Help! How do I get my hair back to how I love? **pics included**

[HowDoIhelp321]

First picture is how I loved my hair. I hadn't had it cut in years, I just used to trim the ends when I could be arsed and let it dry naturally.

Then it got too long and when I trimmed it, it never went back to this. A year of hating my hair and I decided to get it cut and balayage and ended up with this.

How do I get it back to how it was?

Please note, it isn't the colour the fudged it up, it was already fudged to begin with. The original photo is about 2 years old. That 'style' had grown out for sometime and no amount of trimming the ends would make it go back. It happened by accident and I don't know how to get back there!

It just looks thicker. So perhaps you had a boost of growth whilst pregnant and it never thinned out again.

Sorry OP but I agree with PPs who think that a) there's not much in it but b) the second photograph is (slightly) nicer. Obviously not the answer you wanted but it looks a bit healthier in the second picture - lovely in both though.

Love your hair in the second pic! (Sorry, not helpful )

It looks a lot thicker and healthier in the second photo. If you prefer it how it was before maybe get it thinned out a bit but honestly I think it looks nicer now!

I’m not seeing much difference either tbh except the ends look very dry and the cut’s very (too?) blunt if it’s a more wispy, tendrilly look you’re going for. The condition looks to be the result of over bleaching/colouring which can lead to fluffiness even though you say the colour didn’t fuck it up it won’t have helped. As for getting it back, you’ll just have to let it grow out some more and then have the dry ends thinned out in a more textured way.

I have thinning scissors. I've already gone a bit mad with them.
I do have ridiculously thick hair. I've no idea why it isn't thick in that first picture.

I just looked into elasticizer, oof thats a bit expensive! But the reviews are amazing! I've put it on my amazon wish list for when I'm feeling flush, thanks for the tip.

Pregnancy can have quite a marked (and lasting) effect on wavy/curly hair, it looks like it’s upped the level of wave in your case. The combination of the beach damage (which also will ruin the waves) and the hair growing in slightly wavier than it was is what’s resulting in it being less lovely than it was.

Things will improve.

TBH it’s best to cut off as much length as you can bear to and keep having it trimmed until the damaged, less wavy hair is gone. It’s probably well worth trying the curly-girl method too

I don't care what you liiiiike grinwink

Okay.

First of all: ungrateful (please imagine this said in Ricky Gervais in The Office mode. If you're too young for that I mean: "lighthearted").
People saying your hair looks fine.

To be fair, you didn't ask for an opinion, you asked how to get it back to what it was (why? Why would you want to?).

Try not washing it for a few days and rubbing oil of some sort into the ends (seriously).

Superdrug do am elasticiser dupe:
www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Argan-Hair-Therapy-Pre-Shampoo-Hair-Treatment/p/738701

Second picture looks better

You need a blunt cut for one

The bleach you've used can also make it like that.. it's how my hair looks after bleach

Much better in 2nd photo. Looks thin and lank in first! Looks lovely and full in second! Got them the right way round?

I think it looks like you've been messing on with it too much trying out products etc.
I'd get a good shampoo and conditioner and a good trim then completely leave it alone.

I can definitely see a difference. Is your hair thicker since having DC? I was going to suggest argon oil and a low twisty knot over night. It might help you get the look once

I really don’t get the second-pic love. The hair looks trashed.

How does it feel OP? Looks drier than pic 1 and if so from what I've read it'll absorb more moisture making it fluffy. I've heard good things about COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Slays Humidity and Prevents Frizz.
Keep meaning to buy it myself as my hair is fluffier than yours 😄

I prefer it in the second- looks much healthier and shinier! Sorry OP

Try sulphate free shampoo and conditioner

Add more conditioning spray in the mornings

Don’t brush it until you wash it

I really don’t get the second-pic love. The hair looks trashed.
I agree! Looks bloody horrible!

It doesn't feel dry. It just feels thick and fluffy.

Sorry OP but I agree your hair in the 1st picture looks like a “before”. What you call straight at top most would call flat and greasy. Your hair now looks lovely and just looks like you need some gels for the frizz.

The 2nd pic looks dry and over bleached.

Take the 1st pic to your hairdresser (preferably the one who did your hair).

And yes, it’s probably pregnancy. My hair felt greasy, soft, and heavy so it would get very flat - in the same way it was when I went to Hong King the first time and experiences high humidity.

I see exactly what you mean OP but from the photo it does look like the bleach has caused most of the problem. It looks like mine feels when I wash it after it's been coloured. My conditioner and some oil before drying sort it out though.

You say it wasn't right before the colouring but it sounds like that wasn't the fix you needed.

I doubt you want to hear it but if it were me I'd try that Superdrug dupe for Elasticizer and have a good amount of length cut off. Getting rid of the damaged hair and the weight of it, might help the waves again.
You'll need patience, but seeing as you hate it anyway you're not actually sacrificing that much.

ITs the bleach from the bayalage. It’s dried out your hair. You won’t get the condition back until that’s all chopped out.