The problem with leaving in a conditioner for more than a few minutes before rinsing it out is that if the conditioner contains oils it can strip the color out of your hair. That is why if someone ends up with a color they think is too dark it is recommended to do deep conditioning and/or hot oil treatments. They fade the color.

My hair is thinning as I age. I use conditioner as more of a detangler. I put it in and rinse almost immediately. Fine hair doesn't need to be weighed down more by over conditioning.

I started coloring my hair with henna. I am noticing that my hair now is a bit thicker with more body, ordinarily it is very thin and fine. I do the henna treatment every 6 weeks, have done 2 so far, about $5 per treatment.

I suffer from very thin and very frizzy hair also, I know how you feel.

Box dye I find to be very very harsh on my hair creating an even bigger frizz factor. Instead I use wella toner and a 20 developer, you can pick it up from beauty supply outlet or Sally’s beauty supply, runs cheap, usually under $15 cdn.

I too envy those with thick gorgeous hair vs my frizzy noodles

I have thin, fine hair too. I find using a sulfate-free shampoo really helps. Google to see what is available in your area, but I have found some that are really inexpensive. OGX makes one that is only around $10 for a large bottle at Walmart and it is also a nourishing shampoo which helps with the frizzies. L’Oreal also makes one. There are others within the OGX line for other types of hair that are sulfate free.

I agree, you shouldn’t have to use conditioner. But a light mousse for thickening would help with a little body before you dry.

You might look for Nioxin. It was recommended to me by a hairdresser I met on a plane once. They make products for thinning color-treated hair. I just use their shampoo and conditioner...not the other stuff and it does leave my hair soft and shiny.

But if you have curls, then you can try to go with them. See about getting a hair cut that works with them. Curls can make thin hair look thicker. The key with them is minimal handling, no combing and leave them alone while drying. The more you comb them, the frizzier they become.

The problem is not the curls, but the frizz. I have dry, frizzy wavy hair. If it weren't for the frizz, I could work with the waves.

IMHO if you are losing too much hair, you should go for a good physical. It could be an underlining problem of something else.

Debby, if you only need to go twice a year, I would have it professionally done. Just do a single process. I find that with my single process, I get a variation of color anyway. I tried highlight years ago and you see the growth quicker.

My sister has curls and a bit of frizz. She goes to a special Diva Curl hairstylist and she only used those special products.

For me, conditioner is important. But you need to leave it in for a minute and then make sure you wash it out thoroughly. I also find that Aveda, the sulfite-free formulas work best. (Not all of theirs are)

In another thread, I asked about less expensive brands for my guest bathroom. I bought the OGX and will probably try it after my company leaves.

I bought a 1l bottle each of shampoo and conditioner at Winners a few weeks ago. They're Argan Oil sulfate free. I think it's helping somewhat. I also put in Biosilk when my hair is still damp to control the extra frizz. My hair needs the deep conditioner because without it, I can't get a comb through my hair without ripping it out. I stopped blow drying and haven't used my straightener in 2 months. My hair needs extra oils to control the fly aways and frizz. I started wearing ponytails (they're so freaking skinny! lol) or just pulling back the top of my hair behind my bangs and tying it up with a small elastic. It makes a big difference in how my hair looks. I should do a before and after picture.......

Argan Magic

My mother, her sisters and her mother all were prematurely gray. All ended up with either white or silver hair. I assumed I would, too. Not to be! I take after my paternal grandmother who had a little gray around her face and the rest was dark. Mine is the same only I've never before had dark hair in my life! Instead of going gray, my hair has just gotten darker and darker, but not a pretty dark - just drab.

So, I color my hair. It also helps with the fineness of my hair - coloring it gives it body. I have it colored the dark blonde/light brown my hair always was but have my hairdresser leave any gray that is there around my face. Since my hair is short, it must be colored about every 8-10 weeks.

I hate spending the money. I wish it would just go gray and be done, but if it hasn't by age 74, I think it's unlikely that it ever will.

If one is going to color, get it done professionally. Many home product are very hard on hair - a hairdresser knows how to compensate for the chemicals.

Debby_ab - I have my hair professionally coloured in Ontario and boy does it cost $$$. My problem with that I only suit auburn (note that if you suit any other colour than red/auburn use the other colour). I did it myself for many years since I greyed in my 20s and apparently did a fabulous job for someone who just dumped the dye on my head. It probably helped that I had and have despite my age very thick hair. My hair also has a natural curl. I no longer blow it dry - it is too thick and I am useless. I bought a diffuser and couldn't seem to use it right either. I just always wear a hat - it covers the roots and helps with the fading. I had to stop colouring it myself since the colour kept being d/c - and then there was that awful red stripe that so often happens when people do it themselves.

My hair grows very quickly. I know that there are people who insist that all hair grows at the same rate but I beg to differ. My hair also grows sideways.

I use Pureology sulfate free shampoo and separate conditioner for coloured hair - they hydrating version. Not cheap in Canada. My favourite shampoo was a Goldwell product that was d/c and I can't use the new one for red hair - it has raspberry oil in it.

Then I apply Moroccan oil curling cream (not the foam) as it is too light. This is a product that should come in a jar, not in a pump. I did try several foams but none of them worked - they are made for much thinner hair. Perhaps something for you to try.

I do not get highlights. My hair is such that it appears to have highlights - the curling cream seems to brighten it somehow.

The odd thing is is that I do not suit any shade of red clothing except I only suit the reddish hair. I have an Irish yellow-based complexion and the Irish iron-grey hair to go with it.

I have to pay about what you would need to - but believe me it could be a lot worse. A lot of places charge $240 just for highlights. Forget the cut and blow dry.

It is hard finding someone who can cut curly hair - I do have someone now thankfully. The whole trick is in the layering and not keeping it too short (which I do not suit anyway) or too long.

Lucille seems to be doing well with henna. Since my hair is naturally very dry (always has been) I found henna made it even worse. But if Lucille can use it, more power to her. I know someone who uses henna to colour her hair black and it looks great.

Just want to pipe up here with a public service message to those thinking of using 'black henna'. There are some black henna products (and other hair products) adulterated with paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause problems, sometimes severe, for some people.

My hair started going grey at age 28. It's long and wavy, afro like. :0) I dye it every 6 weeks for a cost of $1. Dollar Tree sells hair dye that works in 25 minutes. That's it. I sit in the tub and watch TV, wash it out...no big deal...nothing to stress about...no gouge out of my pocket book....just Big Bang theory reruns, a few laughs and I'm a brunette again. I use a wig brush, one with wooden bristles so as not to scratch my scalp. It's teeth are farther apart, to brush my hair out. I don't believe taking care of my skin and hair should be a chore.

We met my kids and some friends at a pub downtown last night (my oldest turned 37 this week) for drinks. It's the first time in months used a hair straightener. I let it air dry in the morning but didn't like how it looked to go out. This is me just before I left the house. I have biosilk, a hair cream and hairspray in. It actually still looked like this when I got home and we sat on the patio for a few hours at the pub where it was so WINDY and cold.

I am very frustrated with my hair. I started graying at 18, and now at 35 it's very noticeable if I don't color it. My natural hair color is dark brown and my hair grows incredibly fast.

If I wanted to hide it completely I would have to dye it every week because within a few days of it being colored, it's showing gray again because it grows so fast.

Right now I stretch it to 6 weeks for money and chemical exposure reasons and it looks terrible by then. No one is fooled. :)

I need to just try the henna. Which brand do you use, Lucille?

Marilyn, you and Sabrina are both beautifull! Chi I use Light Mountain bright red sold on Amazon 3 packs for $14, but my hair is short enough so that on my second color I only used 1/2 pack.

Marilyn, your hair looks great, color and cut. MANY people would be delighted to have hair like yours without fooling with it every morning. I wish I had nerve to go grey with a shorter style.

I started getting white hairs when I was in college. The best and cheapest treatment was the old fashioned frosting, which I could do myself if I wanted. But I had a reaction to a bad idea, a permanent. So I had my hair dresser cut off all the color to a really short style, and when he blew it dry, it looked the same as with the frosting except this frosting was white. I never colored my hair again and it is all white now. I hated spending the time and money on it.

When I stopped coloring my hair 22 years ago, I proudly ended up with this. Just like my mother. Always receive compliments. Just wash and wear!

I used to hate my hair, because it was so thin, and wouldn't grow as long as I wanted it to, since it would just fray out.

But now... I'm 64, happier with shorter hair, and glad it is still mostly brunette, and I don't have any urge to dye it. I wash and wear, and it has enough natural curl that I'm usually happy with how it dries on its own.

Attitudes, I guess, change... ?

I only colored my hair twice, both in the 1990's, using a non-permanent henna product. It washed out way too quickly, but I did like the change in color if only as a temporary experiment. I have (and had) no desire to use harsh chemicals in my hair. (Sort of an auburn with hints of magenta.) Edit: Oh, I forgot the Halloween party I went as Morticia Addams, but that black dye was gone before I went back to work the following Monday....