It goes from curly to straight

[Jules]

Hi, here's one of my problems. I have long, thick, straight hair. If I take the time to curl my hair in the morning with a curling iron or even rollers, by lunchtime my hair looks "flat". I have tried using the curling iron and then spraying hair spray while it's in the iron and I've also tried some extra hold mousse. None of these things seem to help.

[braids4ever]

Ha I have this too. I call it Indian hair. it really wants to be straight. Unless you live by the law of the finger waving, save yourself the trouble and get a straight cut. Use cut and color to make the curly haired ones wish they had YOUR hair!!!

[Jules]

I've just about given up on the fact that I could have a wavy "do". It just doesn't happen with me. I do have people that wish they could have my hair but it's boring with a capital B. Long, straight, thick, black hair. I have been thinking of getting a color since I'm starting to go a little gray. Gasp!! Oh well, at least I'm not losing my hair.

[looneytoons]

I understand how you feel. I have naturally curly hair, but humid days tend to flatten it out, which is frustrating. Your problem is probably that your hair is thick... might make it hard for the curls to hold with the weight of the hair. You might be able to pull it off with a shorter haircut.

[Jules]

I tried doing a short haircut, I wanted something that was going to be easy for me to manage. At the time I had 3 young kids and just didn't have the time to style my hair. Well, I got the short haircut and hated it. My husband wasn't too fond of it either.

[Toni]

Originally Posted by Jules

I tried doing a short haircut, I wanted something that was going to be easy for me to manage. At the time I had 3 young kids and just didn't have the time to style my hair. Well, I got the short haircut and hated it. My husband wasn't too fond of it either.

Hi Jules,
I don't believe I have welcomed you yet. You have a great question and may I say you are not alone with your situation.

First of all, let me say that none of us gals are ever happy. If we have straight hair, we want curly. If it's curly, we want straight. Short, we want long and on and on and on. It's true the grass is always greener on the other side. Sometimes I think it's just that we get tired and want a change no matter what subject we are talking about.

However, change is not always easy or appropriate. Jules, you obviously like your hair long. So keep it! It's what makes you comfortable it seems. As for some curl. Hmmmmm. Am going to recommend a few things to try as that's all one can do sometimes. There aren't always hard and fast rules with hair.

You've tried the spritzing the curl with hairspray. Do you do this when you first roll it in the curling iron? Or do you spray just before you release the hair? It's important to allow the spray to dry from the heat first. And using small sections is important. Hair that's hard to curl needs more, smaller curls. Use a smaller curling iron then you've tried. I know what you're thinking, but try it and roll it up further from the ends. Spray after the first turn with hairspray, turn another time or two, spray, then repeat. Allow all curls to completely cool. This is very important, allowing to cool that is. Pick or finger comb the hairspray out. Styling as you like it then spray with hairspray again. Now if you are using professional hairspray, it won't feel hard on your hair unless of course, you spray it to death. After an hour or two, finger comb again to release more hairspray and to soften up your hair. See what will happen is the curl will relax and it will go from the smaller curls you don't care much for to the bigger, relaxed ones you do.

Will tell you though Jules, nothing makes curl stay in like curlers. I don't mean hot rollers either. Hair must be completely dry, dampen and I mean only dampen the ends with water and a little styling gel. (Soaking wet hai never dries) Roll hair as desired. I am guessing your hair is real long and you are only rolling the bottom six inches or so? If this is the case, then you can pull your hair back into a low riding ponytail and go about your house. If you are a side sleeper you may get away with the low ponytail with rollers tied up while you sleep. However, please do not roll your hair with those soft rollers that most people sleep on as that are NOT flattering to your hair. Whatever above roller method you use, you must allow your hair to COMPLETELY dry or it will be frizzy.

I realize this is time consuming and may be a little painstaking. Yet, as I said, nothing will hold a bouncy, stay-in curl better.

You also may want to consider color. This strenthens the hair and gives enough body to help hair hold curl and style.

Please let me know if you have time to do this experimenting above and how it turned out. Good luck !!!

[Jules]

Toni,

Thanks for all your tips. I really do appreciate it. I'm going to try using the smaller curling iron. I have one of those bigger ones and obviously it just curl the way I want it to. As far as spritzing the hair spray, what I do is take the curling iron, wind my hair up in it, THEN use the hair spray. I'm going to spritz each turn of the hair and try it that way. That makes much more sense. I'll let you know how it goes.

For me, having my hair stay long keeps me happy to some degree - I would never go back to a short cut again. It's true though, we always want what we don't have.

[bedhead]

I am going to try these tips too. My hair is super straight also, and it seems that no matter what I do it goes back top being straight within an hour. Also, I can't perm it or put a body wave in it because it burns my hair.

[Toni]

Originally Posted by bedhead

I am going to try these tips too. My hair is super straight also, and it seems that no matter what I do it goes back top being straight within an hour. Also, I can't perm it or put a body wave in it because it burns my hair.

I certainly understand about the perms bedhead.

Will say that it sounds like you process quickly indicating that your hair is very porous. This is something to consider too. Porous hair will take on the humidity in the air quicker.

Tell me, when your hair is wet, does it take a long time to dry? The longer it takes to dry, the more porous your hair is.

[Jules]

Toni,

I tried your tip about spritzing my hair with hair spray with each twist and it looked great after I was done curling my hair but after about two hours...you guessed it...went back to being limp. Oh well. I tried.