UPDATE: I have made a decision. Details at the bottom.
As you know, my real hair is a Jewfro. I have been Japanese straightening it for years with Liscio products and that has made my life so much easier, as I NEVER knew how to control the curls. And I never felt pretty when I had them. I always felt like my face became uglier.
I would either douse them in gel so they looked wet:
Or not put enough enough gel so they looked just… bad, parts frizzy.  I would blow dry and flat iron my hair straight, which is AWFUL for the hair. Once I discovered thermal reconditioning, I was thrilled — my life was made immediately simple, my hair dried flat and I didn’t have to pick up a hair iron!
I vowed to do this forever.
(See Missy behind me!)
And then I accompanied my curly haired boy to Devachan. A salon that specialized in curly hair, started by Lorraine Massey, author of Curly Girl — a book that changed the way curly girls thought about their hair, saw themselves, styled their hair — and looked and felt.
Everyone in that salon had curls. The receptionists, the stylists, the assistants — everyone. It was like a cult. As I sat there with my (fake) stick straight hair I just wanted to stand up on a chair and shout, “I AM ONE OF YOU!!!!” I became worried that they would immediately disregard me as a straight haired person and was desperate for them to know the truth — that I belonged! I BELONGED IN THE CURLY HAIR MECCA.
While I was there, I read through the Curly Girl book. I spoke to curly hair specialists. I looked around at all the gorgeous curls and felt a desire to be like them. I started wanting to grow out my hair. Not get it straightened (this weekend). See if by learning the correct technique from Devachan and Curly Girl, my hair could look beautiful too. If I could have ringlets that surround my face.
There are tricks I never even knew about. Terrycloth towel drying is bad for curls. Microfiber towel or t-shirt drying is much better. Shampoo (I knew not to do it often, but didn’t know to do it NEVER) is a no-no. Devachan makes a “No-Poo” cleanser which doesn’t have shampoo’s harsh sulfates. There are ways to get hair not frizzy without being crunchy. Who knew?
I wasn’t making any quick decisions. That is, until the receptionist said to me as the boy was paying, “We cut straight hair too, just so you know.”
I couldn’t take it. “Actually. . .my hair is very curly. It is Japanese Straightened. But I want to grow it out!”
The receptionist told me that their stylists assist many people through the transition process and teach their clients how to manage hair that is curly on the very top and then stick straight throughout. Yes, it would be a long (about 2 year) process before I even know how my curls would look, but at least if I get it cut there I could learn the best way to handle it.
I was sold. Sort of.
I made an appointment with a senior stylist who deals extensively with relaxing and chemical processes. He is experienced and the best person there to help me transition. I made the appointment for a few days after my straightening appointment, so I could easily cancel if I decided to straighten.
I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I let it go for a little while. Then I decided I definitely wanted to straighten. And now, on the day I need to decide (have to cancel the straightening today to not get charged) I am torn. I registered at NaturallyCurly.com and read all the message boards. I researched and researched. I learned about Jessicurl.com and watched her video. I think it might be possible, might look nice, to have curly hair. And I read countless reviews of Devachan about people who finally, for the first time in their lives, learned that their frizzy, messy curls are in fact textured and beautiful! They just needed the information in how to style them correctly. What if that could be me?
My face is also a different shape than it was back then. My face used to be round and has since narrowed out. I don’t even KNOW what curls would like like on my new face.
I tried to find out:
But summer is the time I like to wash my hair and go! No styling necessary, leave with wet hair and be freeeee! Of course, after a few months it becomes difficult to deal with on top with the regrowth — until I get it done again and all is well with the world. But maybe — just maybe — I don’t need to spend hundreds a year on straightening and look forward to the date I can finally get there. But I don’t know! But if I am going to grow out my curls, I’d better start now since it is such a long process.
If I do decide to grow out my curls, I will get a good 2-3 inches cut off at Devachan to speed up the process and make my hair grow faster. I will also try and stop using the hair iron so much…. but will I look bad?? For a long time until it grows out??
(About 3 inches of curl on top here)
Also, when my hair is straightened, things like going in the pool are easy and carefree. I don’t know if I want to make these things difficult again! But what if I have beautiful hair that I don’t even know about and am stifling and hiding away??
Please let me know what you think I should do! I need to make the decision ASAP!
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**UPDATE: I have made a decision! I will cancel the Japanese straightening appointment, get my hair cut at Devachan on Wednesday and get a Keratin treatment on Saturday. It costs about the same as the Japanese but it willopen up my curls and defrizz my hair, making my transition a smoother one. It only lasts a few months so I can switch to full blown curl at any time. Thank you for your help!