new thread
Hi all!
Just stumbled on this site, and looks like a good bunch of dudes here to talk about my hair issues with (without persecution from my short-hair friends, haha).
So I used to always just shave my head up until almost a couple years ago, and I've been growing it since, but my hair is only about chin-length as I have trimmed it a few times, but I do want to grow it longer. Just needed a change and to feel more "metal", ya know?
It has been quite a challenge, however. I have at times, very THICK curly/wavy/poofy hair (especially after it dries from washing). Sometimes I'll just go a week without washing just to avoid the poofiness. I'll also use certain products in my hair to keep it tame. Some days it'll be hair gel/paste, or detangler/moisturizing spray, or a bit of baby oil, or nothing at all. I am NEVER usually happy with the results though; can't seem to find a good shampoo or conditioner that will keep my hair semi-straight and not poofy. The baby oil seems to do a good job of controlling poof and gives a good shine, but too much makes it look real greasy. The gel makes me HAVE to wash it out eventually.
Then there's the hairdressers. Not one of them can seem to cut my hair in a way that I want. Since it is so thick, (esp. in the back) I get them to take thinning shears to it sometimes. It is also thick on the sides, and when that poofs, I get a huge afro thing going on, so my logic is to cut what's around my ears to let the rest hang down a little closer to my head (the last hairdresser didn't do ANYTHING I asked). I don't know if this makes sense to you all, kinda hard to explain.
My main issue with all of this is that my wedding is in a couple weeks and I need my hair to look good for pictures. I REALLY DON'T want to chop it off, but I do need to trim the split ends again. I also don't want poofy/wavy/curly crap hair in my photos.
Any thoughts on wedding appropriate hair styles? Slick it back? Straighten it? I have NO clue! Also your thoughts on long-term hair solutions would be greatly appreciated!
Ryan
P.S. Sorry for the novel guys!
Welcome to the board, Ryan! First off, if you have curly/wavy hair you need to find a way to live with it as straightening it does more harm than good. However the puffiness is mostly due to the hair being too dry, which you can do something about. Try selecting a shampoo that has light oils listed in it's ingredients and try to avoid washing more than about once a week. Try just rinsing and applying a conditioner, preferably one with light oils. (Suave makes inexpensive versions of both) Then apply an oil moisturizer to your damp hair. My current favorite for daily use is labeled BB Oil Moisturizer that I bought at Walmart. (It's in the "ethnic" products section) Another good product is Garnier Fructis Anti-Frizz Serum, though I don't think it moisturizes as deeply so I prefer to use it when I need a bit of a touch-up.
As for how to wear your hair to your wedding, a lot depends on just how long it is and how unruly it is. Ponytails are popular if it's long enough. If not, I would try to moisturize it enough that it would lie down. I would leave gelling it back as a last resort.
Good luck!!
--Dale
My Facebook Page
Thanks for the feedback Dale, I will try to find those products next time I go shopping. As far as straightening goes, I don't really do it anymore, I like when my hair has some kind of texture, but only to a point. I guess I'm picky haha. I also read some of the outside links from this site and found them to be helpful as well, and I learned a little too! Maybe I'll post a pic or too once I get it looking the way I want. Take care!
Ryan
Hello. This is what works for me, I'd say never apply gel-wax-oily products to your hair; if you do, go for quality stuff (the likes of American Crew) and it's obviously a must to wash it before you go to bed. Clean, manageable and healthy hair is what you're aiming for.
I had the 'poofiness issue' too (though my hair isn't that wavy). I never wanted to wash it until I tried a moisturizing shampoo called Drench, and after a couple of weeks of poofy hair, it's been really working wonders. My hair is always (since I wash it 4 times a week) clean, silky and frizz-less. It's 16 bucks the bottle, but it lasts 3 and a half months. Go for a good moisturizing shampoo then. I don't even use conditioner, because the shampoo leaves my hair just right: without grease and manageable.
If your hairdresser blows, well go somewhere else and always carry in your phone a picture that shows exactly the cut you want. It works for me. Man, I pay like three dollars the cut.
Thanks for the input emont. I don't think I've ever gone to the same hairdresser, keep going to different ones! You're right though, I'm going to have to find a picture of a haircut I like and take it in.
Hi RyanD,
First of all, a pic always helps us give better advise -- otherwise, we're just guessing in the dark at how your hair looks, rather than having a real concrete image of it.
Secondly, a marriage is for sure a BIG day in one's life; so if you feel the need for a little "touch-up" trim, do NOT go to a cheap hair stylist -- go to the most reputable salon in town, and try to get the most experienced hair stylist your money can buy (and don't forget to tip them nicely if they did a great job).... I can't tell you how many times I used to get angry at hair stylists that didn't listen to me, or that weren't longhair-friendly enough to do anything other than "standard" men's haircuts.
Other than the above advise: conditioner, conditioner, conditioner -- the longer your hair gets, the more you'll find how much a good hair conditioner is your biggest friend!
Good luck!
- Ken in San Francisco
My response is pretty straightforward, but simple.
Long term issues: Stop cutting your hair.
Short term issues (wedding): Stop cutting your hair.
If you want long hair, you are only making matters more slow and difficult by getting trims. I suggest not using cheap products with lots of chemicals. You describe your hair as thick and wavy: that's THE perfect hair for growing long. Hearing about your split ends is quite surprising- are you sure they're split? The reason I ask is 1)It's thick and 2)It's only chin length.
Now, for short term concerns, like your wedding. (By the way, congrats!) If it's chin length, you can probably get a lot of it back in a tail. The rest you should be able to keep back with a quality (remember, natural products) hair gel.
So, if you really want long hair (you're kind of there now) it's tough-it-out time. Just put trust in that it will be all downhill coasting as soon as you can get it all back in a tail. Then, it's wait and grow time.
Good luck, and again, congrats on your life together!