Please Insert Some Hair Care Tips Here!!

Well trimming is ok but if you have no splits then you shouldnt. If you are trying to retain the growth then you should dust. If you want to trim you need to do it alot less than  every 6 to 8 weeks...you are basically cutting away the growth that you did get and your hair will basically be the same length.

Why are you  combing out the crinkles if you are going to flat iron anyways?  Let your hair dry in braids, make sure to put a moisturizer or heat protectant on it. After hair is dry remove braids, comb the ends to remove tangles...do about 3 more combs each one a little farther than the first one. Then flat iron...it works.

OK  PickledGuese...I'm gonna try to assist you. I would say try this out for 2 weeks and see if you know a difference.

First here is a link to help you...it has various moisturizing methods and pre-shampoo treatments in it. http://http://www.hairboutique.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID =28728&PN=1">Hair Recipes

Secondly, it seems that you want healthy hair. This is achievable,however, you do have to make sacrifices. Many of the things that I type may have been previously mentioned...just hear me out :). Also, you mentioned earlier that your hair was damaged...it seems that the hair that continues to shed is the pre-damaged hair. So now what you need to work on is the hair that is still attached and the hair that has not been predisposed to damaging styling techniques ( New growth/regrowth)

1.  Let's cut down on the heat... you can ween yourself off but using either the blow drier and NOT the flat Iron or just the flat iron and NOT the Blow drier. Both can be damaging but using 1 less is a start. Another option would be to find styles that do not include heat and use heat as a special treat. For example...let's say you haven't used heat in 2 weeks...so on week three you use allow yourself to use heat but make sure to take all precautions.
2. Use a pre-shampoo treatment...when you decide to use shampoo.   The link was posted above, near the intro.
3. Make sure to always try to keep moisture...conditioner washes are great.  You could make your conditioner washes even better by adding a PEA SIZE amount of olive oil in your conditioner. Only  a pea size or less because your hair is relaxed and you don't want it to get limp.
4. Eat healthy and drink lots of water or eat foods which consists of lots of water. Remember hair starts from the inside out.
5. Because of the damage you may need a protein treatment atleast once a month. Some members use the aphogee treatment, I haven't used it but you might want to ask about it.
6. Do not TRIM your ends, only dust them or S & D.    Dusting consists of trimming a very minute amount of hair...just an itsy tiny bit.    S& D= search and destroy. The name says it all, you search out the split ends and you only cut those off (you can keep your length using this method).

Styling options/ ideas: 

http://www.hairboutique.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29585& amp; amp;PN=1"> Hair styling techniques

Here are a few more based off of the "mullet" you described.

2 strand flat twists in the front...crinkly hair in the back. ( Use a small amount of gel and a dap of hair lotion/skin lotion on wet hair...crinkle with hands while air drying/ diffusing) Don't use much lotion but it keeps the hair soft, instead of hard.

2 strand flat twist-out...on wet hair make a few 2 strand twists from crown to front. After hair is dry, remove flat twists and shape to your liking. 

Add hair clips to hair...give it "tude"

roller set/ straw set = above in previous link

french roll the back and roller set/ pin curl the top that don't fit in the french roll.

You have lots of options.

Sorry for the length of this post.

Pickled, you mentioned split ends. I noticed that the more often I washed my hair and the stronger the detergent in the shampoo, the more split ends. I recommend CON shampoos. I had tortuous and nightmarish breakage also and it has since stopped.

Hey Ladies, sorry to bug you all again , but a few questions here.  It seems as if when I wash my hair it is not dripping wet, it's as if it instantly dries once I get out of the shower.  When I am trying to either get my hair set for drying the ends of the top portion are almost dry.  Why is that?  And two, my hair doesn't feel fully moisturized when I air dry, although I feel I put enough moisturizing products on it.  I want to air dry, and have my hair not shrink and mat up, however I have yet to wash and tie my hair up in the silk scarf.  So will my hair not shrink up with using a scarf and combing everything flat?

PickledGeuse wrote: Thanks For the recommendation Wishe.  I have seen that pak at the BSS and was hesitant to buy it; I noticed one of my good friends uses it weekly..and she has smooth frizzless hair.  On two sides of my head patches of my hair had broken off last summer.  They blend in a lot better than they did back then. However, I was told by a stylist that these parts of my hair will never be the same length as the rest of my hair, and in order for it to be long..I'd have to cut it all off. True or False? Does anyone have any info about growing theses spontaneous spots back.  The ends of my hair seem to still be very dead..and i've noticed that they look best when I smooth a combo of vaseline and Mango butter on them.  Also I found a silk scarf at my grandmothers house..but am not too sure if there is a proper way to wrap it....Tips! PS:  Im thinking of hood drying tonite..any tips?

I don't think you will have to cut your hair to make it even.  Those patches will catch up sooner or later.  As for the dryer, select the one that has mult-heat settings.  I would suggest getting a hooded dryer with a wattage around 1600 watts.  In regards to the scarf tying method, just make sure that you move the "knot" around, not at the same spot.  This is to prevent rubbing of the nape and other areas.  Good luck Pickles.

Thanks For the recommendation Wishe.  I have seen that pak at the BSS and was hesitant to buy it; I noticed one of my good friends uses it weekly..and she has smooth frizzless hair.  On two sides of my head patches of my hair had broken off last summer.  They blend in a lot better than they did back then. However, I was told by a stylist that these parts of my hair will never be the same length as the rest of my hair, and in order for it to be long..I'd have to cut it all off. True or False? Does anyone have any info about growing theses spontaneous spots back.  The ends of my hair seem to still be very dead..and i've noticed that they look best when I smooth a combo of vaseline and Mango butter on them.  Also I found a silk scarf at my grandmothers house..but am not too sure if there is a proper way to wrap it....Tips! PS:  Im thinking of hood drying tonite..any tips?

I've tried conrows again!  I CW, sprayed on Keratin leave-in, moisturized, cornrowed my hair up, put on a satin cap, and took my behind to bed!  I woke up in the morning, took them out, and didn't like the results of the "curlyness", so I decided to comb it out and flat iron.  It came out pretty good, but its just not STICK STRAIGHT like I like it, and I can still notice the curlys in certain places, the ends are just awful.  Also there was a moderate amount of shed and maybe breakage.  I haven't used a good deep conditioner in about 3 weeks so maybe that is why.  I've been subtituting my regular humectant co with my deep conditioner(which was Motions CPR Treatment).  Next week instead of using KeraCare, I'm going to switch to Creme Of Nature poo & co, with Motions CPR treatment(deep conditioner).  Also, I'm going to try out castor oil!  I've never felt the need to CW after using Motions CPR, but someone has said before that I definitely should.  For some reason I enjoy the straight (almost thin) feel.  I was considering reconstructing also, but I have no clue of how to do that, and don't want to mess things of even more than I already have.  I have noticed that my hair is stronger, but I still shed like a dog!