There was an interesting story on Good Morning America the other day about the debate that will never die (at lease among the curly haired population) — Curly Hair vs. Straight Hair. With all the bad news there is in the world today, I guess they needed some mindless fluff, as a diversion.
Anyway, the reporter (who has naturally curly hair) had one photograph taken of herself with her hair curly, and another with it straight (wearing different outfits). She then went on to conduct a very unscientific survey of reactions to both photos from one group of guys (5 young white males) and a group of very young school kids. Her last experiment was in a job interview - wearing same outfit but with different interviewers.
The guys’ reaction was mostly negative towards the curly hair, however for an attractive woman it seems that they were very hard on her score-wise (25 out of 50 for curly, 31 out of 50 for straight) all together. They were either distracted by the hair, or didn’t offer an opinion at all. Not sure where they found those guys. The young kids also preferred the straight look to the curly locks, referring to them as “messy.”
The interview portion was actually the only interesting part of the story. This was also the only section of the experiment where she spoke as a part of the assessment, so they considered personality/behavior as part of the “whole package” – wonder if the earlier reactions would have changed had they been shown a video instead of a photograph. Apparently her confidence and comfort level were greatest in her naturally curly state and therefore she excelled in that interview, receiving comments like “intelligent” and “personable.” Her scores were much higher with curly hair than with straight hair. If you want to view the entire story in detail, visit the “ABC News Story – The Mane Conflict: Hair Curly or Straight?” for the full story and video.
Having had curly hair my entire life, I find this last section of her story very interesting and encouraging - especially since I am currently hunting for a job and will soon be going through those dreadful interviews. It’s nice to know that somewhere, people actually look beyond the surface.
If you have dry, frizzy hair, then you have probably tried your share of anti-frizz serums over the years. Every time a new product would appear, those of us trying to calm the frizz of our curly hair styles would be first to sample and test the claims of their manufacturers.
One of the first products I ever tried, John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Hair Serum, has remained the #1 favorite, and it all started with one little packet. It was nice to have the ability to sample the product by purchasing it in packet form (two single-use packets), before buying the full-sized bottle.
Shopping for an anti-frizz serum can be tough because so many products on the market contain alcohol and other drying, or irritating ingredients. Frizz-Ease Serum’s short list of ingredients was a nice change. It contains Cyclomethicone and Dimethiconol, which are clear, odorless silicone products that gives Frizz-Ease it’s silky-smooth feel and frizz-calming properties. The last ingredient is Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, a tongue-twisting name for the sunscreen that gives Frizz-Ease its UV protection.
Another reason for the short-list of ingredients may be due to its fragrance-free quality, which should be seen as a positive thing. Remember that even though a product may “smell yummy” - the chemicals added to it in order to achieve that fragrance may not be so great for extremely dry hair.
When it comes to anti-frizz serums, everyone has their favorites - Bumble and Bumble, Citre Shine, John Frieda, Garnier Fructis - the list goes on forever. What is yours?
A luxurious curly hair style is the ultimate compliment to your wedding or prom gown, along with jewelry and other accessories. Loose curls are 
the best way to go, whether you are wearing it completely up, partially up, or down and flowing.
If your hair is on the short side you may want to consider relaxing the curl, especially if it is particularly tight. Select a stylist who specializes in this area and have it done at least a week prior to the event. A nice loose curl or wave is very versatile and easy to style. Experiment with smoothing gels and hair accessories. Simple hair accessories work well with curls of any length, whether you use ribbons, decorative hair pins, or a simple garland of flowers.
Having your hair highlighted can add an accent to the shape of the curls - this is also something that should be tried out well in advance of your wedding to see if you like the look.
Your florist can also make hair accessories to match your bouquet – flowers attached to a comb, hairpin, wreath or headpiece for a few examples.
An updo is a style that instantly dresses-up a look. For those with straight hair, it can be done without a professional hairdresser if it is practiced
several times before the big day – however, for curly hair it is best handled by a professional. Allow for extra time too, because the hair will need to be straightened to lay flat against the head and then re-curled after the point of the pony tail. Hair has to be chin length at the shortest point, in order for this style to work. There are such a variety of updo styles from relatively simple to simply extravagant! Browse bridal and hairstyle magazines, along with online picture galleries to fine the look you like best.
If you are looking for something simple, yet elegant, and your hair is shoulder length or longer, consider something at the nape of your neck – a nape knot for instance, or a wavy French twist entwined with flowers.
Many people are under the assumption that curly hair must be cut in a layered style, which is not necessarily true. A great low-maintenance curly hair style for hair that it not extremely thick (or super curly) is a long, blunt cut. The weight of the hair will relax the curl a little more and it is an easy wash-and-go look. If your hair is very thick and you want to wear it long, then a layered style would be more suitable, in order to control the volume.
Keep in mind that the shorter the hair, the curlier the look will be due to the loss of weight which would pull and relax the curl. A shorter cut will also require more frequent trimmings to keep the shape – something to consider if your hair grows fast. A good stylist is very important for those choosing a short style!
A word of caution – never let anyone use thinning shears or razors on your curly hair as this can be very damaging to the fragile ends. Proper layering will take care of the bulkiness you get with really thick hair. Also keep in mind the ‘shrinkage factor’ of curly hair when choosing a style. Your hair could actually be up to one third longer when it is wet, than when it is dry.
When selecting a hair style, consult with a professional stylist who has real experience with curly hair. I have found the best luck with stylists who have the same type of hair, although that can be a rare find. Make sure that you tell them how much time you have to deal with your hair each day and how much work you want to put into your look. If you want a wash-and-wear look then let it be known up front. A good cut and proper maintenance are the keys to controlling beautiful curly hair styles.
