Wedding Calling Italiahaircolor and other hair pros!

[Izzy03]

First let me give you some background info:
I am hispanic, and while my hair is not very curly, it is SUPER resistant. I can get it looking straight and beautiful, but the second I step outside in the Florida humidity, it is ruined. I tried ever finishing product known to man.

As the result of years fighting with my hair, I finally had my stylist use a Japanese straightener (thermal reconditioning?). She uses Matrix Opti Smooth and I get my roots touched up every 6 months. It has been a wonderful product! Every other stylist has given me great compliments. Anyway, my point to this long intro is my hair has special needs do to the treatments.

I have used Matrix Sleek look products because they work so well, but after moving to Orlando I noticed after I washed it, my hair looked greasy and lifeless. I assumed it was build up from the Matrix sleek look product so I bought some Dove hair products. It was then I discovered that my water was the reason my hair issue, but I continued to use the Dove anyway because I liked the smell and my hair worked well with it(I hate to waste).

Fast forward a few months, and I think my hair is looking more damaged than usual. It is time for trim, but I am trying to grow my hair out for my wedding in 6 months (it is just draping over my shoulders). I ran out and bought Redken EXTREME (shampoo, conditioner and anti-snap) to give my hair some hope.

So my questions:
1. What are your opinions of DOVE shampoo and conditioner
2. Aside from extensions, any tips for getting my hair to grow to its max before my wedding?

 

[blondebunny]

Date: 9/22/2008 9:19:30 PM
Author:Izzy03
First let me give you some background info:

I am hispanic, and while my hair is not very curly, it is SUPER resistant. I can get it looking straight and beautiful, but the second I step outside in the Florida humidity, it is ruined. I tried ever finishing product known to man.


As the result of years fighting with my hair, I finally had my stylist use a Japanese straightener (thermal reconditioning?). She uses Matrix Opti Smooth and I get my roots touched up every 6 months. It has been a wonderful product! Every other stylist has given me great compliments. Anyway, my point to this long intro is my hair has special needs do to the treatments.


I have used Matrix Sleek look products because they work so well, but after moving to Orlando I noticed after I washed it, my hair looked greasy and lifeless. I assumed it was build up from the Matrix sleek look product so I bought some Dove hair products. It was then I discovered that my water was the reason my hair issue, but I continued to use the Dove anyway because I liked the smell and my hair worked well with it(I hate to waste).


Fast forward a few months, and I think my hair is looking more damaged than usual. It is time for trim, but I am trying to grow my hair out for my wedding in 6 months (it is just draping over my shoulders). I ran out and bought Redken EXTREME (shampoo, conditioner and anti-snap) to give my hair some hope.


So my questions:

1. What are your opinions of DOVE shampoo and conditioner

2. Aside from extensions, any tips for getting my hair to grow to its max before my wedding?

Im no hair pro.. BUT from my experience lately.. to get my hair growing at its fullest EVER in my life.. I have been taking Biotin.. you can get it from Walmart in the vitamins section.. and u should see my nails.. never have been prettier (and i used to have fakes on and they are looking fabulous!) so I can so try that.. I have been averaging probably atleast 3/4" if not an 1" a month.. OH and I deep condition my hair EVERYTIME i wash it.. it will do wonders.. try redken butter treat.. it works WONDERS.. u can get it at Ulta.. ok well hopefully that might help!!?

 

[Izzy03]

Thanks Blondebunny! I actually started taking biotin about a month ago because I read your post about it in another thread. I am taking like 5 tablets (5000 mg) a day. I read somewhere to start taking Flintstones vitamins too. I''ll have to get those today, they are so yummy!

I also think I am going to stop flat ironing my hair on during the week. I am a biologist in a lab, so there is no need to get done up during the week. However, I see my fiance on weekends, and I still have to look good for him

. Hopefully that will help too!

 

[lliang_chi]

Izzy, I''m not hair specialist, but I used to have very troublesome hair in high school. I did a lot of sports and swimming (sun + cholrine = unhappy hair). I found the ONLY shampoo and condition that worked for me was salon quality products. Yes they''re expensive, but I think whatever they put in it really does make a huge difference in your hair. It''s shinier and healthier and stronger. Maybe it''s just a layman''s opinion but that''s why I think. Oh and trim your hair now. Damaged hair does not grow fast or healthy looking, so trim now (while you have more time) and just take care of it from here on out.

 

[Izzy03]

Lliang~ I actually booked an appt with my stylist (I have two, one that cuts, one that does the Japanese straightener). I am going to have a trim and discuss some of my hair questions with her. I agree about salon products, they are better. Drugstore shampoos seem to work well at first, but in the long run they don''t really appear to keep my hair in great condition.

 

[bootsiekin]

Date: 9/23/2008 9:04:22 AM
Author:


I also think I am going to stop flat ironing my hair on during the week. I am a biologist in a lab, so there is no need to get done up during the week. However, I see my fiance on weekends, and I still have to look good for him

. Hopefully that will help too!

I do the same thing - I am a chem grad student and I am sure everyone here thinks I am a complete slob, haha. My hair is long (most of the way down my back) but it is like half-wavy weirdness. Its also prone to breakage. I straighten it only when I am going out to dinner, or out on the weekend, etc. I think using minimal heat is a good plan, although the biotin sounds like a good option too! I might try that myself.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

When Dove first launched their "real beauty" camp....I did some work with them. I didn''t really love their products...I find them to be "drug store" quality...nothing really special. I wouldn''t really recommend anything from a drug store...not that there aren''t some good products, but, for the most part...for a few dollars more, I find that professional products really are much better for your hair in general.

Okay...as far as feeling "greasy and lifeless" and that being contributed to your water, I would suggest getting Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo. It''s a great clarifier, and works really well regardless of your water quality. It''s expensive, but used once a week--it lasts and lasts. You only need about a quater size for thick, ethnic hair.

As far as healing damaged hair...it cannot be done. No matter what product you use, and in what quanity...it cannot be fixed. Hair breaks or splits rather, from the bottom up...think of each strand like a zipper. Once it''s frayed, it''s frayed and nothing you use will mend it, I promise. Your hair will continue to break all the way up the strand. If your intention is to heal your hair, the best thing to do is to cut it...even if it feels like a step backwards, it''s not. Your hair will just break and break and break to no end, but cutting it stops that process and gives you a fresh start. Ask your stylist what needs to go...and listen to her advice.

Once you have no split ends, avoid flat ironing....brushing your hair when wet without using a wide tooth comb...keep any and all chemical processing to a minimum, like once every 3 months, MAX!!!! Do not (under penalty of death) "bleach" your hair...no highlights until right before you wedding!

As far as making your hair grow faster...I never recommend anything chemical--taken orally or otherwise. I mean, we''ve all heard "prenats" or "biotin"...but, without knowing you as a client of mine and being framilar with you, I wouldn''t feel comfy pushing anything serious on you. I would just suggest promoting healthy hair, regular trims, and deep conditioning once every 2 weeks.

Let me know if I can help any further

 

[SarahLovesJS]

I''m not a pro, but I just wanted to ditto Italia on the bumble & bumble. I

it! I think the one I use is called Creme de Coco.