Very rough hair, help!

[Stink]

Hello all out there! I have been dying and heat styling my hair often in the past few months, and though it is growing (a lot!) and I have stopped dying and heat styling it, it is SO rough! It's a texture I have never seen it before. It's really difficult to run my fingers through, although to an outsider it looks fine. I really, really want to grow it out longer, but I'm wondering how much (or if) I should trim it first. Also, it is in a cut that is very unsuitable for my curly texture, but I fear cutting layers into it will lose a lot of length and/or be more difficult to grow out. I am only aiming for top-of-the-butt length, and it is already mid-way down my back. I have read loads of advice but I still don't know what to do! Any suggestions, concerns, personal experience? Thank you so much!

Stink

[krissykins]

Welcome to the forum!

First of all, what is your current routine? What have you thought about trying? There's lots of different things we can recommend, such as switching wash methods, oiling, deep treatments, etc. I recommend reading this article (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=39) as well as this article (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=79) to get a feel for what changes you'd like to make.

Again, welcome to LHC! :D

[MonaLisa]

I'd suggest a lot of oil for a day, and then a CWC wash :)
Should make it softer!
Oh and if you are using protein products, try to not use them...proteins make my hair feel super rough!

[caiti42]

Do you possibly need to clarify? What your discribing sounds like my hair when it has product build up. Looks fine but feels thick and tough.

[xoxophelia]

I think it is likely a result of the heat styling and everything and you are just noticing it now because you aren't taming your hair. Mine went through the same thing. Extra virgin olive oil mixed with honey and then left in for 1 hour-overnight helped me a lot. Also, time, patience, and giving my hair a chance to calm down.

There wasn't exactly a miracle cure but after two months my hair became much more manageable. Very well worth it!

[Stink]

Thanks so much ladies! So I shouldn't cut off the rough ends? My current regime is: VO5 hot oil treatment, VO5 shiny shampoo, and garnier nutrisse conditioner. I did a baking soda and ACV wash this week and it was much softer afterwards, though it had an odd reddish color the whole week! However, the ends are still super icky and rough. I will check out the articles given here, thanks so much for the info ladies!

[Firefox7275]

Welcome! :)

If the ends are badly damaged (rough even after clarifying and conditioning) then cut them off. It's a nightmare trying to rehabilitate them, and when you comb they will snag on healthier hair. After that condition, condition, condition! Consider a gentle sulphate-free shampoo or conditioner only washing, use a leave-in conditioner (try using your existing product) or oil then deep treatments regularly. Your hair does not necessarily need a complicated routine, just care and time: this thread (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=67260) might inspire you!

ETA: managed to miss that your hair is thick and curly!! :o If you check out forums such as naturallycurly.com (http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/) or britishcurlies.co.uk the general concensus is that layering makes hair easier to manage. Layers don't have to be short so that you end up with a frizz on top, just enough to take the weight off so you get even curls all over and lose some of the damage. There is no reason to lose length, as layers cut into the canopy of your hair not the underlayer. Definitely consider leave-in conditioner as it really helps control fluff/ poofy hair; you might also try plunking/ plopping (http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/to-plop-or-not-to-plop).

[Jenn of Pence]

Welcome to the forum!

First of all, what is your current routine? What have you thought about trying? There's lots of different things we can recommend, such as switching wash methods, oiling, deep treatments, etc. I recommend reading this article (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=39) as well as this article (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=79) to get a feel for what changes you'd like to make.

Again, welcome to LHC! :D


Do you possibly need to clarify? What your discribing sounds like my hair when it has product build up. Looks fine but feels thick and tough.

I also highly recommend checking out these articles as well as clarifying very soon to see what your hair needs. Likely it needs moisture and may or may not need protein (but protein treatments also need heavy moisture to avoid overdrying).

I also recommend the CWC method that someone else mentioned...whenever you wash, coat the ends of your hair with conditioner, then shampoo only the scalp. Then after rinsing apply conditioner as usual. While you figure out what the heck to do with your hair (believe me, I remember being new and all of this was so overwhelming to sort through!) you will at least protect the ends from overdrying from the detergents in the shampoo.

Good luck, and we're happy to help as you figure out what your hair needs!

ETA: Oh! Yes. I also experienced the "freak out" associated with stopping the heat styling. Trust me, it does eventually calm down after a few weeks! A pony tail or other updo will be your friend in the meantime. :D