Marci

Walking around my Miami neighborhood I noticed that a new salon had opened. It's posh and fancy like something out of a magazine. Of course, I had to check it out. I went in and asked if they had anyone who works with curly hair. The cute male receptionist told me he had to make sure. A female stylist came out after a while, she had a cute, straight angled bob. She spoke to me in Spanish, I assumed she's probably a curly herself. I asked her if she knows how to do dry cuts on curly hair. She replied "con blower y plancha"?
"Blow dried and flat ironed"?
I probably made a horrible face. She tried to run her fingers through my hair.
I ran out of there as fast as I could.
I got on a plane and ran away all the way to Central America.
OK just kidding, but I am currently in Panama visiting family. Panama is probably more unfriendly to curls than Miami is, and that's saying something. Within minutes of deplaning two relatives had asked what was up with "the curly". Four hours in an airport and two hours on a plane had turned my well-behaved curls into a wild mass of craziness. My LASL Power Spikes was no match for the local humidity. My hair was a shadow of its former self. But… it still looked good. I couldn't believe it myself so I snapped a few Mac self-portraits just to make sure. Yep, still good. The extra volume made me feel sexy, kind of like Shakira.
A few hours later I started to resemble a certain large cat rumored to be king of the jungle.
I caved in to the blow drier
I am disappointed because I had just reached my 3 month "curly" mark and I went and straightened.
I can only hope my curls snap back when I return to a better climate.
Any advice to reverse any kind of heat damage I may have?
Thanks for listening to my horror story/rant/whine.

Cuban-curl-E

I was hoping the story had a very different ending but alas, it is exactly what I've come to expect out of Miami salons.

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3a/b, fine texture, low porosity, normal elasticity, mod-CG 7/11/11

Poo: KC Come Clean, SM Moisture Retention
CO: CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan & Olive Oil, Renpure Argan Oil, YTCucumbers, Sevi Pumpkin
Style: AIF, HESMU, Biolage gelee, KCCC
LOOB for second day hair

Like BS/ACV rinses, limit protein/humectants.

triple_spiral

Ugh, Hispanic culture......out of all my friends, it's only my Hispanic friends (more so Caribbean, like my Cuban/Dominican/Puerto Rican) that are always asking when I'm going to straighten my hair. It's amazing the difference from when I'm in NY and when I'm in Miami (though I'm noticing more and more naturals in Miami - woot woot!)

Did you use any kind of heat protectant when you straightened? If you do it again I would try to use one. As far as getting the hair healthy again in case of damage, I would just step up my deep conditioning and protein treatments.....you might wet your hair and find that there's no damage and it bounces right back! Good luck!

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4a?? Maybe 3c...some 4b??? No clue

tiny s-waves, coils, and spirals


- Cleanser: CJ Daily Fix or KC Come Clean
- Co-wash: Suave Naturals or V05
- RO: GVP Conditioning Balm or Tresemme Naturals
-Stylers: Garnier Pure Clean Gel, CJ Aloe Fix, KCCC


"I remember your childhood hair....flowin' wild at the county fair" - kelley stoltz

"and all the hours that you've been sitting at your vanity....may they carry you far from your misery" - conor oberst

SaraNoH

I feel ya. Half of my family is Ecuadorian and some how missed out on the "thick, black, smooth, straightish hair" gene (I've never seen anyone in my family with a flat iron, so it has to be natural). Last time I visited (Christmas) people were somewhat taken aback by my curly hair. And the humidity kills.

I think a good DT should help you out. Grab some conditioner and oil and apply it, maybe even overnight if you can.

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