new thread
Hi there,
I find it very difficult to get my hair looking the way I want it. My hair only looks ok when it's locked into curls and spirals(if brushed when dry it looks terrible). The way it ends up depends on what I do from when it's wet. I find if I part it in the middle and brush it straight, then leave it to dry it looks odd, lots of frizz, hairs escaping from curls. If I brush it all back and leave it to dry I don't like the overall shape and again lots of frizz. The only way it sometimes seems to look alright is if I part it as I want it (in the centre), brush it straight and then soak it again so that thicker curls are formed. I then have to wait for it to dry from soaking without disrupting the curls, which is fairly difficult unless I hsve loads of time to sit still. Even then there's no garauntee it'll look good, as it's always different, sometimes frizzy/uneven. Also I always need some form of leave in product to reduce frizz. If I tie it back from wet I end up with straight hair from the top and then sudden curls and spirals which I'm not sure about. I just wondered if anyone else has similar hair, and if there are any techniques that I might be unaware of?
I have the exact same issue with my hair. I've found that it looks best if I have time to sit in the sun in the morning to help it dry. I don't get to do that most days though.
Sounds exactly like my hair , Extremely rebellious. My hair doesn't seem to like any shampoo nor conditioner i try on it. What i do is: Wash it few times , Make sure to use a moisturizing shampoo/conditioner(((recently heard that most moisturizing shampoos contain silicone ingredients such as, dimethicone. Supposedly , they seal up your hair follicles and cause hair to dry up even more.))) Do not comb/brush when dry because it will only make it look POOFY and Frizzy. Don't fingercomb when dry because all you will do is rip hairs out. Just leave it alone. Me and my hair are constantly battling and My hair always wins, so , i decided to give up and let it do whatever it pleases. Btw , i am not crazy. You might assume i am due to the fact that i refer to my hair as some sort of living thing.................. :-)
~chris~
I also have very thick, curly hair. I NEVER touch my hair with a brush or a comb...and have found that to be the answer. I also don't towel dry my hair by rubbing it. I get out of the shower, squeeze as much of the water out as possible by hand, and then wrap it tight with a towel on my head. I leave that there for 10 minutes or so while I get dressed, and then let it out. It will fall out in spiral curls. I don't worry about getting an exact part, it usually will naturally part fairly well by falling to one side or the other. Then I use a product called "Fiber" by "Crew". I use a small amount, it's thick so I make sure it's smeared evenly over my hands, then turn my head upsidedown and carefully just squeeze it into my curls, like scrunching it in, I do NOT run my fingers through my hair, that would end up like brushing it or combing it. The Fiber locks in the curls really well, and dries soft and natural, not hard and crunchy.
Also...sometimes I like my hair straight. I bought a really good flat iron (it pays to buy the expensive ones). It takes me about 10-15 minutes to flat iron it completely straight. It's always amazing how much longer it is when it is straight. If it's not raining, or not crazy humid outside, it stays pretty well.
Welcome Justin from the other Justin. If you are planning on posting to this board you might want to consider having your pic on as well so all the guys reading won't get us confused. Great to have you here.
Hi Justin,
I guess you had me confused for a second there! Anyway, welcome aboard! Hope you post regularly, you'll find a great community here. You have a really nice head of naturally curly hair. I do hope you use discretion when using straightening irons-- use them infrequently, or even better don't use them at all. I would hate to see you damage your naturally curly hair and go through the same heartbreak of hair damage that I went through. All the best and again, welcome!
David
Hi Justin,
I just tried your technique and it's excellent! Just what I'm looking for, I thought if I did that it would tangle up and look a mess but it didn't. Much appreciated, to anyone else who has this hair type and doesn't already do this, give it a try. cheers
That's awesome that it worked, looks great!!
Try this:
1. Wash your hair.
2. Wrap a towel around your head to absorb moisture.
3. Add a gel like L'Oreal Melting Gel.
4. Finger comb your hair
5. Let it dry that way.
It's obvious that your hair looks its best when you allow it to form
natural curls.
When you fight those curls by combing, etc. then you get frizz.
Good luck
First off, curly hair should (generally) not be brushed with a brush of any kind, as this only serves to damage and frizz-ify your hair. Combing is better, and finger-combing is best, as you can feel the tension in your hair better through your fingers, thus lessening the amount of accidental breakage. Combing is best done when your hair is wet and conditioned, but even then, it must be done very slowly and gently. Finger-combing is the same, but I can do it when my hair is dry without too many problems.
It's possible that you're shampooing your hair too often and drying it up too much, the dryness only made worse by the hair brush. Try shampooing your hair less often and conditioning it more often, leaving in more of the conditioner when you're washing it out.
Also, don't brush your hair back; it's much safer to push your hair back with your hands, and to keep it like that with gel. Trust me on this.
HTH
Peace