Wumi

Long story (not so) short:

Right now I have thick, coiled hair that is about 1.5in past collarbone length. I'm in Afghanistan, and I have been wearing the same style most of the 6 months I've been here. Usually its just a curly pony-puff kind of deal, and about 2 months I wore twists. My hair unfortunately has sustained a LOT of damage I'm trying to undo currently.

Most of the damage started when I joined the Army, and I used to have a pretty decent regimen I think. I actually was promoted, comissioned, and got promoted again since I've been in these past 2 years, and I went from having long kinky natural hair that I cut to a little fro, then finally grew back into wearing a pony-puff style. When it was really long (almost at my bra strap straightened) I could do a formidable bun without my ends sticking out. My edges around my face were long enough that they laid down, even though they frizzed. The problem was overtime I damaged it- I had let strangers flatiron it to death after I tried the Brazillian Keratin Treatment, and I overused spray gel to lay my edges down until they dried out and broke.

I made the decision a year ago to cut my hair off, so I went up to a chin-length bob. It was very uneven layers because the damage I cut away was mostly the top of my head. Some of the damage I didn't cut, and a few bits of my hair is crispy/straightened out.

Last year I deployed able to wear a ponytail again. I wore it everyday and it lasted in pretty good health well until some things changed. My leave-in conditioner was Out of Stock for some time (Lush Cosmetics R&B Moisturizer). The water quality depreciated (it's recycled, disinfected, nothing you want to drink). My patience ran out (brushing my hair is a big chore once it gets past about 6 inches long)... and I got super busy with my job.

Now my edges are broken, not thin but just broke off. My hair is dried out from roots to ends. The damaged ends I didn't cut last year are worse off than before. My curls just frizz and don't even clump together unless I over-brush them.

I really just want to have pretty waves/curls like I used to I used to know how to bring my hair back to life, but my options are limited and I'm worried the state is permanent.

-BTW I used to be al00fone on Youtube but I don't do vids anymore.

mhen76

Keep your chin up, Wumi. Your current circumstances are not permanent and neither is your dryness and frizz. I'm not familiar with Lush. Are there other conditioners available to you in the meantime? Does your hair respond well to oils?

Thank you for your work. Your efforts are benefiting all of us. I wish I had more to offer you back.

__________________
3B, fine, normal to low porosity
Modified CG since June 2010
HGs: FSG, anything with glycerin, Tresemme Naturals conditioner, Curls Like Us cloths, satin pillowcases.

Wumi

I have the conditioners that always used to work for me: Miracle 7 Deep Conditioner and ION Effective Care Treatment. I used to alternate between using them.

I have coconut oil but I haven't used it much because it solidified and it's a pain to melt it. Plus I never really know what to do with it anymore.

Gretchen

Welcome!

I would just working on getting your hair back in shape with good conditioners and no more heat treatments.

You might check out the hair boards; you'll find out lots of great info over there.

__________________
Gretchen
NaturallyCurly.com co-founder
3A

You are beautiful!

Wumi

Thank you Gretchen, I'm going to move on out to the hair boards, I forgot they did have a lot of stuff in there. Before I go, what does CG stand for? I forgot and its abbreviated everywhere

curlygirlyinVA

CG = Curly Girl, which generally refers to Lorraine Massey's book and approach of the same name, which advocate no silicones nor harsh detergents.

Wumi

thanks!