Search Results: NaturallyCurly

In an ongoing effort to better understand women’s beauty routines, L’Oréal, in its 100th year, commissioned an international usage survey. The research featured some unexpected findings about how women’s makeup habits are adapting in response to the recession; including how women are using makeup to get ahead at work.

The Beauty Barometer survey asked 4,000 women in the U.S. and four European countries about their cosmetic products and usage. And findings revealed that while women have changed the shades they purchase to be more “natural,” they won’t be giving up their favorite products anytime soon. Survey highlights include:

• Nearly half of U.S. women surveyed believe wearing makeup gives them an advantage at work and makes them feel more in control.
• Four out of 10 U.S. women are wearing more neutral shades and a more natural makeup style than before the recession.
• The majority of women surveyed believe wearing makeup makes them feel more self-confident, and even more believe that wearing makeup improves their self-image (82 percent and 86 percent respectively”>.

Proving that beauty is recession-proof, nine out of 10 women in the United States and Europe reported no change in makeup usage despite the economic crisis.

Women won’t compromise on their hair either — when it comes to saving money, most U.S. women surveyed (63 percent”> have not cut their hair to make it less expensive to maintain.

The uber-hip web site Ideal Bite—dedicated to creating a more sustainable world—offers a selection of green choices for hair appliances. “Draining less power and utilizing greener-than-average materials such as bamboo and non-PVC plastic, these products show that a good hair day doesn’t have to mean a bad day for the planet,” the site tells us. Check out their report here!

Farouk Shami, 66, founder and board chairman of Faorouk Systems Inc., is pondering a run to replace Texas Governor Rick Perry. Shami says he wants to bring jobs to Texas and avoid raising taxes. He said Perry “is a wonderful person” but lacks business experience.

“I have the capability to run the state as a business,” said Shami, whose shampoos, hair dryers and flat irons are sold around the world under the BioSilk and CHI brands. “People are tired of politicians.”

Shami has filed paperwork designating a campaign treasurer but said he hasn’t decided whether to run.

As Perry heads into a Republican primary battle with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Shami would join a Democratic field that includes humorist Kinky Friedman, former state legislator Tom Schieffer, former statewide candidates Hank Gilbert and Mark Thompson and educator Felix Alvarado.

Shami donated more than $24,000 to Friedman’s independent campaign for governor in 2006, when Friedman referred to Shami as his Palestinian barber. Now, Shami said Friedman doesn’t seem serious.

In 1986, about three decades after his arrival in the United States, Shami invented ammonia-free hair color products after discovering he was allergic to ammonia. That was the start of his company, which went on to become the official hair care sponsor of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants. The Houston Chronicle reported in 2008 that Farouk’s sales the year before were $1 billion.

If you’re hating your hair just now, you might want to enter Kronos new “I Loathe My Locks” video contest.

To enter, become a fan of Kronos on Facebook. Then post your YouTube Video or picture (with a comment on why you should win”> on the Kronos Fan Page wall.

Three winners will receive a trip to Los Angeles for a professional photo/video shoot and makeover by celebrity stylist Dusty Simington.

Deadline is October 23.

When asked what would you rather have: more money, more friends, or more hair? 59% of survey takers chose “more hair,” according to a new online survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, a non-profit voluntary organization of over 700 hair restoration doctors.

It takes a special stylist to work with curly haired clients, doesn’t it? We’re picky and we’re fickle. We want the perfect curl and we want it now, and we want it affordably. And we want it on the second day, the third day ….

Most stylists don’t get curl-specific training in cosmetology school, so a curl specialist has to be someone who’s struck out on her own to get extra training, through classes or just lots of experience. Curl expertise is hard-won, and it’s something to be treasured.

A few lucky CurlTalkers have found nirvana—curl-expert stylists who have made their curls shine. In this month of celebrating stylists, we asked these CurlTalkers to describe how stylists have affected their lives. Here are a few of their stories.

Wookiemouse

I had never even heard of the Curly Girl method before meeting my stylist, Sharon Pell. I just used whatever drugstore products I could find that could tame my massive head of frizz and just chalked it up to “just my hair type.” I had a good curly stylist before and always got a good cut, but I still was lacking in product. When I left the salon, the frizz came back and I felt like I was back to square one. Whatever confidence I had coming out of the salon was gone as well.

When I moved to a new town, I called around looking for someone experienced in curly hair. A local salon said Sharon was excellent and a curly as well, so I booked an appointment — blindly. When I arrived, her hair was SPECTACULAR — like straight out of a magazine! I asked her her secret, and she said she shampoos maybe once every 6 weeks or so. At the time, I was beyond grossed out. Wasn’t her hair supposed to be stringy and gunky at that rate, not full of shiny bouncy curls? That’s when she clued me in to the whole Curly Girl routine with sulfate free shampoos and no-cones. I found it pretty easy to do and my hair responded pretty fast — I went from what looked like an ’80s frizzy wave perm to actual curls! That was in 2007 and I never looked back — or went elsewhere. Sharon has changed salons since then and I just follow her around like a puppy. I have never once had a bad cut from her or walked away without learning a new styling tip. She has had a profound impact in my life — from going to “how can I manage my hair so it doesn’t look like something is living in it today”, to “let’s see what this combo will do!” — because even on my “bad” hair days now, my curls still look fantastic! And that will give you one heck of a confidence boost.

sarahsmiles

I was always afraid of letting my hair be naturally curly. When I was younger I brushed my hair so my hair was a huge poof ball. I didn’t know my hair could actually look like little ringlets if I didn’t do that. In 7th grade I learned about hair straighteners and I started using a straightener every school day on my hair.

Last year (when I was in 10th grade”> I went to the hair salon, and as my hair stylist, Kristy Prescott, was washing my hair, she goes, “Wow! You hair is curly, isn’t it?” I said “Yup.” She asked me if I leave my hair curly often and I was a little embarrassed. I said, “No. Never.”

As she was cutting my hair she told me all about curly hair and how to handle it. I learned to diffuse my hair, dry my hair with a T-shirt, etc. I got a mousse that day so I could leave my hair curly.

At the end of the school year I wore my naturally curly for the first time since 7th grade. People couldn’t believe it was my natural hair. They all wanted to touch it, and spring my curls. One girl came up and said, “Wow, it must have taken you forever to do your hair.” And I said, “Actually only about 10 minutes.”

It was so liberating for everyone to see the real me. Now I’m accepting of my curly hair. I’ve learned to appreciate how special and unique my hair is. Instead of fitting in at school with my stick-straight hair I’ve found out it’s way more fun to stand out!

Meghuney

From the Sun-In incident of 1994 to inverted bobs and finally, a desire to go natural — my hairstylist, Sharon, has been with me for almost 20 years.

I’ve been going to the same stylist since I was 11, if you can believe that. I am now 29. When I first went to Sharon, I was 11 and in elementary school. My 3B/C hair had become too huge for own 3A fine-haired mother to handle. Blown straight in the morning, by the afternoon of heat in Southeast Texas, my hair had reached the mammoth size of a blown-up cotton ball. Finally, my mother dragged me to an “ethnic” salon, as she called it. My mother had no clue how to handle hair with a little bit more kink.

Through flat irons and later, relaxers, Sharon helped me work my way through elementary and middle school without being called “Frizz Fest” as I had been not-so-affectionately named previously. One summer, when I was 12, I decided I wanted lighter hair and when Sharon wouldn’t dye it for me at such a young age I turned to the hair-dye devil…Sun-In. As my hair fell out in clumps, Sharon was there for me each week with a trim and deep-conditioning treatment.

You should have seen her face once my hair grew back and I decided to do my own Halle Berry type cut that looked more like Bozo the Clown. Months later, when my hair grew out, Sharon talked me into going natural.

I saw myself in the mirror with loopy curls and fell in love. Years later — I still went back and forth with straight and curly but Sharon has always been there…every snip, cut and curl of the way.

pjsmommy12

I’ve had the same stylist for over 15 years. Her name is Cindy and have followed her to 3 different salons. She has done everything to my hair … and that’s NOT an understatement. I am totally comfortable with her and can tell her anything. The funny thing is that I went to make an appointment with another stylist who was recommended, but she was unavailable. I guess fate intervened. When I decided to start wearing it curly again (a little over a year ago”>, she went with the flow. When I started CG a few months ago, again she understood. Even though she is not “trained” in curly hair, she understand it, listens to me and gives me beautiful cuts. She uses sulfate- and ‘cone-free products, but I do leave with it wet. I am just happier with how I fix my own hair. I love her like a sister and told her that if she retires, she’ll just have to come to my house and do my hair. I have sent her several clients recently and they feel the same way. In a word … she is awesome.

misfitcurls

Tiffany Anderson (aka our very own struttswife”> is my wonderful curly stylist.

On my first visit to Tiffany I already knew a very good amount about being cg thanks to NC. It was fantastic to have finally found a stylist who was not only a great curly cutter but someone who knew all the acronyms and procedures!

She provided me with a pamphlet that she created on going cg (which I was able to pass on to my mother”> that spelled everything out clearly and was very user friendly!

She also informed me of things I could not figure out on my own (texture, porosity, etc!”> and was able to help me pick products based on what my hair needed. No more getting sucked in by advertising claims!

The best thing I have received from my stylist (besides beautiful hair cuts!”> was the inspiration, advice, and support on not only being a proud curly, but to become a curl stylist myself.

She has helped me find a great school and promised to “teach” me her method so I can pass this wonderful gift onto other curlies!

She has been such an inspiration and I hope I can become even just half as good as she is!

She has changed my life and helped me find a career that I am sure I will really love.

M2LR

A few years back, someone introduced me to the “Curly Girl” by Lorraine Massey. I’d just had my first baby, and my hair was a wreck. It started falling out, was no longer full due to the pregnancy, and I was back into the hair-hating days of my youth. I had tears, I had sadness…I felt like I was in my teens again. I was NOT happy.

I tried the Curly Girl (CG”> routine. Stopped using shampoos, and anything with a ‘cone in it. It was a miserable failure. My hair was frizzy, lifeless, and stringy. I know that’s hard to picture, but clearly my hair was in a war with itself.

In August of 2008, a thread was started on NaturallyCurly.com about haircuts. Someone mentioned a ‘Deva cut.’ A Deva cut is the cutting method developed by Lorraine Massey. It involves cutting the hair dry, at a specific angle. There is also a method to cutting the under-part of the hair, and then the canopy. I lamented on the site that the only salons that do the Deva cuts were in the San Francisco area, at least 2 hours away from me.

Another poster posted the link to the Deva site and said, “Hey! You never know!!!” I did a search for a salon, and there was one only 17 miles away. I could do 17 miles. I called immediately. I talked to the owner Susan. She said that she does the Deva cuts. It was about 10 a.m., and my appointment was for 2 p.m. I was shocked that something was open so soon! I took the appointment without question.

Susan then gave me my instructions:

Wash hair, let it air dry without touching it, and without product in it

I did so, and my hair didn’t look too bad. It was still a little damp when I arrived for my appointment, but that didn’t seem to matter too much. Susan explained how the cut works, and why they cut it dry. She then grabbed a small rolling chair, her comb and scissors and set to work. It’s a SLOOOOOOW process, your first Deva cut. I closed my eyes a few times, relishing in the feeling of the small pointed end of the comb searching out curly strands, and the quiet snip of the scissors. She worked all around my head and was done in about 30 minutes. During the cut, she explained that she also had curly hair, and always felt that knowing how curly hair works, how it’s formed and why it’s so different from straight hair was something she needed to do. She told me about her experiences in New York, meeting Lorraine and taking her course on learning to cut curly hair with the Deva method.

She didn’t wash it, didn’t do anything else to it, not even any kind of de-frizzing pomade! I looked in the mirror and I felt transformed. My hair didn’t have any product in it and it looked great. I had found a new like, no LOVE, for my hair!!! She explained some of the Deva products, how and why they work with curly hair. I ran out to my nearest ULTA and purchased her suggestions.

It’s been a year and I have been using these products ever since. Getting my first Deva cut from Susan was truly a transformation in my feelings towards my hair. I very rarely have a bad hair day, and two-day hair isn’t the nightmare that it was in the past. Spraying a bit of lavender-water on it, scrunching a little and it is good to go.

In the last year, I have gotten 4 Deva cuts. I go in maybe every 4 months, and my hair doesn’t turn into triangle-head like it used to with the “straight-across” cuts I used to receive. I have never received more compliments on my hair, either. It was as if my hair was something people started to notice more, and it actually looked GOOD!

TooSense

I found my stylist when I had to cut off most of my hair after straightening turned it into a frizzy mess. I had extensions put in and she was the only stylist in the immediate area with experience cutting hair extensions. She also happens to be African-American.

She did a beautiful job w/the extensions, so when I had them removed I went back to her for a cut. She is truly phenomenal. My hair has never looked better. When I first went to her I was crying myself to sleep every night. Today we can laugh about her holding my hand through all my hair trauma.

Why it took me 38 years to realize an AA stylist would be really good at cutting curly hair, I don’t know. But I’m glad I finally did.

Q: How many years of experience do you have?

A: As a master stylist for 13 years, I have been deeply involved in the burgeoning Austin fashion scene.

Q: What influences your creative style?

A: My experience in major music, fashion, film and editorial styling throughout the region has afforded me the venue for the type of creative exploration and expression that has helped Austin and Ann Kelso Salon burst onto the national style scene. Lisa Lobe, Go-Go’s, Austin Music Awards, Flashback, Blender, and countless commercial and independent films are just a few of the places you can experience my interpretation of the increasingly popular “Austin Style”.

Q: What are some of your responsibilities around the salon?

A: As one of Ann Kelso’s design team leaders, it is my responsibility to inspire and motivate staff to create and deliver the authentic urban glamour that Ann Kelso Salon is known for in the city.

Q: What is your perspective on fashion, style and beauty?

A: Currently we’re in a very cool place where every single era is in style. The possibilities and combinations are endless and it’s my passion to take things that feel standard – and tweak them – to create something fabulous for my clients. And my “anything goes” personality doesn’t just make it possible, it makes it a reality.

The U.S. Open tennis championship kicked off today, and whew! were the curls flying! Fully half the Top 10 seeded male players are wavies or curlies, and they bring their curls to New York from around the world.

While they won’t all take home a trophy, all these players are winners in our book, for flaunting their gorgeous textured tresses.

Tyra Banks announced plans last week to reveal her natural hair to kick off the ninth season of “The Tyra Banks Show.”

“Guess What! I’m rockin’ my REAL hair on my talk show September 8th. No fake hair at all!” she posted to her Twitter page. “Will be the hair coming out of my scalp! 4 all 2 C! no ponytails, no ballet bun head. hair will be out and free!”

In an official statement, Tyra said her show is “taking it to the next level and getting more real than ever before by encouraging women everywhere to own and rock what they’ve got and be proud.”

Going a step further, she’s declaring Sept. 8 National Real Hair Day. “We welcome everyone to go natural with me,” she said.

Tyra, we at NaturallyCurly hope you will embark on this with the knowledge that women everywhere are watching, and that they want to know you are serious about this — that it’s not a short-lived publicity stunt.

CurlTalk poster Marah Mizrahi says: “If so… well alright! But removing a wig or weave for a day or a season is not the same thing as transitioning to natural hair.”

Phoenix concurs: ” If you really want to make a difference, don’t do it for just one day or one episode. That’s not transitioning IMO; it’s just the same as taking your wig off.

We know it won’t be easy. Even for those who aren’t in the public eye, making the transition from straight to natural hair can be difficult. It is about learning to accept the texture with which you’ve been born rather than trying to mold it into something else. Making the decision to embark on that journey can be the hardest part of the transitioning process. Many people spend years thinking about it before they ever take the leap.

You have an opportunity to be a role model to all who have transitioned, are in the midst of it or are thinking about it. You are the most most famous star to ever go natural in such a public way. With that comes the responsibility of being committed to that journey, even after the television cameras are switched off.

In the past, you were quoted as saying you didn’t want any guy to see you without your wigs or extensions because feels like guys are with you for the image that they see on TV and in magazines. You even went so far as to say you feared that if one woke up next to you without your glamorous hair, he might not call back.

While they may not be famous supermodels, many women share those same insecurities. Through you, Tyra, a generation of women can see that they don’t have to perm their hair to be considered beautiful. Through you, they can see that one of the world’s most beautiful women is confidently rocking her natural texture, and so can they.

This poster speaks to the impact you can have: “It’d be nice to see Tyra go natural and show the masses that highly textured hair can be just as fierce as a long blonde wig. We need to teach our youth this NOW. My daughter hates her naps, and it breaks my heart when I see her pining behind her straight haired counterparts.”

So you go, girl. Rock that natural texture. We support you in this journey and can’t wait to see the au natural Tyra.

Design Essentials recently hosted its second live chat. The “Relaxed to Natural Chat” was a real-time discussion allowing fans of the brand to have their questions answered on transitioning out of the use of relaxers. Hosted by Design Essentials Natural Hair Expert Candace Walls, fans were able to post their questions pertaining to styling methods, product recommendations, suggested tools and customized regimens for healthy hair. Design Essentials will hold additional chats throughout the year. Below are some snippets from the conversation!

Smoothing the Transition: Some women seek to achieve a curly look, but their natural texture isn’t as manageable as they would like. Walls recommended the Wave By Design system, which permanently restructures the natural curl pattern into the desired style. She recommends that users apply Wave by Design Define & Shine 2N1 Dry Finishing Lotion and Mist & Shine Dry Finishing Spray daily to keep permanently waved hair hydrated and visit a Design Essentials Stylist for a full consultation. Another option is the Design Essentials Low Lye Relaxer with Shea Butter, which acts as a texturizer, gently loosening one’s natural curl pattern to make the transition smoother.

Moisture Rich: A key component to having fabulous natural hair is moisture! Walls recommends a seven- to 10-day regimen of shampooing and conditioning with moisture-rich products. Two great ones from Design Essentials are the Moisture Retention Conditioning Shampoo and the Express Instant Moisturizing Conditioner.

Better Styling: With natural hair being deceptively fragile, one participant wanted to know what styling tools to use to avoid breakage. Design Essentials recommends ceramic styling tools that hydrate the hair while straightening and styling, such as the pHusion line of irons. It was also suggested that women use heating tools that enable them to customize the heat setting to their hair type and texture, along with using a thermal protectant—such as Design Essentials’ HCO Leave In Conditioner or Silk Essentials—to reduce the effects of breakage and dryness when styling.

Wash and Wear: To cut down on frizz for a natural look with wash and wear hair, Walls suggested a recipe of shampoo, conditioner, plus HCO Leave-In Conditioner for additional strength. For styling, the recipe continues with Compositions Foaming Wrap Lotion and Mousse to define natural curls along with Silk Essentials to smooth hair strands and prevent frizz. A final mist of Reflections Liquid Shine offers additional sheen, topping off the recipe!

Finding a Natural Hair Stylist: Making the switch from relaxed to natural takes guidance and support. Those looking for a new stylist to help them embark on the natural hair journey were given the following directive: Know what you’re trying to accomplish with your hair. Once you determine what your style goals are, make sure to ask what percent of stylists’ clients have natural hair; how many of them wear it straightened vs. in non-heat styles; and what are some of the goals of their clients when pursuing manageable natural hair. Questions like these will help establish confidence that the stylist will be a good partner along your natural hair journey!

It turns out that in August, we celebrate International Beer Day!

We think there’s no better way to celebrate than by treating yourself to a beer hair rinse.

Some experts say the proteins from the malt and hops found in beer coat, rebuild and repair damaged hair. So this August, and once a month hereafter, give your hair a special malty-hoppy treat!

How to Beer Rinse

1. Choose a beer that does not have a strong odor.

2. Shampoo and rinse hair as usual.

3. Pour the flat, warm beer on your hair and work it through.

4. Rinse with lukewarm, not hot, water.

As temperatures begin to cool down outside, so will hair color this fall/winter season with more sophisticated, cooler brunettes and blonds. Tracey Cunningham, Redken Creative Consultant for Color, and David Stanko, Hair color Consultant for Redken, offer info about the latest in fall hair color trends, professional hair color products to achieve these trends, and consumer tips to communicate with their colorist and to adjust to the “coolest” looks of the season.

“Small adjustments can help consumers update their look from season to season,” explains Cunningham. “When summer comes to a close, I plan to cool my clients’ shades down this fall/winter season with Redken’s new Color Gels Ash Blue — creating sophisticated, cool shades. A color is said to have “cool tones” if it tends toward blue or violet, such as platinum blonds, ash browns, and plum reds.”

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Trend #1: Brunettes

“Brunettes will go to a whole new level this fall/winter with an overall cooler base. Think Fergie’s shade; her lighter highlights really show through her dark, chestnut base making her haircolor look so flawless and effortless,” says Tracey Cunningham.

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Trend #2: Blondes

Cunningham says: “Blondes will be blond this fall — think Drew Barrymore’s cool, nearly platinum-blond shade for this inspiration. Clients can often be concerned with the cost to achieve and keep the perfect shade of blond, but I find that women cut back in other areas rather than haircolor as it’s one of a consumers’ most prominent and most-seen-everyday accessory!”

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Trend #3: Redheads

“This fall/winter, redheads will be more sophisticated and playful with their beautiful shade, with deep red tones and a few cool, blond highlights throughout to enhance the red even more,” says Cunningham

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“To complete the fall/winter hair color story, Redken is launching the new Color Gels Ash Blue shades, creating sophisticated, icy cool blonds and brunettes to cool, correct, and condition women’s hair,” says Stanko. “The three new easy-to-use, versatile shades neutralize warmth and increase cool tonalities from subtle to intense degrees. Redken’s exclusive Select Dye System ensures long-lasting results with supple conditioning and shine. Consumers looking for these cooler shades for fall/winter should ask their colorist about the new Color Gels Ash Blue.”

Color Gels Ash Blue Features and Benefits:

• Select Dye System: 100% oxidative, long-lasting dyes for color with holding power and resistance to fading
• Wheat Proteins: Help protect hair’s protein structure during the coloring process
• Avocado Oil: Serves as a natural emollient to help keep hair soft, touchable and glossy

“Remember that good communication with your colorist is essential for getting the color you want,” adds Stanko. “A few minutes of pre-salon prep can help you explain your goals, and ensure that your colorist understands your desired result.”

Things to know before you go:

• Try to walk into the salon with your everyday “look,” so your colorist can get a feel for what you’re comfortable with.
• If you have the time, do a little research into color science. Knowing the difference between terms like demi-permanent and permanent color can help you and your colorist communicate more efficiently. Study up with Redken’s glossary.
• Your colorist is there to work with you to achieve beautiful color. The more you can explain what you want, the better the collaboration will be.
• If you are going in for “corrective color” — to correct color results you are unhappy with from a prior coloring experience—be prepared for a longer visit, as your colorist may need to remove old color and then recolor your hair.

Salon Prep Check List:

• Bring your inspiration: Photographs and examples of hair color you love will help you and your colorist explore your color options — and ensure that you both mean the same thing when you say, “honey blond” or “scarlet red.”
• Know your history: Be prepared to tell your colorist about any prior color services, whether it was highlights last year or a color gloss last month.
• Trust your colorist: Listen to your colorist’s expert opinion. During your color consultation, he or she will consider your desired result, then evaluate your hair’s condition and look at your skin tone and coloring in order to create your custom color formulation.
• Ask questions: If you hear a color term you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask your colorist for an explanation. Remember to inquire about maintenance — how often you’ll need to return to the salon for touchups, and how to best maintain your color at home between visits with Redken haircare products.

Things to know before you go into a salon for a color treatment:

• Try to walk into the salon with your everyday “look,” so your colorist can get a feel for what you’re comfortable with.
• If you have the time, do a little research into color science. Knowing the difference between terms like demi-permanent and permanent color can help you and your colorist communicate more efficiently. Study up with Redken’s glossary.
• Your colorist is there to work with you to achieve beautiful color. The more you can explain what you want, the better the collaboration will be.
• If you are going in for “corrective color” — to correct color results you are unhappy with from a prior coloring experience—be prepared for a longer visit, as your colorist may need to remove old color and then recolor your hair.

Salon Prep Check List:

• Bring your inspiration: Photographs and examples of hair color you love will help you and your colorist explore your color options — and ensure that you both mean the same thing when you say, “honey blond” or “scarlet red.”
• Know your history: Be prepared to tell your colorist about any prior color services, whether it was highlights last year or a color gloss last month.
• Trust your colorist: Listen to your colorist’s expert opinion. During your color consultation, he or she will consider your desired result, then evaluate your hair’s condition and look at your skin tone and coloring in order to create your custom color formulation.
• Ask questions: If you hear a color term you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask your colorist for an explanation. Remember to inquire about maintenance — how often you’ll need to return to the salon for touchups, and how to best maintain your color at home between visits with Redken haircare products.
— Source: Redken

By Special Contributor Helen Hyun-hwa Lee

I have naturally curly hair. I inherited the trait from my father, whose hair neatly bundles up to sophisticate his demeanor.

My curvaceous locks are tangles when brushed numerous times, and a bush when I awake in the morning. My friend Yoon-joo claimed the tangles formed a frizzy iron pot scourer, making me look like a North Korean who crossed borders to escape poverty (a nasty joke, given the distress above the 38th parallel”>. With its suggestions of rustic backwardness, the North Korean nametag was something I naturally wanted to dispel. So I took 40,000 won to the neighborhood hairdresser, who ironed my crumpled hair into slick conformity.

I used to flaunt my curly hair with great pride. I thought the coils were cute, as did my loving parents (but of course what part of you isn’t cute to them”>. But my love for my mane was challenged when I came to Korea after having lived in Chicago for the bulk of my childhood. The glossy, regular curls celebrities donned were all right, even beautiful, but my unruly, outspoken (pasta”> were out of the question. They had to go.

At first, the girls simply implied: “Well doesn’t (put celebrity’s name here”>’s straight hair look amazing?” Then their objections grew in volume until they outright said, “Your hair’s really ugly.” I was indignant, I was hurt, but I wasn’t stupid enough to brush away their advice. Korean communities are so tenaciously interwoven that peer pressure is a dominant driving force in many decision-makings; this one was no exception. I thanked them for their selfless advice.

By razing my hair with a steam hair straightener, I not only burnt each tip ― severe hair damage that took years to recover ― but also flattened my self-esteem and distinct identity, that quirk I had thought so characteristically me. Self-consciousness and individuality are prized above all in the American classroom, where the best advice a teacher can give is, “Be yourself, not what people tell you to be,” but I had been brainwashed into believing that I wasn’t good enough ― nor was my frizzy hair.

While living in Korea, I felt as if every opportunity was bent on repressing my individuality, my inherent desire and need to be different. I’m too outspoken. I use my chopsticks incorrectly. What’s wrong with my brain? Don’t I know what I must do? Every time someone corrected my ways, I could feel my anger gauge rising to the tip of my head, but Korean values had swamped me by the time I was full to the brim. The anger just oozed out with no particular violence or vengeance, but a sweet resignation. A white flag.

Of course, I remained different. Simply taming my Medusa didn’t restructure my genetic makeup, which ensures that I differ from everyone else (even if just by the slightest”>. However, I wasn’t who I was “made” to be. This distortion of self was perhaps inevitable. It wasn’t just my friends, but an entire societal juggernaut out there to get me (no, I’m not paranoid, thank you very much”>. The Korean education system enforced homogeneity ― uniforms; hair length restrictions; no makeup, high heels, or unconventional ideas. The message inculcated was “Study, study, study, get rich, be polite, don’t talk back to elders.” I was told what to wear, what to say, what to do ― basically, how to live.

The uniformity enforced in society had spilled over into cosmetics to nag me about my curls.

There are ideal models of beauty in all societies, suggested to the unknowing teenager through jean commercials, magazines and television shows like Gossip Girl, but none so enforced as the Korean.

You want large eyes, with double eyelids; a large, pointy nose; luscious lips; a V-lined, egg-shaped face and a slender, graceful figure complete with large breasts and a tempting derriere. The celebrities that teenagers are typically exposed to look virtually identical, as if stamped and assembled on a forever busy conveyor belt.

The situation’s not so different for teenage boys. Slick cars, six-packs, tall height, wide shoulders, gorgeous face ― these are the criteria for male perfection in Korean society. No wonder Korea’s infamous for cosmetic surgery. I don’t want to be overcritical of my own nation – I’m actually quite patriotic ― but that doesn’t change the fact that change is urgent. I want to live in a nation where curly hair, ugly faces and obesity aren’t looked upon with disdain, where the community embraces individuals as they are. Individuality, rather than uniformity. Is that too much to ask for?

Well, I guess it’s “I once had curly hair.” I’ve ceased to straighten my hair, but the past can’t be unwritten. I hate to admit it, but the straightening became addictive, until I couldn’t control myself when the slightest curl led me to the closest hairdresser. My curls are now limp, verging on nonexistent. They will never be as curvaceous as they once had been. I suppose this is the price I pay for conforming.

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The writer is a senior at the American International School of Guangzhou, China. She has lived in the U.S., Korea and China, and can be reached at 98leeh@aisgz.edu.cn.

The Summer 2009 New Mom’s Handbook mentions Shop.NaturallyCurly.com’s children’s products.

Clean heat appliances tools last longer and work more efficiently. And debris on a flat iron will cause hot spots on the plates and snags that can pull and break hair, causing ragged split ends. ProSilk recommends following a simple cleaning regimen that will protect your professional styling tools and yield better styling results.

Cleaning Supplies:

• Cotton balls
• Wooden cuticle stick
• Soft cloths
• Dish soap
• Warm water
• Rubbing alcohol

Cleaning Instructions

1. Prepare a small dish of warm soapy water (a drop or two of common liquid dish soap will work”>

2. Unplug tools (never immerse any electric tool in water, plugged or unplugged”>

3. Proceed to clean tools while they are still warm. It will be easier to clean off excess product before the iron has had time to cool, dry and solidify

4. Dip the edge of your cotton ball in the soapy water solution and rub the plates or surfaces in a circular motion to distribute the warm water evenly on the build-up. Wait for a few minutes and let the water and soap solution loosen and dislodge stubborn build up.

While you are waiting, carefully take the wooden cuticle stick and gently remove particles that have been packed into grooves and crevices of the tool. Do not force or jam the stick into any openings, as this may cause damage to the tool.

NOTE: Do not submerge tools in water, do not use abrasive cleaners (they will scratch and damage the surface”> and do not use metal or sharp utensils.

After cleaning your tools, you may find that there is a slight film left from the water and soap solution. Take a cotton ball and a tiny amount of rubbing alcohol and wipe the film off the surface. Finish it with a swipe of the soft cotton cloth.

Following these simple tips will protect your tools and improve your finished styles.

Nick Arrojo is known nationwide for his ability to give women hairstyles that bring out their individual beauty. Every week millions of “What Not to Wear” viewers see him transform women’s outdated styles or unflattering cuts into fresh and contemporary looks. Most importantly, he helps them to realize their true beauty potential. He not only changes their hairstyles but changes the way they felt about themselves.

In Great Hair, Nick Arrojo reveals his styling secrets so that women can better understand their hair type, assess what hair styles will work best for their hair, face shape, and lifestyle, and get a terrific new look.

Great Hair provides a complete education about hair including:

• Identifying your hair type and how that impacts cut, color, and styles – including ethnic hair
• Understanding products and how to use them to their best advantage
• A style guide with complete instructions on everything from blowouts to updos
• Guidelines on choosing a flattering hair color that will enhance, not overpower
• Dispelling myths and outdated ideas about hair care

Featuring before and after shots of real women (not models”> Great Hair shows how any woman can find a style that will make her feel and look terrific. Following Nick Arrojo’s advice in Great Hair means no more bad hair days!