Help me fix my frizzy hair

[BusyFrizzyLizzie]

My hair has always been thick and, since puberty, has been wavy/curly (I think it's 2c/3c). However, since pregnancy it's essentially given up any effort to be curly and is now just madly frizzy. I can coax it into curls with the help of a lot of mousse, but that lasts about half a day until the curls disintegrate and I look like I've stuck my hand in an electric socket. I can also straighten it, but it takes forever and is pretty pointless in the winter as the slightest dampness turns me back into Sideshow Bob. Even when tied up I have mad sticking-out hair around my face and hairline. It's a bit of a horror-show!

I've tried Olaplex, which did nothing, and a Brazilian blow dry which improved things very slightly but definitely not as much as I need to justify spending £300 on a treatment every couple of months.

Does anyone have any suggestions to fix this mess? Money is not an obstacle (within reason - I'm not up for weighting down the frizz with diamonds, or gold plating individual hairs) but I would like it to actually work.

Picture attached below. I know it needs a cut but I'm struggling to see the point when I have it tied up all day.

i got a gift of olaplex and it absolutely didn’t work for me either, was gutted!

Good old tres semme (moisturising) shampoo and the conditioner (leaving the conditioner in for up to half an hour once a week), argen oil (even a cheap one, doesn’t need to be Moroccan oil!) and Shea moisture leave in milk helped me personally. Plus a heat defence spray and frizz ease Everyone said to me about not using too many products etc but for my hair, which is similar in texture to yours, it worked. Let my hair dry naturally for a certain amount of time too than used hair dryer. A lot of work but my hair was breaking and in awful nick!! Plus not washing every single day. Also staying hydrated and eating oily foods, eggs, fish etc.

My hair went through a phase like that. I used hair oil.
I put it on before I dried it and then after as well - it was just a pantene one from asda.

for curls - Have you tried cream instead of mousse ? Umberto Gianini do a curl range which i quite like, although I tend to air dry rather than hairdryer.

I've not got a lot of patience for my hair and now only wash it once or twice a week. I mostly have it up now.

My friend has wavy hair and recently started using merwave products. She said they've changed her life.

I have curly hair and used to follow the curly girl method. I thought my hair was just frizzy and awful but with the correct care I ended up with beautiful ringlets. Maybe worth looking into it.

I've only found Philip Kingsley works for me. I'm trying to give up chocolate to afford it.

I use Cantu , every so often when it goes frizzy I use a hair mask.

At the moment my basic routine is Tresemme shampoo and conditioner, then Moroccan Oil and Tresemme heat protecting spray. Sorry, I should have put that useful info into the OP. Thanks for your advice so far ladies!

I have really thick frizzy hair and have just bought this after being recommended by hairdresser .

It was quite expensive at £29 for the travel size but she told me literally needed about 20p size and to run it between my palms first then through the lengths of my hair before blow drying it . It's really good and apparently reactivates every time heat is put on the hair

My hair is definitely sleeker

Anything with oil, cantu, only curls etc is very moisturizing and may actually be making your hair more frizzy as it then becomes over moisturised.
Depending where you live you may also have soft water, which again makes your hair more fluffy so less moisture needed.
Wavy hair is different to tight curly hair so needs treating differently.
Merwave is high in protein so may or may not suit your hair.
I recommend the wavy hair method by Charlotte Rich on Facebook...it's a game changer!

Boots curl creame - cheap and the most amazing product.

It's frizzy because it's dry, you need to get moisture into it.

I use curl cream instead of mousse if my gets dry. I'll also use serum plus mousse/cream sometimes if it's really bad.

Aussie do a good shampoo and conditioner for curly hair(Deep Moisture).

Also Kerastase is really good (expensive though).

ETA I live in a very hard water area which messes my hair no end

I have the same hair and I feel your pain. I thought curly girl was going to be the answer but it’s far too much work for short lived results , and I just don’t like having so much product in my hair.

The best I can manage is to alternate between a moisturising hair mask and a protein one (I just switch whenever my hair gets difficult again), straighten it and leave it alone for a couple of weeks between washes.

I use John Frieda frizz ease cream. Put it on wet hair - game changer. However I have stopped blow drying my hair- and now it's not frizzy at all.

My hair is like that and was straight until puberty. I've tried loads of things and have found that straightening it occasionally and using Pantene pro v classic clean is the only thing that works!

I'd scrap the Tresemme and start using products designed for curly/wavy hair. Plus a lot, like masses of conditioner.

Over the years I've liked loads of brands esp Jessicurl, Boucleme, Only Curls (but there are loads). Don't find it a lot of work but conditioner and products designed for curls are the key.

Your hair looks similar to mine. Things I've found that really help:
I've stopped brushing it and now only comb it when wet. Slightly annoyingly I have to wet it every morning to do this, but it does make it look better. I just let it air dry.
I've also tried the boots curl creme which also helps (applied to wet hair)
Getting it cut to shoulder length - I find the craziness is more manageable with less of it!

Afro textured hair products? Might give that extra calming moisture boost. I'm getting on well with adwoa beauty blue tansy leave in conditioner at the minute. Reading good things about miss jessie's multicultural curls too.

I have similar hair to you and I’ve recently got the Dyson air straights. They’ve turned my hair from frizzy chaos to smooth and sleek!

I haven’t changed my haircare- still use a fab Aldi shampoo and a tresemme leave in anti frizz conditioner.

I got them 2nd hand via FB as they are expensive, but they are now my most prized possession!

You have beautiful hair! It needs oils not mousse. L'Oreal extraordinary oil or Moroccan oil is good along with the smoothing cream afterwards.

Thank you so much for all of these suggestions. I'm going to spend this evening googling the products you've all recommended. Fingers crossed I find something that finally works...

I have a NanoKeratin treatment every 5/6 months and it has changed my life. No frizz, no heat styling needed. Highly recommend it.

This was my hair before and after I started the curly girl method. It did take several months to get to that stage so you do need to be patient.

Like a few people have said, focus on moisture. Also avoid products with drying alcohols and sulphates.

@Illpickthatup That change looks almost too good to be true! Can I ask if it looks like that a few days after washing? Even my best curly days don't survive contact with my pillow. I have been wondering about silk pillows/turbans but i wonder if it's just the weight of my head crushing the curls?

Try some afro hair products. They're designed to be moisturising. If they can moisturise my dry afro hair they can definitely mousturise yours!

It was always a bit fluffy the next day so I would run wet hands through it and some curl spray and the curl definition would come back. Silk/satin pillow or a bonnet definitely helps.

My hair is more 2A/2B and very fine. For curls to survive washing it needs to be very conditioned at the wash, strong hold gel when soaking wet.

It then just takes a quick refresh with wet hands (you could be more professional and use a spray bottle). There are also products for day 2 curls which I own but usually can't be bothered with