Dear Lori Dawn

In my 48 years of having frizzy, curly hair, the only time I semi-liked it was in the 80s when everyone else had frizzy, curly hair. It’s thick & heavy & it gives me headaches. Every time I get it cut, I end up with a triangle-looking thing sitting on my head. Is there any help for me?

Sincerely,
Ready to Shave My Head

Dear Ready to Shave My Head,
Yes! There is help! Are you working with a professional stylist? The key is finding someone educated with curly hair.

Most people think there is just straight hair & curly hair. Straight hair can usually be broken down into 3 categories—fine, medium, or coarse. Curly hair is a whole different beast! What kind of curl is it—Corkscrew, Botticelli, or Wavy? What is the texture—fine, medium, or coarse? Is it thick or thin? Is the curl even all over? What is creating the frizz? Is it the nature of the curl, or is it simply a lack of knowledge and care?

Curly hair loves moisture. So, if you aren’t currently using moisture in your products—start. If your hair is coarse & curly, you need more moisture than fine & curly. If the latter is your case, you may need equal amounts of protein & moisture. In most cases, frizz is due to a lack of moisture content. However, there are some circumstances when the curl has been cut incorrectly, texturized too much, or not at all. In some horror stories that clients tell me, someone with fine curly hair has been cut with a razor instead of shears! (Some curl responds well to a razor, but not as a general rule.)

Also in most cases, curly hair doesn’t like to be shampooed every day. Try NOT washing it for a change or, if you need the feel of “starting fresh,” just rinse it when you are in the shower, and then use a moisture detangler. Protectors or leave-ins are great to control frizz. To help you determine which products work best for your curl type, talk with your stylist. I didn’t say commit to cutting—I merely said talk! In-salon treatments are great, too, if they are rebuilding and adding moisture. A nut-based moisture is better to use than a lanolin moisture, as the molecular structures are different—one penetrates, one coats.

Drying your hair is equally important. When towel drying your hair, use a T-shirt or Jersey material instead of a terry-cloth towel. The terry cloth has little loops on it that catch the individual hair and roughs up cuticle to create more frizz. The T-shirt has a smooth surface that is better for your curl.

Never rub your hair between your hands! Scrunching and blotting are much better alternatives. Using a diffuser CORRECTLY can be a huge help to get more curl out of wavy hair, and is a nice alternative for other types of curl. Some curl needs to be dried completely with a diffuser to get the most out of it, and some curl—after getting the moisture out using a diffuser first—needs to be left in a damp state.

As far as the right cut vs. the triangle, this will depend on the type of curl you have and also how it is layered. There are ways of getting a different shape into your hair, but the first step is getting it into good health and control. You can start this process at the same time—it simply depends on your budget.

Another option is to get your hair professionally flat-ironed. This can change your look and tame the frizz. The other benefit is that you won’t have to worry about your hair for a couple of days—if you keep it dry. I don’t recommend you do this yourself, particularly if you have a tighter curl. It can be a challenge to make it all uniform, especially when trying to straighten the back.

To find a good curly stylist, ask your curly-haired friends who cuts their hair, and if their stylist educates them in the care of their hair. The second thing is to educate yourself. The Internet is a great tool; also, I recommend the book Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey. It is informative with great tips and colorful pictures to refer to.

So, no need to shave your head. Make friends with your beautiful curl! Once you know how to work with it—and you get the right products for you—and a savvy stylist—caring for curls is easy and the envy of every straight-haired girl!

Lori would love to answer your questions in Healthy Times Newspaper. Please email her at lori@healthtimesnewspaper.com with your questions that may appear in her next column. For a Free Consultation or further information, please contact Lori Dawn - hairdresser, image consultant, body-image tele-seminar/workshop facilitator. The Beauty Studio, Temecula - 951.302.4800


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Dear Lori Dawn, In my 48 years of having frizzy, curly hair, the only time I semi-liked it was in the 80s when everyone else had frizzy, curly hair. It’s thick & heavy & it gives me headaches. Every time I get it cut, I end up with a triangle-looking thing sitting on my head. Is there any help for me? Sincerely, Ready to Shave My Head Dear Ready to Shave My Head, Yes! There is help! Are you working with a professional stylist? The key is finding someone educated with curly hair. Most people think there is just straight hair & curly hair. Straight hair can usually be broken down into 3 categories—fine, medium, or coarse. Curly hair is a whole different beast! What kind of curl is it—Corkscrew, Botticelli, or Wavy? What is the texture—fine, medium, or coarse? Is it thick or thin? Is the curl even all over? What is creating the frizz? Is it the nature of the curl, or is it simply a lack of knowledge and care? Curly hair loves moisture. So, if you aren’t currently using moisture in your products—start. If your hair is coarse & curly, you need more moisture than fine & curly. If the latter is your case, you may need equal amounts of protein & moisture. In most cases, frizz is due to a lack of moisture content. However, there are some circumstances when the curl has been cut incorrectly, texturized too much, or not at all. In some horror stories that clients tell me, someone with fine curly hair has been cut with a razor instead of shears! (Some curl responds well to a razor, but not as a general rule.) Also in most cases, curly hair doesn’t like to be shampooed every day. Try NOT washing it for a change or, if you need the feel of “starting fresh,” just rinse it when you are in the shower, and then use a moisture detangler. Protectors or leave-ins are great to control frizz. To help you determine which products work best for your curl type, talk with your stylist. I didn’t say commit to cutting—I merely said talk! In-salon treatments are great, too, if they are rebuilding and adding moisture. A nut-based moisture is better to use than a lanolin moisture, as the molecular structures are different—one penetrates, one coats. Drying your hair is equally important. When towel drying your hair, use a T-shirt or Jersey material instead of a terry-cloth towel. The terry cloth has little loops on it that catch the individual hair and roughs up cuticle to create more frizz. The T-shirt has a smooth surface that is better for your curl. Never rub your hair between your hands! Scrunching and blotting are much better alternatives. Using a diffuser CORRECTLY can be a huge help to get more curl out of wavy hair, and is a nice alternative for other types of curl. Some curl needs to be dried completely with a diffuser to get the most out of it, and some curl—after getting the moisture out using a diffuser first—needs to be left in a damp state. As far as the right cut vs. the triangle, this will depend on the type of curl you have and also how it is layered. There are ways of getting a different shape into your hair, but the first step is getting it into good health and control. You can start this process at the same time—it simply depends on your budget. Another option is to get your hair professionally flat-ironed. This can change your look and tame the frizz. The other benefit is that you won’t have to worry about your hair for a couple of days—if you keep it dry. I don’t recommend you do this yourself, particularly if you have a tighter curl. It can be a challenge to make it all uniform, especially when trying to straighten the back. To find a good curly stylist, ask your curly-haired friends who cuts their hair, and if their stylist educates them in the care of their hair. The second thing is to educate yourself. The Internet is a great tool; also, I recommend the book Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey. It is informative with great tips and colorful pictures to refer to. So, no need to shave your head. Make friends with your beautiful curl! Once you know how to work with it—and you get the right products for you—and a savvy stylist—caring for curls is easy and the envy of every straight-haired girl! Lori would love to answer your questions in Healthy Times Newspaper. Please email her at lori@healthtimesnewspaper.com with your questions that may appear in her next column. For a Free Consultation or further information, please contact Lori Dawn - hairdresser, image consultant, body-image tele-seminar/workshop facilitator. The Beauty Studio, Temecula - 951.302.4800