Having curly hair is both a curse and a blessing. People always tell me how lucky I am that I have curly hair because it’s so pretty and unique. I can see where those people are coming from because my hair can be fantastic and beautiful…when it decides to cooperate. However, curly hair is also a huge struggle to maintain on a daily basis.
If you have curly hair, you probably know these struggles all too well.
1. Hair brushing is a big no-no
When I tell people I don’t brush my hair consistently, they look at me like I have three heads. The only time I brush my hair is when I get out of the shower because it’s wet. If I attempt to brush my hair when it’s dry, my hair goes from 0 to 100 real quick in terms of volume.
2. The shedding never stops
Anytime I lightly touch my hair, huge clumps come falling out. When I look at the floor in my room, hair balls are everywhere. I don’t know how I’m not bald yet. I currently have a full head of hair, but who knows how long that will last at the rate I’m shedding.
3. People touch what is not theirs
I think compliments are great, especially when you are on the receiving end. However, if you compliment someone on their curls and proceed to touch their hair to prove your point, you need to stop. It’s very weird and uncomfortable when a stranger touches my hair. I don’t know where their hands have been, so I want them away from my luscious locks.
4. The humidity and weather rain on our parade
It’s a beautiful 80-degree summer day and my hair is freaking out. It doesn’t know what to do with all the heat and humidity, so it decides to give up and explode to look as unattractive as possible. Humidity is not our friend. In fact, it might be our biggest enemy.
5. Haircuts can make or break us
Getting a haircut is a nightmare. A “slight trim” is never slight at all. When I ask for two inches to be cut off, that isn’t some secret code to take off six instead. If I’m feeling risky and decide to take off more than a few inches to go short, my hair could turn into a triangle. I always have to be very specific with what I want so my head doesn’t turn into a puff ball.
6. Straightening hair takes forever
Straightening curly hair is torture. It seems like my hair never wants to be completely straight. Just when I think I my hair looks good straight, I look in the mirror and see the lumpy disaster going on at the back of my head. Plus, my arms tire easily from holding a straightener for a good two hours. The curls can never be tamed.
7. The knots never ends
Are you knotty or nice? I can tell you for a fact that I am very, very knotty. The knots in curly hair never seem to go away. When you think you brushed out a knot, a new one appears. It’s a never ending game.
Although having curly hair can be exhausting at times, I’m lucky to have a different look. My curly hair often helps my mom find me in crowded situations. She always looks for the biggest mop of curly hair in a room to find her way back to me. Thank you for making me memorable, curly hair.
(Photos courtesy of giphy.com)