Search Results: NaturallyCurly
  
Many Greek figures, such as Thalia, Aphrodite and Zeus, had curly hair. |
|
Curls, curls, curls. A curl can’t be alone. Curls excels among other curls.
Curls amplify beauty. Curls are sensuous, curls are cosmopolitan, curls add sophistication, curls are mysterious. But do curls exude class?
Ancient Greek civilization gave rise to most of modern western civilization. And ancient Romans had to prove their Greek lineage to have legitimacy to rule in Roman provinces. Symbols of beauty and standards of beauty began with Greek statues and their wonderful symmetry, which is long-held as a criteria of beauty. No wonder Europeans were obsessed with anything Greek, including Greek Philosophy, Greek gods, and Greek theater.
Now let’s explore how this fascination with the Greeks ties into the curly hair. Ancient Greeks, for the most part, had curly hair — their magnificent statues with curly hair are famous.
In an attempt to emulate not only the Greeks’ political and cultural styles, the Europeans — with their straight hair — adopted curly hair styles as well — their higher-echelon dignitaries, including judges and members of the royal family, began wearing culry wigs. The aristocrats, eager to show that they had class, knowledge, philosophy and sophistication, wanted to be Greek-like.
Curly hair became synomous with class and beauty in the western civilization.
Editor’s note: This is the first of a four-part essay written by Sal Rastegar — a male voice extolling the wonder of curls.
When you think of a pill, you think of something designed to heal an illness. That is why we at NaturallyCurly.com are appalled by L’Oreal Paris’ announcement that researchers are developing a pill to straighten hair. Popping a pill, they claim, could turn curly hair straight and vice versa by changing the hook-shaped hair bulb. The thought that people would be swallowing hormones to straighten their hair is a terrifying prospect. In addition to the possible health implications of ingesting something powerful enough to change your hair, it sends a negative message to people with curly and kinky hair. We at NaturallyCurly.com do not believe curly hair is something to be cured. We are not against straightening curls, but do not believe people should feel that they have to do so to be attractive. We would urge the scientists at L’Oreal to focus on those ailments that truly need fixing.
Straight hair may be a pill away. That was the news from L’Oreal Paris, which is developing a pill to turn curly hair straight, and vice versa.
The scientists grew hair in their laboratory in Clichy, Paris and found that hair shape depends on the hair bulb, or follicle. People with curly hair have a hook-shaped bulb, and those with straight locks have straight ones, according to their findings.
“A curly follicle makes curly hair,” said Bruno Bernard, head of hair biology at L’Oreal. “This is a breakthrough. It is now possible to use biological methods to make curly hair straight and vice versa.”
The team has yet to find the “master switch” that controls follicle shape, but said it wass possible to think about how to change hair styles with hormones or drugs. The discovery may also turn gray hair back to its original color.
At the 2005 Emmy Awards on Sept. 18, curly updos and loose waves were all the rage for women, while curly men were everywhere.
From Portia de Rossi to Debra Messing, textured updos were a sexy look on the red carpet. Lost’s Naveen Andrews to Deadwood’s Ian McShane proved that curls are a hot fashion statement for men.
PhytoSpecific, a haircare line for those with naturally curly, textured hair, is proud to announce its sponsorship of The Global Congress.
The event, which will be held Oct. 7-11 at the Hilton Hotel in Houston, is organized by the Global Council of Black Women Leaders Inc. It was conceived and organized by Sandrah Manthieux Pelage with a team of volunteers from different countries.
The mission of the Global Council of Black Women Leaders is to educate and inform black women and all other segments of society about their value to the world in order to promote and develop their economic participation, stability and influence through strengthened global connections for the benefit of humankind.
The sponsorship is a good fit for PhytoSpecific, which embodies feminine, yet strong, culturally responsible educated women. PhytoSpecific has sought to beautify and empower women of all colors and ethnicities since its inception.
Women such as Oprah, Condoleezza Rice, Naomi Campbell and Alicia Keys use PhytoSpecific, which is available in CurlMart.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money”> – Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jay-Z are among the big-name investors in a Brooklyn-based beauty line called “Carol’s Daughter,” according to the New York Post.
The group of movie and music stars invested $10 million in the Brooklyn beauty-products company started by Lisa Price and plan to take the brand nationwide, according to the paper.
The announcement was made Tuesday at Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club in New York City.
Other investors in the Carol’s Daughter cosmetics company include record executive Steve Stoute, who spearheaded the venture, investor Andrew Farkas, Interscope Records chief Jimmy Lovine and Tommy Mottola and his wife, singer Thalia.
“I had seen the product and I thought it was a new category that could be introduced,” Stoute told the paper. “Our voice should be able to control and manage it for the marketplace.”
Lisa Price opened her first store in Brooklyn in 1999, after years of making beauty products in her kitchen.
A flagship store is slated to open in Harlem this fall, with nine more stores planned in the next few years in cities such as Philadelphia, Atlanta and Baltimore, the paper said.
Pinkett-Smith, married to Will Smith, will become the face of the brand in a new advertising campaign.
If you’ve had trouble getting an appointment at Devachan Hair and Departure Lounge, help is on the way. Devachan will be opening a second Soho location this fall. The new 15,000-square-foot spa will have a world-class spa as well as training facilities for stylists and novice curlies.
“It’s going to be gorgeous,” says an ecstatic Lorraine Massey, co-partner in Devachan and the creator of the Curly Girl philosophy.
Massey said the new salon will have more than a dozen stylists, each specially training the Curly Girl philosophy. She envisions a system where customers are directed to the stylists who can best work with them.
“Press 1 if you’re coming out of the curl closet, press 2 if it’s your second time, press 3 if you’re a veteran,” Massey says. “A beginner haircut may take more than an hour and a half. As they progress and become more comfortable with curls, they’re a little bit more willing to play.”
On Saturdays, the salon will host workshops for beginner curlies interested in learning how to work with their curls. The fee will go toward Devacurl products. She also envisions a big plexiglass bin into which customers can toss their old hair products for discounts on their new Curly Girl friendly regime.
Massey also plans to launch Sunday School, a Curly Girl workshop for kids aged 7 to 14. The class will be part training and part support group.
“It’s about helping them get comfortable with their hair,” says Massey. “We’re hoping we can eliminate their stress for the rest of their lives. “I think it could be magical. I know it would be a lifechanging experience for them.”
Every January, the stars head to Park City, Utah for the annual Sundance Film Festival. While many stars are there to catch the hottest new independent films, our correspondent, Abby Tegnelia, was on hand to talk to the curlies.
|
|
|
|
| Shannon Elizabeth | Keri Russell | Danny Masterson |
| ‘I always wear my hair curly! It’s so thin, so I need the curls for volume. I use a curling iron, because it lasts longer. I used rollers when I was little, and it never stayed!’ | ‘I’ve been doing hot rollers lately. I did a 1940s movie, and they put my hair in hot rollers. So that’s what I’ve been doing — it’s so great! Put hot rollers in when your hair is still damp. Then let it sit for 15 minutes while you do your makeup.
Take them out, and then pull out the ends a little bit, so it’s not so beauty-pageanty.’ Tegnelia reports that Keri Russell’s favorite products were Davines MoMo hair conditioner and Davines Relaxing Fluid. ‘She was gorgeous (as always!”> and very genuine — living up to her reputation as one of the most pleasant actresses to work with.’ |
‘I put in leave-in conditioner, and that’s it. And I’ve tried everything. I put it in every time I take a shower — every day. I wash my hair, get out of the shower, and put in leave-in conditioner. And I’m done. Then I put a hat on. When you have curly hair, you have to be low-key.’ |
The texture and curl of last season continues into spring with the addition of a rounder, moist, balmy feel as seen at the Cynthia Rowley, Carmen Marc Valvo and Proenza Schouler shows.
“The curl this season is more bubbly and moist than it was for fall — it’s a kind of sweaty glamour,” said Patricia Morales of Cutler Salon/Jed Root, who does hair for Cynthia Rowley.
On naturally curly hair, Morales suggests sectioning and preparing hair with a gel like Contour 08 shaping lotion, coiling around two fingers and pinning. When hair is dry, work Water Wax 03 shine defining pomade through.
Eight African-American women have filed a federal class action against Hair Cuttery’s parent company, saying the salon chain discriminates against black customers.
The move is the latest development in a lawsuit filed this year by Paulette Harris, who said the salon tried to charge her more because she is black.
In that suit, Harris said that she was told by a Hair Cuttery employee that she had to pay $8 extra for her shampoo because of her “ethnic” hair. Harris also said that she was asked to pay in advance because, she said the staff told her, “ethnic” people tend to leave without paying.
In the class action request filed this week in U.S. District Court, other Baltimore-area women recounted similar experiences at local Hair Cuttery stores.
All say they were overcharged for haircuts, paying as much as almost four times the listed price. Some reported racially insensitive comments made by staff members at the salons.
Hair Cuttery is a walk-in unisex chain with 800 stores, according to its Web site.
Its corporate owner, Virginia-based Creative Hairdressers Inc., has denied any discrimination, according to court papers.
Hair Cuttery lawyer Steven R. Semler noted in court papers that once Harris was told the cost for her haircut would be $21 rather than $13, she called the company headquarters’ customer service department, which instructed the salon to charge the lower price.
He wrote that the company denies customers were told to pay ahead of time.
Harris’ lawyer, Barry R. Glazer, said he was not surprised that more women came forward after publicity emerged about Harris’ case.
“The incident was so outrageous,” he said. “After speaking and dealing with Paulette, it occurred to me that this was probably extensive.”
Danielle Peterson of Columbia said she was regularly charged more for haircuts than the $13 price listed for all customers.
Lillian Blackman of Baltimore said she was charged $48 for the $13 service and was told by the manager that the price was higher because “products are more expensive” for African- Americans’ hair.
Johnette Smith paid $20 for a service that costs white customers $10, she said. The employee who shampooed her hair put on “heavy Playtex gloves,” according to the suit, saying that she was allergic to the shampoo.
Smith said she had watched the hairdresser shampoo white customers without the gloves, according to the lawsuit.
The class action suit also names as plaintiffs “other African-American women similarly charged fees in excess of the list price based upon their race.”
Harris’ case was originally filed in Baltimore City Circuit Court. The company requested that it be moved to federal court, where juries are thought to be less sympathetic to plaintiffs.
If a federal judge approves the class action, other women who say they have had similar experiences might be able to share in any damage awards.
The lawsuit is asking for $100,000 in compensatory damages and $450,000 in punitive damages for each plaintiff.
Copyright (c”> 2004, The Baltimore Sun
Yes, there is now a list that ranks the curly hair styles of celebrities, thanks to the hair care company CurlFriends, which custom makes professional products for naturally curly and permed hair. Oprah Winfrey’s robust ringlets have earned her the title of “Best CurlFriend 2004,” beating out such competition as Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Beyonce.
“My favorite curls of the year are worn by Oprah. Her new chin-length bob with a full head of soft, spiral curls is absolutely fabulous and she looks fantastic, youthful and healthy,” says Soddu, CurlFriends’ Chief Curl Consultant. “What Oprah, Nicole, Catherine and Beyonce have in common is their gorgeous curls — and the fact that they are among the most beautiful and recognizable women in the world.”
Other curly celebrity hairstyles noted by CurlFriends include those worn by Gabrielle Union, Kate Beckinsale and Laura Linney.
CurlFriends’ great products for curlygirls and boys are available in CurlMart.
The record stood for 17 years, a despised symbol of a cold-hearted regime that systematically drugged its athletes in the pursuit of Olympic glory. Finally, it’s been knocked off the books. The American women completed a sweep of the 800-meter freestyle relay with a dominating performance at the Olympic pool Wednesday night, taking down the oldest — and most tarnished — world record in swimming. And curlyhead Kaitlin Sandeno swam the final leg and cruised to the wall in a time of 7 minutes, 53.42 seconds, easily beating the mark of 7:55.47 set exactly 17 years earlier by East Germany.
Reader Jillian sends in this:
CNN.com, reporting on the unveiling of the Clintons’ official portraits: ‘Bush also addressed Chelsea, saying, ‘Chelsea, the fact that you survived your teenage years in the White House speaks to the fact that you had a great mom and dad.’ Next to Chelsea sat her longtime boyfriend, Ian Klaus, whose shaggy, curly hair hung down over his suit collar.’ Says Jillian: ‘Ian Klaus is a Rhodes Scholar and all they mention is his curly hair!!! Terrible.
A letter we sent to a Time magazine reporter
5/04
Dear Mr. Cloud,
Thank you for your well-written, well-balanced gem of a story on the largely ignored Oregon marriage situation.
I must, however, take issue with a tiny adjective you likely gave little or no thought to in writing your piece. “Frizzy” is in no way an acceptable synonym for “curly,” and from what I can tell from the photo of Ms. Thorpe, her hair is certainly curly, but not frizzy. (In fact, I’d be willing to bet she spent considerable time and multiple dollops of multiple products to make her hair look its frizz-free best before meeting with you and the photographer.”> Frizz is a much-dreaded state of hair — both curly and straight — that curlyheads spend considerable amount of time, effort, angst and money to avoid. As any curlyhead — and we are more than 50% of the world’s population — will tell you, “frizzy” is a pejorative term, an insult, a bit of rudeness — not to mention inaccuracy — not appropriate for the aforementioned story.
I’m guessing you’re rolling your eyes about now, but, nonetheless, I am hopeful that you will consider my words and perhaps even go so far as to share the sentiment with your copy desk.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Gretchen Heber
CEO, NaturallyCurly.com, Inc.
Most straightening routines involve chemicals or heat such as irons and blow dryers. All of which take a LONG time and are terrible for your hair. I’ve used this method for 25 years and it works!
Wash and condition at night. Use a wide-tooth comb and wrap hair around your head like a turban. Use large bobby pins vertically all around your head to hold hair. If you’re self- conscious, (like me”> find a large scarf. Drape base of the triangle across forehead, cross the ends in back, bring them forward while twisting, cross and tie in back. You sleep comfortably because the pins are flat. The scarf keeps the pins in place. In the morning, brush out. You may need to smooth a few waves made by the pins or style with a big curling iron but most of the time and with practice, you can brush and go. Next night wrap (dry”> hair in the opposite direction. It’ll be even straighter the next day. This trick works with ANY length. I’ve had short, shoulder length and long hair. People wonder how I switch from strait to curly then back!
Don’t use products with alcohol in them; they can dry out hair. On rainy or humid days, I use Biolage Glaze while hair is wet, let the curls dry then gently crunch curls with my hands so as not to separate them.
Sometimes I use ‘Frizz Ease‘ on either strait or curly hair to add shine.
I try curly styles from magazines, movies and tv. I also copy styles I see on other curlicues that look great.
Thanks for a great web page!
