How to you tame dry, brittle, thick hair?

[ptrbryant]

My hair is wavy and very thick. I color it about once every 7-8 weeks with L'Oreal Preference...it actually seems healthier shortly after coloring it! I'm not sure what's going on, but it's been impossible for me to control the dry frizziness of esp. the top layer of hair. When I use a conditioner, it weirdly makes it worse.

Lately, I've been shampooing (yes, I do that daily), no conditioner, then use Biosilk serum and some other variety of frizz-tamer (keep trying different brands here). It's okay, but still looks damaged to me.

Does anyone know of a product that worked well for them?

Thanks!
Karla B.

 

[PirateKitty]

I also have thick, wavy hair. I abuse it alot! It gets highlighted once a month, blow dried and flat ironed almost every day. It only looks and feels dry when I use too much product. Lately I've been using John Frieda Straight Ahead Daily Shampoo & Conditioner and my hair looks and feels great. I don't use any kind of shine serums or hair sprays. The girl at my salon can't believe what I do to my hair and it is still healthy. Regular haircuts are a must for me. Maybe a trim and change in products would help.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

My hair is like yours and it is horrible--Every time I go in for a haircut I usually get the same questions--Do I use a relaxer-Do I swim a lot--Last time I went the hairdresser asked if there were an AA in my bloodline.

I was told to not use Pantene at all because it coats the hair in a wax like substance--I stopped using Pantene and any 2 in 1 combos and it helped a lot///They recommended Tresemme or Garnier Fructise and I bought the Garnier and my hair got a lot better(((this surprised me because if they were going to recommend something I figured it'd be something they carried)

They told me not to dye my hair any more and to cut off as much as I could stand to help the hair get healthy---So I did.

My hair today is the best it has been for well over a decade--It is still uber thick and on the dry side but nowhere near where it was before.

When I get it thinned out now I have them do it layer by layer--a pain in the *** for them especially when they just want to swipe at it with the thinning shears--this has helped with the split ends a lot--I also use a leave in conditioner...either Aussie or Infusium--but only a couple times a week and I avoid the straightner and hairdryer like the plague because it dried my hair out even worse.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Try Sebastian Potion 9, you will love it for your hair type. Its a leave in product used after shampooing.

 

[jenimay]

I have similar hair. The only thing that helps me is to use a straightening cream then run a straightener over it. Ironically my hair looks alot healthier,
Good luck!
Jeni

 

[Tikicampers]

My hair is the same, and my biggest suggestion is to only wash it every other day. I started doing this after DS was born, because I didn't have the time to blow dry it daily. I noticed a huge improvement. I also use Suave's shampoo that is for sleek (or shiny I can't remember) hair. I use just a little bit of shampoo on the top of my head where the oil is, the shampoo runs over the rest of the hair when I rinse, but I never rub it in unless I've been working in the yard or something. Then I condition the whole thing.

 

[dmslush]

I swear by Garnier Fructise Sleek and Shine. It helps my hair better than anything else. DD, on the other hand, LOVES Aussie Moist.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Don't wash your hair everyday. It will only dry it out worse. Do you use a long term medication? After a few years on epilepsy meds, my mom's hair has turned very dry and brittle.

Redken has a wonderful line of hair products to tame frizzes and help with brittle hair. I use the curl soft or something like that but they have a step up called all soft and that is very thick shampoo and conditioner. Yes, a bit pricey but so wonderful I think. Have you tried a leave in conditioner? Frizz Ease makes a great leave in conditioner that doesn't weigh the hair down.

 

[pouncingpluto]

My hairdresser told me the same thing about Pantene. Actually, he kinda scraped my hair with a blade to show me the white waxy buildup that was on it.

For about five years now, I've been using the Redken All Soft line, and it works better than anything for me. They have a shampoo, conditioner, and a super-duty conditioner called "Heavy Cream." I use the shampoo and the Heavy Cream, and my hair is SO much softer than with anything else.

After the shower, I use a mix of Bedhead's After Party and Redken's Smooth Down Heat Glide.

I've tried Redken's Smooth Down shampoo and conditioner, but I didn't like it as much as their All Soft line. I should try some of the other after-shower styling products, though, since it's supposed to fight frizz.

I know Redken is more expensive than drugstore/grocery store stuff, but I can tell SUCH a difference. Even just one wash with anything else, and my hair is noticeably more tangled and frizzy. I do think the conditioner is more important than the shampoo, though.

 

[Disney Doll]

Try Redken All Soft shampoo and conditioner (2 separate products). I had thick, dry hair...going gray...and it has really made a big difference!

 

[Blondie]

Redken's All Soft Heavy Cream conditioner might work for you. I love Redken products.

 

[Blondie]

Ha ha, Disney Doll and I are on the same wave length!

 

[pouncingpluto]

Actually, it seems several of us are!

 

[Blondie]

Actually, it seems several of us are!

I didn't read all the replies before I posted. Redken products have worked miracles with my hair. I agree with you regarding the Smooth Down vs. All Soft. All Soft rocks!

 

[I Love Pluto]

Curly frizzy poofy hair? I have the solution - and - it doesn't cost a lot of money!

Sunsilk products (in the green bottle) add moisture to your hair, finally getting rid of the frizzies.

Use the shampoo, then the rinse-out conditioner in the shower. Follow with the product in a smaller light green bottle called 24/7 Cream. You can apply this to damp hair, then to dry hair throughout the day. It's been working for me when all else has failed (even the other no-frizz products).

Good luck to you. Tame those frizzies!

 

[ptrbryant]

There're some really good suggestions here!

I've been using the leave-on Sunsilk...maybe if I layered it with the shampoo and conditioner, it would work better? That said, it worked better than some of the pricier things I've tried.

In the winter, I can sometimes get away with washing my hair every other day and, I admit, it looks better then. But, living in the South, if I'm outside at all, my thick hair will inevitably get sweat on it and it's too gross for me for me to think about not to washing it everyday.

Sounds like alot of Redken recommendations, too! I don't mind spending money on a good product--the Biosilk isn't cheap!.

I used to always have a blunt-cut bob and it seemed less frizzy then. Maybe having layers with my hair type causes problems?!?!

Lots of things to try....Thanks again!

Karla B.

 

[lovemygoofy]

If you have a blunt bob with layers, have your stylist thin out your hair some with a razor instead of thining shears. It really does make all the difference. Also, I understand about sweaty hair but I will say that I will rinse my hair and recondition but still only wash every day or two but the Redken stuff is really wonderful even if you want to wash every day.

 

[TrixieBel]

WOW! I read your post and the first thing I though was "When did I write that? I can't remember writing that!".

Maybe we're long lost twins, because it sounds like not only do we have the same kind of hair (and problems), but we also use the same hair colourant.

A few weeks ago, I read a thread (it might have been on a different board) about how often you wash your hair. Someone on that thread suggested that if you have hair like ours, you should actually NEVER use shampoo, but only use conditioner.

After all these years (42yrs old) I'm willing to try anything, so from then, until now, I have only used my conditioner. I have been using a small amount of conditioner as I would the shampoo - scrub it through and then rinse.
Then, I put on the conditioner and leave it in while I do the rest of my shower cleaning. Then rinse right before getting out.

MY HAIR HAS NEVER BEEN SO GOOD! People have been asking me what I've done. It dries really soft (not greasy) and shiny, and if I use the dryer/straitening iron it looks amazing.

I felt like I had to be brave to try this - it goes against all the advertising about our haircare. It's been worth it though, and at this point I'm thinking I'll never buy another bottle of shampoo in my life

Regards

 

[ptrbryant]

Hey, Jennifer, I just turned 47, so I guess I'm your big sister!

I tried that Christophe sample conditioner this morning (after washing my hair with shampoo)...still frizzy! I think I may give your suggestion a try. Is there any particular conditioner you use?

When you think about it, rinsing your hair with conditioner does seem like it could do the job...

Karla B.

 

[Tikicampers]

In the winter, I can sometimes get away with washing my hair every other day and, I admit, it looks better then. But, living in the South, if I'm outside at all, my thick hair will inevitably get sweat on it and it's too gross for me for me to think about not to washing it everyday.

I'm in the South too. It's about 95 degrees outside right now. In the summer I mostly wear my hair pulled back to keep it from getting too sweaty. I almost always wear it back on the day I didn't wash it. It sounded gross to me too, but I swear it's the best thing I've done for my hair.