Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

How do you control your frizzy/wavy hair without heat?

15 replies

GoodJobShesCute · 18/02/2019 16:49

My hair is out of control. It's just massive and getting bigger I swear. I don't use heat on it regularly and don't want to really. Is there something else I can use to tame it? A product? Rags? Plaits? Or do I need to just shave it off! It's just below my shoulders and has recently been thinned out (but is still like a flipping lion's mane!)

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 18/02/2019 17:05

I treat mine like curly hair and then I get proper defined waves/ curls rather than random frizzy bushyness.

I do diffuse it though, but that’s because it’s really fine and I have to choose between definition and volume if I leave it to air dry.

But mostly what makes a difference is only combing it through when it’s wet and product... mine awkwardly doesn’t like creams or moisture, just gel or mousse.

But it’s like 100 times better with any product and scrunched (sometimes I plop) and not brushed afterwards than it is with all the products it likes but treating it like straight hair.

MikeUniformMike · 18/02/2019 17:06

Get a good haircut. A hair stylist with curly hair maybe.

GoodJobShesCute · 18/02/2019 19:07

Tabularasa that's a good point about the mousse I might try and buy some tomorrow. Because my hair has changed over the years and since having children I've never needed to treat it as curly but that obviously needs to change!

OP posts:
LadyHardy · 18/02/2019 19:12

Have you tried using the curly girl method? It sounds like it needs some love. I switched to the curly girl method about 4 months ago and my hair is much happier. Before that I routinely straightened and dyed it and it was really dry and frizzy. Co washing with curly girl friendly product and doing deep conditioning has really helped. I use just a gel on my hair. The Aussie Instant Freeze one or Trepadora taming slip potion and diffuse.

Elephantina · 18/02/2019 19:32

Mine is also huge pouffy and Hagrid like, and heat tends to make it break. So I have years of experimenting with mine!

Are you thinking of going full on "curly girl" natural curly? If so, you will be staying well away from sulphates, silicone and heat, so everything I'm going to suggest will not fit in with that. Fwiw, I tried curly girl for almost a year and gave up, it looked shit!

If, however, you have no strong aversion to silicone, know how to use a clarifying shampoo to avoid build up, and don't mind blow drying your hair, there are some products you could try. One thing I would suggest, if you're going to go full on silicone product styling, try going a bit natural on your shampoos and conditioners - I quite like the Faith in Nature range, it avoids all that extra product and the sulphates in the shampoo will help clear the build up every time you wash. Just an idea.

I've found Creme of Nature Argan Oil leave-in conditioner on Amazon - you give it a good shake and spray it on damp hair, and it makes hair very glossy and smooth. It doesn't completely de-frizz I must say, but it makes it softer so I can leave it to dry and won't be gigantic, and don't have to beat it quite so hard with the straighteners to be presentable - just a quick run through.

My other recent find which is the best thing I've found in 20 years of frizzy hair, is Colour WOW) Dreamcoat. It's expensive but you can get 50ml to try from Look Fantastic for about £12.

I put the lightest of light sprays on damp hair, nothing else, then blow dried it with the nozzle pointing downwards and with a brush. It is AWESOME. Keratin treatment in a bottle with none of the hassle, my hair is still wavy but it's smooth and non-frizzy! I run the straighteners over any flyaways and that's it. Unbelievable!

Many Amazon reviews talk about waxy build up, or it being too heavy - so I'll just take care not to put too much on, only use it every 2-3 washes, and clear the build up with a proper clarifying shampoo maybe once every few weeks if it's looking dull and heavy. But so far, so brilliant - give it a try! There's a thread on it, something like "Thinking of a keratin treatment, try this first".

Failing that, do you have £££s to spare? Brazilian blow-dry or keratin treatment at a salon, my medium length hair cost me £160. It's lovely, you get super glossy smooth hair and it's supposed to stay on for up to 4 months - but I only got two out of mine, and you can't use any products with sulphates. You can do your own at home (there are kits with good reviews) but even I'm too lazy to paint the stuff on then straighten sections of hair over and over for hours. Not one got time for dat.

Well that was long, that's because I've had the same struggle for so long! Good luck.

GoodJobShesCute · 18/02/2019 21:06

Thank you! Lots of things to Google there I've never heard of the curly girl method or the other products and approaches mentioned. I'm loving the idea of glossy hair for a few months but not sure I can spare the pennies! That's so helpful thanks so much. Been stuck in such a rut with my mop since it's thickened and curled even more and it just makes me feel horrible so I'm really excited to have some new things to try 👍

OP posts:
Elephantina · 18/02/2019 21:54

Def give curly girl a go, if you like experimenting - you might end up being one of those people with fab curls! It didn't work for me (sob) but you won't know unless you try.

Me, I'm embracing the chemicals and going full bore Dreamcoat. Wink

tabulahrasa · 19/02/2019 01:02

I’ve also tried and given up curly girl...

My hair likes being dry Confused as in, I actually see a hairdresser who specialises in curls and works with lots of curly girl clients and we tried all sorts of products and it turns out what my hair didn’t like was conditioner or any moisturising product at all, which is all kinds of weird, lol

But I still use the styling techniques.

Most wavy/curly hair needs loads of moisture though, so curly girl is definitely worth trying - and it’s not expensive, there’s dead cheap and own brand things that are suitable for it.

Huffingandpuffing · 19/02/2019 01:11

Boots pink curl creme.
Accept the curl don’t fight itGrin
Mine is also better with less conditioning- have to do it before washing or I end up like a ball of lard no matter how much I rinse.

Lochnessgiraffe · 19/02/2019 01:13

If you like straight hair get a Brazilian blow dry. My hair is Cury but has many bad days no matter the product. I got a new job v professional so got a blow dry. It cost me £70 but lasts for 3 months and no products. I can wash and naturally dry my hair and its straight and no frizz

helacells · 19/02/2019 01:55

Water is your friend as are black hair products. Also never get thick hair thinned it makes it worse

KennyCalmIt · 19/02/2019 02:41

Coconut oil!!!
Once a week I slather it on from root to tip, tie it in a bun and sleep. In the morning I double shampoo and condition. Without doing that my hair wouldn’t be very happy!

When it’s washed and damp and I put a small amount of hair oil on. I let it air dry until it’s 80% dry and then french braid it overnight. This keeps the frizz at bay. I then continue to french braid it every night. I try not to brush it unless I absolutely have to.

Ps. Don’t get your hair thinned. Thick hair is beautiful! Once you get in a good routine of looking after it you’ll embrace it Smile

GoodJobShesCute · 19/02/2019 20:36

Thank you so much for these tips! Am going to sit down with my notepad and write them all down so that I can research/put new regimes into action.

I actually had my hair thinned a few days ago and it looks terrible. It used to work on my hair but not any more!

OP posts:
quirkychick · 20/02/2019 09:40

I'm curly and sort of do the curly girl method. I think you have to pick what works and give it a bit of time to take effect. Some cheap curly girl products are Inecto Coconut conditioner and Boots curl creme, also Cantu hair products and Twisted Sista, which I get from Superdrug when they're on offer, so wouldn't break the bank to try. I think the porosity of your hair can affect how good conditioner works on you, as it can just lie on the surface for some people, also some people don't get on with products with protein in them. My hair likes being air dried, which is a pita, I can just about take a bit of dampness out with a diffuser on a low setting, but it fluffs very easily.

Nelsondog · 20/02/2019 23:04

Sebastian Potion 9. Wonderful stuff

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.