https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 18 May 2026 06:17:13 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals/page/2#post-813407 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:45:48 +0000 Beth 813407@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have very curly hair, much like Julia Roberts when she wears her hair truly natural. Like others have pointed out, curly hair is never the same two days in a row, which I find maddening. </p> <p>I love curly hair on others, but not on me. It took at least 20 minutes to dry, couldn't be slept on without rewetting and redrying every day, and reacted oddly to different conditioners and waters (yes, even water. Hard/soft, well/municipal, etc).</p> <p>I started doing Japanese relaxing 10 years ago and love it. My hair is sleek and straight, looks the same every day, and takes 10 minutes to style, start to finish. It doesn't care what conditioner I use or what the water's like. And I have a lovely, swishy ponytail as a bonus!</p> <p>Straight hair is hands-down easier for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals/page/2#post-812831 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 16:15:16 +0000 eds 812831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My hair is very thick and has a good bit of wave, and I keep is short. The humidity is very high here, year round. Most important is a good cut. I do blow dry, but don't go for sleek and perfectly straight... not sustainable in the humidity! I am done in 10 minutes and it looks good all day. I do use a good bit of product. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals/page/2#post-812800 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:49:20 +0000 Vix 812800@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Angie --</p> <p>Agree with lots of the comments upthread about wavy/curly hair being a bit unpredictable. </p> <p>A few things from my perspective (wavy + coarse; transitioned to embracing waves several years ago):</p> <p>-- W/C hair is a commitment; it doesn't do well with "I'll wear it straight today, curly tomorrow"</p> <p>-- W/C hair is fragile; it doesn't take to being washed with even gentle shampoo daily (instead, "wash" with conditioner) and it needs so very much more conditioning/oils than I ever knew. </p> <p>Straightening irons (which I rarely used) and coloring (which I do to cover grey) both create damage so those of us who do one or both need to try to counteract that.</p> <p>-- W/C hair doesn't mean waiting around with wet hair forever; one can blow dry -- diffusers are one's friend -- without blowing straight </p> <p>-- W/C hair usually needs product, and finding product takes experimentation, which I personally find a PITA. I use one and accept the consequences of potential "imperfection."</p> <p>-- W/C hair not only benefits from an experienced-with-curlier-hair cutter, as mentioned, but may need to be cut dry to avoid wacko curl pattern issues</p> <p>And to me there's no doubt living in a cold damp climate makes W/C hair more of a PITA! </p> <p>My hair prefers hot and humid (so it dries fast with big waves) or drier (frizz-free smaller waves). Guess where I like to vacation? PNW in winter = 4 hours to dry naturally and potential to misbehave once I step into nature. But I have fabulous summer hair, ha! </p> <p>I have very tough hair that can take a lot of abuse but since ditching the "wash + blow dry every day, pull hair straighter with brush technique" my hair is in super condition. That's worth the winter RATE thing to me. </p> <p>[Besides, even if I straighten the second there's moisture in the air it frizzes.]</p> <p>ETA to add photos. Know you all can't see but personally I prefer my features with natural (wavy) vs straightened hair. ;)<br /> 1-2 Dry summer days<br /> 3 Rare dry winter day </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals/page/2#post-812389 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 02:30:12 +0000 Mo 812389@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can go curly on day 1, wavy day 2, and straight day 3. FL humidity did make straight not an option (air dry no product pic 4), but here in the dry mountain air I have my choice. I only use CurlySexyHair detangler on a regular basis. Sometimes an anti frizz serum, but not regularly. Same with hairspray on my bangs.<br /> It would take me ages to blow dry my hair straight on a regular basis, while twisting a few strands near the front that don't curl as much as the back takes a minute. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811939 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:04:21 +0000 Astrid 811939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Working with the curls is much easier for me. I never straighten it, I didn't look that good the few times I've done it. It is straight after a lot of work, but it doesn't look like straight hair then, only like curly hair that has been straightened. Does that make sense? Anyway, I don't like the look at all. The curls and waves on the other hand pretty much come from alone. I just need to air dry my hair and keep brushes and combs away. Of course they aren't always perfect and frizz like mad on rainy days, but that doesn't bother me. It's part of having that type of hair, I guess. Although I imagine that it would be a lot more work if I were determined to fight the frizz. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811932 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:50:48 +0000 Gabi 811932@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>depends of the weather, on rainy, foggy or humid days i have to work with my curly hair because there is now way it would stay straight but on other days straight hair is so much easier </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811863 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:19:05 +0000 rachylou 811863@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have odd wavy hair. It will curl up if I let it air dry and then the curl will fall out as the day goes on. Product is required. A deft haircut can give me super curls, but I've only ever found one stylist good enough to do it and going to her required travel. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811852 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:06:36 +0000 texstyle 811852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My hair is pretty wavy, maybe not truly "curly" so I'm not sure that's the same. My DH loves it "wild" as he says. I do not. I don't blow dry (I end up going to bed with it still wet or damp after I wash it most often) but I use a big 1" curling iron to "straighten" somewhat and control my waves where I want them. Takes me about 10 mins. If I let it be more wavy overall, I still work the front to control the waves of my fringe somewhat - so there's really not much time difference for me. In humid climates or after swimming I have to embrace the "wild" look. I use some really great conditioning products so it works out okay most often but if frizz is an issue I use a very thin oil to help tame it down. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811846 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:01:53 +0000 lynne 811846@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have learned to love my curly hair, but not every day. As others have said, success with the style seems to vary. I have many more good hair days when I'm in Arizona because of the lack of humidity. When I wear it curly, it is more labor intensive however. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811843 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:59:01 +0000 Janet 811843@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tarzy, I completely sympathize! Even though my hair is not as curly as yours, it's maddeningly inconsistent! I don't understand either. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811837 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:56:23 +0000 Anonymous 811837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm having a bad hair day (week, month, year!) so right now it seems like everything takes a lot of work and then ends up looking like a hot mess (straight or curly). My hair won't curl enough in this dry air to look anything other than frumpy, but when I straighten it, it flattens out completely and plays dead, stuck to my head. I'm trying to only wash it every other day so that I won't fry it while it grows a bit, but I'm about ready to cave in and get a trim. I'd rather it look healthy than longer and tattered. *sob* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811832 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:52:51 +0000 Lisa 811832@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have wavy hair and I blow dry daily. It may mean more time in the bathroom because I have to stand there and dry it but the rest of the day I have flat, straight hair and don't give it a second thought. When I go au natural, I have wet hair for hours! My hair really holds water and takes a long time to dry on it's own. The wet neck can drive me batty! Plus now I have super full hair when it finally does dry and I am fussing all day with it. Usually I cheat and just put it in a clip for the day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811804 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:26:03 +0000 tarzy 811804@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have very curly hair, and it is definitely not "easy." I wear it curly, and every day is different. I never know what it's going to do, how it's going to behave. I can do the exact same thing and end up with different results. I do not fight it. I just go with it.</p> <p>Yesterday, as usual, I washed it, scrunched in some product... and it was absolutely perfect. Perfect curls, no frizz, fantastic shape. WHY???? HOW??? I wish I knew! Unfortunately, I was working at home all day, so no one saw my perfect hair. Sigh. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811763 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:52:43 +0000 Glory 811763@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have two daughters: one with pin straight hair and the other with extreme Curly hair. I would have to say that the curly is considerably more work from shampoo, to combing to styling. I so agree that a good cut is essential but long curly hair can be quite challenging regardless. I find the biggest challenge are the tangles for her, and this despite a huge variety of products we have tried. Her goal is to have it as long as Merida on the movie Brave. Oh dear..... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811748 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:31:33 +0000 Janet 811748@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In addition to weather and length, I think hair thickness and texture, and the degree of curl all have a lot to do with it. </p> <p>My hair has gotten much easier to manage now that it's thinner and finer than it was when I was younger -- it takes less work to get it straight, but if there is any humidity in the air, it won't stay smooth. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811702 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:46:16 +0000 modgrl 811702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My curls are very recalcitrant. I can not fight them. They always come back. I use a curl gel and cream combination that gives me perfect curls. I am never going back to the flat iron! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811698 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:42:22 +0000 Tina.b 811698@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My wavy, curly hair is a nightmare, lol. It is beyond frizzy, hairdressers even remark that I have a particularly difficult hair texture. Usually I blowdry it straight and then flat iron, takes quite a while. </p> <p>Sometimes I blow dry it, and then give myself the home version of a blowout with a round brush. I cannot do this nearly as effectively as the hairdresser and it takes forever. If I want to wear it with any curl at all, I have to smooth it, and this is the only thing that works. Also I need to use a ton of product when I don't flat iron. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811678 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:19:33 +0000 Angie 811678@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lots of opposing thoughts, and quite a few confirmations too. Weather and hair lengths seem to be factors that play an additional role here. So interesting. </p> <p>Thanks, ladies! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811553 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:57:18 +0000 rute 811553@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No way! Embracing curls is much less time consuming than trying to straighten it!!<br /> Of course curls can be temperamental and the never seem right! It helps to go to a hairdresser who really knows how to cut curly hairs and invest in good products for curls! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811549 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:14:49 +0000 Scarlet 811549@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Working with the curl is officially my new strategy since my haircut last week. In my case this means air drying instead of blow drying. It saves me time since I have a well-behaved wave. I find my second day hair more problematic and have to either re-wet it or put it up. I didn't know this was a new trend, but that explains maybe why my trendy hairdresser encouraged me to go in this direction. Well that and it fits well with having a baby, doesn't it. The trend for high buns is really working for me too in this respect. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811534 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 06:09:11 +0000 Deborah 811534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yay, internet's working:). I have naturally curly/wavy hair and I have been blow waving it straight for years:). It is most definitely easier for me to blow wavee it straight than try to fashion the curls into some sort of "order" irrespective of product or cut. Mind you i dont like how my hair looks curly so I am not up to speed with current products for curly hair. Though every now and then, I flirt with the idea of trying it au naturel. Extreme humidity is a problem but thankfully I don't encounter that often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811527 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:58:26 +0000 RunningSue 811527@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wore my hair curly for a number of years and then decided to blow it straight. For me, when I wore it curly it was a piece of cake, no work and it always looked great. Now, I wear it shorter and prefer to straighten it. Takes a few minutes to dry and then flat iron. The right products make all the difference. Since I started using Living Proof, my hair seems to look good more often. Even after spin class or running in the humidity I can extend the blowout easily.</p> <p>While I love curly hair on others I do not love it on me. It has also gotten less manageable as I have had more kids. I tried Bumble and Bumble's smoothing treatment last year. While it did reduce the time to style my hair, it took ALL the wave out so it was really flat. I would rather fight the humidity and have some body. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811525 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:47:54 +0000 Gaylene 811525@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What Adelfa says...</p> <p>I can blow dry my fine, wavy/curly hair into a straightish, layered bob in a couple of minutes that looks more or less the same for the entire day. Totally easy UNLESS I'm somewhere with high humidity where my hair wants to revert to a curly, frizzy mass.</p> <p>My current stylist is a genius with curly hair and has been encouraging me to start working with the curl instead of always resorting to a blow dryer. It's been a learning process and I'm finding it to be MUCH more time consuming. Some days my curls look really good, while, on other days, they can just look weird and frumpy. Curly hair is definitely more work--and the end result can be quite unpredictable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811521 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:35:27 +0000 ManidipaM 811521@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me, DEFINITELY the first issue, especially when going shorter than shoulder length, is finding someone who can cut to work with the direction of curls rather than vice versa --- otherwise I get horrid sticky-outy bits over my ears and behind the head!</p> <p>I think it depends on the texture of your hair --- some people get more frizz, some people have hair softer than mine so that it curls differently based on how they slept on it (mine is stubborn and knows its mine, and will NOT change it). I do get more curl vs less wave depending on humidity. And trying to make it curl a certain way despite inclination and weather is so hard a task that is just. won't. work. Not for me anyway.</p> <p>Curly-hair conditioner is my limit of fiddling with it. After that, I'm depending on the cut to work with it, not my own styling tricks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811515 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:16:41 +0000 Adelfa 811515@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have wavy hair and absolutely, blow drying it straight is less time overall. When I go natural, I am fussing all day, especially since over time my waves lose volume. When I blow dry, I'm done in under 10 minutes and my hair looks good all day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811397 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:55:50 +0000 Suz 811397@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have curly hair, obviously, but my curly haired friends report that in addition to the type of curls you happen to have and the quality of the cut, it also matters where they live. It is easier to manage a head of curly hair in some climates than it is in others. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811395 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:52:52 +0000 Aziraphale 811395@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, it absolutely takes less work to just "go with the curl". Mind you, a very good cut is essential. My current hairstylist is very adept at cutting curly and wavy hair into a manageable style -- in fact that's why I went to her in the first place. A friend of a friend had this fabulous short wavy hair, and when I asked her who did it, she said, "Oh, Emily's great -- she really knows how to cut curly hair". </p> <p>I can usually just wash, blow-dry on low setting to about halfway dry, and scrunch a bit, and it looks good (or at least, I think so. I'm not bothered by a few flyaways, though. I know some people are). </p> <p>If I want it straight, I need to blow dry on high until it's totally dry, then spend ten minutes with the flatiron. And then I need to apply texturizing product, and even so it may or may not frizz up halfway through the day anyway. And if it does start to frizz up, it won't be in a good way, whereas if I let the curls just happen, I get bouncy loose curls rather than frizz. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811392 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:51:10 +0000 A.Kiernan 811392@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Working with my curls can be just as much work as straightening my hair, it just may not always take as much time. </p> <p>I almost always air dry my curls, unless it is too cold out, then I use a diffuser on my hair dryer. It takes about 10 minutes for me to put some product in my hair and shape the curls. On the down side, if it is super-humid out, my hair won't fully dry until lunchtime. :-?</p> <p>On the other hand, when I blow dry my hair straight, it takes a good 30 minutes start to finish. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811391 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:48:01 +0000 rholmes27 811391@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think a good cut by someone trained to cut curly hair goes a long way. I either cowash or use organic shampoo, leave-in conditioner, styling gel for curly hair, &amp; air dry. That's it. I do not have the patience or the skill to do much more than this. </p> <p>My attitude about my hair is the same as my attitude about my body. I take care of it the best I can without undue stress, &amp; then just enjoy it for what it is. Interestingly, since I stopped fighting my hair &amp; let it do its own thing, I get many compliments on it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-question-for-the-curly-haired-gals#post-811390 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:47:21 +0000 Kari 811390@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have curly hair, but some of my curly-locked friends have reported more uniform/shaped and less frizzy curls, and reduced maintenance time, when they stopped using shampoo (conditioner only, or one of the no-shampoo methods out there.) </p>