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October 1st, 2013, 07:15 PM
#1
Member
Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
Hello! I have been a member of LHC for quite some time now, and although I am pretty shy (I rarely post) I do scan the forums almost daily!
I have been actively trying to grow my hair to waist length early September 2012. At this time, I chopped from BSL to just below arm pit length. My hair grows very quickly and I got a micro trim in February. Now, in September 2013, I have hit waist length! However, for the past month I have been experiencing horrible breakage. I have never had breakage like this before. I did experience extreme shedding (follicle attached) from Summer 2011-Summer 2012. I believe this shed was due to being severely underweight at the time (not eating enough and over exercising). I got my dietary habits under control in Fall 2011, I knew it would take a while for my hair to adjust and stop failing out. When my hair stopped shedding a year ago I thought my hair troubles were over.
My hair is 2a, baby fine and ii thickness under ideal conditions. It is 100% virgin, I do not heat style. I wear my hair in a brain or bunned (held with a claw-clip) daily. I never wear it down. I sleep in a satin cap on a satin pillow case. I comb using a wide-tooth comb (only when absolutely necessary), never when wet. Since joining LHC more than 2 years ago, I have experimented with several products and care methods. I have determined stretching my washes (once a week) works best for my hair. My hair does not usually like silicones and HATES protein. The only success I have had with oil is VERY light jojoba or almond oiling on ends only the day before washing. I usually wash with Nature’s Gate biotin shampoo (heavily diluted dime-sized amount on scalp only) followed by conditioning with Tresseme Naturals moisturizing formula (the “old” formula, I stocked up).
The breakage ranges from 2 – 5 inches long. I have not found any split ends. The breakage has gotten so bad I am unable to braid my hair without becoming discouraged with all the breakage collecting on the back of my shirt/around my fingers. I am not sure what to do. Should I cut it? I really do not want to. Would a micro-trim work or be a waste of time/effort? I have not trimmed since the first week of February. My hair looks healthy, it doesn't feel or look dry. Due to breakage, I have frizz when I put it down because every single strand is a different length.
If anyone has any suggestions of how I can prevent any future breakage, please let me know! I’m up for anything advice-wise... product suggestions, change in routine or treatment… I’m completely lost!
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October 1st, 2013, 07:25 PM
#2
Member
Re: Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
Do you have pictures of the breakage?
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October 1st, 2013, 07:34 PM
#3
Member
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October 1st, 2013, 07:36 PM
#4
Member
Re: Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
One thing I notice is that if your hair hates protein, natures gate might not be the best shampoo, it has a high protein content. I noticed I had more splits and fraying hairs when I used this shampoo, but I also henna, so any extra protein hurts my hair. Also yes a picture would help! If your hair is getting too much protein, I can see how the ends would become so "strong" that they snap right off
ETA: from your picture your hair looks like maybe you have breakage but also maybe the shorter strands are new(ish) growth?
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October 1st, 2013, 07:58 PM
#5
Member
Re: Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
I had not even thought to check the nature's gate shampoo for protein! TBH, I only look out for sulfates in shampoo (I do clarify every so often). Are proteins in shampoo common? I may need to find a new "natural" shampoo without protein.
The top half of my head is LOADED with new growth, a lot of the hairs on my head are only 1-4 inches long, so my scalp looks frizzy but it's worth going through an extra frizzy stage for new growth!
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October 1st, 2013, 08:16 PM
#6
Account Closed by Member Request
Re: Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
pocketsmall, I know L'oreal Eversleek Sulfate-free Intense Smoothing Shampoo and L'oreal Evercreme Sulfate-free Nourishing shampoo have no protein in them. Other lines of sulfate-free shampoo by L'oreal may be protein-free as well but they do have silicones in them. The Eversleek Intense Smoothing and Evercreme Nourishing shampoos are cone-free. I'm not sure how else you could change your hair care routine (as the frizzy hairs might be new growth, but could also be moisture overload, see this page for types of frizz: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlta...pes-frizz.html), but I just wanted to mention the names of possible shampoos you could use that don't have protein in them.
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October 1st, 2013, 08:41 PM
#7
Member
Re: Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
I'm no expert, but a lot of it looks fairly healthy and like newer growth to me. I'll let others advise on products who are more knowledgeable. But from my perspective, your sheds sound okay and your hair doesn't look bad!
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October 1st, 2013, 09:35 PM
#8
The Winking Cat
Re: Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
I'm going to agree with the previous posters that it might be protein overload from shampoo and/or new growth
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October 1st, 2013, 09:38 PM
#9
Exhausted Mom
Re: Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
Your hair looks fine IMO, it's probably just new growth and shedding.
Just trying to get by
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October 2nd, 2013, 01:15 AM
#10
Re: Finally at waist length…. but horrible breakage?!
Protein overload is certainly a possibility.
Another consideration - calculate your growth rate and use that to figure out roughly which section of your length corresponded to the time when you were eating poorly and underweight. It is possible that during that time the hair that you produced was unusually weak because your body was using the "building blocks" (especially protein) for other, more vital things. If that's the case, then the best option would be to just baby that part of the hair particularly (although you sound like you're doing a great job with that already) and trimming (either to maintain length for a while or, say, trimming half of your growth) until the weakened section of the hairs is gone.
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