Anyone have any suggestions for anything that will help hold a curl that *won't* make it stiff?  I can't stand for my hair to be anything other than as silky as I can make it, but unfortunately the trade-off seems to be absolutely no body.  If I put my hair up in rag curls when it's wet and leave it there for two days until it's dry, I *might* get 4 or 5 hours before my hair is almost straight as a board again.  Anyone ever conquer this one?

It is not as gentle for your hair as you prefer, but did you ever try to blow dry your hair after having put it up in curls? This will improve the durability.

Yeah, heat doesn't really improve the curl lasting power of my "determined to be straight" locks :/

I asked one of my friends who is a hair stylist and she told me there is a product called "Frizz ease". I do not know exactly if you can buy it in the United States but I guess it´s even an american product.
It was worked out to smooth curly hair and keep it straight after blow drying but she told my it is just as good to make curls more durable. I never tried it but maybe it could help you.  

Yup, FE is available here.  It's a silicone product.  I don't have any issues with silicone, so I'll give it a shot next time I try to curl my hair.  Thanks!

I too suffer stubborn long straight hair, with curl envy  ;) I've tried frizzease - haven't had much sucess with it holding the curl for longer but the curls were soft and my hair wasn't the massive rats' nest it normally is after my curling attempts.

Does anyone have suggestions for dealing with the post curling attempts?  Everytime I try to curl my hair, the aftermath is a sea of knots that's painful to work through...  ???

:o Ow!  Super tangles!

If all else fails, get in the shower and wet your hair.  Don't pile it on your head, just let the water take some of the product away.  Slather conditioner through it and use a good big comb to work gently from the ends upward. Take as much time as you need. Once you can work your comb all the way through, then shampoo to take away the gunk. End this session by using your regular finishing flourish (conditioner, cream rinse, oil of newt) and vow to yourself that you won't put your tresses through such torture again.  Remind yourself, softly, that some of us have hair that is not meant to curl.

Many many people with curly locks (whom I always envied) have told me they would trade for my stick-straight chestnut mane anytime.  Remembering that helps me resist the curling bug! Just Say NO!

wrote on Jan 10^th, 2003 at 7:09pm:

Does anyone have suggestions for dealing with the post curling attempts?  Everytime I try to curl my hair, the aftermath is a sea of knots that's painful to work through...  ???

My hair tangles VERY easily, so when I do rag curls or do mini braids for waves, I have learned to only finger comb my hair.  If I try to comb my hair with the curls, the individual hairs tangle into each other, but finger combing allows the curls to stay together, look nicer and not tangle.

When time comes to comb out my hair, I use a wide toothed comb or pick and start at the ends and work my way up the length of my hair.  If I still have a lot of curl in my hair when I try to comb (which is very unusual for my hair), I would dampen my hair a bit so that it does not "fly away" while I try to comb it out.

Just ignore this - yours truly just read the Administrator's message on  ratings and figured out that Ruby and Amethyst do NOT refer to birthstones!

In the immortal words of Emily Littella, "Never mind."

:-[

wrote on Jan 11^th, 2003 at 9:14pm:

:o Ow!  Super tangles! If all else fails, get in the shower and wet your hair.  Don't pile it on your head, just let the water take some of the product away.  Slather conditioner through it and use a good big comb to work gently from the ends upward. Take as much time as you need. Once you can work your comb all the way through, then shampoo to take away the gunk. End this session by using your regular finishing flourish (conditioner, cream rinse, oil of newt) and vow to yourself that you won't put your tresses through such torture again.  Remind yourself, softly, that some of us have hair that is not meant to curl. Many many people with curly locks (whom I always envied) have told me they would trade for my stick-straight chestnut mane anytime.  Remembering that helps me resist the curling bug! Just Say NO!

Lillydale,
I loved this post so much that I quoted you on my signature-I hope you don't mind-strawberryfine

Ever tried "plopping?" My hair usually doesn't hold a curl very well either, but this usually works pretty well for me. After showering in the evening a rub a little aloe vera gel on my damp hair, then wrap it up overnight. In the morning I get a nice natural wave that stays in most of the day, as long as I don't comb it or mess with it too much. If I do comb it out it pretty much eliminates the curls, but gives my hair some nice body, if that's what you're after.

Here's instructions: http://naturallycurly2.com/curlscene/entry.php?id=140&entrytype=articles&

It doesn't give big curls or ringlets like rollers would, just a very natural-looking crinkly wave. I've never tried for bigger waves, so this is the best I can suggest.  :)

Cairn,

Before you plop, does your hair look like the cartoon character's, with curls at the ends?

eKatherine,

Nope, my hair is always straight as a straight edge before I plop (that sounds really goofy...).

If you're suspecting that I have "hidden" body that just needs a little coaxing to come out - I don't (unfortunately). Plopping just happens to work well for me.