Unmanageable hair -what to do?

[Traballo]

So my hair is quite fine but not straight, also not curly. Not dyed, natural colour.

I used to classify it as wavy but since pregnancy it's a bit limp with lots of kinks in it to be honest. Gets frizzy very very easily and with humidity has great volume, although that doesn't mean much in winter.

I used to perm it about a decade ago and it looked fantastic but after a few annual perms hair was looking knackered so I gave it a rest.

A few years ago after having a baby I decided to do a straightening treatment so it was easier to manage. It looked 'tamed' and sleek but also sucked the life and volume out of my hair so I've been growing that out.

Hair right now is just so untamed, the frizziness is insane and loads of kinks have appeared around the front and sides, which is where most of the wave always was. But the back is very straight and lanky. Tbh it looks like a mullet even though it's all cut to the same length to just below shoulders.

My question, what do I do now? I want something low maintenance, and don't want to be spending loads. Are there products you could recommend for this kind of hair or any gadgets??

Hair straighteners never worked that well when I used them in the past and I find straight hairs sucks life out a bit. But there's also not much wave to play with now either so scrunching to bring out a curl may be pointless.

I wondered if some sort of heated styling brush and a few moisturising treatments might help?

Pregnancy and then later, perimenopause both played havoc with my hair. Both things meant that I ended up going short. I quite like it short even though it’s a bit shocking to start with. It’s quite freeing.

Why not browse pixie cuts and see if there are any looks you like?

How do you tend to care for it day to day? I honestly think gently caring and being aware of the direction of the cuticle counts for a lot. This might be really obvious stuff so sorry if so, but I’d always shampoo gently, rub your scalp in the direction of root to tip, don’t tangle your hair while you wash it. Dry with a towel by squeezing and gently moving the towel from root to tip, never rub it harshly or tangle it up while drying. Tie it up in a turban or towel wrap to let the towel soak up the moisture before you brush and blow dry. Gently brush, working out knots from the tip working up gradually to the root, and brushing (and blow drying etc) in the direction of the cuticle consistently might help calm it down.

What’s your budget for products? Here’s some options for about £18 every 6-ish months…

Have you tried a serum or strengthening product? Maybe try Arkive The Habit Hybrid Oil (about £15 for a small bottle, lasts ages - use 1-2 pumps through damp hair before blow drying). It’s more like a serum really as it’s a thick consistency. There’s no heat protection in this so always use that on top too before blow drying…

Another option with heat protection and a load of moisturising and other benefits, try Redken One United - about £18 a bottle, also last ages - spray on damp hair, brush through and leave for a couple of minutes before blow drying. Just a few spritz needed, don’t overdo it. (I find this product is amazing but does cause build up after a while, so I use a clarifying shampoo every so often - M&S does one in their food hall for £3 which does the job).

Another product I’m eyeing up but haven’t tried yet is “Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 24/7 Night and Day Hair Serum, Bond Repair for Damaged Hair” - about £10 on Amazon for a small bottle. Could be a cheaper alternative to the Arkive oil.

If you can only get one product I’d try One United and put the work in with gentle brushing while blow drying. Sounds corny but honestly spend the time loving your hair in every gentle stroke of the brush - it will show!

M&S Clarifying shampoo - www.ocado.com/products/m-s-clarifying-hair-body-wash-sea-fennel-cedar/642140011?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic_shopping&utm_campaign=organic_shopping&srsltid=AfmBOoqPKX0g_xmP-YzMdBG4FfRpCT3ZPDIcN3RW36OeiUvNSWgnwuKcO2k

GHDs. Straighten as waves rather than stick straight, watch a YouTube video to do it. Only way to groom it.

Book an appointment with a specialist curly hair hairdresser who will be able to sort out your hair and bring back the waves/curl. It looks like it needs lots of conditioner, with your hair you need to comb it whilst conditioner is in your hair, scrunch it in and wash it.

I use the Cantu hair care range as my hair is similar. Get a good few inches cut off to deal with dead ends etc and then use a hair mask to moisturise it as it looks dry.

When you hair is wet, comb through Cantu curl creme, blow dry roots only & when nearly air dry, put up in a claw clip until dry. You should get lovely soft waves and a bit of body to your hair. This is how I style my hair and it stays wavy for a few days.

This. You have curly hair.

Your hair looks a lot like mine, especially the way it kinks/waves around your hairline. Mine's become much frizzier and unmanageable in the last couple of years presumably due to hormonal changes (I'm late 40s) and it looks worse now if I try to straighten it. Which leads me to suggest trying a diffuser and embracing the wave or even curl that might be lurking rather than trying to 'tame' it. A product I like is Sebastian potion 9, which I buy from amazon. I use that and also a leave in serum/conditioner by Aussie and twirl it a bit into coils when damp with my fingers and either air dry or use the diffuser. It's a bit hit and miss but, as I say, gives better results than trying to dry it straight or using straighteners.

Your hair looks very like mine did about 7 years ago. Mine is naturally wavy/loose curls and very fine. It had progressively become thinner, finer, and it had that same mullet look you talk about even though it was cut all the one length - which I think was as a result of lots of strands breaking before they could gain any length. I came across the whole curly girl/no-poo trend online and decided to ditch shampoo and now just use conditioner to wash my hair (I didn't bother with all the other stuff like not using a comb etc). I use conditioner from brands like Jason and Faith in Nature, no silicon or sulphates. Honestly it has really made a difference, my hair is definitely thicker and stronger. It took the best part of a year before I really saw results in the lengths. I was worried that my hair wouldn't feel as clean and fresh washed with conditioner vs. shampoo but it's really does feel just the same but much less dry and frizzy. I don't use heat every time I wash it, but I am happy to use it if I'm going out and it seems better able to withstand the straighteners etc. these days.

Have you brushed it in the photo?

https://www.k18hair.com/products/leave-in-molecular-repair-hair-mask-50-ml

K18 really helped with my hair, it had gone limp and frizzy after pregnancy…. It’s really expensive but there is a little 5ml sample size that I bought in a local department store for 11 euro (I’m in Ireland) and it was enough for two treatments… massive difference to the look and feel of my hair after using it x

what about embracing your waves / curls with a Dyson air wrap, or similar? You’d need specific hair products that would suit it too, but that would be my recommendation based off from the picture.

Try rubbing conditioner on it while it is dry, leave on for about ten minutes, then wash with shampoonfor normal hair. It works for me.

I’d suggest getting hair treatments at a salon too such as K18 or finding a salon or stylist where they specialise working with wavy hair :)

You look like your hair is not only fine but very porous, too, and it looks to me like you have a lot of breakage.

I’d go to a hairdresser specialising in wavy/curly hair, I’d be ditching all products with sulphate, c14-16, silicones and parabens, I’d possibly also ditch shampoo all together and use a co-wash instead, a leave in conditioner for find porous hair, and a very light oil afterwards, for example pure argan oil. I’d also get a mulberry silk sleep scarf/bonnet, and a growth serum (the ordinary serum is meant to be great, as is Champo)

Thanks so much for all the tips will look into it all and see if I can tame this mop!

I think your hair looks lovely.

Can I add your hair doesn’t look as bad as you think it does?

Place marking so I can come back later

I think my hair is quite similar to yours and I have tried many curly/wavy products. I actually don't think they do that much for my type 2a waves - it can look quite good on wash day but after sleeping on it, it just appears unruly. Anyway have abandoned curly products the last few weeks, instead using Cornish seaweed shampoo and Vitasoft leave in conditioner, and it actually seems to really suit my hair. Both products make it really soft and much less frizzy than usual.