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 would like to thank all of the clients and stylists who have inspired me over the years. I can still remember the first day that I came to work here. Like many of the clients, I felt like I just entered another world. I also couldn’t understand why more places didn’t cater to curly hair clients.

After years of seeing amazing transformations and satisfaction from the clients I’ve decided that I would love to be a part of that happiness. I  love the look that the stylists have when they realize that they just helped someone relieve the stress of battling with their curly hair. Now that I have my license I can’t wait to get the ball rolling. I can’t wait until the day that a client offers to take me home with them so I can do their hair everyday -  lol.

Latesha, Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC

I had a woman in my chair today who told me that she has a constant struggle with her hair.  She can’t find any way to style her hair curly and feel comfortable about her appearance.  She started the appointment with lots of skepticism, thinking that her hair could not look as good as she wanted it to look.  She felt that her hair was a big part of her overall appearance and that it rarely looked good.

During her appointment we discussed many key points of curly hair care; not brushing when dry, not running fingers through the hair, and applying products when wet. After a simple change in the cut and a new approach with styling, she was amazed to see her curls looking silky and shiny.  And she was in tears as she realized how lovely she looked with her own naturally curly hair. She had always wanted curls like this and didn’t realize she had them all along.

I am always so pleased that I have the opportunity to show woman their true potential with their own hair.  Then they can feel more confident.

Sara, Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC

As the Baby Boomers continue to age gracefully, gray hair becomes more of a reality every year! Mature hair develops as the color pigments simply weaken and fade…the hair becomes extremely porous, acting like a sponge, which is terrific for hair coloring. Ouidad explains that mature hair appears in two textures:

• Wiry and lacking pigment
• Fine and limp

Ouidad says that these two different textures actually compliment and support each other.  It’s important to adapt to your changing hair color and texture – don’t fight it. Your previous haircut, styling techniques and colors may not work forever, so talk to your stylist. Certainly there is coloring to consider. But a “well-cut healthy head of silver curls looks sophisticated and regal” says Ouidad…”consider a chic short cut or a stunning cascade of long curls. Whatever style works for you, remember to limit your exposure to high heat from the blow drier, which can singe the tresses…”

Soft, loose waves are all about ease and elegance. To create the special occasion style above, a diffuser and your fingertips are all you need. For details click here.

I see clients all the time who are Ouidad fanatics.  One recent client is a perfect example – she uses all the Ouidad products and does her deep treatments.  She comes to the salon for a cut and color regularly as well.  She even stayed home the day Ouidad was on Live with Regis and Kelly just to watch!  This was for the Bad Hair Makeovers shows when Ouidad cut, colored and styled a young woman with curly hair and I assisted. That day, when my client was at a grocery store on Long Island, a women standing behind her said “I’m sorry but did you happen to catch Regis and Kelly this morning?” My client replied, “Yes, actually the girl assisting Ouidad is my stylist.  You must go it changed my life!”

Two days later the woman from the grocery store came in to the salon. She told me the whole story of how she saw the show and the woman’s gorgeous curls, and how she was skeptical – thinking that we did something special or different because it was for TV. But after her cut and style she was in heaven and the skepticism vanished.

We see so many clients at the salon that are skeptical initially, and in disbelief after their appointments. It’s good to know that each day we change at least one person’s life for the better.

Alex, Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC

It’s no surprise to us… Ouidad has become quite a hit on HSN (Home Shopping Network).  In fact, they have even built us a signature production set… a true sign that you are up and coming in the world of television. This is really an exciting experience for Ouidad, since we are able to deliver our “love your curls” philosophy to so many more people. And Ouidad loves the viewer call-in segments. So if you happen to catch her on HSN, please do call in and speak with her. She’d love to hear from you.

By the way, if you haven’t already checked out the behind the scene action and photos from our previous appearances at HSN, check out Ouidad’s Facebook page where you’ll find some interesting behind the scene photos and video of what goes on during a live TV production.

Each show brings new logistics challenges. I wish you could all be in our warehouse to get a sense of the buzz of activity and excitement that goes into preparing for every on-air performance. It’s a huge effort to pack all the special HSN product configurations and special on-air offers that will be available for 30 fleeting minutes. Virtual armies of friends of employees generously assisting us in our duties.

After the last of the pallets are loaded, and the trucks pull away, there is a sigh of relief and the huge pride of accomplishment at the end of a project completed. Why do we love it so… because we know that after each show, thousands more people will be well on the way to learning to love their curly hair.

Peter Wise, COO

Over the years, I’ve wondered, “what advice could I give to any new client?”  I would say to come with an open heart and mind about your upcoming experience.

I completely understand why some women come with their guards up.  If my hair was repeatedly butchered, I would be apprehensive also.  Just keep in mind that this will be a completely different experience.  Instead of working with stylists that cater to the straight world you’ll be working with stylists that want you to love your curly, wavy hair.

We want nothing more than to help you, but with your guards up we proceed with caution and care and you may miss out on great tips, or tricks of the trade.  You may be doing a disservice to yourself if you come with too many preconceived notions.

So I say again, we welcome all who want to embrace their curls and have a great new curly experience!

Latesha, Stylist, 57^th Street Salon, NYC

Why are some girls with curls complaining?  We don’t know because most of those with straight hair — be it flat, limp, coarse, silky, etc. — wish they had all those wonderful curls.  If you don’t think it’s true, take a look at all the products out there … curling irons, hot rollers, sponge curlers, soft twisty curlers, curling combs, volume boosters, mouse, shampoos that promise curls, perms… the list goes on.

So, if you are lucky enough to have curls, maybe you just need to get better acquainted with Ouidad so you can understand your specific curl patterns and textures, and love what you have — and what so many others want!

Take a look at this before and after case.  

Before & After

Enjoy more before and afters here

Many years ago, I clipped this quote from a Wall Street Journal article where it had appeared.  I can’t actually remember the context of the article; for me, that didn’t matter.  What mattered was how that quote resonated with the experience Ouidad and I shared growing our business.  When I showed the small scrap of paper to Ouidad, she had the same immediate reaction. The quote summed up our struggle growing an idea, born from her passion, into a thriving business.

The banks ignored us.  They wanted to know why we would want to open a salon and cut only curly hair. The idea seemed completely absurd to loan officers in 1983.  We decided instead to approach the Small Business Administration.  The first requirement was that your request for a loan needed to be rejected by three commercial banks.  No problem there.  We were laughed out the banks alright.  But the SBA came through for us; along with some small loans from Ouidad’s brother and his wife, my mother, and our good friend Joe; we opened our first salon in April of 1984.

The majority of the beauty magazine editors ignored us too.  We’d invite editors to come to the salon to experience our Deep Treatment and listen to Ouidad’s appeal for more articles to promote healthy curls.  They’d get their conditioning treatment, Ouidad would style their hair curly, and then they’d demand that Ouidad blow their hair straight before they would leave the salon.  In 1985, the first write up we received in a major beauty magazine identified our salon as the best kept secret in NYC for hair conditioning, but there was no mention of curls.  The beauty world was clearly not ready for curly hair, nor would it be for many years to come.

We stuck to our vision.  We know that we are not done fighting doubt and winning minds over to the benefits of loving the natural curls people are born with.  And so the little ragged clip of paper is still taped to the upper right hand corner of Ouidad’s computer screen to this day.

Peter Wise, COO

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Well, it will grow back!” Or perhaps found yourself re-styling your just styled hair? Pinning back puffy bangs (that looked great on that straight-haired starlet), or desperately trying to tie back hair with a rubber band into a teeny-tiny pony tail due to a bob gone wrong….Ouidad saw these problems happening to curly-haired women everywhere, and so opened a salon dedicated only to curls .  This first salon opened in 1984 in New York City .

Ouidad still offers top professional stylists at her flagship store on 57^th Street who are specifically trained to work on curls.  The goal is to make sure that you can actually work with and love your style, as opposed to crying over it and redoing it later!

One client said,

“The stylist who did my hair really took the time to talk to me about exactly what I wanted from my cut before she actually put her hands on my hair.”

Curly west-coasters started to travel the 3,000 miles to New York to get their hair done with Ouidad. The solution was clear, and Ouidad then opened a salon in Santa Monica, California. Now those west coast clients are echoing the sentiments of New Yorkers! One client put it simply,

“Can I just say, life changing!”

All stylists from coast to coast are trained in Ouidad’s patented carving and slicing method, which prevents gallons of tears shed later because of curls that have been cut too short and blunt, left to frizz outward, so throw away those rubber bands for good and join us in one of our salons or online!  We want to hear from you!