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my hair resembles wool - what can I do?

23 replies

jeangenie · 24/09/2007 14:48

all in the title really!
have just had it cut so split ends gone but i still resembles a cross between wool and a brillo pad - it's driving me nuts
looks fine after hairdresser does it but even if I straighten with ghds it is frizzy/dry at ends. today I tried not straightening (embrace my inner waves I thought) and it is awful
PLEASE HELP ME

OP posts:
NorthernRockCod · 24/09/2007 14:48

conditioner

leave on maybe?

jeangenie · 24/09/2007 14:55

do that - doesn't help -
intensive mask, leavein conditioner spray, serum, leave in conditioner gloop - they all went on last night and is steel wool still

OP posts:
NorthernRockCod · 24/09/2007 15:07

cut it off

jeangenie · 24/09/2007 15:09

am thinking that's the only option left
not sure short crop will suit me though
is there really nothing else?

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incy · 24/09/2007 15:13

Kerastase (l'oreal) do a fantastic hair mask - it isn't cheap but it does work.

incy · 24/09/2007 15:16

hair mask

bobbiewickham · 24/09/2007 16:45

I used a VO5 hot oil treatment at the weekend. Bit of a blast from the past, but I have to say it did the job with my GHD-fried frightwig.

CountessDracula · 24/09/2007 16:46

If you are straightening it and it is still frizzy at teh ends surely you need more cut off?

lilacclaire · 24/09/2007 18:48

I also have nightmare hair.
Really should name change before admitting I now only wash my hair once a week.
First day or 2 (with ghd's) my hair still doesnt sit right, only starts looking good with a bit of grease in it.

jeangenie · 24/09/2007 20:16

lilacclaire - i normally wash mine once a week too [ssshhh], it only starts to look ok about day 3 or 4
but, you know, sometimes I'm tired and miserable and feeling grimy after commuting through the london filth and I just want to lather it all up and feel squeeky clean...
then it really looks like wool!

I have ordered 3 min miracle and soem new john frieda stuff from tescos

CountessD I have had it cut about 4 times recently, it's now in a short bob (from mid way down my back) - the only other place to go is a crop

incy - wouldbe frightened to spend that amount in case it didn't work, I haven't liked any other kerastase stuf I've tried

V05 hot oil - that is a blast from the past (didn't work for me back then though )

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missbumpy · 24/09/2007 21:21

Is it really curly? There was a thread on here recently about how curly hair looks better long and I think it's true. Mine has a tendency to look a bit wire woolly but I keep it quite long and the weight of the hair seems to pull it down and make it more manageable. Also makes it easier to put up if it's really gone crazy.

Other than that; mild shampoo, heavy duty intensive conditioner, a bit of oil (almond, neem, or olive) through the ends before washing, and avoid overusing the GHDs and hairdryer...try tying in loose plait if it's long enough while it's wet and let it dry like that. You get more defined waves and less frizz.

Not that I can talk...My hair looks atrocious today !

jeangenie · 24/09/2007 21:30

yes miss bumpy - perchance I have gone TOO short
it isn't really curly (would that it were) but rather a bit wavy and a lot frizzy
when it is very long it does look nice enough although the ghds took their toll which is what lead to the chop in the first place, at the moment I look like a frizzy triangle head
there is a bit of permanent dye (I mistakenly though it was semi ) in it and I think it is those bits that are REALLY bad right now - when my hairdresser gets bacK I may go and get those chopped off so it will be quite short and close to my head and then just let it grow long again (and not listen to the mumsnetters who tell me past the bra line is too long ever again!!!)

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harleyd · 24/09/2007 21:31

um, knit it?

harleyd · 24/09/2007 21:32

soz, no more wine for me

Tottie32 · 24/09/2007 21:33

have you tried the ghd iron oil?

to protect my hair i use paul mitchell super skinny serum on wet hair then spray on paul mitchell heat seal..

i use the aussie 3 minute miricle mask

jeangenie · 24/09/2007 21:37

harleyd unfortunately it is now TOO SHORT to knit anything useful apart from a pot scrubber perhaps
tottie - have the ghd spray thingy, do the serum although have just ordered JF thermal serum stuff so that might be better
just hope the miracle mask works some kind of miracle

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scootermum · 24/09/2007 21:41

I cant help you but I can sympathise..my hair is a total nightmare..its like it has a life of its own...think I have tried every product to try to get rid of kinks and waves and to no avail..I am going to start wearing hats...

Tottie32 · 24/09/2007 21:42

the heat seal is fab for protecting hair, as an experiment i sprayed it on my hand and put hair dryer on it, and did the same with the other hand with nothing on and was amazed at the protection it gave from the heat. it is pricey but i use 2 bottles a year and i wash my hair everyday so it is used daily

SuGaRCoAteDPoiSOn · 24/09/2007 22:01

mine's the same and i've not yet found the magical products to keep it looking as well maintained as the hairdresser seems to be able to but I use Herbal Essence sensuously smooth shampoo and conditioner and then I use Sunsilk instant smoothing cream in the green bottle and then loads of serum and all that keeps it looking halfway decent most of the time.

I've never found the 3 minute miracle to work very well on my hair but I might give the kerastase a go next..

arfishy · 24/09/2007 23:13

My hair went very straw-like after moving to Oz, a combination of the humidity here and too much processing.

I use kerastase masquintense every time I wash (instead of weekly) and if I need an extra no-frizz boost use leave in conditioner (the pantene one is quite good)

I always use GHD protective spray before using my GHDs too.

Ask a hairdresser if you can have a sample of the masquintense or if they can use some on you next time you have it cut or styled to see if it works on you.

SabaSaba · 25/09/2007 10:06

try not to use the straighteners ( allright special occasions only )they will make it worse, grow it longer, use serum whilst wet, dont brush or comb it while it dries, then use more serum on ends when it dries. Also if its longer, you can tie it up on mad hair days!

missbumpy · 25/09/2007 10:59

So it's mainly the condition that's a problem rather than it being naturally unruly? I always find pure oil is more heavy duty than any nice conditioners from the chemist. Just slap on a whole load of olive oil or almond oil or something, comb it through put it up in a shower cap and leave it for a couple of hours, then wash it all off and condition as normal. Try doing it every time you wash for a while and it should calm it down a bit.

If it's all gone a bit triangular you could try asking your hairdresser to do something clever with layers next time just to make it less blocky.

Keep on conditioning and let it grow out a bit and it should get better.

Oh, and I really like using a conditioning creme instead of serum on damp hair after washing and conditioning. I like the phyto 9 one but you can get cheaper things that do the trick too (there used to be one called Vitapointe which you could get in Boots and Superdrug). Comb it through wet hair, tie or plait back loosely and then leave it alone (ie. don't try to brush it too much because it will make it 1000% frizzier!).

Oh, and another thing, one hairdresser taught me a trick if you've got wavy/curly hair. While it's damp put some styling creme or something through it then twist little sections (twist so much that they start twisting back on themselves if you see what I mean) and then leave them to dry like that. It makes more defined waves/curls rather than frizz.

That's it, I've exhausted all of my good hair wisdom! And mine is still looking dreadful today so feel free to ignore my advice !

good luck.

jeangenie · 26/09/2007 09:51

so, think I need to gro wit again once I have gotten rid of the bad dye bits
missbumpy thanks for your long message - I will do the olive oil thing
unfortunately I have just been to hairdresser a week ago and he was supposedly doing something clever with layering in the bad bits but I think they just need scalping off
so, chop those, douse it in olive oil and wait patiently for it to grow again so I can tie it up is my plan I think

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