Protective style for weak hairline

ajoke

Well-Known Member
I would like your help in finding a protective style that at once looks nice and also helps me protect my weak hairline.
I have done braids, sew-in weaves and recently tried cornrows under wigs, but my hair line keeps growing very thinly and falling out. Because of this I tend to cover that area with a band, mostly silk/satin bands fashioned out of scarves, but that seems to thin the area even more. The rest of may hair is growing very nicely, but I really can't enjoy it.

I am 4a natural, with NL hair. If I were permed, I'd probably just get bangs, which would reduce the pressure on this part of my head, but being natural.......
I just can't face exposing my thin hairline and I feel so unattractive nowadays, when I don't have a wig on my head. I do realise that if I am not careful, my hairline stay this way or get worse, hence the cry for help.:cry:
 

Charz

Sinister Minister
Two-Strand Twists with no hair added. Do not pull them back in a pony tail or pull on them in any way, including adding hair.
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply. The problem is that anytime I do two strand twists, my hair tangles really badly at the ends. I always feel its safer for my ends to do single braids.
 

Charz

Sinister Minister
Thanks for the reply. The problem is that anytime I do two strand twists, my hair tangles really badly at the ends. I always feel its safer for my ends to do single braids.


Have you used oil on your ends to seal them?
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
yes, I've tried castor oil, and shea butter. I keep trimming the ends because I think maybe the tangles are happening because I need a trim. It hasn't gotten better though.
 
OP I could have written this thread myself. I am interested in seeing what kinda response you will get. I too have a horrible hairline and love my natural hair but do not feel comfortable wearing it out without the headband.
 

Galadriel

Well-Known Member
Bumping!

I don't know if this is much help, but my hairline thickened up by wearing bangs and not wearing styles that required me pulling or brushing my hair back.
 

Tif392002

New Member
what do u wear under the wig? wig cap?... and are the corn rows tight.... i have been babying my edges for about 4 months now... i use castor oil mix with profective temple balm and 3 times a week lightly i mean so light grease with sulfur 8 ... and they are thrving... i also moisturise them with water nightly.
 

Vintageglam

New Member
yes, I've tried castor oil, and shea butter. I keep trimming the ends because I think maybe the tangles are happening because I need a trim. It hasn't gotten better though.

Hey ajoke

You a UK chica? Naija girl?

The two of us could be hair twins....:yep:

Transitioning 4a/b here. I have also had the full gamult in my hair. I stopped weaving and braiding in 2006 when it finally occured to me I had no hairline left....:rolleyes:

I then flirted on and off with relaxers for about 3 years and then then gave that up and weaved for a few months. I got good growth from the weaves but my edges were not having it.

So finally now its bunning or very loose cornrows and wigs for me.

I honestly think wigs are your best bet. Unfortunately I would advise that you either get a wig with bangs or a half wig and then sit them BEHIND and NOT on the hairline where the friction will further weaken your hair line. Also DO NOT USE THE CLIPS. Instead get some bobby pins, dip them in oil and use these to secure the wig and move the position of the clips EVERY DAY.

Also other things you can do to help your hairline is:

1. Be patient (think how long you abused your hairline for so why are you expecting miracles overnight).
2. Be gentle with this area do not maipulate or comb it when dry. Also be ultra gentle with massages in this area. No point in trying to grow it and then pulling out the immature baby hairs with rough handling.
3. Try a mixture of MT & Castor oil on your hairline.
4. Co-wash this area reguarly and keep it clean. My rationale for this is that part of traction alopecia is the infection that results from the trauma of hairs being pulled out (similar to the situation with ingrown hairs after waxing). So you need to bring the health of these follicles up to par to get some growth in the future. This is why the Castor Oil (which is a natural antiseptic) and the MT (which will strengthen the baby hairs) works. Be mindful of initial shedding though.
5. Think about taking a B Complex/ Biotin and upping your protein intake ans generally being on top of your diet. The reason I say this is bc when I saw my Dermatologist she remarked that weak hairlines are often seen in coincidence with poor diets as well as poor haircare. She also noticed that a lot of AA women with weaker hairlines often were Aneamic or had some other underlying hormonal issue which pre-disposed them to hair loss.
If this is a long standing issue you may want to get a general check-up/ blood test to make sure you are not nutrient deficient in anyway.

Anyway sorry for this being so long and HTH's
 

loolalooh

Well-Known Member
Cosign on twists or braids w/o extensions and not pulling them back. I make my twists bigger and looser along the hairline, which seems to help. That may or may not work for you.

Cosign on half wigs. Full wigs butchered my hairline.
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
OP I could have written this thread myself. I am interested in seeing what kinda response you will get. I too have a horrible hairline and love my natural hair but do not feel comfortable wearing it out without the headband.


Yeah I was sort of sure I wouldn't be the only one with such a problem. I am keeping my fingers crossed we can find a way out!
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
Bumping!

I don't know if this is much help, but my hairline thickened up by wearing bangs and not wearing styles that required me pulling or brushing my hair back.


I guess you are a relaxed head, otherwise, please, tell me how you wear bangs on natural hair!!!!
 

gracefulee

Member
I'm so glad you asked this question. I'm having the same issue with my edges. I feel like I'm taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back. They grow a little bit then break right off. I've been using castor oil and mega-tek for two weeks but haven't noticed any significant growth yet.
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
what do u wear under the wig? wig cap?... and are the corn rows tight.... i have been babying my edges for about 4 months now... i use castor oil mix with profective temple balm and 3 times a week lightly i mean so light grease with sulfur 8 ... and they are thrving... i also moisturise them with water nightly.

The cornrows are not tight, I do them myself, and I usually cornrow the hairline loosely in a 'brush'. The last couple of weeks, I've been wearing a full lace wig, but securing it with pins. I have not been wearing a wigcap, I find them too tight and I get headaches. I have been wearing a thin smooth hairband , but not too low on my hairline. I take the wig off immediately I get home. I use castor oil and tea tree oil andsometimes rosemary oil and shea butter on my hairline.
 

Vintageglam

New Member
ajoke you may also want to consider half wigs with mono lace top/ font so that you can brush the hair forward and over your sides and therefore take pressure off your edges. This is what I do. My favorite brand at the moment are the "It's a wig" lf's which I wear as half wigs.

They are the best quality synthetic lf's hands down.
 

Galadriel

Well-Known Member
I guess you are a relaxed head, otherwise, please, tell me how you wear bangs on natural hair!!!!

Nah, I'm a natural :grin:!!!!

I wear my bangs out whenever I press/flat iron (which isn't that often) but if I'm wearing a wash n' go or braidout then I "style" my bang area to blend with the longer sections of my hair or secure them with a bobby pin.
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
Hey ajoke

You a UK chica? Naija girl?

The two of us could be hair twins....:yep:

Transitioning 4a/b here. I have also had the full gamult in my hair. I stopped weaving and braiding in 2006 when it finally occured to me I had no hairline left....:rolleyes:

I then flirted on and off with relaxers for about 3 years and then then gave that up and weaved for a few months. I got good growth from the weaves but my edges were not having it.

So finally now its bunning or very loose cornrows and wigs for me.

I honestly think wigs are your best bet. Unfortunately I would advise that you either get a wig with bangs or a half wig and then sit them BEHIND and NOT on the hairline where the friction will further weaken your hair line. Also DO NOT USE THE CLIPS. Instead get some bobby pins, dip them in oil and use these to secure the wig and move the position of the clips EVERY DAY.

Also other things you can do to help your hairline is:

1. Be patient (think how long you abused your hairline for so why are you expecting miracles overnight).
2. Be gentle with this area do not maipulate or comb it when dry. Also be ultra gentle with massages in this area. No point in trying to grow it and then pulling out the immature baby hairs with rough handling.
3. Try a mixture of MT & Castor oil on your hairline.
4. Co-wash this area reguarly and keep it clean. My rationale for this is that part of traction alopecia is the infection that results from the trauma of hairs being pulled out (similar to the situation with ingrown hairs after waxing). So you need to bring the health of these follicles up to par to get some growth in the future. This is why the Castor Oil (which is a natural antiseptic) and the MT (which will strengthen the baby hairs) works. Be mindful of initial shedding though.
5. Think about taking a B Complex/ Biotin and upping your protein intake ans generally being on top of your diet. The reason I say this is bc when I saw my Dermatologist she remarked that weak hairlines are often seen in coincidence with poor diets as well as poor haircare. She also noticed that a lot of AA women with weaker hairlines often were Aneamic or had some other underlying hormonal issue which pre-disposed them to hair loss.
If this is a long standing issue you may want to get a general check-up/ blood test to make sure you are not nutrient deficient in anyway.

Anyway sorry for this being so long and HTH's


No longer a UK girl, live in Germany now. Yep, naija for life :) Thanks for being long post, more tips that way :)

Thanks for your very good tips! The massages always seemed a bit suspect to me, especially as my hairline particularly on the right side is really sensitive. I guess I am so impatient because I have not used chemicals on my hairline for over 2 years. I had braids that might have been too tight at the hairline in december though....
Yeah, a check-up is not a bad idea....
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
ajoke you may also want to consider half wigs with mono lace top/ font so that you can brush the hair forward and over your sides and therefore take pressure off your edges. This is what I do. My favorite brand at the moment are the "It's a wig" lf's which I wear as half wigs.

They are the best quality synthetic lf's hands down.
I will check that out. Where do you buy them. You a London girl?
 

Vintageglam

New Member
Maybe I should try a full head weave with bangs...


No I will be honest and say I wouldn't advise this. Even if the tracks are not right on the edges, you are keeping your hair in a traction based style for a long period of time which puts stress on your edges. Add the extra weight of water on wash days and alll that brushing of the weave to remove tangles which is again pulling on your edges.

Just get a half wig and MT, JBCO and DC like crazy 2x week.

I am also convinced that diet. exercise and general health are HUGE factors.

Give your hair 6 months and report back.
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
MT is megatek right? Where do you get yours? My list for my next London trip is growing by the moment!
 

darlingdiva

Well-Known Member
I just want to add that I wear my satin bonnet over my ears in the house so that there's no tension on my edges.
 

Lady S

Well-Known Member
The cornrows are not tight, I do them myself, and I usually cornrow the hairline loosely in a 'brush'. The last couple of weeks, I've been wearing a full lace wig, but securing it with pins. I have not been wearing a wigcap, I find them too tight and I get headaches. I have been wearing a thin smooth hairband , but not too low on my hairline. I take the wig off immediately I get home. I use castor oil and tea tree oil andsometimes rosemary oil and shea butter on my hairline.

Even though you're not using the combs, could the friction of the lace & the headband contribute to an already fragile hairline? I'm also going to suggest half wigs. Or style it in a way that you don't need the headband.

Also be careful when you go to sleep with scares/sleep bonnets. Too tight and they can also thin your hairline.
 

ajoke

Well-Known Member
Even as a natural you can wear bangs. Do a twist out in the front so that your bangs have a little texture. Check out this youtube video. She usually has her natural bangs hang to one side. http://www.youtube.com/user/kimmaytube#p/u/12/O5kZ9Crjn_g


I am just seeing your post. I did a style recently where the back was in cornrows going straight back, and the front was twisted for bangs. I was told it looked okay. I posted the pictures here:http://www.longhaircareforum.com/blog.php?b=17300
 

angelc

Active Member
I honestly think wigs are your best bet. Unfortunately I would advise that you either get a wig with bangs or a half wig and then sit them BEHIND and NOT on the hairline where the friction will further weaken your hair line. Also DO NOT USE THE CLIPS. Instead get some bobby pins, dip them in oil and use these to secure the wig and move the position of the clips EVERY DAY.

@ bolded...If the hairline is already very thin how does one put the wig behind the hairline.

Do you part off a portion of your own hair to cover the seams of the half wig?

Since the hair is already so thin I am not sure how it would sucessfully cover the seams and blend with the wig.:perplexed

Hopefully my question is clear enough for someone to respond...Thanks yall!
 
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