I need a major hair overhaul!

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I have very thick, straw like hair and it's driving me mad! I have visions of having lovely silky long locks but tbh I look more like a scarecrow! I'm hoping some lovely people can steer me in the right direction for what products to use and how to keep my hair nice! and also any tips to reduce breakage.

My hair is just past my bra strap in length and so thick that underneath at the back often knots up and I damage it even more brushing through it to detangle it all

I think I'm just going to get it chopped to shoulder length to take all the crappy dead and damaged ends off so I can start again, but I've no idea what will suit me. I have a rectangular face and oddly shaped features (tiny eyes, big nose and big lips! Too embarrassed to post a face picture )

Can anyone recommend any shampoos for thick hair? I don't have a huge budget, I usually get my shampoo and conditioner from Poundland but I'd be willing to invest in something that will do my hair some good

I also have to wear my hair in a bun for work, so most days it gets shoved up and by the end of the day I take it out and my hair is a frizz bomb! I've attached some pictures to show the damage-I just realised tonight I'm fighting a losing battle trying to have long hair! The knotted hair is the result of having a hair doughnut in all day and the frizz ball picture is after I finally brushed all the tats out

I don't have thick hair but if that amount of dryness is caused by heat damage or dye/processing, I would personally get it cut to where the damage isn't so bad. The ends look a bit thin/ratty, so you probably wouldn't miss them anyway. Use plenty of hair oil and and a tangle teaser brush to prevent further damage when brushing :)

Thanks marma it's true I won't miss it, every time I wear it down I have to straighten it or else it's just frizzy and wavy, so in the long run its making it worse!

I do have a tangle teaser but I can't get all the way through my hair and have to brush it in layers so I end up using a paddle brush to save time! Do you have any recommendations for hair oil? I currently use a tony and guy serum on the ends before drying but I've not noticed any improvement.

Also how do people not brush their hair when it's wet? I know you're not supposed to because of damage but I can't blow dry mine without brushing it or else I'd look like cousin It!!

I have a few oils but my hair is a different texture to yours (fine and fluffy). My favourite though is Oleo Relax (Kerastase). There is a little one shot treatment thing I used that is brilliant too - I think it's by Pantene, it's in a gold tube and it was 1.49 in Boots.

Can you not brush your hair with a tangle teaser when you have your conditioner on? I always do that but maybe someone else has better advice :)

Tangle teasers don't work on thick hair when it is wet. I use a paddle brush when the conditioner is on and my hair isn't damaged. I just try not to brush it much after that. I would have a drastic cut if I were you OP then stop straightening your hair for a year to improve the condition. There is nothing wrong with wavy hair - why can't you use frizz ease and have it natural?

I use pure almond oil on my hair. My hair type is different but a little dry due to bleach and heat and it works a dream. Maybe worth a try.

Is your hair similar to many indian girls' hair? Thick and course?
I would google indian hair blogs and see what tips they have.

I have your hair!! If you have a look at the thread about chopping it all off, that is the option I am going for! I found that l'oreal Extraordinary Oil (or whatever the hell it is called) was fantastic. It really made a difference to my hair texture. That said, years of colouring and drying has been the problem so I'm taking it all off and starting again.

I do like wavy hair Titsy but mine never seems to be beach like waves, more uneven big waves and loads of frizz. If I plait it and leave it in over night it looks ok, but I agree I'm going to get it chopped off and start again.

A couple of years ago I had to do exactly that and I gave up using heat on my hair completely and just wore it down with a little plait at the front and the condition was so much better! Then gradually blow drying and straightening slipped back in and the longer its got the worse it's got.

It's frustrating though because I don't often straighten my hair (maybe once a week?) but I blow dry every other day after washing. I do use a cheapie heat defence cream but it's clearly not been working

Gummy it is really thick and the ends are just like frizz, it sometimes gets really matted! I shall have a look, thanks for the tip

Asteria it's a right pain in the arse isn't it?! I wish I could just get up and brush it and then leave it down but it's so bushy I end up putting it in a bun to hide it away. I think I did see your thread? Was it the one with all the shampoo recommendations? I had a look at some of the ones that were recommended and I'm tempted by the kerastase shampoos. I'm in town now so I'll have a look for that oil you mentioned and give it a go! Hopefully will be able to get it all chopped off tomorrow so I can start with a clean slate!

Have you tried using the babyliss big hair?
This length might work.

This is me www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2499567-chopping-off-all-my-hair
(Can't do a linky thing on my phone - sort it out MNTowers!)
Hairdresser arriving in just over 2 hours to hack it off - going for a short shaggy bob to start with. He is only £20 (but amazing) so can always have another cut in a few weeks when I'm braver when I'm used to it!

I've never tried a baby loss big hair burnished, but I've always wanted to! I think that's the length I'm going to go for, so I can tie it in a ponytail easily.

I did read your thread Asteria! Oooh how exciting feel free to post an after picture ?? I love going to the hairdressers, I get stupidly excited but I'm too poor/impatient so always end up in a Supercuts every year or so

I bought the l'oreal oil on your suggestion so I'm excited to use a mask and the oil and see if there is any difference! I also found some L'oreal shampoo and conditioner that's sulphate free and half price so I thought why not try it. I shall check in after hair pampering session with results!

If you dont get on with the loreal, I find kakui oil shampoo and conditioner pretty good for frizzyness. Boots stock them.

People either love or hate the bbh. I love it. It would be great if you could borrow one to know if it suits your hair before considering buying one. I lent mine to two friends. One loved it the other said it was useless.

I have similar sounding hair to you op ( lucky us ) and agree go for the chop and try and cut down on blow-drying - I find damp hair in a plait at night looks ok in the morning. When I'm going out I swear by my BBH but definitely get it cut before trying it out as v.thick hair takes forever to do and if it's too long you're liable to get in a right tangle! Watching with interest for product recommendations.

My sister has a BBH, I'm sure she'll let me borrow it so I can give it a try I would like a bit of volume, my hair is thick but flat on top unless I use hot rollers, which is very rarely.

I'm sitting here with the L'oreal extraordinary oil hair mask on, about to wash it out and use new shampoo and oil! I've been reading reviews and the oil has nearly 5* and over 200 reviews so fingers crossed

Lucky us indeed Phoebe! I wish I could do French plaits because after sleeping with one in I have lovely waves all over. My pigtail plaits mean the top of my hair is flat and halfway down the waves start! Must learn!!

have you tried spritzing with a curl spray and twisting in a bun to sleep in, google sock buns I do this with mine when I don't want to straighten and it comes out all wavy curls.

Don't straighten your hair....it's so bad for it, ditto blow drying. go get a cut n condition. Then try to wash n is dry it less often.

Plaiting hair keeps it knot free.

I wash my hair every five days, use frizzease shampoo and serum after, then comb gently and twist into .Bun for drying I overnight.

I handle my hair as little as possible, its waist length and v thick, and for me, brushing it once a day only etc has helped keep it in great Nick.

Other thing is. ..do you wear necklaces, op? Because they make my hair snag and I have major knotting even after a couple of hours.

OP, I came on here to find threads about good hair masks for my frizzy and scarecrow hair, and I found yours. Good to know I'm not alone!

Going to town tomorrow for a look in Boots and other shops for things to make me gorgeous

I have the same hair. Matts and dreads so easily. Regular cuts and coconut oil or any natural oil treatment ideally overnight really help.