Noob, with a few questions...

Hi,

I'm x-posting my own message from another forum. It seems like this one is a little more active, and I'd love to get a range of different opinions.

I dunno if this is exactly the right place for noobs, but giving this a shot.

I haven't had a relaxer in a few months, and just decided that I want to give it a rest, to give my hair time to repair it's sad self and get stronger, since it's been breaking a lot.

I've been checking out the net and reading some interesting things, and some of it sounds pretty good as far as hair care, but I have a few questions:

1. How do you know exactly what type of hair you even have? A studied quite a few (lots) of strands of my hair that break off when I comb it, and they all look different to me. I'm pretty sure I'm in the 3/4 categories, but I dunno specifics. I actually lay the strands out on the table next to each other to look at them. Some of them have a "s" shaped curl at the root end, others seem like they have that "z" shape, and others are some weird I don't know what.
I saw this: "Hair Types - PLEASE NOTE that you won't know your hair type until your relaxed hair or other chemical is completely cut"

I'm not cutting my hair. Are there any other methods of identifying your hair type(s)?


2. I keep hearing people say that if you get your hair relaxed usually, but you stop getting it relax, then all your hair breaks off. Why?? Does anyone know of any scientific info to explain this? I would like to know specifically (because I'm nerdish) why someone's hair would come out if they didn't put the chemicals on it.

3. I think I just read somewhere that using stuff with proteins was not good for your hair? Did I read that right?? I can't even find it anymore...

Thnx for any insight on this.

You would know your hair type depending on your race, I guess if you dont have any new growths full developed...if your black more than likely its 3c/4a/4b...if your mixed 3a/3b and really mixed i gues :S 2a/2b....but hair types dont really matter you just have to find what works for you. You can pop out a strand and look @ the curl pattern...naturallycurly.com...has a good hair type system and their are many others...

Secondly, thats garbage!!!!!!! im transitioning and my end do not break keep it moisturized with a leave in conditer twice a week you can buy kinky-curly and try kimmaytube on youtube's leave-in conditioner recipe or like i said trial and error w/e works for you

Lastly, different ppl are protein sensitive so if you try something w. protein or henna, or eggs and it doesnt work for you then it's not for you, like i said it's w/e works for you, you will have to explor and try to find it...if your willing but you can look @ reviews

HOpe it help, good luck with everything!!!!!!! GOD BLESS!

Part of the reason that your hair is said to break off once you stop relaxing is because your hair s the weakest at the line if demarcation. This s where your relaxed and natural hair meet on the strand. HTH

Ahhh... demarcation... Hmm.

Thanks, BigLipTiff. And Purplec.

I've had hair that has broken off in the middle, but some of my hair also just breaks off at the scalp too, so I just figured it was getting tired of the styling and decided to give relaxers a rest. I'll see how I feel about it around May, June of next year. I haven't decided how far after that I'm willing to try natural. My main goal for wanting my hair to get strong was so that it would be healthy enough for me to dye it without damaging it too badly.
I know. I want my hair strong so that I can traumatize it. Yes, it's somewhat retarded. Yet, here I am...

Yep, as I said in my first post, I do think I'm 3/4 type. Most likely one of the 4s. And that link in my first post does go back to the hair-typing page at naturallycurly.com. It's just that the way they describe it there, it seems to me that my hair does a little bit of everything they're describing. That's why I was wondering.

I wouldn't have any way of knowing whether my hair likes proteins or not. I'm completely clueless on this. *sigh*

Hi Spook, Good luck on your transition.

1) I was pretty accurate at the 7-10 month part. The 4a corkscrews are pretty distinct and I don't believe they will change. The front kind of deceived me though. I have a guide on my blog if you're interested.

2) The line of demarcation mentioned, but I'm sure there's other reasons, I believe relaxed hair is weaker.

3) Protein is fine as long as you don't over do it. I'm not an expert on this so I won't go into it, I try not to use items that have high amounts of protein often.

HTH

I wouldn't have any way of knowing whether my hair likes proteins or not

The relaxed portion of your hair probably needs the protein because of what the chemical does to your hair. The natural part may not need it as much or at all and you will not know how it will respond to a particular protein until you apply it. Also, remember there are many types of protein: collagen. wheat, keratin, algae,etc. Something should work for you. Look at the ingredients in the product you are using, you may already have protein in your regimen.
I usually apply Aubrey Organics Blue Green Algae Hair Rescue Mask(heavy) or GPB Conditioner(light) as my protein conditioners. I follow protein treatments with a moisturizing rinse-out conditioner during the same wash session. I have also used TIGI Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Conditioner for a light protein. I have success with protein as long as I rinse it out, leaving it in makes my hair hard.

Also breakage is not always caused by relaxers. Washing & styling techniques(especially excessive heat) can also lead to breakage.

What products are you using now and what techniques are you using to wash, dry & style your hair? You may only need some minor adjustments to your regimen.

Hmm, thanks for all info, guys!

The only thing I know about my hair, is that it is on top of my head. The End.
So, with the exception of relaxers, I don't have any idea of how it reacts or doesn't to any particular thing. I couldn't even begin to recognize, aside from hair in my comb and in the sink, what a "reaction" even is. I also don't have a regimen. Pretty clueless!

I'll have to go and write down all of the stuff I use or have used on my hair, and also how I manhandle it whenever I do anything. Will post back here, asap!

The only thing I know about my hair, is that it is on top of my head. The End
LOL. I applaud your efforts to educate yourself.

LOL I'm completely serious.

So, I just took my dreads out (installed, not real) and am about to wash my hair, and remembered that A: I read somewhere that we should be using a clarifying shampoo and B. I hadn't listed my hair products.

To my surprise and pleasure, I discovered a gianormous bottle of Suave shampoo and condition that my aunt had given to me for no really good reason other than she had extras. Fine by me now, because honestly I don't have it in the budget right now to buy all these essential hair products that I'm reading about for transitioning. Between all the moisturizers, the protein products, the sealers and etc...that's a lot of stuff to acquire if you don't already have it. But the Suave shampoo is Clarifying! Nice.

Anyhoos, everything I use on my hair:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I haven't used that jojoba shampoo in YEARS, actually, it was just on the shelf. I started using the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil products when I started using their relaxer kit. I decided I like their shampoo, so I would just switch from (I can't even really remember what I was using before that. I think it was Pantene Pro-Vs and that Ion line of products from Sally's) previously used products to the Olive Oil stuff. Have been using it ever since, probably a few years now.
I've still got some shampoo left, but I want to try the Suave clarifying, so I'm going to start using that today I think.

Oh, other stuff I use just when styling:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

That's WaxItUp hair wax (), B&B Olive Oil Hair Strengthener oil, The Organic Root/Olive Oil's Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion, and Luster's Pink Glosser. Yeah, that Mountain Dew in the back there, but I don't put that on my hair. Not on purpose.


As for regimen, there isn't one. I wash my hair whenever I feel like it, no set schedule for it. I've never been one of those people who has oily or smelly hair. (if I workout more than usual, and it gets really sweaty, I'll rinse it with warm water down to the scalp and that does the trick every time) And until now I never thought to "wash" my hair in order to just give it moisturizers and proteins and stuff. Just to clean it.

When I do wash it, I use a little bit of shampoo, then as following the directions on the bottle, I condition it. Sometimes I set it with rollers, mostly air dry; sometimes I just comb it out and let it air dry.

I also don't often use the curlers, but I will curl and flat iron. I truly need a better flat iron though, after reading some of the dangerous info on them. Boooo...

I just opened that Jojoba shampoo, and immediately remembered why I only used it a couple of times. Wooo, strong. Seriously, is this stuff still viable?

I bought it from a place that specializes in "natural" and organic products.
I know oils are powerful, I use them with my henna and my mehandi, but they do still have a shelf life once mixed with other things, right? I mean, how long does any shampoo really last? I have no idea how long quality ingredients stay active. I know I've had this one for at least three years, if not four. Hmmm....what's the data on this??

Oh, also learned that I'm supposed to be trimming my ends regularly. Honestly, I've heard this before, but I have no real idea why this is supposed to promote hair growth.
I understand getting rid of damaged ends (which I need to research further cause I really don't know what is meant by "split" in regards to my own hair), but I don't understand why removing the tip of a strand of hair at the bottom, which had nothing to do with the hair root (??) would cause your follicles to want to push more hair through your scalp. What? Somebody help me...

trimming my ends
I was going to refer you to another discussion, but I saw that you found it.

that Jojoba shampoo
I looked up the ingredients and it contains yucca. I have another shampoo (not an old bottle) that has yucca ( the only ingredient that I had not smelled previously) and I am sure that is what gives it an unpleasant odor.
3 years might be pushing the envelope.

Wow, maybe my conditioner was the wrong type. I tried the condition over-night thing, and my hair has been sorta hard ever since. I thought the conditioner I had was a moisturizing one, not a protein one. It was on CurlyNikki's list as a recommended product for conditioning after henna: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted. I think I mixed it with a little olive oil

Also, my shedding it just maddening. Tons of my hair comes out every time I do something to it. Okay, maybe not tons. But LOTS of strands. I don't have the breaking strands, so much as the entire strand coming out. And a bunch of those minuscule tangles (I guess they are what people are calling the single strand knots) getting wrapped and tangled into a several strands so much that I have to find them all over my head and pull them apart which literally takes hours and often scissors. The other night when I washed it, I was so annoyed at all the hair that came off and stuck to my hands that I actually took a picture of it on the sink. Just in case I have a point when it decides to stop coming out and I can look back and think, 'remember when I hated touching my hair? glad that's over!" When? It's been shedding regularly, but much worse it seems since I did that overnight condition.

What the hell is this.... *sigh*