My hair

citygirldc

As some of you may know, I've always donned a pixie and on occasion I've grown my hair out to a short bob but it's been over 5 years since I've done that. Ever since my big stage of life (menopause), my hair texture has changed and has even gotten really curly. I supposed I've always had wavy hair but never knew that it wold get to this point. I'm trying to embrace the curls.

Does anyone have any words of advice or products they use to control the curls and less frizzy?

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2 months ago

Off Topic

13 replies

Latest reply was from cat2

Star

Veteran

I only comb my hair when it is wet. After that I only finger comb it to make sure it is in place until I wash again which is only once every 4 to 5 days. This keeps my curls and waves intact because if I comb them they break open and frizz. I do put some silicone type product on my hair when it is damp and then I air dry. Not all silicones are the same. Some weigh your hair down and some do not. The ingredient that is key is cyclopentiloxane. It affects the hair differently to other silicones, which can actually make your hair frizzy! The one I have been using for ages is mixed with linseed oil. It is made in Italy so may not be available in the US. But this ingredient is the most important. I first discovered it in a Redken product which was very expensive, but the one I use now is not at all, around 6 Euro. FYI it is called Cristalli Liquidi with Linseed Oil by Black Professional. Maybe you can get it in Portugal, the DM Drugstores which are through out Europe stock it.

2 months ago

Kate

Veteran

First off, I love your curls! I think they look great!

Something similar happened to me. After menopause, my dry, frizzy, thick, stick straight hair developed random wave patterns, which totally freaked me out.

I've come to own it and love it. I wear my hair shorter now, and let it do its thing, whatever the weather (Humidity used to be my nemesis!)

About two years ago, my wonderful hairdresser turned me on to Alfaparf Milano products, which I love. I alternate using shampoo and conditioner from the brand's Diamond Range, which is pretty much an everyday s/c, with s/c from their curly hair range.

The Diamond range is great for people with normal hair, which pretty much fits me now (excepting the frizz), since I stopped coloring my hair during Covid. The curly hair range speaks for itself. Great for frizzy hair, and a bit more conditioning.

I love both, but my favorite product is their Sublime Cristalli Liquidi (an oil) with Thermal Protection. I use it after I shampoo, and sometimes on the ends of my hair when it gets a bit too unruly, or I want to redirect a wayward wave pattern.

All Alfaparf products have a gentle slightly floral scent, not at all heavy, that dissipate quickly. The products are very reasonably priced, and as someone who only washes her hair once a week, they last me a good long time.

2 months ago

Kate

Veteran

I just noticed that Star mentions cyclopentasiloxane, which the Alfaparf oil I use contains, and it also includes linseed oil. I wonder if we're using the same thing? Star?

2 months ago

cat2

Veteran

My hair texture also changed. I have found doing a bunch of things to avoid breakage and adding moisture helped. I swapped out my regular hair ties for sports to those ones that look like they are rolled from nylons. I also started sleeping on a silk pillow case and started brushing less. With less breakage there is less frizz. I also found silicone products like those listed above to be really drying and instead use an Aveda conditing mask once a week. I also changed to an Aveda leave in styling product that is moisturizing. I don’t regularly blow dry, just spritz in the styler and give a good smoothing brush and let dry.

2 months ago

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Thanks all.

Cat 2 - I'll have to check out some of the Aveda products. I try not to wash my hair too much and when I do, I use clean products with. no sulfides and other preservatives. The conditioning mask sounds amazing. I try not to blow my hair but if I do, I always use protective hair products.

2 months ago

cat2

Veteran

Aveda has different masks depending on whether your hair is fine or normal-thick.

2 months ago

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

cat2 - I have normal thick strand hair, but not a lot of hair. I'll see.

2 months ago

Star

Veteran

Yes Kate certainly the same ingredients and also made in Italy. Maybe just packaged/marketed differently either for salons or retail, or even for different countries. I love it and as you say it so versatile, I use it either to calm my hair, or if I am styling the bangs with a hot iron (for protection). It never feels like I have any product in my hair. Mine also lasts months as a small amount does the job, Cyclopentasiloxane really is the key ingredient, it works completely differently to other silicones. I am in menopause and I found after I stopped dying my hair the frizz subsided substantially, even in my exceptionally humid summers. Now I use a coloured toner, which just sits on the hair. The dye opening the hair shaft together with the humidity was the problem. For the first time in many years my hair is wavy/curly without the frizz, and as I mentioned I airdry and finger style only (except the longer bangs). If I comb my hair once it is dry it is a birds nest.

2 months ago

Kate

Veteran

Star, my hair's propensity to frizz is a lot better these days, and like you say, I'm sure that stopping coloring my hair is a major reason for that. It's only in times of extreme humidity that it acts up, but even then, not like it used to.

I rarely blow dry my hair, just let it dry naturally and shape it with my fingers as you do.

1 month ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love your curls1

I think RunCarla and Staysfit are good sources on curl management, in addition to those who have already commented.

1 month ago

April

Veteran

CGDC - curly girl here. I recommend going here to determine your curl pattern.

Then check out Deva. Deva recently changed a lot of things about their products to make them more environmentally friendly and healthier for hair. The old formulas are what I use (thank you, eBay) only because I much prefer the old scent.

You can look up a Deva-trained stylist to cut your hair. A Deva cut is done dry, not wet, and most stylists do not know how to cut dry.

My own stylist does not care for the new formulas and now uses Ouidad. YMMV. It's easy to spend $$$ searching out the right products but once you find what's best for you, the search will be over!

1 month ago

nuancedream

Veteran

Name the brand formulated for curly/coily hair and I have probably tried it. Right now, I'm using Kevin Murphy's Maxi Wash detox shampoo to get rid of product build-up and Amika Soulfood Hair Mask. My hair loves jojoba oil or almond oil, which are moisturizing and don't weigh down my hair. I avoid products with coconut oil or shea butter. They are too heavy for my hair.

1 month ago

cat2

Veteran

April is so right that the search can be expensive. I used my Sephora points to try some samples and bought travel sizes of other products, so the overall spend wasn’t that bad.

1 month ago

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