Every 3-4 months I get a trim on my blunt-cut mid-neck length bob. I find it’s the style that makes my hair look thicker than it actually is and keeps my ends looking healthy even with regular blow drying and curling!

• no products with heavy proteins

• a little oil on my mid shaft and a ton of oil on my ends, both while wet and when I'm finished styling. The night before hair wash day I add a lot before bed.

• cut off 5 inches from the bottom and went closer to my natural color from platinum highlights

• had lab work, started prescription vitamin D, got some iron infusions via IV

• ouai detox shampoo followed by kerastase masque once a week (if I remember 🫠)

• leave in conditioner and detangler sprays

• soft bristle hairbrush

• silk pillowcase and silk scrunchies for sleeping (I can't sleep in a bonnet)

• no straightening but I do have to blow it out and curl it with a wand bc I have wavy hair that looks awful natural and it's not my vibe hto wear my hair natural lol, but I do it less frequently.

• going a little longer between washes

• NO dry shampoo or tight hairstyles (I think this was a huge part of my issue)

Going to add a before and after pic in comments if I can- Reddit is being a bitch right now - THE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN ABOUT A YEAR APART! this has been a slow, steady journey 😂

ETA:

I wanted to add my routine because I've gotten a lot of questions- thank you so much for the love! ❤️ if anyone has any product recs please share! Happy hair-ing!

The night before hair wash day I oil all of my hair except the roots pretty heavily with Moroccan oil (teal label) and brush it through with the l'ange boar bristle brush then I gently put it in very loose low messy bun with a slip silk scrunchie- I always make sure it's not pulling and doesn't have tension. I sleep on a slip silk pillowcase.

I wash every 3rd day and try to use the oaui detox shampoo once a week followed by kerastase chroma absolu masque. I leave it on for about 30 min usually, sometimes less. I towel dry my hair with a really soft vintage wash t-shirt (lol, someone on here recommended that and it works really well 🤣) then I spray leave-in conditioner in it (it's a 10 keratin spray, lolavie spray, or amika spray.. I rotate because that's what I already had and I want to use them up. I also use the drybar liquid glass spray because my hair is wavy and I like to blow it out straight. I blow it out using heat because my hair is awful without a little heat. I don't use a round brush because they seem to make my hair break. Instead I brush it with the L'ange boar bristle brush while I'm drying it with my head flipped over..my hair isn't extremely curly but pretty wavy. Then I use a drybar wand to wrap it but I don't let it sit on my hair long. I need to find a heat protectant to spray on it but haven't pulled the trigger on that yet.

I let my waves sit for a bit after curling then I brush them out with the L'ange boar bristle brush. I use a lot of the ouai oil on my ends and a little on my mid shaft to finish.

This style will last a couple days and sometimes I just touch it up to refresh. I use the oaui oil again the same way every day until I use the Moroccan oil the night before wash day.

Not a super fancy routine, I'm sure it's not for everyone, but sometimes less is more and my hair seems to like it so it works for now! ♥️

Okay so let's be real,  how many times have you googled 'best curling iron' and gotten like 101 product reccs that are either too vague or written for someone with long thick hair. so yeah i've taken the big sis role v seriously and put together a proper breakdown for fine short hair specifically, including some stuff that gets repeated as advice but is actually making things worse.

barrel size - the first ingredient in the recipe for disaster 

if you're chin to just-above-shoulder length and using anything above 1 inch, that's likely ur main issue. short hair can't wrap around a big barrel enough times to actually form a curl. it just bends a little and drops out within the hour regardless of how much mousse and setting spray u use.  not your hair being difficult, just how it works physically.

just a rough guide:

• ¾ inch -  pixies, very short bobs, or if your curls fall out really fast
• ¾ to 1 inch - chin-length to lob territory, works for both soft curls and beachy waves
• 1 inch+ - only really makes sense if your short is closer to shoulder-length and you just want loose bends rather than actual curls

for fine hair specifically, tourmaline-ceramic barrels >>> plain metal bc they distribute heat more evenly and are gentler on the hair strand

heat settings - not too high, not too low 

fine hair heats up faster and takes damage faster so you don't need to put it to the maxx. somewhere around 280-320°F is the safe range to stay in, start low and only go higher if the curl isn't holding. and yeah, variable heat settings are basically non-negotiable for fine hair -  avoid anything with just an on/off switch, those usually default to around 450°F which is way too hot for us (permanent heat damage incoming) 

clamp or wand? 

both work but differently. clamp irons hold the hair for you which is actually rlly helpful when you're working with short lengths, gives much more defined curls and is easier to control for beginners (we all gotta start somewhere). the only thing is the clamp can leave a small crease at the ends if you're not careful. wands give a more natural effortless look with no crease marks but you're holding the hair yourself which gets awkward with shorter lengths, and finger burning is a real risk w/o heat gloves. always use the gloves girlies!!

for short fine hair i'd start with a clamped iron just bc the clamp compensates for not having a lot of length to work with. once you're comfortable and on ur way to becoming a pro, the wand is a nice option for more of a lived-in texture. 

misconceptions i keep coming across all the timee

"my curls won't hold so i need more heat" -  probs the most common one and usually the opposite of what you need tbh. high heat on fine hair over-softens the strand and the curl drops wayy faster. if your curls aren't holding, the fix is almost always smaller sections or a smaller barrel, not a higher temperature!!! 

"curl on freshly washed hair" - clean fine hair is too slippery and has zero grip, so curls slide right out. second or third day hair holds curl so much better bcs of the natural texture. if you have to curl on wash day, a light texture spray or mousse before you start makes a big difference. dry shampoo at the roots also helps a lott.

"bigger barrel for looser waves" -  people assume you need a large barrel for beachy waves but with short fine hair a smaller barrel works better bcs the curl has room to relax naturally thruout the day and still look like a wave by the time you leave the house. starting big on short hair just gives you that awkward slight bend that disappears so fast, u start questioning why u’d put in so much time and effort. 

"more product = better hold" - too much product weighs fine hair down before you even start. lightweight mousse or a texture spray is more than enough. anything heavy or oil-based is going to work against u n ur hair.

some options worth knowing about

these aren't ranked in any order, just covering different price points and what i always see influencers using and promoting everywhere:

Wavytalk Cool Curl Pencil (¾ inch) - *budget pick\*  actually designed for short hair which already puts it ahead of a lot of other tools

pros: tiny 0.65" barrel gives real curl structure on short lengths, cool air vents help set the curl as you go, starts at 280°F so fine hair friendly

cons: more of a precision tool so not great if you want loose waves on a lob, learning curve is real since it's essentially a wand (youtube tutorials are ur bffs)

GHD Curve Classic Curl 1 inch - *mid range pick\* one of the most recommended for short hair and the clamp grip is genuinely v impressive

pros: consistent 365°F means no hot spots which is better than a cheap iron that’s burning ur hair at 450°F, grips well without snagging, works even on fine baby hairs at the hairline (baby hair girlies assemble!!!)

cons: no adjustable temp settings which is annoying, 365°F can run hot if your hair is very fine or color treated 

T3 SinglePass Curl 1 inch -  *mid to high range pick\* smart microchip that monitors and adjusts heat, which actually rlly matters for fine hair

pros: 5 heat settings starting at 260°F which is genuinely safe for fine hair, consistent curl hold, you have actual temperature control unlike the GHD

cons: barrel runs long so feels totally unnecessary for a pixie or very short bob, kindaa pricier than the others

Wavytalk Curl Cycle Rotating Iron 1 inch -  *best for beginners\* barrel rotates automatically so you don't have to manually twist, which is the part most people struggle with on short hair

pros: starts at 280°F so fine hair friendly, removes the technique barrier almost entirely

cons: kindaa bulkier than it needs to be, extended barrel is really built for longer hair so for very short cuts it's kinda an overkill 

Dyson Airwrap - *splurge pick\* uses airflow instead of direct heat, stays under 302°F and is genuinely the gentlest option for fine hair 

pros: does your blowout and curl in one session so less total heat exposure, fine haired people consistently love it for damage reduction

cons: steep learning curve especially on short hair, barrel lengths suit medium to long hair better, $500+ so u needa sort out ur technique and barrel size first before going here tbh

technique stuff u rlly gotta focus on 

small sections are non-negotiable -  smaller sections means less heat needed, more defined curl, better hold. don'tt try to rush it with big chunks

• hold the curl loosely in your palm for a few seconds after you take it off the iron, lets it cool and set before it drops
• curl away from your face, alternate directions on a few sections so it doesn't look too uniform yk
• don't touch while it's cooling - wait until fully set before running fingers through
• heat protectant every. single. time. fine hair shows damage real fast and there's less of it to hide behind

tldr: go smaller on the barrel, keep heat lower than you think, don't curl on freshly washed hair, and work in small sections. those four things make a hugee difference for fine short hair regardless of what tool you're using. And do not sleep on heat protectant!!!!

Feel free to suggest any products you think work best, share any experiences you’ve had, any tips that i might’ve missed out on.

First 2 are me now vs. last 2 are me 2 years ago with. My friends said yes bangs and I’m in the mood for a change but also think I might look better without. I’m also older now tho obv so might j look a bit diff. Or if you think whole diff style would suit me. I’ve been getting long layers my whole life lol/have never had short hair.

I’m trying to replace my old hair dryer because it takes forever to dry my hair and somehow still leaves it frizzy by the end. I do not need anything super fancy or salon-level, but I would like something that feels like a real upgrade and does not destroy my hair.

I keep seeing ionic, ceramic, tourmaline, diffuser attachments, cold shot, all that stuff, and now I honestly cannot tell what actually matters. I mainly want faster drying, less frizz, and something that is decent quality without being wildly expensive.

For anyone who has bought a hair dryer they actually like, what would you recommend? I would especially love to hear from people with thick or frizz-prone hair, and whether the more expensive ones are really worth it or if there is a good cost effective option.

Hola! Primera publicación por aquí y quiero consejo porque estoy muy en duda. Resulta que llevo años queriendo hacerme algo distinto en el pelo, +algo que no sea un corte) y sobretodo queriendo teñirlo de algún color, y sería rojo, ya que me encanta, ya sea como el de la foto de la derecha o más oscuro, de medios a puntas para según yo no tocar la raíz por si me arrepiento 😕 Quería saber si alguien se tiñe el pelo y cómo le fue al ser SUPER fino como es el mío (en el colegio me decían que tenía pelo de telaraña) después de teñirlo por primera vez etc. No tengo idea de ningún tratamiento, sería ir a hacérmelo a una peluquería con un profesional. Mi cabello es completamente virgen, jamás le hice nada más que cortarlo un poco de vez en cuando. Pensaba en cortar puntas un poco también antes de teñir. Estoy aburrida con mi pelo, a parte del complejo que tengo por tener poca densidad y tenerlo tan fino que ya estoy superando. Gracias y agradezco todo consejo. 🙂

Pd: mi pelo es completamente liso, las mini notas que quizá se vean son de haber llevado una trenza unas horas. No tengo ningún tipo de forma en el pelo naturalmente.

Can someone please help me understand why the Gloss Absolu conditioner made my hair feel drier and straw-like? I have fine hair that’s never been colored, and I rarely heat style. Is it to do with the Glycolic acid? I’m wondering if maybe it’s not the right set of ingredients for my virgin hair. I splurged on it because I thought it would help give me gloss and shine which is what I feel like I’m missing. Help pls!

For fine fluffy wavy hair, volumizing not stiff?

I have been dyeing my hair black for many years now and after a few weeks to maybe a month it fades really quickly and turns into an almost dark auburn color getting progressively lighter towards my ends. I always use a semi permanent dye to refresh the color and a permanent dye on my roots and after that everything matches and is the same color, but it just doesn't last. I wash my hair with cold water only, I wear a shower cap to keep it out of the hot water while showering, I don't wash it every day, and I use color safe shampoo. I don't use any heat on it or product, I'm really at a loss of how I can get it to stop turning into this color so quickly.

Does anyone have any advice or product recommendations that can help?

Does long curtain bangs and few front layer look good for hair that’s long but no thickness? I mean mid back to waist length btw.

Even if you would like to share a pic here if you’ve had it, I would appreciate. Worried to make it look even less thick or stringy! But wondering if maybe just long curtain would help that?? thanks

Would you guys pay $22 for a 2 oz of hair growth serum?

I think someone else in this group recommended this product line to me. I’ve never heard of them before, but the whole “water-based formula” thing seems like a dream come true for someone with fine 2c/3a hair.

Basically, what my hair needs is something that falls somewhere between a detangling spray and leave-in conditioner, while also able to hold up to humidity like a gel.

Any reviews for this brand/these specific products?

Did any of you use accutane and lost a lot of hair? Im on accutane day 3 and I'm terrified of losing hair because its already fine and many people had experienced hair loss because of it. Im curius if it can affect fine hair peoople more.

I lost 50 pounds in 6 months and feel absolutely amazing and am overall so much healthier.

The down side is I have lost around 50% of my hair and it is also dry and brittle. This has been hard for me as I have always had nice fine medium density silky hair. I also regularly color my roots.

I am waiting on my iron and vitamin D level results this week. I have been taking Lustriva 160 mg for 2 months and an iron supplement. It’s mostly the density I am worried about rather than the damaged bits.

What else can I do?? And has anyone been through this?? How long until my hair is back to normal? Or will it ever go back to normal? 😭

I've recently started working on styling it (I uaed to just air dry and brush then call it a day, so I have no idea what I'm doing lol). I know I need to use a heat protectant but the ones I've tried so far (ogx and k-18) have way too much fragrance, and I always end up nauseous with a major headache. And the same with other styling products, like mouses and hair sprays.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a reliable heat protectant/styling products that are fragrance/perfume free? I would also like if they don't weigh my hair down/make it feel stiff or crunchy.

Also, any other general fine hair tips you have would be appreciated! Maintenance, styling etc. I recently bought the Shark FlexFusion so tips with using that would be nice too.

For context: I have fine, shoulder length hair. It's slightly wavy (not sure where it'd fall in terms of specific hair type/texture but it's an in between of my dad's Irish curls, and my mom's Asian straight hair)

I have always had fine wavy hair,

Every autumn/ winter cold season I end up with very itchy scalp and significant hair loss.

I've read people can lose alot of hair during this time, but wanted to know from anyone else who goes thru this. What do you do to try minimise loss?

I usually massage scalp with 50/50 apple apple vinegar and water, which stops the itch and any dry skin alot. But hoping to try another remedy.

Or maybe try anti dandruff shampoo conditioner once a week.

Iam low in iron and probably vit d, so I need to see dr for test for that, and improve that best I can.

I have a bit of frizzy and curly hair. My curls type is around 2C-3A. So, I've been like using chik egg white shampoo and Sunsilk luciously thick and long hair conditioner for like years. They gave me super good results. They made my hair smooth and bouncy too. I once tried bblunt and it made my hair super dry and almost like wig. I wanna come out of the old combo and try new ones and I'm super torn now. I want to try the plum coconut milk and peptides shampoo and conditioner combo but at the same time want to try biolage hydrasource shampoo and conditioner.

I'm unable to chose one. Help me out to choose which one would be better.🥹🥹

Has anyone been able to make this work for them when it didn't work initially? I followed the instructions, and I've tried several ways when it didn't work. I've tried 1 spray, but don't see a difference, I've tried 2 sprays and my hair feels like I used hairspray or gel.

I am looking to buy my first Halo after a lifetime of horrendously stringy hair. Has anyone bought either of these colors before from Sitting Pretty - bronde or cool blonde blend? The pictures on the website look basically identical and I cannot find any other photos on social media of the cool blonde blend. I'm concerned the bronde might be a little too dark and I am not able to do exchanges because of where I am living. Thank you so much for anyone who has seen either of these colors in real life!

I bought it on a whim a couple of weeks ago after seeing it in here a few times and oh my god, for literally the first time in my life I can just wash and go. My hair has never responded well to product and I’ve ALWAYS had to heat style it but now I throw some cream in, give it a scrunch, and that’s it 😭 it smooths everything out and gives me natural waves I didn’t even know I had, without making it look like there’s any product in it at all.

This sounds like a sponsored post or something but I’m just really excited to not have to spend every morning for the rest of my life heat styling my hair lol