Bad Hair Day
Or wild hair day. Whatever. I have that every day. Maybe I should talk about bad hair, or wild hair, and just leave out the day part…
OK, it was windy. It’s always windy in my photos. It’s just usually windy in Helsinki (at least by the sea). And it’s certainly windy if we’re having a photo shoot on a tiny island.
Still, my hair seems to be extra wild in these photos…
Have you heard of the Curly Girl method?
I’ve been doing the Curly Girl Method for the past few weeks. Or, rather, my version of it. Anyway, the idea, in a nutshell, is that if you have naturally curly hair, you should avoid shampoos with non-water-soluble sulphates as well as conditioners and styling products containing (non-water-soluble) silicones. And ditch the hairbrush and hairdryer.
Actually, the method advises you to stop using shampoo altogether, but that goes a bit too far for me. As the method also seems to promote using a ton of different hair products (leave-in conditioner, curl cream, mousse, gel, you name it) all at the same time, I think a proper wash is a necessity. There’s no way a co-wash (= washing using conditioner only) is going to get rid of the build-up resulting from all the product the Curly Girl enthusiasts use.
So, I’ve been doing my own version of Curly Girl method. What can I say? I can’t follow instructions. I hate ‘rules’. Nobody tells me what to do, or how to do it. And I grew up in a hair salon, and thus I’m a bit sceptical when it comes to achieving ‘perfect hair’.
OK, so I use shampoo, but I try not to wash my hair every day (the operative word here being ‘try’: so far, my failure rate is quite high…). And I make sure my shampoo is sulphate free (which it was, by the way, even before…). And I use a ton of container (which I’ve always done), silicone-free, of course. And I started using a leave-in conditoner instead of the oil I used before. And I’ve even tried the weird-smelling banana mask everyone in the Facebook Curly Girl group is raving about (but I don’t get what the fuss is about). And I use (a tiny bit) of gel when styling my hair (= scrunch the gel onto the hair, head down)
But I have ditched the hairdryer, and the hairbrush. Of course I brush my hair when it’s wet. But only when it’s wet. And I’m definitely not going to start concocting any self-made hair products in my kitchen. Or wrapping my hair in an old t-shirt.
Please, that’s just way too much work. I don’t have the time (or enthusiasm) to make this a full-time hobby. Did I mention I grew up in a hair salon? Trust me, having spent my childhood watching my mother (and my aunt) work, I have zero interest in fussing over my hair…
So, I’m adapting the Curly Girl Method to suit my needs: plenty of moisturising, no heat styling. In other words, I have stopped trying to make my hair do something it clearly doesn’t want to do. And what happened?
MY HAIR WENT CRAZY!!!
That’s what happened. My hair went totally, utterly crazy. As in curly. Really curly. We’re talking about corkscrew curls all over my head.
Whether this is because of my version of the Curly Girl Method or something else, I don’t know. It is possible that hormones have something to do with it. I mean, when I hit puberty, my previously only slightly wavy hair suddenly became a frizzy, curly mess. So, now that I’m hitting menopause, I suppose I can expect something similar.
Or maybe my hair just loves its new-found freedom (= that I’m not trying to force it into a sleek and tidy ‘do’ with a blow dryer and a round brush). Who knows. Who cares?
I’m far from giving you a verdict on the Curly Girl Method (early days, I’ve been doing this for just a few weeks, remember), but I will tell you this: my hair feels soft and (a bit) less frizzy than it used to be. And it’s incredibly curly. Don’t ask me if like that. What I like or don’t like is a moot point; this is the hair I have to live with, and I’d better learn to accept it.
Outfit details (all old):
top: Part Two / trousers: Noom / bag: Marc Jacobs /
shoes: Clarks / earrings: Aarikka
location: Uunisaari, Helsinki
What’s a ‘bad hair day’ for you?
Tiina
Linking up with:
Not Dead Yet Style, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, High Latitude Style, Style Elixir, A Labour of Life, Curly Crafty Mom, Fashion Should Be Fun, Color and Grace, The Wardrobe Stylist, Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Nudge, Living on Cloud Nine, A Well Styled Life, Elegance and Mommyhood. Posh Classy Mom, Nancy’s Fashion Style, Shelbee on the Edge, A Pocketful of Polka Dots Style Splash, The Fashionista Momma, Tina’s Pink Friday, Away from the Blue, Mummabstylish , Mutton Years Style and I
Looking great so you are doing something right. Although your hair always looks shiny.
Author
Ah, thanks, Flora! That’s so sweet of you.
Your hair looks great with the wild curls in my humble opinion. As one with dead straight hair I know nothing about your curly hair dilemma . Knowing you Tiina you will find your own hair solution.
Author
Thanks, Jill. You know, all my life I’ve wanted to have straight hair…
The curls are beautiful!!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Author
Thanks, Mireille! I thought it’s about time I learn to live with my hair, curls and all…
My hair is not curly enough to wear curly but not straight enough to be sleek….in the Texas humidity it’s a constant battle to have good hair. I think embracing your natural has worked well for you! Thanks for linking up with Ageless Style!
Shelly | The Queen in Between
Author
Thanks Shelly! Yes, curly (or wavy) hair is affected by weather and climate. Humidity can make it worse. Or better: the best hair I’ve ever had was on a holiday in a very hot and humid climate. My hair was three times thicker, and full of those luscious movie star curls. Unfortunately, hot and humid climate is probably my least favourite climate for all sorts of other reasons…
Your hair still looks good as it goes with the wind! My hubby knows as soon as he snaps the picture if I am going to hate it when the wind blows the hair toward my face! Its tricky!
Love those earrings!
thanks for linking!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Author
Thanks! Oh trust me, I have plenty of those wind-blowing-the-hair-in-my-face photos, too…
I too have always wanted straight hair. I use a straightening iron on my hair after I blow it dry. I don’t have nice, curls like you do. I have frizzy,uncontrollable hair if I don’t blow it dry and straighten it. It’s not a pretty sight. Yours looks lovely so if I had your hair, I’d be happy. Arlene from NJ
Author
I have frizzy, uncontrollable hair. Or, rather, I used to have. I used to blowdry it using a big round brush, and still it would get dry and frizzy as soon as I left home. And I used every conditioner and hair mask I could find, and nothing helped. But now things seem to be getting better. I’ve just given up blowdrying (except with a diffuser) and only brush the hair when it’s wet. I let it air dry as much as possible and decided to embrace my curls. And I use a lot of conditioner and hair masks and leave-in conditioner, and gel to set the curls. Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am to see the change…
I think your hair looks great! I love your curls!
https://colorandgrace.com/
Author
Thanks, Grace! I wish I could say I love my curls, but maybe one day…
I think your hair looks beautiful (and I love your statement earrings too!) My hair is at most wavy when I leave it to do it’s own thing so I always admire curly hair – why is it that we admire the opposite of what we have? haha!
Hope that you had a great weekend 🙂 Thank you so much for joining the #weekdayWearLinkUp 🙂 I just posted this week’s linkup, I’d love you to join again! 🙂
Author
Thanks, Mica! Yes, I think we always admire what we don’t have.
My hair is just moody: sometimes wavy, sometimes curly, sometimes almost straight (when it’s really cold), and sometimes all of the above at the same time. I never know what mood it is when I wake up.