Help to style my hair please!

[Llamasally]

I am really in a style rut with my hair. Basics are good - it is thick, shiny, good condition. It’s below shoulder length, all one length at the back, a few layers around my face and a ‘boho fringe’ which I generally end up pinning to one side out of the way 🤦‍♀️

I have a balayage colour and love the very loose, tousled look in pictures but can never recreate it. It’s straight by nature and any attempt at waves seems to just fall out almost immediately then look really scraggy. If I do it so it will stick I’m doing way too tight curls and hairspray. Not cool. But if I leave it straight it looks too blunt and thick, the ends go all wayward and can also be prone to frizzing. It shows up the tiniest bit of cut and easily looks like I’ve had a session with Edward Scissor Hands, even though I pay through the nose for a very senior stylist at an expensive salon.

I’m starting to slightly dread having somewhere’nice’ to go as it means I have to try to do something with it and fail, 99% of the time it’s in a ponytail or messy bun.

I’m not particularly skilled and have a baby and toddler, so it needs to be quick and easy. I can’t really have a much shorter cut as I need to be able to tie it back. Any ideas?!?

If it's shiny and in good condition, why do you feel you need to "do something" with it when you go out?

Couldn't you add an accessory if you're into that? Or just leave it and wear more makeup? It sounds lovely.

Learn how to do a blow dry with a round brush. Get your hairdresser to show you. Also get in the habit of getting some lift at the roots using some sort of styling product close to your scalp while your head is upside down. Your hair sounds fab, maybe joust needs some bounce.

Alternatively ask your hairdresser to give you a cut better suited to your in-styled hair or v straight. Sounds like you have a good skilled hairdresser, just make time for a proper chat next time you go in

Thanks for the kind words- it kind of hangs in a very uninspiring way though, very heavy and doesn’t give a nice effect

Sorry that was for @FortunesFave

Should also probably add that I have a long face and big forehead!

Bumping

My hairdressers thins mine with special scissors stops it's just hanging in a heavy curtain - maybe ask your stylist next time you go?

For lasting waves or curls i find i have to style wet to dry as heat styling drops very quickly. I use various methods depending on the type of curls/waves I want, from rags to pin curls and sleep in them with a silk scarf over. I have thick hair that's waist length when straight so its quite a challenge to hold curl, but I find it last 4 days at least. There's loads of Internet tutorials on the different methods.

If you're short of time, try curling it with the dressing gown belt method. (see YouTube) Go to bed with damp hair twisted round your dressing gown belt and wake up to loose tousled waves! Allegedly.

Anything that works while you're asleep has got to be worth trying.

I’ll take a look at the dressing gown method!

@sellthesizzle I think I’ve had that before but it left little sticking up bits

@Llamasally it sounds like we have very similar hair. I have very thick, good condition hair, but I find very few hair stylists are good at cutting thick hair. So it’s either cut too wedge like or they ‘thin it out’ which is just horrendous and make it look very brittle.

I find my hair, when cut well is soft at the ends and sits really nicely naturally. But I don’t get that often.