Embrace your texture! It’s all about you!
“Hair brings one’s self-image into focus; it is vanity’s proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices.” –Shana Alexander
It’s not just what grows on your head; hair is a representation of the self, and an element of the persona. What Alexander says rings true especially for the curly community. Hair should be personal, and whether it’s intended or not, hair says volumes for the kind of person you are. So, what kind of person do you have to be to wear curly hair? Whether you’re transitioning to natural hair, or deciding if curls are right for you, our CurlTalk users have some words of wisdom to share.
Do you…….?Prefer Convenience
Emily Kleinsorge has naturally wavy hair and is the owner of Lucy Skyrocket Salon in Austin, Texas. Kleinsorge has been styling hair since she was in college. After realizing her passion for hair and beauty, she abandoned her job at a software company to pursue a career as a hairstylist. Her natural talent shone through, and she was awarded a scholarship for the Aveda Institute in Houston. Kleinsorge is especially passionate about curly hair, and sought specific training at the Devachan Salon in New York City, home of the Original Curly Girl, Lorraine Massey. Now in her fourth year as a professional stylist, Kleinsorge’s experience has showed her that sometimes going natural is the best option, especially in humid environments.
“Living in Austin, if you especially have curly hair, it is always going to prevail. You might as well do what you can to work with your natural texture. People act like it’s more difficult, but in the long run it’s easier because you’re not fighting what your hair wants to do,” says Kleinsorge. Bottom line: fighting your natural texture is not an easy task. Hair dryers, flat irons, and curling irons are sometimes more work than they are worth.
Embrace Texture
In the past, so much of the media pressured women (and men”> to wear straight hair, regardless of their natural texture. Kleinsorge believes that the plight for curly representation in the media is improving, making it easier for women to go natural if they desire.
“Things are changing for the better. Celebrities are wearing curly hair,” says Kleinsorge. She believes texture is making a big comeback, and the emergence of more and more products is evidence of that. Kleinsorge has noticed these changes taking place in her own salon, and says, “…even coloring is working towards bringing out natural hair, and even the keratin treatments are now being marketed to not completely straighten the hair.” The desire to maintain natural tresses is indeed apparent from the many keratin treatments on the market that promise not to alter the client’s natural texture. Many women are rejecting keratin treatments if it results in pin-straight, lifeless locks.
Are you…..?Laid Back
Kleinsorge agrees that natural curls are not for everyone. It’s largely a matter of preference, but if you plan to rock your natural curls, she recommends approaching it with a laid back attitude. Hair is not always going to be perfect; it has as much personality and mood swings as people do. Accepting that some days are going to be worse than others will put you at an advantage in rocking natural curls and help you accept your hair’s texture. A laid-back curly girl is much easier going and doesn’t stress over looking absolutely perfect. With an easygoing nature, she accepts what her hair is. Take this CurlTalk user as an example:
“I wore my hair curly because I knew that was the way my hair was made – the way it was intended to look.”
-CurlTalk User: wavynwild16
Do what makes you – and your hair – happy.
Accepting
“You have to be able to accept what you have been naturally given and stop trying to change it according to what society says is beautiful. I guess you come to the point where you stop caring about what everyone else thinks and you do what makes you happy or makes you the best you possible.”
–CurlTalk User: pprMACHEheart
What this curly gal says is very important for not just curly girls, but everyone! Happiness should be found within yourself, and not in what others have to say about you—with or without curly hair.
Unique
Don’t forget that hair should always match your personality. It takes individuality for curly girls to embrace their unique hair and wear it proudly. This CurlTalk user’s comment envelops the individuality and personality that come with natural curls:
“When I wear it natural, I feel more comfortable – more me. It’s not perfect, neither am I. It never turns out the same each time I style it, it’s unique and kind of quirky and weird sometimes – just like me.” -CurlTalk User: aislin
Confident
“It takes the right attitude to rock curly hair. If you are constantly criticizing your curls and not confident with them, then why would anyone else find it fabulous? I have always worn my hair curly, and while I certainly have days that I long for it to be different, I walk around and own the style I have.”
-CurlTalk User: CurlyHairedFarmerConfidence is key, especially with curls. If you have natural curls but don’t think you can pull off the look, it’s probably because you don’t feel confident enough to do so. You should always wear what makes you feel confident.
Adventurous
Kleinsorge agreed that curly girls have an adventurous side. Perhaps it’s because so many girls who wear their natural hair tend to be more open to chance, or maybe it’s because adventurous women stray away from the conventional? In any case, Kleinsorge says that if you want to rock natural hair, you can’t always play it safe. Finding your style is a process that takes time and is a matter of trial and error.
“With hair or fashion, you have to take risks. Sometimes you have to lose some to win some,” says Kleinsorge.
So if you’re thinking about dropping the flat iron and plunging into the world of natural hair, there’s lots of advice for you from the CurlTalk Community. Rocking your wavy, curly, or kinky hair can (and should”> be fun and rewarding with the right products, advice and attitude!
Thanks to Emily Kleinsorge and all the CurlTalk users for their lovely advice!
