Dear Tia,
First let me say that I absolutely love your hair!!!
I also love protective styles and prefer to wear my hair that way. I find updos very elegant and feminine. I usually do 2 strand twists and wear them up in some sort of braided updo and then tuck in the ends (no pins).
However, I have an issue: whenever I take down the updo after a week, I realise that my ends are super dry. It's frustating because I feel like I'm loosing all benefit from the protective style and not retaining any length.
When well moisturised, my ends immediately curl up and yes I have a lot of single strand knots. You've said in one of your posts that it can lead to breakage? I thought it was simply the way my hair is and there's nothing I can do about it.
You have said that you prefer buns. I've always been a little afraid of buns because it requires ponytail holders and other accessories. Aren't does bad for our hair?
Thanks in advance for any advice you may have for me. I've been stuck at shoulder length for the past 2 years (it seems).
Little info about my hair :
very coily,
frizzes a lot (but I don't mind that at all),
shrinks a lot,
prefers not to be combed,
a nightmare to detangle if not well deep-conditionned, loves water, loves conditioners,
hates shampoo on the length however my scalp MUST be clean otherwise it itches horribly.
One last thing: I have to confess that I don't really understand how to "seal in the moisture". Wet hair - put your moisturizer and add a butter on the ends? Or let air dry a little then add butter to the ends?
Sorry for the long message.
Blessings from France
I ANSWERED:
Hey FRANCE!! Boujour - That's all the French I know :)
Let's get to it... the issue that you are having with your dry ends is not new. I had the same problem when I first started doing updos. To remedy the problem I started focusing more product on the ends of my hair but that did not work because I wasn't using water-based product. In sum, I would suggest to apply a generous amount of a water-based product with your hair and then sealing that in with an heavy oil or butter. Please choice the product that your hair prefers. To work with the curling (which I have also) apply the product right before the moment you are ready to pin, tuck, secure, etc your ends. Also applying the product in a smoothing motion will help calm down the curl and decrease the occurrences of SSKs.
It is true, I do prefer buns. I lessen the chance of harm happening to my hair with the ponytail holders by using holders that do not have metal clasps. I also do not put them on too tight. They are secure but lose enough where I don't even feel them. Other options for holding the hair for buns include using pantyhose or satin covered ponytail holders.
I remember when I was stuck at shoulder length. Then I read about length retention. I used to dye my hair a lot so I could tell my hair was growing because the dye was growing out. The problem was the ends of my hair. So that was when I experimented with Chicoro's method, moisturizing & sealing, and protective styles. So far so good :) As far as sealing is concerned, the way I prefer to do it is to apply a water-based product and then immediately apply an oil/heavy or cream-based product.
Final note: All the advice I have offered is based on experience - some successes and some failures. That's how we learn. Now what works for my hair may not work for yours so please feel free to tweak anything stated in this post so that you get the most benefit from it.
Have some tips or alternate advice to offer? Please comment