Project Vanity

Hi Liz/everyone,

A burning question here -- I hope somebody can give suggestions.:-)

My hair routine is shampoo, condition, blowdry, iron. I would want to stop at that; however, I find that after flat-ironing my hair, it's so obvious that it's thin (I have fine, naturally curly hair) and it lacks volume.

I have checked out a number of volumizing sprays/mousse in the market but I find that these are meant to be used when hair is still damp, prior to blowdrying.

I've read some articles before where they say that you're not meant to iron your hair with any product on it (unless it's a heat styling product) because it may cause more hair damage.

Basically my dilemma is this: I'll be adding volume by blowdrying and using volumizing spray/mousse. Then, 'll straighten the curls with flat iron. But won't this cancel out the volume I had with the volumizing spray? Also, I understand there'll always be some damage because of the heat but will adding the volumizing product cause considerably more damage?

If you can suggest alternatives (like maybe a volumizing product I can use AFTER I've flat-ironed my hair or maybe a styling technique, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance and I hope to hear from you!

Thanks for the recommendation! I hope Kiehl's does the job! If not, I'm stuck with the hair bump-its from Pinkbox. Not that I'm complaining, super tagal ko din hinintay to! Going all out for volume! Hehe. Thanks, Liz!:-)

Hi Liz! Dragged myself to MOA and got Kiehl's! I'm crossing my fingers it works! Just letting you know -- couldn't contain my excitement. Hehe.:-)

@Yani - I also have fine, naturally curly hair. I'm always reluctant and uncomfortable about getting a rebond because the process damages my scalp and gives me very bad hairfall incidents. I dislike it because I'm paranoid about having hairless patches on my head (shivers!) and I can't style my hair any other way - ponytail, chignon, bohemian braid, curls. So now I reach out for my straightening iron when I want to straighten my hair. That being said, I would like to know which brand of heat protectant spray or thermal spray do you use and where do you purchase it? Thanks!

Hi Maybelle! Oh my gosh! Me too! I've never tried rebonding because I'm really scared it wouldn't work for me. I know it didn't do any good to my sister's hair. But yeah, I also use straightening iron. It's bad because I do it everyday and I don't use any heat protectant! I used to though. Some years ago, I tried Loreal straightening/heat protectant. I forgot the exact name but it came in a hot pink and it was endorsed by Beyonce.:-) Anyway, I discontinued after I finished a bottle because I noticed my split ends more and I didn't like the sticky feel to my hair. Ever since I never tried anything else. I tried researhing for options but the best ones are not available locally.

What I do instead is use conditioners and treatment masks a lot just to offset the contant flat ironing. I'm now using Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair and Lorys Shea Butter.

I'm thinking of getting keratin treatment/Brazilian blowout just to get my hair rested from all the straightening. Have you tried any of these?

@Yani - thanks for the info. I'm still looking for a heat protectant. Parang hindi masyadong uso rito. During the holidays, Landmark had a promo on curling irons and hair straighteners pero there were no thermal sprays on display. I found that weird because I thought heat-emitting hair tools and heat protectants should always go together. I used to use CHI which was given to me by my boyfriend when he came back from the US. Pero locally nahihirapan nga akong humanap. Interestingly, I also compensate by using hair wax and conditioners.

No I haven't tried Keratin treatment. Medyo meron akong Do-It-Yourself tendency e. But I made a mental note of that para one day if I have extra cash and still can't find a suitable thermal spray, maybe I'll try it out.