Weird hair issue, is it the processing or just me?

[howlingmoon]

I am a mid blonde who had a full head of lighter highlights, twice, in the space of 4 years, so hardly a lot, but still.

The last time I had it done was 1.5 yrs ago, and have since just let my hair keep growing. During the last 6 months I have noticed that the condition of my hair is becoming much worse, and no matter what I do to it (have paid for good products and nothing, so not after recommendations), it isn't helping. I eat and sleep well and am in ok health.

In the mirror I have noticed that after washing and conditioning, half way down my hair dries immediately! So as soon as it is washed, and the rest is still dripping, about 8 inches from ends are already bone dry, fuzzy and of a soft yet course feel. I imagine this is porosity and moisture loss but it is quite severe.

DP mentioned last night that it only starts where the highlights are, so the regrowth is no too bad. I am not tempted to get it done again but do think the damage needs lopping off.

Does anyone know how this happens? I already had rather porous hair but this is insane. It's strange how for the first year or two of having the highlights I didn't notice the damage. Is this normal? I used a good salon and the colour was nice.

So here it is after lopping some off, not much better i'm afraid.
My hair doesn't hold a curl, nor do I want it to, and I am not interested in the work it would take to force them in, this is dried naturally without brushing. Hair is a bit thicker than it looks here. What the heck should I do?

I don't like making it pin straight either. Nor anything too 'done'. I would love to leave it natural but the fuzzy bits ruin it. It can do a lovely wave but not in this condition.
Apologies for scribbles, I tried to hide any identifying elements.

You've got hair like me. How old are you? Could be age that's not helping (I.E. perimenopause)

Find a nice up do to wear while you grow out the fuzzy bits? Also leave in conditioner and hair masks will help x

Thank you Sophia, I am 49. Sadly it has always had this tendency, perhaps it is a bit of both, the processing and the meno.

Have you tried a Babyliss big hair? I use it on my teenage daughter’s fine hair and it makes it smooth and gives it volume.

Also I bought her a silk pillowcase which helps the hair not get so fluffy.

I might try that, I used to have one but never used it years ago. Any kind of blow dryer sends it insane even with serum and a round brush. It's like the hairs poof up even worse and won't smooth down.
Last time it was blow dried in a salon even they couldn't get the fuzz out!
I can just about get away with leaving it natural then adding a few defined waves with a straightener. Not sure what else to do at this point. Like many on here I have tried the lot!

I' the type who hates maintenance so anything low key that could help would be great. I don't want anything glam or trendy, just for it to look healthier.

How short was it when you had it done, have you had it cut? It seems really short for 1.5 years growth. I'd lop off the ends and start taking some zinc.

After brushing, I find patting my hair with my hands when I've just put an argan oil hand cream on pats the flyaways down. The old spraying a brush with hairspray then brushing works too but I'm not sure how good it is for your hair or indeed the brush. (I ended up having to scrub it with a stiff paintbrush to get residue off).

apologies, pic is after cutting, it was shoulder blade length and super thin and fuzzy at ends.

My hair is similar and my hair dresser has a treatment called Perfect Hair. It takes a while and costs a bit of £ but it tame the frizz like nothing else. It doesn't make it poker straight like a Brazilian blow dry (other than for the day after because they use straighteners during the process), but I can leave it to dry naturally without becoming a bouffant frizzy mess, and don't have to use straighteners after a blow dry to tame it. Life changing!

I have had the treatment twice - seems to last 4-6 months on me but will depend how often you wash your hair.

dont comb it except in the shower with conditioner on, Rinse in cold water then use a serum or something like argan oil when its wet, blot with a teeshirt not a towel, scrunching it gently to encourage the wave, maybe try a leave in conditioner and / or a curl cream, shake into place and arrange with fingers then leave it alone to dry. Once a week do a hair mask, one that moisturises rather than one with protein as if hair gets too much protein it can go dry and frizz.

Look at how much protein you've got in your products. It can make frizz worse, coconut stuff is bad for this apparently.