curls for days

Let's talk curls! I was born with mine...well actually I was born bald, but when I finally got my hair I had inherited my curls.

I've mentioned before about the tragedy that was the first 25 years of my life where I brushed my curls daily. Need a reminder? Holla at me sixth grade!

Around my senior year in high school I played with some gel--the cheapest one that came in a vat. It was mostly unsuccessful. College brought around more hair products [when you live in a residence hall with other women there's a plethora of products to test out] and slightly more success. I can't remember when I finally threw away my hairbrush, but I think it was somewhere around age 27.

My curly friends told me about DevaCurl products and the naturally curly website. I had my first official "curly" haircut in Durham [maybe 2009?] and my first official DevaCut when I did the big chop in 2013. I've been exclusively using the DevaCurl products since 2012. That's 5 solid years of the SAME PRODUCTS. Even before in my life if I found something that worked, I'd have to change it after I finished a bottle because you know the second bottle wouldn't work the same way.

Curly hair probs.

I'm a 2c-3a texture. I shampoo my hair with a sulfate-free shampoo 2-3 times a week [not the DevaCurl no-poo because that didn't work for me]. I condition my hair with the One Condition Original every time I get it wet--even if I don't wash it. I use Light Defining Gel and then throw in some Frizz-free Volumizing Foam in the summer or Styling Cream in the winter.

OK, here's how I do my hairs:
1. Shower: shampoo [or don't] and condition. When it comes time to rinse the conditioner I don't rinse it all, I leave it a little slick from the conditioner.
2. I flip my head over, then in my SOPPING WET HAIR, I add the gel and then the foam/cream. The goal is to feel the slick from the remaining conditioner and gel and other product from root to tip. In all honesty, I use a ton of product. You know how they say start with a dime? I probably use 3-4 quarters. Maybe 3 quarters of gel and 1 quarter of foam/cream.

3. Next I use a microfiber towel [I just purchased the DevaTowel, so no reviews on that yet]. I've been using a generic travel one I picked up at TJ Maxx for awhile now with no problem. I take the microfiber towel and start to shape the curl and dry it out. I scrunch and lift at the root. It takes away about half of the moisture.

4. DIFFUSER! I use my cheap-o hair dryer with diffuser to dry my hair fully. I start by drying it around my part and then flip my head from side to side and over to get maximum volume. I've also used clips to help shape my hair and that works pretty well [especially if I want to forego the hairdryer and air dry].

5. Once it's dry start scrunching. The gel from DevaCurl forms a cast that you then break to make touchable curls. It's kind of weird the first time [because touching your curly hair breaks all the rules!], but it's amazing to have soft curls. AMAZING I SAY.

And that's how I get my curls to curl. (-: