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Fluffy’. ‘Boofy’. ‘Frizzy’. In the age of stick-straight locks gracing magazine covers, it is easy to think that curly hair is just not ‘in’.
Certainly years of taunting at primary school would lead any curly haired nzgirl to believe that their tresses are anything but desirable.
But this perception is inaccurate. The only thing holding curly hair back from being fashionable is that so many people lack the knowledge necessary to make their curls look fabulous. With the right information, any curly haired girl can go from fighting to loving their hair. This is a lesson I’ve had to learn.
After enjoying years of straight, hassle free hair, puberty hit and I suddenly became the not-so-proud owner of a head of ringlets, with which I had no idea what to do.
I spent years pulling my hair back off my face,
desperate to hide the fact that it was curly. Most curly haired girls will have, at one time or another, found ways to conceal their hair.
The first commandment on the path to fabulous curls is: never brush your hair. If you use a brush, you are forcing frizz upon yourself and the extreme force needed is bound to damage your hair.
So throw out your brush. Once you have taken this step, your hair will look better almost immediately.
Instead, comb through conditioner in the shower with a wide toothed comb, and use a detangling spray. The best shampoos to use on curly hair are those created specifically for curls, or at least dry hair as curly hair needs all the moisture it can get.
If you are using a shampoo for normal hair, you're not doing yourself any favours. The Curl Life line by Matrix is excellent, as it prepares curls and begins the styling process as you wash and condition. This is a salon brand and rather pricy, so if your budget won’t
stretch that far a great supermarket line is Pantene’s hydrating curls, which has shampoo, conditioner and styling products.
Whenever you wash your hair make sure you use a leave-in conditioner afterwards - a cream leave-in conditioner is ideal as it keeps curls moisturised all day.
The main difficulties faced by curly haired girls tend to lie in styling. A lot of girls complain about frizz, but are reluctant to use anything to tame their locks because of the crunchy feel.
Put bluntly, if you want nice curls, you need to use styling products. It's always easier to style your hair after it has been washed, as products are absorbed more effectively by damp hair.
Firstly, mousse used lightly all over will act as a base. Secondly it is necessary to use a medium to strong hold gel to keep curls in place. My favourites include Schwarzkopf Shine Enhance gel, and Joico Styling Lotion.
If you find your hair is still frizzy despite these products, a lightweight hairspray will work wonders to keep frizz tamed all day.
To the constant amusement of those around me, I
always keep a bottle of gel in my purse, to deal with any ‘frizz patches’ that crop up when I'm out. If all else fails, keep an emergency hair-tie nearby. The best way to have beautiful curls is to be prepared after all.
Having curly hair is underrated. I continually receive compliments from straight haired girls who wish their hair was curly - a testament to the fact that it is not such a bad thing. So instead of hiding your curls and spending hundreds on hair straighteners, indulge in a little curl pride and you might just see the benefits.
nzgirl - Dealing with curly hair
Certainly years of taunting at primary school would lead any curly haired nzgirl to believe that their tresses are anything but desirable.
But this perception is inaccurate. The only thing holding curly hair back from being fashionable is that so many people lack the knowledge necessary to make their curls look fabulous. With the right information, any curly haired girl can go from fighting to loving their hair. This is a lesson I’ve had to learn.
After enjoying years of straight, hassle free hair, puberty hit and I suddenly became the not-so-proud owner of a head of ringlets, with which I had no idea what to do.
I spent years pulling my hair back off my face,
The first commandment on the path to fabulous curls is: never brush your hair. If you use a brush, you are forcing frizz upon yourself and the extreme force needed is bound to damage your hair.
So throw out your brush. Once you have taken this step, your hair will look better almost immediately.
Instead, comb through conditioner in the shower with a wide toothed comb, and use a detangling spray. The best shampoos to use on curly hair are those created specifically for curls, or at least dry hair as curly hair needs all the moisture it can get.
If you are using a shampoo for normal hair, you're not doing yourself any favours. The Curl Life line by Matrix is excellent, as it prepares curls and begins the styling process as you wash and condition. This is a salon brand and rather pricy, so if your budget won’t
Whenever you wash your hair make sure you use a leave-in conditioner afterwards - a cream leave-in conditioner is ideal as it keeps curls moisturised all day.
The main difficulties faced by curly haired girls tend to lie in styling. A lot of girls complain about frizz, but are reluctant to use anything to tame their locks because of the crunchy feel.
Put bluntly, if you want nice curls, you need to use styling products. It's always easier to style your hair after it has been washed, as products are absorbed more effectively by damp hair.
Firstly, mousse used lightly all over will act as a base. Secondly it is necessary to use a medium to strong hold gel to keep curls in place. My favourites include Schwarzkopf Shine Enhance gel, and Joico Styling Lotion.
If you find your hair is still frizzy despite these products, a lightweight hairspray will work wonders to keep frizz tamed all day.
To the constant amusement of those around me, I
Having curly hair is underrated. I continually receive compliments from straight haired girls who wish their hair was curly - a testament to the fact that it is not such a bad thing. So instead of hiding your curls and spending hundreds on hair straighteners, indulge in a little curl pride and you might just see the benefits.
nzgirl - Dealing with curly hair
