We have recently cut all of our hair off. It went from down to the middle of our back to just below our ears at its longest. We are, it must be said, so happy about this. We’re a little apprehensive because our hair slightly mirrors the Loud Talker on the other side of the cubby from us, and she is everything you would think a Soccer Mom would/could be. We know our haircut is much cooler, and we know it has the potential to be completely awesome and edgy. But what will do that? This is our question to you. We wash and condition our hair, and sometimes put a tiny bit of Aveda Anti-Humectant Pomade in it. That’s it. Wash and wear, right?
This does not work on our newly short hair, at least not yet. We need something that will give us a bit of texture without being stiff, and if the product is sticky, we’ll end up covered in it. We were bewildered by the amount of product at the store – we ended up buying some kind of surf hair putty. We’re not sure what it’s supposed to do. We somehow managed to get lotion in our hair, and that did the trick kind of. But we’re sure one of you must know!
Please tell us your favorite hair care product, and why! Our puffy head thanks you in advance!
-LB
For anti-puffy I like Frizz-ease. Even though my hair is perfectly straight and rarely frizzy.
For texture I have the stuff in the picture at the top of your post.
(but I think I’d fall into the soccer mom category even though I’ve never been to a soccer game)
I had my hair Halle Berry short for 9 years and am now letting it grow out.
THIS is by far the best I’ve ever used on my hair you rub it on your hands and then slightly spread on your hair. Those pastes or puddies in my opinion can make it look heavy and greasy if you don’t know what you’re doing which I didn’t for a few years, not to mention the hair gel years in the beginning eeeeeek! TIGI has a good stick also but at double the price of this product. It’s called Tancho and the smell will get you compliments from everyone since it smells of lavender. I discovered the product from an ex of mine and I’ve also used the Crew products. I think if you’re gonna have short hair what better resources than men products. But the Tancho stick by far is the best. I get mine from an Asian market in L.A. for a about $6 as opposed to the TIGI stick that costs $20 but I saw this link so maybe if you look around you might find it cheaper than this site.
http://www.ballbeauty.com/tancho_stick.htm
I still use Tancho when I flat iron my hair on top to settle the frizzes and on the edges. Good luck! : )
My chi flat iron. Other than that I use aveda foamolient when I need volume and their anti-friz serum when I need to de-frizz. But since I’ve gotten the flat iron, I realized that product alone is not enough to make my fine, wavy hair look as together as I want it to be. (I have a chin length bob with sideswept bangs, fyi)
I have very fine, stick-straight hair to just below my chin. Until now, I’ve never been able to style my hair in any way remotely resembling what it looks like when I leave the salon. But! Profound Beauty Atmosphere Desert Sand. Best stuff ever. My hair has texture and body but is not stiff, and it looks just fine when I let it air dry, awesome when I blow dry. It’s kind of expensive, but I highly suggest it. I uses 1 pump and quickly run my hands through my hair, putting product everywhere from the roots to ends (and rub the bit that’s still on my hands on the ends, so they get a bit more than the rest of my hair). It’s like no other product I’ve ever tried.
*The one problem is that only a few salons carry it, so you may have to look for it online. I got mine on ebay, but I know vosssalon.com also has it, and can ship it.
LB, I know how you feel: last week I went in for a trim and ended up asking for a cute, slightly-edgy almost-bob that another stylist in the salon had. My version came out nice, but not as cute or edgy, and my husband (who is very supportive of these things) said it looks suburban. Heavens. Anyway, my hair is very fine and can be worn curly (twisting/scrunching/diffusing) or straight (using full power on the dryer to blow the curl out). I learned about Profound Beauty from someone on this site, and some products work great for me (though others I’ve tried are way too heavy). Their two curling foams are good (one is better for coarse, thick curls, but works for me if I use it sparingly). I’ve also started using the Frieda Weather Works Weather Proofing for when I blow it out straight and it seems to help a little with the styling without weighing it down.
When I had hair that length my most favorite thing was the Jonathan stuff called Dirt. It smells like almonds (I think) and if I just took a little and warmed it up in my hands, it seemed like it would make my hair do almost anything. I also think that the Kiehl’s silk groom is really great for this sort of thing. It always makes my hair look at least a little better than it did before I used it.
Went long-to-shorter a year or so ago and, in order to conquer the fluffy helmet that appears when my clean hair dries, have adopted three approaches:
1-Rather than being all about a single product, i support product layering. It’s not as fussy as it sounds. I add a little texture all over, from back to front (like L’oreal Playball Beach Creme or Biolage shaping creme wax, aquage, etc.), I work in some curl definer. I don’t have curly hair, so i want what little wave i do have to stand out. Biolage curl defining creme is what I use. Does it so anything curly for me? Hard to say. Then I go with gel. Gel is totally junior high, yes. (Less so than mousse, though.) But a little at the roots and in front goes a long way to add interesting shape that lasts more than 5 minutes.
2-Always put the goop in when hair is wet. More can be added later. But the filth moves around more thoroughly on wet hair than on dry.
3-Wash as infrequently as possible. Possible use of shampoo spray needed for freshness. I am still nursing a KMS shampoo spray that is discontinued. Sad.
I made a list on ThisNext about filthy hair:
http://www.thisnext.com/list/44A483A9/Your-Hair-Looks-Filthy-Love-it
… Am slightly taken aback at having so much hair advice. But always love reading BunnyShop advice so wanted to share in case i can be of any help: a friend in hair need is a friend indeed.
I second the tancho stick (even though I have long hair). I first discovered it from a make-up artist who put it on the bottom of my hair, and made it look all sorts of sexy. It made my usually good girl straight boring long hair look mussed up and sexy in that mk olsen sort of way. So, not sure about short hair, but it works well on long.
I’ve worn my hair short for over 3 years and super-boy-short for almost 2 years now (cut it myself with clippers — so cheap!). The best thing ever was from Dove. It was light and wonderful and added texture without being pasty or sticky, but so feminine like Natalie Portman when she grew her hair out after V for Vendetta. And I had to use so little of it, the thing lasted almost six months.
Naturally it was discontinued.
I can’t remember the full name, but it came in a little pot/jar. Oh no, I’m losing what few memories I had of it. I remember it smelling inoffensively pleasant.
Since then my hair is a bit gel-crispy and edgy looking by necessity. Such malaise.
Oh yeah, my Dove eulogy isn’t helping anyone. I’ve also used the Garnier, but the putty type — definitely gummy. A last resort. Some kind of L’Oreal cream in a jar is all right, but it looks like that may be discontinued as well. I’ve tried a few Pureology strains, and Texture Twist will make your hair completely matte but Power Dressing is okay, if a little sticky. No enthusiastic recommendations from those, but I am damn sure trying everything advocated above.
someone else previously mentioned this, and i have to recommend it as well: jonathan’s dirt. it does smell like almonds (wonderful!!) and is a great consistently. it warms up in your hands fairly easily and it gives you texture and control without any chunking or greasing.
The absolute best stuff EVER for short hair is made by Sebastian and is called ‘Crude Clay’. It holds and separates like nothing else (and I have short curly hair so it’s a battle). Even if it starts to flatten out midday, just hike it up again and you’re good to go! There is one downside to it – tends to build up on your hair so break out the clarifying shampoo once a week. Definitely worth it because nothing else works as well. It comes in a large pot that will likely last a year.
The only thing I’ve found that depuffs my hair after the shower is putting a stocking cap on it for awhile. Products tend to get greasy or heavy and I’m just not very good with them and god forbid I should ever have to blowdry my hair or spend more time on it in general than the time it takes to put on a stocking cap. And it looks good after the cap comes off. Like, people-compliment-me-on-it good.
The only thing I’ve found that depuffs my hair after the shower is putting a stocking cap on it for awhile. Products tend to get greasy or heavy and I’m just not very good with them and god forbid I should ever have to blowdry my hair or spend more time on it in general than the time it takes to put on a stocking cap. And it looks good after the cap comes off. Like, people-compliment-me-on-it good.