Thread: Managing long thick hair

What do you girls with long, thick hair do with it on a daily basis? At home to get it out of my way, I try clipping it up with one of those jaw clips but the biggest ones I can find are not big enough, so I end up with a goofy looking blob on top of my head. For wearing out in public, it's easiest to just let it hang loose and push it out of my face with sunglasses on top of my head.

For working out pulling it back in a French braid works best and is fine for that, but that is not how I want to look every day. So I'm looking for everyday things to try. I recently got a bunch of little cute decorative clips and started experimenting with pulling little sections up, sometimes twisting them, and clipping in place.

Also washing and conditioning is a pain in the butt, and I freeze after my shower with all that cold wet hair for awhile. So I'm looking for mists / sprays I can maybe saturate the roots with for freshening. I know the Curly Girl book has the lavender spray but I'm looking for other ideas and scents. I'm thinking about making a tea rinse (love the scent and my hair is already dark and reddish and any color change is fine with me) and using it in spray form. Also wondering if there's any benefit to aloe vera juice?

My hair is only normal thickness but it's darn long. Ficcare Maximas clips (size large) have been wonderful for me. I can comfortably secure a a bun (or other variation of an updo) with one of these clips and have it stay in place all day. Although the clips are pricey, I've got one I've been using almost every day for a couple years that hardly shows any wear. I've found them at Nordstrom and at ficcare.com. These are the only clips I've found that work consistently with my slippery hair and that don't break.

You might find more answers at the longhaircommunity.com forums, if you haven't checked there already.

I do the sunglasses on my head with wet or dry hair and will wear them all day long 'cause I forget they're on my head! Have always wished someone would make a better headband that would fit like sunglasses. It IS very hard to find a good clip that can hold all back without pulling on/out your hair. Course, there's always the twirl it, wrap it and tie it into a knot(s), but that gets old too. Am interested to hear what others have to say.

The tea rinse is new to me though, would like to hear more about that!

I'm no help at all here.....just green with envy and thin, fine, straight hair. A banana clip won't even stay in my hair....just slides right out.

My hair is not as thick as it used to now that I get it layered but it is still thicker and a lot longer than the average Jill.

I'm a big fan of the Goody Spin Pins. I still have to pull my hair back in a ponytail and secure it with a scrunchie first but they will hold my hair up fairly well and are comfortable. I wear mine at work all day during the summer. Of course by the end of the day, I can't wait to let my hair down just due to the weight.

You can use baby powder on your scalp as a refresher between washings. It'll absorb any oils and is completely safe for your hair and scalp. I just sprinkle a bit on and brush it through.

I have a ton of hair. For teaching class and for daily wear, I usually have it in a style called a "lazy wrap bun" - you can find instructions on youtube if you search for that phrase. It has good weight distribution so I don't get a headache, it stays put all day, even through headtosses while dancing, and it can be secured with just a single hairstick or hairfork.

Here's a pic of how much hair I'm talking about, from my recent photoshoot with Pixie.
IMG_0506b_small.jpg

Same here, long thick hair....
It takes forever to dry (I really don't like hair dryers....)
Also looking for inspiration actually....
I have too much hair to let it hang loose, so I just put it in a pony tail every day... but thats boring!
don't even know what to do with my hair during performance!
so am interested to see what other gals suggest!

Originally Posted by Aslahan

I have a ton of hair. For teaching class and for daily wear, I usually have it in a style called a "lazy wrap bun" - you can find instructions on youtube if you search for that phrase. It has good weight distribution so I don't get a headache, it stays put all day, even through headtosses while dancing, and it can be secured with just a single hairstick or hairfork.

Here's a pic of how much hair I'm talking about, from my recent photoshoot with Pixie.
Attachment 36148

I'm going to try this today! BTW You have stunning hair!

My only trick for wet hair is to clip it up in a "peacock twist" until the ends stop dripping. That way at least my entire back isn't wet...

I just did the lazy wrap bun and it feels great. I think this will be my new go to style since I have a hair puller riding in the backpack now. He can't reach the bun.

I just block out time for my hair to dry and sit around with it wrapped in a towel until just slightly damp. It's rare I'll go out somewhere with my hair down and still damp.

Most days I just wear it in one or two braids. Sometimes a bun to really keep it out of the way; I use either hairsticks (heh, my favorites are actually metal double-pointed knitting needles) or Good Hair Days pins (Magic-Grip Hairpins for hair buns and Grip-Tuth French Twist kits with styling and updo instructions and illustrations.).

If I want to put my hair in a ponytail, I'll begin to twist it into a tight high bun; once I get one full loop, I take the rest of the hair and pull it under the loop, then through the center of the loop (it's a bit like a knot) then pin the bun (make sure to keep the bun as tight as possible during this step. You'll have to loosen it slightly to get the other hair underneath/through, but try to pull it back tight again). (If I try to put it just in a regular ponytail, it sags from the weight of my hair. This way it has the pinned bun to support it, plus it reduces the length of the ponytail some. Plus it's just a little bit "different." Win-win.) I imagine if I wanted to reduce the length of my hair even more, I could wrap two loops, or as many as I wanted, before I pulled the rest through.

More than that, I can't really be bothered to do. Sometimes I'll do a braided figure-8 bun, though my hair is really mostly too long now to do one of those even with it braided. Just make a regular "bee butt" bun (wrap each successive loop underneath the previous, rather than around/to the outside of it), then take the top loop (it'll be the first one you made) and flip it over to form a figure-8 shape. you can hold it with hairsticks or pins. It's cute and looks way more complicated than it is to do. Or you can flip it sideways for a sideways 8 or "eternity" shape.

Aslahan, your hair is absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks, guys!!!

OK, gross out time, but I asked about no-washing ways of keeping it clean, and I found this no water thread on Long Hair Community:
The Official NW/SO Thread - The Long Hair Community Discussion Boards

And some brunettes are using cocoa powder as a dry shampoo:
Pure Cocoa Powder as Dry Shampoo - The Long Hair Community Discussion Boards

Right now I have not washed my hair in almost a week, and I don't think I can stand this. What I had been doing is greatly watering down a littlle shampoo in a pointy-tip dye bottle, and then distributing that evenly all over my scalp. I use very little shampoo, it works great, the results in my hair were great, but I'm trying to get away from using a lot of water. I may just have to suck it up and keep washing like that, though, because I don't think I can make it past the oily stage I'm in right now. They say it will just be this oily for a few weeks until your scalp normalizes and decreases production, but I don't know. Though one girl in that no-water thread said she has virtually stopped shedding!

I wish I could figure out the perfect up-do for me. But all of them I've tried either pull my top hair flat against my head which is really unflattering on me, or give me a headache after awhile with all the hair sitting and pulling in one spot. I think I will experiment with half-up-do's.
(found a half-up one I like: ; now need to find some sticks I like)

I also just remembered the pony flip. You can make that high up on the crown of your head, and then it adds fullness around your face instead of pulling it all flat.

It does take quite a bit of experimenting to find which method works best for your hair. I've been on a twice a week washing schedule for years and I just recently switched to the Baking Soda/Apple Cider Vinegar routine. My hair is loving it. No more scalp issues. It's so soft and it really enhances any natural wave you may have.

Originally Posted by Darbla

What do you girls with long, thick hair do with it on a daily basis?

Recently I've been putting it up in a modified french twist with a clip so that it creates a ponytail (stumbled on that one on this forum in fact), it's really nice since I don't even need a mirror to put it up. On the other hand when I get dressed up, want to protect the ends, or just want it out of my way completely I'll usually put it up in some type of bun with a hairstick or fork. I've been getting bored lately so I started checking out this site for new ideas. I used the Figure 8 Bun today and I think it's a winner.

Aw, this thread is making me nostalgic!! I've had ultra long hair for a few years and recently cut about 10 inches off. I miss it already, just not how hot it was or the headaches! haha

Ditto on the not frequent washings. I love love love the Oscar Blandi dry shampoo that you can get at Sephora. They have both a spray version and a powdery version. I got a small bottle of the powder kind It works amazingly well and smells wonderful. Also blends in much more easily than straight up baby powder does! You can find here:
Sephora: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo To Go: Dry

I also swear by the new "Spin Pin" by Goody. Great for when you just want to get it out of your face! Actually feels very secure and the bun stays nice all day! Love it!

Attached some pics for reference :) Love seeing everyones beautiful locks!

Originally Posted by rassicahl

Aslahan, your hair is absolutely gorgeous!

Aw, thank you. *needs a blushy smilie*

Originally Posted by gabrielle112

Attached some pics for reference :) Love seeing everyones beautiful locks!

Awesome Pixie pic!

I usually wash mine twice a week with a shampoo/conditioner in one on my head only, and then condition all of it. I have to wash it out completely once a week because I have a weekly activity that gets it really dirty, and then I use a deep conditioner treatment. My hair looks really thick, but the strands themselves are baby fine, I just have a lot of it. It also tends to get really oily.

For styling: I typically put it up into a bun using a jaw clip to hold it, or a ponytail with the jaw clip like Ariadne Eleni suggested. I also use hair sticks, and a really like them. I also do a figure 8 bun, but its gotten so long that I sometimes split it and do 2 figure 8 buns right next to each other. I will definitely have to check out 1000days of hair....I'm always looking for new ideas.

As silly as it sounds, in winter when its wet, and I'm going out I twist it up loosely and put it all under a warm hat. It keeps the ends from freezing and splitting, and it keeps it from getting rubbed between my coat collar and scarf- which otherwise causes me no end of rat's nests.

I learned to do some different braids off this site, some my hair is too long for now, and others its not nearly long enough!:
Braiding Instructions from Dreamweaver Braiding

and one of my friends uses this for her girls' hair- and I can't or wouldn't use all of them myself, but some are neat, and others are at least good inspiration: Adopt a 'Do - Cute Girls Hairstyles

Any of you have a secret for controlling the humidity-induced frizzies? I'm growing my hair out, and the more hair I have, the more it puffs up with the moisture in the air. I've been using MoroccanOil and it helps some, but... advice appreciated!

Originally Posted by tigerb

Any of you have a secret for controlling the humidity-induced frizzies? I'm growing my hair out, and the more hair I have, the more it puffs up with the moisture in the air. I've been using MoroccanOil and it helps some, but... advice appreciated!

Do you have curly hair? I know some folks with straighter hair who love MoroccanOil, but I personally don't like putting anything with silicone oil in my hair - it works great the first time or two and then starts to actually make things frizzier.

I have a number of styling products I like - these days it's JessiCurl Confident Coils and plain ol' aloe vera gel - but for me the most important thing to avoid the frizzies is not to touch my hair while it's drying. After the final rinse I don't even run my fingers through it, never mind a comb. And absolutely forget a towel. I squeeze out all the water I can with my hands, flip my hair over my head and apply my styling stuff with flat hands, then clip it up and don't touch it until it's dry. Whether that helps you is going to depend on your hair texture.

When the humidity reaches a certain level, though, I think nothing can stop the frizzies. I just hope for "cute and disheveled"

Originally Posted by Aslahan

Do you have curly hair? I know some folks with straighter hair who love MoroccanOil, but I personally don't like putting anything with silicone oil in my hair - it works great the first time or two and then starts to actually make things frizzier.

Oh dear!!

My hair isn't curly, but it's very wavy.

I have a number of styling products I like - these days it's JessiCurl Confident Coils and plain ol' aloe vera gel - but for me the most important thing to avoid the frizzies is not to touch my hair while it's drying. After the final rinse I don't even run my fingers through it, never mind a comb. And absolutely forget a towel.

Wow. I don't know if I could do that. I mean, psychologically. But I see how that would work -- my niece has super curly hair and says the less she does, the better.

When the humidity reaches a certain level, though, I think nothing can stop the frizzies. I just hope for "cute and disheveled"

I'd take "cute and disheveled"! Where do I sign up?!

Originally Posted by tigerb

My hair isn't curly, but it's very wavy.

Well, take a peek at the pic I posted of mine above and see if it matches yours. Mine's somewhat coarse, too, which isn't very common for curly hair, and it gets curlier as it gets longer.

Originally Posted by tigerb

I'd take "cute and disheveled"! Where do I sign up?!

I think (hope?) it's partially an attitude thing.

My hair is straight as a board.

I rub a little leave in conditioner in the "ends"- the length of my hair past about shoulder length/mid back to the end while my hair is still wet. I ring my hair out, towel it off, and let it air dry.

Once its dry I brush it with a bristle brush (which helps distribute the natural hair oils along the shaft), and I will sometimes brush it later in the day if I leave it down. I will also wet my hands and run my hands down my hair when it gets static-y.

LOL at the cute and disheveled look. Been there!!

The MD/DC area has wicked awful humidity in the summers too, so I feel your pain!

I love moroccan oil but find that it just aint enough for my hair by itself. For everyday styling I like Tresemme's "Simply No Frizz" spray gel as well as their "Tres Gel" because it never gets crunchy.

If you want some serious no frizz styling action, I totally recommend Garnier Fructis's "Survivor Rough-it Putty". Sounds gross but the consistency aint bad and it really does the job. I bought it before the Bellydance Evolution show because I was desperate for something that would keep my hair looking curled and not frizzy onstage. This stuff kept my hair looking great for the entire show! I was amazed!

Just my two cents :) I love the idea of aloe vera gel! I wouldn't have thought of that!

Originally Posted by gabrielle112

I love the idea of aloe vera gel! I wouldn't have thought of that!

Just don't try it in a dry climate. It's a moisture equalizer, so in, say, Arizona, it will actually suck moisture OUT of your hair.

I'm going to have to check out this putty stuff...

longhair: Figure-8 and Infinity Bun Instructions

I don't have long thick hair, I have very long medium hair. And here's a version of my favorite bun, the figure 8 or infinity bun, because my hair is slippery and fine and nothing before has ever held it up. I use the infinity version, but I just twist the whole wad of hair until it starts to kink, lay one loop left and one loop right, twist the remaining hair around the base of those two loops, and then use the loops as a hair toy by threading a hair stick through the end of the right one, under the bun, and through the end of the left one.
It usually holds very solidly for hours. It has Set.Me.Free!

HTH!

Are any of you other long-hairs into hair sticks? I'm going to try making some:
Make your own Funky or Fancy Hair Sticks

This guy has the least expensive ready-made ones I've found, and they are stunning too:
View Acrylic Hair Sticks by PacificMerchantile on Etsy