My hair got wrecked overnight...

[Ruce]

Hi everyone.

About a week ago I got a small trim to cut off a load of damage, and I was so happy to get rid of it - my hair felt so much better.

But after I last washed on Wednesday morning, I noticed my hair felt a little dry. I took no notice for the time being and just put the problem aside. But, this morning I woke up with a huge problem on my hands... my hair feels as if each one has split and has been peeled of the split part. I am really upset about this, because my hair is barely even shoulder length in some places, and I really don't want to go trimming it again so early.

Most of the damage appeared on my fringe (bangs to you Americans), where most of the damage was before the trim. The strange part is, it doesn't even look damaged, not even under light - all I can see is a few white dots on the ends, probably where some of the hairs have broken. It just feels so ridiculously dry, crunchy brittle, etc.

So, what I'm wondering is if there's possible ways to be keeping the damage from getting worse until it's a good time to trim again. I would do an SMT, as many people recommend, but I still live with my parents and am not yet old enough to go out and buy my own things, since my parents insist on doing it all... :o I have no aloe vera oil (or something like that, can't exactly remember the SMT ingredient). Anyone know where I can find that? Also, does anyone have a clue how this damage even appeared? :confused: The only thing I can think of is that I used a brush in the shower the other day to evenly spread the conditioner. It's one of those round, plastic brushes with the nubs on the end. I've been using it on my wet hair after a shower for months, and unless it's the only thing keeping my hair from being entirely healthy, nothing's gone wrong with it so far.

Thanks for your help everyone.

[TinaDenali]

Can you just do an oil treatment? Do you have any oil around the house? Olive oil? Or some people even use mayonnaise, if you have that.

You can just apply it to your ends (or all over, if you want) and let it soak in over night, then wash it in the morning. Leaving conditioner on for a bit while you're in the shower can help to 'lift' the excess oil from your hair so you're not left with a greasy mess.

Hope that helps!

[Tiina]

It might be that the trim was done with blunt scissors. This can cause damage since the ends are not cut off clean but sort of jagged/broken off. The easiest way to rectify the damage is to trim again, just a little dusting should do if the damage and splits haven't moved upwards yet.

[jojo]

It sounds as if your hair has been cut with blunt scissors, firstly dont panic try some SMT and DC and re-evaluate in a months time.

[Ruce]

The damage didn't take place until about five days after the trim so I'm not overly sure if dull scissors were the culprit. A light dusting sounds like a good idea, though.

I was thinking of an oil treatment too, I have some olive oil so that could help. I'm still relatively new to LHC and hair care and such, so sorry if I'm missing anything obvious here. =P

[Tiina]

The damage didn't take place until about five days after the trim so I'm not overly sure if dull scissors were the culprit. A light dusting sounds like a good idea, though.

I was thinking of an oil treatment too, I have some olive oil so that could help. I'm still relatively new to LHC and hair care and such, so sorry if I'm missing anything obvious here. =P

If you didn't wash (or did only a gentle wash, or washed only once) in those five days the styling products or conditioner used could have held the damage from showing.

[Gabriel]

When you got your hair cut did they wash and condition it and style it? Depending on your regular washing methods and their products you might have some buildup. Before dusting or a deep treatment try clarifying to "reset" your hair and go from there.

[spidermom]

I agree with clarifying followed by a moisture treatment. An hour soak with your regular conditioner can help, and if you have any honey, add a tablespoon of that. I whip mine together by floating a bowl in hot water, then using a whisk (or fork) to mix the honey with the conditioner. It sometimes comes out with a texture like mousse. Anyway, slather that on your hair, then apply a shower cap or wrap your head in plastic wrap, and put a wool cap over the top of that, or hit it with a hair dryer; heat helps.

It's not a good idea to brush wet hair. Using a wide-toothed comb would be much better, less damaging.

[Igor]

The damage didn't take place until about five days after the trim so I'm not overly sure if dull scissors were the culprit. A light dusting sounds like a good idea, though.

Damage after a trim with dull scissors doesn’t develop instantly. If the cuts are frayed, it will take some time for the damage to “take” and develop from the microscopic cut surfaces

[bumblebums]

It might be that the trim was done with blunt scissors. This can cause damage since the ends are not cut off clean but sort of jagged/broken off. The easiest way to rectify the damage is to trim again, just a little dusting should do if the damage and splits haven't moved upwards yet.

+1--blame your hairdresser. I would get some good haircutting scissors, if you don't have any yet, and do an urgent search+destroy on those white dots. Also, I would stop by the salon and show them their handiwork--they need to realize that their tools need to be sharpened or replaced.

[Kathie]

Clarify and do a moisture treatment. Then baby those ends. Mine always get a drop of oil every morning. Any ends poking out of my updo get some more. The oil is gone by the end of the day.

[UltraBella]

+1--blame your hairdresser. I would get some good haircutting scissors, if you don't have any yet, and do an urgent search+destroy on those white dots. Also, I would stop by the salon and show them their handiwork--they need to realize that their tools need to be sharpened or replaced.


If you don't know for sure that the damage was caused by the stylist, it would be incredibly rude to stop by and place blame.
Considering that the damage is in the same exact place the damage was before the trim, it is just as likely that the hair is damaged, dry, fragile, etc. and although you trimmed the ends, damage remains. So the new ends split as well. Dull scissors will also do this, but there are several reasons why this could be happening and you may never know why or where to appropriately place blame.
What caused the original damage in the first place ?

[Hana212]

If you want to convince your parents to buy something great for your hair.. Tell them you'd like to grow a little aloe vera plant so that in the summertime when you get sunburnt you can put it on as an after sun gel (works great) and also it can be used on cuts/heat burns and of course HAIR! it is the most natural way to use it (break off a leaf and squeeze the gel out)
They may let you grow one, then you don't have to keep on buying it and it seems sort of productive and nice in the eyes of a parent (instead of asking for a mobile phone etc.) :D

[Willow]

Are you using any kind of new hair products? A different conditioner, leave in or gel? Did you leave your regular conditioner on your hair for an extended period of time? I am asking because it sounds like protein overload. Excess protein will make your hair feel brittle, dry, and cause breakage.

On the other hand, if your hair is damaged it will usually be damaged all the way up to within inches from the roots. So even if you trim the ends, the new ends will be damaged as well. My own hair is like this. I have damaged it and I will have good ends for a little bit after a trim but they quickly go back to bad. I am currently trying to grow out the damage.

If you can't see splits or damaged hair, then it probably isn't. It's probably something you have used on your hair. Why don't you tell us what you have used on it this past week. Maybe we can figure this out for you. Also, take a shed hair and stretch it and see if it snaps right away or if it stretches. Also check to see if it returns to it's previous length or remains stretched out. Report back with results.

[KittyLost]

Use a clarifying shampoo and clarify your hair before a deep conditioning treatment. Sometimes that's all your hair needs rather than a trim.

[Allegra]

Hmm.. it sounds a bit like protein overload to me. That's exactly how my hair feels after too much (or any!) protein. If you can't actually see the splits or damage as such then perhaps this is the problem.
Also do you blow-dry/heat style? I do and I know my fringe/bangs take the brunt of this because it seems to take a lot more styling to get them to 'behave'.
Also it could be that your fringe is getting caught in your face products (cleansers/lotions etc.) and that makes it feel different and more damaged to the rest of your hair.
It could be many things actually, so just pay attention from now on and see if you can see where the damage may be occurring.

[Marjolein]

You've already gotten some great advise. I only have something to add about the SMT. In the original recipe it's conefree conditioner, honey and aloe vera gel. But if you don't have any aloe vera gel you can always just mix some honey in with your conditioner and leave it on for about 20 minutes to an hour. Works just as great :)

[rymorg2]

I'm a stylist. I can tell you the damage probably happened from the round brush in wet hair. There are specific types of brushes made to be used in wet hair and round brushes should only be used in hair that's 80-90% dry. I would definitely recommend some of the treatments you've already been suggested. I think if you stop using the brush and try some of those you'll get better results.

[bumblebums]

If you don't know for sure that the damage was caused by the stylist, it would be incredibly rude to stop by and place blame.
Considering that the damage is in the same exact place the damage was before the trim, it is just as likely that the hair is damaged, dry, fragile, etc. and although you trimmed the ends, damage remains. So the new ends split as well. Dull scissors will also do this, but there are several reasons why this could be happening and you may never know why or where to appropriately place blame.
What caused the original damage in the first place ?

Well, I wasn't suggesting she march in there and yell "J'accuse!" :)

But I have had exactly the same kind of damage from haircuts, more than once, and there is simply no other explanation for it. I learned long ago not to let anyone with a razor near my hair, or, god forbid, clippers. But I've also seen a ton of splits show up shortly after a haircut, when I am actually not prone to splits at all.
I just don't return to the salon after something like this happens. But I would think that a responsible salon would want to know if a customer experienced a problem like this. Would you rather have silent customers who don't complain and don't bring back business or someone who gives you feedback?

[UltraBella]

Well, I wasn't suggesting she march in there and yell "J'accuse!" :)

But I have had exactly the same kind of damage from haircuts, more than once, and there is simply no other explanation for it. I learned long ago not to let anyone with a razor near my hair, or, god forbid, clippers. But I've also seen a ton of splits show up shortly after a haircut, when I am actually not prone to splits at all.
I just don't return to the salon after something like this happens. But I would think that a responsible salon would want to know if a customer experienced a problem like this. Would you rather have silent customers who don't complain and don't bring back business or someone who gives you feedback?

But in this case there may be plenty of other explanations for it........ So assuming it's the salon or stylist may be incorrect.

[UltraBella]

Are you using any kind of new hair products? A different conditioner, leave in or gel? Did you leave your regular conditioner on your hair for an extended period of time? I am asking because it sounds like protein overload. Excess protein will make your hair feel brittle, dry, and cause breakage.

On the other hand, if your hair is damaged it will usually be damaged all the way up to within inches from the roots. So even if you trim the ends, the new ends will be damaged as well. My own hair is like this. I have damaged it and I will have good ends for a little bit after a trim but they quickly go back to bad. I am currently trying to grow out the damage.

If you can't see splits or damaged hair, then it probably isn't. It's probably something you have used on your hair. Why don't you tell us what you have used on it this past week. Maybe we can figure this out for you. Also, take a shed hair and stretch it and see if it snaps right away or if it stretches. Also check to see if it returns to it's previous length or remains stretched out. Report back with results.

Great advice !