TWA Support Thread
- Thread starter APrayer4Hair
- Start date
january noir
Sunny On a Cloudy Day
Thanks faithVA
I only have about 3-4 inches (stretched). I just grab a section of hair, separate into two parts and twist them together. That's my definition of a two-strand twist. 
There are pics of my hair the day of my BC in this thread I started. You may not have seen it.
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=686987
january noir
Sunny On a Cloudy Day
Thanks! I'm trying to figure this all out. I want to embrace my kinky-ness and most of the time, so far, I love it, but then I'll have a moment of, "what was I thinking?"
faithVA
Well-Known Member
I guess I should check in. I put in kinky twists last Saturday. I did much better this time around. I plan to keep them in until the last week of July. I will cowash weekly and wash 1x a month. I am keeping my hair moisturized with diluted S-Curl and will be using a diluted version of Shea Moisture Smoothie. I didn't realize how much water you can add to it before it starts to break down. I haven't found that point yet
I will also concentrate on my scalp. My crown is still thinner than I like. Every morning I will use 4 Naturals Hair Treatment or Komaza Stinky Stuff. In the evenings I will use NJoy's growth oil or whatever I used in the morning. I will also mist my scalp with water on the regular to keep it hydrated. I think a dry scalp exacerbated my thinning crown.
I am doing everything I know to maximize my growth and retention. Hopefully I will be NL by August.
I will also concentrate on my scalp. My crown is still thinner than I like. Every morning I will use 4 Naturals Hair Treatment or Komaza Stinky Stuff. In the evenings I will use NJoy's growth oil or whatever I used in the morning. I will also mist my scalp with water on the regular to keep it hydrated. I think a dry scalp exacerbated my thinning crown.
I am doing everything I know to maximize my growth and retention. Hopefully I will be NL by August.
january noir
Sunny On a Cloudy Day
JaszG
Congrats!
I have finer hair, but the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus line gives me a TON of moisture. I didn't have to moisturize for a few days after using those products.
hnntrr
New Member
Ever since my BC my hair has been super dry too. Not sure why it is dryer now than when I had relaxed ends.
Though I did to a DC 3 hour under a oil rinse and my hair turned out really shiny and my curls POPPED they were so cute...anyway.
I think maybe just experimenting with different DC's, leave -ins and sealing methods...I think it also depends on your porosity. I know my hair seems even Lower Po than it was before I bc'ed because legit water just beads up on my hair like nothin else.
But I am strugglin with my natural hair being super dry too. We will figure it out though
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
Ladies with dry hair, how is your climate? It is sooooo dry here like when I water the lawn in the morning, it's bone dry by sunset. The hair and scalp has been the same. Even now that I am braided up my scalp is a dry mess!
____________
*.~.*Sent from a distant Galaxy in the Unicorn-verse*.~.*
____________
*.~.*Sent from a distant Galaxy in the Unicorn-verse*.~.*
hnntrr
New Member
I live in MD, I guess its moderate? Possibly. It hasnt rained in awhile ...plus there has been pollen EVERYWHERE.
kupenda
Well-Known Member
Still here! Still SL/NL. Ive decided that my next trim will be done professionally. My shears dont seem to work anymore.
Fro is getting bigger. I dont even call it a mini fro anymore. Im expecting a BAA next year!
Im still struggling with my wack patch at the crown. My scalp there is always more sensitive, and the hair is less dense. The strands are very wiry and coarse, and they break verrry easily. To help, I have been massaging with HH Jar of Joe after spritzing with Aphogee keratin and green tea. Ive also used Claudies Satin moisturizer, sealed with HH Hemp Nostalgia on top of the spritz. This helps keep thatarea soft and flexible. Unfortunately it only curls on the ends. The rest is just a whole bunch of foolishness
Fro is getting bigger. I dont even call it a mini fro anymore. Im expecting a BAA next year!
Im still struggling with my wack patch at the crown. My scalp there is always more sensitive, and the hair is less dense. The strands are very wiry and coarse, and they break verrry easily. To help, I have been massaging with HH Jar of Joe after spritzing with Aphogee keratin and green tea. Ive also used Claudies Satin moisturizer, sealed with HH Hemp Nostalgia on top of the spritz. This helps keep thatarea soft and flexible. Unfortunately it only curls on the ends. The rest is just a whole bunch of foolishness
faithVA
Well-Known Member
What's your regimen (wash day and during the week)? What products are you using and how are you using them?
faithVA
Well-Known Member
[USER=305268 said:
I've got that same crown.
Right now I am using a mixture of things: 4 Naturals Hair Treatment, NJoys' Growth Oil and Komaza's Stinky Stuff in rotation. I am spritzing my scalp 2x a day with water or green tea. I am hoping something will help. It is better but its a constant effort.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
The East Coast seems dry as well. It is raining like crazy but the water is just being sucked out of everything and it isn't even hot yet. I have noticed my scalp is dryer when I was expecting it to be better with the warmer weather.
The climate changes are crazy.
faithVA
Well-Known Member
No. Here are the ingredients.
Coconut Water, Aloe Vera, Sea Kelp Bioferment,Coconut Endosperm, Biotinyl-GHK, Capilectine, Cystine, Cysteine, Lysine, Methyl-Sulfonyl Methane, Biotin,L-Acetyl Carnitine, Niacinamide, Dithiothreitol, Chrysin, L-Methionine, L-Arginine, L-Glutamine, D-Glucose, Phloretin, Catalase, Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase, Inositol, Soy Isoflavones,Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins, Allantoin, Lupine Extract, Nettle Extract, Sea Kelp Extract, Green Tea Extract, Sea Buckthorn Extract, Superoxide Dismutase, Fo-Ti, Saw Palmetto, Nettle, Horsetail, Coffee, Ginger, Amla (Amalaki), Cayenne pepper, Green Tea, Tamanu Oil, Moringa Oil, Mustard Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Lemongrass essential oil, Benzylalcohol DHA (natural preservative).
I will use this throughout June until it is gone. I am in kinky twists so it will be easy to see if it works or not.
It is pricey but if it can help heal my scalp I may continue usage of it.
Shinka
Well-Known Member
I am on the verge of tears. This happens ever time I've gone natural, these hair ends are terrible. They tangle & get unruly. I tried low manipulation & My twist get fuzzy in a week. Extensions irritate my scalp and take out me edges. My hair grows well relaxed when I take care of it, if I get lazy that's when I've experienced breakage, I think I may have to just relax. I like neat hair!
I don't know what to do with my hair. I deep conditioned today. I had the bright idea to blow dry it and flat iron. My ends are so fuzzy it looks awful. Look:
It looks awful after it dries from my wash and tangles easily. I don't want to use chemicals but it seems that may be the easiest for what I want and lifestyle. I don't want to spend 5 hours every week (re)twisting my hair. I am too grown to be crying over hair.
I don't know what to do with my hair. I deep conditioned today. I had the bright idea to blow dry it and flat iron. My ends are so fuzzy it looks awful. Look:
It looks awful after it dries from my wash and tangles easily. I don't want to use chemicals but it seems that may be the easiest for what I want and lifestyle. I don't want to spend 5 hours every week (re)twisting my hair. I am too grown to be crying over hair.
Last edited:
faithVA
Well-Known Member
[USER=1446 said:
I don't think anything is wrong. I think you are just in conflict over what you want vs. what your hair can truly do. I looked at the picture and your hair looks fine, even your ends. You probably need to work on your blow drying technique.
With twa hair if don't want to invest the time or aren't willing to just wear a twa in it's natural state then yeah it may not work for you. Look at your expectations about your hair and be honest with yourself. You may not be able to get neat hair as a natural unless you want to be a straightened natural. While your hair is short unless you are going to wear a twa or wng then it will take some time to style your hair.
Do what is best for you but don't fight your hair.
Shinka
Well-Known Member
Thanks faithVA
I think part of my frustration is that I don't know what natural hair is supposed to do no matter how much I read about it. I know what healthy relaxed hair should feel & "be." Unfortunately, when I look at healthy naturals their hair doesn't seem to have the same problem with ends. those who report that issue as a problem on forums site it as damage.
I think the way I like my hair to look and feel aren't conducive to natural styles at this length.
I think part of my frustration is that I don't know what natural hair is supposed to do no matter how much I read about it. I know what healthy relaxed hair should feel & "be." Unfortunately, when I look at healthy naturals their hair doesn't seem to have the same problem with ends. those who report that issue as a problem on forums site it as damage.
I think the way I like my hair to look and feel aren't conducive to natural styles at this length.
bigbrowneyez
New Member
I just wanted to introduce myself! I've posted here over the years as a relaxed head. I reached WL relaxed in 2012 and then decided I was tired on relaxers and wanted to grow my natural hair. Initially, I wanted to transition for 1-2years. Ha! lol I was quite annoyed with the transitioning process and wanted a big change, so i BIG CHOPPED! I'm so happy I took the plunge. Its so much easier than dealing with the textures. I like my little TWA (I only transitioned for 4.5months), but I can't wait to watch it grow out. I'm ready to embark on my natural hair journey and I hope to learn from you ladies!
ronie
Well-Known Member
I just wanted to introduce myself! I've posted here over the years as a relaxed head. I reached WL relaxed in 2012 and then decided I was tired on relaxers and wanted to grow my natural hair. Initially, I wanted to transition for 1-2years. Ha! lol I was quite annoyed with the transitioning process and wanted a big change, so i BIG CHOPPED! I'm so happy I took the plunge. Its so much easier than dealing with the textures. I like my little TWA (I only transitioned for 4.5months), but I can't wait to watch it grow out. I'm ready to embark on my natural hair journey and I hope to learn from you ladies!
welcome... your twa looks great. You grew your hair to waist length so we might have more to learn from you
.
ronie
Well-Known Member
Like faithVA said, i did not see any issue with your hair. It's just short, and blown out. What has helped a lot after i BC's is accepting my hair limitations, and enjoying what it could do. It took a while to learn to style it to my liking, but i loved playing with it wether it did what i wanted it to do or not. Even M&Sing it gives me lots of pleasure.
I looked at lots of other naturals, and my hair does nothing the ones i fantasize about do. But i look at my hair, and i'm like i like this too. And i get lots of compliments around me.
Your hair looked fine to me from that picture; styling will get better as it grows out. I am only about 4-6.5 inches (BC to 3-4), and i can testify of easier styling already, so hang in there. If you can share more pictures of your styles maybe we can help a bit more.
Shinka
Well-Known Member
ronie faithVA
Thank you for the feedback. My problem wasn't the length but how my hair felt. My being emotional overshadowed that. I thought you could see from the pic, but half the length Is wiry and frizzy. My hair feels like a scouring pad. Blowing it out made it feel worse. I can't get the ends under control. I don't have a problem with styling. I twist and finger coil.
The problem is the condition of the ends. That makes me want to relax, not the length.
Shinka
Well-Known Member
faithVA I don't straighten my hair, the blow drying was an experiment. Well, I did flatiron last night as I took my twist down.... which inspired my blow dry today, but that's the first time I did any heat since I Bc'ed in December....Here's a pic, excuse my face it was 2am. I like the streched look
I don't know if you can see, my hair was smooth, but the ends were still dryer and coarse. I thought If I washed & dc'ed today,I would get a better result. but nope, same as tmMy ends feel coarse and frizzy, but they "behave" when I twist or coil my hair. They looklike the rest of my fine hair when manipulated. I have 4a/4b medium density. This started when I went on a Cruise in march, I conditioned wash a couple of times a day as I showered a few times. Then followed by IC fantasia gel. By the end of the week my hair started to feel dry. Shida, from Shida natural, said the cause was probably from not using a leave in before I put the gel on my hair. She suggested I stop using gel for awhile.
Usually, I shampoo with trader joes sulfate free tree oil shampoo & cond wash with that the tea tree conditioner.. yesterday, I use taj whali (sp) gentle cleanse. Sulfate free cleanser.
I usually DC with Lekair cholesterol, last DC two weeks ago, I used UBH ( Cathy Howse) deep conditioner. Followed by Lekair to soften. Also two weeks ago, I did a hot oil prepoo with Shida naturals oil mixture. Followed by her leave in. Hair felt great and I clipped my ends. I posted a picture of those twist during mothers day weekend in the thread.
The week following, last week. I washed my scalp and conditioned with trader joes, then I applied shidanaturals leave in as I retwisted my hair.
Today, i prepooed with cantu deep conditioner mixed with Lekair mixed with Shida's oil. I sat under dryer for 15 min then ate breakfast. i conditioned washed it out with an ld bottle of Optimum fortifying conditioning because it has ceramide in it and i follwed with a wine vinegar rinse. Lastly, I lightly put on shida's leave-in.
Despite the rinse, my cuticles still seemed raised half way down the hair. I thought the heat would smooth it but no luck. I don't plan to use heat again. My ends don't respond to it,
Last edited:
faithVA
Well-Known Member
[USER=1446 said:
She may be right. You may not have had enough moisture at that point. Perhaps you need to do a light clarify and start over. You may also need a light keratin protein conditioner.
It may not be your hair it may be that you are just doing too much mixing with the products. Try clarifying and going back to what you used on the week your hair felt good and see what happens. I'm not aware that you can use wine vinegar in place of ACV. Where did you learn about that?
Shinka
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the feedback. I didn't have ACV and I saw wine vinegar had a similar acidity so I said why not lol. I diluted it and rinsed.
The shampoo I use are rather clarifying, does It specifically need to say it? I try to only shampoo weekly since the ones I use on my hair gets it very clean. I wonder if the shampoos are the problem. I shampooed at least once a day during the cruise. I wanted to get the gel out since I applied more than I usually do when at home,
I know it seems like I used alot but I was experimenting last two weeks ( since Shida's consult). It's more like:
Shampoo or Cond wash
Shida leave in
The seal with Shida oil
Now, I am trying to add a weekly or bi weekly prepoo and DC....depends on hairstyle. I read protein helps with closing cuticles, that's why I used UBH deep conditioner. I am trying not to buy any new hair products. I have aphogee (hardcore treatment) should I use that for a keratin? What are some products that are light keratin? Most of the conditioners I find have hydrolyzed wheat protein.
Last edited:
faithVA
Well-Known Member
I'm low porosity so I don't clarify so someone else may need to answer that. The right protein fills the holes in the cuticles it doesn't help them to close. I'm not familiar with the UBH conditioner. I mention keratin because the keratin is going to fill in holes in the strand. Other proteins may just lay on the surface of the strand and cause an issue. If you have Aphogee 2 min that will do. But if you have Aphogee 2 step I think that would be too much. Skip the protein treatment for now but try washing and going back to the products you used the last time your hair felt good. Don't add any additional steps or additional products. Always remember your based regiment and products so when your hair starts to feel off, you have a reference point and some place to go back to.
ronie
Well-Known Member
Similar threads
