Weaning myself off the straighteners

[EoinMcLovesCakeJumper]

I'm using the fact that nobody is seeing me at the moment to leave my hair natural more often, but I have to say I'm finding it difficult to get out of the mindset that my unstraightened hair is messy/ugly/frizzy. Please can I ask for honest opinions - and also any tips on how I can get it looking better? In the pictures, I've just used leave-in conditioner and some mousse, and shaped the ends with my fingers while it was still wet.

I don't have the time, energy or inclination for the Curly Girl Method, by the way!

Is your hair naturally like that? If so it’s pretty sleek so you probably just need curly girl to get your curls back rather than use any heat treatments.

Gosh - you deffo don't need straighteners - your hair looks really good with the waves. I'm addicted to my straighteners as I look like a scarecrow without them. You, however look great.

How often do you wash your hair? I don’t need to wash my hair daily (I can go about 5 days). Since lockdown I have been straightening my hair after washing but leaving it on the other days, rather than straightening each day. It’s breaking off less and feels much nicer (although I’m not convinced it looks better yet)

Have you ever learnt to blow dry properly?

Only ask as I have spent 46 years never getting hair I liked until I have had a proper blow dry with straighteners at a salon. Then I started quizzing the people blow drying my hair and now, at the age of 46 I can do it myself. I thought straighteners were my only option but I learnt last year.

I should add I think your hair looks lovely and it doesn’t need any extra help. But I just thought I would add my own experience.

Your hair looks great in those photos.

I wash my hair every other day because it tends to get greasy at the roots otherwise. I suppose I could leave it longer at the moment though!

Yes, it is like that naturally. It has never gone into ringlets, it's more like a sort of crinkly wave, so I don't think there are any curls to restore.

I never blow-dry and increasingly, I'm finding it difficult to hold my arms up with something heavy in my hands for any period of time. I have arthritis in my elbows and hands, which is one of the reasons I thought it would be a good idea to go lower maintenance.

Would you consider growing your hair longer to shoulder length? A bit of extra weight on the hair might make the waves drop a bit so that you lie gem more?

How about some colour in the form of foils. Subtle streaks of auburn/red would highlight the waves. As they grew out you could have more put in the top. Just a thought.

CoolShoeshine that's the eventual plan. I'm growing out a pixie crop, and it's taking aaages, but perhaps not being able to have a haircut for six months will help there.

Mosaic123 I might speak to my hairdresser about that when I can see her again. She has the most gorgeous long, red, curly hair and it's all natural. I get serious barnet envy when I see it, but it is reassuring that she knows how to cut curly and wavy hair.

Your hair looks fab! I'd carry on as you are, it looks like a very deliberate and chic hairstyle.

Not what you asked OP but I am chronically ill and use a hairdryer stand so I don't have to hold up the hairdryer. Once you're used to the knack of it it's helpful. Mine has a flexi head so you can angle the hairdryer (you just clip it in) and then I just use a brush to dry. Or nothing if I'm feeling lazy or unwell.

Otherwise look at the keratin straightening treatments or similar perhaps, if you want it straight but no effort.

I think it’s lovely and will look even better when it’s a bit longer

My wavy hair needs cutting regularly otherwise the weight drags it down and it loses its shape. So it's not looking too great at the moment, but it's not intrinsically messy and ugly, any more than straight hair is intrinsically lank and lifeless. It's just fashion, which is starting to swing back our way. I would hang on in there and, when it's allowed, look for a hairdresser who understands waves and curls.

I love it like that, what gorgeous hair you have.

I've not straightened mine either and I have long blonde hair. I'm used to it now and is in much better condition

I bought a Revlon 2 in 1 pro dryer and volumiser - it's like a giant hair brush and hairdryer in one. Life changing, I get a nice style in minutes, you can keep waves too and no straighteners required 😊

You hair looks good

I think it would look good if you clipped the front section back rather than having such a defined parting.

Sorry ProseccoSupernova, I'm a bit hopeless when it comes to hair styling and visualisation - do you have any pictures of what you mean?

Sort of like this although obviously this is longer. I am rubbish at hair too but you would just take a small section from the front and pin or clip it into a very small ‘quiff’.

Oh, I see! I think my forehead is too high to pull that off, but perhaps I could put a zigzag parting in so it looks a bit less stark.