Holes my hair strands!?

quest88 · 08-19-2010, 08:29 PM

Hey folks (i'm new yay)...I have a random question. Has anyone noticed holes in your hair strands? I've been seeing them for quite some time now (2-4 or more in one hair strand!). In fact i just yanked out a sucker & when I looked it up I came across this article

http://thegrumblebunny.vox.com/libra...-of-holes.html

So...does anyone else have this? Do you think my hair may have suffered some kind of damage?

Shellye · 08-20-2010, 06:25 AM

In the past year I've noticed I have a lot of breakage, but relatively no split ends. When I realized my hair strands were splitting in the middle, I did a little googling and found this article:
http://www.naturalhairgrows.com/hair-breakage-TN.html

There's this medical article too that offers some helpful tips on dealing with it:
http://www.drgreene.com/qa/trichorrh...rrhexis-nodosa

The doctor above recommends using protein cream rinses and conditioners. I've started using AOGPB every wash day and I haven't had any protein overload problems. I've noticed less breakage, but it's not completely eliminated. I think my hair splitting may have been magnified by conditioning overnight too. I loved how unnaturally soft it would leave my hair all week, but I think it ultimately made my hair too weak and caused breakage.

Neems · 08-20-2010, 01:13 PM

Wow, I thought I was the only one with this. I noticed it in my hair a few weeks ago. It's especially noticeable when I fall asleep with conditioner in my hair. I'll definitely try and get more protein. And to think I was staying away from it because I thought my hair didn't like it.

quest88 · 08-20-2010, 03:12 PM

Shellye...thank you. I came across a similar page (sans picture) and I thought "ohhh nooesss...not my hair" sigh, guess I know why I always have breakage. I've never conditioned my hair overnight though.

Is AOGPB something in the aphogee line? I've used aphogee keratin 2 min reconstructor & nexxus emergencee but I didn't notice much difference....maybe I need to be more consistent.

Shellye · 08-20-2010, 07:07 PM

Quest, AOGPB is Aubrey Organics' Glycogen Protein Balancing line. I just use the conditioner:
http://www.aubrey-organics.com/Produ...?productid=001
A lot people don't like the original GPB's earthy scent, but I do. Wholefoods sells different scents, like Rosemary Peppermint, if you aren't a fan of the original GPB's scent.

The medical article recommends not shampooing often so I got the Aubrey Orangics protein + strengthening cream rinse to try cowashing again:
http://www.aubrey-organics.com/Produ...?productid=803
I tried cowashing for a while a few years back, but I just couldn't get past the build up. This time was no different. I used the rest of the bottle as a pre-shampoo treatment over the last month and it softened my hair and prevented stripping from the shampoo. It worked well, so I got another bottle.

I do enjoy being a product junkie, but I don't know if a product will ever be the final solution to splitting in the middle of the strand. I've always had breakage but I think a combination of overconditioning, twisting a little too aggressively and wearing the same exact style all for six months really stressed my strands. This summer I've been trying to switch up my hairstyles and be gentle with my hair while I'm doing so. And definitely no more overnight conditioning for me.

I'm still struggling with this too...

quest88 · 08-20-2010, 07:46 PM

I will keep AOGPB in mind! I just ordered the elucence moisture balancing cond. which I've been eyeing for a while & I think ill try the nexxus again too (at about $15 a pop, I might as well give it another shot lol).

I still feel a little hurt about the breakage...especially since I never saw it as a relaxed-head, but I have a feeling that the torturous experience of getting tight micros earlier this year might be the reason why I'm seeing a lot more of those scary hair strands.

Overall...I try to be low maintenance (braid & moisturize ea. night)...usually pinned back with hair combs during the day...sigh. We'll see what happens! Improving my diet probably wouldn't hurt either.

Thanks again Shellye

! I hope that less breakage is in our near future.

forbee · 08-27-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quest88

I will keep AOGPB in mind! I just ordered the elucence moisture balancing cond. which I've been eyeing for a while & I think ill try the nexxus again too (at about $15 a pop, I might as well give it another shot lol).

I still feel a little hurt about the breakage...especially since I never saw it as a relaxed-head, but I have a feeling that the torturous experience of getting tight micros earlier this year might be the reason why I'm seeing a lot more of those scary hair strands.

Overall...I try to be low maintenance (braid & moisturize ea. night)...usually pinned back with hair combs during the day...sigh. We'll see what happens! Improving my diet probably wouldn't hurt either.

Thanks again Shellye

! I hope that less breakage is in our near future.

Wow, this thread has been helpful for me! I had micros earlier this year too and my hair does do that odd breakage stuff. I have noticed that my regimen is moisture-heavy with practically little protein, so that may be the problem. Thank God for threads like these

NoodleNaps · 10-07-2011, 08:41 AM

Ok so I'm bumping this thread because I recently noticed I have this problem (and posted about it in the 4a forum). Just wanted to find out how it turned out for you ladies. Did you see an improvement after an increase in protein? Did you have to chop much hair off to control the problem? I'd appreciate any feed back. Thanks in advance!

Yltnelis · 10-07-2011, 07:14 PM

I have this same problem. Unfortunately, I can't provide any tips or feedback, as I just recently started noticing mine. I'm a little tentative about trying the suggested protein treatments because I'm protein sensitive. I might give the GPB a try and just follow up with a really moisturizing deep treatment. I don't think I'll go the route of cutting my hair just yet, because some of my hair has holes up and down the whole strand. I'm also noticing lots of SSKs. For now I'm just taking a wait and see approach.

NoodleNaps · 10-08-2011, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yltnelis

I have this same problem. Unfortunately, I can't provide any tips or feedback, as I just recently started noticing mine. I'm a little tentative about trying the suggested protein treatments because I'm protein sensitive. I might give the GPB a try and just follow up with a really moisturizing deep treatment. I don't think I'll go the route of cutting my hair just yet, because some of my hair has holes up and down the whole strand. I'm also noticing lots of SSKs. For now I'm just taking a wait and see approach.

Hi Yltnelis, in my 4a thread, CocoT posted some advice that was quite opposite to the protein suggestions, and I thought you might find it useful:

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlta...nd-splits.html

I, however, noticed recently I wasn't getting enough protein, as my strands were snapping uncontrollably, and immediately improved about 90% as soon as I introduced light protein treatments to my regimen. I very rarely get the 'mushy hair' people talk about when their hair is overmoisturised, I have quite different symptoms when I need protein.

That's why I'm trying to figure out now if I need to up the protein or up the moisture. Hopefully one of the ladies who noticed this problem a while ago can tell us how the suggestions worked out for them.

Hope you're able to sort out your issue, its so annoying, isn't it?

Yltnelis · 10-08-2011, 03:44 AM

Hi NoodleNaps, thanks for the link to the 4a thread. I can relate to a lot of what CocoT said. I may end up having to cave and do another big chop, but I'm trying to keep that as my last resort.

It is very frustrating. I finally felt like my hair was on the right track, I was building a regimen that seemed to be working for the most part, and I'm even seeing some re-growth in areas where I'd been having some breakage issues. Then out of the blue I started noticing the holes. I was actually wondering if I may have caused the damage back when I used to detangle my hair in the shower. I was losing so much hair doing that, even though my hair was wet and loaded with conditioner. I've switched to detangling on damp hair after I wash and condition, and I lose much less hair that way. I still have my trouble spots that need extra attention, but the reduction in breakage has been great. However, I used the shower method from the time I cut off my locs at the end of last year until just a couple months ago. So I'm thinking that may be the culprit.

It's so much trial and error and trying to remember what I did or didn't do. Like you said, annoying! I'm wishing success to us both with getting this figured out.

Shellye · 10-19-2011, 09:14 AM

Hey ladies, I stumbled on this thread again.

I haven't had much success with solving my mid-strand splitting problem. I switched from AOGPB this summer to try Joico K-Pak and Moisture Recovery for a while, for protein and moisture respectively. I figured my hair was still splitting without cones, why not try cones again? The only difference I can tell after using Joico for a few months is the artificial fragrance smell, so I may go back to AOGPB after I finish the Joico. The Joico doesn't seem to be harming my hair and makes it soft like AOGPB, so I'll definitely keep it up until I finish the bottles. Joico is also always on sale at the Walmart salon too, so I may just continue to use it. Who knows.

The only lesson I've learned is that my hair splits and it's probably just my hair, whether moisturized and protein-packed or not. And it seems like a lot of ladies have this problem and everyone is using a wide variety of hair care techniques - cones, no cones, low heat, no heat, twists, braids, buns, henna, etc. And I'm sure most members of this forum have a great hair care routine. Maybe splits are just a part of some kinky heads of hair?

I also think it's a matter of perspective. After the big chop your strands are finally long enough to closely examine. And you hold your strands super close to see the tiny splits, which look like a mile long at that range. You cut above the split and you realize it's barely a half inch! In reality, you can probably get away with a half-inch trim without any tears.

I read on LHCF forum awhile ago and a girl said she just ignores the splits. I thought that was a great idea. When I think it's time to trim, I try to trim them all off, but if I find more (which is inevitable for me, it seems) I try not to sweat it.

Good luck!

jaylosonatural · 03-17-2012, 07:21 PM

i know i am super late but i read an article about holes in hair and basically they made it sound like it was just a part of having curly hair...? i can post the article below..they didnt go into deep details but it made me feel a little better..and I have taken exceptional care of my hair and i am sure most of us will say we have went above and beyond what most would think is good enough...but her explanation was,

"Curly hair has holes in it. Those holes are what make the hair turn over on itself causing it to curl. When moisture gets into those holes, it causes the hair shaft to expand and that’s what causes frizz."
Holey Moley! My hair is full of holes « The Bunny Hutch

It kind of makes since...i dont know if you have ever been decorating and had some helium balloons, you know that ribbon you tie to the balloon to make it look all purdy? well, i can relate it to that...when you run the scissors over it really fast, it curls really tightly, and it kind of splits it sometimes ...like i said, she didnt really go into a lot of details, but it made me rest a little easier having some kind of explanation for it...and i am NOT cutting my hair...lol

BlackAngelPlayah · 03-18-2012, 07:18 PM

I have those holes too. And SSKs. And they are gonna stay right where they are. I mean... What they gon' do?

Jen

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