With so much to do in college, from classes and exams to roommates and finances (and everything in between) managing your schedule can be a real challenge. This is one time in your life when it’s OK to resist the urge to pamper your curls every single day.

Image Courtesy of Seventeen.com

You already know from Ouidad that the less-is-more approach to managing those curls is best, including shampooing less frequently. In this case, it’s not only the healthy thing to do for your curls, it’s practical!

Sites like Suite 101 give budget-conscious students practical tips as well, like suggesting the condition-only method. The idea is that an occasional shampoo can be swapped out for a wash using your conditioner instead, to both clean and condition your curls.

Then to help make the transition from college back to the “real world,” visit your closest Certified Ouidad Salon for a great wash and go cut and style. Then you can refresh your curls everyday with a dollop of leave-in conditioner!

Sure, there’s a lot to keep track of in college, and following these tips can make it a little more manageable so you can hit the books!

As I was watching this season of Shear Genius, I saw one of the challenges was to cut a bob on curly hair… really? That’s the challenge?  These top stylists were going nuts. One even said “I try to never work with this texture” which is almost insulting to us curly heads.  Even in other challenges the models with curly hair were picked last!

This brings me to why I love Ouidad education classes. Each month we have a class teaching other stylists how to cut and style and work with curly hair.  I’m glad to be part of a team that is really trying to push wearing your own natural texture. And they are great! The stylists come in with 9 million questions because they are so eager to learn something to bring back to their clients.

Now more than EVER people don’t want to straighten their hair. In Hollywood and real life, you’re seeing more and more curls and waves. And no worries – Ouidad and her expanding team are here to help.

Alex,  Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC

We’ve already established that we love the look of  men with curls . So naturally when we came across Hot Hot Heat’s curly singer/keyboardist, Steve Bays, we just couldn’t resist, and had to share the whole band with all of you!

Image Courtesy of concertlivewire.com

Since 1999, the dance/punk band has been touring and gaining critical acclaim with songs like “Bandages,” and “No Not Now.”  They’ve also opened on tours for Weezer and The Foo Fighters. And while the music has us moving, it’s the curls that have us staring!  And it’s not just us; one reviewer refers to Bays as, “all curls and caffeine.” Another excited reviewer recalled a show where there was so much energy that “the crowd felt free to dance, sing along and grab lead singer Steve Bays’ curls.”

While Bays isn’t the only famous curly musician getting attention for his locks (remember Gustavo Dudamel’s eye-catching conductor’s curls) we definitely recommend you keep an eye on Bays’ impressive and energetic mane! And you can check out some of their music here!

By now you know that there is more to kinky hair than tight coils and volume. Our curls, more than any other curl pattern, lead a fine and delicate life; one in which hydration is critical!

Image Courtesy of yourstyledestination.com

Some kinky-curly’s might rely on daily moisturizers that don’t truly penetrate the hair, or accessories made of pliable rubber to help detangle knots.  But these products will not stand the test of time—or the harsh cleansers, heat styling and environmental forces like the wind and sun that cause brittleness and damage. Let Ouidad provide the answer!

The best way to keep kinky curls in perfect condition is with an intensely hydrating product like Ouidad’s 12-Minute Intensive Repair Conditioner.  First, saturate clean, damp hair with Intensive Repair Conditioner. Then completely cover hair and heat with a blow dryer allowing warm conditioner to remain on hair for twelve minutes. Next, add a second conditioner to hair before rinsing. And finally, rinse both conditioners from hair allowing a coating to remain.

Make Ouidad’s deep conditioning a part of your regular hair care routine—and keep dryness and the frizzies away!

I’m back in South America and since my last visit I’m noticing more and more women wearing their hair natural. In Argentina and Brazil straight hair is a sign of status and curly hair is sometimes associated with the lower class. Every week women rush to salons to get their hair blown out.

Being in South America and meeting with the media in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Columbia has been such an eye opening experience.

I’m finding that women would love to wear their hair curly; they just needed to learn how!  When I speak to them they’ll look at my curls and smile and confess that since I’ve been promoting curls in Latin America they have been trying to wear their hair curly and really enjoying it.

Many do get mixed opinions on their curls but they don’t seem to mind.  One woman told me her husband loves her curly hair but when they attend his business parties he asks her to wear it straight because he has an image to uphold.

Ouidad

Corinne Bailey Rae, the English singer-songwriter whose soulful, uplifting tunes have gained her many accolades, and several Grammy nominations, is in the latest curly news spotlight.

Image Courtesy of celebrity-gossip.net

We expect a long career from this talented artist, and lucky for us at Ouidad, that includes enjoying her fabulous curly ‘do’s!  Known for her adorable short wavy look, Rae recently traded in that signature style and has been spotted featuring longer, softer curls. They both work on this classic beauty. We know that curls of any length are gorgeous, and Rae is not afraid to work what she’s got!

Image Courtesy of aceshowbiz.com

Aside from her amazing music, Rae has been a curly role model to girls-with-curls from around the globe. And just as Chris Rock brought kinky hair into the spotlight recently with his feature film, Good Hair, Rae walks every red carpet event proudly, endorsing her curl devotion for the world to admire. Proving again, no matter the hair length and curl style, your locks can have Hollywood glam!

The song California Girls has lived on in music history long after it first hit the airwaves in 1965. While the Beach Boys (who hail from Hawthorne, California) wrote the song for all you west coast gals, Ouidad wants to also celebrate the Curly Californian guys too!

Thanks to menshairstyles.net for the Image

We’ve given the girls pointers on how to keep curls looking fabulous in the warm California sun. Guys however, have a different set of concerns. Here is some advice for dudes with curls, because Ouidad knows that men can wear their curls long or short, and still look great. Especially while out enjoying the surf! (We know surfers start pretty early out west.)

Whether you’re taking a trip to Venice or hiking the Half Dome in Merced, you need to keep your curls from becoming too frizzy. Use our Climate Control, a product that works with the temperature to maintain your locks. Or, if you’re looking for a classic pomade, try our Clear Control Styling Glaze, which is packed with conditioners to control frizzy, fly-away curls!

Want more guidance or looking for a new curly look? Visit us at our Santa Monica salon where we, of course, also cater to men! Actually, ‘we wish you all could be California curlyyyyy-men!’

With winter coming to an end and springtime fast approaching, it’s finally time to cast off those winter blues, and maybe take a spring vacation!

Image Courtesy of planetgreen.discovery.com

It’s also time to take a break from parkas and winter hats, and show your curls some spring time love. Whether you’re hitting the sun and sand or staying in, Ouidad has the perfect products to take care of those curls!

If it’s definitely off to the beach for you this spring, don’t leave home without Ouidad’s Water Works Shampoo. It’s the perfect product to protect your curls from the elements, and keep them hydrated and cleansed. And the Sun Shield Spray-In Conditioner is a beach bag must! Just spray on prior to sun exposure, or anytime when you want to create softer, smoother, curls. It even helps protect your color. Packed with botanicals and UVA/ UVB blockers, it’s just like sunscreen for your curls!

Another way to achieve that fresh beach look is to twirl damp hair around your fingers, use Ouidad’s Rake & Shake technique and apply TressFx Styling Gel as you go along.

And if the Surf & Sand aren’t in the plans right now, but you want to restore your hair’s health and beauty from the last legs of winter, then check out Ouidad’s deep treatment guide to rejuvenate your curls. Now you’re set for the high spirits of springtime and ready to hit that beach at a moment’s notice!

With a career spanning more than twenty years, Julia Roberts is no stranger to Hollywood. She has been one of America’s favorite actresses since attaining superstardom for her leading role in the romantic comedy Pretty Woman. In that modern-day Cinderella-tale, Roberts won the hearts of audiences everywhere. And naturally, here at Ouidad we lost our hearts to her natural, cascading curls!

Image Courtesy of fanpop.com

An Academy Award winner (for her title role in the dramatic true story, Erin Brockovich), Roberts still proudly dons her fabulous curls frequently. Never afraid to start her own trends, Roberts is known to flaunt her lively locks when other starlets are straightening up!

Image Courtesy of images.eonline.com

Whether it’s her beautiful beachy waves look or the more polished red-carpet-ready curls, Roberts seems to have a twist for every occasion! Check her out in her most recent hit movie Valentine’s Day and soon in the upcoming summer film Eat, Pray, Love. We can’t wait to see her hair in all its curly glory!

Curly hair is more than just a passing fashion statement; it’s a way of life for Latinas who proudly flaunt what they’ve got! Embracing those luscious curls and exuding confidence is what’s gorgeous, because it means you have the best of both worlds: inner and outer beauty.

Do you have your own curly-haired receta secreta for maintaining confident, bouncy hair?  Here are a few nuggets of advice to help you and your curls bounce out the door with confidence:

Time
If you make time for your hair in the morning, your confidence will shine! In this video, Ouidad’s Teen Curl Expert, Sondriel, shows us how to get our best curls in 4 minutes.

Ideas
One of the biggest excuses women give for wearing the same old hairstyle, yet again, is lack of inspiration. Bookmark this Naturally Curly photograph gallery for plenty of curl-spiration!

Tools
If you’re looking for ways to help you tame your tresses, you’ve come to the right place because that’s what Ouidad does, 365 days a year. Read through our blog, check out the online store, and check out this article on how-to control Latina hair.

¡Ama tus rizos!

Note: We apologize for the confusion in using a photo of Katie Melua, Georgian/British singer, songwriter and musician. We indeed want to feature curly heads from the Latina community and will be more thorough in our photo searches going forward. If you have pictures to share that we can in turn feature on our Latina focused blog entries, please send them to blog@ouidad.com. Thank you!