So I have very dry, thick, course hair. Should I really risk dying it?.....

[timeforawhine]

Afternoon mumsnetters!

I've always had issues, shall we say, with my hair. It's, as I say, thick, course, frizzy, a fair few split ends and is just basically a bit of a nightmare.

My hair care routine is usually to try and wash it no more than twice a week and top up with dry shampoo when needed. I blow dry everytime as it's naturally curly and not in a good way. It's all over the place. Curly in the middle, wavy/kinky on the top, dry and straightish on the ends, so I can't just leave it naturally. I've turned down the heat to 1 on my hairdryer and go over the stubbon bits with my GHD's. I very rarely straighten it completely, ie, in sections.

Over the past couple of months i've noticed a change for the better, so i'm not toying with the idea of having my hair coloured. My natural colour is very dark brown, some would say black, so i'd need to go for something lighter, which obviously means bleach Is this really a bad idea?

I'm so sick of my hair and i've even noticed a few......actually quite a lot, of greys too!! I'm only 28 So i'm going to need to dye it at some point I guess.

I just think the the darkness of my hair isn't really working with my pale skin anymore. I used to look youthful, whereas now, I think I just look ill.

I don't want blonde streaks or anything, but i'd like some lighter bits putting in. Bad idea? I have actually heard that having your hair coloured kind of seals the cuticles of the hair and so therefore, make it appear less frizzy and shiny. Is this a load of rubbish?

Any suggestions or experiences reeeeeeally appreciate.

Thanks

Missed out a huge chunk about why my hair is in better condition. I've been using lots of treatments like Loreal masks and John Frieda Brilliant Brunette. I've tried more expensive ones, but these have worked wonders. Also meant to say "so i'm now toying", not "so i'm not toying" Wrote this in a bit of a hurry!!

Appreciated!! Arghhhhhhhh!!!

My hair sounds very similar to yours. In the past I've had it lightened using bleach and it just made the condition worse - much drier and harder to manage. I now colour mine at home just using the nearest shade I can find to my natural colour, which is a medium/dark brown, although I'm bored of it so am toying with the idea of doing it a chestnut or plum colour next time.

If you an afford it get it done at a salon the first time, as they'll help advise you which colours suit your skin tone.

But definitely avoid the bleach.

You could always try a Brazilian hair straightening kit too? I do mine at home and my hair is in the best condition it's ever been in. The name's a bit misleading as it doesn't actually straighten hair as such, it puts keratin back in so it improves the condition. I get my kit off Amazon.

I use a semi permanent home colour btw. Just noticed I forgot to specify that.

Mine sounds like yours but potentially with more curl too. I've just swapped to the Naked range from Boots and they do some really good heavy conditioners. I can't blow dry mine though - I'd end up looking like crystal tips if not a bit worse - and would never try any straighteners. If I see a grey I push it back in under some of the rest and ignore it. I will just let it happen I think and not worry about the colour - the potential to make things worse than they are is too much of a worry.

Which pack do you buy softkitty? I'd love a brazilian blowdry but strangely enough can never justify the £150 expense!

Ohhh, thanks everyone! Food for thought there I think.

softkitty, actually that's what put me off the Brazillian kit, the straightening bit. I assumed that your hair would be poker straight, which just doesn't suit me. I have a round face(or hamster cheeks as my dp lovingly calls it) so I it just hightlights my........ahem, problem. So the fact that you say it doesn't actually leave your hair like that, has really intrigued me I always thought though, that too much keratin eventually has the opposite affect and makes your hair split when used too much. How much did you get it for from Amazon? And how long does it last and how many treatments do you get in a kit? Thank you!! You may well be my saviour

Mine sounds very similar to yours op.

I have used home dyes and tbh I feel my colour is a mess now Too dark on the ends, lighter a bit further up then quite a few greys noticeable at the roots. It also has a reddish tinge in daylight.

I have an appt next week at the hairdressers to fix it. Having a colour all over to even it out and a few light brown highlights through to break it up.

Just been doing some research. Apparently, you need a friend to help you apply it and the smell is awful. A bit concerned about the amount of chemicals if it smells that much. Is it true you have to leave your hair down and unwashed for 3 days? Is that with the product still in? Or is this when your hair is dry? That sounds horrible.

However, the results are sounding amazing!!

I'm grey dark brunette, thick, coarse hair, and last summer when I had highlights (which looked lovely) my hair felt like straw. Trying using moroccan oil on it, but I must be the only person who it doesn't do anything for!

I would go and have a chat with a good hairdresser. Ask them about thinning it to reduce the bulk, and def get rid of the split ends. If you do go for highlights etc, just stock up on the intensive treatments - even the VO5 hot oil - and make sure your hair's nourished.

Mind you, I used the VO5 hot oil when i stayed at a friend's, and it was amazing; next time at home, nothing like the results of first time. I'm putting it down to softer water at my friend's house!

Right, as already said you need a good hairdresser.

You really shouldn't have any split ends! A decent hairdresser will be able to give you a cut you can manage properly.

You want a few low lights, which will be fine, and if done properly really won't damage your hair.

Oh dear. I've just continued my Brazillian blow dry researched and read about some horrible possible health risks because of the harsh chemicals. Mainly formaldehyde(not sure if i've spelt that right) Has anyone else heard about this? Is this not the case anymore?

Might start another thread about this actually.

I use this kit from Amazon. You could get a friend to help you but I do mine on my own. I've straightened and coloured my own hair for years so I'm used to doing stuff to it and find it quite easy to do, if time-consuming - it takes me about two and a half hours from start to finish although I've got quite long thick hair. It's well worth the effort though - I did mine again on Monday and I've washed it today and it looks lovely, smooth and glossy. I straightened it today but it would still go curly if I left it to dry or used a diffuser, just with much less frizz. A pack does one treatment on my long hair.

What you do is wash your hair twice with the shampoo they provide in order to get rid of all the product etc out of your hair, then you dry it straight (as straight as you can). Next you put the BBD product on your hair using the tinting brush they give you. I do this the same way I've seen my hairdresser colour my hair, by sectioning - I clip most up and do the very back bottom section first, then let another section down and apply the product to that hair, and so on. When I've done my whole head I comb through to ensure all my hair is covered. Next you have to dry your hair with a hair dryer with the product still on your hair. You don't rinse it out. This is the part that takes a while because it seems like it's never going to dry! I also sectioned my hair to dry it this time and found it a bit quicker that way. Once your hair is dry, you then section it (can you tell there's a recurring theme here ) and run straighteners through each section up to seven times. Obviously after you've finished your hair will be straight. You then need to wait three days before washing, not tie it up and try not to put it behind your ears etc. I tend to re-straighten mine every morning on those three days. Oh, and from then on you need to use shampoo and conditioner without sodium in to help the treatment last - I use Tresemme Naturals, which is the one they recommend.

With regard to the chemicals, well most hair treatments have them in - you mentioned bleach in your OP, which is awfully harsh on hair. If it was really harmful to human health they'd never be able to sell it on the open market, I'm sure. I read something about the formaldehyde previously, and I'm pretty sure that it was used in the early BBD treatments but not so much now. You could always email the seller to check the contents? It does smell a bit - the product itself smells a bit like Caramac chocolate - and during the drying part of the process the smell is quite strong so you need to be in a well ventilated room. I keep my bedroom window wide open while I dry it.

I've used this kit three times now, I do it roughly every three months. I know this is going to sound ridiculous but it's honestly changed my life. My hair used to be the bane of my life, but not any more .

SoftKitty - that sounds fab. Can I ask, do you have coloured hair? Wondering if it's ok to use on coloured hair.