Hair Advice: New to Natural Waves 🌊

[CynthieLu]

The Story:

I've always had dry hair that's very fine, but even thou my hair strand might look invisible to the naked eye I was blessed with a thick mane of it. **Phew right?**

I recently started trying to work with my natural hair but I'm so new too this. 

Anyone on a wavy hair journey right now? Please feel free to ask away or chime in with your thoughts.

I started using the bowl method and I'm just totally experimenting right now.  

If love to hear advice and tips, especially from anyone with extremely fine hair. 

( It makes my waves hard to keep, I basically will turn to frizz if any attempt at brushing/combing is made.) 

Hoping to hear from you wavy/curly/coily girls 🙏💖🙏

[CynthieLu]

I tried using a leave-in conditioner but I think it may have been past it's s prime/expiring, It felt off and smelt different.

I don't feel I got the best results. 

I think I will be starting to keep track of what works or doesn't.

They only thing I did differently this time was adding that one product. 

Used the bowl method with:

• Since discarded old bottle of Leave in Conditioner
• Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Heat Protection & Frizz Reduction Nourishing Hair Serum 3 oz / 90 mL 
• Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Frizz Control Styling Hair Cream 3.3 oz/ 100 mL 

I feel like my waves feel less defined and messier. 🫤

 

[CynthieLu]

I just purchased this:

Drybar The Bouncer Diffuser 

Air drying my waves hasn't been working for me very well. 

I washed my hair last night and gave the diffuser a first try. 

This is after the bowl method and using:

Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Heat Protection & Frizz Reduction Nourishing Hair Serum 3 oz / 90 mL 

And

Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Frizz Control Styling Hair Cream 3.3 oz/ 100 mL 

This is by far the best they've looked after washing. 

[Titian06]

@CynthieLu - There's an old thread called Ride the WAVE with me that might be helpful.  I have that diffuser; it's the best one I've used so far.  Make sure to use a leave in conditioner while your hair is still wet (not damp).  Then use a cream followed by a gel or mouse.  I air dry.  If you diffuse, use a heat protectant.

[WinglessOne]

@Titian06 @CynthieLu  

Aw, @tastelikewater’s thread is the first thing that came to mind when I saw this one. 🙂 I hope she’s doing well! EDIT: d’oh, it’s @ShortErica’s thread (tastelikewater was a frequent participant) and I hope she’s also doing well! Now I’m sitting here thinking of all the BICers I rarely see around anymore… best wishes to them all. 

I have coils, not waves. But I never use a hairdryer without a diffuser attachment (I haven’t straightened my hair in 20 years). I most frequently use my Dyson Supersonic™Hair Dryer + diffuser with great results. But when Sephora generously gifted me and others a Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer, I promptly bought Drybar’s diffuser attachment so I could use it, and it works well. Eh, I don’t blow dry every time I wash my hair though… more often in winter and chillier fall or spring weather because I don’t wanna go outside with wet hair. 

I definitely agree with applying leave-in conditioner to fully wet hair. Heck, I also apply some styling products to soaking wet hair for better curl/coil definition. 

[CynthieLu]

I went looking around that thread, thank you! @WinglessOne @Titian06  for mentioning it. 🙏🙏 I'm going to go do a deep dive. 🤿 

I might grab some curl gel and cream mini's this sale to just try things out and experiment with what works on my tiny waves. 

What I don't know what to do about is how to manage it on days between washes. But really, using a diffuser made a big difference, day 2 is less defined but still better than I've experienced without it.

Do you think I can use my regular conditioners as leave in's if I'm applying it to my really wet hair, or would you say shampoo, condition and than use a leave in? 🤔🧐

[WinglessOne]

@CynthieLu  Hmm, it might depend on which conditioner you normally use. But generally speaking, you can use most “everyday” conditioners as leave-ins if you want. My usual conditioner is Redken All Soft Mega Curls and sometimes I don’t fully rinse it out; I keep some of it onboard as a leave-in. I just make sure to rinse a good amount of it off my scalp and keep some of it on most of my hair length. 

Hopefully there’s some good info in the other thread about maintaining wave definition between washes. 🙂 I could tell you what I do, but my hair’s very different from yours in terms of pattern and thickness (my strands are mostly medium, with some coarse strands at the crown and some fine strands in the front), and possibly also porosity. So, what works for me might not work for you. I will say that sleeping on a silk pillowcase (or putting hair up in a silk scarf/bonnet, or using a poly satin scarf/bonnet/pillowcase) helps tremendously, if you don’t do that already. 

[CynthieLu]

I appreciate that @WinglessOne 🙏 I'm just driving into threads and Reddit's to see if anyone has similiar hair to myself, and to see what's worked for them. 

Ahhh that's a really good tip, I think my scalp would be very unhappy with me if there was un-washed conditioner sitting on it. 😱 

I have a silk pillow case *such a luxury item but so worth it*

But I keep my hair pilled on top of my head in a clip. 

The clip doesn't seem to mess up anything too much over night.

[Titian06]

@CynthieLu - Most of the leave-in conditioners I have, I got through the Rewards Bazaar. 😁  As far as using a regular conditioner, I agree with @WinglessOne .  In fact that's what I used to do--I rinsed most of it out, but left a little in.  I have fine, thin wavy hair, so it's probably pretty close to yours.  For my second and beyond days, I use a water bottle mister (I found it at Sally's Beauty) and get my hair pretty wet (almost saturated).  I scrunch in more leave-in.  There's usually enough product in my hair that I don't need to add more.  Otherwise, I would add more styling cream if needed.

[CynthieLu]

Thank you @Titian06 I agree I think our waves do sound similar. I appreciate you taking the time to pass along your thoughts and tips 🙏🙏

I tried today with a leave-in but it didn't pan out, I think the conditioner was past it's prime, it might have been over 2 years old. 😓🫣

I have a spray bottle I use for water misting my braids, I will try using it to refresh the waves between washes. Thank you for that suggestion. 😀

Do you have a favorite leave-in that comes to mind?

[Titian06]

@CynthieLu - My favorite is adwoa beauty Melonberry Hair Milk Leave-In Conditioner 6.8 oz / 200 mL .

[SportyGirly125]

@CynthieLu I haven’t straight permed my hair since 2019 and am slowly embracing my natural waves. I use a lot of hair creams and serums after I shower and let my hair air dry. Sometimes I will even braid the lower half of my hair to define my waves. My hair can easily hold a wave/curl for days. I was born with straight thick hair and decided to perm my hair in elementary school twice (I regret the decision now). 

[CynthieLu]

Thank you for sharing your hair story @SportyGirly125. I relate to what your saying, I am trying to embrace my natural hair more as well.

What curl gels and creams have you experimented with? 

[SportyGirly125]

@CynthieLu I used to use Frizz Ease styling cream but they no longer sell it and their styling gel (still use that and the extra strength hair serum). I now use ALTERNA Haircare CAVIAR Anti-Aging® Replenishing Moisture CC Cream and Oribe Hair Cream for Style 5 oz/ 150 mL when my hair is dry I use Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Hair Cream 5 oz/ 150 mL 

[CynthieLu]

Canadian side, the Orbie cream's must be popular, they are totally sold out. @SportyGirly125 

I've used that Caviar Cream before, it is really nice. 👌

It was in the rewards bazaar forever ago, I bought it thinking it was a face cream 😅 but it turned out to be a really great hair cream.