Search Results: Alyssa
Let me start this entry off by saying how glad I am that so many of you are interested in learning more about your waves and how to embrace them!
I hope everyone’s waves had a good week! Since I was in the pool most of the time, my hair was in its natural state all week, and my products got a serious workout. I had a few comments, along with emails, asking about products that you can find at places like Walmart that will work well with waves. Before I knew of NaturallyCurly, Walmart was the only place I knew of where I could get something specifically for my wavy hair (because Walmart has everything of course”>.
Thank goodness for CurlMart, so we know what exactly works for our waves! If you’re in desperate need of product and are waiting on your favorite products from CurlMart to arrive, there are things at Walmart that have gotten me through a few days.
For starters, I am not a gel fan. I don’t like the crunchy feel or the wet look, so gel is not for me, even though it does make curls look good. When needing something quick I turn to mousse. I am a fan of the Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Mousse because it holds my wave all day. The down side to it, though, is that it doesn’t control my frizz. It says that it will, but I didn’t find it doing that for me. I let my hair air dry for about 20 minutes and then take as much mousse as needed to scrunch my entire head. To get a little more volume, I flip my hair over and scrunch the underneath section. Plus, if I don’t scrunch the underneath section of my hair it dries straight, go figure.
I’ve tried other “wavy” products from companies like Bed Head and that didn’t do much to enhance my waves. It kept them from drying crazy and completely frizzed out, but my waves definitely didn’t look their best. Overall, if you’re like me, don’t dig the crunchy waves and are in need a quick product fix, I suggest Wonder Waves.
Alyssa does a product review video of the Jonathan Product No-Frizz Hydrating Balm.
Alyssa does a video review of Goody Simple Styles.
Though not listed in any medical dictionary, and often “harumphed” by doctors, many women of all ages face a serious problem in their daily lives: product addiction.
In a 12-Step program, it is said that Step 1 is admitting you have a problem. Okay, I admit it. Now what? Am I ready to change? No way. Am I okay with getting rid of products? Absolutely not! Would I spend a good chunk of change on something I’m not even sure works? You betcha!
Hi, my name is Alyssa and I’m a product junkie. (“Hi, Alyssa!””>
I never thought it could happen to me, but it has and I’m here to take full responsibility. I am also here to help you figure out if you’re a product junkie, too. I’ve put together a list of 12 things below, and if any apply to you, it could mean that you are a product junkie, too!
Admittedly, this is my own version of a 12-step program—I don’t actually have a cure. Some may point fingers and protest that I don’t truly want help, and they are correct. I love my products! If you are a product junkie, I urge you to take full responsibility for your actions—and you may want to learn to love yourself and your cache of product.
Don’t look to me for any real help; I’m happy with all my goodies stashed under the sink, in the shower, in the fridge—wherever I can find a place for them. Plus, I’m busy hoarding more product!
You May be a Product Junkie If:
Congratulations to Our Winner!
Lana1026 – Who Says:
“I write out a budget for every paycheck that I get. I KNEW I was a product junkie when “HAIR STUFF” became a category of every paycheck budget. I knew things were serious when I would go on a spending freeze to help save more money, but then “Oh SNAP…CurlMart is having 20% off site-wide…WINNING!!!I have been needing to get a new brush, shampoo, conditioner, styling agent, moisturizer, deep conditioner, detangler, satin bonnet, and everything else they sell.” Sounds fair to us!
- You make sharing a bathroom impossible for any other person. You need your counter, drawer, cabinet space, wall space and even floor space!
- You have more product than food in your refrigerator or worse—you have 2 refrigerators to handle your space problem!
- Your day revolves around mail delivery and you are on a first-name basis with your mail carrier.
- You purchase products containing ingredients that you have tried before and didn’t work for your hair, but they might work this time, right?
- You have a product wish list longer than your grocery or To-Do list.
- If you share an email account with a significant other, you delete confirmations so they don’t know how much you’ve actually spent. Some of you may even have a separate email account just for purchasing products!
- You have products in your bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, closet, dresser drawers and anywhere else they can fit. The trunk of your car is even an acceptable location. I’ve even been known to use the attic.
- You shower as often as possible so you can try out new products and accessories. Fragrance rocks!
- You spend the majority of your day analyzing your hair (and skin and teeth, etc.”> and considering what you will do differently tomorrow.
- You aren’t sure what you will have for dinner tonight, but you know what product you will try in the morning.
- You purchase products without knowing exactly what they are or how they work—but they have a great logo!
- Your monthly budget consists of bills, food, clothing and hair products, but not in that order.
Of course, like any addiction, the junkie may experience feelings of guilt, defiance, denial and the occasional confusion surrounding an overdrawn checking account. Is it possible that I will ever experience these feelings? I doubt it, because I am blissfully happy and secure that I have all the product I need—til Sunday’s newspaper ad supplement.
This article is meant as a tongue-in-cheek look at the life of the product hoarder, and is in no way meant to demean or belittle any addictions. This article is not meant to give advice.
Tiaras can be a great accent on your big day
We want you to stay on top of all trends in the fashion and hair world, but it never hurts to keep you up to date on the latest wedding trends! So whether you’re getting married soon or think you never will, read on because you never know when this information will come in handy.
Fashion and Hair Trends
Tasteful Tiaras
No really, tiaras. Many brides want to feel like a princess on their wedding day, but the ball gown skirt isn’t the only way to achieve that feeling. Look for a tiara that will accent your hair but isn’t too big that it takes the focus away from your overall look.
Tiny Tiers
Tiers on your dress can add a fun and playful texture without adding any bulk to your dress. This style is great if you don’t want to feel overwhelmed in a dress but still want texture. Not having a lot of dress also means more room for movement on the dance floor and less time you have to spend bustling.
Relaxed Styles
Don’t worry, not relaxers, but instead relaxed styles. The main trend for hair is taking classic styles and loosening them up a bit. Instead of a classic bun, go for a side bun and leave curls out to frame your face. If you want an updo, don’t worry about making it perfect and sleek. Embrace imperfections (as hard as that might be on your wedding day”> and run with what your hair wants to do.
Bold colors can create an exotic feel for your wedding.
Color and Theme Trends
Exotic Inspiration
You can thank Katy Perry for bringing attention to weddings inspired by India, and can you blame brides for loving the trend? The color palette for these weddings includes bold greens, golds, oranges, reds and purples and when mixed together create quite the eye-catching look. Incorporating several colors also gives your bridesmaids the chance to pick a color that they feel comfortable in.
Ivy League-Chic
Preppy-chic is huge again and weddings aren’t escaping the trend. Think “Gossip Girl” when decorating and go for details like plaids and strips to incorporate a great theme. Classic colors like blues, greens and reds will complete the style and tie everything together.
Prohibition-Era Style
Mad Men styles are a thing of the past now that we have HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire,” so embrace the inspiration from the 1920s. Lace dresses, fancy undo’s and jazz music are the perfect place to start when trying to master this style.
Finally, the men get a man cave!
Reception Trends
Man Caves
The only thing men hate more than going to the wedding of your aunt’s best friend is being in a wedding that doesn’t have any of his personality. The idea of a mini man cave is growing rapidly because you want your man and his friends to have a good time and enjoy the night (almost”> as much as you do. A good place to start is by having cigars available if you are outdoors or by customizing your drink menu to include whiskey, brandy or scotch. The idea is simply to keep your groom comfortable and let him know you want him to have fun.
Food Trucks
One of the things guests will always remember from your wedding is the food—good or bad. Why not keep them happy and their stomachs full by providing creative alternatives to the sit-down meal? Food trucks offer a great variety from waffles to tacos, and you can easily please your guests while giving them a reason to talk about your food choices.
Dessert Tables
Weddings aren’t just for cakes anymore. Dessert tables are an up and coming trend where you can showcase your sweet tooth and again, give guests several choices. Many couples are choosing to get a simple cake and then providing things like cookies, chocolate mousse, and other mouth-watering goodies. If you are a traditional bride this probably isn’t the best trend for you to embrace, but if you are willing and ready to mix things up, consider a dessert table.
As a well-trained shopper, it is easy to spot a good deal from a mile away. But every so often it can be tempting to stray from good deals to buy that object that you simply need. Hair products can be extremely easy to splurge on because when you come across something that can tame/moisturize/refresh your curls, you need to try it. For this reason we put together a list of products that you can splurge on and feel great about because they are worth every single penny.
1. Curlisto Unruly Paste
This product is great to help control your frizz as well as define your curls. It works best after you diffuse your hair or wait for it to air dry. Not only will it tame your curls and frizz, but it will also add a great shine if you feel your hair is looking dull. One of the greatest things about this product: it doesn’t leave your hair feeling weighed down. ($22 for 2 oz.”>
2. Miss Jessie’s Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo
You’re right, this isn’t the most expensive shampoo in the world, but if you are used to buying shampoo from a grocery store, this can seem like a lot. Many curlies spend a long time finding a shampoo that works great for them. Save yourself the trouble and start with this one. It’s a great option if you still want or need the suds when shampooing. This shampoo doesn’t leave behind a residue and is also great at removing build-up without taking the time to deep condition. Not to mention the green apple scent is very pleasant without being overpowering. ($14 for 8 oz.”>
3. HerCut Curly Long Layers Catalyst
One of HerCut’s main goals is to give you “first day” looking hair every day of the week. The Long Layers Catalyst works great as a styling product and if you use enough of it you won’t need anything else to perfect your look. This is another product that leaves a great shine in your hair and a bounce to your curl. If you don’t have long layers, this product also comes as HerCut Curly Bob Catalyst. ($28 for 3.4 oz.”>
4. Wen Fig Cleansing Conditioner
This cleansing conditioner is meant to take the place of your shampoo while still giving you clean and moisturized curls. If you are doing a no-shampoo routine this just might be exactly what you have been looking for. This is another product where the scent is fantastic without making you smell like fig all day long. ($14 for 6 oz. or $28 for 16 oz.”>
Mist-er Right
Whether you love your curls, or you’re trying to get there, you’ll go through many ups and downs on your journey and do a lot of experimenting. But whatever you do, make sure you NEVER add these 5 things to your hair.
1. Hand lotion
As strange as it sounds, hand lotion is sometimes used to add a fragrance to curls and even used to tame frizz. For instance, when you run your fingers through your hair to remove extra lotion from your hands. Hand lotion has several non-fatty alcohols in it which can completely dry out every ringlet and cause severe hair breakage.
If you really want to add a little scent to your hair and boost your curls, try DevaCurl Mist-er Right. It’s a great lavender-scented in it for a great smell.
2. Eggs
Eggs are common ingredients for homemade deep conditioning treatments, and can be very beneficial. However, some of the deep treatments work best if you use some sort of heat after you apply it. If you see a recipe that calls for egg and then tells you to use heat, don’t do it!! You will end up with little cooked pieces of egg all throughout your hair and that is nothing less than a disaster.
Curlformers
3. Chemicals that straighten or perm
I’m positive you have heard this before, but again, stay away from them! Many straightening treatments (relaxers, perm solutions, Brazilian blowout treatments”> contain dangerous chemicals that may be highly irritating or even cancer-causing, including formaldehyde. Changing up your texture or curl pattern is often tempting, but instead of turning to chemicals, gravitate towards something that your curls can easily bounce back from.
Want more curl or a different curly pattern? Try Curlformers. They don’t require any heat and you can use several different sizes for several curl patterns. Want to straighten? Find a straightener with a lower heat that still does the job, and also use a heat protectant before you straighten. Another new product that is becoming even more popular is the John Frieda 3 Day Straight. After you use this product your curl comes back like it never left.
Kinky Curly Gloss Pomade
4. A brush
Simple, yet damaging. A brush causes extreme breakage and can cause frizz and poof if you use a brush when your curls are almost dry. No matter what you’re doing tonight, make plans to go through your entire home and get rid of all brushes (unless it’s a Denman brush, which is fine to use for many curlies”>. If you are going to use anything other than your fingers to detangle, go for a wide-toothed comb. If you need a new best friend, find a good comb to use every time you’re in the shower.
5. Petroleum jelly
Many women use things like Vaseline when to tame their dry and frizzy hair. If you are going to use petroleum you might as well put plastic wrap all over year head. Petroleum keeps out the moisture and inhibits your hair from absorbing the oils it needs to. Instead of turning to Vaseline, try a pomade like Kinky Curly Gloss Pomade.
Check out Taylor’s other looks:
Taylor Swift is someone curly girls everyone can look up to. She writes songs that we can all relate to in some way, and she never shies from her curly locks. While we know she does touch up her curls with a curling iron, we also know that she isn’t afraid to go natural (check out her first album cover”>. Even if she does change her natural curl pattern, we still love her for wearing curls.
Because Taylor is such an inspiration we wanted to take you on a mini time travel session to show you, what we think, are Taylor’s best looks of 2010.
January: Grammy Awards
March: BMI awards
May: Time’s Top 100 People
June: CMT Awards
September: Premiere of the movie Easy A
October: Debut of Taylor’s wax figure at Madame Tussauds in New York
November: AMA Awards
Today is Taylor Swift’s 21st birthday and we wanted to take the time to look back at her (and definitely those curls”> over the years. Many women all over the world have found comfort in Taylor’s songs and admire her for saying what she wants to in her songs.
Imagining Taylor as an outcast who got teased in middle school seems impossible, especially since most of the ridicule happened because of her frizzy, curly hair.
Taylor admitted two years ago that she “used to hate [her] hair.” Taylor said she wanted to fit in so she “used to spend all that pain and time, getting up two hours earlier before [she] started school just because [she] wanted to look like everyone else.”
We love Taylor’s curls, and know many of you do as well, so here’s to those curls that she’s finally embraced!
At 4 years old, a very young Taylor shows that curls are in her future
10-year-old Taylor starts straightening her hair to fit in with the other girls at school
At 12 years old, Taylor has a loose wave in her hair that looks like it’s dying to go curly
Right before Taylor moved to Tennessee to try to start a music career, 13 years old
Taylor goes natural for one of her first photo shoots at 15
Taylor shows off a spiral curl at 17
No stranger to award shows, 19-year-old Taylor shows off a half-up curly ‘do
At the 2010 Grammy Awards, Taylor wears a curly up ‘do
Smooth and shiny curls can seem like they are miles away when you are first figuring out what products your curls like. Even those curlies who have been natural for years can still have trouble battling their frizz. We’ve put together a list of 10 tips and tricks that can give you that smooth and shiny hair you’ve been waiting for.
Take care of those curls: It can be hard to completely embrace your natural look, but once you ditch the straightener and any other method that damages your hair, you will notice a huge change in the health of your hair. You will start to notice less frizz and damage, and instead you’ll see shine and have smooth curls.
Condition often: Conditioner is key to get the smooth and shiny look you are looking for. Find a conditioner that your hair absolutely loves and run with it. Remember, there are many people who only wash their hair with conditioner for a reason!
Be careful with that comb: If you comb out your hair, start at the bottom and work your way up. Starting at the top can cause breakage and damage which leads to frizzy hair. Many people with curly hair only finger comb their hair, but if you do use a shower comb, be careful how you use it.
Give your hair a break from heat: Most curlies know that heat can cause some serious damage and lead to some serious frizz. If you diffuse your hair often, use a lower heat seating to keep your curls from being damaged. If you decide to use a straightener, make sure you find a heat protector that will do a good job at keeping your hair healthy.
Watch what you eat: Protein, dark green vegetables and fresh fruits lead to shiny hair (read more here“>. Veggies contribute much needed iron and vitamin E, while fish has omega-3 and omega-6, two fatty acids that make hair shiny. Unfortunately, no holiday desserts make the list.
Drink lots of water: Water benefits your body in many ways, including the state of your hair. Lack of water in your body causes dry, coarse and brittle hair. If you have a hard time drinking the amount of water you need to every day, keep a water bottle with you and fill it up constantly. The more water you drink, the better you’ll feel and the better your hair will look.
Avoid an overload of coffee and soda: Coffee and soda are two jumpstarts that many people turn to in the morning. However, too much caffeine can prevent shiny and smooth hair. Instead, grab a smoothie or juice with fruits and vegetables in it to add the shine your craving.
Rinse your hair with cold water: You might have heard about this method from other curlies, and there is a reason why. Rinsing your hair with cold water causes the cuticle of your hair to lie flat and the cool water smooths your hair. It might not be the most comfortable way to end a shower, but your curls will thank you for it.
Want to color your curls? Use henna: Henna is a natural way to color your hair that many curlies turn to, but it also improves your hair’s health and adds shine. Before you turn to a store-bought color, try henna first.
Test products: Thankfully, there are products made for curly hair that are specifically meant to add shine and take away frizz. Trial and error is key, but when you find a product that adds shine to your hair and also takes frizz away, you will never quit using it.
Frizz is a problem for almost every curly, wavy, and even straight-haired woman I have ever known. I have wavy hair and before I really knew what to do with it, it would frizz up and be a huge mess. Now that I can control my hair I rarely deal with frizz and it is life-changing, as well as mood-changing.
Frizz-Ease is a line of products by John Frieda that helps to reduce frizz so your hair is left silky smooth, shiny, and best of all, frizz free. The line can be used when straightening your hair or when you are leaving it curly. Luckily for everyone, John Frieda has styling tips on their website as well as videos that can help everyone get a frizz-free look.
If you are going to straighten your hair:
Start with the Frizz-Ease Smooth Start shampoo and conditioner. Once you’re out of the shower, but while your hair is still soaking wet, add a drop of Hair Serum Thermal Protection to fight the frizz before your hair dries. Do not use the serum near your roots, as it will make your scalp oily. Finally, spray on some Heat Defeat spray to protect your hair from hair dyers as well as straighteners.
If you want to keep your hair curly:
Use the Frizz-Ease Smooth Start shampoo and conditioner. Next, apply the Hair Serum Thermal Protection if you plan on using a diffuser. If you have shorter hair you only need one drop. For longer hair use two drops. Then, apply the Frizz-Ease Dream Curls spray to help boost your natural curls as well as help condition them. If you want something that will hold your curls longer and create a stronger style, add Take Charge Curl-Boosting Mousse. (John Frieda recommends that you do not use Dream Curls and the Take Charge mousse together, but my curls last longer when I do use both”>. After you diffuse your curls, and if you use hairspray, use the Moisture Barrier Firm-Hold Hairspray to keep out humidity and keep your curls frizz-free throughout the day.
The Frizz-Ease Hair Serum was the first product to launch and it turned the line into an innovation that nobody else had done before. The line is meant for people with dry, frizz-prone hair, which ends up being many curlies that are trying to embrace their natural curls. If you are looking for something to help tame your frizz, and don’t want to break the bank, try out John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease line. It might be the life changing product you’ve been looking for!
Now that we have gotten to know each other I feel like we can talk about things other than just waves. What we hate, what we love, what we wish we could do. We can talk about other options like doing a different curl pattern or even straightening. Yes I said it, straightening. I love having wavy hair and I love that I have fully embraced my waves, but I also like changing things up once or twice a week just to give me something different. I know to a lot of people straightening once or twice a week seems like a lot. But so many wavies get frustrated with their hair and only going straight once or twice seems like a miracle.
So let’s go through our true and false list now.
- Because you straighten your hair you can’t possibly embrace your natural style.
No! Wrong! I embrace my natural look and I am so glad I have it, but sometimes I just want to change it up. I want to run my fingers through my wonderfully soft hair and just be able to mess with it once in a while, something I can’t do when it’s wavy.
- You’re a hypocrite! You talk about wavy hair all the time and now you’re going the straight route.
First of all, if I’m going to be a hypocrite it is not going to be about this. I’ll save my hypocrisy for something good! And yes, I do talk about wavy hair and give product suggestions, but never have I ever said, “You must only wear your hair wavy and no other way!” That would be silly. Embrace change!
- Straightening is terrible for your hair and you will kill all of your wave!
It is true that heat damages your hair. However, just like you have products for your curly hair, there are also plenty of products that you can use to protect your hair from all of the heat. I’m currently using the John Frieda Frizz-Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Créme, and I have noticed that it keeps my hair very smooth and healthy. There are several other products that you can use to keep your hair healthy while straightening as well. Concerning wave loss, it is true that the more you straighten, the more you convince your hair that’s how it should be. You want to be careful that you aren’t turning to your flat iron too often or you will notice that when you want to be natural, it will take a little more work. Remember, the less work needed=the happier you will be!
Now on to part 2 of this blog: taking care of your curls and waves. I make sure to keep my hair healthy because it’s the only hair I’ll ever have, and if you are going to straighten your hair, you should, too. I used to straighten my hair every day and now I only use my straightener once a week, if that. For a while I was not using anything to protect my hair and my head was covered in split ends. Like I said earlier in this blog, I am currently using the Frizz-Ease Smoothing Créme and since I have been using it I haven’t noticed any split ends, and I am the girl who sits in my college classes and looks for them. I have also used straightening products made by Chi, Garnier Fructis and Loreal. If you are going to straighten, make sure you use a product to protect your waves or curls from the heat!
Another source of heat you need to protect your waves from is a hair dryer. Several curlies and wavies blow-dry their hair before they straighten to help loosen the curl simply to make the hair a little more manageable. I have to do this because if I let my hair air-dry there is no straightening it. The best way to dry your hair, if you have to, is the same way you would diffuse it. You want to put it on the lowest setting and use cool air, but you still want to put a heat protector on your hair. Just remember: because you straighten, or someone you know does, doesn’t mean that they don’t embrace their natural hair and if you are going to straighten your curly locks, protect you hair! So the moment has come. You have all seen my wavy hair so now let me show you my straight hair! I’ll let you be the judge of what you like better, because I like them both about the same. I used to think that straightening was easy and that taking 30 minutes to do my hair was normal. I will say, now that I have embraced my waves I don’t spend more than 10 minutes doing my hair and I can now use my straight look as a change up.
We’ve got some great ideas for giving your special occasion hairstyle some seasonal flair.
Get red or brown tones added to your hair color:
Every bride I have ever met gets their hair done before their wedding, and more than just styled. Several women touch up their color, add some highlights or lowlights, or even completely change to a new color to match the season. If you want to give yourself a new look while also embracing fall, add some reds or browns to your hair. An auburn as well as any red-browns are in style this season. Changing your color will give you a look that will not only be in style until the spring, but will also make your hair blend in perfectly with a fall-themed wedding.
Look for fall-themed hair pins:
For up ‘dos, half up ‘dos and even an all-down look, several bobby pins are used to secure or complete the hairstyle. Consider using bobby pins that have a decoration like a leaf at the end of the pin. It will add a finished look to your style while also holding hair in place. You can also find them in several colors so you can match your wedding colors or add an accent.
Add a fall-colored flower:
A great wedding hair accessory that you can always add is a simple flower. If you’re having a fall wedding you can get flowers that are different oranges, yellows, reds and even some browns, then add one of those to your hair to finish the look. It’s a great way to give you a natural look while also adding some colors of the season.
Check out the adults’ costumes here
For those of you with kids, you are very aware that in a mere 3 weeks it is Halloween. If your children are anything like I was growing up, they have been reminding you that they need a pumpkin to hold their sugar rush for the next 3 months as well as the best costume ever. It can all be overwhelming, especially if you have a child who changes his or her mind every day. We have put together a top 10 list of curly costumes for your cute curly kids in hopes to make the costume shopping easier on everyone. Keep in mind, any costume will be enhanced by curls because, as we know, curls are awesome.
Hermione Granger
Harry Potter is still going strong among kids and adults alike. Emma Watson sports her waves in every movie so not only will you daughter be in a costume that’s recognizable, she’ll also have great hair to complete the look!
Annie
If your child doesn’t know who Annie is, make them watch the movie before you try to convince them that it’s a great costume! Dressing up as Annie is a hit for trick-or-treating as well because all the adults know who this lovable character is. It’s also a very easy costume to create.
Thing 1 and Thing 2
From the beloved Dr. Seuss book, Green Eggs and Ham, comes this great idea. This is a great costume if you have two younger kids who don’t mind dressing alike. This is an even better costume if you will let your kids put some temporary blue dye in their hair (C’mon! It’s Halloween!”>
Taylor Swift
I am not completely certain about a lot of things in life, but one thing I am certain of: every child I have ever meet loves Taylor Swift. And not just her music, her style, her hair, her personality; girl has it all. If your daughter has great, golden curls, help her find the perfect dress and inflatable microphone or guitar to pull off this costume.
Dorothy, from The Wizard of Oz
Who doesn’t love Dorothy?! This costume is popular for kids every year, and if your daughter already has a head full of brunette curls she is one step ahead! Dorothy is a classic costume that will never get old simply because people of all ages are in love with this movie.
Clown
While some people may consider a clown too mundane, a little repetitive and potentially creepy, I love the clown idea just because you can make it such a unique costume. It is a great excuse to dress up in tons of clothes that don’t match, paint your face and make an awesome curly hair ‘do. Temporary hair dye also goes great for this look!
Snow White (or any Disney princess”>
What little girl doesn’t want to be a Disney princess? I chose Snow White because she has an adorable set of curls! If dark hair and curls is what your daughter, or you for that matter, has then there’s no wig necessary to pull off this look.
Lady Gaga
If you read my adult version of this Top 10 list you will notice that I put Lady Gaga on both; mainly because she is extremely popular with a large age group. If your daughter is more of a free spirit and likes to do her own thing then this just might be the perfect costume for her. She can dress up in crazy outfits and wear her hair in crazy ‘dos! It’s perfect for Halloween! We often see Lady Gaga’s hair stick straight, but in case you are wondering, she has done some shoulder-length curls as well as a blonde afro.
Frieda from Peanuts
In my opinion, Frieda wins the award for best cartoon curls ever. She is a classic and can be a great costume if there are red curls involved! In the cartoon, Frieda is known for being proud of her naturally curly hair and she tries to work it into every conversation. Frieda is another costume that will win over the hearts of numerous neighbors as well as enhance your daughter’s natural hair.
50’s Girl (or guy”>
You can never go wrong with a poodle skirt or a leather jacket. Every single friend I had growing up had at least one Halloween where they dressed up like a kid from the 50’s, myself included. Many women used rollers to achieve their curls every night so we are all one step ahead! Grab your curls and a poodle skirt and you will have the perfect and timeless costume.
Not only are Mad Men-inspired looks all the rage for this fall, but hairstyles that resemble the characters are also on the upswing. Anna from Trashy Roots Salon and Spa in Round Rock, Texas, gave us some tips on how to achieve the most popular hairstyles in your own bathroom.
For Don Draper: Just use Pravana Design Gel to sculpt the hair back while also pushing the front forward and over to create a wave.
For Betty Francis: When your hair is wet, apply Pravana Ultra Body Foam Volumizer. Dry your hair and set in rollers with Pravana Super Shape Hair Spray. When your hair has cooled, brush it with a Denman brush, but be careful not to brush the curl out. Once you have brushed it out, spray all over with hair spray. Put on a simple headband and comb into place, always combing backwards, and then spray again all over with hair spray to set the style.
For Peggy Olson: When your hair is wet, apply Pravana Ultra Body Foam Volumizer then dry it with a 1” round, ceramic brush. Make sure to brush hair up to allow for lift and add volume. Once it’s dry, spray Pravana Super Shape Hair Spray all over then curl the hair with a 1 1/2″ curling iron. Do not touch all the curls until all the hair is curled and cooled. Then, tease at the top of the head with a small-toothed comb and lightly flip out the underneath to sculpt the curls into the desired shape. When finished, spray all over with hair spray again.
For Joan Harris: Start with dry hair and spray all over with Pravana Super Shape Hair Spray. Curl your hair with a 1″ curling iron all over. For bangs, use a 2″ iron making sure to curl them in the direction you want them to lay. Be careful not to touch the curls or undo each curl. Once your hair is curled, take bobby pins to pin the curls up while leaving a little out. Another option is to pull your hair back into a ponytail and then pin several curls around it to give you the illusion of an up ‘do. Once your look is done spray all over with hair spray to set it.
Disclaimer: This is not a step-by-step article on how a DevaCut is done. This is my experience and what I loved about it. If you do want the step-by-step version, check out the video at the bottom of the page that I made while getting my DevaCut.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I have always gotten just a normal haircut. A haircut that always looks good with my straight hair, but if it’s too short, I won’t wear it wavy until it grows out. Before working at NaturallyCurly it just never dawned on me that there could be a haircut for wavy and curly hair. I am here to tell you that there is a haircut! It does exist!
This fabulous secret (that shouldn’t be a secret”> is called a DevaCut. It’s for any type of curly hair from waves to serious curls. Before I got my cut I hadn’t done any research on what other people thought about theirs. I wanted to form my own opinion and hopefully be amazed by the results.
I got my DevaCut from Anna at Trashy Roots Salon and Spa in Round Rock, Texas, and she gave me a great walk-through of everything she would be doing to make my wavy hair even more wavy and fabulous. For those of you that think the DevaCut is a specific haircut, it is not. It doesn’t have its own style like a bob, but instead it is personalized to what you want for your hair. For myself, I wanted to take a few inches off but still keep my layers. I also let Anna know that I wear my hair straight 1-2 times a week so I wanted to make sure everything was even all the way across.
What makes this cut special is how they actually do it. First of all it is a dry haircut which makes it unlike anything else I have ever had done to my hair! Curls shrink up when they dry so if you get it cut wet the stylist, and not to mention you, don’t have any idea how your curls will look when once it does dry. They take each individual curl or wave and cut it to whatever length you are wanting. They cut it at an angle so it doesn’t interrupt the curl pattern like cutting the hair straight does. It was really amazing to watch because she could cut each piece individually and get them all the same length seemed like quit the feat. Because I do straighten occasionally she kept that and mind and cut my underneath layer a little differently. My underneath dries straight. It’s really weird and sometimes frustrating, but she cut it a little shorter than everything else so it wouldn’t hang longer than everything else. Brilliant, I know.
When all was said and done she product-ed me up and sent me on my way with wavy hair. My hair has actually turned into more of a version of a curl instead of a wave, which is fascinating to me. The DevaCut has worked wonders on my hair. It made my hair so much healthier and helped the curl more than anything ever has. If you are looking for a haircut that is curly specific, this is your way to go.
Check out my video:
Over the past week and a half I have been testing 4 different microfiber towels to see which ones do exactly what they say they will, or at least work best on my hair.
With all towels that you use, you want to put product in your hair fresh out of the shower and then use the towels to reduce frizz, get out extra water and define your curl. The key to all towels is flip your head over and scrunch up.
Microfiber Towels
Curls Like Us Cloths
- Material: Cotton. The stuff that makes the world go round.
- What I love: These towels reduced my frizz, which is always a plus for any girl.
- What I Would Change: The size! I have quite a bit of hair and with these towels, since they were only cotton, they didn’t have much room to absorb the water needed to reduce my drying time. They also didn’t give me much curl definition but I think that was because of the cotton material.
- Why You Should Try It: A lot of type 3 and 4 curlies love this product because it gets a lot of the water out of their hair. For wavies, microfiber towels are better for curl definition and getting excess water out. If you are a full-blown curly, I think you will love this towel.
Hand Dry Hair Gloves
- Material: Microfiber.
- What I love: The microfiber! It helped absorb excess water as well as give me a curl definition that is much needed to last me through the day.
- What I would change: Again, the size. While these did give me curl definition I was looking for, because they are small, (the size of your hand, just fluffy”> I didn’t have the space to get as much curl definition as I would have liked. I ran out of dry space and that is essential when trying to improve your definition.
- Why you should try it: If you are a wavy in particular and have never tried microfiber on your hair, it is a must! These are great to start out with because you have the convenience of being able to just slip them on and scrunch away.
DevaCurl DevaTowel
- Material: Microfiber again!
- What I love: This towel worked wonders on my hair. It absorbed almost all of the excess water, reduced my frizz by a ton and gave me amazing curls. Reminder: I am used to waves so when I can get curls it’s a big deal. I also love that this was just a simple towel so there was no putting my hands through anything or flipping for dry space. It was just your every day towel but in superpower form!
- What I would change: The size. Am I difficult or what? I will say that this towel’s dry area lasted for almost my entire scrunching process. However, it would have been nice to just have a little extra space to work with.
- Why you should try it: Because it is fantastic! Seriously. Just like the gloves it cuts down your drying time and it also reduces frizz. This cuts down drying time so much, though that I only needed my diffuser for about 3 minutes in order to leave my house with a head of dry hair. If you have been looking for something that will give you a boost into the full-blown curl category, this towel might just be your answer.
Mimi’s Diva Towel
- Material: And the winner is….Microfiber!
- What I love: Everything. Literally. It did exactly what the DevaCurl Towel did for me and it’s huge! I had plenty of space to work with so I made sure that every single wave was turned into a curly wonder. As with the DevaCurl, I only needed my diffuser for a few short minutes and still got to leave my house with dry hair. Miraculous.
- What I would change: Well since I loved everything about it, nothing! There are not too many products that I can say I would change nothing about, but this is definitely one of them. For me, this towel is perfect as is. Just take it out of the package and be amazed.
- Why you should try it: Every reason I suggested for the DevaCurl Towel applies to this microfiber towel, but if you have more hair than not you will probably prefer this one. This gave me the same results as the DevaCurl, which were fantastic, but I just had more to work with which made this towel my favorite.
If you’re a wavy and have never tried microfiber towels, do it! If you’re a curly and looking for something to decrease your dry time as well as enhance your curls, all of these towels will do that. Either way, check out the reviews for these microfiber towels and see what other curlies of your type are saying about them.
Wavy blogger WavyLyss489 decided to give her wavy hair a twist of curl with Curlformers.
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