too long?

New_to_Curlz · February 2013

Hi ladies!
I think I am getting the hang of this CG routine but I still have a lot of work to do. I am wondering if my hair is too long and the curls are being weighed down. What do you think?

Thank you!

honeybebe · February 2013

Your hair is so pretty!

What's your routine?

Sent from my SPH-D710 using CurlTalk App

New_to_Curlz · February 2013

Thank you Honeybebe! Your hair is beautiful!
I still feel like I am trying to figure all of this CG stuff out. Right now I am using Shea Moisture yellow label shampoo and conditioner once or twice a week and cowashing with SN coconut in between. I use KCCC on soaking wet hair and plop for about 30 minutes. Then I scrunch in some HETT gel and diffuse for a few minutes to set the gel. I clip some pieces at the top of my head so it doesn't lay flat. I SOTC later in the day and it seems to be working pretty well.
I wish I had more bouncy curls and that is why I am wondering if it is too long.

lcl0706 · February 2013

Fine hair can easily be weighed down by length, but you think yours is medium texture/medium all around so that might not be it. Do you have any layers? Layers can help with volume & movement. If you have layers - how do the shorter layers curl? That would give you an idea of how the rest of your hair would curl if you cut it shorter.

To be honest, your hair looks like a true type 2, I'd say 2b, and I doubt it would really spring up into tighter curl, regardless of what length you cut it. Wavy hair often needs more length to be wavy - with no or little root curl, I've seen a lot of wavies mention they need several inches to really get the waves wave-ing.

Have you tried any protein? Medium texture hair can sometimes benefit from protein, it's not as needed as it is for fine hair but it can help hair hold the structure of the curl better as well as repair damage.

How was your hair when you were a child? Was it straighter or curlier? Is it heat damaged or color damaged now? If you've noticed your curl pattern loosen because of damage, there's a good chance it could tighten back up some as you nurse it back to health.

If you love your hair long, leave it long. It's beautiful.

I can't tell you for sure how it would react if you cut it, but don't cut it shorter JUST because you hope it would curl more or be bouncier. Do it because you really want shorter hair. I spent a lot of time when I first quit straightening hoping to turn my hair into something it's not. It's exhausting. Getting your hair healthy at any length and treating it nicely will be what brings your waves/curls out to their fullest potential.

New_to_Curlz · February 2013

Thank you lcl0706!
Honestly I am not sure I am medium everything. I am sure I am on the fine side of medium texture so protein may be good but I am unsure how to go about that. Do I just buy a protein pack and try it out?
My hair is layered and the top layers and the front are curlier. My curls are mostly ringlets so that is why I was wondering if they would bounce up more if they were shorter.
My hair was straight when I was younger. I didn't know I had any curls until a year and a half ago when I went to a new hair dresser and complained of frizz. I don't think I have much damage. I haven't straightened it in a year and a half and its been that long since I colored it as well. Even before when I wore it straight it was a hassle so I wore it up most days.

I really appreciate the advice and suggestions. I would love bouncy curls like yours but I know all hair is different. I like the length of mine but I would be okay if it was shorter too, but still below my shoulders.

lcl0706 · February 2013

By no means am I telling you not to cut it so I hope it didn't come out like that lol. I cut 7" of damaged ends off mine 2 months after going CG. Now I'm growing it back out & losing some of my tighter curls but I miss the length. My hair is very fine & very easily OC'd & weighed down.

If there are dry or split ends your hair could probably benefit from a good trim at least. I've just learned from personal experience that I will never be able to make my hair be something it isn't. Acceptance of it took a while. My hair was 3b as a kid and I'd convinced myself I could get that back with enough TLC but it turns out time and age has changed and loosened my curl pattern. Straight hair as a child is a trademark of wavy hair, but curl pattern often tightens after going CG & learning proper styling techniques so yours could definitely change as you go on.

A good "starter protein" experiment is ION effective care conditioner, if you have access to a Sally's. Get a couple sample size packets & use it as an RO & see how it reacts. Protein overload will make your hair feel straw-like. ION EC is protein heavy, but also moisturizing. Some on here use it as a PT & follow it with a DT, but I use it as an RO. I can't DT. IAGirl has a great gelatin PT recipe posted on the recipe board. It's cheap, easy to make, & customize-able. It's normal for a PT to feel dry as you're rinsing it out, but not normal for it to stay that way after following it up with conditioner.

Also, fine haired wavies sometimes have issues with co-washing as it weighs down their waves. I low poo with coco betaine every time I wash, which is every other day, & use a sulfate poo once a week. Hard core CG did not work for me. It's all trial and error. My hair wasn't starved for moisture & some days I can use VO5, a popular co-wash, as an RO. Experiment for a while & do what works for you, even if it breaks the "rules." Every head of curly hair is different.

Hope all that helps! Feel free to keep asking questions!

New_to_Curlz · February 2013

So helpful, thank you!
I will go to Sally's and get the PT. After I use it do I follow with regular conditioner or anything? Should I style as usual or should I just let it air dry with no other products?

As far as the length goes, I had a few inches cut off about a month ago. I guess I will just wait and see what it is like when it is time for the next one.

mamareal · February 2013

Hello I am new to this site and a 5th time transitioner....at the moment i have a texturizer in my hair and have decided to grow it out...can anyone suggest ways I can do this a little quicker this time around?...:-? thanks

New_to_Curlz wrote: »

So helpful, thank you!
I will go to Sally's and get the PT. After I use it do I follow with regular conditioner or anything? Should I style as usual or should I just let it air dry with no other products?

As far as the length goes, I had a few inches cut off about a month ago. I guess I will just wait and see what it is like when it is time for the next one.

lcl0706 · February 2013

New_to_Curlz wrote: »

So helpful, thank you!
I will go to Sally's and get the PT. After I use it do I follow with regular conditioner or anything? Should I style as usual or should I just let it air dry with no other products?

As far as the length goes, I had a few inches cut off about a month ago. I guess I will just wait and see what it is like when it is time for the next one.

Follow it with conditioner or a DT if your hair feels dry after you rinse it out. I find it moisturizing enough that I don't need to. However you style it is up to you. If you want to leave it naked to see if it's any different, by all means do it. Since I use it as my RO step I almost always style afterwards.

New_to_Curlz · February 2013

I will try it out this weekend and see how it goes. Thank you!!!

New_to_Curlz · March 2013

Hi again!
So I tried the ION Protein treatment today and I am not sure what to think. I feel like my clumps are a little better but the curls seem a lot looser. My hair feels nice and soft which is good, but I wish the waves were stronger. How do I know if my hair "liked" it or not and if there is something else I should do.

Thank you!!!

asianrunner · March 2013

It could be that your hair didn't like the particular type/kind of protein(s) in the Ion packet. For example, my hair really likes keratin protein but others like oat, notsomuch.

lcl0706 · March 2013

I think your hair looks just as good as it did in the first pic

if your hair doesn't like protein, you'll know. Most hair when it responds poorly to protein feels very dry, hard, or straw like. It won't curl like normal. Since your hair feels soft, it could be that the ION is too moisturizing for the protein to have much of an effect. I have seen some wavies who's hair responded to protein by going too soft, but from what I've seen it's more common for it to go too dry & inflexible.

I suggest trying to make IAgirls gelatin PT. it's a packet of unflavored gelatin (Knox brand, for an example) dissolved completely in 1/4 - 1/2 cup of very hot water. You can add in whatever you want as long as you get the gelatin dissolved COMPLETELY lol. I add in NPF because my hair looooves protein, and a small squirt of a light condish like VO5 or SN. Distribute evenly & let it sit for however long. It's trial and error. I cover mine with a shower cap & let it sit for 30 mins.

Rinse out & follow with either a deep conditioner or a light one depending on how your hair feels. A good reaction to protein is usually a stronger curl pattern that holds up better during the day. A bad one is straw hair. ION EC has enough protein in it that if your hair hated it, you'd probably know by now so I wouldn't be too scared to try another PT. if it does go dry, baby it with moisture for a week or so.

A lot of curlies who have protein-happy hair also look for products with protein in them to help maintain the structure throughout the day. I probably need to do more of this.

This post turned into a protein tutorial lol. I don't know what kind of difference protein may make in your hair, i just know it was the missing link for me for quite some time because i was afraid to try it. Hope all this helps!

lcl0706 · March 2013

asianrunner wrote: »

It could be that your hair didn't like the particular type/kind of protein(s) in the Ion packet. For example, my hair really likes keratin protein but others like oat, notsomuch.

This is also true. I haven't met a protein I don't like, but some people can only use keratin or whatever. The gelatin PT is collagen which is one of the strongest proteins out there.

New_to_Curlz · March 2013

Thank you so much! It is definitely a protein tutorial!
I bought the gelatin tonight. How long should I wait to use it?

What kinds of products have protein in them for during the day?

lcl0706 · March 2013

Anything that says hydrolyzed collagen, wheat protein, silk protein, keratin, oat protein, etc. Read the ingredients. Obviously ones that say "protein" are proteins. Others aren't so obvious, like keratin. Keratin is the actual protein your hair is made of so it's a commonly used ingredient in "strengthening" conditioners. VO5 has a "volumizing" conditioner that has collagen in it. I find it less moisturizing than their others. It's a popular co-wash. I low poo or poo all the time tho. I've used VO5 as a hit of protein.

I don't have a lot of, if any, styling products that have protein in them so I can't give recommendations. I probably ought to get some.

You can use the gelatin PT whenever, if your hair doesn't feel dry from the ION stuff. If you're nervous, do a small section as a test first. Or start with only leaving it on for a few minutes & if that doesn't have any adverse reactions, do it once a week & leave it on a few mins longer until you find what works best for you. I believe after 30 mins your hair will have absorbed all it's going to although I've seen some people leave it on for an hour or more.

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