Search Results: Ouidad
Do you long for straight hair?
Dear Ouidad: I have naturally curly type 3b hair. It is frizzy and kinky and very hard to maintain. I did thermal straightening four years ago and have been getting it done every 6 months. Since my hair is so curly, it looks funny when the new hair begins to grow. I do not want to use too many chemicals too often on my hair and have read that it is best to wait at least 6 months to get hair thermally straightened, so I generally pull my hair back in a pony.
Now my questions to you are:
- Is it harmful to get your hair thermally straightened so often?
- I live in Florida and the humidity doesn’t help my frizzy hair. What other alternative would you suggest if I do not get my hair thermally straightened?
- Can you recommend any products/treatments that might help me in controlling my curls?
I have been very frustrated with my hair for a very long time. I’d really appreciate it if you can help me out and let me know the right way to handle my hair.
A: Thermally straightening your hair and other salon straightening techniques (such as a Japanese straightening or a kearatin treatment”> can be extremely damaging to your hair in the long run. I recommend trying to embrace your natural curls and start by using a deep conditioning treatment every other week to bring your curls back after all of the chemical processing. Once your hair has grown out of the straightening damage you can style using products for curly hair . Keep the frizz down by using one of my favorite conditioning and styling combinations: Moisture Lock leave-in conditioner and “>Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel. You’ll never go back to straightening again once you learn to style your naturally beautiful curly hair!
Take good care of that long curly hair.
Dear Ouidad: I have heard so much about you and glad to locate you on this site. Can you please help me out with my “bad hair day”?
I have hip-length curly hair. Can you please advise which hair style will suit me better? I want same hair length. Can you also advise we how I should manage my hair? It’s more prone to breakage.
A: You can wear curly hair in so many different styles so don’t let a bad hair day make you want to chop it all off just yet!
For longer curls like yours, I suggest using a lightweight leave-in conditioner on your ends (both wet and dry!”> in order to keep them moisturized and less prone to split ends and damage.
If you feel your hair is all-around dry and damaged, use a deep conditioning treatment every other week to help nourish and define your curls. Nothing like long, gorgeous curls that cascade and a little Carve & Slice to create a slight movement.
The right tools and product can take the frustration out of combing your hair.
Dear Ouidad: I am a 3a/3b with a slightly tighter curl on the crown of my head. I have found that the worst element of maintaining my hair is the comb out. I’ve gone through multiple products, and no matter what, the wide tooth comb ends up ripping through my hair. I don’t know what to do. If I continually combed my hair in the shower every day, I’d be a frizzball, but if I don’t, I can feel the difference in even grabbing all my hair at once. I try to start at the ends and go up to the roots, but it’s usually so difficult I dont see the point in being gentle. Any pointers?
A: For detangling tough curls, it’s all about the tools. I suggest using a heavier comb created for people with curly hair, like the Double Detangler. The weight of the comb prevents you from having to rip through your curls and pulling out extra hair. Another excellent way to prevent hair breakage and loss during detangling is to invest in an ultra-nourishing, leave-in conditioner. Having these two items will make a world of difference when going through your normal detangling routine. You also need to make sure that you’re detangling from the bottom up with conditioner in your hair to prevent stress and breakage. After detangling with conditioner in the hair you can add your styling gel.
Dear Ouidad: My hair is out of control in the morning when I wake up. It’s frizzy and big. As a teen I always wear my hair up, which my mom hates. I am starting high school in a few weeks and need a new hairstyle. Whenever I wear my hair down, it’s usually just in a head band. I need something that is quick and easy for school. Please help.
A: The best way to reduce frizz is to nourish your curls from the inside out. Start with a Deep Treatment every two weeks to keep your curls healthy and frizz-free. For a quick way to style your curls check out the 4-Minute Curls video that highlights our Rake & Shake technique meant to get your curls styled beautifully every day. Also consider a Carve & Slice cut to keep your curls easy to maintain and style.
Dear Ouidad: Is it possible for someone with super curly hair to have decent bangs? I want long, side-swept bangs and I have really curly 3b hair. I haven’t seen anyone with my hair and bangs. I’m particularly curious about side-swept bangs because I’m not sure if it’s physically possible for natural curls to form a sweep. A: It’s very difficult for tight curls to have bangs and I don’t recommend them because they usually require heat styling to keep them maintained.
Dear Ouidad: I had short haircuts when I was way younger but I feel like my hair is different now and may not react well. Is there any way to pull off extremely thick, wavy hair in a short hair cut? I figured my roots were flat anyway… and I’d be willing to straighten it if it’s short, since I’d be regularly snipping off the damaged parts.
A: Definitely go to a stylist who specializes in curly hair. At Ouidad Salons, we use my trademark Carve & Slice technique, which allows the curls to fit into each other like puzzle pieces, reducing bulk and allowing for a variety of hair styles for all curl types. The sky is the limit with this technique and you and your stylist can choose what cut works best for you!
Dear Ouidad: I scrunch in my gel upside down, one to the left, one to the right and then one upside down. The ends are fine, but the middle and top doesn’t seem as defined and gets frizzy. I am sure that it’s because I am not getting any gel there. I have tried raking but that just upsets my waves and curls. Do I just need to add more gel? Change tactics?
A: Rake & Shake is the best method of application for defined curls. Scrunching will only expand the hair and make it fluffy. To Rake & Shake more effectively, take a smaller amount of hair between your fingers and you’ll receive better results. It’s important to begin at the roots to make sure your hair at the top gets the same amount of frizz protection and definition from styling gel as the rest of your curls.
Dear Ouidad: I feel like I need something to pull my curls down. They curl up too tight to me . . . what would be something good to use to elongate while controlling frizz?? I want to use products that work best in my hair and let it dry naturally or with a diffuser without have to twist my hair!!! Ugh!! Can you tell I’m frustrated??
A: I suggest trying a gentle Softening Treatment to loosen the curl and give definition. Also, one of my favorite combinations to create healthy-looking, frizz-free curls is a Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner and Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel. Pairing a leave-in conditioner and anti-frizz styling gel together is a good combo to tame tighter curls and smooth flyaways. Style by applying the leave-in conditioner evenly through damp hair (adding a little more to the ends to weigh down curls and keep ends frizz-free”> then use my Rake & Shake technique to apply Climate Control Gel.
Quidad Q&A
Dear Ouidad: I have type 3a hair. I am trying to find a salon hair treatment that will get rid of frizz. I literally know almost NOTHING about these types of things. I want a treatment that I have to do every 3 months MAX, and even less often is preferable. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!!!
A: The best treatment for getting rid of frizz is to keep your curls healthy and reduce chemical processes (like highlighting, coloring, etc.”> that dry out your hair. I don’t suggest doing treatments with harsh chemicals (such as Keratin”>, because of the long-term damage to your hair. You should start by going for an in-salon Deep Treatment which uses a mix of proteins and amino acids to nourish your curls and reduce frizz. The more you condition, the better the results. Or you can also try a 10 minute softening defrizzer to eliminate your frizz, currently available only at the Ouidad NY Salon.
Dear Ouidad: How can I prevent tangles on a curly haired 1-year-old? She does not sit still long enough to let me detangle, so I would like to try prevention.
A: I agree that prevention is essential. Use products that are gentle on the hair. Conditioning is the key to provide detangling, but also use a leave in conditioner to help the curls be healthy and manageable and less stressful to comb.
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: Does straightening my hair permanently damage my curl pattern?
A: Of course—your curl pattern is going to change and be damaged. As the hair grows out, you may also see a different curl pattern—the roots will be tighter and the ends will be looser
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: What is the best color product for naturally curly hair (specifically to cover gray”>?
A: With curly hair, the cuticle is more open and more porous, which allows it to take on more color but also can allow it to fade more quickly. Color should be semi-permanent which is more delicate. Since the cuticle is already more open, you don’t need a strong activator to break down the cuticle layer to accept color. Also to help seal in color, I recommend a glaze afterward to promote tone longevity and vibrancy.
BONUS QUESTION:
Dear Ouidad: PLEASE make your fabulous pomade in a larger size—I love it!
A: Currently we don’t offer pomade in a larger size, But, it’s a good idea.
Dear Ouidad: I’m a 54-year-old white woman, and until last summer, I always used a blow dryer. I had no realization that my hair is really curly. So, as an experiment I’ve let it grow to shoulder length and now it really is showing an ugly, frizzy, unmanageable side when I try to blow dry. Plus an old lady with springs on her head seems weird to me and the gray hair is colored (low lights”> — what are your length and healthy hair suggestions?
A: For aging hair (especially if you have damage from heat styling”>, start with Deep Treatment conditioning 2x/month to reduce frizz and regain curl definition. Once you and your stylist see what your natural curls look like, you can decide on a style that best suits your face and personality and I don’t believe in age and length—it’s up to the individual.. The best way to keep curls looking good at any age isn’t a certain length or color, but keeping them healthy and choosing a style that’s unique to you!
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.
