Firefly
March 23rd, 2013, 09:49 AM
Hi Guys,
My hair has had this strange problem the last few weeks and I'm hoping to get some feedback. It's mostly just the last 4-6 inches.
Symptoms: feels very soft and is shiny, but at the same time tangle-y and dry looking. The hair doesn't seem to lay together-- these last 4-6 inches appear almost frayed, as if they repel each other. I don't think it's static (but looks similar); I don't have splits or damage (my hair is virgin). I did the wet stretch test, and I don't know about percentage of stress :p It sorta went stretch-stretch-snap.
My routine: I S&C every 4-5 days. I never shampoo the length unless I'm clarifying. I rotate products but haven't introduced anything new. I have a few low protein conditioners but normally avoid protein as it tends to give me the crunchies. In dry weather aloe or glycerin can make my hair look dry so I tend to avoid those when the weather is arid. Some of my products are no cone, some have cones; my hair doesn't seem to have a preference. It's very hard to find a heavy no protein, no glycerin or aloe conditioner! But again, these are all products that have worked fairly well for me in the past. I oil very lightly with coconut oil at night. About once a week I do a heavier oiling as a DT. I wear my hair down about 1/2 the time; otherwise it's up in some sort of hairstick bun. I'm always careful about mechanical damage but again, there doesn't seem to be damage anyway-- I don't think that's the issue.
What I've tried: Last week, an all day DT with Dabur Vatika Oil. No change. Yesterday I clarified with Neutrogena's Clarifying Shampoo and used a heavy conditioner afterward, leaving it on for about 10 mins. Well, my hair is worse! Same problem, only magnified.
I just don't know because as I said above, the hair itself is healthy, virgin hair. It *feels* great. It just looks awful. I'm wondering if it's protein overload-- that even that small amount is making my hair unhappy. My only other thought is that I could have moisture overload. My hair does feel very mushy when wet. So confusing. :(
So, I'm not sure what my next step should be. My plan is to do an ACV rinse after my next shampoo and then condition as normal. If that doesn't work, I'll try doing a small trim. Beyond that, I'm not sure what to do. I'm afraid to do a protein treatment in case it makes it worse-- as I said, normally, my hair doesn't like protein, but may I do need to do a treatment? Is this just my hair texture changing as I age? (Just one or two grays so far, so I don't think so).
Anyway, would really appreciate any thoughts or feedback about this. I'm at my wit's end!
My hair has had this strange problem the last few weeks and I'm hoping to get some feedback. It's mostly just the last 4-6 inches.
Symptoms: feels very soft and is shiny, but at the same time tangle-y and dry looking. The hair doesn't seem to lay together-- these last 4-6 inches appear almost frayed, as if they repel each other. I don't think it's static (but looks similar); I don't have splits or damage (my hair is virgin). I did the wet stretch test, and I don't know about percentage of stress :p It sorta went stretch-stretch-snap.
My routine: I S&C every 4-5 days. I never shampoo the length unless I'm clarifying. I rotate products but haven't introduced anything new. I have a few low protein conditioners but normally avoid protein as it tends to give me the crunchies. In dry weather aloe or glycerin can make my hair look dry so I tend to avoid those when the weather is arid. Some of my products are no cone, some have cones; my hair doesn't seem to have a preference. It's very hard to find a heavy no protein, no glycerin or aloe conditioner! But again, these are all products that have worked fairly well for me in the past. I oil very lightly with coconut oil at night. About once a week I do a heavier oiling as a DT. I wear my hair down about 1/2 the time; otherwise it's up in some sort of hairstick bun. I'm always careful about mechanical damage but again, there doesn't seem to be damage anyway-- I don't think that's the issue.
What I've tried: Last week, an all day DT with Dabur Vatika Oil. No change. Yesterday I clarified with Neutrogena's Clarifying Shampoo and used a heavy conditioner afterward, leaving it on for about 10 mins. Well, my hair is worse! Same problem, only magnified.
I just don't know because as I said above, the hair itself is healthy, virgin hair. It *feels* great. It just looks awful. I'm wondering if it's protein overload-- that even that small amount is making my hair unhappy. My only other thought is that I could have moisture overload. My hair does feel very mushy when wet. So confusing. :(
So, I'm not sure what my next step should be. My plan is to do an ACV rinse after my next shampoo and then condition as normal. If that doesn't work, I'll try doing a small trim. Beyond that, I'm not sure what to do. I'm afraid to do a protein treatment in case it makes it worse-- as I said, normally, my hair doesn't like protein, but may I do need to do a treatment? Is this just my hair texture changing as I age? (Just one or two grays so far, so I don't think so).
Anyway, would really appreciate any thoughts or feedback about this. I'm at my wit's end!