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bakertwins2004
July 19th, 2009, 10:20 AM
I was looking close at my ends and I have the dreaded white dots on a LOT of them. I should have know I would have them from how I treated my hair before I came here. I am still sad looking at them.

Should I S&D them or leave them along to break? Which is worse in the long run. I don't wanna trim just yet. I can't bear to lose any of my growth yet. So what is the least I can get by with ya think? :confused:

neon-dream
July 19th, 2009, 10:40 AM
If I was you, I'd simply dust. That way you're hardly losing any length and if it's only white dots they should go away :flowers:

swanns
July 19th, 2009, 10:43 AM
Hey, at least your hair is light so they don't show that well, I have them on pretty much ever other hair on my head :p My mission is to gradually S&D them into oblivion, care to join me? And while you still have them, just put your hair up so they won't bother you too much :)

By the way, what are the dots exactly? I know they'll turn into splits, but, what are they?

bakertwins2004
July 19th, 2009, 10:53 AM
I am with ya. I am not sure what they are other than a weak spot that is a about to snap.

Cherry_Sprinkle
July 19th, 2009, 10:56 AM
I would trim them off, you don't want them to break cause breakage is bad and it can lead to splits. So I'd S&D :)

bakertwins2004
July 19th, 2009, 11:00 AM
so do I dust or S&D?

swanns
July 19th, 2009, 11:05 AM
so do I dust or S&D?

Are they only on your very ends? If so, I think dusting would be most effective. I've got a lot of snapped, shorter hairs that have either already split or have those dots on them, in which case S&D is more effective (or so I like to think) because dusting only affects the longest strands.

bakertwins2004
July 19th, 2009, 11:25 AM
yeah I think I may do both. Most of them are on the very ends. But some are higher up. I will do a combo I think. I am gonna very very sparing with the ends tho. I don't wanna lose my little growth I have. LOL

Honestwitness
July 19th, 2009, 11:30 AM
A white dot is the same thing as a split end, only it's in the middle of the hair shaft. See the photos in this excellent article:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=79

danacc
July 19th, 2009, 11:34 AM
A close-up of a white dot (Trichorrhexis nodosa), courtesy of P&G Hair Care Research Center (http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_74.htm):

http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_74/hair_twh_74_03.jpg

plainjanegirl
July 19th, 2009, 11:52 AM
I leave mine alone and they have not gotten any worse or cause hair to break.
Mine are probably from when I used to flat iron my hair.

Seraphina
July 24th, 2009, 04:15 AM
I have the whole white-dots plague going on too.I sympathise :/.

ktani
July 24th, 2009, 06:03 AM
A white dot is actually breakage that can but not always, result in a split end. I still get a few white dots but they do not result in split ends (I have found them between long times between s&ds and they have not resulted in split ends) and I used to get split ends, with no white dots on them.

"Trichorrhexis nodosa is a defect in the hair shaft characterized by thickening or weak points (nodes) that cause the hair to break off easily.... The hair actually grows but is broken before it can become long. .... the defect often appears at the ends of the hair shaft with splitting of the ends, thinning and whitish discoloration. .... This condition is self-limiting. Improvements in grooming techniques and in environmental conditions will correct the abnormality." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichorrhexis_nodosa)

"Definition of Trichorrhexis nodosa:
Trichorrhexis nodosa is a problem in which thickened or weak points (nodes) along the hair shaft cause your hair to break off easily. .... Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Your genes may play a role in whether or not you develop trichorrhexis nodosa. Certain things you do to your hair -- such as blow-drying, over-brushing, perming, or excessive chemical use -- appear to trigger the condition. In some cases, trichorrhexis nodosa may be caused be an underlying disorder such as hypothyroidism, argininosuccinicaciduria, Menkes' kinky hair syndrome, Netherton syndrome ...." (http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/001449.htm)

Tap Dancer
July 24th, 2009, 06:08 AM
I try to snip damaged ends (dots or splits) as I find them. I think it's better for your hair than leaving them alone.

Monsterkitti
July 24th, 2009, 06:40 AM
I lost my many white dots during my last trim but they are already sneaking back in :( I try to S&D when I remember to keep them down to a minimum :)

Aunteater
July 24th, 2009, 07:01 AM
A close-up of a white dot (Trichorrhexis nodosa), courtesy of P&G Hair Care Research Center (http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_74.htm):

http://www.pg.com/science/haircare/hair_twh_74/hair_twh_74_03.jpg
>gasp!< That's horrible! :scared:

Sheltie_Momma
July 24th, 2009, 07:40 AM
>gasp!< That's horrible! :scared:

I know, this is not my favorite picture!!! I mean, it is informative, but so sad because I have so many of these and they look so ugly up close. Sad that I did it to myself. I know it is from flat ironing. I have this one section that I must have really fried up, it is about a quarter of an inch in circumference and runs along the back, underneath, it is lighter than all the rest of my hair and has splits, dots, and breakage all up and down.