Need advice on my hair...

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I feel like such a chick, but I can’t help it.

I have very long (down to my boobs) straight hair. For the most part, it’s really healthy and strong and thick and nice. And I have a lot of it.

Except for one place. The very underside of my hair, the part that comes out from behind my ears down to the hair that comes out from the top of my neck seems to inexplicably have quite a bit of natural wave to it. And it’s totally unruly–the hair goes every which way, it’s frizzy and thin and easily breakable. It’s like two different people’s hair on one head.

I know there’s at least one hairdresser on the board. Any advice on how I can fix this part of my hair without hurting the rest of it, which is perfectly normal? I don’t blow-dry at all (that’s how the rest of my hair got to be so healthy–took me two years of growing out my hair from ear-length before I got split ends), so I’d prefer not to do that unless that’s the only way it’ll fix it. Any product recommendations? Tips on things I can do?

2

I’m not a hair dresser, but I delight in all things girly.

Is it damanged, Drain? If it is, try a three-minute deep conditioning treatment, Herbal Essence has one that smells yummy. Other deep conditioning treatments are mayonaise or olive oil. I’ve not met anyone who has tried the mayo yet, but my sister swears by the olive oil treatment. Or just frizzy? As a sufferer of FHS (Frizzy Hair Syndrome,) there are a few things you can try. [ul]
[li]Paul Mitchell has this great product called Gloss. It’s expensive, but it does amazing things to frizzy hair. Calms it, adds shine without making it greasy.[/li][li]Loreal Polmade is alright. Just be sure you only use a little. It’s the poor man (woman’s?) Gloss.[/li][li]Don’t brush your hair while it’s wet. Get a wide toothed comb. Combing hair while wet can relax it a bit. [/ul][/li]
The only other thing I can think of is possible breakage/damage due to elastic from pony tail holders. If you think that might be the case, use the intensive conditioners, and switch to “ouchless” ponytail holders, barretts or (yikes!!!) scruntchies.

Don’t cut your hair, I chopped my shoulder length into a pixie, and though it looked alright, I missed being able to do different things with it. Currently, we’re at chin length.

3

I’m not professional either, but had a similar occurance. same, but different?

Do you have kids? I know, I know…she’s lost her last marble. But my stylist noticed that my hair–in almost the same place you mentioned–was thinner that the rest. I had noticed also and she said that that kind of thing happens to women after they have a baby. No explanation, as far as she knew.
As far as the wavy, frizzy thing goes, my son has a classmate who has lovely blond hair–very straight–except for one patch on the back of her head that looks like it’s been permed. Just a natural wave, apparently. I’ve never asked her or her parents about it…but if no one here can help I would be happy to inquire on your behalf. Let me know.

4

Oooh! Girly stuff!

OK, try not to “process” your hair (color, perm—but I guess you don’t, from your description). Also, blow-dryers are death to hair. Let it dry naturally.

And those products mentioned above are worth a try—glossing, straightening or anti-damage conditioners. I just bought some John Freida “glossing” shampoos, anyonew know if I just wasted my money?

5

I have been told that I have the distinctive ability to straighten one’s hair and curl one’s toes with the merest touch of my nimble lil’ fingers…or was it the other way around?

Screw it. Next time you go to the store, take a few minutes and read the shampoo/conditioner bottles. They usually give you a pretty good spiel about what kind of hair they’re for.

Alternatively, you could simply ask Satan. He’s got the flowing tresses look mastered.

6

Drain, I have had wonderful success with L’oreal’s Anti-frizz (or something like that). It’s a gel that comes in a round-shaped pump.
If the frizz is the main problem, I’d try a gel. If it’s the thinness that bothers you, try a mousse - they’re made for building body.

Side Note: My hair is also super-weird in the same area. Just below my ears, it’s tight ringlet-curls, then at the back of my neck it’s stick-straight. The rest of the hair on my noodle is somewhere in-between.
And I will use a combination of mousse and gel to achieve desired results.

7

The gloss stuff is good. It’s silicone. Rub a little bit into the frizzy parts when your hair’s dripping wet, and leave it to dry without touching it. That should get rid of the frizziness, but it wouldn’t do much for the wave. You’d probably have to set or blowdry that. Look for Frizz Ease or Zero Frizz, but make sure you get the silicone serum because they have a whole line of products. Buy or steal a sample if the store has one, because silicone doesn’t do much for some people.

Going with the suggestion of deep conditioning, I like Aussie’s Three Minute Miracle but it might be too heavy for some people. Clairol’s Herbal Essences deep conditioner is also good.

You can get those in a drugstore. I can’t recommend salon products because I always feel self-conscious for some reason whenever I enter a hair or beauty salon.

8

on the deep conditioning note- DON’T go with the mayo. It doesn’t do anything but make your hair really gross untill you get it scrubbed out which takes so many washes your hair is worse. Plus, it smells yucky. Or so I’ve heard. Not that I know…

9

Hairdresser here! Do you want it fixed as in not so frizzy or fixed as in as straight as the rest of it? More people than you realize have hair that is wavier underneath than on top (right, Canthearya? ;))

The frizzies come about because the hair cuticle isn’t smooth. Curly hair tends to be that way. Look for something meant to smooth out frizzies. Pomades work best if you just want to use one product.

If you’re wondering if you can straighten it without using a blowdryer…sorry! Even if you wait for it to airdry and use a curling iron it won’t do the job. I’ll recite my mantra for whenever anyone has a hair question…“ask your stylist”. It’s hard to answer a question without actually seeing the hair. He or she can tell you what will work best in your situation. What works for one may not work for another.

10

Whatever you do, Drain, don’t cut your hair! The style du jour stuff will drive you nuts, self-hating and not so coincidentally broke trying to achieve a very temporary “look”. A great mane of healthy, abundant hair wasn’t dubbed “a woman’s crowning glory” for nuffin’.

FWIW, my hair in it’s natural state is curly as hell. Talk about frizzies! I used to wear it halfway down by back, just so the weight could pull some of the curl out. (Yeah, yeah, everybody wants what they don’t have…)

Long hair can be pulled up in hot weather (and looks killer elegant with minimal work), let down, whatever. And the curly patches are just the way hair grows. Even when my hair was longest, I’d have a deep Veronica Lake wave right over my left ear; just grew that way. (Cut shorter, from the back it looks like I’m signaling a left turn.) No point in fighting it; it grows the way it grows.

My suggestion? Invest in a good blow dryer, one with a wide nozzle and a cool setting. It can really help in getting your hair dry quickly–a boon for heavy, long hair–and a few quick flicks with a round brush will help straighten out the frizzes.

I can’t advise on mousses, etc. FWIW, I use IceCap conditioner, bought from my hairdresser. Lasts ages and is very light. I HATE, HATE, HATE the feel of spray or gunk on my hair. Anything more than a wash, quickie condition (while in the shower) and a no-brainer blow-dry is out for me.

Or…just let nature take its course and glory in it. Some wispy curls around face and neck can be great. Pull up the mass, knot it, clip it, whatever and let the curly stuff be a frame.

Just don’t let anyone tell you your hair HAS to be tortured, lacquered and beaten into submission.

Sorry. What an odd thread for me to vent on!

Veb