Contemplating running the clippers over my head

[Dilbertian]

My hair has finally reached the length I like (longest layers are at the bra strap) but I've got fed up with it. It's a frizzy, tangley mess. I've been trying CGM without much success. I think my hair is too fine and the products weigh it down. The one thing that has changed is that my fringe curls with CGM.

The longest setting on my clippers is 14 IIRC. About two inches, anyway. So maybe I'll just chop it all off, and it will respond better to CGM if it's short.

Go for it! I first clipped (no. 5!) back in March 2020. But be warned, it's addictive

I shaved my curly hair 2 weeks ago. It was hard to adjust to at first but now I really like it! It's easier in some ways (it takes a lot less time to do the CGM!) but because I can't just chuck it in a bun I am forced to do something with it every day! It feels a lot healthier though and I'm being strict with no straightening it etc. so hopefully will stay healthy and frizz-free and my natural curls can look their best.

No way will I go that short. I'm an overweight, post-menopause, big-jawed woman - I need some volume of hair otherwise I'll look like a pimple. None of that delicate bone structure beauty that slender-featured women carry off stunningly when they have clipped hair.

Besides, I can't get to sleep if my ears are bare.

I had chemo and lost my hair. When it grew back it was curlier than before. Short curly hair on me was not a good look. I wouldn't choose to do it.

I’ve been doing wavy girl method (modified cgm).
Tell us your routine and products, maybe we can help?
Have you worked out if your hair prefers protein or moisture? After a rice water rinse my hair curled really well, and now I use protein hair treatment which got rid of my tangles. Putting products in wet made a difference too.

I have no idea what my hair prefers. I've tried to understand from websites, but just get more confused.

I'm white, late 50s. My hair is, I think, a mixture of 2c and 3a. Undyed and very rarely heat-treated. Quite thin. I try to air-dry loose, but often have to put my hair up for work before it has dried completely. I'm allergic to fragrances, so am very limited in what I can use.

I wash roughly every 3 days, using only Waitrose Pure Conditioner. Once or twice a month I also shampoo with Waitrose Pure Shampoo. Curlsbot website considers them almost CGM-compliant. I blot with a smooth travel towel.

After washing my hair is a mess of big loopy curls and frizzy straight. 24-48 hours later the outer layers are frizzy and the underside has turned into lovely fat sausage curls.

Recently I've been using Jessiecurl Gelebration and Confudent Coils. I've tried exactly as they instruct and I've tried using only one at a time. I think both together weigh my hair down. It certainly doesn't give me useable curls. It's a bit curlier, but messy. My hair looks wet even when it's almost dry, and if I scrunch out the crunch then I just look unbrushed bedhead. And my hair doesn't form it's natural sausage curls.

It's making my fringe curl, though, which I why I wonder whether being shorter all over would help.

Lordy - I'm the same age as you and have absolutely no idea what you've written! What is 2c and 3a and CGM??

CGM is Curly Girl Method. A haircare philosophy that aims to enhance natural curl and banish frizz.

2c 3a refers to how your hair curls

If you lose a lot of length your hair may become curlier, without the weight of more hair stretching out the curl. 2 inches of curly hair would be very short.

My curls - when they cooperate! - are quite fat. The sausages are about as fat as my thumb, so two inches will not really be enough length for them to form properly. More likely to look tufty-wavy than properly curly at that length.

Well, you’ll be cool in the heat

Why don't you just cut it? Make it when comb it down and pull half to each side and cut . Easy

What's the advice of your hairdresser?

What hairdresser?

I think I last went maybe 5 years ago. I've been trimming my hair myself since then. But never a big chop.

I mean my trims were never a big chop.

Some people have areas of curlier hair and other parts just refuse to curl. It's common to have curly hair around your face, back of neck for example and might be why your fringe is curlier but not other areas.

Get some length off the dry ends if it's frizzy and buy a heated curling tong. Lovely curls where you want them in minutes.

You don't have to follow curly girl method like a religion.

It sounds like an awful lot of work for very little gain. What you're doing obviously isn't working for you.

Would you consider regular shampoo, a hairdryer and the odd trip to a hairdresser?

The babyliss big hair might also be worth a try. I have a friend with thin curly hair that gets lovely big bouncy waves from it.

Would you consider regular shampoo, a hairdryer and the odd trip to a hairdresser?

That's what I used to do, and it didn't work.

My curls and the general condition of my hair have improved since I cut down on shampoo.

The ponytail on the forehead home cut works perfectly as general maintenance for me. Normally I'd go to the hairdresser for a drastic cut, but I don't want to go to hairdressers at the moment.

I'd happily shave my long hair right off if it wasn't for my big potato head.

I've got to say though the condition of my hair improved loads when I stopped using shampoo and just washed it in plain water in the shower.

@Dilbertian

What hairdresser?

I think I last went maybe 5 years ago. I've been trimming my hair myself since then. But never a big chop.

Hmmm. So you rely on promoted products and unregulated advice from the internet rather than consulting a professional who could (very probably) sort out your problems. Does that seem reasonable? Would you do the same with your health?

@ZaraW - I’m having chemo now. I hate having no hair. Did you keep the chemo curls or did your hair return to normal eventually?

Really, Sarahlou63? You never try any recommendation from anyone? I am delighted that a MNer told me about Jessicurl! It is the first styling product I have been able to use in nearly 20y, since my allergy was diagnosed. As for hairdressers, they have never been able to advise me how to enhance my curl or tame the frizz without using a shedload of products which I'm allergic to, and curlers or fancy blow-drying.

Dear me, comparing unregulated advice about my hair to my health? It's just hair, it grows back.

Hope it all goes well for you, Lunificent. My friend (in her 60s) finished chemo in the spring. Her hair has grown back in a most beautiful silver pixie-cut. She doesn't know whether chemo turned it all gray, or whether it would have been that colour anyway, because she's been dying it religiously for so many years, but it looks stunning and she's says it's saved her the effort of growing out her roots

[quote Lunificent]@ZaraW - I’m having chemo now. I hate having no hair. Did you keep the chemo curls or did your hair return to normal eventually?[/quote]
Good luck with the chemo. My hair is curly but after chemo it came back super curly. I used clips and headbands to keep it under control.

My hair cour changed. I have red hair which became darker and more brown. It took some time to return to normal.