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Dear Coterie and CO.,
HELP ME. My "do" just won't "do" if you know what I mean. Thus I've inadvertently become the president of the "messy bun" fan club which is all fine and dandy a couple of times a week but EVERY.SINGLE.DAY??? I'm just tired of it (and though he'd never say so, I'm certain my poor husband is too!).
The facts:
I have moderately long locks (about 2 or 3 inches below my shoulder blades) with long layers (booooooring)
My hair is abnormally THICK (like as in I guarantee I have twice as much hair as you. . . and I'm being conservative. It's likely that I easily have 3 times as much hair as you do)
My hair is also "moderately curly" (aka a step above wavy and a step below all out curls, but most the time the top layer is just one big fuzz ball while the bottom layer behaves itself quite nicely).
I have fine hair. . . not course at all. . . just a million, gazillion fine strands of frizzy, boooooooring hair.
I live in Hawaii so the humidity is downright absurd all the time.
My hair is very healthy because a) it is NEVER blow dried/flat ironed straight (not because I wouldn't LOVE straight, smooth locks, but because it would literally require 2 hours to get it that way. . . did I mention it's insanely thick?) and b) it is RARELY diffused to be curly because (especially the top layer) just ends up frizzalicious. . . it's even frizzy when air dried. oy. the frizz. . . the frizz. . . the frizzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!
Everyone's solution always seems to be to add texture. But the curls + the texture + the humidity do NOT = a happy family.
What's a girl to do?? I am desperate for a cut that gives my hair SOME resemblance of style. I would LOVE a styling tip (or two or three) that can help me stop looking like a wet rat every.single.day. I would LOVE any advice you could give me to allow my curls to really curl AND if possible to go straight on occasion without the added volume (we do realize that when I say thick I mean like THIIIIIIK right?).
And did I mention I have 900 kids, so hours in front of the mirror perfecting my qwuff aren't a luxury I enjoy??
Can't wait to read your tips!!! Because we all know that Utah has the best hair (not that you're all from Utah but I'm just sayin' . . . Utah does 2 things well, hair and the Osmonds. . . well three things if you also count the Osmond's hair. . .)
xo!
N (Frizzy-Hair Fran)
Do you have any styling tips for Frizzy-Hair Fran? Is there a special way to cut it? Anything would help!
Posts
20 comments:
I share your pain! The only thing that seems to work for me is washing my hair at night, coating it with Fekkai's curly hair spray (in the pink bottle-I get it at Sephora), wrapping it tight in a towel turban and letting it air dry while I sleep. Just take the towel off right before you hit the sac. The key here is to not touch it or mess with it once the towel comes off. In the a.m., your locks should have a nice frizz-free wave going on. I touch up a few strands with a curling iron (takes 2 mins) and then I'm out the door. So easy! Hope it works for you!
I too have rediculously thick hair -- and about 5 years ago for the first time - my hair girl offered to thin out my hair -- I have a lot of the same hair issues you do - minus the Hawaiian humidity - - But thinning it out made styling and flat ironing / diffusing a LOT easier -- it even dries nicer naturally - if i put a little mouse in it after a shower --
Thinning it out also made it possible for me to cut it shorter for the first time ever last year -- A short cut had never been an option before because of how thick it is I was always afraid it would just poof out into helmet head or a big poofy triangle -- I kept long "beautiful but boring" locks forever until last year ---
its a little more grown out now - but it was cute shorter & for the 1st time i felt like i actually had a stylish haircut... it was fun! But would have never worked out without some very strategic thinning of the THICK by an amazing professional!
I always felt bad if there was some little old lady getting her hair done next to me - & I kept saying nope still too thick keep going -- she would look at me like I was murdering someone because I wanted to get rid of the thick!
Anyway!
Good luck with the frizz!
Chris Stokes
ps - cant wait to try #1 comment's tip! Sounds amazing!
Natalie,
I suffered from a similar problem for years, then finally had a breakthrough about a year ago. You can read about it here:
http://danslecrayon.blogspot.com/2008/11/breakthrough.html
P.S My breakthrough came while I was living in the Caribbean, so I can assure you that it works even in humid climates
Good luck!
I'm all in favor of #1's comment except for one thing: cowlicks. My thick wavy/curly hair would probably be really cute if I did that except for the GIANT BALD SPOT on the crown of my head in the morning. If you have cowlicks, try letting your hair air dry for a while before you go to bed, then wrapping it in a scarf to keep it all in place while you sleep. Should minimize the gaps.
(Not that I've ever tried this, mind you, but several hair cutter people have recommended it to me...)
My hair is very similar. Long, slightly curly, thick, and frizzy. I share your pain. I have recently found an easy solution. Its all about the product.
1) I use TIGI Catwalk "Curls Rock" shampoo and conditioner. Although any moisturizing conditioner should work.
2)Then I put Curls rock "leave in moisturizer" in my wet hair. I comb through it with my fingers to make sure it is evenly coated. http://www.amazon.com/TIGI-Catwalk-Leave-Moisturizer-2-PACK/dp/B000YJ4FUI/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1259689504&sr=8-7
3)Next (and this is the real secret) I take one pump (a little goes a long way) of Curls rock "Curl amplifier" and scrunch it a little, making sure my hair is evenly coated. Then I let it air dry. http://www.amazon.com/TIGI-Catwalk-Amplifier-4-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001EWF1XE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1259689504&sr=8-1
It literally takes me less than 5 minutes to do my hair. I hope this helps!
Lotion, lotion, lotion.
Aloe vera too.
I could write a book on my hair woes.....really! It has taken me 15 years to work out the exact science of how to get my hair semi-decent each morning. I have been told I have black girl hair. I have made a poor hair girl cry....the stories go on and on...
I love Redken shampoo/conditioner. The "Fresh Curls" is great, but even more than that I love "Smooth Down".
I couldn't live without John Freida's Frizz Ease Serum (extra strength for me!)
I have so much hair--I have to use a pretty heavy gel, and then I use a diffuser....or it would stay wet forever.
Good luck frizzy-hair fran!
Such thorough comments! I love this! Thanks everyone! Nat, I hope these help!
i have the same hair. I am excited to try out all these great tips. I just wash it, comb it, put gell in it, and I am out the door. those sound a lot better!
Okay Nat, I have some ideas!!
My very favorite product of all time is Morrocan Oil. I use it on ALL of my clients--in fact, Heather, it would be great on your hair too! It really helps calm frizz and it isn't silicone based like a lot of other shine and anti frizz products so it wont build up on hair or weigh it down. It is amazing. It works great if you're wearing your hair curly or straight. Also, I think Heather told you about the Keratin Complex Brazilian smoothing system. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE! It totally gets rid of frizz and it reduces curl. your hair will dry in half the time. Only problem is that since you have three times the hair of a normal person it would cost A LOT to do it on your hair. The Keratin itself is extremely expensive and it is a fairly arduous process so it wouldn't be cheap. But it does last 4-7months and I haven't done it on one person who didn't LOVE it. Call or email me if you want more info. I don't know of anyone on Oahu who does it but I bet in Utah you could find someone to do it pretty cheap while you're there for Christmas. Okay-longest comment ever!!! Sorry. Good luck!
xoxo Jana
Oh! I was also going to say that I LOVED when you had straight across bangs a few years back. Bangs are what I always recommend for someone who wants a change and some "style" without having to do something too super dramatic. They also dress up a ponytail or bun if you do end up wearing one everyday :)
Natalie I would venture to say that I just might have more hair than you...I know you probably don't believe me, but SERIOUSLY I have a TON TON TON of hair. So much I had to cut it off because it was giving me a headache is weighed so much. Anyway, THIN IT OUT. Saving grace. I have my hairdresser thin it out about every 8 weeks and it makes a world of difference. I can now straighten it or curl it without it taking me all day.
Good luck- I feel your pain!
Erica,
oh I totally understand the bun head ache! More like a migraine! The reason I can't thin it out is because it adds volume in the humid climate. . . which makes life WAAAAAAAY worse.
Jana! I was waiting for you to pipe in! I'm totally going to look into the Keratin Complex Brazilian smoothing system!! I'll call you if I have questions!
Sheena! I totally hear you about hair that stays wet forever. yesterday I spent all day in the HOT HOT HOT sun and my hair is STILL wet this morning. . . after all day and night. ARGH! :)
Thanks everyone SO MUCH! I might just try all of these and report back. :)
While I don't have your awesomely adorable curly hair Natalie, I do have the thick + frizz thing. I think you're about even with me on thickness and OMG @ the whole all day wet thing. Me too. I have a horror of washing my hair every day b/c some lady on Oprah when I was younger did and since her hair never dried she had MOLD ON HER SCALP. Seriously scarring for life stuff there.
Anyways. I know you don't have time for too much fru-fru stuff but the Chi straightener is AMAZING. I got the one with the heat setting and crank it to high and it takes me about 15 minutes - if that - to straighten my hair with it.
I also got a hair dryer that has changed the whole wet head/frizz thing. I used to abhor hair dryers because it would take seriously an hour to blow dry it. I got a blow dryer from Amazon Vine (I'm a product tester for Amazon) and I LOVE IT. Literally took 10 - 15 minutes for bone dry hair. It still amazes me. I don't use it all the time but it's nice to have a dryer THAT WORKS when I need one in a pinch.
http://www.amazon.com/Remington-Quality-Ceramic-Professional-Tourmaline/dp/B001LF4G7G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1259978712&sr=8-2
GOOD LUCK!
Hello, I'm just a random, helpful person! I followed an old link on Stephanie Robertson's blog because I'm bored this morning.
Anyway.
I completely agree with the thinning... I don't know about your financial situation, but if you will go one time to a really qualified hairstylist and tell them your woes they will have GREAT advice, and will give you the very best cut for your hair. Really. Then after that if you want to go to Great Clips or something they can probably copy the nicer haircut for a while. This with the thinning will make a huge difference.
As for products, I am a HUGE believer in Paul Mitchell Super Skinny line. The shampoo, conditioner, and serum in combination are INSANE with calming huge hair and frizz. I honestly don't know about humidity, because I only saw it in action in Utah, but I swear I was astounded by the results. And I don't really like any other Paul Mitchell products.
And if you do, indeed, want your hair straight, you will be amazed at how quickly the formerly mentioned CHI will do the job. The high heat with the ceramic plates really make a huge difference.
Good luck! I'm a cosmetologist if that helps give some validity to my comment. :)
Okay, here's my take. I only read a few of the comments, but I wouldn't think it because it will make more short stray hairs. I have the same hair you do- minus the humidity. Let me see if I can find you a picture: http://senovia1.blogspot.com/2009/09/inspiration-to-keep-going.html I'm the one with long blonde hair in those photos, or look at my profile pic.
Anyway, I don't have the time and energy, either, even though I don't have 900 kids. This is what I do.
I never EVER brush it dry- oh the knots! I get in the shower, wash my hair with Pantene for curly hair, rinse, and put in the Pantene conditioner for curly hair. I like my conditioner to be THICK and not watery like most grocery store brands. I LOVE the biolage conditioning balm, but can't afford to buy that AND the gel I love, so Pantene works. I leave in the conditioner while doing everything else I do in the shower. Then I take a brush (not the natural bristle kind) and brush out the knots while the conditioner is in it. Rinse, get out, towel dry.
Add Biolage Gelee (from salons). I use three handfuls- one for the top/front and the length of that hair, then I split the length of my hair in half and put a handful through each half.
When I lived in Calif, I let it air dry, but I live in Alaska, and it would only freeze here, so...
DO NOT diffuse! That causes frizz so bad! I use the hot setting on medium power and dry the roots. I don't dry the hair completely, I dry the ends just a little. LEAVE it a little bit moist. That last few minutes of blowing is what frizzes my hair.
For the rest of the day, don't brush it, I try to keep my hands out of it, and let it do it's thing. The few times I've tried to straighten it, it took 3 hours, then an hour later it was curling again. I finally gave in and let it do what it wants- but controlled.
I hope that helps!
oh natalie... i left a MEGA long comment DAYS ago.
it's obviously not here.
so what i said was thin it. my hair was pretty identical to yours before the ol' choppity chop. thinning worked miracles.
but again, any hair of length will take quite a bit of time in the styling department. it always looks best blow-dried and straightened with just the right amount of just the right products.
but i digress.
thin it: richard simmons meets jenny craig style.
I know I'm way late to this conversation, but just wanted to chime in and say that I've found tons of valuable information on the forums at www.curltalk.com. I've been caring for my hair using the "curly girl" method for a couple of months, and I seriously haven't had one ponytail day since I started! My hair is short, thick, wavy/curly, and I live on the humid east coast.
I just read about your problem and I do have a solution for you. I have very curly hair that is very prone to frizz. This is what I do to combat frizz. I wash my hair in organic shampoo that does not have the detergen ingredient that strips hair. After I condition my hair I put hair serum and grapeseed oil in my palm, rub my hands together and run it through my hair. I get beautiful ringlets and nourished hair! You will probably need more since your hair is long. Grapeseed oil is not animal base oil so it won't make your hair greasy. I also use it on my face before bed because it is good for the skin. I am 48 and have no crows feet or wrinkles! Hope this helps!
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