Ouidad: The Curl Experts

“I love my curls except for this one place that drives me crazy!”  That’s what I hear from my clients often so my goal is to turn those complaints about those small areas into amazement and satisfaction!

It’s funny being a curly haired expert and having an “Ah ha!” moment after thinking you knew everything about curly hair.   Our straight haired friends don’t understand that curls are not the same all around our head.  My curly female clients have those places of wild curls; sections of frizz, fright and tight curls that never seem to grow.

If my curly clients are lucky, the problem area is out of sight, in the back of the head that is. Lately I’ve been asking my clients about their ignored hair problems. Wouldn’t they love to have length where the tight curls are?  Wouldn’t it be great to have curls calm down, deflate and blend with your style? I, after my “ah ha” moment, have been very busy “spot softening” those stubborn areas into the next level of beauty and control. Leave what we love and only “soften” those small areas!

One Saturday my next to last client of six years mentioned as usual, something was wrong with the back…it never grew….it just bushes out. When the hair was wet, the length was incredible, but when dry it sprung outwards and shortened. She had mastered her beautiful curls but now it was time to transform this small area of tight curls into a beautiful set of curls like the rest of her head.  What a difference!  She now had very long curly hair. It cascaded, flowed and swung….even when it was styled before, it never had this effect!

Little areas that are unruly end up being bigger problems when they’re the only areas that look different from the rest of your curls. It took me this long to discover a great solution to those “little” problem areas so keep looking and keep asking for more from your stylist so you too can get past those little problem areas.  And thanks for putting me on the spot by asking for solutions!  It has allowed me to find answers for more curly headed clients.

Vincent, Stylist, 57th Street Salon, NYC

Women don’t like to be bored or disappointed. Well….so do a lot of people but as a hairdresser it’s a dead end. Our ladies look forward to happy results, they expect them, our salon’s directive is “Give Our Clients beautiful….their beautiful Curls and Waves.”

So let me introduce my long haired clients. Keeping their length is the trance I see in their eyes as I hear my long haired beauty say, “Just a trim” very casually and simply put. Ah ha! But do they want the same but better? It’s been 3, 4, or 5 months or maybe longer since their last cut.  All that new hard earned length deserves a reward and a thrill for me. New shaping, new lift, new framing….tailoring that fresh length into a new style, a new look and really a new feeling. That’s the difference long hair curls and waves can create. My clients will have each and every time a fresh look and a new feeling of style and energy. Those trims to keep the ends “healthy,” if cut too often…. can “end” up short.  Better to rely on that sense of how your hair “feels” for your trims than the old routine of every two months.  Good conditioning will also maintain your valuable ends. So shake your long sexy tresses and keep yourself new and vibrant.

With permission from a nameless source a true story… a long haired nightmare.  In a consultation in another salon before Ouidad, my client was advised to wear a style more to the appropriateness of her age – shorter was the initial suggestion with other disparaging descriptions. What woman could endure such onslaughts?  Were these stylists out of their minds?    Where was the personal service, awareness, and sensitivity in communication with women? There are ways to contribute, suggest or present ideas and designs without being blunt and unintelligent. There are compassionate and thoughtful ways to serve. Let your hair be beautifully free, for you, along with your dreams.

Vincent, Stylist, 57th Street Salon, NYC

Can I discuss an essential curly subject that always comes up?  Cleansing curly and wavy hair. As an expert stylist specifically for curly and wavy hair, I will give you my professional advice.   You must cleanse your curly hair. The nature of a curl in its design creates a drying effect and also will hold and attract debris and unwanted smells. Merely rinsing will not remove the soil, pollution, product build-up, or odors. Proper cleansing removes these unwanted elements and proper conditioning delivers moisturizing, repairing and essential nutrients for healthy shiny curls.

There are questions as to what cleansing products to use, what’s best? Notice I use the word “cleanse”? Shampoo is often blasted as a “dirty” word in some circles. Yes, not all cleansing products are the same and curls themselves have their own different needs. Shampooing need not be frequent, but it depends on your own hair needs. Oily, fine hair may need more frequent washing – monitor and touch it daily to determine what your hair needs.

Conditioning is a major factor in the maintenance and look of beautiful curls.  Apply conditioner after shampooing, or you can use conditioner only on days without shampoo. You can shampoo and condition or simply rinse and condition.

I am first most loyal to what works for your hair, if your products work, then use them. My curly-wavy haired clients always want “Fast and Easy.” I remind you to look for beautiful too. You make me love what I do.

Vincent, Stylist, 57th Street Salon, NYC