Ugh.
May 17, 2010 6:39 AM Subscribe
Thanks to a disaster haircut, I have no idea what to do with my short, curly, messy hair. In particular, how do I make it look presentable for professional occasions?
Got a terrible haircut recently thanks to miscommunication with the hairstylist... I wanted my long curly hair to reach my shoulders, but he cut it to shoulder length while it was wet, which means that, when dry, it bounces up to around my chin or the middle of my neck. It looks really odd.
I have not had hair this short for a decade. I have always been very low maintenance with my hair: I never blow dry or straighten it, don't tie it up much, just leave it to air dry with leave in conditioner. However this method doesn't work with my new hair - there's not enough to weigh it down, so it dries outwards instead of down, and the curls are not that defined.
How do I make it look OK, especially for work where messy would be frowned upon? What sort of updos should I be trying? It's long enough for a short ponytail but looks a little silly. Half ponytails look unflattering because of my face shape. Do I need to invest in straighteners? Would straightening it regularly damage my hair? I really want to keep it as healthy and happy as possible so it grows better.
For any product recommendations - I'm in the UK.
Got a terrible haircut recently thanks to miscommunication with the hairstylist... I wanted my long curly hair to reach my shoulders, but he cut it to shoulder length while it was wet, which means that, when dry, it bounces up to around my chin or the middle of my neck. It looks really odd.
I have not had hair this short for a decade. I have always been very low maintenance with my hair: I never blow dry or straighten it, don't tie it up much, just leave it to air dry with leave in conditioner. However this method doesn't work with my new hair - there's not enough to weigh it down, so it dries outwards instead of down, and the curls are not that defined.
How do I make it look OK, especially for work where messy would be frowned upon? What sort of updos should I be trying? It's long enough for a short ponytail but looks a little silly. Half ponytails look unflattering because of my face shape. Do I need to invest in straighteners? Would straightening it regularly damage my hair? I really want to keep it as healthy and happy as possible so it grows better.
For any product recommendations - I'm in the UK.
Best answer: You may need a re-cut, by someone with a little more curl experience, maybe to put in a little bit of layering to balance out the spring - if the current cut gives you Mushroom Head, layers/texturing will help. Pick a product to define the curls and keep it from frizzing out as it dries, but continue air-drying like you do. You want a gel somewhere in the "strong" or "extra" hold genre; run a light amount through, scrunch it in to encourage the curls, and you may need to scrunch a few more times as you air dry to "break" the crunchier bits without fluffing it. There's a zillion products out there aimed at curly hair, I don't know how much overlap there is between UK and US brands, but I just use cheap Garnier Nutrisse gel myself.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:59 AM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Lyn Never at 6:59 AM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A completely different perspective on the issue: You can make any haircut look good if you rock it. I know that's not easy if you don't like it, but people can really tell whether or not you feel comfortable with your appearance, and this case is no different. Convince yourself you've got the best haircut ever, and wear it with confidence, and you will be just fine.
But I do also recommend getting a re-cut.
posted by jehsom at 7:06 AM on May 17, 2010
But I do also recommend getting a re-cut.
posted by jehsom at 7:06 AM on May 17, 2010
Re recut: the stylist you used may be amenable to trying to fix things, agreed that some layers may help the shape.
In terms of making the current cut work it will definitely be about the products. I can second the gel technique Lyn Never describes and say that I have used this gel with success (but my hair is very thick, if yours is thinner it may be overkill); alternatively I've been liking this mousse for curl definition recently, although it's pretty light, so I'm not sure how well it would do in the weighing things down front.
posted by yarrow at 7:22 AM on May 17, 2010
In terms of making the current cut work it will definitely be about the products. I can second the gel technique Lyn Never describes and say that I have used this gel with success (but my hair is very thick, if yours is thinner it may be overkill); alternatively I've been liking this mousse for curl definition recently, although it's pretty light, so I'm not sure how well it would do in the weighing things down front.
posted by yarrow at 7:22 AM on May 17, 2010
I also vote re-cut. I always thought I couldn't wear my hair short, until I found a stylist who specializes in curly hair. (Right now I'm growing it long for a photo shoot and I can't wait to chop it!)
posted by JoanArkham at 7:47 AM on May 17, 2010
posted by JoanArkham at 7:47 AM on May 17, 2010
With some better shaping and products, you might be able to do something like this, which would be cute. (It depends on your texture, of course.)
I am low maintenance with my curly hair too...wash, condition, put some gel (or mixture of gels) in. It's totally possible to have a low-maintenance haircut that looks that good. You just have to get the right shape.
posted by cabingirl at 7:54 AM on May 17, 2010
I am low maintenance with my curly hair too...wash, condition, put some gel (or mixture of gels) in. It's totally possible to have a low-maintenance haircut that looks that good. You just have to get the right shape.
posted by cabingirl at 7:54 AM on May 17, 2010
I vote for a re-cut - you need some layers to make curly hair work at this length.
I think I have your current haircut. I shampoo/condition every other day, and then scrunch a golfball and a half of mousse into my hair. I let it airdry while I do my makeup, and then blast it with a hairdryer for a minute or too.
For a more professional look, use a little bit of shine serum after it's dried and bobbypin it right behind your ears.
posted by punchtothehead at 8:21 AM on May 17, 2010
I think I have your current haircut. I shampoo/condition every other day, and then scrunch a golfball and a half of mousse into my hair. I let it airdry while I do my makeup, and then blast it with a hairdryer for a minute or too.
For a more professional look, use a little bit of shine serum after it's dried and bobbypin it right behind your ears.
posted by punchtothehead at 8:21 AM on May 17, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for your responses everyone! Some really useful stuff here. And I'm looking fwd to test-driving some new products.
To clarify, he did put in layers. The shorter layers near the top are fluffing outwards as the hair dries. It looks awkward.
posted by Ziggy500 at 8:25 AM on May 17, 2010
To clarify, he did put in layers. The shorter layers near the top are fluffing outwards as the hair dries. It looks awkward.
posted by Ziggy500 at 8:25 AM on May 17, 2010
Definitely re-cut, with layers. Ouidad is the curly hair guru, but those salons are not cheap. My curly hair routine: apply mouse, blow-dry with diffuser while holding head upside down for volume. Do not brush or comb. Also, don't wash everyday - a little oil will keep your hair in better condition and keep the frizzies away.
posted by Kurichina at 8:28 AM on May 17, 2010
posted by Kurichina at 8:28 AM on May 17, 2010
recut for shape only & don't make those shorter layers shorter. Object is: 1) immediate -- hair you can live with; 2) longterm, rebalancing the cut so you can get back to what you like. Been there.
posted by Bet Glenn at 9:25 AM on May 17, 2010
posted by Bet Glenn at 9:25 AM on May 17, 2010
Best answer: Weigh it down. Use normal conditioner (for dry/curly hair) and leave it in. Helps with frizzies. Before you let it dry, you should scrunch it with something else for dry hair. Air drying is fine.
I am not sure how short it is, but a french braid is very effective because it can pull in even short bits of hair. It's quite easy to learn how to do. (A reverse or inside out french braid is also effective.) If it's long enough, a french twist is also very effective.
posted by jeather at 9:39 AM on May 17, 2010
I am not sure how short it is, but a french braid is very effective because it can pull in even short bits of hair. It's quite easy to learn how to do. (A reverse or inside out french braid is also effective.) If it's long enough, a french twist is also very effective.
posted by jeather at 9:39 AM on May 17, 2010
Best answer: That is pretty much my haircut and I love it (always had long hair). I did have to go get it re-cut though because you never really know what curly hair is going to do, some of the curls wouldn't stick together that sort of thing. The woman who cut it is very used to people with curly hair coming back into get a section fixed and was able to do it easily.
That said, I use L'Anza Leave In Conditioner (and I use a lot more of it then you will think necessary for such short hair) and I dry it by tying it up in this Curl-Ease Towel which I thought was a total marketing gimmick but I could not BE more in love with, especially if I have the time in the morning to leave it tied up for like 15/20 minutes. With just that, I get the slightly-messy curls that I find awesome for every-day use (and I get a lot of compliments on my hair). If I want the more controlled/tame curls I use Bed Head Manipulator which holds everything together but doesn't feel greasy.
Good luck!
posted by magnetsphere at 10:23 AM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
That said, I use L'Anza Leave In Conditioner (and I use a lot more of it then you will think necessary for such short hair) and I dry it by tying it up in this Curl-Ease Towel which I thought was a total marketing gimmick but I could not BE more in love with, especially if I have the time in the morning to leave it tied up for like 15/20 minutes. With just that, I get the slightly-messy curls that I find awesome for every-day use (and I get a lot of compliments on my hair). If I want the more controlled/tame curls I use Bed Head Manipulator which holds everything together but doesn't feel greasy.
Good luck!
posted by magnetsphere at 10:23 AM on May 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have your hair, and in a similar length, but more shaped with layers (no pyramid-head). For the future, insist that the hair stylist cut your hair dry first. I go to a person who specializes in curly hair, and she'll cut it dry, do the shampoo/conditioner/rinse, then clean it up while wet (no real length taken off after it's wet).
Anyway, try creating a zig-zaggy part. After showering, add some "product" (I use light curl holding/defining cremes; I don't want my hair to look wet or crunchy) and scrunch up the top. It will feel counter-intuitive to make it "bigger" but it will balance out with the sides and back. And then let it dry naturally --- no hair dryers! Occasionally scrunch it up as it dries. You want volume on top. Really!
posted by chowflap at 11:17 AM on May 17, 2010
Anyway, try creating a zig-zaggy part. After showering, add some "product" (I use light curl holding/defining cremes; I don't want my hair to look wet or crunchy) and scrunch up the top. It will feel counter-intuitive to make it "bigger" but it will balance out with the sides and back. And then let it dry naturally --- no hair dryers! Occasionally scrunch it up as it dries. You want volume on top. Really!
posted by chowflap at 11:17 AM on May 17, 2010
I would try putting in leave-in conditioner or mousse, and then twisting your curls when wet. Then don't (for the love of god) touch them.
The product and not touching should help with weighing the hair down and not frizzing, and the twisting should help define the curls.
posted by grapesaresour at 3:30 PM on May 17, 2010
The product and not touching should help with weighing the hair down and not frizzing, and the twisting should help define the curls.
posted by grapesaresour at 3:30 PM on May 17, 2010
AVEDA...I have your hair, maybe not your haircut, but it is the.best.product for curly hair! Email me if you want specific product.
posted by lucydriving at 6:46 PM on May 17, 2010
posted by lucydriving at 6:46 PM on May 17, 2010
Response by poster: Guys, THANKS. I put gel in today as per Lyn Never's suggestion and it actually looks kind of cute now.
Thank you for all your help. I'm looking forward to trying out all the other products and techniques mentioned.
posted by Ziggy500 at 4:32 AM on May 18, 2010
Thank you for all your help. I'm looking forward to trying out all the other products and techniques mentioned.
posted by Ziggy500 at 4:32 AM on May 18, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by artychoke at 6:53 AM on May 17, 2010 [2 favorites]