I’ve been looking for something like this for years that can create really big loose waves.

I got the Cloud 9 tong years ago which is really pricey & the size & results were what I wanted, but it has been such a nightmare causing loads of burns as it has no clamp & no protective part at the end of the tong, so even with gloves you struggle to handle the hair & the tong, have to hold the hair up with your other hand the whole time & end up accidentally burning your hand/arms/face. I’ve only used it a handful times in the years I’ve owned it for this reason & each time hasn’t been worth the hassle.

This T3 Bodywaver looks perfect in every way - it’s 44mm/1.75 inches wide, has a clamp, a protective end & from the videos I’ve seen gives the exact results I want of healthy looking big bendy waves & is really easy to use. Also seems like you can use big chunks of hair & get your hair done really quickly.

It’s quite pricey again but would be worth it for me if it gives the results I need & lasts long term. Has anyone used it?

[T3 Bodywaver](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=t3+bodywaver&client=safari&hl=en-gb&prmd=svin&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjl8LH0vZv4AhULi1wKHVx_A9AQ_AUoA3oECAIQAw&biw=390&bih=664&dpr=3#imgrc=0rLgvW8DJlp6VM)

Has anyone tried the T3 Bodywaver iron which has an extremely wide barrel?


I’m 25 and have been trying to grow out my hair since just before my 21st birthday. It’s the longest I’ve ever had it- about halfway down my back. But after my pregnancy in 2019 I’ve been steadily losing my hair in chunks every day. It’s gotten incredibly thin. I used to have super thick hair that was hard to manage now it’s just sad and thin.

I know castor oil can help hair growth but what else can promote it?

I’ve not been diagnosed with any condition that can cause hair loss yet but I’ll be speaking to a doctor soon to see if there is anything causing it or if it’s just still postpartum hair loss.

What can I do about hair loss?


I used to have beautiful brown hair down to my butt.
I got on the platinum blonde craze and had to cut it shorter and shorter to accommodate the bleach damage, and now it’s barely shoulder length and I have huge chunks that are maybe three inches long from breakage
 (Id be remiss not to mention: this is all from an expensive and highly regarded salon, they said it was because I swim laps in a chlorinated pool.)

So I’ve stopped swimming and I’ve decided to stop coloring my hair with anything at all, and I want to regrow my long healthy hair.

What are your best products, practices, supplements and advice for someone embarking on the long journey toward long virgin hair?

Thanks for reading, and thanks for any advice!!

trying to get back to long


Hey guys! My hair length is probably just past the back of my bra currently, and I’d like to grow it back to previous lengths.

From growing it that long, I know that braiding my hair and cutting once a year (if that) is the way to go. I had Kate goslin bob cut hair in 8th grade, and I braided my hair nearly every day for the next four years to get to near tailbone length when wet.

Thing is, I love doing a half up ponytail. Without fail, I have to rip or cut the hair tie out of my hair each time. Obviously I loose a lot of hair with it. Clips also rip chunks out when removed. I have thick frizzy wavy hair so it’s not a problem, but I’d like to be able to do half up ponytails. Any tips? Silk scrunchies usually don’t wrap enough times to hold securely.

Heavy breakage w/ half up styles


Today I went for my first haircut since 2019. I'm going to a wedding this weekend, and so I wanted to get things cleaned up a little, plus my hair was getting a LITTLE too long.

When I went in for the haircut, my hair was about 32 inches long. It went all the way into my buttcrack. It wass absolutely beautiful, flowing, healthy, my pride and joy. And I've never dyed it, I don't use shampoo or heat, I don't even brush it, so it's not like there was any significant damage that needed to be gotten rid of.

I told the stylist CLEARLY that I wanted as little length taken off as possible. And she chopped off NINE FUCKING INCHES. My hair now only goes down to just below my breasts. I lost about 30% of my total length.

And the cut isn't even in the style I asked for, so if I go somewhere else to get the layers corrected, I'm probably going to lose even more length.

I'm so fucking devastated. Every time I look in the mirror, I start crying. I was so upset that my boyfriend actually had to come home from work to take care of me for a little while because I was an absolute mess sobbing on the floor.

Why the FUCK do so many stylists do this???? This is like the third or fourth time I find myself absolutely devastated after asking for a tiny trim, and getting huge chunks lopped off. I genuinely don't understand why they aren't more cautious about taking length off of people with such long hair, when it's obvious that it's something we've spent so much time curating, and it's obvious that our hair is so precious to us.

At this point, part of me just wants to grab a pair of scissors and cut it all off. I'm not going to do that, obviously, but when I think about how much more time it will take to get it back to where it should be, I start crying all over again.

And I hate that I know I can come here and make this post and I'll be sure to hear from so many of you who have been through the same thing. I just hate this for us.

Anyways, thanks for reading, please give me a little love down in the comments. <3 <3

Edit: and now I'm scrolling through this sub and seeing all of you with your stunning, beautiful hair, and I'm feeling my loss so hard...

Absolutely devastated by the butchering I got today, I could really use some love right now


I'm stuck in a vicious cycle. I cut my own hair because no hairdresser has ever done what I asked for. So I give myself a modern shag using a feathering razor, and often it turns out great around collarbone length. But after a month or so of it looking amazing, some patches inevitably get too flat, or I see some asymmetry, or I feel damage, so I start to cut. And cut. And cut.

I cut until it's way shorter than I would ever want it to be; it's super asymmetrical and awkward, and the only thing stopping me from cutting more at that point is the certain knowledge that any shorter would look absolutely awful on me. Then I wait the long painful months until it gets back to a reasonable length and I can make all the adjustments to get it back to the style I like, and I'm happy. ...For about a month. And so the cycle repeats.

I write all these notes to myself:

 > "Cut small amounts at a time and check evenness"
> "When cutting in sections, don't cut too high -- that's how you end up with awkward chunks!"
> "If you feel the urge to cut: Try two days of clarifying shampoo, then decide if you actually need to cut"
> "Shorter doesn't always equate to more volume!!!"
> "When hair is sticking out around your ears, YOU HAVE TO LET IT GROW OUT!"

...et cetera.

But when I get the *urge* to cut, I can look directly at the note, read it, and still disobey my own rules. That last point is the absolute hardest to believe when I get these urges, which is why the hair around my face and ears hasn't gotten below chin length in years

I try to remind myself that growing out more will work better than cutting it now. I try to remember how awful I looked when I overcut last. But nothing stops me...

It's as if there are two conflicing sides of my mind: one says, rationally, "There is a very high chance that cutting now will only make it worse; you're being impulsive so you're not thinking clearly." and the other says "Yeah, but even if there's a TINY chance it will make me look better, I have to take it because I look/feel SO HORRIBLE right now!"

My fears and insecurities are getting the better of me. Has anyone else struggled with this and overcome it? What kind of strategies could I use that I haven't tried already?

[Plan] Help a compulsive hair-cutter with growing out hair?


Hey all! I’ve wanted waist-length hair since I was a little kid but never managed to grow it past nipple-length until I started really trying a couple years ago. My hair reached waist-length a little over a year ago and then a couple months ago I got three inches cut off because it just felt so flat. However, I still hate the way my hair looks down. It’s flat and feels so stringy, like there’s a ton of gaps between chunks of hair. I need someone to tell me if my hair is just too thin to pull it off, and if I should chop it or just trim it and try again. Thanks so much and all advice is welcome, please be honest because I’m desperate to like my hair lol.

[Here’s an imgur album of pics of my hair!](https://imgur.com/a/MGXsVjl)

(I don’t know if this is relevant but I try to take good care of my hair- don’t use sulfates/silicones and try my best to keep my scalp and hair moisturized though I have eczema so my scalp still tends to get pretty dry.)

Should I try to keep it long or just chop it?


This might be a stupid question to ask but I bought some hair treatment from Amazon and the product had leaked in the packaging. Ever since I read about that incident at Walmart where someone poured Nair in hair conditioner and a lady lost chunks of her hair, I'm nervous about hair products being tampered with. Should I just toss it or do you think it is okay?

Edit to add: Amazon has agreed to replace it without requiring I ship it in return. But in case no one heard about the Walmart incident, I'll leave this here! Terrifying!

Leaky package


Hi there, I tried to make a post on r/HaircareScience, but it ended up not getting much traffic (probably due to length...teehee).

My hair is at my own personal terminal length, it feels like a separate entity from myself and there are times where I consider getting a lob (then I take it down and comb it and feel like a pretty princess and change my mind).  But I don’t think I want it any longer than it currently is.  I have deeply admired purple toned balayages on dark hair for years. I figured why not take the plunge and go for it.

My stylist is pretty excited, and so am I, but I’m also a bit nervous?  My hair is mostly virgin (last color experiment was 13 years ago - at home bleach...I know + two or three similar tone salon glosses in the past year - I kind of don’t care for these much).  I have only had heat applied to my hair 5 times in the past 4 years or so, and I don’t plan to buy heat styling tools.  I mostly try to talk stylists into giving me a dry cut. I wash once a week and currently do not use a hair mask, although I think with this color change I may benefit from one.

I wash once a week, shampoo twice directly on the scalp, condition to halfway up the shaft and rinse cold. Air dry in sections.  Oil the tips when needed through the week and brush with a BBB once or twice a week for up to 30 min.

Manual manipulation is only when 70-80%+ dry and is first with fingers, then a wide tooth comb, and brush only when dry. It’s usually in a bun with a wood fork or in a braid. I only wear it completely down for special occasions.  I sleep with it in a loose braid or scrunchie pony in a silk night cap.

I think my hair is healthy?  That’s what stylists, friends and family say??  I’m pretty happy with it, the scalp is always a little bit oily, but I don’t see too many split ends or breakage. My natural texture at the ends is pretty apparent, and I would consider it “almost wavy” with the ability to hold a braid curl very well.

I would only want to have concentrated placement on the bottom 3-5 inches so I can say goodbye to it if it turns out to be an experiment gone wrong.  Does anyone have any experience over how much hair is lost if product is not applied up the shaft?

Anyway, I am looking for long hair health tips with this color change. I’m going to try to convince my stylist to only apply the product and leave the rest of my hair unwashed/untreated and no heat products. She’s pretty good at braids actually, and I was hoping she could “style” my hair in interesting braid styles that I can’t accomplish myself after these appointments.  She has told me that I will need a few sessions (2-3) to get to my “goal” color, which is fine, and I’ll probably take the maximum amount of time between appointments before bleaching those chunks again.

[Here](https://imgur.com/a/3cCPR)’s my hair goal album with a bonus of my hair today (somewhat potato quality, in the bathroom at work). I can try to take another picture of it at home today.

Tl;dr Dark brown tailbone length hair looking to eventually transition to lilac toned e tips.  Any advice over how much length could be lost in the process and how to get my stylist to avoid anything unnecessary (heat/all over hair gloss, etc) would be super appreciated.

Balayage tips on dark hair (Warning: Long...heuheu)


What do you think about DIY hair masks? Love 'em or hate them? Do you think ones like the classic eggs 'n oil actually work or is it all just hear-say? Anyone have any good DIY hair-mask recipes to share? And just how DO you get gross banana chunks out of your hair?

Hair masks?


Benefit mini blush in Shellie.

I've repressed her once but chunks are coming off and flying all over my sink every time I use her now and I think it's time to say goodbye.

Lovely colour but terrible lasting power. And the packaging was a bit meh.

Giving myself permission to call her done


I depotted some products that were in bulky packaging about a month ago and have seen progress and problems in continuing to pan them!

The three products with visible pans are a colourpop supershock highlight, blush, and NARS orgasm.

Having everything together like this has made me use the blushes more! I really like applying the colourpop one with my fingers in the morning after skincare when I’m still tired and lazy, and then later in the day if I’m doing something where I want to retouch my makeup I’ll add some of the NARS orgasm on top of whatever’s left.

People warned me that depotting the colourpop may lead to it drying out much faster, and I haven’t noticed an issue with that yet!

I have noticed though, not sure if it’s necessarily due to the depotting or if it’s just old product, or the fact that it’s already on its last legs, but I feel like every time I go to use the nars brush the remaining amount starts to crumble and the product is rapidly deteriorating. It’s causing me to “use” more product than usual when applying it to make sure it goes on even and not patchy with little broken blush chunks, but hey it still works!

A month of progress


Forget the Filler by Flawless - Daisy Pink

I really liked the colour but I used this product a handful of times and it ran out very fast I didn’t pull the stopper out cause I genuinely couldn’t be bothered sorry

Pat McGrath - Aliengelic

This formula was terrible, I would never buy this again. I could feel the glitter particles on my lips like big chunks and it was so gloopy.

Absolutely never again for me

I kinda hated both of these


Rom&nd glasting water tint in 04 vintage ocean
Opened it about 10 months ago. Barely used/opened it. Now it got suspicious dark chunks on the rim. I’m pretty sure it’s just clumps of dried up product, but I wanted to check in with you lovely people
P.s. : these are really the best I could do with this lighting🤧

Is that mold? Rom&nd glasting tint


The color was very flattering on me, and while the Super Shock formula was fun at first, it got dry and annoying to use towards the end, breaking off into chunks.

Fun for an experiment, but I think I’ll stick with powder blush.

Colourpop Super Shock blush in “Between the Sheets”


1. Morphe setting spray
2. Mystery matte lipstick from Primark (discontinued)
3. Essence micro precise eyebrow pencil "dark blonde"
4. Trend it up! Clean & precise soft lipliner "660"
5. Sheglam For The Flush Lip & Cheek Tint-Cherry Picked
6. (not pictured) mac ruby woo lipstick mini

1. Morphe setting spray does the job.

2. I'm really happy to have finished the Primark mystery lipstick as I've had it since around 2018 though it still smells so nice just like when I first bought it (like maple syrup!) and it has a really soft, mousey texture (whilst still keeping it's bullet form) which I've never experienced in a bullet lipstick. I finished it mainly by using it as a cream contour.

3. I use this as a lipliner. The color is extremely similar to Mac "stone". Love a cool toned lipliner but the options are non existent at the drugstore. Using eyebrow pencils as cool toned lipliners is my little thrifty secret. Loved how thin and precise this pencil is but the tip snapped off several times because it's so thin. Also felt like I barely used it 30 times or so but hey ho it's 2€

4. Trend it up lipliners are the best. Forever repurchase. 660 is a very versatile nude shade. Always prefer a pencil to a twist up liner so my lipline can be SHARP. At 95c i don't mind sharpening this every day. I finish a lipliner every couple of months to once a month or so.

5. The lip tint im also very excited to have finished because this one just felt ENDLESS. it's been in my project pan since January. There are about 5 drops of this left inside but I called it quits last night as I noticed it suddenly smelled like vinegar and there appeared to be some chunks of pigment stuck to the side of the bottle which might be dead skin 🤢 expiry says 10/26 and use within 12 months. This might have been in use for around 18 months, near daily use for a year.
I'd say i decently liked this as a cheek tint. It's a very pretty, natural, pink flushed color. Didn't really like it as a liptint because it just was too watery to control that well and just didn't really last at all. I'm rolling in the Dear Darling Water Gel Tint which stains my lips almost too much. I'm talking 24 hours, i can't scrape this thing off.

6. The not pictured Ruby Woo - i can't find the empty bullet anywhere but I basically scraped out the remainder and mixed it with Vaseline to make a tinted lip balm. This is my holy grail red COLOR but the dryness of ruby woo is the worst, most uncomfortable lipstick I've ever owned. Will i buy it again? Probably.

All in all so happy about my pans. I didn't finish a single product last month which was demotivating but some months when it rains it pours. I hit pan on the 1 single eyeshadow i had in my project pan collection for the year (i already posted it) so the only item i haven't finished out of my focus products is a nub of a elf eyeliner! I did it! Going to continue into 2025 for sure!!

Many pans this month!


Black rose skin infusion cream from Sisley: It smelled nice. That's about it. I got this from my mom who bought it and wasn't impressed after using about 1/3 of it, and thought perhaps it would do something for me. It didn't. It's a light weight moisturizer, which should have been a sign not to buy it, especially right now during winter. I never really felt I got moisturized enough with this one, even with applying a serum beforehand.
I kinda like the packaging though, tempted to clean it and keep it 🙈

Peeling gel from Pyunkang Yul: It was alright? I guess? I try not to be too rough with exfoliation in general, but I had my doubts about this one doing any exfoliating at all. It kinda felt like I was massaging small chunks of product around my face without it necessarily doing a lot. Maybe it's me thinking it was doing nothing because I've been used to more harsher scrubs back in the day. But still, I don't know about this one.... Would be curious to hear your opinions on this one

Skincare empties I won't repurchase


got this in 2022 as a bday gift! honestly not worth it, the formula separates a shitton in the bottle so i put it in my lil jar. little chunks form throughout the blush, so i found "mixing" it on the back of my hand helps either blend out chunks or helps you find the ones that won't un-chunk 🙄 blush color was fine, formula was sheer but pigmented, but between the separation and chunks in the formula it's no wonder all the beauty gurus threw these out lmao!

still better than my corn chip cooling waters stick *shrug* but the bar is in hell for milk atp 🤣

milk bionic blush in infinity ✨


[My previous post.](https://www.reddit.com/r/PanPorn/comments/r9li4d/1_year_later_with_this_ipsy_palette)

This is the Doucce Freematic Eyeshadow Pro Palette which came in my November 2020 Ipsy bag. The pans I reached in 2021 became bigger and there's some more visible dips and pattern wear-away. I don't use highlighter on my face, just around my eyes, so that's why the big highlighter shade has what appears to be a drill pan.

In my previous post, I mentioned that the white shimmer shade is patchy and comes up in weird chunks. But I found that if I combine the white shimmer shade with the burgundy shimmer shade it creates a pretty color, and so I've found a way to make that shade work now. I still don't have plans to use the matte black because it's kinda dull and if I need a black black I have 3 copies of Urban Decay's Blackout.

2 years later with this Ipsy palette


I’ve hit pan in a really soft highlighter and it’s gone to pieces. Chunks falling out, too much on the brush, it’s all over the place. I want to true pan and see people here repressing powders to do that. How do you repress a powder? Is it as simple as smushing it all back down? P.S. highlighter is Bitter Lace Beauty in the colour Slay.

Help me hit true pan


Charlotte tilbury glowgasm in lightgasm. My first and last CT purchase. The formula drives me crazy every morning. Poor pigmentation and random chunks like to break off. I tape off the hard pan and it immediately reforms the next time I use it. Fuck you darling.


Now comes the time when it breaks off in chunks and gets stuck in my brush...


This highlight comes out of the pan in chunks :(


Thanks mostly to Instagram I learned that there’s a lot more out there than what is sold at my local mall. About a decade ago I did used to buy a lot on ModCloth but stopped when the quality decreased. Other than that I bought most of my clothes at Old Navy and The Gap. Everything was okay but I was never really in love with my clothes. I like colour, big ol puff sleeve dresses and bold patterns. Being in Canada the malls really don’t have a huge selection, at least not in my city. At the start of the pandemic and entering in to 2021 I spent a lot more time on Instagram. I loved following artists that inspired me as I love to create art myself. That lead me to the pages of small clothing and accessories makers who are “artist adjacent”. I was lead down a rabbit hole and found more and more mostly female makers to follow. It has opened a whole new world for me. Now I can say wholeheartedly that I LOVE my clothes. My clothes are colourful and make me happy. My closet is full of dresses in fun patterns, pastels and brights. I even have a few bespoke garments. I was lucky enough to still have my full salary during the pandemic so I spent a bit more on quality, well fitting pieces. Some of my favourite clothing and accessories have come from: Chunks, Nooworks, By Megan Crosby, Samantha Pleet, Molby, Night Moves Ateliers and Haley Elsaesser.

What did you learn about fashion and dressing yourself in 2021? I’ll be leaving my impressions below.


There are some well-known 'rules' that make sense (e.g. avoid t-strap shoes if you're short and want to your legs to appear longer), but what random specific ones do you follow that you made up yourself? Do you have any explanation?

Here are some that I've set for myself. (Disclaimer: if you love these things, keep loving them! These are just my personal quirks.)

* No shiny/patent leather. I don't know why I do this but it extends to me avoiding any glossy lipstick as well. I guess I don't like the glare?
* Flannel shirts have to look 'complex' (?) for lack of a better word - they can't have uniform stripes or big chunks of white and need to be 3+ colors. Also not sure where this came from. For example, [this shirt](https://imgur.com/bPg0Ak4) is pretty good, [this shirt](https://imgur.com/MVr0bcx) is bad, and [this one](https://imgur.com/6UE21Gd) is the worst offender. I usually buy mens/vintage because they better fit my criteria.
* I don't really like brown to begin with but I hate brown/pink or brown/blue. I think this stems from those being popular color combos when I was in middle school.
* Any kind of jacket/cardigan/etc that I wear has to fall below the shirt I'm wearing. Examples: [right](https://imgur.com/NXCki9B), [right](https://imgur.com/8kTnqjV), [wrong](https://imgur.com/JICchuR), [SO WRONG](https://imgur.com/IMRotRG). (You can tell my last Pinterest search was 'business casual curvy' haha.) I assume this is an unconscious height and/or body type thing somehow, I'm 5'3 and curvy so no following that rule makes my proportions feel really off.

Interested to hear what oddly specific rules you've set for yourselves!

Edit: I love hearing all of your rules!! I thought of some more of mine:

* No gems or rhinestones, especially when they're just like stuck on there. I think they look cheap and they remind me of knockoff Ed Hardy shirts.
* I LOVE band tshirts but I would never wear a shirt for a book, tv series, or movie that I enjoy. Only bands. Anyone else who agrees want to try their hand at explaining this one?
* I have some kind of rule about not wearing things with animals on them I think? There are occasional exceptions but it would have to be something odd like [this](https://imgur.com/ype4Dmi) or ironic like the three wolf moon shirt. Not so 'overdone' like [this](https://imgur.com/7QOBPGn) though because I'd feel like I'm trying and failing to be funny. But yeah, I wouldn't just wear a sweater with a cute fox on it.

What kind of random/arbitrary fashion rules do you force yourself to follow? Bonus question, do you know why you follow them?


Tired of the same old same old shit at your local mall?

Have proportions that don't seem to exist anywhere else in your state/province/prefecture?

Hate this season's pickings?

Have a secret goth/vintage/twee/normcore/boho itch that just can't be scratched by local offerings?

How about you try..... \* jazz hands \* .... Onnnnnline SHOPPING!

But wait, Peregrine, you ask, doesn't that mean I can't try stuff on?

Me: Pretty much.   BUT THERE'S WAYS TO MANAGE THAT!

This is a guide directed at absolute beginners and those who find online shopping intimidating.

Experienced FFA-ers who shop online a lot may not get a lot out of this, but who knows.  I'm trying to break this down into very manageable/understandable chunks.

(EDIT: I also want add that a lot of those awesome experienced FFA-ers have added useful tips to the comments! thanks guys!

Moving on.....  )

There are some basic principles for online shopping that you must accept.

**1) It will not always work out.**

Just like in brick and mortar stores, you'll buy stuff that doesn't work for your closet or for you, once you get home.  Online shopping, sometimes, just doesn't work out. Don't judge online shopping by the busts.  This will happen less and less often as you get more experienced.

**2) Your tailor is your friend, and/or learn to some super basic sewing.**

Not everyone matches conventional sizes and THAT'S OK. Sometimes you just gotta bust out the needle and thread to make something "you", or beat a path over to your local stitchfix.

(I have exaggerated proportions myself, and have had to take in the waist of nearly every pair of pants and skirt that I own.  If I want button downs, I have to buy 2 sizes up and take in the waist.  If you're petite, you may have to hem things like crazy.  If you've got shoulders or boobs for days, you may have to size up then tailor down).

*Make your peace with tailoring something to get it right*

**Alright, onto a step-by-step guide for online shopping for those who don't know where to start.**

**1) Know your measurements.**

Bust out a tape measure, or if you don't have one, find a piece of string that you don't mind making marks on.   (in a desperate moment, I once actually used the cable for my headphones and made marks on it with a silver sharpie).

You can then measure the string against a ruler if you don't have a tape measure and get your numbers that way.

Measure the following:

Bust

underbust/chest -

natural waist

hips

inseam

There are youtube videos that show how to get these measurements properly, so if you're struggling, [hit those up.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfOjOKX4dyg)

Enter your measurements into a note on your phone, or into your email, or a little notebook. Anywhere where you can handily retrieve them.  Remeasure yourself after any weight loss/gain or yearly, because gravity sometimes does its thing.

**2) For absolute beginners, pull out 2-3 each of your favourite shirts, pants and dresses, preferably in different styles. Lay them out and measure the circumference of the relevant areas for all of them with your tape measure or string.   Write down these measurements for future reference.**

So, shirts: measure the waist and chest area, as well as across the shoulders.

Pants: measure the waist, hips and inseam

skirts: waist and length.

etc.

This is so you get an idea of what sort of *fit* you're looking for and enjoy.  This might be obvious for some, but it'll really help you get a feel for what measurements of clothing will make YOU feel comfortable and happy.  You'll be able to look at numbers on a size guide and think "Oh, so this will be slightly tighter than Favourite Shirt A".  Having this sort of visceral comparison REALLY HELPS.

If you notice the numbers are the same or below your actual measurements, you're likely going to be partial to product descriptions like "form-fitting", "slim-fit", "knit fabric".

If they're about the same (and this is where it gets confusing), labels like "form-fitting" can also apply.  This is where knowing fabrics types is important, which I will get into later.

If they're larger than your measurements by more than two inches, then you're into looser fits. Terms like "over sized" and "billowy" in the product description are your friends.

3) **Know your fabric types and weaves!**

If you're 34-29-40 and you buy a cotton woven shirt that's got a 34" bust, you're going to have a bad time any time you try to take your shirt off or raise your arms.  It's going to be movement-restrictive, ride up and do all sorts of unpleasant things.

However, if you buy a KNITTED shirt in a 34" bust, there's a chance it may be too loose or not fitted enough.

Go back to those favourite items and note down the fabrics and determine whether it's woven or knit (usually, "not-stretchy" and "stretchy" is the easy way to tell).

As for fabrics, /u/materialsnerd has some handy write ups in her (his? Their?) [post history,](https://www.reddit.com/r/MaterialsTalk/comments/7jyjyk/materials_talk_series_overview_navigation/) which is a good place to start.

4) **Use the size guide**

Forget what size you are in brick and mortar stores in your home country. Online shopping is a whole different ball game.  Every single time you shop on a new website, check their size guide.

Remember that all the continents have drastically different sizing standards. Asia skews small, North America skews big and Europe is somewhere in the middle.  I'm an L on some websites, but more often an XL or 2X on other websites. Sometimes I'm a 14. Sometimes I'm an 18. It's a bit ridiculous and it's really impossible to remember it unless you shop on a particular site often.  Check the size guide each time.

**5) Read the descriptions carefully.**

Some websites have great write ups about their clothing, and some don't. It's a fact of life.

Terms to check for are

stretch/non-stretch.

knit/woven

type of fabric (usually will be listed as percentages).

fabric weight  ("light weight"/sheer , "midweight"  "thick" etc.)

Your take on all of these will be according to your preferences, so I can't really advise which are better or worse.  But these will give you a lot of insight into the fit, feel and warmth of the garment in question.

**6) Read the reviews carefully** (if there are any)

Some websites have gotten with the times, and provide spaces for customers to add things like weight, height, and measurements. These are the most valuable types of reviews when trying to determine the fit of an item.  Look for reviews from customers who have similar measurements if you can, or similar proportions and follow their lead.

If there are no reviews, or they aren't very helpful  ("Love this!"   "Fits so good and comfy!" etc), have no fear.  The size guide, fabric type and description can still give you a lot of insight if you apply some critical thinking.

If several reviews mention to size up or size down, that's something to seriously consider, especially if their measurements match yours.

**7) Returns.**

I'm going to be frank that I'm Canadian, and most of my clothing purchases have been from the states or the UK. I've never returned anything I've bought, because a lot of the time, for me personally, it's just not worth the cost or effort (I tend to buy from specialty vintage-style shops).

A lot of the retailers I buy from don't have free returns from Canada, and after the cost of customs duty, it's almost never worth it.  I usually either gift, donate or put items that don't work for me out on consignment to recoup some of the cost.

THAT BEING SAID, a lot of companies have return policies that are very generous and will give you free shipping labels, or allow you to return items to a local store.   It all comes down to reading the fine print.  Some places suck, some places don't. Read the rules and make a judgement call.

If you're a newbie at online shopping, I wouldn't recommend starting with high price, hard to alter items.

Check out local consignment shops for their policies if you're not able to return stuff, or places like Poshmark or local clothing swaps.

**8) Remember to factor in customs, taxes and shipping into the price you see.**

I know that a lot of reddit is in the United States, but I'm not, so this is always a big stickler for me.   Some Canadians close to the US border can get around customs on American products by having a package shipped to a mail-service provider in a border town, then going to pick it up.   I can't comment on other countries, but it's always something to be aware of when you're ordering internationally.

Canada specific advice: I always recommend to declare your purchases - I find the CBSA will make a judgement call about whether or not to charge you duty - I've never had to pay duty for orders under $120. YMMV.

Customs and duty might be included in the price itself when you pay for an item, or you may have to pay the delivery person or the post office directly when your package is delivered.  Factor that into your cost when purchasing so you don't get sticker shock later  (like when that dress you scored for $20 on sale costs you $35 in duties.... I'm looking at you LindybopUK \*glares\*)

**Personal thoughts/observations**

I've been buying online since 2015, which is when I started totally re-vamping my wardrobe, and I'd estimate that I've bought about \~200 items online (including shirts, dresses, skirts, pantyhose, panties, cardigans and coats). Out of 200ish items, I'm estimating about 30 of them needed SOME form of alteration, and 40 of them either didn't fit, didn't work for me or had some other problem that made them unwearable, just to give you the sort of idea of what my hit-and-miss numbers are.

I tend not to buy pants or bras online, just because I hate the former and have an unusual size for the latter, so I always want to try them on in person.

Last but not least, there's plenty of threads on FFA about what websites sell which clothing types, so start searching and have fun!

Happy Shopping!

\-Peregrine

Online Shopping For Newbies - A basic guide to finding stuff that fits on the World Wide Web.


I work at a print shop, one that is very poorly managed resulting in horrible humidity levels. We're averaging around 12% this winter....
I have eczema, primarily on my hands, and its getting REALLY bad working in this environment. We're talking huge gouges in my knuckles that may or may not bleed, and the sides/undersides of my pointer fingers being so messed up I can't do things like open twist-off bottles. It hurts too much. I am not only exposed to super dry air but paper tends to suck all of the moisture out of your hands every time you touch it...which is literally all day for me.

Loading on lotions at work isn't a great option as I need to keep the prints clean and free of finger/lotion smudges, so I'm looking for some gloves I can wear at work to cover the problem areas and hopefully retain some moisture in my hands. I was inspired by [this photo posted by Kat Von D on instagram](http://i.imgur.com/p4aiYya.png) featuring her [vegan leather rings](http://www.rannka.com/product-category/jewelry/). How tight they are, are how they hug her hand, are exactly what I think will benefit me by covering problem areas. I can't afford the rings for every finger but would love a pair of gloves made of leather or something that "hugs", keeping me from exposing my hands to how much they get abused during the day. Fingerless gloves are not an option as I need to cover my fingers up to the top knuckle on most fingers.

Note: I fully intend on cutting the very fingertips off as well as taking a few other chunks out so I can still use my hands properly. I guess they'll look like strange motorcycle gloves at that point.

To anyone familiar with printing, yes, I can wear some white cotton gloves....but good lord wearing them for a long period of time is infuriating. They're way too loose. They also only help with protecting my hands a bit, not the dryness.

I'm open to any and all ideas, does anyone have any suggestions?

**EDIT**: Goddamn I love this sub. You're all so helpful, I appreciate the time you guys take to look out for our fellow distressed and clothing challenged ladies. I posted 17 hours ago and already have a ton of seriously good options as well as inspiration to look in places I hadn't though of. Thank you!

Need help finding gloves to protect my hands at work, am hoping you guys might know of a magic pair!


I have been looking for a nice pair of shoes for work; I had a pair of Born oxfords that lasted about a year before the leather began looking really worn out and the sole started to wear out. I bought a pair of [Munro Kara boots](http://www.zappos.com/munro-american-kara-black-suede) and after a few wears, the finish literally started flaking off in chunks!! I had no way of knowing that this would happen (negative review there is mine), and they cost over $200, and now they are totally unwearable.

Has anyone else had this happen? I loved the look of these shoes - the heel height and styling was great with pretty much everything all the time. Additionally, I have wide feet, and they come in different widths! [Clarks](http://www.zappos.com/clarks-leyden-bell-black-leather) and [David Tate](http://www.zappos.com/david-tate-modern-black-leather) have shoes with similar styling, width sizing, and heel, but now I'm a bit gunshy because of the experience.

Does anyone have experience with either of these companies? Has anyone had a similar experience buying pricey shoes with awful leather? Any suggestions for a different shoe that I haven't listed here? Thank you so much for reading!!

Looking for nice work shoes with quality leather/reviews on some shoes!


Hello FFA,
I am not a female, but I need your advice - I hope you're not exclusive. I'm hustling to find an anniversary gift from my girlfriend and, knowing she loves lapis, I have ordered a vintage pair of silver/lapis earrings that are very detailed but geometric from afar.

Based on the size and cost of the gift, I wanted to get another piece to go with them, and I've settled between two necklaces, also in Lapis. One, [right here](https://img1.etsystatic.com/021/1/8124342/il_570xN.501711673_m5c1.jpg), is handmade small beads wrapped in brass, and goes for $20 plus shipping. [The other](https://img0.etsystatic.com/022/0/6331037/il_570xN.510389498_o40s.jpg) is large, oval chunks with very small silver bits between the lapis, and it is going for 4x as much (nearly 85).

Let me know what you think of the style, and seperately, the syle vs. price.

Thanks very much!

Advice needed on two Lapis necklace gifts for my SO


For as long as I can remember I've never really had a style that I'm comfortable with. No matter what I'm wearing, I usually have an urge to just hide away. Growing up most of my clothes were hand-me-downs from my older brother, which resulted in me using very boyish clothes most of my life (PS: I'm a 21 year old girl). Thing is, I really want a more feminine style. Now I'm wearing jeans, hoodie, lose t-shirts, Nike trainers, converse, my hair in a pony tail... I just don't feel very feminine with my wardrobe.
During school I was bullied and always the "fat cow", the one with the "ugly face" and so on. My confidence hit rock bottom and I've always bought clothes 1-2 sizes too big, because a part of me just wanted to hide away in big chunks of fabric. A year ago I got a boyfriend (my first!!), a job I like, and a somewhat bright future in mind and for the first time ever I actually don't feel like a total loser. I've also started paying attention to what I wear. I'm sick of using clothes I really don't like, and sick of seeing other girls wearing clothes I'd really like to wear. So why don't I just change my style, right? Thing is I've lost about 33 pounds since then, but still feel like the fat girl. I work out three times a week, and I'm still losing weight. My mind just doesn't follow. I'd like to wear clothes that doesn't hide me away. Clothes that make me look like a girl, not a big 12 year old boy.
I've looked at the calculator and according to it I have an hourglass shape.

More measurements:
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 160 lbs (goal weight is 143 lbs)
Bust: 38 inches
Waist: 28 inches
Hips: 40 inches

Budget: Not prepared to pay hundreds of dollars for one item. Reasonably priced, but I don't know... depends on how much I want the item!

Some pictures of me (in my workout clothing without makeup, just so you can see my "body type") [Album](http://imgur.D)

What kind of clothes I'd like to wear:

[The girl on the right](http://i.imgur.com/O7vwF.jpg), [left](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1cw-B3FlpE/UGsZPbvw_TI/AAAAAAAAACE/VrOKac3H4Yk/s1600/Latest+Female+Fashion+Trends.jpg), [this one](http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/534232932/Fashion-Women-Single-Breasted-Black-Suit-With-Fish-Mouth-Collar-Size-XXL-Casul-Suits-For-Women.jpg)

To put it short, I like feminine clothes, blazers, pencil skirts, blouses, big earrings, not too many accessories, "earth colors", bright colored details and so on... Problem is, I don't know what to call that style. So I don't know what to search for. I don't know which web shops to visit. What kind of blazer? What kind of skirt? And so on and so on. I'm just really stuck!

And last but not least: can I wear clothes like that with my figure?

PS: I live in Norway

I'm in need of a style change...


I thought you beautiful ladies (and gents?) might be able to give me a pointer or two.

**[Here's what I look like, currently.](http://imgur.com/a/GrFbk)** This is pretty much what it looks like on an average day.
 My hair is pretty wavy, medium dryness/oiliness, medium thickness and generally manageable (I just don't know what to do with it lol). I usually let it air/towel dry, but if I'm going out I'll blowdry sometimes. I'm also very tall, I'm not sure if that's relevant.

**I've thinking about the following:**

*I kinda want some color, but nothing super in your face. Dip dye wouldn't be out of the question, nor would streaks/chunks/Hi&Lo lights. Considering non-natural or natural colors.

*Maybe getting a little cut off the back. A 45deg, maybe? I don't like how it kinda poofs up back there. Want that poof gone!

*Layers? My hair tends to get kinda flat sometimes. I figured this might help. What is the hivemind's opinion about feathering?

*Bangs? I know straight cut is really in right now, but I hate it. I feel like they need something, but I'm unsure what to do about it.

*Anything else? I don't know much about hair.

*Unrelated:*Do my eyebrows need any work? They feel kinda thick, but I'm nervous to shape them myself.

I desperately want to change my hair, and I could some help, please. (pics inside)


Was given this product by a friend. Having trouble figuring out how to use- on soaking hair? “Towel”dried hair? Damp hair? Approximately how much to use?
I have just below shoulder length 3b/c hair. Graying naturally.
Current routine:
Shampoo: Dove endless waves shampoo (don’t really like it, just getting through the bottle): Kristen Ed’s clarifying shampoo (wash 2x week)
Conditioner: curly hair solutions cream conditioner (love it, my go to for a decade)Kristen Ess reconstructive moisture mask (also love, amazing slip)
Products: dippity doo curl boosting mousse/ either curly hair solutions curl keeper (light hold) or camille rose curl maker (heavier hold but don’t love it- just getting thought the bottle.
Wash and condition 2x week. Apply products (mousse in winter, mousse + gel in high humidity months) to soaking wet hair, head flipped over and brushed forward. Plop in tshirt. Shake out. Air dry or diffuse depending on timing. Low porosity takes hours to fully dry. My goal is volume over definition.

As I Am curling jelly


Hi, i was using the Not Your Mother’s Tahitian and Mango Butter shampoo and conditioner. I dont know if I could find them in store anymore, if you know one pls share, and on Amazon a 2pack for shampoo is like $31 and the conditioner isnt available. I always seem to have this issue when I find something that really works well for my hair, like the blue micellar line that once was, discontinued or only rose available. I can’t do floral scents because my housemate is super sensitive and I’m allergic to Lavender. I also dont care for floral scents either nor coconut. I tend to use fruity scents, soap, perfume, shampoo, etc. i like to smell delicious and like a sweet treat.

I’m not rich so please don’t recommend something that would cost an arm and a leg, but it doesn’t have to be super cheap either.

Can someone please help me, i know everyone’s preference is subjective and may not smell good to another but i am open to all fruity scents and if available in store, when I have a good day I may be able to go to smell them. I’m down to gamble rn though. It doesnt exactly have to be a curl specific line but preferred poducts that are also good for curlies. Any additional info on the products, why you like it, how it worked for you, why you use it, or best way to use it etc are also very welcome.

Examples of scents  i often use: pear, lychee, passionfruit (olay soap i use), fruity musks, i used As I Am pom for a long time, i’ve been using the Guava Slip, and so on. I think you get the picture.

Thank you lovely curlies!

Routine:
I wash my hair with Not Your Mother's Tahitian Gardenia and Mango Butter shampoo and conditioner, keep conditioner in while i wash my body and such.

I deep condition weekly/twice weekly with Skala After Conditioner Brasil Maracuja and Óleo de Patua

My leave in conditioner is Mielle Kalahari Melon & Aloe Vera Multi-Tasking Leave-In Conditioner spray which i use first (my hair is soooo silky from using this, major slip)

The curl cream I used today in the misting bottle is Camille Rose Guava Slip (I also use göt2be curled, but haven’t tried this method with that one yet)

The current gel I’m using is Aunt Jackie’s Flaxseed Don’t Shrink (used in misting bottle today), sometimes I use göt2be ultra glues (open to gel recs, i wanna retry the LA one now tht I have a real diffuser)

Heat protectant is Luseta Biotin & Collagen spray

Other products used sometimes but not today:

Mousse: Mielle Pom & Honey Curl Defining Mousse or Doux Mousee Def Texture Foam

Verb Volume Dry Texture Spray (I want more of this, texture, volume, and dry shampoo recs very welcome!!)

Havent used these in a while: Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion and Instantly Thick Plump & Lift Styling Cream (just realized the Instantly Thick  is for thin hair, and I’ve got ALOT of hair)

Occasional use and new is: L’Oreal Paris Ever Pure Glossing 5-minure Lamination Mask which has made my hair soooo silky combined with my Leave in and i apply this either before or after my conditioner.

Need new fruity smelling shampoo and conditioner. Pls help


I have 3C hair that seems to really like Kinky Curly Knot Today. I use it as a leave in on soaking wet hair, and not much else. I haven't been focusing on hair routine or brands for many years, but this product is becoming harder to find. Are there similar products (thinking lightweight with that crazy amount of slip) that I might be able to try/replace this with?

Kinky Curly Knot replacement


ya’ll ok really at a loss.

I have 3c girls (some 4a coarse coils underneath), a have a lot of hair (or had haha, it’s growing back) but thin strands.

routine:
in January I made the switch from using shea moisture Jamaican black castor oil strengthen and restore shampoo and conditioner to carols daughter goddess strength shampoo and and Pantene curl perfection conditioner because I saw a post on here and it made me think that maybe the reason I had lost 2/3 of my hair was because the coconut oil was just to dense for my fine strands and it was loosening them and maybe I needed a water soliuble so my hair would stop getting so matted and having fairy notes.

well the switch helped all of that! I stopped losing hair, stopped getting mats and fairy knots and my hair has been growing back and looking and feeling so healthy!!

this past weekend we went out of town and I brought my shea moisture Jamaican black castor oil shampoo and conditioner travel bottles because it’s what I had. when washing my hair felt slightly less soft but nothing too bad. today was day 4 (and a sweaty gym day) and my hair was feeling really really dry and my curls looked blah so I washed at home with my carols daughter and Pantene and IMMEDIATELY when the Pantene hit my hair it all matted up, and even soaking wet it felt dry, had no slip, and I’m right out of the shower and just got done combing it and it’s matted again.

of course, I used a brand new bottle of Pantene because I did not have a single drop of my old one left. I check and the ingredients are different!!

im really not sure if I just need to clarify because I bounced between products or if it’s the new formula that has just absolutely DESTROYED my hair!!  I have had literally no other changes, no heat, no dye, and I don’t use any gels or styling products, no pools, etc.

any advice is helpful.

first photo is the new ingredients and second is the old (sorry best photo I could get because it’s been my shower for a few months lol).

Do I just need to clarify or is the new Pantene curl perfection formula destroying my hair?


Hi all,

I’m asking for an updated roll-call of your face leave-ins. Most recent posts seem to be several years old and my longtime favorite (Shea Moisture JBCO) just isn’t working the way it used to. I’m feeling like I need something less focused on protein and more on moisture. I have 3B hair that used to be very thick.

A little backstory: I’m not sure how much of the change in slip is age/hormone-related since I just turned 40 last year and all my hair was falling out and suddenly turning stick straight due to stress, which is a whole other story. I ended up shaving my head and regrowing it from scratch. I’m happy to report that I have completely changed my living arrangement and family situation such that my hair is now growing back healthy, and curly, if a little thin.

With that in mind, I’m looking for a new leave in conditioner that gives better slip. I’m very happy and set in my other products but I’m definitely feeling like my leave in must have changed formulation when SM sold to a bigger company.  My current routine is SM JBCO followed by SM curling cream, NYM curl mousse, and lastly, SM define & shine gel.

So, fam, please drop your current fave leave-in product for moisturizing and slippage. And, if you are a fan of SM JBCO, lmk if you have noticed a formulation or impact change in the last year or two.

Leave-in check-in


Routine-

1-Shampoo & conditioner - palmers coconut formula

My hair is super thick so it does take a while to dry. But can’t get very frizzy.

2-I used the amika overnight  hydration product

And then I also do oil products with different types of oils like coconut oil, rosemary, JOJOBA &  Castro at least once a month

Question I’ve tried multiple different bonnets and personally I don’t like the kind that tie.

 I only love the band style, but I have a couple of them that are too big so they slide off my head at night.

 I heard if I got a wig band and put that over top of the bonnet band it would help it stay on & in place.

Any recommendations for someone with super thick long hair i appreciate majorly.

I’ve also  wasted some  good money lol on trying multiple different kind of bonnets from beauty stores  to amazon.

My actual favorite ones are from beauty store. Some fit

 Perfect & don’t slip off, while others from the same beauty store slip off.

I tried to upload pictures, but it won’t let me.

Bonnet suggested help


Hello, i need help.

I dont know when, but at some point. Some of my hair started changing texture. Maybe it was always like this and I just never noticed.

In the 1st and 2nd picture you can see how the top of my hair is stiff, brittle, dry and not flexible. And in the photo with the sunglasses pulling that top part of my hair back, you can see my soft and flexible curls underneath.

The 3rd pic is of my normal hair (right) and this newer coarse, thick texture(left). The last pic is my hair before all these changes. 😢😢

I don't know why this change is happening and that is more of a long term question to figure out and fix. Right now i need to figure out how to manage my hair with the crown hair being what I am assuming, now low porosity?

I'm currently between products Basically buying something, figuring it out if it works or not and then if not, getting something else. Previously when my hair was behaving, I usually used shea moisture daily coconut line shampoo and conditioner, then VO5 strawberries and cream to just cowash in between washes, and Giovanni tea tree and moisturizing shampoos to get extra clean when a clarify was needed. I used NYMN yellow leave in (now sadly discontinued) for light styling and it worked perfectly for me. My hair was responding well to coconut.

Now my hair is a dry straw mess and it making me really sad. I haven't used heat, silicones, or sulfates for 8 years. Ive nursed this hair to healthy curls from heat styling and silicone and sulfate damage only for this to happen. Also, just looking at these pictures, it kind of looks like I maybe lost a lot of hair too?

Now im just in between products all the time. Most recently I was using she Derma E curls line shampoo,  conditioner, and leave in cream.

My current routine is:

1. Derma E curl line shampoo

Camile Rose Guava Slip conditioner which seems to be light enough to help.

The Derma E leave in was ok for the first use, and then went down hill. I tried the Kinky Curly detangling leave in and its slippery but still leaves that top part dry and stiff. The products just sit on that top part of my hair and don't get absorbed.

My hair now gets creased from a pony tail(but didn't before) and is a dry rats nest mess the next day (but i used to be able to have soft flexible hair for several days after 1 wash day).

Ive really just had it to the point where I just want to give up and go back to heat styling.  Ive done the no silicones, heat or sulfates for so long I wouldnt even know what else to go back to if im using heat again.

Help! Hair texture is changing and now my crown hair is low porosity and can't be tamed.


I've been using Innersense color awakening hairbath and pure inspiration conditioner for awhile, but I've been thinking about switching back to NYM matcha & green tea shampoo and conditioner. The shampoos both seem to clean my hair equally well and the conditioners both seem to have the same amount of slip, so luxury aside, it seems silly to pay 3x the price, right? Except... Did NYM discontinue its Naturals line? That would totally be a bummer.

Routine:

Shampoo & conditioner: Innersense

Leave in: Innersense sweet spirit

Styling: Innersense I Create Definition raked through, micro plop for about a minute, diffuse for a few minutes, air dry the rest of the way. I sleep in a pineapple with a satin scrunchie and on a silk pillowcase.

Did NYM discontinue its Naturals line?


I've been using a different conditioner, but I missed my beloved Ultra Luxurious too much. The current one is just too light and doesn't give enough slip, so I went to get more of the Giovanni, and it looks like it's been discontinued. Any recommendations on an alternative?
Current routine:

1. R&Co Lost Treasure ACV Shampoo
2. R&Co Lost Treasure ACV Conditioner (the different one I don't like)
3. Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-in
4. Olaplex no 10 Curl Gel
5. Air dry

My favorite conditioner (Giovanni 2chic Ultra Luxurious) was discontinued!


Hi! I love when my hair has defined waves and a bit of volumen but this can bring a bit of frizz and  tangles so, I also love to have a sealed cuticle, slip effect and a bit of weight down with zero frizz but I haven't been able to find a hair mask that gives me this effect. Could you help me please?

Routine:

1. Shampoo and conditioner - Herbal Essences without parabens, salt, etc.
2. Manteca de cacao Garnier hair mask and leave on cream
3. Elvis glycolic Crystal shampoo (once every 8 weeks, otherwise I will destroy my waves and the porosity will increase so much)
4. Keratin hair mask (once every 8 weeks in a different day from the glycolic shampoo)
5. Milagro hair mask (Colombian brand, helps a bit to seal cuticle but I'm not a fan, doesn't help much)
6. Flaxseed gel to improve my frizz and hold the curls
7. Sometimes I use Árgan oil and rosemary oil too before and after washing.

\- I wash my hair 2x week, I use the manteca de cacao or milagro hair mask, I'l leave it for 5 min, wash it and then apply a it of conditioner.
\- I dry my hair with a microfiber towel and then all natural drying.

My hair is 2c waves and medium to high density and porosity.

Please help. Thank you!

SLIP EFFECT, ZERO FRIZZ AND WEIGHT DOWN WAVES HAIR MASK. PLS HELP


ive noticed after hair mask my hair has a lot of slip and its very easy to comb through it but after adding hair gel it’s immediately harder to comb and has less slip is it normal?

i understand gel is supposed to hold your hair so im thinking its probably normal but at the same time its very harder to comb and dont seem like a good thing to do

my routine is shampoo and mask from garnier and hair gel from loreal

is hair gel supposed to remove slip from your hair ?


Hello! I am turning to you today with a big question for my hair. I have medium to low porosity hair, i get water drops on my hair when i refresh it and it makes me think i am leaning more towards low porosity. My hair seems to completely despise moisture, on my wash day i have pretty limp curls and nearly no volume, and it gets better and curlier on days 2 and 3 when it starts losing moisture.

My biggest confusion comes from the fact that if i don t use moisture at all, my hair gets no slip and it is hard to comb through it, but it also comes with some slight disadvantages.

As for my routine, i came up with a roughly 4 washes regiment that seems to be working for me:
Wash day 1: Clarify with Umberto Giannini Scalp Restore, then I condition with Lola densidade.
Wash day 2: Preshower bonding treatment Olaplex no. 3, Shampoo with Semi di Lino Curls shampoo, condition with Lola densidade
Wash day 3: Shampoo with Semi di Lino, rinse with Raspberry vinegar tonic from Eyup Sabri Tuncer
Wash day 4: reset day, same routine as wash day 1

For styling: Fenty Hair Homecurl (i only use the tiniest amount of this, like a literal droplet of water), then I add Umberto Giannini curly gel (pink one), style with Denman brush (either curl rolling, finger coiling or just washing and shaking the section), then i add some Marc Anthony Strictly Curls mousse and finish off with a generous amount of gel. I micro plop to get out any excess product and water, it helps with definition too, add Umberto Giannini Weatherproof hair spray, then i diffuse on the lowest settings, which takes me around 45 mins.

I usually refresh my hair on day 2, but if i feel particular ab smth i will come back on day 3 too, i alternate between refreshing with the mousse or gel and some water. I have bleached hair (i haven t bleached my hair in over a year now), ultimately dyed my natural color when i decided going back every month to bleach my roots was a committment i could no longer uphold. I have officially started my curly hair journey around 2 months ago, since then I have cut out any heavy heat on it like a straightener. My hair sits around 2c 3a, i believe 3a is my maximum potential, it s a bit unruly which i truly don t mind because it makes my hair literally a lion s mane and i love it.

As i said, my main concern is that my hair feels limp and very very soft when i add even the tiniest bit of moisture and i prefer my hair to feel a bit rougher, as i holds my curls better. How do you low porosity, loose patterned girlies and guys and everything in between manage moisture in your hair? do you add it at all? Does my hair simply get good slip from Homecurl because it is a cream? If so, should i switch to a protein cream?

Thank you for any feedback and I look forward to learning some more tips from you.

How do you incorporate moisture into low porosity hair that totally despises it?


My hair is so TANGLED. This is day 2 after fully soaking it down, reapplying my products, and trying to detangle with my fingers, to no avail. It just tangles right back up. It seems like my only solution is cutting it off, but i would never want to do that because I spent years growing it all out

Routine:
1. Idk what shampoo i use because my mom buys it but its a Japanese brand
2. Suave conditioner and a deep conditioning mask (the suave is the only thing slippery enough to detangle in the shower, ik its not ideal but nicer stuff doesn’t have enough slip)
3. I always tie it in twin braids every day to protect it and let it air dry like this
4. I sleep with a bonnet and with my hair in braids and I usually have to re-wet it every day in the shower, today i tried to just refresh it with a spray bottle in attempt to avoid damage but this happened, this happens in the shower too but its easier to detangle when i have conditioner and active running water on it

Why is my hair so tangled?


Routine

Old Spice 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner I know I shouldn't lol, I'm changing over to Being, smoothing frizz shampoo, and the same brand conditioner.

I usually let my hair air dry, or I sit by my fan to dry faster. A lot of the time I will put it in a ponytail as it dries because I don't like the feeling of the hair on my neck.

I use store brand gel when going to work, but otherwise I don't use anything consistently. I do use hairtage heat protectant spray whenever I straighten my hair.

I have tried bonnets before, but they always fall off. I ordered a new one that is meant to be non slip, so I will see how that goes. Overall my hair is a mess even when I try to style it. No one in my family has my hair type, so I never learned about it. It gets really frizzy even when I leave it down and let it airdry. I just want to like my hair and have it be healthy. I added photos of my hair from fully wet to dry.

Advice for healthier hair please!


Today i tried doing my curly hair routine outside the shower like how i see everyone on tiktok doing it and it was a disaster. For preface i have low porosity 2b/2c waist length hair and it needs to be SOAKING wet and done IMMEDIATELY after. I dont section it or anything just straight in. So for a change, I sat in front of my mirror and got to sectioning my hair and i was already over it. I used the spray bottle mist that everyone has and it still wasnt wet enough. I use the camile rose guava slip leave in and soufflé and then lastly the not your mothers curltalk mousse. It felt like the spray bottle wasnt enough so for the front pieces so i ended up going to the sink and rewetting that section.

My question is do people actually do their curly hair routine outside the shower or is it just for the tik tok videos? And if you do have low porosity hair and do your routine outside the shower any tips? Does it work better or should i just stick to in the shower?

Doing curly hair routine in shower vs outside shower


hello y'all, i hope everyones having a good weekend. i'm physically disabled, and i do water physical therapy. i do *not* get my hair wet during this, chlorine hasn't touched my hair since i buzzed it and grew it out five years ago. until now, putting my hair up in a claw clip has been enough to keep it out of the water. now, though, my hair is long enough that this isn't gonna work much longer. it feels uncomfortable for me to do the like twist around so my hair is all wrapped up on the back of my head with a claw clip. i have sensory issues that make a swim cap mostly impossible. my thought is to maybe tie my hair up in a silk scarf, cause all i need to do is keep it out of the water, but i am one of those people who have their scarf tend to slip slowly down my forehead. doesn't matter if i'm just around the house and can fix it, but i obviously don't want to touch it with my hands that've been in pool water. if anyone has other ideas, or knows how to keep the scarf from slipping, i'd appreciate it so much <3

required routine post:

cleanse, condition, and style upside down. suave rosemary mint shampoo, garnier honey treasures conditioner, garnier honey water leave in, ouidad gel (different kinds depending on the season) and/or la looks gel, pantene mousse, garnier hair honey heat protectant, i spray herbal essences hairspray part way through diffusing and diffuse it into my hair, garnier moroccan hair oil at the end.

Hair Protection During Water PT


I’ve been on this sub for over a decade now and there is one new trend I’m starting to see a lot of: most posts from people who are struggling with their hair follow a routine that uses too many products and too many labour-intensive techniques when they don’t need to.

I can totally see how this happens. A lot of beginners either pick up some random curly-labelled products at the store or see a content creator do a certain routine with multiple steps and figure that will work for them too, and then when it doesn’t, it’s hard to know why it might have not worked.

Here’s my recommendations on what to do instead. Start with assessing the situation without leave-in products. Wash and condition your hair then let it air dry.

From there ask yourself the following questions:
1 - does my hair look hair nice enough as is? If yes, don’t bother with products. If no, proceed.

2 - does my hair feel dirty despite washing it? You might have product or metal build up, use a chelating cleansing shampoo before conditioning then proceed.

3 - are the curls too fluffy/fuzzy/frizzy and I want distinct curl clusters like when my hair is wetter? If yes, you need a hold product. Which type depends on your hair. Usually the thicker your hair and tighter your curls the heavier the hold product. This is not a hard rule but a good first guess. If the product isn’t giving you the level of definition you want, go heavier. If your hair is getting greasy, go lighter. Spread the product evenly around the hair and apply extra where you see the most fuzziness in your “no product” results. For many people that’s the tips, but for some it’s the roots or a patch of hair that refuses to form nice curls for whatever reason.

Note: if the product gives you a hard cast, that’s not a bad thing but you’re not done. Casts are meant to be broken mechanically (dry scrunch and root fluff). A big mistake I see a lot is that people use oil to break their cast. This undoes the work of the gel because oil will soften the hair back up too much. Do not use oil to break a cast unless it’s still too hard after scrunching and fluffing your hair dry. If your hair becomes frizzy after you break their gel cast, oil is not the answer, but rather conditioning, proceed to the next step.

4 - what if you have well-defined curls, but your hair still frizzy after breaking the gel cast if one formed? Do you get a “halo” of frizz despite the definition? If yes, you probably need a conditioning product. Same guidelines applies as for hold: thicker hair and tighter curls typically need heavier conditioning products, so start based on that. Sometimes a combined hold and conditioning product takes care of hold and conditioning at the same time. For example, a creamy mousse can do both for someone with fine hair and loose curls; a custard-jelly can do both for someone with thicker hair and tighter curls.

So now you have definition and no frizz but your hair is a bit flat.

5 - do you have substantially less volume than when your hair has no products in it? If yes, you might have smoothed your hair down too much. You can add back texture using a texture spray or foam, or you can experiment with replacing any products that have extreme slip and conditioning with ones that are a bit less slippy.

This gets most people through most of their problems. But what if your curl pattern is too uneven, and your curls have different textures? Then go to 5.

5 - is your curl pattern too uneven for your liking? This is where styling brushes and finger coiling do their magic. These techniques will allow you to form identically sized strands and allow you to direct the curls in the direction you want, which will “standardize” your curls all over your head.

I hope this helps and if there is something I didn’t touch on, please tell me and I’ll be happy to help. I’ve been on the curly hair journey for decades and have also helped many friends and family members with finding a curly hair routine.

My current routine:
\- Andrelon Oil and Care Shampoo
\- Andrelon Oil and Care Conditioner and detangle
\- Umberto Giannini Mousse raked in
\- Curl Smith Fragrance Free Strong Hold Gel with prayer hands then scrunched all over

Y’all are doing too much


hi hi, so I am having a friend cut my hair because my hair is too long to manage(tangling and it getting in my face), i want hairstyle suggestions that arent too hard to do and can maybe make me more fem+ cover my forehead.

routine: shampoo maybe once a week, lots of conditioner(i just use what has good slip for detangling) usually on my hair for 15 to 20 mins while i detangle, then after shower i use garnier aloe vera leave-in and air dry

Hair style suggestions for a non-binary pal?


Started growing my hair out during the pandemic. I unfortunately lost a lot of it when I bleached it in like 2022 due to lots of breakage. But here we are! So close to my desired length!!!

For my hair care routine I sometimes switch products so I’ll list the most used things.

Shampoo: Pattern, Head and Shoulders.
Conditioner: Pattern 3a-4a hydration and slip
Camille Rose: guava slip detangler (usually just mix this with pattern or I use this before pattern to detangle then condition)

After Shower:
\- Camille rose curl love moisture milk (this is my mainstay!!! Camille has a residency on my strands)
\- followed by just a dollop of PATTERN LEAVE IN CONDITIONER for the smell and it helps lock in the moisture.

Honorable mention to Gryph and Ivy Rose herbal conditioner. I can only find it online so I don’t use it as often but it was a game changer for conditioners when I first used it.

The Struggle was worth it


I’m going to be overseas for a month and i have a feel that I will run out of my good conditioner. I use either nym naturals curl defining shampoo and conditioner or &honey. Idk if these are available in turkey (the country i am traveling to)

Can someone please recommend a drug store shampoo and conditioner that I can probably find over there? I need a low poo (no sulfates and color safe) and a conditioner that has a lot of slip because my hair is bleached and it tangles easily. Also lightweight because I have fine hair and it gets weighed down easily.

It doesn’t have to be perfect obviously. It’s okay of they dont fully fit the criteria but those are my preferences because those types of products usually work for me.

No routine because I’m just asking for recommendations.

Shampoo and conditioner recommendations for overseas?


Over the years I realized my textured hair didn’t just need products — it needed consistency, moisture retention, intentional routines, patience, and care.

What started as trying to help my own hair eventually became years of researching textured hair wellness, scalp care, ritual-based routines, ingredient education, and the emotional relationship many of us have with our hair.

That journey slowly evolved into the brand I’m building now:

Melanated, Krowned, & Kracqed (MKK)

One thing I keep coming back to is this:

Healthy hair matters.

But so does the relationship we have with it.

I’ve been documenting the philosophy, visuals, ingredient research, and overall brand-building journey here:

mkkproducts.com

Right now I’ve been focusing heavily on:

• scalp wellness

• moisture retention

• intentional wash-day rituals

• low-manipulation styling

• protective nighttime care

• rebuilding healthier relationships with textured hair

Current ritual/routine details using the MKK philosophy:

Cleanse Ritual:

Sulfate-free moisture cleansing focused on removing buildup without stripping the scalp or hair barrier.

Restore Ritual:

Deep moisture and slip-focused conditioning designed to support softness, hydration, detangling, and long-term moisture retention.

Anoint Ritual:

Lightweight scalp and sealing oils applied intentionally to support scalp comfort, softness, and moisture preservation.

Crown Ritual:

Low-manipulation styling routines including twists, stretched styles, protective styles, and reduced tension styling habits.

Drying Method:

Primarily air drying with occasional low-heat diffusing when needed to minimize excessive heat exposure.

Night Protection:

Satin bonnet + satin pillowcase with intentional nighttime moisture preservation and reduced friction.

Refresh Routine:

Light moisture refreshing throughout the week using water-based hydration and light sealing methods as needed.

I’d genuinely love to know:

What change in your routine made the biggest difference for your curls, coils, or overall hair health?

Building a luxury textured-hair wellness brand after 10+ years of learning my own hair


I am having like a product crisis. I don’t like how my hair looks or feels when using gels or mousses. It gets knotted easily, looks gross, I just hate it. No matter how little I use, how much I dilute it, what brand I use, I just don’t like it. I recently have just been using the Camille Rose Guava Slip Leave-In Conditioner and I love how my hair looks. It only lasts 2 days though sadly, so I was wondering if i should stick with the leave in or try a curl cream, if yes, any recommendations? (My hair gets weighed down easily also)
Current Routine:
Shampoo - Curlsmith Full Body Weightless
Conditioner - Curlsmith Full Body Milk
Treatments - Curlsmith Bond Curl Salve & Deep conditioner (brand varies)
Leave-In Conditioner - Camille Rose Grace Slip
When sleeping I sleep in a bonnet and silk scarf.

Hair Products.


My routine

I USE

I dry my hair with a cotton tshirt anf diffuser

The products I use

Aussie instant volume mousse

Mielle Avocado and Tamanu Anti-Frizz Slip & Seal Leave-In

Heat protection (random serum from marshalls)

I brush my hair  with a wide comb

What cut would be dope !?! The first picture is me/32 and hair looking lile hagrid.


so from the front my hair looks nice, i have some good curls some wavies some moisture but from the back it looks frizzy, dry and flat

my routine is:

double shampoo with maui aloe and coconut shampoo

condition with maui aloe and coconut conditioner

on SOAKING WET hair i rake camille rose guava slip leave in (the spray one if that makes a difference)

rake and scrunch miss jessie’s pillow soft curls

rake and scrunch not your mothers curl talk gel

plop with a cotton t shirt for 15 minutes

hover diffuse for 10 minutes

regular (?) diffuse until dry

scrunch fell cast with argan oil

and when i sleep i pineapple by making a super loose pony at the top of my head and sleep with a satin bonnet

no refresh routine, pics are FRESH WASHED FRESH DRIED HAIR what am i doing wrong 😭😭😭😭 AND I WAKE UP TO FLAT CURLS 😭😭😭😭

front and back looking completely different…


my hair is a lot longer than it has ever been. i genuinely have no idea how to fix this flat and greasy look.

my hair used to be beautiful before it got longer and dries out and frizzed up after the shower. it used to coil, and curl so well, now it’s more straight and flat than anything. please help me, im really not trying to restart.  😭

Routine:

Shampoo: mielle rosemary mint

conditioner: sheamoisture coconut and hibiscus

Leave in: Camille rose Guava slip

Mousse: Camille rose spiked honey mousse

I have no idea what i’m doing.


I have long, THICK, 2B/C high porosity Indian hair, and my routine is using a silicone-heavy Tresemme conditioner with excellent results.

But lately, I've been wanting to use the HE Rose Hips conditioner again because of the nostalgia - I used this shampoo and conditioner set regularly waaaay back in the 90s, and find the scent intoxicating. But obviously, there have been numerous reformulations since then, and I notice silicones being towards the end of the ingredients list (I only buy conditioners with silicones up in the front, lol).

For anyone who is using a bottle they purchased recently - is it working for you? Does it provide enough slip? Does it detangle well? Open to the Chamomile one too (another scent I used back in the day and loved).

Anybody try out the recent formula of the Herbal Essences Rose Hips (or Chamomile) conditioner?


My holy grail hair products were CurlSmith hold me softly styling balm and styling soufflé. They changed the recipes after selling to Helen of Troy and they no longer form any cast or have any hold at all for me. I am looking for new products and have been trying SO many in different combinations. I am just not getting a cast from much of anything. I recently read in a very old post here that using a curl cream can cause your gel to not cast. Would that be the same situation with a spray leave in conditioner too? Open to any recs- 3A, low-med porosity, significant amount of white hair that is even less porous and also less curly. My hair has a rougher texture so I tend to like higher slip products.

I have tried jessicurl spiralicious (in combination with rocking ringlets was not good, having mixed results on its own), ouidad advanced climate control gel (no cast or hold without curl cream underneath), AG mousse gel alone (no cast, very little hold), AG recoil and liquid effects (probably the best results so far but doesn’t last as long as the curlsmith did and curls seems stretched out), Innersense I create curl memory alone (this actually worked quite well but made my hair feel so dry and brittle and super tangly, which is way out of the norm for me), Rizos mousse and strong hold gel (too much fragrance, had to rewash due to headache before I could really evaluate), NYM all curl products in varying combinations with mixed results.

Routine: I typically use a NYM shampoo and Curlsmith fragrance free conditioner. Clarify every few washes. I always diffuse as it takes all day to dry otherwise. Obviously varying on products right now.

What am I doing wrong?! 35 years caring for my curly hair on my own and never had such troubles before!

Product help, please!


Hi! I have 3a hair and a routine that works well for me, but I would really like to work in a heat protectant because I do diffuse most days. Bonus would be something with UV protection as well. I prefer a format that is not a spray.

My routine (after shampooing)

In the shower, using the bowl method with a bounce curl brush:
Ouidad advanced climate control conditioner as a leave in
Devacurl Wavemaker
Ouidad Vitalcurl cream-gel

After a 5-minute microfiber plop:
Ouidad advanced climate control foam

Then I diffuse.

I tried the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control leave in, which does have heat protection but it's a spray and has less slip than I'd prefer. Is there another leave in, or a Wavemaker dupe that has heat protection?

Thanks!

Help me find a heat protectant for my routine?


I've been struggling trying to take care of my curly hair for a while now (I'm the first curly girl in generations born to a family with pin-straight hair). I have incredibly frizzy, easily tangled 3A curls that almost reach my tailbone. I received the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control gel as a birthday gift a while back, and I liked it a lot-my hair was still pretty frizzy, but a hell of a lot better than it was gel-less. But, when I went to check the price for re-purchase, it cost THIRTY DOLLARS for one bottle. School is my job, and the wages are paid in knowledge, not money. (Nice to have, but unfortunately my report card isn't very useful here.) I tried the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus defining & styling gel to replace it, but it doesn't work for me at all-the texture of it is really thick and I got a lot of wet frizz, which led to my hair looking like a hot mess (Smelled divine, though.). So, I need a dupe for the Ouidad, but I don't want to buy a product I don't know much about and keep throwing money down the drain for products that don't work. I think the texture of the gel is the big thing I'm looking for- the Ouidad was kinda liquidy, almost slimy, and gave a lot of slip, which is perfect for how I style my hair.. I don't really mind if it's crunchy once dry or not-at this point, I'd rather crunchy curls over undefined, frizzy ones. I haven't figured out how to sleep on my curls yet without it turning into a tangled rat's nest (Right now I have to detangle, braid, and put in a bonnet every night) and I still have to re-style my curls every morning, so I need it to be lightweight & not-flaky while still giving a lot of hold. It can't have any non-water-soluble silicones, either (they make my scalp flake like crazy). If a routine would help, I fully wash my hair once a week with the Cantu Sulfate-free Cleansing Cream shampoo and Aluram coconut water moisturizing shampoo, and then use either the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque or the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Protein Power Treatment, depending on what my hair needs more. I rinse out my hair using just water & one of the two masks twice a week besides the full wash day, and I style on soaking wet hair using Skala Babosa (the Aloe Vera one in the teal tub), and a gel, finger rolled and normally a headband in the front to keep my hair out of my face. Can anyone help me? Gel reccomendations are preferred, but I'll take any help I can get.  (I know this is really long & dense to read. I'm sorry about that, this is my first Reddit post and summarizing stuff has never been a strength of mine.)

Inexpensive gel recommendations?


question above!

ive used this product for the first time today, and it felt great! it reminded me of how slick and moisturizing the “as I am” leave in conditioner left my hair, however as it’s not a styler for daily/weekly use so I use it once in a while if my hair really needs it.

My hair loooves how these kinds of products feel, and my daily styler (the Miss Jessie’s pillow soft curls) does slip, however it feels stickier and feels like it just coats my curls rather than actually adding any moisture, which gives me a bit of build up.

I haven’t found a product that has lasted me beyond a day, and im used to my daily routine if its what I have to stick to.

currently, I wash my hair with ketoconizole shampoo (for my scalp condition) once every 1-2 weeks (if I miss a week), and previously conditioned using the shea moisture shea butter conditioner afterwards, leaving it in for about 10 minutes.

after that, I let it air dry and leave it for the next day.

and the next day, and daily afterwards, I use the Miss Jessie’s pillow soft curls along with water and aunt Jackie’s hydrating hair milk.

anyone have any suggestions? my hair routine is fairly simple, I have 3c/4a curls that seem on the finer, medium dense side. I would love to use a styler product with the same effect/feel as the as I am leave I conditioner/shea moisture hair honey and manuka hair maske!

Daily/weekly styler product that feels like shea moisture honey hydration maske?


Hi,

First time posting, and at 25 years of age with a lifetime of issues I apologise for the rant, but there's a heck of a lot of built-up frustration from struggling with no answers. I have curly hair on both sides of the family, mine's always been curly. It has, however, ALWAYS been frizzy. No matter what I use! I got compared to Hermione from the first movie growing up, for context of what I'm dealing with here. It's gotten better now that I have layers in (and a wolf cut) and I'm scrunching after the shower, but the frizz is still bad and the curls don't curl evenly. Some parts curl, some parts don't, I'm losing my mind.

Currently my hair is bleach/dyed, which I know dries it out so I've been using argan oil etc etc.

So my current routine, once a week, is:

\-Shampoo (OGX colour protect)

\-Condition (OGX argan/moroccan oil conditioner (the blue one))

\-Aussie 3-minute miracle moisture conditioner (once every other week)

\-Brush, then scrunch in hair towel to remove excess moisture

\-Wrap in hair towel, leave for a couple hours

\-Unwrap and air dry overnight

I also have Aussie's "Work that curl" serum (the blue and yellow bottles), Pantene's Argan infused oil treatment, and Clean Curls' detangling water, all of which I use daily in the morning. I've also tried Hello Curls' curl primer with no success. I tried using a bonnet, but that just made my hair knot/curl weirdly, so I stopped because even after brushing it made my hair look matted.

 I CANNOT handle a blowdryer on any setting. It drives me insane. It makes me overheat almost immediately, and it's so overstimulating.

I've tried putting in Cantu's curling cream and a few other things that slip my mind. N.O.T.H.I.N.G gets rid of the frizz! And my hair won't curl evenly- it has layers in, but while the top layer will curl the bottom, longest layer hangs awkwardly limp and halfway between wavy/straight. Sometimes the sides will do that too and then it just looks unwashed.

The CGM methods I've seen all involve dunking your head into a bowl (can't- disabled) or drying with a hairdryer (again- no) or both. Not to mention, while the rest of the tips seem helpful (scrunching my beloved) they only cover wash days and not the entire rest of the week! I've seen advice to brush your hair, not brush your hair, wet and then brush it, brush it dry, brush with a comb, use your fingers, use a padded brush, a fine tooth comb- anything and everything under the SUN and none of the brushes seem to make a difference on my hair. If I don't brush it, it gets tangled and looks matted and messy. But it's so frizzy and I can't get control of it no matter what, not to mention I have yet to find advice on how to look after your hair for the rest of the week!

My friend recommended me an Olaplex product which she says will help, but it's £30 for a tiny bottle. I don't have that kind of money to drop on another product that probably won't work. I know stress affects it, but ironically, no control over my hair stresses me out! It's so easy for my hair to look dirty- I tried putting in Aussie's Work That Curl cream before, which is a leave-in cream to give you curls, right? My hair was CRUNCHY and clumped together to look so, so, SO greasy and dirty.

I feel completely hopeless. I just want nice hair. I don't know why it's so frizzy. Please. Any help. I don't enjoy being compared to Hagrid. I've tried so many things over the past but learning to manage this (as you can probably tell) is so overwhelming, especially when showers are already so difficult for me as it is.

CGM help- rest of the week/frizz help?


First photo is my hair currently, last photo it what I started off with. Other photos are to show my progress during that time. I flipped the order around so you know how long my hair is currently.

Got most of my har chopped off during quarantine and stayed like that for years because it was easier to manage. Decided over a year ago to finally start growing it out again because I miss having my long hair and this is my progress so far. I was wondering if any of you have any “holy grail” curly hair products that smell really good? My hair products already smell good to me but I was wondering if I was missing out on any other good smelling products!

My current routine is:

Camille Rose Guava Slip Detangling Hydrate & Cleanse All Ages Shampoo

Camille Rose Honey Hydrate Leave In Conditioner

Camille Rose Spiked Honey Hydrate & Shine Hair Styling Mousse with Honey & Nettle Root

I brush my hair in the shower after applying the shampoo, then I wash out the shampoo after a few minutes and brush again. Then I apply the mousse and leave in once I get out of the shower by scrunching it into my hair. I then diffuse my hair upside down with a diffuser for about 2-3 minutes and lastly I scrunch it with a T-shirt upside down.

Decided to grow my hair out again, any great smelling product recommendations?


Hello! I’ve been transitioning my hair from 9 years of heat damage since July of last year, cutting off an inch every month. Last month, I cut off around 4 inches and tried to do a DIY curly cut because I thought it was a good way to get off a decent amount of damage while also maintaining a look that I like.

My hair has multiple patterns in part from the heat damage and in part because that’s how it naturally grows. It’s just a little frustrating to style.

I also have multiple porosities on my head, with my crown having low porosity, the middle/back having medium, and the ends having high porosity.

I have medium thick strands, and medium density(?) I think.

I get a TON of frizz at my roots, even when the hair is wet, and last wash day I tried a new routine out but I swear it made my problems worse. And I used very hot water this last wash day because the water temperature in my college dorm hasn’t been mediating itself lol but that might be part of the reason.

I want the hair defined but still soft, and with controlled volume. So not flat on my head but not fluff that I didn’t specifically style if that makes any sense. I do love my hair’s volume though.

Washing once a week, but refreshing my hair is kinda difficult.

# Oldest routine:

***Shampoo***: Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Shampoo

***Conditioner***: Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Conditioner

***Masque***: Shea Moisture Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

***Leave-In***: Cantu Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioning Hair Cream (don’t kill me)

***Gel/Mousse***: I was cycling through a gazillion things but mainly between The Doux Big Poppa, The Doux Bee Girl, and Cantu Curling Mousse. Bee Girl leaves too hard of a cast imo

***Diffusing*** hair, but not necessary until it was fully dry :/

# General routine:

***Shampoo***: Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Shampoo

***Masque***: Shea Moisture Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

***Leave-In***: Cantu Argan Oil Leave-In Conditioning Hair Cream

***Gel/Mousse***: The Doux Big Poppa, trace amounts of other things like The Doux Bee Girl, and Cantu Curling Mousse

***Diffusing*** hair until completely dry.

# Newest routine:

***Shampoo***: Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Shampoo

***Conditioner***: Camilla Rose Guava Slip Detangling Conditioner (didn’t feel like it was really doing anything? idk I couldn’t feel it in my hair)

***Leave-In***: Camilla Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk Leave-In Conditioner (stopped like two sections in because it was mixing poorly with my other products)

***Gel/Mousse***: The Doux Big Poppa, The Doux Mousse Def (at roots)

***Diffusing*** hair until completely dry

Using coconut oil to break cast where I feel necessary in all routines. Might be bad for low porosity parts of my hair.

See some flaking with newest routine.

The first two photos are Day 1 on my most recent wash day (newest routine). Sorry they’re not high quality/with better lighting but that’s all I took.

Third photo is Day 1 on last week’s wash day (general routine). Finger coiled for the first time since I started my journey.

Fourth photo is Day 3 on last week’s wash day.

Fifth is Day 3 from around a month ago (general routine, no finger coiling).

Last two photos are my humble beginnings from July 🙏🏾

If you have any product recs, tips for dealing with frizz, heat damage advice, etc, that would be greatly appreciated! I don’t know if curl creams would help, if I should stick with leave-ins, if I’m over- or under-moisturizing, if I’m breaking the cast with the wrong oil, if I’m not using the right products for the low porosity part of my hair, etc. It’s been months and I’m still figuring things out lol very complicated.

Still have a ways to go but there’s progress. If you read all the way through, I’m very grateful!

Heat Damage Journey + Product Recs?


This may be oversharing, but I'm very pedantic and tend to mess everything up when I don't have instructions, definitions, and context explained to me in excruciating detail... which is to say, trying to learn online from scattered influencers and posts isn't working well for me personally in regards to my curly journey.

I'm curious if any of you know of any books (or single websites, maybe even yt series) that have comprehensive, detailed, unsponsored, and illustrated information on curly hair in general?

I'm looking for everything: historical context, physical composition of hair, styling methods, cutting guides, how products/ingredients work, dyes, etc. The more academic, the better!

(I've looked through the resources I can find on this sub, and I do really appreciate them! But I keep finding my experiences slip through the glossed-over cracks.

My specific issues/routine seem to rise from inconsistent pattern growth, low density, and wanting to stay somewhat natural/minimalist, but I do almost everything myself with a very low budget, so a thorough understanding beyond my own circumstance would be great! I'm sure stylists' academic textbooks have what I'm looking for, but I've got no idea where to find a good one.)

I doubt the "silver bullet" book I want exists, but whatever suggestions you have will mean a lot to me and hopefully benefit anyone who finds themselves similarly overwhelmed in the future!

(scientific) Curly hair book recommendations?


Whenever I wash and condition my hair in the shower and then rinse it out, my hair feels dry and is somewhat defined in some parts and puffy/frizzy in others (usually the back of my hair, the hair near my neck, or my ends). but after styling it, is defined/feels soft, and i usually have no issues with it during the week unless it’s humid outside. I’ve tried so many shampoos over the years and they always leave my hair feeling dry right after i get out of the shower or while i’m actively washing it. I’m so confused is this just how curly hair is…my hair ONLY looks good with product i could never walk around without any. I need advice! I’ve attached a photo of it styled and two other photos with it right after washing/conditioning

Routine:

1. when i wash my hair i alternate every week between 2 shampoos: nizoral and ouai detox. after that i use curls hydrating shampoo and then detangle/condition with camille rose guava slip conditioner, rinse, and dry it with a cotton tshirt.

2. when i style my hair i part it into sections mist it with water, apply shea moisture coconut hibiscus leave in then blueberry bliss gel, comb the product through, diffuse most of my hair, and then let it air dry the rest of the way. this then lasts me about a week without having to refresh it or anything (week and a half if im pushing it)

3. i sleep with my hair in a loose ponytail on top of my head with a scrunchie in a bonnet.

My hair is dry and poofy right after washing but is fine after i style it


Hi everyone! First Reddit post!

Routine:

1. Shampoo & Conditioner: As I Am Shampoo + Camille Rose Guava Slip Conditioner
2. Other products: Occasionally use Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment on damp hair
3. Drying: Mostly air dry, sometimes gently blot with a microfiber towel
4. Extra info: I don’t use a bonnet or satin/silk pillowcase

Problem: Lately, the sides of my hair get really frizzy while drying and don’t curl like the front. Even when the sides are wet they don’t become curly just straight. Any tips to help the sides curl more like the front?

Frizzy hair on sides