Help me with my hair

[Nosenseinclementine]

Since puberty, my hair has been frizzy and messy. There seems to be no way to tame it except for straightening it. It's the only way to look presentable as tying back, it looks dry and fuzzy on top (&a complete mess!) and if it's not up, without straightening, it just looks like I haven't brushed it in years. I've sort of got used to it and dealt with it by daily straightening to look decent enough but I'm about to have a second baby and found it hard to find time first time round! My hair is fairly fine but there's lots of it. No hairdresser has ever been able to cut it into a manageable style - I still need to straighten. I guess it's a long shot but does anyone have any tips on a low maintenance way to deal with my hair in early months of new baby?

depends on the length but id just tie it up in a bun - very low maintenece

I'm sure it can't be that bad OP.

Have you considered chemical straightening? Once it's done that should be it and it would be easy to maintain for a while.

Otherwise I'd look at what products you're using (or not) to tame it. Has the hair got a natural curl? what kind of frizz? Is it dry or fly away etc..

A photo might help if you're willing.

Thank you! It's past my shoulders as I find it just sticks out if it's not weighed down! It's both dry and fly away unfortunatelty. I have considered chemical straightening but I did it years ago and it didn't do much! I would try again once pregnancy done and I'm able to get away for a few hours to do it :-). My hair is too nicely straight for a photo to be useful just now. The problem for me with a bun is the frizz and flyaway/dry on the top of my head - it really is a pain!

My hair was like this since puberty too - turned out it was because of pcos and a thyroid problem. Treating those improved it

I swear by a Brazilian blow dry. Lasts about 3 months on long hair provided you remember to use Sulfate free products and aren’t a regular swimmer.

Have you thought about a low side bun? (apologies to any stylish people out there, but afaik this can be a fairly timeless look?) I survived on this with a headband thing to cover my roots (and dry shampoo) when my ds was tiny. Still need hairspray for the post partum fluff at my temples.

Are there any products you swear by? Or could you try a conditioner-only wash?

Thanks for all these ideas.

@GrumpyHoonMain I've often wondered about something like that although blood tests haven't flagged anything up and I've had ultrasounds for my pregnancies so you would think they would have shown cysts? I do wonder about hormonal balance as I also have problem skin (I sound quite a picture )

Olaplex?

@Nosenseinclementine

Thanks for all these ideas.

@GrumpyHoonMain I've often wondered about something like that although blood tests haven't flagged anything up and I've had ultrasounds for my pregnancies so you would think they would have shown cysts? I do wonder about hormonal balance as I also have problem skin (I sound quite a picture )

Might be worthwhile to ask for tests anyway. I got diagnosed just by the consultant looking at me - she did the tests later and they all confirmed her diagnosis

What shampoo/conditioner do you use?

Is it wavy/curly? My hair is as you describe yours because it wants to be wavy/curly. I fight with it every day to be straight because I just don't think I look right with it any other way.

I would consider having a keratin smoothing treatment or trialling the curly girl method of hair care.

I feel your pain - my once dead-straight hair has turned wavy and fluffy after my pregnancies. I'm currently straightening it but am considering the keratin treatment.

You sound like you have hair like my DM. Hers has always been very dry and frizzy. It tends to grow out rather than down. She finds it more manageable when it’s all the one length and she gets 12 week blowdrys. She also leaves a really good deep conditioner in overnight at least once a week. I got her the Bleach London Reincarnation mask and she loves it.