I've buggered my hair up, haven't I.

[oopslateagain]

I've used Nice'n'Easy for years, brownish-reds. I change quite a bit - darker browns, lighter ones etc, but always use the same brand. First week of December, I fancied a change and put on a Schwarzkopf Live XXL colour, it was a really deep plummy red on the box but it came out a sort of very dark burgundy.

Mid-January I put on my 'normal' colour (the one closest to my natural colour) which is Nice'n'Easy light natural auburn. My hair came out a very very dark brown with a strong hint of red, not at all what I was expecting. It was horrible. I hoped it would fade out lighter but it didn't.

I 'fessed up to my hairdresser last week and asked her to colour it for me; she said she couldn't guarantee any results as my hair had the strong red on, and was so dry and porous but she reluctantly offered to try doing foils - she really didn't want to put an all-over colour on. She did a baby blonde, expecting it to end up a sort of caramel colour, but it did actually take really well and I've got quite natural-looking hair now - I am amazed TBH.

But - I have naturally very wavy hair, almost curly. And since she did the highlights, it's lost its wave, it's mostly straight with a bit of frizz. I've been lashing it with conditioner and using a leave-in conditioner spray after washing, but it just seems so dry - and bloody straight and frizzy!

Help!

You could try putting coconut oil on every night, or every other night. And wash it off in the morning.

I use the organic oil by Fushi and it's the best conditioner i've ever used.

I tried some VO5 hot oil and my hair felt like straw afterwards! Nasty stuff.

I'll try the coconut oil - how do you keep from getting the oil on your pillows? Will a towel over the pillow do the job or will the oil go through it?

And do you wash as normal the next morning (i.e. shampoo/conditioner)?

A towel would be fine.

I wash as normal with Aussie shampoo and conditioner.

I use a leave in conditioner spray and a drop of argan oil on the ends of my hair, which seems to make a difference too.

Thanks for the tip. I'll try it tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

It's because the bleach has damaged your hair. You need to replace all the lost keratin. Go back to the salon and buy a home treatment you could do for a few weeks.

Well I couldn't get coconut oil - nobody seemed to stock it! But I did find a leave-in spray with keratin conditioners which has made a huge difference - my hair is curly again, and shiny instead of fluffy-dull. My usual leave-in conditioner (cheap coconut one from Boots) obviously wasn't up to the job.

You can get coconut oil from Tesco in the exotic foods area about £6 for a huge pot that lasts forever, it's solid at room temp.

AnniAnni I have the same hair routine, Aussie products and coconut oil. Also Kerastase Masquintense when I can afford it, it's about £40 for a massive pot off EBay and works miracles, it replaces lost protein or summat.

I buy mine from Amazon. I've bought argan oil from fushi's website too.

I used to use a kerastase treatment that came in little bottles. It was amazing but worked out £5 a time. But it gave me proper swishy hair.

I recommend Masquintense - it's about £20 if you get it from the hairdresser but you only need a tiny amount, it lasts me a few months. The massive professional size pot I usually get off EBay for £40 lasts a year. I should invest again...

My Tesco doesn't have an exotic foods area! Gotta love tiny towns.

I looked at Argan oil but thought it worked like Hot Oil - is it completely different, then?

The one I'm using is an Elvive leave-in conditioner "with pro-keratin and ceramide", whatever they are. It's working brilliantly though.

I use the proper organic argan oil.
A lot of the ones in boots etc are mixed with other things.

I either put it on overnight, then wash off in the morning, same way as with the coconut.

Or I just use 2 drops on the ends of my hair before blow drying.

I also use it as a night cream, it's fab stuff.

But if you've found something that works, stick with that.