Thanks for helping! The beast is being tamed!!

dia99

Here are some pics of my hair right now. In these pics, I was going out with DaNa so I washed my hair in the shower, put some light gel on it with my fingers and then attempted a pineapple with a t-shirt (bent over, wrapped the t-shirt around my head, twisted the hair up in the t-shirt, secured the "cone"). I let it sit that way for about 2 hours before I took it off.



I have BIG hair - it is thick AND I have lots of strands of hair. Even when I have a relaxer, my hair is volumous (is this a word??). No matter how long it gets, it stays big and goes even as it goes down.

What can I do to remedy this? Will I have to resort to getting it thinned? This is kind of annoying, because it's even hard to put into a ponytail when it's bra-strap length (if it's not relaxed).

I like my hair sometimes, but I am getting really frustrated with the bigness of it, and may end up getting a relaxer this summer if I can't figure something out. Last time I got sick of it after three years natural and got a relaxer again. Then, I cut it all off July '04 and started over with a "boy" cut. It's at the point of frustration right now!!!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated, even if its just telling me some relevant threads to read. Thanks!!!!

ps - I am putting this in 4a and 4b, so as to hopefully get more advice!!

Sorry - I keep trying to change the size of the pics and it's not working here. So I'll just leave the one until I figure something out.

eccentric_kurlz

This probably won't help but I really like how your hair looks. It's very flattering.

dia99

Thank you, shygirl! I just really, really want to be able to wear it "small" sometimes. This may sound stupid, but I always feel sorry for people who have to sit behind me at meetings, church, etc. I'm already a nice height, and to add big hair on top of a big head is just unfair to folks, I think.

spiderlashes5000

I can see your braces!!! :twisted:

OK, I don't find your hair to be especially big. It looks very good, and could easily stand to go a lot bigger, imo. I like big hair, though.

But if you're set on reducing the volume: Do you ever use [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]Kinky Curly Curling Custard[/buylink]? I find it makes my hair very curly but reduces the volume a lot (not only my hair, but other people with much thicker hair than mine have said this, too.)

No, why get it thinned? What's the look you're going for?

Just thought I'd swoop in to this forum to add my two cents as I never see you posting about hair.

An Akasha

Don't relax it! You've got gorgeous hair!!

I've got HUGE hair. H.U.G.E.

I try not to block people in church or at movies by putting it in a low puff with a scarf.

Or you can add more heavy products to tame it.

dia99

spiderlashes5000 wrote:

I can see your braces!!! :twisted:

OK, I don't find your hair to be especially big. It looks very good, and could easily stand to go a lot bigger, imo. I like big hair, though.

But if you're set on reducing the volume: Do you ever use [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]Kinky Curly Curling Custard[/buylink]? I find it makes my hair very curly but reduces the volume a lot (not only my hair, but other people with thicker hair than mine have said this, too.)

No, why get it thinned? What's the look you're going for?

I know about the braces - I was wishing I had good photo editing software! This is why we haven't had family pictures in two years. :oops:

It's only this small in the pic because I did the pineapple thing for two hours. Otherwise, it's really, really huge! I want to find a way to get it to lay as flat as it does when I first come out of the shower and it's really wet. It definitely still has curl and volume, but it's flatter.

That way, it would be a lot easier to make real ponytails instead of always having to use the brastrap type deals or stocking legs to get a semi-ponytail. My hair is long enough to go into a ponytail, but I can't get it flat enough unless it's soaking wet. Then, when I take the ponytail out to sleep, I can't put it back in the next day so I have to wet my hair completely again. I don't want to sleep with the ponytail holder in because it pulls at the edges of my scalp.

That's why I ended up going back to a relaxer before - having to constantly rewet my hair.

ms.g

i think yor hair is gorgeous. i wouldnt change a thing.
ive got thick hair and i love it. so much to play with!

love yourself first

dia99 wrote:

Here are some pics of my hair right now. In these pics, I was going out with DaNa so I washed my hair in the shower, put some light gel on it with my fingers and then attempted a pineapple with a t-shirt (bent over, wrapped the t-shirt around my head, twisted the hair up in the t-shirt, secured the "cone"). I let it sit that way for about 2 hours before I took it off.

. . . .

I have BIG hair - it is thick AND I have lots of strands of hair. Even when I have a relaxer, my hair is volumous (is this a word??). No matter how long it gets, it stays big and goes even as it goes down.

What can I do to remedy this? Will I have to resort to getting it thinned? This is kind of annoying, because it's even hard to put into a ponytail when it's bra-strap length (if it's not relaxed).

Your hair is GORGEOUS :shock: :shock: Wow! It is so much longer than before. I love it!

It is big. I would recommend [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]Kinky Curly Curling Custard[/buylink] or Kinky Curly Jojoba Jelly to get it to lay down. The Jelly might work well for you. Do NOT get it thinned with thinning shears because it might get even huger. Experiment with products first.

Also, I think you are a 3c/4a. Your hair looks great!!

dia99

Okay, I'll try to get all the recs I can before Thursday, so I can send my sister to the beauty supply store in Atlanta before DaNa leaves there on Sunday night. There aren't a lot of ethnic hair product options over here. :x

I'll definitely go with the kinky curling custard since it has two recs.

Thanks for the compliments!

System

1. let it grow. gravity will help to weigh the hair down

2. scarf it down while it dries or put it in a pony puff after it dries. let it sit for about 20 min. this stretches out the roots

3. braid the hair at night in a way that keeps the roots flat. unfurl in the am. I usuallly do 8 or so braids.

4. it looks like your layers are a little too drastic causing the hair to bunch out at the sides. Your hair is great, so I'm thinking a good cut can make the hair look less bulky.

and don't thin it unless you have someone you trust to keep it up.

TroDous

WebjockeyGuide wrote:

1. let it grow. gravity will help to weigh the hair down

2. scarf it down while it dries or put it in a pony puff after it dries. let it sit for about 20 min. this stretches out the roots

3. braid the hair at night in a way that keeps the roots flat. unfurl in the am. I usuallly do 8 or so braids.

4. it looks like your layers are a little too drastic causing the hair to bunch out at the sides. Your hair is great, so I'm thinking a good cut can make the hair look less bulky.

and don't thin it unless you have someone you trust to keep it up.

I agree with these suggestions...especially #1,2 & 3. I have BHS (big hair syndrome) too. Products can make my hair LOOK thinner but I usually have to apply something heavy and deal with damp hair hours & hours later.

I think your hair is gorgeous BTW.

Cherish

Dia, that is so not big hair It's beautiful, as are you.

Webbie - great suggestions.

dia99

Cherish wrote:

Dia, that is so not big hair It's beautiful, as are you.

Ahh, this made me blush! Thank you!

Webjockey, thanks for the tips. I also found out from the 4b thread that I actually was encouraging volume by doing that pineapple thing. I guess I should have stuck around the hair forums a little longer. :oops:

curlee Q (from the other forum) also suggested the sectioning tip, and I think I read that somewhere else on here from another curly, too. I'll try that once I get some decent products. The only thing I've been able to find here is regular gel like LA whatever, and Softee brown gel. I have Creme of Nature hair lotion and Pink Moisturizing Lotion for Dia's hair, but it doesn't feel *right* in my hair for some reason. It makes my hair feel hard.

I'll have my sister pick me up the Curly Custard and send it back with DaNa. I'll be sure to do a search for more application techniques and post a pic of the results.

If you have any more suggestions on good products, please share before Thursday so I can get them without paying the shipping. Thanks!!!

System

Easy access product:
aloe vera gel + veggie glycerine. 3 to 4 parts Aloe to 1 part veggie glycerine.


General application technique:
The key is to apply product section by section, combing (or raking with your fingers) a tiny bit of product from root to tip. By sectioning, you avoid over applying and leaving yoru hair feeling coated and dry. A good product should smooth and define your curls without requiring your hair to be sopping wet. I found that I end up waisting more product that way, not to mention applying unevenly.

Air dry when you can

Curlilocs

Your hair is very pretty. I love big hair! Please don't relax it!

Sisa

Beautiful!

st. louis blue

I second everything Webjockeyguide has said, including the good cut part. If you can't get a good cut out there (there's some tradeoffs, I guess, to living in Hawaii, sigh), then braid it down until you can. A good cut makes all the difference in how hair falls, and I myself believe that bulk problems are entirely do to how hair falls. As opposed to texture, I mean; there's a widespread belief that texture is the source of big-ness, as opposed to cut. What I'm saying is that I think it's all cut.

But honestly, dia, your hair doesn't look that big to me.

Whatever you do, DON'T THIN!!! It's gorgeous, and such beautiful color!

OldSoul

I know the feeling. My hair is big too. It does not hang at all. It helps me to braid or twist set is as suggested previously. I haven't gotten the product application down either. I am glad you asked, because these answers are helping me too.

Not adding or helping, just know that you are not alone. Thanks.

System

Yup. I'm a big fan of a good cut. I think it's well worth it to plunk down the bucks (not saying that great cuts have to cost a ton) and time to get it done right. Thank goodness Christo's crew comes down to Austin now. I've been having fabulous hair days ever since.

st. louis blue

For real. An expensive cut is money better spent than expensive products, that's for sure.

dia99

Thanks, everyone! It feels good to hear I'm not as big as I thought I was.

There is ONE AA hair braiding place here, and she is only licensed to do braids, not everything. I had her trim my hair last summer, so it's definitely time for a good cut since it's been 6 months. We just started visiting a church where there are other African Americans with natural hair, so I'll see if I can meet someone next week and get some recs. I don't plan to be on the mainland until this summer, and even then I'm going to Oklahoma and Arkansas, not exactly natural hair capitols.

Webbie, where do you find vegetable glycerin? I used to be able to get aloe vera gel in Walmart before I moved here, though I wasn't using it for my hair. I haven't seen it at the Walmart here, so I'll add that to my list for sis.

System

I've only seen it in health food stores. They should have it next to any natural oils (ie coconut, jojoba, castor).

susu

Just wanted to add that I don't see the bigness of your hair AT ALL. Your hair actually looks like it lays down pretty flat. I guess big is all relative.

I agree with most of the advice that was already given. Two products that seem to weigh my hair down are IC Fantasia Gel and Garnier Fructis Soft Curl Creme.

Another thing that seems to stretch out / flatten my hair a bit is putting my hair in a low bun after washing and applying products. I've only left my hair in a bun for a couple of hrs, taking it down when it's still damp, so I"m not sure how it would look if bunned overnight.

Oh, and by the way, I love your make-up.

wild~hair

Dia, I think your hair looks beautiful.

dia99

Thanks, everyone!!!

I have an order in for the following:

aloe vera gel
Sebastian Potion 9
Garnier soft curling creme (they actually carry this here so I got it today)
LongAid curl activator
veggie glycerin (I think I can find this tomorrow at the health food store)


I'll start with these and then get the Kinky Curly products if this doesn't work - I guess it can't hurt to wait since it looks like I'd have to wait if I ordered it anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions! If you have anymore, please share. I'm hoping whatever I get can last for experimentation until I go home in late June.

keepitmovin2.0

Off topic, sort of....your hair really does look good!

I'm not sure you want to hear this from a TWA'er, but I haven't always been one, and I have extremely thick hair also and can understand the frustration you have with the ponytail thing (why do I focus on the ponytail???) It gave me a lot a grief until I started putting my hair in a loose braid, then apply whatever product to smooth the edges down (tie 'em up if necessary) and then put the loose braid in a ponytail with an ouchless headband. Thick hair makes the cutest ponytails.

Ok, back to the topic at hand

dia99

keepitmovin wrote:

Off topic, sort of....your hair really does look good!

I'm not sure you want to hear this from a TWA'er, but I haven't always been one, and I have extremely thick hair also and can understand the frustration you have with the ponytail thing (why do I focus on the ponytail???) It gave me a lot a grief until I started putting my hair in a loose braid, then apply whatever product to smooth the edges down (tie 'em up if necessary) and then put the loose braid in a ponytail with an ouchless headband. Thick hair makes the cutest ponytails.

Ok, back to the topic at hand

Actually, this is totally ON topic!! Ponytails have been my natural-hair nemesis (to steal a word from my adorable student)! They make me end up looking like my head is bigger than it is since I can't get the actual ponytail all the way to the scalp. So, it looks like my head stops farther back than it does. From the front they can sometimes look relatively normal, but when you look from the side it looks like I have one very huge skull!

So, thanks for the ponytail tip!

subbrock

i like the hair actually....

susu

Slightly O/T: Dia, your hair in that pic looks almost like a braid-out to me. Is that how your wash and go hair looks, or does it lose a lot of its curl when you pineapple it? Just curious.

dia99

Does wash and go mean without product? I have to wash it in the morning, so I'll take a pic after I get out of the shower and towel dry it as usual, and then another pic after I put gel in it so you can see the difference.

Without any product, my hair gets frizzier and shrinks a lot in length but increases in height as the day goes on. With product, the curls stay as defined, but they still get shorter and higher as the day goes on. With the tshirt and the gel, my hair stayed like that for the rest of the evening (about 6 hours from when I washed it).

I don't know how my hair would look with a braid out; I've never worn that style.

curlyarca

very pretty dia!