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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Curly hair with long face - what style would suit me?

30 replies

Jellybel · 08/03/2022 16:18

Hi ladies....I'm a new mum in my early 30's and feeling really unattractive at the moment so currently trying to give myself an image change (will post another thread about clothes shopping later ).
For now I really needed an advice about how to sort my hair out. I've had the same hairstyle since my pre-teens... it's curly, unruly and there's lots of it so i wear it up and scraped back all the time ..not an attractive look. I don't want to wear it curly but would love to have it wavy. I tame it by getting a Brazilian keratin treatment every so often but every time I go to the hairdresser's I end up with the same long, layered haircut which really does nothing for my long face and small eyes/features. Also I don't know if this makes sense but even when my hair's straight / tamed it just never sits properly...i.e. it looks like I've been walking around with my hair in a bun and just let it down suddenly without even looking in a mirror and sorting it out

Anyway.... I have a haircut and Brazilian keratin treatment booked for Saturday and was wondering what I could ask for that would suit me....I really want a change and something that suits my face but at the same time I would like the safety of being able to tie my hair up/pin any fringe back if I've not had time to style my hair properly. Any thoughts on what I could ask for? I was thinking a long Bob with heavy side swept fringe which I could pin back if it doesn't behave but not sure.

I've attached 2 pics....one with my hair just washed yesterday and left to dry naturally, and the other from back in June where I had a keratin treatment but still no style to my hair and hence look about 10 years older! Thanks!

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Original poster

Jellybel · 08/03/2022 16:19

Sorry that ended up being quite a long post! Pics attached

Curly hair with long face - what style would suit me?

OP posts:

QweenBea · 08/03/2022 16:22

Your hair is lovely 🤩 but thats not helpful sorry
How about layers? It's not bushey. Would that work? Or large rollers when damp for a bigger curl?

QweenBea · 08/03/2022 16:23

Maybe get some hair product advice, or go somewhere who specialises in curly hair

Drunkpanda · 08/03/2022 16:25

I think your just-washed pic is lovely!
I would later around your face so it isn't all one length there (not explaining that well)
I use a heated brush hairdryer thingy sometimes to get a more wavy styled look, but it's hard to achieve if you've not just left the hairdresser.

GirlMum93 · 08/03/2022 16:29

I think your hair is gorgeous?

Original poster

Jellybel · 08/03/2022 16:32

Thanks ladies. I should clarify that my hair looks much much worse once I've been outside so it won't stay like my just washed pic i really don't like it curly at all and absolutely hate the feeling of product in my hair. I might try the large roller suggestion though...as it's not the curly hair that bothers me but I would just like looser, larger waves. Of all the curly hairstyle pics that I see online the only ones I like are the ones where it's obvious it's naturally straight hair that's been curled.
And yes more than the curly /unruliness it's the framing of my face that's the problem. Nothing seems to suit my face. Never found a hairstyle that suits me so I just give up and wear my hair up after having it down for about half hour. I also end up putting no effort into clothes or makeup because I think what's the point when my hair looks so crap all the time

OP posts:

Original poster

Jellybel · 08/03/2022 16:33

I probably should have posted a pic of my hair after I've been out for the day and let it blow around in the wind

OP posts:

Drunkpanda · 08/03/2022 16:37

I think you may be suffering from low self esteem more than a need of a revamp!
Very common if you've recently had a baby to be honest.
Life will be easier if your basic style is one that goes with how your hair naturally is - so you can straighten it or do a wavy blow dry but that's hard to do in a rush on a Monday morning, whereas tousling your curls could be done in minutes.

QweenBea · 08/03/2022 16:40

Babyliss big hair is good. Try to borrow one first though

Sauvignonblanket · 08/03/2022 16:49

In all seriousness change your hairdresser. They shouldn't be giving you a cut that doesn't work or you're not happy with over and over again.

I have similar hair and face shape, and have been there wanting a new style. Also I moved somewhere new and needed a different salon.

I ask around for a curl specialist and completely take their advice on cut. Then I tweak it a bit on the next visit - it's not all on you to come up with a plan, you have enough with a baby.

Our local Facebook group is great for recommendations.

Good luck

Original poster

Jellybel · 08/03/2022 16:50

@Drunkpanda - very happy to just tousle my curls as I do need something fairly low maintenance. The keratin treatment will tame them anyway so I guess it's really the front of my hair I need advice on? I've had layers near my face but it just never falls properly. I guess I should have phrased my question better ...it's not so much the unruliness I need advice on but the front of my hair (framing my face, hiding my big forehead etc). Would a side fringe work of I've had the keratin treatment?

And yes I do have low self esteem made worse by having a baby. Hoping at least making more of an effort with my looks will help with that.

OP posts:

Drunkpanda · 08/03/2022 17:05

If you scroll down to the bottom of this webpage, the writer gives suggestions for cuts for curly women with different face shapes. They also write about how many hairdressers just cut curly hair as if it's straight, and dry it straight - then send you off to do the same at home and it won't work. My hairdresser is guilty of this I think. Another way to give the appearance of shape is through a small amount of colour - balayage for example. You might find that gives you a boost too.

GirlMum93 · 08/03/2022 18:35

Can you have it chemically straightened?

5128gap · 08/03/2022 18:43

I can't believe anyone would not LOVE that hair. If it were mine I'd be growing it even longer and encouraging the curl with long layers and defining products. I'd have some layers around my face at different lengths to break up your (apparantly?) long face, some cut to cheek, some to chin and curling forward. When outside in the weather, id wear a hood! It's incredibly beautiful OP, you are so lucky.

AgnesPerdita · 08/03/2022 19:04

I think your hair is gorgeous but there is a lot of volume around your jaw in the second picture and none further up. Which might be the bit you're unhappy with?

My hair is similar and I either need to grow it longer so the weight pulls the volume out or have it shorter to encourage the volume further up if that makes sense? Otherwise I get a sort of triangle shape to my hair no matter how many layers are in it

Original poster

Jellybel · 08/03/2022 19:33

Yes! That's what I don't like about the second pic....I have triangle hair.
@5128gap - thank you so much! And to the other ladies saying lovely things. In real life I've had some not very nice comments about my hair ...that it's bushy, aging etc so it's really nice to hear all this. Thank you.

I've looked up curly cuts for long faces and am leaning towards asking for something like this....see 3 pics attached. Would one of these work you think?

Thanks so much for your help so far xx

OP posts:

Original poster

Jellybel · 08/03/2022 19:50

I do want some hair to cover my large forehead a little which is why I was drawn to these looks.

OP posts:

Drunkpanda · 08/03/2022 23:31

I was trying to post this earlier but it didn't load; would this type of thing appeal?

Original poster

Jellybel · 09/03/2022 06:54

Thanks @Drunkpanda - I like this. Doesn't cover the forehead but hair is more in the face which is what I need.

OP posts:

Geneticsbunny · 09/03/2022 07:57

I think you should go to a hairdresser who understands about curly hair. I have wavy/curlyhair and have only recently realised that it should only be brushed when it is wet and only cut when dry. Have you heard of curly girl method? I would look for a good curly hair hairdresser first and then read up about curly girl.

Original poster

Jellybel · 09/03/2022 08:47

Thanks @Geneticsbunny - I've tried the curly girl method and it was so much work and my hair would only look nice for one day then it would resemble a bird's nest. Also I hated the feeling of un-shampoo'd hair with loads of product in it. But yes I will look into getting a dry cut at least

OP posts:

itstrue · 09/03/2022 09:03

I do a very simplified curly girl method. I wash with a low poo shampoo and then put a lot of curly girl approved conditioner in my hair. I don't wash it out but dry over night in a microcloth turban. It needs a quick refresh when I get up but perfect curls! It might be worth a try if the whole curly girl method is too much.

TeaAndBunsPlease · 09/03/2022 09:04

It's beautiful.

Original poster

Jellybel · 09/03/2022 09:41

Thanks @TeaAndBunsPlease

@itstrue - thanks this looks doable for me! If it's ok can you share what products, shampoo, conditioner you use pls?

OP posts:

itstrue · 09/03/2022 20:25

@Jellybel

Thanks *@TeaAndBunsPlease*

@itstrue - thanks this looks doable for me! If it's ok can you share what products, shampoo, conditioner you use pls?

I'm in NZ but I think you can get the same products. I use Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo and tresemme restore and shine conditioner. But some people find their hair doesn't like the coconut in this product.

If you join a curly girl uk Facebook group they will have files with approved products. For this to work well you need no silicone and it can be hard to determine if this is in products.

You do need to use a lot of conditioner. If it's fluffy in the morning especially on the ends then you haven't used enough.

And because it's been wrapped up in a turban your hair will be all over the show when you get up. I use a conditioner and water mix to get the hair in place. I never brush my hair - just detangle with fingers when its covered in conditioner while in the shower.

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