I’m having a hair crisis.
For the majority of my life, I was cursed blessed with curly hair. I rocked a big poofy triangle through middle school, because straighteners in the late ’90s were less than desirable. Over the years I’ve managed to refine my mane into something presentable – which means it looks good approximately 10% of the time, at best – but it hasn’t been easy. Even with a live-in hair dresser.
It seems like people with curly hair are constantly on the hunt. We NEED the best products – like, salon grade please! Hell yes I’ll buy that satin pillowcase for $50, if it means the frizz gets under control. Diffuser? Check. Mousse? Check. Hairspray? Check. Hairbrush? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
So far, the thing that has made my hair look best has been pregnancy. I guess it was a nice trade off… “Yes, I’m gigantic and swollen, but my hair looks AMAZING.”
See?
My hair was thick, it had volume, and the curl was actually pretty. Too bad it all went downhill from there… not that I noticed too much at first, because I lived for the top knot for the first year of my kid’s life.
But now, at 18 months postpartum, my hair has decided to FREAK THE FREAK OUT.
I may as well have a different head on my shoulders. My hair doesn’t want to curl, and only weakly manages a wave. It’s thin, flat, and suddenly oily. Like, I used to go days and days without washing my hair. Now? That’s not happening.
So what’s a girl to do? A few weeks ago I went to my stylist and asked her for a lob. She asked me if I was drunk.
Five inches later, I’m definitely happier with my mane. It feels thicker and healthier, and I’ve started to find a few products that are working for me. I thought I would share the love for this Friday Five, but only if you all tell me your favorite hair care items!
Keep in mind that I don’t use all these products with every wash, but they’re definitely in my arsenal!
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one | I started using OGX Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum approximately once a week to help tame my flyaways. Between pregnancy and postpartum, my hair had a lot of breakage. I use this sparingly to strengthen my hair – but only when I know I’m wearing my hair curly, since it is a little oily. The smell, however, is divine.
two | Previously I rarely used heat on my hair, but now I’m finding that I always need either the diffuser or the flat iron. I even own a curling iron for the first time in my life. To protect my hair, I’ve been using Toni & Guy Heat Protection Mist. It helps prevent more breakage and damage, and it leave my hair soft.
three | Another thing that makes my hair feel soft? Johnson’s No More Tangles Detangling Spray. Yes, I use my one-year-old’s hair product sometimes. #MomLife. (Although, I’m not sure any professional stylist would recommend it, it’s working for me).
four | Like I said, I’m trying to embrace the waves. Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray helps give me a little volume, a little texture, and a tiny bit of hold. I’m still experimenting with this one, but I like to think it’s harnessing what’s left of my curl power into a beachy wave.
five | My stylist uses Kenra Root Lifting Spray 13, and I finally decided just to buy a can from her. All you do is spray this in a few strategically place parts, and blow dry in the opposite direction for awesome volume. I’m an amateur with the blow dryer, but even so, this stuff makes a difference.
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There you have it! My five favorite hair products of right now! What product/routine/tool can you not live without? Anyone with hair like mine have a good suggestion for shampoo & conditioner?
Love what I can see of your lob. I usually stick to Garnier Fructis when it comes to shampoo and conditioner. They have so many different types from color treated hair to difficult to straighten hair. I shampoo and condition my hair every other day. On my off days, I use Pssst Dry Shampoo. Ever since it started getting warmer over here on the East Coast, my hair has started getting oily this year. I’m not sure why.
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OH MY GOODNESS!!! I completely understand…..Lukas will be a year old next week (boy does time fly) and my hair is going through the same nonsense. I like the whole curly/wavy thing my hair had and that I had the option to straighten it if necessary. Now….its extra greasy and limp and has a few waves but thats about it. Ugghhh…. I will have to try a few of these and see if I can get it to do something. (and yes, you are not the only one who uses their toddlers detangling spray sometimes.)
Good tips, and I think your hair is gorgeous! But that pp hair, sucks! and then growing it all back after it’s all fallen out, sucks even more!
I know how you feel; I have unruly curly hair too. I got my first flat iron in high school and used it til I was midway through college. Talk about damage! I finally embraced my curls. I use Garnier Fructis shampoo/conditioner, dry my hair with a t-shirt, use mousse or gel, spray with heat protective/volume and use a diffuser. On days I don’t wash I use either just conditioner or a cleaning conditioner (Pantene makes a good one). I recently cut a good chunk of my hair because it wouldn’t do much.
Crazy mom-hair, party of 1 here in VA. Itโs pathetic depressing how sad my hair looks these days. Between having an 8 ยฝ month old belly crawling around my feet (why, WHY did my husband encourage the baby to crawl?!), and having to leave the house by 6:55am to get to daycare and work, I have zero time to even think about my mop. My topknot game is even sad these days. The texture of my hair, the body and wave I use to have pre-baby has all changed. I spoke with my stylist about shampoo and conditioner and she told me that I cant get that pretty, salon quality hair by buying the crap on sale at the grocery store. So I sucked it up and bought Redkin shamp & cond and have loved it. Granted, I still have zero time to get my hair done in the mornings, but it is the cleanest, shiniest topknot youโve seen on a sleep deprived mom of a teething baby, ever. ๐
Love the lob (and I love saying lob)!
PS- try keeping a container of clear mascara in your purse to tame those stupid fly aways.