Hair refuses to hold curl even after

[Maudelynn]

My hair is just not holding curl, even after a loose perm. I have tried everything. Wet set under a hooded dryer, wet set while sleeping, hot sticks, curling irons then pinned... nothing works.

Is there any such thing as hair that just won't hold curl?? It used to but, no more


Thanks for any advice!

 

[Nora]

How odd... When I started pin curling I had been trying to grow my hair really, really long, and thus treated it very, very carefully. At first it dropped the curl in just a few hours, but as it got more and more damaged the curl lasted longer...

With a perm it should, by that logic, stay in for days... Have you tried setting lotions? (Alcohol)

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

I have naturally curly hair so it holds curl like a fat man holds a chicken wing so not sure how much help I can be to you. However, at one point it was not holding curl and then I realized that it was because my hair was over-conditioned. I was using so much conditioner...washing it with conditioner as well as lots of leave in conditioner that it just wouldn't hold a curl. I corrected that by cutting back on the use of conditioner and doing a series of protein treatments. So try some protein treatments, which could something as simple as using an egg, and see if you notice a difference.

 

[Maudelynn]

Thank you both!
I will look into protein treatments right away! I probably do over condition as I use a Keratin shampoo and a conditioner. I thought it was needed due to the perm!!

 

[MarieAnne]

I second CaramelSmoothie's recommendation. My hair holds a set better if I use less conditioner. I think heavy conditioning is only necessary if hair is washed frequently. There are also several recipes on the internet for flax seed setting lotion. It's high in protein and does a great job. I haven't used Lottabody in years!

 

[~Kate~]

Have you tried misting your hair lightly with a bit of lemon juice? I normally mix in a couple tablespoons of lemon juice into my spray bottle and then mist my head after putting in foam rollers. I get a much better hold if I use the lemon, as the acid helps set the curl. It might be drying if used too often or too strong, but it's always given me great results.

 

[AvavanBlythe]

Over-conditioning/moisturizing does in fact make your hair less likely or even impossible to hold curls. I ran into this issue after trying to put moisture back into my hair. You only need a hair mask roughly once a week. You need to thoroughly wash your hair afterward. The best way to judge the feel of the hair is for it to feel light, satiny, and not clump together. If it's too dry, you'll feel very tiny bumps when running your fingers down the length. It'll conduct static very well if you use a plastic brush or comb. If it's too conditioned, it'll feel a bit greasy and won't style anything beyond a ponytail.

To keep moisture in my hair, I barely put a few drops of sweet almond oil and coconut oil in my palm. Jojoba oil is lovely if you can afford it. I even splash some water in my palm, rub it all over both palms, and quickly run it through my hair. I find the water helps spread the oil more evenly. I use a boar bristle brush to further spread it. I do this in the morning or at night, on the days I'm not setting my hair for curls, and just after I've washed my hair. It doesn't overload my strands and gets absorbed throughout the day or night. If you need to go out, I suggest a loose braid or ponytail, and wear a light knit cap like a snood. If at night, hopefully you wear a sleeping cap. Oils, sebum, or hair product get on your pillow and I try to keep my face clear of that.

Once you find that balance in moisture and conditioning, try setting the curls, then spray it damp. I know that many like to promote setting damp hair, but I have longer hair that refuses to dry when curled up in a set.

I agree with the flaxseed as well, but you need to store it in an air tight container, and use it quickly. It'll stink if you create too much gel and never get to use all of it. You also need to really slather it on, so you may not like flaxseed gel. Aloe vera gel is one I've heard LHC-ers like to use as a setting gel.

 

[Maudelynn]

Hi all,
Thank you so very much for all the help!! I have tried many of the suggestions and, sadly, no difference. I now constantly look like Roseanne Rosannadanna... I have set my hair on hot sticks literally 4 times today and now I just have a frizzy, nearly straight mess all over except just in the bottom back. It looks like I had curl and combed it out and left it. So sad, I don't even want to leave my house.

 

[TheSacredFemme]

I just watched this tutorial on rag rollers and thought back to this thread since the person demonstrating it mentioned it would be a good method for hair that refuses to hold curl or is quite long. Perhaps this is worth a go? I bet your hair needs a rest from heat after all that hot sticking yesterday!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4sHJQa6V7M

 

[Gracie Lee]

My curls used to fall out as soon as I brushed my hair, the trick for me was finding the right setting lotion. I use Aveda's flax seed and aloe gel full strength on a wet set with pretty much any type of rollers or curls with great results (as long as my hair is completely dry, of course). You might try playing around with a few different brands to see what works for you.

 

[AvavanBlythe]

Hi all,
Thank you so very much for all the help!! I have tried many of the suggestions and, sadly, no difference. I now constantly look like Roseanne Rosannadanna... I have set my hair on hot sticks literally 4 times today and now I just have a frizzy, nearly straight mess all over except just in the bottom back. It looks like I had curl and combed it out and left it. So sad, I don't even want to leave my house.

What does your hair feel like just before you try setting it? Describe the texture, how the strands behave with each other, etc. It may sound odd, but it'll let me know what's going on with your hair. I used to think my hair would never hold a curl properly all day, but I worked it out after all.

On the other hand, it may be best for you to look up a hair specialist. That person can work with you in person to understand your hair type and what you may need to change in hair care method, diet, etc.

Setting lotions simply help your hair become mold-able. Using pinned curls or curlers are only methods of setting your hair. They won't make a difference in keeping a curl if the pH balance of your hair is upset.

 

[sheeplady]

Do you have a vintage cut?

I found a middy really helped my hair to curl.

On a related note (not sure if this helps) but I have "naturally" curly hair because of being a cancer survivor (side effect of chemo for a couple of years after treatment). My hair, if over conditioned, falls out of curls. Also, if it's dirty, it goes straight. If I let it get split ends, it stops curling. If I let it grow out of a middy shape, it's less curly.

 

[Maudelynn]

Hi! My hair is super fine and super soft. Loads of it but you can barely see each individual hair. Think spiderweb texture

 

[vintagewise]

If your hair isn't holding a curl due to over-conditioning, an apple cider vinegar treatment should help. It's really good for removing product build-up from hair which comes from overconditiong and from using styling products that are silicone-based (with dimethicone or other --cone ingredients). The silicone coats the hair shaft and the slickness and weight of it builds up and will keep your styling products from working as well and most certainly keep your hair from holding a proper curl, especially if it has a super-fine, gossamer soft texture.

I like to do a vinegar rinse every 3-4 weeks or so...the best stuff I think is the raw unprocessed vinegar with the 'mother ' in it. I pour it on straight and let it sit 15 minutes or so and then rinse, but you may want to try diluting it 1/2 vinegar to 1/2 water if it's your 1st time. The vinegar smell is really strong at first but not very noticeable after your hair dries. And it will make your hair super shiny too!

Also maybe keep your hot sticks in longer. Those are my favorite set method if I haven't done a wet set the night before. No other hot curler/roller lasts as long, in my experience. Keeping the hot sticks in for at least an hour really gives me a good crazy curl to work with ...it takes a little longer to brush out and smooth and shape into place, but I can brush and brush without losing the curl. Maybe that will help too? ♥

 

[AvavanBlythe]

VintageWise: I've done this myself! For several months, I was doing a raw honey rinse followed by ACV rinse. While any vinegar clarifies, we're still not sure which way her pH balance should go, though it sounds like she needs it to be more on the dry side of the spectrum at this point.

With her fine hair, I don't suggest any heat. Her hair sounds very fragile. Heat would only further damage it. She's better off not using any heat, and seeing if her hair growth shows healthier cuticles and a stronger shaft at the roots. Hot sticks, hot curlers, and curling irons can practically fry your cuticles, especially if they're already damaged. She said she's already tried everything, including hot curlers a few times a day, and that didn't work.

 

[Maudelynn]

Thanks again, all! I solved my issues using Dudely Q's setting lotion and a wet set under a hooded dryer. It is just flat out amazing It lasts 3 or 4 days so I a m very pleased. Thanks again, so much for, taking the time to answer me.
xo xo

 

[AvavanBlythe]

This is what I get for not checking my subbed threads. I'm so glad you found what works for you! I knew you could do it!

 

[sweetdreams102]

Resurrecting an old thread to ask:

I've been attempting to curl my hair with sponge rollers and Lottabody, which is working mostly fine except that I can't get the middle of the curl to dry properly and so the curl falls out halfway through the day. I've just been spraying dry or nearly-dry hair with the diluted Lottabody, so it's not super wet. Is this the kind of thing I can fix by just using a hair dryer to finish any damp spots in the morning, or should I be looking at using less water or smaller sections of hair or something like that?

 

[sheeplady]

I find that Lotta body is not a good setting lotion for me. My hair tends to fall throughout the day. However, I have better luck if I spray with a volumnizing hairspray before I put each section into a curler.

This may help you, because I notice my hair dries faster (I think due to the alcohol in the hairspray). You will need to brush it out more.

Also, I'd try smaller sections. I have to leave my curlers in 12 hours (do them as soon as I can when i get home). I also take out my curlers and let my hair just stay that way for an hour or so before I brush out. Oftentimes I do the brushing out after my commute and right before work.

 

[Grant Fan]

Like a few of the other ladies I have naturally curly hair. That being said I don't use my natural curls when I do vintage hair. I definately have had times where my artificial curls fall out. A few things I have noticed that cause it. If I run the curling iron over my hair too many times before curling it, it will nearly always fall straightish, like it has gotten confused and doesn't know what to do so it just gives up. Then if it is too weighed down with conditioner, or I didn't wash it all out it just won't hold. If it is overly dry or damaged ( lots of split ends) it won't do right, not even when it is naturally curly. Also I live in central California and the water is super hard so I do weekly protein treatments, or it gets too tried out. When we lived in Virginia it was an even 2 or 3 week thing. And because you have gotten your hair permed I think you may need more moisture. Good luck and I hope all that info helped