I'd better figure something out

This is my hair yesterday after my mega wash session. It's growing pretty well and I'm glad I take these photos so that I don't miss it. It's growing steadily in some places and not at all in others. Right now with this mullet,  I need to figure out how to get it off my shoulders without looking "mangy".  I've not been able to wear my hair in a protective style that is able to both protect my ends and hide my thinning. Right now, my curly sets still work but as my hair grows longer I know my ends are rubbing my clothes, chairs and everything else my back touches.

 I actually need to decide weather my goal is to keep it growing or cut it to a thicker length. I know this sounds crazy but I feel as if the longer it gets the thinner it looks. It's beyond me how the same head of hair can be thriving and balding at the same time.  I'm 11 weeks post relaxer and I barely have a 1/4 inch of growth. So sad. I get it more and more each day that my focus is to keep working (even if in vain) on the bald spots but try my all to retain the growth

Looking at this photo I see progress and secrets. My focus and dedication is working where it can. The rest is hidden away behind the shine and health.  You'd never know by looking at me that I'm balding and for those thriving follicles I am deeply thankful.

Wars, Battles and messages from the universe

A war can go on for years, decades and centuries... Battles are short and are usually decided by quick action one way or another.  The war between me and AGA rages on and I'm losing. I have an iPhone and I'm addicted to taking photos of my hair from some of the craziest angles. This week I zeroed in on the nap and edges of my hair. Both areas are strangely different texture than the rest if my hair. Armpit length sparse, and baby fine,  the nape is so stringy it can barely hold a roller.  It's hard to look at and hard to touch.

My edges are not too too bad but still very unnaturally fine. At this point, only the very middle all the way around my head is the only part that grows. It's so healthy that it's growing enough to cover all of my balding.  So far, it's 1 inch from my bra strap in the back and armpit in the front. I just don't feel much like celebrating the lenght when there's no undergrowth. I can only imagine if I weren't balding.... Sigh.

On top of the war between me and my hair follicles ... I still have "normal hair" problems. This week battle is breakage and dryness. Strange too is that the breakage is localized and fierce. I look at that section of my hair wrong and it snaps. The battle to hang on to what I have hinges on me stopping the breakage and additional damage.  I purchased and used new products that are supposed to curb this condition, but so far....

In "universe news", my co-worker who is Greek and addicted to lifting her dark tresses red told me today that I "have such great hair"  She said its "always so thick , and healthy and I love your curly sets".  After I thanked her, I Thought... I'm not losing, I'm still in the war and I'd better start listing to all the messages that the universe is sending my way and appreciate what I have left.  I keep getting these messages from the universe, always so positive and encouraging. 

 Acknowledged.

later~

Never give up!

My mother finally let me get my hands on her hair this weekend!!1

My mom has AGA and she has given up.  She wears her hair in a wild and crazy wash n's go and doesn't dye.  ( yes @the visual).

The weekend I offered to "do my thing" to her hair...and she let me.

I prepooed, steamed, chelated,  acidified, dyed! and then deep condition it again!  After a trim and a nice roller set..... the look on her face was worth every second of the four hours that all of that took.  She said, " I look like I use to look'!! " "My hair is so soft and bouncy!"  She changed her clothes and put on makeup so I could take her picture.  PRICELESS.

There is a lesson here for me.  I've always said it....NEVER GIVE UP!  I will make sure that every day, these thinning strands get my love and focused care.  I will never stop trying to reverse my hair loss.  I will never stop trying to make my hair look and feel its very best.  The cost of ambivalence is much too high.

My Mom does care how she looks!  (.... just as I thought) She just accepted that there was nothing she could do about her AGA and gave up.  I won't let her.  I love her too much.  She has now agreed to allow me to do her hair every time she comes to see me ( ...err her grand kids) and I will happily oblige.

My heart grew bigger and my spirit got stronger!