GlassButrFly
July 15th, 2010, 12:59 PM
Hello everyone!
I am a new member to LHC, although I have lurked for a while.
Short story (everyone tells me I'm long winded, so I'll abbreviate here, and you can read the rest if you feel like it): I am looking for advice about how to get my 2a/F to M/ii hair to curl naturally, through a better hair care regimen. :)
Longer version, with pics:
A little background... I have medium to dark brown hair, which I have colored red-ish for several years. I use Garnier Nutrisse Intense Auburn every three months, since that seems to be the least damaging to my hair, but combined with almost daily straightening or curling, obviously not undamaging enough. The last time I got a trim, the hairdresser said that my ends were in really bad shape, and recommended scrunching my hair instead of straightening or curling it.
I'm trying to grow my hair out to bra strap length for now, and then I may go for waist length. I used to have really long hair (I think you call it classic length? down to my butt) when I was little, and putting my hair up in a pony tail would give me a headache, so I ended up going shorter and shorter till I got my pixie, which I had for probably 5 years.
I am currently growing my hair out from a pixie cut. This is what it used to look like:
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/3271/shorthairp.jpg (http://img594.imageshack.us/i/shorthairp.jpg/)
Now, 4 years later (and a few "surprise! I cut off two inches off your hair instead of the half inch you asked for!" trims), my hair is about 2 inches past my collar bone! Yay! :D
Here is an example of the hair color after I dyed it, and you can see some of the frizzy damage (this was straightened sometime that morning, but my hair has a hard time staying straight):
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3968/coloranddamage.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/coloranddamage.jpg/)
And here is it just a few minutes ago (with my phone, and not the best lighting). I scrunched it last night, so this is after sleeping on it.
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/5124/photo0302h.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/photo0302h.jpg/)
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8500/photo0303l.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/photo0303l.jpg/)
I don't have any pics of it just air dried with no products or heat, but it does a frizzy triangle thing. ugh.
I have decided to try henna instead of chemical dyes, since I want red anyway. I just ordered some from Henna Hut, a package of "red" and a package of "deep red", and I'll do some strand tests to see which one looks best. I'm also hoping that the henna will make my hair healthier.
I tried to figure out my "hair type"... I think its 2a/F to M/ii. I was reading in the "Wurly and Curly" thread about people changing their hair routine to encourage more natural curls, but I was getting very confused by all the acronyms. I wash my hair every other day, and its usually pretty oily by that time. I am currently using Organix Nourishing Coconut Oil shampoo and conditioner, which is supposed to be low in sulfates. I find that shampoos and conditioners tend to weigh down and build up on my hair, I have tried all kinds (I can't stay with one type for more than two bottles), and I have yet to find anything that does wonders for my hair. Even if I comb my hair in the shower, it seems to tangle by the time I get out (perhaps because of the damage?) so I have to comb all the tangles out when I put in my hair products. I'm using Organix Coconut Oil Split Ends Mender on the ends (I'm not sure it's actually doing anything, but I like the smell) and TiGi Control Freak Serum on the length (this I do love, it helps with the frizz), and now I'm scrunching with a light gel.
Do y'all have any recommendations for getting my hair to curl naturally? My mom and one of her sisters have 3c fine hair. My hair was very curly when I was little, and now has a natural wave to it, and occasionally it will develop an actual curl here and there. Since it has such a hard time staying straight, it makes me suspect that there are curls in there just waiting to come out, if only I would could help them out. :) Please help the newbie, wanna be, long hair hopeful! Thanks!
I am a new member to LHC, although I have lurked for a while.
Short story (everyone tells me I'm long winded, so I'll abbreviate here, and you can read the rest if you feel like it): I am looking for advice about how to get my 2a/F to M/ii hair to curl naturally, through a better hair care regimen. :)
Longer version, with pics:
A little background... I have medium to dark brown hair, which I have colored red-ish for several years. I use Garnier Nutrisse Intense Auburn every three months, since that seems to be the least damaging to my hair, but combined with almost daily straightening or curling, obviously not undamaging enough. The last time I got a trim, the hairdresser said that my ends were in really bad shape, and recommended scrunching my hair instead of straightening or curling it.
I'm trying to grow my hair out to bra strap length for now, and then I may go for waist length. I used to have really long hair (I think you call it classic length? down to my butt) when I was little, and putting my hair up in a pony tail would give me a headache, so I ended up going shorter and shorter till I got my pixie, which I had for probably 5 years.
I am currently growing my hair out from a pixie cut. This is what it used to look like:
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/3271/shorthairp.jpg (http://img594.imageshack.us/i/shorthairp.jpg/)
Now, 4 years later (and a few "surprise! I cut off two inches off your hair instead of the half inch you asked for!" trims), my hair is about 2 inches past my collar bone! Yay! :D
Here is an example of the hair color after I dyed it, and you can see some of the frizzy damage (this was straightened sometime that morning, but my hair has a hard time staying straight):
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3968/coloranddamage.jpg (http://img687.imageshack.us/i/coloranddamage.jpg/)
And here is it just a few minutes ago (with my phone, and not the best lighting). I scrunched it last night, so this is after sleeping on it.
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/5124/photo0302h.jpg (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/photo0302h.jpg/)
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8500/photo0303l.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/photo0303l.jpg/)
I don't have any pics of it just air dried with no products or heat, but it does a frizzy triangle thing. ugh.
I have decided to try henna instead of chemical dyes, since I want red anyway. I just ordered some from Henna Hut, a package of "red" and a package of "deep red", and I'll do some strand tests to see which one looks best. I'm also hoping that the henna will make my hair healthier.
I tried to figure out my "hair type"... I think its 2a/F to M/ii. I was reading in the "Wurly and Curly" thread about people changing their hair routine to encourage more natural curls, but I was getting very confused by all the acronyms. I wash my hair every other day, and its usually pretty oily by that time. I am currently using Organix Nourishing Coconut Oil shampoo and conditioner, which is supposed to be low in sulfates. I find that shampoos and conditioners tend to weigh down and build up on my hair, I have tried all kinds (I can't stay with one type for more than two bottles), and I have yet to find anything that does wonders for my hair. Even if I comb my hair in the shower, it seems to tangle by the time I get out (perhaps because of the damage?) so I have to comb all the tangles out when I put in my hair products. I'm using Organix Coconut Oil Split Ends Mender on the ends (I'm not sure it's actually doing anything, but I like the smell) and TiGi Control Freak Serum on the length (this I do love, it helps with the frizz), and now I'm scrunching with a light gel.
Do y'all have any recommendations for getting my hair to curl naturally? My mom and one of her sisters have 3c fine hair. My hair was very curly when I was little, and now has a natural wave to it, and occasionally it will develop an actual curl here and there. Since it has such a hard time staying straight, it makes me suspect that there are curls in there just waiting to come out, if only I would could help them out. :) Please help the newbie, wanna be, long hair hopeful! Thanks!