I hope you see this because this is a huge tip that helped me. You have a winter skin tone, so pure colors, true red, true blue, black, jewel tones (like that hot pink top which you are ROCKING, btw) will look the best on you. http://selfishseamstress.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/picture-178.png%3Fw%3D490%26h%3D370 This is like an old idea from the 50's I think, but I really agree with it.

Also, one product I really like as far as makeup goes is http://www.covergirl.com/instantcheekbonescontouringblush this in peach perfection. I am also a winter and a little color on the cheeks really will help your face pop & can help give you a more feminine cheekbone. I'm sure there are youtube videos on how to apply.

I agree with the lady that said some sideswept bangs would look nice. They will help balance out your jawline. Also try parting your hair a little further over a la http://hrbangs.com/jessica-alba-side-bangs.jpg

Do you know how to tease your hair at all? If you have wavy hair, it helps give it a little poof to the side and back so that all your curls don't make it look flat on the top. You can look up teasing or backcombing to see how to do it or take your pretty butt down to a salon & tell them to show you. But don't go overboard. Not looking for scene kid, just a little extra volume on top.

Also with waves, a texturizing spray like this: http://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Mothers-Beach-Texturizing/dp/B004UL0GTK/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1346617727&sr=1-2&keywords=beach+waves is your friend. And my favorite hairspray to finish with is good old aquanet. We're trying to get natural, not crunchy waves with these two products.

Last of all, congratulations on finding our true self & keep being you. If you want to try any of these tips but can figure them out, just let me know, and I'll be glad to do some videos and show you how! I have a lot of LGBTQ friends & even volunteer working with a couple of organizations that help with things like this, so let me know if even you just need to talk or whatever--be proud of who you are!

you realize than an extravert would do good to work on introvert skills, because you see the benefits of being an introvert, right? so you should work on the strengths of an extravert. that is step one.

1a. read this, and apply liberally. as an introvert, you're very perceptive. you will not lose this skill by developing your ability to be extraverted.

1b. check out /r/seduction and /r/askseddit. your friends don't know how to attract women. their female friends don't know what they're looking for. people who get their needs met up to their basest standards will not devote time to figuring shit out. don't become an asshole, but absorb information from these places, and see what rings true.

1c. go to /r/malefashionadvice and figure out what works for you. do you look like a chump? fix it. if you are uncomfortable dressing in a way that feels fake, figure out what doesn't feel fake. the main rule is appear like you take care in your appearance. this communicates that you are a thoughtful person, have a personal style, and are financially and emotionally stable. it also allows a woman to compliment you on an element of your style. something easy to start with is a $30 timex weekender or easy reader with a leather band. throw out all your old shitty shirts. if you're a t-shirt wearer, you can get designer t-shirts in bags at tj maxx/ross type stores.

1d. hello, /r/malegrooming. put some fucking hair mud in your hair. go to /r/wicked_edge and start shaving with a DE. take pride and care in your grooming. PM me for a <$100 starter kit (links to products, i'm not selling it). if you have pimples, handle them. cut your goddamned nose hairs.

1e. i recommend /r/Fitness, but they can be jerks. on a basic level, i would recommend being able to do body weight exercises like push ups, chin ups, crunches, squats. do some running, and some jumping jacks.

1f. get a hobby that you're excited about and want to yap incessantly about to the point of getting on people's nerves. i started fixed gear cycling, and i'm working on my bike, and it's loads of fun and just for me.

the second step is to just hang out with more people. we live in the 21st century, and you're 23. don't ask to be set up. it's silly. sub-points:

2a. go out and do things by yourself. smoke some weed, then go bike around the park at night. walk around a college campus and learn where all the cool spots are. go to an art museum. what you're doing is learning to be fun. do shit, and enjoy it. don't have it be just the consumption of media, either. go bowling.

2b. when you go out, talk to people. notice something funny? mention it to the person standing next to you. fat guy has a cool laptop? ask them about it. a girl has glorious tits? tell her you like her boots. especially if you start frequenting locations, you can start a conversation with someone who has a routine about how you see them there all the time and haven't introduced yourself.

2c. now that you're thinking of fun shit to do and talking to people, come up with something fun to do, and invite people you know. have fun. this can be going out somewhere. it can be making nachos and watching some nerdy movie. whatever.

2d. now that you've established a fun persona with your friends with positive associations, they might start inviting you. but people, especially naturally social people, often will forget about people. don't take it personally when they don't invite you. when someone mentions doing something with people, say "mind if i tag along?" or "dude, i should totally go to that." if they say no or whatever, go, "cool. let me know when something awesome happens."

and then you start talking to women and inviting them to do things one on one. so, a recap:

1. take care of yourself and your appearance, and lrn2social
   
   
2. talk to people, do fun things, become a fun person, develop all your relationships.
   
   
3. invite women to do shit.
   
   the thing about me as an introvert is i have a hard time putting myself out there with people, but that's bullshit. i'm just being a disingenuous asshole. my mom recently died, and i've just started talking to people and telling them what's going on and how i feel and what i'm thinking. it's so much better. no extra pain, and much better relationships with people. step 0 is quit being a withholding asshole. no offense.

This is about a 3b. I have 3b hair and while his cut is a lot different than mine the curl is pretty similar.

You need a good daily hair care routine that is going to require some trial and error on your end.

Here's a basic step by step routine:

Detangling - Get in the habit of detangling your hair while its wet. Get yourself a widetooth comb intended for detangling (like this one) and while your hair is wet use it and your fingers to pull out any of your tangles, pay close attention to the back of your head where it would normally rest against any sort of headrest (chair, car, whatever). Don't worry about getting them all, this is something you'll be doing throughout the routine, we're just getting started.

Now that we've loosened up our hair it's time to cleanse it.

Cleanser - It's best to think of this step like face wash, but for your hair, in this step you're getting rid of any oils or products still left in your hair and cleaning it.

There are three main types:

1. Shampoo - We don't want normal shampoo, however, it isn't good for our hair. You want a non-sulfate shampoo, which won't dry out or damage your hair.
   
   
2. Hair Cleanser - Often comes in a creme form, this is one of the more popular shampoo alternatives.
   
   
3. Cowash - This is a conditioner that also cleanses. Sort of like those all in one bottles of body wash/shampoo/conditioners except its just conditioner intended to clean your hair without damaging it like a sulfate shampoo. I currently use a cowash, this one in particular.
   
   With your hair still wet use your cleanser of choice and wash your hair, but before you start washing it out, it's time to break out your detangler comb and work out the tougher tangles now that your hair is lubed up and they'll give easier.
   
   Wash the product out and if you weren't using a cowash, go ahead and use your favorite conditioner (this is going to be a big experiment on your part, personally I cut this out by going the cowash route).
   
   To Dry or Not to Dry?
   
   So the next stype is styling your curls with any number of products, but before we get to that step, there's another thing you're going to want to experiment with, which is, whether or not you want to dry your hair before applying it. Personally, I prefer a good middle ground on this as it gives me the best results, so I'll towel dry my hair a little bit so that it's no longer "wet" but sort of "damp". Experiment with this until you find the best results for you.
   
   Curl Definintion, Anti-Frizz, and Styling
   
   Now that your hair is clean and conditioned and ready to apply hair product let's talk about some hair products. I recommend picking up at least 1 of each of the big options I'll list below because they each do things a little differently and often times you can find yourself mixing and matching and experimenting to find the best results.
   
   The big ones to consider:
   
   
4. Leave-In Conditioner/Hair Milk - These are light hair products that are meant to hydrate/moisturize your hair. They are great to get your hair ready to style and are often used as a refresher to re-define loose curls and combat frizz. In some cases this is all you need to get a nice leave and go hair style. I have been using this leave-in for a few months now and I love it!
   
5. Curl Creme/Smoothie - This product is all about softening, moisturizing, refreshing, conditioning, styling, and combatting frizz, a lot like a Leave-In, and because they are so much like a leave-in you can use them as such, some cremes/smoothies are marketed that way. It's a moistorizing styler that leaves your hair soft to the touch unlike other options. I use this curl smoothie, I have been using this one for 2 months now, but I experimented with a lot before settling on this one.
   
6. Curl Definer/Pomade - In contrast to the Creme/Smoothie option we have the definer/pomade/gel option. These are good for hold, shine, and controlling frizz. They have a sleek/wet/polished look to them as they lock in moisture and often have wax in them. This combination makes them great for maintaining that defined curl look throughout the day, where others you'll have to re-apply or refresh at some point in a longer day. These products will leave your hair crunchy or oily or both, especially if you over-use the product, and if you have naturally oily hair I'd avoid using this product entirely. I have two products for this job. First is Curls' Gel-Les'C, which is pretty light (thanks to using a little gel in its mixture) and doesn't give me too much crunch, which I like. The second is
   Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey, which I'm really liking.
   
   Once you figure out which products youre going to use, follow their directions and style your hair the way you like.
   
   But just to quickly review my process is as follows:
   
   
7. Wake up, shower, de-tangle.
   
8. Cowash + detangle some more.
   
9. Partially dry the hair, and put in leave-in conditioner.
   
10. I let it sit for a few minutes while I get dressed/make breakfast/whatever.
    
11. Apply either Curl Creme/Smoothie or Pomade and style. My day-to-day is the curl creme and I usually shake and go/finger comb and use a pick to make sure there's an equal amount of "puff" all around.
    
    Hope this helps!

Definitely sounds like adhesion problems. A good first layer is the most important thing for a successful print, so hopefully once you get this figured out you will start having a lot more success.

In my opinion, there are three parts to a good first layer:

1. Z-heights. In my opinion, this is the most important thing and you should get this working first before trying any crazy other things. For the first layer to work, you need to be very precise in how close the nozzle starts to the bed. This in of itself has two parts as well - z-offset, and bed levelness. The z-offset is set either with software settings if you have an auto-leveling probe (I think), or by some sort of mechanical endstop that will get bumped when your printer is leveling itself. Regarding bed levelness, if your bed is unlevel (and you don't have an auto-leveling probe compensating for it), then you will have different heights at different parts of your print bed, which will cause problems. I think that Monoprice printers have mechanical endstops, but they are not easily adjustable. That means that you have to do everything by adjusting the overall bed height to meet the nozzle, rather than having some control over both the bed levelness and the endstop engagement. The general rule of thumb for z-height is that you want to be able to just barely slide a piece of paper between the nozzle and the bed surface. I found the manual for your printer: take a look at step 7 on page 8 of the setup process, which explains it a bit. I recommend you level it while both the bed and the nozzle are hot (just be careful not to burn yourself). Position the extruder over the corner you will be adjusting, command the z-axis to home, and try to move the paper. My rule of thumb is if I can push the paper without it bunching up, but can still feel that there is some resistance from the nozzle, then I have it good. There is actually a tiny range of acceptable heights, and if you want to get really good adhesion then you can dial them down a little tighter, although that can cause other issues if you go too extreme. Repeat the paper test at all 4 corners, and then repeat it everywhere as a check- sometimes adjusting one corner can throw off all the others. Also test it in the middle of the bed to make sure that it isn't warped or twisted. [Edit] Also take a look at the pictures after step 21 on page 10. That should be a good indicator of if you have set your heights correctly.
   
   
2. Bed material. Plastic sticks better to some materials than to others. Other people have advised you on this already. I print with blue painter's tape, which has been really excellent for me. Keep in mind that different brands can be slightly different, so if you are having issues with one type then trying a different one might help- even if masking tape is very similar to painter's tape, the former might just not be good for holding onto 3d printer plastic. Kapton tape is also good, though more expensive and less disposable. I like that I can totally trash my print surface to take a stubborn print off the bed without wasting a ton of money. Other people print on borosilicate glass beds, which you can often get cut to size at hardware or home improvement stores- just be careful not to increase the height without adjusting your endstops somehow, which could cause your nozzle to crash into the bed if your mechanical endstop is set for a bare bed. Keep in mind that you will need to level your bed with the material on it, since adding stuff will increase the height of the bed slightly and will affect the paper test.
   
   
3. Bed adhesion aids. This is extra stuff to add onto the bed to increase adhesion. My printer can print well with just a good level surface and blue painter tape, but I use Aquanet Hairspray when I really want to get good adhesion for a weird print that won't have much first layer surface area. (check out "customers who bought this item also bought..." for a little laugh). You can pick up that up at a CVS or Walgreens. Other people have suggested glue sticks and other stuff.
   
   Some more little things, you are printing with ABS which has a high coefficient of thermal expansion. That means it has a strong tendency to warp and shrink as you print, which can cause the corners of your print to peel up off the bed. You can mitigate that slightly by controlling the ambient temperature around your printer more carefully. Get some sort of enclosure to stick your printer in to keep it hot- something simple like an insulated plastic bag, cardboard box, or tupperware container can work. Just be careful not to use anything flammable that the hot end could ignite.
   
   Alternatively, you could try a different plastic. PLA is a much more beginner friendly material that shouldn't give you the same warping problems that ABS does and doesn't need a heated enclosure at all. It has it's own problems that you may run into, but it should be much easier to get your first few good prints out of your printer with it.

(sorry to interrupt this thread) I have the same feeling, and I haven't used the Marc Anthony product -- but I do have some good product suggestions.

I like using a volumizing mousse and/or a hair powder to give my hair grip and volume without a stitch of extra oiliness. I find that most thickening/styling creams tend to weigh my hair down, which makes my hair look fuller but fall flat later in the day. Root spray will do good things for me, but only in combination with something a little stronger.

I use a mousse nearly every time my hair is wet. If I want more volume or to do something when my hair is still squeaky-clean, I supplement with a powder/spray to give it the texture to hold. They are also good to fluff up your hair if/when it falls.

Favorite mousses:

• Drybar's Southern Belle mousse: Sort of a strong smell if you're sensitive to that. Volume, but I can run my hands through it. I've been using this every day.
  
  
• Kerastase Resistance Volumactive: Recommended by my hairdresser. The most powerful mousse I've used, with good hold. Doesn't leave your roots particularly soft but is volumizing magic (and is not usually this expensive).
  
  
• Aveda Phomollient - Leaves hair soft and full. This is the most minimal hold of the three.
  
  
• Runners-up: Bumble and bumble Full Form mousse (Works very well, runs out VERY quickly), Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus (Effective, but a little crunchy-feeling).
  
  Hair powder:
  
  
• L'Oreal Professionel True Grip: Love this. My personal favorite. Lasts longer than you'd think, even though it's so small. Doubles as dry shampoo.
  
  
• Schwarzkopf Dust It: Works well for styling/pulling hair up. A little denser than the True Grip.
  
  
• Got2B Powderful: The cheapest, and it's magic. Also made by Schwarzkopf. Holds its own against the other two.
  
  
• Runner-up: Bumble and bumble Pret-a-Powder (pricy, smells good, soft... but just not as good as the others as a texturizer or dry shampoo).
  
  Texturizing spray: This stuff, sprayed at the roots, will fluff up any hair, any time. Works well for volume and for getting styles to hold.
  
  
• HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT ALERT: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray. Hold up hair, spray at roots, drop hair, roots stay up. Great for fluffing up a ponytail or boosting limp afternoon/next-day hair.
  
  

I have a hard time taking good photos of my hair, but I noticed that it looked pretty nice here so I'm taking the time to share my routine with you guys!

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner (rinse out)

Then when I get out of the shower I use the L.O.C. Method with these products followed by squishing my hair in the sink with a few hand-cup-fulls of warm water. I found that raking them in and then squishing my hair with a little water afterwords eliminated the frizz that I got when I did S2C and also made my curls clump together more neatly since the products add a bit of slip. It also removes any excess product and doesn't make my hair feel greasy and weighed down as it did with S2C.

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner (leave-in)

Una Designing Oil Non Oil (dime sized amount on each side of my head)

Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner (only on the bottom 1/2 of my hair)

This is when I squish with the water and then I grab my Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel and rub a good amount into my palms. I run my fingers gently through my now clumped and dripping wet curls, and then squish from the bottom which gets rid of the excess water and allows the gel to form a cast around the curls. I do this on both sides of my head, and then squish any dripping water away with a cotton t-shirt.

I then diffuse my hair on a medium heat setting until it is about 40% dry, and then I transfer over to my space heater. The reason I do this is because diffusing gives me good volume, but if I diffuse all the way my hair gets too much volume and ends up looking 1/2 the length it is and my curls begin to warp in to wonky directions. By switching to my space heater, the slow warm air flow doesn't disrupt my pattern and makes my hair dry extra soft and bouncy. I don't like air drying because it takes way too long, and from me moving around I get a lot of frizz. I also noticed that it feels more like the products are just sitting on my hair rather than drying to become soft and flowy.

I am now able to pineapple my hair at night (I prefer using these scrunchies over traditional hair ties because they stay in place 100x better and also just slide off of my hair without giving me snagged curls, frizz, or any sort of kink) without even using a satin pillowcase, and come out the next day with what I could call almost better than day 1 second day curls! The pineapple gives me even more volume without taking away length and I just go in with a little bit of water on my fingers to smooth out any out of place curls. I give full credit to the Eco Styler Gel for allowing me this luxury. It didn't work for me with my previous routine, but now that I have converted to the L.O.C. Method I couldn't be more pleased and in love with my hair!

Sidenote: I also dyed my hair with Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Cream #63 Brown Sugar to get rid of my roots and lighten my hair a very very slight bit, and I came out with ZERO damage, ZERO difference in texture, and ZERO split ends. My hair is so healthy now, I am beyond amazed.

Thank you to the moon and back to all of you here for helping me figure out how to take good care of my curls and allowing them to reach their full potential. I am forever grateful! <3

Okay.

You need some shape to your hair. You also need to stop using a comb. Using a comb makes all the hairs look too uniform and will make any thinning or balding stick out like a sore thumb. Combs should really only ever be used when trying to achieve that hipster hard part/Mad Men look. I'm a big fan of more natural hairstyles. I would highly suggest growing out your hair a bit (while you still can) and using some sort of fiber or pomade product. I don't have a hair loss problem personally but my friend does and uses Rogaine and has had great results. In the long run, you may just need to bite the bullet and keep your head shaved. But for now, while you're young and in college, there's no reason why you can't try to have a good head of hair for a bit. When using either fiber or pomade, you just need to use about a quarter-sized amount in your hair. There's no real method to it. Just work it into your hair spiking pieces here and there. Maybe twisting some sections for extra texture. The longer your hair is on top, the more you can do with it. You could go with either of these and look a lot better.

Shorter Hair

Medium/Messy Hair


My suggestions for products are below.

1. Layrite - Good hold. Will give some shine to your hair. Water based so it washes out easily.
   
   
2. Fiber Grease - Asian product so the directions and labeling are oddly worded. But smells like apples and has very good hold with good shine. Water based as well so it will wash out easily.
   
   
   
3. American Crew Fiber - Decent hold. A lot of people on this sub like this one. Provides more of a matte/natural look to your hair. It's a little more "waxy" feeling. Still washes out, just not as easily as water based pomades.
   
   
4. Rough Rider by Kevin Murphy - Most expensive option. Probably the best hold out of all the products mentioned here. A small amount goes a long way, this container will last you a long time. More of a "clay" feel in your hands. You may want to use this in combination with a "shiny" fiber like the Fiber Grease as Rough Rider has more of a matte finish to it.
   
   EDIT: I agree with u/rogertaylorswift. Keep the sides clean and trimmed but leave yourself some length on top to play around with. A little product goes a long way. The key is not using too much. Then you get into the realm of seeming like you're "trying too hard" as you mentioned. All these products are available off Amazon. I wouldn't go crazy trying to find them in China when you can just get them delivered to your dorm room.
   

Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.

1. Its a damn candle. That opens up while it burns, AND its intended to be placed on top of a cake. Happy birthday to you.
   
   
2. This is seriously some of the best stuff ever for a colicky baby.
   
   
3. This is a holy cow!
   
   
4. Because really, who doesn't love getting all up close and personal with your siblings and in-laws?
   
   
5. I was thinking about going in the direction of drug addicts with this one, but then I decided to go with journalists. So, its a type writer, because you can obviously write things on a typewriter.
   
   
6. This is a shirt with a saying about women that marry firefighters.
   
   
7. The first thing I think of when someone says Superman is his hair. He pretty clearly spends a lot of time making that little curly q.
   
   
8. This isn't one of the big superheroes, but he's a dog. Can you think of another hero that is going to be more loyal? Until a squirrel runs by, that is.
   
   
9. My grandfather is the wonderful father in my life. When he saw that my parents were not doing what they needed to in regards to keeping my brother and I safe, he told my grandmother that she needed to get custody of us. He never wanted kids, and didn't have any biological kids of his own, and after finishing up with my mother and aunts, he had told her that he would never raise another child. He didn't have to give us the life that he did, and he works his ass off even now to help me out with my two boys. He stepped up to be a father figure to my son when my husband was not doing what he should as a father. He even took on a father roll for my husband, who didn't grow up with a father either. He runs heavy equipment, and taught me how to run a backhoe by the time I was 12 years old. That was really long.
   
   
10. The perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Of course!
    
    Bonus #1: I totally lurked through your comment history thinking I was clever. Nothing. So here's my guess
    
    I'm not even going to try #2, because there are so many options. Thanks for the contest, this was fun!
    

Here’s an example of a good curl smoothie! It’s just usually full of good things for curly hair, used like a leave-in, I just rake it into my hair directly after my shower before I squeeze out the excess moisture with a towel, super easy. Just helps with moisture and other benefits, keeping your hair from getting frizzy and keeping it nice and soft! You might also like trying out deep conditioners once a week or so, too. You just put it on in the shower, put a shower cap over your hair instead of washing out, and then do the rest of your shower stuff and wash it out last. Gives your hair protein and other good stuff, the shower cap helps the deep conditioner penetrate your hair by keeping your head heat in, it works best with “heat”, even natural heat.

Best of luck! You look super cute with your curls right now, so it can really only get better from here, haha.

If you don't like hard feeling hair "putty", I recommend going with something like Suavecito or Uppercut Deluxe Pomade.

I've used both of these products for hair styling, and I think they're simply in a league of their own. The Suavecito is definitely on the milder side, but I like that it doesn't make my hair firm. Walmart carries American Crew Fiber which I think is an OK alternative to the brands I recommended, but I wouldn't waste my money on it unless you just absolutely have to buy it at Walmart tonight.

Use damp hair with all these products, but make sure its on the drier side, because the two pomades are water soluble (so they wash out easy, as opposed to some pomades like Murray's which take multiple washes to get out).

While I'm going on about this, my only other advice in regards to hair styling is to make sure your hair has some of its natural oils. It REALLY helps in the long run. I noticed that most shampoos were drying out my scalp and hair, so I switched to some all-natural crap from one of those health food stores (I think its seaweed brand or something). I started washing it every other day, and my hair looks supremely better, feels better, styles easier and uses less product.

My day starts the night before and doesn't go very well if I'm not prepared for it:

• Prepare lunch for the next day. Currently alternating between mango+blueberry+strawberry salad (50% mixed greens, 50% spinach) with mango dressing (on the side, don't want a soggy salad), and a rice bowl of brown rice, grilled chicken, snow peas, bean sprouts, spinach, and topped with a homemade sugar-free teriyaki sauce. Rice, chicken, and sauce are all prepared the Sunday before.
  
• Visit sleepyti.me or use the app (Android, don't know about iDevices) to figure out when I should be going to bed or waking up.
  
• Take vitamins: Fish oil (extremely important for healthy skin/hair), men's multivitamin, calcium+D3 - Whether or not I take half or whole of these depends on other supplements I take throughout the day and/or my diet. I get these from Costco.
  
• Use 2-step facial peel every-other night, wash face with glycolic face cleanser on the other nights.
  
• Moisturize on nights that I use cleanser only, as the 2-step peel moisturizes enough on its own. I will stress that cleanser is very much dependent on skin-type and what works well for you. Go to Sephora and talk to someone there about what to use, they'll happily give you a few samples, try each for a couple days and then go back and buy the one that works best for you. You shouldn't start to get oily until the end of your day with a good moisturizer that's working for you.
  
• Brush lightly without toothpaste or with a fluoride mouthwash - Limit brushing, more than once a day can actually do more damage than good. (Friend is a dentist)
  
• Floss
  
  Then when morning comes..
  
• Hit 10 minute snooze 2-3 times
  
• Maneuver out of the bed, trying not to disturb the cat, occasionally the missus if she has a late start, and the dog that doesn't fit but thinks he should anyway.
  
• I've had laser hair removal on my neck, so I don't worry about shaving there. I've been rocking the two-day stubble look on the rest of my face, so every-other day I trim with a bare blade on the trimmer.
  
• I only shower every day when I'm working out like I should be. Other than that, every-other day. Better for your hair and skin, natural oils and such. Make sure the shower is just warm enough that you're not shivering. This will wake your ass right up and remind you that the rest of the day probably won't go how you'd like it to (margaritas on the beach). I switch products often, but right now I'm using Bumble&Bumble Creme de Coco shampoo and conditioner for the hair, Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser for the face (it's warming and feels nice in a cold shower), and Olay Ultra Moisture w/Shea Butter for body scrub- it has almost no scent and keeps your skin moist enough to not use lotion on your entire body.
  
• Towel dry hair, not all the way, but close.
  
• Add the following products in the following order to hair: one and one-half pumps of Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum (only if you have thick or frizzy hair, DO NOT use this if you have fine hair), generous misting (do not drench) of Bumble&Bumble Styling Lotion, and for hold 1-2 fingertip-sized gobs of Bumble&Bumble Sumotech - I let all of this sit for a couple minutes while I proceed with next steps
  
• Anti-ingrown hair with Anthony Logistics for Men Ingrown Hair Treatment - Let this dry/set before moisturizing with Boscia Black Hydration Gel
  
• Deodorant- Which one I use depends on whether or not I'm going to use cologne: With cologne I use either unscented or matching (currently Gucci Guilty), without cologne I really like Jack Black Pit Boss Antiperspirant & Deodorant - it's not a heavy scent, and it lasts all day for anti-stink and anti-wet shirt (wet spots on the underarms of your shirt does not a gentleman make).
  
• Blow-dry and shape hair, self-explanatory.
  
• Brush teeth
  
• Get dressed
  
• Breakfast of chilled steel-cut oats mixed with vanilla fat-free Greek yogurt (this is made in large quantities on Sundays, would be happy to further share recipe), with mixed berries (blue, straw, black), mango, ground flax (body can't digest/process whole flax seeds, you'll just shit them out without getting any value), and almonds. French press coffee if I have time to grind, drip if not, preground from local coffee shop.
  
• Feed and water the animals, take the dog out for a quick walk.
  
  Weekly tasks:
  
• Pluck stray eyebrow hairs. If you have caterpillars above your eyeballs, nobody will take you seriously (see monthly tasks).
  
• If you have body hair that you do not like, trim it. If you wear V neck shirts or if you are West coast and don't wear a tie, you shouldn't be doing the last button of your shirt up. So trim at least the top of your chest.
  
• Clip your nails. I need to do this every 7-10 days.
  
  Monthly Tasks:
  
• Get your eyebrows shaped. The barber/salon you go to should offer this service for $10-15 + tip.
  
• I get my hair cut every 6 weeks, but if you go to a good barber/salon, you should be able to go in every 2 weeks or so and get the back of your neck and around your ears trimmed for free. This will be a 5 minute process and keeps you looking sharp.

Unlike a lot of people here, I'll actually give some good advice.

People who say "quit being a bitch", obviously never rode regular rides with women. My girlfriend does like to ride pillion, but she does complain that it's hard to look good for an outing. The helmet messes up her hair, makeup, etc.

I have a Coolmax Skull Cap or helmet liner that I bought from the US a long time ago for a tenner. It looks something like this. I like it a lot. Look for helmet liners that cyclists use. For girls with longer hair, they may prefer a buff. In particular, my girlfriend wears stud earrings, and the buff is nice in that it covers her ears. She does look like she's wearing a hijab when she puts it on though.

None of these are really going to perfectly preserve your hair. It's best to also try a better hair product. I haven't used gel for literally decades since it's too crunchy and shiny. For me, gel is a very school-boy thing to use. Wax is too shiny. The best hair product I've used is American Crew Forming Cream which does well in helmets.

Some pomades, the traditional one made with waxy bases that are not water-soluable, tend to have a more waxy or greasy texture. The difference between pomades and waxes is mainly that a pomade will provide a little more "sheen" to your hair when applied (think 60's greaser style). Since they aren't water soluble, traditional pomades tend to last through a few washings and the hold is long-lasting.

Personally, I prefer water-soluble pomades. Fine hair in general, doesn't hold up too well with heavy products. A traditional pomade will definitely weigh down fine hair, and I don't like the way my hair feels with a greasier product in it. I think a benefit of pomade over a product like a clay or a wax is the pliability it offers, while still creating a strong hold. At least with my hair texture, a water-soluble pomade offers the most hold while letting my hair feel the most natural (i.e. it doesn't feel like it has product in it at all!) I use Layrite Pomade, but folks also tend to rate Suavecito very highly. I think they're almost identical products, except that Suavecito has a traditionally "masculine" grooming product scent and Layrite has a really pleasant and subtle vanilla-beeswax scent. I love it!

I'll second the recommendation for youtube styling videos, a lot of folks have some really helpful advice on there and can walk you through different grooming products and tools. You can also find good product reviews and stuff like that! I also have the tiniest head in the world (everybody loves to tell me about it too) and adding height and sharp lines to my haircut really helped make my head look normal-sized. Fading also helps too, it adds an illusion of a larger head in comparison to a haircut when your head is buzzed to one consistent length.

First of all, your hair is beautiful! Love the curls.

My only suggestion would be to add layers. It looks like you may have some in the back but they should be trimmed up a bit. That'll help a little with volume.

My hair is alot like yours. To get the volume I want, I use gel and scrunch the living heck out of it. Add the gel when your hair is soaking wet and scrunch upside down. Make sure you use enough as all the water dilutes it. You'll have to play around with this to find the right amount.

I also use a diffuser with long teeth (does this make sense?) and use it to lift my top layers for added volume. Diffuse on low/hot setting. I alternate diffusing by lifting and by putting my hair upside down. LOTS of volume. Also, when my hair is almost dry, I scrunch in additional gel. It gives me better curl formation. If your curls come out crunchy you can scrunch out the crunch. It'll all depend on the gel you use.

Don't worry about using Deva products. There are others just as good and 1/4 the price. Also, what other others may recommend for styling products may not work for you. I use Kinky curling custard
https://www.amazon.com/Kinky-Curly-Original-Curling-Custard/dp/B00KJSAT86
and others swear by Eco Style Gel-Olive https://www.amazon.com/ECOCO-Eco-Style-Olive-Ounce/dp/B003E7UNE4/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_194_lp_t_4?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=TJ18SNCBJKDZD98F22B3&th=1

The curling custard is expensive and I use it when I want my curls to look spectacular. Otherwise, I go for a good strong hold gel.

Look at Youtube videos too. There are a bunch out there on getting volume for curly hair.

I also have very thick hair. I'm not sure if it's quite on your level, but it's close.

First, I'd recommend that you trim everything down a bit. I find that my hair is often more manageable when it's shorter. I do a 1-2 on the back and sides, faded up to a 5-6 on top, and I tell them to use scissors on the front leaving it a little longer than the rest. Longer means that you have more to work with for styling, but too long gets unruly.

After you get things trimmed, I'd recommend watching this video for styling tips. They do a lot of cool stuff with a wide range of hair types.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFb_Ggh89S4

I've been successful using some of their techniques for a few months now. Don't be afraid to use a blow dryer!

As for products, currently I use:

1. Old Spice Cruise Control - http://www.amazon.com/Old-Spice%C2%AE-Cruise-Control-Forming/dp/B00O01O6PU/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1452749557&sr=1-2&keywords=old+spice+cruise+control
   
   
2. Sauvecito - http://www.amazon.com/Suavecito-10-Pomade-Original-Hold/dp/B0065JCV84/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1452749598&sr=1-2&keywords=suavecito
   
   Cruise control is pretty good. You could probably find a lot of similar products out there, but I find that it gives me a nice amount of hold, texture and shine, without being overly heavy. I usually use this first, and then use Sauvecito to really make my hair bend to my will.
   
   Sauvecito is an amazing product. It changed my life. I've used a ton of different products over the years in the attempt to tame my hair. Most gels, pomades, creams, etc. are all the nearly the same and they all suck. This doesn't. It literally holds like glue, but it's also very lightweight. It also lasts quite a long time because you don't (and shouldn't) need to use a lot of it. You just need to coat your fingers and sort of push it into your hair. I think of it as a sort of container product. I try to use water, light hair spray, blow dryer, and Cruise Control to about 80% of the work towards molding my hair to a certain shape and then I lock it in by using Sauvecito on the outside.
   
   Anyway, I hope this helps.
   
   

Definitely use conditioner. I live in the desert as well (AZ) and have pretty much the same hair as you (oily). I would advise you to to find a hair stylist/dresser if you don't have one and as the others have mentioned below; get it textured. I personally don't like my scalp showing on the sides so I get at least a number 4 on the sides or i have them scissor cut the sides so it isn't cut too short. Also have them razor cut/texture the top. For product's I'd suggest trying bedhead's "matte separation" or their wax stick. I've also used d:fi extreme hold too and it works great but it's definitely thick and it's hard to find as it's pretty popular here so I'd just buy it online.

Here's the matte separation:
http://www.amazon.com/TIGI-Head-Matte-Separation-Ounce/dp/B002N5MI2S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427780500&sr=8-1&keywords=matte+separation+bed+head

Here's the wax stick:
http://www.amazon.com/TIGI-Bed-Head-Hair-Stick/dp/B003JP19U8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_bt_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0KHGQYE6RDDDN1QAGM69

Here's the d fi extreme cream:
http://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Hold-Styling-Cream-2-6/dp/B000H30FHS/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1427780598&sr=1-2&keywords=d%3Afi

I also put product in while my hair is dry/slightly damp rather than wet. If you're using the d:fi I'd definitely try it when your hair is a little damp because that stuff is pretty sticky. Don't be afraid to blow-dry it a bit to speed up the drying process.

It might seem like a lot of steps but it's really not bad at all, takes me maybe 5 minutes to do right after the shower. Good luck man!

For cut: make sure your hair is longer than that picture then take that picture into your favorite hair stylist and tell them you want that look. A good hairstylist will take that picture as a template and make the look work for your particular hair and head shape.

For styling: you'll want a matte paste/putty. A really popular one is American Crew Fiber, which I've been using for a little while now and has pretty decent hold with low shine. Another popular one is Sumo Tech. I haven't tried that one yet, though I've heard good things and I think it might be a tad shinier if that matters.

As for how to get that look, it's actually remarkably easier than you'd think. Once you have your hair cut the right way it's just a matter of getting out of the shower, drying your hair off, and applying a good amount of your desired product to the hair with your hands. After a little experimenting and practice you'll get good at estimating the right amount you need and figuring out the best technique to get the look you're going for. When starting out, the best thing to do would be to ask your hair stylist to give you as close to that look you pictured as possible for your hair/head shape (remember, it's never going to be exactly like the model in the picture), then ask her/him for tips on how to work the product correctly.

I know, the number of Shea Moisture products is overwhelming. I did a bunch of research before I bought their products. I'd say that the internet's favorite styling products are these:

• The Curl Enhancing Smoothie. This is more like a leave-in than a gel. It's a nice and heavy product, which I really like. It has some protein in it. My hair is protein sensitive and it's too much for regular use.
  
• Moisture retention conditioner. This is super moisturizing and protein free. It's a bit lighter than the smoothie. The advantage of this product is that you can use it as a leave-in or rinse out or deep conditioner. I've gotten great results from using it as a leave-in. I'm using it less lately because I think it made my hair over-moisturized. Like it feels too soft now.
  
• Jamaican Black Castor Oil Reparative Leave-In Conditioner. I've never tried this but it's well loved. It has a lot of protein which some people like.
  
• If you want something lighter, the new Fruit Fusion Mousse is well liked. (Not to be confused with the 10 in 1 super fruit line.) I've never used this product either but I want to try it.

Changing the way you dress is definitely a process - I don't know if there are thrift stores and things where you are, or places to resell clothing you don't use anymore, but going through your clothes and figuring out what goes with Older More Mature You and what belongs in the past with Younger You takes some time and is a big step. Check out /r/frugalmalefashion for cheaper takes on great male fashion as well as some money saving do-it-yourself techniques.

Your hair, though, does not need to be messed with. The fly-away look can be tamed if you really want it to with pomade or hair wax (look for something like Bumble and Bumble Sumo Wax or Tigi Matte Separation Wax - go for something non-shiny so it doesn't look greasy) or you can just say fuck it and allow your hair to do its sexy, bedhead thing. As long as your clothes don't look sloppy, it'll actually look really great.

And you are really welcome. Thanks for providing the eye candy on behalf of all of us at /r/ladyboners.

I may have been criticizing fellow barber texture paste, too much. It deserves considerable respect for being the best I've found yet. The only reason I don't think it's "the one" is because I'm still holding out for some miracle product -but that may just be unrealistic expectations lol

Without a doubt try fellow barber, you won't regret it. It gave my thin hair noticeably thicker, fuller body and the right amount of hold that kept the hair looking natural, but in place. Never had a product do all that so well before.

A big improvement came from using this shampoo/conditioner by Arvazallia. My whole life, every time I ran out of shampoo, I'd buy a different brand to test if it was better. The Arvazallia one I found by sorting Amazon results by highest rated. It's also the only shampoo I've gone back to instead of trying new ones because I liked the results so much. It's the smoothest my hair's ever been, but I wonder if it couldn't be fuller.

I just did some online research and purchased these to see how they help with thin hair, too:

• American Crew Texture Lotion
  
  
• Hanz de Fuko Quicksand
  
  
• TIGI Bed Head Matte Separation
  
  
• R+CO Badlands (expensive, so buy a sample on ebay for cheap to test if it's worth the $$$)

Try r/fancyfollicles for some really good advice. I have wavy hair that I style with large, natural waves. My hair gets incredibly frizzy if I don't use any product and let it dry naturally. Here are a couple things that can work well:

Natural oils can work really well to give your hair shine, keep it conditioned and fight frizz.

Coconut oil - a little goes a long way with coconut oil. Just rub a little on your hands and through your hair after a shower, or after drying your hair. I've used it on beach hair and day 2 hair, and it worked great. When I used it straight out of the shower, I used too much and it really weighed my hair down, so be careful.

Argan oil/Jojoba oil - Same as coconut oil, these can work great for your hair, but be careful not to use too much.

I recently got a sample of Living Proof Frizz styling cream I think in myglam bag. It works nicely. It makes my hair feel incredibly soft and really helps control the frizz. I feel like it takes away a little too much volume for my hair though.

I personally use Garnier Sleek and Shine Frizz Control Serum most days. It controls my frizzy hair enough with out weighing it down or making it greasy. It works well if I style my hair straight, or wavy. It's decently priced. I probably use it more than natural oils mainly because I've been using it so long.

I used Frizz-Ease for a long time, but I realize that my hair had very little body when I used it. It felt heavy and chemically on my hair. I munch prefer natural oils or the Garnier serum that I use.

I have wavy hair (24 f though) but I know it can be a pain in the butt to deal with regardless of length. The more you fight the natural texture of your hair the more work you'll be doing to maintain it and honestly it usually looks better with your natural texture. The best thing I've found to use on it is the wax/paste because it gives you definition but doesn't make it crunchy. My favorite kind is garnier fructis surf wax but they also make something specifically for men that's by suave. The garnier one smells fruity and the men's one smells more fresh (I've used it before- it's pretty nice). For my long hair I scrunch it, might be a different technique for men. I would look to Robert Downey Jr or Patrick Dempsey for good styles that I personally find attractive.

A lot of people are recommending American Crew Fiber. I don't. I've tried quite a few brands with very similar hair to yours and now I can part it successfully.

Crew is great but it's a hassle to work into your hair and it's not going to play well with water, at least not as good as Suavecito. Sauvecito doesn't offer as strong of a hold but the plus sides are that it's easier to apply and it's water friendly. The water friendly part is the most important factor if you want your hair to be malleable.

Wash your hands, work the excess water from your hands through your hair. Make sure it's wet but not dripping. Get it as close to your desired hairstyle as possible with ONLY water and a comb

Then work some product into your left palm with the fingertips of your right hand. Use the fingertips for small tough to work areas (ie. the crease) and your palm for the large areas (ie. front and sides).

The water will dry slowly, only leaving behind the product. After a while your hair will be much more obedient :)

Both products, Perfect Hold and Spiky Edge, don't make your hair rock-hard so they won't leave any white solidified flake. You can even re-style your hair after awhile you first apply them- this may make you think that these waxes are not strong but they really are(especially the spiky edge). It's hard to describe their texture so see this video FYI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH6SUHBIy9c

​

Moving Rubber Spiky Edge is definitely on the strong side of holding. If strong hold is your priority, I'd say try Spiky Edge first. If you want natural style and yet strong hold for a day, I recommend style with wax/cream first and finish with spray.

Where you can buy:

Moving Rubber Spiky Edge: https://www.amazon.com/GATSBY-MOVING-RUBBER-SPIKY-2-8oz/dp/B000V2ACH8/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1538966536&sr=8-2&keywords=gatsby%2Bspiky%2Bedge&dpID=51j0gvw558L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1

Perfect Hold Wax Extra Hard: https://www.amazon.com/Gatsby-Perfect-Hold-Wax-Extra/dp/B001GQ2ED8/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1538966703&sr=8-1&keywords=Gatsby+Perfect+Hold+Wax+-+Extra+Hard&dpID=41sprgdTXgL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Fuck the surgery thing, that's crazy talk. I would just recommend losing the earrings (if that's what they are). I had a very similar problem as you when I was in high school. I had longer, thick hair, but I needed to find something that didn't look over the top, but still looked decent.

http://imgur.com/a/i0k7t

The top picture was me in high school (i know the picture is funny, but I didn't have a social media account back then) and the bottom is what I currently do with my hair at 22.

I found a product called American Crew Forming Cream
http://www.amazon.com/American-Crew-Forming-Cream-Ounce/dp/B000KEIPC6

I like it because it doesn't make your hair hard and you can restyle it throughout the day with no issue at all. It also doesn't have a wet or shiny look to it, so it doesn't look like you have anything in your hair (which I always thought to be douchy). I just take a shower, let it dry for like 10 mins and then i rub a very small amount between my index, middle finger, and thumb and part my hair off to the side. Very simple, low maintenance and it keeps the hair out of your face while looking pretty good. Ditch the bowl cut for christ sakes! Stop trying to be unique!!! :P

You are pretty attractive, If I were you, I would get rid of the earrings, get a trim and tell the barber you want it relatively short, but want to be able to part your hair off to the side, which will leave you with bangs to do with as you please. Also, start dressing more preppy, like khakis/boat shoes, northface/columbia, just dress very conservatively and it will definitely bump your numbers up on the attractiveness scale.

This gal's youtube tutorial channel was recced to me after some more moaning about my hair woes downthread: Miss Charmsie. Her hair is about 1.5 tiers curlier than mine, based upon the totally arbitrary scale I have just invented (I know real scales exist), and I definitely can't pull off bangs, but maybe it'll be useful to you! The two product recommendation videos are worth a watch.

I can tell you a few basics after finally learning how to handle my hair a bit. First - if you are gonna put in any product, do it when your hair is still wet from the shower, and probably use about half of what you usually do. A leave in conditioner is an absolute must, even if you don't use any other products. I don't use a towel or a t-shirt in my hair, I just wring it out like an old dishrag and leave it to air dry. Since it's thin that doesn't take too long. DON'T TOUCH THAT SHIT!!! It gets said over and over, and I never bought it till I was like 30. Seriously, tape your hands to thighs if you can't resist the urge. This is the most critical phase in curls. My hair always looks it best when I leave myself no time to mess with it before I have to literally run out the door!

If I have the time I will do a very careful half-way dried spritz with a sea salt spray, especially around the roots for the volume/definition. But don't go crazy! I will usually flip my hair over and bend like I'm tying my shoes to do this so the product doesn't just end up on the crown and weight my biz down. When it's finally dry I will do a very, very gentle break-up of my curls with my fingers (might get an afro pick after watching Miss Charmsie's videos) and give it a little toss around like I'm in a mosh pit to break it all up and make it look natural.

Give this product a try - it really works well for me. I have really long hair though, so it might not be a good choice depending on your hair length. I gather that texturing sprays are kinda controversial for curly hair, which is also dry hair, but it's worked well for me.

Sorry dude, but your hair's looking pretty immaculate at the moment. Like it's got good shape to it, good texture. I'd recommend, messing about with different styling prodcuts to see what you like the look of. My current favourite is d:fi dstruct, seem's to always be stupidly expensive though.


But yeah, one is always their own worst critic, it's a good thing you came here first before chopping it all off. I hope to see some update photos to see how your flow develops over time. Good luck!

I think what you need, more than anything, is to get some volume in your hair!

Try out some different methods of styling your hair and some different products. My go-to products for adding volume are mousses and those volumizing powders. Big sexy hair has one that I've used and like but there are many other brands as well. I also use not your mother's texturing spray and like that a lot to give my hair a bit more grit to be a bit more likely to hold volume if I do something like tease it a bit.

Also, I'd try to put some texture in your hair.

How much styling do you want to do? I think you'd look cute in a cut like this maybe, but that texture is key! If you've got any natural wave, you can use sea salt spray to pump up that texture, if not you'll probably have to resort to heat styling with either a curling iron or straightener.

If you'd like to go a bit shorter, maybe something like this.

what's your problem dude, like why even make the post? Just go to a barber and get a nice haircut. Have him put some product in your hair and walk around and see how you feel for a day. You don't need to buy it This will look pretty natural and will last you awhile You don't need to use the stuff every day just when you want to look good like a date or interview or whatever. This will last you MONTHS! I have a hair gel I've been using for a year that i've been trying to find things to use it on so I can use the one I linked. (I hate product also!) But the more I use it the more comfortable I become with it. After my 9 year LTR I had a buzz cut just like you and really didn't have any fashionably clothes. I worked on changing that even if I was uncomfortable wearing and going out with nice hair at first. Now while i'm not the best looking person in my social group I'm definitely the best dressed with the best hair...... while I still have it haha

Thank you! It’s super fun to play with. Sometimes I fauxhawk it, but I’ve been wearing it down a lot recently.

I use Layrite Natural Matte Cream. It provides good hold without being rigid, and it smells super great.

I have 2b-2c fine hair as well! For me, putting the gel in when my hair is still dripping wet then plopping really helps. Only scrunching it in, no raking. I also use pins to get my roots to have some volume and follow up with diffusion, but that's a project every time I do it. I've had much better results like that.

For nice simple waves I just scrunch in a small amount of gel at the ends of my hair and then plop in the same way, Waaaay less work but doesn't look quite as nice.

Also, for me the cheap LA looks blue gel works better than the deva curl ultra defining (stronger hold), but that's something to play with!

Back to School shopping list:

This, This, or This depending on your hair type/style you want to achieve.

These Converse or these Vans depending on which style you like better. These are going to be your most versatile shoes for "every day" wear.

Assorted Crew or V-Neck Tees, depending on your preference

A good fitting pair of dark jeans, I linked 511's, but those may not suit you depending on your build. Try some pairs on, take pictures, and post them in the Outfit Feedback threads if you're not sure of the fit.


For dressing "up":

Two pairs of well fitting khaki's/chinos in different colors such as these in grey or these in khaki. Again, I linked slimmer fits, as that is what I wear, but you may need to change depending on body type. Posting in the feedback threads is encouraged.

One or two decent Oxford Cloth Button Down collared shirts that fit you well, in light blue and white.

Those should cover your bases as a freshman, as you're not likely going to have to dress super formal.

Note: Because you're just a freshman, you will most likely be hitting many random growth spurts. Try not to spend too much money on clothing, as you will likely outgrow it.

First, you've got a good head of hair my man! You've got the foundation for a barber to do their thing!

My suggestion is a typical one found here, but you could rock pretty much any cut where its short on the sides & longer and styled on top. Here are a few photos for inspiration:

Side Part Comb Over

Fade with Sweep Back

Relaxed Brushed Over

It might just be the pictures you posted, but it doesn't look like you use any product in your hair. I would buy some product and test out different styles.

Here are a couple products (low to medium price range):

American Crew Forming Cream

Bed Head Matte Separation Wax

My personal favourite Fatboy


Hope this helps! You can always try /r/malehairadvice as well! Good luck!

I have thick wavy/curly hair, and I use [Layrite Natural Matte Cream](Layrite Natural Matte Cream, 4.25 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GIW9842/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_V5-SBbCTVX0CB). It works really great for me, but I blow dry my hair so that helps me a lot. If you’re looking for something that’s gonna keep it in place try the clay. I’m sure many other people have much better products, but the cream is my favorite right now. Note that having dry hair allows for a stronger hold with less shine. If you want a more loose hold with more shine, apply it when your hair is damp. Would highly recommend a blow dryer because it honestly takes 5-10 min.

Oh my god you are fabulous, thank you so much for the information.

I have been buying products at Bleu Libellule and MGC Beauté, (their websites don't list ingredients, it pisses me off), and there are hundreds of pharmacies throughout Paris that carry a lot of beauty products that you won't find in a typical supermarket (Avène, Klorane, La Roche-Posay, René Furterer, Vichy, Bioderma, etc.).

I found the styling gel on Amazon.fr! I found the As I Am products, but they are very expensive (25-37 euros, as opposed to 8.99 USD at Walgreens). The can of Herbal Essences mousse is 46 euros, haha.

I think I will try Aubrey Organics GPB (I found it on French Amazon, too) and a silicone-free conditioner called Timotei here in France. I have a curly-haired friend that has had luck with it.

Thanks so much for your input, that is so nice!

I have a similar hairstyle to yours except slightly shorter and more slicked back. The product I’ve found to work best is Baxter of California - Clay Pomade. Works great for all sorts of hair types and has great hold with a matte finish.

Also you should look into this youtuber called The Pomp. He makes great product review videos and in that one he’s using the product I mentioned.

If I were you I’d ask my barber to just trim about an inch or so off the top and blend the long top with the sides. Keep the part where it is in the photo and just slick everything back. You can try blowdrying the front to give a little more volume. Dry shampoo can also be good to add volume. Either way, you’re not far off!

Same situation as you - thought I had straightish hair most of my life and turns out it is 2B (2A if I don't take good care of it). Here's my routine and products:

• Wash with Shea Moisture shampoo - sulfate free and very gentle. Leaves the natural oils in my hair so it's shiny and moisturized, but clean looking.
  
  
• Work DevaCurl One Condition into my hair and comb through tangles with my fingers. Then I do the "squish to condish" method to get all the conditioner into my hair and let it sit while I do the rest of my shower stuff. :) The DevaCurl conditioner is pretty expensive, but very worth it to me. It's just so moisturizing and does wonders for my waves.
  
  
• Rinse out with cool water, flip my head upside down and scrunch up my soaking wet hair to get it to form its curls.
  
  
• Scrunch L.A. Looks Gel into my hair, then plop in a t-shirt.
  
  
• Either let my hair air dry or use the pixiecurl method with a diffuser (there are videos of how to do this on youtube). The pixiecurl method can be a bit tedious and give me a bit more frizz, but it also gives my curls way more definition and volume than if I air dry.
  
  Note that the L.A. Looks gel does make hair feel crunchy when it is drying (which I hate the look and feel of), but once it's dry I release the gel hold by scrunching my hair and tossing it around a bit and it looks completely soft and natural. I used to be totally gel-phobic because I hated the crunchy gel look - then I learned you can scrunch the gel hold out of your hair! You get the nice definition that gel gives you and the natural look of something softer like a serum.

alright well you're going to want to start by showing your barber these pictures especially the front facing ones and emphasize that you want to keep a lot at the front to work with, as well as wispy layers for the rest of your head

now for products (i know you said your hair is thick but) you might want to try a thickening product as well just to get the style you're looking for. my salon sells this product that i've heard great things about. then i'm guessing from you getting a perm that your hair isn't naturally curly, so for the front section i strongly suggest devacurl's wave maker i have wavy to curly hair naturally and this gives me wonderfully defined curls

for styling i recommend you, a paddle brush, and a light touch become best friends. brushing away from your crown towards the front stopping before you reach where you want the curls to start. dont brush curls you'll ruin them. then for styling the sides, top and back of the hair you can either use a pomade this ones my personal favourite, or you can use a hair wax. they'll work similarly but the pomade will give you a little bit of a shiny finish whereas the wax won't. work a small amount of either between your fingers and run through your hair to give more of a wispy layered textured. again i wouldn't touch your curls except maybe with some hairspray but depending on how well the devacurl works you won't need to. the important thing to remember is don't touch what you want to curl as you'll break the curl pattern and it won't work just let it air dry no touch. if you're going to blow dry that's fine but i recommend blowing your hair against the grain back to your crown. this will give it a bit of lift. try to avoid blow drying the curly bit.

hope this achieves what you want

Leave in conditioner is the best for me. I have wavy hair that frizzes the second I run my fingers through it. I can't brush it at all if it's dry.

I use Garnier leave in conditioner. It's usually around 4$ for a smaller bottle. I put that in right after a shower (My doctor told me that it's best to put lotion on right after a shower, so maybe it applies to hair as well?), and comb it through. Next is mousse, I use aussie and finally is this. Lots of product but it has made my hair really healthy and I get complements on it from my hairdressers whenever I go.

I also heard mayonnaise makes good deep conditioner and may help? I haven't tried it though!

*I also use a bit of olive oil sometimes as well. But be sure not to put a ton in.

http://imgur.com/05VH10o
here ya go:3
i love my puppy, shes so fricking adorable!s he falls asleep right on my lap, and she has the cutest little yawn!

shes such a snuggle bunny, and i love her:3



[id love this] (http://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Mothers-Beach-Texturizing/dp/B004UL0GTK/ref=sr_1_131?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1371396685&sr=1-131) or maybe [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shave-Soap-Sensitive-150ml/dp/B001JHEY14/ref=sr_1_231?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1371396763&sr=1-231), [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Gillette-Venus-Embrace-Womens-Cartridges/dp/B000XVSNTQ/ref=sr_1_275?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1371396825&sr=1-275), or [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Jelique-Pure-Instinct-Pheromone-Cologne/dp/B000LCETUO/ref=sr_1_290?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1371396868&sr=1-290)

thank you!

Hey if you're wanting advice on changing hair, definitely check out /r/malehairadvice! They are a great community that will answer your question down to a single hair.

I recommend you go to a stylist/barber and show them a picture of this look. They will let you know whether your hair can do that cut, how to style it, and which products work best.

What I would personally do is use some pomade (I personally like Suavecito) and shape your hair into that style. Some people say dampen your hair a bit, others say make sure it's dry - I blow dry mine and then shape. If it doesn't work on the first try, you need to keep doing it everyday. Hair remembers the shape it takes.

Anyways, check out /r/malehairadvice and go see a stylist.

Good luck!

This hair styling technique is good for guys with thicker, medium length hair as the picture shows.
I use TIGI Bed Head Matte Separation Clay Wax and it has a strong hold with relatively minimal use. I do essentially this same hairstyle but with shorter sides(@ me okay).

1. Wet hair, usually conditioned VERY well in the shower as a wax product may make your hair look dry.
   
2. Lean over and blow-dry your hair downward so that gravity works with you and gives you the volume you want, make sure to blow-dry in the general same direction.
   
3. Once mostly dry take only a fingertip full at most(this product really works), and rub it all over your fingers and palm, then run your hand through your scalp and generally the base of your hair.
   
   EDIT: Actually I should have mentioned I always style my hair before bed and then in the morning I use a little bit more product for the perfect look.

It's all in the cut, really. I have a fantastic friend named Bethanie who does both mine and Ashley's hair, along with many of our friends. She cuts it in a way that makes it really easy for me to whip it together. The secret is to not wash it every day. I know some people might "eww" at that, but every great stylist I've had has told me it's not great to wash your hair every day. So I blow dry it after I get out of the shower, into the sort of position where I like it (lots of innuendo here), then I use a tiny amount, like dime sized, of this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Baxter-California-Clay-Pomade-fl/dp/B000MIKEZQ?keywords=hair+clay&qid=1537564031&sr=8-9&ref=sr_1_9. Mostly the blow drying gets and keeps it in position, the clay just solidifies the goodness.

I'm using this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002N5MI2S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Took a while to find one that works for me, but this one is great. Has a great hold while not being too firm. I only put it in a couple of days a week. The rest, I simply shower, then put a brush through it and it still holds pretty well.

Not OP, but I can recommend a few things:

• Do NOT towel dry your hair, get a decent blowdryer with changeable tips.
  
• While blow drying your hair, run your fingers or a comb through it repeatedly to keep it up while drying. You should notice after it is pretty much dry that it should stay up pretty decently without any product (but you will need some for it to stay like that all day).
  
• Don't cheap out on hair product! You don't need to go insanely crazy on hair product, but paying a bit more for a product from a salon vs. a drug store is well worth it. You typically have to use less (so it lasts longer) and doesn't leave residue or such things. I personally use TIGI Bed Head Men Matte Seperation and love it.
  
• Don't use shampoo everyday (Depending on your hair, this could be one of the most important things). I personally use Shampoo every fourth day, after about two to three weeks, your hair doesn't look greasy/oily anymore at all and it gives your hair a ton of volume and styling capabilities. The day I have to use shampoo is actually the day my hair looks the worst.

I've used American Crew's Fiber, then moved to the Forming Cream, and now to Suavecito Pomade.

In that exact order is probably the ease of applying the product. Fiber holds pretty well and gives it a much more matte, natural hold. It doesn't feel like you have any product in your hair. Forming cream, to me, was much easier to use and apply because it was softer and more liquidy (if that makes sense). Similar hold to Fiber, but probably not as strong. Still a matte finish as well.

Sauvecito probably is like the combination of the two, but with more of a shine. I actually prefer this more than the other two now because it's easier to apply and kinda gives it a slicker look (if that's what you're going for). It has a real nice hold and is water-soluble as well.

I had very short hair for a while last year (about as short as the girl in the first picture and with very short sides). I tried Gatsby and American Crew, but I eventually settled on the TIGI Bedhead Matte Separation wax. I have thick ramrod straight hair and the TIGI wax is strong enough to hold a style and still be restyleable. I don't like overt shininess in my hair, so the matte look is great. It smells very nice, but it isn't too overbearing and it washes out easily, since it's water-based. I have longer hair now but I still use a dab of the stuff to give my hair some texture.

Wash Day: Morrocan Curl Cleansing Conditioner

Or, I Co-Wash with Trader Joe's Nourish Spa Moisture balance conditioner. I also prefer the TJ's shampoo when I need to wash my hair to remove product buildup (which I do once every two weeks).

Post wash I use the LOC method to moisturize.

Leave In - Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner


Oil - I use my own mixture I created with Peppermint Oil, Tea tree oil, Black Castor Oil, Almond Oil, Avocado Oil and Olive Oil. My hair really loves it.

Cream - I wear my hair in twist outs, the cream I use for my twist outs is the Cantu Conditioning Curl Cream

I retwist my hair once a week (personal preference).. and I use a bit of Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream, but sparingly, as it makes my hair feel slightly crunchy, I only use it in the front for my bangs to curl up very tight when I twist them.

For edge control, I use the Olive Oil Eco Styler gel..

My hair is 4b/4c. Chopped two years ago -now past my shoulders, nearly 16 inches in length. I tried a LOT of products before I found those my hair likes.

Also, I recommend checking out Amazon's Texture's and Hues page. It's for women of color.. and it's AMAZING.

Welcome to the world of product. It's a wonderful thing.

I highly recommend Redken Rough Paste. It doesn't make your hair all shiny or anything, and smells fucking amazing. Also, if you don't go overboard with it, you can't really tell there's anything in your hair. Fantastic product. Typically what I use when going out/somewhere important, as it is a bit pricey.

Otherwise, I actually like Garnier Fructis Surf Hair for day to day wearing. Much cheaper, no smell at all, no sheen or anything, good control, lasts all day, no real scent to it, and does the trick quite well.

The Garnier Fructis one you can get at any drug store, in the US at least, for about the same price as the link I've given here, the Redken stuff, however, will run you close to twice as much if you buy it in stores, so buy online if you can.

As others said, American Crew Fiber is very good. I prefer Baxter of California Clay Pomade though, it's got a very strong hold and a great look. Also next haircut, make sure you get the barber to thin it out a bit; you've got a lot of hair, thinning it will definitely help with the poofiness.

I think that pomade is much cheaper on Amazon that in store. Its a strong hold hence I find it more managable when applying to damp hair and then air drying or blow drying according t your desire of volume.

Also listed below are few good brand of pomade/wax

• [Lyrite] (http://www.amazon.com/Layrite-4-oz-Original-Pomade/dp/B004AMCBQA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426624200&sr=8-2&keywords=layrite) good for acheiving shiny look
  
  
• [Hanz de Fuko Modified Pomade] (https://www.hanzdefuko.com/shop/modify-pomade) for high shine
  
  
• [Hanz de Fuko Clamation] (https://www.hanzdefuko.com/shop/claymation) for matte finish
  
  
• [Admiral Supply] (http://www.amazon.com/Admiral-Supply-Pomade-Net-114g/dp/B00KTONPFE/ref=pd_bia_nav_t_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=18AYT16CX7PK044P0JJW) very good smell with medium hold and medium shine
  
  In the list above Hanz de Duko Clamation is my favorite.

It looks pretty matte, so you could either just go for a volume powder which are pretty cheap and since you dont have that much hair it would help them look like "more". I am currently using Schwarzkopf Osis Mess up wax, and it is great! Good hold and a matte look.


It is also a lot (3,4 oz) I got one pack of it for like 4 months now, and it's half empty.

Yessss, my hair is down to my wait and about 4x thicker at least than most of my friends. I can straighten it or put it in 6-10 braids at night to have wavy hair the next day and that's about it. I do take thinning shears to it every 3 months or so to keep it more manageable and it tangles less.

Some tips for you: these hair ties are a lifesaver and never slip out like others do, and one pack has lasted me 3 years so far. Also, bobby pins work best wavy side down, in case you didn't know! If you want some volume on top, and teasing/hairspray isn't enough, this stuff is awesome and cheap in-store, normally about $4 here.

I have very fine hair, and I use a volumizing shampoo and volumizing powder. The shampoo doesn't do too much, but it does help. The powder is amazing, I think it works by making your hair kind of staticky, makes it stand up better. Because of that, I always have to use it with some other styling product to keep it from looking like I got electrocuted.
Shampoo: http://www.amazon.com/Tigi-Bed-Head-Styleshots-8-45-Ounce/dp/B004T19PMA/
Powder: http://www.amazon.com/Got2b-Powderful-Volumizing-Styling-Powder/dp/B00546F4CY

Ok first thing: in the future, if the image you're posting isn't interesting without the context of the reddit post, you shouldn't post it to the public Imgur page. There's an option to keep it off the public page and make it so only people sent directly through the link will view it. Imgur users get seriously butthurt when posts don't make sense for their own frontpage because you were just hosting images for a reddit post, and they're a toxic cesspool of humanity so their comments get nasty real quick for no reason.

-----

Now on to the advice.

Do you trim the top of your beard down that low? If you do, stop doing that, let the top hairline grow in naturally. It's way too low. If you don't, and that really is as high as it gets... I hate to say it, but you should shave it off. Or trim it all the way down to a light scruff/shadow, if you really like the fact that it might make you look a tiny bit older. It's just that right now, your beard only seems to grow underneath your jawline, and it's just not a good look. Also it's not growing in on middle of your upper lip, and with your hair being as dark as it is, holes like that are glaringly apparent.

Now for the hair on top. You and I have extremely similar looking hair, besides the color. I think it looks good the way it is, if you just go in and get the ears/neck cleaned up every 2 weeks. Also work on taming that cowlick, or just give the rest of your hair up top a little more messiness to disguise the cowlick. My stylist cleans up my ears and neck for free between cuts, if you build a relationship with one stylist you might be able to negotiate the same deal.

BUT since you asked for a new cut, this is a look that works well for our hair type. You need to put product in it every day--I recommend a water-based pomade--and preferably blow-dry to give it volume. But it can be a really clean look with just enough edge to show you have style. The easiest way to get the barber to cut it like this is show the picture, but to ask for it in words you could say:

"1 to 1 1/2 inches on top, with texture. Taper on the sides and back down to a 2 at the bottom. Blend it so there are no hard lines between the top and sides."

Definitely go for it! I had loooooong hair, and I showed that exact picture to my stylist last fall and went for it. Honestly I haven't looked back once!

I'm pretty lazy with my hair, so I picked up a tub of this stuff. After I get out of the shower I just get a tiny gloop of it on my finger and run it through my bangs and it gives it the perfect wispy texture. Good luck!!

Do you mean you want it to look like you have no product in your hair? If so, look into waxes and clays. A good, cheap wax to make your hair look natural with no product would be Gatsby Spiky Edge aka. Gatsby Pink. Gatsby Gray Mat is even more matte, but doesn't have as much hold. Hairbond Shaper Hair Toffee has similar properties to Gatsby Pink, but is a little better in some regards and is more expensive. All these products are very popular and have reviews and videos online, so research them to see if you like them.

Also, you should try hairdrying/blowdrying your hair before applying any product with a comb or fingers to get the general style you want, then use product to get it to hold that style. You'll notice it helps a lot.

If you insist on keeping the hair (bad idea IMO, I think you would look great with short hair) then at least use a hair serum on it. This is a really good one, a little expensive, but it's great. This one is not quite as good, but it's a little cheaper. Another thing you could do to help is use a shampoo for body, or a mousse for body. These products will help your hair look healthier and fuller.

Axe doesn't usually have the best styling products. If you're willing to pay a little more for really good quality products then Layrite will last a long time since it doesn't really take a lot for the hold of their products to kick in. I've used their clay in the past before switching to their pomades and it held very well and finished with a matte look.

If it's out of the budget then I recommend an inexpensive wax such as bedhead although the finish won't be as clean as Layrite, it will still have a matte-ish look and you most likely will have to use a blowdryer to get your hair up using the wax due to its low hold. Best of luck to you.

I used to style my hair like the way your attempting. I would blow dry it right when I got out of the shower. Blow drying it all backwards while running my fingers though my hair. Once I was done blow drying, I would use Powder Play by Big Sexy Hair , applying it to the roots throughout and running my fingers through. This doesn't make your hair greasy and you won't have to wash your hands when your done. Takes a good 10-15 minutes to get it all right. Good luck.

Edit: fixed link

it's an undercut. I recently got something similar. Just ask your stylist for an 'undercut' and make sure he/she leaves the top long. Then hit it up with a good wax to get that controlled texture look. I recommend Gatsby wax. It will hold forever, but is difficult to wash out.

Alternatively, a pomade like Layrite will give you more shine, but less hold and less texture.

good luck! :)

Absolutely!
This is currently on my shelf:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00390DN34/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mVGBDbRYGRNQ9

Ive had for about 6 months now and the results have been pretty consistent. The finish is totally matte, so if you want any shimmer you'll have to add something extra. I also live in Florida where the humidity really weighs on my hair. I'm still happy with how this stuff works.


Ive also used this about 2 times. Seems to work in much the same way.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZNJWZL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fUGBDbAMFJ71Q

Really, though, I think itd be pretty hard to go wrong with one of these. I think the formula is relatively the same across products. Just a note, this stuff is NOT water soluble, so if you're doing NoPoo or something, you may have issues.

Best of luck!

I like how they included the volumising powder (L'Oreal Super Dust), a much over-looked product. I swear by it for fuller-looking hair at near-30-years of age, and the hold all day is awesome. I don't use the L'Oreal kind, but American Crew makes a powder (albeit, very expensive for what you get), and we also have this here in the States. Volumising powder also helps reduce and eliminate shine from other products, depending on amount applied. You can't tell the powder is there once it's rubbed or brushed lightly through with fingers. Takes a brush well and is easy to restyle, just push in a different direction, stuff is magic.

I think that's a very good start. I always love it when you can see a little texture and messiness to a guy's hairstyle. When it's too short, it looks a little uptight. I'd recommend this product for anyone with a textured hairstyle that they'd like to shape a bit without being hard and sticky like gel: http://www.amazon.com/struct-Pliable-Molding-Creme/dp/B000GX57BI :)

I have really wavy hair too, but with some matte high-hold type stuff an undercut looks great (my current favorite is Matte Seperation). I know you want low upkeep, but once you start doing it regularly, quick blow dry bit of product takes less than 2 minutes.

I resisted using product for a while too, but it's just one of those things like wearing decent shoes, well fitting clothes etc that once you start doing you wonder why it took you so long..

Yeah man definitely go to some actual salons if you want a good haircut. But I don't think most of them are really "for women" at all anyway. Basically with one exception, every hair place I've been to clearly catered to male customers as well as female. I used to feel a little self conscious when I first stopped going to crap cheap places, but it's never been an issue so I just stopped feeling weird about it.

Also if you are looking for hair styling suggestions, bed head matte separation wax is the best I've every found, and I've tried a LOT of different ones. Like it says though it's a matte finish, won't work if you want a shine.

I'm not sure you should take my advice (newbie) but I'm trying exactly the same thing...

I use Big Sexy Hair products for volume and some texture. Volumizing shampoo and conditioner (it gives me texture), hair dryer... This product also helps me a lot, eps for volume http://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Hair-Powder-Volumizing-Texturizing/dp/B00390DN34 I'm happy with it, although I still need to grow out more hair

Baxter of California, it ain't cheap though.

It's what I currently use for my hair style. Try to use sparingly.

Before even using the clay pomade, it's ideal to have your hair the way you want it first. Try using something lighter before hand (a dab or more of pomade) in order to set up your hair the way you want it to, then use the clay pomade to hold it.

A blow dryer helps the process a ton (use it when styling your hair with the lighter pomade).

You can always search for hair styling tips on you tube if you want more help.

difi distruct. good price, great hold, love it. not too shiny or greasy either. highly recommended

Thanks! Partly genes and mostly because I let my beard grow out for about 6 weeks before Movember. After showering, I comb it out and then comb the ends up. I don't use mustache wax but rather Baxter Clay Pomade . I feel like it gives it that good pointed look without looking totally waxed. Those little tiny scissors are also good for trimming the wild hairs / upper lip.

Routine:

Co-wash with Tresemme Botanique Nourish + Replenish with Coconut Milk and Aloe Vera . I apply enough to be able to get a medium comb through it while showering and remove the stragglers (my hair is super thick, so my wall is usually plastered with fallen hair after I finish). I let the conditioner sit while I finish bathing and rinse completely with cold water.

After showering, I wrap it all in a towel turban and dry for 15-30 minutes. When my hair is fairly damp, but not dry, I apply a generous amount of SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie and work gently through from tips to root.

Immediately after, I apply DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel (or Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Styling Gel) and let my hair air dry.

Once it’s all finally dried completely, I gently scrunch out the gel and style my hair as necessary.

I have super straight hair as well (though mine is very thick), and it used to be that I couldn't keep my hair curled even if it started smoking on the heating rod...

What I find to be really helpful is to spray my hair with some kind of texturizing spray Not Your Mother's Beach Babe is my product of choice, easy to find in most US pharmacies, and inexpensive.

After spraying my hair, I'll wrap it up in a bun or braid it. If I sleep with it in a braid, it can stay luscious and wavy for the entire next day!

Which hair spray are you using? Ive tried several kinds but Aquanet Extra Super hold (purple bottle) is hands down the best.

I was like you at one point and had a buzz cut, but I changed hair hairstyles about 2 years ago and haven't looked back. Currently, I tell my barber a number 2 fade on the sides and a combover on top about 2-3 inches long. before and after. I use Suavecito as it is water soluble and smells amazing. There hasn't been a problem and my hair is also thick. The secret is to use a comb and hairdryer to style it. I like to think that this hairstyle has given me a more professional look as I have entered the work force.

To be honest, i'd have no idea where to start looking in the Netherlands... I had a look for a hair care supply place, but google translate can only go so far. Hahaha.

Can you order off amazon? Here is an example of the spray.

I like the brand that i linked to on Amazon (Not your Mothers), but it depends what's available to you. :)

Everyone has already given you some excellent tips so I'll recommend some good products. First gatsby hair products are a must for short hair. They're japanese, but you can buy them on Amazon no problem. I use this one and I love it. I also recently switched over to using a cleansing conditioner instead of shampoo and conditioner. It keeps my hair soft, healthy, and clean. I use herbal essence naked cleansing conditioner.

Your best bet is to try and avoid things you know have a history of breaking you out. Garnier and Tresemme have a lot of scent but I'm still able to use Garnier products safely, for example. Other friends of mine have decent luck with just this but it makes my skin completely freak out. Your skin is going to react differently to different things, regardless of it having comedogenic ingredients or not.

Also if you live in a humid climate just accept that you're going to need to buy the most heavy duty shit available and it will still run at times. If you find it going floppy, run to an air conditioned bathroom, run a wet hand through your hair, let it dry. Quick way to restyle your hair!

Your hair is beautiful and I really love the color with your rosy skin. You look like the quintessential English girl. 😊

Since your hair likes olive oil, have you ever tried Eco gel?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003E7UNE4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1505972741&sr=8-1&keywords=eco+gel&dpPl=1&dpID=51nq7Go2JqL&ref=plSrch

Start with a small amount, and build up from there to see what your hair can take. I really like mop top but it's superexpensive in the UK.

For the hair, I recommend di:fi di:struct. Its a cream, not a wax/gel/glue. Girls like hair that is styled but doesn't look hard. The cream helps it maintain shape throughout the day, doesn't get all crusty/flaky, doesn't look/feel hard and it also washes out easily (keeps hair healthy), unlike the other products.

Its a small jar, but you don't need a lot, it will last you a good while if you add a dab of water to it when you put it in your hair. Also, get your hair wet, style, blow dry to get the shape. Then put in the product.

I have a big forehead as well, and also similar hair at your current length. What I do now is finger-length on the sides and about 2 inches longer on top. Shower/shampoo, blow dry it down, spread a dime shaped amount of product from front to back - flatten it - swoosh to one side - flatten the sides. At this length a nice, long comb is a great tool. Also, Baxter's clay is great because you can re-style with a little water throughout the day when your hair gets sad.

I hope this helps!

It's going to depend on what style you want! Most products are categorized by two parameters: hold and shine. For example, if you want high shine you're going to look at things like pomades and/or gels. Hair gel is usually high shine and high hold (think those punk rock spikes or the spiked up hair that was popular in the 90s) while things like fiber and cream can give you various types of hold with a low shine or matte look.

What kinds of products have you started looking at? I personally use the Gatsby Moving Rubber line (the green one) but a good beginner product is American Crew Fiber. It has good hold, matte finish, it's fairly cheap and can be found in any drug store.

This is what I use:
https://www.amazon.com/Simply-Great-Beard-Oil-Conditioner/dp/B01L2MSOFM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503523012&sr=8-1&keywords=simply+beard+oil+viking

And I have a boar brush. And to be honest... to keep things in place i just use what I use in my hair:
https://www.amazon.com/American-Fiber-Pliable-Molding-Ounces/dp/B0007CXWC4/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1503523061&sr=1-1&keywords=american+crew+fiber

I'm sure there's better stuff, but my beard is kinda' stiff and I am not in an area with lots of options. So let me know if you find something better! :)

I think updos are the way to go for hair out of your face. This is my favorite, but I like anything with french braids. I love spin pins, they work so much better than bobby pins, especially on slippery hair.

I also just got a bottle of salt spray that works wonders for getting my hair to stay in updos it would normally slide right out of. For example, this hairstyle never worked for me until I tried the salt spray, then it stays all day.

Water based pomades. Stiff hold, easy to style with, and washes out easy. Most of the good stuff is upwards of $15. Here's a decent cheap alternative.


For what it's worth, American Crew is far from the best stuff out there.

You have a textbook bowl cut. Looking young we can't do anything about. You'll grow out of that (sooner than you think). Looking weird? Now that's where we can help.

You need some style. Style is going to require product. Not gel though. This isn't 1998.

Look through this link from the sidebar: http://www.menshairstyletrends.com/

Look through the shorter cuts, get something short on top with a fade on the side. Check it

You're going to need some product. I personally like using clay or wax. Just depends on that you can afford/get your hands on. The shorter your hair the less "hold" you'll need, for the most part. One of the big things is get the hair off your forehead. That's a big part of looking younger.

Try this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N5MI2S/?th=1

It's what I'm currently using, though I try something new every few months. It has good hold, little goes a long way, and it's pretty cheap.

TLDR: Get a shorter haircut, preferably a fade and a bit longer on top, use a clay or wax product and keep your hair off your forehead.

EXPERIMENT! Your tastes and style will change and that's fine. Just gotta start somewhere.

Eco Style Gel is pretty good about not going crunchy. You have to way too much on for it to crunch and even if you do just spray some water on it and scrunch it a bit and it will soften. I love this gel :)

Thanks for the reply! Lots of good resources.

I did a little bit of reading in the wiki/sidebar and did a quick inventory of what I've been using. My styling products are all wax based and silicone-free. The weakest link in my routine is my cheap 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner (because I guess marketers assume men only care about convenience, got me). I sulfate free shampoo and conditioner from Burt's Bees and am looking forward to see how that goes over the next few weeks.

Products I'm using:

https://www.amazon.com/American-Crew-Forming-Cream-Ounce/dp/B000KEIPC6/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1500257942&sr=8-1&keywords=crew+forming+cream

https://www.amazon.com/Mister-Pompadour-Natural-Beeswax-Styling/dp/B00WKR4HRI/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1500257959&sr=8-1&keywords=mr.+pompadour

Shampoo/conditioner:

https://www.amazon.com/Burts-Bees-Moisture-Shampoo-Baobab/dp/B006YQ40ZA/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1500258088&sr=8-6&keywords=burt%27s+bees+shampoo

https://www.amazon.com/Burts-Bees-Moisture-Conditioner-Baobab/dp/B006YQ4DIO/ref=pd_bxgy_194_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B006YQ4DIO&pd_rd_r=YAG64W5AYHPPRH6Y7H76&pd_rd_w=JhTh2&pd_rd_wg=VcsOa&refRID=YAG64W5AYHPPRH6Y7H76&th=1

I've heard good things about volumizing powder that you put in the roots of your hair like the one from big sexy hair called power play. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00390DN34/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00390DN34&linkCode=as2&tag=kandeethemake-20

Got any recommendations for a water based medium shine and hold product (that doesn't make your hair feel stiff when running your hands through it)? Fan of American Crew Forming Cream (but doesn't have the best feel) and Baxter Cream Pomade (doesn't quite have enough hold or shine)

Any recommendation would be great, as im super unknowledgeable about this stuff!

The first thing to know is that there isn't really anything over the counter that is going to combat thinning hair. So don't fall for any "hacks" or "home remedies" to thicken hair. If you're concerned about your hair thinning/possibly balding, I recommend seeing a trichologist (head and scalp doctor). They can figure out why your hair is thinning.

One of the most important things you can do is not wash your hair so often. Shampooing too often strips your hair of natural oils, making it weaker. While washing often doesn't make your hair thin faster, it's a good practice for anyone (thin hair or not)

My first recommendation is to stop washing your hair with any type of shampoo and see how long it takes before it gets really oily. You'll know when your hair starts to feel greasy, kinda heavy, your head gets a little warm.

Then make a note of how long that is (say it's 4 days), and start washing your hair every 4 days with a light shampoo that doesn't have harsh chemicals, like this one. Most people use way too much shampoo. You want to squeeze about an amount of a quarter.

Then use lighter hair products. Since your hair is thin, it doesn't have the structure to support heavy products. My favorite products are Sumo tech and Gatsby Moving Rubber. Always use a little (dime size) amount and work it into your hair. If you need more, do it 1 or 2 more times. This is to evenly distribute the product vs going in for a big clump on the first shot.

Yeah, I use a combination of Bumble & bumble Sumotech which keeps the hair really natural looking (it's kind of expensive though, which stinks), American Crew Fiber, and just regular gel.

And this is kind of a new look for this cut, usually I keep it up more, like this which involves alot of the Sumotech.

Hope this helped!

What kind of hair do you have?

I try to avoid that look, but I often end up with it when I use this stuff, Garnier "Surf Hair" paste. It works well as a thickener for fine hair (me) and responds poorly to being blow dried with hot air. That "poor response" results in floppy, bunchy hair that behaves as though it's wet. Might be worth a try.

But for the love of god, don't listen to the guys telling you to not wash your hair everyday.

I'd suggest trying a few different products instead of the gel you're currently using. Play around until you find something you like. Most stores have great return policies, too. Here's some product suggestions: 1, 2, 3, 4

Yeah I blow dry my hair and then rub a dime sized amount of this into my hair and gel the front up and that's about it. Takes a couple minutes, but pretty easy.

I may not exactly have the same hair, but I have Thick and Coarse relatively straight hair (I'm asian), like coarser and more stubborn than typical asian males.

I found my perfect combo that gives a similar look, albeit my hair is a tad longer and a bit tidier for office work.

with dried hair(but not super bone dry) I work in about 2-4 small dabs of this
tigi bed head seperation wax, then if my hair is being especially stubborn and not sitting well in the back I work in a tiny amount of Crew Pomade, then I finish it with a light(very light) spray of bedhead hard head, I like this spray because it doesn't flake or crack, and a light spray remains actually pretty flexible.

For long hair, it looks surprisingly good. Try taking the little bit on the left side of your part and pull it over to the right so your forehead isn't entirely bare. I'd also try pulling it all back. Your hair looks fairly light though so you may need a bit of oil to weigh it down and keep it from popping up. You can leave your sides in front or behind your ears, whatever you think looks best.

Here's a product I typically use after washing my hair to replace some of the lost oil and give it a nice shine.

http://www.amazon.com/Garnier-Fructis-Anti-Frizz-Serum-Sleek/dp/B000GCTBNY

I like the haircut that you've attached. Also, I know how hard it is to style hair like yours so I am going to offer you a game changer. Use this [American Fiber - Hair styling creme] (https://www.amazon.com/American-Fiber-Pliable-Molding-Ounces/dp/B0007CXWC4/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1487719676&sr=8-4&keywords=mens+hair+styling+american+crew).

I use it every day and it works with very stiff hair that sticks up like yours. How do I know? Because I have the same kind of hair. I always hated my hair until i found styling creme. This is the best brand I've discovered so far

Also, as a tip, just in case you aren't sure of how to talk your barber about how to get that hairstyle, just ask for a #2 on the sides and back, straight cut up for the sides, and longer on the top and front.

Here's also a good reference for talking to your barber:

Art of Manliness - How to talk to your barber

I have a v2.1 w/ a glass bed and I have no issues at all w/ aquanet hairspray.

Now when you say you've tried hairspray, was is the OG aquanet hairspray exactly like This? I spray down the glass lightly and that'll last me a good 5-10prints. And since I'm printing w/ petg my first layer height is a little on the high side and I still don't have any adhesion issues.

If that was the exact hairspray you used then the only thing I can think of is using a strong cleaner to make sure that your glass doesn't have any residue that's keeping your prints from sticking.

I use dust/powder (whatever you want to call it) and love the staying power it gives me. They also add thickness if your hair is thin which is great.
OSiS has a great one if you want to spent a bit more on the good stuff. Got2b is my current favourite because I'm on a budget. If you're health conscious about the types of products you use Surface has a to die for product and it is my absolute favourite when I want to splurge. The whole Surface line is amazing too!

Edit: don't be thrown off by the product names. Some say mattifying, some volumizing, some styling ... but they're all really the same multifunctional product.

Long time lurker here. I enjoy all the success pics.

I decided a while back to stop fighting my curls with gel and short haircuts. It's been going well and get compliments and surprise from friends and family. Those who haven't seen me in a while are totally confused and have asked if I've gotten a perm!!! I guess I have two questions

First: I'd like to go for the Jon Snow look if possible. I've been letting my hair grow and grow and grow. Now it feels like an afro-mullet combo. How should this hair be cut while it's still growing out? I get frustrated with stylists/barber/etc as I want an expert or at least someone with experience to guide me through this instead of asking what I want. "I don't know... that's why I'm asking you..." I don't want my hair ruined by someone guessing or going off of my unqualified instruction.

---

Second: At the end of the day, it gets frizzy/puffy (see the last pic in the album). I've tried not showering and it ends up looking greasy. How do you get smooth curls that aren't greasy or crunch due to gel?

---

Daily Routine:

1. Warm/hot shower with Shampoo and Conditioner from Costco.
   
2. Dry with a cotton t-shirt while hanging my head upside down
   
3. I'll apply Shea Curl Enhancing Smooth or Shea Curl & Style Milk
   
   

You could save yourself nearly $600 by just getting some of [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Wleec-Beauty-Pieces-Donut-Medium/dp/B00MOEUYT2/ref=sr_1_10_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1457616774&sr=8-10&keywords=hair+bun) and some of [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Hair-Powder-Volumizing-Texturizing/dp/B00390DN34/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1457616823&sr=8-2&keywords=hair+volume+powder) and doing a sleek updo.

I have awful thin/fine hair, too. I'm doing something [similar to this] (http://imgur.com/SrFma9n) except at the bottom, the hair comes up from the bottom over the bun thing, and then my veil goes over top of that. I did a rough trial run and my flat, sad hair was big and fabulous with these things! That, and some volume powder and a little back combing, and voila....

Good luck with whatever you decide, though!

Give the sides a fade (ask for a number one or zero, depending on your preference). As for the top, you could trim it a little so that it blends in with the fade. For a reference, you could check out number 7 of this article here. It also recommends getting a Suavecito Pomade for styling. Hope it helps!

Its a temporary effect, but it really does help if you have thin hair. Its not going to do anything permanent.

I also use a "volumizing powder" that makes it even more thick. You'd be surprised how well the products work. http://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Hair-Powder-Volumizing-Texturizing/dp/B00390DN34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418952633&sr=8-1&keywords=volumizing+powder&pebp=1418952633498

Ok great I'll try that! Would something like this do the trick? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002K33AFM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_tFNsxbAEW8P9Z

that just seems to be the drawback with gels... gets all crunchy and looks like dandruff when it breaks apart and of course you gotta wash it off with something like shampoo which is a huge no-no. I've only used a few gels but this one gave a softer appearance without too much crunch ECCO. You can find them at Sally's beauty supply also, and it has to be the olive oil one. I tried one that was clear and it sucked.

I'm going to add to this. I use this stuff, (link below). My hair is super heavy anyway, so getting it to have any amount of volume previously meant tons of teasing. But a little sprinkle of this and it's wonderful!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00390DN34/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_muIKxbQS4V3NG

Hah! I actually took that same photo to my barber when I got my last haircut. I use a product called Suavecito. It's a water based pomade, so it's not gunky and comes out easy in the shower. Smells great too!

I use this. One pot lasts me 6 months to a year, depending on my hairstyle. Sometimes I shave my head as a sort of "clean slate". It smells great. Given my current hairstyle and the fat that I thin my hair out (My hair gets pretty thick), I use less product.

I have cowlicks on the back of my head that I can't seem to tame. As you can see in the first photo, the hair on the back of my head is frizzy and sticks up in every direction (the second photo is for reference of what the front of my head usually looks like). I have very thick, very straight hair.

I currently use Bumble and Bumble Sumo Tech (http://www.amazon.com/Bumble-Sumo-Tech-1-5-Ounce-Jar/dp/B000BIUGTQ), but this clearly does not do the job. I apply it after blow drying, after conditioning my hair.

Any advice on how to keep the back of my head down? Or any advice to knew styles that would fit my face. I feel like the the back of my head completely undermines what I'm trying to accomplish.

Product: Layrite natural matte cream. I rock a side part.

Edit: this is the stuff. People on Amazon seem to love it too.

This stuff is pretty good



As far as the hairloss, just make due for now. Technology should get better over the next few years. There is also the option of beard transplants which is cheaper and less demanding than a hair transplant if you are a high norwood. Just exercise, eat right, and relax. You can also try minoxidil or Finasteride. The latter has some side effects though, so be wary.

TIGI bed head



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002N5MI2S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


amazing high/medium hold with a super matte finish. im not a fan of pomades with shine

Most of the time I tend to use American Crew Forming Cream, but on a whim I decided to try out By Vilain Gold Digger because I'd seen the blokes that make it had a YouTube channel where they use it a lot, and the stuff is like bloody cement. It holds really well. I don't know if I'd buy it again simply because it's quite expensive with shipping costs, but it really is great stuff. I tend to use the Gold Digger if my hair's misbehaving, and the Forming Cream does the job when it's cooperating.

I think a high hold wax might not work for hair that long though, so in that case I'm just vouching for American Crew. I used their Fibre in the past as well and that was good too, so I don't think you'd go wrong with one of their products.

I guess I'm just looking for things that is cheaper on Amazon than regular retail store. Really awesome hard to find items are good too. For example, this hair wax from Amazon

First picture is me, if that wasn't clear.

Here are a few more pictures of my hair at different lengths/angles. I feel like the main reason I haven't been able to achieve something like the other pictures is because my hair's fairly fine.

I've tried a variety of products, including bedhead wax, american crew fiber, mousse, hair spray, and sea salt spray. The wax and fiber leave my hair feeling like a sticky and greasy mess so I don't use them often, and the hair spray makes it look really dry and stringy.

I've had the most success with a mixture of mousse and sea salt spray, but I still haven't been able to replicate the looks of the pictures I posted.

My hair always tends to end up in more or less the same shape (as you can see from the pictures) after blowdrying.

I've tried parting it the other way, but it usually ends up looking really messy and uncontrollable, although I haven't experimented with it much.

Going nopoo has helped, but I'm still a ways away from my "perfect hair". I feel like I've tried everything and am wondering if it's even possible.

Depends what you're doing with it and what type of hair you have, but for me, I've found that a rough paste or wax is what works best and has been recommended by stylists. I'm partial to Bumble and Bumble Sumotech (which is expensive) and Joe Grooming texture paste (which is slightly less expensive, but not as easy to find).

Thanks for the feedback!

Currently I'm using the American Crew Fiber which is labeled as a creme, but it has more of a wax feel to me.

Here's a link to it on Amazon, but you might find a better deal on it elsewhere if you do choose to get it.
https://www.amazon.com/American-Fiber-Pliable-Molding-Ounces/dp/B0007CXWC4

I agree with /u/HaxtesR, something to style your hair would be most beneficial. But the DevaCurl products are quite expensive over here so you might wanna experiment with different types of stylers before you spend so much money on it in case your hair doesn't like it. Or see if you can find one of their travel kits.

Some cheap things to experiment with are:

Boots Curl Creme

Umberto Gianni Scrunching Jelly

EcoStyler Gel -There are smaller and bigger sizes of this available.

Also have a look on http://shop.britishcurlies.co.uk/ to see if theres anything you think better suit your needs. They carry quite a few brands.

Thanks! I use Layrite Natural Matte Cream. It does the trick to hold it in place, but it doesn't really dry out or harden the way gel does. I'm trying to grow the hair out a bit too so it's been nice to have.

Amazon links here
Gatsby
Dominate You may not like this as it is super dry just like the quicksand.

I used to use Tea Tree for several years, but then moved on to using D:fi's Molding Creme! It's cheaper ($20 for 5.3 oz) and has a stronger hold than Tea Tree's. Like Tea Tree's, it'll give your hair a matte look but keeps your hair very soft and dry.

It takes practice, the right hair and the right wax. I recommend Mat Type Gatsby Hair Wax.

http://www.amazon.com/Gatsby-Hair-Wax-Mat-Type/dp/B001CE8JDI

I cosplayed as the Doctor for PAX East last year. I'd comb it out, work the wax in, then just sort of hand mold it until I was happy with it.

Tons and tons of DEP. Nice and crispy, just like the ladies like it.

Or American Crew Forming Cream.

Hey man, this is the stuff I use :http://www.amazon.com/Suavecito-Pomade/dp/B0065JCV84 it holds well, dries well, smell fantastic, and is water based so it won't stay in your hair.

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/American-Crew-Forming-Cream-Ounce/dp/B000KEIPC6/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1397754179&sr=1-2

Just put a little on your fingers and make sure to work it through all of your hair, even the back. That way it looks even. Better to use too little than too much when you've got hair your length, IMHO.

I'm asian and I use Gatsby moving rubber to style my hair in the morning. I'd say its been the best stuff I've used so far and makes your hair smell like green apples

I use Gatsby Moving Rubber. I apply a dab of yellow, spread it over my hands, and stroke my fingers through my hair and try to reach every area. The yellow lasts an entire day, and holds bunches of hair in the right place.

After that, I apply some [pink Gatsby] (http://www.amazon.com/MANDOM-GATSBY-MOVING-RUBBER-SPYKY/dp/B000V2ACH8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347054673&sr=8-1&keywords=pink+gatsby) to do the details. It's really good at holding smaller bunches of hair, so I use it on the front and on the sides to keep my sideburns from sticking out in awkward directions.

It also helps to shower and blow dry in the morning. I shower every day, but I rarely use shampoo. 2 applications of conditioner seems to do the trick--it keeps my hair nice and soft and shiny all the time.

Hi! My hair is mostly 3A as well, and I live in the Southern US, which is extremely humid, especially in the summer.

I use gel as my styler. They do have the potential to be stiff/sticky when they dry. However, if you layer your gel on top of a leave in conditioner, that will solve the problem. My routine is cowash, S2C, apply my leave in (which can either be a small amount of your normal conditioner or an actual leave-in), apply a frizz serum (I use KY liquid because I can't afford Curl Keeper), and then apply my gel, which is the LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel. This is a high-hold gel, and it does get hard as it dries. But once it's dry, I flip my hair over and scrunch it until all the crunch comes out. I am left with soft, bouncy, well-defined curls that will usually last me about 3 days before I have to cowash again.

I personally have not tried any creams because they weigh my fine hair down and make it feel greasy. I would at least try a gel and see how you like it - just be sure to use a leave-in underneath!

*Edited to add a picture of my wash day hair!

It depends what you want, do you want to look 'naturally tousled' or do want your hair to look exactly the same all day? if the former gel/hairspray, if the latter you dont want a gel, it 'sets', you want something like a pomade or wax. Like [this](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CE8JDI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325& creativeASIN=B001CE8JDI&linkCode=as2&tag=atft-20) or this

You might want to give this a try. It's a really firm, gritty hold but it's completely matte. You only need to use like half a dime's worth for a solid hold. One jar lasts me a year or so.

I've used American Crew for about a year now, but I recently switched to Suavecito and I don't think I'm going back. It's cheaper with a similar sheen and texture, but I believe it holds a little more firm. Plus it smells great.

Suavecito pomade. It's the best that I can find. It holds incredibly well and it's water soluble.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0065JCV84?cache=26dd1102e709bd5db44e3df16f506e2f&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1405816788&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

Edit : didn't reply to comment.

>Let me know if you have more questions!

Lets say I have these 5 items here:

• Microfiber hair towel
  
  
• Wide tooth comb
  
  
• La Looks Gel #10
  
  
• TRESemmé conditioner
  
  
• V05 Clarifying shampoo
  
  Do I need any more items?
  
  If no, for the first wash using these items, what do I do?
  
  
  I know you don't use the V05 shampoo for anything except the first wash, but what do I do for the first wash? After I get the first wash down, the only thing I need to do is remove the use of V05 clarifying shampoo right?
  
  
  Let's say I get into the shower. Turn the water on and wash my hair and make it wet. Do I need a specific temperature of water? Let's say I add the TRESemmé conditioner. How much do I add for my amount of hair? What do I do with it? I add a certain amount to my hair, do I just let it sit there, do I massage it in, do I "scrunch it"? How long do I keep the conditioner in? Do I use the comb while in the shower working with the conditioner or during a different time? How do I use it?
  
  
  In the styling portion of the beginner-routine it states that you take a large amount of gel and scrunch it into your hair. For my volume of hair, would a handful of gel be too much? What does it mean to "scrunch it in"?
  
  
  In the drying portion it says to scrunch your hair with a microfiber towel, is this a different type of scrunching than the one in the styling portion? What's "plopping"? What does "scrunching out the crunch" mean?
  
  Thanks. Sorry for so many questions.
  
  
  
  

Same type of hair here. It's the worst name ever but - Big Sexy Hair Powder Play. I prefer it to dry shampoo. It's a powder that you sprinkle on your roots to make it more...grippy(?) and it gives a lot of volume.

https://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Hair-Powder-Play-Ounce/dp/B00390DN34/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1506607195&sr=8-2&keywords=big%2Bsexy%2Bhair%2Bpowder%2Bplay&th=1

There is a Japanese brand called Gatsby. That is also very good. The pink and the grey are the most popular, followed by the green I think.

http://www.amazon.com/Bumble-Sumo-Tech-1-5-Ounce-Jar/dp/B000BIUGTQ

Got this at my stylist a couple weeks ago. You need to make sure you're hair is completely dry before applying. Works awesome though.

Heat that bed up. 90c or so should work.

Hairspray + 90c bed works great for ABS for me. Have to actually let it cool before I can pop it off.

Also, which hairspray are you using? I tried one that only sorta worked, then moved to the "standard" Aqua Net:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002K33AFM

Haven't seen it mentioned yet, but I use Gatsby (either the pink or the grey one). It's a japanese hair product, basically its wax/paste that has a fruity apple scent.

There's a variety of colors that correspond to specific style/length (chart) with each having unique attributes (graphic here). Both the pink and the grey provide stronger holding power with little to no shine, ideally for "shorter" hair.

Links: Pink (Spiky Edge) and Grey (Grunge Mat).

Not sure where you are buying your American Crew, but this will have to be free if its $10 cheaper than it is on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/American-Fiber-Pliable-Molding-Ounces/dp/B0007CXWC4/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1473364650&sr=8-1&keywords=american+crew+fiber

There are a few texturizing sprays that achieve this look! My favorite is the Not Your Mothers Beach Babe Spray :)

Scotch pine in lower queen anne might still carry it. They used to carry it but might have switched back to exclusively layrite. You can try calling them (206) 599-7463.


I use pomade everyday and have bounced back and forth between Sauve and Layrite for my pom. I use Uppercut now. I highly suggest ordering a can off amazon and checking it out. Its better than both of them. Careful of the monster hold stuff that they carry though. That stuff is impossible to wash out.

http://www.amazon.com/Uppercut-Barber-Supplies-Deluxe-Pomade/dp/B005IC3C1O

Been using TIGI Wax for about a year now. It's my favorite so far. Much better than Crew Fiber

Jumping on OP's comment about how you style. I'm a fellow wavy and I just realized this last week by mistake that if I let my hair air dry for a while after a shower (I've started with 30 mins but plan to work up) before applying any products it seems to give my curls more time to 'develop' without product or water weighing them down...anyway just a thought! Also here's some links to the styling products I've been using for a while:

Gel

Curl Cream

Curl Cream #2 (I like to do a mixture of both curl creams because I'm not a fan of the first one on it's own but I do like them together.)

Australia is generally more expensive for beauty products in general, which is why I'm boycotting large companies and using lots of natural stuff (as mentioned in my other post).

It's more about finding out the right combination for you, and less about spending money on high-end products. Here is a volume powder which I did a quick search for on Amazon. I'm guessing you're in America?

I always blow dry my hair when I come out of the shower. When I do so, I put some mouse in my hair, and I use a round brush. Once my hair is dry, I use a volumizing powder on the roots ([this one] (http://www.amazon.com/Got2b-Powderful-Volumizing-Styling-Powder/dp/B00546F4CY/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1398649126&sr=1-1&keywords=powderful+got2be)).

If my bangs are not cooperating, I use my straighter and some hairspray afterward.

I hope that helped :)

Thanks for the answers. Would something like this work?

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01GIW9842/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3UH28SKTY6KN8&psc=1

I'm new to using pomades (whatever form they come in).

Pay the money to get a high quality product. I know it may seem like something you might want to save money on, but you'll end up paying more in the long run.

I'm am a fan of Baxters of California Clay Pomade http://www.amazon.com/Baxter-California-Clay-Pomade-oz/dp/B000MIKEZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427828229&sr=8-1&keywords=baxter+of+california

It may run you $18-$20 but you only have to use a miniscule amount and one jar can last a whole year.

http://www.amazon.com/Baxter-California-Clay-Pomade-fl/dp/B000MIKEZQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1464243298&sr=8-1&keywords=Baxter+of+California+Clay+Pomade%2C+2+fl.+oz.

best wax/pomade i have ever used, you wont regret it

I also use the Power Putty, though I use Mess Maker (probably the exact same product lol). I'm sure there are better products out there but it's very inexpensive and generally does what I want it to do. I usually start with some sea salt spray, which is great for getting that piecey messy look -- I use this.

Its awesome! I use this. I've never had any fruit smell from it! It smells awesome in the jar actually, but not once you put it in your hair.

> Creams / pastes:

Tea tree shaping cream $15 on amazon: Link This post shows it in use: Link

Mr. Pompadour Moroccan Texture Paste $20 Link

> Wax:

Carter Supply Flux Strong Hold Wax $19 Link

> Clay:

Baxter California Clay $20: Link This post shows it in use: Link

Daimon Barber N° 4 Clay Pomade $24 Link

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but where do you buy american crew fiber clay?? I'm looking on amazon and like theres one result :|

EDIT: Nvm... lol... is this it?

Second. Powder is absolute beast mode. I just started using this combined with this and the results are not only better but much easier and cleaner than messing with heavy pastes and stuff like Fiber or Mess Up, especially if you have a bit of length.

Happy cake day!

I can't decide between one of my favorite books (I lost my original during a move) or some new hair product, but my favorite dessert of all time is probably red velvet cake. Either that or spritz cookies, but those take too damn long to make :P

cheesecake all day everyday

my go-to (for similar purposes) is bumble & bumble sumotech. smells DELICIOUS.

Hey buddy, fellow Asian guy here.

For volumizing product, I use Gatsby. http://www.amazon.com/GATSBY-MOVING-RUBBER-SPIKY-2-8oz/dp/B000V2ACH8/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1383050870&sr=1-1.

If I know it's going to be a long day I finish the style with a short spritz of low hold strength hairspray. The overall result is a strong hold without the sheen of a styling gel.

I've tried lots of things like what you're looking for and a lot can come down to genetics. I like a low shine, medium hold and matte finish. I've been using TIGI Bed Head for the last few weeks and I like the texture and hold I get from it and it doesn't break the bank

I have similar hair...if I really want to encourage wavy I use Aveda Be Curly plus Not Your Mother's Salt Spray and then scrunch it a little bit.

The Aveda stuff is a little pricy but I like the way it smells.

Id try Uppercut Deluxe pomade. It holds pretty well
...washes right out.

http://www.amazon.com/Uppercut-Barber-Supplies-Deluxe-Pomade/dp/B005IC3C1O

I've found the Tigi Bed Head Matte Seperation Wax works really well for me, siginicantly better than American Crew Fiber.

I personally use this. Much better hold than American Crew and lets you mold very well.

I'd say pick up a diffuser nozzle for your blow dryer to give you more control over your hair styling.

For product, it depends on your hair type. If you have thicker hair, you may want to try American Crew Fiber. It's high hold and a matte finish at a great price. If you have finer or medium hair (not thin), like me, I'd recommend the American Crew Forming Cream. It is medium hold and medium shine, but it's just slightly more shine than the fiber for my hair type (medium thickness, blond hair). The forming cream also allows for a more "natural" feel as if you layer it correctly, you can hardly tell it's there.

I've been using TiGi Bedhead Men's Matte Separation Wax for the last few years, and I love it.

I really like to use Gatsby Hair Wax, it tames my frizz, but your mileage may vary.

The colors have different holds. I like the orange and pink.

I've been using D:fi for about 10 years and it continues to be awesome. It can provide a lot of hold while still appearing totally matte. For maximum matte-ness, put it in towel-dry hair, let it dry completely, and then run your fingers through it to get rid of the wet look.

I use Tigi Behead workable wax to achieve a similar sort of style, and although it is quite pricey it has a great hold and is hardly noticeable in your hair, and you don't need to use very much.

yep. Don't use gel. Use a wax.
http://www.amazon.com/TIGI-Head-Matte-Separation-Ounce/dp/B002N5MI2S
This stuff is miles away better than Crew Fiber product.

why don't you want to use hair gel(other than disliking the shiny and hard feel of it)? most hair gel is water based so it should wash out completely when you rinse with water.

i use crew forming cream. by feel alone, i think it washes out with just water. i give a good scrub in the shower though. paste/fiber definitely will not wash out completely with just water from my experience. the forming cream is medium hold and gives a slight shine. i think it's good for longer hair.

I currently use Gatsby moving rubber and like it a lot. It has good hold and not a lot of shine.
I sometimes use Murray's pomade which has better hold, but is a little shinier and a lot harder to wash out.

[Layrite Natural Matte cream](Layrite Natural Matte Cream Pomade, 4.25 oz. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01GIW9842/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_T9gZBb9SYKCSA)

I love Design Essentials. I have red ends on my hair so those bits are dryer than the rest of my hair. This hair masque by Shea Moisture leaves my hair looking so juicy after I rinse it out. I use the Almond and Avocado leave in conditioner always. For any style I do including braid outs or wash n gos, I always use Curl Stretching Crème and Eco Styler Gel. Throughout the week to refresh or moisturize, I’ll either add oil (I’d link it but they don’t make it anymore) or spray some water and add a little bit of leave in conditioner.

My hair is also low porosity, so even though we have a similar texture what works for me may not work for you. After experimenting for a year I finally found a regimen that works for me :)

Here is the trick. Get some aerosol hairspray and put a light coat on the metal handle. The grip will slide right on. Let it dry overnight and the grips will be more secure than if you managed to slide them on without the hairspray.

This stuff or something like it: http://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Net-Unscented-Aerosol-Spray-11/dp/B002K33AFM