Being a girl with curly hair is an expensive battle and can be hard to keep up with year-round, especially as a college student. Christmas is a great time to take advantage of sales and add to your wish list some products you want to try or tools missing from your routine. From one curly-haired girl to another, or if you need to find ideas for the curls in your life, you’ve come to the right place. Today, I am going to share five things I have on my Christmas wish list, and things I would add to my list if I didn’t own them already, for my fellow curly-haired girls.
1. A Diffuser
When starting my curly hair journey, I was someone who was strictly air drying, that was until I discovered the powers of a diffuser. Forever grateful to have discovered the powers of diffusing and the wonders it does for my definition, volume, and drying time. I bought a Babyliss dryer with attachments and a straightener at my local Marshalls last winter. I had my eye set on the brand Babyliss after getting my hair done at the salon, and my hair was pin-straight when I left the chair. That classic blue is how I remembered which blow dryer and straightener I wanted to invest in. Now, I would suggest doing further research, or just investing in any other diffuser, but my main point is to invest in a diffuser in general. Whether it be a Drybar dryer, or Babyliss, or just any one you find in your hometown TJMaxx, buy a diffuser. When diffusing your hair, many fear heat damage, but that is preventable when you use heat protectants and also use a low heat or cooling setting. Diffusing my hair saves me so much time, gives me so much volume, and gives me so much definition I wouldn’t get if I were just air drying. Save some drying time in your routine and invest in a diffuser (or put it on your Christmas list).
2. products
Pattern is something I’ve only ever heard good things about and something I am dying to try. Pattern not only has wonderful products like leave-in conditioners, styling creams, shampoo, and conditioners, but also steamers and diffusers. I went to Sephora over Thanksgiving break, window shopping, and I smelled the Pattern Beauty Palo Santo line, and it smelled incredible. The scent was a distinct palo santo scent, but light enough that it wouldn’t give you a headache or be overwhelming. I am someone who loves using products that make my hair smell good, and this line is like wearing hair perfume, smelling so good. Pattern has wonderful gift sets as well that come with small travel-size versions of their most famous products or routines, to allow you to test it yourself, or to gift to the curly hair in your life. Pattern has a little bit of everything in their line, something for all different types of curls. The Palo Santo Leave-In Conditioner, curl gel, and styling cream are definitely on my Christmas list, and my first purchase after Christmas if Santa’s elves forget to buy it for me instead. I think the Fenty curly hair products are something I would definitely add to my list as well. I trust everything Rihanna puts out. I would definitely add Pattern products to your Christmas wish list or add any expensive hair products you’ve been eyeing the whole year.
3. A Bonnet
Bonnets and silk pillowcases are things that most people with curly hair tend to invest in first, but I think now it’s time for some upgrades. The brand Bounce Curl has come out with a bonnet that has a lot of positive reviews online, coming in reversible designs and with a comfortable adjustable band. Another bonnet I have seen a ton of is this oversized satin bonnet, for my volume girlies, that comes attached with a sleep mask that goes over the eyes without an annoying strap cutting through the bonnet. This bonnet is one of the most creative ones I have seen in a minute, and I’m loving the way bonnets are getting cuter and more inventive. Bonnets are a practical stocking stuffer idea to gift or just throw on your list!
4. A styling brush
Brush styling has been my holy grail as someone who loves definition, and I am so lucky to have mastered it and tried the different brushes to find out which one likes my hair the most. My Denman brush is my ride or die. I’ve tried numerous different styling brushes, but I always seem to go back to my Denman brush. If you don’t own one already, I highly advise you add it to your list and just see how it transforms your routine. The Bounce Curl Define Edgelift, and Volume Edgelift are styling brushes I’m sure, even if you are someone with pin straight hair, I’m sure you have seen it on your ForYou page. The Bounce Curl brushes took over my algorithm around this time last year, and I had my eye set on it for such a long time until I got my hands on both the Definition and Volume Edgelift. My younger sister has curly hair, a little tighter curl pattern than mine, and she loves the Bounce Curl brush over the Denman, so you really do just have to try it for yourself and see what works best. I think Christmas is the perfect time of year to put some things on your wish list that you want to try out for yourself, but don’t want to gamble whether you’ll like it or not. Especially with the Bounce Curl brushes, they’re a little on the pricier side of things for a college student around this time of year, so throw them on the list and try them as soon as you open it.
5. A haircut
Now, this is one that most people don’t consider, but sneaking in a hair salon certificate would be a wonderful gift to give or receive this holiday season. Where I’m from, curly cuts can be upwards of $100, sometimes up to $160 in my hometown. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am a DIY haircut girl through and through. My mom cuts my hair for me at home, I cut my hair in the dorm with the unicorn method (if you know, you know) and my roommates can vouch for me, but I think it would be nice to gift someone a trip to a hair professional especially one well versed in curly hair, so you can receive the volume and shape of your dreams. I think a lot of people don’t consider how expensive professional curly cuts are, but I think if it is something you’ve been wanting to try or want to be consulted on how to achieve more volume, shape, and definition for your hair, it is definitely a gift worth it.
COnclusion
It’s pretty risky being on your curly hair journey, especially because half the time I’m left with products I didn’t like, or constantly on a search for what my routine is missing, but I think Christmas time takes a little bit of that anxiety and guilt away. Plus, curly hair products can be so expensive, and in high demand as a college student, it can be a little hard to keep up on repurchasing new products or investing in things that could be revolutionary to your routine. Being a curly-haired girl can get expensive, draining, and really all about trial and error, so take advantage of this holiday season and put those products or new hair dryer you’ve been eyeing all year on your wish list!