new thread
Hi all,
just a general update to show my (slow!)progress. My hair is around 8" long now although the curls stop it showing its true length! I have a few questions mainly for people like GlassEyes and Tuckergeek as they have similar hair types to me. Though if anyone has ideas they would be gretly appreciated. I am still having to wash my hair with conditioner every day to make my hair presentable for work ( i make this out to be a chore to my friends but i secretly enjoy the care i have to put in ) But i would like to have a more uniform curl structure and i have no idea how to achieve this. GlassEyes what product do you use and what is your routine? I am currently alternating between the John freida and aussie products but my hair wants more moisture i have heard of people using coconut oil overnight but don't how this works.
It has been 5 months since i have found this site and i must say it is amazing, full of people with a genuine desire to encourage and help other people with the same common goal instead of some other sites which seems to be full of egotists.
Thank you in advance for the valuable advice i am sure i will receive
Mat
Ps: not the best photo i know but i have to be quick to avoid dodgy looks in the office LOL
Great hair, Mat!
Those curls are really well-formed. (They certainly make the length hide, though.)
I have tried a whole whack of various products during my two and a half year adventure into long-hair. I am, for now, really (surprisingly) pleased with my most recent products: Suave Naturals 'coconut' Shampoo and Conditioner; and, Dippidy-Do strong hold gel. (The green stuff.)
I have tried, as I've said, many various products ranging from moderate (Frieda) to expensive (WEN) and I have never had such cooperative and healthy-looking hair as I do now using some of the most inexpensive stuff out there. I've used oils and I only find them moderately helpful. More helpful for me has been leaving on a whole bunch of conditioner overnight by using a small clear plastic bag (like one would use for carrying produce at a supermarket) tied around my hairline with a bandana wrapped over it. The gel adds a bit of stiffness, but if you gently pat it or smoosh it gently towards the head to get the crisp feeling out, it softens right up while still maintaining its shape and smaller size. (I've been less poofy-looking, too, since switching.)
The real benefit, I am finding, is that using gel gives enough hold that after sleeping on it -providing I don't roll around too much - the shape and curl in my hair are still quite good and need only a nominal amount of water and more gel the next day to put it back together. This means no more HAVING to shower and condition everyday.
I wish you all the best in your long-hair journey.
Shawn (Mr.Crow)
Thank you very much for the advice Shawn.you hair looks awesome and is definatly the sort of thing i am aiming for. I will try the conditioner and a bag thing later. Just one more thing i have to 'drip dry' after washing to avoid frizz is this the only way or do you do something different.
Thanks Again
Mat
I do have to drip dry.
Shawn
Hi Mat, seeing your photo, my hair isn't as curly as yours. My curls start only at the lower 3rd of my hair. I do my best to brush them out. I haven't tried Coconut Oil, but I do use Jojoba Oil almost every day to keep my poofy-ness down and makes my hair a little shiny. All the best to you Bro.
Frank
Hi Mat,
Using conditioner every day and then letting your hair dry is the best way I have found to have well-defined curls. But what I have been able to do to sometimes to save time, just using regular conditioner, Suave Aloe, is to take some in my hands and a little water and then smooth it over the top layer of my hair as if I am making a ponytail. Then, I keep wetting my hands with water and repeating the process. My hair is about half wet after about five times with the water. Then I take individual locks and run them in between my fingers to define them and smooth them out. The conditioner acts as gel would for me, and I generally avoid the frizzies in this way. That saves having to wash and condition my hair each day. And really, my hair turns out pretty presentable.
I did try cocoanut oil once and it did work, but the conditioner does just about the same thing.
Now for really well-defined curls, say like the Spanish singer David Disbal a few years ago, I think you would need to get into gels and mousses and be "setting" each curl by twisting it with your fingers or a small roller. The picture above ought to show what I am talking about.
Good luck. Curly hair can be a challenge, but I think it is well worth it.
A picture of good curly hair, in my opinion...
Hi Mat,
Truely amazing curls there and in wonderful condition. Do keep it growing and we have some other great heads of curly hair on the board. A sight to behold.
Cheers,
John.B
Great looking curls Mat! Welcome!
Bruce
wow, your curls are very well-defined! looks great! :)
Great update, your hair looks awesome.
Hey there
i'm not sure if i remember you so welcome if you're new, and if you're not then I must be blind :P
you have really cool hair! god yes, the curls make for some extremely slow progress. My hair isn't as curly as yours (on most days) and is about the same length, but only appears marginally bigger.
coconut oil is very easy to apply. usually it comes in jars as coconut butter, which melts into oil when you rub it in your hands. scrape off a very small amount *less than you believe you need* and rub it to make your hands to make it shiny and sleek. Then run your hands through your hair a few times. if you need more oil only take a real bit; it's very easy to over-do it (i over-do it nearly all the time!). You'll also need to lift the upper layers to get the oil to penetrate to the lower back layers of your hair. Works wonders for moisture!! The coconut oil is "drunk" by your hair and locks in loads of moisture; that's how it works.
your natural hair colour looks very similar to mine (which is currently dyed over) but it's coming along nicely. don't worry too much, in a year it will start looking great!
with curly hair the thing we need the most is an abundance of patience. seriously. it will all fall into place nicely :)
I'm glad the daily conditioner's working! Never tried it myself; maybe I should take a leaf out of your book.
Shawn
Thank you all for the tips will try them all and let you guys know if they work for me
Mat