What to do??
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Category: African American Hair
Forum Name: African American Hair
Forum Description: Devoted to the special needs of African Americans.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=39543
Printed Date: August 05 2025 at 2:42am
Topic: What to do??
Posted By: SouthernFried
Subject: What to do??
Date Posted: January 30 2006 at 4:38am
I would like to ask for help for my specific hair problem. I have 4a/4b hair. I had tried to grow out my relaxer, and went without chemicals for about a year. I had problems managing my hair so I wanted to go back to getting it straightened chemically. I went to a hairdresser who proceeded to put an Affirm texturizer in my hair. I thought that would be a good idea because I thought that it would be milder than a relaxer. The first time she put it in, it got pretty straight. However, I suffered from some breakage in the top and one spot in the back. I was thinking that maybe it was because of the thermal wear and tear that I had done to my hair when I got it pressed before the texturizers. The hairdresser suggested it may be alopecia just to add more stress to my life. During the time between the next texturizer, I did not suffer any excessive hair loss and it didn't seem to be breaking anywhere, so I dismissed the alopecia claim and just chalked the initial breakage up to the use of too much heat used before the texturizer. I got my hair washed and conditioned in the meantime, and things seem to be going good. 9 weeks passed before I was ready for another texturizer. I went as long as I could. I felt good because it was good and nappy. I felt that I had a lot of new growth. I just knew when she was done with my hair that I would see a difference. But when she was done, it had broken off more in the top. I was stunned. I could not figure out what went wrong. The hairdresser hollered 'alopecia' again. I think the texturizer did it. Now I have these broken off spots at different places on my head (mostly the top)...I don't even want to go back to that lady anymore! I want to try to fix it myself. Can someone tell me where to start? I guess I should cut the ends of the broken places. I am a pure novice when it comes to this stuff, so I really need step by step instructions on how to fix this. I would appreciate any advice. I know that I am staying away from heat and chemicals for a while anyway.
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Replies:
Posted By: NychaelaSymone
Date Posted: January 30 2006 at 7:51am
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I'm so sorry to hear this. It sounds like the texturizer was too much. I'm no master at this subject but it sounds like your hair needs a break. You may want to 1st see a dermatologist or "hair doctor" and make sure you don't have any real damage to your folicles. Then I would suggest that you find a good stylist to cut your hair evenly and maybe you should consider wearing a sewn in weave for a few months until you have gained some growth and give your hair a break. Regardless of how you decide to give your hair a break make sure you: 1. don't allow anyone to pull your edges too tight 2. moisturize, moisturize, moisturize 3. take your vitamins and eat right I'm sure other will have something to add.......I hope everything works out for you......... |
Posted By: Pokahontas
Date Posted: January 30 2006 at 9:17am
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Definitely don't use anymore heat or chemicals for a long time. Like Nychaela said, I would see a dermatologist to see if there's something else going on. If you just have bad breakage it is not alopecia. If it's alopecia your hair will come out from the root and you will see bald or thinning spots. Don't go back to that lady. Give your hair a break and trim, trim, trim those bad ends off. Deep condition weekly and do protein treatments monthly, finish those with a moisturizing conditioner. ------------- |
Posted By: blackhoney112
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 3:46pm
They had an article about this in last months Sophiticates Black hair magazine that you might want to check out. ITA with the others girls suggestions...I would add daily scalp massages. I have thining spots at the front of my hair so I just started using WGO hoping to see some growth. Good luck! 
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Posted By: aseya
Date Posted: January 31 2006 at 4:09pm
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Hi SFC! I had something similar happen to me..I got the Japanese Straightening done and am still cursing myself for getting it done at the salon I went to. I should have run out of there immediatly when it didn't feel right, but I just thought 'no, I'm just nervous, it'll be fine..blah blah blah'. Well, about 5 hours later, I had gorgeous, blindingly shiny, straight hair. I LOVED it. But then, the second time I washed it, I was combing my hair and the comb was FULL of hair!!! I have NEVER experienced any kind of breakage in my entire life. My hair has been known to hold up to 7 processes at once. I once had relaxer, color, bleach, color, color,highlights, color remover, color. It's that strong. I was soo panicked. I felt my scalp and I had prickly bits all over the crown. The hair had broken off about a centimeter from the root. I almost cried, literally. Luckily, I was blessed with enough hair for four heads, otherwise I would be completely bald. I actually have been preparing myself for that. It's been almost a month and a half now. It's still breaking off. I've been using the treatment that the woman at the salon sold me (yes, she made me pay for it) and also Wella SP Hydra mask. It seems to help a bit. It's still breaking off, but its only about 3/4 to 1/2 of what used to break off. But I am VERY stressed and thank God every day for blessing me with so much hair, because you can't really tell that I've lost so much hair. I do love it though, it looks really great and is so low maintanance, but soo not worth the heart break. Anyway, I am going to go see my dermatologist and see if he can tell me whether I've permanently damaged the follicle or not, too. I can't feel the stubby bits anymore, and I had my other hairdresser check and she says the hairs have grown a bit and are blending in so I don't feel them. I was afraid they'd all fallen out! Sorry to to take up the post. I jsut wanted to let you know that I know how you feel and I'm here for you if you need a shoulder to cry on! |
Posted By: 1babydimple
Date Posted: February 01 2006 at 12:51am
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Sorry to hear about your hairdresser horror. That's why I stopped going over twenty years ago. But now let's see if we can help. If you don't think it's a skin disorder heres some help. You didn't mention what shampoo and conditioner you were using but I would recommend Aphogee shampoo for damaged hair and their Intensive Keratin Reconstructor. Now my hair is extremely dry and I personally can not blow dry and flat iron without breakage. So I wash - condition - towel dry (just sqeeze don't rub your hair) -SATURATE my hair with Organic Root Stimulator Olive - twist and let air dry. 1x a week. I say SATURATE because I put enough on my hair where you can see the white when I twist. After hair is throughly dry then I flat iron. The Olive oil moisturizing lotion leaves my soft after it dries and after I flat iron. Then before I style it ... well put it in a pony, I put wild growth oil on the ends. Just recently I used MTG and Polysorbate 80 to get my edges back in shape. You can see the pictures and read where to get the poly in my journals. http://public.fotki.com/1babydimple/ - http://public.fotki.com/1babydimple/
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