S.D.
Hi A.,
I am impressed that you are using this forum- I wish I had some adult women to talk to about this stuff when I was your age!
In 8th grade I cut my hair off into a semi-pixie it was awful! My hair is unmanagable and I thought that it would be easier if there was less of it. I brought a hair brush to school and tried to brush it until it was dry hoping that would smooth it out; but it made it worse and I looked like a mushroom kid (:]. I was self-conscious about it.
The things I have done since those days that have helped are to; brush my hair once when it's very wet- maybe even in the shower before I rinse out the conditioner and just let it dry naturally and be unmanagable in it's own special (beautiful) way, I let it grow out- the increased length helps keep it in shape, I switch products especially shampoo and conditioner all the time- so I cleanse, hydrate, or smooth depending on what I think it needs- it just gets sick of products if I stick to one for a while (the waxes build-up and make it uncooperative), I tend to shampoo my scalp and conditioner from the ends up, and I don't let products sit in it, also I only wash it every two-four days but hormones might make it oily so just look at the front and if its stringy looking near the scalp; wash it. I don't spend alot on products but the one I love to have is Paul Mitchell super skinny serum, its about $13.00 and makes hair so soft and shiney and smooth without making it oily.
I wish you good luck unlocking the beauty that is somewhere in there, S..