Coiffure-experienced DU'ers - I need some hair help!

[Writer]

I have long, thick hair that I'm growing out. My stylist is WONDERFUL, and has been slowly sculpting my hair into layers as it has been growing.

I have been using a leave-in conditioner and a styling creme. But here's my problem - I am having a rough time styling it myself so that it looks presentable. I don't know how to find my layers so I can curl them with my round brush. It's a nightmare! Right now it's a matted, frizzy mess on my head. Are there any products/styling tips I can use to make it look more coifed? Right now I look like I just left a RATT concert in 1987.

HELP!

[etherealtruth]

1. Before this gets sent to the lounge ...

Try Matrix "Biolage"
or
Garnier Fruictise Sleek and Shine

[Writer]

3. Oh shit LOL

Okay... let me move it over.

[Kutjara]

2. You're yet another victim of the Global Stylist Conspiracy.

It is impossible to ever get your hair to look the way the stylist does. You'd have to have as many arms as Shiva and eyes in the back of your head to even begin to approximate the 'do' you left the salon with. Stylo-fascists do this on purpose so you have to keep going back to them for another fix of 'good hair.'

I always ask for a style that I can just tousle into place with my hands. I may come out of the stylist looking like a surprised hedgehog, but at least I know I can recreate the look myself. It's a small victory against the forces of darkness.

[Avalux]

4. A couple of things - from one who knows -

I've got that kind of hair too - and it can be overwhelming. I like to use a leave-in smoother with silicone - there are several products you can try, Farouk has a good one - Biosilk. When you blow-dry, do a section at a time. Use a clip to hold most of your hair up and start with underneath first. Gradually let down small sections of hair and style with your round brush until all is dry. Much easier to work with this way. Good Luck! :hi:

[NewWaveChick1981]

6. I second that...

:hi: Same type of hair. I've used Biosilk and like it, but I think Fekkai Technician Glaze is better on my hair.

[Writer]

9. Are these salon products?

[NewWaveChick1981]

10. You can get Biosilk at Trade Secret or a lot of salons...

...and I've even seen it in CVS and grocery stores that carry salon stuff. Frederic Fekkai haircare stuff is available at Sephora.com and at salons. The Fekkai treatment is about $22, but the bottle lasts me six months. Biosilk is priced similarly and lasts about as long.

Hope that helps!

[Writer]

11. It certainly does. Thank you!

:hi:

[otherlander]

5. Heh...trying to bring some sanity to GD?

:hi:

[Avalux]

7. Now now -

at least they don't talk about the Olive Garden and vegetarians over there. ;-)

[Writer]

8. Yes... I tried.

[crim son]

12. Yep. First dry your hair.

Get a strong hair clip. Make a horizontal part from behind one ear to the other, leaving about 1/4 of your hair down and clipping the rest up. Style using large-barrel curling iron, as you wish. While it's cooling, let down another quarter of your hair. Do the same with that layer. Continue w/last two quarters until it's done. Tweak it a bit on the top layer, framing the face or whatever, and you're done. This works best if you've moussed the roots. It sounds like it takes forever but I have an awful lot of hair and the whole thing from dryer to done takes about ten minutes. Try it! You'll see your layers!

[notadmblnd]

13. I clip my layers up on top of my head while I curl the lower layers

I regret having my hair cut into layers as it does look rattier if I dont curl it. When it was all one layer it was much easier, just blow dry it straight and curl the ends with the brush at the end.

[Mz Pip]

14. I bought on of those

Revo stylers. It's a spinning brush that you use with a hair dryer. It really works wonders and is very very fast. I got it after watching one of those infomercials. I don't usually impulse buy, but that was one purchase I have never regretted making. I have curly hair and it smooths it out to perfection.

I know you can get similar things at beauty supply stores so you don't really have to watch the infomercial to order one.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[NorthernSpy]

16. a *spinning* brush?!?

:scared:

Okay: what I'm picturing would spin itself into your hair and never come out. I'm picturing other things that spin --blenders, tornados, the Tasmanian Devil...

:scared:

How does one keep that from happening?

:think:

[Mz Pip]

17. I thought so too

but it doesn't happen. I've been using mine for a couple of years and have never got my hair tangled up. I love it. I can get my hair smooth and silky in about 5 minutes.

Here's a link to their website.

http://www.revostyler.com/

Mz Pip
:dem:

[NorthernSpy]

15. rollers: the overlooked option

I find rollers less damaging than other styling tools, and they give a "polished" look. Anything you can do with the brush and blowdryer you can do with rollers -- minus the frustration and tired arms. You can always touch up he ends with a curling iron if necessary.

Right now it's a matted, frizzy mess on my head.

Sounds like it didn't get perfectly dry all the way through. Thick, dense hair can be very deceptive that way. This is part of why the standard brush-and-blowdryer method has never worked for me.

Actually, most days I don't even bother with rollers. Just letting my hair dry (thoroughly!) in a braid (with the hair at the end of the braid looped and held with clips) causes my few layers to separate themselves somehow when I comb it out, and keeps everything under control. Simple, but effective. But of course, your mileage may vary, since no two heads of hair are exactly the same.

[Tripper11]

18. What I do with my layers.....

oh shit...sorry, I'M BALD! :rofl:

I only wish I could have your problem...hell, half your problem! Oh well, good luck in yout search for hair solutions!