Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

So I have red hair that is pretty thick, and it's a common thing that redheads struggle with volume and frizz. I'm pretty sure my "routine" (or lack thereof) is probably contributing to this, so I'd like you to tell me what I'm doing wrong or what else I could do to help this.

- I use non-mainstream shampoo from Whole Foods but don't remember the name. I noticed it's better than when I was using Garnier Fructis, but not dramatically.
- I use a lot of conditioner, think the width of two quarters. I spread on the top and sides and then go down the length of the back with both hands.
- When I do use a lot of conditioner, I feel like it darkens my hair (which I pay to get highlighted every few months) and makes it look greasier but I still get frizz too.
- When getting out of shower, I scrunch with the towel but don't rub like I used to
- I don't blow dry my hair. I usually put it in one or more ponytails and let it air dry (I shower at night, I have time)
- I put no product in it normally but have gotten moroccan oil in the past. If the wispies on top get really bad, I'll spray hair spray on my palms and pat it down.
- I brush with a plastic bristled brush, lots of space in between the bristles, with those little nibby things on the ends.

That's it. I will take all suggestions so at least I know what I'm doing wrong but I'm preeeeetty lazy. It sounds terrible but I guess I'm looking for more control without a lot of effort!

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Ok, crunchy shampoo is not the way to go. IMHO.

Go back to the garnier. I use sleek and shine. Controls frizz, and the annoying poof.

Do NOT put the conditioner anywhere near the top of your head. This causes the grease. Only put it on the long hair. Everything that would be up in the pony.

If you shower at night, put some moroccan oil in and do a quick blow dry. Dont use a brush until your hair is like 90% dry, then use a brush to smooth ot out.

Put it in a loose pony at night and go to bed.

The next day you can mYbe hit it with a flat iron, to smooth the pony holder lump out.

Hope this helps.

Message edited 7/31/2013 8:08:56 AM.

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Your biggest mistake is showering at night. Girls with frizzy hair just cannot do that.

Also, scrunching with the towel isn't any better than rubbing it. It's still causing friction. You need to wring the water out with your hands and then finger-comb it.

Try using a sulfate free conditioner. Those are the ones that don't have sodium laureth sulfate, and that is the ingredient that dries hair out the most. Terrible for you!

And oh my goodness, put down the brush!! Never use anything resembling a brush or comb in your hair.

As far as product, is your hair straight, wavy or curly?

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

When you condition your hair, concentrate on the ends and not the crown. I usually start at my ears and work my down. Then, I work and comb the conditioner through, just so the crown gets a little bit of conditioner.

I shower at night as well and I have wavy-curly, frizzy hair. If you don't want to blow dry it before you go to bed, you may want to put your hair in a few loose braids, or put it into a bun. In the morning, shake your hair out and hit it with the hairdryer (cool air).

Run a little bit of moroccan oil or smoothing cream through your hair in the morning with your fingers and style as desired. That way, you avoid further frizz from brushing and the oil or creme helps to fight frizz.

Unfortunately, I think the best thing to do is completely dry your hair after you shower. As my stylist said, water equals frizz, so unless your hair is completely dry, you may have some frizz to deal with.

Message edited 7/31/2013 9:19:09 AM.

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

You have given me a lot to think about, thank you SO much!

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

I am thinking that we have similar hair from your post. I also shower at night. I use Pantene or Garnier Fructis (nothing fancy). I shampoo and then condition first when I get in the shower. I leave the conditioner on my hair while I wash and exfoliate my body, shave my legs and wash my face. Then I rinse and get out. I use a towel to dry my hair. I dont think that makes a difference. I let my hair air dry a little while and then I blow it all the way dry. I dont use a brush. I am not trying to style it - I just dry it so I dont go to bed with it wet. In the morning I use either a big round brush and my elchim hair dryer (more on that below) to style my hair or a flat iron. I, personally need to heat style my hair to kind of set it. If I dont do that then it gets very frizzy. Hope that helps.

As for the second part of my answer: professional hair dryers make a huge difference. I have this one:

http://www.folica.com/tools/hair-dryers/elchim-2001-professional-hair-dryer-elchim-classic

I have had it for six years and I love it and take it with me everywhere. I wont go on vacation without it. It makes the texture of my hair less frizzy and it dries it MUCH faster. $100 seems like a lot of money for a hair dryer but it will last and it is so worth it.

Hope all that helps! xo

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps-nLjELrxo

This is a great youtube video that shows how to blow your hair out and I use a brush as large and very similar to the one the girl in the video is using.

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

If your hair is straight, you probably can't get away w/ NOT blowdrying and lesst to smooth it out -

Use a sulfate free shampoo/conditioner

I have very curly hair, so I use a leave in conditioner that controls my frizz issue, but I don't know if that woudl help you if you say conditioning makes it greasy looking ........maybe try something different from the oil? Just a smoothing balm?

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

I use Organix shampoo and conditioner and love them!

ETA: My hairdresser told me not to use products like Pantene b/c of the alcohol contained in them - it's very drying.

Message edited 7/31/2013 2:46:20 PM.

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

Re: Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

This is really expesnie, and I don't usually spend this uch money on hiar product, but it is excellent.

I blam Sephora's free samples. And Jennifer Anniston

Living Proof hair mask

They also have an anti -frizz conditioner that might be good for you.

If you are looking for a more natural ( and affordable) shampoo/conditioner, I use the Yes to Carrots products. I don't think I am as frizzy as you, but they are the only shampoo/conditioners that I can use repeatedly & not have to switch to something else because they stop working. the conditioner does make my hair soft but not greasy, which is an issue I usually have.

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

I have similar hair - fairly thick and tends to get frizzy. I find that when I shower at night, even if I blow dry it at night, its frizzy after sleeping on it. So I don't really worry about it at night (but I do put Fekkai Glossing Cream in after every wash - whether its at night or in the morning), and I blow it out in the morning, using a high heat setting and then zap it with a cool shot to "set it"

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong

I'd say upgrade on your shampoo and try one that is sulfate free.
I wouldn't use conditioner in the shower but instead use a spray in conditioner after you've brushed it out. It won't be so heavy on your hair and just be sure to still stay away from your roots.
I would blow try with a large round brush at night and just touch up in the am (that's what i do). Before styling the next morning you can put some oil in (pea size) to help with the friz.
Good luck!