I need help with a problem section, so I'm posting some really embarassing pictures

lcl0706 · 07-09-2012, 08:01 PM

Ok ladies, I hate to admit this is what this part of my hair looks like naked, but its not getting any better. Believe it or not, under this front section mess I'm hiding some nice curls! Anyways, this is my left front section, the longest part of my angled bob. The right looks pretty much the same. The back is curly, obviously not as defined as with product, but not this bad.

With just KCKT even, and some scrunching & air drying, these sections will form long ropey spirals. They will, however, be the first (most days only) parts of my hair to dissolve into fluff by the end of the day too LOL. This is co-washed only, finger combed, & left to air dry. Within 10 minutes they were bone dry, but its been 3 hrs since my shower & the back is still kinda damp. There's a pic, then a pic of the kind of frizz it gets, then a pic of a 1" to 2" section to show how thin & fried it still looks. It doesnt feel stiff or strawlike, but its not overly soft either.

I use protein daily, & do PT's. My hair never feels what I'd think over proteined feels like. Do these parts need more moisture? I havent done a DT in AGES & last time I did one my hair just felt kinda grimy afterwards. Based on the contrast between these sections & the back & underlayers, I have a hard time believing these are healthy.

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Corrina777 · 07-10-2012, 05:49 AM

My hair can't get enough protein. My last PT included 3 packets of gelatin, Effective Care, NPF and CHS Pure Silk Protein. I blow dried it into my hair and still didn't get that straw feeling. But I did notice that adding more moisture has helped a lot. As an experiment, a few days ago I didn't use any protein at all in my routine and was amazed at the curls I got. Since then as much as I still love protein I make it a point to use either a rich RO or a rich LI every day (I've also been sealing with mineral oil for the past week or so and my hair is loving it).

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lcl0706 · 07-10-2012, 08:19 AM

See I'm afraid to use rich LI's. I used too much suave naturals one day as an LI & had a disgusting hair day. It was grimy feeling. That seems to be my biggest problem with "deep" conditioners or richer LI's or RO's - none of them seem to leave me feeling soft & moisturized, just gross. Like I havent washed my hair in a week, build-up-y, won't curl, that kind of gross. I always figured that meant I was OC'd. My favorite thicker one is CJCR but still, I gotta rinse it out within 1 or 2 mins or it feels nasty. And my sealing experiment with grapeseed oil was a nightmare! Maybe I'm just not using any of this stuff right.

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Corrina777 · 07-10-2012, 08:28 AM

Well, I started with very small amounts of LI and added as I saw my hair was ok with it. The way I apply is: I emulsify LI in both hands. With my head flipped over I smooth a bit on the underlayers (nape of neck area). I start closer to roots here because I'm prone to tangles. Then I apply to the other side of my hair (the part facing toward my head as I'm flipped over). I start about halfway down the length so it's not too close to the roots. Then I rake a few times from different angles and scrunch to re-shape.

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lcl0706 · 07-10-2012, 10:07 AM

I donno. I am so frustrated. Today my front sections feel like straw. But any time I've tried anything besides KCKT as an LI I've ended up grimy & weighed down. I'm gonna have to do something different than what I am though.

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Corrina777 · 07-10-2012, 10:21 AM

Have you at least noticed that the new growth in the problem areas is in better shape than the length?

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dresdendoll · 07-10-2012, 10:25 AM

If it feels like straw and is doing that, my guess would be too much protein. That's what my hair did when I was using too much, but I think mine just doesn't like it altogether. Hmmm...KCKT and Suave Naturals aren't too moisturizing. If you don't use a moisturizing leave-in, maybe consider a moisturizing rinse-out that you only rinse 50% out?

lcl0706 · 07-10-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrina777

Have you at least noticed that the new growth in the problem areas is in better shape than the length?

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Yes. I have an inch or so (sloooowww growing hair) of new growth at the roots that has never seen a flat-iron in its life. It is in better shape than that.

Today is the driest the ends of that mess have felt in a while... I dont know why DT's always made my hair feel weird but maybe I'll try another one tonight.

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WurlyLox · 07-10-2012, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrina777

My hair can't get enough protein. My last PT included 3 packets of gelatin, Effective Care, NPF and CHS Pure Silk Protein. I blow dried it into my hair and still didn't get that straw feeling. But I did notice that adding more moisture has helped a lot. As an experiment, a few days ago I didn't use any protein at all in my routine and was amazed at the curls I got. Since then as much as I still love protein I make it a point to use either a rich RO or a rich LI every day (I've also been sealing with mineral oil for the past week or so and my hair is loving it).

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Be careful - mineral oil can build up and eventually block moisture much like silicones . . . .

Corrina777 · 07-10-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WurlyLox

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrina777

My hair can't get enough protein. My last PT included 3 packets of gelatin, Effective Care, NPF and CHS Pure Silk Protein. I blow dried it into my hair and still didn't get that straw feeling. But I did notice that adding more moisture has helped a lot. As an experiment, a few days ago I didn't use any protein at all in my routine and was amazed at the curls I got. Since then as much as I still love protein I make it a point to use either a rich RO or a rich LI every day (I've also been sealing with mineral oil for the past week or so and my hair is loving it).

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Be careful - mineral oil can build up and eventually block moisture much like silicones . . . .

I use a gentle sulfate shampoo weekly so buildup really isn't an issue. But I think a few other women have been having great luck with mineral oil even with co-washing (I believe Jas76 posted a thread a while back- that's what made me curious to try it).

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wavymom · 07-10-2012, 01:44 PM

lcl, have you ever tried coconut oil in your hair? Just as with any oil, some love it, some hate it, and probably some are in between, haha. But my hair LOVES coconut oil. I smear some through my dry hair until it looks greasy, let it sit in there for a couple of hours, then wash it out in the shower with a low-poo. It is supposed to be one of the only (or the only?) oil that actually penetrates the hair shaft. I find it gives me great moisture without leaving any oiliness or residue-feeling behind afterward. I just do it every now and then but could probably handle even more since I have so much protein incorporated into my regimen now.

Sounds to me like at least your front parts need more moisture. So I'd say try figuring out what your hair can handle. My favorite LI is actually Tresemme Naturals moisturizing condish, just a tiny amount. I can also do Shea Moisture curl & style milk as a leave-in. Almost anything else leaves me feeling a bit gunky like you describe. For thicker RO, have you ever tried Biolage conditioning balm / GVP conditioning balm? It's nice and thick with good slip, rinses out well, and if you use it just occasionally I don't think it would OC you. I'd put it somewhere between a heavy RO and a lighter DT.

HTH.

lcl0706 · 07-10-2012, 03:49 PM

I have the Biolage Conditioning balm, I don't know what this elusive "slip" thing is everyone talks about because I've yet to find a conditioner that gives me that, and it always leaves me feeling gunky too

The only time I've ever thought I knew what slip was was the 1st time I tried KCKT on very wet hair, and I still use that because of the silky feeling, and TIGI Curls Rock amplifier tends to make my hair feel slippery. As far as conditioners go? Forget it

My ION Effective Care doesn't feel slippery upon application but upon rinsing out it leaves my hair feeling the best of any conditioner I've ever tried.

Funny you mentioned coconut oil because I've been reading up on it and picked some virgin coconut oil today at the local hippie-owned shop on the street, but I'm absolutely terrified to try it after my nightmare grapeseed oil adventure.

I want to try to make FSG too, since I never have, but I bought BB's FSG once from her etsy store, slathered it in like I read you were supposed to, and it did nothing but leave me stringy and limp. Have yet to understand why it's so many people's miracle product? Maybe I need to make my own and try it again.

ETA - How much SM Milk do you use as an LI? I have that product, and the SM curling soufflee was a winter HG for me, but I'd tucked both away for summer. I know they both have coconut oil - oh, I also have the coconut & hibiscus curl & shine hold spray or whatever the hell they call it. It smells delish!

Clearly, from my before's and after's, I've made huge progress, but I think I'm still missing something in the protein/moisture balance. I've yet to find that "aha!" moment, and it's obvious from my naked hair. It just looks like fried fuzz and lacks all definition and by looking at it you'd never know it's capable of curling as much as it does once it's styled.

wavymom · 07-10-2012, 10:59 PM

I want to try making FSG too... I recently bought the flax seeds and that is as far as I've gotten! Ha.

Maybe just test a portion of your hair with the coconut oil? I'm not a huge fan of oils in my hair, but coconut oil is totally different for me. Maybe try it when you don't have to be anywhere for the next day or something, in case you have a hard time getting it out.

I just use a pea-size amount of the curl milk as a leave-in (I rotate between TN condish, SM curl milk, and KCKT as my LIs). I like the curl milk because it feels like it actually soaks into my hair over time. It does have less slip than the other 2 products though (I know, there's that word...). I have also used larger amounts in my hair before bed on dry hair, and then shower as usual in the morning. It gives me extra moisture and has a bit of protein in it too. I also like using it to help tame frizzies when I pull my hair back into a ponytail or braid.

I wonder if you should try backing off on protein for a bit and seeing what happens? I'm not saying your hair doesn't love protein, but just to see what happens without it (especially to the front of your hair), to get a better feel for where you can sit with your protein / moisture balance? Not sure, the whole balance thing is tricky, and just when you think you have it figured out, something changes!

lcl0706 · 07-12-2012, 11:29 AM

Slept with some coconut oil in last night, it cowashed out easily this morning. Still going easy on it though. Been using more moisture the last few days. This pic is pre-sotc but this is a good shot of whats growing in at my roots, my inch of virgin hair lol, and how those roots dissolve into weak curls in that problem front section. Wish my hair grew faster! They look better styled but even styled, these parts are like a different head.

Disclaimer: i was not driving when I took this LOL, just got to work.

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wavymom · 07-12-2012, 03:07 PM

Hooray, I am just glad my coconut oil suggestion wasn't a total disaster, like a 'it took me days to get it back out' disaster.

From the pic, I'd say your hair looks pretty darn fabulous!

lcl0706 · 07-12-2012, 09:33 PM

No it didnt take days to get it back out lol

That pic is with a ton of FSG gooped in my hair & not sotc'd yet but those roots kill me. That's my little girl curly sue curl pattern there & my length just...isnt. And tonight in the shower I was really noticing how bad those sections feel compared to the back. I dont know what to do with them. More moisture? I guess. Today they were a tangled ratted mess & once I got out of the shower they really did feel strawlike & tangled, while the rest of my hair felt pretty silky. Maybe I just totally need to kill these front sections with moisture. Totally opposite of my protein mindset of the past few months! I dont know when I expect the moisture approach to feel like it's making a difference, because tonight it didnt matter how much Biolage Conditioning Balm I gooped into them, they still felt like s**t. Time to break out the CJCR again I believe.

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