Care for Wavy Hair

I have naturally curly hair and the BEST thing I have done for it is reading the book Curly Girl written by Lorraine Massey. She is a natural curly girl herself who is also a hairdresser. She has made it her life's goal to teach curly/wavy haired women how to care, cut, and love them. She has home recipes for hair care products that are so much cheaper and work better than anything you can get off a shelf. I have purchased over $100 worth of hair gels, sprays, creams, and more BS that don't work, but reading this book and listening to her ways has had me throwing all that product in the garbage. I have hated my hair for years and usually keep it cropped very close to my scalp to keep the frizz away, but since reading this book and caring for my hair the way she suggests, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! Please, please, please, if you love your curls, read this book and really love your curls. I live by this book. I swear it works miracles. You can find it anywhere for about 10 bucks. Read and enjoy!

1 mom found this helpful

Sounds a lot like my hair. I don't blow dry mine too much, but if you want to get it dry quickly and keep it curly, you can use a diffuser and scrunch it up as you dry it to help get the curl. Depending on how thick your hair is, you could use a pick to comb your hair so it isn't too tangled and doesn't get too poofy and then you can still let it air dry. I also recommend Frizz Ease shampoo. A knock off will probably work just as well also. That really helps to tame my hair. If you really have a lot of time you can use a curling iron, but it takes forever with my hair, so I don't even bother with that. Hope you get some good ideas!

1 mom found this helpful

I have curly hair. I use Biotera hair gel from Sally's. I flip my hair over and apply it from the botton up to my head sort of scrunching it. I use a diffuser on hot heat and dry it that way. Then I don't mess with it during the day. I also set the curls with hair spray at the end. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

My granddaughter has curly hair. She uses just shampoo. Let's it air dry. and then, before she brushes it, sprays enough water on it that the surface hair is wet. Her hair is thick. She doesn't try to brush thru all the hair. She uses the brush to make order out of the top layer. This works for her.

When she was younger and her mother was doing it she used a spray on detangler the next morning after it dried overnight. She did brush thru all layers. That also worked.

Because my granddaughter has asthma and eczema they use as few products as possible. It was easier to run your fingers thru it when she used conditioner. They used the rinse out kind and later the spray on kind. The spray on kind worked best to remove tangles. From the spray on kind they went to spray on water that works nearly as well but there are some tangles in the bottom layer.

I've been dealing with wavy/curly/frizzy hair my whole life and it isn't until recently that I finally figured out some techniques. I shampoo and condition every wash. You should only condition the hair that does not touch your scalp (ie the part that would be in the pony tail). I towel dry, put in a leave in spray conditioner and brush. Then I use "Sexy Hair - darn straight" (it's good for going straight and curly, for me) all over hair, except bang area. I let air dry for a bit, then blow dry my bangs straight. I blow dry the rest with hot and cool settings just to help the drying process then let the rest air dry. I use "Biosilk, silk therapy" to help with frizzies and use a curling iron to help those pieces that just won't cooperate. It may seem like alot, but I can be in the shower and out the door in 40 minutues if needed...and I have pretty long hair.

I'll have to agree with what another person posted that curly hair does not lend itself to having fingers run through it. However, you don't have to have completely tangled hair either. Aveda has a wonderful line of curly hair products, but it's pricey. My hair is fine and curly, so I can't tolerate a lot of the heavier products that are meant to tame coarser, really curly hair. I wash my hair at night and let it air dry because i shower at night. But my hair does not air dry into a nice curly 'do, so I re-wet it in the morning and do my styling. I sometimes put some conditioner in it overnight or even in the morning when I wet it because it's good for smoothing. I use a combo of a curl cream and a lightweight gel. Sometimes I add a frizz serum (though I find the John Frieda serums too heavy). Then I use a blow dryer with a diffuser. I always buy the $5 diffuser at wal-mart to add to my blow dryer because I like the shape--the one that comes with the blow dryer doesn't seem to work as well to me. One thing that can be a time saver that i do is put my product in, let my hair air dry for a little bit and then dry it.
If you feel like you're destroying your hair when combing it out when it's wet, I think you need to comb it out when it is wetter. Plus, use a GOOD conditioner. Maybe even a detangler or light weight spray in conditioner at the end after you rinse everything else out. Combing your hair wet is best for your hair to prevent breakage. Straight hair people may complain that they want curly hair, but curly hair can be kind of a pain. but I'm sure you can figure out something to work for you! One other thing that can work with air-drying (if you get good curl that way) is to use a salt spray. It gives a little texture and hold.

the most obvious is SQRUNCH IT!! While hair is damp sqrunch w/ gel and mousse and after hair spray it.... after i usually take a towel and sqrunch over it again so it will dry better. also you can take a infuser for the blow dryer and use it after you scrunch it. and if you want it straight, go to sallys beauty supply and get some frizz oil they have some that is like biosilk but cheaper

Maybe you should get a Carotene Treatment, it will help your hair so much by taking the wave out and the frizzes. I dont know what area you are in but you can call Mondi Salon in Orlando, they have a really good price on this treatment, some salons are really expensive for it but they have the best prices around and voted one of the best salon in Orlando. call and ask questions, there phone no is ###-###-#### and they will also recommend a shampoo and cond. that goes with this treatment to help your hair look and feel so much better. Tell them M. sent you. good luck.

after using just about evrything there is to tame wavy frizz, I have settled with Biosilk. It is a serum like frizz ease, but also has silk conditioners in it which help protect the ends and leave the hair softer then gel or mouse. As far as going out, try a detangling comb, Biosilk, and then a small amount of mouse. Use a blow dryer with a diffuser to lock in the curl without frizzing the hair.

Blond hair tends to show dryness much more than darker hair, just as a FYI. My stylist told me this and as a former blond growing out her naturally dark hair, I can now see how right she was when I compare the dark portions with the light ones. I have a bad frizz issue due to the fact I have thin, wavy, extremely long hair (waist-length) and the fact that it was formally processed, not only with dye but also with some bleach. I have tried Frizz Ease and pretty much everything in the market, including Redken, Paul Mitchell, Nexxus and nothing works for me. The only thing that helps me tame the dry, crazy, "finger in the electric plug" look is blow-drying 99% (water can be absorbed by hair, making it puff up and frizz again), while running a wide-toothed comb (to avoid split ends) and then once it is dry, running a straightening iron through it, as well as some gloss drops. Since you have short hair, you may benefit from using a roundbrush while blow-drying, to keep your hair, sleep, smooth, and shiny without the fried, stick-straight, unhealthy look. It's hard and time-consuming for someone like me so I avoid it, but whenever I get it done at the salon, people compliment me on the shine it provides. Also, you may find this gross but the less you wash your hair, the better, as hair needs natural oils in order to look healthy so you need to have some oil buildup. Overwashing hair will dry it out and make it puffy. Stylists will tell you to wash your hair a maximum of 1-2 times a week, unless you have a natural greasy scalp. Some celebrities will only wash their hair once every 2 weeks and their hair is the envy of many.

Hi I haven't read all of your responses yet but I will do as I am in the same situation as you. I noticed that after my first baby my hair was naturally wavy, I am pregnant with number 2 and the waves tend to stay more too. I have been using a shampoo called tousle me softly by herbal essenses, I use the shampoo, towel dry slightly and then use the mouse, scrunching the curls / waves in as much as I can. Don;t brush it as it will just go frizzy, I then just use a head band to take it off my face or take part of the front peice and use clips to keep it off my face. The next day when all dry it is easier to manipulate.

Hello,

I have naturally curly, very long hair. I use a large toothed comb to detangle my hair in the shower. I comb through it while the conditioner is in my hair. Then towel dry. There are many products you could try. I have found that most of them (gel, mouse, serum) will help with the frizzies, so long as you don't touch your hair at least until it is dry. It is a matter of how soft or crunchy you want the finished product. A finishing spray (such as Garnier's anti humidity hair spray) will help seal the finished style as well. A squirt of regular conditioner used as hair gel also works and is good for your hair. You might want to try that first before you spend a bunch of money on hair products that you're not sure will work for you. If you need to blow it dry, the best thing I've tried is a large diffuser with "fingers" in it. I hate to tell you this, but the days of Hubby running his fingers through your hair are quickly leaving you. Curly hair doesn't lend itself to romantic man fingers:( Setting your hair with rollers will give you a smooth, straighter look with soft curls. Fingers can be run through it then.

Check out this website www.naturallycurly.com

I buy Aphogee Gloss Therapy at Sally's Hair Supply. It is a clear shine enhancer. It has the effect of coating the hair slightly to make it shiney and allows it to curl, wave, etc...and look nice. I then put in a bit of Pantene Mousse for Curly Hair. I let my hair air dry and it looks really nice all day, but I am not one of those who has to brush my hair all day, I don't even brush it anymore until the next day. i do occassionally run my fingers throu it to detangle it or just get it off myneck or pull back but it will look good all day if needed.

I only use a minimal amount of hair products because I don't want my hair weighted down and gooey.

I had the same problem. My sister (a stylist) says our hair gets coarser as we age and the changes make it get wavy/curly.
To help with the frizz use an anti friz product.
To keep it from getting destroyed or frizzy, run a wide toothed comb through it while it's wet. For going out I let mine air dry if possible but the dryer works in a pinch. The trick is to get all of the moistue out. Then I go over it with a flat iron. If I feel like a curly day then I just scrunch it up after I run the comb through it.
Good luck!

I get perms, so mine s not naturally curly, but to fix the angled part when you let it dry wet, I comb my hair in the shower, then when I get out it is not tangled. I then set it and it works for me. Good luck.

I've got natural curly hair and I love John Fredia Frizz ease products! They can be pricey but once you figure out what works for you, and you print off some online coupons, it's well worth it!! Their products are low PH which is better for your hair (just like the redkin and what not in the salons) and their styling products are alcohol free which is great!! I use the hair surm in the shower after I shampoo/condition, squeeze the water out of my hair first. I use about 3-4 pumps because my hair is thick and goes to my bra line in length. After it is towel dry ( I wrap my towel around my head. If you don't do that, then squeeze the towel on your hair, don't rub=tangles). Then I spray the frizz ease dream curls curl perfecting spray on my hair. Not a lot as it can dry crunchy but on the sides, top and back then brush it out, scrunch the hair so it isn't flat and air dry. If I'm going out or it's going to be a humid day, I'll toss in some clearly defined holding gel. 1-1 1/2 pumps, rub it together in my hands and just pat my frizz prone areas and the ends of my hair. Then brush, scrunch the hair and air dry. If you must blow dry your hair, use the lowest setting and use your fingers to comb through your hair. It may sound like a lot but it's really not. If you don't want to use the Fredia shampoo or conditioner, you can still get the same results from using another brand, just don't go cheap on your conditioner like sauve or vo 5, go mid range like garnia and try some of the Frizz ease hair products. You can get a good deal if you have coupons and walgreens or cvs has them on sale

Another good option is after you've shampoo/conditioned, use infusiums leave in conditioner. I buy this for my daughter. I get the big bottle for 6-7 bucks and pour it into a small spray bottle for her to use. She has long natural curly hair too and this helps keep the tangles down but not as much in the frizz department.

Good luck and enjoy your curly hair!!
S.