Search Results: NaturallyCurly
BY SARA VILKOMERSON
From the New York Observer, Sept. 2
In “The Women”, Meg Ryan’s hair becomes straighter as her character becomes more polished.
It’s an easy visual trick from Hollywoodland: a few adjustments in wardrobe, makeup and, most important, hair, and, voilà! Life’s good! Or, at least, getting better. Call it the The Princess Diaries effect, a film that seven years later still causes outrage — remember the first thing done to transform Anne Hathaway into appropriate-looking royalty? But why, many naturally curly-headed gals might be forgiven for wondering, does frizzled always equal frazzled? And how come a third-act makeover always seems to involve a flatiron?
“Meg and I talked about Mary, and the kind of differences between the original film — which was very cosmopolitan — and this one. Meg felt that Mary should be very earthy,” said Jonathan Hanousek, a celebrity stylist who was in charge of Ryan’s locks throughout the filming of The Women. “She wanted the sense that her appearance was not something she lingered on, and that her focus was devoted to her life and her daughter.”
Well, O.K., but as anyone who’s had to wake up with a tangled nest of curls could tell you, those gorgeous Botticelli tresses Ryan sports for the majority of the movie would certainly not have come easy. (“There was some time involved,” Hanousek admitted.”> And besides, since when does having curly hair make one earthy? Neither have we found in our unscientific gatherings that curly hair necessarily translates to being unconcerned about one’s appearance, or more romantic, wild, creative, or crazy and lusty. (Oh, Glenn Close, your fine performance in 1987’s Fatal Attraction set back more than the 30-something single woman. Did you think about us naturally curly girls?
“It’s all about being groomed and in control, isn’t it,” said Kerry Warn, a veteran movie hair designer who has worked repeatedly with Nicole Kidman (who sadly has never returned to the glorious, counterintuitive head of spirals from her Dead Calm and Days of Thunder era”>, and recently designed the coiffures of all the actors on the upcoming Baz Luhrman film Australia. “What you see and perceive is many times unspoken,” he said, pointing out that by quickly using visual clues — like curly hair — an audience is able to make all sorts of quick inferences about who a person is and what they’re all about.
Hanousek said that he has many female friends with curly hair and that he thought it was the “ultimate in confidence and strength. I don’t perceive those women to be frazzled.” And yet, when it came time to make Meg’s character emerge triumphant from the fray, straight her hair went. “We had to show the passing of time,” he explained, pointing out that Ryan’s wardrobe also became sleeker. “It was just to signify that she had gotten her life under control.” Of course, a wrinkled shirt and curly hair shouldn’t necessarily give off the same impression (trust us, even if our shirt is perfectly ironed, our hair retains the same amount of wave.”>. So, chicken or egg: Is pop culture a mirror for our society’s straight-ist attitude toward hair, or is it helping to perpetuate it?
“I think it’s an important issue. We’re bordering the line of almost becoming a myth that if you have straight hair you are more professional or appear to be more professional, and that’s truly not the case,” said Ouidad, a pioneer in the pro-curly-hair movement since 1984, author of Curl Talk, and owner of the tony 57th street eponymous salon.
Like Ouidad, curly hair guru and author Lorraine Massey, founder and co-owner of Devachan Salon & Departure Lounge (which has the impressively punny and popular No Poo hair care line”>, preaches to the naturally curly to try to embrace their ringlets rather than quell them. “This whole pathetic straightening religion … it’s modern-day slavery,” said Massey, who is a passionate believer in her cause. “Everyone is trying to hide from their heritage—it’s anthropological. It goes very deep.”
Massey was still livid over a recent run-in with the producers for Bravo’s Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, which provides makeovers to the fashion-challenged, and who had asked her to participate. She agreed on the condition that for the final “reveal” they wouldn’t straighten the participant’s hair, something they ended up doing anyway. “They just don’t understand my view on this,” Massey said. “My whole philosophy is to not perpetuate the same crap over and over again.” Shari Harbinger, the director of education for Devachan, agreed: “Hollywood is reacting but Hollywood is also enabling this vicious cycle. Lorraine and I often refer to the drug addict and the drug dealer scenario.” The good news is that everyone “The Observer” spoke with seemed to feel a shift was occurring for the curly-haired landscape: more wave with less stereotype. (Look at all those spiraling tresses featured in the fall J.Crew catalog!”> “I think people have to get over that straight hair,” said Warn. “Everyone is starting to look the same with this ironed hair. It’s sort of nice when you see curls; it’s almost refreshing. It looks alive again.”In early August, “Good Morning America” aired a segment about people’s perceptions of curly or straight hair. Reporter Taryn Winter Brill went curly and straight for a panel of five “regular” men, and then did the same for job recruiters. With her own naturally curly hair she received higher marks from the recruiters on intelligence, confidence and ability to articulate ideas clearly, though from the random dudes she did better with the blow-out. (We think the message is clear from both tests: go natural!”>
“I’m seeing more curls and freedom,” said Ouidad. “We still have a lot to go, but it’s just incredible how much more there is available. Just by the products on the market, it’s apparent.’
“Hollywood will embrace this truth when the people that are behind it get it and then do what they can to reeducate the union stylists and designers,” said Devachan’s Harbinger. “This is something that we at Deva want to get involved with. It’s almost like the Democratic convention. We have to first undo years of lies, and then reeducate, motivate and guide them to the truth. The truth is that curlies can have ‘neat’ and refined curls if the people who tend to them know what they are doing. And this will in fact significantly change the perception from a false belief to a new understanding of the beauty of curly hair.”
We know, we know, this could take years. Still, we look forward to the day we see Gwyneth Paltrow on the big screen, hitting rock bottom both professionally and personally, getting made over (cue Sheryl Crow!”> with a lion’s mane of curls and then being promoted to CEO and winning the man of her dreams. Then, and only then, will we know Hollywood has learned that curls don’t have to signify frazzle. They can dazzle, too.
A behavioral study that recently aired on “Good Morning America” found that employers are more likely to hire a woman with curly hair than a woman with straight hair. When GMA reporter Taryn Winter Brill, met with job recruiters with her hair worn naturally curly, those experts described her as being more “intelligent, articulate and displaying a higher level of confidence” than when she mirrored the interview but only altered her hairstyle to straight. Why is that? The recent study suggests that people with curly hair are thought of as “low maintenance, independent, self starters, trustworthy and go getters” — all qualities that make up an ideal job candidate.
This is no news to the proclaimed “Queen of Curls”, curl expert and author, Ouidad, who says, “My clients are strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to show their individuality. Curls give my client’s the confidence they need in today’s competitive workplace!”
With today’s dismal economy and rising unemployment rates, finding a job can be a daunting task. If curls increase one’s hire-ability, then let the ringlets take center stage.
See our recent article on curls in the workplace.
Jenn Stuczynski
8/22/08
Earlier this week, U.S. pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski vaulted to a silver medal, her brown curls flying behind her. Stuczynski holds the American women’s record, jumping 16 feet, 1.75 inches.
CJ Bruton
8/21/08
The Australian basketball team may have lost to the powerful U.S. team Wednesday in the quarterfinals, but at least Aussie C.J. Bruton had winning hair. Bruton shows off his texture in all its glory, whether it’s in cornrows, twists or a big bushy ‘fro.
<8/19/08
BEIJING – The hair is unbearably short now. It is curly and cropped close to his cauliflower ears, the victim of a scissor-happy barber in Beijing. The woman wouldn’t stop cutting. Before Ben Askren knew it, 5 inches were on the floor.
This is how badly Askren wants to win a gold medal — he shed his coveted locks, his trademark — because the international guys like to pull on them when they wrestle. Unfortunately, the haircut didn’t help him accomplish his goal.
Ben Askren couldn’t get past veteran Ivan Fundora in Wednesday’s 74kg freestyle match. Fundora wins the first period 3-1, and the “USA” chants can’t help Askren. He falls behind 2-0, then 4-0.
He stands with his hands on his hips when it’s over and the Cuban moves on.
“I don’t know what you want to hear from me,” Askren says. “My dreams are crushed. I just wasn’t good enough.”
Two weeks, and he’s done in two hours. Askren says he doesn’t know where he’ll go from here. There has been talk that he’ll try mixed martial arts, but his coach, Shawn Charles, is sure Askren will be back. He couldn’t end it this way.
Read more about Askren.
Source: ESPN.com
8/17/08For the second time in two tries, Venus and Serena won the doubles gold medals at the Olympics, beating a team from Spain on Sunday at the Olympic tennis complex. But this time, the Williams sisters sported newly natural ‘dos. Venus is wearing her hair in a short ‘fro, while Serena has a curly bob.
When Venus first unveiled her new ‘do, she explained: “I’ve nominated not to straighten it. It’s very, very ‘70s.”
Source: FedCup.com
Margaret Hoelzer churns her way to a spot on the podium Thursday night. (AP photo”>
Hoelzer’s curls look cute and carefree. (AP photo”>
8/15/08
United States curly swimmer Margaret Hoelzer earned a bronze medal in the 100-m backstroke event in Beijing Thursday night, and proudly showed off her curls in a quick but cute upswept podium ‘do.
And while the two-time Olympian may wear a bathing camp in the pool, her trademark curls have made it onto a T-shirt.
A specially designed shirt reading “Can’t Hoelzer Back,” with the curly-haired swimmer doing the backstroke, has been created for her fans to wear. The proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt go to the National Children’s Advocacy Center, a charity supported by the Huntsville, Ala., swimmer. The T-shirts are $20 and may be ordered by calling 256-327-3780.
Emanuel Rego
8/14/08
Even Beijing’s humidity was no match for the curls of two-time world champion beach volleyballer Emanuel Rego — the original “King of the Beach.”
Speedy Swimmer is Known for his Curls
Ryan Lochte
8/13/08
Ryan Lochte is one of the stars of the men’s Olympic swim team. He swam the third leg of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay Tuesday, helping the United States smash the world record by 4.68 seconds. But to hear his fans talk about him, while his swimming skills are find and dandy, they’d prefer to discuss his curly good looks. Just check into some of the recent chatter about him on message boards around the world:
“There is something about Ryan’s curly hair that gave him this sweet innocent angel look.”
“He’s a curly-topped dish.”
“Aww, I love Ryan Lochte’s curly hair.”
“I like the big old curly mop look on him. Well, he does need a little trim.”
Curly U.S. Fencer Gets the Bronze
Becca Ward
8/12/08
U.S. Olympic fencer Becca Ward wins the bronze in sabre. She helped the Americans sweep the individual sabre event. Fencing helmets obviously weren’t created with curls in mind.
— Source: Wire services
Korean Medal Winner Gives Curls Special Treatment
Park Tae-hwan
8/11/08
Park Tae-hwan, who won the first swimming gold for Korea in the men’s 400-m freestyle competition at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday, takes special care to protect his curls from the chlorine. Park Jung-ryool, the owner of “She Jak,” (a hair salon”> has taken care of his hair for about three years. “He seems to pay as much attention to his hairstyle as other young men. He often has hair and scalp treatment because he has curly hair and his hair is often damaged by the water in the swimming pool.”
— Source: Wire services
Breaking Olympic News: Ben’s Hair is History!
8/10/08
It won’t exactly be Samson and Delilah, but a haircut of Olympic proportions will be performed on former Missouri wrestler Ben Askren in the next few days in the athletes’ village.
“I’ll do it in one of the free barbershops,” said Askren, who will compete in freestyle wrestling Aug. 20 at 163 pounds.
Other athletes are under consideration for face of the Games. Askren had a chance to be the hair of the Games. But barring a change of heart, he’s taking himself out of the running.Askren’s long, curly hair has been his trademark, as have his freewheeling wrestling style and the swagger that comes with it. But the hair became so symbolic that high school wrestlers and fans at Mizzou matches came dressed in wigs.
But reality set in at the World Cup in February, when Askren faced a Russian named Denis Tsargush. “He grabbed my hair,” Askren said. Tsargush beat him.
— Source: Wire services
Sheryl Crow
Growing up, Sheryl Crow has vivid memories of gymnasts Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci and figure skater Dorothy Hamill competing in the Olympics.
“I wanted to be a gymnast, but there was no place in a tiny town in Missouri to take gymnastics,” says the singer, who will watch the Beijing Games with son Wyatt on her tour bus next month. “But I did go and get my hair cut in a Dorothy Hamill wedge, which was unfortunate for me because that hairdo didn’t really work so well with curly hair.”
Crow is showing her support for this summer’s Olympic athletes with a new song. The Grammy winner’s tune, “So Glad We Made It,” will appear on the AT&T Team USA soundtrack and during TV broadcasts of the Summer Games.
Ben Askren hopes his curly hair gets him some attention in Beijing.
Ben Askren is headed to Beijing this summer for the summer Olympics. Askren’s toughness, work ethic and competitive grit have been compared to boxing great Muhammed Ali.
But his trademark curly hair has gained him as much recognition as anything. In a recent press conference, Askren told reporters “I actually don’t really like my hair that much, but I’m a man of realism, and I realize that people like gimmicks. I’m going to Beijing and my hair’s going to be my gimmick. Hopefully, I’ll get a sponsorship or two, maybe get some money out of having stupid, curly hair.”
Stephanie Izard
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake has crammed an impressive amount into his 12 years in the ‘biz. He found fame as a Mousketeer, lead singer of ‘N Sync and Britney’s other half before promising to “bring sexy back” in his solo career. Music aside, he’s managed to start a charitable foundation, launch his own clothing label, branch out into acting and work on his golf handicap, as well as step out with Hollywood stars such as Cameron Diaz and Jessica Biel.
But did you know that Justin’s famously curly hair was the bane of his life during middle school. He recalls: “That was the thing everybody teased me about. They called me brillo pad. I was always trying to either straighten the crap out of it or cut it all off. In second grade I took like paper scissors and cut my hair all uneven… That’s the only time I ever really got a spanking.”
Source: Digital Spy
Shirley Temple
As a cheery, cheeky curly cherub, she was the perfect antidote to the Depression. Today she turns 80, but nothing can take away the magic of Shirley Temple.
She became a national institution: there were Shirley Temple dolls, toys, and clothes (including a line in bathing suits”>. “I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six,” she recalled. “Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked me for my autograph.”
For curly kids everywhere, she became an adorable role model. She rocked those blond ringlets. There was no other child star before or since who has been as popular or who demonstrated such extraordinary talents as singer, dancer and actor. Happy birthday, Shirley.
Curls are like cashmere
“Curly hair is like a forest. It’s very dense. You have to cut paths in it.”
— Howard McLaren, creative vice president, technical director of Bumble and bumble
“Don’t remove the kinks from your hair. Remove them from your brain.”
Marcus Garvey
Activist (1887-1940″>
“These are the products I use.”
FREDERICK FEKKAI – Shea Butter Shampoo
FREDERICK FEKKAI – Shea Butter Conditioner
REDKEN – Blonde Glam Shampoo
AQUAGE – Detangling cream
KUSCO MURPHY – Conditioner spray
— Actress Mary Louise Parker
(courtesy StarStyle.com“>
I have a confession to make. It took me 38 years to admit that I have curly hair.
As they say, the grass is always greener. So I spent most of my life trying to keeping my hair straight. I spent so many hours as a teenager blowdrying my hair and then re-blowdrying my hair!
There was a brief period of relief in the 80s when perms were in. But even then, straight bangs were the style. Fast forward to 2004. I am a very busy working mother that realized that I just don’t have enough hours in a day to spend doing my hair.
I saw the light. WOW! Not only did I start wearing my hair curly, but I embraced my curls and now actually prefer my curls. People say I look younger and happier with curly hair.
I’m in a unique position to work with curly children everyday, and to have curly hair myself. So I am blessed with the education of a lifetime with curls. I’m happy to share my knowledge with you!
Q: I am 14 years old. I have extremely curly hair that is very frustrating. I really need help learning how to loosen my curls so that my hair is longer and thinner, but still curly. However, I swim everyday, so I need something that I can swim with without damaging my hair. Please help me ASAP!
Cozy: Swimming every day is great exercise, but can be damaging to your hair. It is especially important for you to cut your hair regularly to remove the damaged ends. But that doesn’t mean you have to take off a lot of hair or have short hair. Frequent trimming is what is needed. Definitely use a swimmer’s shampoo that will remove the impurities and chlorine from your hair. So Cozy Green Apple Swimmers Shampoo has orange extract, which is a natural antiseptic that will purify and invigorate the skin. It also contains aloe, which soothes skin.
To help loosen your curls, try this after bathing: Instead of brushing or combing your hair, squeeze out excess water as much as possible. Get an alcohol-free gel (like So Cozy Groovy Grape”> and scrunch into wet hair with your head upside down. Work through your hair one section at a time to distribute as evenly as possible. Let dry naturally or use a blow dryer with a diffuser.
Q: How do I begin to get my daughter to care about her curls? She hates fixing her hair in the mornings. I have a fairly simple routine for her: wet her curls (they were washed and conditioned the night before”>, comb through them with a wide-tooth comb, and use mousse or gel. When she goes through this routine, it takes her less than 10 minutes. She still doesn’t want to take the time. Is there any advice you would offer a mother to give to her daughter regarding her curl care?
Cozy: You are smart for wanting your young daughter to have an awareness about proper grooming. Good grooming leads to healthy self-esteem, for which no one is ever too young! Simplifying the routine as much as possible is what is needed. When bathing at night, comb your daughter’s hair in the bath with conditioner in her hair. Use a wide-tooth comb to get rid of any knots. Do NOT rinse out all the conditioner. Leave in a little (mostly on the ends”>, and then ring out excess water after her bath. Scrunch in gel or styling cream (we like So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream”>. Here’s the time saver: In the morning when she is brushing her teeth, wet your hands and scrunch her hair. That will re-activate the conditioner and styling cream from the night before and soften the hair. There is no need to start all over again. And if she is busy while you are doing it, she won’t even notice!
Q: My 2-year-old dear daughter has kinky hair. It’s so thick and coarse. I’ve tried different types of products in her hair. One I think was called Pink Oil. I have no idea of what to do with it. Right now, I just keep braiding it. I would like to be able to find a product that will let me keep it down without tangling too much. I don’t like the pain she goes through when I try to comb it out. Can you give me any help on what to do to keep her hair healthy and would also enable me to let down? When I used the Pink Oil, it was too thick and made combing though her hair almost impossible.
Cozy: It sounds like you desperately need to learn how to deal with your daughter’s tangles! Here is how to properly comb her hair: You take about an inch of hair and work steadily around the head, one inch at a time. We recommend doing this in the tub with conditioner in her hair (So Cozy Sweet Strawberry Conditioner is thick and creamy”> with a wide-tooth comb. With the hair in one hand, start at the bottom of the strand, working your way up slowly but surely, holding the hair at the bottom to prevent from tugging on the scalp.
For detangling at other times of the day, always use a detangler and use the same combing method described above. A great detangler is So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-In Conditoner. It’s like a magical potion! It contains hydrolized wheat protein and wheat starch to condition, protect and smooth the hair shaft. This makes it possible for you to comb through the tangles. Now to prevent tangles, try putting her hair back in loose styles during active times and at night for bed. She can wear her hair down for less physical activities and special occasions.
From a Wall Street Journal article about Whole Foods’ founder John Mackey:
“He was a six-time college dropout, curly haired and casually dressed.”
Because being sloppy and unable to finish college go right along with curly hair. Grrrr.
The Estee Lauder Companies, a manufacturer and marketer of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products, has agreed to acquire the Ojon Corp., a privately held prestige hair care company based in Canada.
The closing of the acquisition is expected to occur in this month. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ojon markets and sells products made with ingredients collected by the Tawira, an indigenous community living in the Central American rain forest. Ojon, incorporated in 2003, markets its naturally-derived shampoos, conditioners, styling products and treatments through QVC; specialty retailers, including Sephora, Ulta and Nordstrom; and approximately 300 high-end salons. CurlMart also retails the line. The Ojon products also are available in limited distribution overseas.
Ojon products are made with palm nut oil produced by the Tawira people and help improve hair’s strength, moisture, shine and reduce breakage. In late 2006, Ojon also launched Rare Harvest Tawaka Collection, a three-product skin and hair care treatment line based on a wild-crafted blend of anti-oxidant rich cacao harvested in the Honduran rain forest.
To source its ingredients, Ojon has partnered with the Mosquitia Pawisa Agency for the Development of the Honduras Mosquitia (MOPAWI Organization”>, a local nonprofit group that works on behalf of indigenous communities in the region. Through its contract with the MOPAWI, Ojon purchases wild-crafted palm nut oil and other ingredients from thousands of Tawira producers. The ingredients, largely palm oil and cacao, are then sent to Originitalia, a plant in northern Italy, where they are purified and blended into Ojon products.
Ojon has earmarked a portion of profits from the sale of Ojon products to help the Tawira preserve its traditional lifestyle and protect and sustain the rain forest. It has established safety standards, scholarship funds and environmental protection measures.
Founder Denis Simioni will remain as president of Ojon, reporting to Philip Shearer. The Estee Lauder Cos. will appoint a general manager to the brand and plans to keep the company’s existing management team and headquarters in Canada and continue to operate Ojon as a stand-alone business. Ojon is expected to maintain its relationship with its current manufacturer, Originitalia.
The Estee Lauder products are sold in more than 130 countries and territories under such brand names as Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, M.A.C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, La Mer, Donna Karan, Aveda, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Michael Kors, American Beauty, Flirt!, Good Skin, Grassroots, Sean John, Missoni, Daisy Fuentes and Tom Ford Beauty.
Hair Rules
By Anthony Dickey
Villard, $16
Hair-care and style expert Anthony Dickey has written Hair Rules! to end the frustration faced by women with curly hair every day. Hair Rules! is chock-full of simple tips for all types of curly hair and covers everything from the best shampoos and conditioners to use, to damage-free hair-drying (dust off that hood dryer!”>, the use of natural oils, and the safest coloring, styling, and chemical relaxing techniques—as well as guidelines for maintaining healthy, gorgeous hair. Learn more!
