I broke up with my diffuser

After many long years together my diffuser and I are calling a quits. It just doesn't work for me anymore. I used to diffuse my curls all the time because I couldn't stand walking around with wet hair for hours. (Oddly enough I only started diffusing after college. Before then I would always air dry) but recently I started air drying again because it's much healthier. I've stuck it out for a month already. But yesterday I tried diffusing just to see what the difference was. It was not good. I used the same products and techniques as when I air dry but diffusing gave me weird roots, my hair started to frizz a lot as the day wore on and it wasn't shiny anymore. Could it be the products or is my hair just done with heat?
0
Comments
Current Products:
- AG Plastique
+ Plopping Overnightwww.joyfulmeadow.com
www.facebook.com/joyfulmeadow
www.instagram.com/joyful.meadow
When I diffuse, I only ever do it on cool and use no heat. You mentioned you're using heat, so do you do it in a high / normal heat, or do you do it on more of a 'warm' setting? Could be you just need to do it on warm or cool, if you don't already
LP: Shea Moisture (currently JBCO)
Conditioner/CW: Jason Aloe Vera
LI: Aunt Jackie's Curls & Coils Quench
Refreshing: TRESemmé Naturals Aloe Vera & Avocado
Gel: DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel
DC: Aunt Jackie's Soft & Sassy Super Duper Softening Conditioner
Treatments: Coconut oil/Coconut milk
UK curly. CG since Oct 2013.
Growing my hair to WL when dry :thumright:
3B, fine, normal porosity, high density, medium width and length
Conditioner: Tresemme Naturals, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle
Co-Wash: As I Am Coconut Co-Wash
Leave in Products: As I Am Leave-In, SM Smoothie/Milk, KCKT, Giovanni Direct Leave-In
Air Dry
Looking for new products and methods to try!
Some of the factors I considered were: less noise at a lower pitch, balance and weight, a ceramic heater for penetrating infra-red heat (which dries faster at lower temperatures), separate heat and air speed settings for versatility, and nano-silver technology for cleaner hair. I chose the SuperSolano 3500 Lite, and got a folding diffuser for it. After getting it, I decided the super long cord was an added bonus.
New dryer has three heat settings. What I didn't realize, until a while after I got it, is that they're cool, warm, and very warm (not hot, still comfortable to my skin), so I can use all three. It takes less time to dry my hair (even without the warmest setting, which is more like the medium setting on the old dryer). When I'm done, my hair is glossy, frizz free, and very resilient feeling, not at all dried out. I wasn't drying my hair past 85-90% dry anyway, so that it didn't get over dried, and the moisture in it could equalize with the moisture in the air, causing less frizz. I like that I still get plenty of bounce. (Once I really accepted my curl, I stopped worrying about jump/shrinkage, and like that my hair can look different lengths depending on weather, how long it's been since I washed it, etc.)
But that's me.
Morgan
Baby Fine 3B, low porosity, normal density and elasticity
CGing since July 2008
My hair almost always ends up falling out of the plop, but it still ends up looking nice because the way I put my hair into the plop, once it falls out I end up sleeping on the layer no one sees, so even if it ends up frizzing, only I can tell. You can always try when you don't have to go anywhere the next day just in case.
Current Products:
- AG Plastique
+ Plopping Overnightwww.joyfulmeadow.com
www.facebook.com/joyfulmeadow
www.instagram.com/joyful.meadow
You didn't explain how you diffuse, like what temperature you use and for how long, those details can certainly make a difference. Also if you start diffusing right away or wait a while. Normally I do it right after applying the gel or LI (skipping the gel) but a time or two I felt the need to wait before starting because not everything I use reacts the same to diffusing if I start right away, then I only do it for a few minutes, when I've been in a hurry and need to do it longer I invariably end with frizz or stringy curls in some spots.
I do use high heat to start but all I have right now is a travel-size blower which is not as strong as a full-size one, then I go to warm, moving from one section to another until I've covered all my head.
Hair: color-treated, mostly 3A.
CO-wash: VO5 K&L
RO: SpaHaus Salon w/OO, VO5 Shea Cashmere, W.R. Trop. Coconut, Daily Defense Moisturizing & others.
LI: Beautiful Curls w/Shea Butter & C.O., Hollywood Beauty OO Creme, VO5 K&L, Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer.
Gels: LAL Wet Look, ORS Lock & Twist.
Oils: Jojoba, EVCO & Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil
Ever since i went curly, i have only diffused my hair once. I did not care for the finished results. And, i have never gone back to doing so. I find that airdrying works best for my curls, so that is what i stick with. However, there are others thst prefer to diffuse their hair dry, and they have never had problems with such. You simply go with what works best for your curls.
I do understand that you gave your hair a break from diffusing it for a month,and things were going well. Yesterday, when you chose to go back to diffusing your curls, i cannot for sure say that it is your diffuser that caused you to experience weird roots, frizz, and a lack of shine to your hair. If your curent blowdryer with diffuser is not giving you satisfactory results at this time, then i would recommending either seeking out another one, one that offers greater benefits than the one you currently have. Or, you can go back to airdrying your hair.
(Don't hair type/loose curl pattern/fine texture/low density/high porosity
Current Regimen (Ayurvedic Based):
Cleansers- Bobeam Shampoo Bars
Stylers-Rotate between Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter and Camille Rose Naturals Aloe Whipped Butter Gel
I only wear my hair in wash n gos or buns. Also,
I do not use conditioner on my hair on a weekly basis. And, my hair is A ok with that!
CG since November 2013.
Pre-Poo: infrequent now, Coconut Oil overnight
Shampoo: Curls unleashed/for occasional sulfate wash when needed, everlasting sunshine.
Conditioner: Suave Naturals Everlasting Sunshine and GVP's conditioning balm.
Styler: iagirl's flaxseed curl cream or gelatin gel/conditioner mix.
PT: iagirl's gelatin treatment 3-4 times a month, with conditioner/honey/avj
Yep. Same here. I also stopped using my diffuser and went to only air drying hair (except for my small amount of bangs which take about 90 seconds to dry). I, too, used my diffuser yesterday after not using it for a time and was not happy with how my hair looked. So no more diffuser for me, either.
I'm definitely a "curly" 2c. Sometimes curly and sometimes just wavy upper layer with a ringlety under layer. My hair has been thick and coarse since birth. Strawberry blonde in color that can and does change depending on the type and amount of light.
All in all, I'm happy with my hair type but almost for sure think yours is prettier.