Me and my curls. It’s been a rather complicated relationship, to say the least.
Me and my curls haven’t always gotten along. I wasn’t always proud of them. They weren't always pretty.
Growing up there were hardly any other girls with hair like mine. I never knew what to do with it, and the second I would throw my hair into a bun or a ponytail my curls would be crushed. People would always ask me if my hair was real or if it was natural. Kids in school would touch my hair without my permission. I just wanted to be a pretty girl with pretty straight hair. I wanted to be able to brush my hair and not have to worry about it getting frizzy.
In middle school, I was introduced to the flat iron, and I began to experiment with dyes. I didn't like my curly hair anymore, and I desperately wanted my curls to disappear. Alongside not getting regular hair cuts, this has all contributed to the damage done to my curls. In high school, I began straightening my hair every few weeks for cheerleading, and this created split ends and loads of heat damage. Constantly wearing my hair up also caused tension on my scalp. My hair became extremely dry and there was hardly any definition to my curls. In this photo from 2016, my hair was more wavy than it was curly. I had completely lost my curl pattern and was at a loss of what to do with my hair.
It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I realized it was time for a change. Straightening my hair for hours became exhausting, and I had no idea what my hair type even was. I decided to cut down from straightening my hair every couple of months to just twice a year, and it made all the difference. After a few haircuts and many leave-in conditioners, by my senior year, I was starting to recognize my curls again and embrace them. I was even bold enough to wear my hair curly for my high school graduation (photo from 2019), which is something I would have never had the courage to do.
Entering adulthood post high school, there were a lot of things I learned about myself. The reality is, my hair is beautiful and it makes me unique. It isn't always going to be perfect and that's okay. My hair will get frizzy in hot weather and flat in the rain. My curls are never going to look the same way twice. But there are loads of different hairstyles I'm able to create with my hair and it's a part of who I am. It's currently been over a year since I've last straightened my hair in December of 2019! I'm not going to lie, it's been incredibly tempting to, but I've been able to hold off!! My curls are now healthier than ever and I'm always getting complimented on them.
It's also extremely inspiring to see more girls with hair like mine represented in media today. I now see curly girls on television which didn't happen growing up. There is also a huge curly community that has formed on social media. There are plenty of accounts online dedicated to curls that share really helpful tips and tricks. For anyone who is looking to begin their curly journey, my advice is that the first thing you should do is QUIT HEAT! You heard me right, ditch the flat iron and the curling wand. Don't worry, this won't be forever, but at least until your natural texture is restored!It's also extremely important to find products that are free of sulfates and parabens that are suited specifically for your hair type. My all-time favorite product brand is Shea Moisture which is targeted towards curly hair and is free of harmful chemicals. If you have any questions or need specific advice, leave a comment down below and I'll be sure to get back to you!
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