Hair in Humidity (Charlotte, King, Norman: hair salon, purchase, store)

[impressionist]

Hey you guys, mostly gals... I have a question that has been hounding me since I moved here... I have "naturally curly hair" (caucasian) and my hair "plumps" up about 2 inches in the humidity and I simply CANNOT wear my hair down... I also tend to sweat alot, so suffice to say, my hair NEVER looks good here... I'm hoping someone has similar hair and knows what works around here. I'm tired of wearing my hair all up and tied back all the time... Suggestions?

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by impressionist

Hey you guys, mostly gals... I have a question that has been hounding me since I moved here... I have "naturally curly hair" (caucasian) and my hair "plumps" up about 2 inches in the humidity and I simply CANNOT wear my hair down... I also tend to sweat alot, so suffice to say, my hair NEVER looks good here... I'm hoping someone has similar hair and knows what works around here. I'm tired of wearing my hair all up and tied back all the time... Suggestions?

I also have curly (caucasian) hair. I wish mine looked that good when the humidity ramps up in the summer.

Do you use relaxing shampoos? They help. I use the professional brand of shampoo & conditioner in the orange bottles,

Here's the most importantant thing. Do not allow a hair dresser to layer your hair. I've had 3 hairdressers with curly hair & they all have said the same thing.

I can tell some stories of haircuts where the hairdresser put in layers anyway that would have you rolling on the floor, laughing.

Hope this helps.

[Carolina Homefinder]

I'm scotch-irish and I have EXTREMELY naturally curly, fine, red hair. Mine is long, and although don't know the length of yours here's what I do:

1. If you want to "embrace your curls"...which is what I suggest...try Curls Rock by Catwalk. MIRACLE IN A BOTTLE! It's a curl enhancing lotion that used to be in salons only. You can now pick it up in Wal-Mart's salon cheaper than in a true salon. On the Wal-Mart store shelf you can purchase the shampoo and maybe the conditioner at most. You want to get the "curl enhancing hair lotion". It's only available on the store's salon shelf. WORTH EVERY PENNY!!! It keeps your curls fully in tact and is pretty resistant to the high humidity in Charlotte's sticky climate. Trust me, this stuff works!
2. If you're going straight (always good for a change) try the Frizz-Ease line by John Frieda. Use their hair serum to prime your hair then straighten with a good flat iron. Finish or do touch-ups as needed with the Shine Spray, or you can touch up with a small drop of the serum during the day if you start to experience frizz. Keep one or the other in your purse. This works like a charm for me and I can take a wash/condition air dry curly to straight with no blow dry at all. Curly hair is naturally dry, so when I go straight I don't rewash for 3-4 days. I just touch up in the mornings with a flat iron. The blow dry staight method no matter what product you use in Charlotte's climate is likely to leave you frizzy before trying to straighten. And it's easier to take a smooth curl to straight than a frizzy curl to straight. Make sense?
3. Also, I absolutely would go with layers if your hair is long. But ask for "long gradual layers" and lots of them...think Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. I agree with the previous post about layers unless you go with really long layers because otherwise you'll look like you've got a mini-fro. But with the right layers you will love your natural curls. And so will everyone else.
4. Lastly, all us gals with natural curls no how unruly they can get when air-dried with no product. So...if you spend a lot of time on Lake Norman or by the pool then be sure to prime your curls before hand...straight from the shower....with a couple of coats of hair serum, no finishing spray. Then as you take on the pool or the lake your hair will air dry "frizz-free" throughout the day. This is a hair life saver during the summer months.

Hope this helps you get the most out of your curls!

[DawnW]

I have curly hair and layers. Oh man, if I didn't, my hair would frizz STRAIT out from my head! At least this way it only frizzes out as long as my hair actually is.

I hate humidity! My hair looks HORRIBLE! I have tried everything! I use Very strong conditioner and it looks ok, but not great.

Dawn

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I also have curly (caucasian) hair. I wish mine looked that good when the humidity ramps up in the summer.

Do you use relaxing shampoos? They help. I use the professional brand of shampoo & conditioner in the orange bottles,

Here's the most importantant thing. Do not allow a hair dresser to layer your hair. I've had 3 hairdressers with curly hair & they all have said the same thing.

I can tell some stories of haircuts where the hairdresser put in layers anyway that would have you rolling on the floor, laughing.

Hope this helps.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

From the other side, I can't wait to get back South and have some body to my hair! Here in Utah, my hiar is flat, falt, flat. And my skin dry, dry, dry. When I visited 2 weeks ago, my hair looked the best it has in 7 yrs.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by DawnW

I have curly hair and layers. Oh man, if I didn't, my hair would frizz STRAIT out from my head! At least this way it only frizzes out as long as my hair actually is.

I hate humidity! My hair looks HORRIBLE! I have tried everything! I use Very strong conditioner and it looks ok, but not great.

Dawn

Dawn, there's a discount beuty supply chain. Go there & get the Matrix shampoo & conditioner in the bright orange bottles. I checked & I know that they are in the Charlotte area. They also have the curling shampoos, which I have asked my hairdresser about & I was told absolutely not to use it (because the curl in my hair is like the deranged curl in David Letterman's hair......).

The last time some know-it-all hairdresser put layers in my hair, my shoulder length hair appeared to be chin length & at the top stood straight out. It was so bad that I thought that if we had a day of 98 degrees & 100% humidity (without rain) that my hair would go straight up like Don King's.

I keep it long & one length. If it starts looking too electrified, I can always pull it back in a barrette.

[ChessPie]

Years ago I used to go to a salon & the owner who had the same hair as me told me to do "no-poo" as in 'no shampoo'. A few years later she started the line "Curly Girl". Before you get totally grossed out, it's not bad at all. You have to wet your hair & condition it everyday (other it'll look "freeze dried"). She hardly ever shampoo-ed, but I do about every 2 weeks. What happens is that the weight from your oils will weigh down your hair naturally & really help eliminate frizz also. However you hair won't look greasy. Of course I still use product, but it doesn't seem to build up, or get smelly ever! Give it a try, you have nothing to lose & it's free!

[sharlalulu]

Yes ChessPie,

A friend of mine goes to a Curly hair salon in NYC and about a year ago, she gave me the same tip, no shampoo, you just scrub your head a bit and then condition every day, but no shampoo. I do once in a while, but not often. I know it seems weird, but works great and preserves the natural oils in your hair.

[sharlalulu]

I also discovered years ago that if I spray a very thin layer of hair spray, FrizzEase is good, on my wet hair after putting in gel that really keeps the frizz down.

[ChessPie]

Sharalulu-thanks for your posting. I'm glad not everyone thinks I'm gross