Earlier this year I wrote a post about how scalp psoriasis led to a major hair setback last fall. I ended up losing a lot of hair due to all of the daily shampooing and detangling it took to keep my scalp under control. After a few months I was left with see through ends and breakage. It was disheartening because my hair was actually in really good shape before my scalp went out of control. As a result, I decided to give myself a trim and move forward with an updated healthy hair routine.
One of my main goals was to grow my hair back to it’s former length before the damage. This meant that I would need to retain as much length as possible. I also wanted thicker hair around my hairline because my edges appeared to be losing hair as well. The scalp psoriasis ended up on my forehead, neck and ears so it took my edges out right along with it.
I’m happy to report that I’m seeing a lot of progress! I haven’t straightened my hair for a while so I’m not sure of what my current length is. My edges have grown in nicely and my hair also has a lot more shrinkage. I also cut new bangs back in March which I’ve decided to grow back out. They are currently past chin length.
What I’ve Been Doing to Retain Length
I hadn’t been taking very good care of my hair (obviously) so I decided to make some changes to my hair routine. I started testing and reviewing deep conditioners on my hair and have noticed a difference in my curls. My hair always feels so much more manageable after a deep condition so I can tell that they are effective. Still, I think that I should be deep conditioning once a week if I really want to see more length.
As far as styling goes, I’ve been going back to braidouts again. I used to wear braid outs all of the time but got lazy I guess. Doing a wash n’ go is just so much easier so I always go with that style when I’m in a hurry. A braidout shows off more length for me though since I have crazy shrinkage. I also use plait braids with coils on the end so I can still see my curls.
One of my favorite ways to do a braidout is to wear a wash n’ go for a couple days and then braid it up. This way, my hair already has product in it from the wash n’ go style. I just wet each section, detangle with a denman and braid it up. For a second day with this style I’ll add a little coconut oil to help keep frizz under control. I coil the ends by wetting them and then combing through them with a fine tooth comb. Then I twirl the ends with my fingers until a small spiral curl forms. Since I have gel in my hair from the wash n’ go, the curl sets as it dries. It’s also easier to sleep on because I don’t have to use rollers when I curl my hair this way.
Protective Styles
This summer I’m really trying to focus on wearing protective styles. In my last post I wrote about all of the options for summertime styles for protecting your hair. For me I’ll probably be wearing a bun during the week and having it out during the week.
I would also like to try crochet braids because that way I can wear cornrows underneath a curly style. My scalp is a little irritated though so I may have to clear it up first before starting a long term protective style. Currently I’m back on my vitamins and supplements that kept my scalp psoriasis under control.
Making Progress
Overall, my hair is definitely improving. Scalp Psoriasis is still an issue for me but I’m learning that I don’t have to wreck my hair while managing my scalp. My goal is to grow my bangs out to collar bone length so that my wash n’ go looks more like it did by the end of last summer. I’m also looking to try some new products because I have a feeling that I need to rely less on my Eco Styler gel for curl definition.
Watch this space for more about my hair journey and hair product reviews in the coming months!
This is so encouraging…thank you. I have been struggling for years and I would like to keep my hair longer than the TWA….