Hair Shedding + Hard water problems = HHJ decline part 1

So on Monday i noticed hat the hair in my temple area seemed to have reduced drastically. To put icing on the cake my hair felt like it was shedding more than usual. I mean it wasn't a case that the bathroom floor was covered, it was just that since I started my HHJ, it had been cut down but it definitely was not as bad as it used to be.

I started investigating on blogs and hair experts and I found couple of reasons for this

• Hard Water
• Not enough protein in hair
• Constantly wrapping hair in same direction or tight buns
• Over manipulation of hair

I pretty much ticked every box there. Below is my plan on how to tackle these

Hard water

Chelating shampoos exist to remove mineral deposits in hair that could be caused by hard water. Well how do you know if you have hard water without having a Phd in chemical substances. Its easy. Does the inside of your kettle accumulate limescale very easily? Check out your shower head, do you notice build up there? 

You know this means product purchase and my idea is to keep things cheap and easy. After much research I found you could just do an Apple cider vinegar rinse after each wash to counter act the hard water. Not only does it counter this, it also helps to remove the build up of products you may have.

This does not mean am against purchasing the shampoo am only wary of the shampoos because the ones I found all contain sulphates. I  saying that I may be grabbing one soon I will be getting either Joico K Pak Chelating shampoo or Paul Mitchell Clarifying shampoo three. In Ireland, locating Paul Mitchell products can be tricky but you can find them in Zeba on south William street in Dublin city centre or Universal Hair and beauty in the GPO arcade of Henry street  in Dublin or Joseph Kramer Hair Studio on Wicklow street. Joseph Kramer stocks a fuller range if you want options.However the Joico products are in many European hair salons. Paul Mitchell is more available in the UK if you are out and about there

Not enough protein in hair

Many ladies have the problem of hair shedding early in the hair journey and this is usually the main reason. Once again a Paul Mitchell product caught my attention courtesy of Sunshyne of justgrowalready. 

Be careful though not to knock the balance out of your hair This link really talks about moisture/protein balance quite well http://blackhair101.com/hair-care/moisture-and-protein-maintaining-the-balance

Sunshyne talks about few products she introduced into her regime. NOte that it was a protein shampoo and a moisture DC. http://www.justgrowalready.com/2010/08/my-biggest-hurdle-breakage.html#.UTy6uNbHbow

I am happy with my moisture DC and am really trying to ensure I don't turn into a product Junkie. Instead I have chosen to probably introduce a protein shampoo into my regime. I think I may use this shampoo once a month on one of my moisture DC days. I haven't quite decided so haven't purchased yet. I would like to hold out first and see how the other changes in my regime are affecting my hair

Constantly wrapping hair in same direction or tight buns

This part is simple NO MORE WRAPPING else i would gradually become bald. Instead a loose bun to protect my ends at night and my silk scarf goes on but not too tight. I think I was tying this to tight to ensure it didn't slip off. Lesson learnt. After all the whole idea of protecting before you sleep is your ends and to keep the moisture locked in

Over manipulation of hair

This I am totally guilty of. From now on I will leave my comb until my wash day. During the week I would finger comb only. Its really easy to say that now but at 6 weeks post, its hard not to be tempted to just use the comb to get a smoother bun. But I will surely try.