Two Weeks Later: My Edges are Gone from Temple to Temple. What now?

[MissJ]

I posted two weeks ago about some cornrows I had gotten. I took them out this weekend, and I thought I had a heck of a lot of shedding for them just being in for 2 weeks. As I took them out, I noticed long strands of hair with bulbs on the ends of them. The end result was the my hairline was gone from temple to temple (one side worse than the other), and then a little futher back there's a bald spot where the other corn rows started.


I am quite shocked that this would happen since I went to a licensed beautician, plus I never had this done before, didn't know what to expect. I've never had a hair problem since I've been here and was even advised by board members that I shouldn't take advice from this part of the board since my hair was already thriving before I got here. (That's why most of my posts are in off topic). Now, I have a real hair problem and need help solving it. This sucks! Oh yeah, and it's hard out there for a natural.

 

[LunadeMiel]

I'm sorry this happened to you. Your braids were probably too tight. I always make sure to tell the braiders not to braid my hair, especailly my edges too tightly.

 

[LynnieB]

I posted two weeks ago about some cornrows I had gotten. I took them out this weekend, and I thought I had a heck of a lot of shedding for them just being in for 2 weeks. As I took them out, I noticed long strands of hair with bulbs on the ends of them. The end result was the my hairline was gone from temple to temple (one side worse than the other), and then a little futher back there's a bald spot where the other corn rows started.
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=161359

I am quite shocked that this would happen since I went to a licensed beautician, plus I never had this done before, didn't know what to expect. I've never had a hair problem since I've been here and was even advised that I shouldn't take advice from this part of the board since my hair was already thriving before I got her. (That's why most of my posts are in off topic). Now, I have a real hair problem and need help solving it. This sucks! Oh yeah, and it's hard out there for a natural.

they give driver's licenses to teenagers too, doesn't necessarily mean they are the best drivers erplexed

@the bolded.............and who told you this?

sorry to hear about your your hair. there not much you can do at this point except baby it, baby it and then baby it some more until you start getting growth.

you don't mention how your hair feels otherwise, does it feel dry or weak?

 

[remnant]

I feel sorry for you lady
Did the braids were tigh on those areas?
IMHO you should:
- massage your temple with castor oil mixed with EO (rosemary or pepper mint)twice a day or every night
- try boundless tresses or Ors liquid product for bald spots and temples(will search the name)

 

[Te'TahHead]

Hello.

I am empathizing with you a great deal because I know how it feels to lose hair in that region. Also, I sympathize with you because it is going to be a LONG process in growing out that hair. Due to the sensitivity of the scalp around that region, the scalp can suffer damage that will probably take no less than a year to recover.

About 4 years ago, I was blowing drying the Holy Proteins out of my hair and doing it very rough. Here, I blow dried the hair right from my scalp at the same area. It took me three years to fully grow it back, but, I still feel pain in the area when I apply some sort of manipulation (brushing, applying oil, etc).

What helped me was bi-daily massages, WGO, sulfur 8, and not applying a relaxer to that portion AT ALL! I am sorry that I don't know more about you (ie. hair type, relaxed, etc.) and my post may not be of much assitance.

 

[MissJ]

they give driver's licenses to teenagers too, doesn't necessarily mean they are the best drivers erplexed

@the bolded.............and who told you this?

sorry to hear about your your hair. there not much you can do at this point except baby it, baby it and then baby it some more until you start getting growth.

you don't mention how your hair feels otherwise, does it feel dry or weak?

Well, when I first came to the board yearssss ago, I use to try stuff where my hair ended up in a tangled mess or something like that. Then people just said that I should continue doing what I had been doing before I got here. My hair was close to brastap length at the time.

My hair is dry, since it's not been washed in weeks, but it's not weak. It's just that the edges are gone. I didn't even think it was that tight, but I guess I know now.

soun, that sounds like a good idea. I don't have any of those products yet. I have some MN that I bought last year and never used. I've been using that for the past 3 days, don't know how well it will work. I'll try the things you suggested if I can find them in a store.

 

[ronakajones]

Try ORS Temple Balm

 

[WhipEffectz1]

Sorry about this. My nape is currently rebounding from damage I sustained from I don't know where. Its coming along fine with the proper moisture, sealing, and switching the style up on my scarf at bedtime. hth!

 

[cocoberry10]

I'm sorry this happened to you. Your braids were probably too tight. I always make sure to tell the braiders not to braid my hair, especailly my edges too tightly.

I agree with this. Just use some growth serum (like MTG) and baby that area. Also, see a dermatologist to make sure there isn't permanent damage.

 

[MissJ]

Hello.

I am empathizing with you a great deal because I know how it feels to lose hair in that region. Also, I sympathize with you because it is going to be a LONG process in growing out that hair. Due to the sensitivity of the scalp around that region, the scalp can suffer damage that will probably take no less than a year to recover.

About 4 years ago, I was blowing drying the Holy Proteins out of my hair and doing it very rough. Here, I blow dried the hair right from my scalp at the same area. It took me three years to fully grow it back, but, I still feel pain in the area when I apply some sort of manipulation (brushing, applying oil, etc).

What helped me was bi-daily massages, WGO, sulfur 8, and not applying a relaxer to that portion AT ALL! I am sorry that I don't know more about you (ie. hair type, relaxed, etc.) and my post may not be of much assitance.

My avatar says that I'm natural 4a/b. I figured it would take a long time for the hair to grow back, since it's not broken and came from the root. I try not to massage the area, because the fine hairs that are left will end up on my fingers. Thanks.

ronakajones, I looked for that in a couple stores yesterday, but I don't think they sell it here.

 

[remnant]

FERTILIZING SERUM

 

[LynnieB]

geez. my daughter posted last week about whether her braids were too tight or not. you could actually see the bumps beginning to rise on her scalp. what bothered me was that she said she felt nothing, they didn't hurt, her skin didn't hurt, no headache so i believe you when you say they didn't feel that tight..................dang.

hopefully your hair will start filling in quickly!

oh yea, before i forget it again..........if you tie your hair up at night, watch how tightly you tie your scarf!!

 

[DeepBluSea]

I'm sorry to hear that MissJ. There was a grow your hairline challenge started a couple of weeks ago. There maybe some other tip in that thread.

 

[EMJazzy]

I experienced the same thing...I'm still trying to get my edges back.

 

[remnant]

I experienced the same thing...I'm still trying to get my edges back.

Me too!!!

 

[Serenity_Peace]

Try ORS Temple Balm

I second that emotion!!! ! All my life, I've had thinned edges and ORS has brought them back full. Since you are natural, you should have far greater success. I would cease getting those tight cornrows. It takes at least 2 weeks to see results but it works!!!

 

[InnerSoul]

the only thinning edges that I experienced were from relaxer misuse... Jamaican Black Castor oil filled my hairline in quite nicely. Sorry to hear the braid woman braided your hairline to tighterplexed.

I am glad the woman that just put the kinky twist in my hair didn't do it tight around the edges at all! otherwise I would be in the same boat I have heard to many horror stories about this... braid stylists should know better.

 

[chocolatesis]

I'm sorry this has happened to you. This has really become a big problem in our community. I'm starting to see really young (pre-adolescent) girls with bald edges!!! I don't understand why these braiders are doing this, I mean braiding even the fine hair on the edges. I tell everyone I know not to let anyone braid their hair tight, but I wish there was a way to really get the word out, especially to parents and teenagers.

It just makes me so mad that these braiders can be so irresponsible. IMO, braiding someone's edges so tight that the follicles come out is just as irresponsible as a stylist leaving a relaxer on too long.

 

[Te'TahHead]

My avatar says that I'm natural 4a/b. I figured it would take a long time for the hair to grow back, since it's not broken and came from the root. I try not to massage the area, because the fine hairs that are left will end up on my fingers. Thanks.

ronakajones, I looked for that in a couple stores yesterday, but I don't think they sell it here.

Oh, ok, well sorry.

 

[HoneyA]

I can only imagine how you feel. That's a horrible thing to happen. And just after 2 weeks??? I used to braid before as well and I had a little trick I used to make sure I still had my hairline. For the first three rows on each side, I'd take my index finger and hold the top or the braid being plaited down onto my scalp and put pressure in the opposite direction. When it's finished the front of my hair never felt tight and I still felt my features were intact. Some braiders just can't plait loosely I've found so I got rid of the ones with an iron fist.

 

[gabulldawg]

From looking at your pictures it didn't really look like the braids were too tight. That's the weird thing... This does worry me, though since I currently have cornrows in. I was going to keep them in for two weeks, but now maybe I need to reconsider that.

I, too, agree that it's important to SPEAK UP to your stylist and ask them not to braid your braids too tight. I actually did that this last time and, while it was still tight (in my opinion), it wasn't as tight as it could have been. I have definitely had braids that were too tight in the past, so I know how it looks and feels.

As for not taking advice from this section of the board, it's what YOU do to your hair that helps or hinders your hair. Everyone on this board simply give suggestions and testify about things that have worked for THEM. Some may work for you, some may not. The hair journey is really about careful trial and error. But please don't blame others for any hair setbacks that you have experienced. I think that there actually is currently a post about this very topic or something similar.

 

[LunadeMiel]

I'm sorry this has happened to you. This has really become a big problem in our community. I'm starting to see really young (pre-adolescent) girls with bald edges!!! I don't understand why these braiders are doing this, I mean braiding even the fine hair on the edges. I tell everyone I know not to let anyone braid their hair tight, but I wish there was a way to really get the word out, especially to parents and teenagers.

It just makes me so mad that these braiders can be so irresponsible. IMO, braiding someone's edges so tight that the follicles come out is just as irresponsible as a stylist leaving a relaxer on too long.

I've seen this too. I'm always careful about how they braid that area because my edges grow out into my forhead...erplexed. The last time I got my hair braided the braider braided my sideburns...(yes they are long enough to braid..._

 

[BeautifulFlower]

Hello.
...About 4 years ago, I was blowing drying the Holy Proteins out of my hair and doing it very rough...

LOL

 

[Healthb4Length]

Miss J,

so sorry that you're experiencing this! As op stated it seems like your braids were too tight. THis is what's confusing to me, some times when I get my hair braided, while the braider is doing my hair my scalp does not feel tight at all. It only starts to feel tight hours after they have finished braiding. That's why we all have to be so careful with the braids. I started to notice my hairline thinning a bit on one side and I figured that maybe the products that I wash my face with was the cause. Now that I think back I did have a afro mohawk over the summer and I do remember bumps around my hairline...but it didn't feel all that tight when she was braiding my hair. It's just one of those things we have to be mindful of. I've been massaging that area (it's still tender at time) a few times a week and it really seems to be helping.

I think you should continue to massage very gently and be mindful of your facial products getting up in that delicate area.

 

[cocoberry10]

the only thinning edges that I experienced were from relaxer misuse... Jamaican Black Castor oil filled my hairline in quite nicely. Sorry to hear the braid woman braided your hairline to tighterplexed.

I am glad the woman that just put the kinky twist in my hair didn't do it tight around the edges at all! otherwise I would be in the same boat I have heard to many horror stories about this... braid stylists should know better.

I agree with the castor oil. I have never used Jamaican Black Castor Oil, but I use regular castor oil, and it does the job nicely

 

[Jetblackhair]

Hi Miss J,
I'm sorry this happened to you especially since the cornrows were supposed to be a healthy choice for your hair. I think the combination of the style and the tightness of the braids were the major culprit. Even though the cornrows don't look tight around your edges, I think the style of the cornrows going straight back caused tension. It's kinda like wearing a ponytail in the same area day after day, it just may stress the hair even though it's not tight. Do you know what I mean?

For you cornrows going down the sides of your edges are probably better than going straight back or maybe even individual braids. Did your hair come out in any other area besides your edges?

 

[InJesusName]

I feel your pain sista. I had cornrows, and I am still trying to get my edges to grow back. All I can say is baby them and be patient. They will grow back eventually. Sorry this happened to you. I just don't get braids of any kind anymore.

 

[girlyprincess23]

I posted two weeks ago about some cornrows I had gotten. I took them out this weekend, and I thought I had a heck of a lot of shedding for them just being in for 2 weeks. As I took them out, I noticed long strands of hair with bulbs on the ends of them. The end result was the my hairline was gone from temple to temple (one side worse than the other), and then a little futher back there's a bald spot where the other corn rows started.
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=161359

I am quite shocked that this would happen since I went to a licensed beautician, plus I never had this done before, didn't know what to expect. I've never had a hair problem since I've been here and was even advised that I shouldn't take advice from this part of the board since my hair was already thriving before I got here. (That's why most of my posts are in off topic). Now, I have a real hair problem and need help solving it. This sucks! Oh yeah, and it's hard out there for a natural.

Im sooo sorry. this is why i had to stop with the braids and texlax my natural hair. My hair was thinning everywhere and my edges, luckily they never balded, but they were ALWAYS shorter than the rest of my hair...ridiculous shoulder length hair and pinky nail length edges on one side!! anyhoo that's why I had to leave those briads alone. but to help you i had excellect results with i believe it was profectiv's temple balm. also so did my nephew's fiancee. i think (according to the website) it's called growth and healing, it's the one with the girl with some flat twists on the top. come to think of it when i finish using up all this stuff i have in here if that one piece is still shorter than the rest im going to get some more.

 

[MissJ]

As for not taking advice from this section of the board, it's what YOU do to your hair that helps or hinders your hair. Everyone on this board simply give suggestions and testify about things that have worked for THEM. Some may work for you, some may not. The hair journey is really about careful trial and error. But please don't blame others for any hair setbacks that you have experienced. I think that there actually is currently a post about this very topic or something similar.

I didn't say anything, because I didn't think they were too tight. That was my first time getting those, anyway.

I'm not blaming anyone. When I posted about something and someone said that I didn't need to follow suggestions from this board, that was 3 years ago, and I was relaxed and had had long hair all my life. I really didn't need advice from this part of the board. I just said that to state the fact that out of my over 4 years as a member, this is the first time I've had a hair problem.

Yes, there is a thread about people causing their own setbacks, but what you don't understand is that my hair is natural. There are several threads about this, as well. I get tired of cutting knots and tangles out of my hair, weekly. That in itself is a major setback. I went the braids route so that my hair would be in a protective style, and I wouldn't have to touch it, i.e. cause knots and tangles that I would have to cut.

I asked about what I should do about the loss of hair, not a psychoanalysis. I've had worse stuff happen to me, and I know my hair will grow back. When I was in 4th grade, my hair came out so badly that the whole top of my head was bald and from what I'm told was as white as snow. My mom would cry when she did my hair, because my hair was always falling out. Turns out I had some type of fungus, and after weekly visits to the doctor and prescription medication my hair grew back (don't remember how long it took).

Also, I remember once my ex-boyfriend thought my hair would look better if he took some clippers to the edges. It looked horrible sort of like it does now but worse. I was sad for like that whole night, and we went out and bought a scarf for me to wear to a wedding the next day. Then I wore my Georgia cap the next week until Fall Break. My edges filled in within 2-3 weeks. I'm sure it should take longer this time, since the root came out with it, but I have faith that my hair will grow back. I just wanted some help on how to grow it back.

 

[MissJ]

Hi Miss J,
I'm sorry this happened to you especially since the cornrows were supposed to be a healthy choice for your hair. I think the combination of the style and the tightness of the braids were the major culprit. Even though the cornrows don't look tight around your edges, I think the style of the cornrows going straight back caused tension. It's kinda like wearing a ponytail in the same area day after day, it just may stress the hair even though it's not tight. Do you know what I mean?

For you cornrows going down the sides of your edges are probably better than going straight back or maybe even individual braids. Did your hair come out in any other area besides your edges?

Maybe it was the style used. I don't know, and I don't think I'll be getting braids ever again. It did come out in other places. I know that specifically the second row behind the front part of the hair caused my hair to come out, too. That's where I got the bald spot. I didn't notice it until my ex pointed it out to me.