Thick frizzy dry hair

[Petrichery]

So in keeping with the “new year, new you” general vibe, i need to sort out my hair.

I have very thick, wiry, frizzy, red hair, down to about my elbows. When i have it cut (which is rare - another new year’s resolution is to up this) it is in layers to remove some of the body and allow it to hang better, but basically this only works whilst the salon lotions and potions are tricking it into being swishy hair. When they wear off, it pings back out to look like Crystal Tipps (niche reference for those old enough to remember).

What can i do to make it nice to look at? Is a babyliss big hair any good for controlling wiry/thick hair? I don’t fully understand curly girl method but am willing to try - are there any suitable conditioners available in sainsburys/ tesco/ boots? Is there a magic shampoo/conditioner/ lotion combo that anyone else uses?

Any help appreciated - i want to stop looking like Hermione before she grew up and got pretty, i’m too old to carry it off and i don’t have emma watson’s looks to fall back on

Landed - where in the U.K. are you? There's a salon called Spring, which I think is in Birmingham. Also, Lindsey Hughes who calls herself The Curl Whisperer in London. I recently went to the Trepadora Salon, which is in Maidenhead. I'm sure there's a few more around, but you ideally need someone who will dry cut your hair.

I couldn’t agree with the PP more - it’s all about the dry cut. In Glasgow they invite you back free of charge for a style check a few weeks later & will cut it more of you’re not happy once you’ve washed & styled it yourself

I’m in the sticks but within a day-trip distance of london if anyone has any good suggestions for a hairdresser there?

I should have added that I give a huge 👍 to Trepadora Salon. I had already bought some of their hair products, but my hair still wasn't looking great. Debbie showed me how much to use (more than I was!), and that I should mix them, rather than layering them. My hair looks soooo much better. 😁

sedona123 nice to meet another Trepadora user . Their products have made such a difference to my hair

Thank you comeongordon and sedona123 nowhere close but will google as suggested and treat myself to a trip to the Birmingham or maybe Maidenhead one if necessary.

🙂 Comeongordon. Yes, they're great. I actually threw out loads of my stash of styling products that didn't quite work, but I was hanging on to them anyway. 🙄 I still haven't found a totally great shampoo and conditioner though. Any recommendations? I don't do the whole curly girl method - I like shampoo, and still comb my hair when it's wet. I've only tried the Trepadora Mint shampoo, and the coconut almond conditioner, but didn't really like them.

Landed - I had to drive over an hour to get to Maidenhead. 🤞 There will be more curly salons opening up in the near future. It was so lovely even to just get my hair washed properly - none of that scrubbing my hair into knots when shampooing that usually happens at salons. I'm always 😡 when that happens!

I can recommend 3thirty salon in London for curly hair. I think the stylist I had was called something like Fiona or Flora, sorry I can't remember exactly. Not a dry cut but very good.

sedona123 - I didn’t like their shampoo either. Think I tried the hibiscus one. I use their quinoa conditioner and the açaí berry gel.
I’ve been using a “Maui moisture curl quench & coconut oil shampoo” that I quite like. It’s on special offer I’m Boots just now

I don't think you can beat the Palmers range of hair care products for price and quality.
I like olive oil shampoo, followed by the coconut oil conditioner.

popgoestheweaz to my shame, whatever smells nice and isn't extortionate! At the moment, Pantene. I had to experiment a bit as some dry all crispy-like...a look no one wants! The best I ever found was from Sainsbury's called "happy naturals" but for some reason my local store as discontinued it, grrr.

I was so desperate to curly girl it but I couldnt deal with the smelly hair feeling, especially after cooking or something. I also tried the ol' apple cider vinegar (DH: "yuk why do you smell like a fish and chip shop"), egg (OMG remember to use icy cold water otherwise your bathroom will smell like scrambled eggs for days. And who wants icy cold water on their head? No one). I even co-washed for a bit but struggle with dandruff so eventually just resigned myself to head&shoulders or neutrogenA and then the conditioner thing afterwards. My easiest solution yet:) it is all in the twirl.

there is an amazing (very time consuming!!!) group on fb called curly girls (conditioner-washing group for women). It is a game changer. I spend way way too long on there reading diff ideas and things to do, but my hair is finally actually curly not frizzy! I think some of the other members on it are a little 'obsessed' but there are some incredible curls there!

I stopped using shampoo or anything that has detergent in it and started washing my hair with soap - real soap and it's been a real game changer.

I tried the Curly Girl method but it didn't suit my lifestyle (lazy). I now wash with a normal conditioner (a charcoal one from Home Bargains) every other day then wash with shampoo (and the conditioner) once per week.
I run my fingers through it when really wet then put it in a messy bun and take it down when it's stopped dripping/when I can be bothered. Sleep with it down when wet then on the second night put it in a messy bun again (mainly to stop the ponytail kink). I don't brush or comb at all unless I really feel it needs it then I only finger comb followed by a wide toothed comb.
My hair's never been tamer! And it's so easy now! I do think the conditioner helps the most as it gives it a little more weight and is nowhere near as flyaway

I'm going to try this 'conditioner as hair product' thing - I generally need a product to actually weigh my hair down, reduce the frizz and define the curls.

I’ve stopped using shampoo completely, it’s made an incredible difference. I wash with conditioner now as if it’s shampoo, and then condition again. All I have to do then is leave it to dry and I have amazing bouncy curls. Lasts for a couple of days

My nickname at junior school was Crystal tips.....
A big yes to pps saying curly girl method . go onto British Curlys . Diagnose your hair type, and look for products. There's an article about a 3 step method of curly management, I picked suggested products from there, and have never looked back x

To the posters saying curly girl is a lot of faff, how?
I wash once or twice a week, spend 2 minutes putting products on, go to bed and wake up with curls.
Am I missing something out?

With me Oh it was just because of the trouble of getting the right stuff at the right price. I still go with most of the principles - don't touch it, if I have to dry it do it with a t shirt etc - I just find it easier and cheaper to buy sulphate and silicone stuff with the odd oil chucked on.
I would do it regularly if I could source a cheaper product and had more time (sleep wins at the moment!)