curly hair people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another thing to consider is not just the haircut, but getting good "product" to work with what you have. I have naturally curly/wavey hair, and I love the flat iron, but that can take too much time. So I often use Kerastase mousse and other hair products (the "nacre"), then let my hair air dry - without ever running a brush through it so the curls stay more together. It looks SO much better curly that way, and I get tons of compliments. Without the hair products, it would look awful. Kerastase is expensive but lasts forever - and I'm sure there are similar products you can get at Target, CVS, etc.

OP here- where can I purchase Kerastase? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Passent at Elizabeth Arden $55 she is only there on Wednesdays and the other days at the Fair Oaks location?

But, she is the best in the area. You will have to reserve maybe a month in advance for the Pentagon location. Maybe she has sooner appointments in Fair Oaks. She is definitely worth the drive. Everyone I have sent to her has been extremely happy. She is young (very stylish) and has curly hair herself.

Oops, I think that might be Fair Lakes? Sorry, I get confused out there.

[Anonymous]

OP again: What flat iron do you use? When I go to Tysons there is a booth with salespeople who are always trying to get me to flat iron my hair. Should I try it out next time? Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Flat ironing is VERY damaging to your hair. Especially if you color it.

[Anonymous]

You can buy Kerastase products at any nice/upscale hair salon. Again, expensive, but lasts a long time and the best. Ask the hair salon people to help you decide which type/color label for your hair. For curly hair, I have been using the green color label (and the yellow/orange for dry hair products).

Also, I was always afraid of flat irons because I heard they ruined your hair. I now have a ceramic one (Chi brand, bought through Amazon). The ceramic is far less damaging. It would kill your hair if you blow-dried/flat-ironed it every day, but I only do it 1-2x a week (and don't wash for 1 day so the style stays for 2 days each time). It has not damaged my hair at all, and I color my hair, too. So just in moderation, and use the flat-iron fast on each chunk of hair! Of course, it works best with shorter hair - shoulder-length or shorter.

As you can tell, I did a major overhaul of my 10-year old haircut/process last year, and now I am current with products/tools and it shows!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can buy Kerastase products at any nice/upscale hair salon. Again, expensive, but lasts a long time and the best. Ask the hair salon people to help you decide which type/color label for your hair. For curly hair, I have been using the green color label (and the yellow/orange for dry hair products).

Also, I was always afraid of flat irons because I heard they ruined your hair. I now have a ceramic one (Chi brand, bought through Amazon). The ceramic is far less damaging. It would kill your hair if you blow-dried/flat-ironed it every day, but I only do it 1-2x a week (and don't wash for 1 day so the style stays for 2 days each time). It has not damaged my hair at all, and I color my hair, too. So just in moderation, and use the flat-iron fast on each chunk of hair! Of course, it works best with shorter hair - shoulder-length or shorter.

As you can tell, I did a major overhaul of my 10-year old haircut/process last year, and now I am current with products/tools and it shows!

Good for you! I am sure you look great!

[Anonymous]

I have gone to Elie Elie in Tysons, was a few years ago and saw a couple of other stylists. Never had Elie cut my hair, but he does seem like an arrogant ass. The products themselves worked well for me, but can get expensive.

Now I blow-dry and flat iron my hair and LOVE the Chi flat iron. Agree with PP's-- best not to color or highlight your hair, since the constant flat ironing can be damaging. I wash and blow-dry twice per week, and use the flat iron every day to touch it up.

[Anonymous]

I found Elie rude as well (on my one and only trip there he scoffed/sneered at me when I said I used Aveda's "Be Curly" products, yelled at his assistant in a foreign language, cut my hair in about 5 minutes, then shellacked it with 5 different products, all of which he had bagged and waiting for me when I checked out - I had to force the girl to not ring them up). He is also no longer affiliated with Ouidad.

So where can you go? I have gotten pretty good cuts from Jouvence Aveda in Pentagon Row - can't recall the name of the stylist (maybe Emily?) but she did cut most curls individually just like the Ouidad-trained stylists do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flat ironing is VERY damaging to your hair. Especially if you color it.

I think it depends on what kid of hair you have. I have very thick and naturally oily hair. I have to wash it every day or else I am a total grease ball, I can't even condition my hair or else it will look horrible after 12 hours. I have flat ironed my hair every day for years (and its colored) and I've never had a problem and don't even get split ends. I think my natural oils protect it from getting damaged. My sister has thin dry hair and she could never use the flat iron like I do, her hair would fry.

[Anonymous]

I've never been to a stylist affiliated with Ouidad, but I can tell you their expensive styling products didn't work for me. I paid big bucks only to have them sit in my cabinet unused because they turned my hair into a bush.

I love paul mitchell's sculpting foam, medium hold (has to be medium hold). I've used it for years, because it's the only thing that brings out my curls without frizz.

in terms of a stylist, all my hair is one length and long. so I'll go to any cheapie place for that, like hair cuttery. very low maintenance. I save my salon $$$ for coloring!

[Anonymous]

Bill Lawrence Salon in Adams Morgan. Most but not all of their clients are African-American. So they've seen every permutation of "curly" hair, humidity issues, and flatironing imaginable.

I recommend Taiyo. She's straight-forward (yet sweet) and not at all a product pusher. She's all about low-maintenance and limiting chemical intervention. Thanks to her I can go from bedhead to presentable in a couple of minutes. 10 max with dryer diffuser. Very handy with 2 kids under 4yo.

Re: product. I've gone through everything ever made at every imaginable price level. Two words for dry/frizzy curls. Olive. Oil. A little bit combed through with your fingers in the shower once in a while is quick/cheap way to deep condition.

Good luck OP! Curls rock. [I'm too lazy to flatiron anyway...]

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'd love to be mistaken for a 16 year-old. OP, no sympathy for that! I do recommend Aveda's "Be Curly" line, though.

[Anonymous]

I went to Beth at Fiddleheads in Dupont circle. She did a very good job. I would only see Beth though and not the other two girls. For products I use Bumble and Bumble curl cream and Aveda anti humectrant in the summer. Both work well.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I did it! I invested in a good flat iron. I usually use it after the kids go to bed. I have received so many complements on my hair! I feel so good about myself now. Thanks for all of the suggestions!