My ends are fried

Alright, so I just got my hair trimmed 2 weeks ago in NYC Chinatown. The only problem is that the person who trimmed it shortened my top layers to above my shoulder, while my longer layers reach to my waist (or even a bit past).

I straighten with a Jilbere de Paris Porcelain Iron. I don't have curly hair or anything, I straighten it to just make my hair smoother and less frizzy, since I have thick Asian hair. I use a Spray-On Leave-In conditioner for my hair before and after I straighten it.

Now 2 weeks after a trim, I discovered that I had split ends. There aren't very many, so I'm guessing that the person who trimmed my hair missed a few or something. I'm afraid of trimming my hair again, because my layers are so varied in length as it is, and I'm too afraid to loose length because I am growing my hair out to at least past my butt (the long layers that is) before I cut it off for the locks of love.

Is there any way I can save my ends without loosing length? And how can I keep my ends nice for longer? I don't really think I could ever give up my straightener just because I love how manageable my hair is afterwards, but if there are ways I can have beautiful, silky hair (I do condition already, but that doesn't help the frizz), I would appreciate suggestions!

Love,
Mary

Thanks so much for replying!

What kinds of conditioners do you use? I was thinking of using that coconut oil that I read about in the topics as a deep conditioner.

Thanks again, Anais!

Judging from your avatar, your hair looks like my hair back in the old days, before I stupidly subjected my hair to dyes and straighteners.

I grew up with the best straight hair ever, and it had a beautiful natural blue tint to it and little frizz. I never blow dryed it, straightened it, or dyed it. But 2 years ago, I cut off all of my hair for a chance (Stupidest hair blunder ever!), and since then, even though I grew all of my hair back to the original length, it just will not be as beautiful as before. So what did I do? I dyed it, I cut it again, and I straightened it a lot.

I've been seriously debating over how to get my natural hair color back without dealing with the half black, half red situation. And I really would LOVE to have my nice straight hair back without all that maintenance and worrying that comes with a straightener.

Is there any chance that I can ever get my childhood hair back? Today, I went through and snipped off a lot of split ends that I had found throughout my hair. Tomorrow, I will be buying some type of oil for deep conditioning. Would places like Walmart sell coconut oil, or should I try places like Sally's? We don't have real health stores around here.

I remember reading that you have never dyed your hair before, but do you know if there is any healthy way that I can get my natural color back without going through a year's worth of root color differences?

-Mary

PS- I have gone through some research about Locks of Love, and I discovered some unusual differences. Such as they said that they do not make wigs for chemo paitients, and then later on, I found a place that said they did. It was very unsual, so I will continue my research. Thanks for the heads up. =)

PPS- E-mail me or IM me at Serene Star 9 (AIM) sometime. I would love to chat with you, Anais!

Hi Asian Invasion,

It'd be fun to chat with you personally. I'm off to send you an email!

Anais

First thing to do is quit using heat. Heat warps hair proteins and causes uneven wave, dryness, frizz, etc.. so it''s a neverending cycle.

but if you''re happier using a straightener, I''m not stopping ya.

My wet combing method isn''t "straightening", per se, but it''s the only thing I do. It involves combing wet hair with a seamless comb, every 5-10 minutes until it is completely dry. I know this sounds too easy, and it is, but basically... Hair will dry in the position it''s in while it''s wet. I basically force it to dry straight.

This wet combing method doesn''t work if you don''t already have reasonably "straight" hair.

The other thing you can do is get a super absorbent towel (microfiber towel). If hair dries unevenly, it might wave or frizz as well.

I''ve posted briefly about it here, but you can reply if you need more info:
posted on 25-Aug-2004 12:06:55 PM
subject: how can i mak my thick tong hair staight all day

http://talk.hairboutique.com/forum/viewthread.asp?forum=AMB%5FAP673892709&id=8950&sr1=wet+combing&sr2=&ExMth=no#post8958


Anyway, I think it''s worth a shot. Might take awhile for your hair to get used to it.

HTH
:)
Anais

Hi Jodi,

Whooo I was in a hurry responding to your post earlier. It was fragmented and crappy.

Thanks for your compliment! YES, Martine's elaborate condition-wash-condition method... THAT HELPED THE MOST WITH FRIZZ, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT!! Sorry sweetie.. Well, the CWC instructions are everywhere so I hope they help you at least by a bit. Frizz is sometimes from lack of moisture as well, and the double-conditioning helps immensely.

I have 5 minutes to sort through mucho other replies and check email...

Hugs,
Anais

When you do conditioner washes, you just use conditioner. You can add oil to your conditioner but after that you just wash it out. NO SHAMPOO is used during a conditioner wash. When you add oil to the conditioner wash, it helps to trap the moisture into your hair.

Jodi,

Thanks a bunch for your compliment! I am a researcher (unprofessional) and it's a big hobby of mine. Actually I'm a handwriting analyst and humor writer for a local paper. I just happen to cruise these hair boards a lot. Fun to help people out. :)

Cmsweet is referring to what we call "CO" or "Conditioner Only".

That is different from the "CWC" method ("Condition, Wash, Condition"). The CWC works exceptionally well for Asian hair in my opinion, while the CO does not. The reason for this? typical Asian hair is VERY porous compared to other types of hair, so lots of conditioner residue gets caught in the hair shaft in between the cuticle scales or "microscopic shingles" on the hair shaft. I just don't feel that clarifying rinses, like vinegar, are enough to remove it all from Asian hair.

CO/Conditioner-Only: "washing" like you would with shampoo, except you'd be using a very light conditioner like V05 Kiwi Lime or Freesia. Or White Rain Extra Body. Then you'd finish off with your usual conditioner. The cheapie conditioner replaces the shampoo. Along with coarse hair, Asians also tend to have bigger pores, making us more susceptible to breakouts on the scalp IMHO. CO requires putting conditioner on the scalp, which deposits plastic ingredients or otherwise occlusive materials in the scalp's pores and hair roots.

CWC/Condition-wash-condition (invented by dear Martine): Just like CO, except you'd use shampoo in between the conditioners. Wet your hair first, apply cheapie conditioner, DON'T RINSE, shampoo the scalp and let the lather rinse down the length, rinse out shampoo, apply usual condioner and do a final rinse.

In a CWC, oil can be applied to dry hair. but not the cheapie first-conditioner.

HTH!
Anais

hi anais-thanks for clarifying the difference between "CO" and "CWC"...i too, can be hopeless like renee. =)

you're a handwriting analyst?! that sounds cool! you must totally love your job huh?

i have a personal question for you, if you don't want to answer, its okay. b/c under location, you have "bill gate's backyard", are you by chance living in washington? dumb question, yes?

anyway, i will do the "CWC" this evening. i can't imagine washing my hair w/just conditioner, my scalp would be SO oily. eewww. =(

do you use any heat to straighten your hair? or is your naturally straight?


jodi

We all might as well answer the question for Anais. =P She uses the wet combing method to dry her hair straight. She air dries her hair, but combs it with a wide tooth brush (Rachel) every 5 minutes.

=P I think that I've read Anais's posts and e-mails way too often. ^^