has anyone else considered this hypothesis?

elizard · 08-10-2012, 06:05 PM

I've seen a lot of people who say that their under layer is straighter than the rest of their hair. This happens to me too, and maybe I'm in denial, but I keep thinking that maybe it's not genetic, but caused by something else.

Could it be because as my hair is drying, it's weighing down on top of that lower layer? And also, this hair is constantly sticking to my neck as it's drying! It never even gets crunch to scrunch out! Could this be why? Any thoughts? I want this under hair to curl!

elizard · 08-10-2012, 06:08 PM

I meant to post pics

Polkadotowl · 08-10-2012, 06:09 PM

I have wondered this, too! It touches/rubs my neck and shoulders even when I try not to move too much. I get more curl in these layers when I diffuse. I think you are on to something! Maybe diffusing is the answer?

*Just saw pics*
This happene dto me a lot more when my hair was short like yours. It could be that it was either a) cut in a way that doesn't promote curl or b) doesn't get curly because it is such a short layer (the ones by our necks usually are. I could be wrong, but those are some other guesses.

Do you apply your product with your head hanging upside down?

elizard · 08-10-2012, 07:06 PM

yes, i apply my products upside down, and i scrunch like crazy. i've thought about the diffusing thing as well, but i'm lazily hoping there's another way. maybe my curl pattern will tighten up with CG?? fingers crossed!

kimmidawn · 08-10-2012, 08:24 PM

I don't know if you guys plop, but I found plopping to pull out a lot of the wave from the under layer of my hair. Now I almost never plop and just apply product directly after my shower, then go straight into diffusing. It's helped me get back a lot of wave in that layer

SweetSquatchii · 08-10-2012, 09:16 PM

I also think it might have to do with length and the act that it sits against your neck as its setting up and with the plop pulling it when it's drying too.

As my hair got longer, I started getting ringlets in the under layer at the ends. It's still flat at the neckline though. I think it's a combination of all these things.

It's def an intriguing thought!

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elizard · 08-10-2012, 09:25 PM

thanks for the responses, girls. i want to grow my hair out, so i'll have to see what happens as it grows.

kimmidawn, i just wanted to say that seeing the difference between your first day of CG and your avatar is such as inspiration to me! your hair looks great.

kimmidawn · 08-12-2012, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elizard

thanks for the responses, girls. i want to grow my hair out, so i'll have to see what happens as it grows.

kimmidawn, i just wanted to say that seeing the difference between your first day of CG and your avatar is such as inspiration to me! your hair looks great.

Aw thank you

I'm glad I can show there can be a big difference after going CG...also I would suggest as time goes on to revisit techniques that may not have worked originally...because for me and at least one other curly, putting products into damp hair gave the best results but after a few months, putting products into soaking wet hair started working better

Oh another thing about your original question, I found two other things that made a difference with my underlayer was applying my hard hold gel to the under layer first and diffusing that section first; because I originally did those two parts last rather than first, I think that area got less product and it had less time for setting the curl through the diffuser. Hope those ideas help too.

kstan · 08-15-2012, 09:34 AM

I'm on the CG bandwagon. My sister is not. We both have the strait under layer. Plopping, diffusing, air dry, gel, mouse. . . NOTHING will do a thing for it.

Its also the very first of my hair to dry. Even hot rollers or a curling iron won't curl it for very long. Oh well. I've accepted my fate.

Katsaromalla · 08-15-2012, 11:58 PM

I've been wondering about that, too. I have 2c hair in the back, but the underlayer is 2a and in the front I have very defined curls. Before I went sort of CG, the underlayer was straight and the rest was 2a. I'm hoping that as I progress it will get better, because I used to be 3a before I got iron deficiency and then hashimoto's and before I stopped conditioning and I started brushing like a maniac.

I'm also wondering if length has something to do with it. The longer my hair is, the less wavy it is and it was also less wavy when it was shorter. So, maybe there is a specific length that my hair likes? By the way, how do you guys cut your hair? Every hairdresser I've been to tells me to get layers for volume, but I don't get any volume, I just get long limp hair underneath and far bouncier curls on top and it looks ugly... I keep saying that I want to hide that part of my hair and they insist on saying that I'm wrong... Is there a thread or an article that explains haircuts?

Libra_Moon · 08-16-2012, 06:21 AM

See my hair has better curls underneath and straighter on top.

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kstan · 08-16-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsaromalla

I've been wondering about that, too. I have 2c hair in the back, but the underlayer is 2a and in the front I have very defined curls. Before I went sort of CG, the underlayer was straight and the rest was 2a. I'm hoping that as I progress it will get better, because I used to be 3a before I got iron deficiency and then hashimoto's and before I stopped conditioning and I started brushing like a maniac.

I'm also wondering if length has something to do with it. The longer my hair is, the less wavy it is and it was also less wavy when it was shorter. So, maybe there is a specific length that my hair likes? By the way, how do you guys cut your hair? Every hairdresser I've been to tells me to get layers for volume, but I don't get any volume, I just get long limp hair underneath and far bouncier curls on top and it looks ugly... I keep saying that I want to hide that part of my hair and they insist on saying that I'm wrong... Is there a thread or an article that explains haircuts?

I just asked the lady to even up my bottom layer, so it doesn't stick out so much and will blend in a little better. She didn't get it either.

Next hair cut will be from someone who knows what to do with my waves. I've heard of a few people who get it cut a bit shorter than the rest of their hair to hide it all together.

elizard · 08-16-2012, 03:12 PM

Katsaromalla, there was a thread not too long ago that explained ways of talking to your hairdresser to get them to understand what you want. If you have the chance, you could try a curly hair specialist. I went to one for the first time, and she suggested cutting the bottom layer shorter since it doesn't curl up as much. We decided to let it go this time in case I'm able to come up with another solution, but I may have to go that route. You can try searching for that thread.

carmelwaves · 08-17-2012, 05:54 PM

actually my under layer is a lot more curly than my top layer!

Keihs · 09-25-2012, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carmelwaves

actually my under layer is a lot more curly than my top layer!

Ditto..

rapunzel4ever · 09-26-2012, 01:39 AM

My nape hair isn't as curly/wavy as the rest, but it increased the longer I'm wearing it natural and quit brushing when dry. Now I have two strands of nape hair that is 2a and the rest is at least 2b. Around my ears it is more 3a. But that is especially the new hairs that grew in since I went natural (over a year ago).

What has helped me for the underlayers:
-Moisture
-Always seal with a tiny bit of oil (mineral or natural)
-make sure I put enough gel in it to style
-diffusing, but not too long, because: too dry=too straight

What is messing up my underlayer:
-plopping (I still plop, but not so long anymore)
-collars and scarves (winter is coming, so

), they cause the worst frizz ever!

kstan · 09-26-2012, 06:14 AM

my strait under layer is what helped me decide my curl pattern. when reading the descriptions, when i first joined this site, having a strait/or extremely curly underlayer is characteristic of 2c. I've been CG since June. Still no progress.