What about us naturally curly girls?

[Marzena]

What a lot of very useful information. I have recognised so many familiar features (if hair has features?)! Congrats on battling successfully so many adverse factors.May your hair grow and curl!

 

[Clabbergirl]

Vavavoom, welcome to the forums, and thank you for the great information. I have similar curls to yours. I want to know how you use velcro rollers without having a big tangled mess once your hair is dry? I tried them long ago while my hair was dry (what a knotted joke that was! It was like twisting a hairbrush in my hair and then giving it a good yank), and then again while damp. Even damp to dry, I had frizz as soon as I started taking the rollers out. The rolls looks smooth until I started taking them out. It was as if the cuticle had stuck to the velcro hooks - as if my hair had become the opposing side of a velcro strap. It was horrible. How do you avoid this?

 

[vavavoom]

Clabbergirl, I think that may be your problem. I never use velcro roller unless my hair is wet, not damp, wet.

Velcro rollers are just like boar bristle brushes, technically a curlygirl should never brush out her curls when they're dry because that can cause breakage and frizz. Curly hair is more delicate and should only be brushed when wet and still malleable.

However, since we're looking for vintage styles that require brushing, what we have to do is help coax the hair into a straighter strand *before* we brush it.

As for taking them out, I pull out the pin and unroll in a normal fashion. If I feel hairs getting caught, I will slide my fingers down the hair section as I unroll it, in a similar manner to holding the hair when you brush out and form curls. I don't pull rollers out out, I unroll.

Another tip might be to make sure that you are brushing the wet hair through with the roller. You don't place the roller at the end up the hair section and just roll it up like a curling iron. You place the roller at the base of your section and pull it up/down/back/whatever against the hair "brushing" it all the way to the end. It might take a couple go-throughs to make sure all the strands are moving in the same direction. That will help stop the hair from lying diagonally on the roller which will cause pulls and snags when unrolling. You want all the strands to be parallel to each other and straight. Brushing will help accomplish that.

Am I answering your questions? I may try to take pictures after my next shower.

 

[Black Dahlia]

Hi ladies,

I too have naturally very curly & thick hair. No frizz problem when I set it, wet or with hot rollers. However, when I let it air dry...frizz city!

I've tried most of the lotions and potions out there and nothing seems to really work. I don't brush my curls, just use a wide tooth comb. Right now I'm trying Moroccan Oil. I've heard a little bit of mousse works, may try that again!

X
BD

 

[Marzena]

Clabbergirl, I think that may be your problem. I never use velcro roller unless my hair is wet, not damp, wet.

Velcro rollers are just like boar bristle brushes, technically a curlygirl should never brush out her curls when they're dry because that can cause breakage and frizz. Curly hair is more delicate and should only be brushed when wet and still malleable.

However, since we're looking for vintage styles that require brushing, what we have to do is help coax the hair into a straighter strand *before* we brush it.

As for taking them out, I pull out the pin and unroll in a normal fashion. If I feel hairs getting caught, I will slide my fingers down the hair section as I unroll it, in a similar manner to holding the hair when you brush out and form curls. I don't pull rollers out out, I unroll.

Another tip might be to make sure that you are brushing the wet hair through with the roller. You don't place the roller at the end up the hair section and just roll it up like a curling iron. You place the roller at the base of your section and pull it up/down/back/whatever against the hair "brushing" it all the way to the end. It might take a couple go-throughs to make sure all the strands are moving in the same direction. That will help stop the hair from lying diagonally on the roller which will cause pulls and snags when unrolling. You want all the strands to be parallel to each other and straight. Brushing will help accomplish that.

Am I answering your questions? I may try to take pictures after my next shower.

This is so helpful, thank you so much for writing in such detail.

 

[Clabbergirl]

Clabbergirl, I think that may be your problem. I never use velcro roller unless my hair is wet, not damp, wet.

Velcro rollers are just like boar bristle brushes, technically a curlygirl should never brush out her curls when they're dry because that can cause breakage and frizz. Curly hair is more delicate and should only be brushed when wet and still malleable.

However, since we're looking for vintage styles that require brushing, what we have to do is help coax the hair into a straighter strand *before* we brush it.

As for taking them out, I pull out the pin and unroll in a normal fashion. If I feel hairs getting caught, I will slide my fingers down the hair section as I unroll it, in a similar manner to holding the hair when you brush out and form curls. I don't pull rollers out out, I unroll.

Another tip might be to make sure that you are brushing the wet hair through with the roller. You don't place the roller at the end up the hair section and just roll it up like a curling iron. You place the roller at the base of your section and pull it up/down/back/whatever against the hair "brushing" it all the way to the end. It might take a couple go-throughs to make sure all the strands are moving in the same direction. That will help stop the hair from lying diagonally on the roller which will cause pulls and snags when unrolling. You want all the strands to be parallel to each other and straight. Brushing will help accomplish that.

Am I answering your questions? I may try to take pictures after my next shower.

This is very helpful, thank you. When I used them, I rolled from the bottom up, not like you've described here. I'm terrible with settings and rollers - completely missing the boat when most girls learn how to do this as a girl/teen. My friends all had straight hair and wanted curls, I had nearly an afro until it finally grew down instead of out and envied them all. I have given away a lot of my velcro rollers, but I may try putting a few in the next time I do a set. Those I have do not have metal cores, however. I'm afraid setting them while wet will take 2 days to dry though. Still looking for a hooded dryer or extension for my blow dryer. Again, though, thanks for the detailed response! I'd love to see your photos of it when you get a chance.

 

[FraeuleinBerlin]

Have any of you tried coconut oil, jojoba oil or olive oil treatments? I do them regularly and really think they help improve the condition of my hair! I actually buy pretty much all my products in specialised afro hair shops when I'm in England. They have EVERYTHING, including a giant selection of pomade, and it's about three times cheaper than the regular shop I'd go to!

 

[Marzena]

FrauleinBerlin! I have only just noticed that your signature is a quotation from Master and Margarita and am fascinated. How did you come to know and like this book? In my country this is practically a cult novel but none of the English or American people I ever tried to interest in it survived beyond the first thirty pages or so.

BTW I am sorry if that is considered an inadmissible off topic on my part, but I am not sure if I even can send private messages? If I erred, apologies.

 

[FraeuleinBerlin]

I'll send you a private message!

 

[Clabbergirl]

Have any of you tried coconut oil, jojoba oil or olive oil treatments? I do them regularly and really think they help improve the condition of my hair! I actually buy pretty much all my products in specialised afro hair shops when I'm in England. They have EVERYTHING, including a giant selection of pomade, and it's about three times cheaper than the regular shop I'd go to!

I do also use coconut oil for a deep treatment and love it. It is the only oil that can actually penetrate the hair to improve it. It helps keep frizz down, and I do sometimes buy things from the ethnic section. They have great solutions for curly hair.

 

[fortworthgal]

I'm new to this thread and not sure I really belong. My hair isn't super curly, and does not have tight curls. It is naturally very wavy and has some curls, and I have a tendency to frizz. My hair is also extremely coarse and thick.

One thing I've found that has worked miracles for me is Cantu shea butter leave-in. A huge tub is around $5 at Walgreens or Wal-Mart. I believe you can find it in the "ethnic" hair section. I put about a dime-sized amount & work it through my hair while still damp, and leave it in. It really helps with frizz, and adds shine. It can be a little heavy, but that also helps weigh my hair down somewhat, so I don't have a giant frizzy poofball. lol

I also really like the One 'n Only Argan Oil line from Sally Beauty (again, I believe this is an "ethnic" line). It is sulfate free and amazingly moisturizing. While using it, I had zero frizz and amazing shine.

I just wanted to recommend looking in that haircare section, I have found that a lot of products intended for ethnic hair seem to work really well on mine.

 

[crwritt]

I'm new to this thread and not sure I really belong. My hair isn't super curly, and does not have tight curls. It is naturally very wavy and has some curls, and I have a tendency to frizz. My hair is also extremely coarse and thick.

One thing I've found that has worked miracles for me is Cantu shea butter leave-in. A huge tub is around $5 at Walgreens or Wal-Mart. I believe you can find it in the "ethnic" hair section. I put about a dime-sized amount & work it through my hair while still damp, and leave it in. It really helps with frizz, and adds shine. It can be a little heavy, but that also helps weigh my hair down somewhat, so I don't have a giant frizzy poofball. lol

I also really like the One 'n Only Argan Oil line from Sally Beauty (again, I believe this is an "ethnic" line). It is sulfate free and amazingly moisturizing. While using it, I had zero frizz and amazing shine.

I just wanted to recommend looking in that haircare section, I have found that a lot of products intended for ethnic hair seem to work really well on mine.

Hi FWG I'm just now trying the Cantu Shea butter you suggested. I'm under the dryer right now and it seems to be working well, drying smoothly without frizz. Usually I use a leave in and a gel, but this seems to do the trick on its own. It does have
one 'cone ingredient, which put me off at first. I have been using Shea Moisture Curl enhancing Smoothie as a leave in, and highly recommend it. You can find it at Walgreen's.Over that, I layer a little Ecostyler Gel with Argan Oil.From Sally's.I recommend that combo for anyone with thick, coarse, wavy hair like mine, if you want to avoid the 'cones.

 

[fortworthgal]

I hope the Cantu works for you! My hair absolutely *loves* 'cones, although I know many people don't like them.

 

[Clabbergirl]

Hi FWG I'm just now trying the Cantu Shea butter you suggested. I'm under the dryer right now and it seems to be working well, drying smoothly without frizz. Usually I use a leave in and a gel, but this seems to do the trick on its own. It does have
one 'cone ingredient, which put me off at first. I have been using Shea Moisture Curl enhancing Smoothie as a leave in, and highly recommend it. You can find it at Walgreen's.Over that, I layer a little Ecostyler Gel with Argan Oil.From Sally's.I recommend that combo for anyone with thick, coarse, wavy hair like mine, if you want to avoid the 'cones.

I opted to buy the Cantu 'strengthening' product that didn't have the 'cones in it, but now I'm wondering if maybe I chose wrong. I have this brand's pomade that my curls love, but it seemed like frequent use caused build-up (it contains petroleum) so that I was clarifying my hair a lot and undoing all the no 'poo moisturization I'd been working on. Please do give us an update on this leave-in.

 

[Jo Larke]

When I put my curly hair in pin curls, it really doesn't look all that different than from when I go natural. The only real difference is the thickness of the curls; I can do itsy bitsy ringlets or more of a wavy look. When I decide not to use pin curls, I put Catwalk Curls Rock (from the Curlesque line) cream in my hair, work it through, and diffuse it with my blow dryer's diffuser attachment. That usually tames it for me!

 

[crwritt]

I opted to buy the Cantu 'strengthening' product that didn't have the 'cones in it, but now I'm wondering if maybe I chose wrong. I have this brand's pomade that my curls love, but it seemed like frequent use caused build-up (it contains petroleum) so that I was clarifying my hair a lot and undoing all the no 'poo moisturization I'd been working on. Please do give us an update on this leave-in.

I tried the Cantu a few times, I must not have been wild about it, since I returned it to Walgreen's. Still using my Shea Moisture Coconut& Hibiscus shampoo and Curl enhancing smoothie, with the Ecostyler gel.

 

[Clabbergirl]

When I put my curly hair in pin curls, it really doesn't look all that different than from when I go natural. The only real difference is the thickness of the curls; I can do itsy bitsy ringlets or more of a wavy look. When I decide not to use pin curls, I put Catwalk Curls Rock (from the Curlesque line) cream in my hair, work it through, and diffuse it with my blow dryer's diffuser attachment. That usually tames it for me!

I've really struggled with pin curls, and as I look back, I think part of it is using too small of a section of hair to roll. I would end up with such tight kinks, so much frizz, and as you said, not that much different from my natural curl pattern - the only difference being a round barrel-like curl instead of a long, Botticelli-like spiral. The last time or two that I spot pin curled my hair, I used much bigger sections of hair and got a more retro curl.

One thing I've noticed when using Cantu is that oddly, my hair seems to dry much faster with it in. I always air-dry when wearing my hair naturally, and my whole head is dry within 2 hours. When I use other curl creams or even my glycerin/aloe concoction - it's 4+ hours before my curls air dry. I like the curl formation I get when using this, but it doesn't have much hold. I don't need much for a natural style though.

 

[swinggal]

You girls might be interested in my latest blog. Regarding curls and waves and how finger waves were actually invented to tame waves and make them look smoother. You have the advantage, you just to relax the curls/waves you have a bit then sculpt the finger waves into it.

http://www.swingfashionista.com/2012/01/1930s-hair-styles/

 

[Mrs Chaddsley_Corbett]

\

The Old Perm machines virtually "Cooked" a Frizzy Curl into the Hair, there was no option but to tame it with a mixture of Pin-curls and Finger Waves

 

[Emily the Storyteller]

\

The Old Perm machines virtually "Cooked" a Frizzy Curl into the Hair, there was no option but to tame it with a mixture of Pin-curls and Finger Waves

That looks insane! I shudder to think what that would do to your hair

Swinggal, that's really interesting. I've tried before now to wave my hair from its natural state (ringlets underneath, wavy at the sides and frizzyish at the front :eusa_doh, but to no avail. Pincurling first is the way to go for me unfortunately