Just don’t know how to help my hair!

by Angelica
(Bamberg, Germany)

Hello,
My name is Angelica. I’m 20 years old and I have major hair problems.

I used to have wonderful long hair. My hair was growing great until the last time I cut it early 07. I have naturally curly/ wavy hair. When I was a child I found it hard to deal with so I started getting relaxers. Then I fell into stupid trends like hair dye. My hair has been thru a lot. I bleached it once just to dye it neon pink… Yeah… all I can say is my hair is paying the price for me being such a wild child.

Since the pink hair, my hair has been bleached with a mixture of peroxide and baking soda, yet another dumb idea. It’s been dyed tan, honey, blonde, red, green, blue and the list goes on.

In late 07 I joined the military. In the Reserves they didn’t really care that my hair was multi-colored. Now that I’ve gone Active Duty it’s different. I had to dye my hair black. Jet black! Not my natural hair color by far.

I’ve always found it hard to take care of my hair because I’m mixed with German and Black and my hair is just weird. It has a mind of its own! I’ve explained to my commander that my hair is naturally multi colored, so I’m sure I won’t have to dye my hair anymore, now I’m just trying to recover the beauty it used to have. I want my nice long healthy hair back!

I was wondering how I can better maintain my hair. I probably won’t ever stop getting relaxers, so do you have any advice on how to grow and maintain healthy hair while using the chemicals? What type of shampoo and conditioner should I use? What type of moisturizers? What hair ties are best since I’m not permitted to wear it below my collar in uniform?

Also, I tend to use a flat iron a lot, when I do I notice a burning smell. I’ve turned the heat down, but after using it twice my hair just has this burnt smell to it, how can I help that?

Any advice you can give me is more than greatly appreciated. Thank you kindly
~Angelica

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Nina's Response

Hi Angelica,

You can certainly have healthy relaxed hair! Here are some things to keep in my mind:

1. Deep condition with heat regularly.
2. Keep your ends trimmed. Try to trim with every relaxer.
3. Relax your hair on schedule - every 2-3 months whichever works best for you.
4. Keep your ends moisturized.
5. Keep your hair moisturized by shampooing and conditioning regularly.

Check out these pages on my site to get further information on healthy relaxed hair.

• Relaxers for Black Hair


• How Often to Relax


• Hair Texturizers


• Self-Relaxing Hair


• Avoid Scalp Burns During Relaxer Touch-Ups


• How to Straighten Your Hair

For a shampoo and conditioner, concentrate on something that is highly moisturizing like Neutrogena Triple Moisture, Nexxus Humectress, and Giovanni Smooth as Silk.

To tie your hair back, make sure to use elastics that do not have any metal covering on them. You can also use satin scrunchies. Scunci makes great sets of satin scrunchies that won't harm your hair at all.
Type response in here.

Nina Dyoran, Editor, Long-Healthy-Hair-Advisor.com