Best products from r/FierceFlow

Okay! So... a foreword -- this is going to be in-depth as hell. It might seem overwhelming, HOWEVER, this is basically just a baseline for you to start with. It is what works for me, so feel free to pick and choose what you think will work for you -- and what you can commit to during this important grow-out process.

 

My hair history: I've tried regular shampooing, natural shampooing, organic, nopoo, co-washing, just-water-washing, baking soda washing. If its out there, ive probably tried it. This is what works best for me.

 

First point, I think that it's good to remember that the reason you should take the best care possible of your hair during the grow-out phase, is because once you've reached a satisfying length, the quality of hair you have will reflect the year or two that you committed to caring for it. For example, if you abuse the shit out of your hair for the first 8 months of growing it out -- that will ABSOLUTELY be reflected in the quality of about 4 inches of your hair. If you step up your game the last two months, that quality will really only be reflected in the inch of hair closest to your scalp. Does that make sense? So...basically...back to my original point: The main grow-out phase is very important. It will dictate how easy your hair is to manage. Healthy hair is happy hair, happy hair is manageable hair.

Disclaimer This advice is my own, from my own experience. YMMV.

 

My hair quality: I have tons and tons of wavy-straight south american hair. i guess the closest i could visually compare it to is Indian (not native american) hair. Its plentiful, and it's medium weight. My preference for haircare is to apply no heat to it (use a blow-dryer on cold ONCE a week, when i wash it) and products should do nothing more and nothing less than to just make it flowy looking. I dont style it. I finger-comb and push it back, letting it just do its own thing.

Scalp massages are your new best friend: Blood flow helps things grow happy and healthy (insert weiner joke here). Scalp massages promote blood-flow -- which means that it will promote healthy hair growth. This is extremely popular in Indian culture, particularly amongst women. I've been doing scalp massages for the past month and have seen a RADICAL change in my hair growth. It seems to be growing faster and thicker now -- and my scalp gets way less greasy, since scalp massages also spread the oils to your hair cuticle (hair cuticle: the length of your hair). Oh, and my baby-hairs that ive had on the edges of my hairline my entire life are now beginning to grow into actual, adult, hair. My favorite method of scalp massages is the inverted method. But any massage is better than no massage.
Here is the best head-massage tutorial i found on youtube. she does a great job at explaining everything. It only takes 10 minutes. I do this every other day -- but like i said. Even if you only do it twice a week, it will be better than nothing at all.

Oils promote hair health: Now that you're familiar with the scalp massage, its time to add a booster to make it doubly effective. Enter my favorite oil -- Amla oil which you can find information on with a quick Google search. There are many ways to get it, including making your own by mixing Amla powder with coconut oil, but i cant be bothered with that shit, so i just buy it pre-mixed. What are the benefits, you ask? WELL...it helps in preventing hair loss (that isnt genetic), cures dry scalp/dandruff, aids in hair growth, helps to thicken your hair cuticle, conditions hair, and makes it incredibly easy to work with.
How do you oil your hair? Super easy. In fact, that head-massage tutorial above should show you how. Once you've got some oil on your scalp, put on a shower cap and leave it in for either 3 hours or just sleep in it. Yeah you'll look dumb as shit, but who gives a fuck when you're running your fingers through your own luscious hair. What i do is, once a week i oil my hair with a head massage, put a shower cap on..and i secure it using one of those sweat-bands for your head. I wake up, hop in the shower and wash my hair with shampoo as usual.

On the subject of shampoo and conditioner: What you like is up to you. My best recommendation is to get something that isnt too stripping. Your scalp needs those natural oils it produces. Ever wonder why your hair is greasy as FUCK 2 days after you wash? Or even just 1 day after you wash? It's because your scalp is SCREAMING for natural oils. It is dehydrated as shit, and the more you wash it, the worse it will get. Massaging your scalp and using oils will help balance out your scalp's oil production. I've gotten to the point where i can comfortably go 5 days without washing my hair and it still looks clean -- and i can go 7 days if i just throw on a cap or a beanie.
BONUS: If you really wanna take 5 more minutes and treat yourself in the shower -- this hair mask is the absolute tits and will leave your hair feeling silky as shit. It makes my confused-waves look like real curls. It takes literally 5 minutes. Treat yourself.

Okay you're out of the shower: Towel dry. Dont do that thing where you rub the absolute shit out of your hair between the towel. Instead, scrunch and squeeze your hair like you're trying to squeeze a sponge. DONT WRING. Scrunch & Squeeze.
Great, now your hair damp and all in your face. Time to tame the beast. DONT USE A COMB. DONT BRUSH. Use your fingers. Why? Because as long as you used a conditioner/mask in the shower, you shouldnt have any tangles, and all combs do is break the shit out of your hair and all brushes do is make your hair look frizzy.

CON'T BELOW

I don't mind sharing, but to be honest I don't do much to it. The main reason I haven't cut it is because it's easy to manage at this length. I mean, I have a specific styling routine, but it's pretty much use conditioner, dry with a shirt, work in some styling paste, gently comb through with a wide tooth comb, shake my head a few times, let it air dry, and fluff it up when it's mostly dry.

Good for you for growing it 8 months! Keep it up! That was an awkward stage for me (link) but I would get a trim every 8 weeks or so to clean up the back while I waited for the front to catch up. I was very adamant that I did not want my stylist to trim anything off the front. They would only trim up the back/neck and even out the sides so I wouldn't have a mullet lol it took FOREVER for the hair in the front to be long enough to pull it into a ponytail, but I'm there now.

Anyway, more specifically, I use two products mainly. Aussie Mega Moist Conditioner to clean and moisturize and Suave Men Medium Hold Styling Paste to style. I like the styling paste because it holds the curls together without feeling too hard or making my hair look wet. It has a nice matte finish. For shampoo I'm not picky. I use whatever my wife buys. Usually whatever is cheap and sulfate free. I think she buys Tresemme brand. I can't bring myself to spend more than $5 on hair products so I make due with what's cheap.

I wash with conditioner every day. I use shampoo about once a week to wash off any buildup from the styling paste. When I get out of the shower I gently lay my towel over my head and press against my head from front to back to get the bulk of the water out. I never agitate my hair or move the towel back and forth. Then I use an old t shirt to grab chunks of my hair and squeeze out excess water. Again being careful not to agitate the hair. I'm not using a pulling motion.

Then I part my hair with my fingers where I want it. I take a finger full of the styling paste and rub it between my palms and work it into my hair starting at the front and working back. I focus mainly on the top layer of hair, I don't run it through my hair. It's more like I'm spreading it onto my hair, if that makes sense. Then I grab another finger full of paste and do the same with the back but I use a scrunching motion to work the product into my curls in the back. Then (this might be controversial) I take a wide tooth comb and do one pass through my hair from root to tip. Only one time. This shapes it and works the product through a little better. I will lightly fluff it up and shape the curls after I comb it, otherwise it dries straight and flat. Then I let it air dry. When it's mostly dry I'll fluff it up and shape it some more.

But that's it. I don't use any hair spray or leave in conditioner. I probably could but I'm happy with how my hair turns out must days and I don't spend too much money so that's a plus.

Yo, lady with butt-length hair with a husband with thigh length hair here (I really should post his flow at some point...), to begin with it's a good idea to get some brushes if you can afford them.

My preference is a tangle teaser and a natural bristle paddle brush and boar bristle styling (super awesome for taming flyaways when styling - but don't feel obliged if you're veggie) But for now, just the tangle teaser if your hair isn't that long yet.

Now, products, you want to cut out all SLS shampoos because they're a devil for sucking out moisture of your hair which is one of the keys to massive flow. Same with conditioners with silicones. OGX are a good (expensive, mind) brand but they're worth every penny.

As your flow gets longer you're going to need to support the keratin in your hair as it gets older, which is easily done with a protein treatment (not keratin straightening treatment. That's very different). Something like Joico's Kpak Reconstructor 1-2 times a month.

Oil is also a great protectant, just a little (jojoba, argan, macadamia, kukui, avocado, all good and easily available on amazon for fairly cheap. Don't waste money on branded ones) a few drops onto the boar bristle (or natural paddle if you're veggie) and run it through 1-2 times per week. Don't let your hair become an oil slick with it, but a light coating is good - you'll learn how much you need through trial and error as it varies depending on length, density etc).

Now, styling. Yeah, the awkward phase will come. Power through it and glory awaits you. You could do the European thing and wear one of those wavy headbands to keep it out of your face.

Once it gets longer I highly recommend you practice braiding because it's so handy to get your hair out of your face; French and a solid English are good places to start. A little hair spray and using the boar bristle will mean you'll keep it in place easily (pro tip; when slicking back spray a little hairspray on the brush).

As for resources, this lass has very long hair, and her tips really work (as I also have super long pink hair after following them).

I highly recommend exploring Aveda hair care products. Kind of expensive but they're such high quality goods. All natural, no animal testing, and sooo many options for your hair depending on whether you have a specific issue you'd like to treat or just a nice scent. I have very long hair
that can get oily (charming right?) And their rosemary mint is the bomb. http://m.aveda.com

I don't know if you have Jean Madeline Salons or Aveda Salons where you live, but if you can locate one it would be worth it to go once and get a consultation about what to use.

Alternatively, I've had good luck with this product, which you might want to check out in the citrus scent (scroll down). Also very natural but you'd have to check into the brand's ethics, I've never looked. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B7K7QI6/ref=oh_aui_i_sh_in_o1_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

> My professor told me that I can't have my hair hanging down onto my suit

Where does this rule come from? Is that his personal rule or a standardized rule? (Or something else?)

And are you planning to make broadcasting a career? If it's just a class for credit, just tie it back and pass the class. If this is for your career, I'm afraid this will be a tougher journey for you. I can't find one male newscaster or weatherman with long hair on TV.

I hate these societal roles, so if you can keep your fierceflow and break into newscasting, I support you 100%! Maybe radio or webcasting would be an easier way to break into TV? People can get used to you as you develop your brand.

As far as styling, you just have to experiment. Everyone looks different on camera, so what might work for one person might not work for you. So in the vein of experimentation, I would recommend a side-part in a manbun. If your hair doesn't brush easy when dry, try towel drying your hair, add a little product (possibly volumizing mousse?) then use this kind of brush:

https://www.amazon.com/Hairbrush-Brushes-Bristles-Straight-Quickly/dp/B07S2PQZ5M/ref=mp_s_a_1_30?keywords=hair+brush&qid=1570086023&s=gateway&sprefix=hair+b&sr=8-30

Sounds like you need top volume, so this kind of brush will move your hair in the direction you want it to go without pasting it to your scalp. You can even wiggle it a little while brushing to keep your hair from going too flat. Then once you have it tied in a bun, let it air dry. Hairspray can help you keep some height too.

I don't know how fine or flat your hair gets, so another experiment is to try this?

https://www.amazon.com/Increase-Styling-Beehive-booster-Accessories/dp/B07D1NY635

For $6 it may be worth trying. If it doesn't blend, get a spray on color that you can find in a drugstore next to the hair dye.

And one final recommendation... ask a girl in your class or on your campus to help you. Girls know long hair!! And they have hair products. They'll find it attractive for a man trying to look manly while keeping the long hair.

Good luck, friend.

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!

yeah in short sulfate free shampoo makes it less frizzy and allows the scalp to do its thing naturally (secrete the oils you need at a better rate rather than too much bc of the oil loss). if youre interested in finding out, sulfates are used to make the hair clean but usually dry out the hair follicle. the drying effect makes it so the scalp goes what the fuck and makes too much oil in response. after a week or so of sulfate free shampooing your scalp will be like aight bet and then you can wash your hair less frequently as you will be utilizing the natural oils on your scalp!

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/Shea-Moisture-Raw-Retention-Shampoo-13/dp/B0038TVHGG?th=1 this is the product i use to shampoo. you can find it at walmart for a relatively cheap price and coupled with suave essentials conditioner, goes for a great natural yet cheap routine!

Oy! I know the wait is tough. But be really careful about I trying to get it pulled back before it’s ready as you’ll break a lot of hair, and each strand is so precious! You know those headbands that look like giant, elastic ponytail holders? They’re your best friend until you can pull your hair back.

Also, nutrition and activity, nutrition and activity, nutrition and activity. Your hair will grow so much faster when you’re eating nutritious food and in some way being active every day. But the supplements that I believe work miracles for my hair growth are this collagen and this salmon oil. I take the recommended dose every day and have seen major improvements in the quality of my hair. And they’re just really good for you otherwise!

Thank you, I appreciate that! I'm probably not the best for conditioner recommendations, I have a pretty simple/cheap routine. I just use Pantene for a conditioner. I really didn't do much research in picking it out but it's worked for me. I condition every day regardless of shampoo, directions on the bottle are, "Massage into wet hair after shampooing, paying special attention to ends." I'll try to let it sit in my hair for a couple minutes as I soap before rinsing it out.

Awkward phases are typically just your hair growing out of its previous cut/style and being in-between places. For me, there was a little while people told me I looked like I had a mullet, so it could be worth it to get the sides/back cut if that becomes the case so it grows into the right style. I don't think you should have to worry about it for another number of months though, and even then, who knows! Definitely make another post if you start worrying or at the least to update us! Hope you have a good one!

Edit: Just wanted to add a side note that Pantene smells a bit feminine, as I'm not sure it's necessarily made for men, but I personally like the scent/have been complimented on it

What have you done so far to help the frizz and volume situation? Have you tried a leave-in conditioner? I find leave-in conditioner helps keep my hair from frizzing very much. If you need a leave-in, Alba Botanica Advanced, Leave-In Conditioner may help.

Last couple of suggestions. 1) You could try combing it. Lol. 2) You could get some leave-in conditioner, it will help manage it and make you like it more during the times when you're unhappy. I got this stuff off Amazon and I love it.

It helps, it's not a miracle product but it does help.



I use it with this product and find it helps a lot.



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Q2ZV0Q/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_n9qeub1M08BKA

It's totally worth it dude! I found it at target, in the beauty section I think. I could be wrong though. You can also get it on amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/SheaMoisture-Coconut-Hibiscus-Enhancing-Smoothie/dp/B0038TVH3Y

Listen to this dude. He knows his shit. Helped me fix my super dry curly hair too.

Basically curly hair needs to be hydrated way more than straight hair. I now never shampoo, basically only wash with a co-washing conditioner, use argan oil 1x a week or so when it feels dry (like 2-3 drops in damp hair, post shower) and use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie in damp hair to keep the frizz down. Someone suggested it and I found it in CVS. Works wonders.

https://www.amazon.com/SheaMoisture-Coconut-Hibiscus-Enhancing-Smoothie/dp/B0038TVH3Y

Also, I use the plopping/tshirt method from r/curlyhair instead of using a towel to dry my hair. Makes a huge difference.

So if i hear you correctly, you are using both of them once every 3-4 days. Using about a quarter sized amount of the shampoo? How much of the conditioner do you use? And do you leave much of it in or do you wash it all out?

And how long do you rinse your hair for each day in the shower?

Could you give me a link to each product? It looks like theres some different varieties

for example

http://www.threesixfive.com.au/CS_dash_250/Spring-Loaded-Frizz_dash_Fighting-Shampoo-250ml/pd.php

or

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Mitchell-Spring-Frizz-Fighting-Shampoo/dp/B00HT1QO3A?th=1

Jack Black Sleek Finish Cream

American Crew Daily Conditioner

Beyond the Zone - Beach Head Seaside Smooth Anti-Frizz

ION Shampoos/Conditioners - 100% Vegan and different kinds for different hair

Organix Coconut Oil

I don't use all of these products daily. I just use them when I feel it's necessary.