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Hair Types >> Oh So Fine >> too thin to leave DOWN?
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Message started by ellasongbird on Sep 3rd, 2006 at 6:20pm

Title: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by ellasongbird on Sep 3rd, 2006 at 6:20pm
I saw the "too thin to put up" thread and I thought I would start this thread because I have the opposite problem.

Basically - my hair is very unruly. The longer it gets, the more I have to battle with it to get it to hold some kind of nice shape. It is very fine, very thin, and has this tiny wave that is just enough to make it refuse to hang neatly. This is the reason I've given up on all my past hair-growing ventures...because once it reaches a certain length, I HAVE TO keep it in an updo constantly...it just looks a mess hanging down, no matter what I do. And it starts to get that thinned-out, ratty look, no matter what.

I've recently tried trimming it much more frequently to keep it neat (which does help slightly), layers (which just make it messier, sigh) and lately (gasp!) highlights, which definitely did more harm than good.

I'm about to get a blunt cut (not short, just off with the layers at the ends) and figure out some way to get rid of the highlights...but I already know from past experience that my hair STILL won't hang neatly. Past my shoulders seems to be the kiss of death - from that point on, it becomes almost impossible to shape nicely without extreme blow-drying and half a bottle of hairspray. Even then, the nice shape wears off as fast as the hairspray does.

It has actually gotten slightly thicker in the past couple of years because I wasn't pulling it tightly back constantly, but now that it is past shoulder-length again, I remember WHY I always used to wear it pulled back in the first place - because down looks bad.

I went to a Renaissance Fair recently and there was a hair braiding booth. To my extreme happiness, my hair was long enough for them to do the braids in this profile picture I've just added. But I realized, looking in a mirror later, that (1) I was SO GLAD to have my hair tucked away neatly in such a way that it wasn't getting messy and tangled, and (2) I truly looked better with my hair totally back and up.

I love long hair, and I know that one of the big things here is that long hair can be for anyone, but I'm starting to wonder if my hair is just too much of a mess to wear long. The one plus is all this is that I love these braids, and I like that I can have things like that done to my hair now...but I can't feel comfortable walking around with my hair loose, because it is so unruly. Is there anything I can do with this mess or will I just have to constantly keep it up if it is long?

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by bikerbraid on Sep 3rd, 2006 at 7:28pm
Sometimes hair just doesn't like a particular length and is difficult to work with.  Maybe that is where you are at now?

Maybe trying a french braid would help you through this rough period.  Half up styles can also be a nice compromise.

Or, just wear your hair up for a month or two and see if things improve.

Good luck.

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by Sakina on Sep 3rd, 2006 at 8:10pm
I totally agree with BB.

Maybe now would be a good time to learn some new braiding techniques?

What about a simple 3 strand (English) or, like BB suggested a French.

Perhaps you're in a phase.  Good thing about  phases is that they pass.  

Hang in there, Songbird!!

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by rhpetunia on Sep 4th, 2006 at 12:29am
How about curls?  Do you like sock curls?

I agree braids might help, too.

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by rhpetunia on Sep 4th, 2006 at 12:32am
I just had another thought -- maybe if it grows long enough the weight will straighten out the wave.  That happens to other people.  Mine is less wavy as it grows longer.

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by ellasongbird on Sep 4th, 2006 at 1:24am
Good suggestions...I'm going to start learning how to braid my hair. I would love to learn how to do the braids I have in my avatar pic...but I doubt that would be possible. I would like to learn to french braid my hair, though.

I just ran across an OLD post of mine (at least a year old) that was complaining about my hair being chaos...I was in the middle of growing it from super-short to shoulder length and it was a very weird and messy transition, as that usually is. In that post I was certain that once my hair was longer, it would hang more neatly. Obviously I either had a very bad memory or I was just looking back at my past long hair (also very messy) through rose-tinted glasses...

rhpetunia... what are sock curls?

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by bikerbraid on Sep 4th, 2006 at 12:21pm
Here's a description of how to sock roll your hair:

Sock Rolling

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by ellasongbird on Sep 8th, 2006 at 8:52pm
Oh cool! I'll have to try that.

I discovered today that in my particular case, the OPPOSITE of what I was always told is true: layers do NOT make my hair look thicker. In fact, when only the ends are layered (which was the case with me), my hair actually looks thinner.

A blunt cut absolutely DOES make my hair look thicker. The last four inches of my hair were layered and doing lots of messy things, so I got fed up and had those four inches chopped off to a blunt cut...SO much nicer on my hair.

I think that perhaps my hair actually IS a little thicker than it used to be, because I had it too short to pull back for a year and a half...but the visual illusion I've got here is definitely worth noting in case I am ever tempted to try layers again.

Of course, the stylist also blow-dried it, which made it look really nice...tomorrow will be the test when I wash it myself and then let it air dry...

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by bikerbraid on Sep 8th, 2006 at 9:43pm
My hair does not look good with layers - it is too thin.  A blunt cut gives it more thickness.

Good luck with your hair "the day after".  :D

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by ellasongbird on Sep 9th, 2006 at 11:28am
...I'm amazed.

My hair has never hung this nicely without the aid of a blowdryer.

What's up?  O_o  Whatever it is, I like it.

I think that (1) this cut is definitely the way to go for me, (2) my hair really must be a LITTLE thicker than it used to be because I've been nicer to it, and/or (3) it is getting much more manageable since I found a few conditioners that DON'T exacerbate the oiliness in my hair - therefore, I now DO condition my hair (never used to because I didn't want to be a greaseball).

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by Sakina on Sep 9th, 2006 at 2:49pm
Congratulations, Ella!!

I think its amazing how the right products for your hair make such a difference.  I'm so happy for you!!

Now, about practicing the braiding.  There's a lady named Karen Ribble who has a braiding business and she has books and DVDs that teach you how to braid other people's hair and another that teaches how to braid your own hair.  I think her website is www.braidedimage.com.

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by ellasongbird on Sep 9th, 2006 at 8:28pm
Sakina:

Thanks! I'll definitely check it out.

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by Babyfine on Sep 9th, 2006 at 8:50pm
I don't have a lot of good advice, but I can defineatly relate to this post.
My hair is extremly fine and it's rather wavy(2a).
It's at BSL with thin ends- all one length with shoulder length bangs.  It was orignally a chin length bob with bangs and heavily highlighted and I kept the bangs until about a year ago and have now grown them out.
My hair looks very unkempt and unmanagable at this length with the slight wave and so I use product(natural gels) for wave definition and to fight frizz.
If I comb it out it looks frizzy but if I don't it looks like stringy noodles.
My stylist has been begging me to let her cut in all over layers, but I know from experience they make my hair look even finer and wispier than it is(my pony circumference sits at 2")and scraggly.
the highlighting damaged my hair- but I let her put a nice brown semi-perm over it which looked great and did not damage my hair- bringing my ends back to my root color. (I've got grey coming in so now I'm going to have to decide what to do with that, but that's another post)
The problem is I would happily wear my hair up or braided every day(still can't do a french braid) but I'm married and dh likes my hair DOWN he doesn't like my updos at all.  When we married my hair was permed, layered in front and shoulder length, and that's how he likes it.
I wear a french twist every day, or a bun. My braids are thin and I don't like them on me.,  I've been growing my hair since May of 04 but it's still only BSL because I've been trimming 1/2" every other month to get rid of the old damaged highlighted hair and to thicken up the ends. I do like your hair in your avatar- it looks great! I've always wanted to go to a Ren Faire to get it braided, too.
I'd like to stay the course and try to get it to waist(if it will grow that far) to see if I really like it that long.
I've thought about cutting bangs back in to soften my updo's, but that may decrease my pony circumference as well.
Any way, I can relate! I say in your case- keep growing, you never know if you will like it very long or not unless you try it once!
I'm also a fan of blunt cuts- my hair hangs much better that way.  the thing I don't like about layers is they grow out - and I'm constantly having to get them trimmed.  
I couldn't live without conditioner, but I'm still looking for the holy grail product gives me volume and moisture.

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by ellasongbird on Sep 9th, 2006 at 11:27pm
Babyfine,

I'm with you about bangs...the last time I had bangs I was about 14. I couldn't stand them because (1) they got wavier because they were so short, and they were VERY uncooperative then, and (2) I had to cut a LOT of my hair into bangs to make the bangs look thick enough to look nice. I felt like I was stealing from the rest of my hair just to have thicker bangs. And it's not like I have a lot of hair to go around to begin with!

I don't know if you've tried either of these, but my hair responds the most nicely to either Garnier Fructis or Nature's Gate...I've used the "for fine or oily hair" and, more recently, "for color-treated hair" products from both lines and they leave my hair very soft and shiny, NOT greasy, and with a little more volume as well. I LOVE Garnier Fructis's deep conditioner...deep conditioner is one product I NEVER used to touch, for ANY reason, for fear of ending up with gross and slimy hair, but this one doesn't leave my hair oily at all...just soft, soft, soft. I use it about once a week now that I have the coloring damage to contend with and it really helps.

Do the waves make your hair look any thicker? I've wondered before whether trying to increase the waves in my hair would make it look thicker....of course, my hair isn't as wavy to begin with as yours. I go toward trying to totally get rid of the wave because that's the path of least resistance for my hair.  :P  But I've toyed with the idea of trying to make it wavier, just as an experiment...what products do you use?

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by Babyfine on Sep 10th, 2006 at 6:17pm
Ella- Yes, I am grateful for my waves- they make my hair look much more than it really is.   My hair has alos gotten wavier with better treatment.
I do use the Garnier leave in but I'll have to try your other suggestions.
Right now I can get away with using some heavier products on my hair fromthe ears down due to the fact that it's color treated froim there.

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by longhair662005 on Sep 15th, 2006 at 3:26am
I keep my ends moist and put it up and place a phony pony on top to save it from wear and tear.

Title: Re: too thin to leave DOWN?
Post by bikerbraid on Sep 15th, 2006 at 11:01am
Welcome Longhair662005!  

Using a hairpiece to augument your own hair is a great idea, especially for those with thin hair.  Do you have a good source for your ponytails?

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