new thread
Hi everybody.
I've had long hair for years, although I periodically go crazy and cut it short again and suffer through the awkward phase (sigh). I've got SUPER thick, strong hair - a girl at school was doing a science project and my hair was second in strength and resistivity only to horse hair - but I've always had a couple of issues. I wonder if anyone here can help with any of the following:
1) I'm sure I'm not the only person here whose hair looks great after a few days of not washing, because it's nice and sebum-y. However, I always suffer from itching and flaking if I don't wash it for a couple of days, so I either have great-looking, albeit flaky hair or super-clean, super-flat hair. Is there a product available that mimics sebum so I can wash it as often as it likes, but still keep it looking good? In case it helps, I don't use a conditioner (never have - my hair always looks amazingly shiny and I don't suffer from tangles), and have been using Head & Shoulders hydrating smooth and silky to keep the flakes at bay (does an amazing job).
2) Actually, what I said was a partial lie, because the last couple of weeks I HAVE been getting tangles, but I don't want to confuse the above issue. Basically, I've always washed my hair in the shower and it's been great, but I've just moved into a new flat that doesn't have a shower - since I've been washing my hair in the bath, it's been tangling a little and isn't nearly as manageable until a couple days' worth of sebum get involved. Aside from "Get a shower fitted" I don't know what anyone could suggest, but any thoughts?
3) Finally, and this is just something that's been bugging me for years - styling the front of my hair. I don't know quite how to explain it, but how do I get "McDonald's arches" right at the front of my hair at each side of the parting, rather than the hair just lying straight and flat? Sometimes the hair just seems to do it itself after a couple of days without washing, but I can't seem to find a way of actually STYLING it that way - any attempt to achieve it is totally hit and miss.
Thanks a lot everybody!
Hi Escrima
That's a great head of hair you have, looks really cool, can't imagine why you'd ever want to cut it! It got a really nice natural look to it.
1) I take from your first point that you like your hair to have a bit of volume to it, rather than be "super-flat?". If so why are you using H&S smooth & silky, that shampoo/conditioner is designed to make hair smoother and flater? I've a lot of other bad things to say about Head & Shoulders, its great for Dandruff but it is like Washing your hair with Jif bathroom cleaner, but that's another thread. :-)
2) Without a shower, its always harder to rinse your hair with tangles, especially if you suffer from dandruff, but maybe some leave in conditioner might help you with the tangles. Again I'm using a Redken product but there are others available, you can even try Jojoba Oil which comes highly recommended for smoothing and detangling hair.
3) Er Right I'm confused again? Do you want volume or flatness? The McDonalds arches are typical whenver you have any lift to your hair, just comb them down flat whilst wet and either blow dry (cold setting) or let them dry naturally, avoid touching your hair too much and it should stay put. After about a month of coaching your hair in this way it should begin to stay in place naturally. If you use leave in conditioner as well this should help, as it'll keep the hair strands more separated.
Hope that helps,
Sorted
Hey bro!
Thank you very much for the compliments! You guys all have great heads of hair, makes me feel a little jealous! I think I just have a case of always wanting what i don't have, and so the vicious cycle of grow-cut-grow. But this time, I think I'm going to rock it long for a good while.
I've been using the H&S because of the "hydrating smooth and silky" - I guess I'm a mark for the advertsiing, but I thought it was going to help stop the scalp drying out. Which, in fairness, it seems to have, but no more or less so than the other H&S I was using before (I think it was the lemongrass one, buT i honestly don't recall). Could this be part of the flatness problem? There are a bunch of other shampoos I'd like to try, but I really need the help to fight the flakes!
I've heard good things about Jojoba - I think I might give that a try. Actually, i think the missus might have some, so I can save a little cash! On the conditioner front, if I'm using an anti-dandruff shampoo like H&S, does it matter what kind of conditioner I use? I don't want to interfere with the shampoo's flake-fighting. Would using a conditioner make the hair a little more "sebum-y"? I like having squeky clean hair, but damn - it just won't behave itself.
Thanks so much for your help!
If I remember right H&S comes in a 2in1 shampoo & conditioner. If you wanna take proper care of your hair then you should always use a separate conditioner (this is a rinse out conditioner.) The 2in1 Products have little effect because the shampoo strips the nourising effects of the conditioner.
Conditioner doesn't really help with the natural oils of your hair, but its a good substitute for the 24-48 hours after you wash your hair, cos after washing, your hair is otherwise stripped of natural oils, especially by shampoos like H&S (as I said before: Its Jif for Hair.)
Also there are leave-in conditioners which you apply after you get out of the shower usually whilst your hair is still slightly damp. They help a lot with the detangling after you wash your hair, they can also help make your hair more manegable.
Hope that answers your questions
The reason I ask is that if you do have layers, letting them grow longer or all to one length should help eliminate the McDonald arches at the front, because longer hair is heavier, so it wouldn't pouf up as much.
JE
Greetings m'lady!
No, I don't have proper layers as such, but my hair length is slightly staggered as I've never had it "tidied" and it just grew from short back and sides length.
However, I'm afraid I wasn't very clear - I actually wanted to know how to GET the McArches, not get rid of them! The hair never really poufs up, but I like there to be some lift at the front (like it is in my picture). Problem is, I've never been able to achieve this on demand, and short of wearing two rollers to bed, I have no idea how to do it! I see loads of people out and about - long haired guy as well as short-haired guys with the "curtains" look - whose hair goes up and sort of hangs/cascades down, which both looks nice and keeps strands out of the eyes.
Thank you for taking the time to reply!
I'd like to know the same thing too!
Mc Arches look cool!
Simple:
Whilst your hair is damn, comb your hair backwards with a comb that is relatively "long & wide toothed" (ie: a pretty big comb) Leave it combed back until its 90% dry.
Then start parting the hair from the lower sides working towards your part on top of you head, flick the "McArches" shape into your bangs.
Then once you have the "m-shape" push the sides of the "m" upwards and slightly towards one another, this gives extra lift, let the hair dry naturally, after a month or so of training your hair this McArches will start to take shape. They work best on mid-length hair as once you hair gets longer the weight of the hair tends to pull your bangs flat, but then a little help from styling moose or gel can help keep the effect. Volumising shampoos help if you have really flat hair.
Sorted
I'M LOVIN` IT!
Thanks as always - I'll give it a whirl!
Thanks Sorted!
I'll try it next wash, in 3 days, although at the amount of oil already in my hair in less than 48 hours, it might be sooner :P
Welcome Escrima,
Showering lets the water flow down your hair in the same direction it normally hangs. If you are dunking your head or letting the hair float around that can be a tangle source. Pouring water on your head instead may help. Make sure to use fresh water and not the tub water.
Washing one side at a time by parting from front to back with the hair forward over each shoulder can also reduce snarls.
Elizabeth
Thanks for the kind words, Rainmaker!
Elizabeth, I think you're onto something. I HAVE been dunking my hair - well, I dunk first off, immeditaely after I get in when the water is still fresh, and then use a jug to rinse. I'll give it a try using only the jug to see if it stops the snagging! It's a real pain - all the years I've had long hair, and I never once suffered from tangles. It's also a bit of a bother because Mrs Escrima likes to run her hands through my hair, and it's a bit of a passion killer when I'm going "Ahh!" all the time!
Thanks very much for your help. Now it's just the McArches to sort out!
Your hair looks really good!
