Hairdressers and people who are good with hair

[Sundaypolodog]

Hi. I've added a photo, can advise me on what style might suit my thick curly wavy hair. I’m over 60 (should my age matter?). I was dark brown, now grey with some dark colour still. I like an arty casual-scruff style of dress - think retired art teacher. I want an easy to manage style thats both classic, funky and good for thick curly wavy.

My old hairdresser has retired during lockdown and I found a another one from my local Facebook page who was recommended as being good with curly hair. I took some photos in of styles and talked to her and I thought she’d got it. She razored it and it doesn’t seem to sit right and I can’t get it into a shape, it’s a bit uneven in lengths and thickness at the back. My fringe looks like the hedge clippers have been at it and I look like I’ve a hat on my head.

So during our 2nd lockdown I thought I’d do some research into styles and products and try to work out what is a good style for me. Im also going to try to find a new hairdresser who can do a good cut on my kind of hair with a bit of a creative funky edge.
Thanks

[Sundaypolodog]

Sorry, I missed out a word - can anyone ....

[MikeUniformMike]

I'd grow it a bit longer and let it curl. It looks like good hair

[Bluntness100]

I suspect she cut it anticipating it would be styled and didn’t take into account your life style. I assume you Just rough or air dry? I think it’s important that any cut you do get you explain to the hairdresser how you plan to cope with it.

[MikeUniformMike]

If you are based in the south east, I can recommend a hairdresser.

[Sundaypolodog]

@MikeUniformMike thanks. I'm going to grow it a bit. I live in the East Midlands.

@Bluntness100 We did talk about my approach to styling it - I normally zap it with my hairdryer and use the diffuser thing. I think she perhaps just didn't take this into account when cutting it.

[Bluntness100]

Yes, and I mean this politely, it looks just rough dried. That’s the term I think and it means dried without styling.

I think I’d also grow it out as well, maybe into a Bob

I suspect though if you used some product and took a couple of mins extra that cut could look great. But if you’re not that person then growing it longer would work

My daughter has very curly hair, she uses the curly girl method, but she uses products and her hair is never brushed and she dries a little with the diffuser then lets it air dry, it looks fab, but it’s long and half way down her back, I think if you’re not going to style it, then longer works better.

[MikeUniformMike]

Find a hairdresser who can cut curly and wavy hair. There used to be 365 hairdressers (in the 1990s) but I'm not sure if that means anything to anyone now.

If you know anyone with a great cut, or whose hair always looks right, especially if it is naturally curly, ask them who cuts it.

I have had some pretty poor haircuts in my lifetime, one of the worst was at a well-known salon (T* and G**).

[DelphineWalsh]

You mention you are in East Midlands and I can recommend The Strand in Derby. I have grey hair similar to yours and they really understand the texture of my hair. A friend of mine who also goes to the same salon she has curly hair and she really rates the stylists in there too.

[XingMing]

Sunday, do you use any products to style it? After years of trying millions the bottom of my airing cupboard is a graveyard of failures I found two that help. Kerastase Oil Serum in an orange pump bottle, and Hershehons Almost Everything Cream. Both go into soaking wet hair and help define the curls as the hair dries. But really it's all about the hairdresser... I would recommend mine, but you'd probably think Devon a long way to go. There is a place in Chipping Norton where there's someone called Simon (IIRC) who likes cutting curls and does it well.

[Sundaypolodog]

Thanks for your replies. The general consensus is to grow it into a Bob 😀

@Bluntness100 I think you're right I'd probably washed and left it. I've used some curly girl products and even got as far as going to Spring in Birmingham with my cousin who's curlier than me. I still use some aveda b curly products.

@MikeUniformMike
I remember 365 - were they part of the Regis group? You're right about finding someone who can cut curly wavy hair. I was going to a local woman a while back and she kept straightening it to cut it - then I realised her hair was dead straight so that was what she was used to working on.

I've a friend who always looks really well dressed and a good classic hairstyle and her hairdresser is 50 miles from me - I've seriously considered making the journey to him (post lockdown)

@DelphineWalsh thanks for that, I'm halfway between Derby and Nottingham and and have heard of the Strand - can you give me a name of a stylist?
@XingMing thanks for the product ideas. I also graveyard of product failure and for face creams etc! Devon is a bit too far although I wouldn't mind a trip to the seaside post lockdown 😀

[Bluntness100]

Op your well dressed friend likely styles her hair when she dries it. Very few short styles are genuinely wash and go. Unless it’s basically cut to the bone,

[MikeUniformMike]

I have no idea, but I had my hair cut at two salons and both were really good cuts that didn't look a mess a few weeks later.

I found my current hairdresser by asking someone with a fab pixie cut who cut hers. Went there. Left with a cut that I could wash, stick a comb through it and look fine.

Don't get a bob, unless you get a very well-cut curly bob. A shortish wavy/curly bob without a fringe would look great on you.

Straightened hair has been popular for so long now, you might find an older (i.e someone who cut hair pre 1995) hairdresser more experienced in cutting wavy hair.

[DelphineWalsh]

@Sundaypolodog Rachel or Laura are both fantastic.

[Sundaypolodog]

Thanks Delphine
@MikeUniformMike a choppy Bob could be the way to go. That's a good way to find one. Also looking for the older stylists who have been taught traditional cutting skills. A few years ago I was hanging about in another town and went into a salon and walked into a salon on spec (not the best way of doing it) and got a haircut from an elderly lady - it was fantastic! I can't remember what it was called or what she was called - I could try to find it and see if she's still there.

[Sundaypolodog]

Hi I thought I'd add a quick update. So I've done some research and thinking. I've decided to have a hair holiday - no hairdressers or haircuts for a while (ok it's easier to do that in lockdown) I'm going to grow my hair to about chin level aiming for mid length layers
.
I've been going through all my photos of me - in old albums and on my computer albums. Going back as far as my 30s 40s up to the present. What really stands out is that I don't suit short hair - it always looks messy or is a work in progress never quite getting there. I've had pixies and short choppy bobs and none of them look as good on as the longer layered styles - I'm very lucky that my hair is thick and luxurious so why have I been having it hacked off?? Why have I not been making the most of this asset?? Age? Going with the trends, Copying people? That's a question for me to ponder on.

So I'm having a break from hairdressers for a while - it's not that they as a profession are bad - live let them mess my hair up.and I've not yet found a good one that suits me. I've flitted around from one hairdresser to the next - a bit like my life has been in recent years of two house moves and the subsequent building works on them.

I've trawled through local and further afield hairdresser recommendations on social media and ended up with a list of about 12 that seem to get the most recommendations for cutting and working with curly hair.. Post lockdown I'm going to go round all these salons to get a sense of them. I'm also keeping my eye out for people with good cuts to get the name of their stylists, again better post lockdown

[Hayeahnobut]

When you are ready to go back to the hairdressers, Ben at Urban Therapy in Nottingham specialises in curly hair. He's got curls himself so he gets it!