Massiel's Curls

19 year old curl enthusiast 〰➰➿ • aspiring brand ambassador ✨ • second year college student • journalism/marketing major

[massielscurls]

The LOC Method

If your curls absorb more water yet are super dry, then it may be time to try out the LOC method. It has been a buzz on the natural hair forums for its ability to let curls go days without having to refresh. 

What does LOC stand for?

LOC is an abbreviation for leave in conditioner, oil and cream.  The name itself signifies the order in which products should applied, making it an easy-to-remember curly routine.

What sets the LOC method apart from other methods is the layering of products in a specific order to maximize moisture. The layer of moisture is effectively sealed in by two products which are both known to be excellent sealants, which are oil and butter.

How to do the LOC method

The method is so easy to get used too because it involves simply changing the order in which you apply the products you may already own to your hair. Follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Leave-in conditioner. 

The L stands for leave-in conditioner, which is used by curly girls to provide the moisture that will be sealed in. A moisturizing, water-based, leave-in conditioner is recommended. Popular leave-ins are SheaMoisture’s Curl and Style Milk and Kinky Curly’s Knot Today Leave-In Detangler.

Step 2: Oil

Next, apply a thin layer of oil to your hair to help lock in the moisture. The oil you apply will vary depending on the porosity of your hair. An oil that is light but powerful enough for all hair types is jojoba oil (I use this and I love it). 

Step 3: Cream

The final step is to apply a butter-based cream to your hair to seal the moisture in. The cream can also provide your curls with definition and hold, so it’s best to pick a styling cream that works for your hair’s texture. If your curls require more hold than a cream can give, then feel free to finish up with a holding gel. Some popular curl creams are Cantu Beauty’s Coconut Curling Cream, Curl Activator Cream and Shea Moisture’s Curl Enhancing Smoothie. 

Who should do the LOC method?

The LOC method will work best for high porosity hair or hair that always feels dry. No matter what your curl pattern is, if your hair is chemically processed or color treated then you likely have high porosity and struggle with moisture retention. If you have low porosity curls and attempt this method, you could run the risk of having hair that is limp and oily and experience a lot of product build up. If you try the LOC method and find that it weighs down your hair, then stay away.

As with all things curly hair related it’s all about trial and error so if your current routine isn’t quite cutting it then give this method a try and modify it to suit your needs. 

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How to master the diffusing method

Personally I am an equal fan of the diffuser and of air-drying my curls. A diffuser is this  life saving device that you attach to the end of your blow dryer nozzle. Its purpose is to speed up your hair’s drying process when you don’t have time hours to air dry your curls. Particularly in the winter months, leaving your curls to air dry can not only mean you need to start the grueling process several hour earlier to allow time for air drying but you could get sick if you go outside with wet hair. Diffusing your curls can be a huge help to not only speeding up drying time but effectively enhancing your natural curls. Here are some do and don’t tips I reccomend knowing before diffusing:

DON’T- Diffuse INTO your curls. What I mean is if you are standing upright facing the mirror and you position the diffuser horizontally to just blow straight INTO your curls you will be there all day. This will be very time consuming since you will be waiting for that specific area to dry. Since the curls are all grouped together there will be nowhere for the air to go. This is because you are pointing the diffuser directly at the scalp, rather than the curls you’re trying to dry. Lastly, diffusing into your curls could potentially destroy the curl formation.

DO – Flip your head forward so that you wet curls are hanging forward and diffuse upwards. Gently diffuse in an upward motion and then move to a different area and do the same thing. The diffuser will catch or encompass the grouped curls and heat them up without burning you while giving the hot air the ability to flow freely. More volume will be achieved when you diffuse with your head flipped forward. It is important that you continue to keep the dryer moving rather than just holding it in place. Each time you move it to a new section of curls, lower the diffuser and let the curl fall into the diffuser and then reposition it. You repeat this process until the curls are 80% dry and then let the rest air dry. 

DON’T- use HOT air when diffusing your soaking wet hair. Maybe at the beginning it’s a good idea to blast hot air to jump start the drying process. However, after the first 5 minutes of diffusing, if you continue to just use hot air, not only do you risk heat damage but also either you risk taking much longer to dry your curls completely. Using a high temperature when you start to diffuse will seal the hair cuticle, which helps to reinforce the ringlet shape to stay in place. If you start diffusing dripping wet hair with cold air first, you won’t get very far.

DO- Switch it up and give your curls a blast of COLD air. This does 3 things: First, it cools down the curls. This allows you to be able to tell if they are truly dry vs. damp. Second, your curls dry much faster: if you alternate between blasts of hot and cold air together, it’s a huge bonus if you are pressed for time. Last, it helps to secure the ringlet formation of the curls and shut the cuticle properly.

DON’T- Use high heat AND a high setting. High setting means that air is blowing all over the place and in essence is blowing our curls left right and center at a fast speed. Diffusing your curls on a high setting means that the air flow is not as controlled, which can lead to frizzy curls.

DO- Use high heat and a LOW setting. A lower setting enables the air flow to be controlled and localized. The less your curls move during the diffusing process the fewer frizzes you will end up with. This is essentially the goal we are trying to attain when diffusing curls.

Always remember that practice makes perfect, so even if you’ve never diffused or have but didn’t like the results, these tips work. 

Diffuser Recommendations: 

The Curly Co. Collapsible Hair Diffuser

DevaFuser Diffuser

Conair Volumizing Diffuser Attachment

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Understanding Protein and Moisture

Protein has always seemed to be confused between those of us with curly hair. Some people love protein treatments while others seem to be very sensitive to its effects. In this post I’m going to explain the role of protein in curly hair care and how it may affect your curls for the better or for worse.

Why Protein?

Proteins are used in hair care products for a number of reasons, first being that proteins are naturally attracted and absorbed by the surface of hair because water molecules bind easily with proteins. Proteins attract water molecules from the air, making them a humectant. Humectants are essential for dry frizzy hair (like mine). Protein builds a protective film over the hair which smooths and flattens the hair cuticle, giving the hair shine and strength. Proteins also penetrate the hair shaft and help fix heat damage. However, the benefits of protein can be temporary if used the wrong way. A high use of proteins can have the reserve effect and actually damage your hair even more. 

How To Determine If Your Hair Needs Protein or Moisture

Generally, fine and/or damaged hair tends to need protein the most. However, it is vital to pay close attention to your hair and adjust your routine depending on how your hair feels. Since hair’s major components are both protein and moisture, your hair needs a balance of both. However (and here is when it gets slightly complicated), these two things are linked. The amount of moisture retained by your hair is dependent on the amount of protein because water molecules bind directly to them (as stated earlier). Hair that has too much protein and/or too much moisture will break and be worse off. Therefore, it is super important that you have a good balance of both since your hair needs both in equal amounts to be strong and healthy.

Examples on Hair Types:

Type A: IN NEED OF PROTEIN- Hair feels dry and un-moisturized, it’s weak and breaks easily even when gently combing or finger detangling. It’s lifeless, greasy, limp, stretchy and doesn’t hold curls well. Although it’s dry, doing deep treatments and conditioning makes no difference and the hair remains frizzy and dry.

Type B: IN NEED OF MOISTURE- Hair feels dry, rough, brittle and breaks very easily. Strands are hard and stiff even when wet. The protein treatments are making no difference and the hair is getting worse.

It is easy to have very similar symptoms and not care for your hair the right way. You might be struggling with dry hair that feels like it needs deep treatments, oils and/or thick conditioners but in reality just needs protein for strength and structure. Another person may be struggling with a similar issue but instead their hair is overly protein treated and just needs a simple routine that includes deep treatments and a limited dose of protein. 

How To Make Sure A Product Doesn’t Have Protein 

It’s very important to be more aware of what is the products you use because if you don’t check the ingredients you may be using proteins without even realizing it. Products typically list protein in these ways: 

Product may just list the word ‘protein’ in the ingredients.

Any ingredient with ‘hydrolyzed’ is a protein.

If the product lists ‘amino acid’ in the ingredients, it will act like a protein (amino acids are what make up a protein).

‘Keratin’ and/or ‘collagen’ are proteins. 

Suggested Drugstore/High End Products For Protein and/or Moisture 

Protein:

1. Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment for Damaged Hair

2. Palmers Coconut Oil Formula Deep Conditioning Protein Pack 

3. SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque

4. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

5. Nubian Heritage EVOO & Moringa Repair & Extend Conditioner

Moisture: 

1. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

2. EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea All Natural Hair Masque

3. DevaCurl Heaven in Hair

4. Camille Rose Naturals Algae Deep Conditioner

5. By Made Beautiful TRUE Intense Treatment Masque 

Now that you are informed of what proteins are, the effect they have/could have on your curls and how to figure out if you need moisture or protein in your routine, you should successfully be able to maintain your hair’s moisture and protein in balance. Make sure to observe your hair and treat it accordingly and always remember that your hair changes all the time depending on your routine, the products you use, the weather, throughout seasons, etc! 

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Hair and Skin Care Throughout the Seasons

Most people believe that when a product works for their hair, it works forever. This is a common misconception when it comes to haircare, specifically curly care. Products can vary in their effectiveness because of everything: if you use too little, if you use too much, if your ends aren’t trimmed, if you didn’t deep conditioned, if you applied it differently to the wrong parts of your hair... the list goes on and on. Most importantly, it is vital to know that curl care varies through the seasons. 

Since we are now transitioning into winter, curly hair typically tends to become more dry and in need of extra moisture, attention, and love. Deep conditioning and creams/hair butters are essentials to maintaining healthy and soft curls throughout the cold and dry months. Protective styling (which we will talk about later on) is also key to keeping curls nice and protected. Winter can be very harsh on your skin, hair, nails, etc., so it is very very important that you take time out at least once each week to pamper yourself and give your hair/skin the attention they deserve. 

Unlike the winter, the summer months are the time where your curls have to break free from all the heavy, over moisturizing products. Light leave in conditioners and defining gels are the way to go in the humid months because the weather outside already provides enough moisture for your hair to survive. Heavy use of any product can result in flat, weighed down curls that no one wants. Just like your hair, your skin also needs a break from heavy products such as oil based moisturizers, foundation, and heavy powders. The hot months are a time to let loose and free and enjoy life, so let your curls and skin flourish and don’t put too much thought into the process. 

The climate outside can have a huge impact on the way we live our lives. From the way we dress, the activities we do, to how we care for ourselves, informing ourselves of how to properly use different methods and products throughout the seasons can help us avoid frustration, failure, and have one thing less to stress about. 

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Brand Appreciation: Cantu Beauty

When starting your journey to natural hair, it is vital to start and stick with products that are natural and do not contain harsh ingredients, but most importantly work for  and accommodate all hair types. When I decided to fully transition, the first brand I turned too was Cantu, not only because of all of the rave reviews it had, but because it was also very inexpensive (I’m talking 5 to 7 dollars max per product people... 5. dollars. That’s a STEAL) In this post, I will be talking about the products I’ve tried that work, others that didn’t, and which I still use today. I suggest buying Cantu products from Target, Walmart, Sally Beauty, etc because some amazon sellers can overprice the products. Keep in mind that although some products may work/not work for me, that doesn’t mean that they’ll work/not work for you. Everybody’s hair is different!

Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream: Sadly, this is one of the products that did not work for me. I found it to be very very VERY sticky and almost gummy like in my hair, and although I think this would work for my wavy haired people, it just didn’t make the cut for me. It also dried my hair out and had a very weird smell, which I didn’t like. However, it was nice and thick which I loved and came with a lot of product, which was great for the price. Will use again if I absolutely have too. 

Find it here: https://www.target.com/p/cantu-leave-in-conditioning-repair-cream-16oz/-/A-13044151

Coconut Curling Cream: Ah. maze. ing. This curling cream is light yet heavy enough to coat every strand of hair I apply it on, has great slip, a nice tropical scent, and didn’t weigh my hair down. When I first used it I focused it on my ends and only used a dime size of product per section and WOW. My hair was shiny, defined, bouncy and smelled divine! Definitely a holy grail product. I love love love it! 

Find it here: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cantu-Shea-Butter-for-Natural-Hair-Coconut-Curling-Cream-12-Oz/22211253

Deep Treatment Masque: Again, another holy grail. This is by far one of the best and cheapest deep conditioners I’ve ever tried and still use today. Shea butter, the main ingredient, really deeply moisturizes my strands (which are very dry by the way). When left on for an hour and used with heat, my hair transforms into its best form. The #1 thing I love about this deep conditioner is that when I wash it out, it doesn’t leave my hair dry, like surprisingly many other deep conditioner’s do. It helps prep my hair for styling and helps maintain my wash and go through the week. It’s simply the best and most wallet friendly deep conditioner ever. 

Find it here: https://shop.naturallycurly.com/cantu-shea-butter-deep-treatment-masque-12-oz/

Define and Shine Custard: A big no-no. This did not work for me at all. It may be my most hated Cantu product ever. As you all know already, my hair doesn’t really cooperate well with gels or custards because I find that they always tend to dry out my strands and leave my curls crunchy, which i cannot stand. I took the chance on this one because 1. I love Cantu and 2. It was dirt cheap so my broke self was like why not. Well, I should’ve listened to my instinct and not wasted my money on it, because it was horrible. First, the custard has a weird slimy gelatin like feel to it. Talk about gross. Second, when put onto my hair, it made the coconut curling cream sort of ball up on my hair, telling me that those 2 products DO. NOT. WORK together despite being made by the same brand. It was just a big disappointment. Would not buy again. Ever. Still, give it a shot though, it may work for you. 

Find it here: https://www.target.com/p/cantu-shea-butter-define-shine-custard-12-fl-oz/-/A-21407489

Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream: THE. BEST. PRODUCT. EVER. TO. TOUCH. MY. HAIR. EVER. Oh my goodness I cannot stress how beautiful this product is. The look, the smell, the feel of the cream... even the packaging is gorgeous and efficient. A dime sized amount of product raked into my hair and boom! I am transformed into a curl goddess. This was one of the first products I used and is still my go-to styling cream 2 years later. I will never stop using this product and I pray that Cantu never discontinues it or changes the formula because I will suffer. I just love it. I looove ittttttttttt. 

Find it here: https://www.target.com/p/cantu-natural-hair-moisturizing-curl-activator-cream-12-fl-oz/-/A-16970519

Cantu is a brand recognized for being of good quality for a cheap price. It is definitely my go to brand and will always be. Has anyone tried any of these products or any others? Let me know! 

[massielscurls]

The Importance of Trimming Your Ends (seriously, don’t avoid it)!

You ever look at your hair and feel bleh about it? Well, chances are that if you feel as though your hair hasn’t been living up to its full potential, it’s time for a trim! Trimming your hair (regardless of whether you have curls or not) is ESSENTIAL. No, seriously; avoiding cutting your ends can result in MAJOR hair damage and no one wants that. For those who believe that getting a trim once a year is okay, here are some benefits to consistently saying bye bye to those dead, straw like chunks of hair-

Less Breakage: Getting rid of the split ends will cause a reduction in hair breakage. 

Healthier Ends: Getting your hair cut will help you get rid of your split ends. 

Retain Length: A common misconception when it comes to getting a trim is the thought that your hair will stay short. This is completely untrue; getting a trim is guaranteed to help you retain length due to the reduction in hair breakage and split ends. When you have split ends and don’t take care of them, the split travels up the hair shaft and stunts hair growth, therefore making your hair worse. 

Thicker/Fuller: If you don’t get a trim, the split ends will start to taper off and your hair will look thinner (and I know that for all my thick haired people out there, this can be the struggle). 

Easier Styling: Detangling is much easier when your hair is even. Trimming your ends can reduce the amount of product you use and the time and stress in your cleansing/detangling/styling process.

Everyone, curls or not, should get their ends cut once every 3 months, 6 months at max. Specifically for my transitioning people, you can’t expect to see results if you don’t get your curls trimmed. Letting go of damage allows for your hair to receive the maximum benefit from whatever process/products you do/put on it. To sum it up: NEVER. FORGET. TO. TRIM. YOUR. ENDS. Please. 

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ALL ABOUT CURL PATTERNS

If you are a rookie to the world of curls and going natural, getting to know your curl pattern is one of the most important first steps to take. Knowing your pattern can help you discover the products, ingredients, styling methods, things to stay away from, etc. that will work for you. You will also be able to find personalized information that'll be the most relevant to your crown of curls. 

How to Start 

To get an accurate idea of your natural curl pattern, it’s best to look at them once you’ve completely stopped using all types of heat. Heat damage will prevent you from getting the pattern right. Your curls will fall under one of these categories-

Wavy: Categorized as S-shaped hair strands. If your hair is close to straight but has a loose, gentle feel, you have Type 2a waves. If your hair is straight at the roots and has defined waves at the ends, your waves are Type 2b. If your waves are at the roots and your ends are very defined waves with ringlets, then you are Type 2c. Wavy hair stylers typically include mousses, leave-in serums, and heat protectants rather than heavy creams or gels because waves don’t need too much moisture, just definition. Reducing frizz and finding products that give light hold without weight is the key for wavy hair. Think light and fluffy. 

Curly: Categorized by defined, springy curls that form into spirals and/or ringlets, otherwise known as Type 3. Those with Type 3 curls need products that will reduce frizz and add definition. Curly hair stylers typically include leave in conditioners, creams and gels. Its vital to avoid drying ingredients like sulfates and silicones to give definition. Shampoo should only be used once or twice a month for deep cleansing and deep conditioning should be done at least once a week, focused on the ends. Although Type 3 hair should be aware of the fact that their curls can still be weighed down if product use is abused. Think shiny, bouncy coils. 

Coily (or Kinky): Coils/Kinks are known as Type 4. Type 4 hair can appear to be much shorter than what it is, otherwise known as shrinkage. If you look closely at your hair and it has a small, tight S-shape, you have Type 4a coils. Type 4b coils have a Z-shape and are more thick. Type 4c hair consists of coils that don’t necessarily clump into a curl or coil. Type 4 curls require a lot of moisture and tangle prevention. Coily hair stylers include conditioners with lots of slip (how easily the product lubricates hair), moisturizers, hair creams/butters, oils, and defining gels. Deep conditioning is a must for Type 4 hair. 

To wrap things up...

With so much information, knowing your curl pattern is essential. Focusing on tips and advice from others who share your curl pattern will benefit you way more than general advice from people in a different category. Knowing how to take care of/style for hair prevents hair fails (been there, done that) and plays a huge role in having a healthy natural hair journey. All things in life take trial and error, but knowing your curl pattern can help reduce failure and save time/money in the long run. 

[massielscurls]

MY GO-TO WASH & GO PRODUCTS

I’m a wash & go kinda curly girl. Don’t get me wrong, when I have time I love doing braid outs, twist outs, bantu knots, etc, but since I’m a busy working college student, I rarely ever get time for myself, which is why a wash & go is my favorite way to style my curls. A wash & go is literally means what it’s titled: you wash your hair, apply your products and go! Super simple and super effective. For my 3A/B curls, the product combination that I’m about to put and link down below is my HOLY GRAIL. Not jinxing it or anything *knocks on wood* but there hasn’t been not ONE time when using this concoction that my curls aren’t bouncy, defined, shiny, and most importantly, BIG. Being the broke college curly girl that I am, I am a firm believer of the fact that paying $30 for one hair product is absolutely ridiculous. All of the products I am about to list range from $3 to $12 and are curly girl friendly, so I definitely recommend ya’ll try them out!

Favorite Co-Wash: By Made Beautiful’s TRUE CoWash ~http://bymadebeautiful.com/shop/true/co-wash-cleansing-conditioner/

Deep Conditioner: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist (I usually leave this on for 30 mins to an hour- I love it so much!) ~https://aussie.com/en-us/shop-products/treatments/3-minute-miracle-moist

Styling: Kinky Curly’s Knot Today Leave In Detangler ~https://www.amazon.com/Kinky-Curly-Knot-Today-Conditioner-Detangler/dp/B00128WK4I?th=1 // Cantu’s Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream ~https://www.amazon.com/Cantu-Shea-Butter-Moisturizing-Activator/dp/B009AZ3WH4?th=1 // Aussie’s Headstrong Volume Mousse ~https://aussie.com/en-us/shop-products/all-products/headstrong-volume-styling-mousse

Finishing Oil: Africa’s Best Ultimate Herbal Oil (this oil is the BEST. EVER. It’s non greasy, moisturizes, adds a beautiful shine AND smells like babies… who doesn’t love babies?!) ~https://www.amazon.com/Africas-Best-Herbal-Oil-Oz/dp/B000HBNAJK?th=1

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The Curly Girl Method: Tips & Tricks to Help Start Off Your Natural Hair Journey!

Aaah the Curly Girl Method. Seems simple right? Get rid of heat, cut your ends every 3 months, and use “natural” products. The real questions are: do most people know what makes a product “natural”? Do people really commit themselves to eliminating heat? Truth is, in the beginning most people often overlook the Curly Girl Method and continue to use products that further cause damage, heat or no heat. The first step to successfully starting the Curly Girl Method and maintaining it is knowing what NOT to do. Here are some things to stay away from when starting your journey:

AVOID: 

-Shampoo: Avoid washing with shampoo every time you wash your hair, which should be once or twice a week depending if your curls are loose, curly, or coily. Truth is, shampoo is essential for getting your scalp deeply clean, so try to use it in moderation and MAKE SURE you at least use one with no sodium lauryl sulfate in it, like Shea Moisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo which you can find here: https://www.sheamoisture.com/coconut-hibiscus-curl-shine-shampoo.html

-Heat: TRY TO AVOID HEAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! The only heat you should be using is low cool heat when you’re diffusing your curls. You can’t expect to see full time results but be a part time curly girl! Check out my favorite diffuser attachment here: https://www.amazon.com/Curly-Co-Collapsible-Hair-Diffuser/dp/B019GBG0IE

-Combs & Brushes: When my hair isn’t as knotted, I usually just finger detangle my hair in the shower with conditioner, but when my hair is being extra messy, I make sure I use a wide tooth comb. When styling my hair, I like to use a Denman brush to clump my curls together for added definition. YOU SHOULD ONLY USE A BRUSH ON SOAKING WET HAIR! Using hair combs and brushes on dry hair can lead to breakage and damage so avoid it as much as possible! Denman Brush: https://www.amazon.com/Denman-Cushion-Brush-Nylon-Bristles/dp/B000OUBC8A/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1510623049&sr=1-2&keywords=Denman+brush // Favorite Wide Tooth Comb: https://www.amazon.com/Conair-Anti-static-Detangling-Comb-Colors/dp/B002QF4UYY/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1510623092&sr=1-4&keywords=wide%2Btooth%2Bcomb%2Bfor%2Bcurly%2Bhair&th=1

-Fragrance: Fragrances are inevitable but as long as they’re not one of the first 3-4 ingredients listed on the product, it’s fine!

-Sulfates, Silicones, Alcohol, Parabens: AVOID. PERIOD. STAY AWAY.

DO LOOK FOR: 

-Gentle cleansing ingredients: Cocamidopropyl betaine & decyl polyglucose

-Emollients: Shea butter, olive & vegetable oils

-Proteins: Wheat, wheat germ or soy

-Humectants: Panthenol, vegetable glycerine, sorbitol 

-Moisturizers: Amino acids & aloe vera 

-Styling gel ingredients: PVP and PVP/VA

HOW TO WASH & STYLE: 

-Cleanse: Gently scrub scalp with fingertips (NO nails) and co-wash. The friction will lift residue, sweat & oil to be rinsed out. Once or twice a month, use a sulfate-free shampoo to deeply clean. 

-Condition: Smooth conditioner over hair (focus on your ends, you don’t want your scalp getting too greasy!) until all hair is coated. 

-Style: Apply product(s) and bend forward. Scrunch hair upwards from the ends to the roots or blot dry by cupping curls in a towel (never wring your hair it disturbs your curls!) then air-dry. If you’re really in a hurry, use a diffuser. When I have time I like to air dry my curls until they’re about 80% dry and then finish off with a diffuser for extra volume. Once fully dry, I then fluff my curls from underneath for extreme volume (I like my hair BIG). 

CURLY GIRL FRIENDLY BRANDS: 

-Shea Moisture

-DevaCurl

-Cantu 

-As I Am

-CURLS

-Aussie

-Etc

Following the Curly Girl method may seem difficult at first, but as long as you inform yourself of the things to avoid and things you should do, it’s fun, relatively cheap and easy to keep up with! Hope this post helped give some background on the method. You can purchase Lorraine Massey’s (founder of the CG method) book on the Curly Girl Method here: https://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X 

[massielscurls]

My Very First Blog Post: How I Started My Curly Hair Journey

Hi everyone! My name is Massiel and I am a 19 year old second year college student. I am majoring in Journalism and Marketing (as you may know from my bio, duh) and I am a lover of all things haircare, skincare, body care; pretty much all the care’s; I just care way too much, which is why we’re here. Welcome to my very first blog post! WOO *cheering*! I am so looking forward to sharing all of my knowledge with all of you. Let’s get down to business. 

I’ve always been the girl that stood out in class because of her hair. If you know me in person, you know that my hair is big, fluffy, and frizzy- topped off with a patch (or streak) of white hair smack in the middle of my head (yes, you read that correctly). This piece of hair has no pigmentation and has a different curl pattern, so it kinda just awkwardly sits back there. Now of course, my mom sent me to a dermatologist who then referred me to a genetics doctor to get it checked out to make sure it wasn’t anything serious and after countless skin samples and tests, my doctor simply told me it’s a mystery. “It’s nothing and everything at the same time” he said. As if that’s supposed to be helpful. 

As for the rest of my hair, growing up I was never into constantly blowdrying and flat ironing my hair, but I did commit many mistakes like using products loaded with sulfates, silicones, parabens, etc (a curly girl’s nightmare). I did occasionally straighten my hair, and when I did I never used heat protectant, so my hair would really get fried to a crisp. I also never even knew what a deep conditioner was, let alone what a “curly girl friendly” hair product was. So basically, I never took proper care of my hair and it. looked. awful. 

My cousin was the one who originally got me into natural haircare. I remember it perfectly, it was the summer of 2015 and I was at home as usual. At the time, my hair was very long (reaching almost to my waist) so I was very annoyed and flustered because let’s be honest, in 90 degree weather, who wants to have their hair out? No one. Especially not long thick curly coarse hair. I had complained to her about how much I hated my hair and questioned why her hair was so gorgeous and flawless. Thats when she started asking me questions about what I use and how I take care of my hair. Of course, I didn’t know what to respond because I had no clue; I had grown up washing my hair like everyone else did and using the products that everyone else used. As far as I knew, there was no other method for me. And of course, I hated it. 

Growing up as a Latina (specifically being Dominican) is especially hard for girls because of the fact that we are taught and told from a young age to hate our natural frizzy curly locks. The idea that the only way we look pretty is if our hair is pin straight and bone-dead is very very very common. Internalizing this standard of beauty from my own race was super difficult for me because my hair had always been hard to deal with whether it was straight or curly, so being told that my hair wasn’t good enough for me to be considered “pretty” caused a lot of insecurity issues growing up. 

That one conversation with my cousin awoke an interest in me. An interest in researching the curly girl method, how to properly care for naturally curly hair, curl patterns (which I really never knew existed), curly girl friendly natural product brands... all the good stuff. I researched and researched and researched until I finally found all the information I needed to start accepting my hair for what it was and start taking care of it the right way. 

Flash forward to today, November 2017, I absolutely love my hair (and my white patch too). Sure, it has it’s bad days (in life nothing will be easy or perfect), but I have learned to appreciate my natural texture and really take care of it properly. I have gotten 2 DevaCuts (which we will go over later), have become a natural product junkie (seriously, if you were to see my collection, you’d run), and successfully run an Instagram curl page titled (you guessed it) Massiel’s Curl’s, where I upload pictures and videos of my hair , the products I buy, and the ways I style my hair so that followers can keep up with my journey. My friends and family were the ones who pushed me to start up the page in my second semester of my freshman year of college, and I haven’t looked back since. 

Now you may be thinking that hair is just hair. That there was no need for the ten page essay I just wrote up there. But to me, hair gives me confidence. Just how a killer outfit and glowy skin makes me feel pretty, to me hair just seems to take a person to the next level. It’s a statement; the first thing someone sees when they meet you is your hair and your face. It’s important to show love to every part of what makes you, you!