Well, whaddya know..curly hair

[whiteonesugar]

Last week, at the ripe old age of 35 I discovered that my hair is not 'shit' as Ive always lovingly described it, but its actually got a natural curl to it. It was by accident, i washed it but didnt have time to dry it, and before attacking it with the brush and tying up as usual I decided to see how it would dry naturally and its curly! Not ringlets but more than waves..however it did end up a bit frizzy.

It's super thick, ive never had it curly, other than blow dried to be curly, so i'm new to it, but would like to learn how to leave it to dry naturally and not be frizzy...any top tips?

When you get out the shower put product in as it’s wet (don’t towel dry it first)
Trial and error with products really but it sounds like your hair is similar to mine (mine gets bigger as the day goes on..and don’t get me started on when it’s wet out) - it’s a bit more than wavy but am not a curly girl.. although it will curl if I scrunch it.
Products I like are plain old castor oil for frizz (teeny tiny bit)
Boots curl creme

The longer you can avoid using heat products the better really. You can look up the curly girl method. I don’t do it completely but same kind of ethos (no sls products or silicones, not touching it until it’s completely dry etc)

I literally do nothing with mine, no product, no combing/brushing, no touching, just a quick squeeze with a microfibre towel and leave it. The problem comes the next day when I've slept on it, it looks a right mess, best thing is to re-wet again, but usually I either tie it back or brush it out into looser waves.

I have tried SO many curly products over the years and given up, they either do nothing or make it lanky. Sometimes just a touch of hairspray on the crown and flatten any frizz with my hands.

Thanks both, looks like it might be trial and error then!

I'm kinky curly and forever trying to get my waves to form naturally.
I'm currently using imbue stuff. It's curly girl method friendly (not the shampoo). It's on offer at superdrug at the moment www.superdrug.com/Hair/Hair-Styling/Hair-Gel/Imbue-Curl-Empowering-Creme-Gel/p/797680?gclid=CjwKCAjwuvmHBhAxEiwAWAYj-GPuS33-czrIOTzEP8aq7f-tMD9sQ2onLiJQy_fx6cZnqnxmXu7izxoCP4YQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I've got the serum, leave in conditioner and mask. Seems to be having a good effect.
I also use Umberto Giannini mouse- the mermaid one and natural collection one with rosemary are curly girl friendly, I think.

www.curlsandbeautydiary.com/squish-condish-best-conditioning-method-curly-hair/

Get cuts that emphasise the curl from now on. Even if you blow dry it straight, it still sits better. I learned this later than you

@PearlFriday

Get cuts that emphasise the curl from now on. Even if you blow dry it straight, it still sits better. I learned this later than you

I can't find a hairdresser who knows how to do it. Curly hair specialists are like unicorns. If you live in a big city they're easier to find though.

I know, its hard! My hairdresser mentioned he might retire soon 😵

Following! I’m 45 and have just discovered I have curly hair!

I use TIGI curls rock amplifier. Put on soaking wet, don't touch until dry then carefully scrunch out and crunch that might be there.

I have wavy hair too and discovered I was wavy (not just frizzy) in my forties! After years of experimenting with endless curly hair products I now do the bare minimum. After washing I just use a leave-in condition on the ends and air dry.

Then on non-wash days I might add more leave in on the ends.

Contrary to established curly hair advice I don't like to wet my hair every day and I can't NOT brush my hair, it's way too knotty and I enjoy the feel of brushing my hair. Once its brushed out and frizzy I just add more leave in.

Thank you all. I have bought a cream for curly hair, so will give it a go next time i wash and dont have somewhere to go haha! I dont want to do it and it be a disaster when i have an 'event'

I woke up aged 38 with curly hair! Like yours OP it’s thick and after a year or so of not using a hair drier and straighteners it’s developing into ringlets.
I’ve had to stop using shampoo regularly, maybe once every few weeks, and I rarely brush it now, only wet with conditioner on it, or it goes back into a frizzy straight mess.
Have a look at Olew curl cream and Olew original.

It’s made in Wales, only available online. Brilliant stuff!

Everyone raves about boots curl cream. I haven't tried it myself but will do next time I need a curl cream.
The squish to condish method above is meant to make a real difference. I'm still perfecting the technique though.
Silk pillowcase and microfiber towel or t shirt to put hair up in to dry help too.

I didn't like Boots curl cream, found it extremely drying, but then I hate gels too. I just use Garnier Hair Food, which isn't a curl cream as such, just a "moisturiser for the hair" type thing, which works for me.

My friend has gone over to curly girl method. She has posted pics every week with updates. God it looks amazing and it took about 6 weeks to really see the difference

@TheSlayer, look for an older stylist. Not being ageist, but straight hair has been popular for decades now but curly was popular in the 1980s. It doesn't need to be a flashy salon

My hair has a wave and I'm fussy who cuts it. The chain salons are not the best - it depends on the hairdresser.

Your best bet is to ask someone with fab hair where they get theirs done.

I have curly hair and have used every product under the sun I think. The best for my hair is a combo of serum and mousse and dry with a diffuser. Never brush when dry and I wet it if I'm wearing it down. I tried curly girl but it didn't make much difference to my hair as it was curly anyway. I just go to a normal hairdressers and get plenty of layers cut which keeps it nice a bouncy whilst encouraging the curl. I had a curly cut once but, again, I don't think it made any difference and was more than twice the price !

Key is moisture- without it you get frizz. Wash/ cleanse with non sulphate shampoo and lots of conditioner- no silicones. Then apple products - gel to dripping wet hair . Distribute really well add more water then scrunch out water. Scrunch then with old tea shirt to get rid of moisture and diffuse or dry naturally. Don’t touch when drying as this will lead to frizz.Stay away from oils as they prevent moisture getting in.
Curly girl method is very easy although people make it very difficult.
Try Flora and curl products - available in Superdrug.
Only need a cleanser, conditioner and styling gel. Only 3 products.
Look up Lorraine Massey.
Honestly I swear by it. Have been doing it 3 years now and have never looked back.
It’s so easy. Don’t complicate it.
Good luck!

Had hair with a "kink" and even had perms in my twenties but now - much older - have the perfect routine for me: wash my hair every day, use loads of conditioner, wrap a towel round my head and remove quickly. Spray in Aussie leave in conditioner, find a parting with my fingers, then leave well alone. The worst thing with my hair is to fiddle with it, or use a hair dryer. I do occasionally put in more leave in conditioner once my hair is dry. And I only brush it before I wash it. My hair has corkscrew curls, but they're really delicate - hence just leaving them alone!

My hair is doing a weird half straight but curly underneath thing, because I'm perimenopausal. Happened when I hit forty. Hormones are GREAT.

www.paul-mitchell.co.uk/our-products/paul-mitchell/curls/twirl-around/
52 years of curly hair and for me this is the holy grail, nothing comes close.. soft defined curls without any weight and stickiness, only draw back is it's £23.50 but lasts ages!

Products are trial and error.. and not always needed (I use golf ball of frizz ease mousse)

Shampoo and condition. Brush whilst wet. I would recommend really wet hair..so wet it squelches. Scrunch curls a bit then diffuse on a low heat with head upside down for the top to give root lift. Prepare to be amazed m.youtube.com/watch?v=zL1CtZq4nrI

@rosie39forever I had that stuff but it didn't work for me. How do you use it?

I wash and condition, wrap my hair in a micro fibre towel for a few minutes put a good pump of twirl around in my palms and spread through my hair and let dry naturally.