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Hey guys, I haven't posted in awhile but I've been lurking.
My hair has been driving me crazy lately and I don't know what to do with it. It's getting longer, but it's also getting frizzy, and it's thick, and very HOT! Also lately I have been shedding ALOT of hair. After I brush I have been finding a ton of hair on the sink. But the main thing that's driving me nuts is that the longer it gets the more tangled it gets. It's very hard to get the tangles out. I have to spend several minutes trying to get all the tangles out with my fingers before I can even brush or comb it. Even after all of that I'm still pulling and breaking ALOT of hairs when I brush. No matter how careful I am. I just don't understand why it has started to get so tangled. I haven't been doing anything diffirently than I normally do. I wash every other day with Aussie moist shampoo, and also use Aussie moist conditioner. And after that I use Infusium 23 leave in conditioner. Anyways, I don't know what to do. This is the first time I have seriously considred cutting in the 20+ months I have been growing. Would a trim help with the tangles? Or maybe a diffirent conditioner? Or some kind of special brush or comb? I really,really don't want cut. I'll try anything. I'm open to all suggestions.
Thanks
Well ive noticed more hair shedding lately too, I think maybee its the time of year (?) If I were you, was seriously thinking of cutting then I would probably just have a trim, about a inch maybee. After all, its worth seeing how it is like that. I wouldnt cut it, youve gone a long way now and it would be a terrible waste. Keep going! Things usually look better in the future.
I would get a mirror and have a "long sit down" with my hair. Look at all the ends and see if they're splitting. Go through your hair, pulling random hairs up so you can see the entire hair. Look and see if it's damaged/split.
It may be that you're not being carefull enough while combing/brushing your hair and are causing damage, which would account for the frizziness.
Maybe try some serious conditioning. Some use mayo on their hair. Aussie has a "3-minute miracle" that is very good, they also had a product in a "hand soap-like" bottle that I haven't been able to find lately. It was called intense therapy, or something like that. It had a "minty" feel on the head, and did a wonderous job of conditioning.
But, many times it comes down to what you're eating. A bad diet will show in your hair. You need to eat lots of proteins, and take a good multivitamin.
Maybe just condition, and while hair is damp, comb/brush. Then put your fingers through your hair to make loose curls (as frizzy hair likes to do when it's wet) and don't brush/comb once it's dry. This will give more curl, no frizz. This is what you're supposed to do when you have a perm to prevent frizz.
My suggestion is that the first step is to switch your choice of products. I've found that on my hair Aussie products are absolutely horrible. Aussie makes my hair frizzy and completely unmanageable.
Secondly, use a combination of leave-ins. I'd suggest using (works for me anyway) a combination of Rusk Deep Shine (you can get this at a styling salon), All Ways Oil Moisturizer (available at Wal Mart), and SoftSheen BreakThru (also available at Wal Mart). Using just a little of each, apply to damp hair. Suave makes a good spray on leave-in. After applying the "cocktail" of stuff, spray some of the Suave leave-in.
Also, when combing (I use a brush myself), start at the bottom and work your way up. This eliminates the tangles easier and you won't find yourself yanking on your hair.
Wash less! Wash twice a week and no more unless you really have to. I wash Sundays and Wednesdays only, and sometimes skip the Wednesdays.
Bottom line is that you need to experiment and find the right way to care for your hair. Those of us who have had long hair for 25 years know what works and what doesn't...but we didn't always know. We had to learn too.
Just be patient and remember that sometimes long hair requires a little time and effort. A few bad days here and there can be expected. I've had bad hair WEEKS!
Thanks for all the replies. I think I do need to check for split ends as Sherri suggested.. I haven't checked in a while. Whether I have split ends or not, I think I am going to get the ends trimmed. Most of the tangles are at the very ends of my hair, and it's pretty uneven. So, I think a trim is probably a good idea anyway. I think I will also start washing less and see if that helps. I think it's time for some deep conditioning as well. So, I'm not just going to give up and cut it. Maybe there's still some hope for it.
Thanks again.
It gets REALLY tangled after sleeping on it. What can I do to help prevent tangles while sleeping? I've tried sleeping with a ponytail but it doesn't really help much since all of my hair won't stay in the tail. Thanks.
Satin pillowcases are best from what I hear. I've never felt my hair catching on a cotton pillowcase, but "they" say that it does.
I get a LOT of tangling at night. I have a cat who sleeps ON my head, and there is a 3 year old all over me. It's tangled more some nights than others. I leave my hair down and drape it up the pillow. I just spray it down with detangler (which is basically the same as a leave-in conditioner...I compared the ingredients) until the comb goes through with minimal/no pulling on days I don't wet/wash/condition it.
You could also just condition it in the morning before combing it.
are you having ALL this trouble...all of a sudden?
Has the weather changed???
Sleep in a tail...or use hairpins...or a hairnet?
Actually yes the weather has changed. I guess that's atleast part of the problem. It went from being in the 30's and 40's to 60's and 70's. And it has been very humid here. I guess the humidity would explain the frizz. And I just read an article in a magazine a few minutes ago that says humans like dogs tend to shed more hair when the seasons change. So I guess that explains the extra hair I've been losing.
I have tried sleeping in a tail, but it doesn't help much. Haven't tried hairpins or hairnet though.
Buy some Aussie Slip. They sell it here and I'm sure you can find it where you are. The bottle reads:
"Nothing is more damaging to hair than pulling at wet tangles. Our formula, wiith Austrailian Candeldula, eases tangles & adds shine by smoothing the outer layer of the hair. And it's clean-rinsing of the hair for no build-up. So kiss your tangles good-bye!"
I would AT LEAST try it, were I you, so that you can at least say you tried everything before getting a trim.
Cheers.
- Brice
One thing you may want to do is a clarification rinse, this might help with the tangly ends. I use the Aubrey Organics Sage&Rosemary hair rinse. Typically I'll wash hair as usual, then apply rinse, allow to sit for minute or two, rinse, followed by a conditioning. You could also use an apple cider vinegar rinse, I forget the proportions but it's something like 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water, use in the same way between washing and conditioning.
Another thing I've found helpful is combing or brushing prior to showering. This gets any loose hairs out so they won't tangle as I wash.
hope that helps some,
s