Hola Chicas,
In my years of participating in the online curly community, I’ve learned that although there are some obvious differences between being Caucasian (and/or Latina) and curly and African American and curly, there are many similarities as well. What unites us all is the need to find alternative care and styling solutions, and that we must, in the face of stigma, rock our curls glamorously and proudly!
I do, however, need your help! What should I name the segment (for ease of navigation and organization)?
Without further ado…
CN: Have you always embraced your natural curls?
I did not always embrace my curls. My mother has similar hair but a little thicker and hers is coarse. You’d THINK she’d know what to do with my hair but that just wasn’t the case.
I spent my entire elementary/middle school years embarrassed of my hair though no one knew and everyone loved it.
I got a really great regimen down in HS, although not one product I used then works for me today…go figure.
CN: If not, who or what inspired you?
I literally have to keep looking for inspiration. I wake up sometimes loving my curls and then, like most curlies, need a few days of straight hair.
I guess my inspiration is my husband. He LOVES the curls. So my on going commitment to my hair is really just my commitment to my hubby 🙂
CN: How have family, friends, and strangers responded to your curls? How do you respond to them?
My sisters and all my friends have different hair than me and have always expressed envy. Growing up I’d say, “you can HAVE it” but these days I just say “thank you” because I know my hair is pretty awesome! Curly hair is just so versatile!
CN: What are your must have products?
You know the KEY to my hair being so darn healthy, shiny, and vibrant— I swear is the fact that I drink a gallon of water a day. That is my holy grail and not just for my hair but my entire body.
But I know you want to know an actual product 🙂 recently my favorite product is AG:Re Coil….LOVE IT!!
CN: Routine for the the perfect curl?
For me…
1.co-wash and condition with Suave Naturals Coconut,
2. de-tangle in the shower,
3. with hair pretty drippy, I apply the AG:Re Coil evenly
4. No RAKING the product in (for me, I like clumping and no raking is the key for me) Just gentle application
5. Lightly apply heat protector (I am currently using Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide)
6. Diffuse, Diffuse, Diffuse 95%
7. DO NOT TOUCH OR MUSS until 100% dry
8. Scrunch out the crunch
9. Pineapple at night
**I also get deep conditioning treatments every 2 weeks by my Dominican stylist, everyone needs one :)**
CN: Anything else you’d like to add?
I’d like to add that it’s perfectly normal to not always love your hair and want a straight day, just stay away from the flat iron. And if you can get a Dominican lady to do your hair, go for it. I swear when mine does a rollo set on me, my hair is sooo healthy. That is the ONLY way to go straight and not suffer damage. You can also go to your normal salon and ask for a roller set…expect to be given some weird looks, but keep looking until you find someone. 🙂
I have a love hate relationship with my hair but I’m like that even with my furniture, lol I am a finicky person and its ok to want a change sometimes. Us curly girls are so fortunate to have the options that we do. So whatever you choose, just own it and Rock it! Go big and beautiful baby!
You can visit my youtube …. http://www.youtube.com/
I love the idea of featuring multi-cultural curlies! The other day I saw the post with the Caucasian girl and I wanted to applaud you for being inclusive. That said, I don't think you need a separate section – you could just mix in the multi-culti curly posts! I like Curls United.
Keep up the good work Nikki!
I love this idea! I would like to offer a suggestion, though. When thinking about a way to organize, please, please try not to base it upon ethnicity, race, culture. I say this because I am Hispanic of African origin. I look like a typical African American chick, but my family (on my father's side) is from Panama and I speak fluent Spanish. For all intents and purposes I consider myself Panamian!
People often times will argue me down that I'm not Hispanic because I don't have a certain look (J-Lo, Daisy Fuentes, Eva Longoria). Many people who are Hispanic understand that there are Hispanics who are blonde hair blue-eyed all the way to your African featured Hispanics. Yet we all consider ourselves Latino. As a matter of fact in my family I have 3A/3B haired cousins who have African features. Yet there are thoses with sandy blonde 4A hair. QUITE A SITE, I must say!!! :~)
So I guess, all I'm saying is be cautious with those types of categories because we tend to fall into stero-typing different groups of people.
(I hope I made some sense!) :~)
I love Curls United. Rams2gether your hair is beautiful! Its very similar to my DD's hair. Nikki, I appreciate you showing other curly hair. Everyone in my house has natural hair, but all different textures. Segments like this help me with my DD's hair (got 4 of them in the house).
i love Curl to Curl…its almost like saying from one curly girl to another let's embrace and learn from each other from day to day!!
i dont think it needs a separate segment either. and i agree with avoiding hair typing. no one can set in stone what their hair type is, hair always changes with age, stress, environmental factors, presence of hard water, pregnancy, etc. products designed for your hair type today may not work this time next yr, just like rams2gether said
CurlyNikki said, "The key here is that we all have commonalities." So why not just say so? I suggest "Curls In Common".
How about colorful curls.
Sorry, typo! Meant to say "Curl to Curl!"
I love Curls United, too! Sounds really good.
@Rams2gether: Beautiful curls. Totally get the "love-hate" relationship with hair. Thanks for sharing your story and routine.
I love the idea of a separate segment and I agree with Nikki about steering clear of the hair typing. I, personally, do not find it helpful. Let's say I've got 3b/3c hair, which I may or may not have, does that mean that all products claimed to work for 3b/3c hair will work for me? Or only for my hair type? No. I use a variety of products and I dare say that my head of xx/xx hair reacts differently than someone else with the same so-called hair type. Ugh. It just seems to divide us again (as black women) into that same old "good hair" "bad hair" ignorance…because it's still out there.
I will love the added variety of outlooks, styles, and product usage of looser AND tighter curlies…all here at CN. I don't care for naturallycurly.com even though I'm sure they provide very useful information. Casting my vote for "Curls United" as well. :~}
Thanks Nikki, for all you do!
Curls United is cute!
How about "Curls Around the World"?
Love your hair Rams2gether!
I learned a lot from naturallycurly.com's General Section. Those ladies have some great tips and tricks.
I agree with Jorie…Curls United! Was actually thinking the exact same thing! LOL
Or "We're all a curl" (like MJ's song ("we are the world")
thanks for all the great suggestions! I see both sides– not make a 'new segment' like aubin stated…I felt this way originally. But at the same time, I think for organization and ease of navigation, we need something. I'm not big into the 3a/b/c 4/a/b typing thing. That would be the easy way to do it. The key here is that we all have commonalities. I'm happy you guys are open to it and I love your suggestions! I really like Curl 2 Curl, World of Curls, and Curls United.
I think this is a good idea, but I think they SHOULD have their own segment, because our hair is a lot different from theirs. Whenever I'm on naturallycurly.com, I find that most of the info is for non-african hair. I think you should call it "Curls Like Us", Or "Curlies like us".
i LOVE United We Curl!
Rams2gether – your hair is absolutely gorgeous!
I think I understand what you went through though! I never understood what "love-hate" was until I big chopped my relaxer off and had to learn to manage and style my 4b hair!
I'm not too crazy about a "new" segment. I agree with Aubin at 12:58pm.
It was a while before I found CN.com and I'm so grateful for what I've learned from her site.
Nikki, I hope and pray you continue to mainstream all curlies and encourage contributors to include their hair type when they post their HGs and routines.
Multi-cultural Curls?
I'm all for this new segment. I love all curls that are natural.
Her hair looks fab.
How about "United We Curl" or "Curls United"?
great idea! how about 'curl 2 curl' or 'curls united'
Hi,
It's Sweetsop. I love the name World of Curls, World of Textures, Diva Curls from around the World, or World Of Diva Curls. I think it is a great idea. Some of the best ideas I get for concoctions and / or products are from my curly friends from around the world. I thought your website was already a melting pot, but this should inspire all the curly peeps to post. Great idea and good luck on the name.
Side note – rams2gether – I also sport the curly hair for the hubby. Sometimes I think he is more attached to my hair than I am. He encourages me to love myself for who I am, and I am thankful to Chicoro and Curly Nikki for providing me with the tools I needed to love myself completely the way God made me. Have a great week.
I was thinking World of Curls too, Joy beat me. LOL
How about Divine Textures/Divine Curls?
It matters not if your curls are loose or tight, they are all divinely beautiful..
Good Luck with a name Nikki..
Blessings.
How about "Textures"/"Curl Textures"/Textures of Curls"/World of Textures?"
Gorgeous hair! It looks like the first few inches have a tighter curl pattern than the bottom 2/3 of your hair. How do you handle the two different textures?
Thanks for featuring this looser curly head Nikki. It doesn't have to be a separate segment. I think it's helpful to have info on different types of curly hair all in one place.
How about Curls Around the World or World of Curls?
This piece is no surprise to me, my blond hair blue-eyed bestie introduced my 3c, 4a hair to a flat iron! LOL Without straightening she has a fro!
Maybe you can called this segment multi-cultural curlies or curls!!!
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