Defining wavy hair-what cut to have

[AprilFoolaround]

I've posted before under a different name some time ago about my hair. It's become very long over the various lockdowns and seems to have gone wavy too. I like the waves but still haven't mastered defining them. I'm having it cut soon and normally just have it trimmed with layers but I fancy a slight change. It needs to be something that is easy to care for, doesn't require much to style it, can survive being outdoors a lot and doesn't make it frizz. Tall order I know. I'll try to find a picture of my hair to upload so you can see the length and degree of wave (not much to be fair but a diffuser helps). What should I do with it?

The photo on the left is it completely natural (and needing a good brush) and the one on the right is if I use curl defining cream and a diffuser and dry it upside down. It's a bit big that way and takes me back to my permed days I'd like a few inches cut off as the ends are very tatty now after being neglected so long, and I want defined waves and an overall neater look.

Mine is quite similar and looks thicker than yours, I often struggle with mine as the gets longer it is it seems to lose style and shape, ultimately i often have it between chin and shoulder length to keep it looking more stylish

I'd take a good 8/10inches off and have lots of layers through it to help it curl. I'd keep it a bit longer to have some weight to stop it going too wild. You can get air dry product like a curl creme.
Practice makes perfect with curl hair and I haven't mastered it yet

8-10 inches?! I'd like to keep it long, just not this long. 8-10 inches would make it chin length or thereabouts. Apart from the now tatty ends it's very soft. There's a few white heirs in there but I have to search for them. Reading the threads saying about the cost of colouring hair it will be allowed to go white.

I love your hair, but have no advice, sorry. Watching to see suggestions.
My hair naturally looks like your right hand picture, but only at the bottom 2/3rds, the top is straight ish.

No advice but watching as my hair is exactly the same (including length) and I can't do anything with it.

Is the wavy pic dry? If so you need to practice your technique . Put the product on wet hair and scrunch then diffuse . I wash my hair at night and sleep on it for a smoother wavy look rather than curls .

I have similar hair and am about to cut it up to shoulder length. If the length doesn't work, it'll grow back soon enough. I need a change!

Have you been doing the curly girl method?

I put curl definer on my wet hair then diffused. I have the Cantu one but I'm never sure how much to use. A little seems to go a long way and I do not want crunchy hair.

I'm 50 and have never had an actual hair style, it's always been wavy and unkempt I've made peace with that now, I spent years trying to get some type of defined look but it never worked.

I'm very jealous of those who have that just left the salon look but alas it's not for me.

I don't even brush my hair now unless I've washed it and it's wet. I go through copious amounts of Frizz Ease but that's about it.

Be keen to see if anyone has managed to do something interesting with their wavy curls.

I quite like this. I definitely want layers putting back in to create movement and texture.

I agree with the cut and layers, probably cut to shoulder blade length as that seems to be where it naturally thins right now. Then for the curls I would add more water and maybe a bit of leave in conditioner to define them - this will make your curls clump more into fatter curls. And gel. I know what you said about crunchy hair but that is just a cast. Basically whack on lots of gel to protect the curl pattern as it dries. It'll dry crunchy but one completely dry you then rescrunch with your hands. All the crunch disappears and lovely fat curls appear. Or you could try a sock bun!

8-10 inches would be nowhere near your chin! Absolutely nowhere near!

It would. It's not so long at the front as the back.

I love long hair, but I would also take a good chunk off I think. Maybe 5-6 rather than 8-10 inches?

Maybe collar bone sort of length, so it's still long, but more manageable maybe.

But maybe I'd say differently if I could see the front.

Cantu is designed for Afro hair which you don't have , try one aimed for your hair type . I use flora and curl but your pin ably need to try a few . I wouldn't use cantu though as it's sticky and thick for your hair type .

Definitely layers, and go to the best hairdresser you can afford. Mine is wavy with long layers and has been cut to enhance the waves. My longest length is down to my bra and the shortest are about shoulder. I follow a kind of curly girl method, wash with very gentle shampoo then best conditioner I can afford, no brushing or combing after washing then just dry naturally or with hairdryer as far away and gentle as poss, your diffuser will be fine. Sometimes add in a curl creme or similar but most important is def conditioner and no brushing (brush before washing).

Boots do an Essentials Curl Creme (pink) its nice and soft.

Not sure about cuts but definitely look up the curly girl method if you want to embrace your natural curl!

I follow CG ( I think) I use herbal essences strawberry and mint shampoo, also green apple conditioner and the boots curl crème. Unfortunately this though is discontinued now 🤬

Cantu is very heavy. I use it on my very coarse wavy-curly hair in the depths of central heating season but it's too heavy, most of the time.

Try a mousse or a gel like the umberto Gianni one. Or even the cantu curl defining custard. That's a light product, compared to most of theirs, and very easy to use.

@AprilFoolaround

I quite like this. I definitely want layers putting back in to create movement and texture.

The shortest layers in that are very short and might prove to be a pain. I wouldn't have them shorter than shoulder length - more like this. Hair that is too heavily layered can frizz more than hold a natural wave and can be a nightmare if you're having a tired day and just want to tie it back.

I have wavy hair and wouldn’t recommend layers. Unlike curly hair, wavy hair doesn’t curl from the roots, but further down the shaft of the hair. If your layers are cut shorter than where your hair starts waving, you’ll jut end up with straight, layered hair. My hair is fine and similar to yours. I keep it one length, just below my shoulders and use the Cantu define abs shine custard if I want it wavy/curly.