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Original poster

I hate my hair... please help ! :(

68 replies

mumtosp · 15/04/2015 17:12

Hi all,

I really need help on what I can do with my hair !! No matter how well I dress, my hair makes me look frumpy and it's starting to depress me Sad

I have very thick, wavy, shoulder-blades length hair... it's tends to curl when wet... I also have to deal with a bit of frizz at times...
I wish I had straight hair, but don't have the time to straighten it. A couple of weeks back, I walked into John Lewis and they had a GHD counter... I tried them but was put off when the shop assistant said that with my thickness I would need at least 45 mins to straighten the whole lot, given my thickness !Shock

I really need someone to tell which haircut would suit my face.... is there some place I can go to ... like a hair style consulting place ? or a place that will show me how to style my hair ?

The only time I like my hair is when I get a blow dry and straightening done at the salon...

on most days, I just tie my hair up with a massive clip... I desperately need a change ...

TIA ...

OP posts:
PrimalLass · 16/04/2015 10:38

My hair is thick and wavy too. I've just ditched my GHD IVs and use these.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008BDSZE6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00

The Brazillian straightening kit worked really well too.

HellKitty · 16/04/2015 10:44

Don't do a home chemical treatment with a home perm Confused

I have long, past bra strap, thick and wavy hair. The GHD woman was talking rot. With wide plated GHDs I can straighten mine in 20 mins maximum, usually less. Look into nano keratin treatments and Brazilian blow drys, pricey and they last 3-4 months only. I do a home Brazilian treatment, about £25 Amazon, but it stinks and is fiddly but does work.

Go into an indepdent salon, not a chain like T&G as they have 'set' styles for the season. And ask to speak to the head stylist for a consultation only. Ask her (or his) advice on your face shape, fringe, and possible style. They'd be more than happy to chat to you for a few minutes.

Don't get a short cut, your styling time will treble. With thick wavy hair you need the length and weight. Invest in a decent drier (my GHD air dries mine in minutes) and also cuts down the frizz and waviness. Coconut oil helps frizz.

Original poster
mumtosp · 16/04/2015 11:49

Thanks for all the suggestions !! I am going to try and answer everyone...

  • I am surprised everyone is saying that I wouldn't need 45 mins to straighten my hair... I'll try and borrow a straightner from one of my friends and give it a try myself
  • I do have a babybliss big hair and used it this morning... my hair looks nice for sometime and then starts going bad unless I am brushing it every 5 mins...
  • products that I use: I use the body shop rainforest rage of shampoo and conditioner and Argan oil as a serum... I think the Argan oil really helps with the frizzy. I will try and upload another pic from this morning... maybe I need a change in shampoo and conditioner...
I always oil my hair before washing it... it helps with the dryness
  • I wash my hair twice a week... anything less and it looks oily and my scalp gets itchy
  • does anyone know the difference between the keratin and kerasilk treatment... all I know is that with kerasilk I can wash off my hair on the same day... what about the formaldehyde in it?!?
  • do want to go down the chemical straightening route as there is no turning back from it
  • I always go to an independent salon, but have never had a consultation... Will have to book one in...

I don't know what I would do without mumsnet Grin

OP posts:
burnishedsilver · 16/04/2015 11:56

I think a Brazillian Blow dry would give you Amal Clooneys hair.

HellKitty · 16/04/2015 12:03

I had the Japanese straightening years ago, that grew out but was poker straight - boringly so! I've had a professional Brazillian once and home ones 3-4 times. They don't leave it flat straight and gradually wash out, although I can get 3 good months I would say it's more like 8-9 before my hair looks like it did pre treatment.

If you borrow straighteners then make sure they're GHDs and WIDE plated ones!!! Anything else will take forever.

chrome100 · 16/04/2015 12:06

Don't go short, whatever you do. I have hair like yours and find it far easier to manage when long. I have long layers cut in (again, avoid short ones) and have it thinned out regularly. Also I just give it a blast with the hair dryer and let it dry naturally after that, otherwise it gets too big.

StatisticallyChallenged · 16/04/2015 12:15

Agree with others saying the GHD woman was talking nonsense. I probably have more hair than you (ridiculously thick and roughly waist length) and if I've been really lazy, washed my hair at night then just left it to dry so it's a messy frizzy kinking everywhere mess it maybe takes 20 minutes to straighten. And that's with standard GHDs, it would be faster with wide plate ones.

SingingHinnies · 16/04/2015 12:18

Don't do a home chemical treatment with a home perm confused

it was really easy and worked, no different to having a perm really, just comb the lotion through for 20 mins then was it off, haven't done it since the 90's but might give it a go

netty36 · 16/04/2015 12:21

A steam pod changed my life and hair. I have the same hair as you...even a bit bushier. Now i wash and sleep on it and thwn straighten in the morning with the steampod which takes about 15 mins...makes it so swishy and lasts for days. The steam makes a massive difference. .i have binned my ghds and the babyliss big hair never worked on my thick hair. The steampod comes with a recommended keratin cream and serum.
I have a spare steampod in case mine breaks.

SingingHinnies · 16/04/2015 12:22

here

i just used to tip it on my head and comb it through for about 20 mins, pin up solution i think i used, didn't damage my hair and went lovely and straight

velourvoyageur · 16/04/2015 12:28

christ woman your hair is gorgeous and not frumpy at all! I wouldn't touch it except popping a bit of frizz ease on when you feel you need it.
Sorry- not very helpful! But loads of people would love to be in your position I'm sure :)

afink · 16/04/2015 13:00

Brazilian blowdry - definitely. I've had it done twice and it doesn't damage your hair. If anything, it makes it better condition as you don't have to blowdry or straighten it for a couple of months. I'd have it done all the time, but it makes my hair look very thin (I have hair very much like yours but there's not very much of it, so I get the joys of frizziness and random curls and waves, but without the luscious thickness. Believe me, it looks like shit).

HellKitty · 16/04/2015 13:12

A home perm for straightening will seriously ruin your hair. The least you'll get away with is dry/split ends. Please don't.

EmGee · 16/04/2015 13:31

Mumstop - you are lucky, your hair is indeed thick but it looks manageable in the pic. Mine is ultra thick and a veritable frizz bomb if it is not tamed. I also have way shorter hair than you and am now unable to tie it up or back.

I would be wary of having hair thinned unless it's with a hairdresser who is competent cutting thick hair. IME these are rarer than dodos.

Last week I had my hair cut (have been growing a very short haircut out). Went to a new hairdressers - and she thinned it out massively - it looked (and felt) awful. Really. I was so cross with myself for not stepping in and saying please put those thinning scissors down!

I can also say (from experience) that the Audrey Tatou hairstyle is not necessarily the hairstyle of choice for very thick hair - been there, done it and I am not convinced at all. You will need to have it cut every four weeks and again, the stylist really needs to understand thick hair. When I had this style, about one in every four cuts was ok. Otherwise there was always something not quite right about the top, left side, right side or whatever. Very frustrating!!

As mentioned by PP, the Babyliss Big hair is the doggies when it comes to managing thick hair. I have the one for shorter hair and it is a lifesaver. I'm so happy I read about it here and decided to give it a go.

EmGee · 16/04/2015 13:33

Sorry - posted before I read your update and see that you already have a Babyliss!

AkkerDemik · 16/04/2015 14:42

Mine is thick and wavy, and I'm only 5' 1". With long hair I look like Crystal Tipps. So I was rocking the Audrey Tautou look long before she was, but I've been lucky with my hairdresser, who has thick wavy hair himself.
However for a bit I did venture into a chin length bob and went the home perm route like SingingHinnies, combing it straight while it was on. It never did my hair any harm at all - thick wavy hair also tends to be very strong - made it nice and straight, but it was still thick so gave up after a couple of years.

FWIW OP I think your hair is lovely. If I were you I'd condition it to within an inch of its life and let it hang all glossy and swooshy.

mumtosp · 16/04/2015 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
mumtosp · 16/04/2015 14:49

damn !! I just realised I posted the original pic and not the one with my face blurred out ! Angry
anyone know how I can get it removed !?

OP posts:
AkkerDemik · 16/04/2015 14:53

Report your own post - MNHQ will do it for you.

AkkerDemik · 16/04/2015 14:56

Just reported it for you.

SwedishEdith · 16/04/2015 14:56

I think your hair looks great! You said earlier that you brush your hair - maybe just use your hands to calm your hair down? My has a tendency to bush out like yours but it improves a few days after I've washed it and when I don't comb or brush it Grin.

CapnMurica · 16/04/2015 15:07

I think your hair looks great too Smile

I think, a bit like me, you have too much of a natural curl for the BBBH to really make sleek and smooth - there isn't enough tension.

Have you tried working with your natural curl? Using a diffuser? I have naturally curly hair (desperately in need of a cut right now), and I use this. It keeps my hair from getting too dry. I use oil and the corresponding hair custard to style.

Original poster
mumtosp · 07/05/2015 12:11

Hi all, sorry I haven't had a chance to come back to this post.

I've had a chance to try to a GHD and a Remington straightner and the Remingtons suit my hair better..
Having said that, I am unable to decide between Remington silk or the keratin ones.... any idea which ones will be better for thick hair ?

TIA Smile

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 13:23

You have lovely hair but imo it needs a good cut to take the weight out of the bottom , I have mine deep cut and it works a treat. They sort of slice and snip into the ends.

Use John Frieda's Frizz Ease when it's wet and then his Secret Agent creme , just a tiny bit to stop the frizz once it's dry.

You have beautiful hair, personally I think you should embrace the waves as straightening it every day will ruin the condition. I don't like bone straight hair though so I'm not the best to ask.Grin

I have similar hair to yours and I gave up trying to work against it years ago, working with it is actually much easier.

My best hair purchase has been a Parlux hair drier, the power sort of cuts the frizz much better than straighteners.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 13:24

I think the BBBH would be useless on your hair, too thick and too long and too much natural wave. I bought one and. Can imagine it's good for people with normal or thin hair but not for anyone with thick hair.

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