My dad used to call me Shirley Temple. Tight coils regretfully sprung from my scalp, despite the potential globs of product or roasting heat they’d soon be subject to within seconds of stepping out of the shower. It’s a complicated relationship; a coming of age tale of a reluctantly curly hair girl. But with most things, time works wonders and sure enough I have grown proud and fond of the locks I was given! It wasn’t all time. It was time with a mix of tips and tricks to embrace the curls; some passed down from the pros, others I acquired on my own….and now they are yours for the taking.
- GET SMART
Do your curly hair research! I have personally gained a world of knowledge from the Curly Girl Method. You can purchase the handbook, or watch Youtube tutorials on how to perfect the method. Having a routine and learning about my hair (and subsequently what to do with it) was undoubtedly the most successful step towards embracing it.
- PRODUCT, PRODUCT, PRODUCT
After research has been conducted, it’s time to experiment with the right products. The Curly Girl Method, along with many other stylists, swear by the avoidance of certain ingredients like alcohol, parabens, silicone, and sulfate. Try a no-poo. Try a gel. Your curls will thank you.
- GET CREATIVE
Little butterfly clips holding back some strands on either side. Headbands. Scarfs. Side part. Middle part. Funky clips. Our curls give us options! Find styles that excite you and accentuate the ‘cues.
- GIVE IT A SECOND
Maybe you’ve been straightening your hair everyday for years, or you sleep in a braid at night to tame the curls. Wherever you may fall on the spectrum of total embracing of your hair, it’s going to take a minute to adjust to a new routine or look. At least for myself, after the full on Curly Girl routine, sometimes I loved it and wore it proud, and other days I was tempted by the blow dryer tucked away beneath my sink. Maybe you’ll find it’s not for you, but don’t be too quick to decide that. Bad hair days still exist….even after perfecting your method.
- FIND YOUR COMMUNITY
Straighter hair tends to sweep the media, but our fellow curly hair folk are out there in numbers too. Maybe it’s an influencer, a model, an actor, or a friend. I know I am particularly grateful for and indebted to my best friend who just so happens to have very similar hair to me. We talk product, pool together our research, and most importantly, hype each other’s hair up.
So put the blow drier and the flat iron down for a minute and embark on your curly hair journey! You’ve got it for a reason, might as well learn how to perfect it.