Thick haired women, share your hairstyle and styling routine -please!

[happyis]

I'm struggling!

Really need a cut but don't know what to do! At the moment I'm sporting a ponytail - it looks like it should belong on a horse, not a pony!

I have thick hair and lots of it, it has a stupid wave to it too. Which has only appeared in the last 5 years or so, since i had my kids. I'm curious to work with the wave but having not had wavy/curly hair, I don't know what to do.

A bob - any kind, even layered, always looks great but takes too much effort!

At the moment I wash in the evening, blow dry if cold or just go to bed with damp hair! Then straighten with trusty ghds in the morning, if I'm working then I straighten bottom half and stick top half up. It takes a good 30 mins or more to straighten my hair properly!

On the positive side, I can get away with washing my hair every 4-5 days and it holds a style well even without any product (hairdressers never believe me though!)

Usually I grow my hair all winter so I have the convenience of tying it up then chop it all off into a layered bob as soon as the sun appears, usually collar length or bit shorter.

Anyone found the perfect style or routine or even a hairdresser? I'm in SW London/surrey kingston, Wimbledon, Epsom

I can recommend JFM Hair and Beauty in Wimbledon. She does brilliantly with my thick hair, always thins it down just the right amount for it to sit right in the bob. And it's incredibly low maintenance, I use shampoo, occasionally conditioner and a hair brush. No hair dryer or products or straighteners. That may say more about me than about my haircut...

I've got really thick hair and always have it thinned out with thinning scissors to take the bulk out of it mine is just above my shoulders layered at the front and I've just had a fringe put in.
It takes me 15 mins to blow dry and straighten with ghds with out it bring thinned out it takes up to 40 mins to do. I have it cut and thinned every 7 weeks

Mine's thick, coarse and wavy

Takes about 20 mins to dry with a dryer if I'm rough drying then a good 30 minutes with the straighteners as I have to do so many sections -and that's after it's been thinned

It's currently long with a blunt fringe

This time of year it's mostly up dos as I get so blinking hot

When I wear it down I tend to curl it with the straighteners which will last 3-4 days

I have long thick wavy hair and am 40. The Brazilian blow dry treatment is great, it is more a smoothing treatment than a straightening one but makes it much sleeker, more polished and easier to straighten everyday. Also buy a Parlux hair dryer. Lastly argan oil is a great conditioning treatment. As you get older the natural tousled look can end up looking bag lady unless you are careful.

I use a Steam pod on my thick, wavy hair. It's changed my life. You have to try it.. So much better than ghds and quicker. Results are amazing.

Thanks for the replies.

I think a good hairdresser is the holy grail I will definately try jfm.

My old hairdresser used to thin it out properly with thinning sciccors - and a razor! I know people don't like to do razor cuts as they can be bad for your hair, but it always worked really well on my hair and didn't damage the condition. Sadly I moved away and have never found anyone as good!

I tried a Brazilian blow dry but it only lasted 2 washes. I googled the brand that they used and there were lots of comments about it being rubbish on thick hair. I had used the salon regularity for years but they only refunded part of the cost so I have never returned there. It took hours to do and it was bloody hot so I'm not bothering to have it done again!

I'm off now to google steam pods and parlour. My hair dyer was a 21st present... I'm now 38!

I have my hair in a bun or pony tail most of the time (work/ gym) but I rarely get it cut- about 3 times a year (2 small children and full time job means I have no time), however, I find if I change shampoo and conditioner frequently my hair looks good. I like sporting a side pony or plait. I have just had it cut (trimmed and thinned) and the difference it makes to the weight of my bun/ pony is massive.

What products does everyone use/ like?

Steam pod looks very interesting, although when straighteners first came out (what did we do before?) I had a steam pair. I forgot to plug them out, and went to work, the tank boiled dry then melted, I think I was about 10 mins away from a serious fire! Luckily I was able to ask my sil to pop round and check for me!

I now have a bit of OCD and have to check any heat appliances (iron, straighteners etc) about 10 times before I leave the house or I will worry all day!

I use Aussie range. Everything else seems to leave build up and make my hair a bit lank.

I use a bit of serum before straightening if I'm doing special occasion hair (which isn't very often) but I prefer my hair without too much product - maybe that is where I'm going wrong?

If my hair is quite bushy, I use a tiny tiny bit of body shop coconut hair shine on the ends, which works brilliantly and gives my hair a lovely shine without making it greasy. My tin must be over 10 yrs old! I don't know if they still sell it,

I have very thick hair with a strong wave. I have it cut into loads of layers, long enough for it to curl but not long enough to be unruly. I am lucky to have a good hairdresser who understands my hair and who also knows that I cannot be arsed with straighteners and blow drying - I just use some kind of fudgey stuff on it. I am always told that my hair looks good. I wear it short because it suits me but I think it would work longer too.

I think the important thing is not to fight your hair but to work with what you've got.

Floisme that is exactly what I want to do - work with not against!

I'm going to book with googlyeyes hairdresser! as I think a decent cut is the first part of the battle won! And I have really struggled to find anyone to beat my backstreet hairdresser where I used to live 12 years ago!!!

I am also very seriously tempted by the steampod - going to have a good shop around later tonight!

Yes a decent cut is the thing. If my hairdresser ever moves away, I am screwed.

I find the Aussie five minute miracle conditioner good, but only use it every couple of weeks as its quite strong and can end up being greasy if I use it every time.

I hope you like Jane at JFM - apart from cutting my hair nicely she's also a lovely person. I keep going there even though it's a bit of a trek.

Update...

Had my hair cut by jane, she did a great job, very layered, lots of Weight taken out with thinning scissors, however as soon as I left the salon I knew it was going to be a bugger to style myself. It is too layered for any hint of curl/ wave so has to be straightened. I tried a couple times with my ghds but it was hardwork and only lasted a day.

Luckily I also ordered a steam pod. All I can say is OMFG!!! (I never swear!) I have used it for the first time tonight - on hair still slightly damp and it looks and feels like I have just stepped out of the salon! Hubby didn't get my excitement so I have come on here to tell you all to ditch the ghds and buy a steam pod! I am going to try and convert every women I meet from now end!

It is absolutely amazing! It really does what they say it does! (I'm hoping when I wake up I will still have gorgeous hair and it wasn't all a dream!)

Sold.

Razor cutting doesn't work on my stupidly thick hair as I end up with fly away bits that won't settle. My current fab hairdresser 'deep cuts' it though which is using the scissors and slicing into the hair to take out the weight.

I also use Loreal extraordinary oil and a parlux hair dryer.

Off to google steam pods...

I agree with the steampods! My friend has the thickest waviest most course hair I have ever seen and since she got her steampods it takes her half the time to straighten her hair and it looks so much better than when she used ghds!

Oh steampods are an updated version of steam tongs from the 80's, they were fab!

The steam pod wasn't actually any quicker to use than the ghds actually maybe a bit longer whilst I get used to keeping them the right way up, but my hair is just like I've come out of a salon! No kinks or wavy bits or annoying line at the top where I can't get close enough to the hairline, no crispy frizzy looking ends either. Just swishy neat tidy hair for once!

I've slept on it and been out in the rain and it's still looking good. I am curious to find out what will happen with repeated use though, especially as I used the special cream with them and I don't usually use a lot of product on my hair.

Wow, are you me? Due to excessive quantities of hair (and being a SAHM to a two year old) my only hairstyle options are a ponytail. It does indeed look like it belongs on a horse. AND it went really wavy after pregnancy: like I needed any more volume...

Carly at Stone on Old London Road does a really good job thinning my hair out. I have extremely thick hair (jealous that yours can go so long without washing - mine needs it every day and barely holds a style). She uses thinning scissors on it and it's a million times easier to live with and style.