Candy floss hair - yuck! What can you suggest?

[trinni]

After years of battling wavy hair, I have now decided to embrace it.

I can wash it and leave it to dry but it seems to benefit from a gentle scrunch with the hairdryer.

However, although reasonably wavy (not curly) it's very fluffy and fine. It will be better after a trim but what else can I use to make it silky and more defined? I used mousse and also tried some Andrew Barton creme stuff but I can't run my fingers through the ends and I don't like that.

I'm aiming for it to grow an inch or two longer (below shoulder) and I don't mind that slightly, thin-on-the-ends natural look but it must not be fluffy.

Nobody?

I would have thought that the hairdryer and running your fingers through it would add to the fluffy problem, it does with my hair. Mine is always better the less I fiddle with it so after washing it, once I've unwrapped the towel, I don't comb it, just rearrange it, squeeze in a bit of styling product and leave it to dry.

These are products that I like that don't end up making hair crispy or sticky but my hair is fairly thick so if you can, try before you buy:

Paul Mitchell Mousse

Kerastase Sublimateur Jour

Philip Kingsley Minimiser

or a bit of leave-in conditioner (lotion rather than spray) can help

Keratin treatment. / Brazilian blow-dry?

I put some John Frieda 'Secret Agent' finishing creme in mine after it's dried, which de-fluffs it nicely.

I have finally found the recipe that turns my wavy, fine (but lots of it), frizzy hair into something I'm not ashamed to leave the house with.

Wash
Condition with conditioner for dry hair and leave on for about 10 mins
While still quite wet (but having towel dried) put in two pumps (my hair is past my shoulders) of Kerastase Elixir Ultime.
Use a thick no-snag hairband to tie into a messy bun.
Leave till dry.

Shake and be fabulous

I use r and b hair conditioner on DD2's hair, she has a mass of curls that go frizzy in a heartbeat.
I only ever comb it when it is wet in the bath with conditioner on it, then I rinse, smooth a tiny bit more conditioner over it and wrap in a towel until it stops dripping, then add some r and b. I never use a hairdryer or rub with a towel, just spray with some water if it goes frizz.
TBF that is not what I do every day as I CBA and she is 4, but when I need it looking good, that it what I do!

Hairdryers fluff my hair terribly, never use them.

I towel dry my hair and use leave in conditioner, sometimes some frizzease on the ends (allthough I find I need to use it very sparingly) and scrunch it gently with my fingers and let it dry naturally. Sometimes I use Trevor Sorbie goop on the ends (Trevor Sorbie range for frizzy hair, shampoo, conditioner, goop. In turquoise containers, often on special offer in Boots)

It always comes out differently, but that's the joy of wavy hair.

Thank you everyone for all your ideas. I think I should buy a leave-in conditioner as a starting point and stop using the hairdryer. It feels so fluffy when it starts to dry naturally though. The hairdryer seems to give it a bit of substance somehow.

I've washed it 3 times now (the new wavy way) and it's true it turns out different each time. I have to get over the feeling I look a complete mess!

Can I ask...is Keratin treatment. / Brazilian blow-dry intended for a sleek, straight look or can it be good for my problem too?

And, the 'messy bun' thing was suggested to me by a hairdresser very recently, when I commented how lovely her hair was. I wonder whether mine is long enough - it's just below shoulder and also where to tie the bun exactly?

I tie mine roughly in the middle of the back of my head, which means the curls start about there and it's slightly straighter above that - it helps it flow downwards rather than stick out at angles! I find if I tie it lower it doesn't look good, though that might just be my head shape

Thanks Pippaandpolly, I'll give it a try and see how I get on. It sounds almost too easy to be successful!

Sorry to be a pest but one last thing...How about the ends? As my hair is fine, the ends are in danger of looking bent, rather than wavy. What do you do with your ends please?

My hair's just like that too. I find doing an intensive treatment once a week (the Kerastase green one) helps the frizz, and then Bumble & Bumble Curl Creme defines the curls. But really, the only thing that gets it nice and smooth is sticking in velcro rollers or spritzing with a heat protector, then drying it with the Babyliss Big Hair.

Am really tempted by the Elixir Ultime, though, now.

Elixir Ultime £££ :(

I have short hair ,but can really recommend Kerastase Elixir.

The ends tend to look miraculously fine due to the wonders of Elixir...seriously, that stuff is liquid gold. It is horribly expensive, but it does last a pretty long time. (The other thing about my hair is that I only wash my hair two (max three) times a week so products tend to last a pretty long time. I find if I wash it more often it goes really dry and more difficult to manage.) Also, having it trimmed regularly is a good idea to take care of dry/bent ends, though I'm guilty of not doing it nearly often enough. I tend to spend a lot of money on a very good haircut (with someone who really understands wavy hair and will give me a cut I don't have to blowdry) about three times a year and then not bother with trims in between.

Have you tried Morroccanoil?? It's changed my life! Am wearing it Au naturel for the first time in 25 years!
My hair is wavy/curly with a little help. It is not particularly thick but I have a lot if it ITSWIM. It's prone to frizziness. Not sure what the Morroccinoil does but it makes it look ok with no effort. Honestly. I will never not use it again.