Ted Cutezynski

Long wavy/curly hair havers: halp?

My hair is coarse and naturally curly. My mom had stick-straight hair and didn't really know how to teach. me how to take care of mine when I was younger. I always thought my hair was straight and frizzy. Well, it's curly and frizzy, wavy on its worst days, a few tendrils on its best.

I had to unlearn a lot, like how to not wash it every day, etc. I dry it with microfiber, sleep on satin-ish pillow cases and wear it up at night. I do not heat style at all after decades of heat-straightening. While I am seeing bette results, I struggle with proper curl care because my brain doesn't always give me enough oomph every day to properly maintain.

Any tips or tricks are extremely appreciated. Here is a photo with no curl care, just air dry. Sorry it looks weird, I cropped out a tattoo on my arm.

Dec 5, 2022 at 6:37amWeb
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
Oddly enough, the best my hair has looked this year was in May when I had Covid, which is extremely rude.
Show thread⛧🏳️‍⚧️June🏳️‍⚧️⛧Dec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer your hair is very pretty imo I have no tips bc I’m a straight hair haver, but I do have compliments
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@FawnOverFun Aw, thank you! I joke that I look like a tumbleweed, which I tend to, but I'm fine with that. I am just worried about hair health and retention at this point!
Show threadHigh Priestess 💎Dec 5, 2022

@shrugdealer My partner has very curly hair and I have wavy hair, my best advice to you is to use some low or no foam shampoo and to condition it deeply. You might know this already, but when you comb it post shower use a wide tooth comb, and that using a brush on it will make it more frizzy.

I hope other folks have more helpful tips 🙏

Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@gem_adler Thank you! I appreciate it! low-foam is a good/new idea I will try on wash days! I do need to use the comb more than the wet brush, I get really impatient!
Show thread͏͏͏͏͏͏⠀⠀⠀ ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏Dec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer lots of conditioner and hair oil and shea butter
Show thread͏͏͏͏͏͏⠀⠀⠀ ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏Dec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer also ur pretty
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@oooh_scary Aw, thank you!
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@oooh_scary Thank you! Like, straight shea butter or styling items with it as an ingredient? I have tried creams and leaven's with it as an ingredient and it was almost too heavy, but I don't think I used washout products with it, just after wash ones, which is probable the problem.
Show thread͏͏͏͏͏͏⠀⠀⠀ ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏Dec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer I use straight stuff myself. sorry I'm not really an expert I just know how I personally do it
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@oooh_scary I am glad for the input!
Show threadArielDec 5, 2022

@shrugdealer All of what you said, and also avoid using shampoos that contain sulfates (personally I forgo it altogether, ymmv) and use heaps of conditioner on the days you do wash it. I also apply gel on wash days (mousse works too).

I can't really help with the executive dysfunction though, the only reason I can keep this shit up this consistently is because not doing it gives me sensory issues.

Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@Walk_blesseD Oooh, mousse! Thanks! Yeah, there are days when I can rinse it and that is all I can bring myself to do. Then it looks awful and I get all upset, which doesn't help at all.
Show threaddaturaDec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer i’m not a curly hair girl but this helps for everyone. deep conditioner is a big one. and leave in as well. wearing a bonnet to sleep. i see with girls that have curly hair that they blow dry their hair with a diffuser.
there’s always discourse on whether oil is good for ur hair or not. i myself oil my hair before i wash it. the night before. coconut oil.
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@datura Thank you! I do have a bonnet that I should use more. I have used coconut oil in the past, but I have an issue if I don't have it in me to thoroughly rinse. I also think I might have used too much in the past. I should give it a go again.
Show threaddaturaDec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer do you happen to kno ur curl pattern cause then that can tell u more about how to care for it. and i get that about rinsing it! getting a removable shower head was the best thing cause then i was able to rly get in there. and as someone previously mentioned, sulfate free. more natural shampoos. perhaps u have fine hair so nothing too heavy. i mean see what works out for u. i see girls who once they care for their waves they find out later that they have a more tighter curl type and their previous hair care routine was affecting it.
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@datura I don't know my curl pattern, really; various days it looks different and I also have parts of my head that seem to have straighter areas than others. I could definitely benefit from a more natural shampoo.
Show threaddaturaDec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer see if scrunching ur hair up while using the diffuser can enhance curls a bit. if u want to style it to have more curl, flexi rods are so nice to use. honestly the best shampoos i’ve ever used were always from small business
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@datura I did reply to my original post with another photo of how it can look.
Show threadAnarcho Feline Dec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer keep it, your hairy matches your beauty after all.
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@Anogato Aw, thank you!
Show threadAnarcho Feline Dec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer *hair
Show threadRegensbloggerinDec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer There's no one way to care for curly/wavy hair. It's pure trial and error. Some swear by microfiber towels, some insist that only an old t-shirt works. Some strictly avoid heat tools, others will defend their diffuser to the death. When looking for curly/wavy advice online, try things with the products and tools you already have or can access, take what works and leave the rest. First, find a stylist who specializes in curls/waves and get advice on cuts and care for your texture.
Show threadRegensbloggerinDec 5, 2022

@shrugdealer This video might be a good place to start. She's mostly a beauty guru, but her hair is really similar to mine (and mine looks a bit like yours) and she's got a bit of a hybrid technique for styling it. Don't worry too much about her products, Her way of styling was what I found most useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9u7Bu4hmfM&list=PLizpYXWzzy0VEo046GPB41GksYn7-FmmK&index=1

HOW TO STYLE A WOLF CUT FOR MAXIMUM VOLUME AND TEXTURE!! LONG SHAG HAIRCUT WITH SHORT CURTAIN BANGS

YouTube
Show threadthat weird queer (they/them)Dec 5, 2022
@shrugdealer — a lot of these tips in the comments are well meaning but will likely not get you the results you want. Im in the exact boat as you; my moms got stick straight hair and only taught me how to straighten mine out. My hair looks very similar.
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Make sure you’re clarifying at least once a month (up to once every 2 weeks); even without product, our hair picks up stuff from the air over time. You're likely in need of a clarifying wash if you’ve been doing sulfate free/low/no ‘poo and overmoisturized if you’ve been doing heavy conditioners. You likely don’t need any oils either. You probably need more protein. Curly Girl gives initially good results for hair like ours but over time, will lead to limping body.
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I’ve been having decent results using a protein shampoo for my once a week (washing every other or every three days would probably be better for my scalp, but mental health), and then clarifying every other or every three washes. Ive been using the Aussie Moist conditioner and Ive liked it. For styling, I don’t use a lot of product, but I have a lightweight foam for keeping things from frizzing (applied praying hands with wet hair) and Ive heard nothing but good things about the Aussie Instant Freeze Gel (scrunch out the crunch).
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Best of luck!
Show threadTed CutezynskiDec 5, 2022
@greyson Thank you!