Help!!! My hair is gummy and tangly

[FallingDarkness]

So there's this section of my hair that is lighter than the rest. Idk why. it's just like 4 inches right on the left side of my face. Lately that section of hair has become gummy in texture and easily tangled. It's very unsightly and the problem is too high up for me to just wanna hack it off. Is there any fix for this? or at least an explanation? I would hate for my hair to be damaged beyond repair.

Thank you all.

If you need pics I'll be happy to oblige.

[blackgothicdoll]

Could it be build up? What have you been doing with your hair lately?

[akurah]

What is your hair's history? Virgin? Dyed? Etc

[Servana]

Do you use heat on your hair? Do you bleach/dye it? Those are the usual explanations.

I would recommend doing some protein treatments. For now try doing one once a week until it gets better. And moisturise a lot after you do the treatments, because they can make your hair even more dry and tangly, but they help build your hair back up and get rid of the gummy texture.

[MusicalSpoons]

Sun damage, maybe, perhaps from driving? I used to get much more of a tan on one side of my face when I used to drive a lot in summer :grin:

[FallingDarkness]

Virgin hair. Might be because I've been in Florida for a while when I normally reside in Oregon. I was every 3 days just WC. Haven't been keeping up with deep conditions lately. It's been lighter there since summer so I probably have some mild sun damage. But it wasn't problematic before now.

[FallingDarkness]

I do not use heat on it though. I had to use a blow dryer the other day but I used low heat and a heat protectant. I try to take good care of my hair :(

[Corvana]

Gummy usually means you need more protein, so a protein mask or something should help?

[FallingDarkness]

I've never used a protein mask - any recommendations?

[Obsidian]

Gummy as in actually soft and stretchy or gummy like gunky and sticky?

[FallingDarkness]

Uh maybe more of the soft and stretchy type of gummy.

[Obsidian]

That is definitely the kind that needs protein then. Do you have a Sally's near by? The two step protein treatment by aphogee is a really good one.
Stretchy hair is usually a sign of severe damage like over bleaching. Did anything get spilled or applied to your hair by accident?

[Reyn127]

I'd agree, sounds like a protein treatment might be the way to go. A lot of regular stores (like drugstore/ grocery/ etc.), sell single-use packets of hair treatments sometimes, so if there's no Sally's or whatever, you could try there. Something that says "protein" on the label/description should put you in the right direction. You should notice fairly immediately after the treatment if it has helped.

[blackgothicdoll]

Yeah and in addition to what's mentioned above, you can get it from over-moisturizing. Maybe it's an area that you don't rinse out your conditioner from all of the way? Many conditioners are ok to leave in, but I think for other hair types they may not be, and if you use a super moisturizing conditioner than that could have happened over time.

Be very careful with the two-step treatment. It makes your hair hard before you rinse it out; do not touch your hair while it's hard like that or it can break in that state.

[Jo Ann]

I would try a clarifying shampoo (Suave's Daily Clarifying Shampoo is a good one--and it's cheap!) followed by a DT first. If the problem is still there after you do this, then I would try a protein treatment. It does seem strange that you'd have a "gummy" hair problem just on one small section, though--sounds like something might have gotten spilled on it, maybe?

[MusicalSpoons]

Gummy - in need of protein - bleaching is what made me think of sun damage, especially if one has been driving at the same times most days; the sun will be at a similar angle each time so the same bit of hair gets it. Or sitting in the same place in a sunny room at the same time each day? (I only say this again to explain my reasoning in case you discounted it too soon, not to be annoying!) If it's not that, though, it sounds very odd. Surely you'd notice if something had been spilled on it!

[lapushka]

I would try a clarifying shampoo (Suave's Daily Clarifying Shampoo is a good one--and it's cheap!) followed by a DT first. If the problem is still there after you do this, then I would try a protein treatment. It does seem strange that you'd have a "gummy" hair problem just on one small section, though--sounds like something might have gotten spilled on it, maybe?

Seconding this. Sound advice. Clarify first then see what happens. I hope you didn't experiment with something, OP?

[FallingDarkness]

Protein saved my hair!!! Thanks guys. <3

[Cate36]

Protein saved my hair!!! Thanks guys. <3

Great news! Thanks for the update!

[lapushka]

Protein saved my hair!!! Thanks guys. <3

Awesome! :)

[Vacurlylady]

Protein saved my hair!!! Thanks guys. <3

I ❤️ A happy ending!

[Corvana]

Protein saved my hair!!! Thanks guys. <3

Oh good!! I'm glad there was a happy ending! Thanks for the update!