topic Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice in Beauty

WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Funloving — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 23:21:33 GMT

I can say with total conviction I'm ready to get the right hair cut- A curly girl cut or whatever it takes...to maintain that cut to support natural waves & never look back. After looking at photos, all the phases of curly hair to loose waves, I still look best with what nature intended. The waves need enhancing. I'd give you the wave type if I had a handy reference. I still have so many products for both curly and wavy hair, I don't want to toss those during cleanout until I know what to toss.

History: As toddler I was super curly. As I got older it was wavy. It was curly after chemo when short enough. I want to be able to air dry my shoulder length hair. Bottom line... I need to simplify things with products that bring out my natural waves. I realize that hair thickness, having fine or course hair plays into the equation. I can tell you I have neither course or fine hair- it's somewhere in between. It is however fairly thick.

Besides being 100% committed to going to a certified Curly Girl hair cutter or equivalent... and maintaining a cut to enhance waves, I know I want to stay wavy and take all the steps requited. If it can work out, I want a cut that will be somewhere between mid-neck to shoulder length. I'm not ready to get rid of my color. My colorist doesn't use harsh chemicals anywhere near damaging bleach-. I'm only coloring new growth to cover 12-15% gray.

I know it takes conviction and may be actually harder than my current routine.. but I understand from the wisdom of some here, who know...like anything else it gets easier over time as hair becomes acclimated.

Feel free to let me know if I'm delusional regarding the last statement OR any of this for that matter- Just set me straight (actually wavy) The redundancy.. well, sorry.

TIA. Very Sincerely.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Funloving — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 06:04:21 GMT

Wanted to add, I have read the curly girl book, have read everything I can get my hands on...

but the best advice has come from you guys.

I would hope at some point, my time and effort would pay off in the best wavy hair I can eventually achieve.

That's the goal.

I have so much product for curls and waves, it's insane.

I'll be researching too. Just looking for a few helpful tips if anything comes to mind.

Thanks again.

Funloving

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

NycVixen — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 11:36:35 GMT

I have naturally wavy, thick hair and I just got this hairstyle in June and I absolutely love it. It looks amazing straight or wavy.

I leave one side behind my ears and the other sweeping across my face. I've gotten so many compliments. I had a pixie for a long time. One side is supposed to be slightly shorter (the side tucked behind the ears) and the back is a bit shorter in layers. No matter if I just air dry, it always looks great. On my recent cruise I just washed my hair after snorkeling and I was good to go! No blowdryer needed.

You can have this cut longer but IMO it looks great chin length as above. I have it grown out a bit now but I prefer it this length. It's also very easy to style. The hair just falls in place.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

I am still oxox — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 12:28:22 GMT

You really need to find a qualified stylist, one that is trained to cute curly hair. Google Devacare, there are a lot of trained stylists around

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Ms tyrion2 — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 15:46:48 GMT

I'm not convinced you need a curl expert to cut your hair. I've had my hair cut by both a curl expert and my regular stylist. There wasn't a huge difference in results.

I have loose curly hair. Straighter on top. Curlier underneath and below the crown. My hair is extremely heavy and thick so the best option for me is lots of layers. Currently I have a chin length bob.

Product is everything for me. Because my hair is heavy, I don't air dry. It takes too long and i like more volume.

I use a good curl cream on soaking wet hair, scrunch it through and dry with a diffuser. That combo form my curls and alleviates frizz.

For less heavy hair, Curl Keeper gel is great. You could air dry with this product. Use a generous amount, scrunch it through and don't touch it until your hair is dry. It will be crunchy, but it's easy to scrunch out the crunch once hair is dry.

Good luck with embracing your curl. My hair is so much healthier now that I don't use all that heat to straighten it.

I also like that my style is a little different than the usual. I get compliments from strangers and when that happens, it makes my day.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

jaxs mom — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:15:38 GMT

What I found is that it's more method than cut. At least for my hair. I wear my hair blunt cut. I don't like layers as I do wear it up a lot. Mine is currently bra strap length since I cut it again. I use curly girl method. For my hair, I do better with diffuser drying than air drying when I want to wear my hair natural because my hair takes 8 hours to dry natural and the longer it takes the looser my curl pattern in the end.

I use Wen, and my method currently is cleanse, spray with texturizing treatment spray, Wen mousse and then Wen styling creme. I plop and put my hair up in a divacurl towel and let it sit for about 15-30 minutes and then diffuse dry.

No combing, no running my fingers through my hair ect. Which is the hardest part.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

jaxs mom — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:17:33 GMT

@NycVixen wrote:
I have naturally wavy, thick hair and I just got this hairstyle in June and I absolutely love it. It looks amazing straight or wavy.

I leave one side behind my ears and the other sweeping across my face. I've gotten so many compliments. I had a pixie for a long time. One side is supposed to be slightly shorter (the side tucked behind the ears) and the back is a bit shorter in layers. No matter if I just air dry, it always looks great. On my recent cruise I just washed my hair after snorkeling and I was good to go! No blowdryer needed.

You can have this cut longer but IMO it looks great chin length as above. I have it grown out a bit now but I prefer it this length. It's also very easy to style. The hair just falls in place.

It's a pretty style and I've worn my hair that way before but for my curl pattern it's more work and not natural. It requires a flat iron or blowing it out with a round brush to get that look. I gave up curing irons a long time ago.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

NycVixen — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 17:32:28 GMT

@jaxs mom I'm glad you like it. My hair gets straighter the shorter it is. I find with this cut since it's sort of asymmetrical and the front layers are longer and angled, that my hair lays so nicely even when it's curlier. The bottom layers since they're shorter remain mostly straight.

A trick I use to get my hair to fall in place even faster is wearing a hair turban while I get ready, especially the first day after washing. It sort of molds my hair to my head so to speak.

On the cruise I had no time for that and I was still ok but I had to use more product. This method also helps so I don't have to use that much gel etc. in my hair. It helps smooth everything out.

The best part is your hair remains touchable. I only wash my hair once a week. Wearing the turban when I wash my face etc. basically straightens out my hair more each day so by the end of the week it looks less curly and more wavy.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

ItsME — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 18:28:30 GMT

@Funloving, my hair is curlier than yours, but it's thin and fine, and it doesn't hold a tight curl.

I usually blow my hair out after washing, but it gets curlier during the day. And, curlier still on my morning walks, unless there is no humidity. (That doesn't happen often here in south Florida!) I found a new stylist about 4 years ago. She cuts well, and understands curly hair... she has a head full of it! The first many times I went to her, I went with air-dried hair so that she'd see the curl. The cuts were always great. Then, I figured she knew my hair, and I'd go with my hair blown straight(er). Well, the cuts weren't as good! Now, I always go with air-dried hair and the cuts are great again.

The difference? There are different techniques for cutting straight vs curly. The cuts she gave me when she saw me with straighter hair were fine for straighter hair, but they didn't work for me, because of the way my hair gets curlier through the day and on day 2. The curly cuts work whether I straighten my hair or not.

Based on my experience, you don't need a curly specialist... just someone who know how to cut for different types of hair! Ask people. even strangers, who have cuts you like where they go for the cuts.

I don't know if this is helpful. Hopefully it is!

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

santorini — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 21:28:48 GMT

I have naturally curly hair. Sometimes I get it straightened but I can never get it smooth and silky like the hair stylists do, so I tend to just wear it curly if I'm styling it myself. I used to use very expensive products but a few weeks ago, I discovered some inexpensive curly hair products at Walgreen's. The brand name is Michael Anthony and I've tried 4 products. My hair has never looked better and had less frizz. I don't have the specific names right now, but they all have the word Curl in the name. There is something you spray in while it's wet and then I've tried 2 of the creams that you use on wet hair and there is also a mousse.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

nomless — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 21:53:35 GMT

I have wavy hair cut in a short bob with ling lares, sort of stacked in the back. I wash it, run my fingers through it, and let it air dry. I use a leave-in conditioner, but no styling products. I haven't used a dryer, brush or comb in decades. Get compliments a lot.

Have fun finding your perfect cut.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Funloving — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 23:16:23 GMT

Thanks for all of your great comments ladies. For brevity on blow drying, I meant I want to get rid of the dryer to completely dry my hair as I must now. When I wore it wavy I could use the diffuser for the part of the dry time, because I know about the long wait time from wet to dry. Sometimes if I put my hair in the right top-knot still damp before sleep I get nice wave without fuss. It's probably too time intensive to hope for a complete air dry though... but maybe not on knock-around weekends..

I knew I'd get the best responses here. I honestly think from my past experience, a cut and the right products make all the difference. I can't stand crunchy hair. I need to find a cutter who knows what s/he is doing. My stylist likes me with straight hair- is used to doing straight hair on everyone. But that's okay.. his specialty is color... so it's not like I'm abandoning him.

Here's to embracing the natural! (honestly I'd much rather be doing anything than putting on makeup and messing with hair.) Too many much more fun things to do than spend hours getting ready.

Am I on the wrong forum? *wink*

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Shanus — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 03:09:35 GMT

@Funloving wrote:
I can say with total conviction I'm ready to get the right hair cut- A curly girl cut or whatever it takes...to maintain that cut to support natural waves & never look back. After looking at photos, all the phases of curly hair to loose waves, I still look best with what nature intended. The waves need enhancing. I'd give you the wave type if I had a handy reference. I still have so many products for both curly and wavy hair, I don't want to toss those during cleanout until I know what to toss.

History: As toddler I was super curly. As I got older it was wavy. It was curly after chemo when short enough. I want to be able to air dry my shoulder length hair. Bottom line... I need to simplify things with products that bring out my natural waves. I realize that hair thickness, having fine or course hair plays into the equation. I can tell you I have neither course or fine hair- it's somewhere in between. It is however fairly thick.

Besides being 100% committed to going to a certified Curly Girl hair cutter or equivalent... and maintaining a cut to enhance waves, I know I want to stay wavy and take all the steps requited. If it can work out, I want a cut that will be somewhere between mid-neck to shoulder length. I'm not ready to get rid of my color. My colorist doesn't use harsh chemicals anywhere near damaging bleach-. I'm only coloring new growth to cover 12-15% gray.

I know it takes conviction and may be actually harder than my current routine.. but I understand from the wisdom of some here, who know...like anything else it gets easier over time as hair becomes acclimated.

Feel free to let me know if I'm delusional regarding the last statement OR any of this for that matter- Just set me straight (actually wavy) The redundancy.. well, sorry.

TIA. Very Sincerely.

FL

@Funloving. About 10 years ago I made the commitment to go w/ my hair’s natural texture...some areas wavy, some loose curls...can all be “coaxed” to curl w/ way too many mousses, gels, etc. My stylist gave me a cut with very long layers (no razor or thinning shears!). She cut it to below my ears to get rid of frizz & damage.

The trick was to deep condition like crazy, not wash as often, let air dry as much as possible or use a diffuser on dryer. Switch to microfiber towel ASAP. After about 3 or 4 wks. of deep conditioning (any drugstore one is fine), my hair started to fall into a natural curl pattern when I removed the towel & applied a small amount of light moisturizering mousse.

Any time the curls/waves need refreshing w/o washing again, I made a spray bottle of water w/ a tsp. of my regular conditioner. The curls will revive themselves.

I did read read about the Curly Girl Method but after a week, my head felt itchy & greasy w/o shampoo.

I’m now sporting a long layered pixie cut that I just let wave or curl naturally. I also stopped coloring it and it’s all naturally white/silver. Not coloring it every 3-4 wks. helped a lot to eliminate the frizz and damage.

The only advice is deep condition as often as you can...some nights before I know I know I’ll be washing it in the morning, I sleep w/ the conditioner on my hair. Also: no products w/ silicone. It dries the hair and defeats all the conditioning. Good luck and enjoy your waves and curls without a lot of products.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Desert Lily — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 03:37:44 GMT

My grandmother had curly hair, and so do I. When it's short it's curly, and when it's medium it's pretty wavy I color my hair light brown and have just a few highlights put in about every 3 months. I searched online to find the right hair cut for me. I put in "2017 women's hairstyle trends for medium length hair" and found 3 or 4 styles I liked and showed my stylist the picture of the one I liked best on my phone. The length between shoulder and chin lengths was called "collar" length. I wanted it a little longer than medium and not as long as shoulder length. The cut is slightly longer toward the front and is parted on the side. I want my hair long enough to put in a ponytail at times. The very bottom might have a little layering. The only product I use is mousse. I find it softer than a styling cream or gel, and hairsprays make my hair feel like straw. A small amount of mousse (I've tried several brands and went back to Dove) lets me define the waves and keeps the frizzies away. In addition when the wind is blowing or I shower at night, all I do to "restyle" is put water on my hands and redefine the waves by wetting the mousse. Of course, I also have electric rollers for days that I want smooth hair with a more controlled look. But I don't always have time for that and like the convenience of scrunch and go.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

santorini — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 15:29:02 GMT

@santorini wrote:
I have naturally curly hair. Sometimes I get it straightened but I can never get it smooth and silky like the hair stylists do, so I tend to just wear it curly if I'm styling it myself. I used to use very expensive products but a few weeks ago, I discovered some inexpensive curly hair products at Walgreen's. The brand name is Michael Anthony and I've tried 4 products. My hair has never looked better and had less frizz. I don't have the specific names right now, but they all have the word Curl in the name. There is something you spray in while it's wet and then I've tried 2 of the creams that you use on wet hair and there is also a mousse.

Replying to my own comment because it wouldn't let me edit it. I wrote the wrong brand name. It's MARC ANTHONY and not Michael Anthony. I must have had the jeweler from HSN on my mind when I posted.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Shanus — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 13:17:46 GMT

@ItsME wrote:
@Funloving, my hair is curlier than yours, but it's thin and fine, and it doesn't hold a tight curl.

I usually blow my hair out after washing, but it gets curlier during the day. And, curlier still on my morning walks, unless there is no humidity. (That doesn't happen often here in south Florida!) I found a new stylist about 4 years ago. She cuts well, and understands curly hair... she has a head full of it! The first many times I went to her, I went with air-dried hair so that she'd see the curl. The cuts were always great. Then, I figured she knew my hair, and I'd go with my hair blown straight(er). Well, the cuts weren't as good! Now, I always go with air-dried hair and the cuts are great again.

The difference? There are different techniques for cutting straight vs curly. The cuts she gave me when she saw me with straighter hair were fine for straighter hair, but they didn't work for me, because of the way my hair gets curlier through the day and on day 2. The curly cuts work whether I straighten my hair or not.

Based on my experience, you don't need a curly specialist... just someone who know how to cut for different types of hair! Ask people. even strangers, who have cuts you like where they go for the cuts.

I don't know if this is helpful. Hopefully it is!

@ItsME I agree that it’s crucial to find a stylist who also has curly hair. He or she will understand the curl patterns, horrors of humidity & frizz, the dreaded use of a razor which leaves frayed ends that won’t form a curl & sticks up where it should wave.

My 1st cut w/ my stylist, I arrived w/ freshly washed hair, air dried, no products and let her see the exact areas The curls and waves fell w/o benefit of gel, mousse, round brush or diffuser. IMO, that first haircut should be longer than you’d prefer....if it’s disaster & you need to find another stylist, she’ll have several more inches of hair length to work with to get it where you’d like the length to be.

Straight haired girls who envy us w/ curls and think it must be so easy to have some natural texture? Uh, no.

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Shanus — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 13:20:33 GMT

@santorini wrote:
@santorini wrote:
I have naturally curly hair. Sometimes I get it straightened but I can never get it smooth and silky like the hair stylists do, so I tend to just wear it curly if I'm styling it myself. I used to use very expensive products but a few weeks ago, I discovered some inexpensive curly hair products at Walgreen's. The brand name is Michael Anthony and I've tried 4 products. My hair has never looked better and had less frizz. I don't have the specific names right now, but they all have the word Curl in the name. There is something you spray in while it's wet and then I've tried 2 of the creams that you use on wet hair and there is also a mousse.

Replying to my own comment because it wouldn't let me edit it. I wrote the wrong brand name. It's MARC ANTHONY and not Michael Anthony. I must have had the jeweler from HSN on my mind when I posted.

@santorini Lol 😂

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

ItsME — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 15:28:58 GMT

@Shanus Uh, no! It's not easy or fun. And, without a decent cut, it's never pretty! LOL

That said, my sister got Dad's hair... stick straight and baby fine. I got Mom's... also baby fine (and thin), but crazy. I think I'd take mine over hers. But, I'd take thick and straight over mine any day!

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Funloving — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 09:49:42 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
@Funloving wrote:
I can say with total conviction I'm ready to get the right hair cut- A curly girl cut or whatever it takes...to maintain that cut to support natural waves & never look back. After looking at photos, all the phases of curly hair to loose waves, I still look best with what nature intended. The waves need enhancing. I'd give you the wave type if I had a handy reference. I still have so many products for both curly and wavy hair, I don't want to toss those during cleanout until I know what to toss.

History: As toddler I was super curly. As I got older it was wavy. It was curly after chemo when short enough. I want to be able to air dry my shoulder length hair. Bottom line... I need to simplify things with products that bring out my natural waves. I realize that hair thickness, having fine or course hair plays into the equation. I can tell you I have neither course or fine hair- it's somewhere in between. It is however fairly thick.

Besides being 100% committed to going to a certified Curly Girl hair cutter or equivalent... and maintaining a cut to enhance waves, I know I want to stay wavy and take all the steps requited. If it can work out, I want a cut that will be somewhere between mid-neck to shoulder length. I'm not ready to get rid of my color. My colorist doesn't use harsh chemicals anywhere near damaging bleach-. I'm only coloring new growth to cover 12-15% gray.

I know it takes conviction and may be actually harder than my current routine.. but I understand from the wisdom of some here, who know...like anything else it gets easier over time as hair becomes acclimated.

Feel free to let me know if I'm delusional regarding the last statement OR any of this for that matter- Just set me straight (actually wavy) The redundancy.. well, sorry.

TIA. Very Sincerely.

FL

@Funloving. About 10 years ago I made the commitment to go w/ my hair’s natural texture...some areas wavy, some loose curls...can all be “coaxed” to curl w/ way too many mousses, gels, etc. My stylist gave me a cut with very long layers (no razor or thinning shears!). She cut it to below my ears to get rid of frizz & damage.

The trick was to deep condition like crazy, not wash as often, let air dry as much as possible or use a diffuser on dryer. Switch to microfiber towel ASAP. After about 3 or 4 wks. of deep conditioning (any drugstore one is fine), my hair started to fall into a natural curl pattern when I removed the towel & applied a small amount of light moisturizering mousse.

Any time the curls/waves need refreshing w/o washing again, I made a spray bottle of water w/ a tsp. of my regular conditioner. The curls will revive themselves.

I did read read about the Curly Girl Method but after a week, my head felt itchy & greasy w/o shampoo.

I’m now sporting a long layered pixie cut that I just let wave or curl naturally. I also stopped coloring it and it’s all naturally white/silver. Not coloring it every 3-4 wks. helped a lot to eliminate the frizz and damage.

The only advice is deep condition as often as you can...some nights before I know I know I’ll be washing it in the morning, I sleep w/ the conditioner on my hair. Also: no products w/ silicone. It dries the hair and defeats all the conditioning. Good luck and enjoy your waves and curls without a lot of products.

Thanks and great advice, @Shanus. I learned ages ago to use microfiber or a tee shirt for drying. I went curly for several months and know some of the basics like no silicones. All contributions have been good refreshers, and now more of what I learned 4 or so years ago is coming back to me. I never adopted the Deva Style Curly Girl products except for a trial kit. Now that my hair is longer (by quite a bit than the photo) I want to bring out the natural waves versus curls which were a side effect of hair growth after chemo.

Thanks for adding your tips to this thread!

Re: WAVY Haired Girls - Need Advice

Funloving — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 10:02:18 GMT

@Desert Lily wrote:
My grandmother had curly hair, and so do I. When it's short it's curly, and when it's medium it's pretty wavy I color my hair light brown and have just a few highlights put in about every 3 months. I searched online to find the right hair cut for me. I put in "2017 women's hairstyle trends for medium length hair" and found 3 or 4 styles I liked and showed my stylist the picture of the one I liked best on my phone. The length between shoulder and chin lengths was called "collar" length. I wanted it a little longer than medium and not as long as shoulder length. The cut is slightly longer toward the front and is parted on the side. I want my hair long enough to put in a ponytail at times. The very bottom might have a little layering. The only product I use is mousse. I find it softer than a styling cream or gel, and hairsprays make my hair feel like straw. A small amount of mousse (I've tried several brands and went back to Dove) lets me define the waves and keeps the frizzies away. In addition when the wind is blowing or I shower at night, all I do to "restyle" is put water on my hands and redefine the waves by wetting the mousse. Of course, I also have electric rollers for days that I want smooth hair with a more controlled look. But I don't always have time for that and like the convenience of scrunch and go.

@Desert Lily- Great post. Same here- the shorter my hair the more curly. I like mid-neck to shoulder length as it's the most flattering length on me, which means more wavy vs. curly.

eta: hoping to find a way to save time going natural, but do remember it was time intensive to get the curls just right back then. I've been watching a lot of tutorials and am determined to keep it as low upkeep as possible. Otherwise I'm defeating my purpose- but I am so tired of using a flat iron unless I get a perfect blow out, and zero humidity outside.