{Curl Talk} - Carve, Slice & Rake

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you may remember the hack job I had on my hair last year. Well, because of that episode, I hadn't had my hair cut in a year!! It's taken me that long to grow it out and get over the trauma.

About a month ago, a friend of mine forwarded me something she read on Craigslist. Ouidad was looking for Hair Models in February. For those of you not familiar with Ouidad, it's a high end salon here in NY specializing in CURLY hair. I've always wanted to try it but since it's high end, high end prices go with it!

Ouidad is not only a salon, but they have also expanded into training hair stylists from other salons on the Ouidad method. Such business savvy - love it!! So, the reason why they are looking for "hair models" is for the trainees to get some hands on experience with what they're being taught. Great for us curly haired girls! We get a free haircut!

My sister got in on it also so we went down to the city together this weekend to have our hair day. Before we left I had to get my "before" shot (taken by my 7 yr old).

As you can see, I am in desperate need of a haircut, not to mention a wash. It had been 4 days which in curly world is pretty normal. Don't be too grossed out - I did continue to shower every day!

When we got there the first thing we had to do was sign a model release. Being a photographer, I found it amusing to be on the OTHER side of a release!

My stylist's name was Lauren from Massachusetts. First we chatted about what she wanted to do with my hair. We were on the same page so that was good.

Keep the length but decrease the volume! I also felt comfortable because they had trainers watching over them to make sure they were doing everything correctly. Even down to what type of shampoo and conditioner to use! It was pretty amazing how they ran such a tight ship. They are really serious about curls!!

When I was in the chair I kept hearing words like Carve, Slice and Rake. Not normally what you want to hear when you're sitting so vulnerably on the other end of scissors about to get your hair cut!! The carving and slicing had to do with the cut and the raking has to do with the styling.

I was getting a bit nervous during the "carving & slicing" phase. The sound of the scissor going through my hair left me breathless a few times. The scissor makes like a "z-z-z-z-z-z-z" sound for some reason and I was hoping she wasn't slicing off too much!

So, after the wash, condition, cut, and deep condition, it was time to be raked! They use their fingers like a rake to style the hair and keep the curls in curl formation and minimize the frizz.

Four hours later (and lots of product), this was my "after" picture taken by my sis.

I really won't be able to tell if I like it until after I wash and style it myself. This time though, there won't be any "raking", but instead I'll be "roping" - my own styling method. Will have to show you how that goes on the next Curl Talk along with an "after after" picture!

For you curly girls out there, what's your favorite styling method?

Have you ever been to Ouidad or any other salon specializing in curly hair? What has your experience been?

Curl Talk - I Love FastFood

Recently when I was at my little one's gymnastics class, one of the moms asked me what I use on my hair. She has curly hair also. Curly haired people have an instant bond - we're just naturally drawn to each other. Ever notice that? I call it "curl curiosity".

At the time I was using Control Freak gel by Bed Head. I really liked it. I still do. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail so it was kind of hard to tell what her hair really looked like.

The next week, was a different story. Her hair was down, her curls were bouncy, no fuzz in sight. I had complete curl envy. So of course, I had to ask her "what happened?"

She said a friend of hers turned her on to fastfood.

What?? You mean eating McDonald's did that to your hair? I was amazed!

First she looked at me like I was crazy, and then proceeded to tell me about a hair product called fastfood - a leave in conditioner.

Immediately after the gymnastics class, we beelined it over to the nearest beauty supply store. If you want to try this, it's not sold at your local drug store. You will need to find a specialty supply store. If you're in NY, that won't be hard to find. The first time I bought it, I bought a small tube just to test it out. I think it was about $12 - not a hefty investment.

I started using it and really liked the results! Look here - a lot less fuzz!! (I aksed the hubbs to take a picture of my hair - -yes, he thinks I'm crazy. He will never understand my hair obsession.)

Don't get me wrong, there's a whole procedure involved - my days of wash and go are long over. I'll get into my routine in a later post, but just so you know, this is all I need now. No mousse, no gel, just a leave in conditioner. Woo Hoo!!

This weekend I went back for more and ended up with the super sized version for about $32.

Have you ever tried this product? if so, what do you think?

Who knew fastfood would actually be good for you.

Curl Talk - Fear of The Fuzz

There are so many issues that go along with having curly hair, but one of the biggest is the fear of the fuzz. We try endless ways to keep the fuzz to a minimum - using different products, trying different styling methods, and most important...avoiding the outside world at all costs when the humidity goes past 50%.

This weekend, I had a few things going for me - extra time and perfect weather. I am always on the hunt for that perfect product. I don't know if this one is perfect yet, but I'm pretty happy with it so far. I've been using a product by Bed Head called Control Freak. Besides loving the name, the gel seems to actually be working with my hair!!

After I wash and condition my hair, I try to keep it as wet as possible and then load on the gel. You've got to work fast because as it's drying, the fuzz is already starting to build up. Once the gel is on, I separate my hair into small sections and start twisting. Normally I do a single twist but I noticed it was looking way too boppy/Shirley Temple-esque. Not quite the look I am going for - especially since my last crazy haircut. Don't want it to appear shorter than it actually is! This time I did the double twist. I took 2 small sections and twisted them together. This worked much better. I let it air dry (didn't leave the house that day) and it didn't bop up. Once it was all dry, I took all the twists out. It was soft, looked longer, and most importantly, FUZZ FREE!!

This is what it looked like hours later...

Still pretty decent.

Later that day I was looking through an H&M Magazine. I stopped by the store last week when I was in the city. I always like to check in and see if I can get something cute for my girls. You can imagine the horror I felt when I came across this page...

My worst nightmare!! This is exactly what my hair looked like before I had it cut and if I let it dry naturally without putting any product in it. Why in the world would they style their models like this??

I have to stop looking at it. I may have nightmare tonight.

Do you have any magical de-fuzzing techniques? Would love to hear about them!

Curl Talk - Anatomy Of A Bad Haircut

I decided to start a new segment on my blog called "Curl Talk" - basically because I have unmanageable curly hair that makes me crazy and I needed a place to vent about it and hopefully get some suggestions from my other curly haired comrades. You are out there, aren't you?!?

This weekend I finally booked an appointment to get my hair cut. It was waaaay overdue! Every time I get my hair cut it ends up being a traumatic experience so I tend to space them out quite a bit. The main problem is that I don't have a hairdresser that I love so I keep trying new ones hoping to find that perfect fit. Needless to say, I'm still searching.

I decided to try a local place in my neighborhood based on recommendations. As it turns out, the day I had my appointment, my longtime friend Karen came by that I hadn't seen in ages and she ended up coming with me. She must have sensed that I needed moral support.

We get to the place ON TIME and they say there's going to be a 15 minute wait.

Off to a great start!

Finally the woman comes over that's going to do my hair and just has this look on her face. How do I describe it? Disgust? Horror? Disinterest? I'm already getting a bad feeling. I proceed to tell her I just want a little cut off - like maybe an inch because when my hair is short, it just puffs out. I can't have short, curly, puffy hair!! I told her the last time I had it cut, they cut it into long layers and angled it. I don't want that.

So she says. "ok, so I'll give you long layers and angle it"

Hellooooo!!! Was she even listening to me?!? I told her again what I wanted. I looked over at Karen and she was just rolling her eyes.

I don't know how it happened, but somehow she talked me into long layers. Don't ask me how. I'm still trying to figure that one out myself.

A different woman washes and conditions my hair, then brings me back to the first one. This is where the fun really begins. As she starts hacking away, she's already telling another customer that she'll be with her in 10 minutes.

TEN MINUTES?!? I just sat down lady!

The more she combs and cuts, the drier, fuzzier and puffier it's getting. The knot in my stomach is also growing - in direct proportion to the rate my hair is puffing.

She thinks she's doing a great job, and I have to keep pointing out the problem areas - which basically is the whole entire head! I started to feel like a shrub and she was the gardener with her hedge trimmers, "Oh, we need a little more here. Now it's not even, let's do a bit more here" As I see more and more hair falling to the floor, I'm really starting to freak out. Whatever happened to ONE INCH???

I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I grab Karen, run home, rewet my hair, and put my own products in. I then call for more reinforcements. My sister.

My sister and Karen try to save what's left of it. They proceed to take little sections of hair around my whole head and make twists to set the curls and try to decrease the fuzz.

I can finally relax.

Let's go over the final version: Here's a "before and after" picture. I don't really take many pictures of myself so it was hard to find a good "before" shot. This one will just have to do.

Do you see how much longer my hair was? You're not even seeing my whole head of hair. Believe me, it was long! Look how short that "after" picture is. Eeeek!!

Let's break it down.

First - remember I said I didn't want it short because it would puff out? Well, here's my short, round, shoulder legnth, puffy hair...

Now what's with this piece? Why did she decide to keep this ONE piece long? Doesn't match the other side AT ALL!

This is the part that really gets me. It may be hard to tell from the picture but she hacked my hair into not LONG layers, but SHORT croppy layers!!


The layers are cut to the middle of my head - right where the arrow is! I can't even tie my hair back anymore without half of it falling out!

Yes, the problems us curly haired girls must face.

Next time (which won't be for a long time), I'm going to splurge on either Ouidad or Devachan.

Until then, my hat is going to be my new best friend.