Nicole’s Curly Makeover
Nicole Binnicker
NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!
Nicole Binnicker: I’m the Senior Account Manager at TextureMedia, Inc. I work with all of the brands that want to bring awareness of their product lines to our community.
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls, or have you always enjoyed and embraced your curls?
NB: I started wearing my hair curly when I became pregnant, which was a little over two years now. I realized I wouldn’t have time to dry and straighten my hair every day anymore, so decided it was now or never to start loving my natural curls.
NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?
NB: Aside from the fact that I get a lot of compliments on my curls, letting my hair dry naturally is a huge time saver!
Before the Cut
NC: How long is your hair?
NB: 28 inches.
NC: How long has your hair been growing out? Do you do anything special to get it to grow? Vitamins, treatments, etc? Was your goal to grow your hair out?
NB: I started growing it out in November 2010. I think it grows faster with less breakage now that I’m not drying or straightening it every day. It grew quickly on pre-natals, and now I just take a multivitamin and magnesium, but not for hair growth specifically. My goal wasn’t really to grow my hair out, but I do like it long now that it is this way.
MORE: Hair Growth Chart
Hair Growth
NC: What’s your hair type?
NB: Between 2a-2b
NC: Did pregnancy impact your hair growth?
NB: Absolutely. The pre-natals obviously helped it grow. It also got thicker and curlier while I was pregnant.
NC: What was/is your regimen as an extra long haired wavy?
NB: I wash my hair every other day with a shampoo and usually follow up with a conditioner. I comb my hair out while in the shower with my conditioner still in, then I use some sort of styling product as a leave-in. Sometimes it’s just an oil, sometimes a creme or creme-gel mixed with oil. I let my hair dry naturally, usually overnight. I try not to touch it too much again after that until my next wash.
Products and Tools
NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
NB: I love oils, specifically that are on the lighter side.
NC: What are your challenges with your long wavy hair?
NB: I think the biggest challenge is that I have to use more product than average.
NC: How does your hair impact the way you feel?
NB: It depends on if I feel like I’m having a good hair day or not.
MORE: Top Wavy Hair Products
About the Cut
NC: What is making you want to change you look?
NB: I am just ready for a change, and I figured that if I could do some good while making a change, cutting my hair is a good option.
NC: Why did you choose to donate to Wigs for Kids?
NB: After doing some research, this organization seemed like a good fit. The American Cancer Society recommends them as one of the best places to donate your hair for cancer patients, so I figured that was a pretty good endorsement.
Preparing for the Cut!
Wigs for Kids
NC: What’s that process? How can others do it? What are the requirements? What is the stylist doing to ensure you can donate? Cutting it in a ponytail?
NB: Yes, you are required to cut it in a ponytail and you have to be willing to give up 12 inches! All the details can be found on their site, wigsforkids.org.
MORE: Tips for Cutting Curly Hair Your Stylist Can’t Live Without
14 Inches Cut!
Twist Cutting
Cutting Techniques
NC: What other aspects to your cut is the stylist doing after the donation part is over? Layers to add body? wet cut? dry cut?
NB: He cut my ponytail off dry. Then he did a wet cut. He added layers throughout to help give more bounce and to frame my face, while keeping in mind that I wanted it long enough to pull back. He also layered it to ensure that it would look good drying naturally, if I diffuse it, or blow it out.
NC: Is your goal to get more waves and curls? If so, how and what techniques is the stylist achieve that.
NB: It wasn’t necessarily my goal, but taking as much weight off as we did, it was kind of a given that my curls would spring up some more.
MORE: Twist-Cutting Technique
Products Used
After the Cut
NC: How long is your hair, now?
NB: He cut off 14 inches, so I have 14 left.
NC: How does it feel to have shorter hair? What was your immediate reaction?
NB: My head felt so much lighter!
NC: Do you see much more curl pattern?
NB: I think I’ve probably moved up to a 2b.
Nicole’s New Curls!
Nicole’s Hair Regimen
NC: What was or is your regimen as a now medium length wavy hair?
NB: Not much different from before, considering I will still probably let it air dry most of the time. However, I do like how it looks diffused, with much more curl and volume, so I will try to make the time to do that a bit more often.
NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process? What are your must-have products and tools now with your shorter hair?
NB: Zotos diffuser when I want to style my hair more — I got the one Allen Ruiz used on my hair. I also use a curling iron. Allen Ruiz had a great point, that most curlies don’t generally use a curling iron to finish off their look, but that it really can help put a few curls in the right place, define the curls around your face a bit more, etc.
Happily Wavy After
NC: What are your new challenges with your medium type 2aish wavy hair?
NB: I do think that I prefer it diffused more now, which does require a bit more time. Otherwise, not really anything else.
NC: How does your hair impact the way you feel?
NB: Everyone tells me I look sassier, so maybe I get to act a little sassier too?!
NC: Are you going to attempt to grow it back out?
NB: Yes, I will be growing it back out again. Maybe I’ll be able to donate again in another couple of years!
NC: Anything else you’d like to add?
NB: Big thanks to Jackson Ruiz Salon, Allen Ruiz, my stylist, and Aveda products used.
