So sick of my crap hair. (Pics)

[Littlebees]

I paid to have photos taken of me & my baby so on the morning I washed my hair, spent ages drying it in sections then curled it with ghds.

I've just had the photos back and my hair looks a state! Like I haven't bothered at all.

Where am I going wrong? Why can't I achieve the silky glossy look that my hairdresser can?? Mine looks straggly and unbrushed!! 😒

So, I’m no expert but it looks like you’ve got a great blank canvas that’s maybe a bit over processed. Do you use regular colour and/or styling products?

I do and every one in a while my long thick hair starts to look a bit tired. Once every six months or so I wash mine with washing up liquid. Shampoo it twice, then dump a load of conditioner on. It removes all the product build up and leaves it soft and shiny and silky again. You need the conditioner though.

Day to day I use Herbal Essences dazzling shine shampoo and conditioner (green bottles) and get lots of compliments on my hair.

Also when you curl it using straighteners- I straighten it first; then spray hairspray on each curled section to make the curls last.

Hope that helps.

I think the only problem is the colour that seems uneven. Otherwise it really doesn't look bad

It looks fairly thick though? Just that the ends need a trim.

Maybe too many products OP?

I think the curls have just dropped out - was the studio a bit hot and stuffy maybe?

I'd just had 3 inches off the week before. I agree the colour is patchy as I'm a box dyer due to lack of funds ☹️
It's the texture that pees me off. When the hairdresser cut it and styled it it looked silky abd lovely. I feel like I'm doing the same as she does but end up with straw like mess.
I only used Moroccan oil & heat spray.

Help!!!

It looks a bit damaged perhaps do some treatments or try olaplex

Whatever shampoo and conditioner you’re using does not agree with you.

How about mousse? Then dry it upside down? Use a barrel brush

I recommend you try the coco and eve hair mask. It’s pricey but it leaves my hair shiny and silky soft.

Too much heat spray and then you used the curlers when the hair was wet hence the straggly frazzled look.

I don't think you have the best curling method I'm afraid. Can you watch some videos on Youtube? You should try and use thicker sections and make it look 'curlier' than you actually want to begin with. Then when the curl is done, roll it back up and pin it to your head until it's cool.

Always brush out curls, if you've curled well enough, they bounce back. Then smooth over with a teeency bit of serum/moroccan oil.

It looks a bit coarse or too much product on it- like it needs lightening up (in weight). Have you tried a clarifying shampoo?
Colour wise have you ever tried a colour remover to get rid of the patchiness and then to re dye it?

Try a spray shine serum .. what shampoo do you use ? Weird as often hair like yours is shiny ! 🤷‍♀️

Also if you use box dye are you just shoving whole lot every time as eventually the semi permanent builds up on the hair and makes it look flat and dull

I have hair with a similar texture I think and it never ever looks its best if I wash and dry it then try to style it the same day. Best for me is to wash and dry it in the evening and then style it the next morning. Sleeping on it seems to let it calm down a bit and also stops the style dropping out so quickly.

Are you brushing each section smooth before using the straighteners on thickish bits of hair? If you straighten onto tangles it's bad for the hair and makes it look scraggly. Also make sure the hair is completely dry.

It looks too long and it’s dragging the curls out. For hair of your length, I’d look at curlers instead.

Also agree that it needs a deep condition - I use a coconut oil mask once a month for a few hours, and also use the Joico leave in conditioner after every wash. It’s really made a difference.

I do try and deep condition every couple of weeks (if baby allows) but the point is that my hairdresser gave me silky hair just the week before so why can't I get the same?
I'm going to try straightening my hair first tomorrow but that means twice as long under the ghds ☹️

I would start with a clarifying shampoo. It looks dull, possibly you have product build-up on. Tressemme Deep Cleansing is good (and cheap, as you won't use it all the time).

Then I'd follow by a deep conditioner but try & avoid ones with silicones in. Have a look at the Curly Girl method. It's not just for curly hair! It just means you pick products without silicones which suffocate your hair, or harsh detergents and alcohols which dry your hair out. Then when you try to moisturise you can't because of the silicones creating an (old, waxy, dull) barrier. So you put more silicones on which temporarily masks the problem but it goes round in a circle.... Also when you use heated tools on your hair, that doesn't sit well with the silicones either.

Not all silicone free etc products are expensive either, some are very cheap and widely available. but the styling products you do need to research as it's harder to navigate your way around. If you tell me what kind of products you like to use (mousse/leave-in conditioner/frizz fighters/heat defence etc) then I can give you some recommendations?

PS your hair is gorgeous. Thick and with a lovely natural wave. I think it just needs a bit of a change in your hair care routine maybe and finding products that work better long term. Hairdressers are really good at taming hair and disguising less than perfect condition because they throw everything at it (heat/products/harsh blow dry etc) which works for a day or two, but that would be damaging for every day, and also verytime consuming.

As you said OP, you might want to straighten it first then curl it. I have wavey frizzy hair and I have to straighten it all first and then curl it with GHDs after. I also brush every piece I straighten/curl first. Obviously using heat twice in this way is not good for hair but it looks worse if I don't do it this way.

Do you use conditioner every time you wash it?

If your looking for smooth shiny hair I would invest in a baby liss big hair styler .

It looks very dry and over processed. I'm no hair expect but I do work with lashes and too much exposure to harsh chemicals leaves hairs completely "crispy". I would try and move over to salon colouring if you can. Your hair will thank you.

Are you drying your hair in sections? That can really help.