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OK. I think our hair types are similar. I now have long hair, but I've been growing it out from a pixie cut for a little under two years, so I've recently experienced the frustration of not knowing how to style mid-length hair. After a lot of research, here's what I've found works well for me at most lengths:

• Clarifying shampoo. My hair gets stringy throughout the day, and if you start out with buildup from products and pollution, that's only going to exacerbate the problem. Using a clarifying shampoo basically gives you a clean slate every day. I use this Neutrogena stuff, but any old brand will do.
  
• Paul Mitchell 'The Conditioner' Leave-In Treatment. This is the only conditioner I use, and I use it no more than twice a week. It's a high-protein leave-in treatment and it makes my hair feel strong and smooth, but my stylist warned that using it too often can dry out your strands.
  
• Joico JoiLotion (formerly Joico I.C.E.) Sculpting Lotion. If I'm planning to style my hair, I'll use a little of this with The Conditioner. It gives a really nice shiny depth to my strands and it adds a little extra support to styles.
  
  When I use all this stuff in a blow-dry routine (I use a newer Conair hairdryer with a cool shot button and a 2" stiff-bristle round brush), my hair looks awesome all day, and taking those steps also prep your hair for more complex 'dos. (Really, though, you're passing a lot of dirt and grease into your locks with your hands, so you should try to break the habit of playing with your hair all the time.)
  
  As far as styles go, I found the tutorials at Hair Romance inspiring. Her e-book, "30 Hairstyles in 30 Days", is $10 and has great step-by-steps and instructions for many useful techniques that I've used to create original styles. FYI, her hair is on the thicker side and has a lot of texture, so you might want to do as I did and acquire and learn to use the following:
  
  
• Teasing comb and styling brushes. As long as your hair is healthy, this is the best way to add lasting volume to your hair at the root and create the illusion of having more and longer hair in ponytails and updos. If you can master teasing, you can get away with many styles that otherwise would only work with longer hair. (It's also a must for over-the-top 'dos for Hallowe'en!)
  
• Texturizing products like OSiS Dust It! Mattifying Powder and ABL Pre Game sea salt spray. They'll help your hair grab onto itself and add extra hold without weighing down fine hair.
  
• Small barrel clipless curling wand. I just picked up this Remington on the cheap at Target; I don't expect it to last forever, but it gets up to high heat (400+) and the texture lasts about three days without washing (respectively, curly; very wavy; somewhat wavy).
  
  There are lots of great hair tutorials around the internet, too. Google around, or search "DIY hair" and "hair tutorial" on Pinterest. Go nuts!
  
  Whew! I know there's a lot here, so let me know if you have questions. Good luck!

EDIT: Whole point was to say, the better you take care of your curls the longer they will grow, and the better they will look. Better care = less split/broken ends = more perceived length. :D

Hey there! Newish to Reddit, forgive my inevitable mistakes. If you're ready to embrace you're curly side, be prepared. It'll take a while for your hair to get used to being natural again, especially depending on the type of curl. No straightening, no blow drying without a diffuser, heck you should even get a microfiber towel (or use a t-shirt/paper towel). That'll all help your hair transition smoothly into being curly again, and minimize the "poof" that comes with it. (Especially since depending on where you are, it's about to get pretty humid over the summer. Then again I'm in FL)

I found that my first step to embracing my curl was picking up this book Although Lorraine now runs her own line of curly-centric cutteries and produces her own hair products, the Devachan line, she gives a great breakdown of different types of curls and how best to treat each one.

My second step was a proper haircut. Thankfully I live pretty close to a Devachan certified gentleman and could shell out his price. If you don't, ask around at local salons and see who has experience in cutting curly hair. MAKE SURE they cut it dry. Curls react best when you cut by curl "family", or the groupings of hair that form each curl, and when they are dry. You've no doubt noticed that when your hair is wet it's longer and less springy, and it does unpredictable things when you dry it? Why get a haircut that way? Cutting it dry lets the stylist see each curl family and judge how to cut them accordingly.

My third step was finding products that worked for me. I'm caucasian and have very fine "s'wavy" hair according to Lorraine's terminology. This means it gets pretty darn curly depending on the humidity and product used, but doesn't have much spring to it (only 1-2 inches). So right now, I've switched to using "No-poo", which is a cleanser without all the nasty parabens, sulfates, etc which create a lather. Lathers may make you think they're cleansing your hair, but based on research I'm too lazy to find right now, actually start weakening it. With curly hair, this weakening means frizz and more frizz. :/ I do use the Deva line just because it's the only thing I've found, but I'm sure there are better cost-effective brands out there.

Drying technique is also a big deal. I used to ruffle my hair in a towel and comb through it just like my mom (straight hair) taught me. BAD. BAAAAD. That leads to frizz. For curly hair, it's best to use a less abrasive drying surface (microfiber, tshirt, paper towel, etc) and the following technique:

Flip your head upside down in the shower. Bring your curls to the front.
Scrunch upward with your preferred drying surface, holding for 3-5 seconds to get the moisture out while still preserving the shapes of your curls.
Tilt your head on one side, repeat, and then the other. Get the most moisture out of your hair as possible.

Then, styling product. Gels are claimed to be the best for curly hair. Again, I'm using Deva, but looking forward to trying other paraben, sulfate, etc. free brands like Ms. Jessie's. For my thin s'wavy hair I take half-a-palm-ful of gel and the same amount of leave in conditioner, and make that same upward-scrunching motion to spread the mix through my hair and saturate the curl.

Then I tip my head back and let air dry. You may choose to use a diffuser, I'm not much help there unfortunately. I've had good luck with a bowl diffuser with finger-tip protusions, set on low air/medium heat, and holding close to the scalp. Whatever you do you want to prevent frizz, so try not to get too hot/too much hair flow/too much movement of the diffuser.

Once your hair is dry you can gently scrunch upward with your hands again to "break" the gel cast, leaving you (theoretically) with soft, manageable curls. I haven't hit that stage yet with my routine, but I'm working on it. :)

PM me with any questions. Sorry about the novel. :/

TL;DR: Curly Girl!

She did for the first session to get an even base, but now for touch ups she usually gets me to help her using this here: https://www.livecolour.com/our-products/urban-metallics/u71-metallic-silver

However even though it says permanent I notice the toner fades quite quick. I personally prefer semi-permanent colours because they have a conditioning base that doesn't need a chemical reaction to dye the hair, but you would need the light base first.

Also, a good pigmented purple toning shampoo that you leave in a few minutes in the shower can go a long way to maintain a nice silver tone.

Fanola No Yellow Shampoo, 350ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RWCDM4A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gnGSDb5WCWB8T

I definitely recommend speaking with a stylist to get their professional opinion on what's achievable. But in my opinion, a good silver comes down to at home maintanance once you're home from the stylist.

Hope to be of some help, just do what feels right and makes you happy 😊

Well, if you have a hair dresser friend and a store like CosmoProf, you can have her pick some up for you at about half price you would find it elsewhere. I live in New England and CosmoProf is a store only licensed hair dressers can shop at for supplies. It's a pretty fabulous option!

Or, if you can't find one of those or the supplies at a salon near you, you can try online, which has pretty decent pricing. Here are some links:

http://www.amazon.com/Catwalk-Highness-Thickening-Crème-Ounce/dp/B002TYF8XE

I normally don't like gel, and I have thicccck hair but this stuff really is fab.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FOFI0W

And this. This is my Holy Grail hair product. It's so much more than just argan oil.... Every woman I've known who uses it swears by it. Probably at least 30 I know personally, haha. It smells fantastic. It will make your hair luscious and lustrous. If I only do one thing before heading out the door, it's use this. I add a quarter size (sometimes more but my hair drinks moisture, wouldn't recommend too much) smear to my hand, rub palms together, and scrunch through my hair. Tried to look for a picture of it in action but failed... If you ever only take one piece of advice from me, it's this.

I'm not affiliated with those products don't worry; I just really like 'em :)

I don't think you NEED hair advice at all though!!! You are so gorgeous, srsly. It just might be fun to try it out <3

I wanted to give all of you helpful ladies an update on what I've been doing. For the past week, I have started weaning myself into the hair care method Lorraine Massey outlines in Curly Girl.

http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Lorraine-Massey/dp/076115678X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330717279&sr=8-1

I have always thought my hair is bone straight and to my delight, I have discovered I actually have waves! I haven't touched a blow dryer or a hot iron in a week (this is HUGE for me), and it's made such a difference. I am slowly weaning myself from using shampoo every day, and I've noticed on the days that I don't use it my hair looks BETTER (whoa, who would have thought?) At first, I was scared to try it and didn't think my hair would be wavy enough, but after a week there is noticeably more curl in my hair. I've received compliments from co-workers and my husband loves my new look. I know I will sound dramatic when I say it's changed my life, but it really has! I know I'm not a full Curly Girl yet, but this past week has been an eye-opening challenge for me to realize the full potential of how great my hair can look without the constant maintenance of blow-drying and straightening.
THANK YOU TO ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE!

That's so great of you to want to treat your daughter! I agree with /u/hamzter247; Bleaching should be avoided, but with that being said... I think you could still do an ombre type thing on your own! I did my hair a few times using pravana vivid colors, which I found to be better than manic panics. You can buy them on amazon. I used violet, blue and green but obviously there are other colors :) My hair was a bit darker than your daughters, so I ended up bleaching it but maybe another pic might help for inspiration? Pic of original hair. Good luck!

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.

Stylist here. THIS is amazing. Gives a great amount of shine but also holds the hair beautifully. If you have longer hair and want more sticking power then try this as a first coat and then finish with the masterpiece spray.

I had my hair dyed bright red at a salon and I think she used this (they also have purple and other bright colors): http://www.amazon.com/PRAVANA-ChromaSilk-Vivids-Keratin-Protein/dp/B008MBWEP8 It's really vibrant and lasts ages since it's permanent. That said, if you think you might get tired of it something like special effects might be better? This is all coming from someone who has never done purple so take my advice with a grain of salt :)

I have a similar texture. I'm doing something based on the Curly Girl Method. I have seborrheic dermatitis, so I put tea tree oil in the conditioner wash I use.

Some days I use a sulfate free tea tree oil shampoo, and some days I co-wash with Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner with a little tea tree oil mixed in. If you don't have scalp issues like I do, you can just use the conditioner by itself. I put a generous amount on my scalp and massage it in, then I put some Matrix Conditioning Balm on the ends and let it sit while I finish my shower. After I rinse, I put a dime-to-quarter sized dollop of the Suave Coconut in as a leave-in.

I towel dry it and then don't touch it as it air dries. The curls end up being well defined and soft. My hair used to be dry and gross, but after a few months of this, it's very soft, and my color lasts longer. The tea tree oil works as well as Selsun Blue for my dandruff too.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. :)

I think the single best suggestion I can give you is to read Curly Girl. Even if you don't use all her suggestions, it will go a long way in teaching you how to handle your hair. Like others here, my mom has straight hair while my dad's is curly. Needless to say, I never learned proper curly hair care growing up.

How I handle my hair: I do actually shampoo mine because of my work/allergies. I do that first in the shower. Then I wash my face. Then liberally apply conditioner comb it through, and put it up in a clip or hair tie for the rest of the shower. Then I do the rest of my shower stuff rinsing the conditioner at the end. I squeeze the water out of my hair as best I can when I'm done, and then put it back up. I NEVER wrap a towel around my hair. I didn't believe for a long time that it would make a difference, but I'm a convert now. When I'm done drying off, then I take my hair back down, comb back through it, and part it where I like it. I prefer to let my hair air dry before going to bed. That's honestly it. This is the least I've ever fussed with my hair and it's the healthiest it's ever looked.

The right gel is great! I use this. It's also my HG gel. I have super thick hair but it works wonderfully anyway! And yes the most critical: no touching! I have to let all my hair hang in front of my face the way it wants to, like Cousin It, while it dries otherwise I get a lame cowlick around my forehead. Haha.

I would suggest get a bottle of super cheap shampoo or even soap/detergent and wash your hair with it for several days in a row, it can probably fade your hair color. It's not good for your hair but not nearly as bad as other options. Even if it doesn't completely fade you will still have a easier time taking out the rest of the color.

If you need to use color remover, be very very very careful and constantly check the mirror (like every minute) to make sure you don't overdo it. Unfortunately it will damage your hair no matter what, so let it lighten your hair just enough to dye over, don't let it go platinum blonde. Also avoid getting it close to your scalp.

You might also want to buy a bottle of Protein Filler (check your local beauty salon supply stores). Overprocessing your hair will result in "holes" on the surface if your hair, so any color you put in will quickly wash away. Protein filler fills in the holes and your hair color won't fade as quickly.

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

I use Pravana ChromaSilk Vivids in silver and its amazing! Its a dye but its not hard on your hair, and I mix it half and half with conditioner to get a light silver. If you use it straight out of the tube its like gunmetal grey. I've tried toners in my hair to go silver, but those usually wash out within a week.

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

First, I'm really surprised they went straight to bleaching it that many times. Was it natural black or dyed black?

Most stylists I've been around over the years will urge you to a median color, like lighter brown before going for such a drastic change.

I wouldn't touch it if you want to avoid having to cut it all off. You should find a shampoo that is made for toning hair over time, some of them will help remove the yellow/brassy tones from blonde hair which will make it cool tone closer to platinum. I've heard Fanola is a good brand, but I'd do some research on if you'd want to use the orange or yellow formula based on the results you want. :https://www.amazon.com/Fanola-No-Yellow-Shampoo-350/dp/B00RWCDM4A?th=1

I just recently started wearing wigs regularly, so here's what I have to offer that I've learned recently.

First of all, you'll need a wig comb and cap, so be prepared to have one of those. I put my hair in pin curls under the cap, then put the cap on so that my hair doesn't look like a wild mess when I take the wig off.

Kanekalon is the best wig fiber, and it's not expensive. The one I'm wearing now is one I got on Amazon for less than $20, and everyone compliments me on it.

So things you should know:

• The hair on a wig is meant to be cut and tailored to your face, so there's more hair than you'll need and it'll look weird. It won't ever look like the pictures, so be prepared to style it a little.
  
  
• This shit tangles easily, so be really careful and have a wig comb handy.
  
  
• Don't use regular hairspray or products on it. This is a fiber, not hair, so don't use normal hair things, or treat it like hair at all.
  

I'm a wavy-curly just like you, and I can not say enough amazing things about "Curly Hair Solution's Curl Keeper." I am OBSESSED with this. It is amazing how smooth and frizz-free my hair keeps with this product.

I use this product with a little AG:Recoil. I put on the Curl Keeper first, then the Recoil. I know people who use the Curl Keeper by itself with just as amazing results.

Yep, I use this stuff. Apparently, unrefined is best.

I used the blue and I wash my hair in cold(ish) water every three days. For shampoo I use KMS California's color vitality and conditioner is KMS moist repair. If I could, I would just wash my hair in the sink every time so I don't have to torture myself haha.

> your best bet is to do a bleach bath and a coconut oil treatment

I did read about putting a lot of coconut oil into your hair for a few hours and into the bleach treatment because it prevents damage, so I will do that next time then. However, what is a bleach bath? Is that just bleaching it again? If so, how long should I wait? It's healthy and strong now, still, but I want to keep it that way.

Is this the Lady Toner you're talkinga bout? And is this the dye you're talking about?

Is this also true for articles like these? I mean, I believe you but it looks pretty official to me.

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 :)

Not the person who commented but as a fellow chameleon I totally recommend Olaplex - it used to be a salon-only product but they've released Olaplex 3 as a D2C product and it's fucking incredible. I lost about 6 inches of hair last month after a nasty chemical haircut (I went from pink to orange and then back to green, it was too much haha) and this shit has brought my fancy follicles back to life!
I'm in NZ but if you're US-based you can get it on Amazon here.
Good luck!

I have had my hair every shade of red for the last 8 or so years. Here are a few tips/tricks off the top of my head.

-Use a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates are the main culprit for pulling out your color. I use Enjoy, however it is kind of pricey.

-You can also use a color depositing shampoo which will actually add some vibrancy back into your hair in between dying. I use this shampoo by Tressa Watercolors.

-Wash your hair in as cold of water as you can stand. Hot water opens the cuticles/pores of your hair, causing the color to fade faster. I actually wash my hair separately in cold water, clip it up when I'm done and then crank the heat for the rest of my shower.

-I'd also recommend a good deep conditioner. Right now I'm using this cheapy 3 Minute Miracle by Aussie, but it really works wonders in my opinion.

Lastly, I suggest you invest in a red towel or some other dark color. I have a set of red towels specifically for my hair after having stained many a white towel.

Check out the amazon reviews :)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olaplex-no-3-hair-perfector/dp/B00SNM5US4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450220432&sr=8-1&keywords=olaplex

fyi for those like me considering this - it's a buttload cheaper at amazon!

I'm not OP but I have medium brown hair (level 4 or 5) and I use Feria 74 Copper Shimmer. It makes my hair like this!

Is this the same stuff? What color is your natural hair? How long do you have to go before you redye?

I used Special FX in college with bleached hair but I think my days of bleaching are far gone. At the same time I don't have the time to touch up every couple weeks.

Have you tried a sulfate free shampoo? That might help a bit. Also, my hair also sometimes gets greasy within 24 hours, but I use a dry shampoo so I don't have to wash it again. There are lots of options out there. I use a cheap Tresemme one, but there are probably 50 different ones to try and lots of reviews.

Oh man, I miss having this hair color. It looks so great on you! If you aren't doing anything between touch-up days, I always found that Manic Panic mixed with conditioner or a color glaze kept my color super bright. Oh, and shampooing basically never, lol.

It's this one!

I had to give it a major trim in the back, it was way too long (I'm 5'2). But I put a bit of dry shampoo in it to dull the shine and it works perfect!

Like this?

It's not going to matter what color you dye with if you use shampoos and conditioners that strip the color out of your hair. Darker colors are always easier to maintain.
I suggest something like this and the requisite conditioner.

Also wash your hair as little as possible and if it's getting oily or dirty dust it with some cornstarch and brush it out. You really don't need to wash everyday. At most rinse with some lukewarm or cold water.

It's definitely worth a try. I'm not a stylist so I can't give you a guarantee or anything, but you could do a test strip underneath just to see how it goes. You can get Pravana on amazon.

-Powder Bleach & 20 volume developer
-Semipermanent silver - http://www.amazon.com/Pravana-ChromaSilk-Vivids-Silver/dp/B00BNHOP3C/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1404863664&sr=1-1&keywords=pravana+silver
-Toner - (http://www.amazon.com/Wella-Color-Charm-T18-White/dp/B000CSYYZM) & 10 volume developer

Proper bleach application will be really important in this or else the result won't be even.

It's a Remington I bought on amazon.
Here it is!
Link to curler

https://www.amazon.com/MelodySusie-Dark-Brown-Curly-Wig/dp/B008GR4L18/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1468849417&sr=8-1&keywords=wig

I have this one. People have thought it was my real hair and were surprised it was a wig.

I've seen protein filler on amazon. It's probably marked up a lot more than in America. I do know that Sally's doesn't sell any type of protein filler aside from protein treatments (which I think is different). The sales associate recommended me Aphogee two step protein treatment for bleaching/toning my hair b/c I was looking for protein filler too.

https://www.amazon.ca/Pravana-ChromaSilk-Vivids-Silver/dp/B00BNHOP3C

Is this something else then?

I was thinking of buying this?

http://www.amazon.com/Enjoy-Sulfate-free-Hydrating-Shampoo-Conditioner/dp/B0019LRD9A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416248176&sr=8-2&keywords=sulfate+free+shampoo+and+conditioner

I also have light brown hair, and I've currently dyed it with Feria 74 Deep Copper. It came out very similar to your sample photo, and so far it has lasted longer than henna, which I've frequently used in the past.

Here is the mobile version of your link

Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper is a very light product & leaves no residue. The consistency is only slightly thicker than water.

ha, my hair is polar opposite of yours - straight and blonde. I wish I could get the kind of waves you have here - if I curl it, it will fall straight within 45 min, even with product. :(


Anyway, I had to cut a lot of brassiness before I moved into a place with soft water. My blonde would oxide in the worst way. To keep the cool tones, can I recommend one of these shampoos? (not a corporate shill, I promise)

• Fanola No Orange Shampoo
  
  
• Fanola No Yellow Shampoo

I have thin hair and the wand I use is a Remington CI95AC Salon Collection Pearl Digital Ceramic Curling Wand 1/2-1 Inch

For the price it's not bad at all.

If you want to go a little more expensive route, I've never used this but just watched a video on it and now I want it Nume styling set

There's also a Groupon for the same Nume set but cheaper


Not the best pic [but I'm the one in the right with blonde hair](Curls http://iob.imgur.com/uYGg/uF8z8IrNvy) and that's using the cheaper Curling wand.

Here's one more of when I curled my hair with the Remington

Recently tried this:

Denorex Dandruff Treatment System

Made my hair lose my oils (I felt that squeaky clean)

Renpure Solutions Cleansing Conditioner

J.R. Liggett Bar Shampoo, Herbal Formula

Suave Essentials Conditioner, Tropical Coconut

Mane 'n Tail Moisturizer - Texturizer

Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Retention Shampoo

When I first started co-washing, I used the last 3 products. At first everything felt/looked fine, but after a while, my hair felt 'ugh' and looked slightly frizzy. The other products I've bought and used afterwards and probably not as a long.

I have used this one and I thought it was pretty horrible. Didn't really do much for my hair other than make it smell AWFUL for about a week.