Image Via Hair & Skinology

Who doesn’t enjoy the wind blowing in their hair on a beautiful sunny California day? If you think having natural curls means you can’t enjoy such simple pleasures, think again! Ouidad has spent her life learning and teaching how to enjoy curls naturally, so we all can let down our curls and enjoy a beautiful day outside. Whether driving the coast, walking, cycling or spending time at the beach. It’s like California curly star Sheryl Crow sings: “I’m gonna soak up the sun!”!

Fear not, tangles, heat, sun, surf or damage – Ouidad’s got you covered with everything you need to let your curls wave and shine brilliantly! And when you need more help with those radiant curls, cruise by our Ouidad salon in Santa Monica and get exclusive expertise from the curl specialists. Like the original 57th Street Ouidad Salon in New York City, our Santa Monica location has an expert staff that utilizes Ouidad’s trademarked Carve & Slice® cutting method, providing the foundation for beautiful curls and helping them embrace and adore the California curls way of life!

Photo by Eric Livingston

Having out of this world ringlet is no reason to avoid windy days or your active schedule at work and play. Like another song made famous by the Bellamy Brothers – “Let Your Love Flow” – they could have added “let your loving curls flow”, too!

During my day at Ouidad, I have plenty of clients that are actresses who love wearing their hair curly because they are what directors want – ‘every day people’ who don’t want ‘blown out, curling ironed perfect hair.’  Sounds great to me!

I had an actress in my chair yesterday who is never afraid to try a new look. She has kinky hair and wears it anywhere from long to a short bob, to very layered or bold curly bangs.  She also plays up her looks with lots of color! She says she never lets a hair stylist on set style her hair. She always does her Ouidad “rake and shake” at home and let’s them spruce it up later if they need to, because she’s seen how frizzy and fried it can look with all the irons and harsh blow drying.

This actress wears her hair confidently and proudly and lets her personality shine with her curly do.  We love it when she’s in the salon because she’s always raving about curly hair and complimenting all the clients too!

Kate, Stylist, Santa Monica Salon, California

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!’

Natural curls are beautiful, but also susceptible to danger – especially on a lifeguard in Sunny Southern California! When the surf’s rough and lifeguards head in to rescue swimmers and surfers, they don’t have time to wait and ponder the harsh effects of the job on their curls!

So what’s a lifeguard supposed to do to protect their natural curls? Well for one thing, start with a visit to the professionals at the Ouidad salon in Santa Monica to get expert advice, the right cut, and the right products!

Image compliments of arbroath.blogspot.com

For the daily paces that Lifeguards put their curls through, its Ouidad to the hair-rescue with Sun and Sport Sun Shield Leave-in Conditioner to protect those curls from the harsh hair-realities of the hot, sun-soaked weather in Southern California. If damage has already been done, try a little first aid with Ouidad’s renew, restore and replenish!

Ouidad suggests washing natural curls only 2-3 times a week, and rinsing more often if necessary. Also to be proactive with the right protection, and maybe some deep treatment on that rare day off from the beach – it only takes 12 minutes! Work hard, play hard, look great – Ouidad knows the drill!

Home of Yosemite National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hollywood Hills, California is home to some of the most remarkable attractions in the country. Here at Ouidad, some of our favorite sights are all those fabulous California-born, curly-haired celebrities!

Images Courtesy of iamright101.wordpress.com, thecinemasource.com, uglybettytvshow.com and popcrunch.comr

Lisa Bonet of The Cosby Show is one of those beautifully coifed celebs. Hailing from San Francisco, Bonet is best known for her role as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show. She is still flaunting her acting skills (and that great hair!) most recently, on the series Life on Mars.

Lovable comedians and fellow SNL stars, Will Ferrell and Andy Samberg come from Irvine and Berkeley respectively. These fabulous funny guys have got some seriously fabulous curls, too. Check out what Ferrell had to say about his own hair in this hilarious Q & A!

Los Angeles born, Ugly Betty star America Ferrera is far from ugly. In fact, People Magazine named this curly girl one of the 100 Most Beautiful People! We definitely agree, and also mark her down for a top 100 head of soft flowing curls!

Don’t forget to take a peek at some of the other California-born stars we’ve already profiled like Keri Russell, Josh Groban and Leslie Mann. And if you find yourself in the Golden State, check out our Santa Monica salon! In a world of curly haired celebs, it’s a major attraction!

In the classic film Fog Over Frisco, Bette Davis sported her signature curls – without fear! However, just the mention of fog is enough to frazzle some curly-headed folks and have them running for frizz relief.

Images courtesy mptvimages.com

While the movie may be scary, a little California fog is no reason for a frizz-freak! Ouidad has worked for years to perfect her product line, to give you just what you need to control your curls in all types of weather.  When it comes to curly hair, Ouidad can turn frizz to fun!

Whether you need the Frizz Fighter or Climate Control, Ouidad can help. Of course, curls require the right hairstyle and treatment to really show them off – be sure to check out Ouidad’s patented cut, carve and slice method, at our beautiful West Coast Salon, located in Santa Monica. Or look for our specially trained stylists, skilled in this innovative curl-cutting technique. With the right cut and the right products for your curls, you can go forth into the fog without fear!

If you’re going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

- Scott McKenzie

It’s been four decades since the  hippie culture invaded San Francisco, and flower power was the call of many in the youth culture. While you might still find some groovy, incense-burning, tie-dye-wearing styles in Haight-Ashbury, the flower-power days are pretty much gone. However, the love affair with loose flowing curls, decorated with a well placed flower will never fade – this is even truer at weddings and special occasions.

Image compliments of projectwedding.com

Ouidad works hard to help keep those curls looking their best while promoting the easy-going feel of the ‘60s with her easy, no-fuss curl care. And in California at Ouidad’s Santa Monica salon, natural curls are living it up and looking great, thanks to her never-ending quest for the perfect products for each type of curly hair!

Ouidad’s Santa Monica Salon

Today’s curls have moved on, and are much more kept and coiffed; in the 2000s curls are healthy, shiny, and beautiful – decorated with a flower or not.  The Haight has moved on, featuring high-end clothing and Internet cafés, and so have curls – and they look better than ever. Tie-dye and incense may go out of style, but healthy, beautiful natural curls will stand the test of time!

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

You may want sit down for this: the first Ouidad Salon was almost…a restaurant?  A scary but true thought!

After meeting in 1982, Ouidad and her husband Peter decided to open a business. Since he was already well established in the restaurant world, his first choice was to stay in that industry.  However Ouidad had dreams of her own…so, how did they finally decide?  They flipped a coin!

After landing on (of course) heads the Ouidad salon was born! At just twenty-six years old, the pair started out on the beginning of their exciting lives. In just a few years, curly clients were visiting the New York salon from all over the world. Stylists from Italy to Egypt and beyond referred clients to Ouidad via the “curly grapevine!” What better reward than international praise from peers and clients alike!

In her own words, Ouidad explains her purpose in life, “to make every curly-headed person understand and love their fabulous hair.”  With the creation of a full-line of products and a second salon location in Santa Monica Ouidad’s story is one of success!

As with anything worthwhile, Ouidad knows how hard it can be to live one’s dreams, despite a wonderful husband and business partner and two great kids. Living in Connecticut, she spends three or four days a week in New York City to be at that salon, and the remainder at the corporate offices close to home. Traveling so much can be exhausting, but her close-knit family has made it work, and she wouldn’t change a thing.

Those of us with curls cannot imagine what our hair would look like had that quarter landed on tails!