Curly Haired Haircare
Who knew there was a plethora of things to remember and products to use for taking care of curly {natural or induced aka permed} hair?
You see, I was never truly one to splurge so much, even more, care about my hair. I mean, it's just hair. Here's a snippet of one of the earlier posts I have written in this blog, when I had my hair colored with L'oreal's INOA.
You see, I was never truly one to splurge so much, even more, care about my hair. I mean, it's just hair. Here's a snippet of one of the earlier posts I have written in this blog, when I had my hair colored with L'oreal's INOA.
I have a confession to make: I'm a cheapskate when it comes to coloring my hair. I am not kidding. For me, hair grows so fast, I get a trim every now and then so if I ruin my hair {which I always do, by the way}, it's just going to grow back and I will have my virgin jet-black hair which I loathe and love to throw into fits of treatments.
Don't get me wrong. When I said 'cheapskate,' I didn't mean coloring my hair out of a can or a box that can be bought off your nearest drugstore. I don't believe in shampoo-in color, too. I just never buy the whole splurge on your hair thing. It's just not me. After all, I did say there were too many factors to hate about hair coloring, so if the more expensive service doesn't really give more bang for the buck, then I am swinging the other way.
In all honesty, the biggest reason why I had my hair permed since 2006 {yes, it's been so long!} and repeatedly did so until now, is because I thought permed hair provided me a wash and wear convenience. Imagine not having to brush your hair all day. It was so fun just grabbing a hair scrunchie and tying your hair into a messy bun and still look put together. I was willing to go through the trouble of having my hair permed with L'oreal perming products {never really found out what chemicals but what the hey} and chose it over digital perm because I'm kuripot and I wanted longer lasting, kinky curls. Besides, I had thick strands, too. Digital perm wouldn't work too well on me.
Times Change, Too
Whereas I have kept the moisture-locking capabilities of my hair in 2006, the statement is not applicable to my 'crowning glory' anymore today. What used to be 'wash and wear' is now Hagrid's hair warfare, if not taken cared of. With all the chemicals from perming, and from hair coloring, might I add, my hair's quality has become so low it needs all the special care it can get. Here are some photos during the time of my first wave of perming, aka circa 2006, excuse the poor quality of the photos and the cheesy smiles. :D
As soon as I got out of the salon, I obviously took a photo. And look at my eyebrows. Ick.
And about six months after, my hair has managed to get itself into beautiful waves that did not need special care at all.
Fast forward to today, I'm lucky to even appear human in my bruha hair in the morning. Sometimes, when I'm sluggish and walk very slow after getting up, I catch my reflection in the full-length mirror and I scare myself. #Truestory.
What's a girl to do?
With the help of kind friends and thoughtful readers {hello Mama!} who suggested a couple of hairstyling products over margaritas and an amazing hairstylist {hello, Aimee of Piandre Leviste!} who gave me samples to try, which led me to find these gems, I am now a girl with serious hair, as Mireille Guiliano, would call it.
Taken at around 5 PM on a normal work day, my hair is frizz-free and les fabuleux! In this photo with the awesome Miss Lee Shen Gee.
To keep an amazing head of mane, these are my little helpers, not necessarily used altogether:
Pantene Curly Hair Series Shampoo and Conditioner
Back in September, I blogged about my travel kit, containing the best shampoo for curlies like me, which I had in travel size. I actually did not need the conditioner, because I honestly thought the shampoo was moisturizing enough, plus the scent is so yummy! I searched for it in Manila and couldn't find it. In October, my sweet mother sent me full-sized bottles of these curly series Pantenes and I'm such a happy, happy girl!
Kerastase Oleo Curl Mist
My hairstylist Aimee made the wonderful move of introducing this to me after she did my hair color some months ago. Up until the first wash after, my hair smelled extra yummy because of this. I went to sleep dreaming about rainbows and unicorns because of this so I resolved to spend an arm and a leg for this little miracle serum. But of course, no thanks to my memory gap, I forgot my Societe de Kerastase card, which should've helped lessening on what I had to pay. My friend Sasha can also attest how soft this can make our chemically-treated hair. And she with the Beauty Bricked hair, and I, with the perennially L'oreal permed hair, we know kawawa hair too much.
The yellow bottle is FX Curls Up, a product I cannot remember now from which company, I just remember picking it up from Beauty by SM randomly. It's surprisingly good and keeps the frizz away.
As for VO5 Whipped Mousse, oh my gosh, that is all. This is my most-used product because my hair stays the way it is at 10 AM until I come home and shampoo it off.
Pureology Essential Repair System
And of course, because I also have perennially colored hair, Pureology, a discovery I got from Aimee as well, which has 'anti-fade' technology, a helpful technique in making sure colors don't tarnish in our hair. Faded hair color makes our hair look duller, drier and completely unhealthy. I don't use this everyday though, I find it heavier than Pantene, just once a week.
Are you curly, too? What's in your arsenal?
xx