STOP and please read this thread & Help!!!!

[Amerie123]

Okay, now that I got your attention, I really need your help ladies...I believe I have some shedding and breakage. Its not a handful, but its almost like EVERYTIME i grab my hair, or stroke it with some pressure, i have about 3-6 fine hairs on my hand, sometimes thick strands (both long and short strands). Even when I wash, or manipulate my hair just a little bit, hairs is coming out a little more than I'd like to see.

I know, I know that it's healthy to shed about 100 hairs per day, or whatever, but is this stuff normal? I am more concerned with what looks like the broken hairs. No, I'm not noticing any bald spots, not yet atleast. I know that my hair loves protein (yes, I'm sure, because i actually get more breakage if my hair has too much moisture, plus when I do my test strands on those hairs, they normally stretch). I've henna'd (which I did like, and I've noticed some strengthening), I've done all types of protein (joico, aphogee, nexxus), etc, and they've all worked temporarily, and as of right now, I'm using an egg to see if this works. This all started early January when I took out my sew-in, and that when i first noticed I had a moisture overload.

Stats (answers to questions i know may be asked):
-Yes, I'm relaxed
-My last relaxer was when I self-relaxed (23 JAN 09) after a 13.5 (appx 3 month) week stretch, and it didn't take at all (another story), so i still have a lot of NG
-The sew in that was in, was in for about 9 weeks
-Yes, I've been a little stressed, but that can possibly explained the "shedded" hairs, but what about the broken hairs?
-Yes, my hair is growing, I have definitely made progress since I've started my journey, but I don't want to have long scraggly-looking hair. Of course I want it healthy
-I think it can also be a possibility that i don't need to stretch that long, because my NG may be way stronger than the previously relaxed hair.

Should I get another relaxer, and trim an inch? If so, how soon?

Bottom line is, what should I do? Sorry so long, but i need as much advice as possible. i wanna keep my little progress.

TIA!!!

ETA: These are recent pics of my hair 1 wk after the relaxer that didn't take at all (started off with hair shaved in the back):

 

[luckiestdestiny]

I hope someone can help out. I'm not relaxed. Where are ya my lhcf sisters?

 

[melodies815]

bumping....too new to really help. I would love to know the answer as well, since this happened to me in 2007 and early last year and I still don't know why. As it got worse, I just DC'ed and put in twists.

I hope you get your answers...

cj

 

[SlantedEyezMiss2003]

Girl, I have the same problem....and I think it's the fact that you stretch for 13 weeks and then relaxed, and the relaxer didn't take....so now you are relaxed, but underprocess and still have mega New Growth.....what I did was, I tried not to bother my hair too much.....and wash about every two weeks, or a little longer than one week, I used shampoo though, and get a good detangler and I air dried.....I would wait until 2 months or 8 weeks to relax again......cuz even though you are underprocess you are still relaxed.....try to research some threads on products that softens your new growth....but I do feel you....and try to do protein treatments, not heavy proteins, but you could put an egg in your favorite conditioner, and let it sit for an hour(no heat) and rinse out with cold water, or you can tea rinse(brew tea like normal, let it cool down, and put it over your head, let it sit for a few mins--like 5 mins and rinse) I wouldn't bother if trimming unless your ends look real bad.....I trimmed when I was shedding like crazy some months ago, and it just set me back....so what's the point, but ONLY TRIM if your ends look bad.........I hope this helps a little......

 

[RavenMaven]

You may need either protein or a good ol moisturize. Try DCing with a protein conditioner, and then applying a nice oil like EVOO after.

 

[guyanesesista]

You maywant to try molasses. I used it when I was relaxed to stop the breakage. I worked for me better than protein. Check BHM for the thread on that. As for shedding, you wanna try a caffeine rinse. It may be that you don't need to stretch so long either.

 

[soulie]

Ease up on the protein for a bit and try moisturizing - DCs as well as daily moisturizing and sealing.

 

[Tamrin]

I have a question for you..

What relaxer did you use and how much neutralizer did you use?

Better yet, how many times did you neutralize?

In a way I agree with all the girls. You need to both protein and moisture.
Start off with a hard protein treatment. Afterwards, you can use moisturizing conditioners on your next DCs and moisturize your hair daily and as stated before seal with oil.

Look at it this way. You are now texlaxed. Moisture is key from this point on. protein treatments every six weeks.

 

[sqzbly1908]

It does sound like your new growth is stressing out the previous growth...When I stretch I have to work a little harder on my hair and change up my routine and regimen...I know many are against this but I am a big advocate of healthy ends...I am relaxed with fine hair so my hair is very susceptible to shedding and breaking...what I did to get back on track is to get a therapeutic trim (that is what I call it) - let a trusted stylist go in and get rid of all of the dead ends, then start working on rebuilding my hair. I am not big on the "oils" because my hair is so fine but I like to put coconut oil in my hair the night before I wash in the morning - I alternate between that and a protein condish rinse - shampoo (I don't co-wash) use a mixture of Kenra MC/Keraphix rinse - use Joico Liquid Reconstructor (leave in) for fine hair - then rollerset ...I do some deep protein condishes during the week as well (i.e. Megatek or Ultra Sheen Duo Tex) ...trust I know what you are going through because my day is not complete unless I am going some kind of stressful ish...

Sorry so wordy....

 

[Whimsy]

My problems are usually solved with moisture. Maybe DC like crazy for a while and don't manipulate your hair much?

 

[vkb247]

It is possible that the hair that is breaking off is damaged hair that needs to go.

Perhaps you are handling your hair too harshly and/or need to stop handling your hair so often.

Are you sleeping with your hair covered? Do you wear hats/hoodies often? If so, these things can definitely contribute to breakage.

 

[LadyPaniolo]

Ease up on the protein for a bit and try moisturizing - DCs as well as daily moisturizing and sealing.

I agree. Even though your hair likes protein, too much of a good thing can give you breakage. Give yourself a DC with some heat, and put your hair in some twists, braids or whichever protective style you prefer. Good luck.

 

[Amerie123]

You may need either protein or a good ol moisturize. Try DCing with a protein conditioner, and then applying a nice oil like EVOO after.

I have done all of that.

I have a question for you..

What relaxer did you use and how much neutralizer did you use?

Better yet, how many times did you neutralize?

In a way I agree with all the girls. You need to both protein and moisture.
Start off with a hard protein treatment. Afterwards, you can use moisturizing conditioners on your next DCs and moisturize your hair daily and as stated before seal with oil.

Look at it this way. You are now texlaxed. Moisture is key from this point on. protein treatments every six weeks.

I used silk elements, and trust me, i went CRAZY on the neutralizing. I let that stuff sit in my hair for like 5 mins, three times. I kept doing it until I felt it was neutralized and the color wasn't in the foam. So, I doubt thats it.

My problems are usually solved with moisture. Maybe DC like crazy for a while and don't manipulate your hair much?

Ease up on the protein for a bit and try moisturizing - DCs as well as daily moisturizing and sealing.

Believe it or not, my hair really doesn't like much moisture, in fact I don't need much moisture to get my hair moist. I've even tried that too, thinking that I may have been using too much protein and that too much protein may not be as good, however thats what helps the most for some strange reason. I have thick/ dense hair made up of fine hairs. And when I do the moisturizing DC, thats when even more hair breaks off. Strange, I know.

It is possible that the hair that is breaking off is damaged hair that needs to go.

Perhaps you are handling your hair too harshly and/or need to stop handling your hair so often.

Are you sleeping with your hair covered? Do you wear hats/hoodies often? If so, these things can definitely contribute to breakage.

Possibly to the bolded, but before I was growing my hair out, my hair was very strong and healthy which made me believe that those hairs shouldnt be damaged like that.
yes, I sleep with a satin scarf every night, and no to the hats and hoodies often. And I agree that i probably shouldn't handle my hair too often. I only do it now to figure out how to combat the problem.

Thank you all for your suggestions, and so far, what I've come up with (using y'alls suggestions) is this: I will do a caffeine rinse this weekend, take garlic supplements for the shed hairs, and wash only once/week still using my ayurvedic regimen for now and see how that goes. I still wont relax until maybe 6 more weeks (it's been 2 weeks already), so 8 weeks should be enough, but i cant stretch the full 12 like usual due to the fact that my last one didn't take at all, I'd have to wait next cycle to stretch that long again. U'm, I will do an egg treatment on the next wash cycle and then DC with moisture, and see what happens. And possibly try the molasses in the near future that someone suggested. How does this sound? Whew, this hair stuff.. LOL, but i still love it.

More suggestions are definitely welcome, and I promise to update you all in like 2-3 weeks and let y'all know where I'm at.

 

[vkb247]

If your hair didn't process as it usually does than this suggest you might have a porosity issue. Have you tried Roux Porosity Control?

 

[Platinum]

Amazing, I know what you're going through. Also, you may want to add 1-2 teaspoons of minced garlic to some EVOO, let this sit in your hair for about 30 minutes then DC. This should help with the shedding. What Ayurvedic products are you using? Brahmi and Maka cowashes seem to work well for me.

 

[Irresistible]

I dont have much to add

but do agree its probably from the stretching plus the relaxer that didnt take

you gotta do everything to go easy on that demarcation point and keeping your new growth soft and moist , while keeping the rest of your hair strong

maybe rub a little oils into your scalp/new growth (natural oil of course)