Reader Stresses Over Tresses!

Good Morning Readers!

Here's our first letter for Connecting Coco.

 Coco rocks, as do y'all. I have a style coNUNdrum for you that might be a stumper:

What does a woman of a certain age do for a good hairstyle when 1) she's got a 5-head, 2) the LOHL loves long hair, 3) she's really lazy about 'doing' her hair and 4) the hair in question is mildly wavy in the front, wildly curly in the back? You can, um, look at my Facebook pictures for examples of what I'm talking about. I clearly need help.

No prize needed.

Also - rosacea. Talk about how to approach THAT one, if you would. Word on the street is I has it. Surprise to me, but now I'm obsessing over it.

Thanks in advance for your well-considered advice!

Dear Curly-headed Girl,

Okay, you have two major questions here:

-What do I do with curly hair?

-What do I do with rosacea?

Both of these require involved answers, so we're going to chop them up into two blogs. Today we'll take care of that hair!

Here's the thing, ladies, no one wakes up in the morning and says: "I'd like to have a haircut that forces me to spend a lot of time in the bathroom getting pretty!"

Everybody wants a cut that they can wash, air dry and look awesome. The sad truth is, that if you want an attractive hairstyle, you'll probably have to spend about 20 minutes every other day (or even every two days--our preference) getting there. Is that really too much? 

Now let's talk cut.  First, my fine, curly-headed friend, you should go to the salon and ask for this--it would work great with your face shape:

Tell your stylist that you want to keep your length because the LOHL (Love Of Her Life) likes it like that. Tell the stylist that you want lots of texture, but no blunt layers. Then ask for long, soft, side-swept bangs. This will help with your wavy hair and forehead--but don't knock a prominent "5 head"--think regal.  That's what we think.

What's great about this style is that it's versatile.  You can (gently) pull back the sides to the back and clip.  That "lifts" the face, while still giving you length--ergo you and the LOYL can be happy. It also camouflages any stray curls which may not be behaving.  So many ways to win with this style.

As a Girl of Curls, though, you'll have to be a little picky about who cuts your hair. It's worth it to call a salon ahead of time and ask which stylist is the best with curly hair and book with them. Basically, curly hair is an art form. It's best to cut it while it's just a little damp (sprayed lightly with a water bottle as opposed to a full shampoo) because the length is so deceiving when the hair is really wet--you run the risk of getting a bob when you wanted a trim.

Curly hair-cutting techniques are still being developed, and it's a totally different ball game than straight hair. So, when a stylist says they cut curly hair while it's dry or mostly dry, that means they're keeping track of trends. If a stylist says they'll cut it wet,  it probably means that they're going to layer your curls like you had straight hair and that's not going to do you any favors. The key is to ask questions before you're neck-cuffed and helpless.

SO! You've found a stylist, you've gotten the cut, it looks great, but now you're home and you're afraid you'll never get it to look this great again.

Here's how you maintain your mane:




Fekkai Luscious Curls Shampoo & Conditioner, $22 ea

Buy a curly hair shampoo/conditioner.
It sounds basic, but it's important. Curly hair is starving for moisture. The "frizziness" you get is when your hair is so thirsty that it's reaching up into the air, trying to suck all the hydrogens it can from the atmosphere. A curly-hair shampoo/conditioner set is going to give your hair the hydration it needs without weighing it down like a regular hydrating shampoo would.


Towel dry carefully.
Don't get out of the shower and pull/tug/rub your hair with the towel. Flip your head upside down and spend a few minutes gently scrunching your hair with the towel to remove excess water. Let it air dry for about 15 minutes and then...



DevaCurl B'Leave In $17.95

 Use a leave in conditioner.
Squirt a shot conditioner in your palm, flip your head upside down again, and lightly smooth it into your hair, avoiding the crown of your head. Flip up your head again and...



DevaFuser Kit...(coolest one I've ever seen) $39.95

 Use a diffuser.
A diffuser is an attachment that goes on the end of a hair dryer. It basically directs the air flow in a less harsh pattern that allows your hair strands to be dried from all sides at once. Set your dryer to a low setting and hold it at the ends of your hair, again scrunching it gently. You can also twirl the ends around your finger while you diffuse it to get a nice, neat spiral.



John Freida Frizz-Ease Hair Serum $9.99

 Finish with a serum.
This step is optional. a nice anti-frizz serum will keep strays at bay, but it's important to only use a teeeeeeny tiiiiiny dollop of this, because it'll take you to Slicksville really quickly if you go crazy with it. Use it at the top of your head and then on the very ends of your hair.

Finally, Don't wash your hair every day.
Washing your hair is actually pretty stressful on your tresses. You'll dry it out, which we now know = frizzier. It really needs your natural oils.

You can refresh your hair by leaving it down in the shower. Don't let it get soaked, but let the steam dampen your hair just enough to make it shapeable. When you get out you can spend about two minutes with the diffuser to make your look come back to life. A wide pick works wonders for de-tangling without stripping your curls of their shape.



Phyto Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Mask $38

 You may also want to consider a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a month just to give your hair a kick of hydration.  Especially during the winter months when the air is particularly dry.  A humidifier can help with that also.

The general theme of curly hair (in case you haven't noticed) is be gentle. No heavy shampoos, no rough toweling, no brushing, no high temperatures etc. Basically, don't stress your hair and it won't stress you back.

 Readers!

Anything else?

XOXO,

Maddie & Lisa

P.S. I know that some of the products listed here are pricey, and you CAN get away with cheaper versions of them, but I (Maddie)  am a firm believer that hair/skin is a place that it's best to spend the extra money.  Your products will last longer and have more of the active ingredients--as a general rule. 

Don't feel like you have to rush to the store and get them all at once, buy one thing at a time until you have a collection worked up.  That way you won't run out of everything at the same time and have to sell your firstborn just to replenish your products!

But, I'm not gonna lie, when money gets tight, I head straight for the Garnier Nutrisse.  I find it's the best of the worst.

P.P.S. Wow, this blog is long!  Did not realize we had that much to say about curly hair!