BTW, I should say before I start that I love the new layout. Very cool!

I'm starting to reach a point where I'm really not sure about growing my hair out anymore. It's a few inches past my shoulders, and I'm trying to resist the impulse to put it in a ponytail and hairspray it down every single day - but it just DOES NOT HANG NICELY. When I leave it down it looks a mess. Period.

I don't even know how to describe what, exactly, is bugging me so much about it, because it's not a disaster area. It's healthy, it's in nice condition - I just feel like I wash it, comb it out, let it air dry, and it looks fabulous...for about an hour. But it's so fine that all these little tiny waves and flyaways reappear, the instant a breeze goes by. The only way I know to set it well is with a hairdryer, and even that doesn't hold for very long.

I suppose I COULD wear my hair pulled back all the time...but that was certainly not the idea when I was growing it out. And my hair is just SO incredibly fine that it can't be trusted to hang loose. It's in great condition, but I just don't seem to have the kind of hair that holds any shape at all.

Is there some product that will make my hair stay in a nicer shape? The truth is that it doesn't even hang nicely in a ponytail...the part that is still hanging loose does the same thing when I pull it back. Flyaways pop out everywhere and it looks messy. A braid is starting to seem like my only option for a hairstyle...

Aww, Ella, I'm sorry you're having a tough time with your hair.  Maybe some products for wavy/curly hair would help you.  Check out www.ouidad.com's website-they'll explain about how hair that lacks internal weight will frizz & fly away.  If I had understood that when my hair was just blelow shoulder level I would not have put layers in.  

Ouidad has some styling products, the Quench one I'm thinking of in particular might help-even if you don't use the Quench shampoo & conditioner.  Be sure to get your free 2oz. of Deep Treatment and give it a try.  It made a tremendous difference in my hair, which is wavy and medium texture.

Good Luck and don't give up!!!

Be patient.  One thing I found was that there were times I would become totally frustrated with my hair.  Then (usually due to procrastination), I would discover my hair would once again cooperate.  Your hair may just need a tad more length to again become manageable.  A small change in your routine might also help out.  Don't give up - not yet!