Ride the WAVE with me

[ShortErica]

Hey all,

My hair was a beautiful 3B my teen and college years. After issues with hormones and kids I have only wave left. It is frustrating not knowing how to style your hair anymore. My hair is now 2B, 2C would be an excellent day.

I plan to have a no-buy for makeup for one year (started Nov 2018) and focus on finding the right hair products. I want to take the process gradually and give things time.

I started using Devacurl in Spring 2018. I had low-poo, one condition, and arc angel gel. My hair looked and felt like straw and was not getting any curl back so I stopped using all three products.

In October I chopped off a lot of hair for donation and hoped to get some bounce back. The stylist (Deva certified) recommended no-poo, one condition, coconut styling cream, and b-leave in gel. The routine was okay but I wanted more out of my hair.

Over the past week I changed my styling product to arc angel gel. I know, I know, the stylist and others have already said it was too heavy for my hair. I just wanted to experiment and find what product caused my hair to turn to straw in the spring. Arc angel seems to be in the clear. But since it isn't helping with any curl, I will pass it on to my 3C/4A mom.

I plan to resume the last routine and see how it goes or if it still seems lackluster. My one condition is almost out but I have a one condition delight. I want to see how my hair reacts to this.

I also have samples of Decadence. I believe it will likely be too heavy but it is time to find what works and what doesn't.

So here begins my hair journey. Hoping to either learn to ride the waves or return to curl.

[gingerleigh]

I ended up not liking my cut or my "temporary" color glaze (it is too dark for me). I'm having a hard time with my scalp this month, same as last year, so I'm just using special scalp treatment stuff until it goes away, and washing more often than usual as well. You would think that would knock out my temporary color, but it is really hanging in there.

Anyway I am not posting pics of it. 🙂 But when I first style my hair, it has some good wave, and then it all falls out as soon as I sleep on it.

[tastelikewater]

@gingerleigh What happens to your scalp this time of year? Last year in late fall and winter, I had this *horrible* burning, itchy, scaly patch on my scalp just above the nape of my neck. I shower after work because I'm up so early, and I couldn't go to bed with one drop of water left in my hair, or I would wake up inflamed. My dermatologist didn't give me a diagnosis, but she prescribed a shampoo with ketoconazole. I'm guessing it's seborrheic dermatitis (apparently it's more common in people with rosacea, which I have). I hope your scalp clears up soon!

[gingerleigh]

Wow, the exact same happens. Rosacea, ketoconazole, inflamed, kind of scaly, off to the doctor over it, every bit. I have a rule nowadays of never going to sleep with wet hair, but it's possible that I did go to bed with a really miniscule bit of dampness left, once in January, and now I am paying for it. I agree it seems most like seb. dermatitis but I couldn't get a diagnosis either. This year, I am dousing with the special shampoo every other day, diffusing afterward for a long time, and just enduring a pretty dull time with my hair. Thanks for the well wishes! I will get a fresh cut as soon as the problem stops, and try focusing on curls again. 🙂  @tastelikewater 

[tastelikewater]

@gingerleigh The keto made my hair so dry, but I found a little relief from deep conditioning once a week. I'm sorry you're going through it too! Hopefully in a few weeks this will be behind you. 

[gingerleigh]

My hair won't curl for anything right now. On the plus side, the "temporary" color has been mostly stripped out and I no longer get that distressed feeling that I get from having lighter roots. I have done 3x/wk ketoconazole treatments for the past 4 weeks. Tonight I couldn't take it anymore, I broke down and used Alterna Caviar anti-aging shampoo and conditioner instead. Normally that makes my hair a bit oily once I pass the 48-hour mark, but there's no way that will happen this time. My hair feels like straw. I am definitely going to do a conditioning mask all day sometime this weekend -- probably on Saturday, as Sunday would cheat my hair of an hour of much-needed masking, with the time springing forward. 

@tastelikewater

[ShortErica]

Do you style your hair at night or in the morning @gingerleigh? My hair generally doesn't last through sleeping even if I do the "pineapple" trick.

When you're more comfortable and back to a hair color you like, please feel free to share pictures.

[gingerleigh]

Generally in the evenings, though that may change if it keeps going flat like this. On the other hand, I'm not using much product. Mainly just blow-dryer primer, and some of my older gels and things, now that I think about it. I'm saving my try-outs of curly-hair products for when my scalp gets over this winter weather. I don't think they could get a fair trial during this medicinal barrage. @ShortErica 

[ShortErica]

I shower in the mornings to try to do the best with my hair. When I "refresh" sometimes I just swing my hair through the shower water to get it slightly damp and detangle and add a bit of product to control frizz. Wishing you a quick scalp recovery @gingerleigh! It must be frustrating but hopefully you'll be trying your curl products soon.

[tastelikewater]

The universe works in mysterious and wonderful ways. I mentioned that my stylist closed her business without warning, and I was apprehensive about building a relationship with someone new. I shouldn't have worried, because as silly as it sounds, I think I made a spiritual connection with my new stylist! You know the feeling when you first meet someone that you've known each other for years? I felt that last night. PHEW!

I ended up with a slightly graduated bob, and a few layers to help the waves sit together better. We went a little shorter than anticipated, but it's very much in keeping with my preference for low-maintenance hair. She didn't push any particular product, but recommended smoothing a mousse through my hair and scrunching the lower third with a light cream. Eventually I'll get a good picture of it!

[sprocketta]

This is totally random and out of place as I don't frequent this thread, but I love your hair cut @tastelikewater I stumbled onto this thread through the conversations and wouldn't have read it otherwise, but man, looking great!

[tastelikewater]

Thanks so much @sprocketta ! If you're ever in the market for a new stylist, Dee at Spruce is aaaaaamazing. 

[faeriegirl]

I love your haircut @tastelikewater! It looks great❤️

[ShortErica]

That's so awesome @tastelikewater! Do you ever feel like you have a good hair day in person and then can't get a picture to show it? Enjoy your low maintenance hair and let us see when you get an even better picture of it. 🙂

[tastelikewater]

@ShortErica  I feel that way all the time, as if my hair somehow doesn't translate well on camera. 

[tastelikewater]

Not my best day, but I like tracking those too. Last night I clarified with Buildup Buster and masked with Deep Sea Repair, applied Wave Maker and Ultra Defining Gel to very wet hair, diffused until about 75% dry, clipped the roots until fully dry. I'm experimenting with the diffusing because air-drying takes FOREVER. It looked ok last night when I went out, nice separation and definition, but it is not cute today! It simultaneously looks greasy *and* has halo frizz, and major sections of it are flat and limp. 

Also, CURLY GIRL DISASTER: my stylist suddenly closed up shop! She's cut my hair for years and taught me so much, and without any warning she's gone (for health and financial reasons, so I completely understand, but still). It takes a long time for me to trust a stylist with my hair, and curly haircuts are often so expensive (looking at $85-120 here in Chicago). I have a haircut scheduled with a new stylist for Tuesday, so fingers and toes crossed that it goes well

[ShortErica]

Oh no! I am still working on the finding my hair stylist part but I can imagine your devastation @tastelikewater. Let us know how it goes with the new one! Hopefully you have a great appointment.

[Loretta55]

Your hair has a nice wave pattern @tastelikewater. I know exactly what you mean about flat roots and halo frizz. I spray Mister Right throughout my hair and massage my roots and scrunch my waves. That seems to work for me. If I let my hair dry naturally it could take up to 8 hours for it to completely dry. I have been using the Aquis turban and I feel that it has cut the dry time by about an hour. I only wash my hair once a week because of the length of time that it takes to dry. I also have dry hair.

 I had my first Olaplex treatment when I had my touch up and Devacut yesterday. It is too soon to actually give a review about Olaplex but it was not expensive. My Devacurl stylist gave me a bottle of Olaplex 3 as part of the process. I got Olaplex to hopefully cut back on the frizz.

[tastelikewater]

@Loretta55 I’ve never used Mister Right before, but I’ll check it out. I’m wondering if the mask plus two styling products were just too heavy for my fine hair.

I wish I could only wash once a week! My scalp is slightly oily and I play soccer 3 days a week, so washing every other day is standard unless I can get away with a low “sleek” bun on Day 3. I’ve never had 3 days in a row of good waves, but I hope to get there someday. 

Hope the Olaplex works for you! Keep us posted.

[ShortErica]

Yes yes yes! I have to wash my hair because of working out @tastelikewater. That's why I am not a devout curly girl method follower since it seemed anti wash from my small amounts of reading about it compared to what my lifestyle requires. There are parts I agree with but other areas I'm not so sure. All curlies/waves are different.

[Loretta55]

I would never guess that your hair texture is fine @tastelikewater . Your hair looks so shiny and healthy. I never tried the Deep Sea Repair Mask but I thought that was for damaged hair. I only use a hair mask once a month. I use Heaven in Hair but once I finish that I will purchase Melt Into Moisture. I usually “cocktail” 3 products. I use the Frizz Free Volumizing Foam only on my roots followed by me scrunching Wavemaker followed by Ultra Gel. 

Good luck with your new stylist. I found my Devacurl stylist via their website. When Sephora started to carry Devacurl once of the GWPS were packets that contained one ounce each of No Poo, One Condition and Ultra Styling Gel. I liked the products so much that I decided that I needed to take the next step and get a Devacut. I researched the stylists recommended on their site and my stylist had more advanced training so I took the leap and never looked back. I have had a few issues with my Devacut but my stylist always worked with me.

[ShortErica]

So today is not awesome hair day but the past two days have been pretty good. I'm back to using DEVACURL - One Condition Original Daily Cream Conditioner with the DEVACURL - No-Poo Original Zero Lather Conditioning Cleanser.

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Some days the pictures don't do it justice but I have spirals in the shower which look like waves because they are so elongated. I still think I need some hair tweaks but I am trying to be more patient and kind with my hair. I am still using either the coconut styling cream or b'leave-in and plan to test the wave maker and light defining gel soon. Hope everyone else is having an awesome hair day!