Rinse and Repeat

I call out to you in a moment of desperation.  I am literally beside myself and can't imagine going on this way a fraction of a second longer.

I haaaaaaate my haaaaaaaaair.

I know Whoorl has Hair Thursday but she has a four year waiting list and what I need is feedback this very second.  Internet, you NEED to tell me what to do because if it's up to me it's either going to be the Brittany Spears buzz cut special or a wig that could rival those in Lord of The Rings.

What I'm working with:

• My hair is crazy thick, which means it's heavy and can't be weighed down by products.
• I highlight it and am NOT willing to change colors.  I have a two-tone Caramel and Rice Krispie thing going on that I enjoy very much. In fact, I'd love to go a little MORE blond but the upkeep is too timely for me right now.  So no color change suggestions please.
• If I could, I'd have it back in a pony tail all day, every day.  But it doesn't look cute or professional so I know it's not possible.  I don't like hair hanging around my face because it feels too claustrophobic for whatever insane reason, though I love the LOOK of my hair down.  When it's styled, that is.  Greasy up-all-night-for-four-nights-in-a-row-with-a-sick-kid down, notsomuch.
• I have a round Polish face.  I don't look good with short short pixie hair so let's just bypass that suggestion right off the bat.
• My hair has a natural wave, so it's not poker straight.
• I AM LAZY.  I will not use a straight iron.  Not a huge fan of curling irons.  I work full time and I have a toddler.  Time is of the essence.

This is my hair over the weekend, kinda of styled, with product in it. My hair is shorter and stacked in the back and longer towards the front:

(Second one, bottom right. Photo taken by the lovely Cass) 

And here is what it looks like professional straightened by my hair stylist so you KNOW I could never make it look like THAT again in my own bathroom:

I have had some variation of this style for years and I'm done.  Give me something different.  Something cute and trendy and fun.  Low maintenance with minimal products.  Or buy me hats because I might be working myself into a frenzy over here. 

I love the idea of blunt bangs but I know myself and I'd hate them in a month and the only way I'd survive the grow-out process would be to place myself in a medically induced coma.  I've tried the side-swept bang thing and they drove me insane.  Why YES I am a pain when it comes to my hair, thank you for asking.

So please.  Help.  Or tell me a product you love that has helped you through tough times--really, I'm open to pretty much anything.

Comments

[AndreAnna]

I've got nothing. I have pretty much the exact opposite of your hair. But I can tell you this: I remember thinking I wish I had hair as full and thick as yours and I thought it looked really nice.

So, yeah. I'm useless, huh?

[Jennifer]

My hair is IDENTICAL to yours and my issues are IDENTICAL to yours too (am lazy, hate fooling with it, wish to just pull it straight back into ponytail, like the look of bangs but AIEEE INSANITY).

I'm waiting for your commenters to tell you want to do so I can copy it.

In general, the style that has made me the happiest over the years is: *just barely long enough* to pull back into a ponytail if I want. Blunt cut straight-across the bottom all the way around at that length. with the thick slightly-wavy hair and a blunt cut, it looks decent when you wear it down, even without straightening (straightening looks better, and you have the option to use the flat iron for a special occasion). I call it "wash and wear hair" because I swim a lot and ride my bike at lunchtime so I seem to be going from shower back to desk all the time. Wash it and fluff it up with your hands (hands are better than a comb) and it dries into a sorta straight, sorta wavy around-the-face style and the blunt cut makes it look somewhat maintained!

So that's the best thing I got. It does require maintenance, as in, a trim every 2-3 months to keep it blunt and keep it from getting so long that it starts feeling icky and greasy and weighted down.

[McMama]

Have you heard of curly girl? It's an "embrace your natural curls" things. Find a stylist who knows what to do with curls and look up the curly girl thing if you haven't. Otherwise I dig your hair.

[Cass]

What about this: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bQ0SqifjNcg/StgUDZHO8rI/AAAAAAAAFUs/G795_NxfcXs/s1600-h/sarah-jessica-parker-short-curly-hair.jpg

I think that could look really cute on you. Get a little Be Curly product from Aveda and you'd be set :-)

[Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks]

Can't be too short, because you don't look good. Can't be too long, because it's not professional.

Can't have fringe/bangs because you'll hate it. Not even long ones because you hate those, too.

Can't have it straight all the time nor can it require too much time, because you're a busy gal.

Friend, you're not giving us much to work with here. As you know, I have crazy curls. When I want to dry my hair straight, I add a Kerastase product that helps with the frizzies as well as with slimming it down a bit. Might work for you, even when you're not straitening it.

http://www.kerastase-usa.com/_en/_us/oleo_relax_slim-serum_oleo_relax_slim.htm

[Sara @ Belle Plaine]

I like Cass's suggestion. I adored that cut during that season of SATC and think you can totally pull it off. It would be cute even a little longer than that.

[Dee]

I'd go with a chin length cut, maybe a little bit of layering to take out some of the heaviness. Use a product for curls as suggested above to make it a little more bouncy/less frizzy. Scrunch it up with you hands (don't brush or comb!) and let it air dry.

You can always blow dry with a round brush and use a flat iron on it for a sleeker look on special occasions.

[Alanna]

I feel like you are describing my hair. Mine's longer, but otherwise it's pretty similar. I like to be low-maintenance, but my wavy hair does not. Ponytails are my best friend, but they are not cute.
Unfortunately I have no suggestions for you...but I love that you asked so I can read all the suggestions you get! :)

[Equipoise]

You may hate this, but think on it anyway. Why not an a-line cut just longer than your chin in the front and stacked in the back (perhaps parted to the side for some dimension). Blow drying is quicker cuz there's not much in the back and you can quickly roundbrush the front and straighten it in a reasonable amount of time, if you don't want to fuss with it, it's still long enough that you can put a little frizz-away product in it and let it be wavy (I have a friend with similar hair and this worked well for her). For different styles you can pull half of it up pretty easily, or pull it over to the side with a bobby pin or there's always the front bump. It's a short cut, but with length in the front to add dimension to your face. That's all I've got. You definitely are complicated. :D

[Equipoise]

To clarify, think Victoria Beckham, but not so drastic and it will actually look better on you because you're hair is thicker so it will stand up better.

[rougeneck]

In some ways longer is better because you can pull it back/up and still look professional. I have naturally curly hair and while I straighten it quite a bit, when it gets longer I embrace the curls and put it up in a causal twist or half pony. Or the occasional headband - but only on occasion because then I get a headache. Bangs are good. Curly bangs are bad. But bangs are easy to straighten with a round brush and a blow dryer. So yeah. I am pretty sure I didn't help you in the slightest. And for the record, I totally adored your hair.

[lilsaej]

I can't believe I just read another blog post. OMGosh! But enough about me...

I love your hair. I tend to covet full, thick, naturally curly hair. It is everything that mine is not.

I agree with the embracing. Maybe a great product would perk you up. I've heard that BedHead's "Curls Rock" line is fabulous. Of course I've never tried before. You know, because of obvious reasons.

Also, the SJP cut is sexy hot, but again, would require product.

[Melissa]

Okay, you are going to slap me, but I love your hair in that top photo. It's really pretty. :)

I'm lucky that I can pull my hair back for work without looking unprofessional (as a nurse) because I am lazy too. And right now, with a 3-yr old and a baby, I do not have time/energy to do more! lol

My hair is curlier than yours, but it only curls from about the ears down, so I refuse to wear it curly because it looks like I'm growing out a (bad) perm. I'm hoping those bamboo curlers will help. I'll let you know how they work out!

[Sarah]

I totally have the not quite curly but just strange waves and lumps everywhere thing. Also thick thick thick, and also round face. I feel your pain 100%.
I'm always happiest with my hair when it's roughly shoulder length, has some layers and a few LONG side bang things I can either leave down or pin up. Other than that bit of advise, I say just wear it up! Or if your hair is so thick you get headaches having it up all day, like I do, I also like to do a pretty dramatic side part, then do a pony tail or lazy bun at the nape of my neck with a little smoothing cream or hairspray to keep down the flyaways.

[Swistle]

I highly recommend the French twist. I wear one every day, and I do the casual kind where there's a little fountain of hair at the top, but I understand it can also be done with all the ends tucked in to look more tidy. It's dressy enough to look professional, and yet it's the convenience of a ponytail. If I feel like spending more than the one minute it usually takes to do my hair, I'll do a fancy parting or add a braid or use pretty pins or something---but usually it's twist it and clip it and DONE.

[kristin c.]

i like what cass suggested. Also. I think you need a more modern hair stylist. I'm just sayin'.....

[Summer B.]

I think a ponytail can look professional if you put in a little straightening balm and than wrap one strand of hair around the pony tail holder and pin it. But my hair is super fine, so maybe it wouldn't work with yours?

Just don't do what I did and go the self help route. Nothing good will come of that. Remember this: http://nothingeverhappenstome.wordpress.com/2007/05/20/a-hairrowing-tale-of-lies-and-deceptions
No good Sam, no good. Waiting for that to grow out was the longest three months of my life.

I really like the girls at Zazu - if you go on Sunday it is half off if you get a junior stylist - I like Dana. Good luck!

[moosh in indy.]

I'm going to say Lisa Leonard hair, only you'll be the sexy wavy version and she'll be the kinky curly version.

[RamonGustav]

Have you been turned down by other lenders?

[Buy_Viagra]

I think you are not quite right and you should still studying the matter.

[Buy_Viagra]

I think you are not quite right and you should still studying the matter.

[Music_master]

Have you been turned down by other lenders?

[Antivirus_man]

I liked your site, you are very interesting to write. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[JOBS_frend]

You write well will be waiting for your new publications.

[sopoli]

Този път ми се иска да направя някое нещо по-запомнящо се като подарък за празника на жената. То ясно - цветя-метя да ама интересното е какво да е другото. Обеци, пръстени, гримила и разни такива абсолютно винаги са подходящи да ама си е единствено да не е без хич. Надявах се да измисля нещо наистина нетрадиционно.

За сега това е:

1. в мола има едни 3д образи в кристал ама трябва да сме двамата - по друг начин казано изненада няма как да има
2. мислих за пътуване да ама няма организация, а и сме на работа
3. необичайна идея за подаръче е акварел по фотография, обаче някак си не може да ме вдъхнови достатъчно и е резервен вариант

Нещо интересно да можете да ми подскажете?

През миналата противна зима няма начин да не завъдиш [url=http://www.sopoli.info/]сополи[/url]