LJIDW-LPF Week 1: "It's hard to beat a person who never gives up"

[daisysparrow]

I have curly hair.

A LOT of curly hair. Nope, more than that. ... And a bit more still.

And you'd think curly hair would be great; swishy, bouncy curls, fabulously full of joie de vivre, the envy of all those with slightly lank locks. And you'd be right.

Some of the time.

Maybe... 10%. Maybe less.

Because here's the thing about curly hair: it does what it wants. Oh, and it gets tangled SO easily. But if you brush it, it goes frizzy. More so if you have split ends. And split ends are more common on curly hair, because it is drier than straight hair, and therefore more brittle. It is quite easy to end up looking like you've touched a Van de Graaf generator in the mornings.

And here's the other thing about curly hair: to show it at it's best, you really need to have it cut at a number of different lengths. Otherwise the weight of the hair will drag it down, forcing the curls out of shape, making the top part flat even if the bottom part is curly, and generally looking like a bad case of hat-hair. But the thing about having your hair cut a number of different lengths, is that it makes doing any other hairstyle (at all) rather impossible. Even a simple ponytail is tricky until the top sections are long enough to reach the back of your head. Which will then create that flat look I mentioned, and so the cycle continues.

The irony, of course, is, that, if one does actually manage to get one's hair into an actual hairstyle that is not just 'hair hanging down from one's head, plus or minus a hair accessory', chances are, having curly hair will actually be helpful, because it's already used to being bent into different shapes, and having hair so thick means that it will hold in that style all freaking day. Probably all week, actually, if you didn't have to sleep on it. Straight hair is much, much easier to make many styles with, not including fancy styles with lots of twists in them. Colleagues with straight hair all one length get my envy here, even though they would then have the style fall down rather more quickly.

Well, can't you use a hair straightener on it?

Of course I could, and sometimes I do, but did I mention I have A LOT of hair?! Straightening it takes a long, long time. Not to mention, heating it up is obviously going to dry it out further (leading to more split ends!), so even if it was straight, chances are it still wouldn't be sleek.

Well, then, isn't there any way of just making your curls look nicer more often?

You mean like a curling iron? Yes, but, basically I'd run into the exact same problems. Even forgetting the heat for a minute, I still have A LOT of hair. I got it curled with a curling iron when I was bridesmaid in a wedding, once. It still took three hours. (Yes, you read that right. Three hours to curl my already-curly hair. I have A LOT of hair!)

I do have a couple of other options.

I could roll sections of it up in soft curlers when it's wet, and leave it overnight. That does lead to nice curls the next day, and is now my go-to method for very special occasions. It will still take a long time and I need to get someone else to do it for me because I can't do the back of my head, because I can't see it, but it is an option.

And then there's the "Curly Girl" method. The short version is, the stuff that's in most shampoos is great for making straight hair look sleeker, but is the opposite of helpful for curly hair, so don't use them, mostly you just need conditioner, and dry your hair with a t-shirt not a towel. I found one product that is packed full of moisturizing ingredients that also gently cleanses and I just use that one now. It's still tricky, because I can't see the back or top of my head when I'm in the shower, and even if I could, my hair's wet, so I don't know how it's going to end up looking when it's dry, so I'm never really sure exactly how much to use each time, and if I don't apply it evenly, some sections will be very curly ringlets and others will not. Sometimes it works, and it looks fabulous! Sometimes it doesn't.

Curly hair does what it wants.

Comments

[thephantomq]

As a fellow curly-haired person, this is the truth.

I have given up on doing anything interesting with my hair, ever. xD

[daisysparrow]

Mmmhmm :)

[dmousey]

This sounds like my daughter's curly hair problems. Her hair doesn't grow down- it grows outward! The struggle is real! Nice work! 😊✌

[thephantomq]

It grows down... eventually?

I mean when it's sopping wet you can tell it's past my waist, hah.

[daisysparrow]

I've had similar issues with it growing upwards first!

[divinemusings]

That does seem like a hassle. I've always had straight hair and have always wanted curly, of course. Because we always want what we can't have, right?

[daisysparrow]

Right? :)

[sorchawench]

I'm not envious, per se, but the ability to have a wave would be nice now and again. My hair laughs at perms, it cackles at curling irons, and it does not cower in fear of the strongest of hair gels.

I had a color done once, and the stylist decided to put in these huge twisted wave/curls. And sprayed it with HAIRSPRAY 5000. And 20 minutes later, my hair was flat again.

I wouldn't want your hair problems for the world, but I would love one tiny spring curl to tug on and watch it bounce back.

[daisysparrow]

Oh dear! Yeah, I suppose if there was just one, it could be quite mesmerising.

[bleodswean]

Ha! Nicely written. An amusing struggle.

[daisysparrow]

Thank you, thank you :)

[tatdatcm]

As a person with straight, fine, thin hair, I find I am a little jealous of your curls and volume. Isn't that always the way? My niece, who is playing this mini-season, has curly hair and we straightened it once when she was little. It took hours. We only did it once.

I like your use of the prompt.

[daisysparrow]

Thank you kindly.

Yes, it's always the way!

[rayaso]

Curly hair never gives up, never gives in. As a straight-haired person, I never knew the problems that go with lots of curly hair. Thanks for the education!

[daisysparrow]

lol, you're welcome!

[adoptedwriter]

I have a very big-haired, curly daughter. She would 100% agree with this. I'd love to trade hair dos for a week or so and for once experience this.

[daisysparrow]

Yeah, changing for a short while would be novel. Changing permanently... well, I've gotten used to this hair now!

[halfshellvenus]

I have curly hair too, though it's fine and therefore probably frizzier than yours. But it is definitely a pain! The curls go however they feel like, and I even have parts that don't curl-- which makes for a weird combo look.

I sometimes wonder if people who get perms have more control, or whether as soon as their hair is curly, it mutinies. :O

[daisysparrow]

Ohh dear, yeah, that one section that doesn't go the way of the rest is definitely annoying!

I only know of one person who gets a perm, she has long-ish hair with a slight natural wave, I think. Every couple of years in the summer she gets a wave perm that looks so lovely on her and ideal for sunny weather. And then as her hair grows out, the waves drop & droop & become less defined. So I think the answer is that it stays how it was permed (as it should!) but you need to watch the re-growth.

[the_eternal_overthinker]

Ah! Well.. I always loved curly hair but after reading this I am envious no more. Great use of the prompt! Liked the way you penned it (the qt ans format was cool)

[daisysparrow]

Haha, if it's helped at all, then glad to be of service! And thank you kindly; there came a point where there wasn't really any other way to say it, for this entry :)

[bellatrixe]

Curly hair does what it wants.

I am a hairdresser and this is so very true, haha.
I also have straight/somewhat wavy hair myself and have always been envious of curly hair. It takes me hours to curl mine and then often doesn't hold for very long D:

This entry was such a delight to read.

[daisysparrow]

Aww, thank you!

Ugh, that sounds like too much trouble to be worth it, for sure!

[kimschlotwrites]

Curly hair is a pain. At least mine is. It doesn’t cooperate when it’s clean. It’s only a little less unruly. I wish I had the coordination and the patience to straighten it one own

I might need to try the roller trick you mentioned, if I can get my husband to help. I’d love to have nice looking curls. Not the crazy mess I have now.

[daisysparrow]

The best thing is actually strips of rags about 2 inches wide. And they need to be long enough -- maybe 8 inches. Sounds a lot but depending on the length of your hair each curl is going to be an inch tall when rolled up on your head, so the rag has to cover it from both sides, and then there still needs to be enough to tie in a secure knot and then to untie in the morning without losing the end. And it's better to use wider sections of hair -- it will hold better, and you can gently separate big curls in the morning. :)

[bewize]

Hehe.

Curly hair says, "I'll do what I want! You're not the boss of me!"

Cute entry.

[daisysparrow]

Yeah, I did hear that hair was put on our heads to remind us that we can't control everything. *double side eye*

But thank you kindly :)

[troof_therry]

This is a really solid examination of the struggles inherent in curly hair. I especially like the comparison to the person touching the Van de Graaf generator and the general assumption that I'm new to the troubles of curly hair, which I am. Nicely done.

[daisysparrow]

Thank you :) It's partly because I don't know all of the words, but also I knew there was such a wide variety of readers. Hopefully it's detailed enough for those in the know, but also simple enough for the uninitiated :)

[sonreir]

[ahem] As a fellow curly-haired person, I need to know what conditioner you've found that works... :)

(This rang SO TRUE.)

[daisysparrow]

It's from Lush -- which country are you in? :)

[megatronix]

My hair is curly, and definitely wavy, and "curly hair does what it wants" is an incredibly accurate sentence!!

What's the one product you use that you like that cleanses? I think my shampoo has not been working for me and I'm looking for something else to use.

[daisysparrow]

It's from Lush, it's called Curly Wurly. Which country are you in?

[megatronix]

Awesome! I’m in the US, I live near Seattle

[daisysparrow]

I'm in the UK, don't know if you have the same shops there as I do. Sounds like you do, though? Yay.

[murielle]

Oh yeah, and I'm a quitter when it comes to my hair. See icon. I have it cut so short it's not really hair by anyone's standard. And I love not having to deal with it anymore.

Love this! Great work! Great take on the prompt! Brava!

[daisysparrow]

Oh yeah, short hair definitely has it's advantages!

[moretta]

I also have super curly hair of the ringlet variety, and man. Yeah. Straightening is totally fine if someone else is doing the work, but on a day-to-day basis you will not see me with anything other than washed hair - ie the "nice", day 1 curls. Probably terrible, the amount of washing I do, but it does look better that way!
Cleansing conditioner is also A++, along with an oil on damp hair.

[daisysparrow]

Sorry, I think I missed a few comments, including yours.

I probably don't wash mine often enough, having a shower seems like such a big hassle sometimes, but I just realised yesterday that it might be easier if I separated the two; have a quick wash shower before bed but don't do my hair (so I'm not sleeping on wet hair, getting it all matted), and wash my hair over the bath during the day when it needs it.

[reidharriscooper]

Hair battles are REAL! Never let the hair win... even it won... just think "No, I won!"

[daisysparrow]

Sorry, I think I missed a few comments, including yours.

Hahaha, yeah. Front it out, front it out...

[favoritebean_writes]

I've heard stories from my curly haired friends that are very similar to what you say. One friend of mine just gave up and shaved her head. Still, I'll ask about the Curly Girl method next time I see them.

[daisysparrow]

Sorry, I think I missed a few comments, including yours.

There are definitely days when I think about it!

[nayanawrites]

Aaaaw ... I dont have curly hair ... but I have always loved soft curls. There is something oh so romantic and feminine about it.

And then to actually read your hair raising tales .... The grass is always greener on the other side isnt it ?

[daisysparrow]

Sorry, I think I missed a few comments, including yours.

Yeah, generally speaking. Although, was it Justin Beieber who said, "the grass is greener where you water it" ?

[flipflop_diva]

As someone who always had straight hair until an ill-advised perm left it with some weirdly shaped curls and frizz that just do what they want, I always wanted actual curly hair. But I know if I had it, it would be a whole different struggle.

Hair. Sigh. It never does what you want.

[daisysparrow]

Sorry, I think I missed a few comments, including yours.

Yeah, I did hear it said that if everybody in the world put all their problems in a pile, we'd be quick to grab our own back out again. Probably applies to hair, too, right?

[alycewilson]

Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes! I have curly hair, but my Mom had straight, fine hair and therefore used to brush my curly hair while it was dry, into a frizzy cloud.

[daisysparrow]

Sorry, I think I missed a few comments, including yours.

Yeah, ouch, that sounds awful! You have my deepest sympathies!