virtuenow
Well-Known Member
I had a hair Breakthrough and have to let you all know about it!
I had my hair examined under a microscope by a group of hair specialists called Komaza Care. I made this thread for those who are not following the Komaza thread (my original post). Once you provide a hair sample, they do the analysis, consultation and make recommendations on how to better your hair. I had my initial analysis in August and it was an overall bad report. I just had my 5-month follow-up and it was UNBELEIVABLE.
ETA: Hair stats: natural 4b/c high shrinkage
Part I: History and Initial Analysis:
Reason and background:
I decided to use the service b/c although I've been working on my hair for years, I still have periods of extreme breakage and have never been able to successfully grow my hair out (without it immediately breaking off). My hair in the front and crown seemed they had stopped growing for a year.
I went under weaves for a full year following that and felt I had things under control. Coming in, I thought I finally had my moisture game in tact- as I was deep conditioning regularly and sealing w/water n oil-- my main routine. I was expecting this analysis to re-confirm that I was finally on the right track-- perhaps to offer some small tweaks.
First Consultation & Analysis:
NOT THE CASE. I had my initial analysis and consultation in August. I have not shared my results until now b/c I was too upset and inconsolable after receiving these results. It was an all around bad report. Jenns first words to me were that my hair is "weak"..."fragile". She really dropped the bomb-- b/c I thought I had finally gained strength. See my post here: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/sho...&postcount=451
Okay. Next, weak root. Excuse me? After all these years I put focus and everything into my hair and this is what it gives me: weak hair? damaged roots? It hurt to hear these words. But this is the kicker, I also had some miniature strands. Hair that is so small it's microscopic growing from my root.
Next, a review of each hair strand under the microscope revealed splits everywhere...midshaft, end shaft, bubble spots (heat splits), weak points, frayed ends. Every variety of split, you name it, I had it. Slide after slide of horrible hair. I was in tears. Jenn was like, "are you crying"??? I'm like, and I can barely talk, "yes, continue"...as I hear my fate.
I also have high porosity hair-- this is confirmed by slides that showed my cuticles are very raised and some even frayed. If you remember, I didn't know whether I was high or low porosity b/c for years my hair would never get wet. Also, I always thought my strands were thick, but Jenn said they are medium. Okay, I still think some are thick-- I've seen wires come out of my head. Anyway- back to the story.
I go on to explain to her that I recently started a wig journey in an effort to "hide my hair" (I never wear my hair anyway-- at this point for year and a half). I do have pain in my scalp and some sores- not sure why but I guess not that big a deal. It was getting worse and worse day by day so that I couldn't touch my scalp sometimes. She was concerned my follicles had become inflamed -- and this is why some of my roots are small and producing smaller and smaller hair.
Here's a few pictures damaged hair:
Super split:
Ends frayed and split:
Heat Damged strand appears "exploded":
Sewing tear from an install (looks like needle went clean through):
Miniature strand
it also had heat damage and bubble spot on other slides:
Prognosis, Recommendations & Advice
Scalp:
First, Jenn was most concerned about the health of my scalp. She asked if I had any thinning...which I don't. Based on my description and the fact that I had some small roots, she felt I had folliculitis (inflammation of the follicles). Jenn had the perfect alternative treatment for that. She instructed me to immediately ditch the wigs. My scalp needed to breathe. Then advised me on different ointments for topical treatment (one version being an actual aloe vera leaf; and the other a special concoction). For internal, colloidal silver and astralagus were perfect.
Hair:
Based on everything, Jenn felt I had heat damagem some rips and tears from sew-ins, raised cuticles not properly holding/retaining moisture. Jenn advised that I should begin doing bi-weekly protein to strengthen my hair. I told her I already do weekly protein w/AO Gpb. She said that was not enough. I needed pure protein. She liked the fact that I lo-poo by diluting my shampoos in a color app bottle-- and that I focus on scalp cleansing. For a period I needed to shampoo scalp daily to rid of the folliculitis (about 2weeks).
Next, and very importantly, I was not using a leave-in. She stressed how important it was for me to add this step in and a sealant in. I needed jojoba or coconut oil to strengthen & seal my ends. Also, I should be spritzing my hair daily w/a moisture spritz. She encouraged the LCO [liquid, cream, oil] method (just not in those words) and how important daily moisture is.
Jenn gave nutrition recommendations very specific to me also. She liked my fitness routine, but felt I needeed to add a hair vitamin, continue daily vitamin, and add msm. There were some others, but these were the main ones; and also a good healty diet.
Despite my hair condition, Jenn was very hopeful and encouraging. I asked for recommendations on hair spritz, leave-ins, and oil sealant. I stopped using leave-in products b/c they never worked. She gave general recs, but since she was so knowledgeable I wanted recommendations specific to the Komaza Line. She suggested the Califia Moisture spritz, Califa leave-in, and Jojoba Hemp sealant. I also needed to cut a lot of hair.
I ran out immediately and made my purchases for hair vitamins, organic foods and good hair products. Also, I cut about 6-10 inches in the front and gradually less and less towards the back (about 1-2 inches). Also begin regular trims every 6-8weeks.
To be continued. This is going to be a long one; I can't do it all at once.
I had my hair examined under a microscope by a group of hair specialists called Komaza Care. I made this thread for those who are not following the Komaza thread (my original post). Once you provide a hair sample, they do the analysis, consultation and make recommendations on how to better your hair. I had my initial analysis in August and it was an overall bad report. I just had my 5-month follow-up and it was UNBELEIVABLE.
ETA: Hair stats: natural 4b/c high shrinkage
Part I: History and Initial Analysis:
Reason and background:
I decided to use the service b/c although I've been working on my hair for years, I still have periods of extreme breakage and have never been able to successfully grow my hair out (without it immediately breaking off). My hair in the front and crown seemed they had stopped growing for a year.
I went under weaves for a full year following that and felt I had things under control. Coming in, I thought I finally had my moisture game in tact- as I was deep conditioning regularly and sealing w/water n oil-- my main routine. I was expecting this analysis to re-confirm that I was finally on the right track-- perhaps to offer some small tweaks.
First Consultation & Analysis:
NOT THE CASE. I had my initial analysis and consultation in August. I have not shared my results until now b/c I was too upset and inconsolable after receiving these results. It was an all around bad report. Jenns first words to me were that my hair is "weak"..."fragile". She really dropped the bomb-- b/c I thought I had finally gained strength. See my post here: http://www.longhaircareforum.com/sho...&postcount=451
Okay. Next, weak root. Excuse me? After all these years I put focus and everything into my hair and this is what it gives me: weak hair? damaged roots? It hurt to hear these words. But this is the kicker, I also had some miniature strands. Hair that is so small it's microscopic growing from my root.
Next, a review of each hair strand under the microscope revealed splits everywhere...midshaft, end shaft, bubble spots (heat splits), weak points, frayed ends. Every variety of split, you name it, I had it. Slide after slide of horrible hair. I was in tears. Jenn was like, "are you crying"??? I'm like, and I can barely talk, "yes, continue"...as I hear my fate.
I also have high porosity hair-- this is confirmed by slides that showed my cuticles are very raised and some even frayed. If you remember, I didn't know whether I was high or low porosity b/c for years my hair would never get wet. Also, I always thought my strands were thick, but Jenn said they are medium. Okay, I still think some are thick-- I've seen wires come out of my head. Anyway- back to the story.
I go on to explain to her that I recently started a wig journey in an effort to "hide my hair" (I never wear my hair anyway-- at this point for year and a half). I do have pain in my scalp and some sores- not sure why but I guess not that big a deal. It was getting worse and worse day by day so that I couldn't touch my scalp sometimes. She was concerned my follicles had become inflamed -- and this is why some of my roots are small and producing smaller and smaller hair.
Here's a few pictures damaged hair:
Super split:
Ends frayed and split:
Heat Damged strand appears "exploded":
Sewing tear from an install (looks like needle went clean through):
Miniature strand
it also had heat damage and bubble spot on other slides:Prognosis, Recommendations & Advice
Scalp:
First, Jenn was most concerned about the health of my scalp. She asked if I had any thinning...which I don't. Based on my description and the fact that I had some small roots, she felt I had folliculitis (inflammation of the follicles). Jenn had the perfect alternative treatment for that. She instructed me to immediately ditch the wigs. My scalp needed to breathe. Then advised me on different ointments for topical treatment (one version being an actual aloe vera leaf; and the other a special concoction). For internal, colloidal silver and astralagus were perfect.
Hair:
Based on everything, Jenn felt I had heat damagem some rips and tears from sew-ins, raised cuticles not properly holding/retaining moisture. Jenn advised that I should begin doing bi-weekly protein to strengthen my hair. I told her I already do weekly protein w/AO Gpb. She said that was not enough. I needed pure protein. She liked the fact that I lo-poo by diluting my shampoos in a color app bottle-- and that I focus on scalp cleansing. For a period I needed to shampoo scalp daily to rid of the folliculitis (about 2weeks).
Next, and very importantly, I was not using a leave-in. She stressed how important it was for me to add this step in and a sealant in. I needed jojoba or coconut oil to strengthen & seal my ends. Also, I should be spritzing my hair daily w/a moisture spritz. She encouraged the LCO [liquid, cream, oil] method (just not in those words) and how important daily moisture is.
Jenn gave nutrition recommendations very specific to me also. She liked my fitness routine, but felt I needeed to add a hair vitamin, continue daily vitamin, and add msm. There were some others, but these were the main ones; and also a good healty diet.
Despite my hair condition, Jenn was very hopeful and encouraging. I asked for recommendations on hair spritz, leave-ins, and oil sealant. I stopped using leave-in products b/c they never worked. She gave general recs, but since she was so knowledgeable I wanted recommendations specific to the Komaza Line. She suggested the Califia Moisture spritz, Califa leave-in, and Jojoba Hemp sealant. I also needed to cut a lot of hair.
I ran out immediately and made my purchases for hair vitamins, organic foods and good hair products. Also, I cut about 6-10 inches in the front and gradually less and less towards the back (about 1-2 inches). Also begin regular trims every 6-8weeks.
To be continued. This is going to be a long one; I can't do it all at once.
Attachments
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super split.jpg -
split end.jpg -
heat damage.jpg -
needle split.jpg -
miniature hair.jpg
Last edited:
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I've been following the other Komaza thread and have been on the fence about purchasing the analysis but your experience has convinced me that getting an analysis will help tremendously with my HHJ.
spinning
