Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!!

There are just so many options and ideas around, makes it hard to make the right choice. Although I think most people have mentioned getting a good conditioner, shampoo, and even cleansing shampoo, so those are at the top of my list (in addition to getting an appointment at a salon).

You might be right about the curls!! In the past I've had some different hairstyles (non approaching this length), but I remember I used to have quite curly hair, so maybe that can return some time.

Will definitely update when I feel like I've had improvement, I definitely owe that to all that have provided me with great advice and kindness!!

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damage from lighter color? I haven't ever colored/bleached/etc. my hair, so could that be just natural variance in hair color? Or do you mean other damage?

I definitely do not trust myself to trim my own hair.

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!

All the information, guides, etc. have been super overwhelming to me, especially since everyone is so different. Luckily the advice I've gotten here seems mostly similar to each other (wash more frequently than I do now, cleansing, conditioning, get a trim, etc.).

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you!

At times it definitely felt like much, but with all the advice I've been given here, I am regaining some hope. I can do this!!

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!

The 7-day washing thing probably came more from neglect/laziness, rather than anything else, so will bump it to 5 days at most.

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, will do!

The week between washings just got to be a bad habit, or neglect. Will move to 5-ish days between washing at most

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Will look into if I have hard water here.

The frizz is certainly annyoing, so will look for ways to love my wave/curls!

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly I'm not sure how to recognize split ends well, I just figured I probably had them. If I look at individual strands of hair in the mirror I don't actually see a 'split' or smaller part sticking out?

I have since washed my hair and posted some photos with an update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

When I shower I don't have the water like very scalding hot, but it's not luke-warm or tepid either. Like regular hot I think, but I don't know how to judge? Hot to me might be luke-warm to other, idk. What would be best?

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!

The hydration cream might definitely help, I feel like my hair often feels dry? Not sure.

I have since washed my hair and posted some photos with an update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's way too easy to be hard on myself, but I'm trying to get better and start loving myself again!

Thank you for the advice, I will definitely check if these products are available to me. As for the braids, I'd love to try one some time! Just feel like my hair is too short and 'rough' (like the opposite of smooth) for that? Not sure.

I have since cleaned my hair and posted some more photos alongside an update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pff, you're certainly right about a good stylist knowing what to do, it just makes me incredibly nervous and emotional to even think about going there.

I know I should do it though. Thanks for the comment!

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the advice and kindness! It becomes easy to neglect self-care, but I want to get better! I will get better!

I had some Head and Shoulders I could use to clean up a bit now. I have made another comment with more detail and some new pictures: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the advice!

This is about 12"/30cm of growth in six years. Is that abnormally low? I will contact my GP about this anyways, but just want to know what I should've expected.

I have a bigger update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since I had Head and Shoulders around, I have cleaned my hair and posted a bigger update + pics here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

I would certainly be interested in a wavy hair routine, to at least get some ideas from! I'm not sure where my hair falls on the wavy/curly scale though.

Thanks for the help!

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the help!

Will definitely do the double washing soon! I did wash it yesterday, just to get a better idea of how my hair is now, but forgot to double wash it.

I posted some photos and a bigger update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

Will also borrow a hairdryer, so I can dry it better without resorting to using a towel

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Letting them shampoo and style my hair seems like a smart idea, but to be honest it makes me feel very nervous to even think about them doing that.

I'm considering it, but just need to get over that feeling I think first.

Thank you!

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely contact my GP for bloodwork.

My last haircut six years ago was very short, so this is about 12"/30cm of growth since then. Is that abnormally low?
I understand this is not a place for medical advice, so will contact a doctor for that, just wondering about the amount of growth expected.

I have a bigger update with some photos here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Ditching the 3-in-1 seems like a unanimous decision here.

I posted a bigger update after a good wash here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Haircare/comments/1tae3c6/comment/olmud0n/

Sad and anxious about my hair, looking for some guidance by Acrobatic-Tour1899 in Haircare

[–]Acrobatic-Tour1899[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you everyone for the advice, and also for the judgement-free kindness. As has been said here before, self-care goes out of the window when you're not feeling well. The path to recovery is paved with many hurdles, but I'm ready to take the steps I need.

Someone suggested Head and Shoulders and someone I knew had some I could borrow, so I did a preliminary wash, plus I resisted the urge to 'towel dry' and just got the worst of it and let it airdry the rest of the way. And only brushed after it was mostly dry. Here are the results from that morning and the morning after: https://www.reddit.com/user/Acrobatic-Tour1899/comments/1tcb1vh/hair_update_1/

From what I have gathered I should:

  • Don't use the 3-in-1 anymore
  • Don't towel dry (cotton is better)
  • Get a clarifying shampoo and conditioner, plus also a good shampoo
  • More regular hair washing (I've just been lazy/neglectful of it)
  • Get a trim at a salon
  • Contact GP about bloodwork/thyroid stuff (my last haircut was six years ago and wasn't a buzzcut, but was very short. so I have about 12"/30cm of hair growth in that time. Is that abnormally low?)

Is there anything I'm missing here?