new thread
Hey everyone - if you've read any of my previous posts you'd know I'm the guy that got an accidental chop job, had a freakout, decided to grow my hair out again, only to discover that it was two completely different haircuts on each side. I had a tiny, TINY trim/restyling last week, and it's a major improvement (the stylist was a godsend, it cost me 60 dollars though ;), but there's still some problem areas.
If there's one thing I've really taken away from this experience in regards to my hair, it's this: LAYERS DON'T WORK WITH MY HAIR TYPE. I have no idea WHY, but they tend to stick out everywhere at the length it is now (4-5 inches) or bunch up when it's really long. I had my hair curtained most of my life, which worked much, much better, despite the fact that my hair is unusually thick/heavy and it weighed me down. I'd take that any day over what I have now :)
Within six months I should be able to trim the layers out and get it back to it's normal style without losing any actual length, so I can continue to grow it after that.
But until then, I need to come up with a solution that doesn't involve wearing a hat, which is what I have been doing for the past fifty days or so :P
I've been doing some experimenting, and here's what I've discovered...
Straightener: It actually, dare I say it, makes my hair look AMAZING. However, I think it's common knowledge that straighteners are horrible for hair. On the other hand, could I get away with straightening it for six months and not doing too much damage to it? Does anyone know of a good heat protector or anything? My girlfriend straightened her hair every day for two years and it's fine.
Gel: Hair is too long for gel to have any real effect, makes it worse actually.
Hair spray: Kinda helps, but makes it hard and bunchy, and loses it's effect quickly.
Mousse: Pretty good, better than the hair spray and the gel. I still haven't applied it in the morning though to see how it holds up during the entire day.
So if anyone has any advice or information about methods for controlling hair without damaging it, it'd be greatly appreciated.
On another note, does anyone know anything about thermal reconditioning (Japanese hair straightening)? I've been reading A LOT about it, and can't seem to find anything negative about it. I doubt I'd do it solely based on the cost, but if anyone has any information/experiences/stories about that, I'd like to hear it as well.
~Tim~
Cone'd stuff will protect from straightening. However, it won't fix any damage done before you USED a cone product to straighten it. And it'll get dried out, so I recommend you moisturize it and every once in a while use a sulfate shampoo or baking soda rinse so you can get those cones out and moisturize before straightening again.
I used to use got2b glued heat protectant, and it worked well. It's in a yellow triangular bottle with a red cap. You can get it almost anywhere; even CVS, I think.
As far as Heat Straightening, I do have a few complaints. My friend has her's done every once in a while, and if it screws up, you are SCREWED. The stylist she used to go to,a fter being trustworthy before, jacked her hair up. Now it's frizzy, with a single deformed wave coming through the middle, and a puffy big bump on the back of her head that never, EVER stays down. She wanted to cut the stylist's throat out. With a plastic spork, just so she could take her time. e-e
And it's damaging even if they do a good job too. If you get it done, PLEASE go to someone who knows what the hell they're doing. Any good place would have a record of any straightening they've done; relaxing, japanese hair straightening, and heat straightening. If they don't, get the HELL out of there. PLEASE. E_E
Thanks, I'll look into the Cone'd stuff and got2B the heat protectant.
What is CVS though? :P
I was simply wondering about the heat straightening because I'm temporarily studying abroad in Tokyo from March - August, and was thinking that maybe they could do something to make my hair a little more manageable...but we'll see how it turns out.
Honestly though, I look like a crazy soccer mom when I don't do SOMETHING to my hair, and I really want to make it out of this awkward, awkward stage...NEVER again will I layer my hair.
Oh, uh, cone'd means with silicones in it. they coat the hair shaft and protect it.
And CVS is a drug store. May I ask where you live? Cause got2be may or may not be availiable there. e-e
Ah, I see. I live in Seattle, we have got2B stuff around, but no CVS stores that I know of.
I've actually heard that ceramic straighteners can be GOOD for your hair, in some circumstances. Metal straighteners are BAD no matter what.
What I've heard is that ceramic straighteners (my daughters is made of tourmaline, a kind of crystal) cause the hair to retain moisture. The ceramic ones are much more expensive though.
Wow, I never knew that - after my hair got the chop, my manager at work was kind enough to give me her "curlmaster ceramics" straightener. I don't know what mine is made of, but it is a ceramic, and it's pretty high end from what I can tell.
I think now I will straighten it for the next six months or so (in addition to my hat/mousse routines), in order to retain my sanity before I get my hair delayered like it used to be. There is a nightmarish amount of layers in my hair, and it's making my "awkward stage" thousands of times more awkward than it has to be...
I wonder though, with length, will the layers gain more weight, or will my hair continue to be the illusion of long hair with more volume than I could ever care for?