I have a client who has been coming to the New York salon for years. She has been with everyone from Ouidad to Vincent to Ana and now she is in my chair.

She has tried to grow her hair out forever and no matter what, she feels “it just won’t drop.”  So I gave her all of her options, including a softening treatment. She was extremely resistant to this due to her horrible past experiences with relaxers, and didn’t even want to hear about it.  I suggested she go online and read about it on ouidad.com. I also stressed that we don’t use sodium hydroxide but a calcium hydroxide, and we mix it with Deep Treatment so it’s not harsh on the hair.  Again, she didn’t want to hear it but said she would think about it.

Two weeks later she booked an appointment for the softening.  She came in extremely nervous; I expected it.  We did a long consultation to go over what exactly she wanted so I could tweak the formula and the timing.  After it was all said and done, she looked great!

Yesterday she called to say how much she is enjoying her hair. I finally asked what made her change her mind and take the plunge. Her reply, “I knew where I was getting it done,” made me feel good.

Alex,  Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC

Mention the name Tiffany Giardina to your tweens and teens, and most of them will  recognize it. The 15-year old singer/songwriter has already found major success with her first studio album, No Average Angel.

While still quite young, she is extremely talented. You can hear her music regularly on Radio Disney and featured in the TV movie, Another Cinderella Story.  And parents, if you’ve got younger daughters, this is one curly-haired celebrity that you’d want them to emulate: Giardina works with the Ronald McDonald House, the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation and other charitable organizations.

So, who did this curly girl turn to when shooting her new video for No Average Angel? None other than Ouidad stylist Alex! Alex was determined to give Giardina  fabulous curls that would stay with her throughout the entire demanding day of shooting.  This was especially important, since in the past she has mostly been photographed with straightened hair!

Here’s what Ouidad stylist Alex had to say about the experience:

“It was wonderful working with Tiffany on the set of her music video.
The best comment was Tiffany’s mom asking, “Are you going to bring
products to touch-up during the shoot?”I said that we probably
wouldn’t need them. At 11PM, over 14 hours since we started the day,
we wrapped filming and her curls were still perfect!”

Check out her video and her fabulous hair, here!

Like the first homesteaders taming the Old West, growing up with curly hair in the High Plains region of America certainly challenged my ability to domesticate my locks. Plenty of wind and a semi-arid climate created the perfect frizz-zone to dry out my loose waves and curls! Liberating my curly hair has been a life-long process, similar to teaching a child to walk.

At first, someone held my hand. As the youngest of four daughters who all who have curly hair, I was a living dress-up doll. Barrettes, ribbons, and headbands decorated my head! My mother braided my hair or pulled my tresses into pigtails and ponytails. Mom would sometimes curl my hair around her fingers, leaving soft, playful ringlets to frame my innocent face! On other occasions, my curls were topped off with a hat.

This was a great arrangement for me until the day Mom scratched my eye and burned my forehead while curling my bangs for school pictures! I think it was my mom’s way of saying it was time to take a few steps on my own.

When I started to walk unassisted, my curls were frequently brushed, which didn’t look so bad until puberty hit! Hormones created more havoc with my hair than a wild fire blazing across the prairie! Like a lot of women, I grieve the loss of the beautiful coloring, sheen, and smooth texture. My curls turned coarse, dark, and difficult, much like a teenager’s attitude! My curls still have a tendency to throw tantrums!

Ponytails weren’t a desirable option anymore after a youth group leader asked me to tell him what’s under a pony’s tail. Instead, I experimented with perms, crimping, and straightening my hair, as well as bleaching and coloring! I took new strides with short hair and asymmetrical cuts, anything to see what style would be most flattering, easiest maintenance, and low cost!

Somewhere along the walking path, curls went from adorable and cute to unprofessional and undesirable. Job interviews were conducted with straight hair or sleek styles. I can count on one hand the number of men who have complimented my curly hair. I can count on one finger the number of times a man used the actual words “I love your curly hair!” Women possess a much better record of admiration! However, I never really achieved my own curl happiness…until Ouidad. For the first time, I’m seeing them as bold and beautiful!

One of my sisters discovered Ouidad. She introduced the products to my mom and me. Wow, what a difference! As a spiritual person, I felt God was encouraging me to embrace the gift of curly hair rather than fight what He gave me. It was consuming too much time and energy to be someone I wasn’t born to be. Song of Solomon 7:5 reads “Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry; the king is held captive by its tresses.” I wanted to improve my gait by learning to cherish my own royal tapestry!

While researching Ouidad and her products, I discovered she faced many challenges to be the “Queen of Curl.” Four banks rejected her idea to help curly haired people learn to properly care for their hair. For years, I told my hairdressers curly hair shouldn’t be cut the same way as straight hair, but they laughed at me the same way the banks laughed at Ouidad!

I am so appreciative Ouidad did not take “No” for an answer. I admire her courage in the face of adversity and opposition. I wish I had the opportunity to meet her! Ouidad’s site is teaching me to embrace the beauty of my curls, and her products are helping with the transition, especially since the nearest certified salon is 800 miles away! Ouidad’s encouraging spirit nurtures curls from the inside out! I am so thankful she never gave up on her dream! She’s been a blessing to me and many others!

Through the years, God was weaving a unique tapestry that finally brought me to Ouidad, a courageous woman who could help me learn to love my locks! As my mom created finger-ringlets to crown my head, I don’t think she fully realized the power she possessed to liberate curly hair! Little did I know throughout my journey, I had everything I needed to free my curls — right in my own hands.

People immigrate to America for liberty, freedom, and the power of choice. In the case of my curls, liberty is freedom from physical restraint! One of my favorite photos with curly hair was a reenactment of Lady Liberty, a national symbol of the freedom we seek. Isn’t that interesting? I think it was meant to be. Free YOUR curls!

Chelsie Donner

I had the opportunity to go to a color class this past weekend. We were given models and I ended up with a curly hair model (of course). Immediately, I was upset at myself for not having the climate control with me. It was nice to introduce someone to our salon and a new experience since she had never heard of us before.

She laughed at me when I told her that I could tell her her own story because I hear it every day. I started telling her that no one knows what to do with her hair. She goes in for a trim and leaves with inches cut off and everyone wants to blow it straight. She has really dry hair and it stays that way no matter what she uses. She was amazed!!

After her color process I gave her a card and told her to check the website.  I got a call from her saying that she is waiting for her products to arrive.  I felt so good knowing that I was able to help someone with their color as well as their curls.

Latesha, Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC

A new client came in to see me a few weeks ago, and she admitted that she had been referred to me over a year ago.  She finally got the guts to see the “dreaded” stylist and seek help with her seemingly impossible hair. Listening to her complaints and hopes, I echoed my familiarity with her curly haired experience, especially the lack of understanding about curly hair from many in the profession. Stylists are taught to straighten and perm curls but not much else. I promised we would work together to answer all her questions.

To create beautiful curly styles, you need to hear from the client what he or she loves about her hair and what doesn’t work for their hair. Not all curls and waves are alike.  When she knew I was listening and understood her concerns, she said she would “trust me.” It was a big step and I challenged…”only if we work as a team.”

When she went home, she had curls along with the education to achieve her beautiful, stylish curly hair. Yes, the cut is essential, the products actually work, and with the knowledge how to put it all together when she got home….then the dream takes off.

Vincent, Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC

A client came in to the Santa Monica Ouidad Salon today after a year and a half of growing her hair following chemotherapy. She wanted to start fresh and trusted us for her new ‘do.’ I kept her length as much as possible while creating more movement and shape. I also established a new style and side part with more volume on top.

She was so happy and kept saying that she finally felt groomed! She was glad to learn she could throw away her brush and was amazed with the curls she could achieve with just the rake and shake technique! It gave me great pleasure to help her feel beautiful again and I look forward to seeing her soon!

Kate, Stylist, Santa Monica Salon, California

I realized something walking around NYC this crazy hot and humid weekend – when you crank up the heat, you see the real straight haired people from the fake.  I have never seen so many curly heads in one restaurant or store.  It really made me laugh.  Now all we need to do is show them how to make their hair look good.

I said to one woman “I love your curls!” And she replied with “oh please I just didn’t feel like straightening them because of the heat.”

The goal should be to learn how to make your hair look good curly so  no matter what, whether curly or straight, it looks good.  There’s an idea!

Alex, Stylist, 57th Street Salon, NYC

I have been at the Ouidad salon in New York for about ten years – starting out as an assistant and working my way up to a stylist.  Now I’m one of the national educators teaching the carving and slicing technique to an ever expanding pool of stylists who want to become experts at working with curly hair.

Before my time at the Ouidad salon I never imagined that a place like this existed.  And since working here I have been amazed at just how much I have learned and continue to learn about curly hair.  I have worked on photo shoots and with celebrity clientele and it amazes me that no matter how much money you have it is still incredibly difficult to get a good haircut for curly hair.

I also have a large number of clients who are African American and have had one bad experience after another with other stylists.  They come here at the end of their rope in terms of being satisfied with their hair.  After they leave my chair they tell me it was a life changing experience.  They never imagined they could be happy with a haircut.

Ayanna, Stylist, 57th Street Salon, NYC

Have you ever had a cut that left your hair lying flat at the roots then puffing out at the ends into a mass of frizz?  Ouidad has dubbed this the Pyramid Effect.

Thanks to eHow.com for the Image

After years of receiving terrible haircuts, Ouidad decided to take matters into her own hands. Our patented “carving and slicing” method is the result. This link not only gives you the step-by-step process of what goes into this specialized cut and styling method, but is also a fantastic visual of what it should look like!

When it comes to curls, a great cut is the most important aspect of managing your hair.  One important note from Ouidad – if your hairdresser mentions “layering,” “texturizing,” or “thinning,” you should run, and fast!

For curls, these three methods are style suicide!  Layering creates horizontal cuts, with the shorter layers shrinking up to make that awful “Earmuff Effect”.  Texturizing causes unevenness and frizz while thinning creates a combination of tight curls and long limp locks.  Sound good?  We didn’t think so!

Ouidad expert stylist Alex wrote about one encounter with a client who’d had nothing but bad cuts, until he visited the New York salon. OUIDAD to the rescue! We just want you to love your curls, and the best way to start is with a great haircut!

Recently, two sisters came to the salon for a carve and slice cut. One sister was a regular client and one was coming for the first time.  They both caught on to the care and styling method of their hair so beautifully…I couldn’t have done better!

I asked my client what was it in her experience and lessons at Ouidad that gave her such an edge? She laughed and said “My sister and I have been styling each other’s hair for our entire lives. So working on my own, I have been able to get my curls to come out even better, faster and easier.  And, of course, we each think our own styling is nicer than the other’s.”

When other members of your family or friends have curly hair, give them a treat…style their curls.  And watch their eyes pop, when you create miracles with their hair. It’s fun plus you learn more and learn faster.

Vincent, Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC