Adrien: A Cry For (Hair) Help.

So, I haven't done a State of My Hair post in a while, but that's because it's pretty much grown out. By that I mean the shorter bits on the "long" side have finally caught up, though the ends are looking a bit frizzled. My hair doesn't really do long so I think it's just a matter of figuring out where to go from here.

bleh.

Next week I'm getting a much-needed cut (and color refresh) and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do. Right now it's just a tiny bit longer than shoulder-length which is a super-annoying length, so I was thinking about getting enough taken off so it's barely above my shoulders, something like this:

 BUT, then I saw this:

more photos of the cut here.

OR, I could go a tiny bit shorter and do a Carey Mulligan bob:

HMMM. (Just so you guys know, I collect haircut photos like it's some kind of pathetisad hobby.)

Both of these cuts will require me to grow out my bangs which I'm okay with. They're pretty long right now anyway. One thing I won't be doing is going super-short again, at least not right now. I love having really short hair but it requires cutting every 6 weeks and I just can't afford that kind of maintenance. So, long bob or short bob?

And now, this is where I beg and plead for short, straight hair product recommendations. I've been using this Aveda stuff:

Phomollient

I like the way it smells and it gives decent light hold, but it also makes my hair really tangly, which is annoying. I also need some kind of thermal protectant spray or balm because my ends are getting SUPER SAD. I've had good luck with Bumble and bumble Straight Blow Dry (which isn't really a protectant, like, at all), but I've run out and I'm hoping there's something cheaper and more effective out there. I will say, I'm still getting excellent results from the crazy cheap L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Balm but it's too heavy to use every day.

SO, if you have fine, straight hair, what styling products do you love? I am out of ideas.