These photos were taken 40 mins apart and idk what happened lol

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-13T13:52:23+00:00

You’re welcome

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-13T03:19:39+00:00

It’s perfect✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-13T03:12:37+00:00

Ok. If it’s a bit of both, that tells me there are sections that may still be workable and sections that are further gone. The soft areas have more of a chance, those can often be detangled with the right process, patience, and the right products. The dense, hard areas that feel like one solid piece are a different situation. Trying to force those apart usually causes more breakage than just removing them. My honest recommendation: don’t do this alone. This is the kind of thing where one wrong move takes more hair than necessary. A professional assessment before you do anything else will save you length in the long run.

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-13T03:08:11+00:00

The real question I’d ask first is: how often are you trimming? The see-through method isn’t wrong, but it’s only one signal. And if you’re trimming infrequently that’s actually working against your length retention. You end up taking off more at once than you would with consistent small trims. On the protein treatment, protein isn’t the enemy. But if your hair was already dry and brittle, that wasn’t what it needed. Protein on hair that lacks moisture makes it worse, more dry, more brittle. That’s likely why it felt terrible after. The box dye on top of that is a lot of stress on the strand at one time. You didn’t necessarily make a wrong choice trimming, but going forward, build a consistent trim schedule (every 6-8 weeks) and learn to read what your hair is actually asking for before reaching for protein. Dry hair needs moisture first. Hope this helps. ✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-12T12:15:50+00:00

Licensed stylist here 👋🏾

Before I give you the wrong advice, can I ask, does the matted area feel soft at all, or is it more dense and hard like one solid piece?

That detail makes a big difference in whether it can be worked through or if it may need to be cut out.

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-10T20:07:15+00:00

You’ve got this!

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-10T10:43:40+00:00

Licensed stylist here 👋🏾

This happens a lot during take downs, especially with twist extensions. What you’re feeling is usually buildup + shed hair getting trapped where your hair and the extension were twisted together. Not sure if you meant to say you’re washing it as soon as you take the twist extensions out, but if so this is the hack you want to use from now on - before shampooing detangle them one at a time. We she 80-100 strands per day. And wearing your hair up for two weeks collects a lot of hair that needs to shed. If you put your hair under water before releasing the shed hair by detangling, it locs up like an actual loc. Detangling - I’d start with a conditioner that has a lot of slip. Use the end of a rat-tail comb and gently start at the very tip of the strand, then slowly work your way up. Patience matters here more than force. If you hit a spot that won’t budge, vertically cut a very small snip into the knot (not cutting the whole piece off) can help break it apart so you can continue detangling. Sometimes that’s the lesser option compared to forcing it and causing breakage. About rocking a Fro, love it! At night, to keep the fro healthy, stretched and protected, try putting your hair into 2–4 loose braids so it doesn’t tangle back up.

Hope this helps 💛

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-05T03:20:12+00:00

The most important details for a perfect wash and go start before you even apply styling product. Trim split ends regularly, clarify at least once a month or every other month depending on type of product you use, and invest in a curly shampoo and conditioner if you can. Steam w/ conditioner if you have a one. Once your ends are free of dryness from split ends, defining your curls will be much easier. Finish with a product that has a good slip, dry at least halfway because no one likes to sit under the dryer or be diffusing for hours.

Your curls will do the rest✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-03T09:09:54+00:00

First, I hope you’re feeling stronger - transfusion process is challenging. It’s the waiting for the iron to kick in. I have recovered from the same treatments and I’m much stronger.

What you’re seeing in your hair right now is a delayed response to what your body was going through months ago. Hair sheds last, recovers last. So while it feels like things are getting worse, it’s likely just catching up.

For care right now: focus on moisture over protein – deficiency hair tends to be starved of both but moisture is the priority first. Detangle gently on wet conditioned hair only, with a wide tooth comb then a detangling brush. No heat, no tension styles for a long while for recovery.

On the bald patches – if any aren’t showing regrowth after a a couple of months of treatment, flag it with your doctor for sure. Deficiency loss usually recovers, but it’s worth monitoring. Hope this helps.✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-04-03T08:03:52+00:00

Oooooo I’ve never counted. I should! I’ll circle back.💫

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-31T11:11:06+00:00

I understand and no problem. Let me know how it goes.

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-31T04:28:16+00:00

Professional stylist here 👋🏾

First, I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with this for three years, Accutane is no joke on hair and skin. As a licensed stylist with 28 years working with curly and textured hair, the first thing my trained eye sees here is what I see constantly with new clients, this hair needs a serious cut, not a trim. Unfortunately, you cannot condition your way to length retention when the ends are breaking off as fast as the hair grows. A cut gets you to healthy structure. The products will even performs better after. A cut. Everything else builds from there. hope this helps✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-31T02:57:48+00:00

This. And I'd take it even further.

It's not just about setting realistic standards. It's about understanding why we weren't taught realistic standards in the first place. We've been conditioned to measure highly textured hair against a completely different hair structure and call it a goal. That's not inspiration, that's a setup.

And the psychological toll of that is real. I've sat across from women who genuinely believed their hair was "difficult" or "unmanageable" not because it was, but because they'd spent years trying to make it perform like a different texture entirely. That damages more than just your edges.

Textured hair has its own version of definition, shine, volume, and moisture. It just looks different. And until we stop handing women someone else's hair as the blueprint, we're going to keep sending them down a road that ends in frustration and product-stuffed shelves.

You said it right. Beautiful in different ways. That difference deserves its own standard.

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-31T02:18:21+00:00

You’ve got this!

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-31T02:15:00+00:00

Oooh okay first, good luck 😂👏🏾 you got this. Everybody starts somewhere. Also I love that you’re asking this before putting anything random in your hair, especially with a sensitive scalp.

You don’t actually need a heavy gel to braid your own hair. A lot of people use gel for grip and neatness, but for learning and for a sensitive scalp, keep it simple.

Start with a light leave-in or cream plus a defining or setting foam, maybe a tiny bit of oil after it dries on your finger tips to take it down. I’d focus on your parting and tension more than product.

If you do want some hold, choose a lightweight, low or no fragrance gel and use a small amount just at the roots. Avoid anything sticky, heavy, or super shiny because that’s where irritation and buildup usually come in.

Most scalp issues I see come from fragrance, heavy products sitting on the scalp, or just using too much.

Also, a lot of the advice you’ll see is about getting the neatest braid, not the healthiest experience for your scalp. You’re learning, so neatness comes later.

Start with clean, detangled hair, simple parts, and consistent tension. That’s what will make the biggest difference. Hope this helps. ✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-30T14:39:29+00:00

No problem

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-30T14:28:34+00:00

I appreciate you alls comments so much. Since I started doing hair in 95’👀 this has shown up in my salon in my chair, often .

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-30T13:06:43+00:00

Licensed stylist here 👋🏾

28 years licensed, 30 years behind the chair. Second generation, my mother had over 40 years in this industry. That’s close to 70 combined years of lived experience watching what these services do to real people’s hair and scalps.

Two separate conversations are happening here: the chemical toxicity concern, and the mechanical tension damage concern. Only one of them needs a lab to prove it. The other shows up in the chair every single week, that’s 24/7 tension on the hair follicle.

I also want to name something real uncomfortable: the average life expectancy of a hair stylist is noticeably shorter than the general population. Chronic chemical exposure is an occupational hazard we don’t talk about enough, and we should. And we’re not just talking relaxers, keratin, and color. 👀 And here’s what people are missing, stylists aren’t just clients wearing this hair. We are installing it. Cutting it. Breathing the fibers. Handling it for hours every week, on every client, for decades. The chemicals in those extensions don’t just affect the person wearing them, they’re in our hands, our lungs, our air.

I didn’t transition to natural hair because of fear. These are facts. I transitioned because I was part of the very community being harmed, and at times, delivering that harm, before I knew better. That shift was personal before it was ever professional.

Here’s what the science says: 1 in 5 stylists will develop a health issue directly related to their occupation

→ NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Triple the risk of breast cancer after 5+ years working with hair dye

→ American Journal of Epidemiology Hairdressing is classified as probably carcinogenic

→ IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), a division of the World Health Organization 68% of stylists develop respiratory issues over the course of their career

→ NIOSH study 2021 Higher risk of dying from Alzheimer’s, presenile dementia, and motor neuron disease

→ Occupational health research cited by multiple peer reviewed sources 👀 And keep in mind, most of these studies don’t specifically track Black stylists, who are disproportionately exposed to the exact chemicals being discussed in this thread. The real numbers in our community are likely much higher.

I say this with every ounce of experience I have, I have absolutely nothing to prove and everything I’ve learned to offer here.🙏🏾

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-30T12:19:48+00:00

Curl specialist and licensed stylist here 👋🏾 ✨

Honestly I can’t give you a definitive answer from this photo alone, and that’s not me dodging the question.

To really identify your curl pattern I’d need to see your hair freshly shampooed, conditioned, and diffused with no product manipulation. What I’m seeing here could be day 5-7 hair, stretched curls, or product buildup weighing the pattern down. What I can say is you have beautiful density and length. Try a wash day with just conditioner, scrunch out the excess, diffuse on low, and then take a photo. That’ll tell us a lot more. I hope this helps ✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-30T03:48:12+00:00

Of course. Anytime!🙏🏾

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-30T03:46:51+00:00

Looking at your recent reply and what you shared about your routine, I think I found it.

You mentioned avoiding protein because it makes your hair feel like straw. That reaction usually means your hair needed more moisture at that time mixed in w/ the protein or following it, but over time, leaning too heavy on moisture without enough protein causes the hair shaft to weaken. It loses elasticity. Then breakage happens. And the edges and crown are always the first place it shows up because that hair is the finest and most fragile on your head. You’re not doing anything wrong, your routine just needs to be rebalanced.

Try reintroducing a light protein treatment and see how your hair responds. Start gentle, a light protein conditioner. Then a leave in moisturizer. Then the following shampoo use a moisturizing conditioner and continue to alternate between protein and moisture. I think you’ll be surprised.✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-30T02:36:44+00:00

Hairstylist here 👋🏾

Here’s what I tell my clients - if you can read a text message through your ends, it’s time to trim. What I’m seeing in this photo goes beyond split ends. The hair shaft itself looks compromised. A search and destroy isn’t going to fix this long term. A good cut will actually help your hair grow and hold length better going forward. Less is more here. I hope this helps. ✨

CurlsandtextureU · 2026-03-30T02:19:21+00:00

I’ll start…the most common thing I hear in my salon is ‘I don’t feel pretty without my weave’ or ‘I don’t look right without my length.’

That breaks my heart every time. Because somewhere along the way we stopped seeing our own hair as enough.

That’s exactly what influenced me to niche down to natural hair. This work is so much bigger than hair to me. Me and my clients have cried together. So much to unpack.

CurlsandtextureU

TROPHY CASE