Long Hair Build Up

[BFrmWtby]

I apologize in advance for signing up to a forum to ask for help and advice but I'm in dire need of it. :o And in my lurking of the forum prior to signing up, this looks like a spot where people know what they're talking about. :p

I have build up.. really really really bad. I don't know how I got it. I don't know if it's from hair spray I use or if it's from conditioner and shampoo. I will admit, because of my laziness I use alot of conditioner.... for the knots ya know, lol. I don't know how it got in there but I have it streaking all the way down my hair strands. I don't feel it.. I mean it doesn't weigh my hair down or anything, but it just looks gross and when you rub your finger down the hair strand, you can feel the bumps. It's so disgusting. I have tried certain methods and nothing is working. I've soaked parts in apple cider vinegar, used baking soda, I have bought Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo which is what I'm using now. In the past I used Redkun Clarifying Shampoo and I'll be honest, I do not remember if it worked or not, I thought it did, but I don't know if I just told myself that trying to be hopeful and self convincing.. lol I don't know and I'm afraid to spend another 20 some odd dollars again to find out.

I want to get a hair cut but I'm embarrassed to tell the hair dresser about this. I found out about this build up the last time I went to get a trim in one of those 'mall spots' and the girl told me I had lice. I was so mortified! And there is no way I could go to some Salon now looking like this, and try to explain myself, and them just look at me like a dirty person. So what I have been doing is just cutting the parts out. Bad move I know. But it's like it doesn't die, just multiplies. You can only see the build up when my hair is wet. They are just little white dots along the hair strands in this one area and I swear, it seems, when I separate my hair into pig tails, the build up is only on the left side. :(

All I ask is for any remedies anybody here can offer. I am willing to do anything! And from the bottom of my heart I appreciate ANY advice, no matter how crazy it sounds, or how difficult it's going to be. I don't know, maybe any Clarifying Shampoos that are known to work.. just any help, I'd truly appreciate! It's just so disgusting. And I am too mortified to ask someone in person. Thank the Lord, for forums, huh? Lol. :p Thank you though, really!!

[Mesmerise]

First off, it's not dirty to have hair lice. Hair lice actually prefer clean hair! However, I must admit I was mortified when a hairdresser wouldn't cut my daughter's hair because she said she had lice (she didn't actually have lice, she had the dead eggs...but no living lice... I needed to take her to another salon and explain the situation).

Sooo... it's possible you have had lice and what you've got on your hair are the empty eggs. These can stick like glue and are very hard to remove! My daughter has had empty eggs on her hair literally for months after an outbreak of lice (which seems to go through the school all the time). To get rid of them you need some conditioner and a lice comb, and you need to comb very carefully through your hair, and eventually they'll all be gone.

However, if it actually IS buildup and not eggs, then something like the Joico K-pac chelating shampoo may do the trick. I find that it easily removes any buildup from my hair.

Just be sure you know what it actually is you're trying to remove!

[BFrmWtby]

Yeah that's what happened to me too, she said she wouldn't cut it, but another lady came over and said she didn't think it was lice so I'm assuming it's not. And it's mostly toward the bottom of my hair. Nit eggs and such stay toward the top, right? The other hair dresser had told me because it was mainly under my pony tail line, that it's probably not lice and she said she had them before too and she stood there trying to see it they 'pop' and they didn't. That's why I'm assuming it's build up.


I'm going to buy that shampoo tomorrow and see what happens, thank you so much!!!

[sibiryachka]

You might find this article helpful:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=194

Also, as far as a clarifying shampoo, I find that good old classic Prell does a great job. Good luck!

[aenflex]

Wow don't cut the pieces off anymore, I think you know that. Lice can be banished and build up removed.

If it's lice, get you some Rid or other lice killing shampoo. Henna also supposedly kills lice. But I recommend the Rid for starters. Also need to treat your bedding and towels and such. Banish the lice, share your routine with us here, and you will get some excellent hair care advise.

[spidermom]

If it's lice nits, they'll come off a lot easier if you soak your hair in vinegar. My doctor told me that even full-strength vinegar wouldn't hurt hair, and it didn't seem to. Anyway, you stuff your length into a bowl or saucepan of vinegar for awhile - 5 or 10 minutes, then comb through your hair section by section with an extra fine-toothed comb. They sell special nit combs for this.

Just keep this in mind if other methods fail to remove the bumps. Buildup is usually pretty easy to remove. Two or three washings with a clarifying shampoo should do it. Therefore, I don't think it's buildup. It could be mineral deposits. Do you have hard water? In that case, the chelating shampoo should do it. I'd expect that hair stylists would recognize mineral buildup in a hard water area, however.

[Intransigentia]

Do you use a flat iron on your hair? Too much of that can cause not only split ends, but cause the hair to split higher up in the length. It looks like little white dots and feels rough. Here's a LJ post with a microscope photo of what I mean: http://community.livejournal.com/longhair/3005651.html?thread=41082067#t41082067

[Firefox7275]

Welcome! :) Is the clarifying shampoo you have making any difference at all? If not it doesn't make sense to me to assume that build-up is the issue. If you take a hair with white dots and pull at each end does it break at one of the white dots? If so that is damage. Bumps can also be 'bubble hair' from heat styling, do you use a flat iron?

If you are willing to do anything it would be worth treating yourself for lice just to be on the safe side. Plenty of adults catch lice from contact with children, someone visiting their household or where they stayed on holiday. Half my family are teachers so you can imagine how much of my childhood was spent with stinky chemicals in my hair! :p As others have said lice prefer a clean environment just like any other creature.

Whether you have build up or lice or what, I agree with Aenflex to give all your towels and bedding a super thorough wash as you may just be transferring stuff back and forth. Not saying you are not already doing that, but I find my pillowcases don't come clean first wash if I've used a lot of product or an overnight conditioning treatment.

[BFrmWtby]

Thank you guys so much!! Thanks for that article and all other suggestions! All are on my list. I only tried to use apple cider vinegar, but I'll try regular vinegar too, thanks!

No I never use a flat iron. No hard water either. And I haven't tried to see if it breaks at the white dots, but I have pulled a strand out of my hair by the root the other night and I rubbed my finger down it and it felt fine, up until the middle it was bumpy and than it was fine again the rest of the way down. And these white dots are all along the same area in my hair. They are across from each other like. Uh, I don't know, lol. I appreciate the help so much, thank you guys!

[sibiryachka]

Thank you guys so much!! Thanks for that article and all other suggestions! All are on my list. I only tried to use apple cider vinegar, but I'll try regular vinegar too, thanks!

No I never use a flat iron. No hard water either. And I haven't tried to see if it breaks at the white dots, but I have pulled a strand out of my hair by the root the other night and I rubbed my finger down it and it felt fine, up until the middle it was bumpy and than it was fine again the rest of the way down. And these white dots are all along the same area in my hair. They are across from each other like. Uh, I don't know, lol. I appreciate the help so much, thank you guys!

This may be a clue - without seeing it, I can't be sure, but that sounds like it could be mechanical damage/breakage. Does the white-dot-heavy area correspond to where you usually put a ponytail holder or barrette? I ask because I myself have a "layer":rolleyes: that came from wearing my hair in a ponytail fastened with a French clip to work most days (probably at least 60% of the time) for years. It's ridiculous how long it took me to figure out that those French clips were the culprit.

[Schmoomunitions]

I was thinking the Joico K chelating shampoo also, if it is bad buildup.

[Schmoomunitions]

Or could you have seborrheic dermatitis? That gives you white chunks too. There are prescription shampoos for it. Look on google for pictures.

[NotInPortland]

Thank you guys so much!! Thanks for that article and all other suggestions! All are on my list. I only tried to use apple cider vinegar, but I'll try regular vinegar too, thanks!

No I never use a flat iron. No hard water either. And I haven't tried to see if it breaks at the white dots, but I have pulled a strand out of my hair by the root the other night and I rubbed my finger down it and it felt fine, up until the middle it was bumpy and than it was fine again the rest of the way down. And these white dots are all along the same area in my hair. They are across from each other like. Uh, I don't know, lol. I appreciate the help so much, thank you guys!

Sounds like mechanical damage from putting in a ponytail perhaps? Do you regularly put your hair into a ponytail in the same spot?

[BFrmWtby]

^ Yes guys. :o

I did what Firefox7275 suggested. I started pulling some strands out by the root and I pulled the hair apart, and what do ya know it'd snap right at the white dot, lol. So is that it than, damage? Is the only solution for that a haircut?

I did buy the Joico K Chelating Shampoo. I purchased it online, so it should arrive tomorrow.. just in case and I'll try that. Thank you all for suggesting it!

And I did soak my hair in white vinegar, it didn't work, but after I got out of the shower and brushed my hair, it felt so soft! Lol, that's not bad is it? :p

Yes like you Sibiryachka, I wear my hair up to work too.. I do everyday though. :( Hmm, oh no, lol.

Thank you to all that posted in here, thank you soo much! :) I appreciate all this help!

[Cinnamoon]

It probably is damage. If you put your hair in a ponytail at roughly the same place every day, damage is very likely. If there's a lot of them, you will have to cut to get rid of them. They won't go away.

If you're worried about what a hairdresser might think, you could try using a self-trim method just to get them off, and then going in to get a nice shape on that.

[Firefox7275]

If the hair snaps at the white dot then that is damage that you cannot repair, this article by Nightshade (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=79) explains it well. It is your call whether you cut or not, if you think the good hair is getting caught/ tangled on the damage you might be best to cut some off. If you do cut you might try a hairdresser that knows the difference between lice and damage!!

You are not the only person who has damaged their hair from ponytailing and hairspray: I can't find any white dots or splits, just lots of shorter hairs at the back and temples. :( I'm also guilty of brushing when wet and twirling my hair obsessively, both of which have caused yet more damage. I chose to cut the velcro ends off and try to get the short hairs to grow back with some TLC. After a few weeks my hair is a little happier! :D

There are loads of things you can try that don't take any more time or effort. First thing to do is change your work hairstyle so you aren't stressing the same spot over and over again - perhaps a beak clips for messy buns and loose twists? You might buy a silk or satin pillowcase, switch your brush for a wide tooth comb, try a sulphate-free shampoo or conditioner-only washing. Also work out why most of your damage is on one side, for me it was because I always pull over to the right when I am twirling my hair.

[may1em]

It sounds like mechanical damage from a ponytail to me, too.

Some things that can help:
1. Use the gentlest hair ties you can. Sometimes the metal bits or bits of glue holding the elastics together cause the damage. Cut up a pair of old pantyhose into 6 inch sections and use those.
2. Move your ponytail around from time to time. One day wear it low, another day wear it higher. If it's long enough to braid or peacock twist, you can vary how you put it up and spread out the wear and tear.

[BFrmWtby]

You guys are great, thank you!

http://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/Smileys/default/tipping_hat_smiley.gif

[caiti42]

It sounds like severe split ends or damage to me. Particularly if they don't come loose from your hair.