Hello everyone, I'm a newbee here and I have been reading and getting alot of helpful knowledge. I'm not sure where to start. Life has become a bit stressful lately as it does for all of us from time to time.  Well for the first time in my life it is taking it out on my hair. I am about to go crazy. I don't understand the hair typing thing so I can't tell you my hair type, it's not bra lenght but close I worked hard at getting it back.  By this I mean 5 years ago I bleached it and 5 months later it fell out in patches. I was able to recover from that, but now it's not bouncing back too well.  It's shedding, to the point that I don't want to comb it cause I don't want to see the hair in the comb.  This has been going on for months and its not making the stress level any better.  I wash it Cream of Nature shampoo, Condition with Motions conditioner and color with Jazzing.  Where do I begin what am I to do. Someone, Everyone please help me.

Sorry to hear about this.  How often are you coloring with Jazz? Since your hair is colored are you moisturizing more?

I would definitely consider weekly hot oil treatments and/or deep conditioners.  Also consider the advice mentioned in previous posts ie lots of water, eating right, taking a multi vitamin.  This is sound advice for anyone, but can be particularly beneficial (and all too easy to overlook) when you are stressed. 

Since you color your hair, you really ought to use products that are going to preserve the color and moisturize your hair.  My mother relaxes and colors her hair (has it done professionally for years) and has better conditioned hair than I do.  She swears by Biogenol Ultra Deep Hair Masque by Framesi.  It preserves the color, and conditions and detangles beautifully.  She also gets a treatment with Nexus Emergencee maybe once or twice a month.  She uses Frederic Fekkai Glossing Creme when styling.

Also, the conditioners that you are using are good ones but could also have built up and may not be as beneficial for your hair over a period of time.  Consider clarifying every now and then with a good clarifying shampoo or with a clarifying rinse to remove product build up.

Finally, have you considered that the type of hair color you are using could be causing a lot of the damage?  I would recommend that you research the different types of hair color on the market and consider the alternatives such as another semi permanent like the one by Sebastian or vegetable dyes (Logics offers these) or even a Cellophane by Sebastian.

Some hair shedding is natural.  I tend to shed a lot, always have.  But you know your hair better than anyone so if it seems excessive to you than it probably is a sign that something is off. 

Good luck.  I hope you find a solution soon. 

When you say moisturize 2x dly, what products do you suggest? I sleep on a satin pillow at night and use a satin scarf to tie it up at night although I must admit that lately I haven't tied it up and have been wearing it in a ponytail. I don't use rubberband tho, I use cloth covered ties. I color my hair after every perm and that would be every 8 weeks. No I haven't used any protien treatments. I was told to try QP protien drops mixed with cholesterol. I haven't tried it yet. Any suggestions on that too. Thanks for advice, believe me when I tell you I am listening. As soon as I get things together I will post pics of my hair.

Moisturizers are waterbased products that do not contain petrolatum or mineral oils as ingredients or bases.  Some good waterbased moisturizers are S-Curl, ORS olive oil, Salerm 21 can be used as moisturizer, and elasta qp mango butter.

After you've incorporated moisture into your regimen, you'll need to concentrate on adding protein regularly.  Protein basically adds structure to your hair so that it is stronger and can withstand breakage.  The amount of breakage you are experiencing would determine the strength of protein you'll need.  One of the best treatments out there is Aphogee treatment for damaged hair.  This one should be used every 6 weeks in your regimen.  If you are experiencing breakage in between the 6 week treatment, then a milder treatment like Aphogee 2 min reconstructor can be used in the interim.  I used Aphogee as an example b/c that is currently what I use, but there are tons of protein treatments out there of varying strengths!  Always follow a protein treatment up with a good deep conditioning.  Your hair will feel much stronger after you do one of these.

You must balance the protein with moisture and deep conditioning.  If the balance tips too far in any one direction---too much protein not enough conditioning or too much conditioning not enough protein, you will experience breakage.  Relaxed and Color treated hair really needs conditioning and protein.

Thank you all for the advise and I will use it I am about to start tonight, just came in from the store getting products. Will  let you know what happens.

carameldiva wrote: Hmmm.... Did you already trim the damage away? If not that's the first thing i would do. then i would start deep conditioning weekly with cholesterol for 45-60 mins under a hair dryer. Moisturize 2x daily and wrap your hair up at nite with a thin, plastic cap or a silk/satin scarf. Also, start taking a good multivitamin and drink lots of water-eat plenty of fruit and veggies and exercise. Good luck and God Bless.

What she said! It sounds like you may be deficient in protien too. A good protein treatment may help followed by a moisturizing conditioner. When you up you water intake too, you'll notice a big difference.

Yes, I have a perm and I have been reading and trying to com up with a regimine that works for me. The color that I use is a semi-perm color. I am incorporating protien and moisture into my hair care and in the last week I have noticed a big difference.  I have trimed my ends and been using the baggie method at night. Moisturize every morning with S-Curl moisturizer and QP Mango butter and I am wearing it up in what my mom used to call a Love Knot. Just the hair two strand twisted and wraped around in a knot and pinned with hair pins. It is feeling alot better. Now I have decided to try going longer between touch ups and I am trying to learn my hair type. It's between 3c and 4a. I'm not quite sure. You ladies are all so beautiful and wonderful. Thanks for everything. Hope to get some pics for y'all. I have got to learn how to do all this stuff. I am very excited.