I didn't know I had curly hair!

Cubanwavy · 09-08-2011, 06:00 PM

Always wanted curly hair, but wore my hair very short for over 40 years.

When I was a teen, we used blow dryers, curling irons, rollers (yes we slept on rollers) to style hair - never let it air dry. I do remember that I never liked my bangs cause they were squiggly, so I always wore them back or grew them out.

2 years ago my hair was about earlobe length, I got a curly perm and let my hair grow out over these 2 years. About a month ago, I had about 6 inches cut off and my hair is wavy, wavy with curls at the ends. I'm thinking that maybe the curls are still part of the perm, but no other perm I ever had ever lasted for 2 years.

What do you think?

BTW, there is a photo of my at about 5 years old and I have curly curly hair cut in a bob. I always thought my sister permed my hair, but I'm not so sure. Every time she heard me say this she would laugh. She passed away 2 years ago, so I can't ask her if it was true. This past year I saw my 42 year old daughter with wet hair and it was curly! I didn't know she had curly hair either.

wavynwild16 · 09-08-2011, 07:25 PM

Well, I've never gotten a perm, but I've never heard of one that lasted for two years, either! Sounds like you were a curly waiting to happen.

Congrats on you and your daughter's new curls! You might want to experiment with scrunching and different gels and maybe diffuser attachments for your dryer. And maybe you want to get adventurous and even try the Curly Girl method (CG), washing your hair with a light conditioner to cleanse your hair lightly and not strip away its natural oils!

There's even sulfate-free shampoo options if you want to do a modified method. This site has a wealth of information, and there's tons of techniques in the techniques links to help enhance your natural curls.

I am very sorry about your sister passing, BTW.

Cubanwavy · 09-08-2011, 08:57 PM

Thanks Wavynwild.

My daughter and I are definitely going to do the Curly thing. I am login these wavy/curly hairs and wear them loose whenever I can. So much fun.

wavynwild16 · 09-09-2011, 08:25 AM

You're welcome! Best of luck on your new CG journey!

hippiechic81 · 09-09-2011, 01:51 PM

I didn't know until I was almost 21 that I had wavy hair either!! Growing up, my hair was stick straight that would never hold a curl no matter what my mom (who has beautiful and natural 3-something curls) would do. I cut my hair off into a pixie cut (even shorter actually) right before I turned 17 and kept it that way for a few years. Once I started growing it out, I noticed my hair was kinda bendy! That was a while ago and it's only this past year that I've been doing a mod-CG method and trying to work with my waves and encourage their formation. Good luck and have fun!!!!!!!!!

IAgirl · 09-09-2011, 04:03 PM

Surprise!

You sound like a lot of women I know who misunderstood their true hair texture because of roller setting, pulling hair back or (like my Mom) trying to get their short, curly hair to go more bouffant -and yes, it did look pretty cute on her. Even my husband thought his hair was simply "unruly" until I told him no, it's wavy/curly!

It's like getting a really great birthday present, no? You got the curls you always wanted. Very happy for you!

I think your hair was waiting for you to recognize it for what it is and I think you'll have some fun learning to wear it wavy/curly and how to take very good care of it with gentle shampoos, conditioner, and very little brushing or rough handling.
This could be a fun mother-daughter thing... learning to go curly.
What fun! Come check out the wavy (2s) board and introduce yourself!

pedaheh · 09-09-2011, 04:52 PM

I figured out my hair was wavy in my late 30's. Before I learned how to treat my wavy hair, I thought it was straight, but fuzzy, with some annoying bends.

For me the CG method and styling methods used on this board made a miraculous difference in the way my hair looks and feels. Be sure to try plopping, pixie diffusing, the ice queen method, and the super soaker method (in the techniques sticky at the top of the page). These methods are popular with wavy girls.
I've had perms before, and mine did stay in until I cut them off or grew them out. But the hair growing in at the roots is not affected by the perm. My guess is that your waves just don't start until ear level. This is very common for wavies. Many wavies need to keep their hair long in order for it to look wavy. When it is short, it ends up almost straight (with a few hairs that insist on flipping out in odd directions).
Wavy hair is actually the best type of hair to wear in rollers. Wavy hair really holds the curls made by curlers.
Hope you like and enjoy your newly discovered hair texture.