my hair is getting me down

[Amour]

Ive been on my hair journey since january i think... since i found this board. Yet my hair is still jacked up... probably even worst to how it was before this board...

It's naturally DRY and i can't seem to find a moisturiser that satisfies my hair . In all fairness i think the damage began because i dyed my hair in january before finding this board. Before the dye my hair used to be 'ohh soo soft' - yes emphasis needed b/c it used to be lovely.

Now its dry, brittle, damaged, thin at the ends, puffy and the top but with hardley any growth since my relaxer nearly 3 months ago, and i don't know what to do.

I need some fundamental steps to nurse my hair back to health, forget length i need health first... i'm tempted to chop out the thin parts but them my hair would be above my ears and i think will cause me to be even more down. But was wondering whether i should relaxer it then start from there, or weave it up for a couple of months then relaxer later (however i don't think my hair likes stretching) or should i just cut of the thin bits, bit by bit.

This is what i do already... Wash, conditioner and deep condition every week. I mix up the protein and moisture treatments

i try to mimimise heat, but when i air-dry i i end up with a with crunchy, knotted, tangled mess on the top of my head which is always dry . I have eliminated using grease on my scalp b/c of mineral oil and petroleum but i'm considering going back to it as my hair is constantly DRY and creamy moisturisers don't seem to work...

i moisture every day but sometimes feel as though the moisturisers just sit on the hair making it greasy and limp yet not actually moisturing it.

anyone suggestions.... TIA

 

[Mystic]

It looks like you need to include more oils in your routine, especially castor oil. DC is great, but try not to airdry - this causes my hair to be excessively dry too - rollerset instead. Try sleeping in a baggie sometimes with castor oil / olive oil / almond oil, etc and wash the next day. This will leave your hair very soft. Try Keracare moisturizer (with jojoba) - this is the only cream moisturizer that works for me. Incorporate the oil pre-wash, wash with a moisturing shampoo, DC, leave in treatment, moisturize and rollerset with very wet hair. Do this twice per week for a month and then when your hair has improved significantly, braid it up and give it a break for a while. I wouldn't relax until the hair problem is corrected and in great shape. You would have to continue to do proper maintenance while it is in braid. I have heard great reviews about conditioner washing so you might want to try that as well - good luck!

 

[nefertitiblack]

I agree with Ivanay, braid it up and don't relax while it's still damaged. You may have to do a lot of experimenting until you can find the right moisturizers. Don't be discouraged! This hair journey takes a long time, but you can (eventually) enjoy the process. If you braid it, in six more months you will be amazed at your progress. Don't give up, look at various hair albums for inspiration. ((Hugs!))

 

[Amour]

It looks like you need to include more oils in your routine, especially castor oil. DC is great, but try not to airdry - this causes my hair to be excessively dry too - rollerset instead. Try sleeping in a baggie sometimes with castor oil / olive oil / almond oil, etc and wash the next day. This will leave your hair very soft. Try Keracare moisturizer (with jojoba) - this is the only cream moisturizer that works for me. Incorporate the oil pre-wash, wash with a moisturing shampoo, DC, leave in treatment, moisturize and rollerset with very wet hair. Do this twice per week for a month and then when your hair has improved significantly, braid it up and give it a break for a while. I wouldn't relax until the hair problem is corrected and in great shape. You would have to continue to do proper maintenance while it is in braid. I have heard great reviews about conditioner washing so you might want to try that as well - good luck!

thanks for the reply... Although my hair looks a H.A.M it seems to be quite strong dispite all the tribulations and all the rough combing it has been through i have noticed hardley any breakage.

I've got tons of oils that i hardley use that could do with using up. I have wonder 8 oil, castor oil, evoo, alma oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil... what are each of these best for i.e. i know castor oil is reowned for promoting thickness what about the rest, if anything?

im rubbish with rollersets and my hair still tends to be as dry as when i air-dry... what are the points to include to achieve a good rollerset? would you say that rollersets are better because the hair is separated so unable to knot and tangle?

thanks again

 

[Amour]

I agree with Ivanay, braid it up and don't relax while it's still damaged. You may have to do a lot of experimenting until you can find the right moisturizers. Don't be discouraged! This hair journey takes a long time, but you can (eventually) enjoy the process. If you braid it, in six more months you will be amazed at your progress. Don't give up, look at various hair albums for inspiration. ((Hugs!))

thanks so much for the encouragement ladies

 

[goldensensation]

Dont get down!

I suggest that you deep condition twice a week, and instead of doing protein every other wash, do it after every two washes.

Airdrying doesnt make my hair hard... I guess it is all about method. When I airdry, I normally do it in either a bun or a rollerset. After washing, I apply my leave, seal with oil (jamaican mango and lime), and apply Profectiv long and healthy to my ends. My hair dries pretty soft.

If you arent already, moisturize with a leave-in twice daily.

Can you make a ponytail? If you can, I suggest waiting out cutting your hair and buy the phony buns and wear it until you nurse your hair back to health. My mom did this and her hair is doing wonderful now. I say a pin on bun instead of a drawstring pony because the drawstring ponies can cause breakage because of their weight pulling on the combs.

If I think of any more tips, I'll write back. What products are you using? As far as leave-ins, shampoos and conditioners are concerned?

Oh yea, jojoba oil and honey spruce up any conditioner. I'll stop rambling now.

 

[Mystic]

I've got tons of oils that i hardley use that could do with using up. I have wonder 8 oil, castor oil, evoo, alma oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil... what are each of these best for i.e. i know castor oil is reowned for promoting thickness what about the rest, if anything?

I don't know much about wonder 8 oil but off the top of my head ( I could be wrong) I think it promotes hair growth. I believe people put it on the scalp daily. You have amla oil and not use it!!! Girl, you got the products so use it! Do a pre-wash with the amla/olive/grapeseed oils. That means, saturate your strands with these oils overnight or for a couple of hours under a plastic cap. Amla oil is an excellent pre-wash conditioner - can be used as a hot oil treatment as well. These oils can be used daily on dry hair but I get better result when I use them as hot oil treatment or as a pre-wash. These oils promote softness to the hair and combat dryness.

You can use the castor oil on days when your hair feels really dry. Depending on the type of castor oil you have, don't use too much because it can weigh your hair down (I use it excessively when I know I will wash soon and when I wear a bun). I would use the wonder oil on the scalp for growth but, I am not sure since I do not use it.

im rubbish with rollersets and my hair still tends to be as dry as when i air-dry... what are the points to include to achieve a good rollerset? would you say that rollersets are better because the hair is separated so unable to knot and tangle?[/B]

Try the recommendation above or what other ladies recommend and see if your rollersetting technique will improve from the suggestions. I am not a great rollersetter but whatever I do gives me less dry hair than if I let it airdry on it's own. I usually rub a small conditioning foam on it, ensure that the hair is very wet then rollerset with end paper. Sometimes I use very diluted setting lotion.


would you say that rollersets are better because the hair is separated so unable to knot and tangle?

For me, yes. The hair tangles less and it is not excessively dry when I rollerset.

thanks again[/QUOTE]

 

[hairmaster]

Have you tried NEXXUS HUMECTRESS, as a deep conditioner? Or REDKEN
EXTREM MOISTERIZING CONDITIONER. STOP WITH THE PROTIEN.