HOW TO: How to determine if you are suffering from breakage, or is it just shedding? Breakage and shedding are NOT the same thing! Shedding is a part of the hair growth cycle. We have to shed in order for new beautiful hair to grow. Breakage is what keeps US (including myself) from seeing longer length in our hair. In other words yes our hair grows! If our hair wasn't growing we wouldn't need to get "touch ups" using relaxers or color. So we do see new growth on the top of our heads BUT at the same rate the hair is growing our ends are breaking off making our hair appear to not grow and get any longer. (I hope I made that clear). You can determine if your hair is breaking 1) If the pieces of hair on the sink, floor, or on your clothes after combing is much shorter than the actual length of your hair. That is a sign of breage! 2) Look closely at those pieces of hair. If you see a WHITE blub on the end of the strand that is not breakage. That strand of hair came directly from the scalp, that is a shedded strand. If it does not have the blub it is breakage. Read more to find out how to stop breakage.
2. Protein Treatments: Adding protein such as karetin, amino acids, egg protein, wheat germ protein, etc. to the hair is EXTREMELY important to grow long strong and healthy tresses! Hair is made up of mostly protein. BUT our hair can become protein deficient do to the sun, heat styling, relaxing, perming, texturizing and color our hair.When protein levels are low the hair WILL be weak and break off. At the same time TOO MUCH protein will ALSO dry out the hair and cause it to break, this is called protein overload (SO BE CAREFUL). There are many protein treatment out there you can use to add strength back to your hair. I will list my fav when I list my favorite hair products at a later date.
WARNING: Remember after giving yourself a protien treatment you must follow by doing sometype of deep condtioner! This will balance the drying affect of the protein ( yes protein makes your hair strong but it will also dry the hair) so that you have enjoy stronger longer hair!
3. Trimming and Dusting Ends: Everyone's ends split. That just a fact. Its due to the enviroment, wearing the hair down too ofter (the ends of the hair tend to rub against your clothing), heat styling etc. There is NO SUCH thing as a "split end mender." The only way to get rid of split ends is to trim of dust them. If you do not trim/dust your ends periodically the split end will work its way up the hair shaft until it breaks off. Leaving you with breakage, frizz, and hair that does not get longer in length.
WHAT IS?: Trimming and Dusting?
Trimming is when you know your ends are split and damage and they need to be removed. When trimming the hair to should cut 1/2 to 1 inch of hair off the ends depending on how much damage your ends have. If you are relaxed, texlaxed, texturized, or have color treated hair i recommend you trim your hair every 6 to 8 weeks. I also recommend this for my natural sistas who put heat in there hair often. If you are natural and do not do heat style often I recommend trimming every 3-4 months.
Dusting is something you can do instead of or between trimmings. To dust your ends u should only cut off 1/8 to1/4 of your ends. This is just to keep your ends looking neat, and to get rid of any baby split ends.
I love your blog!!! I am learning a lot, this is very helpful since I am trying to grow my hair. Thanks for sharing your tips :)
ReplyDeleteyaaaaayyy! as long as i help one person its all good!
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