Curls on thick wavy hair?

[MistySkiesAfterRain]

I have vv thick hair that is naturally wavy. If I wash it, put anti frizz serum and leave it I get some wavy curls. Still a lot of frizz though.

My method for years has been to use anti frizz serum, blowdry it using a clamping brush to tame it, then us straighters to tame and polish it further. It still has a lot of bounce as its so thick.

But I'm curious about curls. Its currently longer than it has ever been and I'm wondering if there is a product that will make it ideally not frizzy at all, and is there a product that would make it all curly? Or is that not possible with wavy hair?

Following with interest.

I too have thick hair, which, over lockdown has grown to halfway down my back.

When washed and left, it goes into corkscrew curls, but as soon as I comb it (No brushing here) it goes into a frizzy mass, which I either twist into a bun thingy, or plait. I would love to have shiny curls, not the Crystal Tipps look.

It's more about technique than product .. any old curl cream should help you buy out it on soaking wet hair and scrunch it in , then diffuse .
Loads of videos on you tube for curly girl.

My hair has developed a wave over the years which on a good day can look like ‘beach waves’ and on a bad day is a frizzy mess. Every time I try to replicate what I’ve done before to get a good day it doesn’t work. So following with interest as I really have no clue.

That's standard with curly hair , I'm 47, I don't think I've had the same curl pattern any day of my life !

I'm doomed!

What has been working (to an extent) for me is:

• not brushing, just detangle with wide tooth comb before washing
• using a conditioner for curly hair, comb through with fingers
• curl cream/jelly whilst still wet, Do Not Brush
• twist and plop hair up in an old T-shirt, clip on top of head to dry, Do Not Brush
• I haven’t but if you wanted to use a dryer, get a diffuser attachment. Do not brush!
• Day two ; refresh curls with more cream/jelly. Do not brush.
• Day three: if needed, detangle with wide tooth comb, this will loosen any remaining curls into a soft wave, might need some dry shampoo or similar on roots
• day four - wash and repeat!

Every time you brush, straighten etc, you will be undoing all the good curl work, so try not to unless you really need to.

It's all in the cut! If you have enough layers it'll be curly but if not it'll be a thick wedge of frizz................. if your hair is like mine

First rule for curls - never brush!

I don’t own a hair brush, if my hair ever gets knotty (say I’ve been on a motorbike) then a good wash and condition and any knots come out.

Yes to putting in curl gel and conditioner when soaking wet, scrunching then drying.

I just let it dry naturally at this point and a few hours later srunch the crunch out with a t shirt.

However as others have said, every day is a different hair day in curly land

I'm technically wavy!
Pics - first one is no product and air dried
Second is with product (I used mousse and gel) and diffused
I was a lot more curly when I was younger

@NotMyCat your hair is Beautiful!!! What mousse and gel do you use?

[quote Gatekeeper]@NotMyCat your hair is Beautiful!!! What mousse and gel do you use?[/quote]
I vary it a lot TBH, I don't always use mousse. I like my hair to dry in a crunchy cast and then I scrunch out the crunchiness
Faves are
Treluxe serum and gel
Jessicurl spiralicious
Ecoslay orange marmalade
Pantene mousse

@FuzzyPuffling

Following with interest.

I too have thick hair, which, over lockdown has grown to halfway down my back.

When washed and left, it goes into corkscrew curls, but as soon as I comb it (No brushing here) it goes into a frizzy mass, which I either twist into a bun thingy, or plait. I would love to have shiny curls, not the Crystal Tipps look.

You can't comb it!

Sorry, but unless combing when wet you will remove the curl until you wash it again. My hair is thick but the individual strands quite fine so I only get two days between washes. Day 1, I wash, comb in shower, put on curl cream while soaking wet. Day two, I smooth down and might spray with water, to reactivate the curl but I can never comb it while dry, it just fluffs.

I can't not comb it! After a night of my usual poor sleep I look like a comedy witch!

I never wear it down though, so might as well have it all cut off. Very tempted...

Alternatively, roll on really cold woolly hat weather! 😁

You can definitely not comb it! Put a bit of water or conditioner on it and detangle/restyle with your fingers. Invest in a silk pillow case or if it's long enough put it up in a pineapple over night.

Follow Curl Maven on Instagram. I've had thick curly all my life but only really got to grips with styling it properly in my 30s. (40 now.) My hair has a few different curl patterns in it which always baffled me. I got some good tips from Curl Maven and now have good hair till about day 4 whereas I used to just tie it up most of the time.

What works for me is, I only comb after washing and with conditioner on, then remove the conditioner and don't comb it again.

Sometimes I use a mall amount of conditioner as leave-in, but ever on the roots.

After breaking many combs, I found a very wide tooth comb - found this link with similar combs from amazon www.amazon.co.uk/wide-tooth-comb/s?k=wide+tooth+comb&tag=mumsnetforu03-21.

Never use a brush. Especially when the hair is dry.

Do a light Brazilian treatment every 6 months to reduce the heavy frizz and make the curls more defined once you wash the product off.

Do a conditioning treatment once a month. If you prefer natural/homemade you can make a conditioner paste with very ripe avocados with honey and if you don't mind the smell you can add an egg yolk to the paste. Leave it for 30 minutes and wash it normally.

I have been doing this for the past 20+ years, before that, I always had my hair in plaits or cornrows.

Never liked those strong chemicals or hot irons that were very popular 20+ years ago. I can't recall the name but it was the only offer at the hair saloons at the time.

@NotMyCat

I'm technically wavy! Pics - first one is no product and air dried Second is with product (I used mousse and gel) and diffused I was a lot more curly when I was younger

One of my niece's hair was exactly like yours.

It looks like you either comb your hair when it's dry or you use a brush.

Have you tried combing your hair when washing and with conditioner on before rinsing?

After, try using a small amount of conditioner or anti-frizz oil and style it with your fingers. Put a very mall amount to avoid dried "clunks". It should help your hair.

Try leaving it to dry naturally, using your hands to encourage the curl. Then when almost dry run Frizz Ease Secret Agent or a similar cream product through it.

News flash you can't brush curly hair now . Have a look at the videos on you tube and Instagram .
I have had curly hair all my life but there are so many new methods now to get curls which involve a hair brush!

That was meant to be CAN !

Follow curly girl !
Wash with conditioner
Rinse , add conditioner and leave in
Add a curl activator
Find what suits your hair, mine likes olive hates coconut
Plop with a t shirt
Diffuse
Sleep on a satin /silk pillow

Around 2 years ago first pic, second yesterday

@JamieNorthlife see second pic... I can style it! I had to go with it brushed and no product for a curly cut hence why I have the first pic

[quote NotMyCat]@JamieNorthlife see second pic... I can style it! I had to go with it brushed and no product for a curly cut hence why I have the first pic [/quote]
Your hair looks good!

I have thick wavy hair. I used color wow dream coat for curly hair and boom curls. Air dry or use a diffuser ( dusted mine off and used it for first time in years)

I also have dream coat original for when I want straighter hair- if I don’t straighten it with GHDs though it’s more of a bouncy wavy.

Both products are fab. I don’t really do hair stuff very well but have had so many compliments!

Cheapest at Lookfantastic. 20% off at moment. Plus. Pm me if you want a referral code for a tenner off £25.