new thread
Hi everybody,
Hope you all are doing well and having a nice weekend first of all!
I am wondering if I use oil of some kind all over my hair it will help weigh it down and reduce the poofiness. I should know the answer to this, but thought I would ask here. I don't really like oils, but will use it if it helps this problem. I'm pretty sure the poofiness will reduce when my hair is well past my shoulders. Thanks for your help!
Ted
Hi Ted,
The answer is simple. Have you ever noticed that a day or two after washing your hair, it starts to look better than the actual day you washed it? That's because of the natural oils your scalp produces.
So my answer would be YES, oils help weigh down your hair and tame the frizz and or poofiness. I know that certain oils give your hair some curliness, but it depends on how heavy the oil is. There are tons of oils you can try and it's all about getting the one that works best for you as well as the right method to apply it.
Also the weight of your hair as it gets longer will make it less
poofy. also i've noticed that when I condition my hair it is
less poofy the next day.
Hi LHIA,
Thanks for your reply! I do agree with you about the weight of longer hair. I keep forgetting that my hair is not all one length yet. I suspect when it is all one length and all behind the shoulders, things will be different. Maybe my impatience is kicking in again:)
Ted
Hey buddy,
I am not sure what you mean when you say that your hair will get all one length. Are you planning on cutting it to even it out?
Unless you cut your hair to even it out, your hair will remain like that. Some layers will be longer and others will be shorter.
The layers that are now longer, will remain longer compared to the layers that are short. Again, unless you cut the longer layers to make them match the shorter ones.
My hair works exactly like that. The back part is longer than the sides and thats the natural way it grows. The have been like that for a while now and they will not be even unless I cut them because my hair - and I suspect your hair too- grows in V shape.
Hi Dave,
I shouldn't say "all one length". What I mean is "the appearance of all one length" as seen from the back. This is when my hair gets to the point where it all hangs well behind my shoulders.
I am still trying to grow out some layers. And I did notice today that my hair does grow in a V shape in the back. So what I will do is grow to about 4-6 inches past waist. Then I will cut it straight across at the bottom to waist length.
I think I need to just quit paying too much attention to my hair and let it grow!
Ted
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the reply! I do agree with you about the day after washing. But my hair seems to look and feel too flat the further I go without washing. I need to keep experimenting with different products/routines to get it right. I'm not really concerned with the curliness, but more the oiliness factor. Thanks again for your info!
Ted
So, right one you notice that your hair gets too flat, instead of washing it with shampoo, just wash it out with conditioner. That will make it look "not that flat" and will still keep the oils that you need to avoid the poofiness.
I have tried washing with conditioner only. I find my hair still kind of poofs out though. It may have to do with the type of conditioner I'm using.
Ted
Is that it is dry to the bone and I use leave-in-conditioner, but I still have to add silk remedy and some other stuff too.
I flat iron it and it looks much better.
I used to wash my hair practically every day, but since those "bad hair" years I have learned that is the wrong thing to do so I am washing once per week now.
Ted,
I believe poofiness is caused in part by static electricity. There are various ways to minimize static electricity in your hair. Oil is one of them. I use avocado oil. After washing my hair, I wait for that damp stage after it's no longer dripping wet, but not yet dry. I put maybe a teaspoon of avocado oil in my palm, rub it between my hands, then rub it into my hair. (In the past I've also used jojoba oil and olive oil before settling on avocado.)
If you really really hate oil, you can try a hydrating shampoo, leave-in conditioner or mousse.
Ev
Prevent static electricity in your hair
Hi Ev,
Thanks a bunch for the tips and the link to that page! I hadn't even thought of some of those! I am going to keep experimenting with different methods to find the most suitable. Could be that I'm paying too much attention to my hair also.
Ted
I live in a dry climate. When I oil my hair, it ends up turning gummy and snarling by the next day.
Hi Antinous,
That is interesting to know! My hair also seems to get gummy.
Ted
What kind of oil are you using that makes your hair gummy?
I use a generic silk remedy which is available at sallys
it's called GVP Silk Remedy
Hi Jake,
I will have to check up on that product. May I ask if you have hair that is close to my texture and thickness? Is this product reasonably priced? Thanks again for the tip!
Ted
Ted,
my hair is thick and tends to frizz out and I use this with a flat iron which is once a week.
don't let the site name deter you. the industry does not market these products to men because as you know they think since "most guys" get clipper cuts they have no use for them. in fact, lots of guys have purchased products from them.
Hi Jake, Thanks so much for all the info! I may try that stuff. But I think I found out what I was doing wrong. I was applying the oil to dry hair rather than freshly washed damp hair. I put some on my damp hair this evening and things seem to be better. I do appreciate your great help!
Ted
I dont think you were doing something wrong Ted.
Its just that this type of things requires some experimenting.
I have tried applying oil over dry hair and worked ok to me. Last week was the first time that I tried with damp hair and worked even better haha.
So I guess that its all about playing with products and hair and see what works better.
Hope this is what you're looking for. there may be better products out there, but some are a bit *pricy*.
GVP Silk Remedy
Dear Ted,
You've gotten some great advice up to now...I've learned from it also! I also have oily hair but have tried to use oil products to fight the 'wash day poufiness.'
With oily hair, you just have to be careful that whatever oil you decide to use (whatever you find you like), you have to use it sparingly; if you use too much, you will end up wanting to shampoo more often. Not just because your hair gets weighed down; it will also tend to look scraggly and your scalp will not feel good.
There are lots of good oil products out there that work for different people. I find that I like argan oil (also called 'Moroccan' oil) because of its pleasant aroma. But I have to be careful to use only a very small amount per day.
Yes, it's difficult to just leave your hair alone and let it grow! It probably means you've been having a relaxing weekend.
Keep it growing and flowing, my Friend!
Don
Dear Don,
You are correct! I have definitely received some excellent advice! Yes, I don't like the way the oil feels in my hair. But I do suspect I have used way more than I may have needed. I do have the Argan oil on hand and that's the one I have used.
I think I will try to oil just the ends and see how that works. Also will try to extend the time between shampoos. That may help. Thanks again for your reply my friend! Yes, I have been having a relaxing weekend working with my stamps. I hope your weekend is going nice too! On ward and downward!
Ted
Have you tried using a leave-in conditioner, or applying a tiny amount of your regular conditioner after your final rinse? I have very fine hair and find that's the only thing I can use consistently as while oils work alright the first day, the second day my hair begins to look stringy and overly flat.
--Dale
Hi Dale,
Thanks a bunch for your ideas! I may try those in the future. But I think the oil works better for me if I apply it to damp hair which has been washed. I do appreciate your reply!
Ted
Hi Dale,
I never thought about applying a tiny amount of conditioner after final rinse. Should it be applied over damp or wet hair?
If you're using your regular conditioner, definitely do it while it's still relatively wet. You don't need much, not much more than would cover your thumb nail. Just spread in onto your palms and work it in. Leave-in conditions give you a bit more latitude as they tend to be lighter in consistency, but your hair still needs to be damp.
--Dale
Ted,
Great question. I've enjoyed reading everyone's responses. The oil I hear the most about is argan oil. I've been using jojoba oil with very good results. I'm using this because I bought some at Trader Joe's and want to use it up (I'm cheap). I had read about using on hair as well. Seems like people tend to use argan oil more on hair. I might try that once my other oil is used.
I find that it makes my hair silky smooth. I apply it the same way others have talked about using the other oils. Wait until it's just beyond towel dried and work about 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp of the oil into the hair. Once it dries, it looks smooth and neat. Without it, I get "wild hairs" that slip out of my ponytail and look wiry.
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks so much for your reply! I had been applying the oil to my dry hair. This evening I applied it to my hair after I dried it a little. It seems to be working better this way. And my hair has dried feeling much better it seems. I suspect the longer I do this the better my hair will look. The oil I used was some Moroccan Argan oil my wife purchased and doesn't like. Lucky me! However, I think any oil is probably okay to use.
Ted
Here's a picture of my hair after washing, oiling, and air drying. I only finger-comb, so no brushing or anything like that.
Hi Tony,
Your hair looks just great man! Do you ever comb or brush your hair at all? I find if I don't comb my hair it wants to tangle somewhat.
Ted