Geek in need of hairstyling help

[eris esoteric]

OK, I just want to point out that I'm smart. Intelligent. Witty. Capable of occasional flashes of brilliance. Some of this is due to natural talent. Some of it is due to excersizing of my natural talent.

I was never a girly girl. It was always a lot more interesting to read a good book than to play with the inanimate matter on the top of my head that never really wanted to do anything anyway.

But lately I've started doing just that. Personally, I blame the IUD. Suddenly cutting myself off of manufactured hormonal birth control methods has released my latent girly girl.

I'm actually growing my hair out. It actually RESTS on my shoulders now. Not that I let it do that a lot, since my hair is so fine that if l let it rest on my shoulders for any length of time it turns into a mass of painful snarling chunks. So I've started putting it up.

I got the Magic Bun, and the Sophist-o-Twist, and actually use them. I have a stack of pretty scrunchies. I have a collection of clips that my boyfriend eyes with distrust and has added to his list of reasons for why we live in separate houses.

But I don't have any actual knowledge of how to do anything with this stuff. Some of my stuff has instructions, which is good. Some of it is pretty self-explanatory. Some of it I've even managed to figure out interesting new stuff to do with it.

But there's still that gaping hole of know how and practical application that I filled in with understanding of the fundamental accounting equation and the use of myth and humor in integrating oneself into another culture. I'm not stupid, I've gone to the obvious source. I googled. But I'm finding one of two things... either sites with descriptions & no pictures, or sites of pictures and no explanations. So, do you guys have any suggestions?

Also... hair curlers. Please understand that physical dexterity is NOT one of my strong suits and so experimenting with a branding iron held close to my ears or the back of my neck, or generally anywhere near a part of my body where I don't have complete optical control over its whereabouts is NOT on my list of things to try in this lifetime. So, hair curlers. I understand you're supposed to be able to sleep with them on. Or something. But I looked at some at the store and they're all different. Any advice on these would be good too.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Those big velcro curlers are great. Towel dry your hair, comb it, put the velcro rollers in, get dressed etc., then if your hair's still damp, use the hair dryer to dry your hair (curlers still in). If your dryer has a Cool setting, use that at the end to set the curls, otherwise let your hair cool down before removing the curlers.

[phoenixx]

Actually, velcro and fine hair is a big no-no! Think breakage. For super fine hair, use these, available in many foam or cloth covered incarnations at most drug stores like Rite Aid and CVS for under $10:



or these:



I prefer the Remington soft and squishy hot rollers. They aren't hot enough to burn (Well, ok, if you say, forget, and leave them steaming for two hours, then remember, and come back and try to pick one up, they're hot, but I of course have never done anything remotely like that. Yeah, right.) and they are coverd in squishy material, so they are kind to fingers and scalp (no burns) and kind to hair (no breakage). Plus they give you that neat spiral curl, if you want it, or a regular curl.

To get the spiral curl, take a very small section of hair, no more than 1/2", and wind it around the roller back and forth, instead of all in the middle. By that I mean, start at one end of the roller and wrap the hair in a cork screw motion down the length of the roller and back again, instead of all in the middle, the close the curler and repeat until your head looks like a science fiction set. Then Let it sit 20 minutes. then undo curlers by unwinding them (never just pull it out), then loosen curl by running fingers through your hair. Hairspray and go out. Hint: Do your makeup while your hair is in the curlers.

To get regular curl just wrap the 1/2" of hair around the middle of the roller and bend it to hold it closed, repeat. Just remember to wrap it the way you want it to fall later (toward your face or away from your face, up, or under). this works well in combo with a bun - do half of a bun, then let the curls fall, like an elaborate looking pony tail with a bun in the middle.

[phoenixx]

Oh, and if you use a VERY SMALL amount of mouse, evenly spread through your hair before you roll, you'll get really tight curls that hold all night. this takes practice though, so try that after you've mastered the curling part.

[mtomm[$]]

I just want to wish you good luck. I'm guessing the only thing you need to do most is practice.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

"got the Magic Bun, and the Sophist-o-Twist... a stack of pretty scrunchies... a collection of clips... hair curlers... a branding iron held close to my ears or the back of my neck..."

"To get the spiral curl, [lots of detailed instructions] and repeat until your head looks like a science fiction set. Then [more steps plus more time]."

"To get regular curl [somewhat easier instructions and somewhat less time]"


Thanks for reminding me why I get my hair cut like this :



Instructions: Wash. Let air dry while getting dressed. Spray with gel and tousel with fingers. Go.

[theworm[$]]

no velcro - I've gotten stuck in them - those things Pippa said are good - you Girly-Girl, you

[pippadaisy[$]]

That would be Leslie. And I use Soft Spikes on Beanie. And I think I want MJ's hair cut. I was actually thinking of going a modified Gina Glockson on my own hair. I don't have the money to have it cut at the moment. Well, I do, but I need a new laptop more. And my hair is WAY TOO LONG.

[Prepoia[$]]

I've always had good luck just paying a stylist to give me a style that I can do at home. I just tell them I'm too broke to get it done professionally very often and need someone to show me how to do it. They've always been very helpful. Of course now (because of my husband) I have a live-in stylist but it always worked in the past

[phoenixx]

Oh, don't get me wrong - I pay to have the spiral permed in once every 1.5 years. Because of the accident I'm 3 months past due (can't do the sink rinse thing with the curlers due to break). BUT if you had no inclination for a perm, these curlers are what I use in between perms, etc.

This picture with my standard perm was taken one month before I moved to New England (add 60 pounds and remove the smile for a visual of me now):

[lynnzop[$]]

Ugh, I did the spiral perm for years. It's like having giant lifesavors that weigh eight tons hanging from your scalp. Looks good on you though.

Eris, the best advice I can give you is to make friends with a hairstylist and ask for lots and lots of advice. Keep your eyes open and watch while he/she styles your hair (I tend to close mine and sort of go to sleep...but then I'm growing my hair out and it goes up in a clip most days.)

And take photos. We want to see the New and Improved Eris.

[hadassahchana[$]]

I am taking notes. My hair is impossible. The only time it was not frizzly and partly curly was when I gew it past my hips. Which gave me a headahce, but I liked the hair. Now, it's short and looks like something scared me all the time.

Leslie, you have such gorgeous hair! I want to try using those spirally curlers now - now hair curls or straightens easily, so those would be great.

Eris, that's so cool- sometimes it's fun to be a girly-girl. And btw, I hear that someone in Lansing crocehts the most gorgeous scrunchies- sort of like the one I'm wearing right now.

[eris esoteric]

See, this is the kind of thing that scares me. What the heck are you supposed to do with these? Where do you put them? How do they hold anything up? Are they supposed to be poison-tipped, in case of muggings?

[pippadaisy[$]]

Eris, you put those in a chignon or French twist.

[theworm[$]]

It's just a Giant Bobby Pin

[phoenixx]

Cindy: Frizzy and Partly Curly hair needs a treatment to hold the curls you want without getting more frizzy. A little bit of leave in conditioner before curling or some frizz reducing styling gel should do the trick. dime sized drop in your hand of the gel and work it into the hair all the way to the ends.

[phoenixx]

For Eris: Step By Step on making a Chignon using those prong shaped bobby pins.