asking for hairtyping plus care suggestions

[Saproxylic]

I have decided to grow out my natural hair and have been sticking to it for the last two years, and I think I have some progress. Last July I dot 95% of my bleached hair hair cut off and started hrowing from this:

https://media-3.haircrazy.com/photos/gallery/2014/07/23/post3_t600.jpg

Now I'm about shoulder lenght, and looking like this. First two pictures are how it falls an clumps if I wash, lightly condition pat dry and let it airdry without further manipulation.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/yidete/be3fce71-007e-41a8-893b-3b1ae0928204_zpskay0xxe2.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/yidete/963beff1-c840-4bad-ae03-bf4239c2469e_zps87aapbrt.jpg

And the nect two are after vombing, showing my outgrown fringe and the invertness of the whole cut.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/yidete/2fc085fc-14e4-4552-9d6d-42b8b3c609d3_zpsxg3nyxc2.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/yidete/b1048130-578b-4af7-87e3-138334e044ba_zpskkblgh8f.jpg

I wouldn't say that my hair is high maintenance, it does reasonably well on a sulfate free shampoo and silicone free conditioner (I use Mediceuticals, because, well, got my hands on two massive salon packagings but they are about to run out, and I won't be paying that price for them again, will look for something cheaper) and nothing else with every third day washing, I don't get excessive tangles except for the ratty little bits that still remain from the bleached hair, but I wouldn't say it's awesome either. It feels dry-ish and is somewhat prone to frizzing (not super bad compared to when it was bleached and fried and all cotton wooly)

I have used coconut oil and shea butter when it was fried, to keep that in control, I almost think shea or a mix of both worked better, but my hair gets the greasy look really fast, if I use little enough to not feel greasy, I'm not sure if my hair has gotten any or has it just absorbed in my hands :D but maybe less is more really, in this case. I haven't tried it in months though

I tried SMT once and loved it, haven't had the chance to do it the second time (somehow I tend to push my showers so late into night I would zonk if I had to sit up an extra hour).


I generally like doing things withm y hair like trying new products or treatments, I could probably grow decently with just my shampoo and conditioner, but I just like to mess with it and see what comes out of it.

What suggestions can you offer, mostly to reduce the frizz and protect the hair from elements (it really does not like sun and wind)

Also, updo suggestions are welcome!

[lapushka]

I'd say that's predominantly 1a, maybe 1a/b.

[Panth]

You could probably do a peacock twist at your length.

As for frizz-control, well, I have a similar hairtype and my answer is 'cones. ^_^

[Saproxylic]

You could probably do a peacock twist at your length.

As for frizz-control, well, I have a similar hairtype and my answer is 'cones. ^_^

I can pull a peacock twist off with a few (ok, more like 5 or 6) stealthily placed bobby pins to hold all the little bits that have mind on their own, I wish I had more hairtoys though, since I have lost my claw clip, it's pencils to hold it :)

I suppose if cones would work, but it feels like such a heavy artillery, like bringing out the big guns to shoot at little frizzy sparrows. I remember using light cones an oil spray on my super damaged hair when it was bleached, and it did wonders. for now I would like to try a few other things before I resort to cones, just for the trying out's sake.

I bought an overpriced tube of aloe vera gel, I wonder if http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=277&highlight=kimberlily is worth a shot? my hair seems to like getting damp a lot, it behaves a lot better for a few hours after drying.

[Panth]

I can pull a peacock twist off with a few (ok, more like 5 or 6) stealthily placed bobby pins to hold all the little bits that have mind on their own, I wish I had more hairtoys though, since I have lost my claw clip, it's pencils to hold it :)

I suppose if cones would work, but it feels like such a heavy artillery, like bringing out the big guns to shoot at little frizzy sparrows. I remember using light cones an oil spray on my super damaged hair when it was bleached, and it did wonders. for now I would like to try a few other things before I resort to cones, just for the trying out's sake.

I bought an overpriced tube of aloe vera gel, I wonder if http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=277&highlight=kimberlily is worth a shot? my hair seems to like getting damp a lot, it behaves a lot better for a few hours after drying.

IMO, 'cones aren't "the big guns", they're just a product like anything else (natural or synthetic). Also, there's a whole boat-load of different 'cones that are heavier/lighter, more/less prone to build-up, etc. Personally, I'm currently using a product with amodimethicone, which is fairly light and formulated to prevent build-up (it only binds to damaged spots in the hair, not to 'cones).

I've not tried the Kimberlily spray. Bear in mind that anything with aloe vera gel is going to work principally via the aloe gel's humectant qualities and so will be dependent upon your local humidity.

[Saproxylic]

In what level of humidity is aloe vera supposed to work? We don't really get humidity extremes of either kind here, so I think it might be worth a shot.

[Panth]

In what level of humidity is aloe vera supposed to work? We don't really get humidity extremes of either kind here, so I think it might be worth a shot.

Most humidities but not very dry air - as humectants draw moisture from moist to dry, in dry atmospheres it will suck moisture out of your hair.

[Saproxylic]

I gave the aloe based spray a shot (aloe and almond oil) and so far it seems to be going something, feels smoother and softer and less frizzy and flyaway-y even after a nap (naps usually bring out the hair monster) but gotta see how long does this effect last. I kinda feel it might be the minute amount of oil doing some good as well as the aloe, I think my hair generally needs oil, it's just physically hard to add little enough to prevent it from being too weighted down. I'll see if it works long term.