My Hair Is A Mess, Help!

[suzywootoo]

I am having real problems with my hair wondered what do. I have shoulder length hair and I am trying to grow it longer, but I am struggling to maintain it. I blow dry and straighten every time I wash it, which is every other day or third day but and it looks lovely but by the end of the day it is a mess and by the next day it looks awful. I have dry, damaged hair which feels coarse and it used to be sleek and shiny. I am growing the layers out because my hair has wavy ends and this seems to make it worse but I'm not sure if I should keep them in. I use a shampoo and conditioner for dry/damaged hair and this doesn't seem to make any difference. I put lots of different things to try to help but nothing seems to help. If I leave it to dry that makes it worse. Can anybody shed any light on where I am going wrong. Am I using the wrong shampoo, should I have it cut off, which I don't really want to do as I have done that several times and regretted it. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

[brandyrose]

If your hair is very dry and damaged then straightening it will distress it more.
(some products can help with this but in my personal experience you are better off not using straighteners at all but if you do use protection products at the very least)

Check you are using your hairdryer properly as holding a nozel too close to the hair can damage it.
Have a chat with a few hairdressers and see what they say and you will get a few ideas (you may be over cautious re cutting it - it could look great)

You say your hair is a mess. If this is due to the damage then is the damage on the ends or throughout? If at the ends - I'd find a style that really suits you and get the damaged hair cut off and go for a new style. Damaged hair doesn't look good growing out - it looks worse (in my opinion).

[brandyrose]

Suzy - sorry forgot to mention...Dead Sea spa Majik shampoo (mineral) and serum is quite good and you can get it in sachets..so not expensive to try (around £3) I could mention loads of others but this one suits all hair types and has been voted one of the best aswell.

A creative and good hairdresser (emphasis on good) can cut hair to look longer - do shop around and get the right advice, its too important !

[berniecuddles]

shave the lot off