Now that I know I'm 2a (bordering 2b) what to do with it?

[raingirl]

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=97741

Above link has the pic.

So...what do I do now? Personally, I don't like the waves all that much and in truth, I blow dry daily (week days for work, but not on weekends unless I'm going out someone special). My hair really isn't as dull and dry as it looks there, it's just my iPhone camera. (Lost my real camera while moving 3 months ago. It's in a box somewhere that I have yet to unpack)

How do I learn to use and love the waves? My biggest problem is I have some chin length bangs I'm growing out, and a horrible "cowlick" on my front left temple. If I don't blow dry out the front, I think it just looks horrible.

I know when it gets longer it will be better. I had waste length back in High school/University and as long as it's longer and all one length, I can live with air dry. I think I'm just at an awkward length right now.

Also, it's quite flat on top, except at the front. I wouldn't mind the waves if I could get some bounce.

[misspurdy06]

I have similar hair 2b/2c and I am re-learning how to treat it.

I am currently fighting the urge to brush my hair. Brushing it makes it look frizzy and horrible.

I want to brush my hair because it's in wurly chunks but it's supposed to be.

Also leave in conditioner is a must. Keeps the chunks of wurlies separated and from tangling.

thats all I have so far.

[Alexblue]

I'm a fellow 2a. Gave up my blow-dryer relatively recently and it's been an adjustment just getting use to seeing myself with wavy/wurly hair. My DH and friends have been really positive with their compliments, it's more that I'm not use to seeing myself that way. Straight to curly hair really changes one's overall look.

Your hair looks lovely with no product/gels/curl enhancers so I'd suggest giving yourself 2 weeks, wearing it down to just get use to it. It probably feels a lot softer no? As for the grown out bangs, perhaps pin them back into a little poof (http://celebsalon.sheknows.com/long-hairstyles/maggie-grace-rocks-a-front-poof-hairstyle/) or a little braid (http://www.zandiksalon.com/2012-spring-trend-ideas-from-veronica-anderson/hair-braids-braid-hairstyles-tips/) across the hairline.
(sorry for the random images, I just did a quick google of the hairstyles I meant :-)

I have a cowlick as well and use a tiny amount of product to turn it into a soft curl to blend in with my other ones...or part my hair on the other side.

and once again, your hair looks great! the waves are perfect for summer - enjoy the change!

[SpinDance]

Getting used to different things can take time. I never really understood what my hair type was till I found LHC. It's not straight, it's not curly. The wave I do have tends to be random-ish, giving lots of volume, especially around my shoulders. I've a cowlick in the front, so no bangs for me. I always hated the way I have to fuss with my hair when I have bangs/fringe. (Although if I could look like spidermom does with her new look, I'd go for it!)

It sounds like you don't like how it is looking now, but you know you'll like it when it is longer. How about putting it up and forgetting about it for a while? Get some more length so that those awkward spots will be passed.

[raingirl]

Sorry, I don't know how to multi-quote or see the posts when replying yet (haven't figured that out).

Yes, brushing is my downfall. I love to brush my hair. Yesterday all I could think about was, dry hair dry so I can take a picture and then I can brush my hair!! It's going to be a very hard habit to break!

I love doing "poofs" but it only works if I dry my hair in the front. If I don't, I get a look like this, with the bumps on either side, except it doesn't look all nice and smooth going down, it gets all wonky and wavy and just looks wierd (it was the best pic I could find to describe it):

http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/j/Carolyn%20Jones/portrait.jpg

I need to find a way to put it back that's not in a pony tail. Right now that's what I do and I want to get out of that habit. I've tried spin pins but my hair is so thin that the bun just looks horrid (sort of like this girls hair in her "sad bun" picture: http://www.urbanmums.net/2011/10/sock-bun.html)

[xoxophelia]

When your hair is wet very gently scrunch in less than a dime sized about of aloe mixed together with 1 drop of oil. I'm trying to estimate about how much your hair needs... Also, don't break up the clumps by finger combing. Let it dry without touching and then see how it looks. I think that is a good starting point :)

Since your hair doesn't look overly bulky, you should have the added benefit of your dry time being fairly short so you could even do this on a regular basis if it works out for you.

[redsonjared]

So...what do I do now? Personally, I don't like the waves all that much and in truth, I blow dry daily (week days for work, but not on weekends unless I'm going out someone special). My hair really isn't as dull and dry as it looks there, it's just my iPhone camera. (Lost my real camera while moving 3 months ago. It's in a box somewhere that I have yet to unpack)

How do I learn to use and love the waves? My biggest problem is I have some chin length bangs I'm growing out, and a horrible "cowlick" on my front left temple. If I don't blow dry out the front, I think it just looks horrible.

I know when it gets longer it will be better. I had waste length back in High school/University and as long as it's longer and all one length, I can live with air dry. I think I'm just at an awkward length right now.

Also, it's quite flat on top, except at the front. I wouldn't mind the waves if I could get some bounce.

I know how you feel, I've been typed the same

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=97358

After 3 hours of air drying time it looks sort of OK, the next morning it looks like rats tails and the call of the blow dryer and hairbrush are too strong to resist. One side goes really flat as well. It takes some getting used to this wavy look - hope you find a good routine soon!




I need to find a way to put it back that's not in a pony tail. Right now that's what I do and I want to get out of that habit. I've tried spin pins but my hair is so thin that the bun just looks horrid (sort of like this girls hair in her "sad bun" picture: http://www.urbanmums.net/2011/10/sock-bun.html)

That is a good sock bun tutorial, I couldn't get all my sock covered and I don't own any ginger socks so you could see it. Must keep growing!

[arcane]

Check out the wavey and wurly thread: http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=31563

I've recently decided to try the curly girl method to try to better encorage my wurls. I also gently run my finger tips along my scalp when I get out of the shower to keep my hair from sticking to my head. I do it periodicly as it dries and I get some nice volume without destryong my wurl pattern.

I gave up regular brushing years ago as my hair tended to look more wild an hour after brushing than if I just left it alone/finger combed.

[Tia2010]

Well I'm just in the 2a range (1c/2a) What I do if I want my hair full but straighter and not so wavy is use scrunchies as it dries.

After I wash my hair, when it's damp but not wet, I put in scrunchies. I start at the nape of my neck, then add one more down the ponytail a few inches and one more near the end and let it dry. I don't put them in tight...just enough to hold it lightly..Then when It's dry I DO brush it (with a wooden peg brush) to break up the curl/wave.

I'm left with straight-ish hair with just a very soft wave.

[earthnut]

Hair width, porosity, and elasticity are important for choosing products. Hair curl, density, and length are important for choosing hairstyles.

As far as brushing / not brushing, that has to do with curl type. The curlier your hair, the more frizz you'll get from brushing. Brushing isn't necessarily bad. If you like the result you get from brushing, keep doing it.

[brave]

I agree with earthnut. You can try brushing still and see if you want to continue; if the result is too frizzy or flyaway then consider doing the curlygirl-style scrunch and don't touch. Lesson #1 from finding out you have wavy hair is that wavy hair, or curly hair in general, usually needs more moisture than straight hair since the oils won't travel as well down the hair shaft.

Here's a pretty good intro to the curlygirl method (http://dormroomcurly.blogspot.com/), which even if you don't want to encourage your curls might be worth a read.

[spirals]

When I was growing out my bangs they did the same thing. It looked weird. So I pulled them diagonally across my forehead and pinned at the side. It was flattering to my face.