Hair length and bad breakage

[fairystar32]

Hi
I am still suffering with bad breakage and have posted comparison shots at the end of this post
I have tried oiling, although I do forgot from one week to the next, changing shampoo/conditioners, washing 1 x a week, 1 x a fourtnight, 2 x a week etc.. to almost every other day and nothing works, tried protein treatments.
Most make my hair soft, but everytime I run my fingers down there is always breakage in my fingertips :(
Its becomming noticable in my hair now as you can see below.
I did have a few inches cut off in August and havent had a trim since and my hair is back at waist but I took a picture last night and when I brushed it the bathroom floor was full of broken hair :(
I used no poo and vinegar last night as a trial but hasnt done much for my hair and in the comparison pictures my hair has only just dried and is wavy where the other picture its straight so it doesnt look as silky and full in the new picture anyway, but I think the new growth looks terrible at the ends?
I am really reluctant to go have a load more cut off, as it will happen again so i need to address the issue, so need help and I will follow advice.

The hairdresser has made a few suggestions so what do you think

1/ need more frequent small hair cuts as I do suffer with splits always have done, but despite that my hair has always been thick and shiny.

2/ The change from the UK to here in Australia with the water/humidity etc... may now need products, as I am a no product girl and more leave it be?

3/ I am still breastfeeding and she knows a few others who complain their hair has gone awful and should recover after he has weaned?
It hasnt been great since I got pregnant where i started with breakage in small amounts but it is now much worse and never really recovered.

4/ I am not suited to this length, as I am not carful enough, I am rough and clumsy with my hair and dont baby it but never needed too before....and with 4 kids find it hard to have time to be. I wear it down all the time or throw it up in a bobble if its hot and often catch it...

any ideas?

comparison shots

NOW

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r61/fairystar267/nov20104.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r61/fairystar267/nov2010.jpg

COMPARISON IN AUGUST
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r61/fairystar267/IMG_0866cropsignature.jpg

AFTER THE TRIM IN AUGUST
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r61/fairystar267/5thaugust2010-1.jpg

[sunshine80]

I might not be of much help because honestly... I think your hair looks so pretty!!!

[fairystar32]

Thank you xxxxx
Hugs to you xx

I feel so sad at the moment, that helps to hear xxx
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[Madora]

What kind of hair tools do you use?

Do you blowdry?

Use hot rollers?

To keep hair from tangles and further damage, it's best to wear it up.

[chopandchange]

I think it's most likely to be numbers 3 and 4 that are causing it.

Do you know how to do any buns? There are some that are very quick to do and would be better (and look nicer) than just throwing it up in a bobble like you say. Even if you just did a cinnabun (a simple round twisty one) and then covered it with a hairnet, it would be more protected.

Editing to add: if it's the so-called post-partum shed, then it's unlikely to be breakage and more likely to be shedding. Take a look at the hairs that are coming out. Is it just a broken-off, snapped part of the hair, or is the whole hair shedding and coming out at the root? If it's coming out at the root, you will see that funny little blob at the end and that will tell you that it's shedding, not breaking off.

[fairystar32]

Hi
Nope nothing
Dont blow dry, used to in the UK and my hair was much thicker, shinnier and bouncy but dont bother here as its warm. Dont use any styling products or heat rpoducts of any kind.
Rarely brush use my fingers. I have tried to be more careful but I hate it up :(

[enfys]

When did you move in relation to when all this started? That could most certainly be a factor.

I may be wrong, but I don't see how breastfeeding could cause breakage? Since it's nearer the ends, it suggests a problem that's older or a handling issue. Shedding yes, breakage I don't get.

If you want to thickne your hemline back up I suggest regular microtrims if you are prone to splits.

Also you are at the length many people have to start wearing their hair up or really looking at handling because the ends are years old. Mind you, your hair seems to grow quite fast so they may not be all that old!

Sorry this seems really disjointed. I don't know why I can't form paragraphs anymore!

I love your tattoos!

[fairystar32]

Will have to check out the buns tutorials, as will probably be wearning it up now we are heading to summer time, I guess anyway... as usually hate it up but it gets too warm here :)

[fairystar32]

Thanks
Yes my hair seems to grow fast... I never thought it did, until I compared the shots from the trim in August to now!

I guess its maybe the length and the fact with length comes more care and responsibility I guess.
We moved just over 18 mths ago and my hair was funny ever since we moved and I put it down to the water change and the fact we had just come from ice into the boiling summer :)

My friend in the UK is a hairdresser and looked after my hair during my pregnancy and commented it had gone terrible, dry and splitting far more and I started suffering with minor breakage then but this has now become noticable and increased over the last several months really.
She also told me it was the pregnancy?

[Shellby]

I think it looks very pretty. I love your tattoos! I am leaning toward environment and wearing it down all the time. I have taken to wearing mine up a lot more now that it is at this length. Microtrims may be a good idea to keep the breakage at bay.

Hugs to you and congratulations on the baby!

[fairystar32]

Its breakage :(

little tiny bits from a few cms to 2-3 " in length...
I think it's most likely to be numbers 3 and 4 that are causing it.


Editing to add: if it's the so-called post-partum shed, then it's unlikely to be breakage and more likely to be shedding. Take a look at the hairs that are coming out. Is it just a broken-off, snapped part of the hair, or is the whole hair shedding and coming out at the root? If it's coming out at the root, you will see that funny little blob at the end and that will tell you that it's shedding, not breaking off.

[fairystar32]

thanks :)
I am at the hairdressers in 2 weeks as my daughter TRYING to talk me into temporary foils to match hers in blue/black for xmas time!!!!

so will get a trim then and maybe book in for more... how often for micro trims? or is it possible for me to do them so I dont have to keep paying out for the hairdresser? ... or is the hairdresser a better choice ??

[enfys]

I don't see how pregnancy would cause breakage? As in, grown hair is dead cells. Health/hormones can't affect them, only new growth and the actual roots. Unless during your pregnancy you changed your habits such as not doing deep treatments when you had before, something like that.

Try wearing it up as a priority. Did you try moisturising as well as protein treatments? Some people find their hair hates protein and it dries their hair right out.

[enfys]

thanks :)
I am at the hairdressers in 2 weeks as my daughter TRYING to talk me into temporary foils to match hers in blue/black for xmas time!!!!

so will get a trim then and maybe book in for more... how often for micro trims? or is it possible for me to do them so I dont have to keep paying out for the hairdresser? ... or is the hairdresser a better choice ??

http://community.livejournal.com/feyeselftrim

There's how to do it yourself.

If you want to keep growing, don't trim off more than a months growth at a time, obviously. My hair grows at the average 1/2" a month so in a similar situation I would trim a quater inch; half my growth. Many people here self trim but make sure you use sharp scissors that have only ever been used for hair. Blunt scissors can cause splits.

If your hair is this fragile I would suggest not dying it incase it worsens the situation.

[fairystar32]

Thank you xxxx
I usually henna, so I guess that the only thing I have changed as I dont want to do whole heads whilst I was pregnant and now still breastfeeding. I have applied streaks, 3 times of henna but it was too hard and putting my lenght through a streaks cap caused damage so I havent done it for months now.

My hair does love henna and goes really soft and is great straight afterwards for ages...

[fairystar32]

I have scissors from the supermarket from the beauty section in a packet, but they are hair scissors and have only been used for my sons fringe and S&D are they ok?
xx

[jojo]

I think your hair is really pretty and your routine appears brilliant apart from the wearing it down. I find at this length my hair breaks more and wearing it up has made the world of a difference to this.

How is your diet? are you eating enough protein and getting a balanced diet? and sleep how is your sleep pattern are you up a lot with the baby? drinking enough? just a few things which may need looking at. normally things like stress, poor diet, sleep etc take 3 months to show on your hair.

But all the same your hair is very pretty.

[christine1989]

Your hair is so pretty! The ends look pretty healthy to me. My only advice would be to wear mostly updos and tuck the ends in. I have tried coconut and castor oil to moisturize my ends and they both work really well. My guess would be that the breakage is due to dryness.

[fairystar32]

thanks so much
It is coated in coconut oil since last night and I think I went over boards as its still greasy with it but I guess that will protect it. i am trying to search for simple up dos now so if anyone has a link?

My diet is OK, I eat chicken, plenty of berries and bananas, yoghurt, cereal, tinned salmon..
I try to eat salad too but I dont sleep very much..
DS still nurses through the night although lately its only 2 or 3 times but I was getting very little sleep, could that cause it too??

I have been very tired for a long time now due to this.

[nytquill]

I have a cousin who developped cavities in all four wisdom teeth during her last pregnancy after years of perfect dental health. She was told that pregnancy really saps the body of minerals and such and if you don't get enough for both you and the baby then the baby will take whatever you might otherwise need for yourself, and your own body will suffer.

I have to wonder if in addition to hormones there might have been some kind of malnutrition issue while you were pregnant that caused your hair to be weaker or more prone to shedding?

Other than that I would say it's something environmental. It does sound like your hair is dryer and more brittle. One thing to consider is if it's windier in your new home or if you're near the sea? Up until a year ago I lived in a town that was right on the water and very windy and at the time I didn't realize that putting hair up was good for the hair. I left it down all the time in the wind and the salt air and the humidity in summer and dryness in winter and it was in pretty bad shape.

Sometimes protein can make hair brittle and more likely to snap off instead of gently bend. Sometimes not enough protein can make hair weak and prone to break. You might want to try a protein treatment or if you regularly do protein or have it in your hair products maybe try using less and doing a moisture treatment instead. The moisture treatment might help you anyway regardless of any protein issues :)

[Kathie]

I also think that the pregnancy will not cause your hair to break at the ends... The hair on the ends is years old and was not directly affected by your internal body state over the last few months.
You mentioned protein treatments, have you tried moisture treatments? Too much protein can cause breakage. Coconut oil is great for some... it made my ends crunchy. Everyone’s hair is different... its just worth noting that coconut oil may or may not work. There are other oils worth trying if this ends up being the case.

[fairystar32]

are there any home made moisture treatments you recommend?
thank you xx

[enfys]

I have scissors from the supermarket from the beauty section in a packet, but they are hair scissors and have only been used for my sons fringe and S&D are they ok?
xx

They sound like they tick all the boxes :agree:

ETA: SMT is my favouurite moisture treatment; I'll find the link now.
ETA2:http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=128 I use the original quantities and ingredients.

[Kathie]

Here is an excellent article...

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

Its worth reading the entire thing, but if you scroll down there is a section titled rehabilitating damaged hair that could be helpful... It also includes links to some of the well known/used moisture treatments including SMT.

[danacc]

Your hair is lovely! If you posted the pictures without saying you were having problems with breakage, I would not have known it.

The last few centimeters of your hair are old. They spent all this time growing down to your waist. It is usually difficult to prevent all breakage with hair this old/long. Putting it up will definitely help minimize any mechanical damage that could be building up over time to eventually result in breakage.

You mentioned that you have 4 kids. While your baby has nothing to do with breakage at the ends of your long hair, your previous pregnancies and nursing (if you nursed your older kids, too) may be having an effect. Cut yourself some slack. You have your hands full, right now! As important as hair is to all of us here on the forum, your family is more important than your hair. Do your best to get extra nutrients, liquid, and rest to keep the hair you are growing now as healthy as it can be, but don't sweat it if it's not perfect.

[fairystar32]

thanks so much for all your help, I have it all saved and pages saved :)
I have some clarifying shampoo I have never used, so will start with that...
xxxx

[fairystar32]

thank you xxxx:heart:
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Your hair is lovely! If you posted the pictures without saying you were having problems with breakage, I would not have known it.

The last few centimeters of your hair are old. They spent all this time growing down to your waist. It is usually difficult to prevent all breakage with hair this old/long. Putting it up will definitely help minimize any mechanical damage that could be building up over time to eventually result in breakage.

You mentioned that you have 4 kids. While your baby has nothing to do with breakage at the ends of your long hair, your previous pregnancies and nursing (if you nursed your older kids, too) may be having an effect. Cut yourself some slack. You have your hands full, right now! As important as hair is to all of us here on the forum, your family is more important than your hair. Do your best to get extra nutrients, liquid, and rest to keep the hair you are growing now as healthy as it can be, but don't sweat it if it's not perfect.

[vanity_acefake]

I love your tattoo. :)

[fairystar32]

thanks......... its a whole back piece hidden by my hair :)

[jojo]

thanks so much
It is coated in coconut oil since last night and I think I went over boards as its still greasy with it but I guess that will protect it. i am trying to search for simple up dos now so if anyone has a link?

My diet is OK, I eat chicken, plenty of berries and bananas, yoghurt, cereal, tinned salmon..
I try to eat salad too but I dont sleep very much..
DS still nurses through the night although lately its only 2 or 3 times but I was getting very little sleep, could that cause it too??

I have been very tired for a long time now due to this.
growing hair i suppose is like growing a plant, it needs food, water and rest. If I dont get enough sleep it affects everything, though my hair is the last place it shows. At least your diet is good, but are you eating enough if your nursing a baby make sure you get extra calories which im sure you know. sounds like dryness to the ends a SMT a few times a week will sort that out, ive just done one forgot just how lovely they make myhair feel!

[fairystar32]

Well
I used the clarifying shampoo and it didnt feel that bad afterwards, was alittle tangled but didnt feel stringy or fragile or crunchy really...

I am now sat here with the moisture treatment on, my conditioner which has no nasties but from the salon is a moisture one so used that with the honey (kids have lost the aloe grrrrrr)

so will leave it on for a hour or two and retake pictures, when it dries, to see if it looks shiny at all!!

[fairystar32]

I will be glad when I can re- henna a full head, as that makes my hair so soft and lovely and maybe its what my hair needs?