THE CURLY HAIR STORY

After posting my Style Evolution post, which you all seemed to like, I thought it was about time to talk through the story of my hair. I’m always asked about my natural hair type, so here’s the story from past to present.

As a toddler I had blonde curly hair that stopped people in the street but behind the scenes it was a struggle. I hated having my hair washed and it would often get all tangled and the hairdresser would have to hold me down and cut out the knots. It wasn’t until I was about 6 that I started to really have a say and I’d demand that it stayed in a low ponytail, with a scrunchy of course. I wouldn’t let anyone touch it, brush it or wash it… it was my own little curly mess that I just wanted to ignore. As I grew up, towards the end of primary school I remember being quite jealous of the girls with straight hair and I so wanted those two straight bits of hair that would often fall out when they had their hair up in a ponytail. My ‘bits’ were just frizzy clusters, but I still decided to cut the front of my hair myself… it was a disaster of course.

As I went into my teen years I knew I had to do something with my hair and I couldn’t just leave it in a low frizzy ponytail any longer. My best friend, who’s a year older than me had similar hair and so I adopted her routine and products but I never quite accepted my curly hair like she did. I found it overwhelming and irritating, so I never enjoyed wearing it down. I used Sebastian Wet for a while and also the Shockwaves Mousse (extra strength). Both of these products made my curls crunchy, but at the time the ‘wet’ look was what I wanted because the only time my hair wasn’t frizzy was when it was wet, so that was my aim. I stuck to those products throughout my teen years and experimented wearing my hair half down, half up and sometimes in a side plait which just didn’t work with my texture hair as it made the plait all stiff. I’d get a trim once a year but going to the hairdresser was a horrible experience for me. I found they never understood my hair, they’d make a bit fuss over it and the amount of combs that were snapped before I started taking my own brush in was unreal.

I started to straighten my hair at University when GHDs became a thing. I had the large straighteners for afro hair which I thought made it easier, but actually meant I couldn’t get to the roots properly. Because my roots were never that straight and I was so worried about the ‘frizzy bits’, I often wore a thin elastic hair band, clipped half my hair back and wore it half down. I found wearing it all down quite hard as my hair didn’t have any shape to it and I was always told to keep it long as it will weigh down the curls and stop them from being too puffy.

After a couple years of straightening it (for special occasions), my curls were really damaged so when I did wear it curly it looked kind of strange. The roots would be really curly but the ends were quite straight and at this point I was using curling creams, like Sebastian Potion 9 or the Regis Curling Cream (which I think is discontinued now). I found creams worked better as they didn’t make my curls crunchy but kept a hold and I’d learnt to get used to the feeling of soft curls (without freaking out that they were frizzy).

When I started working full time I’d wear my hair straight more often as I found it easier because it meant not having to wash it every other day and with straight hair you can switch between styles. I always hated how with curly hair, once you tie it up that’s it! So I got a bit of ombre put into the ends and I often clipped half back just because it would look a bit puffy otherwise. My hair was so damaged that the ends were quite thin whilst the top was still thick.

One day, a few years into blogging I tucked my hair into my jumper and took an Instagram photo (above with orange sweater) and I was really surprised with how it looked. I’d never considered cutting my hair short as the quality of my hair was never good enough and with curly hair it’s a massive commitment having short hair. I didn’t like short curly hair on me so I knew once I’d cut it I would be committing to straight hair. I decided to cut it, cutting off the damaged ends and it looked SO much better.

I haven’t grown it since, unless I know I’m going on holiday and have to wear it curly, then I need the extra length so I let it grow a bit. My hair is usually collarbone length or sometimes a bit longer and I’ve had balayage put in, which is a colouring technique that’s really subtle. I like having lighter hair around my face but ombre didn’t quite work for me. I go to Jason and Katherine at Hershesons in Harvey Nichols for my colour and cut and they always do a fab job!

So nearly a thousand words later and I think that’s it. Thanks if you stuck around! That’s my hair story and the reason why I stick to one look and one look only now that I’ve found a cut and style I’m happy with. I will always be the girl who has to carry an umbrella or who doesn’t want to get my hair wet in the pool. I have to schedule aside time in my week to wash and straighten my hair and when people frown upon me straightening my hair everyday I tell them it’s dead already. That’s my hair story, what’s yours?

Thanks Becky Steel for requesting this blog post. If you would also like to request a post, please submit your idea here.