my hair is really,really thick and wavy. It looks really pretty and straight when it is wet, but when it dries it gets hideously poofy. Blowdrying just makes it worse!  Straightening makes it look better, but it takes like an hour and a half, and it doesn't even get stick straight. when i straighten it , it is still too poofy to wear all the way down, so i wear it half up. most days I just wear it in a tight bun, i can't even do ponytails. is there anything i can do to make my hair more manageable????????????

Welcome!

Thick, wavy hair can present its own problems.  Poofiness and frizzies are fairly typical issues that need to be dealt with.

As you have already found out, blow drying can increase the poofiness.  Using leave in conditioners can help tame the hair.  Oiling the hair can also help tame your hair.  Very small amounts of olive oil or jojoba oil on the length/ends of the hair give it the moisture it needs to behave and shine.

There are several other threads through the message boards here that also address handling thick hair.  Hang around and I'm sure you'll learn lots!

You might consider getting layers cut in your hair to reduce the bulk.

Also, combing the hair may make it less poofy.  Brushing makes it more poofy.

If you want to wear it straight, you'll have to dry it with a round brush and then use the straightener.

How long is your hair?

Welcome! :)

i had that same problem, THE POOF :-/ ::), my hair (no exageration here) was in and out of buns for 3 and a half years, until i found this site- thank God :D

Anyway with the help of the wonderful gals here, i found that applying a little bit of jojoba oil to my hair while it's wet, and then braiding it helped a lot. I guess it's the braid, you know, it like... well, it keeps it all together even after it dries and i take it out of the braid it's nice and wavy. if it gets a little poofy, put olive oil, or a little bit more jojoba.

HTH :D

Braiding it helps alot.  I got poofy hair, too.  One thing I do to kind of 'weigh the hair down' a little is to put two hair scrunchies (like the velvet kind) to secure my braid.  The weight from them kind of makes the volume go down a bit.

I hope that helps :)

I have similar hair as yours. This works for me. Make sure you use good quality shampoo & conditioner like Matrix hydrating shampoo & conditioning balm.  I use a styling gel & "Sealed Ends," by Schwartzkoft.  I blow dry and hot iron my hair and try to wash it every other day.  
Also, if you are having a bad hair day and are in a hurry try one of my PonyBuns.  Go to my website: www.ponybun.com.  I invented the PonyBun to make my life easier, because no other products on the market worked for me.  Check it out! You'll love it.  I will be coming out with more sizes, styles and colors, so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear from you.  Thanks!

wrote on Dec 12^th, 2005 at 5:32pm:

I have similar hair as yours. This works for me. Make sure you use good quality shampoo & conditioner like Matrix hydrating shampoo & conditioning balm.  I use a styling gel & "Sealed Ends," by Schwartzkoft.  I blow dry and hot iron my hair and try to wash it every other day.   Also, if you are having a bad hair day and are in a hurry try one of my PonyBuns.  Go to my website: www.ponybun.com.  I invented the PonyBun to make my life easier, because no other products on the market worked for me.  Check it out! You'll love it.  I will be coming out with more sizes, styles and colors, so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear from you.  Thanks!

Very interesting PonyBun!  I wonder how stretchy the crocheted snood/bun cover part is.  It looks like it covers a small to medium sized bun.