SPILL IT! YOUR LOWEST HAIR POINT...

[knottyaaverage]

we all came to this board with a hair sob story in dire need of help and information about how to grow it back. when my hair fell out, i was heartbroken and didn't notice while it was happening. what was your hair's doomsday?

 

[RosesBlack]

we all came to this board with a hair sob story in dire need of help and information about how to grow it back. when my hair fell out, i was heartbroken and didn't notice while it was happening. what was your hair's doomsday?

Mine was a few years ago. My hair wasn't in great shape but it looked okay and then my Doc put me on birth control pills and my hair started falling out and got so dry it was like straw no matter what I did. This went on for almost a year (really -really- crappy gyno) until I stopped taking the pills.

The aftermath was pretty bad, I had fairly large bald spot, my hair was super uneven and just ugly. That's when I cut it all off (to a buzz cut the thread is here somewhere with photos) dyed it purple and started really taking good care of it.

There've been some other mishaps along the way. About two years ago I burned off a chunk of my hair with a curling iron. That was bad and I did another chop. But for about the last 18 months or so I've had slow but steady growth and my hair is super healthy.

 

[navsegda]

we all came to this board with a hair sob story in dire need of help and information about how to grow it back. when my hair fell out, i was heartbroken and didn't notice while it was happening. what was your hair's doomsday?

Well, by the time I came to the board I'd already started up healthy hair practices again. Seeing everyone else doing it has helped me keep them up and not get bored. There was a time when I just didn't care about my hair. I think my lowest point was sometime back in the summer of 2005 when I got too caught up in my medical research.

http://public.fotki.com/pokazhi-mne-lyubov/pictures-of-me/p7180237.html

It just got worse from there because I continued to do this same research when the school year started so not only did I have 22 hours worth of classes each semester, I also had medical research and after classes would end, I'd have to go to the VA Hospital and spend hours in my lab, THEN come back home and study, write papers, and all other sorts of crap. Sometimes I wouldn't get home until after 12 at night, so yeah, there was basically no time to devote the TLC that my hair needed. In 2006, I got fed up with it and slowly started bringing my hair back to health after a long time of neglecting it. I am determined to keep up my regimen no matter what is going on now. In a few years after I'm a neurosurgeon, I guarantee you, I may be standing over someone's brain for hours but I will have slapped some deep conditioner on under my surgical cap and my hair will be BANGIN when I finally get around to it. Talk about a good, long deep conditioning treatment. Yes, I will definitely have a stash of haircare products in my office at the hospital.

Me: "How much longer do we have before beginning the procedure?"
Another doctor: "Um...about 15 minutes."
Me: "Alright, hold up. Let me slap some Garnier and Motions on my hair and then I'll scrub down."

 

[RainbowCurls]

Probably when I bleached highlights into my relaxed hair. Then it started breaking off into random lengths.

 

[navsegda]

Probably when I bleached highlights into my relaxed hair. Then it started breaking off into random lengths.

I like all the pretty colors you've used in your hair! Especially the blue and purple.

 

[EMJazzy]

Well, by the time I came to the board I'd already started up healthy hair practices again. Seeing everyone else doing it has helped me keep them up and not get bored. There was a time when I just didn't care about my hair. I think my lowest point was sometime back in the summer of 2005 when I got too caught up in my medical research.

http://public.fotki.com/pokazhi-mne-lyubov/pictures-of-me/p7180237.html

It just got worse from there because I continued to do this same research when the school year started so not only did I have 22 hours worth of classes each semester, I also had medical research and after classes would end, I'd have to go to the VA Hospital and spend hours in my lab, THEN come back home and study, write papers, and all other sorts of crap. Sometimes I wouldn't get home until after 12 at night, so yeah, there was basically no time to devote the TLC that my hair needed. In 2006, I got fed up with it and slowly started bringing my hair back to health after a long time of neglecting it. I am determined to keep up my regimen no matter what is going on now. In a few years after I'm a neurosurgeon, I guarantee you, I may be standing over someone's brain for hours but I will have slapped some deep conditioner on under my surgical cap and my hair will be BANGIN when I finally get around to it. Talk about a good, long deep conditioning treatment. Yes, I will definitely have a stash of haircare products in my office at the hospital.

Me: "How much longer do we have before beginning the procedure?"
Another doctor: "Um...about 15 minutes."
Me: "Alright, hold up. Let me slap some Garnier and Motions on my hair and then I'll scrub down."

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

 

[RainbowCurls]

I like all the pretty colors you've used in your hair! Especially the blue and purple.

Thanks When I went natural I thought "yay I can bleach my hair now!"

 

[Leslie_C]

Well a couple of years ago my hair was doing really well, and making good progress. It was past my shoulders on its way to armpit. Well, I put a bad relaxer in my hair and it came out like crazy. It just kept getting shorter and thinner. Finally last Sepember I just decided to go natural and stopped relaxing it. Well I transitioned for over a year and my hair grew out like a weed. I didnt care for it as well as I should have bc Im really busy with school and I work a lot, but Im suprised at how healthy it is considering. I relaxed it yesterday and was ecstatic to finally have something I can work with. I am looking to gain more length and thickness, but my hair is not too far from where it was before it came out. So Im happy and Im gonna get back into haircare again, hopefully this time I wont have anymore setbacks. I had to start from scratch and that was really sad for me. One day I had hair and the next day I didnt. Im happy to have a little somethin something again!

 

[OneInAMillion]

I had been shoulder length most of my life. I was natural, and pressed my hair biweekly, so it basically stayed the same length. When I got to college, I relaxed my hair and it started growing (most likely due to frequent washing). I reached APL, and although my hair was no where as thick as it is now, I thought it was BANGIN! Then, I had a hairdresser overprocess & color my hair at the same time. It was all over immediately, and I not only had shoulder length hair, but it was also breaking off badly. I think the only reason I wasn't depressed is because I had lost a lot of weight at the time, so I still thought I was fly!

A year after that I found the boards and I just laugh when I see my old pics. I swear, the knowledge alone has saved me!

 

[Junonia]

My lowest point was when I had micro braids. I was so impatient in taking them out that I cut the braids along with my hair. When I was finished my bang was from ear to ear. The back was at the nape of my neck. I had to get my hair cut in layers after that incident.

 

[Carla From VA]

My most recent low point was a couple of years ago, I had synthetic hair braided onto my cornrows for a sew in, and the ends of the synthetic hair melted under the heat of the flat iron, singeing my hair right along with it. My hair was apl to nape length instantly! Prior to that, I had been natural for 6 years and my hair had finally gotten full and healthy again. I had to start all over.

An older low point which led me to go natural in the first place, I think it was 1998, I had put some color in my hair, and when I blow dryed my hair, the hair fell right out in the top of my head. It took years to grow it back out, and it was so hard to hide the bald spot underneat my braids. I would have to use hairpins to pin the braids down over the bald spot so you couldn't see it.

 

[Golong]

An older low point which led me to go natural in the first place, I think it was 1998, I had put some color in my hair, and when I blow dryed my hair, the hair fell right out in the top of my head. It took years to grow it back out, and it was so hard to hide the bald spot underneat my braids. I would have to use hairpins to pin the braids down over the bald spot so you couldn't see it.

Wow thats bad.
I believe I have permantaly damaged my hair. When I was younger I had strong healthy long hair. My mother use to do my hair every week. When she passed away my father took over my hair care. He desided I should get a cold wave to cut down on the care. I HATED IT.
one day while visiting my grandmother I decided I wanted my straight hair back so I home permed it. Right after I had just got my cold wave. Well I was bold headed literally.erplexed Remember the TV show In Living Color, Fire Marshell Bill, that was me. My hair line never grow back the same and the length has never gotten past the point it is now.

 

[CynamonKis]

I have read all of your posts and, well, aren't we all glad to have found the LHCF?

Roseblack: I am glad your hair is recovering from the b/c pill & curling iron mis-hap. I heard of someone else who ruined their hair w/curling iron, they had it on the highest setting & it fried their hair.....

Navsgeda: It is so GOOD to have a DOCTOR in the house! If you ever hear of me mixing up something that seems medically unsound please PM me! I am glad to see that, in spite of your busy schedule, that you are taking time to take care of YOU. Your hair is gorgeous btw...


Carla: I had no idea that what happened to you w/the synthetic hair could happen, as I have watched many stylists use the hot comb/curlers on ladies that have synthetic extensions. Glad to see that your hair is recovering

INeedHair: I can relate to your experience! Sometimes when u want to just get them braids or extensions or weaves out you'll almost do anything to get them out!

GoLong: I see you just joined in 11/06. I am no doctor, but I do not believe you have "permanently" damaged your hair. I truly believe that with the proper regiment and care, that your hair CAN AND WILL grow past where it is now. Just find a regiment w/products that suit your hairtype and budget, and stick with it, and I believe you will have success in growing your hair!

Much Love - Cyn

 

[Ms Red]

My lowest hair point was aroung April 2005, which is when I joined LHCF. I had been going to a stylist for 10 months who effectively took my healthy, APL length relaxed hair to almost EAR length by over processing with Affirm Super (my hair only needs a mild perm) and cutting. She always assured me she used a sensitive relaxer on me and lied. I ended up with bald spots 3 of them that were each about the size of a dime. I reported her and that salon to the BBB and her license was revoked.

I started transitioning in Apr. 2005 and now my hair is past SL, close to APL and natural. I cannot and will not ever go back to chemicals.

 

[InJesusName]

My lowest hair point was this past summer after a bad tree braids incident. I got microbraids around the edges and my hair STILL has not grown back in those areas. I am nearly bald. It was so disappointing, becuase I joined LHCF in June and thought I was "protective styling" with the braids and it backfired. I had to cut it in August and start over.

I am glad to say that I am now seeing length and I get comments like "it looked like you just trimmed your ends" from stylists and I never disclose to them that I haven't trimmed since August--I always just say "a few weeks ago" so they won't cut. That must mean that my ends are stronger. I am SICK of buns and baggies, but it is obviously working.


Fotki in progress

 

[CynamonKis]

Both of my lowest hair points have occured due to mishaps from stylists!

The one that drove me to this board still hurts to this day! See how my hair was in 2002 (see my Fokti)? Well this is what happened to it, and why I am now completely natural:

In 2002, I had been self-applying Bodiphier for 6 months and had no problem. Then, when I wanted to get it straighter, I thought I would have my stylist apply it, so that she could smoothe it properly and use a dryer to get it straighter.

She also thought that, since Bodiphier was supposedly a "natural" relaxer, that she could also color my hair on the same day with a demi-permanent color. THIS COMBINATION BROKE ALL OF MY HAIR OFF (also in Fokti)!

What made matters worse, she tried to tell me my hair was falling out due to "heredity", and then gave me SALERM 21 SILK PROTEIN-totally inadequate to address the problem. I then tried product after product, hair STILL falling out.

Then I found this board via an Internet search. On this board, I read about Aphogee (which stopped the breakage a little), and then I read about DRC-28 (which STOPPED THE BREAKAGE IN ITS TRACKS). Then, also on this board, I read about how carrot oil also stops breakage. So I developed a regiment which finally solved my problems (I did DRC-28 followed by carrot oil hot oil treatments, weekly).

My hair began to grow out, but the ends looked week so in Jan, 2004 I got my hair cut -- avoided a "big chop".

TO THIS DAY I credit LHCF for saving my hair & teaching me how to properly care for my hair - I really love this board and the people on it!

I have read all of your posts and, well, aren't we all glad to have found the LHCF?

Roseblack: I am glad your hair is recovering from the b/c pill & curling iron mis-hap. I heard of someone else who ruined their hair w/curling iron, they had it on the highest setting & it fried their hair.....

Navsgeda: It is so GOOD to have a DOCTOR in the house! If you ever hear of me mixing up something that seems medically unsound please PM me! I am glad to see that, in spite of your busy schedule, that you are taking time to take care of YOU. Your hair is gorgeous btw...


Carla: I had no idea that what happened to you w/the synthetic hair could happen, as I have watched many stylists use the hot comb/curlers on ladies that have synthetic extensions. Glad to see that your hair is recovering

INeedHair: I can relate to your experience! Sometimes when u want to just get them braids or extensions or weaves out you'll almost do anything to get them out!

GoLong: I see you just joined in 11/06. I am no doctor, but I do not believe you have "permanently" damaged your hair. I truly believe that with the proper regiment and care, that your hair CAN AND WILL grow past where it is now. Just find a regiment w/products that suit your hairtype and budget, and stick with it, and I believe you will have success in growing your hair!

Much Love - Cyn

 

[dlewis]

My lowest hair point was when I had to have 6 inches cut off in 2005 due to protein treatments and 5 inches in 2006 due to a bad stylist.

 

[Dee-Licious]

In March 2006, I went in for a color touchup and she seemed to bleach my entire head... had me looking like Puff Daddy's mama.

Days later my hair was a bad color, had a lot of newgrowth, and I was with my cousins who perm a lot.

After a crackhead (honest to God serisousness) outside of the gas station told me "your hair so nappy if you throw water on it, it will loc up" I let my cousin perm my hair the next day

Nuff said... I joined LHCF after being a lurker QUICKLY... I just HAD to post to get specific help for my problem. It's been GREAT ever since.

 

[CynamonKis]

ROFL! LMAO!!! LOLOLOL!!

All jokes aside, Ms. Dee, the difference between your July, 2006 and Dec, 2006 pics is DRAMATIC, keep up the good work....

After a crackhead (honest to God serisousness) outside of the gas station told me "your hair so nappy if you throw water on it, it will loc up" I let my cousin perm my hair the next day [/COLOR][/SIZE]

Nuff said... I joined LHCF after being a lurker QUICKLY... I just HAD to post to get specific help for my problem. It's been GREAT ever since.

 

[Mortons]

I always had hair that was almost APL when I got to college. I was a queen in homecoming freshman year so I decided to get a weave. It looked great and my hair had grown when I got it taken out. So I decided to get another one. My beautician got lazy this time and did some bad braiding and put wayyyyyy to many tracks in my head. When she took it out this time I was matted underneath. She let another stylist take it out of my hair and he was like 'what happened with this weave, and was shaking his head'. when I left the salon my hair was neck length. I quit going to this stylist for a while and I got braids. My hair grew back past shoulder length and I found a new hair stylist to do my hair who had good recommendations. Once again I got a weave from her for homecoming and she talked about all the split ends I had and (without asking) cut my hair back to neck length. After that I was like ok NO MORE. I joined LHFC during my Christmas break and now my hair is back to shoulder length. I now and going to let my friend (she is an assistant at a salon) help my do styles and I am debating of whether or not to go back to the hair salon I was at.

 

[Golong]

Cynamonkis,
from you mouth to Gods ears. Thanks for the motivation.

 

[malachi74]

My lowest point was last year. After being natural for almost 10 years I wanted to try a texturizer. I got it done at a really nice salon by a stylist who was supposed to be the best. The first time i went it was great, I was able to actually see the length and use less product to keep my hair looking soft and curly all day. Everything was fine until I went back for my touch up and he decided the texturizer didn't take as good as it could have and he put the relacer on the entire length of my hair and followed with coloring. Even after he rinsed my scalp was itching like crazy. When I got home my scalp was still itching so i washed my hair about 2-3 times and still no relief and I knew something had to be wrong. When I'd run my hands through my hair and look at my hand I'd have 20 short pieces of broken hair in my hand. I went back to show the stylist the damage and he told me it was b/c I was using gel in my hair. Mind you I have been using gel practically everyday and never had any problems as severe as what I was experiencing. No, he wouldn't admit that he probably overprocessed my hair . No he didn't apologize or offer suggestions on how I could possibly help to regain the strength in my hair. I realized that even though I was shelling out $100/visit for a 'professional' I was on my own. After that and it was my last visit. I decided I would never go back, ever. I ended up cutting an inch-a-week off of my hair until most of the damage was gone and then that's when I found this forum. I can see and feel the difference in the health of my hair already, just by taking some of the advice that the ladies give...and it's practically free.

 

[Mortons]

he knew he was wrong to put a color and a relaxer in on the same day. He needs his tail whooped

 

[Nanyanika]

my lowest hair point was when i texturized with Affirm i suffered dryness and breakage for years. I decide to transitioin for a while and remove damage before starting a fresh with relaxed straight hair, my hair is in the best shape now since Affirm days.

 

[GlamourGirl]

My lowest point...I don't even want to remember but this might be good therapy for me. Anyways it was about 7 years ago I think I was a sophmore in high school and my hair was pretty long. It could have been brastrap length but I didn't pay attention to it bc long hair for me was like the norm. So at my school we had to take swimming class. Well this stylist that I had started going to suggested that I get a weave or braids to "protect" my hair from the chlorine. So I did, and I took the class, and all of a sudden she dissappeared (she was a crazy heifer!) So I had to go to another stylist that knew her, and she told me my hair was breaking. My mother took the weave out of my hair and gave me a perm. Everything seemed okay until after I washed the perm out and started to comb my hair out....hair fell out in clumps. I went from probably below brastrap length hair to like barely neck length!!! It was horrific especially in high school and for someone who had a rep for having long hair. Totally devastating, but I guarantee it will NEVER happen again. Weaves, dumb stylist, and I are done!

 

[GlamourGirl]

Well, by the time I came to the board I'd already started up healthy hair practices again. Seeing everyone else doing it has helped me keep them up and not get bored. There was a time when I just didn't care about my hair. I think my lowest point was sometime back in the summer of 2005 when I got too caught up in my medical research.

http://public.fotki.com/pokazhi-mne-lyubov/pictures-of-me/p7180237.html

It just got worse from there because I continued to do this same research when the school year started so not only did I have 22 hours worth of classes each semester, I also had medical research and after classes would end, I'd have to go to the VA Hospital and spend hours in my lab, THEN come back home and study, write papers, and all other sorts of crap. Sometimes I wouldn't get home until after 12 at night, so yeah, there was basically no time to devote the TLC that my hair needed. In 2006, I got fed up with it and slowly started bringing my hair back to health after a long time of neglecting it. I am determined to keep up my regimen no matter what is going on now. In a few years after I'm a neurosurgeon, I guarantee you, I may be standing over someone's brain for hours but I will have slapped some deep conditioner on under my surgical cap and my hair will be BANGIN when I finally get around to it. Talk about a good, long deep conditioning treatment. Yes, I will definitely have a stash of haircare products in my office at the hospital.

Me: "How much longer do we have before beginning the procedure?"
Another doctor: "Um...about 15 minutes."
Me: "Alright, hold up. Let me slap some Garnier and Motions on my hair and then I'll scrub down."

Girl that is too funny!!! I feel the same way though!

 

[MonaLisa]

This is a lonnnnnnnnng time ago...another century...back in '92..
my hair was just starting to get back to past Shoulder Length through weaves.

I wore a weave to a Freaknik at the beach.. ...anyhoo..some random cat...outta nowhere...picks me up and tosses me in the ocean.

That random cat....I still curse his *(&*(*^*&^%*%^ name a decade plus later....set me back years.....

Something got in my hair from the water. I thought I rinsed and washed the weave well, but apparently I didn't. When I took the weave out a few days later....hair just started coming out.

Weeks were passing..hair was just coming out and I was crying every other day.

Hair went from past shoulder length to just past nape and it was broken and damage...more crying.

I had had enough...I said I will make this better. I started box braiding what was left on my head until it could thicken up a bit.

Then, I took my behind to a neighborhood stylist and said cut what you need to and hook it up.

And that's the story of how I got my Halle Berry that I rocked in 1992 and 1993 and I found out I could rock a short cut.

I pulled three mens that timeframe.

 

[Gryphyn]

I started joining hairboards when I realized that everyday my hair was covering my bathroom sink and floor, and eventually discovered I had a quarter-sized bald spot near my nape where almost the entire lenth of hair in that section had broken off

 

[jrae]

I'm too traumatized to discuss the details, but I'll just say: RIO!
Hair was coming out in mad clumps for weeks!

 

[GoGoChik]

I'm too traumatized to discuss the details, but I'll just say: RIO!
Hair was coming out in mad clumps for weeks!

GIRLLLL, add me to the RIO list too! I was 15 and I went from thick and healthy APL to short, broken ear length in two months because of all the breakage.