How can I encourage the 10th of my hair that won't curl to do so?

February 24, 2009 8:11 AM

Top of my head hair is straighter than the under hair of my head, which is fairly curly. What can I do/use to help the top hair be curlier? Please save me from my 30 minute routine of blow drying and flat ironing....

I have what I can only explain as 'combination hair'. The top layer of hair on my head is only slightly wavy, while the rest of my hair has a definite curl to it, forming nice compact curls with little to no effort. I have a whole lot of trouble getting the top hair to curl like the bottom hair without it looking stupid so for the past year+ I have resigned myself to three possibilities: blowdrying and flat ironing my hair straight every morning (which takes 30+ minutes), wearing it tied back (boring), or letting the hair curl but pulling the top hair back because it won't curl (which makes me look odd... trust me).

What I'd like to know is if any techniques or products that are out there that could help in my quest for uniformly curly hair. I do have and use a diffuser on the rare occasion I try to wear it curly, and it works amazingly well with the bottom hair, but again just makes my top hair look messy. I also have a curling iron like this which I have tried using on just the top hair to make it uniform, but it also looks ridiculous. I also got some layers cut into my hair, thinking that maybe it was the weight of the hair that was pulling it straighter, but it made only a slight difference.

Also, I am not willing to get a perm or anything like that. I am thinking more along the lines of a styling tool or technique or product I can use when I want it to curl.

posted by gwenlister to clothing, beauty, & fashion (11 comments total)

You might have my hair. I have perfect little ringlet curls in the under layer of my hair, but the top layer is a frizzy wave at best.

It would help to know if your top layer has, well...layers. It's taken me a long time and more than a few stylists to find the right layered cut for my hair. I have a lot various length layers cut into the top layer to help it wave and if I'm lucky curl.

It's also helpful to know how often you shampoo. I often find my hair waves or tries to curl better if I only shampoo every other day.
posted by Constant Reader at 8:30 AM on February 24

I have wavy hair, and I've been using scrunching gel to make it more uniformly curly. I don't know if you could just use normal gel and make the "scrunching" motion on just the top layers, or if there's something special in particular to scrunching gel.

The trick with coaxing wavy hair to curl is that you must not comb/brush it at all after you wash it. I wash it, scruch it up when it's damp, then leave it looking messy until it dries or blow dry and style. Even after it dries I can't touch it too much or the curls will flatten. A little styling is OK but full-on finger-combing will ruin it.
posted by muddgirl at 8:33 AM on February 24

Sorry, I'm tired and just realized you already mentioned layers.

mudgirl brings up a VERY good point. Do not comb or play with your hair when it is wet. What you might be able to do is to take larger sections of hair and twist them lightly while wet. Leave the twists to air dry or use a diffuser.
posted by Constant Reader at 8:37 AM on February 24

You have Pam Beasley hair. This girl's stylist recommends Bumble & Bumble's thickening spray.
posted by Viola at 8:43 AM on February 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

I use Redken's curl creme for my hair as well as Matrix Mousse for curly hair (green bottle). Both work well -- I use the mouse for a "stiffer" curl, and the creme for a looser one.

But I really think a good hair cut matters. My current haircut sucks. I got a free coupon to a different salon, so I went there. Now, like you, my top layer is flat/frizzy, and only the bottom layer curls well. I usually end up using a curling iron. After it grows out a bit, I'll return to my regular stylist. Whenever she cut my hair, she put in the right geometry of layers so that the top layer would a curl a bit matching the bottom. Ask around for a stylist who's good with curls.
posted by bluefly at 8:45 AM on February 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

I have your hair, too. The best thing I ever did was go to a stylist who really knew her stuff, and got a rockin haircut. She gave me products (I use bumble&bubmle stuff), but with the haircut, I rarely need it. I rarely blow dry it -- if I want it curly, I put in a dab of the stuff, flip my head over, crunch, AND DO NOT TOUCH. If I need to dry it, I use a diffuser.

If I want it straight, I either wash it at night, loosely french braid it and sleep on it, or I put a bit of the straight stuff and do a fast blow dry. Once again DO NO TOUCH.

The other thing that helps: don't wash it every day. Without fail, my hair looks better on day two or three. (Can't go more than that without my head itching).
posted by dpx.mfx at 8:46 AM on February 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

Is the top hair damaged from all your blow drying and flat ironing? It sounds like you shampoo everyday, which might be too much for your hair - it's too much for my wavy hair. Another question on AskMeFi led me to naturallycurly.com and then to this blog post. There's plenty of good info there... I will refrain from repeating it all. Suffice to say I'm a convert to plonking/plopping and the CO wash.

Also, I like Aveda's Be Curly leave in lotion-y stuff for my waves.
posted by bellbellbell at 8:47 AM on February 24 [1 favorite has favorites]

Sounds like you have my hair. If that's the case, "uniformly curly" will be as impossible to achieve as "uniformly straight."

I'll second some of the previous recommendations - the most important thing is a good cut (easier said than done) by a stylist who understands your needs. Second most important thing is to throw out your hairbrush - never, ever brush your hair. And third, if you blowdry, use a diffuser.
posted by chez shoes at 8:56 AM on February 24

Yeah, I am a FIRM believer in the don't touch aspect as that is a death sentence for my hair when curly. I only ever use a pick in the shower to pick through the conditioner, but I don't brush it or comb it or anything once I rinse my hair. I just shake it out and at most scrunch dry with a towel, but even then I usually don't.

And I do wash it every day, as it gets gross and greasy if I don't. Not really an option. And it isn't too damaged damaged at all. I haven't had it cut for 2 months and I don't have an issue with split or dry ends. I am careful to use heat protecting spray etc. on my hair before I straighten it out.
posted by gwenlister at 8:58 AM on February 24

Me, too. I use a hairbrush, wash every other day or so, don't use a blow dryer, comb it when wet. Layered cut is essential, plus lots of gel and some silicon-based shine serum, and scrunching. The underneath hair is short, and is able to curl. The hair on top is longest, and the curl may be pulled out by the length. Layering allows it to curl more and better.
posted by theora55 at 2:15 PM on February 24

when i'm trying to do ensure the top of my hair stays curly, i often take all of my hair in my hand, lie down, and release my hair on the pillow (so that there's no weight pulling the length of any hair). then i'll go to sleep (i don't toss and turn, so it pretty much stays in place) or watch a movie or something so that i don't have to get up.
posted by anthropomorphic at 2:20 PM on February 26