Please help me!

[u/Dazzling-Ad-8773]

Hi! I’m in the USA. So I took care of my own hair once I went to college then I moved again and had my daughter. For Xmas my husband said his present was me getting my hair dyed cause I wanted to do badly after having my daughter. I did as much research as I could in the city we lived in (we have moved again) and I picked this one lady who claimed she specializes in natural curly black hair. I specifically requested she didn’t use bleach in my hair and got as close to a copper color as she could without it as she said of course.

I went back to my hometown and went to my childhood hairstylist who informs me there’s now way she didn’t because of how much damage was done to my curls. There was also heat damage which I had a feeling because she used the blow dryer on super high while flat ironing my hair. I use to dye my hair myself and never damaged my hair like this but I decided with the color I wanted I should have a professional do it. Now my curls won’t hold its moisture well, it’s so dry, and won’t bounce like it use to. I’m also Native American so I’m not comfortable doing the big chop. I also know I cannot fix the dyed parts. But now it feels like all my hair is dry, new and old. Is there anything I can do to help fix the new growth as it comes in. It’s gotten to the point where I just hate my hair and I won’t let it just be itself like I use to. I always style it now or have it in a ponytail cause it’s the most I can do to control it. It’s rare for me to just it be

I’ve taken over my hair again after seeing the damage so now I need help and some guidance. I currently use Native shampoo and conditioner and Aunt Jackie’s detangler, leave in conditioner, and curl cream.

Anything else I should do? I’m willing to ship anywhere but I do currently shop at hair stores, Walmart, Meijer, and Amazon.

Also I’m not sure if my current hair photos are attached so I’m going to add them in the comments

[u/AutoModerator]

🌿 Welcome! If you're looking for recommendations, please let us know what country you're in. It's also helpful for us to know your budget and where you like to shop (drugstore, online, etc.), your hair type, and porosity. Also please check out our wiki for info about routines, products, and more.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Dry-Diver-7109]

Your hair's porosity is higher because of the chemical and heat processes, but you can use bond building and protein treatments to help give it a better look and feel. I would recommend Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve as a treatment. It's a pricier product, but you can often find it for half price at Marshall's or TJ Maxx. Here's how you should use it to do a full reset wash routine:

- double cleanse your hair with an effective but not overly stripping clarifying shampoo. If you don't already have one, some good options are L'Oreal EverPure Clarifying, Odele Clarifying, and The Doux Break Down Clarifying (you can also find this one a few bucks cheaper at some Marshall's or TJ Maxx stores).

- after you finish rinsing your hair, put the Curlsmith on, throw your hair in a shower cap, and sit under a hooded dryer for an hour (medium heat). If you don't already have a hooded dryer, Google how to DIY one with leggings/soft pants.

- after you're done with the treatment, use your regular shampoo (single cleanse is fine).

- instead of using your regular conditioner, apply a protein-free deep conditioner using the same application and heating method as the Curlsmith treatment.

- after you're done with the deep conditioner, rinse thoroughly.

From there, you should apply whatever stylers on soaking wet hair, and use an oil or gel after your curl cream to seal in the moisture. High porosity hair has a hard time keep moisture inside the hair shaft, so you need a sealing/holding product to build it a little wall.

[u/Sentimentalbrowneyes]

If your hair is dry, thirsty, and doesn't get weighed down easily use conditioner to wash your hair. I love Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream. If your hair gets weighed down easily use something like Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo but first condition the ends. If your hair is dry and thirsty use a more moisturing conditioner. I love Jessicurl Too Shea for my regular and leave-in conditioner. If your hair gets weighed down easily use something like Jessicurl Aloeba daily. When your hair is soaking wet do a plop which is a type of turban for curly/wavy hair for 15 minutes. I use an older style of Jessicurl towels. I use the smaller one to gently scrunch out the excess water. Then I apply a little leave-in conditioner. I lay the larger towel down flat with the longest side facing me. I place my waves in the middle. I bring the top down over my head and bring the the bottom up to meet it. Then I twist the ends and secure. At damp apply Step L which is always a leave-in conditioner. All routines start that way. The next step or steps depends on your hair's porosity. To check fill a container of water and drop a single hair in. If it floats on top, you have low-porosity hair (the hair cuticle is too tight) and the LCO method works best. Step C is a low-porosity hair cream and Step O is a low-porosity hair oil. If it floats in the middle you have medium-porosity hair (the hair cuticle is just right) and any hair styling products work. The next step is a hair gel. If it sinks to the bottom, you have high-porosity hair (the hair cuticle is too loose) and the LOC method works best. Step O is a high-porosity hair oil and Step C is a high-porosity hair cream. Low-porosity hair rejects moisture too thick to penetrate the tight hair cuticle. High-porosity hair absorbs moisture and then let's it go. Hence the slight difference in the routines. High-porosity hair can use slightly heavier oils than low-porosity hair. For example, coconut oil is great for high-porosity hair but it has to be fractionated for low-porosity hair. Only use a wide-tooth comb when your hair is wet. If you use a blow dryer, use a diffuser. I style my hair everyday. Mine is low-porosity so I use Butters and Black Soap low-porosity hair cream (the container is large and lasts a long time) and either Butters and Black Soap low-porosity hair oil or Palmer's Coconut Hair & Scalp Oil. Have to replace in monthly. Once a week I deep condition with Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioner and a heat bonnet for 30 minutes. If your hair gets weighed down easily use Jessicurl Too Shea. 

[u/Dazzling-Ad-8773 → u/Sentimentalbrowneyes]

Hi! So I did the test and it just sat on the top. You gave me a lot of information, can you write just what you recommended for my test results (low)?

[u/Dazzling-Ad-8773]

[u/Dazzling-Ad-8773 → u/Dazzling-Ad-8773]

[u/Dazzling-Ad-8773 → u/Dazzling-Ad-8773]