Learning to Love the Curl.

Three years ago and some change, I had naturally wavy hair that I could coax into curls or blow dry straight, depending on my mood (and laziness level). But what I really wanted was pin-straight hair -- hair that you could wash and let air dry and still have it be perfectly straight. My hair, on the other hand, was not exactly wash-and-go hair. When left to its own devices, it had the appearance and consistency of cotton candy -- just a frizzy nimbus of puff encircling my head. Not pretty. I either had to work curling product into my hair and "scrunch" with my fingers to make it curl, or slave over a blow dryer and hair iron for 30-45 minutes to tame it straight.

So when my salon started offering the keratin treatment (also known as the Brazilian blow-out), a treatment that promised straight hair -- hair that was actually wash-and-go straight -- I jumped at the opportunity. And while it didn't make my hair so straight that I could let it air-dry, it did make a huge difference. My hair was significantly straighter and did not frizz like before, not even in Miami's notoriously humid weather. Plus it significantly cut down on my blow drying time. I was so happy with the results, I did the treatment a subsequent two times. Unfortunately, the treatment had side effects I was not expecting: my scalp became super greasy, to the point where I suddenly found myself having to wash my hair almost every day (before, I could get away with washing my hair a couple times a week). Plus my hair started thinning, something that absolutely terrified me. So I decided to stop the treatments altogether and make peace with my natural hair.

But there was a problem -- my natural hair was taking an awfully long time to return. You see, when I tried to curl my hair like before, it just wouldn't do it. At best, it would create a half-hearted wave at the top and stay straight at the bottom. All of a sudden I found myself having to resort to curling irons and rollers to recreate the curls that were so easy to come by before.

This summer is the first time in over three years that my hair feels like it's finally back to normal. Although the tips of my hair (all that's left that went through the keratin treatment) still have trouble curling, I'm happy to see thicker, wavier growth at the roots. I've been so happy to welcome back my curls that I haven't touched my blow dryer or hair iron in over a week. And my curls and me couldn't be happier for it.

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Do you have something about your appearance you wish you could change?

ETA: I just realized this is my 800th post. Woo hoo! Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

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3 comment(s):

Claire Kiefer said...

I want to see a pic of your wavy/curly hair, please! As you know, I've done the Brazilian blowout a few times and I've absolutely loved it. I haven't used a blow dryer or flat iron in about a year--totally wash & go with the BB. Even now, the BB is pretty much gone, but my hair is more manageable and I still don't use dryer/flat iron. Admittedly, a lot of my natural wave is gone, but I trust it will be back in due time. :) Plus, I've discovered a curling iron with which I am OBSESSED . . . the Remington curling wand . . . aka the only curling iron EVER that makes my hair hold curl!

Mikelle Jade said...

yay for happy hair. I would do just about anything for a little wave or curl, my hair is stark straight and holds little curl!

Autumn @ Autumn All Along said...

I realized a year ago that I hadn't had all natural hair since middle school. I never made drastic dying changes, but I cut off everything and donated 12 inches.

I have been really surprised because my hair is thick now...I hadn't realized how much it had been thinned out from the chemicals. I am learning how to make peace with my natural hair and have been proud that I think I actually like it better.

Thing I would change about myself? My metabolism. I have a pretty slow one and my desk job doesn't help much in that department.