Skincare/Beauty/Haircare Random Thoughts

[CinnaSlim]

My hair refuses to grow. It's staying at the same length and I'm not sure if it's breakage because my hair doesn't shed but I have notice that sometimes, after washes, a lot of strands will come out. But that could be dead hair getting out the way. I use anti breakage masks when I wash my hair but idk, i still haven't found the right routine for me and I'm started to get frustrated. It's already been two years since the big chop.
@CinnaSlim @MoonGoddess

"Dead hair getting out the way" is shed hair. If your hair is staying the same length, it is growing but the ends are breaking off.

Anti breakage masks are just protein treatments usually. You need a healthy routine with less mechanical damage and to maintain proper moisture/protein balance.

Do a strand test:
Pull on one of your strands of hair (can be a recently shed one)

Does it bounce back? Healthy
Does it break? Too much protein, not enough moisture
Does it stretch out and stay there? Too much moisture, not enough protein.


Reduce breakage by reducing friction and touching your hair. Do protective styles and find balance.

Braids and buns helped me. Also keeping my hair stretched and trims to get rid of the single strand knots and split ends

 

[EARFQUAKE]

"Dead hair getting out the way" is shed hair. If your hair is staying the same length, it is growing but the ends are breaking off.

Anti breakage masks are just protein treatments usually. You need a healthy routine with less mechanical damage and to maintain proper moisture/protein balance.

Do a strand test:
Pull on one of your strands of hair (can be a recently shed one)

Does it bounce back? Healthy
Does it break? Too much protein, not enough moisture
Does it stretch out and stay there? Too much moisture, not enough protein.


Reduce breakage by reducing friction and touching your hair. Do protective styles and find balance.

Braids and buns helped me. Also keeping my hair stretched and trims to get rid of the single strand knots and split ends

I usually do braids for protective styles but I haven't noticed any major changes whenever I do. I'll do the strand test when I get home, I may have not been paying attention or noticing damage.

 

[MoonGoddess]

My hair refuses to grow. It's staying at the same length and I'm not sure if it's breakage because my hair doesn't shed but I have notice that sometimes, after washes, a lot of strands will come out. But that could be dead hair getting out the way. I use anti breakage masks when I wash my hair but idk, i still haven't found the right routine for me and I'm started to get frustrated. It's already been two years since the big chop.
@CinnaSlim @MoonGoddess

Try to to add deep conditioning with heat into ur wash day routine. The most important thing is keeping ur hair moisturized (well at least for me it is). And like Cinna says do a strand test and find out if you should be adding more protein to ur routine. Use a silk scarf at night or if ur lazy like me and forget all the time buy silk pillow cases. After ur done washing use a leave in and seal with oil (I like castor oil even tho it’s really heavy). I also use it on my scalp but I add essential oils like rosemary, tea tree and lavender in it. But make sure you try to deep condition every time you wash, that’s been a life saver for me.
Oh and when it comes to the shedding I wish I could give you advice but that’s the one thing then I can’t seem to control and I know it has to do with the fact that I have really fine hair strands.

 

[CinnaSlim]

Try to to add deep conditioning with heat into ur wash day routine. The most important thing is keeping ur hair moisturized (well at least for me it is). And like Cinna says do a strand test and find out if you should be adding more protein to ur routine. Use a silk scarf at night or if ur lazy like me and forget all the time buy silk pillow cases. After ur done washing use a leave in and seal with oil (I like castor oil even tho it’s really heavy). I also use it on my scalp but I add essential oils like rosemary, tea tree and lavender in it. But make sure you try to deep condition every time you wash, that’s been a life saver for me.
Oh and when it comes to the shedding I wish I could give you advice but that’s the one thing then I can’t seem to control and I know it has to do with the fact that I have really fine hair strands.

Have you tried black tea rinse or a rice water rinse?

 

[MoonGoddess]

Have you tried black tea rinse or a rice water rinse?

I have tried the black tea rinse but probably wasn’t consistent enough to notice a difference. I’ve made the rice water 3 times and always forget to use it. I’m washing my hair this weekend so I will put a reminder on my phone. We’ll see if it helps, I always say thank God I have a big ass head and lots of hair cause I’d be bald by the amount of shedding i get smh.

 

[Rusty Kuntz]

My hair refuses to grow. It's staying at the same length and I'm not sure if it's breakage because my hair doesn't shed but I have notice that sometimes, after washes, a lot of strands will come out. But that could be dead hair getting out the way. I use anti breakage masks when I wash my hair but idk, i still haven't found the right routine for me and I'm started to get frustrated. It's already been two years since the big chop.
@CinnaSlim @MoonGoddess

Some of the things I did when I went natural that helped me:

• Tested for porosity of hair (high/low), strand thickness and protein sensitivity to determine products that would work best for me (my hair is a bit protein sensitive, so stuff like coconut oil can make it hard).
• Observed the behavior of my hair during each season and adapted routine accordingly (during the winter and summer, my hair requires more moisture than during spring/fall).
• Tracking/observed my hair growth phases to get an idea when/how long your remain in each phase - ANAGEN (growth)/CATAGEN (transition)/TELOGEN (rest) - when I notice a lot of shedding and I've ruled out changes in routine, that's when I know I'm in the telogen phase.
• Ruled out any health issues that could have affected growth. Thyroid is a BIG one; when I first went natural, I had issues with growth (among other issues), and went to get my thyroid tested. Turns out, my thyroid was a little under active, so once I got that in check, everything else got better.

Your hair is growing, but something is happening (routine, health, etc.) that is causing you to not retain length. Something as simple as your hair rubbing against the collar of your shirt can cause breakage.

 

[Betty Draper]

My hair refuses to grow. It's staying at the same length and I'm not sure if it's breakage because my hair doesn't shed but I have notice that sometimes, after washes, a lot of strands will come out. But that could be dead hair getting out the way. I use anti breakage masks when I wash my hair but idk, i still haven't found the right routine for me and I'm started to get frustrated. It's already been two years since the big chop.
@CinnaSlim @MoonGoddess

(Off topic,I love that there’s a woman section here) I had the same issue for years. Do you perm? Is your hair thick or fine? In general, Afro hair is very fragile (contrary to popular belief)I have fine hair which makes my hair even more fragile. These are standard things you need to do.

Moisturise frequently. Anywhere from 2-5 days a week depending on your hair. Start with 2 then increase/decrease depending on your hair’s reaction. The number one rule is never let your hair and scalp get dry. Concentrate on your ends, they should always be moisturised, these are the oldest part of your hair, so need extra care. If you don’t take care of your ends your hair breaks giving the illusion of no hair growth.

Avoid using heat frequently. Ideally use it once a month, at most twice a month. You might get away with 3 times a month if your strands aren’t fine and your hair is super thick.

Hot oil treatment once a month.

Deep condition once a week. I use all the Indian powders. Alma, Aritha, Brahmi mix it with Auntie Jackie deep conditioner, olive oil and honey. Wear a shower cap and leave it on for a few hours. I love deep conditioning with Ethiopian hair butter as well. Very good on Afro hair and it keeps the moisture, it stinks though lol. It’s best to make it on your own. The recipes are all over YouTube.

Sleep with a satin/silk cap. During winter spritz your hair with water and use castor oil mixed with a few drops of lavender oil for your scalp and put on a shower cap, then put your head tie on.

I was stuck on a length where my hair brushed just above my shoulders, now I’m approaching bra strap length. My aim is to get to waist length hair in two- three years.

Products I live by:

Haitian castor oil
Coconut oil
Almond oil
Alma oil
Tea tree oil
Lavender oil
Auntie Jackie deep conditioner
Cantu Leave In Conditioner
Ethiopian Hair butter
Alma, Aritha and Brahmi powder
Water! (Drinking a lot of it and using it for my hair)
Adding drops of Biotin and Fenugreek powder to my smoothies

 

[BedRoomI'z]

I've started using Apple Cider Vinegar during my shampoos.
I haven't seen the effects of my hair getting strong yet.

And I've stop shampooing so frequently too.

 

[Broad Street Bully]

Yo so I just bleached my hair on Wednesday and it’s golden brown rn. I’m tryna get to that Odell shyt, platinum blond. Can I bleach it again tomorrow to get that? Been 5 full days and I’ve been deep conditioning it too

 

[calixprynce]

How would I “loosen my curls”? I used to have long hair and it’s thicc af! I used to rocc waves for years but I liked more length on it so I let the waves grow into curls.. but these hoes too tight and dense. When I hop out the shower my shyt perfect.

Is there some conditioner or sumn I can use?? Or is this some relaxer/s-curl Type shyt??

Or maybe I need a good ass moisturizer ??

 

[brandy]

How would I “loosen my curls”? I used to have long hair and it’s thicc af! I used to rocc waves for years but I liked more length on it so I let the waves grow into curls.. but these hoes too tight and dense. When I hop out the shower my shyt perfect.

Is there some conditioner or sumn I can use?? Or is this some relaxer/s-curl Type shyt??

Or maybe I need a good ass moisturizer ??

So my curls loosed on their own when growth, but I noticed my pattern was loose when I did an aztec clay mask on my hair followed by a deep condition treatment.



That sephora sale got my coinage.

 

[calixprynce]

So my curls loosed on their own when growth, but I noticed my pattern was loose when I did an aztec clay mask on my hair followed by a deep condition treatment.



That sephora sale got my coinage.

I forgot about the clay mask .. and is deep condition like hot oil treatment (I think that’s what it’s called)

 

[brandy]

I forgot about the clay mask .. and is deep condition like hot oil treatment (I think that’s what it’s called)

Similar. If you go to Walmart and Target, you will see a section for Black hair care products. In that section, they have different deep conditioners. Before buying a full bottle, try the small sample packs. Those should be around one dollar.

 

[⠝⠕⠏⠑]

I have 4b/4a hair. It’s bra strap back length but got heat damaged a year ago getting Dominican blowouts.

I think they put perm in their products b/c it wouldn’t revert.

Anyhoo, I’ve since been in transition mode between the straighter textures and the kinky roots. When my kinky hair grows out, I’ll do a big chop. Right now I just do twist outs and Bantu knot outs.
Keeping it stretched helps with detangling and ensures it doesn’t break before growing. It’s long now but I want my texture to match and be healthy.

 

[brandy]

I have 4b/4a hair. It’s bra strap back length but got heat damaged a year ago getting Dominican blowouts.

I think they put perm in their products b/c it wouldn’t revert.

Anyhoo, I’ve since been in transition mode between the straighter textures and the kinky roots. When my kinky hair grows out, I’ll do a big chop. Right now I just do twist outs and Bantu knot outs.
Keeping it stretched helps with detangling and ensures it doesn’t break before growing. It’s long now but I want my texture to match and be healthy.

I don't trust Dominicans with my hair.

They probably didn't put a perm in your hair. They just fry hair until it is straight and attempt to burn the texture out of it.

Have you tried Olaplex? Folks have called it a miracle with heat damage.