Not Larry, Not Moe, Not Shemp
It's Curly. Women with curly hair have a special set of problems. Straightening it with a blow dryer is a bitch. It frizzes at the very mention of humidity. It tangles easily. And not everyone knows how to cut it. (No razors! My God, don't make the problem any worse.)
Unless you have piles of money to spend on thermal hair reconditioning, just give it up and accept your hair for what it is. You're never going to have straight hair. Straight haired women spends lots of money to get their hair to look like yours, and it doesn't work. Anyway, every hair dresser I ever worked with hated perms.
Don't brush your hair. Use a wide tooth comb, start at the bottom and work up. When I wash it, always comb conditioner through my hair. Combing it through distributes the conditioner more evenly, and it's much easier to comb my hair after I've towel dried it.
Don't rub the towel on your hair. That just causes more frizz. Blot it, then comb.
Finding a good hairdresser can be as hard as finding a good doctor. After I moved here, I went through four stylists before I found one I love. But it's the best thing you can do for your hair.
A little color never hurt anyone. Good hair color gives your hair body and helps tame the frizz.
Even if it's long, your hair still needs to be cut on a regular basis. Some women need one every four weeks. Others can go for three months. And, yes, you do need layers.
Don't cut your own hair. (This is good advice for anyone.) More than likely, it will look like you did.
I came across a new idea on how to care for curly hair. I've tried this and it works. I haven't completely stopped using shampoo, but I'm down to once a week. If this doesn't appeal to you, it's still best not to wash your hair every day. Curly hair is dry. Washing it daily will dry it out more. I will often go a few days without even wetting it. Of course, sometimes I don't leave the house for several days. Nobody sees me looking like Janis Joplin
Conditioner is also a great styling product. It tames some of the wild out of your hair. You'll end up with soft waves.
Beautywatch has a great post on hair products for all types of hair. Girlfriend knows her stuff.
Comments
Wavy is never "in", and it's nearly impossible to turn it straight or curly in time to match it up with whatever's "in" at any given season.
If only my hair would make up its mind. Sigh.
Back when I had longer hair (both 80s length and then 90s ponytail length), I also noticed that my hair looked better when I went without shampooing for a day or so. A little oil was apparently a great thing. Except for my scalp didn't like the lack of a daily shampoo.
So my cheap shortcut method to Maura's linked-to-method was to run my moisturizing-lotion-coated fingers through my hair after I was done moisturizing my arms and face. (Yes, I use the same cheap stuff for both arms and face.) It seemed to get the job done.
http://archerpelican.typepad.com/tap/2006/11/portrait_of_the.html
These days, my hair is plenty short:
http://archerpelican.typepad.com/photos/portfolio/phils_perfect_haircut_nov_2007_600.html
The folks at Great Clips keep telling me I need to use conditioner to make it softer. Once a year I break down and buy whatever they're selling, use it for a week (or less) then quit. Hey -- do you want a bottle of barely used leave-in conditioner for dryish hair? If so, it's yours!
Call me: (Logan has my card and number). Oh and in other things, I may have some work coming up in January that would be suited for you. We must talk.
Nicole: Thanks.
Aaand I just now remembered that you e-mailed me a few weeks ago and I never got back to you. Cripes. Picture me red from embarrassment.
E-mail me. Or I'll e-mail you.
I'm hoping the era of men getting perms is gone for good.
Anyhow, naturally I have extremely course, kinky hair. I can't do it natural because I've always had some type of process on it and I don't like taking the time to wait for it to grow out. Maybe when I'm old and cute. Currently I wear a perm (relaxer, straightener) and I'm in the process of looking for someone to layer it and cut all the dead stuff out. Right now my hair is very mad at me because I haven't had time for it, but after some Hairapy sessions I think we'll make it.