Help Mireille, I need your help. I am a woman in my 40s and of mixed descent (Hindustani/Indian/Creole). In my younger years I had beautiful thick braids that my mother combed until I was in high school, which was until I was about 16.
I really didn't have any trouble with it, my mother would comb my hair in the morning before she went to work and all that while I was still in bed, she always made a ponytail for me, she made the pony by twisting my hair around a pencil and pinning it in place. and when she was done she would tie my head with a cloth so it wouldn't wrinkle.) Now that I write this I know that my mother is the best mother in the world.
When I was 16, my sister gave me a hairdresser appointment as a birthday present, I was allowed to relax my hair, which I thought was really cool, because everyone did it and had straight hair. My hair didn't like relaxing and started to fall out and break.
After a year I switched to (wet) curly which my hair responded better to and started growing again. Only I had problems with all that gel I had to put in, but my hair enjoyed it and grew long again. Unfortunately my hairdresser went back to his native country (curacao) and I had to switch to another hairdresser who used other stuff for my hair, my original hairdresser used mild and this one used regular, which my hair said no to. After the first one I didn't go again, but the damage was already done.
I didn't relax my hair anymore but started to iron it, and you guessed it, it came out of my head in strands. I then switched back to curly but dry, so that my clothes stay gel-free and my hair isn't a glitter ball. My hair is now back on my back, but very thin at the ends. Only my regrowth is always thick.
But I sit fascinated every time going through your website and now I want to go back to MY hair. But I find it so difficult. I read on the site that you have to cut your hair to become natural again. I think that is such a waste, is there another less drastic way. I have already ordered a few products to help nourish my hair (regrowth), so that it stays strong.
Do you have any tips for me what to do, preferably no scissors. How can I continue to treat my hair (which now consists of two parts) so that I do not get hair loss.
Honey
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Dear Honey,
Aiaiai, what you describe is so recognizable. Almost the hair tour of every black woman from the diaspora. Believe it or not, I myself have had curly. See photo, LOL. Yes, dry and wet. I have to laugh about it now. That stuff, mi gado, that we all don't do.
I also have to be honest with you that my hair has indeed grown quite a bit with curly. Just like you, it was going well until you stopped. As long as you keep your hair moist with all those products and don't comb it, it's ok. When I had enough of that hassle, my hair broke all over. So I know exactly what you're talking about.
My roots were also quite thick, but at the same time my hair was very brittle. Right at the point where my natural curls changed to the chemically created curls, the hair broke. Even more than when I relaxed and that is because the curls of a curly hair tangle very easily. I literally pulled clumps of hair from my head. That is bad.
A good sign is that your new growth is thick. That promises something. I can imagine that you don't want to cut. Many black women have trouble with that, but I have to tell you honestly that it is very difficult in the transition phase not to let your hair break. I think your hair is thin because it breaks off at the regrowth.
To be honest I don't know if this will help you because when I think back, my hair literally came out in clumps with roots and all and all I could do was stare pitifully at the clumps of hair. The good news is that this phase will pass as your own frizzy hair just comes back. Then it is important that you take good care of the new hair growth so that you can keep your hair length as much as possible.
Apply Silky Shea Hair Butter to your hair well before you get in the shower and then comb your hair in the shower with a large, wide-toothed comb. This really minimizes hair breakage. The Silky Shea works as a deep conditioner under a warm shower and it also ensures that the moisture stays in your curls. Similar to what the Culry products did. Dry your hair by wrapping an absorbent towel around your head, do not rub your hair with a towel because then you have to start over.
If you just want to comb dry, use No More Knots , the best detangler you will ever find.
To make your hair stronger I can highly recommend the Detox Conditioner . After one use you will notice that your hair not only feels stronger, it also looks a lot better. If you wash weekly with the Going Natural Herbal Shampoo , condition with the Detox and only comb your hair when it is wet you will see a difference after a few weeks. I hope you will mail the result.
Success!
