Hair issues for naturally curly hair?

I need help from people with experience with curly hair and/or stylists!! I have naturally curly shoulder length hair. Over the years, and two children later, my hair is SO different and unruly!





The problem:


1.) VERY dry and frizzy. Especially on the top of my head. When I'm finished styling it, there is a halo of frizz sticking up. My hair feels like straw. Literally.


2.) Overprocessed. I've had it colored pretty much every 6 wks. in the last year. Highlights and lowlights. Used to highlight maybe twice a yr.





My typical routine/products:


I shampoo about every other day. Sometimes daily. (I know everyone says shampoo less often, but it's hard!) I've been using Pantene for curls for S %26amp; C. Deep cond occasionally, like Neutrogena mask. To dry I've been wrapping hair in an old t-shirt. (Some random tip I read.) Leave in cond, FrizzEase mousse, dry with diffuser, frizz product. (I've tried biosilk, glass drops by PM, Rusk, Fekkai gloss cream, etc, etc.


PLEASE I need advice!! Thx!

Hair issues for naturally curly hair?
Another girl asked this same question yesterday and this is the answer I gave her.





"I have the same hair, overprocessed and a natural poof. When i want more defined curls I usually shower at night and then while my hair is wet I'll rub shine serum through it and then I'll take strands and curl them loosely( not tight ) around my finger and then bobby pin the curl. I do about 40 strands and then spray it with a very little bit of light hold hair spray, go to sleep, wake up take out the bobby pins and ,wallah , i have bouncy (not tight) full locks of soft curly hair. it works really well."





Other things I can suggest are getting a relaxer for your hair, it will calm it down tremendously. I really like Redken shampoos and conditioners for my hair too. The All Soft works the best.





Your hair cleaning process is probably incorrect as well. When you shampoo your hair, you should be massaging the scalp and giving the shampoo time to penetrate into the hair cuticles, so let the shampoo sit for about 2 to 5 minutes. the same with conditoner, allow it time to penetrate and do its magic. Rinse out shampoo and conditioner with cold water when you're all done, another frizz reducing trick.
Reply:Hi there,





To start, you should start washing your hair every third day. Especially if your hair is dry already. If you are having a hard time with that, you can buy some dry shampoo and sprinkle it in your hair for those days you want to wash but shouldn't





The more you highlight your hair, the drier it's going to become. If you want healthier hair, make your hair darker, not lighter. If you must go lighter, make sure you are using a good conditioner.





Bed Head is a good product line for color treated hair. You can pick a shampoo and conditioner based on your hair.





Your hair might be feeling greasy because you are putting too many products in it. If you are using a leave in conditioner, you should not be using a regular one in the shower.





Another product you may want to try is Kiwi by Loreal. You can get the shine spray to tame those frizzies.





HTH!
Reply:Hi there. I too have naturally curly hair %26amp; after years of tinkering with it %26amp; product experimentation I have finally found something that works.





1st STOP washing your hair with that horrible crapTene. You might as well be washing your hair in rubbing alcohol. Those drug store product contain drying agents that strip your hair of its natural oil %26amp; cause more nasty frizz. Yes salon products are different they are made with more moisturizing agents. I understand the need to wash your hair daily but if you must Use a sulphate free shampoo to wash your hair with. Try Devacare No Poo or Lo Poo most of the time. Then maybe 2x a month use a shampoo that contains sulfates but make sure its mosturizing and specific to curly hair.


2. Condition your hair everyday. In fact you really should just run conditioner through your hair daily instead of shampooing. I like the Devacare 1 conditioner, but the Redken Moist Curls conditioner works well as well as the Bumble %26amp; Bumble curly hair conditioner.


3. After your rinse out the conditioner take a little bit %26amp; run it through your hair top to end but dont rinse out. Squeeze out ALL the excess water but dont towel dry your hair. DONT wrap a towel or shirt or anything. Just squeeze out the water %26amp; clip your hair up.


4. Products. STOP using anything with alcohol in it as it only dries your hair out and causes frizz. Mousse has tons of alcohol %26amp; its volumizing -- ie. just makes your hair frizzier. Use a product specific for curly hair. Aveda Be Curly styling cream, Devacare Angell, Bumble %26amp; Bumble curly styling gel etc.


5. Part your hair into 2 sections. Then run the product from root to ends of your hair. Then use a bit more product to style your hair - depart. Just let your hair dry naturally. DO NOT use a blow dryer but if you must use a LARGE diffuser. Set the dryer on cool and keep it as far away from your hair as possible %26amp; dry slightly.


6. DONT TOUCH your hair while its wet. Once its dry you can run a little bit of glossing/anti frizz serum like FrizzEase in your hair. DONT COMB or rub the curls. Just kinda fluff the serum into your hair.


7. For the overprocessing issue. You should use a deep conditioner 1x a month. Try to get a protein based deep conditioner like Phytojojoba or the like. Dont use it more than 1x a month as it'll make your hair more brittle.





Yes this seems like a lot of work but its not. Your actually going to use less product %26amp; spend less time dealing with your hair. Remember less is more.





If you need place to buy products then go to www.naturallycurly.com They have a ton of products that are specific to curly haired folks.
Reply:I think part of the problem is using products with sililcones and sulfates. The plastic just coats your curls and looks good for a bit and then the dryness and frizz sets in because of all the plastic build up. The sulfates just cause dryness. A good cleanser and conditioner without sulfates is Devacurl. The Care line of this product is great for color treated curls. Use your pantene once a week just to clarify if you want to. Good curl products that are water based are Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper which you put on when hair is really wet. After the tshirt drying which is a great idea! Then follow with Ag recoil for curl definition and keeping the frizz away. I work at naturallycurly.com where you can get all these products and more. You will love your curls when you use these great products!
Reply:Couple things to try: don't blow dry, even with diffuser. Let it air dry. Try using conditioner in the shower, rinse, then put a little bit more in and leave it in (doesn't have to be specifically leave in conditioner). Scrunch hair with towel to get out some of the moisture, then let air dry. If you can, do your hair at night, including gel or mousse, then let it dry naturally overnight. You should wake up with the best hair ever. If all else fails, straighten it with a Chi (and only a chi) straightening iron. If you do this for a few days in a row, chances are your curls will relax a bit on their own.
Reply:Garnier Fructis Curl and Shine
Reply:I've read the book "Curly Girl", by Lorraine Massey. She gives a lot of great tips and home recipes to keep your curly hair looking great. I've tried a few of them and so far, I love it!


Also in the book she recommends some salons specialized on treatment of curly hair, although these are kind of expensive.
Reply:My long hair is very fine, rather thin %26amp; curly. I really make an effort not to torture my locks. I looked up natural / homemade hair conditioner recipes. Some say mayonnaise, some say a blend of mashed avacado %26amp; mayo. I like plain mayo. I put it on clean hair (no products left on like spray or mousse) but not wet hair. Then I put on a shower cap %26amp; a ski cap, %26amp; wear for an hour or so. Wash well. Also, I find that Pantene dries my hair out. I use Triple Moisturizing Neutrogena shampoo %26amp; conditioner. I love their shine serum oil. Another tip said to rinse with the coldest water you can stand when you wash you hair. This causes the cuticle to lie flat.





I also am hypOthryroid which can cause hair to be dry %26amp; break easily. You may want to be checked for that as it can lead to serious other issues.
Reply:I share your frustration. The problem is the products you are using. Hair gloss or shiners won't fix it. That's like caking on make up to a face full of acne. Go to the root of the problem. Literally. Ulta beauty stores carry the best selection of products. Matrix has worked the best for me, and believe me, I've tried every brand! I recommend Matrix Sleek Look. It comes in orange bottles. It smooths the hair cuticle (outer layer) without leaving your hair flat. They always have deals like Shampoo %26amp; Conditioner $28. Do a deep conditioning treatment once a week using Good products. Don't ever shop at a regular store for hair products. Remember, you get what you pay for. You can buy sample size cond. treatments at your local beauty supply for under $5 which is enough for 1 or 2 uses. Matrix Biolage Hair Glaze is THE best product I've found for my hair. It separates the curls and keeps them frizz free. Never wrap your hair in anything! That creates frizz. Always use a diffuser and a professional hair dryer from beauty supply. This is all you need for great curls.
Reply:okay first thing I speak from experience my hair sounds just like your it feels like straw and is very very dry and I dyed my hair a lot last year.... so here's what's first


the frizz ease stuff literally gives you frizz I used it.


try using Garnier fructis sleek and shine shampoo and conditioner, wash hair every day use the conditioner every other day otherwise you'll get a build up so then when you get out put some length and strength cream in your hair by garnier, then after you work that through your hair put a little bit of anti frizz cream in your hair by obviously garnier.


then brush it through your hair and and part it where ever, take and twirl little sections of your hair around your finger so it looks like a spiral then when you've done that with all your hair use your diffuser but don't take it all the way up to your scalp only do it on the tips then when the tips are dry leave the top part a little damp and and let it air dry.


trust me it worked for me and it took me along time to figure out this stuff but try it because it sounds like my hair.


I hope I helped.
Reply:I too have dry frizzy hair, and all I do to mine is wash every other day or so; wrap in a towel to dry (probably a horrid thing to do who knows) and use a straightener a few times a week...I use Treseme (Spelled that wrong I know) shampoo and conditioner, w/ various leave in conditioners/ frizz products..I wish I could me more of a help, it does seem the older I get the worse it has become.