I always color and highlight my hair but it was still really healthy.  I had been growing it out for the last three years.  Two weeks ago I bleached it, colored it, and highlighted it; but it was still in really good condition.  Well two days ago I decided to chemically straighten it (stupid idea) and it started breaking off even while I was doing it.  It is overprocessed and breaking off really bad.  I can't even get a comb through it unless it is really wet.  It looks fried and I've already lost a lot.

I have tried several deep conditioners and I don't know what else I can do to help it.  The damage is all over it and cutting it will not help.  Is time the only thing that can make it better??? 

~Summer~

I always color and highlight my hair but it was still really healthy.  I had been growing it out for the last three years.  Two weeks ago I bleached it, colored it, and highlighted it; but it was still in really good condition.  Well two days ago I decided to chemically straighten it (stupid idea) and it started breaking off even while I was doing it.  It is overprocessed and breaking off really bad.  I can't even get a comb through it unless it is really wet.  It looks fried and I've already lost a lot.

I have tried several deep conditioners and I don't know what else I can do to help it.  The damage is all over it and cutting it will not help.  Is time the only thing that can make it better??? 

~Summer~

Hi

I don't know much about chemical straightening but it sounds as if you did too much to your hair in too short a time. My best advice to you would be to use a really good intensive conditioner and maybe a leave in conditioner and continue to treat the hair in this way for some time. Hopefully, you may see some improvement soon. I dare say that maybe someone more qualified could give you better advice. good luck.

My hairstylist said that I overprocessed it because I put the straightener on top of bleached hair.  She didn't really give me a lot of advice as to whether it will get any better.

Right now it is really dry in some areas and in other areas is has that "gummy" sticky feeling.  It is past my shoulders but the damage goes almost all the way up to the roots.  At least right now I can pull it back...but I would have to shave it all off to get rid of all the damage....that won't be happening.

I got all the Joico K-Pac products and have been using them for the last couple of days.  I "think" the reconstructor has helped a little....maybe if I keep using it over time my hair will get a little better so that I can get a style that is a little shorter than my shoulders.

I read somewhere that once your hair is overprocessed and is "gummy" that you have stripped the cuticle and that nothing can repair it except cutting it off. 

I hope it can get better

Hi Summer

I am so sorry to hear about what has happened to your hair and as I said earlier...I'm no expert but when I have damaged my hair in the past I've always found that good intensive treatments help and if your seeing some improvement then thats got to be a good sign. Maybe someone on these boards will be able to help you out with advice. For now, I would continue to use the Joico K-Pac and see how things pan out. Hope things improve for you real soon. Good luck.

Hey everyone thanks for your posts!

Yesterday I finally went to my salon because I just couldn't stand waiting anymore.  I had scheduled a deep conditioning treatment and went their prepared to cut most of my hair off.  But the salon manager said that not long ago she had messed up her hair and it was just like mine....she said she used the deep conditioning treatments at the salon and then redken extreme products.  Her hair is really long and pretty now.  They told me I didn't need to cut my hair off just keep coming in for the treatments (yes i know...more money for them...but if it works I don't care) and use the redken extreme treatments everyday in between. 

Anyways after they did the treatment my hair was a lot better and she only snipped off my ends.  I definately notice a difference today so Im going to keep using the redken extreme treatments and then on Friday I am going back for another deep conditioning treatment.

I am so happy I don't have to chop it all off!!!  I plan on just slowly getting it trimmed until all the damage is totally gone.  I don't ever plan to bleach or straighten my hair ever again, lol.

Hi Summer

I am so pleased that things are looking better for you now. Its a horrible experience for you to have gone through, still the outcome was not as bad as you feared it would be thankgoodness. Its really sad to hear about what happened to goldlady66 isn't it? what a terrible thing to have gone through, hair is so important to us ladies isn't it? I wish you both well and hope that everything works out well for both of you. Your hair will soon grow back goldlady and at least then  you will have a glorious head full of healthy hair....it will have been worth it in the end. Good luck

Thanks Dulcie,  Im so releived that my hair is doing better.  Im so lucky because I was about to go to one of my old stylists...and she wanted to cut it all off.  But I changed my mind and went to the salon I had been going to and they said it was fixable.

Goldlady~

I am so sorry you had to shave all your hair off.  I never realized how much my hair meant to me until I about lost it all.  On the bright side short hair always grows fast and your hair will be so healthy again!!!  I've really learned a lesson to not do so much to my hair anymore. 

I have been doing the Redken Extreme treatments everyday and I can tell my hair is really improving.  It is still in a delicate condition but much much better.  Redken Extreme products are a miracle product!! Thats just my opinion.

Your most welcome natasha, I wish you all the best.

Sorry, should have been Summer not natasha

He he he, too funny...I've been called a lot of things but not Natasha....that is a first, lol ,

Summer

Hi Summer ( got it right this time )

Lucky you....Both colours suit you very well and you could wear either and still look good.

Personally, I like the blonde on you best but thats just my opinion, if you feel more comfortable wearing the brunette then do whats right for YOU. Hope this helps.