frizzy hair

Poot

First and foremost, I am a guy. For the past few years, I have been trying anything to get rid of my crappy, frizzy hair. After a shower when my hair dries out, it gets really dry, frizzy, curly, and tangled. I shampoo and condition whenever I shower (which is daily), and don't use any gels or mousse for my hair, which is anywhere between two and five inches at a time. Usually if I want to get my hair to look the way I want it to (straight/wavy and silky), I wear a hat until the frizz "calms down" and my hair looks less dry and more healthy, but I think this is just adding to the problem. I used to wear a hat all the time but it gets boring and I'd like to show my hair off more, but if I can't get my hair under control I have to pop one on.

I'm wondering if any of you have any suggestions on how I can fix my hair so I can get the healthy, silky, and straight/wavy look I've been wanting before I do anything to it that could damage it more. Thanks in advance.

Menthol

I feel your pain, man. I'm prone to frizziness, myself, and my constant experimentation with dying, bleaching, and threading don't help, either.

For one thing, when you go to rinse out your conditioner, use ice cold water. This closes up the moisture in the cuticle. For another thing, use a "heavier" conditioner. I like awapuhi, myself. Suave makes a decent knock-off of the salon stuff, and the aussie 3 minute miracle conditioner is awesome, too.

If that's not enough, pick up a bottle of Herbal essence leave-in conditioner. Spritz it on right after you get out of the shower.

ecchi

I shampoo ... whenever I shower (which is daily)

This is probably a big part of the problem. Try shampooing less frequently (but still condition). At first your hair will probably be too greasy to last longer than a few days this way, but eventually your scalp's natural oil cycle will work itself out and your hair will be less frizzy.

Munacra

I use Paul Michell Super Skinny Serum. It helps kill all the frizziness. It can be found in the nearest hair product place, but probably not a supermarket.

Poot

ecchi wrote:

I shampoo ... whenever I shower (which is daily)

This is probably a big part of the problem. Try shampooing less frequently (but still condition). At first your hair will probably be too greasy to last longer than a few days this way, but eventually your scalp's natural oil cycle will work itself out and your hair will be less frizzy.

So how often should I shampoo? 2, 3, 4 days a week? Or just until my hair starts getting greasy?

Sarcastro

Try every two or three days. For days in between, just rinse out with water. Anti-dandruff shampoo will also beat the hell out your hair, as will perms and colorants.

The_Indigo_Apocalypse

Poot, if I don't put anything in my hair, I have the same problem as you do.

You have a couple of options (that work really well):

1) if you REALLY want straight hair, either get it chemically relaxed at the salon (which I don't recommend at all because it does tend to dry out your hair, and because once your hair starts growing out, you'll end up w/ frizzy and curly roots--which just looks horrible)---- OR, buy a ceramic hair flat iron and straighten your hair.

flat irons like the ones found here are quite nice:

http://search.ulta.com/nav/dep1/04Hair%20Care/0

The only problem with those above solutions is that it can be expensive.

2)Accept you have curly hair, and find a product you like.

Some that I have found to work extremely well:
Herbal Essences mousses (go for the medium to strong hold)
Dove mousses
Sauve mousses and gels
Michael pomades and cremes (expensive)

Then make sure if you buy a hairdryer, you get one with a diffuser attachment (this helps reduce frizz by QUITE a bit when drying your hair).

Now for applying the products: once you get out of the shower, slightly towel dry your hair by PATTING it (you don't want all of the water gone from your hair though), NOT by rubbing it--rubbing it causes unnecessary frizz. Then use a large-tooth pick to go through your hair and make sure it's not tangled or too much of a mess to deal with.

I'm not sure how long your hair is, but if it's above shoulder length and you're using a mousse (which I highly recommend because they don't leave your hair sticky after applying, and don't dry hard or crusty) put a slightly-larger-than-ping-pong-sized amount into the plam of your hand. Lightly rub your hands together, and work into one half of your hair evenly. Try not to make your hair too stringy--let your hair follow it's natural curl. Then put another amount of the same size, and work into the other half of your hair, doing the same thing. Feel free to experiment with the amount of product (with gels you usually need less--same goes for cremes and pomades).

(I do it in halves, because it's just more thorough and easier to put on evenly)

Then let it air dry if you want. Make sure NOT TO TOUCH it though as it dries--this also causes frizz.

However, if you want to blowdry your hair, wait 5 minutes befare doing so. Then put it on high heat and medium speed, making sure you have the diffuser attachment all the way on it. Once your hair is dry, switch you dryer to the cool setting (if it has it), and use that for about 10 seconds on your hair. If you doo see a bit of frizz when you're all done, you can use a very small amount of your product and then a touch of water and run that through your hair. Then you should be copletely set.


I know like it looks like a ton to do, but once you get used to it, and you don't have hair that's almost 3 feet long like mine, it shouldn't take you more than 8 minutes at most (and that's including if you used a dryer).

Hope that helps, and sorry if it was too much all at once. :P

Rook

I completely and utterly recommend a pair of hair straighteners. I have some GHD ones that I use every day, they're wonderful. Also, bear in mind you probably get what you pay for, mine cost me just under £100, but completely worth it. I also use a heat treatment spray, not entirely sure how much of a difference it makes though, but 1 bottle lasts forever so I don't mind.

As for shampoo, I also used to have really frizzy hair, it'd fall out a lot too. I switched to using a set of salon products (Redken - Allsoft - but I'm sure others are great) on recommendation of my hairdresser and I really haven't looked back. All my frizz has gone and my hairbrush isn't completely covered in hair either. I pretty much wash it every day too because I go to the gym a lot and not washing it really isn't an option.

My advice would be, next time you get a hair cut go to a semi decent salon and talk with the person there about what kinda shampoo/conditioner and treatments would work best.

edit: Also, take a picture to the salon, it's 100x easier than describing what you want.

sark

I have long hair, and it gets frizzy from time to time. I use this Aussie leave in conditioner/frizz reducer stuff, and it works really well. I also just bought a new hair dryer. It boasts "ceramic radiant heat for less frizz". I don't know what the fuck that means, but my hair is less frizzy now than with my old hair dryer.

Also, remember that the more you fuck around with your hair, the more fizzy it'll probably be.

Poot

indigo

Thanks for the help guys, I think I'll start slow so I don't do any more damage to my hair, and I'll look into some better product for it (conditioners and mousses). If anyone has any more helpful advice it would be much appreciated.