Help - hair turning wiry (middle age woes)

[RubaiyatOfAnyone]

I’m 46 and my hair has always tended towards frizz (red, long, curly/wavy) but previously could be made nice with products and time when i could be bothered.

but increasingly it feels more “wiry” and nothing seems to be turning it sleek.

i’ve tried:

frizz ease
curly girl shampoo/conditioners
coconut oil
aldi knock-off olaplaex products.

things i haven’t tried, and would be grateful for info on/ experiences of:

styling implements (eg revlon one-step)
Actual expensive hairdresser olaplaex
anything else?

Or is this just another delightful peri-menopause thing we have to put up with?

The Babyliss Big Hair is pretty good at smoothing and eliminating static if you haven't tried that yet.

I have the same problem. I think heat helps - Babyliss Big Hair, Revlon 1 Step, GHD Glide - but I don't like using heat on my hair regularly because it gets damaged and frazzled easily. I'm honestly tempted to get a pixie crop!

@GreenTuftyFlowers stupid question, but does the “big hair” actually give you big hair? Because attached is an actual photo of my natural hair state and i’m not sure i could stand it being bigger…

I love crystal tips 😂

watching with interest as my hair is wiry too. And no amount of product helps.

@WhereAreWeNow yes, i have the same fear - i’ve always let my hair dry naturally for that reason, but am prepared to admit that that probably isn't working any more.

haha no :D I think the 'big' is more meant to mean you can make big 'blow dry' 70s-style waves with it if that's what you want. I find it flattens if anything, it's good for taming candyfloss frizz. (My hair is fine, thick, curly and mostly grey so quite wiry.)

Best used with a bit of product, I use the Hersheson's Almost Everything Creme.

However reading through a recent thread I find that the Revlon One Step is now the one to have - damn you MN for giving me FOMO!!

No. The Babyish Big Hair gives you smooth hair.

It is the wrong name for it.

I have very fine hair so was disappointed I got no more volume. But it does something to the texture of your hair so it is smooth

It does give me pretty big hair actually @RubaiyatOfAnyone 🤣
My hair is generally pretty big. The Babyliss makes it big, smooth and bouncy. Left to its own devices, it's just big and wild. Mine is currently bob length. I think when it was longer the Babyliss could make it smooth and bouncy without being so big.

GHD Glide is expensive but good at smoothing without making it big.

I just decided to go curly and therefore use curly hair products now and diffuse it if I want to dry it quickly. Nothing improved it

@RubaiyatOfAnyone my family nickname has always been Crystal Tips because of my mad hair! I’m 55 now and have very wiry and frizzy hair, I have a pixie cut and believe me that doesn’t stop the problem!!
I use morrocan oil smoothing lotion or Tigi behead after party. But by 5 weeks post haircut my head is basically a ball of frizz again 🙄

Have you tried Curlsmith products? They are not cheap but they do help my hair be glossy and soft

I am the same age and have thick hair that is neither straight nor curly and often seems just "bushy" or frizzy. After changing shampoo/products and spending more time and effort than I really want to I'm accustomed to, I have encouraged it to be slightly wavy/curly rather than just bushy, and it's softer.

however I occassionally notice a sneaky grey or white hair emerging (they're very noticeable as my hair is very dark) and they are super coarse and wiry almost like pubic hair
I've ended up plucking them out but I'm worried that when this isn't a feasible option any more my hair will be completely wild!! 😳

I have a salon keratin straightening treatment every few months to keep my frizzy locks under control.

I'm nearly 60 with thick wiry wavy hair. I never dry with heat, but use intensive moisturisers and then this serum on fairly wet hair, followed by a curl cream. This is the tiny bottle if you just want to try it. It goes a long way. Gives me a bit of gloss and more definition/smoothness of curls. I need to use a clarifying shampoo every few washes if the products build up and become dull or sticky.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Farouk-Biosilk-Silk-Therapy-15/dp/B01B1H9KAQ/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3PDBF51REIFRU&keywords=biosilk+hair+serum&qid=1703869911&sprefix=bios%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-6

Thank you all - looks like trying the one-step is a good first idea, and then explore things like salon treatments if I have no joy with that.
i’ll get that serum too @grownup2 thank you!

Follow on question - is there any difference apart from £10 between the two models here?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revlon-RVDR5212-Lightweight-Technology-Ergonomic/dp/B013ETQMZU/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?adgrpid=52737822425&hvadid=259031522139&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1007099&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=18211857320494288855&hvtargid=kwd-296282992050&hydadcr=7782_1824105&keywords=revlon%2Bone%2Bstep&qid=1703871631&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1
which one do you all use?

A mild shampoo, a rinse out conditioner for dry hair & then A LOT of leave in conditioner plus Colour Wow Dream Coat before drying it smooth with the Revlon One Step. This is the only way my hair will behave & be smooth.

This causes static in mine!
What am I doing wrong?

You have my sympathies op. No hints sadly but will be watching with interest at all the others.

Olaplex no 3 may help plus Moroccan oil.

@masterof0 i often wonder if i’m doing something wrong or just have the “wrong” hair type. Curly girl stuff made my hair feel dryer and more frizzy. Will report back when i’ve tried out the heat option, although grateful to have feedback on the above versions to purchase.

I use Davines Love shampoo bar, and conditioner, everyday, and the hair mask once a week.

i also use a Moroccan hair oil, before blow drying my hair.

it does seem to have improved.

I have the same problem OP so following for the advice.

I don't have that type of hair so have no advice, except that if you are considering OlaPlex try Pureplex from Superdrug which is a lot cheaper!!. When my hair has been damaged it makes it very smooth and soft again. A friend with more wiry hair also used it for colour damage and it did wonders.

The pureplex sounds good!
What is the product to
use ? @Towerofsong

i e previously tried the L’Oréal elvive bond repair stuff- shampoo, conditioner and serum but no improvement.

www.superdrug.com/Hair/Hair-Treatments/Conditioning-Treatments/Knight-and-Wilson-PurePlex-Revolutionary-Hair-Repair-System/p/752255

Looks like it may also be available in Boots. They also do colours but you want the Hair Repair System