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Patience

Veteran

I'm looking for tips to add some polish to my hair style. Let me start by saying that when I think of a polished hair style, I think, every hair in its place and smooth. At the same time, I'm wondering if I need to embrace a different definition for my hair. My hair is thick (my hair stylist thins it out), not fine, sometimes wavy and I get a lot of frizzies through the day. I admit that I don't usually use product or blow dry my hair but I'm not opposed to these things. I just wouldn't know where to begin with choosing the right product. Since my hair is quite thick, it takes a long time to blow dry and I've got two kids to get ready in the morning too. I often wear a low pony tail as well too which looks good until the short frizzy wisps show up.

I'm getting a hair cut today. My hair stylist has been keeping my hair long with long layers, no fringe and parted to the side because she says this is a very low maintenance style. I intend to ask her for tips today too. But I have asked her in the past and while I think she is good at what she does, I get the feeling she is not as talented in communicating to me how to style my hair.

Basically, I'm looking for that foolproof 10 minute hair styling routine. (0 minutes would really be ideal :P)

General

38 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

shiny

Veteran

Wash and dry it at night, and then in the morning, apply some product, and flat iron it?

Flat ironing keeps the frizzes at bay.

Patience

Veteran

My hair stylist usually flat irons it and I really like it, but I'm concerned about the amount of time it would take.

Nicole

Veteran

I'd be afraid that using a flat iron daily would damage your hair.

If I remember correctly, your hair is quite long? Past your shoulders? Sometimes people with wavy hair let it get long and that weighs the wave down and ends up making the hair look frizzy. How would you feel about cutting it just shy of your shoulders (so you could still pull it back if you have a particularly busy day--as a mom myself, I know how important it is to be able to do that.). But have her cut more long layers into it...the shorter layer starting at around your ear and continuing down to the ends. This should releive some of the weight of your thick hair, make it more wavy than frizzy, but still be able to pull it back. Also, how do you feel about bangs? (Fringe, as Angie calls them). As far as styling it--since it is so thick, why not let it air dry most of the morning, then rub in some pomade or gel, use a large round brush and spend 10 minutes with a hairdryer. If it's mostly dry when you start, it shouldn't take you very long to finish the drying process with a hairdryer.

marianne

I agree that it looks great flat-ironed, but I don't have time for that and I don't think it's good for the hair. I let it dry by itself and then apply some anti-frizz cream, which helps a lot, and that's the only product I use. And I am as low-maintenance as it gets I am sure you'll get more expert advice, that's just my 2 cents.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You have lovely hair Patience. A long layered style is probably the most time consuming style there is if you need to blow and flat iron daily or every second or third day. And the idea is not that your tie your hair back into a ponytail all the time, which I can imagine is what you want to do in hot balmy weather. I have wavy hair too. I flat iron every day. My hair is in good condition, but it gets cut every 5 weeks and it’s very short which helps.

I fancy Nicole’s idea. Go shorter and choppier , and I adore the idea of a fringe. Try shoulder length hair or shorter. Taking away length REALLY helps minimize fuss and texture creates depth. This will help thin out your hair as well. Hope you get sorted and I can’t wait to see how you fared.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Patience, I think the only 0 minute hairstyle I had that ever looked good was a pixie. I SO wish I could get away with it now. It wasn't a flattering cut for my round face, but I was just out of high school and feeling a bit rebellious. I woke up, washed it in the shower, got out, took a little gel, smoothed it and that was it, I was done.

This is what I do and it does take some time, but less than completely styling your hair every morning: style your hair once or twice a week. Blowdry it straight or use a straightening iron (I wouldn't recommend doing both because it will damage it). If you do either of these, you MUST use product to keep your hair smooth and to help protect it from the heat. If your stylist can't recommend anything, I have a few in mind that work for curly/wavy hair (I have naturally curly hair, too and it's a battle every summer with the humidity here so I feel your pain). Get yourself some "dry shampoo." I went to Sephora (Ulta has it too) and bought some Oscar Blandi dry shampoo. It costs $26.00, but it lasts forever. It's a powder you rub into your scalp and roots to absorb the oil. I wear a shower cap in the shower and only wash my hair every 3 or sometimes 4 days--about twice a week. I'll wash my hair and do my hair at night the days I do wash it because I have more time then. Maybe you could do this after the kids go to bed? Then I just "touch up" my style on the days that I don't wash it (curl a few pieces, straight iron some unruly bits, etc). This has worked well for me and I'm able to wake up, eat, shower, do my hair and put make up on, get dressed and out the door in a total of an hour. I can cut it down too if I'm really in a hurry. I think this is pretty good.

Does this make sense? Other than a really short pixie cut, a shorter cut will require more maintenance if it doesn't work with your natural texture and wave, so take that into consideration when you talk to your stylist today.

And definitely post pictures!

Nicole

Veteran

I have heard that if you wash you hair daily, you're body will create more oils, so if you try to go from daily washing to less than daily washing, you're hair will take some time to adjust. So while Ana's idea may make you cringe, thinking you're hair will be oily--it will adjust and you can wash a few times a week without having oily hair. (It's also good for your scalp, especially if you have a dry scalp.)

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, since my hair is curly it has always been extremely dry. At first, I was sort of grossed out at the idea of not washing my hair every day, but several sources and people with curly hair recommended it, and it really has helped cut down on my frizziness. It isn't totally gone, but a lot lower. And that cold water trick Nicole posted--that's helped a lot as well (thanks, Nicole!).

Dani

Veteran

Patience,

I have THICK wavy/curly hair. For years I dried it every day and straightened it with a round brush. Then I had two kids and voila, no more time for me in the mornings to really futz with my hair. I currently have shoulder length hair that I keep pretty layered. My stylist thins my hair out too. My current styling routine takes about 5 minutes. Immediately after I get out of the shower, I put gel in my hair and then use a microfiber towel to squeeze out excess moisture. Then I add some leave in conditioner and a curl booster (one product for me) and the "plonk" my hair on top of my head in the microfiber towel. I leave it that way while I get dressed and put on makeup. Then I let it down and hit it with the diffuser at the roots. I've learned to deal with a little fizziness as a trade off for reduced time in dealing with my hair. I live in fairly humid conditions too, and I've been fairly successful with this strategy for a while. Like Ana, I only shampoo every 3 days or so. The powder works well in between (I've even used baby powder) then I spritz my hair with water and style like usual.

I think the key to any low maintenance hairstyle is the cut, so be sure to get a good one that works with your hair type and texture.

Good luck!

marianne

Dani, I like microfiber towels, too! I also agree about the cut being the key. I recently went with shorter layers, and it works a lot better. It depends on your wave, but if you've been going to the same hairdresser, she should be able to tell you if it works. Maybe ask her to style w/o flat ironing?

Patience

Veteran

Thanks everyone! I have been toying with the idea of cutting it shorter because it's been long for a long time now. My husband says he would prefer I didn't go too much shorter than shoulder length. I've had fringe once in my life-- the late 80's. My main opposition to it is having hair on my forehead when it's 100 degrees outside.

I usually wash my hair every other day. (As a kid it was once a week.) So then I wear it down the first day and in a pony tail or down depending on how flat and oily it's gotten the second day. I find my hair always seems to settle into a sweet spot about 8 o'clock at night the day I washed it.

I also do the cold rinse, which my hair stylist recommended to me a long time ago. Thanks Nicole, for the cool blow dryer finish trick which I will now do when I blow dry my hair.

Ana, when I was in college, I actually shaved my head just to see what it would look like growing out. It certainly was low maintenance for a few weeks.

Maya

Veteran

This fool proof wash and go style still eludes me. I have had my hair range in length from a jaw length bob to mid back, and at every length, I have always had to blow dry it just to get it to look acceptable. I still get whispies to a point where I don't even bother putting it up anymore, and flat ironing never really helped with that. I use a really good ceramic/tourmaline flat iron, but even then it makes my hair feel dry and doesn't smooth it out. I have concluded that unless I cut my hair Angie length, it will always be high maintenance because of the texture. I'd love to go Angie length but it would look simply terrible on me.

So to conclude, I really don't think every hair type and every face shape is conducive to a low maintenance style.

What Nicole described is what my hair is like now (well, not RiGHT now since I'm long overdue for a trim). When my hair is actually trimmed and cleaned up, it grazes my shoulder and there are lots of layers cut in. The shortest one ends around the tip of my ear. While I still have to blowdry it, it requires the least amount of time compared to other hair styles I have had. The only one that took less time was the bob, but it didn't look good on me, I have tried the whole style only at night thing, but I get all kinds of weird lumps and bumps in my hair and it looks extremely flat by the time I wake up. So I don't know if you'll get a low maintenance style, but you can get a less maintenance style if all else fails.

shiny

Veteran

Well, my hair is low-maintenance simply because it's so friggin THIN *and* FINE!

It literally takes me only 3-5 minutes to blow it dry - even when it's at it's longest (which is shoulder length - won't grow any longer than that). Flat-ironing doesn't take too long because most days I concentrate only on the top layers - the layers that have the most noticeable frizzing.

If I'm going out and want to look extra special, then I flat-iron all of it. But most days I only take about 3 minutes to flat-iron just the top layers.

I need a haircut soon, but when it's been recently cut, there are enough layers in the back that I don't bother to blow-dry - I just scrunch it up with pomade and let it air-dry. Also this latest cut looks pretty good just air-dried while wearing a headband - it curls all over, because there are so many layers.

During the winter I can get away without shampooing every day (though I will still wet and style). In the warmer months, forget it: my face gets to greasy.

christie

I don't mean to change the subject of the post, but I am interested in how often everyone washes their hair. My hair stylist suggested that I stop washing it everyday, and said, as Nicole did, that my hair would adjust. For a long time, I stopped washing everyday, first going to every other day and then trying for every third day. It was terrible. My hair never adjusted.

I am an oil slick from the neck up, and not washing my hair everyday seems to make my face even oilier (even if I shower and wash my face like normal). My hair gets pretty oily by the end of the day. I think this is in part because my hair is so thin, but I don't know. I hate washing it everyday, but I don't know what other option I have (and because it is short, I get ridiculous bedhead that loses the volume and means that I HAVE to wash it to style it).

Dani

Veteran

Christie, what kind of shampoo are you using? My husband has the same problem and I've recently been reading about all the things that are in shampoos and conditioners that aren't good for us. Anyway, I've tried to switch my family to less harsh cleansers. My husband has been using Aubrey Organics Green Tea clarifying shampoo and rinse and has had less of a problem with oily scalp. I don't know if he would be able to go a day in between washes, but if you added a dry shampoo to the days that you didn't wash, you might be able to do it. Just my 2 cents...

Steph

Veteran

Patience, it sounds like we have similar hair. I know a few people have recommended a shorter, above-the-shoulder cut, but I really thinks this depends on the individual's hair. My hair looks horrible in that style--because my waves are more defined the further you get from the crown of my head, when my hair is shorter the waves tend to make the style look like a bell, regardless of the number of layers mixed in there. This typically happens when the hair is around chin length. Definitely my worst hairstyle ever, but it could be different for you.

I flat iron my hair about once a week and find that it takes me about 10 minutes. The key is to get a really high-quality flat iron. I use a Sedu, but a Hai, Chi or Solano should produce the same effect. I pin it up in layers, ironing the bottom layer first, and the pieces in the front at the very end, and I get through all of my hair (and I have a ton of it) quickly. I also have very healthy hair, according to every stylist who touches it, so the flat iron hasn't damaged it.

My other suggestion is to use Frederik Fekkai products if you are willing to swing the cost. He has a curly hair shampoo and conditioner that I use, called luscious curls. I also use his curly hair styling cream, which I mix with some anti-frizz gel (I typically use Bumble and Bumble's defrizz). When I am going to dry my hair straight I use Frederik Fekkai's Protein Rx shampoo and conditioner. I'm sure the luscious curls would work as well, though.

Patience

Veteran

Pics of the new do to come in the next few days. I'm not going to divulge anything now though.

I will share the regimen that my hairstylist gave to me although I have yet to try it. She said:
1. When I take a shower, brush out my hair as I'm rinsing out the conditioner.
2. Also shower first thing so as to let it air dry a bit while I'm getting ready.
3. Flip over and blow dry from the roots out, leaving the ends damp. Round brush the ends a bit.

And I guess that's it although she does recommend flat ironing. She said she doesn't use product on her own hair although she uses it on her clients. We'll see. I might just do the top as Shiny suggests. We'll see if it all takes less than 10 minutes and looks as good as I'd like.

Anonymous

I'd give just about anything to have a short naturaly curly hair do.
It sounds like you are fighting with your natural curl. Can you get it cut short and let it be really curly. My Mom's hair is that way. If it is short is is cute and curly. When she gets some length on, it is just sort of straight with a bit of wave and a funny texture.
I don't mean to suggest that your stylist is not a good one, but sometimes change is good. A new perspective from a new stylist could do the trick.
Since this thread is so long I didn't read all the posts thoroughly so if I sound out of touch with what already has been said, it's because I am!

Nicole

Veteran

Hmmm are we going to see a major change?? It sounds like it! I can't wait! I love major hair changes!

Patience, your hairdresser suggested you blow dry your hair upside down? Be careful with this technique because in effect, that blows air up your hair shaft, instead of down. Your hair will be smoother if the dryer is always pointing down, never up.

christie

I have two friends with short curly hair who both went the short bob route. It looks fantastic on them, and really accentuates the curls. I second what San says if your hair is curly, Patience.

Patience

Veteran

Let me clarify, that I do not have curly hair. It's straight, but I do get a bit of a wave, especially when humid, if my hair air dries. If I cut my hair really short, less than 2 inches, it would be a crew cut.

Nicole

Veteran

Ok well don't cut your hair less than 2" Patience. We already have a "Crew" in the family.

Patience

Veteran

The haircut:

http://i282.photobucket.com/al.....ltered.jpg

This is a really drastic change for me. And I'm not good with change. But apparently, I like to experiment with my hair. Keep in my mind that this is styled by my hair stylist and there's a low probability that I'll be able to duplicate it. My husband says he doesn't really like how poofy my stylist styles my hair anyway.

Nicole, thanks for the heads up about the blow drying. She actually did it this way when she styled my hair (not for long) but I have my doubts whether I will be able to make it work.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I love it! I love the bangs, too! They will look so cute when you pull your hair back, very soft and chic.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Gorgeous! What pretty eyes and smile you have. A big thumbs up!

Tanya

Veteran

I love it too! Very nice! And you have a lovely smile!

Anonymous

Yes it frames your face just perfectly.

mirah

very nice ! I love the bangs and your happy smile esp.

Nicole

Veteran

Oooh I love it!!! You look like a friend of mine who lives in Florida!

And for a reference point I had to look at your photo from the Who's Who thread. I'm going to link it here as well for others to see the transformation! Hope you don't mind--I just cut it from that thread and pasted on this one.

http://i282.photobucket.com/al.....age002.jpg

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