Dear Ouidad: I really need help! I am a 13-year-old girl, and you can only imagine how much my looks mean to me! My entire life I have been struggling with my curly curly hair! I guess you could say that my hair is a mix of soft curls (3a”> and kinky (4″>. I have gotten Keratin treatments, relaxers, and unfortunately I do sometimes straighten my hair when it’s damp to get my curls out! My hair is thin, and strawberry blond! I have two pieces near my scalp that are VERY VERY KINKY and even when I shower my hair does not even get straight in the shower! And when I get out of the shower I gel and slick back my hair into a high pony tail, just hoping the curls will tame out! It usually does the trick but I am getting really sick of it, especially because it is ruining my hair! I cry almost every day that I shower because I hate my hair!! I have even considered surgery because it is terrible! The two pieces near my scalp are terribly short and curly from brushing it and putting product on it so much! I simply just do not know what to do with my hair!! And I have used about every kind of product you could imagine!! I am telling you this because I do not know what to do! I just want my curls to go away! This is my last hope if you could help me, it would be a miracle to me!

A: Curly texture is beautiful when you embrace it and don’t fight it. By continuing to straighten your hair you are causing further damage. I recommend that you stop all of the abuse to your hair and start to rebuild the curls. Deep treatments can really help repair the damage and put you on the path to healthier curls. Be sure to use a wide-toothed comb when detangling to avoid breakage. To help with the tighter, kinky spots around your hairline you can visit my salon for a softening treatment. Above all else, curls are unique and beautiful and I hope you will learn to embrace them for everything they are!