Hair Curlers (or other solutions) - Advice Welcome
Hello Stylish People. First world problem here: I am a 30-something adult with hair that is just not cute. I used to have very curly hair which I understood how to manage and style, but after a stressful few years in grad school, etc., the curl is gone: it is now just a little wavy and frizzy.
I do not own a blow dryer or a curling iron, and I'd rather not have to go that route daily (small kids, big commute). I am interested in old school techniques like curlers, but open to any suggestions. I wish there was a hair mentor hotline to call...
Do you have a clean set of old curlers you don't use anymore, that you'd be willing to lend, or do you recommend a certain type of curlers for low-hassle styling? Or, do you have any other advice or suggestions about how to up the cuteness factor without too much fuss or skill required? My hair is medium long - a few inches below shoulders - and fine, but not thin.
Thanks in advance, hair gurus!
Parent Replies
I’ve recently heard about something called the American Wave perm, lasting up to three months but not at all like the perms of the past. Planning to look into it for myself!
You are describing my teenage daughter's hair perfectly! I am envious. I did not know how to help her care for her hair (mine is very straight, very fine, and a lot of it; her's is same but wavy and prone to frizz) so we did a lot of research together. First, I suggest an internet search of "curly girl method". This method is for hair from wavy to kinky and everything in between. My daughter follows this method and now has beautiful, healthy, shiny hair with very little effort. After washing her hair, she puts a leave-in conditioner in it, twists it up, sleeps in it. In the morning, she untwists, lightly finger combs, and looks gorgeous.
Just wanted to throw it out there that if you want to try the blow dry route, you can do that and then not wash it and it will hold (and in my opinion, continue to look better), for several days. It's supposed to be healthier for many people's hair to avoid daily washing which can strip natural oils; I've certainly found it to be true for my hair. I wash it and blow dry it once every three days, and I get lots of compliments on my hair. On the third day, I use dry shampoo. Also, for my schedule, showering (and then blow dying) at night after kids are in bed is easier than fitting it into the crazy mornings.
I find henna helps thicken and gloss the hair shaft resulting in less frizz and more shine. However, it affects the color.
Cassia and/or amla are reputed to also thicken and improve hair, but with little or no effect on hair color. This site can give more information, but you'll want to skip the data on henna and indigo. I understand they are pretty good about answering questions by phone and email.
http://www.hennaforhair.com/
As a fellow fine, curly/frizzy hair type, I have suggestions other than curlers which can be damaging. Try taking some of the weight off your hair with layers and cutting a couple inches off the bottom. Also, never brush your hair and use a light leave-in curl enhancer.
Good luck!
Get a perm. Don’t waste you time with curlers. People are starting to get perms again and they aren’t the poodle types that people got in the 80’s. Also the new salon formulations aren’t as harsh on your hair as the old formulations. You’d only need to get one every few months.
Girl you don't want to wear curlers!! Why don't you book an appointment with a really good stylist who can refashion your look for you? If you want to try out the look you can do rag curls, tutorials on youtube. But I mean...
If you haven't read curly girl by lorraine Massey get it asap! And search online for info about the curly girl method. Changed my life with my curly frizzy hair. Deva Curl products worked wonders too. Good luck!
My hair has become much curlier and more enjoyable since I have been using Deva Curl No-Poo consistently. The no lather shampoo, consistent conditioning with their conditioners, and squeezing it after I wash it (check out the Deva curl website for how-to's) and cuts by Emmily Bright at Hype Salon in the Laurel District have made my curls come back after years of color. I let it go natural, no more dye, and that may have helped too. You have to use only those products and for awhile, but you will see what I mean. I used conventional shampoo recently while away from home and I was instantly sorry. CVS had it, and you can get coupons there, to lower the price. Huge bottles are $40 before any coupon. Good luck. --Curly Mama.
Hi! As a curly haired lady myself, I recommend starting with a good haircut that is for curly hair. Most cuts aren't. In fact, most cuts can deflate curls and make hair frizzy. And, you may even find with the right cut, it's pretty much just wash, style once, and go for a few days! My recommendations are the stylists at Edo Salon in SF (I've been cut by Jayne but if you check out their instagrams, all the stylists are amazing), or Corinna Hernandez (who owns Pony Salon) and cuts out of Borrow Salon in SF. Both of these salons use green and organic products. You can also look up Deva Curl salons in the East Bay, if you want something closer -- I just don't have specific recommendations -- and DevaCurl products aren't as clean so I tend to stay away from them, but I know other women who live by them.
Sounds to me like you just need to get rid of the frizz. Wavy, below-shoulder length hair is pretty stylish these days. If you are open to using product, go to Sephora and see what they recommend. I like Kevin Murphy "Young Again" oil (my hairdresser recommended) it - but use VERY little. Also, it's really fast to tame the frizz with a good flat iron. My flat iron heats up while I brush and floss, and then I just give it a few passes to leave most of the wave but get rid of the frizz. It adds at most 2 min. to my morning. Good flat irons aren't cheap, though, so that might be an issue? Another strategy that works well for me is to pull my hair back in a ponytail while it's still damp, leave it that way on BART until I get to work, and then take out the ponytail once it's dry. For some reason my hair doesn't get as frizzy when I do that as it does when it dries loose, and the ponytail, particularly if I double it into a bun shape, makes the ends curly.
Hi - No idea if this will work for you. My hair is slightly wavy, never been curly. However, I can get a curly look by doing these things:
- After I wash my hair I apply (regular) conditioner, but I don't rinse it out. Most on the ends of my hair, less at the roots. Then I wrap it in a towel to dry a little.
- After I comb it out if I have time I "finger curl" it - just twist it into ropes in a way that seems like it would do nothing, and then let it air dry. Somehow that's enough to take the wave and remind it that it could be a curl. They unwind right as soon as I let go, but I guess there's enough twist in there to make the shape kinda stay, in combination with the leave in conditioner
- I don't comb it after that - just before - and only when wet
- If I need a touch up (after a windy walk) I can spray or comb a little water into it, apply a little conditioner to the ends, and let it air dry and it refreshes