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I'm on a blowdry ban starting...now!

Maya

Veteran

I have taken an oath not to blowdry my hair, with the exception of my bangs, for six months. I want to see if this helps resolve my dry hair issues. It is hard because I have been blowdrying my hair since I was 10 or 11. Yes, very young. It has created a vicious cycle: I blowdry my hair because it looks bad because I blowdry my hair. I let it air dry today and it looks shockingly bad. Very unhealthy and fuzzy. It is going to be torture but I feel like it must be done.

I did a coconut oil conditioning on Saturday night but it didn't appear to have much effect. I'll do it again next Saturday and see if it just needs some time to show results. I'm also only shampooing the scalp with a low sulfate shampoo and then conditioning generously. Any other advice on how to get through this is welcome. I'm miserable when my hair looks bad, and unfortunately that seems to be the case most of the time

General

43 replies

Latest reply was from RoseandJoan

bj1111

Veteran

you seem to have the opposite issue i'm having. blowdrying my hair leads to a flattened and greasy 'do even without the products.

i've switched to no blowdry and flip over the pillow if i wash my hair at night. if in the monring, i use those tiny goody claw clips clipping up a bouffant at the crown then letting it down after it dries. these are the only ways to give my hair any volume.

hopefully this helps...

Louise

Veteran

I don't blowdry either (laziness!) My hair is in pretty great condition even with colouring every 8 weeks. It doesn't look as sleek as when it's blowdried and flat ironed but it's shiny. I hope you see some good results x

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

No advice, but condolences- it's hard to go through the bad stage to get to the good.

Steph

Veteran

First off, I have to say I think you are way too critical of your hair. I thought it looked great on Saturday! With that out of the way, is your hair fuzzy or frizzy? If it's frizzy, have you thought of putting some product in it, either when it is wet, damp, or dry? That could help, although obviously you don't want to weigh it down.

Lisa

Veteran

I must've missed something because I thought your hair looked fine of Saturday too. I find when I air dry I often get lots of frizzies. If I use a leave in conditioner on air dry days that helps a lot. Also if I let it dry in a twist, that prevents the frizzies and gives me some body.

Maya

Veteran

I had done the coconut rinse the night before so it looked relatively decent the next day when I was in DC (I know I said I did the rinse Saturday--I meant Friday. On Saturday I collapsed in a puddle after getting home).

My hair is definitely very dry and it just sticks out everywhere and forms a layer of fuzz. The woman who trimmed my bangs last week even commented on it.

The problem with putting it up when it's wet is that it tends to kink too much. Maybe normal hair falls into place when you let it down, but my hair just takes on whatever form it's in when it dries. If I use a claw clip, it will tangle badly and I'll end up with bent hair sticking out everywhere. If I make a bun, it will dry into a spiral.

I'm not sure what kind of product to use. I'm trying to avoid silicones, and most smoothing/shining agents use them. I wonder if I should just run a pea sized amount of coconut oil in as a leave in conditioner (coconut oil is one of the few oils that actually gets absorbed by the hair rather than just sitting on the surface). I might smell like a tropical cocktail all day, but it could be worth it....

Steph

Veteran

And smelling like a tropical cocktail would be wrong because...?

I'm not at home to look at my de-frizz products, but when I am I will check to see if there are any that are silicone free. I do think a leave-in conditioner could help with fuzziness.

crazyone

Veteran

Maya: my family is from South India, which is pretty much coconut oil central (actually, in the part they're from, coconut and coconut oil are used for EVERYTHING), but unfortunately I don't like the smell too much so I never tolerated it much in my hair... but I think olive oil also penetrates the hair shaft, and from what I read avocado oil does too. I prefer the smell of olive oil so that's what I usually use.

But mineral oil and sunflower oil don't help.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Maya, have you thought about using products that are formulated for curly hair? It sounds like maybe you have naturally wavy hair. My hair is naturally curly and fine, and I have the exact same problems you do. When I let my hair air dry it doesn't seem to help make it any smoother. I've found that putting a thin, runny gel in my hair when it is soaking wet in the shower (really, don't towel dry it at all) helps a lot. I like Angell by DevaCurl, but any thin gel will work. After that I wrap it in carefully in a tea towel, not a terry cloth towel. A tea towel will not pull on your hair and break it the way a terry cloth towel will. Then I use a diffuser, otherwise my hair won't curl as much and just sticks out in crazy ways (half of it is straight, and half is kind of wavy/curly). But since you're on a blowdry ban, just arrange it the way you would like it to dry and let it air dry.

It sounds like the surface layer of your hair is damaged and broken. You may have to just wait until it grows out to see a huge difference, but I think it might be worth it.

I can commiserate with you, Maya. I love curly hair, but I've always been less than impressed with my own.

Maya

Veteran

Ana, I contemplated switching to a diffuser because I think it reduces the heat and air flow which might be less damaging. I tried it before and it actually made the frizz/fuzz worse, probably because I don't know how to use it properly. I have seen some videos online but they are for much curlier hair than mine.

I am confused about what to do with my hair because it has been stick straight my whole life and so the world of waves and curls is totally foreign to me. I bought a curl gel from Redken but even a pea sized amount is too heavy for my hair and kind of clumps it together and makes it greasy. My hair seems too straight to be wavy and too wavy to be straight :\

I'm going to make an appointment here to see if they can teach me how to encourage the wave more. They are the makers of this product which looks like it might work.

Crazyone, I almost thought of getting one of those Indian hair oil formulas since I go to the store once a week anyway, but they smelled obnoxious! Pure coconut oil doesn't bother me but all the other stuff sure does. It makes no difference to me in general. I'll either smell like a tropical cocktail or a Mediterranean buffet

Steph, you have gorgeous hair so I'm inclined to trust your wisdom!

marianne

Good luck Maya, I hope this strategy works for your hair! I have no advice, except I wanted to chime in about coconut oil smell. I use it for my skin (and hair occasionally, I should really do it more often) and the one I buy doesn't smell. I think it might be clarified. It's Spectrum and comes in a plastic jar.
Sesame oil works well for hair treatment too, but it also smells quite strong.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Maya, I know you don't want products with silicon in it. Hav eyou ever tried John Masters? I use that line and find all products are very gentle and non-greasy on my hair, which produces more oil than the Tarsands. I know there's a palmade and various conditioners and a styling gel all available. Worth a look, maybe?

Steph

Veteran

Thanks Maya, that's very sweet of you! My hair is actually naturally curly as well, and I had the same idea as Ana--that you should use something formulated for curly-haired people. I was actually wondering if you wouldn't be helped by trying a straightening lotion. I don't personally use them, because they wouldn't do trick on my hair, but since yours isn't as curly, they might work. It would help you get straighter hair, but allow you to bypass the blowdry.

Have you ever looked at naturallycurly.com? The women on that site have millions of ideas about how to best deal with curly hair. Most are of the "no poo" movement and don't use shampoo at all. Many of them have wavy, but not curly hair. It might be worth a look at the site.

Anonymous

Oh, Maya...welcome to my world! We seem to have the same hair issues. Too straight to be treated as curly and too curly to be treated as straight. And anything we do either weighs it down or makes it a mess of fuzz. Ugh. I loath dealing with it!

I am finding that having the right product is the only way to keep it in submission. First, I don't use any shampoo except on days I go to the gym. Second I use a rich conditioner for frizzy hair. After showering, I blot dry, and use a cocktail for wavy hair: mousse for wavy hair combined with non-silicone defrizzer. Then I work it all in, don't comb it...just finger style it into the general position I want and let it air dry. The combo of product I use is light so it doesn't weigh down and strong so it hold the waves in position. However, even with this massive battalion of hair product, I still frizz up after about 4 hours and then I use a little more non-silicone defrizzer on my dry hair to squelch the rebels back into submission.

Let me know if you want any product specifics.

Some other ideas that have worked: using hair coloring will seal the shaft of the hairs so they are less frizzy by keeping moisture out of the hair. A flat iron works if you are into the high-maintenance route.

There's also the ultra exensive Brazillian Blowout which I understand WORKS but I am unwilling to pay that much $$$ at this point in my life!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

FWIW, I have somewhat curly hair and I stopped blowdrying it (every once in a while I still do). I did notice the texture become much better after several months off the dryer, so I encourage you to see it through!

Personally, I wash, blot, apply a good dollop of curl cream, then allow to air dry. The worst thing is if I comb it when it's wet...that will turn it into a massive poofball.

Good luck!

Dusty

(website)

Have you tried using conditioner as shampoo? I know several curly girls who do this and their hair looks fabulous. I still recommend the Suave Sleek curl cream. It has no silicones and has really made my hair feel nice.

Maya

Veteran

So much wisdom I can barely stand it!

I wonder if I should get my hair cut by someone who specializes in curly hair, or if that would be a joke since mine is just the ever so slightest bit of wavy.

I think my hair has the potential to get this wavy so I'm going to bring the picture in to Blow and see what they say:

http://www.marieclaire.com/cm/.....038-lg.jpg

Dusty, I did try going without shampoo but my scalp was pretty oily (ironic, isn't it). I only use a nickel sized amount on my scalp now.

taylor

Veteran

I know you aren't going to like hearing this but...

Blow drying really is not drying to the hair unless you have over colored or over bleached hair...it's true folks. On untreated hair , when done properly...blowing down on the hair shaft rather than at the hair, it actually closes down the outer cuticle layer on the hair and makes it quite shiny and sleek. Not drying at all...the elements are much worse and have a much greater effect on hair...sun, humidity, chlorine, hair products, hair color and so forth.

I do not want to discourage you from trying this though, I believe something can be gained by this little experiment and I will be interested to see what it is you discover about your hair.

Maya

Veteran

I guess I was just looking for reasons why it is so dry and I concluded it must be the blow drying because there isn't much else it could be. I don't color my hair. My diet is good. I drink enough water. I even take flax seed supplements. I noticed after flat ironing my hair it can feel very rough and strawlike, so heat seemed like the logical enemy.

I am giving up in part because it doesn't make my hair look much better. I may as well get a few extra minutes of sleep in.

taylor

Veteran

It is probably your flat iron...too hot, they are extremely hard on the hair...brutal really if too hot...Mine in the salon can literally burn the hair right off!! Hasn't happened,:) can you turn yours down a bit?

A sign of too high a temp is frizzy (burnt) ENDS!

Maya

Veteran

I keep it on the second lowest setting because the lowest has no effect. I think it's 250?

i don't use it these days anyway though and I used to only use it at the ends so it shouldn't affect my whole head! I need to take some clear pictures sometime so you can diagnose me Taylor.

Kate

Veteran

Maya, are you going to keep using your flat iron, or does the blowdrying ban include all tools that use heat?

Taylor, can you recommend some good products for protecting hair from heat? Do most heat protectants work well?

taylor

Veteran

I wish I knew the magic for you...there is one , we just need to find it:(

tarzy

Veteran

Blow Dry Bar!!! I love it. I would pay money if someone could really teach me how to make my curls straight. I want to hear all about it if you go, Maya.

Maya

Veteran

Ok I took these with my phone so the quality and flattery isn't great but if I wait to get gone, the sun will be long gone.

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....61ef2f.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....06b714.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....ff9e75.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....5239de.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....64b170.jpg

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Maya, it could just be that your hair is changing right now. This seems kind of weird, but hair can respond to changes in hormones and aging the way our skin does. My hair used to be brown and thick when I was younger (even in my late teens) but now, ten years later, it is fine and kind of mousy blonde. I've had friends who had curly hair before they got pregnant, and now their hair is straight. You may need to experiment with several things to see what works for you.

As far as gel weighing your hair down, I've found the gel really needs to be runny, not thick at all, and you might even look for products for fine hair. Everything weighs my hair down except the lightest products (which don't always work in all this humidity). For most of us, t's just trial and error. I'm interested to see what ends up working for you. I think something is bound to, it may just take a while. For what it's worth, I always think your hair looks nice in the photos you post (I know that's no consolation). I can definitely understand your frustration.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Maya, have you ever tried the WEN products? They work absolute miracles!!! My hair used to be 'normal' but turned SO dry and frizzy (from meds) I could hardly comb it and it looked as though I was electrocuted...they have several formulas for different hair types(I have thick, slighly wavy hair) and it was *literally* an overnight change and within 1 week it was back to normal- and I tried every friggin' product that claimed to work- both salon and drugstore but this is like NO other! At least take a look at the website- it explains a lot- http://www.chazdean.com I bought mine thru http://www.qvc.com because they have a 30 day- money back guarantee- no hassle! I hope you find something that works great and satisfies you- I know how hard it is when you hate your hair, believe me...

Maya

Veteran

Is it really wavy though? Clearly I am having trouble wrapping my head around this. I can't seem to decide whether it is straight or wavy. Knowing that would at least get me started on how to style it and I'd have a clearer idea of what products to use.

Isabel

Veteran

Biscuitsmom, first the Brahmin bags, now this !

I use Wen by Chaz Dean. I recommended it on another thread. The stuff is amazing.

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