I have the opposite - -
My curly, wavey, easy to style hair has lost more and more body and curl with each pregnancy. 7 pregnancies later, it's straight and I have to use hot rollers every day. I am not happy about it in the least, and wish I had my 'pre-children' hair back again! But oh well, it was a small price to pay for my blessings.
I understand how you feel from the stand point that we all want back what we've always been used to, and conditioned to take care of. It's hard to switch to the opposite and be expected to know what to do with it :) All curly hair is different - maybe it would be best to go to a salon to get some practical advise that will work with your style :) Good luck to you!
Well, I've always had wavy hair, and I've discovered the best thing to do with it is run some gel through it with your fingers when you get out of the shower (I always then style with a wide-toothed comb) and just let it air dry. I NEVER use a blow dryer, not even with a diffuser, or it just gets frizzy. Any kind of gel seems to do the trick--I usually just use Suave because it's inexpensive. Good luck!
I have always had wavy hair and it is horrible because you either have to make it wavy or straight. The best thing that I have found as far as straightening is a Macadamia nut straightening balm from the Body Shop. It is a nature inspired product and really makes straightening easy. With wavy hair (at least mine) humidity is an enemy. This stuff really holds up well in the humidity. I can even just blow dry my hair with this stuff on and it looks better than without. I am a consultant with the body shop at home and would love to send you a sample to try. I don't think I will be able to live without this stuff. You can check it out at www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/aoaks. This is my website. Let me know if you want to try it.
Good luck
Exact same thing happened to me. Haven't really done anything to manage it, but i can relate :o)
When I was a child I had Shirley Temple ringlets. As I got older my hair stayed curly and it was also frizzy. After I had my son, 11 years ago it became less curly...now it is just barely wavy BUT still frizzy. It's not wavy enough to do a good scrunch and go but it's not straight enough to look decent on its own either. I have to either straighten the entire thing OR use a curling iron to get decent curls.
A couple years ago I found a website geared toward curly hair girls called Ouidad. Ouidad has developed products and cutting techniques for curly heads. Last week I had the privelage of getting my hair cut by one of her certified stylists while I was on vacation in Arizona. The cut I received was really different. Most stylist want to do layers in my wavy hair. The Ouidad cut was done with vertical sections and then small "v" cut into them. Very different than anything I've had before. The stylist used more gel on me then I would normally use in an entire month. He said lots of gel is the key to curls without frizz. He diffused my hair until it was completely dry then used a Ouidad Pomade to take out the crunch. I have to say I love the Ouidad Pomade because it really does take out the gel crunch and adds shine. The end result was my hair had decent curls and almost no frizz. It lasted for days without a lot of touch up. I haven't been totally successful at getting it to look the same at home yet but I'm working on it. I think LOTS of gel is the key.
Good luck.
My hair has stayed the same, however it's been thick, wavy and somewhat coarse my whole life, so it's something I am used to dealing with. I've been blessed with a great head of hair though, so even on the bad days, I'm glad to have it.
Here's some of what I do: I shower at night because my mornings are too crazy (and I am not a morning person that wakes up at 6am jazzed about my day, I'd much rather be sleeping) and I dry my hair after my shower without a diffuser and with a bid paddle brush. My stylist has taught me that hair will dry straighter with a bigger, flat brush like the one I use.
My current hairstyle looks good either curled or straight, but curls are in right now and I like how they look. So I section off my hair in the morning with a big clip, and use a 1" barrel curling iron to curl about 1 inch wide sections of my hair. It does take some practice, I know you think this may take forever but it doesn't, I do it in 20 min. You don't have to get every strand, actually some days I will even leave the bulk of it straight and just grab sections to curl around a hot iron, then use my fingers to separate the curls. Just gives you body...
On the days I straighten it, I use a Conair ceramic flattening iron. Mine is a "Wet 2 Straight", which does actually work without frying your hair, believe it or not, but I don't ever straighten it while its wet, it takes too long and my hand gets really cramped up. Again, I section off my hair and on a setting of about 17 I'll get through all my hair (I have a ton of it) in 15 minutes.
I love Dove strong hold hairspray, it smells really good and it works well. Humidity is always going to be your enemy, at least if you don't want puffed up crazy hair, you can use John Freida Frizz-Ease Serum on those high humid or hot days, you just have to be very careful with the amount you use or it will make your hair very heavy and funky feeling. A teeny bit goes a long way
Watch out for "curling" shampoos and products designed for curly/wavy hair, as they have silicone in them and can really weigh your hair down, I personally don't use them anymore. Always switch shampoos once a month for a few days to strip off any excess buildup from other products, especially if you use Pantene. All those pro-vitamins get stuck to the hair shaft and will weigh your hair down, I won't use Pantene anymore.
I really like Dove products but admit my favorite is probably still the old school Herbal Essences, the pink bottles. They are the only ones in the product line that didn't get redone this last time around and its kind of hard to find. Also Dove shampoos, any of them, and I like Aussie but was disappointed they took the "dual personality" shampoos out of the line recently. If you can find that anywhere it is great stuff!
I know that was a lot of info but I hope it helped some!
My hair has the wavy frizzy big thing going on too. That is why I am afraid to cut it shorter, the shorter it is the bigger it gets... But I agree that washing your hair at night is the way to go. It saves soooo much time. I wash at night, let it air dry for an hour or so (mine takes forever to dry) then blowdry it with a round brush for styling. If it needs touching up the next day it is something a round brush curling iron can fix or a flat iron and it is quick (usually I can just brush and go). I wash every other day and it looks better on day 2. Also I started using Burts Bees Grapefruit and Sugar Beet Shampoo and Conditioner and that really seems to help with the frizz and leaves it shiny. It doesn't strip your hair of natural oils and doesn't have harsh chemicals in it.
My hair changed a lot after my pregnancy, too. You gotta remember that hormones go crazy during those nine months. Anyway, mine was more with color and thickness. It thinned out a lot and got a lot darker. I would first of all suggest using good products. I got a repair conditioner just yesterday from my stylist to help with the dry frizzies. You may have to change the products you are using and the way you style it. Unfortunately, I've never known anyone who had it go back to the prepregnancy state, so you will probably just have to find a new way to care for it.
My opinion is that hair products are usually one of those things that you get what you pay for. If you spend a little extra money on a good shampoo or conditioner, it will work better than the cheap stuff. Just look for a cute 'do and think of it as part of you "new woman" look! lol
Hi!
My name is Marcie Jennings. I am also a cosmetlogist (20 yrs experience). The very exact thing happened to me. By the time I had my fourth everyone I knew thought I got a perm. The best products I found the Curl Life system by Matrix. You can get it in most salons. It really defines the curl without all that stiff sticky feeling. Use the shampoo, conditioner, defineing cream, the mouse, and finalize with the spray. Don't worry the mousse won't make it feel sticky, however don't use the spray gel because that will make your hair very heavy. Embrase this change because once you get the hang of doing your hair you'll have the best of both worlds. You'll be able to straighten it when you feel like it and have time and then those days that you don't feel like doing it all your hair all you have to do is spritz it with some water at some of that cream and you're good to go. I don't know how often you wash your hair, but with curly hair because the texture is more on the course side washing everyday will dry it out more. Every other or every three days is good. Hope that helped.
Hi Shauna!
I've always had what my stylist calls "bendy" hair. After my first pregnancy, it got a lot more wave and curl to it. I have to use a straightner to get it pin straight and not frizzy.
To best activate the curl, I like to use Aveda's Be Curly. That won't hold the curl, so I use an everyday styling gel for hold. Be Curly is on the expensive side ($16 for a tube). But it's the only product I have found that doesn't make my hair crunchy. I can also put the product in my hair wet, let it air dry, and my hair isn't at all frizzy. It's great for the summer when it's too hot to dry my long hair! However, because it is so expensive, I don't use it every day (only on special occasions!). I deal with the crunch, and use Got To Be's Kinky curling mousse (I can only find it at Walgreens now). I usually put it half up. So the crunch doesn't bother me as much.
I have also found that a diffuser doesn't work well with me. I think it works best for people with naturally very, very, curly hair. Since mine's more a wave and very fine, I just blow dry upside down and scrunch.
Same situation. After 4th child. I straighten my hair in the winter and let it go curly in the warmer weather or rainy season. I do use the same gel I use to straighten it. i just let my hair dry with it in it. It's stunning how curly my hair is now. But I do comb it out, gel then part it and then go. You can't fight the curls when there is humidity in the air. I just go with it and many people love it especially those with straight hair. I use SMOOTH straightening gel. It is from the hair salon and lasts and long time.
Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!! My hair was pretty darn straight too and now it's extremely curly. I found the same thing you're talking about with the crunchy and nasty product look. The thing that I've found was to use just hairspray after I've blown dried (with a difuser) it for a few seconds, then I add a little more and help shape the curls a bit by twirling them around my finger and then blow dry some more, and I continue with this until it's almost dry but not completely. You mentioned not being able to use a diffuser, which is where my hair was two pregnancies ago, and the thing that worked best there is actually scrunching it with your hands and bringing the blower dryer into that. If you dry it all the way, it will end up frizzy, but if you leave it a little wet, it'll continue curling on it's own. And to make up for the lack of curl on top or in front, you could always pull, just the small bang area back with a few bobbypins. It really takes practice to get used to new hair, but good luck!
Hello Shauna,
As a hairdresser, yes I have seen hair change after giving birth. First when you mentioned your hair was long it may have had some body/waves/curles but the weight of your hair pulled them out. You never would have known or seen the curls but if you were to receive a perm (back in the 70's/80's these were a big thing) it would have stayed longer than usual with your hair having some curl already. Now, it also may be your body chemistry changing causing your hair to change as well. Your skin may be change with birth, medication or diet as you may already know. It does sound crazy to have something like hair change but it can. Some people go thru hair loss or gain. As what to do with it now is let it grow to pull some of the curl out or have chemical treatments given to remove some curl. Remember chemical treatment is not permanent an will grow back curly as before. Some of my clients can only have their hair cut so short for it goes into an unruly style. Hope this helps. Nadean
Go for a hair style suited for your face shape an hair type. Dont fight it, you may take alot of work to style it another way, then to have a humid day..an..you know the rest.
After cutting off all that length it's not weighing your hair down anymore. That's probably why it's wavier than before. I had the same experience when I chopped mine off. I use mousse and crunch it up. Maybe the next time you get it cut, you can ask for some style ideas. Good luck!
My hair was completely straight too, all my life, until I turned 40, and it got curly. My hairdresser said it was hormones. Then I had my first baby at 42, and it got even curlier after that! You say you only have waves; I have more toward curls, probably because my hair is really thin. I use the "aquage" products (only sold in salons though). I use defining gel when my hair is wet, dry it with a diffuser, and then use transforming passte when it's dry. I have it all one length with long layers.
Ive had coarse wavy hair all my life . . . It goes straight, it goes curly, but both require some work.
My first suggestion is to start getting regular trims! Your new hair type requires a good shape and weight distribution.
As far as styling goes . . .
I find it is most convenient for me to let my hair air dry after a shower at night. I usually put a tiny dab of anti frizz cream (John Freida or Sunsilk)and go to bed without doing anything else to it. In the morning it is CRAZY . . . But I section my hair off and either straighten it out with my Chi flat iron OR do loose curls with my 1" curling iron. Since my hair is already completely dry, it doesn't start to puff out when using heat tools like it used to if I had just washed/blowdryed it. This has also cut my styling time in half. If, for some reason, I have to leave the house in the morning without having the chance to style my crazy hair, I pull it back into a ponytail. I always leave a couple of wispy strands out or straighten my bangs so I don't look too bed-heady.
If I want to style my hair using my natural wave, I wash and condition, rinse with cool water, and then let it air dry most of the way. That helps to cut down on frizz. Then I put a small amount of curl cream in and use my diffuser to blow it dry. I stay far away from gels and mousses because that equals crunch! I finish with hairspray . . . Pantene usually has formulations with silk and amino acids for condition and shine.
Our hair is tough to deal with, but we can do with it what many girls can't - wash and choose on a whim to wear it loosely waved, kind of curly, or silky and straight! Best wishes!
It could have been... partially your hormone from pregnancy,but cutting 16" would have taken enough weight out to accentuate you natural body. I am a haaairdresser in Broad riplle a nd would love to help you wuith your curl!! You might want to try (depending on the amount of curl you have)Aquage curl defining creme, works great on curl and frizz. Aquage staitening balm has great hold and will not leave you crunchy. Call me if I can help,Valerie 251-0792 /Sign of the Tymes Salon
Well I didn't have any hair texture changes after my pregnancy, but I too recently cut off quite a bit of my hair and not it is shoulder length and I'm struggling with what to do with it. Recently I was on vacation with my aunt and she used those Velcro hair rollers (you can use them for very short hair as long as you have something to roll up in them), and she put them in my hair. It made it look so nice that I came home and bought a set of them. What you do is blow dry your hair straight, if there is any kinks or waves you can take a flat iron or a curling iron to it. Then you place those curlers in your hair randomly, spritz with hair spray and leave them there while you do your other morning tasks. Right before you walk out the door slowly take them out and let your hair lay. They create body in your hair with out sacrificing the straightness and help keep you hair smooth and rid of fly aways. They may not be for you but as I said I just recently used them and loved them- just an idea. As for products, I used to like the suave smoothing cream (comes in an orange tube- and its cheaper than pantene)
a few words...JOHN FRIEDA FRIZZ CONTROL SERUM!!! lol it works wonders try it out hope it helps
My hair did the same thing after baby #2 - went from stick straight to one wave in the back of my head (like I'd been wearing a ponytail) and then went to wavy and frizzy.
After baby 3, it's even wavier. I am totally uncoordinated when it comes to blowing it straight or using a flat iron. I've looked high and low for good products that aren't super expensive. I've found the John Frieda Frizz-Ease products work best for my hair. I use the Straight Answers and Dream Curls.
As far as hair style, I've found that keeping it layered helps a lot too. Mine can't get longer than collarbone length or it gets way out of control.