Ouidad: After Two Decades, I Embraced the Curl

By Felicia C. Sullivan

Few of my friends know that I have curly hair, really curly hair. And I’m not talking about the tousled, free-spirited locks that flounce down red carpets, or the shiny curls roller-set to perfection: the kind of curl every girl with pin-straight hair covets. Rather, I’m alluding to the thick, kinky variety – the tempestuous hair no one wants. The kind of tight kink that gave Dominican women in tiny Bronx salons a workout, the kind that keeps you trapped in a hothouse bathroom for hours with tools, products and towels – all in an effort to look like the pretty girls in magazines. My hair (read: the black forest), is that curly, that thick, that much. And when you grow up in a suburb where everyone is preened and blond and every girl dreams of being kick-team captain, and then when you attend a college filled with the people you thought you’d left behind, a part of you simply wants to blend in. A part of you wants that hair as straight and shiny as it could possibly, or unnaturally, be.

For two decades, I endured everything from wretched, ammonia-laden chemical treatments that caused my hair to fall out in clumps to scalp burns from cheap blow dryers to ignorant shampoo girls’ snide comments to expensive hour-long blowouts – all for the sake of hiding my textured hair and walking outside with straight, luminous locks. In between blowouts, I’d wrap my hair in a tight bun, cover any sight of frizz or curl with headbands, pins, and clips. When my stylist announced that she was going away on holiday in the middle of my book tour, I collapsed into tears in the middle of the street. During a two-year relationship, I never dared to have my partner see me with wet hair. My hair has always been my Achilles heel, so the idea of wearing it natural, letting it curl, was inconceivable. I feared the humidity, temperature variations, the unruliness, and the inevitable Chia-pet comparisons! However, over the past few years I’ve dealt with my issues of identity and self-esteem, from which my hair was its unfortunate victim, and have to come realize that the act of blending in would deny my friends and loved ones access to everything (the good, the bad, and the curl) that makes me undeniably me.

I was, and, for the most part, will always be, a disciple of the flat iron, so I was skeptical when I ventured to New York’s Ouidad, where curls are wholeheartedly celebrated and embraced. Since 1982, the midtown salon has specialized in making curls defined, soft, shiny and manageable through an understanding of curly hair's special needs and by developing a line of products that actually work. After a consultation with Ouidad, the “Queen of Curl,” I offered curt assurance I would not like my hair curly although I was mildly curious about the results. After thirty years of developing a reputation as the curly hair expert, clearly Ouidad’s heard endless protestations of this sort before, and thankfully she was patient enough to nod knowingly through my treatment, twenty minutes under a dryer and subsequent styling – that is until I stood in front of the mirror and fell in love, and for the first time in over twenty years, I touched my hair as if it were the first time I’d seen it. I gasped, and although I keep my emotions private, my eyes welled in the mirror. For the first time in two decades, I wasn’t ashamed of my curly hair. In fact, I felt pretty. And that’s when I turned around and found Ouidad clapping behind me.

The treatment was unbelievably simple and could be easily recreated at home. First, my stylist washed and conditioned my hair with Curl Quencher. After, she applied, in sections, the deep conditioning treatment, Intensive Conditioner, which replenishes hair strength (due to product build-up, the environment, and heat-styling) and minimizes frizz. The treatment was left on for twenty minutes while I sat under a dryer. Although we don’t have the privilege of salon equipment at home, you can get away without having the heat (although it helps). Before the stylist rinsed out my treatment, she added a little more conditioner. After getting rinsed, she added, in sections, their Climate Control gel. Starting at the nape area take a 2" section of hair from ear to ear, and rake the lotion through; holding section at the end, then shake to reset your curl pattern. Repeat entire process, working in sections to the top of the head to your desired style. Honestly, of all products I’ve mentioned so far, the Climate Control gel is a must-have, as it keeps your curls defined without your hair gaining frizz or recreating my triangle-hair affect (curly-hair girls, you know what I’m talking about). After another twelve minutes under the dryer (a blow dyer for home, preferably with a diffuser attachment, will suffice), and my stylist sprayed the leave-in conditioner, Botanical Boost, in sections. This not only softens the gel, but ensures the hair is shiny and completely moisturized.

Crucial note: resist the temptation to run your fingers through your hair. Be grateful for not having to futz with your curls. Futzing leads to frizz and we’re back to sobbing and square one.

Must have products, tips & techniques:

 

Deep Treatment: Intensive Conditioner.

 

Climate Control: Heat & Humidity Gel.

 

Botanical Boost: Conditioning & Refreshing Spray.

 

Comments

[Christina]

This post was wonderful! As another curly girl, I know how hard it is to learn how to take care of you hair and feel comfortable with the way it looks... especially when it's different than that of everyone else.

After I finally learned what my hair needed and embraced it, I started getting more compliments on it than I EVER did wearing it straight!

Felicia, I'm so glad someone introduced you to your beautiful curls!

[Felicia Sullivan]

Toya - Thanks!! xoxox

[Felicia Sullivan]

TJ - I'm sorry that you were offended, however, that wasn't my intention, and I think you might have misconstrued the overall intention of this post. I am in no way racist or bigoted, and I am deeply offended that you would make such a brash statement from one blog post. You don't even know me or anything about my background. How do you not know that I am woman of color? Just because I have fair skin?

Because I was born without fully knowing my ethnic identity, and be surrounded by conflicting images in media and two very disparate environments (Brooklyn and Long Island), my concept of what was considered beautiful was confused. This blog post was about me discovering the best part of myself, my naturally curly/kinky hair, and that it is just as beautiful. By doing so, I am clearly dismissing the old, one-dimensional notions of what is considered beautiful.

[Toya]

Kudos to you for learning to embrace the curl!

[TJHOLMES]

Wow. I found this article highly offensive, especially to minority women with naturally curly/kinky hair. To say that it is the hair that "nobody" wants is really bigoted. I also think that you should be more sensitive in this day in age to women, and the standards of beauty that they are under to conform to Eurocentric standards of beauty. Getting hair to "behave"-wow, that is just playing into stereotypes of curly/kinky hair as being wild and undone. I'm glad that you embraced this part of you physically, but I think you have a long way to go mentally.

Wow, can't believe you said those things. Very ill.

[Felicia Sullivan]

Dee, et all! I am so glad my post inspired you. I feel really blessed that I've finally overcome my shame regarding my hair, and have realized there are so many ways each and every one of us is beautiful, it's just up to us to recognize and celebrate it!

xo

[Dayana]

Hi!

I loved your post. It was like reading my life story. Especially the part about the boyfriend never seeing you with curly/wet hair!
I love my curls, but I hate that my hair is short. So, until it grows, I have to blow dry and flat iron it. Problem is, doing this damages my hair, and it takes forever to grow, since I have to trim it constantly. I will give the Ouidad products a try.

Thanks!!

Dee

[Da Giah]

Duh! I thought that was a picture of Ouidad...you two favor each other to me. Beautiful finish!

[Felicia Sullivan]

Da Giah - Thanks for writing. There is a finished pictured tied to this post, see above left :) Cheers, Felicia

[Da Giah]

Felicia, we'd love to see the finished product. Please post a picture. Thanks!

[Bravadora]

I've noticed that the T3 Bespoke works wonders for frizzy, curly hair. The tourmaline really gives a nice smooth curl and it is light weight. Good for you! Go natural!

[Zu]

I was giggling throughout your post as I too have recently embraced my natural curl! For me it was all quite matter of fact. I tried a new salon and my stylist was less then complimentary about my frizz. So I though, what the hell, curls it is! And I love them now!

[Down Comforter]

Thank you for revealing the process! I have wavy hair & usually try to straighten it - I, too, need to try to embrace what I was born with :)

[Tierra]

Thanks for the honest post! Curly hair is not for the faint of heart that's for sure! I've found some helpful hair styling info at Salon Hive. They've got great products and their shears are super sharp--every salon should have them!

http://www.salonhive.com/ninja-shears-5-5-titanium-cutting-and-thinning-shears.html

[Felicia]

Rachel,
Thanks for the comment! I don't think this was necessarily about picking one salon over another, this was more about discovering a place that works well with my hair. That's not to say Devashon isn't a terrific option, I just happened to try this place first. Regardless, I'm a fan of any salon that makes me feel good when I leave.
Cheers, f

[Cult Diva]

I just posted on my blog about Liquid Keratin. I have hair like yours, except more frizz and less pretty curl. I am loving this product. My hair actually is behaving for once. I've always wanted to try Ouidad, so I'll try that next. Thanks!!

[Rachel]

Just curious-- why'd you choose Ouidad over Devachan?

[Felicia Sullivan]

Thanks, Angela!!! Although I will still blow out my hair, it's good to know I have options :)
warmly, f.

[Angela]

I am a curly girl and embraced it long ago. Your story broke my heart. I get the occasional blow out/flat iron but after a couple of days my roots actually hurt like my hair WANTS to be curly. Embrace your curl! I haven't heard a negative remark about my hair since high school and I have to go back to the much used, but still true "they are just jealous".