Thin/thick straight hair

[Bandwagonesque]

Inspired by Jovan's post, I'm curious about any advice for my hair type. The individual strands of my hair is normal (well, more on the thin side of normal). Pretty standard, straight brown caucasian hair w/ widows peak, cowlicks, etc. However, I have a lot of hair folicles... moreso on the sides than on the top. This can lead to my hair looking very puffed out on the sides on dry days, while flat on the top. On very dry days, my hair can get very whispy and thin looking. Not a good look for a 26 year old.

So what should I do to 1) keep the volume down on the sides, 2) turn the volume up on top (note: I'm not balding... yet?), and 3) take control of any frizzy, whispy ends.

So far I've been using pretty standard drugstore shampoo and conditioner, as well as drugstore paste for afterwards. I wet my hair every day, but shampoo/condition/paste it every second day.

 

[mayonaise]

From what I can gather it sounds more like a hairstyle problem to me. I would ask your stylist to thin out the side or layer them so some of the volume comes off the sides. this will automatically give you the optical illusion of fuller top hair. The whispy ends, I suggest cut them frequently, don't blow dry too hot and don't use shampoo's that are too harsh or gels/pastes which contain alcohol.

can you describe maybe how long your hair is generally?

 

[Bandwagonesque]

Thanks mayo. My hair right now is an average length, but a little shaggy since it's been 2 months since my last cut - perhaps 3" on top, ~2" on the sides. I don't blow dry, and I generally try to find shampoos that are recommended by Paula Begoun, but I'll double check if my paste has any alcohol in it. I usually ask my hairstylist to thin out the sides as much as possible. As for the frizzy ends that sometimes occur, I sometimes try to brush over them very quickly with clipper and a long attachment. I've been to hairstylists from the $15 to $40 range, and I can honestly say I've never had a cut I've been 100% happy with - maybe I'm just hard to please though

 

[mayonaise]

Originally Posted by Bandwagonesque

Thanks mayo. My hair right now is an average length, but a little shaggy since it's been 2 months since my last cut - perhaps 3" on top, ~2" on the sides. I don't blow dry, and I generally try to find shampoos that are recommended by Paula Begoun, but I'll double check if my paste has any alcohol in it. I usually ask my hairstylist to thin out the sides as much as possible. As for the frizzy ends that sometimes occur, I sometimes try to brush over them very quickly with clipper and a long attachment. I've been to hairstylists from the $15 to $40 range, and I can honestly say I've never had a cut I've been 100% happy with - maybe I'm just hard to please though

sometimes when stylists thin the hair out too close to the roots, the hair that gets trimmed pushes the long "thinner" hairs away from the scalp which makes it look "poofy" after 4-6 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows. I assumed you haven't had it thinned at all. Maybe next time ask to have the sides thinned only in the ends. I also find when males are given a too roundly shape in their hairstyle it looks disproportional regardless of how well it is cut. Do you have a rather round haircut maybe (meaning is it cut 3-d around the shape of the head instead of 2-d in a box to give it more edge)? For all hairtypes I suggest tea tree shampoos they do a great job at balancing moisture in the hair and the scalp.

 

[fatty]

if you have straight hair which is sort of heavy like mine, you've got a lot of hair. Best to either keep it short, or layered to prevent it going 'flat'.

For guys i would say keep it short, or use a moisturiser or volumiser. These are hair products to give hair lift and stop them going whispy. Whispy hair also usually means you've got split ends, so it needs a trim.

If you don't want to be using a lot of product, switch shampoo and conditioner to one which caters for flat hair, or "oily roots/dry tips"

 

[Bandwagonesque]

Originally Posted by mayonaise

sometimes when stylists thin the hair out too close to the roots, the hair that gets trimmed pushes the long "thinner" hairs away from the scalp which makes it look "poofy" after 4-6 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows. I assumed you haven't had it thinned at all. Maybe next time ask to have the sides thinned only in the ends. I also find when males are given a too roundly shape in their hairstyle it looks disproportional regardless of how well it is cut. Do you have a rather round haircut maybe (meaning is it cut 3-d around the shape of the head instead of 2-d in a box to give it more edge)?

For all hairtypes I suggest tea tree shampoos they do a great job at balancing moisture in the hair and the scalp.

I'm not quite sure about the 3D vs 2D cut - having a hard time envisioning it right now. I usually get it cut shorter (1.5-2" long), slightly longer on the top. My hair tends to grow out, rather than downwards... that leads to some poofyness on the sides after a cut, especially if it's cut shorter.

I will try the tea tree oil stuff. It's good having a stylist on the forum

 

[mayonaise]

Originally Posted by Bandwagonesque

I'm not quite sure about the 3D vs 2D cut - having a hard time envisioning it right now. I usually get it cut shorter (1.5-2" long), slightly longer on the top. My hair tends to grow out, rather than downwards... that leads to some poofyness on the sides after a cut, especially if it's cut shorter.

I will try the tea tree oil stuff. It's good having a stylist on the forum

I figured you would have trouble answering the 2D question haha, a bit too much on my side. I apologize.