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13th June 2025

Six months on from my last update, a brand new haircut, and more than a year since I've used the straightener. I've made some slight changes again and it's really all coming together.

I should note that I do still use the routine linked when it comes to special and important occasions. However, my everyday routine now has a focus on volume, whereas my previous routine focused on definition. Volume is the name of the game when it comes to an 80's LARP, and I find that this current routine gives solid volume without needing much hairspray.

Of course, the preliminary requirements. As stated in the previous routine, your hair needs to be normal porosity, normal-to-thick density, 2C-3B hair, maybe even 3C. Get your hair cut in Paul Stanley's 70's hair style, or some other kind of glam rock/heavy metal style where the top layers are very, very short.

Instead of washing my body beforehand, I go straight in with wetting my hair and using the shampoo. These days, I've been using an anti-dandruff shampoo first on the suggestion of my mother. I leave that in for ~3 minutes before washing it off, and then use my regular shampoo the second time around. The technique for the shampooing stages is the same.

When conditioning, I try to coat it evenly on my hair, even the parts closest to my root. Otherwise, the technique is similar to the previous. Here is when I proceed to wash my body. The change here is that I rinse out 70-90% of my conditioner by flipping my hair over and occasionally touching my hair to judge percentage. It's really a game of experimentation here. I use a wide-toothed comb to further detangle, then squish the water out of my hair by bringing it all to one side and repeating for the other. Then it's the standard - wrap hair in turban, leave on for 10-30 minutes, get changed, etc.

Now, here's where the biggest change occurs. Goodbye curl cream, goodbye gel, hello mousse! I use Schwarzkopf Extra Care Hair Mousse Ultra Style. I picked this up by accident when buying hairspray (there's a hairspray version of this mousse). I shake well, and spray it onto my hand for 1 second. A little goes a long way, so experiment. I apply it to one side of my hair using the praying hands motion, and scrunch. I don't part my hair at any stage of this routine btw. I repeat for the other side. Then, I put a much smaller mound of mousse onto the very top and back of my hair, again scrunching upwards. I get a large claw clip, "scoop" up the sides, and secure it right on the top of my head.

I genuinely think diffusing is the way to go for maximum volume. I've air dried it completely with not-so-satisfying results. I spray some heat protectant on my hair, and immediately go in with the diffuser while my hair is flipped upside down. High heat, high speed. I focus on the roots, then the ends, then I scrunch (bringing it down to medium heat and medium speed). I flip my hair right-side up. If you're following along, this is where you'll think "Oh my god, my hair looks like an absolute mess". BE NOT AFRAID. TRUST THE PROCESS. Here is where you dry any parts you may have missed. For me, this is usually the very back of my head, and the clump of hair in my claw clip. Don't unclip it - lift the clip up and direct the airflow through it from all directions.

Let your hair cool down from the blast of constant heat you just put it through. Your hair will settle down and its proper shape will take place. Now's the time to gently feel your hair to see if there are any other parts you missed.

The advice here again carries over from the last - if I'm about to go out that night, I break the cast with argan oil through praying hands and scrunching. If I'm not, I sleep in the cast. Because mousse has a much lighter hold than gel (hence why it's better for volume), the cast will not be that heavy and crispy.

This needs minimal maintenance each day you wear this hair - just shake it out in the morning. But, if it's become ruined for some reason or another, fear not - a proper refresh without needing to wash it completely is easy. Simply wet your hair about 50% - about 10 seconds with a detachable showerhead going all around your roots should be enough. Squeeze the water out with your hands. Use a bit of curl cream to ensure the curl comes back again - not as much as the previous routine, a peanut-sized amount for each side should do. Praying hands, and detangle. Use the mousse again, but obviously not as much as last time. Claw clip, heat protectant, diffuse. All up it should take about 15 minutes, but pay attention to the ends of your hair - I find that they need a little extra time on the diffuser to dry completely.

New pics? New pics!!!

The first one might have been a day or two after a wash. I definitely look like I listen to Whitesnake and drive a Honda Civic. Which is a good thing may I add!! Gender ambiguity, more like age ambiguity. The second pic was on the day I went to a record fair and had to refresh it for the first time ever. Scary but went pretty well! Mind the plushies in the background