HEELLPP!!! HAIR BREAKAGE!

[Hysi]

Ladies please help. Any inout would be greatly appreciated. I have been having some serius hair breakage for the last couple of months. I do not know what is causing it. Could it be stress? Or doing too much to my hair since joining this board? Too much protein? But everytime I wash I have climps of breakage, mostly no bulbs. It comes in long hairs, short hairs, broken hairs, goups of 11 whole strands!!!!!! When I comb, I have broken hairs all over the place. I do not know what to do, but is it has anything to do with stress, then this is adding fuel to the fire. I heard about an ayurvedic shampoo that was good for breakage even in persons with stress being a factor and it has stopped the breakage. IH9- I think? Well I ordered 3 btls, the condish and the oil. Anyone heard of this?? Or can give any advice??PLeaseeeee. Thank you all in advance. HY

 

[smwrigh3]

I think you should to a strand test...

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/278612/the_fine_art_of_protein_and_moisture_pg8.html?cat=69

It help me out alot!

Eta: this is sistahslick's article..

 

[Missi]

what's is ur current regimen & rountine? and do you protective styling?

for me: I'm an ayurvedic junkie but the most I do to my hair is rollerset 2x a month.

 

[Stella B.]

You might want to try a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any build-up first, so your hair can absorb more moisture from your daily moisturizers, and conditioners. I went to whole foods, and purchased a shampoo and conditioner without parabens, sodium laureth sulfates, and was made from natural ingredients. When I recently had excess shedding from the root, I went to the bss and bought some garlic shampoo (Queen Helene), and some porosity control (moisturizing pack) that balances out the ph of the hair. It really did slow down the shedding. The porosity control idea came from a recent post by a LHCF member. I am so grateful to her for posting this. If you do a LHCF search, I'm sure you can find it. Start thinking about what you've done differently over the past month or two that could be causing the damage. It could be caused by an internal problem (diet, nutrients, medication) or an external problem (product, regimen). Just try to analyze it, to find out what the problem could be. Then think about specific solutions, and give them a try.Try not to worry about it. Remember to keep it simple, and if your hair's health dosen't get better within 2 weeks, then you might require medical advice from a dermatologist, or hair specialist.

 

[achangedlife]

I second porosity control, this has been my routine for the last couple of months and my hair is in much better condition. I alternate between porosity control shampoo/conditioner, and the Alpha 5 in 1 corrective shampoo and mendex conditiner, all made by roux. My hair has gotten stronger without having to worry about the proper balance between protein and moisture.

 

[TonicaG]

I agree with Missi. Before we can assess the problem we need to know what your regimen is. What products are you using, how often are you using them, etc.

 

[Hysi]

I've always been a pj and since joining this board- I'm a crackhead! But my hair can normally take anything as far as prods goes. I shampoo 1x week and dc with every wash. At sistaslicks advice, i clarified and normally i always use porosity control, but she concluded that maybe I needed stay away for a while and use kenra's moisturizing shamp&condish. OMG! I discovered and actual bald spot!!! And o goodness -- I see white- Bulbs! Help me, Lord- I'm about to pass out! I've been using the miconazole/sulphur mix on that area (baldie) and alternate almond oil, olive oil or coconut oil on scalp. I will get my regimen to you asap; it's just so hard to say b/c I've been "trying" others out and stepping away from my normal routine. I don't really attribute it to diet b/c I mostly eat healthy- I have an all natural skin and health boutique, (NC, LE) but I will say this: I've had an extremely stressful situation since december. My father, who I thought was superman and the healthiest man in the world- never ever been sick, had a sudden silent heart attack and ended up having a quindriple bypass. I didn't think it affected me as much as it did, but I guess I just got too afraid of something worse. I think I've been in denial about the stress (who me? I never stress- I help everybody else deal- I smile in a battle, yeah-um hum) but I'm sure that got my white blood cells jumping like crazy.
This IH9 is an ayurvedic prod and is coming straight from India and thus will take about 3 weeks- has anyone ever heard of it? Update: I cowashed tonight and noticed less hair loss than usual. I've certainly been praying hard. If my hair wasn't thick to begin with, i would be bald with all the loss I've been having. Thank you so much ladies for coming to the emergency room with me. But the Doc hasn't released me yet so don't leave. Please any and all tips welcomed.

 

[TonicaG]

Wow Hysi!

You've got some hiccups in your life right now, but you did say that you were praying and I applaud you for that and know that this too shall pass!

For starters none of us are professionals, we all use different products in which we provide our opinions on. I've learned to 'do me' and not jump on every bandwagon because everything isn't for everybody. We've all experienced trial and error and we share those stories.

There are so many factors to consider with what's going on w/ you. How often are you clarifying and are you following up w/ a good moisturizing shampoo AND moisturizing conditioner? You shouldn't be clarifying unless you have product build up. How frequently are you using protein? My theory is 'less is more' but you are going to have to assess what you're doing so you can make the adjustments.

Calm down, breathe, take your time and do you!

 

[Hysi]

TonicaG- that is spund advice. I beleive it to be one cause of the culprit. I vow to not jump all over the place anymore.

Stella B- I'm definitely going to try the Queen Helene Garlic and see if that helps. And in taking your advice and really trying to sort out what could have happened I have another thought on the possible suspect: In August 08 I went to a new stylist for the first time and let her put a relaxer on my hair. She use Affirm. I asked her if she rinsed it out good b/c it just seemed a little quick. But she assured me that she did/ Anyway I began noticing hair breakage more than usual. This has continued and obviously gotten much worse. Could it be that on subsequent times after that my relaxers were damaging my hair b/c I never allowed it to "repair" from that incident? I relax about 10-12 weeks stretch. And my last relax I tried Organic Roots Olive Oil relaxer. I noticed it was "bone straight" but only for the first week. Then it was almost as if I neer relaxed. Should I stay away from relaxers for an even longer stretch or do you think it 's safe to relax at my next interval b/c I really need one. I'm a puff baby. Just another thought.

Thanks to all ladies who've responded to my plea for help.