Beauty

[littleblueparakeet]

On 4/4/2014 suzyQ3 said:

Fun, I haven't gone through your battle, but I did decide about nine months ago to stop battling my very curly, frizzy hair. I think I am probably a 3b.

I'm using a modified girly curl method -- no silicones and no heat. I do shampoo about three times a week (hence the "modified"), but I use sulfate-free shampoos (SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus and also Curl Junkie Gentle Cleansing shampoo.

I use both companies conditioners and treatments as well. I don't brush my hair. I comb it with a very wide-toothed comb only in the shower and after I apply silicone-free styling products.

I gently blot my hair with a large microfiber towel meant for that purpose after I get out of the shower. I apply my silicone-free styling treatments, comb them through, scrunch it, and I don't touch it at all until it is bone dry. Then I softly scrunch out any crunchiness.

I personally did not have luck with clips. For height on the top, I just use my rat tail comb to lift after scrunching the sides and back.

My hairdresser has been wonderful throughout this process. When I switched to her, I had short hair with horrible layers that looked like shelfs. Now they're grown out, especially the top one that had just been a big, poofy frizzball. My hair is at the length I want it. She is now even very carefully and subtly adding some layers in the back but only a little way up from the ends -- just to help with the shape and to lessen the bigness, if that makes sense. Never, ever any thinning texturizing, btw.

For second- and third-day hair, I spritz or dampen my hair, apply a few drops of oil ( I use Ouidad Mongongo oil, but you could use Argan also) and sometimes a tiny bit of styling cream, and scrunch. That usually revives my curls fairly well.

It's been an interesting journey.

I swear by that stuff! I have long, wavy hair and if I don't use the correct products to tame the frizz and boost the shine, my hair looks like a dried out rat's nest. Like you, I also use a wide-toothed comb in the shower and a microfiber hair towel. Styling product wise, I use a tennis ball size of Regis Designline Plump Up Styler Mousse. I mix it with 3-4 drops of Regis Designline Silk Drops Repair & Shine Serum; works great for me. I let my hair air dry. I think it's also important to get a trim every 4-6 weeks to help keep your hair (especially the ends) healthy looking.

[azterry!]

On 4/5/2014 Funloving said:

On 4/5/2014 azterry! said:

welcome to curly world!

I am a big proponent of clipping up the crown for lift when drying. My curl pattern is very weak at the top of my head and my hair is extremely thick there too. I clip to avoid the dreaded "pyramid head"

My hair is a few inches below my shoulders and very thick. The double prong or alligator clips weren't holding very well for me. I found these clamps on the Curl Keeper website and I can't recommend them highly enough. They give some lift and also help keep the curls defined. There is a great video on the site for how to use them--frizzoff.com

I saw these! I'm thinking this might be more of what I need simply due to the heaviness of my hair. Thanks azterry! For the clip info and the welcome.

you are very welcome, Funloving!

Good luck with going curly and most of all, for continued positive reports for your health.

[curlywhitedog]

Funloving: My hair is naturally very thick and very curly and the longer it is the curlier it is...think Botticelli curls. Anyway, like you, I also lost all my hair due to chemotherapy and on Sept. 19th (yup, I mark the date), the first whisps of hair began gracing my head once again and it's been growing like a weed ever since. Like you, I'm also going to let it go back to where it's happiest, being naturally curly, ta ta flat iron, and I'm also letting it have it's way on its' natural color too - a beautiful salt and pepper combination that I get more compliments on than I ever did when my hair was brown with copper highlights. This is the new me and I couldn't be happier.

I suggest reading a book called Curly Girls, I learned so much from that book from diagnosing the kind of curls I had to the best way to care for them. For very curly and very dry hair the author recommends ditching shampoo for a cleaning conditioner and only cleansing your hair once a week, twice at the most. That was a hard one for me but wadda ya know, my hair actually looked better on the third and fourth day with no washing than it ever did with an every other day shampooing. Go figure. I'm not sure how long I'll let it get, probably just long enough to get some curl length but not so long as to weight the curls down...it'll have to be a trial and error decision but I've got a ways to go on that before I have to decide.

Good luck to you with both your hair and with continued success in your battle. Here's to us curly girls!!!

Maria

[FUTURE]

Fun loving, I've got stick straight hair, so I definitely don't have any hair help for you......but I wanted to send you good wishes for continued health, and to tell you that I admire your positive attitude. It's always great posting with you!!

[Funloving]

On 4/5/2014 FUTURE said: Fun loving, I've got stick straight hair, so I definitely don't have any hair help for you......but I wanted to send you good wishes for continued health, and to tell you that I admire your positive attitude. It's always great posting with you!!

Aw, thanks FUTURE! The feeling is mutual..

[Funloving]

On 4/5/2014 curlywhitedog said:

Funloving: My hair is naturally very thick and very curly and the longer it is the curlier it is...think Botticelli curls. Anyway, like you, I also lost all my hair due to chemotherapy and on Sept. 19th (yup, I mark the date), the first whisps of hair began gracing my head once again and it's been growing like a weed ever since. Like you, I'm also going to let it go back to where it's happiest, being naturally curly, ta ta flat iron, and I'm also letting it have it's way on its' natural color too - a beautiful salt and pepper combination that I get more compliments on than I ever did when my hair was brown with copper highlights. This is the new me and I couldn't be happier.

I suggest reading a book called Curly Girls, I learned so much from that book from diagnosing the kind of curls I had to the best way to care for them. For very curly and very dry hair the author recommends ditching shampoo for a cleaning conditioner and only cleansing your hair once a week, twice at the most. That was a hard one for me but wadda ya know, my hair actually looked better on the third and fourth day with no washing than it ever did with an every other day shampooing. Go figure. I'm not sure how long I'll let it get, probably just long enough to get some curl length but not so long as to weight the curls down...it'll have to be a trial and error decision but I've got a ways to go on that before I have to decide.

Good luck to you with both your hair and with continued success in your battle. Here's to us curly girls!!!

Maria

Just purchased the book last night. I ran across when reading one of the curly websites and wanted to buy it then. Now that you and Catstamper have recommended, it's on the way.

Maria, thanks so much for your warm welcome and sharing a bit about your own experience & your curly hair journey.

PS- I'm already acclimated to less hair cleansing, and it's quite true! My husband just walked in from yard work. It's day 3 hair for me and he was full of compliments on my curls. I don't find it high maintenance yet, and I'm not using special curly products.

I think I'll read the book first, then venture out to find the best way to maintain my type of hair.

Wishing you good health and happiness..

[Funloving]

On 4/5/2014 4doggies said:

My hair is very curly, I haven't worn it long since the 80"s. I'm one of those ones who 'fight' it, short in the back, longer on top and sides, (inverted bob) I use a straight iron but it only takes a few minutes and lasts between shampoos.

I think the cut is vitally important, especially for curly hair. Too many layers and you look like a poodle, too few layers and it looks lank and frizzy (I've been both places). If you haven't found someone who cuts in perfectly, keep looking. My test for a great cut is hair that looks almost the same when you get out of bed in the morning as when it's styled. Good luck!

4doggies - This is what I find intriguing and very exciting right now. Who knows if it'll be this way all the time, but lately I get just that.. the same second and third day hair.

Who doesn't love that! I don't think I'll ever go very long with my hair again.. simply because I think shoulder length is more flattering now.

[va603]

Hello. I have naturally curly hair too. I found a nice product recently after reading several blogs. It is called re:coil by AG hair cosmetics. I bought it at Ulta. I apply it to my hair after the shower. I then take sections of my hair and wrap it around my finger. I guess it's called a finger curl. I let my hair air-dry. Then gently separate the curls. I have found the finger curl definition to last all day. Best of all, no frizz.

[azterry!]

On 4/5/2014 va603 said:

Hello. I have naturally curly hair too. I found a nice product recently after reading several blogs. It is called re:coil by AG hair cosmetics. I bought it at Ulta. I apply it to my hair after the shower. I then take sections of my hair and wrap it around my finger. I guess it's called a finger curl. I let my hair air-dry. Then gently separate the curls. I have found the finger curl definition to last all day. Best of all, no frizz.

that's my favorite styling product too, va603.

I try others and always come back to AG Re:coil

[Funloving]

On 4/5/2014 azterry! said:

On 4/5/2014 va603 said:

Hello. I have naturally curly hair too. I found a nice product recently after reading several blogs. It is called re:coil by AG hair cosmetics. I bought it at Ulta. I apply it to my hair after the shower. I then take sections of my hair and wrap it around my finger. I guess it's called a finger curl. I let my hair air-dry. Then gently separate the curls. I have found the finger curl definition to last all day. Best of all, no frizz.

that's my favorite styling product too, va603.

I try others and always come back to AG Re:coil

AG Cosmetics Hair Curl Recoil is on my Ulta list. I've read the Curly Girl Book.. now want to pick up a few products during Ulta's 20% off - Recoil is at the top of my list. I'm still not sure what type of curl I have.. somewhere between the Cherub and Swave maybe. That still doesn't look right. I don't have a ton of spring in terms of inches between my curl and straight.. but it looks reeealy curly to me.

If I allow my hair to dry naturally from soaking wet to dry it doesn't take all day and it looks the very best this way... although I haven't tried a diffuser nor do I have the right completely silicone free products. That may not be absolutely true. I've yanked out some styling products and looking up the ingredient list. I do have natural oils. I'm using what I have on hand. I also dug out my Wen Oils & found several flavors of CC I'd put away during chemo and months of no hair.

I feel bad because I bought all this Wen 613-- and while I like the results and can use it in various ways in rotation, it'll take forever to go through two large bottles. I may give one bottle to my daughter.

Good to meet you va603!