Thread: Half-n-half hair

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I should try that. Do you use a big hair clip to get it to stay? Or something else?

sometimes a round-ish hair clip, or a hair pin (I'l look for an image in a minute) or a cute hair stick, or just an elastic, like for a ballet bun

ETA: For a more glam/stage version of the waves I do the following: when almost dry I separate the front layer of hair (so a few cms all around my face) from the rest and put the rest in the twisted bun on top of my head.

Then I make small square sections of hair from the separated front row and 'roll' them up one by one like pin curls, and pin them flat to my head with a bobby pin or curling pin (bobby pins in insonspicuous colors if I need to go out of the house with them ;)

Leave sit for as long as possible, spray with hairspray right before and after you take them out and voilá: glammy waves, no heat.

About washing-detangling: I do comb my hair after washing when it is 'towel dry', but I fluff it a bit again with my towel right after so the waves don't completely dissapear. And I rinse my hair with cold-ish water after washing/conditioning it while still in the shower to pre-detangle it a bit.

So I borrowed my mom's Curly Girl book this week and have started the experiment. I'm in Day 2 and so far have received lots of compliments. I know it can take up to 2 weeks to settle, so I'm sure there are better hair days ahead.

I hope you can see these pictures. I couldn't get Photobucket to upload this morning.

Before:


After:

Wow, that looks great! Try not to be swayed by the straight hair obsession permeating our culture, especially prevalent in hair salons.

One of my troupe mates has been a curly girl for years and her hair is ultra fine curli-Q spiraling locks down to her hips. It is amazing and beautiful.

I really do prefer wavy or curly hair...and I guess I am one of those who can choose to do either wavy or straight. Thanks though. It looks better today even.

Following your experiment very closely, because we could be half-and-half hair twins ,r:;

I've never tried the Curly Girl thing because the idea of shampooing with conditioner is just off-putting to me. Doesn't this make you feel greasy after awhile?

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Following your experiment very closely, because we could be half-and-half hair twins ,r:;

I've never tried the Curly Girl thing because the idea of shampooing with conditioner is just off-putting to me. Doesn't this make you feel greasy after awhile?

If you're a wavy girl you get to use shampoo! Only once a week though...I don't think i could handle the conditioning only routine.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

If you're a wavy girl you get to use shampoo! Only once a week though...I don't think i could handle the conditioning only routine.

Seriously. My ends are super dry, but my roots get greasy. I could never do the conditioning thing!

A shampoo once a week isn't bad. I only shampoo twice a week, as is. Is it OK to use dry shampoo?

I don't know about dry shampoo. You could probably get away with twice a week washings. I'm having a hard time because I was a 'Pooer every single day! Big adjustment.

I have the opposite problem. My curls are good on the top layer of my head but the longer areas tend to be more wavy or even straight at times. I am considering trying a sulfate free shampoo but I don't know what it a good one that I can afford.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Thanks for those tips. I use paraben and sulfate free shampoo and conditioners (not sure about the cones). I have for quite some time (a year or so). However, I have yet to find a good spray in conditioner that is 'cone free. My hair is incredibly tangly. Spray in conditioner/detangler is a must.

Another curly girl here...
If your shampoo is sulfate free than you must must must use a no-cone conditioner. The sulfates and the cones work with each other. Silicone is added to conditioners to add immediate shine, however it creates build up that can only be removed with sulfate shampoo. The build up will cause your hair to be dull with no shine, which sort of negates the whole curly girl method. I don't live in the US anymore, so I can't recommend any no cone conditioners, but you can find recommendations on this forum CurlTalk - Powered by vBulletin

Good luck!

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Following your experiment very closely, because we could be half-and-half hair twins ,r:;

I've never tried the Curly Girl thing because the idea of shampooing with conditioner is just off-putting to me. Doesn't this make you feel greasy after awhile?

Satin, when the method refers to washing with conditioner, it doesn't mean put conditioner on the way you do following a shampoo. You use a fairly large amount and you rub it into the scalp very thoroughly with the pads of your fingertips just like you do shampoo. Also, you have to pick the right conditioner -- one that is clean rinsing and not to heavy. Conditioners can, in fact, dissolve and wash away excess scalp oil, they just don't strip it completely down. They remove excess oil but leave a very small amount of natural oils distributed all the way down the hair strands. This preserves waves and curls.

The one thing that conditioners might not do so well (that shampoo can) is wash away build up of water-insoluable silicone-based styling products. But then part of the curly girl method is using styling products that won't build up like that.

Oh, one more thing! You were mentioning that you brush and comb your hair. If you don't manage to forgo them completely I recommend to try this kind of comb, it's much more gentle on the curls. Oh, and I forgot to tell that I love the "after" look!

Well shoot. I just found out my conditioner has 'cones in it. I just bought a new bottle! I should really pay more attention:

Organix Shea Butter Conditioner:
Di Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Jojoba Oil, Panthenol, Silk Amino Complex, Yogurt Protein Extracts, Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Tetrasodium EDTA, Fragrance, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Well shoot. I just found out my conditioner has 'cones in it. I just bought a new bottle! I should really pay more attention:

I know, I used to forget to check all the time! :) What I did eventually is go to a big supermarket and go over all of the conditioners on display, it took me like an hour! It turned out there is only one brand that doesn't contain silicone!!! But now I know. Still every once in a while I check for new brands. Also, here in organic stores we have nature's gate conditioners. They are very good and have no cones ( at least last time I checked), but they are a bit expensive. I think they are not as expensive in the US though, might worth to take a look

Andalee, your hair looks great! Can't wait to see what it'll look like after a couple more days :)

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Well shoot. I just found out my conditioner has 'cones in it. I just bought a new bottle! I should really pay more attention:

Organix Shea Butter Conditioner:
Di Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Jojoba Oil, Panthenol, Silk Amino Complex, Yogurt Protein Extracts, Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Tetrasodium EDTA, Fragrance, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

Bleh to Organix. I think they are full of hype, marketing to people who want organic, green, healthier hair products when their stuff is essentially the same as everyone else's. I bought some of their stuff on sale and didn't like any of it. Plus they make a big deal out of their shampoo being SLS free (sodium laureth sulfate) when in fact this is just a technicality -- their shampoo is based on disodium laureth sulfosuccinate which is the same kind of detergent. FYI.

Originally Posted by ssipes

Bleh to Organix. I think they are full of hype, marketing to people who want organic, green, healthier hair products when their stuff is essentially the same as everyone else's. I bought some of their stuff on sale and didn't like any of it. Plus they make a big deal out of their shampoo being SLS free (sodium laureth sulfate) when in fact this is just a technicality -- their shampoo is based on disodium laureth sulfosuccinate which is the same kind of detergent. FYI.

Figures I would fall for something like that. I got hooked on it for the smell honestly, but I totally fell for the SLS-free/Paraben-free/Not tested on animals stuff.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I bought my mom the book Curly Girl for Christmas. I will borrow it from her.

As for combing and brushing, I pretty much have to, which would make the curly girl method incompatible for me. I have the tangliest hair in the world. Always been, always will be. I get mats in my hair if not brushed. When i was a kid they would get so bad that my mom cut all my hair off and I had boy short hair for several years.

that's similar to my hair, which will eat small children if not watched carefully. I find that if I DON"T use a product with cones in it, it's so much worse that it's makes it preferable to NOT have hair.

So, I know that the prevailing thought is that cones are bad for you, but it all really depends on your hair. My hair is very healthy with almost no issues whatsoever. I wash once a week and condition my hair daily from the ears down with a cone conditioner. Keeps the frizz down and the curls defined.

My hairs texture is wavy on top and spiral curls underneath. I condition my hair in the morning shower, run my fingers through to de-tangle, toss some gel into the ends primarily and clip it up until dry. Poof, curly hair all the way through.

So Kina, you use curly girl? Do you ever use a brush or a comb for knots?

This morning I brushed my hair before I went in the shower and it is slightly less wavy and not behaving...or it could be that my scalp is getting used to not being washed daily. My bangs are sticking to my face.

ETA Old habits die hard.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

So Kina, you use curly girl? Do you ever use a brush or a comb for knots?

This morning I brushed my hair before I went in the shower and it is slightly less wavy and not behaving...or it could be that my scalp is getting used to not being washed daily. My bangs are sticking to my face.

ETA Old habits die hard.

Don't brush or comb dry hair (it breaks up the curl.) Instead comb in the shower when your hair is wet. I comb my conditioner through my hair. And when you style you can de-tangle a bit by running your fingers through your hair while it is still wet. Ouidad salon taught me a trick, run your fingers through your hair when wet and when you get to the ends give a shake or two to snap the curls in place.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

So Kina, you use curly girl? Do you ever use a brush or a comb for knots?

This morning I brushed my hair before I went in the shower and it is slightly less wavy and not behaving...or it could be that my scalp is getting used to not being washed daily. My bangs are sticking to my face.

ETA Old habits die hard.

Shampooing (or not). I used to shampoo daily and my hair was constantly greasy. I cut down gradually, first every other day, then every 3rd day, etc. I'm at once per week and I'm not cutting down any more (although I feel like I could, but my scalp gets itchy by then) my hair is NEVER greasy neither is my scalp. The more you wash, the greasier your scalp.

I will occasionally comb it, usually if I've washed it since washing it tends to make it tangle much more. Daily conditioning though, only run my fingers through it and it takes care of the tangles. I do use a conditioner with cones. When I used a cone free shampoo and conditioner regimen, my hair was unbearable, couldn't untangle it with a comb, caused all kinds of damage. My hair is the kind where it will literally have a knot in a single strand of hair, all by itself.

I *do* use curly girl, but modify it in terms of the cones. They work for me, ymmv of course.

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

Don't brush or comb dry hair (it breaks up the curl.) Instead comb in the shower when your hair is wet. I comb my conditioner through my hair. And when you style you can de-tangle a bit by running your fingers through your hair while it is still wet. Ouidad salon taught me a trick, run your fingers through your hair when wet and when you get to the ends give a shake or two to snap the curls in place.

this

andalee-oriental ~ wow i noticed a huge difference in your hair. see what nice waves you have...lol. i'm a total no 'poo' girl...lol. i use baking soda & brown sugar to clean my hair & a vinegar with perfume oil as a conditioner. then i do the plopping thing if it's not as dry as i want i very carefully dry with a diffuser making sure not to distrub the waves. it's working really well for me.

Just one small extra note to the excellent advice already offered- towels can be a bit too rough for hair. If you battle frizzies- whether your hair is straight or curly- you may want to use a sarong or t-shirt to dry it.

And Satin, I totally hear you on the conditioner only thing sounding freaky. I think finding the right product is super key! I use Deva Curl "No 'poo" and "One Condition" which means I'm cleaning my hair with conditioner and moisturizing with another, stronger conditioner and my hair is WAY less tangley because it's moisturized better and I go several days longer between washes without it looking oily. It's crazy. We're trained to believe that if it doesn't lather, it's not cleaning and that we have to scrub from top to bottom every day or we're dirty. I shower every day- don't get me wrong, but I don't dunk my hair.

Andalee- wow! Great results, your hair is looking very glam :D

I have the same issue when my hair is longer (been short for 3 years now, but I'm starting to grow it back out). The only thing that ever worked for me as far as getting the top of my hair to wave as much as the bottom was Bumble and Bumble's Curl Conscious leave-in conditioner/curl activator. I'd just scrunch it in after shampooing and let it air dry or blow dry with a diffuser. Worked like a charm!

B&B has a whole line of Curl Conscious products, but I never tried the shampoo or conditioner. Never needed them. I have a friend though who's very curly and she swears by the whole line.