Crunchy hair-horrible

[crunchathon]

Not sure what to do here! My hair is crunchy and horrible. When it air dries it goes curly, like ringlets, however when I blow dry it it goes like a huge ball or frizzy cotton candy! It’s not straight or curly, just very course and frizzy. It honestly looks like I’ve touched a plug. If I straighten and style it, it will be fine for the first day, and then after that gradually become more and more frizzy until day 3 it’s like a big cotton candy cloud again. I’m at my wits end with it because I can’t style it or manage it. If I put it in a pony tail, I end up with flyaways sticking up all around my head, and it looks like when hair stands up with static electricity. In the past I’ve tried hairspray, clays, gels ect and nothing is controlling it. If I feel my hair, it actually feels crunchy and hard, it’s horrible.

Context- it’s definitely damaged but the hairdresser said it’s not really badly damaged. I used to wash and straighten it everyday. This was until I was about 21, and for the last few years I’ve been washing it once or twice a week (sometimes more or less). It feels dry and horrible but I don’t use heat anymore than anyone else, yet it seems to be significantly more damaged. I’ve got so much baby hair at the back and sides and it’s actually untameable.

Does anyone have any product recommendations? I’ve got to use topical steroids and medicated shampoos but am allowed to use other conditioners and treatments as long as they don’t touch my skin. My hair is bleached and dyed 2x a year and it does need the ends chopped off, but it’s so crunchy across my whole head and it’s not just the ends.

I would be so grateful if anyone knows what I could try

Philip Kingsley elasticiser I find helpful. I put it on dry hair and leave it a couple of hours for maximum effect. Superdrug do a copy which gets good reviews and is loads cheaper. Nor tried out yet but will whenni run out of current elasticser.
I then do one wash with watered down shampoo so it's not as strong. I use any cheap conditioner after shampooing.
Then i put a load of John frieda strongest serum, leave till nearly dry then blow dry.
This works for me to a certain extent, it's OK till I'm in the wet!

Have you tried using a diffuser when you dry your hair?

Also, once your hair has dried crunchy you should “scrunch the crunch”. (Using an old t-shirt over your hand gently scrunch handfuls of hair at a time and it will remove the crunchiness and leave your hair soft. Good luck 😉

Air dry it for a while. Try twisted sista spray

If you want your hair curly (rather than straightening) I'd look at the Curly Girl Method (CGM) for techniques. Don't get bogged down in CGM approved products but the actual techniques for curly hair (wavey/curly/coily) are really useful for controlling frizz and trying to get hair healthy. It can be as simple as you want it from shampoo and conditioner to really complex but really you just need shampoo, conditioner and a styler like gel or mousse. I also see people rave about Olaplex and other similar treatment ranges (again superdrug do a great dupe) for hair damage but I haven't tried them. Maybe talk to your hairdresser about them as well as the damage, if it's not too much hair it might be worth cutting it off.

I found when I went full CGM I had greater hair loss than I wanted (still recovering) but I did come off hormonal contraception at the same time which could contribute in my case.

I would also recommend finding a hairdresser that specialises in cutting/managing curly hair. They should be able to give you some tips on products and techniques that might work.

My hair gets like this from dyeing and perming it. This may sound drastic but I solve it by thinning it out myself. That seems to strip out the crunchiest hair and leaves it really silky. I just take each clump and make small snips all the way round it, starting near the roots and working to the ends. I've always cut my own hair - hairdressers never thin it out as fully as I want. It's not as hard as it sounds!

Innolux Elixir really really helped to strengthen, soften and repair my hair. I saw a difference after just a few applications but used it religiously for about 6 months then off and on for another year. Have absolutely no need to do so anymore.

The overall frizz is trickier. Products with Moroccan oil have definitely helped dd's very curly hair, that is also frizzy. Don't brush dry hair that's frizzy and try to avoid pulling it back too tightly.

Wow dream oat is the best!

It sounds like you need to have a look at the curly girl method. It sounds difficult, but it's pretty easy once you find what suits your hair.

Curly hair is generally crying out for moisture, but you need to avoid silicones etc.

Definitely have a look at the Curly Girl, there are several really good groups on FB.

I also have very frizzy hair, a silk pillowcase works wonders.

A lot of people swear by Olaplex to get their hair back to decent condition. I think Superdrug sells it.

Biotin and/or Keratin hair treatment on the mid length to ends between shampooing and conditioning is something I’ve started about 18 months ago. And my hair is much happier for it and I only wash once a week.
My hair was drastically damaged due to years of over bleaching and constant straightening.
Moisture is key.
Hope you find a routine that works for you!!!

Also, I forgot to mention in my previous post, watch Jayme Jo on YouTube. She has some great tips that really do work

Mine and my DD’s hair gets like this when we use too many products with silicone in. Eg de frizzing sprays stuff like that. So I have to use a clarifying shampoo to clear it all out and silicone free conditioner.

I have mid length curly hair, using curly girl method, but need a hairdresser, in Dorset, that can cut curly hair. I'm happy with my curls but always wear my hair up as despite having it cut it has no proper style.