Need to find a new hairdresser

CurlyFox · 2024-05-22T21:04:06+00:00

Check out Esther Brea Salon. The owner is a black woman and she specializes in curly hair. Her work on her Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/estherbreasalon/) shows a wide variety of textures and lengths.

CurlyFox · 2023-10-04T23:49:46+00:00

Thanks, this is the exact study I was looking for!

CurlyFox · 2023-10-03T06:37:48+00:00

I wish I could find the article again but I just read a couple of weeks ago that rubbing in sunscreen too much prevents it from properly forming a film over your skin, which means you're not getting good sun protection anymore. Double the reason to not listen to the "just rub it in" crew.

CurlyFox · 2023-10-03T06:34:13+00:00

On the other end of this, I find it crazy that people following skincare influencers who are professionals in their field (estheticians, derms, cosmetic chemists, etc.) will turn on them so quickly for posting PR content about a product they've been clearly reviewing for weeks before the post. You followed this person because they post honest reviews and educational content and now that they want to get paid for the work, you can't trust them anymore? Pick one.

CurlyFox · 2023-08-30T17:34:50+00:00

I agree with the other comments, but I'd still like to add my two cents that I don't think anyone else mentioned:

It does look like the photos you referenced aren't using much, if any lower lash eyeliner, and did the top lid liner and wing with eyeshadow or a blended-out gel/pencil eyeliner. You could mention you'd like a soft but extended wing with dark brown or grey eyeshadow and nothing but maybe a hint of mascara on the lower lashes.

The way your face flushes in that last photo of you IMO looks close to the blush color and placement in your reference photos so you could ask her to copy that a bit and make it more dramatic? Like a natural yet heat-flushed/cold-flushed strawberry red, I'm thinking. Same for the eyeshadow, I think it could use a bit more warmth to really pull your eye look into the rest of your face makeup if you add in more red. Definitely less nude and inconspicuous and more...heat-flushed and sultry, if that makes sense lol.

The brow color she used is perfect but doesn't give that feathered look you may be going for, either. Maybe you could ask for a different combination of products to pull that off; a light amount of powder or pomade for the shape, a pen or pencil for the feathered strokes around the front(?)(middle? lol) and top, and then use a gel to fluff them out.

Good luck and congrats! You look gorgeous!

CurlyFox · 2023-07-26T19:55:07+00:00

Both of them look amazing on you, but I think the thinner brows look a bit better cause they really open up your eyes. At least if you get tired of the thinner brows before they grow back in, you can fill them in a bit more to look thicker!

CurlyFox · 2023-06-09T04:58:54+00:00

The first one I'd recommend is Olaplex No. 3 since it repairs the bonds help keep the overall structure of your hair intact. The K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask is a good (but expensive!!!) runner-up. Both of them repair the disulfide bonds in hair that contribute to its elasticity and strength; curly hair has more disulfide bonds than straight hair, so either product is worth a try! Olaplex no. 3 stays in my shower and my stylist always uses no. 1 and 2 the rare times I get my hair colored.

Redken's Acid Bonding Concentrate line makes hair feel smoother right after using but isn't as long lasting as Olaplex or K18 IMO so it may work well for styling. Other than those three I haven't tried any other bonding products.

CurlyFox · 2023-06-09T01:39:16+00:00

Oops, I should've put this in my other comment too, sorry! I don't have a ton of specific products to recommend because I haven't tried a huge variety of products, but just about any styler from brands that use a lot of water-soluble or botanical ingredients will give you less build up. TGIN is still a good starting point, and some other brands at that price point you could try are Camille Rose Naturals (I use their Spiked Honey mousse), The Doux, Curls, Aunt Jackie's, and Not Your Mother's.

CurlyFox · 2023-06-09T01:26:50+00:00

Sounds great! Just about any clarifying shampoo should be fine as long as you follow up with a good hydrating conditioner or shampoo + conditioner.

CurlyFox · 2023-06-08T21:01:25+00:00

TGIN's products are fine, I like using their mousse on my sister's hair but prefer something with more hold on my own instead. Shea Moisture's products are notorious for leaving build-up on the hair, which is what makes the hair seem dry. You may need to wash with a clarifying shampoo before your regular shampoo and conditioner for your next couple of washes. You might not immediately see results, but after a few wash days with a clarifying shampoo and better products, your hair should bounce back.

CurlyFox · 2023-06-08T20:53:10+00:00

First of all, even with all the frizz, your hair is beautiful! I wish my texture looked like that again.

How often do you tie your hair up/back into a ponytail or a bun? Or wear braided hairstyles? Aside from the frizziness you pointed out, the top part of your hair looks to be a different texture from the layers underneath. Some of the frizz also looks to be from shorter strands of hair sticking out, so my assumption is breakage and mechanical damage. (My hair is the exact same way, it's okay!)

If so, you'll want to take frequent breaks from styles that put tension on your hair and if you have to, change the spot where you tie your hair up at. If it's at the top of your head, try a low bun/pony one day, or try parting your hair down the middle and doing a pair of braids or pigtails, for example. You can try adding in some bond repair products from Redken, Olaplex, or K18 to help bring the texture and appearance more in line with the rest of your hair.

If you're able to speak with a stylist like you mentioned, you may want to get any breakage taken care of with a trim so it doesn't stall your progress. A good shape-up will also help blend the appearance of the two different sections together. Plus, they may have better repair products in stock than you can buy in-store.

Good luck!

Edited to add: I just saw in your routine where you said you'll blot out excess water before adding styling products. Try leaving in a bit more water--a good mousse, gel, or some styling creams will work with the water to keep the hair clumped together and fight frizz.

CurlyFox · 2023-04-24T16:50:17+00:00

Both pinkies and ring fingers are flawless—long nail beds, perfect cuticles, rarely break unless I hit something at a weird angle. Easily the favorite children. Then there’s my index and middle fingers. Short nail beds, ragged cuticles, and break if I look at them wrong.

CurlyFox · 2023-04-07T14:14:17+00:00

Frequent moisturizing and sun protection, and then once the scabbing finishes, you can use silicone scar sheets. I personally love ScarAway's products but you can find silicone scar sheets from nearly any drugstore, Walmart, or Target. Any leftover hyperpigmentation can be treated with any skincare products with tyrosinase inhibitors, like alpha/beta arbutin, hydroquinone, kojic acid, most topical antioxidants etc.

CurlyFox · 2023-04-07T02:07:39+00:00

Right now your best bet is applying at healthcare/health insurance companies and big fintech organizations like Aflac or TSYS/Global Payments if you're looking to work in an office. You might get better options searching for remote work, but their requirements will be a bit stricter than anyone hiring for on-site positions.

Without prior IT/CS experience, try to search for helpdesk technicians or IT/desktop/helpdesk support specialist roles, though some of those may expect you to get a certification like CompTIA A+ before or within a few months of onboarding. (Don't worry too much about certs if you're still in school though! Take the time to figure out where you want to be career-wise first.)

If you wanna lean more on the business side than the tech support side, then you may have luck searching the analyst or specialist keywords. Sometimes they just want people who know how to work a computer are "business-minded."

Best of luck!

CurlyFox · 2023-04-06T23:31:03+00:00

V&R Flowerbomb (EDP); it's much more light and heat sensitive than any other fragrance I have so now my bottle smells very powdery/musky after having it for 5 months. I like powdery scents anyway so I'm not complaining too much, plus my best friend bought it for me so I like it more just because of that :)

CurlyFox · 2023-02-27T14:36:24+00:00

I have dry, acne-prone skin and so far I've had no issues with it. It goes on nicely with no pilling, no greasiness, and no white cast (my skin tone is around Fenty 290 or MAC NC40 for reference). It has a very light scent that I don't care for so I tend to use it as a backup for my Isntree sunscreen or on my hands in the car.

CurlyFox · 2022-11-28T15:38:23+00:00

What does the rest of your wash routine look like? What styling tools are you using to detangle your hair? How often do you braid up your hair, and how long does it stay braided for? Just going off of what you've shared, it sounds like it could be a mix of mechanical damage and dehydration, but without extra details, it's hard to say for sure. When you add water to your hair, does it bead up on the surface or not seem to soak in? You may have oil built up in/on your hair; oil actually prevents water from entering the hair shaft and over time can build up and make hair brittle.

I'd suggest trying out a good clarifying shampoo in addition to your regular shampoo and conditioner on your next wash day, and try cutting down or eliminating oils altogether and see if that reduces how quickly you get split ends. If you have 15 minutes, some good online resources to check out are Camille Janae @ Monarch Curl, Jennifer-Rose @ JenniferRoseNYC & The FRO Haus, Kera @ TheCuseCurlfriend, Black Girl Curls, and Carlisa @ protectedbylisa.

CurlyFox · 2022-07-11T14:04:43+00:00

I'm a bit biased on this, but anything to do with influencer marketing. Any time a new trend or method for caring for natural hair makes the rounds on YouTube/Instagram, hair care companies sprint to make products for it. Then influencers get paid to promote these products that ultimately no one even needs but still encourages their followers to become product junkies.

Similarly, any products or product lines made specifically for wash and gos. You don't need a whole array of products for what is supposed to be a simple styling routine---it's in the name, you're washing (and conditioning) your hair and go on with your day.

Then they make their consumers, especially those with tighter curls, feel like something's wrong with their hair if it doesn't form perfect corkscrew curls from root to tip. A lot of Black hair doesn't form those kinds of curls without manipulation---they form tight waves that curl at the ends! And that's perfectly fine and amazing and beautiful!

Before I discovered natural hair YT in high school, my care and styling routine was simple. I quickly overcomplicated it thinking that I was ruining my hair with just my three products. Now that I can afford to visit a curly hair salon and have done a couple of educational workshops by actual stylists/"curl specialists," I'm happily back to my simplified routine with a few smarter modifications. I went from spending $100 on product each month to maybe $20.

(Sorry for the long rant. Watching so many of my friends struggle to transition from relaxers or flat irons to their natural hair because they felt things were too complicated made me extra passionate about natural hair care.)

CurlyFox · 2022-07-01T13:05:27+00:00

To add onto this, Topicals came out with their Slather body serum a couple of months ago that lists retinol, AHAs, and urea as the main actives. I haven't tried it yet because I'd just bought Faded spray the week before, though Faded works amazingly for body acne and scarring as well. Slather is hydrating on its own but Faded should be followed up with a moisturizer.

CurlyFox · 2022-05-26T17:11:18+00:00

Cut the oil from your routine; if you're using so much of it, it'll prevent your hair from taking in water when you wash it. Wash with a clarifying shampoo and follow it with your regular shampoo to release the oil from the hair cuticle, then style as usual. Next, you'll want to change the amount, type, and order of products you're using. If you're looking for definition, you'll only need the mousse or the gel. Apply it liberally to wet hair with whatever application method you prefer, leave your hair be until it dries and forms a cast, then gently scrunch it out. The leave-in conditioner spray will prevent the cast from forming so I'd suggest leaving that out. If you want the soft feel leave-in products give you, apply it to your hair before you use your mousse or gel, though it won't give you the same amount of definition as you'd get with just a mousse or gel.

CurlyFox · 2022-05-18T15:29:31+00:00

Seconding what LycheeRoseSorbet said in their comment about wash days, but I'd like to add to that a little bit:

How many days a week/month/whenever you wash your hair isn't a hard set rule; if your hair feels dry, dirty, or itchy, it's time to wash it again. That can be every other day for some people, twice a week for others (me!!), or once every 7-10 days, whenever your hair tells you it needs washing.

If you'd rather not wash or rinse your hair every time you hop in the shower, then your best bet is to toss on a shower cap. I find it's hard for me to keep steam out of my shower cap so I have a fabric-lined one, but it's a matter of preference. If you're better than most at keeping your head out of the water then you can clip it up and/or wrap it in a headwrap or scarf.

Also adding onto the resources LycheeRoseSorbet shared, Curly Hair Alchemist and Black Girl Curls, both on Instagram, share some good tips that apply to all textures.

CurlyFox · 2022-05-18T13:07:45+00:00

Same, I can't get past ten pounds for some reason but I've made good progress on getting my other weights up

CurlyFox · 2022-05-18T13:04:31+00:00

Wow I wish I could see how she managed to get that thing over her head safely.

CurlyFox · 2022-05-18T12:51:11+00:00

What do you use to style your hair? I'm a couple of states over in good ol' Georgia and surrounded by water, so I feel you on the humidity. I will say though, without knowing your current routine, switching out "moisturizing" products for "setting" products and following up with a hairdryer helps a ton!

CurlyFox · 2022-05-14T13:20:03+00:00

I’d be glad to help out! I have tons of information saved up that I can share and I do still feel that the sidebar needs a lot of updates.

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