isenephthys
January 2nd, 2010, 01:08 AM
Hello all and Happy New Year! :) I spent a bit of time here at LHC a looong time ago and my hair has gone through some pretty drastic changes. I've been browsing through the threads here and there is just *so much* wonderful information, I am having a hard time figuring out where I need to start.
Hair history: My hair was always fine/slightly wavy with a tendency toward dryness. Last year, I had 2 major surgeries, including gastric bypass. I've also go a few medical conditions that affect my hair- namely PCOS and hypothyroidism. Anyway, I lost a LOT of hair post-op. It is finally beginning to grow back in, but the remainder of my hair is very dry and fragile. The texture has also changed; I'm guessing it falls somewhere between a 2b/2c? It just seems to be getting curlier and curlier. Like waves that begin to spiral but then sort of fall limp toward the ends.
I recently got a haircut and the stylist schooled me in some of the basics of curly hair care- mainly not brushing it once dry and scrunching in a curl cream. It's helped somewhat but I feel so... unkempt!
I've been doing condition-only for the last month because my hair seems to like the extra moisture. 2-3 times weekly, I pre-condition with coconut oil or olive oil. I recently started using Wen (it was a gift!). It is pricey but I do confess to liking the effect it has on my hair.
This week I was at my boyfriend's house sans my precious Wen so I mixed 1/4 c Suave Coconut conditioner with 2-3 drops of tea tree oil for scalp cleansing. I then used my old standby Biolage Hydrating Balm on the ends for a bit of moisture. I liked the effect it gave my scalp- it felt clean and I had a lot of body at the roots. But after doing it a couple of times, the ends are starting to feel a bit dry and crunchy. I'm not sure how to proceed... should I suck it up and order more Wen or keep playing diy hair diva (which is a bit fun, i have to admit, although I am so clueless!) I think my hair likes a little bit of silicone to give it some slip.
Then there is the styling issue... how the heck do I care for curly hair? I finger comb after washing then scrunch some curling cream through (currently I am using Curly Sexy Hair curling cream) and do my best not to touch it as it dries. Oh, I am also using and old t-shirt to dry my hair. I'm trying the "plopping" thing but don't quite have the hang of it yet. When my hair first dries, I fluff the crown a bit and it looks ok for a couple of hours. Then the ends start to droop a bit and I get some frizz... ya'll get the idea. And if I go to bed with it, well, I have no idea how to style "2nd Day" curly hair beyond clipping it up or throwing on a hat.
I am sorry to be so verbose... thank you all for reading. I appreciate any advice you can give or if you can point me in a productive direction. I look at all the lovely hair photos you ladies have posted and can't wait for the day my locks are nearly so luxurious! :)
Hair history: My hair was always fine/slightly wavy with a tendency toward dryness. Last year, I had 2 major surgeries, including gastric bypass. I've also go a few medical conditions that affect my hair- namely PCOS and hypothyroidism. Anyway, I lost a LOT of hair post-op. It is finally beginning to grow back in, but the remainder of my hair is very dry and fragile. The texture has also changed; I'm guessing it falls somewhere between a 2b/2c? It just seems to be getting curlier and curlier. Like waves that begin to spiral but then sort of fall limp toward the ends.
I recently got a haircut and the stylist schooled me in some of the basics of curly hair care- mainly not brushing it once dry and scrunching in a curl cream. It's helped somewhat but I feel so... unkempt!
I've been doing condition-only for the last month because my hair seems to like the extra moisture. 2-3 times weekly, I pre-condition with coconut oil or olive oil. I recently started using Wen (it was a gift!). It is pricey but I do confess to liking the effect it has on my hair.
This week I was at my boyfriend's house sans my precious Wen so I mixed 1/4 c Suave Coconut conditioner with 2-3 drops of tea tree oil for scalp cleansing. I then used my old standby Biolage Hydrating Balm on the ends for a bit of moisture. I liked the effect it gave my scalp- it felt clean and I had a lot of body at the roots. But after doing it a couple of times, the ends are starting to feel a bit dry and crunchy. I'm not sure how to proceed... should I suck it up and order more Wen or keep playing diy hair diva (which is a bit fun, i have to admit, although I am so clueless!) I think my hair likes a little bit of silicone to give it some slip.
Then there is the styling issue... how the heck do I care for curly hair? I finger comb after washing then scrunch some curling cream through (currently I am using Curly Sexy Hair curling cream) and do my best not to touch it as it dries. Oh, I am also using and old t-shirt to dry my hair. I'm trying the "plopping" thing but don't quite have the hang of it yet. When my hair first dries, I fluff the crown a bit and it looks ok for a couple of hours. Then the ends start to droop a bit and I get some frizz... ya'll get the idea. And if I go to bed with it, well, I have no idea how to style "2nd Day" curly hair beyond clipping it up or throwing on a hat.
I am sorry to be so verbose... thank you all for reading. I appreciate any advice you can give or if you can point me in a productive direction. I look at all the lovely hair photos you ladies have posted and can't wait for the day my locks are nearly so luxurious! :)