In a few of the pictures on my earlier posts, you've probably seen that I actually have pretty curly hair. My father is - very - Irish, and despite my mother having pin straight hair, both of my sisters and I ended up with some pretty thick curls. Our mom, having the aforementioned pin straight hair - and I'm talking the type that you can wake up, brush, and leave the house - had no idea how to style our curly hair. That being said, I grew up often blow drying and straightening my hair because I had no idea how to care for my curls. Besides, most of my friends had pretty straight hair, and elementary school me just wanted to look like everyone else.
It wasn't until my sophomore year of high school (16 years!) that I decided to finally try wearing my hair curly. Up until that point, it was either straightened or in some type of bun or braid. With the help of social media and a lot of YouTube tutorials, I gave curly hair a go. I played around with a few very basic products, and to my surprise all of my friends absolutely loved my natural curls - the only one still not totally convinced was me.
Since then, I've tried my hand at quite a few products and curly hair routines, but I still wear my hair straight more often than not. Unfortunately, I've been experiencing quite a bit of breakage and my hair is struggling to grow, so, I've established a pretty successful curl routine and decided to commit myself to 30 days of no hair straightening.
The Rules
30 days of no heat styling (Exception: low heat diffusing)
List all products
Weekly updates
Pictures!
Start Date: 1/20/2022
Week 1
Product Lineup
- Eco Style Argan Oil Gel (for styling only)
Thoughts:
The last few times I had attempted to wear my hair curly, a few strands had resisted the curl and were left with a pretty sad wave. I'd had the Denman brush for a while but hadn't really given it a fair shot, so I decided it was a good time to try it out. For the first few days, I washed my hair with the Aussie products, and immediately put in the It's a 10 leave-in. Then I then brushed it out (starting at the ends and working my way towards the roots) and raked the Aunt Jackie's curl custard through (side note: I've tried a lot of these and this one is by far my favorite). I sectioned my hair and started brushing up and away from the roots while turning the Denman brush (like TikTok told me to). This week involved a mix of air drying, and diffusing - I didn't notice a huge difference between the two. I made sure to periodically scrunch my hair as it dried to avoid a crunchy texture and end up with soft, bouncy curls.
If you know me (or have read any of my other blog posts), then you know that I am a college athlete. Consequently, I can't just leave my hair down all the time - but I am lucky enough to know how to braid. Styling curly hair is a lot more difficult to do and a lot easier to mess up than straight hair, so over the course of the week I tried out a couple of different hair-do's. The results were surprisingly successful, so I'll make sure to include a few pictures of those as well.
The Results:
Clearly, we can see some character development over the course of the week. It's an important note here that the third picture is second day hair, revived by the trusty spray bottle and a bit of Aunt Jackie's curl cream. To be honest, I am actually incredibly surprised that my hair can even look like this. The definition in the last picture is totally new for me, and it feels thick and healthy as well.
I was really worried going into this challenge that there was absolutely no way I was going to make it the full 30 days (as were 26% of my Instagram followers), but after this week I am actually very excited to see what else my hair can do. As far as my schedule goes, this week was pretty easy, the stakes were low. I know it will be difficult for me to stay away from the straightener as soon as important events start to come up - and there will be a lot of them - but if you should know one thing about me, it's that I am VERY stubborn once I'm set on something, so we'll see.
Note: I realized looking back at this that I am wearing Athleta in EVERY single one of these pictures. This is not sponsored (I really wish it was), but it really is such an amazing brand that I suggest all women check out, not just athletes. I've mentioned previously, but I work seasonally for the brand and they really do practice what they preach, plus the clothing quality is IMMACULATE, and they have more than just activewear!
Week 2
Product Lineup:
- Eco Style Argan Oil Gel (for styling only)
Thoughts:
This week started with a day 2 hairstyle that I ended up falling in love with. That being said, my first test of this challenge came on Friday - media day. I went with the same hairstyle, and I'll let you decide how the photos came out.
I also added one more product into the mix - a co-wash. Without the looming threat of having to go through the hassle of straightening my hair, I was feeling the urge to wash my hair a bit more often than I used to. To avoid drying out or damaging my hair with frequent shampooing, I added Shea Moisture's co-wash into the mix for when I needed a refresh after a practice or just to feel clean. I was skeptical, but I actually really like this addendum - thanks again, TikTok.
Things got a little weird in the middle of this week. I was struggling with a lot of frizz and a few weird curl patters, so admittedly my hair spent a lot of this week either braided or in some kind of bun. Luckily, after 30 minutes of patience and a lot of product, we figured it out and my curl pattern returned to normal.
The Results:
Now that we're officially halfway through this challenge, I was hoping I would feel a bit more confident in managing my curls. Alas, I do not. I also still haven't quite fallen in love with my natural hair they way I had hoped to, but there's still some time.
As much as I still feel the urge to reach for the straightener more than I care to admit, I will say that my hair absolutely looks and feels healthier already. I'm really hoping to notice a bit of growth by the end of this
Week 3
Product Lineup:
- Eco Style Argan Oil Gel (for styling only)
Thoughts:
During the third week, I finally started to hit a turning point in how my curls were looking and feeling. I fixed my quick bout of wacky curl patterns by slowing down and taking my
time during the styling process, which was moderately inconvenient but definitely worth it. For the first time - ever, actually - I posted a picture of myself on Instagram, and with my natural hair! I also posted another Instagram poll where 75% of voters told me they still don't think I can make it the remainder of the 30 days without straightening my hair - thanks for the faith guys.
One of my main goals of taking on this challenge was to see my hair healthier, and hopefully even spark some growth after years and years of damage. At some point I had heard (thanks Tiktok and Instagram) that deep conditioning is a key component to keeping curls healthy and growing. So, on one of my many trips to Target, I picked up another Aussie product - the 3 Minute Miracle Curls Deep Conditioner.
I was skeptical, and worried this might make my hair too soft or that it would appear greasy. Nope, and nope - it was one of the best choices I've made thus far. My curls were extra spirally with minimal frizz, and felt super soft.
This week's challenge? A student-athlete leadership event that required business casual attire. That meant it was time to try my hand at a professional hairstyle with my curls - and I opted for a simple half up-half down. The result was definitely a success. Even after putting my hair up for practice, I was able to easily reset them with a bit of water and curl cream, and ended up with some pretty solid spirals.
The Results:
Week 4
Product Lineup:
- Eco Style Argan Oil Gel (for styling only)
Thoughts:
By week 4, I was finally no longer feeling the urge to touch the straightener. I was receiving compliments left and right, a lot of them along the lines of "Is that your natural hair?" and "I didn't know that's what your hair looked like!" - yeah, me neither. I think I've finally gotten the hang of conquering any curl problems that arise, and I'm starting to love my natural hair. Don't get me wrong - there are still times that it just doesn't look quite right, or that I don't feel quite confident in the style, but ultimately I was starting to feel a sense of authenticity and personal style I hadn't felt in a long time - and I really liked it.
However, there was still one hump I couldn't quite get over, and that was with second day curls. I always found myself having to entirely re-wet my hair in the mornings after sleep ruined my curl pattern - no matter what I did with it. One of my curly-haired teammates suggested I try sleeping with a bonnet, and I had previously considered this but never had the courage to give it a try until now. I also went in search of a good curl refreshing spray, and after a bit of research (Instagram strikes again) I decided to give The Doux's Leave-In Curl Refresher a try.
I wasn't so sure about it the first go-around, but in hindsight it was definitely user error. I gave it another chance, and pictures 2 and 3 are using only The Doux's product. Day 2 hair. After practice. I was speechless. My curls even looked better than they had that morning before I had thrown them in a bun and put on a helmet.
As for the bonnet, I will admit it didn't quite meet my expectations. It was definitely the least damaging of the sleep styles I have tried, but it didn't preserve my curls until morning the way I had hoped. It was easily fixed with a a bit of water and The Doux, but I definitely found a few curls that had been flattened overnight.
The Results:
Final Thoughts
My main goals in taking on this challenge were as follows:
Learn how to take care of my curls
Find the products that work best for me
Start to repair damage caused by straightening
Fall in love with my natural hair
Check, check, check, and check. I could not be happier with the results of this challenge. Not to say that I will never straighten my hair again, but it will most definitely be reserved for special occasions now. The desire to reach for the straightener is completely gone, and to be honest the thought of it makes me shiver a little bit right about now.
I would be remiss if I didn't show you what my hair looked like when I very first started wearing it curly at 16 years old. Below is a comparison of my curls three years ago, and my curls this week:
I don't know about you, but I am absolutely mind blown. Sixteen year old me had no idea my hair was capable of looking like this, and she certainly would have had no idea how to do it. While I still have A LOT to learn, I wish I had the curly hair knowledge then that I have now - so to save anyone wo might be starting their curly hair journey the trouble, I'm going to give you my review of what worked and what didn't.
What Worked:
Overall Favorite Product Line: Aussie Miracle Curls
Aussie's Miracle Curls shampoo, conditioner, and deep conditioner were the backbone of my curl routine. I've heard mixed reviews on Aussie, but starting your curl journey means figuring out what works best for you - and for me that was Aussie, hands down.
What Else I Loved:
It's a 10 Leave-In Conditioner
- this was the perfect leave in conditioner for right after the shower - plus it doubles as a heat protectant for those of you who might not be quite ready to ditch the straightener yet. It's a 10 is a bit pricey, but a great line for my curly haired girls.
Aunt Jackie's Curl-La-La Defining Curl Custard
- I would be lost without this product. I've tried TONS of curl creams/custards/gels/mousses in the few years I've been wearing my hair curly and this one takes the cake. It shapes my curls perfectly and never leaves them crunchy (even when I inevitably use too much). Not only that, but it's affordable and easy to find.
The Denman Brush
- This is the holy grail and the saving grace of my curl pattern. I was skeptical of it at first, but the lack of results were definitely from being lazy. As soon as I sat down and put effort into styling using this brush, the difference was stunning. I use the Denman 9-Row styler, but the 7-row would definitely be appropriate for my hair as well. Do your research when it comes to styling brushes, but when used correctly these can make a world of difference.
The Doux Leave-In Curl Refresher
- I spent a lo of this challenge looking for a good 2nd day curl refreshing product, and this is it. The results of this product were INSANE. Even after practice, being put in a bun, braided, or ripped out by my helmet, this made my curls look good as new. My only gripe with the product is its scent - but for the results it produces, that can be overlooked. Its important not to over wash your curls, so I wholeheartedly recommend this product.
Eco Style Argan Oil Gel
- I used this product only for taming flyaways when styling my hair - especially when braiding for practice and games. It is definitely a must buy for my braiders, but for everyone else there's not much reason to use it.
What Didn't
Shea Moisture Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser
- I really teetered on where to put this one. I didn't dislike the product, and I LOVED co-washing as part of my routine, however, I think this line just wasn't quite right for my hair. I found that it often made my hair a bit too soft, to the point that it would struggle to hold a curl. I'm not saying don't buy this - Shea Moisture is generally a great line and you should definitely co-wash, this just wasn't the one for me.
Stay On Satin Bonnet
- This unfortunately just didn't work as well as I had hoped. One of my biggest downfalls has been preserving my curls while I sleep, and this was just not the game-changer I was looking for. It is definitely less damaging than putting it into a bun or ponytail, but I still had a lot of work to do in the mornings to fix my flattened curls.
If you've made it this far - thanks for tagging along on this journey. I'm happy to say that this is just the beginning of embracing my curly hair, and I am excited to continue learning (and maybe see my hair grow again).
Question, comments, tips, or tricks? Leave them in the comments!