Last week an anonymous commenter asked why most honeys with natural, un-relaxed hair believe that straight hair is easier to manage over natural, curly or kinky hair. These are my thoughts:- Curly hair needs much more attention. When in it's natural state, I MUST co-wash and condition my hair at least once or twice per week. After washing, I style with Devacurl One Condition, attach clips at ends (to keep length even and prevent shrinkage), then sit under the dryer for about an hour.
-The next day is almost ALWAYS a test: I either love it or I hate it. If it didn't dry thoroughly, I have frizzy spots. If it did dry completely, then I'm happy and can continue with my normally scheduled morning routine.
-Straight hair requires much less fuss. I wash, condition, blow dry, flat iron, wrap and off to sleep I go. There is no waiting period- In the morning, there are no surprises. I unwrap my hair, part, add a drop of my favorite product, Mizani Spradiance, and off I go to work. Once in a while I may have to fire up my large barreled curling iron for a little "bump" at the ends and thats it.
- My straight hair can usually last two weeks- Week one: I wear it loose, Week two: Ponytail!
Straight hair definitely saves me time in the evenings and in the morning.
Nevertheless, I LOVE my curly hair. Unfortunately, it just requires much more attention and nurturing. Some days I have the time but most days I don't, and thats where straight hair comes in handy ;-)
What do you think?
23 comments:
wow that is a lot of work! but i'm just a sucker for curly hair :)
I definitely agree with you Wes...straight is definitely less of a fuss once you get it to be straight lol.
Question: when you keep your hair in its natural state and you co-wash do you feel that co-washing creates residue and/or creates a flaky scalp? I think I tried co-washing once and I felt like my scalp was flaking up. Also, you mentioned clips to avoid shrinkage how exactly do you clip it? I never dry my curly hair in dryer I usually let it air dry at home but not always get the best curls out of that.
Thanks for your post!
I am really embracing my curls, but it is some WORK! and I live in MI so it is cold, and my hair gets really really dry in the winter, so I tend to work w/ the curls more in the summer.
Now, with it straight, it works but it needs a lot of heat, so for now it is straight.
I think you should go with what makes you feel beautiful.
xo,
CC
Yeah, I see where you're coming from with this. Although for me, straightening my hair is such a process! And, if even the mere thought of moisture gets close to my head, it's a wrap. I dance, so there's always a danger of sweating the hair out.
So in the end... it's just easier for me to keep it curly. :o)
Hi Wes,
I'm definitely with you on that one. I am a relaxed honey but I stay away from heat COMPLETELY. Yes, I said it! No heat for me. That said I wear my hair curly majority of the time... How, you ask? When I do my washing or co washing I generally air dry with the use of 5 to 7 two strand twist or braided plaits (depending on if I want it wavy or curly). Unfortunately, this method, although healthier for my hair, requires more maintenance. When my hair is straight I simply moisturize it at night, wrap it and go to sleep… in the morning I combed it down and out the door I go. However when I do the curly thing to keep it fresh I have to re braid or twist it every night (if i'm wearing it down) other wise I'll configure my 'curls' into creative buns or updos. I don't like to wear my hair the same way everyday I try to do something different on a consistent basis. That being said I probably put that burden on myself...lol
T.Monte
www.Suiteoctober.com
I could have written this post myself because I go through the same ordeal dealing with the natural curls.
I love them but they require alot of attention!
i definitely think it's easier to wake up and run a comb through your hair. and i don't straighten my own hair i pay someone so it's less of a hassle for me.
however now that i am trying to get back in the gym, i will be laying off the flat iron till my birth day.
it's just too cold to wet your hair and run the risk of it not being dry in the morning.
I agree with you 125%.
I am 26 yrs old and I have thick curly hair. Its cute when wet, but give it about 45 minutes and its big and has shrunken above my shoulders.
[I never thought about adding clips at the ends]
Also, have you ever used the Mixed Chicks hair products for Curly Hair? Ive tried it and it moisturizes my hair tremendously & defines the curls, but doesn't prevent it from "frizzing"
Also, my birthday is next weekend and I am having a big bash. I was planning on straightening my hair, but we all know once I sweat...its over, so any styles for curly hair that you can suggest?
I agree. Straight hair is more manageable and easier to work with. They only negative with straight hair for me is when I go to the gym. I always sweat out my hair so it doesn't stay straight.
Diff strokes for diff folx. I think I like how I "look" with my nappy hair more than straighter hair. I straightened my hair once and never got my natural texture back. It was awful and I was quite devastated. Hence why I'm rockin' short hair now! I had to cut my hair off b/c my natural texture wouldn't come back. LOL! Which is easier? Hmm...for a lazy person like me I find the short natural hair extremely easy. Longer natural hair...I agree, takes a TON of time.
@ Andrina: You should take a look at Essence.com's photo gallery. They have a huge collection of different hairstyles. I would probably choose to do some kind of cute bun- something that would stay cute during humidity & sweat.
Thanks Wes for the post, I was the anom poster and of course forgot to come back and check on any comments:)
And that totally wasn't a judgement thing on anyone who chooses to straighten their hair for anyone reading took me so long to restart the loc process on my head because I knew that was an option I'd be forgoeing, I truly just didn't get that because I hear it a lot yet I'd experienced the opposite, both on my own head and in doing other peoples hair. I can sit for hours braiding my hair or someone elses but the process to blow dry and flat iron kills me!! However I plan on investing in one of the ones you'd mentioned on your site, saw it at a beauty supply store yesterday actually. So I'm sure that makes a huge difference.
AND wasn't factoring in the styling of one's curly hair oppose to using different, non straightening stylist methods.
Thanks for the input.
I hardly ever wear my hair straight, so I don't have a lot of experience with how to maintain straight hair. I do agree that curly hair does take a lot of time to maintain, with washing and twisting and detangling and all.
I usually braid or twist my hair up every night and I don't think it's a hassle at all. It's easier for me because I normally have to flat iron my hair every morning if I were to wear it straight. When it's curly, I unravel and schrunch. But I never truly knew about caring for my hair when it was straight so that may play a role. I think it's not really about straight versus curly but more about how much patience people have with their hair. I happen to have a lot :)
Use Mixed Chicks deep conditioner before you iron it. It will protect, and shine, and help the process. If you have any kind of curl when your hair is wet, you can use their leave-in conditioner on clean wet hair and air dry. www.mixedchicks.net
Hmmm... Your curly routine actually sounds pretty simple. Now that I know how to deal with my natural hair, I don't find it any harder than dealing with straight hair. Maybe it's even a little easier for me. However, having color treated hair does add an extra dimension to my haircare routine.
I find straight hair very hard to keep up because I have to worry about it getting wet, etc. Of course, this is because my hair isn't naturally straight, lol.
preach girl!
i recently decided to embrace my natural curliness after realizing it would never grow if i didn't stop putting so much heat on it with blowdrying and straightening. now i'm all curly all the time and holy crap it's a lot of work! no one ever tells you that curly hair is more than a notion...
After reading this I feel I have a better understanding of why some non-black women with textured hair (waves, curls) feel they'll just die without their daily workout with the blow dryer.
Straight hair is predictable and reliable, which is good for people who need that. I happen to prefer the unpredictability of curly (or, in my specific case, nappy) hair. Not fighting the frizz (too much) makes a HUGE difference.
I think curlychronicles hit it on the head with this: I think it's not really about straight versus curly but more about how much patience people have with their hair.
Oh my gosh. Clips at the ends! Why didn't I ever think of that? I wash my hair and it's past my shoulders, then I apply the curl cream and by the time it's dry it's shrunken so close to my head it's unbelievable. Thanks for the tip!
I think straight hair is a process, but curly hair is healthier for me cause I don't need to manipulate it to get straight. So curly hair works for me!
I find that in the colder months straight hair is easier to manage. It's more get up and go. I love my natural curlies but today in this 21 degree weather I could have surely used that hot comb magic. My hair is doing its own thing right now.
Thanks LBell :)
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