Go light on protein and get a humidifier. I need to start doing the same.

 

[Prettymetty]

I would spray my ends with aloe vera juice mixed with glycerin and baggy them for a while. Aloe juice is my holy grail hair product

 

[Pennefeather]

I'm having the same problems, and was actually hearing these sounds. In my case, it seems to be too much protein lately. I believe the solution is to add as much moisture as possible.

Pre pooing is extremely helpful, along with deep conditioning, and moisturizering with heavy sealing. In one weeks time I saw a dramatic improvement, but I still have a ways to go.

 

[Zaynab]

So what would you do? You run your fingers through your flat ironed, texlaxed hair and everything is fine, but when you get to the ends you hear snap, crackle, pop!

You JUST trimmed this past week. The ends look fine. You just did a light protein conditioner (Nexxus Humectress (has enough protein in it for me)) and a nice creamy, moisturizing conditioner following that (Paul Mitchell Detangler).

What would you do?

Should I oil the ends, put them away, use a moisturizing lotion or a serum? What?

I'm at my wit's end. And even though my hair goal has been reached...I still need help. Thank you!

I'm currently going through this. I can't tell what my hair needs, I think moisture but I'm not sure how to go about doing that daily without either weighing it down and/or making it look greasy and stringy. My hair is pretty fine so any lotions/potions or oils just don't do.

ETA: Sorry for the late reply lana been away from board for a few days.

 

[Zaynab]

I'm not finding any broken pieces when I run my hands through the ends. My hair is 4a/b so it always kinda "looks" like it needs a trim.

I've learned to literally search for split ends and look for uneven areas when I do my trims. I'm basically keeping it cut at bra-strap length.

My lips and skin have also been dry, so maybe it really is the change in the weather and the heat in the house. I'll have to up my moisture game.

Well I am, what does that mean

 

[Evolving78]

I'm currently going through this. I can't tell what my hair needs, I think moisture but I'm not sure how to go about doing that daily without either weighing it down and/or making it look greasy and stringy. My hair is pretty fine so any lotions/potions or oils just don't do. ETA: Sorry for the late reply lana been away from board for a few days.

I wash my hair often to avoid product buildup. I use light leave in creams for moisture. I use cones, since they help to moisturize and smooth my hair with out the heaviness. I use jojoba oil since it is a very light oil to deal with. I use Shea moisture shine and hold spray sparingly after I moisturize and seal. So I do a COL method. Cream oil liquid. And it's getting cold so I won't have my hair down. Ends tucked in with a bun, twisted updo, or wig. I stay under a space heater so I deal with dry air all year around.

 

[iVR]

It's winter time. Your ends dry out faster at this time of year so oiling your ends in the morning and at night will take care of the problem. Especially if they've been flat ironed or heat straightened.

 

[Holla]

Every year, I used to have a pattern. Grow like weeds in the spring summer, break off in the fall and winter. I got a humidifier. I'm finally seeing progress from one year to another.

I'm currently going through this. I can't tell what my hair needs, I think moisture but I'm not sure how to go about doing that daily without either weighing it down and/or making it look greasy and stringy. My hair is pretty fine so any lotions/potions or oils just don't do.

ETA: Sorry for the late reply @lana been away from board for a few days.

Zaynab.... Ditto on getting a humidifier to use at night when you are sleeping. your skin and hair will soak up the extra moisture at night so that in the morning you can do your normal routine. Either that or use a steamer when deep conditioning.

You can also try the ponytail baggy method. I don't remember who did it but someone on this board once showed pics of where she put her hair all up into one ponytail. moisturized and sealed just the ponytail, then rolled it all up (sleekly) on one large magnetic roller. She then used a thin shower cap to cover just the rolled ponytail. I've done this in the past when my hair is straight and it does wonders to increase the moisture on my ends after only a couple of hours.

 

[lana]

One of the things that I did to help the problem is that I wore a twist out on already flat ironed hair. It was at the end of my wash cycle, so I said, why not. I used B&B Oil Moisturizer (which I like because it works to moisturize my hair) then I sealed with oil and did several flat twists. I had nice waves throughout and wore that for several days. I will definitely have to up my moisturizing and sealing routine.

 

[almond eyes]

If your ends have been comprised, you may have to trim them. In my other transitions, I braided my hair a lot (I am giving an example) and I didn't realize that the synthetic hair was causing friction to my hair. When I finally decided to stop wearing extension braids, my ends were snap, crackle, pop and not looking the best. I tried everything. In the end, my ends were so compromised due to frequent extension braiding that I needed to trim. I refused to do this by the way. Now that I am transitioning again, I will avoid all the things that made my other transitions so unsuccessful.

Your ends may have been compromised through not enough protective styling especially as it reached a certain length. You may have to trim bit by bit if the look of frayed ends bother you. For some women it doesn't bother them much.

Best,
Almond Eyes