Search Results: Ouidad
Dear Ouidad: Can you have a short hairstyle and still do the Rake & Shake?
A: You can use the Rake & Shake method on hair that is 2 inches or longer. If the hair is shorter, you can run styling products through the hair and position the curls and waves.
See our video for how to Rake & Shake!
Dear Ouidad: I had my beyond-shoulder-length very curly hair cut very short. I was trying to get below the damage and didn’t realize it would take so much and should have done it bit by bit. But what’s done is done. The damage was from medication from two hospital stays with another scheduled a week later and over-processing together. I had been having my under and side layers relaxed as they were and still are extremely coarse and curly where the rest of the hair is much softer with a lighter curl pattern. I am working with a stylist who appreciates curly hair and has really helped me to turn it around as it grows out. We are waiting for it to get a bit longer (yes I’m going back longer, I look like my grandmother with short hair”> before she will even think about relaxing the kinks. We originally talked about perming it on large rollers, but they are beginning to use a Surface product for relaxing and I wondered what your thoughts were. We are probably at least another trim and color (covering massive gray”> from doing it, but that depends on the process used. Are there any products that would help relax the curl and make it appear softer that I can use in the interim or instead of having it chemically relaxed/permed?
A: One option is a softening treatment. It is a technique to loosen the curls with very mild relaxants blended with Deep Treatment. It works to soften coarse curls, making them more maintenance free and healthy looking.
Dear Ouidad: I’ve been shampoo free for more than a year now, but I’m still struggling. My biggest problem is that (I think”> I have two textures on my head! The top of my head has straight, sort of wavy hair that simply will not curl no matter how much conditioner, plopping, or diffusing I give it. In fact, it just looks greasy and stringy, like if it were curly, it would be clumping, but since it’s straight, it just looks like I never wash my hair. What I want to know is how I should be washing my hair; should I treat the greasy straight top as regular straight hair, and shampoo the whole shaft? I’m really, truly, completely at a loss for what to do with my yicky hair.
A: Shampooing and conditioning with volumizing products will help increase wave and give the hair near the top of your head more of a chance to curl. You should shampoo only about 2x a week near the scalp and don’t bunch your hair up or rub your strands together to cleanse. You can refer to our video below on how to gently shampoo your curls.
To get the top of your hair to curl more, use a mousse like PlayCurl Volumizing Foam and duckbill clips with a diffuser to style. Check out the video below on how to add volume using duckbill clips.
Dear Ouidad: What is the best towel to use for blotting wet hair? A paper towel, a microfiber, an old t-shirt, or will a plain ordinary bath towel work just as well?
A: Any towel will work. The key is just to not do any rigorous rubbing, which will disturb the curl pattern, and no twisting and no turbans.
Dear Ouidad: I am a woman from Montreal, Quebec, and I can’t seem to find the right hairdresser for my type of curls. I have naturally curly, medium-length hair. Actually, the hair look shorter than it actually is because the hair springs up. I have been procrastinating getting a haircut because I am afraid the hairdresser will not give me a haircut I can live with. I am quite neurotic when it comes to hair. It is true, too, that not many hairdressers know how to cut curly hair. Do you know any hairdresser from the city of Montreal who specializes in curly haircuts? Anyway, any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
A: Visit my website,for a listing of salons that are certified to cut hair with my trademarked Carve & Slice cutting technique. Cutting curly hair should be done by someone who understands curly hair and knows how it reacts to a cut.
Not only did Alanis Morrisette show why she was such a ’90s rock icon, but the singer’s appearance on the “American Idol” finale also reminded us how much we love her beachy waves!
Singing with Crystal Bowersox, her hair looked amazing! Gone was the stick-straight locks she wore for a while. The waves better suit her!
Dear Ouidad: In my teens and early 20s, I had thick, type 3b (I think”> hair. I had to have it thinned out occasionally. Since I’ve had my third child, and in my 30s, I have lost more than half of it. My hair is longer now, finally, than I had always kept it before. I also take better care moisturizing it than I ever did. Why am I losing it, and what can I do? I wash it two times a week, and by that time it is usually matted together, and feels like straw. Of course, tons falls out, also. My mother did the same way; I remember her talking about her thinning hair and bald spots where her hair parted. I do not style my hair much. For the last 15 years I’ve always let it air dry. Though as a teenager, I always blow dried it, and never lost much hair. Please tell me what I can do—I will try anything.
A: Often hair can change as a result of stress, a health issue or hormones. In most cases it’s just a normal change in the body as we age. If you’re concerned that something else is going on I would recommend speaking with your doctor. In the meantime, you can use my PlayCurl products for added volume and lift.
Dear Ouidad: Do you treat white/gray hair with Deep Treatment more often or use other products to tame and shine it?
A:You use the Deep Treatment every four weeks with gray hair the same as any other hair. Gray hair can be more coarse, so will need more styling products to help shape and set.
Q: I have 3a/3b hair and about 6 or 7 months ago my products started giving me acne around my hair line and on my forehead. I’m currently using L’oreal ever pure frizz free serum, Garnier Fructis leave-in conditioner, Pantene Pro-V curl mousse, and Pantene and Garnier hairspray. And have also tried every product/brand you can get at a drug store. Help please!
Ouidad: You can substitute for those products these Ouidad products: Shine Glaze Serum, Moisture Lock leave-in conditioner, PlayCurl Mousse, and Styling Mist. Ouidad products are free of heavy oils and are water soluble so that should clear up the acne around the hairline.
Q: I need help with my hair. I’m half white and half Hispanic, and my hair is naturally curly, thick and coarse. I just recently got it trimmed, layered and thinned, since I’m growing it out. My hair seems to frizz a lot. I need help or tips on fighting the frizz that seems to be on the top of my mop and sides. I’m currently using these products: Catwalk Sexy Curls, Pureology, and Bed Head Curls Rock. Not all at the same time, though. Would it help to use a good shampoo and conditioner? As you can see I have a lot of questions it would be FAB if you would please help me out.
Ouidad: Deep Treatment will help with the frizz, but if the products you are using are based with oils, wax, alcohol, or silicone they tend to dry the hair out more. Try sticking to products that are water-soluble and protein-based. Using a specialized shampoo and conditioner definitely helps fight frizz. I recommend trying our Curl Quencher Shampoo and Conditioner as it focuses on moisturizing curls.
A: Wash your hair with a gentle deep cleansing shampoo (such as Water Works Clarifying Shampoo“> which helps remove product build up as well as chlorine, hard water and mineral build up. Try to only use products containing mineral oil on dry hair as a finishing product. Use small amounts and work from the ends up (staying 1 inch away from the scalp”>.
Christina Applegate
Q: I would love to get the look of Christina Applegate on Samantha Who?. I love the length and large curls. I have fine 3b/c hair. Any hints?
Ouidad: Using my Rake & Shake technique, dispense a nickel-size dollop of styling gel (I recommend the Ouidad Curl Quencher Gel, which will help to soften tighter curls”> to palms and work evenly through sections of damp hair. Starting at the nape area take a 2″ section of hair from ear to ear (or a larger section for larger curls”>, and rake the lotion through; holding section at the end, then shake to reset your curl pattern. Repeat entire process, working in sections to the top of the head.
Q: I am a 3a and I am allergic to sulfates, so I cannot use lots of hair products because of the sulfates in them. I won’t go into the gross details about what happens when I do but just think: worst rash possible, only under your hair!!! Anyway, I cannot find hardly any shampoos or conditioners, with no sulfates. Can you recommend anything? I am desperate; it has gotten worse as I have gotten older and it is really bad now. I have spoken to a dermatologist and the products they keep recommending have sulfates in them so I have basically given up. What can I do?
Ouidad: Sulfates are often found in shampoos to help with the cleansing process by removing dirt, oil and residues. My KRLY Kids Shampoo has a very low amount of sulphates. And the KRLY Kids Conditioner and Spray Gel do not contain sulfates so you may like to try them. Go to ouidad.com/Krly-Kids for our KRLY Kids line. And remember for shampoo: no need to use it every day. For curly hair I recommend it two or three days a week.
Q: Do hair vitamins really make a difference?
Ouidad: Absolutely. I recommend them to all my clients. With today’s environment and our diets, we are always lacking necessary vitamins.
Q: How much conditioner do you need?
Ouidad: It depends on the length of the hair. People have a tendency to fill their hands, which is too much. For short hair, a nickel-size dollop is sufficient. For medium length hair, a quarter-size dollop. And for longer hair, two quarters-size dollop.
Dear Ouidad: What does it mean to prime your hair?
A: We all know how important it is to prime before we paint, but not everyone knows it is equally important to prime before your daily beauty regimen.
Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner – Leave hair in optimal condition no matter what adversity it faces with Ouidad’s newest tress tender, Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner. Created by the curl expert and leader of the “curl revolution”, this hybrid conditioner and pre-styler in one is a breakthrough that Ouidad spent over two years developing!
“Conditioning is the best way to protect hair from environmental factors such as heat and humidity while also priming it for styling,” offers Ouidad. Not only will hair’s strength be enhanced with Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner’s proprietary blend of naturally active ingredients, including Arnica, Prickly Pear Cactus, Green Tea and Pro-Vitamin B5, this advanced product also helps hair hold onto moisture — creating a protective barrier that adds shine while safeguarding hair for overall health and vitality.
Q: I’m confused about all these sun-protection products out there. Does hair really get sunburned? Why should I use one?
Ouidad: UVA and UVB rays are damaging to the locks as well as the skin. Protecting your tresses and your scalp is a must! Always keep hair under wraps with prolonged sun exposure, either with a great brimmed hat or fashionable scarf. Also, I developed Ouidad Sun Shield Spray to instantly provide UV protection to hair with its exclusive cinnamidopropyltrimonium chloride ingredient, traditionally reserved for skin care usage. The small molecules of this ingredient absorb sun rays, as conditioning agents including quartz crystals, proteins, amino acids and antioxidants reflect sun damage away from the hair, keeping it moisturized. A breathable clear glaze that acts as a shield — protects hair from harsh elements — preserving the hair color and promoting healthy shiny curls.
To NC.com members, Thank you. Answering your questions over the past year has been an educational process for me and a refresher course for all that I have learned and taught over the years. I want to thank each and every one of you for your questions, the ones that I have answered and the ones I couldn’t get to because of time constraints. I want to wish you all very happy and healthy holidays! Vive Le Curl, Ouidad
Q: Hi, I have naturally curly hair. It’s 3b, I think. It is just past my shoulders with a little bit of layering. I am having a hard time with it. I get halo frizz all the time which drives me crazy. The bottom is shaped in a curve and the sides, which frame my face, get much curlier than anywhere else. The rest is long, thin curls. But the underside in back gets big soft curls. It used to be very curly all over with lots of lift, but now it always looks kind of flat on top and bigger as it goes down. On top of that, the hair on the back of my head in the center always looks straight and frizzy. By the end of the day my hair is frizzed out. I can’t figure out what products to use, mostly because it seems like anything heavy enough to control frizz weighs the curl down. I like to diffuse my hair (on low”> because otherwise it takes forever to dry and I have a 3-month-old baby. I noticed if I don’t rinse out the conditioner I get nicer curls, which makes me think my hair is dry. I’m using Aveda leave-in, gel, and pomade but I’m still not satisfied. I want something that is going to give me shiny, soft curls without this frizz. Please help. Theresa Ouidad: Theresa, your description of your hair is a common conversation in my salon. You see, it’s natural to have all types of curls in one head of hair. But in caring for them they should be addressed individually. The problem of the frizz can be solved with a Deep Treatment every two weeks and a lightweight gel — like Climate Control Gel — that works with humidity . I would carve the underneath of your upper layer to support it and give it height at the roots, and carve the sides to loosen your curls. I would slice around the rest of your hair where you have loose curls to give them more of a boost and that will give you a visual of even curls. I think Deep Treatment and lightweight products will give you the shiny soft curls you’re looking for. Q: My mother is Asian and has very thick wavy hair. My father has coarse kinky hair. This makes me a girl with very thick hair and a lot of curls. I think I’m a 3C. I love my curls nevertheless, but to make my curls a bit more manageable I want to loosen them up with a texturizer. But I’m afraid to do so. I’ve been told that a texturizer makes your natural hair come out even curlier and coarser. Is this true? I don’t want to get rid of my curls, but I don’t want my hair to become unmanageable as a result of the texturizer either. Have you got a suggestion what I should do? Cheryl Ouidad: Cheryl, the reason I formulated my own Softening System is because texturizers swell the hair shaft and make curls unmanageable. A Ouidad Softening will soften your tight S’s causing your hair to loosen into a manageable desired curl.The softener is 50 percent the strength of a professional relaxer and contains my Deep Treatment to rebuild the hair — it’s customized to the hair that is being treated. Your softener should be done three times a year. Make sure you do your Deep Treatment regularly. Q:I have wavy and curly hair and I flat ironed it with a ceramic flat iron. I set it on the highest temperature because I was trying to get my hair straight much faster. Afterwards when I wanted it natural again, I washed it (many times”>. It’s been over two months and then it didn’t curl up. Could you tell me if it go back to i’s natural state again? Thank you..Mariah Chicago, Illinois Ouidad: Mariah, Every time you used your flat iron, you are baking the life out of your hair as you singe your hair over and over. That’s why it lost its curl now. I recommend that you do my Deep Treatment every two weeks and within three treatments you will see your curls coming back. Not to say you won’t see it from the first treatment, but it will take at least three treatments for your molecules to bond so your hair will perform. If you can stop using your flat iron and feed your hair every two weeks, your curls will come back. Q: I have two types of hair and it drives me crazy! Other than the top of my head, I have lovely, thick, soft twirly curls. Then there’s the top and a few wiry pieces right up against my head that scream at me when I look in the mirror. That area is more like a loose wave. If I can wait until it’s almost dry to style it, I can keep it a little curly. If I dry it loosely right away as I do the rest of my head, it comes out like two different hairstyles. The top is straight and the rest is soft and curly. Is there a product or cut that can help me pump up the wave a little to meet the curl I have everywhere else? My stylist said I could do a top-only perm if it really bothers me, but I really don’t think I need to. There’s got to be a better way! Joyce Ouidad: Joyce, It’s natural to have different textures of curls in one head of hair. My PlayCurl Mousse is designed for the front section of your hair. It’s designed to help boost your curls where its needed, at the roots. You’ll find that it will work well for you. So, if the roots of your hair are straight and the rest of your hair is curly, use the PlayCurl line. It will boost your hair!
Q: I am 41-year-old female with medium-length curly, coarse, thick hair. I have worn it past my shoulders my entire life and wear it up most days because I live in a very humid climate and it does nothing but frizz when I leave it down. I am tired of having big, long hair at my age. I want to cut it above my shoulders, but am afraid it will go wild and I won’t be able to pull it up. Any suggestions? I desperately need a change! thanks.
Ouidad: You have several options. But first I should tell you that I don’t believe in age and length being an issue. You can have any length hair at any age. Now, the reason your hair frizzes is because it’s dehydrated. You need to put the moisture back into your hair by doing your Deep Treatments every two weeks. Think of your curly hair as being like a dry sponge. If you put a dry sponge in water it will expand, but if you put a wet sponge in water, already plump with internal moisture, it won’t have any reaction. So if your hair is properly moisturized your hair won’t be prone to frizz when you wear it down. Now you can also have it carved and sliced to lighten it up and make it manageable at the length that it is. Your second option would be to soften your hair, which means loosen the curls and cut it shorter. That could be fun also. Just make sure you deep treat every two weeks and that will definitely give you a change.
