However, I had a great time and my hair came out super curly and did not frizz at all! Woohoo!! I also learned so much from Sondriel, my stylist, about taking care of my curls. My curls were pampered and restored with a Deep Treatment and Carve and Slice cut!

Me and Sondriel at the Ouidad NYC Salon!

Before my treatment and cut!

1. The way you cut your hair affects your curls.
I had no idea that the way my hair was being cut was causing my curls to look and fall terribly around my face! Sondriel cut out some of the bulk in my hair using Ouidad’s Carve and Slice technique and I instantly saw a difference. Curly hair cannot be cut the same way as straight hair.

2. Not all hair gels are created equal.
Sondriel used Tress Effects over Curl Quencher Gel on my hair because of its memory interlock to help my hair remember the shape of its curls. It also has a stronger hold. I needed this product because my hair has been so used to being straight it forgot how to be curly!

3. Your curls need to be conditioned.
The more you condition your hair, the less styling product you will need to use. It’s recommended that you condition your hair at least twice a month. Ouidad’s 12 Minute Deep Treatment will do the job!

Every person who left the salon had a head full of gorgeous curls including myself! I rocked my curls to the Kanye West & Jay-Z Concert that night at Madison Square Garden!

Kanye and Jay-Z rocking on stage!

I will definitely be returning to the salon. Thank you so much, Ouidad!

Catch Morgan, Ouidad Creative Director, live on HSN this week!

With years of training and hands on experience working alongside Ouidad in her NYC salon, Morgan exemplifies the Ouidad way and is the Creative Director for Ouidad and the lead stylist at the Ouidad Salon Santa Monica. Morgan, has worked with the famed Queen of Curl for over a decade.

Growing up with a head of curls herself has made her determined in her career to educate her clients to love and appreciate their gift of curls. Morgan’s work has appeared on television, the pages of many magazines and on the heads of numerous celebrities.

When Morgan isn’t busy making curls look their best, she can be found speaking on behalf of Ouidad’s training team. Her years of knowledge have brought her to California to share her passion of curl’s with the west coast. She is a cut, color, and softening specialist.

Image via gorilla.hr

Cooking is an endeavor full of creativity and exuberance, so maybe that’s why there are so many vivacious, curly chefs out there! Now comes curly-clad Kristina Kuzmic, joining the ranks of cooks with curls like Nigella Lawson, Bobby Flay and legend Julia Child. This talented and beautiful woman recently competed for—and won—a television show on Oprah’s new OWN network.

Naturally Curly spoke to Kristina to find out more about her and her hair, and reported that she loves the fact that she doesn’t have to wash it every day. She also mentions that she’s on the lookout for a great styling line … and Ouidad certainly hopes she’ll give some of our styling products, like Tress Effects styling gel and PlayCurl volumizing foam a try!

It’s wonderful to see a beautiful head of curls bouncing around a television kitchen. We couldn’t agree more with Naturally Curly, which said “It’s so refreshing to see someone in the media who embraces her curls instead of pressing, relaxing or hiding them to appeal to the public.”

Ouidad Facebook Fan Photo via Flickr.com

They say you are what you eat, and when it comes to healthy hair, Ouidad knows that this old adage to be true! So yes, for strong, shiny curls, shampooing, conditioning and routine maintenance are truly important, but it’s also what you eat each day can make a big difference.

Doctors have stated that diets with plenty of growth-promoting protein and iron can strengthen and improve your hair. “Your hair grows about 1/4 to 1/2 inch every month, and the foundation of all of our new hair … growth is the nutrients we eat,” said Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a Chicago-based dietitian. “If you eat a healthy diet, you will grow stronger and healthier cells throughout your entire body—inside and out.”

Here are the top ten foods recommended for healthy hair: (1) salmon; (2) dark green vegetables; (3) beans; (4) nuts; (5) poultry; (6) eggs; (7) whole grains; (8) oysters; (9) low-fat dairy products; and (10) carrots.

Photo via Christmasstockimages.com

So, in addition to using your Ouidad products, treat yourself—and your hair—to a bounty of healthy foods today! And just in case you’re not sure what to make, here’s a recipe for sautéed chicken with stir-fried spinach and carrots that incorporates a number of these recommended foods.

Enjoy your dinner … and your strong, radiant curls!

Ouidad’s Facebook friend flaunts her beach curls!

With all the sun and fun still to be had this summer, relaxing days at the beach would do us all some good.  But there’s an added bonus to taking a trip to the shore when you’re a curly-haired guy or girl.  This is one of the many places that we really get to flaunt our amazing waves, curls and kinks.  It’s the sea salt—with its curl intensifying action—that brings out the natural curl pattern and texture of our hair and makes us the envy of all the straight-haired beach bunnies!

However, the beach is not the only place to find this natural curl enhancer.  These days, many products list sea salt as an active ingredient with the promise of creating that casual, “beachy” texture that comes so naturally to us.  But when the day in the sun is done, all that salt can be very drying to curls, and only a thorough wash and rinse will get them back in great condition.  That’s where we can call on Ouidad to help.

To return to manageability and shine after soaking your curls in the sun and salt of the seashore, try Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo.  It is made to deep clean curly hair and wash away that drying sea salt residue.  And it won’t strip your hair even if it’s color-treated.  This way, your curls won’t only look great at the beach—they’ll look great for days after too, and so will you!

Whether you live in a large coastal city like San Francisco or at a mountainous retreat like Lake Arrowhead, curls are always in style. It’s important to treat those voluptuous locks with love and respect. After all, your curls speak volumes about who you are as a person!

To give your hair a loving lift, Ouidad’s PlayCurl Volumizing Foam creates volume while moisturizing and creating long-lasting volume, shine, and manageability. Don’t forget to use our Duckbill Clips to help style and shape your curls at the roots as they dry.  Let Ouidad Show you!

Click here to view the embedded video.

You know, when your hair has a gorgeous sheen, it looks vibrant and healthy. That’s why mountain and city girls alike love Ouidad’s Shine Serum because it fights frizz while allowing your curls to play their own starring role.

Take care of those fashionable California curls and they’ll love you right back!

Image  via picasaweb.com

Waking up to a head full of perfectly pretty curls after a good night sleep sounds like a dream.  Especially when you just don’t have time to redo your ringlets every morning.  Here’s how a little preparation before bedtime —and a little Ouidad—can help you get gorgeous curls by morning.

Well-moisturized hair will keep its curl better while you sleep through the night. So try applying a moisturizing conditioner, like Ouidad’s Curl Quencher, to your hair before going to bed.

Then arrange your curls so that you do not accidentally flatten them as you sleep; try securing your hair into a loose ponytail high on the top or your head, also called a pineapple.  And remember that satin and silk can be a curls best friend! These hair-friendly fabrics allow your curls to stay smooth while they slide on your pillow, rather than catch to the fabric and cause your curls to frizz.  Perfect for keeping your ponytail in place while you sleep.

In the morning, you might be able to revive your curls with little more than a simple shake, style and finish.  So you can finally put an end to messy bed-head forever and maintain your curls while you rest.  Imagine that!

Here at Ouidad we believe that choosing the right products for your hair shouldn’t be hard. But when you’re blessed with the beauty of those fantastic curls, it’s not always clear which product is right for you. With no two curly haired beauties the same, it can get confusing when searching for the perfect products for your individual hair needs.  Do you search according to your hair type: wavy or curly? Or by your specific concern:  damaged or frizzy?

Is It Easy For You To Choose The Best Products For Your Hair?online surveys

Every curl has its own needs, so let Ouidad ease your concerns with their Curl Profiler and find the perfect products for your hair!

Latina magazine knows that too and recently recommended the Botanical Boost as an “Instant Frizz-Fixer” go-to product that’ll help you tame that ‘do fast. The article recommends you rehydrate hair with Botanical Boost Conditioning Spray, then “twist each one-inch section. Let hair untwist and dry into your natural curl pattern.”

This conditioning spray is actually a leave-in conditioner that is designed to soften, moisturize, detangle, fight frizz, and protect your hair from the sun! It’s a great all-in-one product that leaves your curls healthy and manageable!

Keep a bottle of Botanical Boost handy for an instant curl boost in the middle of any busy day.

Ouidad herself was on hand to mentor these beautiful women and to share their excitement at finally having the tools to tame their curls. Here’s a peek at the fun!

Click here to view the embedded video.

After using Ouidad products and experiencing Ouidad styling, the women were uniformly enthusiastic. “Honestly,” said one participant at the end of the event, “my curls have never looked like this! I was a frizzy mess when I walked in!”

For some, leaving the Ouidad salon with healthy curls was a first. And, as they paraded out the door when the evening was over, one gorgeously-curly woman summed it up: “All I have to say is watch out, New York, because a lot beautiful curly women are coming out on the town tonight!”

Look out New York, indeed!