Struggling with your natural hair? Come in here.....

[hnntrr]

Having major trouble with edges!! Most of my hair is medium - coarse (mostly coarse though I think and right now in twists) however my edges (mostly around my temples and nape) are realllly fine hairs and I am still having a lot of breakage in those areas.

I am not quite sure what to do cause those areas have always been really short. I have been wetting them treating them the same as the rest of my hair but they seem to not be growing at all and are really short 1/4 an inch to 1/2.

I am not using a brush, just my fingers to smooth them down then I put my scarf over them to lay them down. This time I used eco styler to see if it helps but what should I do?

I am not used to fine hair at all, normally my relaxer would make them lay flat (I cant even think of what would happen if my whole head was fine hairs...I would be bald o.o!)

 

[MileHighDiva]

hnntrr try Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade on your edges or something similar. Your baby hair is not going to be long as the rest of your hair. The only person I know with long baby hair is Chili of TLC fame. HTH!

 

[APrayer4Hair]

I really need to dust my ends but I don't have a clue how to go about doing so. wet vs. dry? twist then clip or loose?

 

[Bublin]

I had to revisit my modified Denman brush today - I've only ever used it twice and liked it.
All the shed hair that the comb leaves behind is causing waaaay too much breakage and I keep having to trim off the split ends.
I'm a heavy shedder and really and truly if I want to see more growth I'm going to have to use the brush.
I know some on here say the brush is damaging but I don't have a choice. The other methods are no good for my very fine, spiderweb hair (I remember a poster on the forum describing their hair like this and it accurately describes mine - it's like my hair is superfine and almost meshes together). Silicones and my beloved Castor Oil are essential.

 

[Cruzankink]

Feeling demoralized: one wash and go and I've lost 2 inches of hair to single strand knotting in 24 hours.

This is made more frustrating by the fact that I don't have access to all those interesting, made for curly hair products in the states (living in Australia).

I have fine, medium density fragile hair that is currently breaking off and getting regularly caught on SSKs. I've already trimmed a year's worth of growth off, setting me back and I just don't know what to do.

I've started doing flat twist outs with bantus on the ends, but I really think I need to stop manipulating my hair-but there's not a lot of it so I'm at a loss on what daily style to do. I've added Njoy's sulfur mix to my weekly regimen but I'd love some advice. I don't think my hair likes coconut oil, not sure how to use Shea Butter and have been trying to use bentonite clay (sometimes mixed with full fat yogurt) as a shampoo every 2 weeks.

Nuttin' but white people products over here. Any recommendations?

Oh yeah, and henna is the only "ethnic" hair care readily available here. Any responses welcome.
Thanks for letting me rant.

nomadpixi I'm sorry for your setback. Unfortunately, you have already experienced what many of us on this thread have experienced: WnG is not a style that kinky girls can use regularly. I recommend low mani styles like Bantu knots, 2-strand twists, cornrows, a member on this thread reminded me of finger coils. The point is PS is what u should concentrate on. Also maintain moisture in your hair. Hair is more brittle then succumbs to breakage when it's not properly moisturized. Research ingredients that provides sustainable moisture. You may mot find the products you want try but you have a better chance of finding ingredients.

I live in the Caribbean and although there are ethnic products available, it's the cheap crap or nothing my hair loves so I order all my products on line. Research American/Australian shipping companies where you can ship products to a location in the states (in you case maybe Cali of Hawaii) then have the company ship them to Australia. When ordering online if the company does not ship directly to my location, I have them deliver to my shipping company's address in Florida. They then ship my products by boat. I usually get them w/in a week after they receive it. Because I have to ship my products, I order in bulk to save on shipping costs.

 

[DarkJoy]

I had to revisit my modified Denman brush today - I've only ever used it twice and liked it.
All the shed hair that the comb leaves behind is causing waaaay too much breakage and I keep having to trim off the split ends.
I'm a heavy shedder and really and truly if I want to see more growth I'm going to have to use the brush.
I know some on here say the brush is damaging but I don't have a choice. The other methods are no good for my very fine, spiderweb hair (I remember a poster on the forum describing their hair like this and it accurately describes mine - it's like my hair is superfine and almost meshes together). Silicones and my beloved Castor Oil are essential.

We take what we can from this site and throw away what isnt relative to us. My hair is fine like that @Bublin. Folks say here to only use wide-tooth combs BUT my hair is so fine that it requires fine-toothed combs (seamless of course--brushes break me off). Wide teeth miss the bulk of the tangles (usually only 3 or 4 hairs tangled together). On a deshedding day (1-2x a week), I go from very wide to very fine tooth combs to remove the hairs. I dont just hit it with the skinny combs straight off. that would be bad. lol

I DO understand the wide-tooth comb advise, though for thicker stranded ladies--it's to decrease matting--but my 'mats' come in the form of those 3 or 4 hairs which are too easily missed.

Same with the 'cones vs grease issue. My hair breaks with a quickness with cones! But grease keeps those fine hairs from forming SSKs. Oils aint enough.

So I hear ya! Break the 'rules'--which really are guidelines. We're all different.

PS, teas really DO help with the heavy shedding--I WAS a heavy shedder too!

 

[DarkJoy]

I hope someone sees this.

When my hair is wet, it's awesome. The curls are poppin and the conditioner looks like it's working. Once I rince it out and it dries it turns into a brillo pad. When I think my hair is moisturized it's not. What in the heck is going on?

And the breakage. I won't even go there today.

List your reggi and products *SkolarStar* so we can assist!

 

[Wildchild453]

Feeling demoralized: one wash and go and I've lost 2 inches of hair to single strand knotting in 24 hours.

I'm in that annoying in between length (not quite CBL in back, not yet chin length in front)

This is made more frustrating by the fact that I don't have access to all those interesting, made for curly hair products in the states (living in Australia) and no living relatives to suggest what they did with their hair (both Mom and Grandma's hair long, but nobody around to tell me what they did to get it that way).

I have fine, medium density fragile hair that is currently breaking off and getting regularly caught on SSKs. I've already trimmed a year's worth of growth off, setting me back and I just don't know what to do.

I've started doing flat twist outs with bantus on the ends, but I really think I need to stop manipulating my hair-but there's not a lot of it so I'm at a loss on what daily style to do. I've added Njoy's sulfur mix to my weekly regimen but I'd love some advice. I don't think my hair likes coconut oil, not sure how to use Shea Butter and have been trying to use bentonite clay (sometimes mixed with full fat yogurt) as a shampoo every 2 weeks.

Nuttin' but white people products over here. Any recommendations?

Oh yeah, and henna is the only "ethnic" hair care readily available here. Any responses welcome.
Thanks for letting me rant.

::hugs::

I hope I can help a bit. I see in your siggy that you like to wear twist outs. How often are you moisturizing them?

Products are important but I think you can make it work with what you have available to you even if it's not the commercial products targeted at kinky hair. 'White people' products can work if they're formulated for curly hair; usually I stick with conditioners.

I tend to do braidouts. I braid it one day and fluff for a couple days until it gets really old then re braid again. I don't think the flat twist outs will hurt if your hair is properly moisturized and has the proper protein balance. Try the (L)iquid (O)il (C)ream method and see if that helps.

Coconut oil can make some people's hair hard so maybe you can switch if off with another oil like olive, sweet almond, grapeseed, etc. Shea Butter can become a great sealer for you if you mix it with aloe vera juice and whatever oils you prefer. I think Naptural85 has a video on her shea butter blends and the ingredients should be easy to get used to.

Henna can be incorporated a great protein treatment. My fine medium density hair loves it. I tend to do henna glosses, which is henna powder mixed with conditioner and oil, and I alternate using it and a deep conditioner every two to three weeks.

HTH

 

[nomadpixi]

Thanks so much ladies for letting me rant. I think I was just in an emotionally aggravated mood and needed to vent. True, I'm REALLY angry that I have to cut off more hair AGAIN, but I have figured out a few things at least.
1. (Gee, why couldn't I have read this BEFORE this happened to my hair) "After hair gets past 6-8 inches, you cannot wash and go without major tangles

2. Keeping the ends from tangling on themselves lessens SSK on the ends. Have been trying bantu knot outs and they seem to work, but they are a bit time consuming (and I'm a bit concerned they cause too much manipulation).

3. Aloe juice followed by shea butter is a good moisturizer for my hair (but I need to stop being so heavy handed)

Thank HanaKuroi for the request on my behalf, I really appreciated that I may take advantage of that, I just need to figure out what works.

Thanks again Cruzankink and Wildchild453 for the ideas. I really like the idea of low-mani styles, but I'm still working out if they are costing me hair or not. I have some version of the tangle teezer and it seems to work well, I'm just concerned it may cause breakage. It certainly detangles well and easily for me though. Do bantu knot outs cause too much manipulation?

I suspect that I'm going to have to focus on growing my hair faster at this point, to make up for all the lost hair. I think I may also step up my henna schedule: henna is the only thing I can get "kinda" easily here that seems to help.

Thanks so much for all the support. It means a lot to me

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

hnntrr

Have you considered using Jamaican black castor oil on your edges to thicken them? It may help. It's thickened my edges a bit (I don't use too much of it as I don't want to wolf out, lol).

 

[Bublin]

We take what we can from this site and throw away what isnt relative to us. My hair is fine like that @Bublin. Folks say here to only use wide-tooth combs BUT my hair is so fine that it requires fine-toothed combs (seamless of course--brushes break me off). Wide teeth miss the bulk of the tangles (usually only 3 or 4 hairs tangled together). On a deshedding day (1-2x a week), I go from very wide to very fine tooth combs to remove the hairs. I dont just hit it with the skinny combs straight off. that would be bad. lol

I DO understand the wide-tooth comb advise, though for thicker stranded ladies--it's to decrease matting--but my 'mats' come in the form of those 3 or 4 hairs which are too easily missed.

Same with the 'cones vs grease issue. My hair breaks with a quickness with cones! But grease keeps those fine hairs from forming SSKs. Oils aint enough.

So I hear ya! Break the 'rules'--which really are guidelines. We're all different.

PS, teas really DO help with the heavy shedding--I WAS a heavy shedder too!

Thanks DarkJoy for your input.

I was just watching a UrbanBushBabes video again and my hair is very fine just like Cipriana's but not as coarse.
I've realised her regimen is similar to what I've been doing lately and have learned from her how to improve it even further. My hair loves oils and they are enough to moisturise and keep the hair supple.....water-based/creamy products make my strands stick together, give too much build up and increase shedding. What I will do now (in between washes) is just spray the very ends with water and seal, instead of spraying the whole length.

To save me from searching can you tell me where you fit the tea rinse in your regimen? Would that be before you dc?

 

[hnntrr]

hnntrr

Have you considered using Jamaican black castor oil on your edges to thicken them? It may help. It's thickened my edges a bit (I don't use too much of it as I don't want to wolf out, lol).

I have actually, I have seen it here and there on the forums and I actually saw some at my BSS back home and thought about getting some. I might. These edges are killin me.

 

[hnntrr]

Thanks DarkJoy for your input.

I was just watching a UrbanBushBabes video again and my hair is very fine just like Cipriana's but not as coarse.
I've realised her regimen is similar to what I've been doing lately and have learned from her how to improve it even further. My hair loves oils and they are enough to moisturise and keep the hair supple.....water-based/creamy products make my strands stick together, give too much build up and increase shedding. What I will do now (in between washes) is just spray the very ends with water and seal, instead of spraying the whole length.

To save me from searching can you tell me where you fit the tea rinse in your regimen? Would that be before you dc?

Jumping in on this ship about the tea rinsing and DCing.
I usually do a tea rinse WHILE DCing or under the DC. (So rinse with tea squeeze out excess and then put dc right on top). My hair seems to like it, it cut down shedding and breakage after two weeks. I found the tea to be really drying so putting it under the moisture DC really seamed to help. It depend son the tea though, I use Yerba Mate which is a black tea from either Peru or Brazil that has like twice the caffeine as coffee and caffeine is drying to your hair, so thats my reason but depending on the mixture you are using you may not need to. Id say determine which tea's you are using and go from there.

 

[DarkJoy]

Agree with hnntrr, Bublin. However I cant use black teas as they dry me out (as she said). I use herbal teas or herbs. My rinse is a mix of burdock root, nettle and oolong teas. Oolong makes hair cloud soft! And yep, under the DC and leave in.

Also, like you I cant do leave-ins either. I keep a mix of tea in a sprayer and spritz with that then seal. The puff is happier this way.

BTW, the rinses stopped my shed immediately. Lots of the tea-heads have experienced this miraculous instant shed-relief others take longer.

 

[faithVA]

APrayer4Hair[/USER];18118579]I really need to dust my ends but I don't have a clue how to go about doing so. wet vs. dry? twist then clip or loose?

I think you cut less when you cut on dry hair because the curl is relaxed a bit. And I think twisted is easier than loose.

I have done them all though, it just depends on how much I want to get it over with. I usually will cut it wet and loose and then twist it up, because I want to be finished with my hair But I rarely wear my hair straight so if it's uneven it's not a big deal.

 

[greenandchic]

I have actually, I have seen it here and there on the forums and I actually saw some at my BSS back home and thought about getting some. I might. These edges are killin me.

hnntrr
I would be happy as a clam if I could find JBCO at a local BSS. Sometimes I get sick of having to buy certain things online. Buy it!

 

[hnntrr]

Agree with hnntrr, Bublin. However I cant use black teas as they dry me out (as she said). I use herbal teas or herbs. My rinse is a mix of burdock root, nettle and oolong teas. Oolong makes hair cloud soft! And yep, under the DC and leave in.

Also, like you I cant do leave-ins either. I keep a mix of tea in a sprayer and spritz with that then seal. The puff is happier this way.

BTW, the rinses stopped my shed immediately. Lots of the tea-heads have experienced this miraculous instant shed-relief others take longer.

Exactly! There are sooo many tea's you can use. I use Yerba Mate, Chamomile. Nettle, Marshmallow, Burdock, Hibiscus and Green tea. Usually you can easily find a google list of what all the tea's do.

I started with Lipton Black tea and Chamomile.
The Coffee, Tea, ACV, AVJ & Ayurvedic 2013 Challenge has a lot of good information in there: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=664751

 

[Cruzankink]

UPDATE: My coconutty prepoo using Dessert Essence Coconut Con and EVCO did not disappoint. My hair was felt soft and moisturized throughout the washday process.
I have concluded that the acne I'm experiencing is from Biotin so I will decrease my dosage.
Today I will mail my hair sample to Komaza Care. Hopefully it will be good news.

@Cruzankink, Do you use any other products from them? I am looking at buying the Marshmallow Moisture Balm?

Please let me know. One of the bloggers said she used it and it worked wonderfully. I know my hair loves Marshmallow Root so I wanted to try it.

She said she didn't notice the difference necessarily in the way her hair felt but she noticed the difference in the way her hair reacted after using it several times. She said it was easier to hydrate and her curls clumped more, etc.

@faithVA I applied .5 oz. of the Marshmallow Moisture Balm on the left side of my head on wet freshly DC naked hair, then I layered my Giovanni DLI and sealed w/ EVOO. As compared to the right side, the left felt more emollient, my hair laid down better, and stayed together. I can see how the blogger noticed more curl clumpage. However, I had not noticed anymore softness on the left as compared to the right. I decided to do a bantu knot out. I have not seperated them to make them last longer but when I do I will be on alert to see if the left side maintains the curls and if its softer/more moisturized than the right.

I forgot to mention that I also have the the Organicals Curl Defining Gel. When I first used the product I loved that it was uber moisturizing w/ tons of slip. It provides a tad less hold than AIA Twisting cream but that's not a deal breaker for me. What I hated about the gel was that it flakes so I kept it in the back of my hair cabinet. This weekend I decided to use it on my bantu knots. I mixed equal parts of the gel w/ AIA TC. It felt smooth and silky going on instead of feeling like it sucks the moisture out of hair as been my experience w/ using AIA TC alone. The result of my bantu knot out is shiny well defined curls w/ no flakes. This is gonna be my styling combo from now on. Organicals Curl Defining Gel ingredients are below.

INCI: ORG Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Equisetum arvense(Horsetail) Leaf Extract, EcoCert Propanediol (Vegetable), EcoCert Hydrogenated Olea europaea (Olive Oil), EcoCert Olea europaea (Olive Oil), EcoCert Olea europaea (Olive Oil) Unsaponifiables, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Sclerotium Gum (Vegetable), KOSH Chondrus crispus (Irish Moss / Carageenan), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Esters, EcoCert Gluconolactone, EcoCert Sodium Benzoate

 

[faithVA]

DarkJoy[/USER];18120823]Agree with hnntrr, Bublin. However I cant use black teas as they dry me out (as she said). I use herbal teas or herbs. My rinse is a mix of burdock root, nettle and oolong teas. Oolong makes hair cloud soft! And yep, under the DC and leave in.

Also, like you I cant do leave-ins either. I keep a mix of tea in a sprayer and spritz with that then seal. The puff is happier this way.

BTW, the rinses stopped my shed immediately. Lots of the tea-heads have experienced this miraculous instant shed-relief others take longer.

Would you mind sharing your tea recipe? How much of each tea? How much water? Did yo ubuy the oolong online? I haven't seen it in my health food store. tia

 

[faithVA]

@faithVA I applied .5 oz. of the Marshmallow Moisture Balm on the left side of my head on wet freshly DC naked hair, then I layered my Giovanni DLI and sealed w/ EVOO. As compared to the right side, the left felt more emollient, my hair laid down better, and stayed together. I can see how the blogger noticed more curl clumpage. However, I had not noticed anymore softness on the left as compared to the right. I decided to do a bantu knot out. I have not seperated them to make them last longer but when I do I will be on alert to see if the left side maintains the curls and if its softer/more moisturized than the right.

I forgot to mention that I also have the the Organicals Curl Defining Gel. When I first used the product I loved that it was uber moisturizing w/ tons of slip. It provides a tad less hold than AIA Twisting cream but that's not a deal breaker for me. What I hated about the gel was that it flakes so I kept it in the back of my hair cabinet. This weekend I decided to use it on my bantu knots. I mixed equal parts of the gel w/ AIA TC. It felt smooth and silky going on instead of feeling like it sucks the moisture out of hair as been my experience w/ using AIA TC alone. The result of my bantu knot out is shiny well defined curls w/ no flakes. This is gonna be my styling combo from now on. Organicals Curl Defining Gel ingredients are below.

INCI: ORG Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Equisetum arvense(Horsetail) Leaf Extract, EcoCert Propanediol (Vegetable), EcoCert Hydrogenated Olea europaea (Olive Oil), EcoCert Olea europaea (Olive Oil), EcoCert Olea europaea (Olive Oil) Unsaponifiables, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Sclerotium Gum (Vegetable), KOSH Chondrus crispus (Irish Moss / Carageenan), Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Esters, EcoCert Gluconolactone, EcoCert Sodium Benzoate

Thanks for the update. I'm thinking that the marshmallow balm is something that has more long term effects vs. a single use effect, meaning that it may not feel more moisturized after a use, but it should help the hair stay more hydrated over multiple uses, if that makes sense.

I am considering the Marshmallow balm over the KCKT. Still deciding. Purchased the KCKT this weekend and trying it out. Will keep the Marshmallow balm on my wishlist for now.

Lots of gels flake. I thinking mixing it with the cream is a great idea.

 

[DarkJoy]

Good morning faithVA!

Well, I make enough for a rinse and sprayer to last the week...about a quart? Honestly, when I just need to rinse: About 2 cups of boiling hot distilled water 1 tea bag of oolong, and about 1 tsp of each herb. Steep for 15 mins. Let cool

Some ladies let it steep all night, but it was too strong for me (straw-like hair). Oils are also nice to add to make both a hot oil AND tea rinse in one step. DC on top.

The oolong is Chinese so if you have an Asian shopping area where you live it should be easy enough. Whole Foods and regular health food stores have it too.

Drinking a cup daily gives me nice hair growth spurts, btw. I just got tired of the same taste everyday so taking a break.

 

[faithVA]

Good morning faithVA!

Well, I make enough for a rinse and sprayer to last the week...about a quart? Honestly, when I just need to rinse: About 2 cups of boiling hot distilled water 1 tea bag of oolong, and about 1 tsp of each herb. Steep for 15 mins. Let cool

Some ladies let it steep all night, but it was too strong for me (straw-like hair). Oils are also nice to add to make both a hot oil AND tea rinse in one step. DC on top.

The oolong is Chinese so if you have an Asian shopping area where you live it should be easy enough. Whole Foods and regular health food stores have it too.

Drinking a cup daily gives me nice hair growth spurts, btw. I just got tired of the same taste everyday so taking a break.

Thanks I have the nettle and the burdock root. I will look for the oolong next time I am out. I will remember to not let it sit too long.

 

[Bublin]

I'm going to revisit oil rinsing. I'll use Castor Oil.

 

[DarkJoy]

I'm going to revisit oil rinsing. I'll use Castor Oil.

Oil rinsing is THE BOMB! It helps these fine hairs a lot!

OAN: My scalp is iiiitchy! Time to wash and I'm tempted to use shampoo. I just might and let the condish/tea & oil sit on it all day while I clean the house. Had great results last time. Will check back in.

 

[Bublin]

Does anyone wash and condition their hair in plaits and NOT keep undoing/redoing the plaits?

 

[faithVA]

Does anyone wash and condition their hair in plaits and NOT keep undoing/redoing the plaits?

I have seen it done on yt videos. I am also sure I have heard a few on the board say they do this. They squeeze the shampoo into the braids.

I have never done this because my hair has never been long enough. It definitely would cut down on time and manipulation.

 

[Bublin]

I have seen it done on yt videos. I am also sure I have heard a few on the board say they do this. They squeeze the shampoo into the braids.

I have never done this because my hair has never been long enough. It definitely would cut down on time and manipulation.

I thinking how I would incorporate an oil wash and rinsing out the conditioner. The constant doing and undoing would be counterproductive in reducing manipulation and tangles.
Would coating the braids be enough?

 

[faithVA]

Bublin[/USER];18125761]I thinking how I would incorporate an oil wash and rinsing out the conditioner. The constant doing and undoing would be counterproductive in reducing manipulation and tangles.
Would coating the braids be enough?

At what stage do you usually detangle?

I think it would be fine to shampoo in braids and then take down to apply the oil and conditioner. I don't think apply the oil and conditioner to the outside is sufficient. It won't give you even coverage.

If you have already detangled at this point, then you should occur a lot of additional tangles. And the manipulation at this point would be minimal.

You can also consider washing in twist, or when my hair was longer I put a barrette at top and bottom without the braid. It held my hair straight.

 

[Cruzankink]

Does anyone wash and condition their hair in plaits and NOT keep undoing/redoing the plaits?

Bublin I use 6 afro puffs instead of plats. I don't want to keep putting/removing the hair bands though. Next wash day I'll see if I can prepoo, CW and DC w/o taking out the bands.

 

[Bublin]

My hair unravels very easily so twists are pointless.
I usually only detangle after I apply the condish but next time i plan to detangle with oil and water before I wash and then put my hair in braids.

Cruzankink let us know how you get on.