One of the most important keys to maintaining a curly hairstyle is a good cut, by a stylist who knows curly hair – I mean one who really knows curly hair.
Those of us who have lived with naturally curly hair all of our lives, know that once you find that special stylist, they become your best friend and are irreplaceable.
Not all hair stylists are created equal – some just don’t understand the intricacies of cutting naturally curly hair. Believe me, I’ve had a few butchers in the past who have claimed to “know” curly hair.
In addition to the proper cut, a stylist experienced with curly hair will know how to condition, treat and color your locks without damaging them. They will know which products work best in your hair as well as which products to stay away from, and they are usually up on the latest trends and break-throughs for problems such as fighting frizz.
When shopping for a hair stylist, you should not be afraid to ask the salon personnel if they have a curly hair stylist, or a stylist who primarily specializes in curly hair. If they say no, or make you feel like an idiot, move on to the next salon (quickly).
Your best bet is to visit the salon and stylist in person before making any appointment. If the stylist has curly hair themselves, that is even better – since you know they have had to deal with curly hair issues personally.
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.
