I got an email from a reader who is currently experiencing a setback. She noted that I appear to have taken my setbacks in stride. I want to share my response to her, in the hopes that it will help someone else.
"To be honest, I never took my setbacks in stride at the time they were happening lol. Looking back I'm able to have more perspective. But in the midst of it, I obsessed over it, lost sleep, and sometimes cried. The key is to not let the setback, hold you back from moving forward. For me, it was more about allowing someone to do something that I KNEW was bad for my hair. So I was more upset with myself, and felt I let myself down. The great thing about pictures, is that I'm able to see improvement, so that encourages me and reminds me that I will bounce back. I also got a lot of encouragement from the ladies on the hair forums. At the time of my last setback, the ladies on KISS were wonderful and helped me to feel better.
Look at this experience as a lesson. Now you know that you have to speak up for your hair and don't let anyone break your hair rules. The great thing about hair is that it will grow back. I looked at your pictures and your hair still looks great. Having perspective helps immensely. It's like that saying "I was sad about not having shoes, until I met someone who had no feet." Things could always be worse and you know how to make them better."
I didn't always take my setbacks in stride. But I did learn from each experience and didn't make the same mistake twice. This year I cut 7" of hair. Rewind to two years ago, if I had to cut 7", I would have been devastated. But now that I'm confident in my ability to bounce back from a setback, I finally can take things in stride. It's a growing process (pun intended).
Showing posts with label Growth and Setbacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Growth and Setbacks. Show all posts
Having the Hair Blues
I'm a little bummed about the potential setback caused by the Mane n' Tail Detangler. I won't know for sure if it caused a setback until I do my relaxer next month and get my hair blow dried and flat ironed. But I can already feel enough of a difference in my hair to know that something is not right.
It's very disheartening to experience a setback, especially when I used a seemingly harmless product that others have raved about. This isn't like the time I used henna and indigo to color my hair black (LOL). Now, that I knew was a risky change in my regimen.
This will certainly affect any future products I try. As if I wasn't paranoid enough about trying new products (LOL). On the positive note, my short term goal of reaching waist length by December 2011 is still feasibly. Even if I cut another 3" (rough estimate) in October when I relax my hair, I still have enough time to regain that length. This is why its called my "hair journey." I go through different phases and have ups and downs. You might go through the same thing, so take heart, you are not alone.
It's just hair, yet it's not just hair. It's about setting goals and working towards them. So like any goal in life that you fall short of, hair goals also have an emotional effect on you.
Are you experiencing a hair setback?
It's very disheartening to experience a setback, especially when I used a seemingly harmless product that others have raved about. This isn't like the time I used henna and indigo to color my hair black (LOL). Now, that I knew was a risky change in my regimen.
This will certainly affect any future products I try. As if I wasn't paranoid enough about trying new products (LOL). On the positive note, my short term goal of reaching waist length by December 2011 is still feasibly. Even if I cut another 3" (rough estimate) in October when I relax my hair, I still have enough time to regain that length. This is why its called my "hair journey." I go through different phases and have ups and downs. You might go through the same thing, so take heart, you are not alone.
It's just hair, yet it's not just hair. It's about setting goals and working towards them. So like any goal in life that you fall short of, hair goals also have an emotional effect on you.
Are you experiencing a hair setback?
Recent Excess Shedding: Seasonal Change or Minor Setback?
Last week I shared a mini update on my hair about how I experienced excess shedding. At the time I wasn't too concerned about it, but after I deep conditioned again this weekend, my hair felt very different. I washed and deep conditioned with my staple products, according to my normal routine. However, this time my wet hair looked and felt much straighter almost as if I lost the bulk (for lack of a better word) in my hair.
For the past few weeks, I've been using the Mane 'n Tail Detangler to help me detangle my dry hair before I washed. This is the first time I've used this product, but read great reviews on it and I planned to write my own review. The first time I used it, I lightly sprayed my dry hair but didn't notice any improvement with detangling. So the second time I used it, I sprayed much more than before, and experienced the excess shedding. This was also the same time that I went 2 weeks without combing or washing, so I initially figured the shedding was the result of 2 weeks worth of normal shedding. I'll post a detailed review shortly.
Below is a picture I took of the hair lost after I detangled my dry hair and before I washed. After I washed, I lost an equal amount of hair, but I was running late for an appointment, so I didn't take another picture.
Then earlier this week, my friend emailed to ask me about my thoughts on shedding due to seasonal change. I never really paid much attention to how my hair responded to seasonal changes. So I honestly can't say whether the shedding was product induced or the result of the upcoming change in seasons from summer to fall. In any event, I will stop using the Mane n' Tail and I plan to return it to Sally's Beauty Supply.
Do you experience increased shedding due to seasonal change?
For the past few weeks, I've been using the Mane 'n Tail Detangler to help me detangle my dry hair before I washed. This is the first time I've used this product, but read great reviews on it and I planned to write my own review. The first time I used it, I lightly sprayed my dry hair but didn't notice any improvement with detangling. So the second time I used it, I sprayed much more than before, and experienced the excess shedding. This was also the same time that I went 2 weeks without combing or washing, so I initially figured the shedding was the result of 2 weeks worth of normal shedding. I'll post a detailed review shortly.
Below is a picture I took of the hair lost after I detangled my dry hair and before I washed. After I washed, I lost an equal amount of hair, but I was running late for an appointment, so I didn't take another picture.
Half the hair lost (sorry for the poor quality, I took it quickly with my cell phone)
Then earlier this week, my friend emailed to ask me about my thoughts on shedding due to seasonal change. I never really paid much attention to how my hair responded to seasonal changes. So I honestly can't say whether the shedding was product induced or the result of the upcoming change in seasons from summer to fall. In any event, I will stop using the Mane n' Tail and I plan to return it to Sally's Beauty Supply.
Do you experience increased shedding due to seasonal change?
Growth and Setbacks 2003-2010
Hi ladies,
I think it will be helpful to know what caused each setback in the video above. Hopefully, I will save someone else from having a setback.
December 2006 - Protein overload.
I used Nexxus Emergence and Nexxus Keraphix at the same time. My hair turned into straw and started breaking instantly. This was the first time I learned that protein overload is a very real thing. Follow up protein with moisture, not more protein.
August 2007 - Henna and Indigo disaster.
I tried to color my hair black using henna and indigo. The problem was a combination of things, but I think the main issue was that I used pectin (product used to make jelly and jam) to thicken up the indigo so it would be less messy. My hair again got hard and started breaking like crazy.
January 2008 - Amla Oil as an overnight oil treatment.
I used amla oil before with no problems, but this time I left it in overnight. When I woke up my hair felt hard. I washed as usual, but it got tangled starting about 3" from my scalp. It took me hours to detangle and I lost a lot of hair.
September 2008 - Rough Stylist.
I went to a new stylist and she broke all my hair rules, and gave me with a setback. Namely, she overlapped the relaxer by 4", rubbed my hair while rinsing (which made it tangled), combed from roots to ends, and she was very rough with my hair. I kept telling her to be careful, and she assured me my hair was fine. I suspect that she assumed that my hair could take the rough handling because of the length. When I got home and saw the damage, I called the salon and met with the manager who refunded my $130.
I hope this helps.
Happy Growing.
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