i didn't think the damage was THIS bad

FINALLY. The time has come for a silk press. This is my first time getting a silk press in over 3 years, and it was telling. Dry detangling my hair was the beginning of the exposé of the "invisible damage" (i like to call it) that was hiding throughout the length of my natural hair. With the constat product and tool testing, maipulation, and ONLY wearing wash and go's for 3 years, I've long struggled with rushing through the detangling proccess, and over the years, overmanipulating my curls. This is the result. Share all of your thoughts in the comments.
☝🏾My hair "type"/ My Essential Elements
💃🏾Density: Med to high density
💃🏾Texture : Medium to coarse hair strands
💃🏾Surface texture: coarse and thready
💃🏾Elasticity: 1/4 stretched length
💃🏾Porosity: Medium to Low
💕 Products used in this video are located in my Amazon Storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/brittanymia
Olaplex no4c
Ouidad cleansing oil
Innersense True Enlightenment
Olaplex no5
Serenity smoothing cream
Colorwow Dream Coat
Paul Mitchell Hot Off The Press
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[@cydashlee]

I think we as naturals have to let go of the fact that its impossible to have breakage free, single knot free hair completely. Natural type 4 hair is so fragile and so easily to be popped or cause unnecessary breakage. I wear glasses and sometimes, my bangs get caught into the hinge of my glasses and cause breakages. My sister has the longest hair in the family. It's now pass her butt but when she makes me blow dry her hair, I can see so much breakage though her hair because of twists that she does all the time. I feel like it's like trying to fight a battle you will always lose. She always say it's hair and she is not bothered by it. So I adopted the same mentally too 😅😅

[@brittanywilliams8653]

This is my philosophy. I still trim my hair regularly but I'm not stressing over super crisp clean ends that you won't see anyway when I wear my hair in its natural state.

[@cassenav]

I completely agree. I thought my hair was damaged beyond repair and full of splits, so I kept cutting it every month to reach the goal of having 0 splits. I now realize that kinky hair is typically more fine, higher porosity, and prone to tangles/ breakage, and having a goal of attaining 0 breakage is a bit unreasonable. I just stopped caring too much about having my hair thoroughly detangled and free of split ends, and I now wash my hair weekly and use the kazmaleje paddle comb. Doesn’t give me that Denman d38 or Felicia leatherwood detangle, but it works for me

[@cydashlee]

@@cassenav Yup, I love your method. I went back to the good old fashion wide tooth round edge comb because if I continue to try for completely detangle hair, I would have nothing left and I learn to accept what I have.

[@cydashlee]

@@brittanywilliams8653 Exactly!!

[@KR-xh4wn]

No splits is different than having splits running half way up the hair shaft. No one's hair is free of any splits or damage. But she is experiencing something much more serious than that. If she hadn't gotten this cut, it would have just gotten worse and she would have lost even more length.

[@AfrikanHairGod]

So sorry this is happening to you but this is exactly the same type of damage I've been seeing with all the 50+ clients I've been getting coming from "curl specialists". These stylists are oblivious to this damage because they don't know what to look for when they are assessing hair. The damage is the result of chronic dryness that is the result of hydrating without moisturizing your hair for so long without a proper amount of oils to replenish your hair's lipid barrier. This is a direct result of the damage that thousands of women are now facing from following methods curated by BGC and reinforced by CIK hair stylists. With you getting drastic mid strands splits like you featured in the video, please know that you have only scratched the surface of the damage with your trim. The fact that it's splitting midstrand is indication that the damage has already been done throughout the majority of your length, with the exception of the new growth that's experienced the change in your routine and there's nothing you can do to reverse it. Your ends will continue to "unravel" and slowly flick out and split as you continue to trim until you remove all of the hair that was affected from the constant WnGs, over cleansing, over drying, overhydrating, etc., of the hair. The oils provide a balance that is needed for our hair to take in a certain about amount of moisture, and to hold a certain amount. This is not the result of overmanipulation nor is it from the products you have been bouncing around with. I've had curly cut clients whose been consistent for years and their hair still experience the exact same situation as your hair. If you or anyone else is interested in learning more about the ins and outs of this damage on other women as well, you can visit my channel and look at the many videos discussing, live streams with consultations & hair cutting, and specific visual examples of this in excruciating detail.

[@missnicolemarley]

Love your channel!

[@forisadora7480]

You tried to tell us, lmbo. We didn’t listen.

[@AfrikanHairGod]

​@@missnicolemarley❤️

[@AfrikanHairGod]

​@@forisadora7480 that doesn't matter now so long as you are aware and empowered to make the changes that you need to get your hair back on track. I'm just glad people are starting to see this for themselves.

[@AfrikanHairGod]

I will say that I also didn't appreciate the fact that your stylist really tried to gaslight you into thinking that you were the reason behind this damage "because you didn't want to do your hair." I think that statement she made is quite unfair especially because we all watched her do this extended lengthy, assessment on your blowout last time and yet she missed ALL of this? This damage is not recent and it definitely was there and she definitely could've seen it with it just blown out... I can't blame the damage on her per say nor am I trying to put you in a contentious position with your stylist, while I appreciate her owning that she didn't bother to look and assess your hair properly when she most definitely could have and should have, trying to displace accountability on you is not right. That's like a doctor blaming you for getting sick from medicine he prescribed for you... You having to come back and get your cut corrected the next day indicates that she really doesn't know how to pinpoint and locate all of split ends and damage in hair effectively. Maybe she doesn't know all this and maybe she isn't aware, but I think this is an opportunity that she needs to take to learn from her mistakes and lack of attention to detail. (just my opinion)

[@Fortheloveofshola]

You may need to work on letting go of the idea of completely detangled hair. That is the nature of straight hair not curly or coily hair

[@cmw1336]

Wow...definitely food for thought, especially for someone like me that used to feel like my hair never stayed detangled no matter how much time I spent detangling it.

[@eiwagarciabrito495]

Ufff this is so true!!! And it took me so long to realize!! It’s so important we understand our hair is just different!!

[@forisadora7480]

Speak! For length retention most influencers with long tightly coil hair don’t use tools all the time. I definitely know my hair was in the best health ever years ago when I realized most tools don’t belong in my head full of literally the tightest curls on the spectrum. This internet will really help you forget what works when you’re bored lol

[@eiwagarciabrito495]

@@forisadora7480 I don’t use tools, just my fingers. I feel like tools would break my hair off

[@Godizmycoach]

That PART

[@anika.c1063]

Is it me or are we all collectively in this situation. I literally just did a tapered fade on my hair because I really did not know what to do anymore. When I blew out my hair the damage was so evident. I told the barber just take it all off.

[@miyoshimccree3316]

Same here!

[@viciousreasoning504]

Naw

[@lindafloralmeida6114]

I wash my hair weekly and blow it dry every wash day. After that I'll install some flat twist and call it a day. It has been working out for me honestly

[@BrittanyMia]

That’s what I’ve been doing for the past 2 weeks. Loving it.

[@diamondsandlipgloss]

@@BrittanyMiasame...amped up my deep conditioning & protein treatments to make up for the heat, but i see few (if any) splits sooo....wash n go's are a no no for my hair 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@shelly.v.247]

I’m sorry you’re going through this Brittany. I definitely have concerns about wash and go’s too and have begun to question how healthy they are for tighter curl patterns. I also, believe the hooded dryer plays a huge role as well as product selection. Next, I wish there was next level training available to “curl specialist” to be able to properly assess damage within our hair. Especially since it seems all too often the damage is flying underneath the radar. Lastly, there are so many parts to all of this which makes it difficult to fully comprehend. The one thing that is clear though is curly hair definitely can hide sins! 😝

[@sakiastewart8799]

Same thing happened to me. My hair wasnt being properly taken care of while in a curly state. Now Im a silk press girly and my hair is healthier than its ever been

[@sakiastewart8799]

Also, my middle section stopped breaking, itching and being sensitive

[@Starseed98]

…How healthy can your hair really be if heat is constantly on it and it’s not in its natural state?

[@sakiastewart8799]

Less manipulation, i flat iron it once every 2 weeks

[@sereneserenity1945]

@@sakiastewart8799how do you not get heat damage? Any good heat protection? Thanks!

[@malwandemthethwa]

Honestly taking care of our natural hair is a journey. With it's seasons, lessons, wins and complexities. Much like skincare. Stress and life's changes are also a factor. The best part is that it grows back, and you get another chance to go on with the journey 🌼

[@BrittanyMia]

💯

[@mtwx323]

i went to the same problem and guess what? was not my wash and go (i use innersense only) but the freaking curly cuts! it looks amazing when your hair is curly but it doesn't reach the split ends. now i only cut my hair straight and the problem is gone

[@gramnet]

Same I only cut in straight stage

[@wellyouasked-ip3pt]

I'm so glad that you did not jump on the "no oils-no butters ruined my hair bus!" I, like you think it's the over manipulation and over drying. I was just watching another video where the influencer was saying that aggressive brushing tears up your ends.

[@neishachambers2719]

No oils no butters truly ruined my hair.

[@karmikarm1079]

@@neishachambers2719Not mine. I haven’t used oils in over 10 years and butters are just too heavy for my low density hair. Everyone is not the same

[@DerpDerp27]

I tried the tangle teaser and didn't like how my ends looked afterwards so I went back to my fingers and a wide tooth comb.

[@cspann33]

So I recently came across a KZbinr name Cyn Doll. She’s a licensed cosmologist and she speaks against wash and go’s and over manipulation of the hair and teaches about different hair-shaft disorders. I’ve been following her advice for 2 weeks and seen a wonderful difference. I now wear my hair in mini twist as a protective style.

[@trib31]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I feel like my experience is mirroring yours! Similar to you, earlier this year I decided to that I wanted to try keeping my hair in a stretched state after noticing split ends up the shaft. I went to get a silk press and was shocked by the damage. Like you my first cut was a “keep as much length as possible” type cut but after noticing the damage even more I too went back and was like “I want healthy hair, cut whatever you need to!” The experience of keeping my hair in a stretched state has been eye opening but also a breath of fresh air.

[@BrittanyMia]

I feel like so many of us are going through the same thing simultaneously. it’s so interesting how our hair retains so much length while being so split and damaged. And has the nerve to look healthy when it’s curly!!! This is going to be the year of protective styling for all of us 😂 or at least being a stretched natural. Thank you for sharing your experience as well!

[@BeYoutifulBombshell]

The way I ran to watch this upload! 🏃🏾‍♀️💨 You have me forever! 🫶🏽

[@BrittanyMia]

🥹🖤

[@camille_bkdimepiece]

I’m happy to see the enlightenment. Stick with what works for your hair and scalp and leave the 50-11 products alone. You’ll save time, money and your hair/scalp will thank you!! Best of luck!

[@BrittanyMia]

I’ve seen the light 🌅 I really thought I’d be okay trying out all these products. My hair and scalp said Nah. Thanks!

[@BeYoutifulBombshell]

I have a ton products still some of which have never been touched. I’m scared! I too cut off a lot of damage but I thought it was due to stretching my wash and gos with heat, not detangling thoroughly, properly, often, and waiting too long to trim.

[@tiffanydaneen]

@@BrittanyMiame too! I have gotten rid of so much stuff and refuse to buy more until something is done; recovering product junkie here lol

[@devinl8487]

I appreciate you bringing us on your journey. I can relate and I'm sure others can too. "We face many defeats, but we are never defeated." Maya Angelou

[@patrecem.9523]

Your ends just look DRY. I know you use a lot of botanical shampoos and gels while doing wash n go’s. Get joico moisture recovery shampoo and conditioner and try doing two strand twist for a while, and I know you will see and feel the difference.

[@BrittanyMia]

That, and there’s also keyhole splits in my hair. So yes, it is definitely oddly dry towards the ends. But I’m telling you, there is splitting that is irreparable up in there! However, I see your point and I’ll for sure be keeping my hair in twists for a while.

[@amateurastronomer9752]

Girl just know we are all in this together 😂 I noticed close to a year ago that constant wash and gos were no bueno for my scalp. Likewise the over manipulation, and uneven distribution of heat from the dryer weren’t doing my hair any favors. I’ve switched to stretched twist outs (using the Revair) and I’m loads happier w/ my hair. You live and you learn 🤷🏽‍♀️ I have no regrets because I learned a lot about my hair in the process. Good luck girl! I know your hair is gonna bounce back from this in no time. 🤗

[@lanatheyogi]

The revair and the tymo! So happy I let my revair sit in the closet unused all those years because she is certainly saving the day now!

[@amateurastronomer9752]

@@lanatheyogi Ooooh never heard of the tymo, looks promising. Thanks for hook up!

[@lanatheyogi]

@@amateurastronomer9752 Of course! I couldn't believe how easy it was. Got my hair looking pressed in one pass!

[@callmechichi1711]

Thanks for bringing us along the journey. I know for a fact your hair will grow back healthy. Tfs.

[@BrittanyMia]

Thanks for being here 🫂

[@da504ever]

it's the curly cuts. No reason to overcomplicate it. I still do no oils and no butters but I resumed blown out cuts and my hair is doing lovely again. I also do deep condition my hair, and use a light leave in before styling. never stopped doing those things. lol. The curly cuts are the culprit.

[@BrittanyMia]

I disagree. My last 2 cuts were on blownout hair, and the damage was invisible to me after both cuts so I thought I was just fine. I left satisfied and able to style my hair well aside from disliking detangling. Also, there are other factors in this so it actually is more complicated that "it's the curly cuts". Thanks for sharing your pov.

[@andie9762]

I like your attitude to this. Am interested in your new hair journey.

[@judis9184]

So sorry that you’re going through this! I was following the BGC 30 day detox and found your channel. Your twa videos really helped me because I had recently big chopped. I really hope your hair it recovers! I believe with care and determination it will! Hang in there! 👍🏽

[@imeceo7795]

Thanks for sharing. I’m a wash and go girl. I’m learning so much from watching your’s and Shelly V’s hair journeys and I appreciate your transparency and willingness to share your ups and downs to help the rest of us navigate this natural hair journey🙏🏾

[@juanitarobertson306]

I absolutely hate what’s has happened to your hair! You are truly amazing and thanks so much for sharing because soooo many are experiencing the same issues. You share your journey back to healthy hair is going to help soooo many ladies. My hair is exactly like yours, half of it needs to go.😢 But I know you got this!😊😊😊

[@Coilylady]

You are all of us. We will all get through this. We just have to remind ourselves that we are on a journey. Don’t beat yourself up and the beauty of this journey is that we learn, we pivot, we learn more. Like you said. It’s just hair. It will grow back. You will rock your twists like I have been doing and will add a continued level of self love and appreciation for our hair’s versatility. We are all super super fortunate to have the lives we have. Peace and blessings on our continued collective journeys. ❤

[@aquafina6544]

Thhis happens to us all @brittanymia. I have grown my hair to tailbone 3x and im starting again. My ends 6 to 12 inches were so thin and see through. I fret for a few weeks then said cut it off all the straight damaged ends and i wasnt putting heat on my hair. So i started bond repair and reconstructive conditioner and shampoo and i use a moisturizing shampoo and alternate with dc. Im blowing it out with double protection and keeping it in twist cornrows or braids til my trip in July and ill get a good professional trim in September and get braids with hair added for my Jamaica trip in October. I started this in Jan and Feb so, I'm with you.

[@katw6838]

Appreciate your honesty on this journey and know that you are not alone in finding out about this severe damage and having to adjust your whole routine and cut off sooooo much hair. I am literally doing the same thing as you- cutting off the damaged hair section by section and protective styling until I can get it all healthy again. Wash and go's are not it for me anymore. When I did twist-outs regularly before, I never had damage like this so it feels so crazy right now.

[@deshetallday3937]

Hey girl I know the struggles of over manipulation on hair. It’s so tempting to try new products and get the ultimate curl definition. I have been a product junky for too long and it’s caused some scalp issues for me in the past. If you wanna get rid of products you should do a giveaway. Love your content ❤

[@michellewhite6938]

I enjoyed your videos so much. I’m so sorry that you experienced the extreme dryness and split ins while trying to grow your hair in a natural state. I haven’t had my hair assessed and am scared that I will discover the same issues! I just want to do my own hair and not sit in a salon for hours waiting and paying exorbitant prices as well. I will continue to watch your videos. Who knows, stretched hair may be both our new ‘do! 🥰 Stay encouraged and I will too!

[@brandonanderson2360]

My favorite notification ❤ keep being great

[@BrittanyMia]

🫶🏾

[@lilady04]

Thank you for opening up about your experience with your hair at this moment. This is truly helping other natural hair girlies like me!!! Keep sharing and do whst works for you. There is no onr size fits all when it comes to hair!💞

[@BrittanyMia]

I’m really glad it’s helpful. I think folks are forgetting that I’m not telling anyone how to do their hair and I’m just simply sharing my experience. So I’m grateful that you appreciate that about my channel 🫶🏾

[@sheagandy6671]

So sorry this happened to you! The owner of the brand Strands of Faith told me that doing wash n go’s constantly can cause breakage. She has waist length hair and recommends low manipulation. Her products are great. Check her out!❤️

[@ebonypainter9274]

Let me first start off by saying Brittany sorry for your experience and thank you for being open about it. I am going through something similar . I also want to say that as women I understand that we want to help but it’s also imperative that we are listening to what people are saying . Brittany is chronicling her experiences so telling her she is doing her hair wrong is counterproductive. She shouldn’t have to prove what she is saying about her hair is true. Someone can have a great experience with wash and gos simultaneously with her not having a good experience. Telling her to try this and that whilst she is saying it’s not for her at this moment ? Wash and gos don’t have to be for everybody, I promise it’s going to be ok !!

[@killahkurlz7157]

keeping my hair stretched has been a game changer.

[@Naj_paj]

Thank you for sharing your journey. I got my first blowout cut recently after exclusively getting curly cuts for the past year and my ends weren’t too bad but my hair has started to feel really dry lately solely doing wash and goes. Definitely going to be switching it up and trying twists/braid outs to see if that helps

[@StarMarcie]

I’m in the same boat after wearing wash and go’s for years. I’m cutting 1-2 inches per quarter, and am retaining lots of length wearing twists. A big chop, for me, is still a possibility. Looking forward to watching your journey.

[@riochime386]

This is the exact reason I stopped doing wash n goes. I noticed my hair would end up clumping together with knots everywhere. I’m glad she didn’t go scissor happy on your hair.

[@samanthajones3049]

Im so sorry about this.

[@bbappzz98]

This is unfortunate and it could be up to a myriad of reasons. I did think you manipulated your hair a lot but it seemed to work for you but it looks like your hair couldn’t handle it. There is another thing which frequent washing, we know consistent swelling and shrinking causes damage over time for everyone but increasing washes means this damage comes faster. So it could be over washing. It could be the curly cuts not catching the damage so it allowed it worsen. I sincerely believe all forms of heat can cause damage so it could also be heat damage from the hooded dryer. Maybe it all those things combined that tipped your hair over. I do think a reason your hair damage looks similar to bgc damage is that these elements are also present in that method - advising for frequent washing (2-3 times a week), hood dryer use especially without emphasising heat protection (although using heat protection does not mean you can’t get heat damage) and curly cuts. It seems all those things cause damage plus bgc specific things like no leave in as well which you didn’t do. I have been a wash and go natural for a long time and I’m only seeing this kind of damage from wash and gos recently and I think it is because the tried and true wng method used to be wash, condition, leave in and gel once a week and air drying or diffusing. I think diffusing with a blow dryer uses less heat than the hooded dryer so there was lower risk for heat damage, there was less manipulation and the frequency of washing was reduced. With all the wng naturals I used to watch, when they blow dried their hair, there wasn’t this kind of damage, I used to watch finally amber, natural reign, daye lasoul, Kimberly cherrell (she got hydral fatigue damage not this kind), happycurlhappygurl and a few others. I have also never encountered this damage from all the years that I have done wash and gos. I think the new changes to the wng method have clearly had damaging effects but I don’t believe it is the wng itself but this newer way of doing wngs which is honestly closer to how type 3 girls do their wngs. I think if you ever want to do wash and gos again, it would be best to try it the traditional way and simply go for a soft hold product to get volume quite quickly which is what the third eye angel does as she has fine hair and too high hold means her hair is too compact and stringy. But I actually believe twist outs or braid outs would be better for you because you love volume and soft definition and also because those styles are kinder to damaged hair as they stretch out your curls whenever you get bored of protective styles. I hope your hair will improve as you change methods and it will eventually bounce back.

[@sandraanderson2895]

Great insight - "I don’t believe it is the wng itself but this newer way of doing wngs". the old way of doing wngs still impact length retention but I don't think it led to the high level of damage that is being experienced now and what I experienced briefly. The newer methods has and is leading to hair that is behaving like "damaged high porosity hair" - constantly needing to be washed by day 3/4 because it is dry and webby, issues with detangling/webbing, transitioning to using mousse as a base because hair cuticles are not conditioned despite using conditioner, need for products with glycerin to create a coil, needing to wear mini twists permanently if hair is not in a wng state etc.

[@shelly.v.247]

Excellent post! 👏🏽

[@akosuakoranteng3327]

I air dry and unfortunately have the same problems, I think it might it be the brushing I’m not sure

[@rwilliams9304]

What you were seeing may not be actual damage it may just be the frizz from your hair not being used to heat styling. You’re not going to get a full silk press straight off bat

[@Neesha242]

Right. I have that right now because I over shampoo my hair 3x & now my ends are frizzy. No split ends though. I’ll probably take a month to get back on track.

[@IndigooceanOrg]

I feel like a couple of wash n gos damaged my hair so much by drying it out to ridiculous levels. I can't imagine doing them twice a week. Your hair looks great at the very end of this video, so lucky for that. I'm more of a 'twists in a bun' girl these days.

[@youglowgirl5364]

Sorry to hear about this. My initial thought was a particular product you started using because I had issues after using it and I didn't notice my damage until it was too late. Luckily for me, wash and go's (done once a week) is not an issue, could be because I don't stretch my hair. Anyway, whatever caused your damage I'm glad you finally caught it.

[@nsanks33]

The last cut definitely looked better. I just want to say thank you and I appreciate your candor. I have a TWA. Not by choice. I lost most of the hair on the top of my head. Whether it was covid (4x), raging hormones (over 50), or relaxing…who knows. It took 4 months to get the hair to grow back adequately before I could even style it. I had a big bald spot that went from ear to ear across the top of my head. I was hideous. Watching your videos gave me hope bec your hair is beautiful. The hair grows but very slowly in that spot so I try to cut every 2-3 months and I use Aphogee protein treatment every two months to prevent damage to the ends. Even though i must chop off nearly half the hair every time i cut i still have hopes of reaching your hairs level of luxury by this time next year. Thanks for the inspiration. Nicole

[@ceystal]

I’m excited to watch your protective styles journey! Funny enough I hopped on the Innersense bandwagon and my scalp was not happy with the products as my scalp would get very itchy, flakey, red, and inflamed. Really goes to show different things work for different people!

[@BrittanyMia]

This! I hear that so many people experience irritation from Innersense, but it’s the opposite for me. It really is different for everyone.

[@tiffanydaneen]

Yes Innersense irritated my scalp too; I think it’s the essential oils for me in particular; just a theory

[@karmikarm1079]

As someone else mentioned it’s probably the essential oils. These don’t bother my scalp but if the essential oils are in a body wash or lotion, it’s a no can do 🥴

[@a_2502]

I heard that a little bit with innersence. I only had a tester of a few of the products and I remember the shampoo being a little weird for me. I stuck with AG Hair Care and my hair loves it

[@Tellylove12]

This is so unfortunate. Give yourself time to recover. Post when you feel like it. No need to over manipulate your hair for us. Good luck with your hair recovery.

[@abcisme]

The over drying is what did me in. My old stylist would have me in the chair on high heat for over an hour. No heat protectant 😩

[@ultimatejoy]

you got this!!! I had to stop the WnGs and the Overhead dryer (I think I may have permanently burned/scarred myself)....but still loved watching your videos. I look forward to seeing your journey still :)

[@rochelleserrell98]

I love your Stylist! She is so informative and even when you go with your hair in twists she doesnʼt act like the Stylists here acting like itʼs so much for them to take down a few twists to shampoo the hair.

[@BrittanyMia]

She's great!

[@MsKolo90]

I love wearing my hair in a fro 😭 I just got comfortable with wearing my natural hair. Looks like I won’t be doing too many wash gos. We have similar texture, I will be keeping up with your protective style videos. I too don’t mind getting My hair cut , I’m all about healthy hair.

[@ChiannaNycole]

May I add for consideration, I have come to the conclusion that it’s the humectant rich botanical gels (specifically ones that re wet with moisture in the air like kinky curly custard, ufd and the like) that are causing so much damage to the hair shaft because it causes the hair to re swell all the time, i think this allows the natural oils to leave the hair leading to chronic dehydration. I love wearing my hair in wash n gos like you and i’ve been watching these ladies go through it and they all use those type of gels. I noticed that my hair would smell bad especially with the kinky curly as the week went on and my scalp didn’t like that it made my hair damp all the time so for the last year or so i have went back to the old school way of leave in then a non rewetting combo of stylers to get my desired results. Just look at how the ladies were doing wash n go’s prior to bgc on yt, i haven’t seen ladies like naturalreign and happycurlhappygirl complain about tree splits and they wear a lot of wash n gos. Since i’ve started wearing combos that don’t re wet i haven’t seen split’s since my last blown out cut in November. Hope this helps.

[@MsKolo90]

@@ChiannaNycole that’s unfortunate! I love UFD . What have you found to be use for your now? I don’t rewet my hair , I just let me wash and go get old and use a blow dryer if need be. Thank you for your comment love, I’ll be mindful

[@SHESOMAJOR]

So sorry this happened to you, it's something a lot of naturals are facing and I dont think it's simply one thing to be honest. You have always taken care of your hair extremely well so it is very concerning to see such damage. The dryness definitely is a factor for sure. I hope you are able to get back to healthy and happy hair!

[@a_2502]

Thanks for sharing. I know your hair can bounce back! I jumped on the no oils no butters wagon and for me, I really liked it! My hair/scalp with oils/butters had me on the struggle bus. My hair felt dry, not moisturized and my scalp was so itchy with lots of dandruff. I thought adding on would help but it increased the issue. After a few months of washing 7-10 days a week, my hair felt so much better. Less itchiness and barely any dandruff. My styles were WnG’s and slick back buns. I actually did not mind washing and detangling my hair but it was so tightly coiled that I did feel some breaking here and there from detangling with a brush and styling with my mousse/gel. With that, I resorted to doing more slick buns because it was way faster than having to add products in small sections for a WnG. I don’t have super thick hair but I have medium dense hair so drying took FOREVER. I was tired of detangling atp and doing 1-2 hour dry times soooo I decided to lock my hair. I’ve been thinking about getting locs for almost 2 years so I was just ready. I definitely don’t regret letting go of oils and butters as a loose natural BUT since I’m now locked, I wouldn’t mind trying a veryyyyyy light oil or a rose water/light oil mixture. My scalp is now so much better & I don’t want to go back to younger suffering me lol

[@a_2502]

To note I never got a curly cut, was using the same exact 2-4 products & sometimes waited about 14 days to wash if I got super lazy. I definitely see how your hair got to that point. Good luck on your new journey!

[@Jakelan20]

Sorry this is happening. I know you love your stylist and she seems really sweet but being a professional that you were seeing every 3 months i would have thought she would have noticed the splits. My hair needs inches cut off too (i don’t have a stylist yet I’m looking) and I’ve been trying to figure out what i have in common with all the people I’ve saw having issues with their hair. I didn’t do no oils and butters, i never got a chance to get a curly cut, but what i did find that we all had in common was that i grew my hair out wearing wash and go’s and i was washing my hair very frequently meaning every 3-4 days and i went 18 months during my transition before i blew my hair out and assessed my ends. I think all this may the be culprit. I started last week wearing my hair in two strand twist that im attempting to keep for 2 weeks. I’m going to be trying washing once every 10-14 days and twist it back up again to try to get my hair back in order. I hope your journey yields the results you desire. I love your content and i will watch you protective style if thats the new trajectory❤

[@BrittanyMia]

I get it, but it’s hard to see the splits even when my hair is blown out. Had I not gone strand by strand to dry detangling my hair, I would not have seen or felt any of it because it was so well disguised. I examined my hair after she had trimmed my hair the last two times blown out and it felt amazing. Extremely soft. Just like it felt in this video after the blow out. I even went to the bathroom every time to examine my hair and I saw no issues. These splits, oddly enough, are very well hidden. This is why I tell her in the video to take a good look at my hair because it’s hiding some things. I wanted her to leave a good amount of length this round so I could tuck it but I needed to go back to get more cut because I didn’t know just how damaged it was until I had let the silk press simmer. The bond builders and the protein products I was using was doing a really good job of hiding the damage, and honestly, there have been more experienced stylist that I’ve been to that that haven’t noticed damage until my hair silk pressed as well. I think this is a good lesson for both of us because at the end of the day, we are all still learning and now this leads to getting other questions answered, but I definitely see your point. I just needed to clarify. She is a professional, but she is still a person, and we are all still learning. Getting over this hump, we have to have these conversations with our stylists so that they can see what’s going on and also learn from the situation. If I was the only one having to go back to my stylist because they weren’t seeing what I was seeing, then I would be concerned. But this has been happening a lot in the wash and go natural hair community Lately. I know our hair loves water, but I think it’s too much water and manipulation. The Hair is dead and can’t repair itself. So no matter what we’re putting on it, the more we manipulate it, the weaker it gets. Wash and gos after the twa stage call for a lot of manipulation (for me) and since I was seeking the same curls, I had with really short hair, I was using a lot of product and weighing the hair down. I just don’t think they’re great for retaining length. I also didn’t really do no oils no butters, so I see exactly what you’re saying.

[@kaficrichlow4324]

I am literally on a similar journey been doing wash and goes for 2.5 years and haven’t seen much length retention….ik its breakage because I can see the short pieces of hair…decided to do twists to help grow back the broken off pieces and retain as much length…I am gonna keep them in for 2 weeks then retwist….question are you taking down all the twists at the 2 week mark or are you going to do then individually .

[@bbappzz98]

Have you trimmed your hair in the past 18 months? Because that could definitely be the case for you. You hair might need to be trimmed much sooner than that and if it wasn’t, any damage that occurred would just worsen over time.

[@kimnoir]

​@@BrittanyMia In response to your last paragraph, yeah, hair science is really weird. Hair doesn't like geting wet often or being too wet/hydrated nor too dry. You just gotta find the balance with the right products and routine.

[@kaficrichlow4324]

@@bbappzz98 I have been doing my trims every 3-4 months with my stylist

[@danafisher8613]

I love that you are committed to your hair being healthy and not just trying to hold on to unhealthy length 💙. You have learned a lot about your hair and where you are currently I love this for you and it is inspiring to me so I love it for us 💙❤

[@lanatheyogi]

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME! I'm back being a straight natural and I'm slowly cutting off all the damage. I will say styling my hair every week, sometimes multiple times a week with wash and gos has made me more patient this time around with straight hair. Plus styling tools have improved dramatically since last time I was a striaght natural some five years ago. But yeah, my fine hair can't take the constant detangling with wash and gos. I also tried braids/faux locs for a month, but ultimately, they weren't for me. PS, Beyonce's reconstructing formula and dc really did wonders for my hair. Maybe it will help yours too.

[@user-nv9cc9dn6u]

I have been natural for over 7 years and it use to be taboo to put heat on natural hair fast forward and I blow dry and stretch my hair twice a month I am a much happy natural 😊

[@Smc1248]

I really appreciate your candor in this video. I am going through the same thing. I’ve lost 5+ inches of length and I still need more cut off. Still not sure if I’m currently damaging it or this is pas damage.

[@MsLA-tz4si]

That's why I keep my natural hair blow dried and flat ironed.... no more tangling and breakage

[@Jade-rf8ov]

Great video, thank-you for being transparent with your journey and always sharing your views in a respectful way. Although you should be accountable for how you handle your hair - I do think that you have blamed yourself too much, it was a bit disheartening to see that the discussion also encouraged that.

[@2010NursingStudent1]

Glad that you are moving forward with navigating what’s best for you & your hair in a positive way❣️ I just got mines silked pressed Saturday for the first time in Years. Close to half of my hair got cut too which I’m fine with cause I’m always Health over Length! My silk press does look good, however it’s not something I want to do often cause I don’t like the blow drying process or the time it takes to straighten it out. I’m hoping I will only need to do that once or twice a year. Only time will tell. What did Breanna say about correcting the discoloration? I’m experiencing this myself.

[@artheaux666]

GIRL WE ARE TWINNING. I actually straightened my hair recently and by myself (cause I don't trust anyone where I live) and found I have many knots and split ends I had to let go. I had hair past my shoulders and ended up with a bob. I wonder if I should've just stayed with it 4C and left it alone because it was growing and looking full. I don't know. I feel like type 4 hair is going to have split ends, tangles and knots unless it's stretched and blown out at all times. But that's just not what 4C hair does naturally.

[@BrittneyA87]

So sorry you’re experiencing this. Also, keep in mind that the sweaters, hoodies, scarves and fur-trimmed coats that we’re wearing during the winter months are also damaging our hair. I noticed with mine that my collars of my coats were damaging my ends and specifically that back middle part of my head. You’ll notice that when sitting in a car, the hoods, collars and scarves of our clothing press up against back our of hair (against the headrest), and these materials dry our hair out. I realized that in looking at past years, my hair has thrived and grown a lot from May-November, is super healthy heading into the winter and then every year around April I’m needing to do some major hair cut. Also, I’m starting to wonder if the hot shower water is drying our hair out as well because it’s seems to be happening right up in the crown where most of us place our heads directly under the water. I know for me, my shower water temperature is hotter than it would be if I were just washing my hair under a sink faucet.

[@0kitten00]

Try the EvaNYC Magic 10 in 1 Primer and the Color WOW Dream Coat next time you flat iron your hair. Best combo ever. I’ve had that same hair shaft disorder as well before…. Nothing to do but cur it off. ❤🌸

[@moniquer910]

I'm in the same situation, even my scalp. I'm considering a light relaxer 😬 or small locs.

[@a_2502]

Consider locs!

[@chocolatecoils8200]

ATP have you thought of a keratin treatment? Not for the purpose of like for wearing your hair straight and for the treatment to silken your hair (due to heat damage of over pressing the keratin in) but for the purpose of it being a protein treatment that allows your hair to be more frizz free, defined, shiny etc. it helps with split ends and breakage for over 4/6 months depending on the keratin treatment you use …😊it also makes your hair more manageable, I saw a video where the girl said it’s like giving you your best hair etc and the treatment wears off with shampooing so after a while you’ll notice your curls go back to frizzy ness after a few months and then you redo the treatment. Helps with hair growth as it makes your hair more manageable too. I’m getting mine done after my trim in a month

[@Oranda-sd1ht]

Hi Brittany, the same thing has happened to me. I had 3 curly cuts last year. In 2024 I have had 2 blown out cuts, I have had more than 1/3 of my hair cut off. My hair dresser said I still have travelling splits mostly at the front of my hair. I was told to come back after 3 months to get more damage cuts off. You could see the clear difference between the top of my hair which is smooth, shiny and straight vs the bottom which is rough, wispy and matte

[@ebonypainter9274]

That’s how my hair is. The ends are rough and matte. I’m on my 3rd cut this Friday .

[@katw6838]

This is also how my hair is. My ends were rough and lighter in color and would not even smooth after a certain point. I have my second cut in about 2 months

[@Oranda-sd1ht]

@@ebonypainter9274 So upsetting that it takes multiple cuts to get through the damage. I've lost months of hair growth. Feels like i'm staring my journey all over again...

[@rajhbb]

I did the wash n goes for about 2-3 months and was doing it every 3 days. My hair hated it and I started to straighten it so I can keep track of my ends. I realize I just want long healthy hair and wash n gos aren’t helping me achieve that. I’d like to hear more about your crown sensitivity and dry scalp.

[@BrittanyMia]

I’m so glad to hear that you caught it early, acknowledged your end goal and pivoted immediately. Some people thrive with wash and goes and can retain a lot of length but some of us cannot and catching it early is key. Often times I would shampoo my scalp really well, and in the next day, my scalp would still be a little itchy. It drove me insane. I finally got into a black dermatologist and she took one look at my scalp and was like yeah you definitely have seborrheic dermatitis. So it’s less that my scalp was dry, and more like it had too much going on. Basically an over production of fungus that we all have on our scalps. Right now I’m on prescription medication for it but I go back in six weeks to see if the medication is working. so far it is.

[@bullyscentral7287]

Wash n go is a setback your completely damaging the hair shaft Wash n go is for wigs only lol your on the right track cyndoll taught me so much

[@rajhbb]

Thanks for responding! I was so focused on my face that I didn’t think to ask my derm about my scalp. She’s black too so I’m sure she will have some good advice 😊

[@a_2502]

Do you think your hair would benefit better with 7-10 days instead? Give it a little breather. If you workout then 5-7 would be better I think

[@leeleeirv1270]

Good trim will help with split ends

[@NeeTrue]

I’m a straight natural now & oil is healing & moisturizing my hair. Maybe that could be an option for you. It was frustrating in the beginning. It took me trial and error and research & watching KZbin videos to figure it out within 2 months. My mental health also improved because it’s so simple

[@lilady04]

It's the mental health for me!!! As women our hair is our crown, but it should never be so stressful. I'm almost there with being a straight hair natural too sis. The simplicity of being straight is everything to me right now.

[@NeeTrue]

@@lilady04True! The KZbinr Natural Nadine channel helped me the most

[@ruyyar3127]

I’m so sorry you’ve been going through this! Can I ask what you use to shampoo on a regular basis?

[@Brwn_Aphrodite]

Thank you for showing this because I was doing wash n gos fors 4 years and my hair started doing the same thing and I’m trying to figure out is this a wash n go issue or maybe a gel issue

[@BrittanyMia]

I truly believe it’s a number of things. I don’t think it’s just wash and gos, but many of the factors that goes into the wash and go. For example, many gels are naturally drying. Our hair is naturally dry. Casting our hair with a drying product, even with leave in underneath, Each and every week for years can be Pretty weakening for the hair strands I’d imagine. Now, do I have any idea about the science? No so please take everything I’m saying with a grain of salt. These are just conclusions that I’m coming up with since I wasn’t a gel user and wore my hair wash and goes years ago without dealing with this. However, I was also trying a lot of different styles and not just wearing the wash and go as I have been these past three years. But I’m telling you, when I was just using and curling butters and custards my hair was thriving no matter what style I did. That’s why it took me years to use gel, because it made my hair feel hard, and that’s the opposite of what I thought my hair should feel like. So much science needs to be done on our hair, and that leaves us running around in a circle to see what is capable and what isn’t, but that’s what makes this so interesting. So because I don’t know in particular outside of manipulation what could be causing this, I’m just gonna step away for a while LMAO and just do protective styles because I know that works from experience.

[@disneytoysr4fun975]

@@BrittanyMiacan you do a video on your favorite curling creams/butters? I love the cantu curl activating cream but the smell is so strong and sometimes it doesnt dry clear

[@TheDivaIsIntheDetails]

I think you hair is frizzy because it's not used to being silk pressed, and you need a few weeks of moisturizing masks. I don't think you need to do a lot of cutting. Also, try alternating between wash n go's and twist outs. My hair stays juicier longer with braidouts and twistouts versus wash-n-gos so I preferentially choose not to wear many wash-n-gps

[@ebonypainter9274]

Her hair being frizzy is a sign of her dehydration. With pressed hair dehydrated hair is easy to be spotted because the hair is so thirsty it looks for water in the atmosphere thus making it frizzy . I used to think if I pressed my hair on higher heat it would stay longer but it wouldn’t . I now press my 4c hair on 375 with the caveat that I use a hydration mask prior and a steam treatment . I have rough ends but my press stays intact . I too was a dedicated wash and go curly .

[@NeeTrue]

@@ebonypainter9274what hydrating mask do you use and what steam treatment do you use? How often do you steam and wash your hair? I straighten my hair as well

[@gramnet]

Exactly. I silk pressed mine at a salon and had a normal trim and had minimal spilt ends ( I had not wore it straight in years). I also don't over manipulate my hair . My hair was reverting because it was not used to being pressed. Once shampooed and reverted it back my wash and gos are popping . I glad that that I am retaining length,

[@jdbailey442]

You may want to twist your hair or do other styles to your hair when it's blown out and not wet. My friend's stylist is getting clients with damage from constant wet twistouts, twisting on wet hair and wash n gos.

[@retti3150]

I actually have had better length retention washing my scalp daily , I have a sensitive scalp so I wash as soon as it itches. I do this by: 1. use very Heavy deep conditioners every time I wash which is daily (currently enjoying the crece pelo) 2.Ayurvedic treatments atleast weekly(fenugreek ,henna mix , washed ghee) -strengths hair better than aphogee 3.Scalp oil or peel and scalp massage before washing (bonus tip:a Korean hair growth shampoo with slip) shampoo ingredients are very important you want lots of antiinflammatorys and actives to keep scalp happy and producing healthy strong follicles (Korean shampoo tend to have lots of beneficial extracts)

[@retti3150]

Paraffin liquidium aka grease is also great under drying gels (I buy the head n shoulders anti dandruff grease as it also helps inflammation ) conditioning gels like novex Afro gel is also an option. Scalp serums and tonics after shampooing is also great I recommend the DAENG GI MEO RI Vitalizing Scalp Nutrition Pack

[@hybridinfodesk409]

She said the stretching. Oils do not damage your hair. My mom was a beautican, and she used oils on my hair all the time. My hair was elbow length and no damage. Stretching with what? A blow dryer, rubber bands what?😮

[@BrittanyMia]

I was stretching with a blow dryer. I truly believe it was the mechanical manipulation, and excessive drying. As many people know, I love a big romantic wash and go which requires length and volume. I’d often use my dryer to stretch the hair out.

[@hybridinfodesk409]

@BrittanyMia OH, my hair is similar to yours. I never use heat too drying. I usually braid and bind once 95% dry. Or braid before sleeping on wash day and take out and put it in a top ponytail to stretch some of the crimping out of her. Then fluff, no damage.

[@BrittanyMia]

@@hybridinfodesk409 thanks for sharing! This is helpful info.

[@hybridinfodesk409]

@BrittanyMia I've never seen damage like yours where the entire hair shaft splits. That was an eye-opener. I didn't know hair could do that.

[@BrittanyMia]

@@hybridinfodesk409 😂 yeah, me neither. I don’t think my hair can handle going from soaking wet to completely dry under a really hot dryer and stay intact, along with excessive mechanical manipulation and detangling multiple times a week. So many factors, but something about my hair reacting differently from when I used to air dry versus using dryers and stretching extensively is really of one of the major culprits outside of manipulation. Sidenote, I also liked my curls better when I air dried, but it took sooooo long. And with these gels I’ve been using, it would’ve taken days to dry which would’ve led to other problems.

[@Imanixo2]

Were you referring to those roll, tuck, and pin updo hair styles ? They would look absolutely pretty on you!!

[@BrittanyMia]

Something like that! I think I look good with reeeally long hair, or reeeeally short hair so styles that are tucked away and close to my head suit me. I'm starting out with flat twists and seeing how I like them since they don't take as long as mini twists/braids and I can leave my hair alone completely for the week.

[@thewordsmith5440]

Would you ever try crotchet hair?

[@amb55555]

Do you think you’ll consider heat styling?

[@dorissykes8469]

Sending Blessings ❤ please tell me did wash and gos cause some of the damage? I'm a wash and go Girl too, but I have been easing back from them because of the tamgles and doing Braid Outs mostly❤ You and your hair are Beautiful love

[@brianaa7573]

I used to get mid shaft holes/splits but i think it was due to me leaving my hair wet for too long…from air drying and from deep conditioning for too long as well

[@BrittanyMia]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience because a lot of us have experienced damage with heat and under-moisturization, but too much of a good thing can definitely cause a similar outcome.

[@aneetrafrance8339]

we’re all doing something wrong, but I wonder what it really is ?? Rosie Amelia & Shelly V both experienced more or less the same thing. I’ve also started noticing breakage on my own hair whenever I’m doing wash n gos or pre poos. I only wash every 5-7 days and I style with a wash n go. I’ve been doing wash n gos for about a year now… I went to a stylist this past Saturday and she had to cut off an inch (without informing me till after she cut it!). Prior to wash n gos I mainly did mini twists, but my hair wasn’t at its best then? So idk 😭 I also wanna add on that after the cut my hair has been curling up a lot more, but I wonder how long it’ll last 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@teesnapz5830]

It suck to have to start over...hope all goes well

[@BrittanyMia]

While it does admittedly kinda suck, I’m honestly happy that I’ve learned so much through this experience. Thanks, I appreciate it❣️

[@myvids718]

I really felt the ‘over it’ ness lol it seems like you need a break! How often were you getting trims?

[@BrittanyMia]

I am tiiiiiied. I was getting trims every three months and did not start getting them on blown out hair until my last two trims. It was then when I decided to focus on growing out my shape and retain length.

[@Bnizzofashizzo]

I wish you could have went to Kee T Deeper than hair for your trim and press

[@destinylovely22]

i do wng’s consistently and I did not develop this issue. My wash n go method is very different from yours. I wash and condition my hair. rinse thoroughly. then i comb and shingle using minimal leave in product. I air dry and allow my hair to fully shrink. I embrace the shrinkage. I do my hair once every 7-10 day. I maintain by spraying a water based (very watery) hair moisturizer or toner before tying my scarf lightly over my hair at night. I dont like bonnets because it moves around too much and causes frizz. My hair is about your same texture but i think mine is slightly tighter coils. I have been watching your channel and interested in your journey but I will say I was alarmed with how much manipulation and product your we’re using. I had a feeling long term it wouldn’t be good :( i am sorry this has happened to you. I saw another comment say that we have to prioritize our hair strand cuticle and I agree. that overhead dryer can really become a culprit and not necessarily just because of the heat, but in combination with heavily applied product that doesnt allow the hair to dry quickly. My theory is that moisture gets trapped in the strand, and the heat causes the water to evaporate faster than it can escape the hair shaft causing bubbles to form. air drying and embracing the shrinkage could be a way to make sure that the cuticle is not getting damaged. Contrary to what the stylist is saying I dont think you were being lazy or that you have to do more for healthy hair. You were doing your hair every 3 days!! thats so much. I promise, you do not need so much product for your hair to look shiny and clumped. I can send pictures of my hair if you are interested.

[@destinylovely22]

I also developed SD years ago!! It took some time but i cured it myself and no longer have that issue - long story! but PLEASE research the oleic acid index. not all oils are bad but many should never touch the scalp.

[@BrittanyMia]

Thank you!! This is what I need folks to understand. My methods and the wash & go style I was trying to acheive (big, fluffy, coiled but a little frizzy) plus my need to cleanse my scalp more often on top of the different methods I was trying have lead me to this. It's not just the style, but me and my circumstances with this style. While I can learn to maintain healthy hair in a wash and go, I know myself well, and this style is just not an everyday default style for me anymore. More of an occasional style. She wasn't saying I was being lazy. I think that I should've added more context to this video, because that's what ppl are taking away from the talk. She was pointing out that I was styling my wash & go's when I didn't want to, and therefore over-detangling and raking through my hair as i'd mentioned in the video. Sure, you can send em to me on IG @itsbrittanymia.

[@ItsMeAn702]

@@destinylovely22 I was diagnosed with/SD too & one thing I learned - for me - is to never put oil on my scalp. When I stopped using oil (& used the two Rxs my dermatologist gave me) & my scalp cleared up within a week & I have never had an issue again. I suspect I did not really have SD - my scalp just wants to be cleaned & oil & product free.

[@destinylovely22]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@BrittanyMiagot you. mechanical damage is so sneaky and detangling requires patience! all styles have their downside, a rotation helps. Will send photos ✌🏾

[@destinylovely22]

@@ItsMeAn702I think of SD like a yeast infection, essentially it is. It can flare up in certain conditions. i can’t give up oils i love them too much, so i figured out which oils work for me which corresponds to the oleic acid content of the oils. the higher the content the worst for the condition. also certain oils are good for treatment like neem oil and certain essentials.

[@akosuakoranteng3327]

It’s so funny because I’m actually here because you put me onto doing healthy wash and go’s with your Olaplex videos etc and I’ve been doing the wash and goes for a while but also wore my hair stretched recently and noticed all this damage and had to cut it off. So I came here to see where you were in your journey and see if there was any tips I could pick up and then found this video! I think wash n go’s are good for occasional wear but it’s good to stretch the hair out when we can. I also I don’t think the problem is oils and butters I think it’s not using a good clarifying shampoo to completely remove product build up between wash days. Whether you use oils and butters depends on how you wear your hair - oils and butters are not conducive to wash and go’s but are ok for twist outs and stretch out styles etc if you moisturize your hair with a water based leave in, using an oil on top is just fine. Thanks for the videos!

[@hamini.]

I used to watch your wash n go videos during a phase where I was ending my own constant wash n go wear. I too found mid shaft splits all over, fairy knots, and classic split ends. No matter what the bubbles/mid splits won’t go away. I think about shaving my head off again to start over and see if I can grow my hair without it getting damaged like this. What about you?

[@thimblesea]

I struggle with mud splits and what feels like above average traditional splits too. Being aggressive about cutting them has done nothing to lessen them.

[@hamini.]

@@thimblesea yeah same here. What do you plan to do? How do you style your hair? Do you find that the breakage is moving up? I found a lot of split ends too! I grew my hair out from a shaved head and it sucks to have this damage but I noticed too late. I think it was a lack of moisture and perhaps brushing my hair. I saw a scientific study about mid shaft splits and combing/brushing hair and tension bun/ponytail being contributing factor. I used to brush detangle a lotttttt.

[@curiosmaan2414]

Hey, what would u say is the best conditoners for black hair?

[@valineripes2491]

I wonder if it was damaged due to overwashing/manipulation rather than just wash n gos. Im no expert just curious. I also think our hair likes variety too though. Too much of any style can do damage.

[@BrittanyMia]

It was. I don’t think it’s the wash and go’s per se, I just think that the style itself is a lot harder to allow length retention for me and many others. I was manipulating my hair a lot and trying different methods. I honestly think the conditioning and treatments were helping hide the damage because it wasn’t very obvious until recently. I agree, too much of any style can do damage. I also acknowledged that a style that requires you to wear your hair out in the elements can cause more damage than those that require you to tuck your hair away and causes less friction.

[@rukiyaanthony]

Love the video, but can someone explain to me what specifically did the damage? I'm a little confused about that part.

[@BrittanyMia]

Basically, a mixture of over manipulation, trying a bunch of different products and detangling tools all while being too impatient to take my time detangling. I hate detangling my hair, but chose a style that requires a lot of detangling and manipulation. PLUS I have seborrheic dermatitis (which I just found out two weeks ago) so I was dealing with scalp issues that caused me to need to wash my hair twice a week at least. I didn’t start seeing flareups until I started testing out a bunch of products. I was styling my hair, two times a week and sitting under a hooded dryer an hour each time. After my hair was dry I would further use heat and stretch my hair, sometimes stretching my hair throughout the week for style. There are a lot of moving parts, but one thing I can point to and say “ this is a big reason” was over manipulation and detangling. it was fine when I had a TWA, but as my hair grew longer, it became more and more inconvenient, and I got more and more impatient which has shown in my results. I think wash and goes are great and many people can grow their hair in them, but the patience and gentleness it takes to maintain a healthy hair with the wash and go as my default style as my hair gets longer Is something I cannot do.

[@rukiyaanthony]

@@BrittanyMia Thank you for this detailed breakdown, super helpful!

[@joanne798]

Honestly, damage isn’t something we can easily see with the naked eye. Besides things like split ends, we can’t fully know how badly damaged the hair is beyond that. This isn’t to push for a product or anything, just if you really want to know and try something out that will give you a science-backed answer on your damage. There is a company called lemma labs and they sell these kits (hairID) to where they test your hair using machines and microscopes to properly measure hair porosity and damage level. Plus water hardness and your scalps oil level. They also provide product reccs based on your hair. It is pricey, but it does take the guess work out.

[@Carlito_sWay482]

Would you try the Maximum hydration method?

[@BrittanyMia]

I won’t say never, but probably no time soon.

[@margaretholloway8879]

You mentioned innersense gel was one that you know works for you, would you mind telling what your favorite innersense combo is?

[@BrittanyMia]

I love using sweet spirit + quiet calm curl control + I create volume. I’m not a fan of any of the gels. They describe icv as a styling lotion. The consistency is giving serum gel. It has medium hold, and it’s so light that I can layer it on top of the leave-ins and it clumps my curls really well without using too much product. Ich has too much hold for me, and doesn’t spread as easily.

[@margaretholloway8879]

@@BrittanyMia thank you!

[@theanswersisinsideu]

Your hair is just growing in layers

[@shashagirl]

Could there be a possibility that the regular dry detangling could have contributed to this? Since you shampoo your hair more regularly I heard that it might be beneficial to slightly oily the ends or use some kind of detangling during detangling sessions. That’s if you don’t already. Wish you the best!

[@BrittanyMia]

I dry detangled 1x so I really don’t think so. In my dry detangling video I talked about how detangling on damp hair would be quicker and easier. Plus when I did do it the initial time, I really took my time. Thanks!

[@shashagirl]

@@BrittanyMia appreciate the clarification. Hope your washdays get better 🙏🤗

[@hybridinfodesk409]

Check out Karen Curl house she is a tricologist and natural hair care stylist.

[@michellepreston9799]

Just keep the hair in a stretched state. Blow-dry the hair dont let it air dry.

[@MyeshaB]

Have you seen Rosie Amelia and Shelly V's videos on their hair damage from wash and gos and following the no oils no butter methods? edit:I just heard you reference Shelly V towards the end of the video.

[@BrittanyMia]

I have! The video I was making to show what my hair was looking like, I actually was sending to Shelly V 😂. I had to make sure I was seeing exactly what she was seeing, and I was. That’s why I think that it’s more than the no oil is no butters method. I do think that that method really exacerbated the damage and their damage was definitely bad. If I didn’t use oils, leave ins, deep conditioner… It would have been terrible. And I’m honestly genuinely surprised that people can have healthy hair while doing that method but it’s working for a few I guess. The wash and gos are not great for length retention after the TWA stage. That’s why a lot of the wash and go naturals that we see with tight coils often have short hair. I don’t think it’s all by choice. Now, I’m not saying it’s not possible. However, I am saying that it’s not the easiest for many. And sometimes it’s just not possible for people to grow our hair out successfully and as healthily has possible in the wash and go state.

[@MyeshaB]

@BrittanyMia The struggles we face. Natural Reign ( Jalen Mitchell) had long healthy hair with wash and go's, but I know she always used a leave in with gel along with stretching her curls after fully drying. Idk what the secret sauce is lol. Once I get the coin, I will be getting the Revair and joining the stretched natural life. Pagingdrde is my hair inspo. She has been using the Revair for years, and her hair seems very healthy.

[@BrittanyMia]

@@MyeshaB she was my inspo for real! That’s how I know it’s possible and it’s not just the wash and gos. There are so many contributing factors. And at the end of the day, either works for you or it doesn’t but I know it works for some people. Just not me. 🫠 I also really want the Revair! I’ve been following pagingdrdray for years and yes, her hair is mad healthy and she keeps it stretched

[@brittany.381]

Hi guys. I have been doing the no oils and raw butter thing for 4 years now and I have been wearing wash and gos exclusively for about 2 years. Just wanted to share my experience as I am grateful that I discovered iamblackgirlcurls. I have long high density hair, with medium to coarse strands and a very similar curl pattern to Brittanymia (my first hair twin 🤭). I honestly haven't experienced any type of damage. I cut/trim/shape my own hair and I never stopped using deep conditioners weekly. I did stop using leave in conditioners and have been doing gel only wash and gos. My hair never feels dry. My hair has never been this soft and easy to manage, it's more defined than it's ever been and detangling has become a breeze to the point that I no longer dread wash day anymore. I wash my hair every week ish and I don't manipulate it much in between washes. I stretch with scrunchies only. Edit: forgot to mention that my hair has retained length with wash and gos only ☺️

[@MyeshaB]

@@brittany.381 Do you blow out your hair to cut/trim?

[@skrink1981]

Trying out heat training/straight natural… I’m tired

[@DelovelyD]

Straight up, from one BS’er to the next I can tell you that girl has no idea why your hair is damaged 😂 But the main culprit is probably those curly cuts. They are so damaging to the hair and somehow eat up your strands.

[@bullyscentral7287]

Wash n go causes hair shaft disorders I learned the hard way

[@emmyl487]

No they don’t. More CynDoll bs based on nonsense. Please read literature from reputable sources and don’t self diagnose any hair condition because somebody on YT claimed to be a sCieNtIst.

[@Imanixo2]

This Makes me so sad because how is wearing our hair the way it grows out of our head so damaging 😭 I’m scared to do anything now lol

[@VeryKinkyCurl]

And curly cute added to that

[@destinylovely22]

i honestly dont thing wngs are the issue i think its the way ppl do them with heavy product, overhead dryers and manipulation. ppl have to learn tonembrace shrinkage and the true texture of their hair. i do wash n go’s consistently and i do not have this issue. i use minimal product and allow my hair to air dry and shrink fully

[@bullyscentral7287]

@@destinylovely22 Go watch cyndoll you think nothing wrong with your hair or wash n go it’s knowing the science of hair

[@aj-ny]

Please stop with the wash & goes😳roller set or blow dry your hair , then style 🤔 Don't forget to use heat protector.❤❤❤❤❤❤