Tell me the secret to swishy, gorgeous hair

[LittleAndOften]

What's the secret to beautiful hair? I'm in a hair rut. We are on one income so budget is tight, however I'd still like to look as nice as I can if you can help!

I have long brown hair with a slight natural wave. I wash and blow dry my hair every couple of days and it looks ok (I use Elvive shamp & cond) . However even on those rare occasions when I make a real effort with my hair, it still looks a bit meh. I don't know anything about products (although I'm also pg and trying to avoid too many chemicals atm), but I'm prepared to be enlightened!

I suppose I'm worried the secret to gorgeous locks is to throw a ton of money and chemicals at it. Am I right?

Check out Sophie Stanbury on Instagram, she does a few big bouncy blow dry tutorials (she may be on YT as well).

TBH I think her hair looks in great condition anyway and is very thick but may still be worth a watch.

I have had a lot of nice comments about my hair since I started taking a collagen supplement.

I didnt take it specifically for my hair, more for the wrinkles, but my hair and nails have most definitely benefited. My hair is thicker and falls much nicer into style quite oddly. I have a bobbed style and the most attention it gets after a wash is a blowdry, bit of serum sometimes and straighten it which doesnt take too long.

I use frizz ease which helps me a lot.

I use the conditioner forst Then shampoo.

I also don't blow dry if possible. It's just more heat damaging your hair.

Brushing mine back works well. Often I can put it in a pony then let it out and I have amazing volumne.
Another thing I've started doing is shampoo, condition, shampoo. The second shampoo seems to work wonders.

Ooh reminds me to buy hair mousse actually

isthismylifenow which brand/supplement do you use please?

Another vote for Alberto Balsam. My hair just seems to like it. I wash my hair most days and it seems to be quite gentle. Other products seem to build up in my hair and make it go limp and greasy.

I think a reasonable diet helps too.

1. Have some layers cut in.

No makes it go really curly

2. Wash it and don't use conditioner it only weighs it down
Guaranteed way to make me look like a floor brush and super frizzy and out of control

3. Comb it
Yes

4. Leave it to dry naturally
No way, end up looking like a proper frizzball

5. Don't brush it
See above

My advice is the opposite - plenty of conditioner, one length, a blow dry with hair pulled firmly at the roots to hold the style. Babyliss big hair is great for me

I really like the hair tutorials on the small things blog. Since I've been following the blow dry tips (basically put in lots of product and blow dry upside down) my hair's never had so many compliments. I used to hate product and thought it made my hair sticky but I've been getting on well with the Vo5 volumising blow dry spray. I spritz it all over when I'm upside down including the roots and my hair still feels soft when it's been dried and looks much more "ooomphy".

I recently went from long brown hair to a long bob in a darker shade of brown and have never had so many compliments and my hair is super shiny. I don't think you need expensive products just a really good cut and colour

I don't think you need expensive products just a really good cut and colour

I agree. They don't need to be expensive products, they just need to be the right products for your hair. The same goes for methods like conditioner/no conditioner etc. For example, f I leave my hair to dry naturally, the fringe curls to each side like a comedy moustache 😂

The only time I had swishy hair was the several years that I used powdered henna - not wax or any shampoo/conditioner - it had to be powdered. You can get a variety of colours from clear, which is actually powdered cassia bark, I think, through to brown, black and the typical bright red. I used to use several colours to get the finished product I liked, and then leave it on for several hours.

It was a nuisance to do, but for a while my hair was up there with the swishiest. It gives your hair body, bounce and silkiness. I can't remember why I stopped using it, but it was probably when I finally had too much grey (I started going grey in my early 20s) and was worried about orange tones.

One advantage is that it's completely natural.

Playgroup I am not in the UK so I am not sure if you can get the Solal brand there. I use the Collagen Plus, it a 2 step release one which has omegas in as well.

This stuff really helped me
www.givemecosmetics.com/products/argan-oil-coconut-oil-hair-mask

My hair is horribly fluffy and slightly kinky after washing - looks good for a few minutes after drying then goes fluffy again. Not only that, but unlike other oil treatments it stopped my hair getting greasy in the next few days.

Just buying more now as I’ve run out and my hair is awful again. It’s the only thing that has worked for me. Now I have the BBH I’m hoping they’ll help each other

When I went to Toni and Guy recently they used the L’Oreal serie professional expert range and it was so good - I’ve just ordered the nutrisse ones and the liss masque as I’m unsure which they used.

Baking powder and water mixed into shampoo.
Egg conditioner or apple cider vinegar / conditioner mix on the midlengths to ends only.
This regime has made my formerly course hair shiny and swishy!

I have brown hair also and I change my shampoo and conditioner every few washes and find this helps..
I also use a leave in spray call Luna.. Can get it online or in stores in Ireland.. I spray it on the ends of my hair when damp and then spray it on my brush and brush it through my hair.. The difference I stantly was u real..

Just used the L’Oréal SEP nutria shampoo and conditioner and the Liss masque - my hair feels lovely but didn’t have time to dry it so it’s not as smooth and shiny as it could be. Need some styling products as well as I’m sure that would help

*coarse

Use a good shampoo and conditioner and change them every other wash. I have 3 shampoos and 3 conditioners on the go at once and chop and change them after every 2 washes. My hair gets gets tricked into thinking something magical has happened and behaves itself.

egg yolk, olive oil or avocado as a mask, washing up liquid once a month to clarify and when you have time, use big velcro rollers instead of heat styling. Elasticiser is also good and I like obi apple cider shampoo and conditioner. You also need a good brush when blow drying

I wash my hair with shampoo, but condition it with a hair mask rather than a conditioner. I blot it dry and then add a hair oil. I leave it to dry naturally and put it in a bun on top of my head overnight. In the morning, I blast my dry hair with a hairdryer, focusing on the roots, for a couple of minutes max. This gets rid of frizz or odd shapes without subjecting it to a huge blow dry session which would damage it. I also use Olaplex 2 as needed. My hair is incredibly over processed from keeping it silver-blonde when I'm naturally brown, but it looks swooshy and healthy.

One thing I'll say is that when I go back to the family home in Surrey/Hampshire, my hair goes to shit. They've got hard water and it has a very obvious effect on my hair. If I was in a hard water area I'd get a filter on my shower head.

Live in a soft water area and use a natural bristle brush

Ha yes, live in a soft water area. In London I do my best but have accepted it will never be so cloudy and glistening as when I spend time in the SW