Search Results: Julia Rizzo
Julia Rizzo
Walking through Target yesterday, I was struck by the truly incredible amount of hair products they carry — six aisles full! And even though there are products for every hair type and texture imaginable, it seems like each year more and more curl-specific products appear on the shelves.
While admiring all my options for new shampoo, I counted 37 curl-specific products before the guy who was stocking the shelves started to look at me funny. And those 37 products don’t count the ones that treat the “symptoms” of curly hair! Tons of products say they’ll increase moisture, reduce frizz, and even “weather proof” your hair.
To the dismay of my hairdresser, who swears I’d have better hold if I just added some hairspray and a diffuser to the mix, I’m completely attached to the styling product I use. (I’m at college so the fewer products I have to schlep to my floor’s shared bathroom, the better.”> While I refuse to relinquish my favorite styling product, I change my shampoo and conditioner almost every time I finish a bottle.
And that’s what had brought me to Target. I was fresh out of conditioner, which is up there with “out of deodorant” for reasons to head to the store ASAP. Since I fit the stereotypical “broke teenager/college student” mold, I want to get good quality hair products without spending an arm and a leg. So how do I know I know that what I’m spending my money on is “the good stuff?” When I got home I decided to explore this site and see what I can find to help me out.
I decided to start by picking up my empty bottle of conditioner, flipping it over and taking a good long look at the ingredients. Wow, they have some weird names: Cylopentasiloxane, hydroexythylcellulose. Some ingredients sound weird but really are pretty mundane. Tocopheryl Acetate is a scientific term for Vitamin E, and Aloe Berbadensis is Aloe Vera.
The CurlChemist column on this site is a great place to start when you’re wondering about a particular ingredient in your shampoo or conditioner. Tonya’s columns can be found by searching the name of her column in “search” box in the upper right hand corner of the webpage. Most of the top 10 ingredients in my conditioner were addressed in one of Tonya’s columns. Reading her columns, I learned that Propylene Glycol (the seventh ingredient in my conditioner”> is a humectant, which means it promotes the retention of moisture in your hair. This lead me to investigate her article about humectants, where I learned that they are especially effective in protecting your hair in very low humidity. But allowing too much moisture into your hair in high humidity makes it look rough.
As curly girls, we’re taught to “condition, condition, condition,” but depending on where you live there may be such a thing as too much moisture! I really enjoyed delving into the chemistry behind the products I use every day. The CurlChemist column is a great resource for those who want to know how to best care for their hair.
I’m familiar with the ingredients that are in my food, so why should the ingredients in my conditioner be a mystery?
Stay Curly,
Julia
Email your questions/comments to Julia.
Julia,
Most of the curly girls that I know have been asked at one point or another “Why don’t you straighten your hair more often?”
When I’m asked, I generally deflect the question with a smile and a polite “I just prefer my curls.” While “I prefer my curls” is the theme of this column, there are several other reasons I forgo the straightening iron. While no casual inquirer would want me to list them, we’re devoted curly girls here and you’ll agree that there are all sorts of reasons why we don’t “straighten our hair more often.”
In contrast to my usual reasons for keeping my curls (mostly centered around self-confidence and self-acceptance”>, here are some of the other reasons (perhaps a bit shallow, perhaps a bit silly”> for shunning the straightening iron.
1. I’d rather sleep in!: When I started writing this column, I was a sophomore in high school and I loved staying up late. Now, I’m a sophomore in college and going to bed at eleven is a luxury, not a pain. Every chance I get to hit the snooze button is appreciated, and if I miraculously find myself with an extra 45 minutes in the morning, I’m going to walk to my favorite dining hall and order an omelet. Standing in front of a mirror with a burning hot object next to my scalp and neck for an hour is not high on the list of pre-class priorities.
2. My curls hide my cowlick: I have this absolutely ridiculous cowlick right in the middle of my forehead, perfectly aligned with my widow’s peak. When my hair is curly, this quirk is fairly well disguised. When I straighten my hair, however, my hair veers up and away from my widow’s peak, making me look like I have an “M” protruding from my forehead. Lovely.
3. My breakage: I’ll admit it. I’ve spent one too many days with my hair in a bun, and I have a bit of breakage to show for it. My curls usually disguise the breakage around the crown of my head. But when my hair is straight, the smallest bit of damage is glaringly obvious. Suddenly, a piece of hair that once demurely curled at my temple sticks straight up like some sort of alien feeler. Not attractive.
4. Who likes the smell of burning hair?: This one goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. The smell of hair being straightened makes me all sorts of unhappy. I feel like it’s olfactory proof that I’m damaging my hair. And I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the steam — or smoke — that rises off the straightener.
5. I refuse to fear the rain: Ithaca, NY is not known for its number of sunny days. Rain, sleet, snow, hail, if it falls from the sky it will hit Ithaca at some point during the month of March. The weather, in addition to being generally damp and gray, is also unpredictable. It’s common to walk into a building in the sunshine and walk out an hour later into a downpour. I refuse to become of those girls cowering under her copy of the campus newspaper because she knows that the rain will destroy her straightening efforts. Although wind will always be my worst weather enemy (it reduces even the most well-styled curls into a head of frizz”>, I will never fear the rain. The absolute worst thing the rain can do to my curls is make them look a little soggy!
So there you have it, some of the not-so-deep reasons why I “don’t straighten my hair more often.” From my love of the snooze button to my fearless acceptance of Ithaca’s weather, my day just goes smoother when I rock my curls!
Stay Curly,
Julia
Julia Rizzo
“Boy Meets World” is 30 minutes of fun television. Although it ran for seven seasons from 1993 until 2000, my sister and I usually watched it in syndication on the Disney channel. The reruns weren’t always in sequential order, so we’d see an episode from the first season juxtaposed with an episode from three or for seasons later.
Being the curly girls that we are, it didn’t take us long to notice the hair of the show’s leading lady, Topanga. In the first two seasons, her hair is all the way down her back. Maybe it was because it was the mid-nineties or because the character was supposed to be a free spirit, but all I know is that she rocked some awesome curls.
However, somewhere along the way that began to change. Her hair gradually appears shorter, highlighted and (gasp!”> flat-ironed. By the last two seasons, there was absolutely no trace of Topanga’s astoundingly curly hair. I’m sure the actress didn’t have any influence over her shifting look. I want to know why the creators of the show made the decision to ditch her curls. Was it to reflect emerging trends? To signify that she was getting older? Regardless of the reason, this phenomenon isn’t isolated to “Boys Meets World.”
After Topanga’s transformation, “Sister Sister” (also a show on the Disney channel”> gave us a case of déjà vu. This program was in production around the same time as “Boy Meets World,” and I watched as Tia and Tamera’s curly ‘dos met the same fate as Topanga’s. I know that as we grow up, we easily identify with the main characters of the television shows we regularly watch. If you’re self-conscious or unsure about your curly hair, as I have been occasionally, seeing your favorite leading ladies go from curly to straight can send a pretty clear message about what’s “in.”
I wish this trend was limited to 90s TV shows. As I’ve alluded to in other columns, I’m a bit of an “American Idol” fan. Watching this season’s Top 12 perform in the finale, contestant Syesha Mercado reminded me of last season’s winner, Jordin Sparks. This time last year. I wrote about Sparks’ rise in the rankings and the corresponding disappearance of her curls. Unfortunately, Mercado was also sporting pin straight hair during the finale, a stark contrast to her naturally kinky curls.
I wish we didn’t have to watch young women on television lose their curls as their fame increases or as trends change. This sends the message that not only is straight hair is superior to curls, but that straight hair is a goal we should work toward. Be aware of the role the media plays (even subtly”> in shaping your self-image, and as always, be proud to be a curly girl or guy!
Stay Curly,
Julia
Email your questions to Julia.
Julia Rizzo
CurlyTeen Scene is a column especially for curly teens. Julia Rizzo is a teenager living in Central New York. When not writing, she enjoys acting, reading and snow skiing. She has loved writing as long as she can remember, and plans to pursue a career in English. She hopes her column will provide encouragement and inspire girls to love their curly hair
“I just wanted to tell you that you have cool hair. What ever you’re doing, keep on doing it!”
My sister, Lilly, is approached with comments like this all the time. Last week, we were in Nantucket, an island off the coast of Massachusetts, visiting family. We’d just watched my cousin Bobby perform with the Cobbletones, an a cappella group. One of the members (who sported shoulder length, blond curls”> approached my sister after the set, and struck up a conversation about, of all things, hair. To some people, it might be a little weird, but to me and my siblings, it’s not the least bit surprising.
Whenever I see someone of any age, race or gender rocking their curly hair, I feel like we have something in common. A great example is a woman we met in one of the island’s many boutiques; she immediately commented on Lilly’s hair. Introductions were hardly necessary as we launched into a conversation about ways to take care of our three different hair types. She was from Jamaica and we soon got philosophical. She told us about how she straightened her hair for years, but stopped when she realized how much more personality her curls had. She was effervescent, and her positive, self-confident manner was infectious.
She reminded me of a fellow high school student I’d met two weeks earlier at summer camp. The humidity was through the roof every day, and I felt like my hair was absolutely out of control in the damp air. It was camp, however, so I let it do what it wanted. I met Amanda outside the dining hall, while we were waiting for dinner to begin. I’d see her around; she was easy to spot. Her tight, kinky curls spiraled halfway down her back. “You’ve got awesome hair,” I said, and she smiled. We shook hands and introduced ourselves, and we were soon chatting about our hometowns and our week at camp. It was a small thing we shared, but it was enough to break the ice.
It’s always fun to talk to other people with curly hair; it’s evident from the success of this site! The camaraderie that exists here isn’t limited to the web alone, however. So if you’re standing in line behind a curly in the grocery store or sitting next to them on the bus, say “hey.” You may have more to talk about than just your hair.
Stay Curly,
Julia
Email your questions/comments to Julia.
When I sat down to write this column, I originally intended to write about famous people and cultural icons with curly hair. My friend Brynna and I started to make a list, but this was more of an undertaking than we had bargained for. We could come up with a few right away: Shirley Temple, Albert Einstein, and Marge Simpson. Unfortunately, there just aren’t a lot of curly-haired people — especially women — in the media. Albert Einstein is hardly a fashion icon for anyone, much less teenage girls. As much as I appreciate his genius, I don’t want my brother taking fashion tips from him. Even people with beautiful curls like Beyoncé and Sarah Jessica Parker often are photographed with their hair straightened or processed.
Growing up, it was hard to accept my hair, especially when exposed to movies like Princess Diaries, where the main character, Anne Hathaway, is suddenly transformed by a little makeup and the liberal use of a hair straightener. Does having curly hair make you an “ugly duckling”? Does beauty mean straight hair? I don’t think so!
As I grew older and more mature, I realized that like so many other messages mass media sends us, this isn’t one we should take to heart. Sure, I use more conditioner in a week than most girls do in a month. But I realized that I love the fact that old ladies and teenage boys alike compliment me on my curls.
So I looked a little harder, working to find good examples of curly girls and guys in the media. Shakira is a fellow curly girl who is rarely seen with straightened hair. Even at the Grammies, her signature hair flowed freely down her back. Classical singer Josh Groban and America Idol competitor Justin Guarini both rock their curls, along with fellow pop artist Justin Timberlake. Still, this leaves something to be desired in the “curly haired women in the media” category.
While we were talking about the column, my friend Brynna said, “Hollywood just needs to liberate their locks.” I think she’s right! In the meantime, however, communities like the one here at NaturallyCurly.com are a blessing!
So, instead of saying “stay curly” to end this column, I’m going to sign off a little differently this month:
Liberate your Locks!
CurlyTeen Scene is a column especially for curly teens. Julia Rizzo is a teenager living in Central New York. When not writing, she enjoys acting, reading and snow skiing. She has loved writing as long as she can remember, and plans to pursue a career in English. She hopes her column will provide encouragement and inspire girls to love their curly hair.
My mother, Dianne, is my support and role model. While her hair is short and wavy, my brother, sister and I all have crazy curly hair. I am sitting down with her (sitting is not something she does often”> to talk to her about raising three curly kids, Lilly (13″>, Gabe (15″> and myself.
Me: What did you do to help us take care of our hair when we were little?
Mom: I didn’t comb it, if I could help it. I conditioned, conditioned, conditioned. If I had to comb it, I only combed it when it had conditioner in it. In a pinch, I used hand cream. Also, find a stylist that’s accustomed to cutting coarse, very curly hair.
Me: Tell me about Lilly’s hair when she was a baby.
Mom: As an infant, Lilly’s hair stood straight up (she puts her hand on top of her head with her fingers straight up”>. We couldn’t get it to lay flat with water, or anything else, until she was about nine or ten months old. Then it started to curl. Now when I see a baby with a mini mohawk, I wonder if they’re going to have curly hair.
Me: Do you have any other “hair stories”?
Mom: Gabriel played soccer when he was a little guy, and I could always tell who he was by his hair. Then he got a buzz cut later that summer and it was harder to pick him out on the field! One time when he was 13, you got a hair cut and the stylist straightened your hair. We went shopping later that day and I couldn’t find you in the store because I didn’t recognize your straight hair! One day, Dad took Gabriel to the barber shop for his first haircut (he had ringlets”>, and I didn’t know he had taken him. When I came home, he was sleeping in his crib, and I went up to check on him. I put my hand on his head as I always did, and he had no hair! He had no more curls. I think I cried.
Me: I went through a period where I really didn’t like my hair. How did you get me through it?
Mom: People would stop me on the street and always comment on your hair. I wanted all of you to learn that it was less important what you looked like, and more important how you treated other people. I didn’t want you to feel like your defining characteristic was your hair. It is one thing that is unique about you, but not the only thing. When you didn’t like your hair, I helped you focus on your strengths. I helped you learn how to take care of it and find products that worked well with your hair type and texture. I encouraged you to be yourself.
Me: What’s your advice to curly kids and teenagers?
Mom: Your hair is one small part of who you are, even though it’s the part that may get you the most attention and response from strangers (especially older ladies in the supermarket”>. Beauty comes in all shapes, colors, sizes, and degrees of curliness. But true beauty comes from within. As my grandmother said, “Beautiful is as beautiful does.” Do not let others define you.
Me: What’s your advice to other mothers of curly kids?
Mom: Don’t try to make your child, or your child’s hair, something it is not. If your child doesn’t want to sit still for hair care, keep it short for a while. Remember, it’s hair! I’m 5-foot 1-inch tall, and I’ve always wanted to be taller. But I’m not! Find products that work with your teenager’s hair, and then encourage them to develop their whole selves. Don’t focus on the outside. Focus on their character. and that you really really love them.
I’d like to thank my mom, Dianne, for taking an hour to sit down be interviewed.
Email your questions/comments to Julia.
Julia Rizzo
CurlyTeen Scene is a column especially for curly teens. Julia Rizzo is a teenager living in Central New York. When not writing, she enjoys acting, reading and snow skiing. She has loved writing as long as she can remember, and plans to pursue a career in English. She hopes her column will provide encouragement and inspire girls to love their curly hair.
Getting out of the shower, with a spritz of leave-in-conditioner, I detangle my long hair with my fingers.
From barely brushing my shoulders to half way down my back, my curly hair has been a variety of lengths. One thing is for sure though: for curly girls, cut and length is important! One of the key questions to ask when looking for a new hairstyle or contemplating a cut is definitely “How long do I want my hair?”
There’s a lot to consider when trying to choose what length to wear your hair. In my experience, I’ve noticed that two lengths work well: very short and past the shoulders. Curly hair generally has a lot of volume, so usually one or the other works best, depending on your preference and face shape. Usually shorter hair (above the shoulders”> requires less time to detangle and can be easier day-to-day. It feels lighter, and is more likely to give you cute little defined curls. This is great for a girl on the move who doesn’t have a ton of time to detangle and dry before she leaves the house. However, since it’s shorter, it may require a styling product to keep it in line, even if you didn’t use one before.
Longer hair can be harder to wash and detangle. But it tends to weigh itself down, which minimizes the volume. It also provides versatility when it comes to styling. Braids, twists, buns and coils all look great and are fairly easy to create with long hair.
All of this, of course, depends on your hair texture and your lifestyle. My hair is too frizzy to wear short. When the picture that accompanies this column was taken, my hair was the shortest it’s ever been. I prefer to wear it long with a little leave-in conditioner instead of weighing it down with a lot of gels or spray. On the other hand, my little sister Lilly has very coarse hair and she’s a swimmer, so she loves her super-short look. Her hair dries quickly after she gets out of the pool, and keeping it conditioned and undamaged by the chlorine is a lot easier than if it were long.
When looking for a new cut, it can be helpful to look through magazines or visit a site like TheHairStyler.com for inspiration. At TheHairStyler.com, I found a guide that helps you determine the shape of your face. For example, I have a heart shaped face while my sister has a round face. Then they suggest lengths and cuts for your particular face structure. While this may not be the deciding factor in a new hairstyle, it was fun to look at and offered some good ideas.
No matter how you wear you hair, if you blend your life and personality into your style, you’re sure to wear your curls in a way you love!
Email your questions/comments to Julia.
Julia Rizzo
CurlyTeen Scene is a column especially for curly teens. Julia Rizzo is a teenager living in Central New York. When not writing, she enjoys acting, reading and snow skiing. She has loved writing as long as she can remember, and plans to pursue a career in English. She hopes her column will provide encouragement and inspire girls to love their curly hair.
When I opened my in box this month, I found a really great e-mail from Kellie. She tells us how an influential role model and a supportive mom helped her love her curls and rise to her full potential! She writes:
‘Hi! My name is Kellie, I am 15 years old from a little town in Western Tennessee. I too, have very curly hair. When I was younger my friends would even make fun of my hair to my face. My hair never made me insecure, but I either kept it short or I straightened it. None of my friends have curly hair, or even close, so they didn’t understand. About four years ago, I met this girl who was a senior that year. She has curly hair and I wanted to act just like her. She helped me come into myself without even knowing it. I became more secure with what I wore, how I fixed my hair, how I acted and what I wanted to be. I live life better. I love my curly hair now and it makes me an individual, which I enjoy because it makes me feel like I’m my own person. My Mom always supported my hair changes when I was younger because she had curly hair when she was young and didn’t know what to do with it. Most girls need to experiment with their hair and they will soon realize that their curls are their true self. I did and I am so proud of my hair. I can’t even go to McDonald’s or a friend’s house without getting compliments on it, and who doesn’t like a good compliment!!’
In her e-mail, Kellie reminds us that being curly girls isn’t only about us, but about our younger sisters as well. In 10th grade I met an awesome senior with beautiful curly blond hair. She was upbeat, smart, and very fun to be around. Not only did I admire the confident way she wore her hair down almost every day, but I was also inspired by the way she included everyone and was kind to everyone around her. She was a constant reminder that happiness and success is not measured by how perfectly your “look” matches the trend of the week, but by your ability to respect others and yourself!
Now as I head into my junior year, I remember her as I try to be a good example for my little sister, Lilly, and the younger girls in high school. Supportive friends and my father’s comments, “Julia, I love it when you wear your hair down!” have led me to feel more confident about who I am.
It’s a great feeling to receive a compliment, but it’s an even greater feeling to sincerely give one. Boost another girl’s morale by noticing something unique about her personality or style! It’s astounding how you can make your own day brighter as well as someone else’s when you look for the good in him or her.
I hope every one enjoys their August. By the time this column is up on the site I will be in the middle of my People to People Student Ambassador trip to Italy, France and Greece. I’ll keep my eyes open and bring back stories of curly girls overseas!
Stay curly,
Julia
Email your questions/comments to Julia.
Julia Rizzo
CurlyTeen Scene is a column especially for curly teens. Julia Rizzo is a teenager living in Central New York. When not writing, she enjoys acting, reading and snow skiing. She has loved writing as long as she can remember, and plans to pursue a career in English. She hopes her column will provide encouragement and inspire girls to love their curly hair.
Prom season. You’ve got your date, your dress and plans for an awesome evening. You have a million things to think about. But one thing you shouldn’t have to worry about is your hair.
Even though we have to work a little harder than our straight-haired counterparts to get our curls looking formal and fabulous (a little patience and a lot of hairspray does the trick”>, we can also get some of the most unique hairstyles.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love my curly hair because I feel it represents my personality. I don’t want this to change just because I have a special occasion. When I sit in a stylist’s chair, she’ll often suggest straightening it. (I have since switched stylists!”> I resist the urge, knowing how damaging the long process of blow drying and straightening can be to my hair.
Whether we are going to a prom, wedding, graduation, or any other special occasion, these times are memorable, and often filled with people taking pictures and admiring our look. Why switch to straight now when our hair is one of the things that makes us curly girls who we are?
Whether your idea of dressing up is to look like a princess, a punk rocker or a red-carpet regular, you can find a style that works for you. Experiment. Create something that is as funky, flirty or fashionable as you are. I like to try new things to spice up the way I normally wear my hair. Flowers, sparkly barrettes, combs and ribbon can add all interest and can vary from classic to trendy. These make me feel more dressed up. My friends can tell you that most days at school, my only hair accessory is the number two pencil that’s holding up my bun!
We are all different, and it’s an awesome feeling when you can find a look that, even when you are dressed up, stays true to the everyday you. The way you look is only one aspect of feeling confident on your special day. But when you love your outside, your confident inner self can shine through!
Stay Curly,
Julia
Email your questions/comments to Julia.
Julia Rizzo
New to NaturallyCurly.com is CurlyTeen Scene, a column especially for curly teens. Julia Rizzo is a teenager living in Central New York. When not writing, she enjoys acting, reading and snow skiing. She has loved writing as long as she can remember, and plans to pursue a career in English. She hopes her column will provide encouragement and inspire girls to love their curly hair.
Tug…tug…tug…tug…
I look over my shoulder, trying to ascertain just who is pulling gently on my hair. I’m in homeroom, and the guy who sits next to me gives me a sheepish grin. I must have given him a quizzical look because he says, “I like your curls, they’re so bouncy.”
It’s comments like that that make me love being naturally curly.
Other friends, both guys and girls, have echoed this sentiment.
Unfortunately, some girls don’t think their wonderful hair is something to be proud of, but rather an obstacle that hinders them.
This e-mail came from Danielle, who feels like her hair is more burdensome then beautiful. She writes: ‘How do you deal with guys when they flirt with you? Do guys like your curly hair a lot better than girls with straight hair? I would like to know so I can attract attention from cute guys, because all I get is nerds.’
Although I’d love to think guys like curly hair over straight, I’ve talked to my own guy friends, and they came to a consensus. They told me that it’s not a girl’s hair they are attracted to; it’s her confidence and her personality.
I agree, because I know when someone enters a room, the first thing I see isn’t what kind of hair they have! When you love who you are, this inner confidence shows on the outside. So feeling confident can be a great way to get noticed! And I try to be careful of who I judge as a “nerd”.
I know I don’t want guys, and people in general, to judge me by my curly hair or any other part of my appearance. So I return the favor and try not to label them.
Stay Curly,
Julia
Email your questions/comments to Julia.
