Im trying to grow out my hair, but there's something SERIOUSLY wrong with it!
NewlyNaturalG
Registered Users Posts: 50
in Growing out
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO A RELAXER FOR HELP AGAIN. But I don't know what else to do. So to start from the beginning, I wore weaves for about 2.5 years to grow it out. Once I was all natural I stopped. But my hair is so dry! I thought it was the weaves but my hair is literally irreversibly DRY. No matter what I do to it it's DRY. It rejects all product, I think even water! This is why I thought my hair was low porosity but when I run my fingers through a strand of hair, there is TONS of resistance! And it feels sort of squeaky, and DRY, and brittle and UGH. I put a strand into a glass of water and once I completely submerged the strand in water (using my finger) it sank. I tried the Aphogee Protein Treatment once, it didnt do anything of course (considering my hair rejects EVERYTHING.) I tried the DIY yogurt deep co, I tried the Egg/Mayo deep co, I tried drugstore/beauty supply deep co, I tried the roux porosity conditioner, i even tried the baking soda treatment and NOTHING WORKED. Why does my hair feels like this 
It should feel like cotton-so soft and luscious. But it just feels like straw! Even oils don't do a thing. Organic Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, they dont do anything! I tried shea moisture anti-breakage deep co and curl enhancing smoothie and yet again, NO long term difference. My hair feels like crap and products like shea moisture conceal it for a few seconds and my hair is back to "normal." I deep co with a plastic cap and heat too! And I sleep with a satin bonnet! I've NEVER straightened my hair, so it cant be heat damage. I'm just about all natural (except a TINY bit on the ends) and like 21 months post relaxer. If my hair grew the way it should it should be about 10.5 inches long, but it's only about 6 inches long I'm really trying to grow my hair out, BUT I NEED TO GET IT HEALTHY FIRST. Any tips on how I do that? Thank you!
UPDATE: I have used the As I Am Coconut Cowash and deep conditioned with Coconut Oil and Honey (This was all I had that was moisturizing and not protein). And I sealed with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smootie (There was still some coconut oil on my hair so I put the smoothie on top of that). My hair STILL had a LOT of resistance and had that plastic/squeaky feeling when I rubbed it! My hair dried really fast (or at least had that DRY feeling really fast) and I forget if that means I have High or Low Porosity. The Cowash detangled my hair but my Bentonite Clay Wash DEFINITELY defines and detangles much more! I'm going to continue with the Cowash once a week to see if anything changes and my moisture problem is solved. I still need a better deep conditioner and Leave-in though. Any more tips? Thank you!
It should feel like cotton-so soft and luscious. But it just feels like straw! Even oils don't do a thing. Organic Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, they dont do anything! I tried shea moisture anti-breakage deep co and curl enhancing smoothie and yet again, NO long term difference. My hair feels like crap and products like shea moisture conceal it for a few seconds and my hair is back to "normal." I deep co with a plastic cap and heat too! And I sleep with a satin bonnet! I've NEVER straightened my hair, so it cant be heat damage. I'm just about all natural (except a TINY bit on the ends) and like 21 months post relaxer. If my hair grew the way it should it should be about 10.5 inches long, but it's only about 6 inches long I'm really trying to grow my hair out, BUT I NEED TO GET IT HEALTHY FIRST. Any tips on how I do that? Thank you!UPDATE: I have used the As I Am Coconut Cowash and deep conditioned with Coconut Oil and Honey (This was all I had that was moisturizing and not protein). And I sealed with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smootie (There was still some coconut oil on my hair so I put the smoothie on top of that). My hair STILL had a LOT of resistance and had that plastic/squeaky feeling when I rubbed it! My hair dried really fast (or at least had that DRY feeling really fast) and I forget if that means I have High or Low Porosity. The Cowash detangled my hair but my Bentonite Clay Wash DEFINITELY defines and detangles much more! I'm going to continue with the Cowash once a week to see if anything changes and my moisture problem is solved. I still need a better deep conditioner and Leave-in though. Any more tips? Thank you!
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Comments
Could you describe what you're currently doing? Like, how often do you wash it? What products are you currently using? How are you styling it? Isn't it mostly the dryness that's the problem? I really hope people on this site can help you out.
Lowpoo: Trader Joe's TTT Shampoo
Rinse Out: Yes to Carrots, AOHR, Aubrey Organics Rosemary Peppermint
LI: Yes to Carrots
Stylers: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, LA Looks Sports, Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Mousse
HTH
Sent from my LG-LG730 using CurlTalk App
Cleanse: SM Moisture Retention or Suave Naturals shampoos
Co-Wash: Suave Naturals, L'Oreal EverCreme or EverCurl
RO/Detangler: Tresseme Naturals:nemo:, GVPCB
Leave-In: SM Curl Enhancing Smoothie, TN, GVPCB
Styler: EcoStyler, GF Pure Clean gel, KCCC
Just discovering my hair likes protein! :dontknow:
:wav:
Oh alright I don't use this site too often so thank you for the tip! And Every two weeks I wash my hair with bentonite clay mixed with apple cider vinegar. Then I deep co using mayo,honey, and olive oil (i don't use egg anymore because it leaves stuff on my hair). then I moisturize with shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie and seal with coconut oil. Of course all of this is done in vein, considering none of it does anything.
I use bentonite clay as a "shampoo" isn't that clarifying? I don't know. But I need help with finding a product that makes my hair ACCEPT products because nothing works! I don't think water works either
Well you could say that. But I also added mayo to that. It didn't work either
Ooh, I really agree with this. You probably should try cutting protein. Protein and moisture ar e different, and if your using too much protein it could be sabotaging you moisturizing attempts, like putting mayo in your deep treatments. That means cutting the mayo and the smoothie and see what your hair does. TN is good. Protein can be really good for your hair, and might have made it look good before, but too much can make hair rough and hard. You can't just wash it out either. You have to give your hair a break from it so it wears off.
Also, you can put a protein free conditioner in a spray bottle with water and use that to moisturize between washes. Personally, I don't find oils moisturizing enough by themselves. I need a well formulated conditioner to help keep my hair moisturized, then I seek that in with oils. The smoothie is more of a sealer for me, and I have to use a conditioner under it.
Lowpoo: Trader Joe's TTT Shampoo
Rinse Out: Yes to Carrots, AOHR, Aubrey Organics Rosemary Peppermint
LI: Yes to Carrots
Stylers: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, LA Looks Sports, Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Mousse
What do you think of Aussies 3-minute miracle. I've only heard good things about it but I'm not sure of the ingredients. And oh no I didn't know mayo had protein I though it was only eggs and yogurt that's why I stopped using it as well. And my problem is also finding a conditioner my hair will accept. My hair doesn't accept product it seems. Any conditioners in mind? Hmm and yeah I think I'll start using my smoothie as a sealant. Thank you!
Sent from my N861 using CurlTalk App
Hang in there and try to keep things simple!
Current Routine BAQ henna 1/month Leave-in OH Hair Dew Cheapie Conditioner Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing
Old Stand-bys extra-virgin coconut oil Protein AO GPB; Moisture AO HR Style AOMMJ – Kept for troubleshooting.
Waiting to try extra-wide curlformers SD treatment H&S Clinical Strength
Oh no! Just about all of my products contain coconut oil. Could you link the specific Tresseme Naturals conditioner you're talking about please? I would like to research it more. I hear a lot about it!
This is the Tresemme: Natural Nourishing Conditioner | TRESemmé
This is the Sally's: Generic Value Products - GVP Conditioning Balm: Compare to Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm
Yeah, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news re: coconut oil at the moment. I think coconut oil is great, but your hair needs a break – and you need a basic routine so that you can troubleshoot what might be going on. Maybe your hair is protein-sensitive, or maybe it's just over-proteined just right now but will love more protein later. Curly hair is such a journey! :compress:
Current Routine BAQ henna 1/month Leave-in OH Hair Dew Cheapie Conditioner Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing
Old Stand-bys extra-virgin coconut oil Protein AO GPB; Moisture AO HR Style AOMMJ – Kept for troubleshooting.
Waiting to try extra-wide curlformers SD treatment H&S Clinical Strength
I imagine the cowash isn't moisturizing enough for your hair. It looks like it is suppose to take the place of a shampoo and not a conditioner. I would get a well formulated conditioner. Coconut oil and honey probably aren't absorbing into your hair enough.Usually cowashes are light and meant to clean the scalp.
Lowpoo: Trader Joe's TTT Shampoo
Rinse Out: Yes to Carrots, AOHR, Aubrey Organics Rosemary Peppermint
LI: Yes to Carrots
Stylers: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, LA Looks Sports, Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Mousse
I'm not sure we can totally know that without seeing her hair.
Lowpoo: Trader Joe's TTT Shampoo
Rinse Out: Yes to Carrots, AOHR, Aubrey Organics Rosemary Peppermint
LI: Yes to Carrots
Stylers: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, LA Looks Sports, Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Mousse
From the way she's describing it, it sounds like High Porous because my hair is like this.
My understanding was that high porosity hair absorbed moisture really well and needed a lot and low porosity hair didn't absorb moisture well. Are you sealing in moisture after conditioning?
Lowpoo: Trader Joe's TTT Shampoo
Rinse Out: Yes to Carrots, AOHR, Aubrey Organics Rosemary Peppermint
LI: Yes to Carrots
Stylers: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, LA Looks Sports, Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Mousse
High porous hair absorbs moisture, but it absorbs it too well. I seal it with coconut oil I never of it feels rough it technically doesn't mean it's not moisturized.
Oh, that makes sense. I don't know a lot about porosity because my hair is really middle of the road in that regard.
Lowpoo: Trader Joe's TTT Shampoo
Rinse Out: Yes to Carrots, AOHR, Aubrey Organics Rosemary Peppermint
LI: Yes to Carrots
Stylers: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, LA Looks Sports, Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Mousse
When it's in the normal then your hair is okay. High porous hair snt bad bugloss pours hair is
She's already done a protein-heavy routine, so let's see if some moisture will balance things out.
Sealing with an oil (I'd avoid coconut for now) is probably a good idea, too.
PS. My hair was very porous when I started CG three years ago (!!), but my new growth since then is normal porosity (or maybe even lower, because I henna my hair and that spackles things over like a heavy duty protein treatment).
Current Routine BAQ henna 1/month Leave-in OH Hair Dew Cheapie Conditioner Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing
Old Stand-bys extra-virgin coconut oil Protein AO GPB; Moisture AO HR Style AOMMJ – Kept for troubleshooting.
Waiting to try extra-wide curlformers SD treatment H&S Clinical Strength
Would jojoba oil be a better alternative oil for sealing and moisturizing? And what deep conditioner would you recommend for a 4b-4c low porous hair?
Yeah I'm going to try putting more moisture. All this time I thought I was putting moisture but instead I was putting protein. Any deep moisture conditioner recommendations? And so is like hair you hair high porous and half low porosity? Is it difficult to manage. Or did all you hair including new growth become low porous?