Hair help please! GHDs. Babyliss Big Hair?

[YoniRotten]

Hi

I have neglected my hair for a long time - scraped back and ponytails is pretty much my style. Got away with that for a while but am feeling with advancing age I need to make more of an effort. Where to start?
I have straight-ish hair, just past shoulder-length. It's fine and flyaway. Sahm to toddler with not a huge amount of time to do my hair but will try!

[Twinkleandbunty]

Hi Yoni,
After all the positive comments on S&B I treated myself to the Babyliss Big Hair, but I've used it three times and been very disappointed so far :-(
My hair is also fine and shoulder length so maybe it works better on longer hair.
It does make you look 'groomed' though, smooths your hair nicely, but I thought it would transform me and it didn't, dammit!

[YoniRotten]

Oh no! Well, thank you for the info! Will you persevere? I am not the best at styling my own hair, never have been, just think I ought to start taking care of my appearance. I don't look groomed! :)

[Twinkleandbunty]

Tbh, it looks pretty much the same as it does when I've straightened it - smooth and shiny.
I've bought some volumising spray so maybe that will do the trick!
Thought it would turn my lank locks into Elle McPhearson bouncing waves but no
Hopefully a hair expert may come along and advise us both!

[phoolani]

Another straight-ish fine one here, mine's just above shoulder length. I've never used straighteners so no idea of the comparison, but I truly live my babyliss Big Hair when I went from years of longer hair put up EVERY DAY. The Big Hair is a bit mis-named in my opinion - I don't think it does much in the way of 'big'; it's value is in smoothing and, more importantly, settings style. I have incredibly fine hair (it never fails to make hairdressers gasp!) with is also highlighted so prone to frizzy dryness (I know, I know, I can feel the jealousy already!) but with the Big Hair, frizzy goes and -god this is the real lifesaver - my hair stays the way it's styled. For like, 3 days, so I don't have to wash the bloody thing every day. Worth its weight in gold, that. It's also mega easy to use - and I'm as cack handed as they come.

[phoolani]

And, if you're looking for a change, get it cut. The worst length for fine hair is 'medium length'. Go shorter.

[YoniRotten]

twink, I want big bouncy hair!!! No fair.

Haha, phoo, the hairdressers gasp at the fineness of mine! have had comments that it is the finest (and that ain't no compliment!) hair they've ever encountered! It's not at all frizzy though.
I am tempted to go shorter, but I look like a boy. :/ I was planning on having a bit of a major chop when I hit 40 next year but until then would like to pretend I am young! :)
Thanks for replying.

I was also considering a volumising perm, though the upkeep of this would be expensive if I have to have it done regularly. Anyone any experience?

[MaureenFry]

Would heated rollers give you some bounce? I used them in the olden days when I wanted to look like Farrah Fawcett (circa Charlie's Angels)

[TheSmallPrint]

I have the Big Hair and also love it. My hair is fine but I have lots of it. It's shorter than yours (above the shoulder) and I have invested in a good haircut. The Big Hair works well if you put a bit of product in your hair first which helps to 'set' it a bit and keep the volume.

[ElizabethBathory]

You wouldn't look like a boy with a blunt bob :) Sounds like you'd be better off trying the bbh than ghds - straightening just makes fine hair flatter.

[YoniRotten]

Ok, many thanks for the help. I will try the BBH. And a haircut in good time!
Aren't heated rollers a lot of effort?

[carmenelectra]

No heated rollers arent an effort!
I love mine. Ive got babyliss ones and they are fab. Really easy to use and give great volume.
My hair is long but quite fine I suppose though does hold a curl well.

I really recommend them.

[MillyRules]

I would also recommend going a bit shorter and having a chin length bob with a few layers through the top just for volume and lots of highlights and lowlights to add visual volume. I have a chin length bob with fringe and have fine hair but lots of it and find my BBH great if I put a good volume mousse on first. I use Samy Fat hair which is amazing.

[KateSpade]

I have some heated rollers you can bloody have op! Bought a babyliss set & my hair had never been so frizzy in all my life! However the boots set I got were amazing!

[YoniRotten]

Kate, really? I would love to try the heated rollers.

Milly, I may well do that - bob and colour. Though I am lucky not to have grey yet and have been holding off colouring, as once I start I'll have to carry on, so I thought I'd enjoy my free natural colour for as long as I can. I have the fine hair but also NOT lots of it!

carmen, thanks for your input and recommendation.

[MaureenFry]

[YoniRotten]

Maureen*

[MaureenFry]

[GrandstandingBlueTit]

I threw my GHDs in the bin, the first time I tried a BBH.

I swear by it, and will never use straighteners again.

I have thick, coarse hair - and the BBH makes it swooshy and beautiful. And the last thing I need is BIG hair - it definitely doesn't do that.

[YoniRotten]

:) Maureen

GBT, oh but I DO need big hair. And swooshy - that sounds good! :)

[GrandstandingBlueTit]

I suppose it does give 'big' hair compared with flattened, straightened, GHDS hair. :)

[YoniRotten]

For me, anything will be an improvement! :)

[phoolani]

Milly's spot on I think - this is my hair now after finally getting it cut and it works really well. Not that I ask for much, just that it isn't too tiresome to get right and it stays that way at least for a bit! I am never going to be the subject of a shampoo advert, but it's good enough for me! Colour-wise you don't have to commit to long term colour that you can't then change - just get a couple of subtle highlights - it's amazing the difference it can make (I only know his because after years - and years - of colouring my hair, I decided to go back to my 'natural' colour; lasted five minutes of being flat as a pancake...)

[Chottie]

Another one with fine hair signing in! Hairdressers say 'your hair is very fine, isn't it? like after living with it for 50 years I don't already know

I have a BBH and it does make my hair look more groomed and finished. I have a chin length bob with a slight graduation at the back and fine highlights. I go for style, shine and condition to make the very best of every hair. Good luck.

[MaureenFry]

I go for style, shine and condition to make the very best of every hair

Chottie has got it spot on As I've posted on a couple of other threads, it's a good idea to have a combination of highlights and lowlights to give the illusion of depth to hair. Also if you google Charlize Theron, Cate Blanchett, Charlene of Monanco you'll get an idea of the kind of hairstyles that work well for women with fine hair.

I think we're so used to seeing photos of Kim Kardiwotsit, Cheryl Cole, VB and all the other starlets who wear extensions and hairpieces that we think Barbie hair is the ideal!

[YoniRotten]

phoolani, good advice. But with colour, my hesitance is I will still have to get to the salon every month or so, right? Time and cost are a concern here.
chottie, haha I know. Actually I hate going to the hairdressers, and I think the stupid comments about how fine my hair is is one of the reasons. Like, I know my hair is crap, they don't need to reaffirm it. :(
What do you recommend for shine? See I thought that's what the straighteners did - made it all shiny!

Maureen, ha! yeah! you are right about the slebs. I was thinking of a Cameron Diaz in The Holiday would suit me. I have the same sort of face shape as her. Though I do really want her long hair!