NC: What is the best thing about being curly?

SR: Curls are interesting! They’re beautiful and they have a life of their own. Plus curly girls can go straight when we want to, but straight-haired girls can never get real curls. I think we have the best of both worlds.

NC: Do you think having curly hair has impacted your life?

SR: My curly hair has impacted my life in a very significant way. I ALWAYS tell this to my straight-haired friends and they just don’t get it. Sometimes curly hair can be the biggest pain in the butt… like when it takes me three hours to straighten my hair. I was also bullied about my hair type. I remember crying one day after school because one of my “friends” suggested that she once knew someone with frizzy hair like mine, and maybe if I used conditioner my hair would be more tame. As if I didn’t already use conditioner…she just didn’t understand and it made me feel alienated. I was even called “alien head” because my hair is so thick that it doesn’t smooth to my head even when I pull it back.

NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?

SR: We’ve all been there, to the deepest pit of despair about our hair. I used to sob and sob and grab the scissors, ready to just chop it all off…but don’t do it! Instead, do your research! Experiment with different products. It’s not a quick or easy process, but learning about what works and what doesn’t work for your hair is one of the best things you can do. For me, like everything else in my life, my curly hair is a process; I’m always looking for way to make it better. Don’t give up. Happy curls = happy you. Your curls are one of those things that are ten fold. Whatever you put into it, you will get ten fold results out of it, but you have to make the effort to learn about your hair.

MORE: Jessica Fortin’s Real Texture Talk

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