Somebody help me before I shave it off

[landakaye]

I am at the end of my rope and I just started. Myhair is damaged. OVERPROCESSED(insert echoey voice)!!!! Tonight I tried ummm Phtyo shampoo and euwwww. My hair has never tangled so I figure I wont use the products anymore. No big.
I have tried going natural before and havingmy hair straight w/o chemical butmyhair just pops off. I have stretched this soft and beautiful out for the longest I have ever done. I think I am going on my 7th or 8th week. I am gonna try for 2 more weeks though. The longer I wait the more it will probably break off.

I will probably stick with Nexxus Therappe,Humectress and Keraphix. My hair has always been fragile anyway even as a girl.

1. Whats a good mild relaxer that wont kill me that isnt made by Phyto? (sorry Kaddy,*g*)

2. Can one of you hair divas help me come up with a daily and weekly regimine? I know everybody is different but I need a beginning to start with.

My hair is naturally thin on ends and thick at the scalp due to my father having wavy hair and my mother having the kinky thick stuff. It takes forever for my hair to soak up plain water also.

I probably sound like a baby but umm I dont wanna be looking crazy.

Rant over.

 

[BMoreFlyy]

I don't know if this will help but something to think about in your regime is when you wash your hair. I am supposed to wash mine once a week. Basically every seven days. But you must keep your hair moisturized. And if your hair is breaking off now it may be time for a relaxer.

 

[TigerLily]

When you mentioned that it takes a long time for your hair to soak up water, I was thinking that your hair might be porous. Try some Porosity control. That should make your hair behave better....

 

[ClassicChic]

Remember streching is not for everyone. I, myslef, go about 6 1/2 weeks. Overtime I'll try for 8 but for now just listen to your hair.

 

[bajanplums1]

Heh L,

Well the good news is your hair is constantly growing, so you won't always have damaged hair. YOf course provided you have a good food intake. You can take care of what you have now and you'll learn how to treat the new stuff better--I did. Before you know it your hair will be great!

* Mild Relaxer: I have tried many lyes, but honestly my best relaxer is always a $5.99 box of Beautiful Beginnings by Dark & Lovely, I use the one for fine hair, it has a 6 year old on the cover.

* Regimen: I have learned that I do not need any hard core protein in my hair. My hair stays pliable, soft, shiny and smooth with moisture, moisture, moisture.

I have good results using:
*elucence moisture benefits poo (Therappe I hear is great, it did nothing for my hair though)
*elucence moisture balancing conditioner (i also use a pea size amount as a leave in) You can do this with HUMECTRESS.
* i use mango butter + essential fatty acids not only as my daily moisturizer, but as my "setting lotion" (what do u use to moisturize & lock in the moisture?)
* I do not use heat, I only air dry my hair in rollers every Thursday night (if your hair is overprocess, you should try to not use direct heat--assuming u r using heat).

I have been on the regimen for 2 months and I am so happy with my hair. Good luck 2 u. hope this helps in some way.

 

[prettygrl]

Hi Landakaye--
My hair was overprocesed, too, in Feb 2004 and it was a major set back for me. I still have damage, but I didn't cut off my hair. I have tried to minimize my use of chemicals (relaxers and permanent color) and have been wearing braided styles to assist me in extending my relaxer.

I think it is possible to extend your relaxer application regardless of your hair type--if you cut back on trying to style it like you would style newly relaxed hair.

Meaning, try and updo, braided weave,or braids so you won't have to deal with the two drastically different textures...this should minimize any further damage.
Are braids an option for you?

Also, I examined my regimen. My hair was thriving when I didn't do as much to it.

I have to second what bajanplums1 said about hard core proteins.

I used so many, probably too frequently trying to get my hair to recover and I think it did more harm than good.

I would go with a mild protein treatments like GPB or Cathy Howe's conditioner. Followed, by a moisturizing conditioner
I used Affirm Control the last time I relaxed, it was mild and my stylist didn't have to be concerned with applying it quickly. Also, if you use Affirm make sure to put the preservo on the already relaxed ends.

Have you tried any products other than NEXXUS? Personally, I am not a fan of their products--but if they work for you I would stick with it. Creating a regimen, I think is just a process of trial and error and experimentation with new products. I have started keeping a list of the products I use on wash day--and how my hair turned out to help me remember what is a keeper.

On a daily basis, I would use some type of moisturizer. Experiment and find out what you like best. It might be as simple as distilled water and EVOO.

 

[simcha]

I'm currently growing out overprocessed hair. My hair type is weird and hairstylists have a tendency to over process it.

1) I use Bantu Regular relaxer. But my hairstylist (Dominican) puts it in, quickly works it through once and washes it out. (Most hairstylists want to work it through and then do it again and again and again) I have fine to normal hair so there just isn't that much to my hair strands to break down.
2) I didn't cut the damage off, instead I did an Aphogee treatment once after my touch-ups and followed up with a moisturizing treatment (Humectress). I did this twice. Also, I trim it once every three or four months just to even up the ends. Right now my ends seem to be doing well, so I may wait 6 months to trim this time.
3) I forced myself to learn how to roller set my hair. Still trying to perfect it. Although I still use a blowdryer and a flat iron afterwards but limited use, with heat protectants.
4) I relax my hair about every 6-7 weeks. I just get way to much breakage if I wait longer.
5) Moisturizing Deep Conditioners(20 minutes under the dryer) everytime I wash my hair. Lately, I've been using L'oreal's Natures Therapy Mega Moisture. I don't think it has protein in it. I found too much protein wreaks havoc with my hair.
6) Moisture, moisture, moisture... I don't use a moisturizer everyday, my hair doesn't like a lot of product in it. But every two or three days. I use to use Humectress everyday but I noticed my hair felt kind of dry and hard after a few hours. I now use Egyptian Magic (www.egyptianmagic.com) before I put my hair up at night.
Also, hot oil pre-shampoo treatments with olive oil.

Sorry for the long response but finally after seven years I like my hair again and am surprised by all the compliments I am getting from friends, family and strangers on hair.

I hope this helps...

 

[Paris Belle]

I'm sorry that you're having this problem with your hair Landa. In addition to what was already said, I would just add that using a daily moisturizer that doesn't weigh your hair down would help a lot. I would suggest Razac Perfect for Perms Hair Oil Spray, Motions Hair Lotion. The front of my hair (the bangs) were overprocessed too because the relaxer I was using at the time underprocessed all of my hair with the exception of the bangs...It was the only part of my hair that would be relaxed straight.

I would start with a slight trim and then moisturize the heck out of my hair after that. I always use a hot oil treatment before I wash my hair. I have begun using a combination of Suave Milk & Honey, a tbsp of honey and olive oil and Wonder 8 oil mixed together. I love this mixture.

I would use more moisturizing conditioners (heavy duty) until your hair feels better. Then I would add a protein-moisturizing conditioner instead of a pure protein conditioner.

Try to minimize heat use--rollersets, steam rollers, that sort of thing can help as well.

I hope that that helps.

 

[Honey Vibe]

If you're not afraid, go on, take a chance: shave it all off! Get an uptown fade!!

 

[KAddy]

What Phyto product did you use? Some of the Phyto products are not geared for relaxed hair. I use the PhytoSpecific line not the regular Phyto line. PhytoSpecific is the line that is geared for relaxed hair more so than the regular phyto line. The PhytoSpecific Vital force shampoo and conditioner are geared for damaged overprocessed hair and are very detangling.

 

[KAddy]

This is from another thread

[ QUOTE ]

DangerouslyShy said:

oh another quick Question whats the different between phyto specific and PHYTO...



and what products would you reccomend?



[/ QUOTE ]



I think PhytoSpecific was developed more with African American hair type in mind. Although I have seen that caucasian women have used some of the products as well. I have not used phyto products that weren't the phytospecifric line, but I know Sengschick has. HEY SENGS TELL US THE DEAL.



As for recommendations, I have been using the Vital Force shampoo and condition to help my hair get back from being porous and being so dry. It is designed for damaged or brittle hair. IT WORKS. I did a porosity check the other day (after reading it here - the hair in water and seeing if it floats trick). I really like this shampoo and conditioner a lot. HOWEVER, once I am done with this I am going to switch to the Intense Nutrition shampoo and conditioner. This one is for ultra dry hair. I plan on moving down in the different programs or up (depends how you interpret it). They have one more shampoo and conditioner line that is the Optimal Hydration one. This is for normal to dry hair. I did a review of my first use of the Vital Force products in this thread: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/s...&PHPSESSID=



I really do love the vital force products, they make my hair extra soft, but I know that since my hair is becoming healthier I will not need to use these anymore.

KAddy is correct, the PhytoSpecific was created for naturally curly-kinky and relaxed hair. The regular Phyto line ranges from colored, fine, to dry hair. They have a full line for each condition of the hair. I use the dry hair stuff (since is the natural condition of my hair type based on a Euro standard), but they even make extremely dry hair products for ppl who have permed (not relaxed that's they PhytoSpecific line), colored and generally damaged hair. I love the Phyto conditioners b/c unlike any other product I've ever used the conditioner really, really reduces tangling and it's not so much b/c you have extraordinary slippage. Something in the formula really detangles the hair. The other Phyto product I love is the Phytodefrisant Relaxing Balm. I use it whenever I do a straight style b/c it just leaves your hair smoothed but full of body but controlled at the same time. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I tried that Milky Reconstructor alone and it was nothing like it was after the relaxer. So that furthers the evidence for me that the relaxer is what makes you hair feel so buttery /images/graemlins/up.gif.