Why does my hair feel rough and look 'kinky' at the foots (baby hairs)?

They feel like guitar strings! My hair is naturally wavy. The strands feel reasonably smooth, but the hairs around my forehead feel so much rougher, but only toward the root (a few centimetres). I know it's hard to see in the picture, but in person the rough bits look very 'crinkly' and there's no pattern. I don't use any heat on my hair. I use a daily-leave in (girly girl approved). I use a moisture shampoo and conditioner and a hair mask every 1-1.5 weeks. The only thing I can think of that might damage my hair at the front is tying my hair in a tight bun when I go out (I use a natural and gentle hair gel). What do you think?