Fimu
July 18th, 2020, 04:06 AM
Last summer I got diagnosed with iron deficiency but it already was going around for many more years probably. Fortunately, I'm recently recovered as I upped my ferritin levels from 18 ug/L last December to 69 ug/L this month, but this means I don't have much healthy new growth yet.
I struggle with many incomplete splits and mid-shaft splits 3 - 5 inches from the ends. Doing S&D regularly thins out my hemline too much, so I try to restrict that, yet I want to restrict trimming again until I start to see obviously improved "damage resistance" in my new growth. I'm too scissor-happy for microtrimming.
So how do you take extra care of fragile/weakened hair due to past internal imbalances in the meantime?
These are my own considerations:
* Certain tea rinses, but only if the pH is between 4 and 6.
* Investing in an Olaplex 3 bottle if my routine is settled
* Implementing more vegetable oils in my routine, like for styling and between washes. I understood that oil build-up can be removed with CO, but I have to make it work for me by letting the CO sit longer on my hair.
* I try to wear up my hair more often but I need to find more hair-friendly headbands to hide my very frizzy edges.
* if my routine is settled: mixing favorite deepco with honey if it's pH balanced (SMT isn't for my because my hair is sensitive to aloe juice)
A doubtful case is henna -- I have done full-length henna treatments three times with Nupur 9 and during those years I gained the most length, but I thought it increased the porosity due to mechanical damage and that it gives coarse hair too much of a "dry" feel, so I quit doing it since 2 years (but maybe it overlapped with my deficiency era). But perhaps I can use pure henna powder (Rajasthani) one day, but only if it's really worth the effort for coarse textured hair.
I can't let go of cones atm because they detangle better than vegetable oils on wet hair and perhaps they also provide more protection against hard & alkaline water (135 ppm, pH 8 ). I recently tried 2% ACV rinse but it didn't do much for my hair and I stay away from any very low-pH treatments.
Damage control practices I already do:
* I pre-poo my hair before every wash.
* Using fingers only for detangling and combing
* Coney conditioners for good wet detangling (I have curly hair, so wet detangling remains inevitable)
* I use protein conditioners in moderation (Silicon Mix is protein lite).
* I use distilled water for extra wetting during detangling, as final rinse after rinsing off most with shower, during styling by bowl method, in my spray bottle for refreshing.
* Protecting against the sun by wearing a light colored Buff
* trying to make time for deepco or double conditioning
My challenges are:
* Finding a balance between build-up and over-cleansing
* Reducing/delaying breakage
* Reducing tangles, but the tangles are mostly caused by (incomplete) splits
* Stiffness and rough feel on my hair between washes.
I struggle with many incomplete splits and mid-shaft splits 3 - 5 inches from the ends. Doing S&D regularly thins out my hemline too much, so I try to restrict that, yet I want to restrict trimming again until I start to see obviously improved "damage resistance" in my new growth. I'm too scissor-happy for microtrimming.
So how do you take extra care of fragile/weakened hair due to past internal imbalances in the meantime?
These are my own considerations:
* Certain tea rinses, but only if the pH is between 4 and 6.
* Investing in an Olaplex 3 bottle if my routine is settled
* Implementing more vegetable oils in my routine, like for styling and between washes. I understood that oil build-up can be removed with CO, but I have to make it work for me by letting the CO sit longer on my hair.
* I try to wear up my hair more often but I need to find more hair-friendly headbands to hide my very frizzy edges.
* if my routine is settled: mixing favorite deepco with honey if it's pH balanced (SMT isn't for my because my hair is sensitive to aloe juice)
A doubtful case is henna -- I have done full-length henna treatments three times with Nupur 9 and during those years I gained the most length, but I thought it increased the porosity due to mechanical damage and that it gives coarse hair too much of a "dry" feel, so I quit doing it since 2 years (but maybe it overlapped with my deficiency era). But perhaps I can use pure henna powder (Rajasthani) one day, but only if it's really worth the effort for coarse textured hair.
I can't let go of cones atm because they detangle better than vegetable oils on wet hair and perhaps they also provide more protection against hard & alkaline water (135 ppm, pH 8 ). I recently tried 2% ACV rinse but it didn't do much for my hair and I stay away from any very low-pH treatments.
Damage control practices I already do:
* I pre-poo my hair before every wash.
* Using fingers only for detangling and combing
* Coney conditioners for good wet detangling (I have curly hair, so wet detangling remains inevitable)
* I use protein conditioners in moderation (Silicon Mix is protein lite).
* I use distilled water for extra wetting during detangling, as final rinse after rinsing off most with shower, during styling by bowl method, in my spray bottle for refreshing.
* Protecting against the sun by wearing a light colored Buff
* trying to make time for deepco or double conditioning
My challenges are:
* Finding a balance between build-up and over-cleansing
* Reducing/delaying breakage
* Reducing tangles, but the tangles are mostly caused by (incomplete) splits
* Stiffness and rough feel on my hair between washes.