Why why why??? (hair/pics)

[TheLastScone]

I look after it, only blow dry twice a week and use good products, conditioning treatments etc. I have tried everything from salon treatments to expensive brands, from every miracle product under the sun.
But this is my hair texture, it has been this way since I was born, and it wearies me when I am supposed to think it is 'damaged' or shit. It's just my hair. I forgive it for being so arsey and I am about to just give up and go with the wild flow of things, but before i do..

If i leave it to dry naturally I get a mass of fluff, some kinks and a lot of wispy fuzz. It's kind of cool in a 70's top of the pops way, but I always wanted it to shine. Never mind! If i put any kind of oil or serum on it, it goes flat and dull. I have tried rollers, big hair, straightening irons, dyson dryer, heated brush, everything, but I come back to blow drying because it's kinder. Sometimes I don't do anything and wear it in a claw clip, a la french chic

I just wonder, is there anything I can do to mitigate the fuzz. In these pics you see it straight after a soft/medium heat blow dry, after conditioning and elasticiser. I don't wear bobbles and am mindful of pulling. I use a cotton towel to dab dry after washing.
I honestly don't want a keratin treatment, I won't spend that, nor can I stomach curly girl. I have tried that and it is not for me. I prefer my natural fuzzy waves to that. With all due respect please dont recommend it, it works for some and not others.

Colour is natural, no highlights or dyes. I have no idea why it thins at the ends and rarely grows at the front. It hasn't been cut apart from trims for 5 years! I am happy to leave it to air dry as the wave is lovely but the halo of fuzz is still there no matter what I do.

One more thing!
It has no weight at all. It is as light as candyfloss, i think it used to be a bit heavier when i was younger so maybe it's age. I just can't get my head around why it has no weight!

My hair is like that, it's just naturally super fine. It has no weight to it at all and makes a very thin ponytail (so I don't do that!).

My best success is with Percy and Reed wonderbalm if you haven't tried that. It seems to give the elusive weight without making it greasy etc.

Cutting the layers differently (more choppy) can help

Keratin treatment really damaging to hair, photos people have posted here of their keratin treatments has shown this.

Will it curl? Can you scrunch it into curls when wet? Try a curl creme or ordinary hair gel if so.

Options; use product, leave in conditioner possibly, then scrape into a ponytail and plaît while wet. Leave to dry and brush out with a wide-tooth comb, add serum.

Last resort, if you must blow dry: use a heat protector (there's a L'Oréal three day straight, which isn't bad) and blow dry with a round brush. Finish with a straightener on lowest setting.

Yep, that’s quite normal for very fine thin hair. You can’t change the physical texture of the hair you’re born with and it gets thinner after the menopause. ☹️

My hair would look like that if I grew it longer, so I don’t. It’s usually kept very short in a pixie crop or a chin length Bob if I let it grow a bit.

I add always add a bit of Olaplex number 2 to my leave in conditioner spray bottle, mix it in and add about 3 squirts of the spray to my hair after washing and leave it to dry in. It definitely helps.

What happens when your hairdresser blow dries it? Can they get a smooth finish?

Thanks for your thoughts!

I wear it long because I spend so much time with it up. I only wear it loose in winter under hats, but even then the elements destroy the texture. It is much better if I hide the lengths and wear a nice twist or plait. I like the options for styles with it long, and aim for a french braid in the future.

I like the waves and don't wish to have curls or go straight. It is the texture that is the problem, because every style I try results in the same fluff, whether ironed or natural. My hair seems tough, and there's a lot of it, despite the fine/thinness.

I do have a good heat protector, kerastase and one by loreal i think. Nothing helps it! I now have it in a lose claw clip with wisps around my face and it looks nice. I guess I have to live with it off my face really.

I have done image searches for problem hair on MN and never seen any as awful as mine. I will have to count my blessings (as I have many) and just get on with it.

Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate truly is magic. A couple of drops when the hair is wet and a couple of drops when it’s dry. Doesn’t weigh the hair down. I have wavy hair.

Ive used a lot of light oils, from aussie to the elixir popular on here and whilst it doesnt weight it down (I dont think treacle could!) it seems to just sit there, looking slightly damp but making no improvement whatsoever. I think it's resistant to everything.

It is the slight fuzziness on the surface of the hair that I don't like.

Someone asked what i looks like after a salon blow dry - very straight and flat, usually with an odd parting (?) but much better. And the fuzz disappears! How do they do that? I have bought the EXACT products theyve used in the past and...nothing. I have copied their technique and have no idea.

Find someone who has a Dyson Airwrap and try the smoothing brush on it ... it's miraculous on my hair.

I think fighting your natural hair is the problem.

You say you don't want curls. But is your hair curly?

Doing the curly girl routine (well, sort of. the wavy girl routine, I suppose) might give you more defined waves (not curls).

I wouldn´t worry about suddently having curls. won´t happen. well, unless you actually had curly hair...

No, just fuzzy. On rare occasions if I twist it when it's drying it carries a nice wave. Very easy to do and I love it. I have tried courting curls in the past and they just drop out. I won't force that as I would have to have a perm!
It is porous and kinky so you'd think it would curl but I would have to struggle and redo it constantly to keep it up so can't see the point.

Ive used a lot of light oils, from aussie to the elixir popular on here and whilst it doesnt weight it down (I dont think treacle could!) it seems to just sit there, looking slightly damp but making no improvement whatsoever.

So have I. They don’t work. That’s why I was saying this one truly is magic.

Do you have a regular hairdresser? Could you ask them why it's smooth when they dry it, but not when you do?

Not the point of the thread, I know, but you have lovely brows and look like you have a very nice face shape and neck.

Do you use products with silicones? I do, especially in summer (I prefer water solluble silicones, btw). It really helps with frizziness. But I have a lot of hair, so I´m not too concerned about it being weighed down etc. I don´t know if that would play well with your hair.

Love the colour .. so jealous that it's not dyed or bleached

I think you just need a modern but classy cut - shorter with choppy layers

None of us are ever happy with our hair 🙁

@DigbyTheDigger Thank you! I try to grasp on to the good bits:) I will definitely be asking a stylist about that, had not thought of it before!

@PumpkinsAndCoconuts I have honestly tried everything over the years. The only issue is the fuzzy surface layers, I dont have a problem with the natural shape (this is why I dont wish to force a curl that isn't there). If i could just have my natural hair without the fuzz i would be happy. I currently rotate Molten Brown, head and shoulders and kerastase.

No clue, sorry. My hairdresser did tell me that she would not recommend short layers, due to this "encouraging" the frizz in my case.

She als sells a really useful hair mask. Have you asked your hairdresser whether they have some recommendations?

I would miss my updo's so much! Last time i had a bob I was difficult to live with for 2 years
And thank you, my hair used to be very pale, light blonde until i was 45. People have suggested highlights over the years but I can't commit. I think it is a cool dark blonde now, maybe ash. It changes in every type of light and gets lighter in summer. Some call it mousey or dishwater, so they dye it - so i imagine it isn't popular!

What is your diet like? Are you anaemic?

I'd try stopping the elasticiser - it ruined my fine hair. (Who wants stretchy hair?) I also really dislike the Aussie range for the same reason... Have a look at K18's leave in mask - you can usually get a sample or small tube to start.

The Hair Boss leave in conditioner spray. It’s like a miracle for our type of hair x

Mine’s a bit like yours, I’ve taken to not caring but when I do want to make an effort I plait or pin up the front so there’s a style to it. That said I also never blow dry it. I let it dry naturally as at least it goes wavy that way. Have you tried that?