Oiling scalp without weighing hair down

Or can someone just tell me how to make my hair healthy again and stop it from breaking!

You're probably going to have to leave the relaxers alone and find a natural style that you like. I also permed my hair all throughout high school with gentle relaxers and it wouldn't grow very far past my shoulders. However, while I was in college I stopped putting relaxers in it and just wore it natural and the growth took off. It's been down to the middle of my back for over 10  years now. I usually keep it trimmed to about 18" or 20" long.

Edited by Curlygirl11 - May 18 2008 at 8:55pm

Thank you all for replying to my question! I really appreciate the useful info you provided.

Braids are fine as long as they're not done too tightly. If your scalp hurts or you have a headache after getting your hair braided then they're too tight and you will likely devolope traction alopecia over the years which could result in permanent scalp damage and permanent hair loss around your hairline. If you know how to braid do them yourself. If not make sure that whoever braids your hair for you understands that you don't want them done too tight.

shaniaisha wrote: I'm 17 now, it was doing sort of well about 4 years ago. But my beautician says my hair breaks off as it grows. She said it's definitely growing but it breaks off as it grows. It's very frustrating. It recently broke off again (noticeably this time). It's really saddening and I'm tired of this(people who have had their hair break off know how this feels )   I really wasn't oiling my scalp at ALL... I know that contributed. But how do I oil my scalp without over saturating it? Which makes my hair look greasy. What oil do you suggest for my scalp? How often should I oil it and when?       I still get relaxers by the way. So what do you suggest?

Here's what jumps out at me.. Your stylist says your hair just BREAKS off as it grows?? Does she say WHY?? I would HONESTLY be concerned that she has no answers or remedies for your breakage issues..

It would help if we knew more about your haircare routines.. Relaxers aren't for everyone, but I don't think they are the sole source of your breakage issues.. In addition to relaxers, what is the REST of your haircare routine?? How often to you use curling irons, blow dryers, hot rollers?? What kind of shampoo do you use?? What kind of conditioner?? How often do you wash and condition?? What is your washing and conditioning routine..

Okay.. so that's your weekly/monthly routine.. What's your DAILY routine?? (We need the WHOLE story girl.. )

And as for your current stylist.. here's my opinion... any stylist who can only IDENTIFY your problems without giving you remedies to RECTIFY them should be a FORMER stylist IMO.. If you are paying her to help care for your hair, she should be able to assist you when your hair is in trouble as well as when it is healthy.. It does not sound like your current stylist can/is doing that for you..

So no heat between salon visits right????

It sounds like your relaxer may be the culprit.. The question is WHY.. I know that opinions on this run rampant, but here's my take.. I am not in the "blame the relaxer on the breakage" boat. There are many reasons why relaxers can contribute to  breakage including:

1. Too strong of a relaxer
2. Relaxer applied incorrectly
3. Wrong relaxer formula for your hair (not all relaxers are created equal)
4. Not enough or the right follow up treatments for relaxed hair. (Relaxed hair needs regular protein and moisture treatments)
5. Lastly, there area host of things we may ingest which affect your hairs "readiness" for relaxers... Medications (especially antibiotics) are a HUGE culprit.

I am still ASTOUNDED at the number of stylists out there who FAIL to ask basic questions BEFORE relaxing clients.. I remember having to remind a stylist years ago WHY he could not relax my hair (I had just been discharged from the hospital, and had been on intravenous antibiotics and was on follow-up antibiotics.. this meant NO relaxer touch ups for me for a few weeks) He KNEW I had just gotten out of the hospital, but was ready to ignore this and do my touch-up anyway..

Anyway my point is the relaxer may be contributing to the problem, but I also think your stylist is failing you as well.. She has acknowledged that you have regular breakage, but has offered NO solutions or remedies.. I find that very telling..

IMO, I think its time for you to find another stylist.. One who is not gonna take "sides" in the relax vs no relax war.. A stylist who is going to look at YOUR HAIR, and KNOW what to do to remedy YOUR breakage problems..

Now, when you find the RIGHT stylist, he/she may indeed recommend that you do need to stop relaxing, or he/she could discover that your current stylist has been over processing your hair, or not doing the right follow-up treatments or paying attention to other factors that affect how your hair behaves.. You will not know until you find yourself a stylist who is going to help your REALLY care for your hair..

My suggestion is that until your find a stylist who will not only IDENTIFY the issues but CORRECT them (or better yet make sure she PREVENTS them), you need to stop letting this particular stylist apply chemicals to your hair.. JMHO..

There are absolutely other ways to make your hair healthy again on your own.. The ladies here gave you some great suggestions and product recommendations.. My point simply was that IMO your stylist is clearly not the right stylist if she is unable to offer solutions to your breakage issues.. I also believe that it's very likely that she could be a contributing factor to your breakage issues.. The easiest way to determine this is to do one of two things:

1. If you continue with your current stylist, stop having her relax your hair, and go the natural route for a minute. Se how your hair does..
2. Stop seeing her altogether, and develop your own hair care routine (which will also include ceasing relaxers and going back to being natural)

Edited by Divavocals - May 30 2008 at 2:11am

It looks like you got awesome advise from the other posters...I just wanted to direct you to www.growafrohairlong.com so that you can maintain your sew-in or braids. As mentioned it is important to maintain a balance between moisture and protein for healthy hair and with the advise you rec'd I am sure you will be on the right track.

shaniaisha wrote: What oil do you suggest for my scalp? How often should I oil it and when?

Edited by Jamgurl - July 01 2008 at 12:18pm