Search Results: Ouidad
PS: My budget is tight so I don’ want to go spending tons on some fancy product which doesn’ t even work! Help me please!
Ouidad: In order to be successful with styling curly hair you must use styling products. In my years of experience I never have seen a client’s hair fall out because of hair gels. I don’t think it’s true, but if you have reservations, use a daily conditioner as a styling tool. It won’t hold your hair well, but it’s better than nothing at all. I think you should search for a good water-soluble styling product.Q: My daughter is 5 (biracial”> with very loopy, curly hair. Athough it’s fine, she has a lot of it. I read the comments about instilling confidence in children and I have tried to do that. But her friends have straight hair and it sometimes seems to be an issue for her. But for the most part she is accustomed to receiving lots of positive comments about her hair. I do tend to braid it daily or put it up or in a pony tail because of the time it takes to brush it. Wearing it loose tends to be a special-occasion thing — which in a sense reinforces that it is extra special. She likes her hair loose but hates the prep the following day.Until now I have been afraid to cut it because I have heard so many horror stories of the curl completely leaving. Her cousin, also biracial, had his color and curls disappear after a particularly short haircut. The most I have ever cut is about a half inch off my daughter. It is now mid-back length. I believe she needs a cut because her ends look a bit damaged. The curls are also being weighed down, so unless I really soak it, it is looking wavier at the top. Any ideas on this? –Josée Fonseca
Ouidad: There are several things you can do to help your precious daughter wear her hair loose. First, congratulations on instilling confidence in her about her hair. It’s very important. Second, you should never brush her hair out. Third, shampooing once a week is OK.You should style her hair by using gel and applying it in sections to help the curl pattern and diffuse on low heat, or let it dry naturally. If applied thoroughly, your daughter should be able to wear her hair loose for the next three days. When she’s going to sleep, pull her hair into a low ponytail very loosely and use a scrunchee to loosely hold the hair to prevent tangles. In the morning take off the scrunchee and her hair will keep its shape. By the fourth day you can pull it back and braid it. Your daughter will have the best of both hair styles and it’s easier for you. Now as far as her cousin’s hair color disappearing after a haircut, I’ve never seen or heard of that before. A hair cut should not take the curl away if your hair is curly from the roots out. And yes, I would get a little trim for your daughter. Its good to clean it up once in a while, every three to four months.
Q: I’m an 18-year-old college student with quite a few curly girl problems. First, I have yet to figure out if my hair is wavy or curly! I’m multiracial and my hair is both fine and thick. Also, when I leave my hair with nothing in it, it doesn’t make curls, and I find that I have to use a lot of product to keep the curl in my hair. Also, when I was little, the front of my hair was very prone to breakage. In an act of desperation, I took a pair of scissors to my hairline and cut big bald spots in my head. Fortunately, my hair grew back, but the texture of it was completely different than the rest of my head. I used to relax the front of my hair, but after a few years it stopped working. Now I’m stuck with tiny stunted curls that drive me crazy. Do you have any suggestions for how I can disguise the short hairs? Also, is there anything I can do so they’ll grow like the rest of my hair does? Thanks a lot. –Allysha R.
Ouidad: In a curly head of hair, it’s natural to have many textures. Having fine and thick hair, you must treat it with Deep Treatment every two weeks to help the spring in your curl so it can have a healthy pulse and bounce. Be sure to use a styling product to style fine curls. When your hair is in a good condition, you’ll find you will not need to use a lot of product to keep the curl in and your hair will not expand as much. Also by doing your Deep Treatment, your tiny curls will grow a bit. Eventually when they are well-conditioned, you may (chemically”> soften the front to match the rest of your hair.
Q: I would love to have the loosening process performed on my spiral curls but my hair is already color-treated. Is the loosening process safe on this type of hair?
Ouidad: If, when you say “the loosening process,” you are referring to the Ouidad Softening System, then the answer is yes. But only if you do the Deep Treatment every two weeks for three treatments before the process. The Ouidad Softening System is a very gentle form of loosening the curl. With the Deep Treatment, you are strengthening your hair But you must be disciplined and do it every two weeks. Many of my clients do both processes (coloring and softening”>.
Q:Ouidad, I just recently purchased your starter set and after a week of using it decided to order some more products. My question is about the Deep Treatment. I have used it just once and did notice a difference in my hair’s softness, but I did not use a hood style dryer or hair bonnet as I do not have access to either. Instead I placed the recommended plastic cap around my head and used a hand held blow dryer for 20 minutes. Will this technique of applying the Deep Treatment be just as effective or am I wasting time and money? Do you have a better technique to suggest as an alternative?Also, I’ve been using the Climate Control Gel. Although I am really liking it, my hair is still feeling somewhat crunchy. What do you suggest to keep my curls defined but give them softness? Thank you!–Anna in NM
Ouidad: Using a hand-held blow dryer also works well. The only difference from a hood dryer is that while you are heating one side of the head, the other is still cold. So it just takes longer to heat the hair thoroughly.. Also, you can go into a steam room for 20 minutes if you have access to one at a gym. Some clients have told me that while they run on their treadmill in the privacy of their own home, they do the Deep Treatment. Just apply the Deep Treatment and cover your hair with the plastic cap and run. If you can find a cheap heating cap at a pharmacy, that works too.As far as crunchiness from the Climate Control Gel, I would finish your hair with a dollop of Clear Control. Place it in the palm of your hands and run your hands over your hair in a ponytail effect all the way to the ends. That will define your curls and give you the softness and shine you seek. Good luck.
Dear Ouidad: Please settle this problem once and for all for me. Please let me if I know should comb my hair when it is wet (right after taking a shower”>. My routine is to wash my hair, put in some leave-in conditioner, put in some product and pull it up in a bun/pony tail. I would very much like to wear it down once and for all. ( I am 25 and have never — and I mean never — worn my hair down.”> But I am cursed by having too much hair, compounded by the fact that it is course and thick, and the minute I try to wear my hair down after washing it, and combing product into it, it gets poofier and poofier, even though I am air drying it. Help! What am I doing wrong.? Should I not comb my hair at all, even when its wet. When I have not combed it through, it gets less frizzy/poofy. HELP!
A: The best way to detangle your hair is while you are in the shower. After applying conditioner to your hair, use a large-tooth comb to detangle the hair while the conditioner is still in the hair. This is important because hair is prone to overstretching and breakage when it is wet. The conditioner will add what we call “slip” to the hair to make the detangling process easier. Go slowly and gently. Start at the ends and work your way up. Then rinse half of the conditioner out of your hair under the shower and leave about half in. Gently blot your hair with a towel, but do not flip it over or twist the towel into a turban. You want to avoid disturbing the curl pattern set by the running water in the shower. Only use a wide-toothed comb while you are in the shower with conditioner in your hair. At all other times and for styling purposes, just use your fingers as your styling tools to distribute the styling lotion. You’ll find that you can definitely wear your hair down. Keep in mind that the less you handle your hair, the better your results will be. My mantra: Less is More!
Dear Ouidad: I am a teenage girl who has a full head of naturally curly, thick, poofy, frizzy hair! I am willing to do anything to get rid of my frizz and have beautiful curls! I just can’t spend tons of money on products. I’m desperate! Please help me, it’s urgent!
A: There are many things you can do. You can get a softening (which is a very mild chemical treatment”> to help soften your curls and get rid of frizziness. You only need to do it twice a year — once every six months. Or you can get the best deep treatment your money can buy and do it every two weeks. That way your hair will be filled from the inside and will have its own internal weight. By leaving a conditioner in your hair at all times, you’ll have dramatically increased manageability. For the best results, check ingredients and make sure your deep treatment is made with soy and wheat proteins. Besides being animal friendly, vegetable proteins have higher moisture retention levels than animal proteins so the benefits for the hair are realized longer.
Dear Ouidad: Hello, my name is Tiffanie. I am a 21-year-old college student with very long, naturally curly hair. I have a huge problem with it because lately I’ve been going right to bed after my shower and sleeping with it wet, in a high bun on top of my head. It’s turned into bird’s nest — so matted and tangled that there are no visible ends. Is there anything I can do to loosen the hair to begin to untangle it? I’m very desperate and will do anything to avoid cutting it. Thank you so much for your time.
A: The first thing you need to detangle your hair is patience and time. Start out by wetting your whole head and apply lots of detangling conditioner. Choose a conditioner on the oily side for optimum slip. Then use a chopstick to start opening your bun a little at a time, starting at the edge of your bun and working your way in. That should be the hardest and most time-consuming part. After you have unraveled most of your bun, use your fingers to do the rest of your bun. Keep applying conditioner during this process to ease the stress to the hair. After you have opened the bun sufficiently with your fingers, use a large tooth comb starting at the ends and working your way up to detangle the rest of your hair.Once you have completely detangled your hair, rinse it thoroughly and apply a deep treatment. Apply a deep penetrating conditioner every two weeks to bring the life back to your hair. I’m not a fan of oily conditioners because they coat hair, causing it to dehydrate and become dull and brittle. But I am recommending it to you just to detangle your hair. Please call my salon (212-333-7577″> and leave a message to let me know your results. Good luck.
Dear Ouidad: I have been blessed with naturally curly hair, which I love! However, thanks to genetics, my hair is very fine and thin. It is currently just above my shoulders with long layers. I don’t ever wear my hair completely down for various reasons. First of all, my hair is so fine and thin that you can see my scalp and I appear to be balding (even though I’m not”>. Second. my hair begins to curl about an inch from the roots therefore my hair looks flat on top until the curls begin. I have a combination of waves, loose curls and a few Shirley Temple curls as well. I also can’t seem to find a combination of products that allow my curls to be smooth and defined for any length of time — they always end up frizzy by mid-afternoon. (I love your Heat and Humidity Control gel which is a lifesaver in the summertime”>. To combat this, I always wear my hair half way pulled up, in a ponytail or french braid. I wish I could leave it down and have the beautiful curls I see other curly haired women have. However with my fine, thin hair, is this possible? Please help! Kristin
A: Dear Kristin, My Play Curl / Boost line was created with your hair type in mind — fine, combination wavy, loose curls. It’s natural for emerging hairs to grow straight from the follicle. Straight hair is straight because the opening of the follicle is circular. Wavy hair like yours has a follicular opening that is more oval-shaped. As the hair grows and lengthens from the roots, it starts to create its curl patter like curling ribbon. The more pronounced the oval, the tighter the curl pattern. PlayCurl will help boost your roots and define curl pattern throughout your hair and right down to the roots. It will allow you to wear your hair down. And keep in mind that applying a deep treatment to your hair every two weeks will definitely put the pulse in those curls and keep them bouncy.
Dear Ouidad: I would like to know how often I should be getting my hair trimmed. Unfortunately I don’t lilve anywhere near a certified Ouidad salon, so I have to rely on stylists that don’t know very much about curly hair. My hair has been at shoulder length for the past 10-15 years. I get regular trims every 6-8 weeks — sometimes as long as 10 weeks. Still there’s no apparent growth. My stylist insists she is only cutting 1/4′ to 1/2′ at a time, depending on the ‘breakage’ she sees. Help! I am going to start using the products suggested like the Deep Treatment, but I am looking for advice on trims. I’m desperate to see my curls go beyond my shoulders. Thanks in advance! Jill
A: Deep Treatment will definitely be of great help. But you should trim your hair only every 12 weeks. Hair that is in good condition should and will grow a quarter to a half an inch a month. If you cut your hair every three months and only half an inch — because I’m sure that’s all you’ll need — your hair should extend a full inch every three months with your hair cut. Four inches a year is very good. You’ll find your that curls will go beyond your shoulders in no time. Good Luck.
Ouidad: When wanting to achieve a loose curl, I’ve found that using the Ouidad Climate Control gel works best. Apply the product to your hair in sections. (The amount of hair that is between your fingers will create the diameter of the curl. so take large sections.”> Make sure you have enough product for each section to set. Let your curls set for about 15 minutes then diffuse the hair while gently pulling the ends down to stretch and elongate the curls.
Another way to loosen your curls would be to soften your curls, which is a very gentle process similar to a hair relaxer. This softening process will allow the curls to loosen into a wave pattern. Make sure you do it professionally at a salon. At my salon, everyone wants to have it done, especially before summer because it loosens the curl but retains the bounce and pulse.
Q: My niece has naturally tight curls (just like her aunt”>. She is one quarter African American and three quarters Irish. The curls from the two nationalities are not connecting like good friends! The curls on top of her head are looser, while the hair in the back is more kinky. Any ideas on how to tame two different types of curls on a 2-year-old’s head? — Leah
Ouidad: She must be adorable! I would recommend a carving cut on the back of her hair where it’s kinky, in order to puzzle those tight kinky curls together. That will give it a softer look visually. Then slice the top where it’s looser to blend both curl types together.
To care for her hair, use my new KRLY Kids No Time For Tears Shampoo, which is very gentle shampoo and KRLY Kids No More Knots Conditioner. The KRLY conditioner doubles as a leave-in conditioner that will get the knots out easily. It is light and gentle enough not to weigh her delicate curls down. Then to finish her style and keep her curls in shape, use KRLY Kids Pump & Go Spray Gel for control and smiles. A child’s hair is virgin, and my KRLY Kids line utilizes skin care ingredients so that they are extra gentle for children. Our young clients in the salon have been using my new products with success for the past year.
Q: I am a mother (with very staight hair”> of a toddler with VERY curly hair. It is adorable, but is forever getting matted and frizzy. I have heard eveything from ‘Never cut it’ to ‘Use leave in products as an adult would’ I never knew blond hair could be so curly! I would appreciate any suggestions. I also feel very strongly that she should love her hair and don’t want it to seem like a hassle for her. Already she spends too much time with it in pigtails! I live in NYC so if you have a salon suggestion for her I will take that info too! — Julie, curly toddler mom
Ouidad: We see this all the time in my New York salon. Moms with straight hair and girls with curls that don’t stop!! One of my KRLY Kids models is a 5-year-old with blond kinky tight curls. A kid’s hair is very fragile and you need to care for it gently. Hair care lines for adults require different ingredients to work with all the damage we do.
What is especially important is the knowledge on how to maintain and style curly hair. I would recommend to bring her in to my salon (Ouidad, 846 7th Ave, 212-333-7577″> and consult with one of my curl experts. They will teach you to develop skill and curl understanding. Your attitude and encouragement will prepare your daughter for a life time of beautiful curly tresses.
Q: I used to wear my fine, curly hair long. Then, I moved to a new climate, had two children and passed the 40 year mark. Things were not good. My lovely curls began to grow out and at the moment that I saw a picture of myself with what appeared to be a frizzy perm that was growing out, I cut the whole thing off. For years now, I have worn it short, blow drying it into what I think of as my ‘small market newscaster hairdo’. I miss my curly hair.
Now, I live in a very dry climate, I color my hair about every three weeks and I haven’t had it cut in four months. It looks a little raggedy. I’m going to try it long again (one last time before the mandatory 50-year cut-off”>. It’s still a little short (3 inches all around, for the most part”>, and the curls are sticking out a bit wildly. I’m thinking a perm might get me over the hump and smooth out the curves now. Can I color and perm at the same time? If I do, will I have to cut off those three inches in the end. — Susan
Ouidad: I wish you were standing in front of me because I would yell at you. Two kids and 40 years old — your life can’t get any better. One thing that bothers me is your assertion of “the mandatory 50-year cut-off of hair.” I don’t believe you need to adjust the length of your hair based solely on your age. I have clients in their late 60’s and early 70’s with gorgeous sophisticated long curls!!!
A dry climate can be a good climate for growing out your hair because you can control the moisture level in your hair with Deep Treatments, not the environment. As you are growing your hair out, I would recommend a little carving (which is my cutting technique”> to have your sides set into each other instead of sticking out. The theory of a perm might be practical, but not the perm itself. Perms are as a volumizer on straight hair to give those poor people some hope. But for you and me, it would be just the reverse making our hair frizzier and twice as big. So forget it. Condition, condition, condition with Deep Treatment instead. Using Deep Treatment every two weeks will allow you to color your hair. Personally, I soften and color my hair. Try to extend your color to 6 or 8 weeks by just doing the hair line and part in between full coloring processes. The less you color the better.<
br class=”webkit-block-placeholder” />Q: Hi! I have thick wavy to curly hair. But at 23, I still have no idea what to do with it. My mother has super straight hair so she was never able to teach me how to style my hair properly. I’ve been blowdrying my hair straight since I was 13 but I’ve never been happy with how it looks. It always turns into a wavy, fuzzy mess by the end of the day, no matter what product I use in it. I’ve recently resorted to a straightening iron to smooth my hair, which works pretty well. But, I’m concerned about the damage that all this styling is doing to my hair and I would rather just wear it naturally.
The problem I find is that my hair is different on different parts of my head. My hair runs from slightly wavy on top to curly in the back to kinky ringlets at the temples and the nape of my neck. I’ve tried diffusers and air drying, but it ends up looking dry and messy. I know that I’m not styling it correctly, but I really don’t know how else to deal with it. Do you have any suggestions on how I can tame my hair??
Ouidad: Well, from the history that you have, you have some work to do.
You must Deep Treat your hair every two weeks to try to put the life into it that you have taken out by blow-drying. The straightening irons actually singes the outer protective layer of your hair eventually causing it to break off. If you were to touch a hot curling iron with your bare skin, the first layer of your skin will singe off. The same damaging effects happen to your hair. As you condition your hair, it will start to perform for you because you are linking the internal molecular layer.
In regard to all the different parts of curls in your head, it’s normal to have three to four different curly hair textures on one head of hair. So you need to style in sections and customize your gel application to your curl pattern. For an example, I would take the finer, tighter curls in larger sections and make sure that I apply enough gel to set the curl to match the fatter looser curls. I would roll the top of my hair which is the looser curl around my index finger with gel to set a tighter curl.
With proper conditioning and a little extra attention to your gelling application, you’re home free. Let me know how you do.
Q: I am a woman in my mid-30’s and my hair is naturally thick and very curly. Last year, I decided to have my hair relaxed using the Japanese Thermal Reconditioning System. I loved the new look for a while. But started to miss my naturally curly hair. Now, 10 months and three haircuts later, my hair is driving me crazy. The top part is straight and the underneath part is curly I would love to have my curls back. But having the patience to grow my hair out is driving me mad. What would you recommend I do? A perm? A body-wave? Please help! — Julie
Have your hair sliced on the upper layer to create a layered effect and work those ends in. Actually, it will give you a look of layered curly big hair of the eighties. That’s the style we’re showing more of right now and it’s beautiful. And thanks to most ladies like yourself who took that avenue, you have given my team a lot of experience matching those ends to the rest of the hair.
Remember, Deep Treat, Deep Treat.
Q: I know you encourage drying hair naturally. I’m not crazy about the ‘wet look’ and I don’t have a lot of time for my hair to dry naturally so I use a diffuser like the one you promote. What’s interesting is that if I don’t use the diffuser, my hair is STRAIGHTER and very flat. It’s never springy or curly enough when I dry naturally. And I’ve been using the deep treatment twice a month as prescribed. Do you have any suggestions?– Kristi
Ouidad: Kristi, from your description of your hair being straight and flat when you let it dry naturally tells me that you hair isn’t that curly. Doing the Deep Treatment every two weeks would definitely enhance your curls, but it can only enhance what’s there. So, when you’re diffusing you are actually adding more curl with the aid of the diffuser and your hair is performing because it’s not dry and dehydrated. Since you like the result of the diffuser better, use your diffuser on low heat and try not to over-dry your hair.
Q: I have curly hair — it was a lot more curly before I had my daughter but it still has a good wave in some places and tight curls in others. I have noticed, though, that if I touch my hair the curl comes right out. I am having a hard time keeping it down and not in a ponytail because it becomes straight and thick. What can I do to stop this from happening without putting so much gel in there that it’s crunchy all day?–Kimberly
Ouidad: Kimberly, It’s very natural for a women’s hair to change after giving birth. My hair also got a bit looser after giving birth. Sometime the natural curl pattern comes back, but if it doesn’t, have your hair cut into a style by using both textures. You can have some of it sliced to create a layered movement effect to compliment all textures, and with a little bit of gel, you should do well.
Q: Please help!! My hair is naturally curly, coarse and thick. It is about midway down my back. I cannot find a hairstylist that will cut layers in my hair to give it some shape. So my hair is all one length which means it is weighed down on top and very full the further downward it goes. All the hairstylists I have consulted with tell me the same thing, ‘layers will make your hair curlier because the shorter your hair is the more tight the curl will be’. I do not have a problem with my curls: it’s the overall shape of my hair. How could I explain to my hairdresser what cut my hair needs to give it overall shape and body and not just a bell shape?
Ouidad: I understand exactly what you mean, and I also understand the stylist fearing layers, because you hair will definitely get out of control. So what I would recommend is to start slowly by slicing a bit around the face and a bit around the upper layer, and if you feel confident that your stylist is performing well, then ask for a bit of carving, which means to cut into the curl from the inside at the beginning of the curl pattern to allow the hair to sit into each other; that will get rid of your hair getting wider at the bottom. Slicing will give you the visual effect of layers with much more control and carving will puzzle your curls together to sit in each other and closer to the head.
Q: I’m a 15-year-old girl with hair a little past my shoulders; it’s a mix of 2b and 3a curls, with graduated layering. I have trouble creating more volume at the top and keeping my style ‘locked’ with out getting the crunch factor. Plus, I wash/condition/dry/style my hair at night because I just don’t have time in the morning. Help me before I return to my blow dryer and brush!!! — Carly Marquis
Ouidad: Carly, you know you don’t want to go to the blow dryer & brush!!! When you are styling your hair at night while your hair is just been gelled, place duckbill clips (not flat on side”> at the root of the hair all around the top and sides and crown of your head. Then lightly spray your hair with a mild hairspray like the Styling Mist, and then diffuse. That will create height for you. Now to save your hair for the next day, even though it’s layered, try to gather all your hair gently into a loose ponytail and use a scrunchi to hold it while you’re sleeping to save your style. Let me know how you do.
Q: If I don’t use product on my hair my curls are huge and fuzzy. I have tried loads of serums but they don’t seem to stop this. I end up using hair gel (lots of”> then drying my curls. Then I finish off with strong-hold hairspray to keep the style set. I end up with nice curls, but it always looks wet and I can’t touch my hair because the gel and spray goes flaky and looks like I have dandruff, thus I have to wash and re-style my hair every day. Can you think of any product I can use that would keep my curls separate, bouncy and not frizzy but not as hard and sticky. Thank you so much. –Emily, Carlisle, UK
Ouidad: Emily, what you are explaining is exactly the reason why I created my products. To set your curls, try the Climate Control, which is my styling lotion. Then dry your hair. When your hair is completely dry via naturally or diffusing, then use my Clear Control Pomade to help open and define your curls. When your curls dry with the Climate Control, it will have crispy feeling, which is how your curls will sit. Now by using a dime size of the pomade, rub your hands together and pull your hair back away from your face in a ponytail position, then hold one hand to hold the pony at the back of the head and use your other hand to run over the rest of your ponytail to loosen and define your curls. You hair should feel soft; look shiny and bouncy, not stiff. All my products are water soluble.
Q: I have naturally curly hair with some reddish tint to it. I’d really like to bring that out with some red streaks and maybe add some blonder streaks as well. However, my stylist is afraid that the chemicals will make my hair less curly. How can I safely color my hair without ruining the curl? –Lindsey
Ouidad: Lindsey, clients get their hair colored and softened at my salon all the time. The key to their success is that they do the Deep Treatment every two weeks, which helps to reconnect your internal molecular layer of the hair so your hair won’t empty out. And, it keeps its life in the hair which means you won’t lose your curls. Make sure you do your treatment three days before color to prep the hair and get even color tonality. Then repeat the treatment 10 days after coloring to rebuild the molecular layer. You can have both!
Ouidad: A softening is a chemical process similar to hair straighteners. The one I use is half of the strength of a gentle straightener and I add my Deep Treatment to it to make the formula even softer. Depending on the hair I’m working on, I customize it. The idea and result is to soften, loosen the curl to a desirable pattern for manageability. It works wonders but, you must understand that any chemical process you do to your hair does have a drying effect. And if you don’t feed your hair on a regular basis it could be damaging. Most of my clients get softenings. They are able to wear their hair down and have different styles because the hair does become more manageable. Also we are bombarded with softenings in the spring and summer because it gives the client freedom from fear of the weather. Another good thing about softening is that you can do it in spots if need be. I’ve been softening my hair for more than 20 years. Q: It has taken me more than 30 years to finally come to terms with the fact that I will never be able to run my fingers through my naturally curly hair once it’s dry. My hair will just never look like the soft, shiny, silky hair in those Pantene ads, unless I get Japanese straightening like my cousin, who has come to regret it and is now letting it grow out. My sister, however, has not realized this fact. Can you please confirm for me that it is simply not possible, nor should it be expected, to be able to run your fingers through naturally curly hair? If you print this Q&A, I can show it to my sister and maybe that will convince her.
Ouidad: I love your question. When I was little and when my sister use to get on my nerves. In order to get her back, I would wait till she had finished her hair and was ready to walk out the door to go to school. I would run my fingers through her hair and then run for my life. I still do it to this day when I see her, for old-times sake. Actually, no one should run their fingers through curly hair. What happens is that the hair will fan out into such expansion and take away the smooth curl pattern. If you must touch your hair, you can play with curly hair by picking up some of the curls and repositioning them. Or, one can play by teasing with the tabs of your fingers at the root of the hair to create movement.
Q: I have decided to stop fighting my curls and to embrace them however. I had my hair straightened about 7-8 months ago by thermal reconditioning. Now I have 3 inches of curly outgrowth and then straight hair. Any suggestions during this transition from straight to curly? Should I cut it off? Any info would be appreciated. I recently read ‘Curly Girl.’ What do you think of her care techniques?
Ouidad: Congratulations on your decision to embrace your curls! I see your situation often. There are several suggestions. One, you can soften the new growth a bit to break the visual difference of the two textures of hair. Two, you can have your hair sliced on the upper layer of the hair to create a movements giving a layered look, and shorten it a little. Now my last suggestions is to cut it short, but believe me you can have fun growing it out. As far as the care techniques in ‘Curly Girl,’ I don’t mind most of them, but I really don’t agree with no shampooing.
Q: Can certain ingredients in hair products make you break out? The reason I’m asking is that I am currently using shampoo and conditioner that do wonders for my hair, but they make me break out around my hairline.My routine is I condition every day but shampoo every two to three days. .
Ouidad: I like your routine for you hair care. As far as ingredients are concerned, I believe that it is possible to break out. I would recommend to have them checked by a dermatologist to figure our exactly what ingredients are causing you to break out and switch to products that are free of these ingredients. Or, you can try to shampoo and condition your hair staying away from your hair line and see how that works, if you really like these products.
Q: I recently turned 20 years old. From grades 8 through 11, I wore my curly hair up in a bun/ponytail. I’ve been wearing it straight all the time even up to now. Since I just turned 20, I decided to go back to curls. But it’s been soo long since I’ve had them. I don’t know what to do with them. My main question is hair products. My hair is a 3b, but is extra kinky at the roots especially in the front (that’s the part that scares me away from my curls”> and I would like to use a hair product to help weigh down my hair. Or is there a way to tame my roots? Any suggestions? Also, my poor hair is very damaged from all the heat I’ve used on it. What could I use to help that? It’s been a while since I’ve actually seen my curly hair and I would like to welcome it back into my life.
Ouidad: Lucy, I’m glad that you have decided to welcome your curly hair back. Frankly I think its about time. People like you are my favorite clients. Follow these steps and enjoy your curls. I’m a strong believer in Deep Treatment. Use every two weeks for beginner clients, then once a month.Shampoo every 2nd or 3rd day and the days you don’t shampoo, wet and condition hair only.Your styling lotion should be light-weight humidity blocker.. You see, if your hair is restructured enough, your hair will have its own internal weight, and you don’t need to weigh it down with products. Keep in mind that products that are big on oils, waxes, and silicones cause the hair to dry out and get out of control, even more so in the long run. Remember my philosophy: “Less is More” It works in all areas of curly hair care. Shampoo less often. Touch your curls less. Use light-weight, breathable products. Use as few products as possible so that you’ll create an easy, manageable curl regimen. Now that we have your hair in the right condition, let’s work on your kinky curls in the front. You can do a spot softening, which is a gentle chemical treatment that shapes the kink into soft curls like the rest of the hair. Or, when styling, add a drop of Deep Treatment to your gel and roll the front around your index finger to set the curl. Now, Lucy, you follow these tips and let me know of your results. Enjoy.
