The Curly Journey

by Hollywood
(North Carolina)

All my life I have wanted straight hair.

In high school I used to wake up two hours before everyone else and would flat iron my hair only to have a frizzy mess when the day was over (especially during the summer).

Everything that can be done to a person's hair has been done to mine. I've dyed my hair, put gel in my hair, had it relaxed repeatedly, had a Japanese straightening perm (which left my hair so dry and brittle, that I took scissors and cut it to 2 inches all over my head), and other crazy remedies to try to keep it soft, not frizzy, and straight.

I was always envious of those with straight perfect hair who would take showers, do "the wash and go" routine and always come out with a beautiful straight style. I used to wonder why was I so unlucky? I thought my hair was dry, ugly, and unmanageable and made my face look fat.

One day, I was fed up with my hair and was considering just cutting it all off again, when I went to a website called MotownGirl.com.

There, I learned that everything I had learned about my hair was actually hurting my hair. After ordering samples from some of the advertisers on the website, I found a routine that works for me. My hair is soft and manageable and now (with the help of a great leave in conditioner, Mixed Chicks), I can do the wash and go method. I also, with the help of naturallycurly.com, found a stylist who specializes in curly hair cuts, so I don't have big bulky hair. Nor do I have the big "bell shaped" hair either.

I finally felt free. My new motto was "work with my hair, not against it."

My convictions were confirmed when one day, I was supposed to visit my boyfriend's best friend for the first time. I went to my stylist who, for whatever reason, decided to cut and blow dry my hair straight.

I felt weird and like a traitor to my hair. My BF liked it and we went to meet his friend. Well it was misting all morning and by the time I met with his friend, my hair was back to a big puffy mess and I ended up wearing my hair in a pony tail (my back in the day style of choice - now I wear it out all the time).

I knew that if I had worn my hair curly in the misty/rainy weather, my curls (along with Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner and Miss Jessie's curly pudding) would have soaked up the water and would have looked lovely.

My one piece of advice to everyone starting to embrace their curly side is, remember that it takes 3 to 4 weeks before your hair is able to embrace the change. When I started the no-poo method, my scalp would itch terribly. I still shampoo with Head & Shoulders every two weeks because it works for me. Also, products that didn't seem to work before 3 to 4 weeks, started to afterwards. This has been my experience.