I've been letting my hair go back to its natural curl.
That sounds like a really simple thing, right? It's not.
I've been going to a specialty hair salon in Laguna Beach. The hair gal, Vickie (who happens to be Puerto Rican, which makes us practically related) runs a cute little shop called Curls on Top. She specializes in curly hair. Sounds crazy, right?
So, I started going to this curly-girl-specialty-salon back in August. And let me tell you, it isn't as simple as "just let your hair go curly again."
I must interject here that I love going to the salon. Everyone there gets me. We're all curly girls who are embracing our natural curls. It's kind of like an elite club. (Or a recovery group, but that's not important right now.)
I've been straightening my über-curls for the past 9 years. I've Brazillianed them, Japanese systemed them, Keratined them to get my curls stick straight and manageable. That's some serious curl-taming.
Here's a story and video of me getting my blowout. (Get popcorn.)
The straightener people always tell you that the process will eventually just disappear with enough washing. Lies. I haven't straightened anything since last summer and there are still pieces of straight hair that must be coaxed into keeping at least a bit of a bend until the straightened bit grows out and can be trimmed off.
This requires tons of special conditioner and gel and special clips that keep the bend in place, and at least 30 minutes under a hooded dryer. So not the "just let it go curly again" easy-peasy thing. But I'm determined. Also, I have two really great friends who have been my Curly-girl Advocates, Jana from the Summer House and Carrie from Tiki Tiki Blog.
So I follow the Curly Girl Method. (<–Google it.) And eventually I will tell you the story with a video. But today's not that day.
Today I want to tell you that it's kind of hit or miss when it comes to how my hair will look. There are days when it cooperates beautifully and I get compliments.
"Why yes, it is naturally curly. Thank you." (I'm practicing being demure about it.)
But there are other days when all the straight pieces just really want to do their own thing screaming, "We'll never go curly again! Not ever! Never!" Those days I end up looking a little crazed. (Don't judge.)
Exhibit A:
I have been taking self-portraits every time I attempt to do my hair (I've been documenting since September) because I know that one day I'll want to document this for my posterity.
Anyway, I took the photo above with the I-can't-even-believe-I'm-still-trying-to-grow-out-my-curls face. And I was reminded of something from back in the seventies….
Remember Godspell? The musical from the 70's? And Jesus (played by Victor Garber. Seriously.) had a big mop of untamed curly hair? Yeah. That would be me last week.
Just to prove my point, I made this collage:
See what I mean? Me and Jesus have hair in common. I posted that pic on my Instagram feed (which you should totally be following, if you don't already. I'm Smrtqbn).
I'm thinking this transition back to my curly roots (Hey! That works on two levels!) is even making me more creative. Every day I am feeling more and more confident in my new-found Curly Girl Awesomeness. Almost like being myself again.
I guess I just have to take this one day at a time. Or Day by Day. (<–see what I did there?)
Don’t give up, Curly Girl! It gets better and better. As you know, I gave up straightening my hair way back in 1980, just after Jim and I married. (I figured, hey, he’s stuck with me now, he might as well know the truth!) :o) I’ve never looked back. It’s been short, it’s been long, but it’s been curly since. ….And we all have bad hair days. I discovered early that a good cut is the absolute key to more good hair days than bad.I never chemically straightened my hair, as my curls as a little bit looser than yours, and I just plain didn’t have the $$ as a newlywed. So, pretty much as soon as I washed my hair after making that decision, my locks when BOING!! upon air drying, and I saw what my grandmother used to call 1920’s Marcel waves in the mirror (kind of a horizonal back-and-forth wiggle in the hair). That’s when I knew I had to find a hairdresser who specialized in curly hair. I’ve been to many, some better than others. Correct layering brings out all the grooviness that I want. VOILA!!
My hair has been subjected to chemicals, as I’ve been coloring it since I was about 16. (That’s when my tow-headedness left me for good). As you don’t color yours, you have that advantage on letting it go natural.
You look MAHVELOUS, Mrs Darby!! Onward and upward!! Us Curly Girls must stick together!
As someone who started school on California in the mid 60s, I know what you mean! I was the only brown-curly- hair girl in a school and era where straight,long and blond was in. The shag cut turned into the curly mop and the long turned into,well, I don’t want to talk about it, because, as you say, it’s not important now. Finally 70s and Farrah Fawcett look was in and I could work with that. Then the 80s and everybody was getting perms! Ha! It was my turn to be IN! Now, who cares…
I kind of know how you feel even though I haven’t gone from straight to curly before, my curls always have their own feelings and ways they want to be so I end up washing it sometimes even though I wasn’t planning on it just to tame them! But you’ve been doing a great job, I’m loving your curls Marta!
cali,I LOVED the 80’s when everyone wanted my BIG hair. LOL!
xoxo,
Marta
Dari,I love your curls! You are my Curly Girl Role Model!
Thanks for your kind words. I’m trying.
😉
Mrs. Baratti,You are the Ultimate Curly Girl! Thanks for hanging in there for the rest of us.
I appreciate that you’ve seen my wanna-be curls at their droopiest. I thought you’d appreciate this!
M
You look beautiful friend!! You are brave and courageous and curly!
Thanks, Jana.I blame you! 😉
I love you, straight or curly hair. =)
You are my muse, Amanda.Besotes!
Marta,Thank you for sharing your story. Everything about you says you are a true curly girl…. Funny, adventurous, crazy, loving, generous etc..
You are a tribute to all the girls in our tribe.
It’s been fun to be part of your transformation.
Thank you for trusting me with your curls!
Vickie
Last October I visited Vickie and had a life changing epiphany. Here is my blog post about it – (hopefully the link workshttp://035f61f.netsolhost.com/WordPress/2012/10/25/epiphany/
If not the blog is bblakeney.com and it is in the October 2012 archives.
Since October amazing things have happened – I have discovered my own personal style (at the ripe age of 54!) and finally love my hair.
Hang in there! Yours looks fantastic!