Hair Irritated

[Aviah]

Okay, so I'm a 3c/4a natural and I'm just tired of it. My hair gets so many single strand knots, split ends every two seconds, and is very dry.

I try to DC once a week, with protein (egg and mayonnaise mixed together) then as of recent have been rinsing with vinegar water rather than using shampoo, and DCing with Tresemme Colored hair conditioner with honey and EVOO. After washing I use ALWAYS natural leave in (creamy leave in) sometimes olive oil and shea butter (mostly on the ends). I keep getting to about shoulder length and wanting to cut it because my ends do not stay healthy for long it would seem. I do self trim but it doesn't seem to help, because I still find splits, and knots. I love my hair but its a chore sometimes.

Any advice?

 

[Aviah]

bumping...

 

[hurricane]

I dunno..try using a conditioner with humectants in it. Something very moisturizing. I use suave humectress and that aurbrey's honeysuckle rose is pretty good. Then after you put in your choice of a leave-in seal with oil and do a protective style.

A pre-poo might help too. You can do this overnight.

 

[hurricane]

Okay, so I'm a 3c/4a natural and I'm just tired of it. My hair gets so many single strand knots, split ends every two seconds, and is very dry.

I try to DC once a week, with protein (egg and mayonnaise mixed together) then as of recent have been rinsing with vinegar water rather than using shampoo, and DCing with Tresemme Colored hair conditioner with honey and EVOO. After washing I use ALWAYS natural leave in (creamy leave in) sometimes olive oil and shea butter (mostly on the ends). I keep getting to about shoulder length and wanting to cut it because my ends do not stay healthy for long it would seem. I do self trim but it doesn't seem to help, because I still find splits, and knots. I love my hair but its a chore sometimes.

Any advice?

____________________________________________________________

Maybe too much protein, plus vinegar is acidic=dryness.
May need to change products, I never liked the Always brand for some reason. Cream of nature maybe good.

 

[prettynatural]

well, i can see from your post, too much protein and silicones. I have had the same problem with dryness and split ends. I would recommend to lay off the protein condition, (eggs) I would recommend a can of coconut milk and honey with some evo to deep condition or a good non-silicone moisturizing conditioner, Nexxus humectress is good. Tresemme is okay but it is loaded with cones and it will give you slip but it will preven moisture to penetrate.

If you need to shampoo go to the organic store and try Aubrey's line, it does not have any silicones and it will clean your hair.

I would also recommend daily moisturizing, I would not use any commerical products, you can use water and seal it in with an oil.

What really help to turn my hair around and keep it moist is to sleep in processing cap. I would dampen my hair, seal it with olive or coconut oil. Go to bed and take off in the morning. My hair would be soft and moisturized for 2 days atleast. I hope this helps.

Remember it is not your hair, it is what we are putting on it to cause the problem. Natural hair needs moisture, moisture, moisture or it will be snap crackle pop!

 

[Aviah]

well, i can see from your post, too much protein and silicones. I have had the same problem with dryness and split ends. I would recommend to lay off the protein condition, (eggs) I would recommend a can of coconut milk and honey with some evo to deep condition or a good non-silicone moisturizing conditioner, Nexxus humectress is good. Tresemme is okay but it is loaded with cones and it will give you slip but it will preven moisture to penetrate.

If you need to shampoo go to the organic store and try Aubrey's line, it does not have any silicones and it will clean your hair.

I would also recommend daily moisturizing, I would not use any commerical products, you can use water and seal it in with an oil.

What really help to turn my hair around and keep it moist is to sleep in processing cap. I would dampen my hair, seal it with olive or coconut oil. Go to bed and take off in the morning. My hair would be soft and moisturized for 2 days atleast. I hope this helps.

Remember it is not your hair, it is what we are putting on it to cause the problem. Natural hair needs moisture, moisture, moisture or it will be snap crackle pop!

Hey, sorry I meant to put ALWAYS natural Instant Oil moisturizer, there's no silicones in there, and the Tresemme conditioner only has dimethicone sommewhere further down in the ingredient list... (as far as I remember)
As for using water and oil, I used to do that but eventually my hair would get dry and greasy (if that makes any sense).

As for the water and oil overnight in a processing cap, is this similar to the all-over baggy method? if so my hair ends up really wet in the morning for some reason when I try that, should I try just a little bit f water rather than making it damp?

 

[redecouvert]

have you tried qhemet products??
they're great moisturizers and feed the hair shaft.
You might also want to try final herbal rinses with rosemary, horsetail, nettle and sage
HTH

 

[msa]

Okay, so I'm a 3c/4a natural and I'm just tired of it. My hair gets so many single strand knots, split ends every two seconds, and is very dry.

I try to DC once a week, with protein (egg and mayonnaise mixed together) then as of recent have been rinsing with vinegar water rather than using shampoo, and DCing with Tresemme Colored hair conditioner with honey and EVOO. After washing I use ALWAYS natural leave in (creamy leave in) sometimes olive oil and shea butter (mostly on the ends). I keep getting to about shoulder length and wanting to cut it because my ends do not stay healthy for long it would seem. I do self trim but it doesn't seem to help, because I still find splits, and knots. I love my hair but its a chore sometimes.

Any advice?

You're using way too much protein (egg and mayo, which has egg) and not nearly enough moisture.

Stop with the protein for now. If you want an all natural DC try the caramel treatment, which I love...it's basically honey, bananas, olive oil, and black strap molasses with a bit of wheat germ oil (it has ceramides) and acv. Here's the link...I'd say use the recipe that lucky's mom posted.
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=126629

Another DC that worked great for me when I still used commercial products was Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture conditioner...I used it for an hour while working out or overnight and it was great...soft and strong hair.

You'll probably need to DC 2x a week for a while just to get your moisture back up. I don't think the doctored up tresseme is going to cut it for you.

Also, if you want something all natural to wash your hair with try a baking soda rinse (a couple tablespoons of bs to a couple cups of water). You could do a baking soda rinse, making sure you scrub your scalp while it's on, DC, and then do a diluted acv rinse to lay down the cuticle. That works really well for me. Or you could try castile soap, but make sure it's very diluted.

Do you wear protective styles? Do you keep your ends stretched (in twists, braids, etc.)? How often do you detangle?

I've found the best way to avoid knots is to detangle often so that the shed hair doesn't get tangled on my ends. And keeping my hair stretched the majority of the time helps as well, I do that by wearing bantu knot outs, twists, braids, braid outs, etc.

Hope this helps.

ETA: castor oil has been a lifesaver for my hair, especially my ends. I really feel that since it's such a thick oil it coats my hair and keeps it from knotting on itself and getting tangled up. I've seen way fewer knots after using it daily, even when I wear a shrunken fro or puff everyday.

 

[SEMO]

I think you're using too much protein (with the egg every week). Natural hair doesn't need as much protein as chemically treated hair. I also agree that you should moisturizer your hair daily and seal the moisture in with a nice oil like jojoba or coconut.

Someone mentioned not using commercial products, but that's a personal preference. I only use commercial products. I also don't only use products targeted at naturals. I use whatever works best. I have an album in my fotki with the products I use. But my #1 daily leave-in moisturizer recommendation is Africa's Best Liquid Hair Mayo. I love this stuff and it moisturizes my hair so nicely, no matter how dry I let it get sometimes. You can find it at Walmart.

 

[Aviah]

You're using way too much protein (egg and mayo, which has egg) and not nearly enough moisture.

Stop with the protein for now. If you want an all natural DC try the caramel treatment, which I love...it's basically honey, bananas, olive oil, and black strap molasses with a bit of wheat germ oil (it has ceramides) and acv. Here's the link...I'd say use the recipe that lucky's mom posted.
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=126629

Another DC that worked great for me when I still used commercial products was Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture conditioner...I used it for an hour while working out or overnight and it was great...soft and strong hair.

You'll probably need to DC 2x a week for a while just to get your moisture back up. I don't think the doctored up tresseme is going to cut it for you.

Also, if you want something all natural to wash your hair with try a baking soda rinse (a couple tablespoons of bs to a couple cups of water). You could do a baking soda rinse, making sure you scrub your scalp while it's on, DC, and then do a diluted acv rinse to lay down the cuticle. That works really well for me. Or you could try castile soap, but make sure it's very diluted.

Do you wear protective styles? Do you keep your ends stretched (in twists, braids, etc.)? How often do you detangle?

I've found the best way to avoid knots is to detangle often so that the shed hair doesn't get tangled on my ends. And keeping my hair stretched the majority of the time helps as well, I do that by wearing bantu knot outs, twists, braids, braid outs, etc.

Hope this helps.

ETA: castor oil has been a lifesaver for my hair, especially my ends. I really feel that since it's such a thick oil it coats my hair and keeps it from knotting on itself and getting tangled up. I've seen way fewer knots after using it daily, even when I wear a shrunken fro or puff everyday.

Thanks for that, I usually have my hair in a bun bu with the weather getting warmer I'm doin more WnG's. I'll usually comb once a day under the shower and add the conditioner and leave it to air dry, then deep condition on the weekends. I'm definately about to jump on the baking soda bandwagon, and that recipe sounds yummy, as does the coconut milk one by the OP

 

[lilsparkle825]

Do you wear protective styles? Do you keep your ends stretched (in twists, braids, etc.)? How often do you detangle?

I've found the best way to avoid knots is to detangle often so that the shed hair doesn't get tangled on my ends. And keeping my hair stretched the majority of the time helps as well, I do that by wearing bantu knot outs, twists, braids, braid outs, etc.

Hope this helps.

Yes, yes, yes! My ends are really pissed at me for wearing so many pony puffs and I just realized it in the past month or two. To make it up to them, I put my hair in these twists. I am coming to terms with the fact that I will have to severely limit the number of pony puffs I utilize in the future, unless I decide to texlax.

 

[msa]

Yes, yes, yes! My ends are really pissed at me for wearing so many pony puffs and I just realized it in the past month or two. To make it up to them, I put my hair in these twists. I am coming to terms with the fact that I will have to severely limit the number of pony puffs I utilize in the future, unless I decide to texlax.

Believe me, I learned the same lesson recently. Now I know it's all about balance. The thing about puffs/shrunken fro's is that those styles usually are the result of laziness for me. So it's not just the fact that I'm wearing a puff, but it's too difficult at night to twist my hair up if I have worn it out. And then I'll try to wear the same fro for like 3 days without even pretending to moisturize.

Those styles can be worn...they just have to be balanced out with other styles. I think it's necessary for me to switch it up (from fro's, to braids, to twists, etc.) so that I don't get bored and then slack on my haircare because of it.

 

[Aviah]

Awww but I love my Wng's they're so easy! Is there anyway to just put extra moisture on thr end of my hair when left out and detangle more carefully?

 

[msa]

Awww but I love my Wng's they're so easy! Is there anyway to just put extra moisture on thr end of my hair when left out and detangle more carefully?

I've found that castor oil applied to my ends anytime I plan to wear a shrunken fro/puff really helps to keep my ends moisturized and protected.

 

[loolalooh]

The best way for me to minimize single strand knots is to wear twists/braids and bun up the ends of the twists/braids. If I want to wear my hair loose, it has to be stretched via a twistout/braidout. All other options = knots for me.