Wow. Breakage... first time in over a year

[LadyRaider]

I have had little bits of hair all over my shirt for the last two days. I haven't had breakage since I found Ateyaaa in February 2009.

I had a bone straight flat ironing last week. The hair did smoke a bit, but the stylist said it was from the gunk in my hair ( It was clean, but I loaded it down with every anti-frizz, anti-humidity product I could get my hands on.)

I washed and conditioned it since then... I used some REdken's curly because I'm STILL trying to get a twist out to look cute. And then I co-washed with some DC... heck I don't even remember. (I'm a pj... I have a lot.)

I didn't use my aphogee 2 minute that I've used a lot since the beginning (good ol' Ateyaaa.)

I hate to wash again because I braided my hair and was hoping to keep it braided for more than a day to see if I could finally get a decent braid out.


Anyway... do you think it's in need of a protein treatment? It's weird because I have had ZERO breakage since I started on my hhj. I have flat ironed occasionally, but I guess not that bone straight. (I had been puffing up and asked the stylist to do her darndest.)

Any quick fixes you can recommend?

 

[Fine 4s]

Hmmm....I'd incorporate my 2mn protein again for sure.
What type of clothing did you wear? Certain materials encourage breakage especially when the ends rub agains the material (cotton, wool etc. being the worse). Can you pin your hair up? I'd kill it with moisture for a couple of weeks, PS and then do a hard core protein or you can do the 2 mn one first and if that doesn't help do a regular hard core every 6-8 weeks or so. Go hard for a couple of weeks and be cute later. Only two weeks. No too bad.
Drink lots of water and eat your protein as well.
Do you Roux?

I wanted to add that it is very possible that the stylist applied too much heat to your hair (they're good for that). Are your strands fine? You have thick hair but each strand itself is it normal, coarse or fine?

 

[LadyRaider]

Thanks Fine 4s. I think my hair is either fine or medium. I think you are right. I'm going to give up my braids from last night and re-wash and do an Aphogee 2-min. I can keep it braided up I think for two weeks, too. I think.

I haven't done hard core protein because I'm way too chicken for that.

 

[NIN4eva]

I'm a fine mostly 4b with some 4a and my hair does that after I flat iron with too much heat, or too often. A few days to a week later the breakage starts. I did this a few months back and it took me 2+ months to get my thickness back. Now when I flat iron I use lowest settings - no higher than 4 - on my flat iron (it has heat settings 1-25), then I roller set. No bone straight for this girl...

I would do an aphogee 2-step protein treatment, then use the aphogee balancing moisture conditioner, then use whatever strictly moisturizing (no protein) serious DC you have. Air dry and protective style and be as gentile with you hair as much as possible until you see things turn around.

 

[LadyRaider]

Thanks for the info, Nin4eva. I have been flat ironing off and on, but not like I did Sunday before last. Shoot.

 

[NIN4eva]

Thanks for the info, Nin4eva. I have been flat ironing off and on, but not like I did Sunday before last. Shoot.

Yeah, it's tricky. Because after the ironing your hair looks fabulous and it takes about a week before things start going south, and then you're like wth? It can be difficult to make the connection if you think you've done everything right.

 

[LadyRaider]

Well I had come to the conclusion that my hair was indestructible. Guess not.

I am a pj but I do have my old trusties. I washed with kenra moisturizing, the did apogee 2 minute, then I've got kenra moisturizing conditioner under a plastic cap now.

Hopefully this stops fast! Most of the broken pieces look straight, so if I have to lose hair, I would prefer it be relaxed ends.

Thanks so much. You all helped settle my panic.

 

[bimtheduck]

OP as soon as I switched from weekly treatments with Aphogee2min to Joico kpak I started getting breakage.