How can I get VOLUME? Help!

Myrna · 04-05-2012, 05:35 PM

Whatever I use to define my curls seems to flatten my hair. I dont like it! Yes, I diffuse upside down. I'm so frustrated! This past month I have tried all sorts of products and combos and nothing seems to give me volume.

beeduh · 04-05-2012, 06:10 PM

I really like giovanni thickening gel. It helps me a lot. I haven't used it lately though. I'm trying to figure out my summer combos right now. I'm having trouble with too much moisture and it's leaving my hair clinging to my head (not attractive at all on me).

Myrna · 04-05-2012, 06:12 PM

Yes, exactly, I am having the same problem. And I have found in the past, that gels just tighten my curls and frizz them! so I just tried a mousse only.

beeduh · 04-05-2012, 08:48 PM

The last time I used my Giovanni gel was when I took my avvy pic. Best hair day since going CG. I used a little thickening gel on wet hair, applied a little SM curl milk over it, a little more thickening gel, and then eco styler (clear) gel. Then I plopped a little and diffused a little. SOTC. And vwah-la (however you spell it). Awesome hair day with no frizz. :]

Myrna · 04-05-2012, 08:53 PM

Ya know, I want great curls just as much as the next curly girl, but I cant go through 5 products to get them, and then not be sue of what is doing what. I need one or 2 good products. Thats my limit.

LavenderCurls · 04-05-2012, 09:11 PM

Have you tried LOOB? Doesn't take alot and it helps with volume.

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SaraNoH · 04-05-2012, 09:41 PM

lighter products can give you more volume if you do it right, like mousse. My curls end up stringier, but there's more volume, but it doesn't look so hot at the end of the day because of the light hold.

Finding that balance is a pain.

Have you tried jaw-clipping your wet hair? I hate duckbill clips, but jawclips can really grab a ton of hair.

2poodles · 04-06-2012, 05:42 AM

When I end up with stringy or flat hair -- and when dealing with 2nd or 3rd day hair -- I'll take a wide tooth comb and gently comb my hair. That, obviously, breaks apart the curls. Then I damped my hair with water and begin to scrunch the curls back in. The water reactivates whatever product was in there (lately I'm using a bit of KCKT and a smidge of KCCC). Finally I spray some JC Awe Inspiraling spray into my hands and scrunch that in. That sequence - the gentle combing, the water scrunch followed by a small hand scrunch application of JCAIS - has been very helpful at increasing volume and encouraging clumps rather than stringy hair. Now, just so you know, I have 2 - 3a hair that is fine, low porosity and low- medium density, so that process may or may not work for you. But perhaps it's worth trying some day if you really want volume....

Myrna · 04-06-2012, 06:13 AM

Thanks, ladies, but here is my hair: it changed when I went through menopause from 3C/3A to 3A/3B hair; it is not thin, it is coarse and color treated. I just cannot figure it out. I had it figured out - CK with a bit of gel - and then the weather changed and it went FLAT. I am at my wit's ends. In a way, I have always liked mousse better than gels - but they dont necessarly have the hold, and if I put a gel on top, I get frizzzzzzzzz - does anyone else have these problems, I wonder..and what to do??

2poodles · 04-06-2012, 08:37 AM

Have you tried a protein treatment lately? If not, it might be worth a shot. It certainly helps me when my curls are limp.

Myrna · 04-06-2012, 09:01 AM

What is a good protein treatment?

curry curls · 04-06-2012, 09:25 AM

I use Nexxus Emergencee and love it. The bottle says to shampoo, but I just co-wash.

Plopping helps me with volume.

2poodles · 04-06-2012, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myrna

What is a good protein treatment?

My favorite is Curl Junkie Repair Me - it's moisturizing enough that I don't need to deep condition afterwards....

Jas76 · 04-06-2012, 11:14 AM

Gelatin!!! AIgirl's recipe can be found in the 2's area, I believe. It's amazing!!!

I also like adding CNPF from sally's to almost any condish!

BekkaPoo · 04-06-2012, 11:19 AM

If your products are weighing you down, you might want to just reduce the amount of product you're using. I get the most volume on shampoo day and the next two or three days after.

LavenderCurls · 04-07-2012, 08:08 AM

My favorite protein treatment is the K-Pak knockoff at Sally's. Followed by a good deep conditioner.

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IAgirl · 04-07-2012, 10:05 AM

This is the long gelatin PT post, it's a homemade version of Aphogee 2-step / also quite like Emergencee (but more affordable). It is a strong PT. To make it milder, the quantity of gelatin is cut in half, the water can be doubled, and conditioner and oils can be added. PT recipe - as promised

Gel over mousse gave you frizz, what about gel under mousse?

I clip for volume, though really is just keeps my hair from gluing itself to my head, but what works best is summer and humidity! The weather is all over the place right now (here, anyhow) and it's just darn unpredictable. Must start keeping notes about what works in spring and fall (as well as winter)...

LadyChristina · 04-08-2012, 06:12 PM

any idea what would happen if I used Cherry gelatin? It's all I have on hand at the moment

Corrina777 · 04-08-2012, 07:18 PM

TIGI Curls Rock Strong Mousse is the only mousse I've found that I've been able to use consistently without gel. I got volume, curl definition, and almost no frizz.

Touch.of.ink · 04-08-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2poodles

When I end up with stringy or flat hair -- and when dealing with 2nd or 3rd day hair -- I'll take a wide tooth comb and gently comb my hair. That, obviously, breaks apart the curls. Then I damped my hair with water and begin to scrunch the curls back in. The water reactivates whatever product was in there (lately I'm using a bit of KCKT and a smidge of KCCC). Finally I spray some JC Awe Inspiraling spray into my hands and scrunch that in. That sequence - the gentle combing, the water scrunch followed by a small hand scrunch application of JCAIS - has been very helpful at increasing volume and encouraging clumps rather than stringy hair. Now, just so you know, I have 2 - 3a hair that is fine, low porosity and low- medium density, so that process may or may not work for you. But perhaps it's worth trying some day if you really want volume....

+1 for this method, 2poodles! I do the same thing (well, I use Sea mist instead of JCAIS, but that's just because I haven't tried JCAIS yet

) I think we have the same type of hair, too