SPINOFF: When should you move from a low-mani/no-combing reggie

[hillytmj]

This is a spinoff to my previous thread about what causes relaxers to underprocess. I'm experiencing breakage, partially due to the underprocessed relaxers, but I'm also wondering if my low-mani/no combing reggie is leading to problems too.

I only comb on wash day, and I'm a rollersetter. Low-mani/no-combing worked fine when I was fully relaxed; now, it's harder to do this with the multiple textures in my hair (relaxed with several patches of underprocessed hair throughout). I think the tangles from the underprocessed hair + the low-mani/no combing = more tangles and breakage for me.

Before doing a corrective (my last resort), I'm wanting to know if I should let go of my low-mani/no combing reggie. Has anyone started with this reggie and returned to combing with no damage?

I'm hesitant because I had poor retention and lots of splits before I stopped combing daily and moisturizing/sealing my ends. I'm not sure if the elimination of splits is due to both of these factors or moreso due to the low-mani/no combing reggie.

Please Help!

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

I think low-mani is one of those things that isn't for everyone. Some people do fine only combing once a week, and others need to comb at least once a day, or else they get really bad tangles and snarls. That said, when dealing with multiple textures, I've always thought that low manipulation was better, because it reduced breakage at the demarcation line(s). Like, when I get to a certain point in my stretch, I just have to put down the comb, because it stops being an option for me. That's really interesting that it's not working out for you.

But anyway, I think you should listen to your hair. Low-mani is all well and good, but if it's actually damaging your hair, then maybe combing will be best. As long as you comb properly, gently, and not too often, I think it'll be okay.

Also, as far as the improvement to your ends, that's probably more because of moisturizing and sealing than anything else. I think even if you go back to combing, but you maintain your moisture/sealing routine for your ends, (or maybe even step it up, because of the added manipulation) you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[msa]

I don't see any problem with combing as long as you're using a high quality comb (seamless) and you're doing it gently.

You should start back combing but keep up with your regimen. Healthy hair should be able to handle it.

 

[hillytmj]

I think low-mani is one of those things that isn't for everyone. Some people do fine only combing once a week, and others need to comb at least once a day, or else they get really bad tangles and snarls. That said, when dealing with multiple textures, I've always thought that low manipulation was better, because it reduced breakage at the demarcation line(s). Like, when I get to a certain point in my stretch, I just have to put down the comb, because it stops being an option for me. That's really interesting that it's not working out for you.

But anyway, I think you should listen to your hair. Low-mani is all well and good, but if it's actually damaging your hair, then maybe combing will be best. As long as you comb properly, gently, and not too often, I think it'll be okay.

Also, as far as the improvement to your ends, that's probably more because of moisturizing and sealing than anything else. I think even if you go back to combing, but you maintain your moisture/sealing routine for your ends, (or maybe even step it up, because of the added manipulation) you shouldn't have any problems.

Interesting...I never realized that could make such a difference. I'm ready to pull out the comb again.

 

[hillytmj]

Bumping...bumping

 

[HoneyA]

I'm still lo-mani but I've now switched to combing 3x a week, making sure I detangle and remove the shed hair regularly and gently. Combing 1x every 2-3, 4 weeks causes me to lose a lot of hair when I retouch. It is probably only shed hair that hasn't been allowed to come out fully because I don't comb but it's too much for me to handle psychologically and it might be causing some damage since that's when the hair is most fragile. Until I started a lo-mani regimen, I never had that much hair come out at retouch. So now I comb a few times a week. I'll see how it goes at next retouch and see if it makes a difference.

In the end, I think you are going to have to do a little experimenting and see if combing a bit more will help solve your specific problems. Try combing in small sections and from the bottom of the hair up and do it very gently. I've been doing that and I don't get any breakage and my ends are doing fine. If lo-mani isn't working for you, switch it up before you get more damage.