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!

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

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

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

• 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.

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

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

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

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

]]> http://blog.ouidad.com/index.php/2009/05/05/ouidad-curl-love-getting-to-know-and-love-your-curls/feed/ 5 http://blog.ouidad.com/index.php/2009/05/04/growing-ouidads-vision-into-a-thriving-business/ http://blog.ouidad.com/index.php/2009/05/04/growing-ouidads-vision-into-a-thriving-business/#comments Mon, 04 May 2009 10:00:51 +0000 Peter, Co-Founder, Ouidad http://blog.ouidad.com/?p=93 “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
— Mohandas Gandhi

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