Seeking advice for bulky looking, flat, thick, volumeless, oily hair that won’t hold a curl as a complete haircare beginner with hard water
After years of frustration, I resigned to hating my hair, and in the past two years I decided to give it a real try again. My hair is long, high density/thick, straight, and very prone to getting too oily, especially at the roots, after even a day without washing. I’m unsure on the thickness of my hair. I used to always think fine = thin but learning it doesn’t, I’m wondering if it’s fine and that’s the root of some of my issues? It’s been really hard for me to tell, so I included a photo of a strand of my hair if anyone has any input. I used to wash my hair daily but now I’m going more every other day. Even still, it’s a toss up if on day 2 my hair will look okay or if I’ll have to wear a headband or ponytail, because as much as dry shampoo doesn’t hurt, it also doesn’t help all that much. I have no color in my hair but got a clear gloss at my last haircut, which I did like and feel gave dimension color wise to my hair . I will list out my problem areas and my products, any advice appreciated, I am a TRUE beginner, I don’t even know how to describe my hair color LOL
1. Front pieces. I always hate how the front of my hair sits. I have tried bangs and that was an even bigger nightmare. I feel like it always separates in the front and looks greasy or looks super flat. My last hair cut I asked for longer face framing pieces and I like the look of them but it doesn’t help this problem for me in the way I hoped it might. I have a really hard time with volume, more on that next. I just don’t know how to get around this because I feel like it often automatically makes it a bad hair day!
2. Can’t get a curl or volume to hold. I have very straight hair naturally. I never straighten it and until recently I never even used heat whatsoever, I’d just air dry and brush. I recently got the Shark FlexStyle NextGen IonCurl and I love the blowdryer, but I’ve had a hard time giving myself the volume I wanted. I really desperately wanted to be able to give myself a bouncy blowout look, and I’ve been able to get SOME volume, but it has fallen out quite quickly. Curls have lasted under an hour. I haven’t used it many times yet so I’m sure it’s partially my technique as I’m learning, but I do feel I need a product for any shadow of a chance. I used Kenra Extra Firm 17 Mousse and already returned it. I was able to get some volume on some uses but overall no curl hold whatsoever and didn’t look how I wanted at all. Does some hair just not curl.. or am I just going about this wrong? I did use hair spray but I would love any product recommendations. My hair is just so flat, dull, and often frizzy at the top. I know my hair is long and would be willing to sacrifice some length if that’s the likely culprit.
3. As I said in intro, my hair gets greasy very quickly and I’m prone to dandruff. I currently use head and shoulders (I know it’s often frowned upon but I will get dandruff if not), Paul Mitchell Classic Awapuhi shampoo which was recommended to me by a hairdresser years ago, and recently introduced L’Oréal Elvive Hyaluron + Pure Rehydrating Conditioner. I never used to even use a conditioner because my water is very hard and has mineral problems and it wouldn’t ever wash out well enough and I’d be left with a film. This conditioner has been great and the lengths of my hair feel SO much softer already in only a few weeks of using it and it washes out really well. I’ve heard of chelating shampoos like Malibu C and am wondering if I need to work in something like that, and/or work in any other products, especially for hydrating. Like could excess oil be from a dry scalp, should I ultimately be hydrating my scalp more? Any product / shower haircare advice or recommendations would be appreciated.
4. Last but CERTAINLY not least: the Bulk of it all. I feel like my hair just always looks so bulky and it’s like a helmet. Last haircut I asked for a U-cut instead of straight across like I usually did, and my hairdresser recommended “invisible layers” for the bulkiness, which I said yes to, but I’m just not sure if it’s done much.? When I’ve done layers years ago they looked choppy with my straight hair so I’ve hesitated to try again. But I don’t know what to do about this. It makes me feel really insecure and I feel like I can’t get around it. Haircut advice? Styling advice? Anything at all?😭
Any kind advice would be appreciated!! I know I might’ve been a bit too thorough, but I didn’t want to miss anything because I really am such a total newbie in haircare.
Photos:
1&2: hair blowdried and brushed after a shower. Natural state of my hair without product or straightening etc.
3rd: a strand of my hair, looking for thoughts if it’s fine or medium thickness?
4&5: my hair on a day I used kenra mousse and hairspray and curled with shark after a few hours. Still significantly more texture than my natural hair but flat at top and certainly not curled
6: hair before most recent cut. shows pretty well what I mean when I say my hair feels bulky and too much
7: also before most recent cut, just figured ponytail would be helpful to see
8: most recent, used shark
9: a day I tried SO hard to give myself a blowout. at first it looked sort of bouncy but that was by the evening. I hated how it looked, felt so bulky, heavy, and dull