How to get my hair to look choppier?

Seeing Angie's and Laura's super fantastic new do's, reminded me that I've been wanting to ask this question for ages.

As you probably know, I too have very short hair (about as long as Laura's is now, I think), but mine is very thick and coarse, and there's lots of it (I get it thinned out at every appointment, i.e. every 5 or 6 weeks, but that result never seems to last very long).

I love the choppy/piece-y look Angie and Laura sport, but I can never seem to get the same result. Mine always looks more like one 'solid mass' and I don't like that at all.

I was wondering about a few things, but all other suggestions are welcome too:

- Is it more difficult to get that choppy look with thicker hair (mine also starts to get a bit wavy when it gets to Angie's length and rather unmanageable)?
- Would it be easier if it was a bit longer?
- Do you get the choppy effect by having locks cut in different lengths (perhaps a silly question, I'm quite clueless)
- Both Angie and Laura have their hair coloured. Do you think part of the choppy effect is obtained/emphasized by having put in highlights/lowlights?

Having a fab hairstyle is just such an important part of how you look and feel, and I just feel that mine is holding me back a little.
(FYI: it's not that I'm tired of my very short hair, on the contrary, I still love that, I would just like to have it look more like an 'actual style', a bit more modern and 'intentional', hope that makes sense).

15 years ago

Barbara

Veteran

Hi Inge. I, too, have SUPER thick hair and have had a super short spiky hairstyle for years. The secret is in the cutting method. My stylist cuts my hair wet, using scissors-over-comb, then notching shears to point cut the top. It's about 1/2 on top with slightly longer layers in back and on the sides.

I use Schwarzkopf's GLUED hair gel to spike it. That's how I achieve a choppy, funky look. I get my hair cut every three weeks and color it myself (Natural Instincts Dark Ash Blond) every six weeks.

My hairstyle was originally created in Germany in 1991 by a salon-owner and I've been wearing it this way ever since. It's my signature!

Hope this helps!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love your hair, Inge!

I have much finer hair than you do, and it's also wavy. However, it behaves when it's cut short and in the right shape:) I have lots of colours going through my hair which to your point creates depth. I also have a very texturized cut - with texturizing scissors. For the first time ever I had a "dry cut" yesterday and my Theresa didn't even need to use texturizing scissors!!! She just cut in this extraordinary way kind of pulling back the hair and cutting it in another direction. I know I'm not making any sense

Anyway, I also use a non stick goo for shine and hold. I like to spike the front but am very careful. If the spikes are wrong, I do not feel feminine.

Sorry I am not much help. I hope that Taylor and Renata chime in!

taylor

Inge...as Angie stated it Is not always about texturing the cut, particularly on hair this short
I would ask your stylist to recommend a styling product such as a lightweight pomade, texturizing gel, moulding mud or some such product for your particular hair to give it dimension and texture...I believe it is a product factor here rather than your cut...I have seen your cut and she does a wonderful job and the right product for your hair type should help immensely!!

Ahem. The pro has spoken. Off you go to buy the right goo, Inge.

RoseandJoan

Inge, this may not work on your hair as my crop is much longer but my stylist used this to style my hair, just spray and muss up with your hands. No gooey feeling at all
http://www.tigihaircare.com/co.....ategoryID=

I'm thinking it's a product thing, too. A girlfriend with straight hair loves a little pomade for texture, and I like Carol's Daughter's Hair Milk to make my waves separate locks (instead of one big hunk of frizz!).

Inge

Moderator

I really appreciate this, ladies, such insightful and good advice!! (and thank you Angie and Taylor for liking my hair as is, it's reassuring to read that you think my stylist is doing a good job! Perhaps I'm being a little overly critical for myself here)

It's so interesting to read about all the different techniques AND the fact that merely changing up my styling product could help too. I'm definitely going to look into that (and google the products that have been mentioned here).

The 'problem' is that I'm currently going to a 'natural' hair salon. They only use their own natural products and their selection of styling products is extremely limited. Therefore I'm not sure my stylist will be able to recommend any specific product, which is a shame.

Julie: your link takes me to the Rockaholic Dirty Secret Shampoo. Is that the product you mean? (P.S. I'm still blown away by your new do!!)

Yup Inge, it's seems mad as a bag of snakes but I love it! (and thank you for the compliment)

LOL Julie, ok got it;-)
(you're welcome!)

catgirl

My hairdresser has told me that it is harder to get a choppy look with dark hair because even if it IS chopped up, the texture doesn't show as much unless you add highlights or something for depth. No matter how much she texturizes my hair, it just looks like a dense mass...

Vix

Hi Inge --

Your hair sounds much like mine (coarse, thick, wavy).

I agree you might like a wax pomade -- one that's semi-hard when you scoop it out.

Don't know if you can find Giovanni, but I've attached a link that talks about its ingredients in case that helps. My jar has lasted a year and it's cheap to begin with (under $10 US).

http://tinyurl.com/Giovanni-Wax-Pomade

ps Also don't know if the pic helps since your cut is so much shorter, but you might be able to see that the waves are fairly "chunked" -- as much as I am not keen on product, it's not something that happens without the pomade.

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RandomThoughts (Andrea)

I just thought I'd chime in. I use Got 2B Playful on wet hair (just a tiny bit) as a texturizing pomade and then a little Pantene spray wax once dried. My caveat here is that I have very thick, straight fine hair, but these two products work wonderfully on my typically badly behaved locks.

Scarlet

My sister wears her hair very short and spiky (kind of like an anime character but in a good way). She is dark-haired but her hair is fine. She loves TIGI-bed head manipulator but uses a similar product from Garnier when she is not feeling spendy.

Sarah

Another product shout out! I love Davines (pronounced Dah-vi-NOSS) products, and my stylist swears by them.
This product is amazing, and if you can get your paws on it, you'd love it. http://www.amazon.com/Davines-.....038;sr=1-2
It works well on my husband's thick, course hair. It defines without looking wet or greasy.

Laura

My stylist uses a men's pomade on my hair - not sure what it is - in the winter I leave it off as it results in severe hat head But I love it b/c it's got a foresty, masculine smell. Here we go with the masculine/feminine thing again! Good luck and tell us how you do.

P.S. To Julie: you make me laugh!

You guys are the best! Thank you so much! I'm going to see if I can get my hands on some of the products you recommended and play around with them a bit.

Una: you may definitely have a point there. My hair isn't very dark, more of an ashy light brown, but it could be a factor to take into account.

Vix: thank you so much for posting that picture. Your hair looks so beautiful and shiny. Love it!

Inge, as a hair texture (if not cut) twin, I for one would love it if you'd report back on your product experimentation.

No pressure.

ps Thanks for the compliment...that pic shows some frizz but for better or worse is probably pretty accurate of my day-to-day results!

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