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Is there anyway to combat it?
I actually had a nice hair day yesterday, nice enough to wear my hair down for the first time in forever. 😯 It was actually because I left a DT in overnight (Suave lavender, a little bit of shea, mango, and cocoa butters, honey, coconut oil, olive oil, and some Freeman Papaya+Mango Deep Conditioner thing), and I rinsed it out in the morning, and I had lovely not frizzy curls. The only downside was that I was sleeping very rigidly because I was afraid the stuff was gonna spill out, so I had a stiff neck.
HOWEVER, the whole point of this is that I have major shrinkage. Yesterday morning, for an hour or two after I rinsed it out, my hair was about armpit length, or bra strap length, I suppose you guys call it. By 3:00, it was mostly dry and my hair was about shoulder length. It was weird…I just had this [i]block[/i] of hair. And the back is always the worst. My profile always looks funny when I have hair like that. But yeah, thats a good 4-5 inches of shrinkage. (And I pulled one of my tighter undercurls out until it was straight…7 inches, man) I wouldn’t mind it so much, but it just looks weird. Especially because I have no volume at all on top. Actually, that’s another problem. My curl formation only starts 3 or so inches down from the top of my head, and it’s very flat on top.
So, er, any help?
But yes, on the whole, I think my hair reacted very well to that overnight DT.
Edit: This is a random sidenote, but I was looking at Urbancurl’s and Anicetta’s pics, and I realized that my curl pattern thing is kinda different…I have more S-curls, I think a lot of them are actually more like really teeny waves than actual spirals, like Urban and Anicetta’s are. I do have some spirals, but I think they are mostly the S-curls.
Hi Sapphire!
Well it sounds like you’re making progress, you wore your hair down, that’s great! Shrinkage is just a fact of life with curls. Take ribbon, for example, that you would use to wrap a present. When you take scissors and curl the ribbon, it’s got great curl, but it’s substantially shorter. I just measured my hair and I’ve got 6 inches of shrinkage at the longest part of my hair. Personally, I don’t mind the shrinkage much if the curls look nice. Gel helps a little with shrinkage though. Also, I have heard that some people will put clips on the ends of their hair while it dries so that it does not shrink up so much.
I agree, that your hair does not have the exact same texture or curl pattern as mine or as Anicetta’s. There are definitely similarities though, and similar issues we face. But are S curls just spirals that haven’t spiral-ed for some reason? I’m not sure.
Urban is right/wise, shrinkage is a fact of life for most curly heads (I think that Type 3as and lower don’t have it, but Type 3bs and up do, in varying degrees depending on tightness and texture of curls). I use gel to deal with it, since gel holds my curls in place. To combat crunchiness, I dilute gel with water and apply to damp hair, particularly with heavy, thick gels. However, lately, I’ve been diluting gel less to provide a heavier hold since my curls are now bigger in size and volume than before …. If there is any crunch, it can be “scrunched” out, which just means squeezing crunchy curls to loosen the texture. Anyway, I’ve been having decent luck lately and am happy with my curls! 🙂 I am very happy to hear that you wore you hair down – I bet it looked great 😀
Sapphire,
I have an average of 6-7 inches of shrinkage, too.
Is there a way to combat it? Well, short of straightening, you aren’t gonna get the full 7 inches back.I don’t worry about shrinkage. It is necessary if you want well-formed curls.
Be glad that your hair is as long as it is because several of the curlies here would love to have your length.And as a sidenote, up until a couple of months ago, I also thought my hair was more S-waves than spirals. And then it just started spiraling. (At least the ends spiral.)
I’m glad you’re wearing your hair down now. 🙂
Anicetta, well, yeah, I wouldn’t want *all* 7 inches back, or otherwise I’d have straight hair. But when it shrinks, it just gets all dense and weirdy. 😛
Yes, it’s lovely that I’m wearing my hair down now, but it’s only the morning after a overnight DT (which I still cannot master, BTW. the stuff keeps spilling out and staining my pillow!). And no second-day hair. Well, except for that one time where I did not get first-day hair but I got second-day hair… 😯
Anyways, thanks all of y’alls.
I have up to 10 inches of shrinkage right now, and more of it the more I transition. It actually doesn’t bother me now because that’s what creates corkscrews, but sometimes I do want more length and all of the following cut back on shrinkage for me:
-pure glycerin
-glycerin-heavy products such as S Curl and Fantasia IC gels
-[buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Miss-Jessies-Curly-Pudding-p-578.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=miss-jessies-curly-pudding]Curly Pudding[/buylink]
-shingling
-finger-curling
-stretching roots with a blowdryer
-twist outs
-doing 8 or 10 big twists, weighing down the top and bottom with heavy metal clips, and sitting under the dryer
-putting clips on the ends
-letting hair dry pulled back in a bun or with a scarf on it
-“wrapping” wet hair and letting it dry
-drying with heat as opposed to airdrying6-7 inches here. My hair is bra strap length, but right now in it’s naturally curly state it doesn’t even touch my shoulders. I don’t seem to have a problem with the shrinkage anymore. I guess it’s just one of the things I’ve learned to accept over the years as I’ve learned to appreciate my curly hair. (when I was younger I hated my hair. I felt like I was the only one in the world with hair like this. Thank God for this site 8) )
If you find a curly style you like, you may care less and less about the length you “loose” when it’s curly. I’m enjoying my curly hair so much now that I’ve made a recent appointment to have it styled, and if that means cut then so be it. I did let them know that I may want to straighten it from time to time just for a different look, so I will want a cut that would work for straight hair too. But we have an advantage where we can be short and curly, or long and straight, so celebrate. (sorry for the corny rhyme. I couldn’t help myself 😳 )
[quote=KrlyQ]
If you find a curly style you like, you may care less and less about the length you “loose” when it’s curly. …[/quote]Very well put!
[quote=SapphireWingstar]It was weird…I just had this block of hair. And the back is always the worst. My profile always looks funny when I have hair like that.[/quote]
[quote=SapphireWingstar]But when it shrinks, it just gets all dense and weirdy. 😛 [/quote]
Does this block hair thing sorta look like pyramid head?I think I know what you’re talking about.
You have layers in the back. I have layers in the back, too. I don’t know if you brush or not, but I used to brush the whole back together. When I did this, the longest layers in the back would shrink up more than expected because the curls were getting tangled in the shorter curls. The whole back would look like a matted bird’s nest, and it looked really dense and voluminous from the profile.
Then I started brushing the layers separately (2 or 3 layers). The longest layer doesn’t get tangled in the shorter ones and it doesn’t shrink up as much. The shortest layer now moves on its own (and not as part of the rather immobile “back mass”). The back doesn’t look like a bird’s nest anymore, and the volume went down.
Is this sorta what’s going on with you? (The immobile, matted-looking “back mass”?)
Anicetta: Yeah, I think so. I’m not entirely sure, though. I don’t brush, but I comb in the shower (if that’s the same thing). I’ll try combing layers separately.
Also, I’ve just realized something. I think, actually, it’s not so much the shrinkage that bothers me, it’s the frizz that *always* comes with shrinkage.
Hmm…okay, I’m trying to sort some things out…My hair is lovely in the shower, when it’s wet, no frizz or shrinkage at all. But when it dries, it starts getting frizzy. And it’s weird, most people complain that their ends are frizzy…for me, it’s the opposite – my ends are the most defined and non-frizzed. then further along the curl, it gets frizzy.
And actually, my hair is a lot less frizzy than it was before…and it may be due to the fact that I’m using HE Humidity Defying Gel, which has a protein, but I dunno. I’m trying to get the Aussie gels this weekend.
Um….my hair is really nice and soft, though…not overly soft, I don’t think, but nice and touchable. It’s just the frizz that gets me. And I think it’s just the top layer that frizzes. The bottom layer shrinks, too, but it’ doesn’t frizz. Hm.
Ack, my hair is so confusing. I don’t even know what the problem is, or what could be causing it. 😕
[quote=SapphireWingstar]Hmm…okay, I’m trying to sort some things out…My hair is lovely in the shower, when it’s wet, no frizz or shrinkage at all. But when it dries, it starts getting frizzy.[/quote]
😆 It seems this is true for most curlies. When wet, the hair is well-defined and low on frizz/volume. As it dries, it might become less defined and/or frizzier/fluffier/fuzzier/poofier/etc. You need to find something that is very moisturizing and/or will lock in as much moisture as possible.[quote]And it’s weird, most people complain that their ends are frizzy…for me, it’s the opposite – my ends are the most defined and non-frizzed. then further along the curl, it gets frizzy.[/quote]
Same here. My ends are the most defined and frizzless part of my hair. It’s the part nearest the root to about the quarter or mid-point of the strand that likes to go fuzzy (but only in the back and only the middle layers for me).A lot of people have problems with their ends getting dry, but the driest part of my hair is actually the crown area. 😕
[quote]And I think it’s just the top layer that frizzes. The bottom layer shrinks, too, but it’ doesn’t frizz. Hm.[/quote]
This might be because the top layer is more exposed to the elements and your hands than the bottom layer typically is.What products are you using other than the HEHD gel?
You should definitely get a satiny pillowcase and/or head covering if you haven’t already. 🙂[quote=anicetta] …A lot of people have problems with their ends getting dry, but the driest part of my hair is actually the crown area. 😕
[/quote]Mine too. I think that area gets leaned on the most– in cars, while sleeping… maybe the moisture gets sucked out of it.
[quote=anicetta]
What products are you using other than the HEHD gel?
[/quote]Well, I leave in a lot of my conditioner (right now it’s Suave coconut), and er, yeah, that’s all. I got that Garnier Fructis soft curl ceam stuff that a few people liked, since I’m still trying to do drugstore brands, but I havne’t used it much yet. But that’s all.
Yes, I really should get a satin pillowcase. I meant to this weekend, but I kinda forgot. This weekend is too busy, so it’ll have to be next weekend (hopefully).
Off-topic, kinda, but there’s a salon near me that sells Devacurl products and I waaaannt….
Hmm…is clipping *the* way to get volume at the roots? My hair is all flat on the top of my head, with no curls. My curl formation only starts a few inches down from the root (I can’t remember if I said that already, so I’m sorry if I’m being redundant). If so, how do you clip?
More random thoughts, but I kinda wanna try diffusing, now. Hm.
[quote=SapphireWingstar][quote=anicetta]
What products are you using other than the HEHD gel?
[/quote]Well, I leave in a lot of my conditioner (right now it’s Suave coconut), and er, yeah, that’s all. I got that Garnier Fructis soft curl ceam stuff that a few people liked, since I’m still trying to do drugstore brands, but I havne’t used it much yet. But that’s all.[/quote]
Are you shampooing at all? The Soft Curl Cream has dimethicone in it (as well as some “fruit microwaxes” :lol:). Just watch out for buildup with that one.[quote]Off-topic, kinda, but there’s a salon near me that sells Devacurl products and I waaaannt….[/quote]
Urban and Spiderlashes are the Devacurl experts here. Maybe they can recommend something.But I believe Urban has said her former HG conditioner was Suave Humectant. That’s a drugstore product you could try. That or any of the Suave Professionals. (They all contain dimethiconol, so you might have to use a gentle shampoo once in a while. I’ve used Suave Color Care on and off over the past month. The cone does make it easier to get the hair looking how you want.)
I hate to suggest this since it’s not a drugstore product, but you might like [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]Kinky-Curly Curling Custard[/buylink]. Just adding that to your routine (instead of the HEHD gel) might bring you closer to the look you want. It’s moisturizing and has hold. (I use this with a coneless conditioner and get almost HG results.)
[quote]Hmm…is clipping *the* way to get volume at the roots? My hair is all flat on the top of my head, with no curls. [..] If so, how do you clip?[/quote]
Yes, it is. I don’t know how to do it though. I think Mayim has pictures of it in her albums though.If I need volume on top, I just shake my head upside down and maybe “massage” the roots (from underneath) to fluff them out a bit.
[quote]I kinda wanna try diffusing, now. Hm.[/quote]
You could try it. Some people get completely different results when they diffuse rather than airdry.[quote=urbancurl][quote=anicetta]…A lot of people have problems with their ends getting dry, but the driest part of my hair is actually the crown area. :?[/quote]
Mine too. I think that area gets leaned on the most– in cars, while sleeping… maybe the moisture gets sucked out of it.[/quote]
That and I’m constantly touching that part of my hair and it’s exposed to the sun and blah blah blah. 😉I actually started doing what you do: I rinse my conditioner out with my head upside down so that more stays on the canopy. 🙂
[quote=anicetta]
I hate to suggest this since it’s not a drugstore product, but you might like [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]Kinky-Curly Curling Custard[/buylink]. Just adding that to your routine (instead of the HEHD gel) might bring you closer to the look you want. It’s moisturizing and has hold. (I use this with a coneless conditioner and get almost HG results.)[/quote]
Sapphire-
I have to agree with Anicetta (and Urban, Spiderlashes, Cehua, Amneris, Shyygirl and others) who get good results with [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]KCCC[/buylink]. I get excellent results with it, but I have to use a small amount of it ([u]diluted with water[/u]), layered over a leave-in conditioner and under a diluted gel. THEN and only then will it work magic for my hair. I think that people have really different application methods and routines with [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]KCCC[/buylink] but it does consistenly provide high quality moisture to all of us (the amount of hold seems to vary, and so does the issue of greasiness or crunchiness – personally, I can avoid those results IF I layer and use it and gel in diluted form as stated above).
I just wanted to weigh in since I had discouraged you from this product before. I think it is wonderful at combatting shrinkage and can give a lot of other benefits as well. But you have to play around with how you apply it , the amount and the other products you use with it. Also, it is expensive but the tub will last you a very, very long time. If you average the number of uses from the purchase price, it is an affordable product and good value.
Good luck to you! 😀
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