Black in Arizona! Help!!!

Zikomo7 · 07-01-2012, 10:50 PM

Hi everybody. This is my first post. I'm going to come out of braids in a few weeks and am going to try to stay natural. I've tried in the past but gave up/ ran to the flat iron once my style came out too crazy. But I'm going to stay with it this time.
I have 4a hair. Unlike most African American women, my hair is naturally soft and pretty easy to detangle. The problem is that it breaks easily and is fragile. It wasn't always this way, but after moving to Arizona, my hair lost a lot of it's strength.
Most hair products focus on softening and detangling and it's frustrating because I don't have that problem. I drink a liter of water a day and steam my hair every week, but my hair is still very fragile. I just want stronger hair that doesn't break! Do I have to leave Arizona for that??

Rimi · 07-01-2012, 10:59 PM

Is the air in Arizona typically damp or dry?

How often do you deep condition?

Zikomo7 · 07-01-2012, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rimi

Is the air in Arizona typically damp or dry?

How often do you deep condition?

Arizona air is extremely dry. I haven't been deep conditioning while in braids but usually I shampoo, steam with conditioner, rinse, apply a leave in, and blow dry

multicultcurly · 07-01-2012, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rimi

Is the air in Arizona typically damp or dry?

How often do you deep condition?

It depends on where she lives, but guessing by OP's complaint, she lives in southern Arizona which is a desert & has very little humidity.

OP - you need protein as your hair is fine. You may need moisture occasionally the desert sun will burn your hair. Look for products with a high protein amount.

Rimi · 07-02-2012, 12:13 AM

yes, try PTs. also, you blow dry with braids in? what is the purpose of that?

Wumi · 07-03-2012, 03:17 AM

I don't think this is a matter of your hair being soft (and I honestly don't think most black (African American, whatever) people don't have soft hair. I think the word you are looking for is fine

By the way your description sounds like you have fine hair, not necessarily softer. When you have fine hair and you do too much moisture or too many braids, or too much blowdrying it is going to get spongey or stretch and snap/ break like what you are saying it is doing. By the way, if you are in Arizona it is dry out, you may want to consider stopping the shampoo and addnig a conditioner that has protein to your regimen, maybe a regular rinse out conditioner wtih protein everyday could make a difference.

BTW I have fine and coarse combination hair. The fine hair I have has never survived any kind of heat tool or braids the same way my coarse, thicker hair has. It will get mushy and snap off so I have had to stop using heat to let it grow out. Protein conditioners help, not the strong treatments, but a daily use of some kind of light protein overtime has helped.

SaraNoH · 07-03-2012, 10:03 AM

hey, look on the bright side... the monsoons seem to be starting early this year which means regular 54 degree dew points for the next 2 months at least! Finally we can use glycerin products...

I agree with everyone here, protein sounds like a good idea. You could try using LA Looks Sport Gel as a styler, since it has some protein and is a sun protectant.

Zikomo7 · 07-03-2012, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rimi

yes, try PTs. also, you blow dry with braids in? what is the purpose of that?

Oh I meant that's what I do when my hair isn't in braids