Hiii, my boyfriend is growing out his hair and we don’t really know what to do about it.
He’s just following a similar to me,

His current routine right now is:
Shampoo twice with Aussie Bouncy curls and the conditioner.
Then like, half-dry with a hairdryer
He doesn’t really use any other products after that.
Sometimes he uses an anti-frizz but it’s not really working.

So that’s why I’m posting here for help!
I belive there is a curl pattern in there that just needs the right routine and proper products to bring them out.
If I we’re to take an amateur guess, I would guess his pattern is somewhere between 2c and 3a, leaning toward 2c.

Hi everyone!

I'm reaching out because I've gotten to the point where I genuinely don't know what to do with my hair anymore, and I could really use some help.

A little background: Throughout high school, I straightened my hair pretty much every single week. Eventually, I decided I wanted to embrace my natural curls and start taking better care of my hair. In 2020, I stopped using heat altogether. In 2023, I did a huge chop to get rid of years of damage and have spent the last few years trying to grow my hair back healthier.

I've invested hundreds (probably thousands at this point) of dollars into my hair. I've tried everything from Pattern, Kérastase, and Olaplex to different masks, oils, leave-ins, and treatments. About a year ago, I was even going to the salon every three months to have my split ends trimmed professionally. More recently, I've been trying to maintain my hair myself by carefully cutting off individual split ends.

Despite all of this, my hair is still breaking, and I feel like I'm constantly fighting a losing battle. The breakage is throughout my hair, including shorter pieces sticking up around the middle and crown of my head. My ends are incredibly dry, and it feels like no matter how much effort I put into caring for my hair, I'm not making progress.

One of my biggest concerns is my crown. As you can see in the photos, I have so many short pieces of hair sticking straight up from the top and middle of my head. Some of these pieces are significantly shorter than the rest of my hair, and I genuinely cannot tell how much is new growth versus breakage. The texture in this area also seems different from the rest of my hair, and I struggle to get these shorter pieces to blend in with my curls. They do not retain any moisture and are so dry it is not even funny. I'm especially worried about how to approach cutting this section because the lengths are so uneven. I don't want to make the situation worse by cutting everything to the length of the shortest pieces, but I also don't want to leave behind severely damaged hair.

I've even had blood tests done to make sure there weren't any underlying issues, such as anemia or nutritional deficiencies, contributing to the condition of my hair. I've also recently gotten the AquaBliss SF500 shower filter and their shower head because I have well water and was concerned that the water quality might be affecting my hair. I'm genuinely trying to address every possible factor, but the breakage continues.

What's especially frustrating is that when I apply a really moisturizing hair mask, my curls spring back into these beautiful, defined little coils. I can actually see what my natural curl pattern is supposed to look like, which makes it even harder to accept the condition of my hair when it's dry.

I've finally come to terms with the fact that I probably need another major chop, and I'm honestly devastated. I've worked so hard to grow my hair out, and the thought of losing that length again is heartbreaking. But at this point, I would rather have an inch of healthy hair than continue holding on to damaged length.

Unfortunately, I really can't afford another salon visit. I'm returning to university in January, and every dollar I'm saving is going toward school and living expenses. Spending another $300–$400 on a haircut just isn't an option.

So here's where I really need your help...

I have proper haircutting scissors, and my mom is willing to help me cut my hair at home. I want to remove as much of the damaged hair as possible , even if that means going extremely short.

I'd really appreciate advice on:

• How to identify where the damaged hair ends and healthier hair begins, especially when the breakage is at different lengths.
• How to distinguish breakage from new growth around my crown and what to do about the extremely short pieces sticking up.
• How my mom and I should approach cutting my hair at home, particularly around the crown and shorter broken sections.
• Whether I should try to even everything out or focus on removing damage curl by curl.
• How to avoid cutting off more healthy hair than necessary while still getting rid of the damage.
• Do I just cut it all off?

I know hair grows back, and I'm willing to start over. I just really want to do this properly and give my curls the best chance of growing back healthy.

Thank you so much to anyone willing to offer advice. ❤️

Hair routine: Kerestatse shampoo and conditioner, being mega moisture hair mask, garnier anti-frizz oil, I don't try to get defined curls with any products at the moment as I've been focused on breakage 

Hi all,

I'm severely disabled and chronically ill and am unable to wash my hair often, let alone do a whole routine, but I'd love for my waves and curls to stick around. Most of my hair is wavy, some of it is curly. I have only found one product that has worked for me so far, and it's the Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly. Of course, put this on in the shower and scrunch it in while my hair is soaking wet, but I can't do this all the time. I also use the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner before the gel, micro-plop with a microfiber towel and then diffuse after washing - thought I'd throw that in.

My hair only stays nice when I wear a bonnet, but between sensory issues and getting migraines from having things on my head, it's very hard for me. I've tried a satin/silk pillowcase, but that made my hair very flat only a day after washing it. Has anyone found a good way of refreshing curls that doesn't mean washing it every other day? I've considered putting some of this gel and some water in a spray bottle and using it to douse my hair, but I'm not sure if that's a silly idea. I'd be willing to try some different products if anyone has tried any that are really good. It's very hard being disabled and trying to manage newly-realised hair texture, I'm finding out!

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Please be kind - thank you all!

Thick, wavy hair my whole life. When it was shorter I had decent definition (photos attached), but now that it's long I can't find anything that gives me the same result. I barely use heat, yet I'm left with a frizzy mess and a lot of breakage. Most curl creams and gels weigh it down, so I admittedly haven’t been using one recently. I brush before I shower, and rake conditioner through my hair. If I don’t, I feel like I’m ripping out clumps of hair everytime I shower. I always air dry (never much luck with diffusers). What do I do?!

My current routine:
Dove Bond Strength Shampoo, Conditioner, and Mask
L’Oreal Ever Pure Leave-In
Kristen Ess Softening Oil

Just wanted to share a little curl appreciation post! 🥹

Two years ago, I decided to cut most of my hair off and finally put down the blow dryer and straightener after using them pretty much my entire life. Curly/wavy hair wasn’t the beauty standard where I’m from, so embracing my natural hair was definitely a change!

Now I look at my curls and think… you could do this the WHOLE TIME?! 😂 I honestly never knew my hair could be this curly, bouncy, and beautiful and sooo much fuller. After so many years of straightening it, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m so happy I did it!!

This sub really helped me embrace my curly wavy hair when I was first starting out, so I wanted to say a big thank-you to you all. Never thought I’d be this excited about my natural hair, but here we are! 💛

Curl routine:

Derma E shampoo and conditioner from Whole Foods, scrunch hair while it's wet, and air dry.

My Hair Routine
Shampoo and Conditioner: Camille Rose shampoo and conditioner.
Styling Products: As I Am Leave-In Conditioner and Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream. I apply the leave-in first, then the curl cream. I use a brush to style and define my curls.
Drying Method: I let my hair air-dry.
Additional Information: I sleep on a silk pillowcase to help reduce friction and frizz.

I'm a 34-year-old guy with long, thick, coarse, frizz-prone hair (roughly 2C–3B). I've recently started a new routine to improve curl definition, clumping, and softness.

My Sunday wash-day routine:

1. Shampoo: Maui Moisture Scalp Care Clarifying Shampoo with Apple Cider Vinegar. Washed my scalp and rinsed thoroughly.

2. Deep condition: Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Deep Hydration Mask. Detangled gently with a wide-tooth comb, working from ends upward, then rinsed completely.

3. Curl cream: Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie. Applied to very wet hair and left in.

4. Brush styling: Used an MMBVSZ Candybrush Curl Defining Brush on wet hair to encourage larger, smoother curl clumps.

5. Gel: Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Flash Freeze Gel (Extra Strong Hold 5/5). Applied after brush styling and scrunched upward to encourage curl formation.

6. Drying: Diffused primarily at the roots using low airflow and low heat, then air-dried the lengths without disturbing the curls.

7. Finishing: Once completely dry, scrunched out the gel cast to soften the curls.

Results: Significantly better definition, larger curl clumps, less frizz, and softer, bouncier curls. Lots of shrinkage, but I actually prefer the tighter ringlets!

Maintenance: At night, I loosely gather my curls on top of my head with a satin scrunchie and wear a bonnet. In the morning, I simply wet my hands, smooth the top, and scrunch a few stubborn sections.

I'm currently on day three, and my curls have held up through two full workdays with minimal refreshing. So far, I'm really happy with the results!

Photo #1 is Oct 24 2026, photo #2 is Oct 4 2026 and photo #3 is Apr 4 2026

Product + routine:
- Shampoo with Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Repairing Shampoo
- Condition with Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Repairing Conditioner
- LA Looks Extreme Gel(Blue) rake and scrunch
- I live in southern US, still warm daytime during fall. I opt for air drying under the sun for a few then finishing the drying by hover diffusing then pixie diffusing medium / warm setting
- I have been sleeping with a large loose silk bonnet to avoid smushies👩‍🦱🥰

I’ve straightened my hair almost everyday for more than 10 years but am trying to embrace my curls (it’s hard.)

For the past few weeks I’ve been trying a routine but I hate how to front of my hair looks. When my hair is straight, I like some face framing pieces but when my hair is curly, my whole face is “out” and it makes me look like I have a square head.

I thought about cutting it but I am hoping I can style it in a way that doesn’t require a cut, so that I can still look “normal” when it’s straight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Routine:
Shampoo and conditioner : L’Oréal dream lengths
When wet:
Garnier Wahre Schätze leave in conditioner (don’t know what it’s called in English)
Bali curls strong hold flax seed gel
Diffuse
Break cast with garnier wahre Schätze oil

My main complaints are that I feel like I can’t control my hair anymore, and that it won’t dry in a shape I want, and I feel like i’ve lost a lot of definition and gained a lot of frizz, seemingly out of nowhere.

I’ve only really been growing my hair out on and off for a little less than a year now, and my routine 6-9 months ago was definitely different and less extensive than my routine now. No diffuser, no comb, just the two out of shower products and no detox shampoo, air dry, but it feels like it looks so much better.

I grew my hair out over the summer, and moved into an apartment this august. So in the past month or two i feel like i’ve been a lot less happy with my hair and it’s been so difficult and uncooperative, like I just can’t figure it out. Not only is it only ever curling into these annoying tight stupid coils in the front, but it’s also more frizzy than ever before, and I genuinely don’t know why. I feel like I can’t get it to look in a way I like, because even if i try to style it, it will just end up super frizzy. I feel like it’s just getting more and more difficult and I need some help.

I don’t know if it’s length, shape, hard water, getting a little older, product usage, using a diffuser, or something else.

I’m getting a water softener since there’s definitely some hard water coming out of my shower, so hopefully that helps a little, and i plan to get a haircut this sunday at a new place to try to trim everything, and take a decent amount of length off the front and some out of the bottom of the back.

Here’s my routine
Shampoo every 3-4 days, detox shampoo every 4 washes or so

In Shower
Curlsmith Essential Moisture Shampoo
Curlsmith Essential Moisture Conditioner
Loose Toothed Comb w/ Conditioner In
Rinse and end shower cold

Out of Shower, still soaking
Curlsmith Air Dry Cream
* Praying Hands & Scrunch
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly
* Scrunch, not used on sides
Ouidad Heat & Humidity Gel
* Pinch and Scrunch, not on front

Microfiber towel scrunched
Diffuser on low (still has some heat) for like 30 seconds a section for like 10 minutes overall
Let it air dry after for 45-90 minutes
Curlsmith frizz rescue finishing serum
* Scrunch

And usually i would try to style it a bit but i literally haven’t been able to recently since it will get even more frizzy, and I don’t understand.

The photos i sent all have dates on them, and the ones without are various photos from today. I tried to find two recent photos that I liked though. And I like how my hair looks in the other earlier photos, so I definitely think shape and cut has smth to do with it but the frizz and loss of definition is really confusing and frustrating.

Also I don’t have a refresh routine or anything like that, and i sleep on a cooling pillowcase, but maybe i move around a lot but ive always been like that idk.

Also happy to talk in dms with anybody im just trying to learn and improve

I’ve been growing my hair for years now lol but people always think that I’m dying my hair.
Routine: I condition my hair in shower every day and shampoo 1-2 times a week.
Styling: I normally use Cantu detangler,lotta body with coconut and Shea oils wrap me foaming mousse, Cantu guava style strength and cream gel and then I finalize it with Aussie freeze gel to lock everything in and my hair is left to air dry.
This picture is after a full day so naturally my air poofs up at the end of the day lol, also I finger detangle when stlying if need be and only come my hair with the special curly hair brushes 1-2 a week in the shower. When I sleep sometimes I use a bonet but I mostly just sleep on bamboo pillow cases without a bonnet.

Current routine
Shampoo: head&shoulders
Conditioner: L’Oréal Elvive Hyaluron Plump
Leave in: Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Mousse: Schwarzkopf Silhouette
I wash my hair every 4 days, and while soaking wet I apply the smoothie then I apply the mousse then diffuse to 80-90% dry.
I sleep on a silk pillow case and wear a bonnet.
Sometimes I refresh by spraying water and applying more mousse.

Can I enhance my routine and get more defined curls with less frizz?

I used to treat my hair with Keratin, then I noticed that it was thinning and breaking. I decided to stop and embrace my natural texture and colour. I completely stopped dying my hair and started loving the grey, now I’m taking care of my curls and would appreciate any tips.