 | Kim McIntosh, a former graduate of Xenon Int'l. School of Hair Design serves as the school’s Director and is a shareholder in the business. She holds a Cosmetology, Esthetics and Instructor's license in Kansas and Nebraska. She has worked behind the chair and managed some of the most prominent salons in the Wichita area. As an educator, her primary goal has been to provide the beauty industry with successful licensed professionals. Having served in the past as Second Vice-President on the Board of Directors for the National Cosmetology Association of Kansas, Kim is currently a Director on the national board for the American Association of Cosmetology Schools. You may contact Kim at (316) 943-5516. |
Beauty & Fashion
2003-09-01 15:15:00
How can I control my curls?
ANSWER: To continue our discussion from the August issue, I will address ethnic curly hair. More often than not, discussions about Black hair are clouded by the use of overly general terms. Hair is natural (kinky), straightened (chemically altered), real (organically grown), or fake (it's woven or extended). These general terms aren't precise enough to address the many Black hair textures. Most of us have tresses that fall somewhere between tightly coiled and bone straight. There are product lines that are multicultural, but most of the hair care products we use are tailored to natural or chemically processed kinky hair. This leaves those of us who were born with loose ringlets or a defined wave pattern (in-between hair) with limited choices. Find a good stylist. Rather than sampling every product in the ethnic aisle of the drug store, a woman with curly hair should seek out a stylist who specializes in her texture. Word-of-mouth is the best way to find one. If you see someone with great hair, ask her who her hairdresser is. Believe me, she'll be proud to share. Once you find a good stylist, stick with that person. But, whether you plan to return or not, you should find out what products he or she is using, particularly if you're getting a chemical service. It shouldn't be a big secret. If your stylist is a professional, they shouldn't mind talking to you about what they're using. Get a good haircut. There are no absolutes for cutting naturally wavy or loosely curled hair. Most likely, your stylist or barber will blow out your hair to assess its true length. How they blow it out depends on what makes your hair easiest to comb through. For example, if your hair is coarse and wiry, your hairdresser should consider blowing it using a comb attachment while it's dry, then wash and condition after the cut. If water makes your curls relax, they may shampoo your hair, scissor-cut it and then condition it. The key is pliability. Use a good product. The right moisturizer can be a curly-haired girl's best friend. Besides the obvious benefits, they help fight frizz and static and, in some cases, better define curls. A good leave-in conditioner won't weigh the hair down. Finally, for those who want to keep things basic and inexpensive, there's always good old-fashioned castor oil and cholesterol. You can apply either one to damp or wet hair then sit under a hood dryer for the deep conditioning you probably won't get from a hot oil treatment, which can strip the hair of much-needed moisture. Straightening the hair. Straightening curly hair carries its own set of risks. (We've all seen the woman who went against the curly grain of her hair and ended up with a semi-straight wrap that resembled a helmet.) So, except for special occasions or haircuts, blowing your hair straight is a no-no. (If you already have chemicals in your hair, please don't try this at home. Ever.) The same goes for professional strength hot-combs and stove irons. Although they're readily available at beauty supply stores, they can be disastrous in untrained hands. Always seek professional help for chemical relaxing because your fate lies in the application.
