I want to learn how to dress up my hair
March 3, 2018 2:18 AM Subscribe
My hair grows very fast, and haircuts are boring and expensive. I'd rather let it grow, but have few ideas how to manage the length other than putting it up in a bun or using a barrette - which is BORING. It's thick and wavy, but like most thick and wavy hair, looses oomph after 2-3 feet. How do I learn interesting ways to dress this mess? Am willing to look outlandish.
In a single word, braid.
posted by kevinbelt at 5:15 AM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by kevinbelt at 5:15 AM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
What about fancy braids - like braids done using five strands instead of three and so on, or a fishtail braid? Or a historical bun, like a Gibson Girl bun? A forties updo? How absurd would you feel in a snood or a retro turban?
When I had long hair, it was too militantly straight for a cinnamon bun hairstyle (either the two to the back of the ears or just one at the back of the head) but with wavy hair you could probably do it.
I don't have time to look up a good picture, but some of those pre-hippie sixties hairstyles were absolutely bananas - my mother had fairly long, thick hair (not as long as yours) and even she needed a fall to achieve them. If you have really long thick hair, you could probably do some really wild space-age updos for special occasions.
When I had long hair, I did two braids a lot, TBH. There's a woman at work who does this - she must be in her late thirties by this point - and while it's definitely an "I am an artsy person employed at a public institution" it isn't risible or anything.
posted by Frowner at 5:40 AM on March 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
When I had long hair, it was too militantly straight for a cinnamon bun hairstyle (either the two to the back of the ears or just one at the back of the head) but with wavy hair you could probably do it.
I don't have time to look up a good picture, but some of those pre-hippie sixties hairstyles were absolutely bananas - my mother had fairly long, thick hair (not as long as yours) and even she needed a fall to achieve them. If you have really long thick hair, you could probably do some really wild space-age updos for special occasions.
When I had long hair, I did two braids a lot, TBH. There's a woman at work who does this - she must be in her late thirties by this point - and while it's definitely an "I am an artsy person employed at a public institution" it isn't risible or anything.
posted by Frowner at 5:40 AM on March 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
French twist, rope braid on the side, braided pony tail.
And there are a million ways to do a bun: high, low, tight, soft, neat, messy, with or without curls around the face, with or without funky barrettes/clips. It all just takes practice.
posted by bunderful at 5:43 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
And there are a million ways to do a bun: high, low, tight, soft, neat, messy, with or without curls around the face, with or without funky barrettes/clips. It all just takes practice.
posted by bunderful at 5:43 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I learned to cut my own hair because I was tired of paying for haircuts that basically left my long hair looking exactly the same to the casual observer (ie my husband). If you buy some haircutting scissors there are lots of tutorials on YouTube. It is pretty easy and you don't have to make small talk while staring at yourself in the mirror for 45 minutes.
posted by chaiminda at 6:28 AM on March 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by chaiminda at 6:28 AM on March 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
Thick and wavy is perfect for braids. Start on Pinterest, actually. And if that gets boring, try some historical hairstyles. The main reason I have long hair is that I can look different in 5 minutes without the irreversible nature of a haircut.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 6:41 AM on March 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 6:41 AM on March 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Use a Buff to hold it back (I cut my own bangs when I can't stand them, which is usually at lip length). Several styling options hold back the length as well as the front and sides.
Same with a bandana or long scarf. An earlier thread about headwear during chemo treatments had some options.
My "it's officially too long" moment is when it gets caught while closing the car door.
posted by TrishaU at 6:53 AM on March 3, 2018
Same with a bandana or long scarf. An earlier thread about headwear during chemo treatments had some options.
My "it's officially too long" moment is when it gets caught while closing the car door.
posted by TrishaU at 6:53 AM on March 3, 2018
I've learned to put my hair away into two buns. For some reason the hugeness of my hair can be compressed much more efficiently via two regular buns than any other way like braiding or one big bun. You have to find the sweet spot for your particular head shape and hairline or else they look kinda goofy, but my spot is a couple inches behind my ears at the height of my temples.
The best trick in my big wavy hair arsenal is a type of pin: spiral bobby pins, aka spin pins. The brand name ones are weirdly expensive but I got a pack and holy shit WORTH IT. Luckily they come in generic as well, the one I linked to is a pack I ordered a year ago and they've held up very well. Perfect for my two buns or a big bun or a french twist or sticking down tricky crown braids.
I also like to take small sections from behind my ears and clip them up and back so I get a nice sweep effect. This keeps the mess out of my face but still leaves my hair down. If I have the time and reason to be fancy I turn them into a sort of 40s style twist at the top, which I do with the aforementioned spiral bobby pins. But most of the time it's just a few mini clips. It's nice to then put everything into a low ponytail, this makes a ponytail less boring.
Bangs improved my enjoyment of my huge hair. I'd avoided having them for decades because I had them when I was little and growing them out was a big becoming an adult thing for me as a 13 year old, and also my hair grows fast and I didn't like going to get bangs trimmed regularly. But when I decided to commit to growing my hair out again after waffling between really short and medium long hair for years I got bangs when the length hit my shoulders. A lot of the hair styles that I like to do look so much better with bangs. I have a funny slightly peaked slightly lopsided hairline and a weird cowlick direction of hair growth and bangs allow the bits that want to to go in the direction they naturally do while obscuring my hairline. It also takes away some of the bulk of the hair's hugeness. I've been trimming my own bangs now for over a year and the first couple times were hack jobs but I've gotten good at it! A good pair of scissors is important but they don't have to be anything super fancy. If you're willing to look a little iffy for a couple weeks here and there and don't currently have bangs because you hate getting them trimmed by a pro, I highly recommend having a pro cut bangs into your current hair and then maintaining them at home until you get the hang of it.
posted by Mizu at 7:03 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
The best trick in my big wavy hair arsenal is a type of pin: spiral bobby pins, aka spin pins. The brand name ones are weirdly expensive but I got a pack and holy shit WORTH IT. Luckily they come in generic as well, the one I linked to is a pack I ordered a year ago and they've held up very well. Perfect for my two buns or a big bun or a french twist or sticking down tricky crown braids.
I also like to take small sections from behind my ears and clip them up and back so I get a nice sweep effect. This keeps the mess out of my face but still leaves my hair down. If I have the time and reason to be fancy I turn them into a sort of 40s style twist at the top, which I do with the aforementioned spiral bobby pins. But most of the time it's just a few mini clips. It's nice to then put everything into a low ponytail, this makes a ponytail less boring.
Bangs improved my enjoyment of my huge hair. I'd avoided having them for decades because I had them when I was little and growing them out was a big becoming an adult thing for me as a 13 year old, and also my hair grows fast and I didn't like going to get bangs trimmed regularly. But when I decided to commit to growing my hair out again after waffling between really short and medium long hair for years I got bangs when the length hit my shoulders. A lot of the hair styles that I like to do look so much better with bangs. I have a funny slightly peaked slightly lopsided hairline and a weird cowlick direction of hair growth and bangs allow the bits that want to to go in the direction they naturally do while obscuring my hairline. It also takes away some of the bulk of the hair's hugeness. I've been trimming my own bangs now for over a year and the first couple times were hack jobs but I've gotten good at it! A good pair of scissors is important but they don't have to be anything super fancy. If you're willing to look a little iffy for a couple weeks here and there and don't currently have bangs because you hate getting them trimmed by a pro, I highly recommend having a pro cut bangs into your current hair and then maintaining them at home until you get the hang of it.
posted by Mizu at 7:03 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
but like most thick and wavy hair, looses oomph after 2-3 feet
If you have thick wavy hair and this is happening, you may actually have curly hair. You need to know in order to make decisions.
Buns are not boring; there's a whole range between tight ballet buns and messy topknot buns. I am currently a fan of the double messy top knot, although I don't have enough volume for half up half down and only do up.
If you want to feel less boring, more bad ass, get an undercut.
There are also about a zillion headwrap styles in Jewish, Muslim and Black African cultures that are possible with long hair and look amazing. How and why you are or are not comfortable borrowing from any of these is something you can think about.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:21 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you have thick wavy hair and this is happening, you may actually have curly hair. You need to know in order to make decisions.
Buns are not boring; there's a whole range between tight ballet buns and messy topknot buns. I am currently a fan of the double messy top knot, although I don't have enough volume for half up half down and only do up.
If you want to feel less boring, more bad ass, get an undercut.
There are also about a zillion headwrap styles in Jewish, Muslim and Black African cultures that are possible with long hair and look amazing. How and why you are or are not comfortable borrowing from any of these is something you can think about.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:21 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Borrowing other cultures' headwraps is stepping into cultural appropriation territory and I'd say avoid that.
Follow some Instagram hair people with similar length and texture and copy their hair looks. Just search hashtags like #longwavyhair or #mermaidhair or #longhairinspiration to find accounts... then see who those people follow. Instagram's @lyttlie and @longhair_inspiration might be good for a start.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 9:32 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Follow some Instagram hair people with similar length and texture and copy their hair looks. Just search hashtags like #longwavyhair or #mermaidhair or #longhairinspiration to find accounts... then see who those people follow. Instagram's @lyttlie and @longhair_inspiration might be good for a start.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 9:32 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I have gotten some good ideas from Rapunzel’s Resource. (She has incredibly long hair, but the styles work even for less-long long hair, or else she provides alternate options.) The easiest: Make a ponytail, flip it, braid it, and repeatedly loop the braid through the hole at the top where you flipped it. Secure.
(I also have long, mega-thick wavy hair.)
I find lots of more complex braided styles to be more time-consuming than I’d like, and difficult to do myself — I always make the braid too loose or in the wrong place, and my arms get tired! I probably need to just practice more. But some of the Rapunzel’s Resource styles are quick and lazy enough for me.
posted by snowmentality at 10:05 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
(I also have long, mega-thick wavy hair.)
I find lots of more complex braided styles to be more time-consuming than I’d like, and difficult to do myself — I always make the braid too loose or in the wrong place, and my arms get tired! I probably need to just practice more. But some of the Rapunzel’s Resource styles are quick and lazy enough for me.
posted by snowmentality at 10:05 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Come on over to the long hair community and get way too invested in playing with your hair. It's fun. Lots of styles to experiment with.
posted by windykites at 10:22 AM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by windykites at 10:22 AM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Self-link, but you might be interested in my Pinterest board Updos That Are Not Ponytails.
In general, I find Pinterest and YouTube very good for "new methods of routine things" questions. For me it's the killer app of predictive algorithms.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 1:59 PM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
In general, I find Pinterest and YouTube very good for "new methods of routine things" questions. For me it's the killer app of predictive algorithms.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 1:59 PM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
My hair is thick, coarse, wavy & frizzy, below shoulder length again. I do a French braid, or a 2 strand braid on each side and 2 large barrettes holding it back. A ponytail with an elastic doesn't work well, so I have some pretty and very large barrettes to use for days when I just can't be bothered. I look for barrettes from Goody; they last well.
posted by theora55 at 2:30 PM on March 3, 2018
posted by theora55 at 2:30 PM on March 3, 2018
I recommend vintage hair styles. Back combing with a thick-toothed comb or hairbrush really simplifies things.
Victory rolls
Edwardian or Gibson Girl
I save my own hair from my hairbrush and make "puffs" or [grimace] "rats" which add volume to rolled hairstyles. You can also buy donut shaped bun forms and cut them in half or quarter.
posted by ohshenandoah at 1:22 PM on March 20, 2018
Victory rolls
Edwardian or Gibson Girl
I save my own hair from my hairbrush and make "puffs" or [grimace] "rats" which add volume to rolled hairstyles. You can also buy donut shaped bun forms and cut them in half or quarter.
posted by ohshenandoah at 1:22 PM on March 20, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by amro at 4:34 AM on March 3, 2018 [2 favorites]