No-poo with funky hair - I'd love some recommendations

[eastkygal]

I'm getting ready to go no-poo with my hair.  All my life I had thick straight hair until I started having thyroid problems.  With my meds my hair started to get stringy and wavy.  It looked awful most of the time, so I went ahead and got a body perm so that it would have more curl since it was no longer straight anyway.  I've gotten 3 so far.  It is time for another, but I really want to stop using chemicals on my body altogether.  Will the no-poo make my hair look better?  How do I manage stringy (but still thick), lifeless, wavy hair.  I'd prefer to cut it in a pixie style, but I look awful like that.  I've tried before.  Right now, it's mid-back length.  I have a hard time getting it to stay in a bun or do much of anything else.  I don't wear make-up, so my hair is the only way I fancy up IYKWIM.  I've been considering dreadlocks, but I don't know how DH would feel about them, or myself for that matter.  I had them once before, did them myself over a night, and they fell right out.  I'd love to see some recommendations on how to have a hairstyle that is no-chemical, freeing, and sophisticated at the same time.  That's what I want.

[Mulvah]

Originally Posted by eastkygal 

I'm getting ready to go no-poo with my hair.  All my life I had thick straight hair until I started having thyroid problems.  With my meds my hair started to get stringy and wavy.  It looked awful most of the time, so I went ahead and got a body perm so that it would have more curl since it was no longer straight anyway.  I've gotten 3 so far.  It is time for another, but I really want to stop using chemicals on my body altogether.  Will the no-poo make my hair look better?  How do I manage stringy (but still thick), lifeless, wavy hair.  I'd prefer to cut it in a pixie style, but I look awful like that.  I've tried before.  Right now, it's mid-back length.  I have a hard time getting it to stay in a bun or do much of anything else.  I don't wear make-up, so my hair is the only way I fancy up IYKWIM.  I've been considering dreadlocks, but I don't know how DH would feel about them, or myself for that matter.  I had them once before, did them myself over a night, and they fell right out.  I'd love to see some recommendations on how to have a hairstyle that is no-chemical, freeing, and sophisticated at the same time.  That's what I want.

I can't speak about no-poo since it didn't really work for me.  

As for doing something with your hair, I have found that wearing my hair up during a funky stage has really helped.  Have you checked out any YouTube videos for rag curls, sock buns, foam curlers, or other no-heat curling methods?   I'm not sure if any of those appeal to you, but they are worth a look.  I am a fan of doing a sock bun; here is the sock bun video.  The great thing is - if you do a nicely placed sock bun, you can actually wear it out of the house that way (rather than wearing it overnight waiting for the curls).  I like contemporary, youthful styles, so I just stylize it in a way that is a little more modern.  It's all personal preference, though.  There are tons of other no/low heat curling videos on YouTube if you do a search.  

Also, I have heard really good things about spin pins and The Perfect Pony, but I don't have personal experience with either of them.

(Whoops, I just realized how old this was.  Oh well, maybe it will interest someone.  )

Edited by Mulvah - 8/22/11 at 11:07am