Help me troubleshoot my hair
September 26, 2014 10:33 AM Subscribe
I am looking for some advice regarding recent issues I have been having with my hair, namely extreme bedhead troubles and problems with random spikiness and poofiness. I included details about my hair, my care routine (or lack thereof) and the recent issues I’ve had in the “more info” section.
My hair is shoulder-length and usually dyed (at home, not in a salon. The brand I use changes with my whimsy, but it’s always red. While the individual strands are very fine and silky, I have a ton of hair and my hair is very very thick. It tangles super easily. I don’t brush it because it gets humongous, though sometimes I do at least comb through it, usually with coconut oil.
My hair is naturally quite curly as well. I find that less has usually been more for me, and I don’t do much maintenance aside from washing and conditioning, both with Aussie Moist. Also, I am Caucasian, and my scalp is oily.
A few months ago, I developed a few major knots and tried everything to untangle them. Eventually, I got frustrated and just cut them out with scissors. It wasn’t noticeable at the time, but now that the places I cut have grown back a decent amount, they have begun to get rather spiky or wayward. I am imagining I might have to go to a hairdresser to help remedy the bad places, but I am not sure what to ask a hairdresser to do to make it better.
I am also getting hilariously bad bedhead every morning now. My hair has begun rebelling into a big cloud that I have to fight every day. The stuff I Googled talks about changing pillowcases to help with bedhead, but I am not sure what the answer is, especially since this hasn’t really been a problem for me before.
If you have any suggestions as far as helpful products, habits, etc. go, I would be grateful. However, I do know myself well enough to know I could never stick to anything high-maintenance. Thank you.
My hair is shoulder-length and usually dyed (at home, not in a salon. The brand I use changes with my whimsy, but it’s always red. While the individual strands are very fine and silky, I have a ton of hair and my hair is very very thick. It tangles super easily. I don’t brush it because it gets humongous, though sometimes I do at least comb through it, usually with coconut oil.
My hair is naturally quite curly as well. I find that less has usually been more for me, and I don’t do much maintenance aside from washing and conditioning, both with Aussie Moist. Also, I am Caucasian, and my scalp is oily.
A few months ago, I developed a few major knots and tried everything to untangle them. Eventually, I got frustrated and just cut them out with scissors. It wasn’t noticeable at the time, but now that the places I cut have grown back a decent amount, they have begun to get rather spiky or wayward. I am imagining I might have to go to a hairdresser to help remedy the bad places, but I am not sure what to ask a hairdresser to do to make it better.
I am also getting hilariously bad bedhead every morning now. My hair has begun rebelling into a big cloud that I have to fight every day. The stuff I Googled talks about changing pillowcases to help with bedhead, but I am not sure what the answer is, especially since this hasn’t really been a problem for me before.
If you have any suggestions as far as helpful products, habits, etc. go, I would be grateful. However, I do know myself well enough to know I could never stick to anything high-maintenance. Thank you.
1. how are you tying up your hair when you go to bed? do you just leave it willy nilly or are you tying it up in any way? I have hair that is somewhere between chin and shoulder length and I sorta pigtail pony it at night to sleep, high enough on my head to not bother me when I sleep on my side. It doesn't get ALL the hair, but it gets most of it. Braids or tying it up in a super high sumo-type bun for sleeping def. helped my bed head when my hair was longer. A satin/silk pillowcase may very much help you.
2. would a different cut help? I just chopped over 8 inches off my hair and god DAMN is my hair easier to manage. And it just FEELS better.
3. where are the tangles happening? I sleep with a thick fabric headband type thing to keep my bangs off my face while I sleep and that actually helps with the epic bedhead as well.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:50 AM on September 26, 2014
2. would a different cut help? I just chopped over 8 inches off my hair and god DAMN is my hair easier to manage. And it just FEELS better.
3. where are the tangles happening? I sleep with a thick fabric headband type thing to keep my bangs off my face while I sleep and that actually helps with the epic bedhead as well.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:50 AM on September 26, 2014
I do recommend a good hairdresser, but I know those are hard to come by (I used to have an *amazing* one in Cambridge, MA, but he recently moved out to LA. If you are in that area, MeMail me and I'll send his details.
Tell the hairdresser what you wrote: they should be able to adjust their cutting.
Non-hairdresser recommendations:
- maybe using hair oil on the ends? Argan or more coconut oil can weigh it enough and keep strands from floating and tangling themselves as easily
- 2nd-ing joan_holloway's recommendation about a sleeping cap. You feel silly, but it can help
- or, as an alternative - I find if I spread my hair out above my head and pillow (like sunrays from my head), it keeps it from tangling as much
- I LOVE love love this Paul Mitchell Fast Form Styling Creme. It gives structure and body to my thin, Caucasian hair, and gives it a beautiful wave.
posted by troytroy at 10:53 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
Tell the hairdresser what you wrote: they should be able to adjust their cutting.
Non-hairdresser recommendations:
- maybe using hair oil on the ends? Argan or more coconut oil can weigh it enough and keep strands from floating and tangling themselves as easily
- 2nd-ing joan_holloway's recommendation about a sleeping cap. You feel silly, but it can help
- or, as an alternative - I find if I spread my hair out above my head and pillow (like sunrays from my head), it keeps it from tangling as much
- I LOVE love love this Paul Mitchell Fast Form Styling Creme. It gives structure and body to my thin, Caucasian hair, and gives it a beautiful wave.
posted by troytroy at 10:53 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
I've had far fewer crazy bed head days now that I've switched to a slick, 100% silk pillowcase (got mine on ebay). My understanding is that the more slippery your pillowcase is, the less your hair tangles. You can also try sleeping hairstyles like loose braids or twisted buns . Also, women who favor blowouts often sleep in a turban or head wrap in order to avoid bed head.
posted by quince at 11:04 AM on September 26, 2014
posted by quince at 11:04 AM on September 26, 2014
I have thick, wavy, shoulder-length hair, and next to finding a good and trusted stylist (pro tip: go to your nearest Aveda salon and talk to the people there), I take good quality conditioner (Aveda, or Aussie Smooth), work it through my hair with my hands, comb it through with a wide-tooth shower comb, and let it sit on my hair for 5-10 minutes as I do the rest of the shower stuff.
Give Aveda Brilliant Conditioner a spin.
Ideally, your hair needs to have well-cut layers, and its thickness managed.
posted by gsh at 11:08 AM on September 26, 2014
Give Aveda Brilliant Conditioner a spin.
Ideally, your hair needs to have well-cut layers, and its thickness managed.
posted by gsh at 11:08 AM on September 26, 2014
Seconding the slicker pillowcase. My hair has recently changed texture, becoming wavy when it used to be stick-straight, and my bedhead grew exponentially worse with the change. I bought a couple of cheap satin pillowcases from a home-goods store and it is SO. MUCH. BETTER. Not perfect--my hair still needs work in the morning--but I no longer resemble Tina Turner caught in a tornado.
I haven't had the heat or sweat problems that others report online of satin cases, but I figure I'll probably try silk cases next.
posted by telophase at 11:09 AM on September 26, 2014
I haven't had the heat or sweat problems that others report online of satin cases, but I figure I'll probably try silk cases next.
posted by telophase at 11:09 AM on September 26, 2014
My stylist introduced me to putting my hair up pineapple style for sleeping. (I use a big claw clip instead of a elastic so I don't get a dent.)
I think this method will help with your bedhead and tangles.
posted by Squeak Attack at 11:10 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
I think this method will help with your bedhead and tangles.
posted by Squeak Attack at 11:10 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have lots and lots of fine, curly hair. I find Aussie Moist isn't a very good conditioner for me. If you invest in a better conditioner your tangling issues might resolve some. I'm fond of Devacurl's One Condition though it is very expensive. Failing that, maybe least start using a leave-in conditioner religiously.
posted by Andrhia at 11:21 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Andrhia at 11:21 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
How often do you get your hair cut? If your hair is anything like mine (shoulder-length, thick-ish, tends toward frizziness) I need to get a cut it cut fairly often just to remove volume. I got a cut last night and I think the stylist cut out like, half my hair, while keeping it the same length, but it looks much better (better shape, looks healthier). It definitely solves the 'ton of hair' problem.
posted by matcha action at 11:29 AM on September 26, 2014
posted by matcha action at 11:29 AM on September 26, 2014
I also have super-thick, curly hair (one hairstylist once remarked that I had enough hair for at lest two people), and I've noticed that curly hair is often rather dry. I do use Aussie Moist sometimes, but in conjunction with one to two other kinds of conditioner in my hair as well. I'm not quite on the no shampoo train yet, but I do use 2-3 times as much conditioner in my hair as I do shampoo. Dying hair often dries it out too, so you probably need tons more conditioner that you're currently using.
I'm bad at it, but braiding your hair at night and sleeping with a satin pillowcase or a sleep cap is really supposed to help with the tangles and frizz.
I had an unfortunate period in my youth when I did cut a weird sort of chunk out of my hair. What solved that problem was getting the rest of my hair cut into long layers. If your hair is past your shoulders, that technique might really help make those odd-cut pieces look better, and it also does wonders for cutting down on pouf/that general sort of sheepdog-like look that I often feel accompanies curly hair.
Good on you for not using brushes, that's excellent advice. The brushing does indeed make it way too big. See if extra conditioner and a gentler sleeping hairstyle help, and if that doesn't work, then maybe see about getting a simple, easy, low-maintenance curly cut. It does wonders for making your hair look good with very little work.
posted by PearlRose at 11:42 AM on September 26, 2014
I'm bad at it, but braiding your hair at night and sleeping with a satin pillowcase or a sleep cap is really supposed to help with the tangles and frizz.
I had an unfortunate period in my youth when I did cut a weird sort of chunk out of my hair. What solved that problem was getting the rest of my hair cut into long layers. If your hair is past your shoulders, that technique might really help make those odd-cut pieces look better, and it also does wonders for cutting down on pouf/that general sort of sheepdog-like look that I often feel accompanies curly hair.
Good on you for not using brushes, that's excellent advice. The brushing does indeed make it way too big. See if extra conditioner and a gentler sleeping hairstyle help, and if that doesn't work, then maybe see about getting a simple, easy, low-maintenance curly cut. It does wonders for making your hair look good with very little work.
posted by PearlRose at 11:42 AM on September 26, 2014
Response by poster: Thank you all for your suggestions I've located an Aveda Salon near me and will schedule a hair appointment there. I also started browsing for a good satin pillowcase and sleeping cap.
I am sure a better conditioner would offer me a lot of benefits. However, I am still trying to puzzle out why my hair would suddenly start rebelling when using a conditioner that I have used for some time without any problem.
posted by mermaidcafe at 12:27 PM on September 26, 2014
I am sure a better conditioner would offer me a lot of benefits. However, I am still trying to puzzle out why my hair would suddenly start rebelling when using a conditioner that I have used for some time without any problem.
posted by mermaidcafe at 12:27 PM on September 26, 2014
Like most things, hair changes. Hormones, age, diet, etc. affect hair, too! I notice, like my skin, my hair can be a touch greasy when I'm nearing time for my period. My scalp can get a touch itchy, too. Gray hair can have a different texture, and I think my hair's actually gotten curlier and much darker as well as I've aged.
If it's not hormones, it could be your hair dye. I know you said you flip between brands, are you using a new one? Something in the ingredients might be messing with things.
posted by PearlRose at 12:49 PM on September 26, 2014
If it's not hormones, it could be your hair dye. I know you said you flip between brands, are you using a new one? Something in the ingredients might be messing with things.
posted by PearlRose at 12:49 PM on September 26, 2014
Nthing the pineapple hairdo for sleeping--I must thrash too much at night, because I cannot keep a sleeping cap on for my life. Nthing much less shampooing of hair. How about a leave-in conditioner? That's also essential for my super-curly hair.
The haircut should help--if you have any dry, damaged ends they tangle more easily. I know it's time to go in for one of my infrequent haircuts when I start getting bad knots at the base of my neck and more frizziness.
posted by TwoStride at 1:12 PM on September 26, 2014
The haircut should help--if you have any dry, damaged ends they tangle more easily. I know it's time to go in for one of my infrequent haircuts when I start getting bad knots at the base of my neck and more frizziness.
posted by TwoStride at 1:12 PM on September 26, 2014
I have thick curly hair and wake up with super puff every morning. I just wet it, put in some oil and curl cream and comb it with a wide tooth comb. If I'm in a hurry to have it dry, I'll use a diffuser but just usually let it air dry. I wash it about every third or fourth day. Super easy.
posted by tamitang at 5:28 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by tamitang at 5:28 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have also have a ton of semi-curly wavy hair that tangles easily. Aussi is funny because it lures your in by giving you nice silky controlled hair for a while and then it turns bad on you. Recently I switched hairdressers and her recommendation (after a lifetime of terrible poofiness) has made the most difference. She told me never to buy regular drugstore shampoo--I should only use salon quality shampoo, and to start, she recommended clarifying shampoo for at least a month. I also color my hair and was worried it would take out the color but so far, so good. I love Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo. I think my hair just had a bunch of build up of products on it and it feels so much better, doesn't stick together and tangle and is less poofy.
posted by biscuits at 6:42 PM on September 26, 2014
posted by biscuits at 6:42 PM on September 26, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
When I had really long hair I invested in satin pillow cases and a sleeping cap (basically it was lined with satin and made me look like I was in the olden times). It helped.
Another idea - your hair may actually be extra dry, making it more prone to tangles. I've always heard curly heads should not use shampoo at all. I have a very oily scalp and fine-but-lots-of-it hair and scrubbing my head with conditioner every day rather than using shampoo has really made my life better.
posted by joan_holloway at 10:38 AM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]