QuoteReplyTopic: breakage Posted: March 12 2006 at 4:52pm
Joined: March 12 2006
Location: Australia
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Posted: March 12 2006 at 2:33am | IP Logged
HI Everyone,
I am a new member with a story to tell. 6 months ago I decided that my
long curly hair was looking a little boring and decided to have my hair
chemically straightened. Sadly the salon that I entrusted this task to did
not do a very good job and I ended up with long brittle, frizzy hair that
broke off daily in lengths from half and inch to 3 inches. I then had 4
inches of hair cut off which left me with shoulder length damged hair. I
have been seeing a new reputable salon fo the past 6 months and have
been going religiously each month to have treatments, trims and semis
to the regrowth. The second last visit the coulourist advised me that my
hair was now healthy enough to have the semi all over as there was
banding and colour irregularity.As my hair was still very porus the last 3
inches took the colour more and became a black brown while everywhere
else was a medium brown. On my last visit this was discussed and the
colourist decided to do a colour correction. This was done with at the
basin with warm water and the chemical used to take out the dark build
up. I was advised that it would not be damaging and so the correction
was achieved with a nice warm brown all over from roots to ends. 48
hours later I have rinsed my hair only with water and combed it with a
wide tooth comb. I could not believe the amount of hair and breakage
from the residue on my comb at least 200 hairs of various lengths. I am
in shock and desperate for some advise. I feel that I can now not trust
this salon either. Please can anyone tell me what I should and should not
do to reagain my long healthy curly hair. I know it will take time and
patience. I just need to know how to care for my hair and colour for the
next 2-3 years until I can get back to what it was.
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Renata22
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Some other people may have better advice than I do, but my personal advice is to do nothing!
As it grows out, trim the damage, but do NO chemicals! You've come to a very "purist" bulletin board here in the long hair section: where most don't use chemicals at all, no heat, and even dilute the SHAMPOO because they find it too harsh....but, they all have healthy, gorgeous hair, so they're doing something right.
So, my advice...just trim the damage, otherwise do nothing.
If you MUST have straight hair, buy a Maxi Glide flat iron and it will straighten your hair beautifully...but I would recommend only using it every once in a while. This will also give you some flexibility in styling: you can have it straight for a while and curly for a while.
As for hair color: Talk to Rini about Henna. If I remember correctly, you can get black henna. She uses the red one. Henna black might be healthier than chemical black (I'm almost certain it is).
Hair type: who knows?
Length: 23 inches as of 3/10/06
MY HAIR IS OFFICIALLY BRA STRAP LENGTH!!
Goal: Waist Length, which is only 30 inches so
ADVISE ME ON HOW TO GET JUST 7 MORE INCHES OF GROWTH!
samsara
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Thank you for your advise. My gut feeling is the same, do nothing and
trim the damage each month. It has been nearly 7 months and it has
grown close to 4 inches therefore at my current length of 13 inches I still
have 9 inches of chemically treated hair to trim off over the next year. My
expectation is i should have nice healthy hair again in about 16 months. I
will also post this on the blooper bulletin for any further advise. Don't
worry I am through with straight hair and chemicals. I just want my long
curly hair back. I have not applied any heat or styling tools for 7 months. I
won't worry about henna I will leave the re growth to go back to its
natural brown. I am using a mild watered down shampoo, could anyone
recommend a good treatment, commercial or natural.
I will keep you posted on my progress and hope to post often on this
bulletin once my hair returns to it's original 19 inches. I have learnt a
huge lesson and hope I can now help others from making this stupid
mistake.
Hi, I'm sorry to hear what happened to your hair. I guess I'm a purist here as I dilute shampoo/CO and use no heat or chemicals.
I would advise that you try doing small but frequent trims to try and
get rid of as much damage as you can before it works its way up the
rest of your hair. Secondly, you said that you were using diluted
shampoo but you didn't state what method or conditioner you used. You
could try washing with just conditioner (CO) as that is gentler. One
thing I would highly recommend is using a silicone rich conditioner to
protect your hair. Some members dislike cones and certainly you need to
clarify if using them but I think in your case they will give your
damaged hair some slip and protection.
Oiling your hair will also help as will doing deep moisture treatments
such as adding honey to conditioner etc. Doing Search and Destroy will
also help your hairs overall health.
You didn't say if you brushed your hair-some people find that it
damages their hair terribly. Try detangling with your fingers and then
comb gently.
Wear updos as much as possible to protect your hair and wash as
infrequently as you have to. if there are any terms I've used in here
which you don't understand then there is thread directory at the top of
the thread page with all the terms on and other useful advice. Good luck
28.02.06 34 inches
Photos Lifes a grave. Dig it.
-Wednesday 13
DaveDecker
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Renata is spot on. I am a firm believer in the "less (processing)
is more (beautiful)" principle. IMO, the salon industry's goals
are not necessarily well-aligned with the achievement of truly
beautiful hair. Most, if not all of us here, have experienced
hair "traumas" and have learned to be careful to whom we trust our
hair. Congratulations for your newly-gained wisdom... (Some
people never get a clue).
samsara
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Joined: March 12 2006
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I have learn't so much these past few months and your replys are
wonderful and so is your gorgeous hair!
I now only wash once a week and dilute the shampoo (Aveda) I condition
instead of wash another time through the week and I have been doing
intense moisture treatments once every 10 days (also Aveda) is this too
much and is the product ok.?
I am treating my hair like threads of glass, I am very gentle, I have not
brushed my hair or applied heat for 7 months.I only comb with a wide
tooth comb as little as possible. I wear it up most days in a
clip so I don't have to worry about it or start to fiddle with it. It is also
less depressing if I don't have to think about the before and
after.....STUPID
On readying more topics on this site I have just realised that I have been
measuring my hair all wrong, I have measured from roots down not
forehead back. My actual length is 17 inches and I was 21 inches before
my disaster so you can understand how devistating this has been.
My goal is 25 inches of healthy virgin hair, estimate time 3-4 years does
that sound about right?
Can you please tell me what search and destroy is?
Thanks again.
DaveDecker
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Thank you Samsara! Your haircare routine sounds great; if it's working for you, I'd continue.
I know it's not easy but try not to think about the past. All you
can do is go forward with your determination to do things right from
this point on. k?
How soon you reach your goal length depends on 2 factors: your rate of
growth, and how much (and how often) you have your hair trimmed.
With prudent and infrequent (and small) trims, I think you could reach
your goal within 2 years.
"Search and destroy" is a term applied to carefully sifting through the
ends of your hair looking for split and broken ends, and carefully
trimming off the tips of those individual strands with a pair of sharp
scissors. Bright lighting (and contrasting hair/background
colors) make it easier to find the damage.
SpecialKitty
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Hi Samsara - very sorry to hear your news about your hair You've come to the right place. I had a similar experience with my hair a couple of years ago, and I'm still dealing with the aftermath. Like everyone else, I think doing nothing to your hair except treating it very gently is the best way to go. After about five months of careful care, my hair is growing and looking much better. I think wavy and curly hair is maybe a bit more dry and more susceptible to damage, so what you are doing sounds great - just keep it up and be patient.
samsara
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Hi Special Kitty, Thanks for the reply.
Can't believe how much better I am starting to feel. My hair has settled
right down- no breakage or fall outs for 5 days. Just love the CO concept,
never thought I would be brave enough to do it. I find that that there is a
break through at about day 6 where you go from that yuk greasy feeling
back to smooth and silky and also clean. What would be the
recommended time frame between washes? I have taken the challenge to
day 9 and this is big for a girl who used to eash every 2nd day.The
damage has settled right down and I guess that has been due to my
routine and care. It has lost all the frizz factor and is actually feeling like
real hair again. I am hoping that by Christmas the damage will have been
all trimmed out and my length of 17 inches remains. From there on I will
grow my hair and can't wait.
What happened to your hair? It looks great now. My hair looks as though
it has a similar texture to yours, although I am a little curlier. Will post
pics of before and after soon so everyone can cry with me and hopefully
see my progress and smile with me
SpecialKitty
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Hi Samsara - I'm so glad that CO is working for you. I think it took about two weeks to a month for me to adjust to CO but it really is great. The only thing that trips me up is when I oil my hair - then I have to go back to some diluted shampoo to remove the greasies from the oil. It is a delicate balance, since I don't want to remove all the benefits of the oil. Right now I'm using coconut oil which my hair likes and is easier to use CO with it.
As for what happened to my hair, about three years ago for my brothers wedding I had it cut and the stylist pressured me to color it as well. She ended up using a harsh bleach-style color that fried my already fragile hair. It has taken so long to grow that damage out! NEVER AGAIN!!! I am back to very natural care - no colors or styling tools other than the occasional blow dry. I also had about a year where my hair was shedding a lot - it was a little scary. But that has settled down (I think because I'm taking MSM and evening primrose oil). Anyway, some days my hair looks and feels great and other days it really still seems sort of damaged. Thanks for the compliment though!!
Looking forward to seeing your photos and progress over the coming months
samsara
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Hi Special Kitty,
It seems like everyone has had a bad hair story at some time. I guess this is
how most members started out, looking for advise and support.
You mention oiling your hair I have read a lot about oil treatments but don't
really have a clear idea or method-can you or anyone let me know the
method please? Also. can anyone give me advise and tips on the mayonaise
treatment?
Thanks
SpecialKitty
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I'm not sure how to do the mayonnaise thing, but when I oil, I use solid organic coconut oil and just melt a small bit in my palm, then spread it gently over my hair. I usually just oil the outer part of my hair, because it is the driest. Then I braid my hair and leave the oil in for a day or so. The oil is great when braiding, as it smells very nice and helps to keep the braids neat. How is your CO going, Samsara?
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as I dilute shampoo/CO and use no heat or chemicals.
