How to keep frizzy hair looking good on a cruise.. Any tips?

[ptcbass]

For you ladies out there...

I have naturally wavy hair that gets very frizzy. I live in the south so I battle this daily. On our cruise I ended up putting my hair in a ponytail most of the trip. Now in almost all of our pictures my hair is up and it doesn't look good. I would love to leave it down on our next one so that we at least have some good pics to share and put in frames.
The ponytail actually worked out good on pirate night since I used my bandana to tie mine up.

I straighten it daily to keep it looking halfway decent but would love to leave it wavy some days (if I could keep the frizz down).

If you have frizzy hair how do you cope? I use It's A 10 hair products and have tried about all of them. The only thing I have tried lately that helps a little is cocount oil and apple cider vinegar. My DS hates the smell of the ACV and would just die if I used it in our stateroom and he had to smell it.

 

[anricat]

I embrace my waves. I used to straighten, but it was killing my hair and it was tricky on vacations (and time consuming to deal with).

Use the Deva three step method for "swavy" hair with a good medium hold gel and then I use the in-room hair drying with diffuser to get some initial moisture out and let it air dry the rest of the way. If you look up "Deva three step" on youtube, you can see a video that tells you how to do it. I'm not sure if this is going to work, but here's me with the wavy hair. It's a little hard to tell, but it's definitely not frizzy and it's actually sort of still damp in this photo, but I'm happy with how it looks.

Our last night on the Disney Dream by anricat, on Flickr

 

[anricat]

Actually, it got a little frizzy on pirate night because Nassau was windy and humid, but it still worked, especially once I stuck a hat on top of it. Still, I think it's a great excuse to see what kind of curl you can get our of your wavy hair.

Pirate night with Pirate Mickey by anricat, on Flickr

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I gave up fighting the battle. I have my hair cut really short about a week before our cruises. Then it can curl/frizz as it wants and it looks like that's what it's supposed to do.

 

[rantnnravin]

 

[Twinkledust]

Too funny! I always describe my hair as "Monica's in the Bahamas"!
I'm following this post.... and I'm going to go check out the Deeva three step.

 

[gumbypee]

I use Softee mango butter/creme. It's actually for ethnic hair but it gives great curl definition and keeps hair soft and smells great. Super cheap. A dollar at dollar general!!

 

[storknurse13]

Oooh I have super frizzy hair too and I tend to keep it in a bun b/c my hair is soo long! I love it when it's wet and wavy but when it drys it looks horrible as soon as I go outside! Please post your secrets! I'm waiting to hear too!

 

[anricat]

I mentioned the Deva three step. That's the actual procedure I use, but I don't use their products any more. I prefer more natural products and I've found the Andalou styling gel works just as well (if not better): http://andalou.com/index.php/haircare/style/sunflower-citrus-healthy-shine-styling-gel.html

So if you don't want to look it up, basically wash, condition. Use LOTS of conditioner, more than you think. Like TONS. Comb that through, rinse.

Next, flip your dripping wet hair upside down and shake. Like a wet dog. Then scrunch it up a few times to squeeze out the water. After that, get a big gob of gel and scrunch it around a bit. Don't handle it too much, it makes it frizzier. Then I use a microfiber turban type towel (like a turbi-twist) and scrunch it a couple of times in that, then I take my hand, scrunch it up flat on top of my head and then twist the turbi-twist (don't actually twist the hair in it - the hair is all piled on top of your head).

After all this, I have to re-rinse my face and the bottom of the shower, because it's all covered in gel.

After my face is made up, I take out my hair and gently dry it with the diffuser hair dryer (again, minimal touching), give it a spray of hair spray and let it air dry the rest of the way. Done! You can also completely let it air dry.

 

[masylimed]

My daughter has curly hair that is very temperamental to humidity. Our hairdresser introduced her to a product called "Crack". It come is a blue tube and you apply just a small amount onto hair. It works very well for her. We buy it from our hairdresser but I've seen it at Ulta too. My daughter swears buy it.

 

[MnMzMoMi4LiFe]

I had read in a DIS post that a product called "It's A 10" works well also for curly hair. It is a leave in and works better than loading up your hair with conditioner. I'm going to try it on our upcoming cruise in November

 

[AliceIn]

I use the Redken Curvaceous Full Swirl:

http://www.redken.com/products/curls/curvaceous/curvaceous-full-swirl

It works really well to combat the frizz.

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

I'll second the use of the product called "Crack". It's AWESOME.

You may want to consider a smoothing treatment. Not a straightener. I have naturally curly and frizzy hair, and my hair dresser does a treatment called F450. It's not a keratin treatment, but it's an amino acid. It works wonders on my hair. I have had it done a week before both of my cruises and I had no issues.

 

[Wiloughby1]

I like It's a 10 and Mixed Chicks products (Mixed Chicks works for all curly hair, regardless of ethnicity).

I also like a super hot blow dryer.

 

[pierresgirl]

I would look into getting either a keratin treatment or an amino acid based one (which is safer and contains zero formaldehyde). I'm a stylist and specialize in smoothing & straightening and my favorite to use is Agave. It's a plant based, amino acid smoothing treatment that lasts about 8 wks. It will eliminate frizz but maintain a beautiful curl. It's typically about $250 in salon (no home version) but their shampoo and conditioner are really superior if you didn't want to get the treatment. They have it at Sephora.

My top 2 products I use on 80% of my clients for doing a perfect smooth blow dry are Agave Oil and Bumble and Bumble Styling cream, maybe a 1:3 ratio. The 2 together have a great anti humidity barrier and it lasts. Good luck!

 

[ptcbass]

Actually, it got a little frizzy on pirate night because Nassau was windy and humid, but it still worked, especially once I stuck a hat on top of it. Still, I think it's a great excuse to see what kind of curl you can get our of your wavy hair.



Pirate night with Pirate Mickey by anricat, on Flickr

I think it looks great! No frizz at all - or at least that you can tell in the picture.

Love it!! HA!

My daughter has curly hair that is very temperamental to humidity. Our hairdresser introduced her to a product called "Crack". It come is a blue tube and you apply just a small amount onto hair. It works very well for her. We buy it from our hairdresser but I've seen it at Ulta too. My daughter swears buy it.

I used Crack and it didn't work all that well.

I had read in a DIS post that a product called "It's A 10" works well also for curly hair. It is a leave in and works better than loading up your hair with conditioner. I'm going to try it on our upcoming cruise in November

I use this and overall it is one of the best products I have ever used.

I'll second the use of the product called "Crack". It's AWESOME.

You may want to consider a smoothing treatment. Not a straightener. I have naturally curly and frizzy hair, and my hair dresser does a treatment called F450. It's not a keratin treatment, but it's an amino acid. It works wonders on my hair. I have had it done a week before both of my cruises and I had no issues.

Wow thanks for the info. I will have to ask about the smoothing treatment.

I will have to say that apple cider vinegar has worked good. I doubt I use it more than once or twice a month but it does work.
I guess one of the problems I have is that I love for my hair to be smooth and easy to run my fingers through. I wish I could get that with my natural waves. I have problems with the no touch rule with wavy hair. Also I had it looking pretty good one night last week and then by morning it was flat and frizzy again. I have to be quiet getting ready for work in the mornings so wetting it and using a blow dryer isn't an option. It needs to be something I can fix super easy and fast in the mornings. Same on a cruise. I would love to get out of bed and be able to just go up on deck and watch us coming into port. Also, nothing like coming back from the pool or CC and needing to hurry and get ready for dinner and needing to wash an fix my hair. My DS and DH have it SO easy!! Then up on deck it is windy. Not much hope for pics with good hair huh? LOL!

 

[bumbershoot]

What about some braiding options? Not cornrows (we don't need to follow Ms Cox's example there) but just lovely braids? There's an instagram account called instabraid that might be fun to look through. Or increase the personal care budget and have some salon appointments for braiding? Or even onshore; while most of the time you think of cornrows, etc, when going to a braiding person, one braiding lady offered to do a french braid on my hair b/c she could see how much of it I have. I declined because I have a very tender head, but now I wish I'd taken her up on it, to see what she could have done.


Apart from that, I, too just say to go with what your hair wants to do and find the products to support it. I don't have the patience for loads of upside-down time with a diffuser (plus I start sweating while doing it, and that makes it take longer), I refuse to not touch my hair, etc, so a lot of any issues I have are my own fault.

But then...what's wrong with a little frizz? DH and DS actually love it when I have a "halo", even though I just see a mess. They think it's neat and like to touch it. I used to long for straight hair, while others longed for my hair. I say, learn to love what you have, realizing that there will be people who love your hair, and be happy.

(and use the ACV if it works for you...people can get used to the smell...after all, I have to walk around with people smelling like Tide and Gain, so he can get used to something totally natural!)

 

[Kenny1113]

So funny that your DS hates the ACV smell. I was doing that for a little while and my DSs would get sooo mad when I would apply it to my hair in the kitchen sink because they HATED the smell so much!

I have been using devacurl for over a year and have been very happy with the results. I am interested to try the natural products a PP mentioned. As PP mentioned keeping the hair moisterized is key and do not tie hair up in a towel, according to devacurl it strips too much moisture from your hair. Now I just use a microfiber cloth to scrunch my hair. It does take much longer to dry, but looks much healthier.

 

[ptcbass]

Yeah I just use a regular towel. Maybe it is time for a microfiber cloth.

I think one reason I am struggling with it is that I usually straighten it and I know it would be a lot easier if I would just accept it for the way it is and go with it. Still working on that... maybe this weekend I will give it another go.

Thanks everyone. I have gotten new ideas and new products to look up from here.

Here is to all of us having great pics for our next cruise!!

 

[ptcbass]

I mentioned the Deva three step. That's the actual procedure I use, but I don't use their products any more. I prefer more natural products and I've found the Andalou styling gel works just as well (if not better): http://andalou.com/index.php/haircare/style/sunflower-citrus-healthy-shine-styling-gel.html

So if you don't want to look it up, basically wash, condition. Use LOTS of conditioner, more than you think. Like TONS. Comb that through, rinse.

Next, flip your dripping wet hair upside down and shake. Like a wet dog. Then scrunch it up a few times to squeeze out the water. After that, get a big gob of gel and scrunch it around a bit. Don't handle it too much, it makes it frizzier. Then I use a microfiber turban type towel (like a turbi-twist) and scrunch it a couple of times in that, then I take my hand, scrunch it up flat on top of my head and then twist the turbi-twist (don't actually twist the hair in it - the hair is all piled on top of your head).

After all this, I have to re-rinse my face and the bottom of the shower, because it's all covered in gel.

After my face is made up, I take out my hair and gently dry it with the diffuser hair dryer (again, minimal touching), give it a spray of hair spray and let it air dry the rest of the way. Done! You can also completely let it air dry.

Checked out their video and wow their hair really does come out looking great! Not exactly a quick process but not too painful either.
I think they sell that gel you have the link here for at Wholefoods. I will have to look next time I am there.
Thanks!