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To not know how to treat sudden corkscrew curls

62 replies

Celeste123 · 05/09/2025 07:08

DS is 13.
He spent his whole life with blonde, straight, floppy hair.
Since he turned 13 it has dramatically changed in to completely different hair.
It is now dark with tight, coarse corkscrew curls right across his hairline ftom ear to ear, then curly from the crown down the back of his head, but this area has turned regular curly and is not tight corkscrew curls like the ones going from his forehead to his crown.
The curly hair from crown to back of neck is easier to handle.
But the tight corkscrew coarse curls across the front of his head are a nightmare. They grow upwards into the air! Then it gets to his crown, and the curly hair at back of his head grow downwards.
It's a mess and I don't know what to do with it.
He hates the way the corkscrew curls look "puffy" as he says.
I feel for him, as it's happened right at a stage in his life when he suddenly cares about his appearance.
He 100% does not want it shaved off, or cut short against his scalp.
It's more that we need to learn how to manage it.
He keeps grabbing DD's paddle brush (she has poker straight long hair) and brushing his hair down flat in a desperate attempt to flatten in, but that turns it in to a ball of frizz.
I'm struggling to know how to help because I've spent 12 years of his life with him having straight, floppy hair!
To give you an idea of his character, he's completely chilled out, laid back, cool as a cucumber, gentle, funny, kind, sensitive and super smiley and happy. I need to get his hair right to reflect his character.
Are there any tight curl hair experts out there who could advise me??
And does anyone know why someone's hair can totally transform in adolescence?!
And why is it 2 different types of curls - tight corkscrew at the front and curly waves at the back?
I'm finding all our shampoos are turning it in to a ball of fluff.
I bought John Frieda 'straight' shampoo & conditioner thinking it might relax or soften the corkscrew curls a bit, but it hasn't touched them.

OP posts:
Bikergran · 05/09/2025 08:13

Celeste123 · 05/09/2025 07:13

Yes we went to 2 different barbers for help - they both advised grade 1 clippers all over. DS resolutely refused.

Go to an Afro-Caribbean hairdressers and ask their advice, they deal with all grades of curl, and probably your best option.

itsgettingweird · 05/09/2025 07:51

Definitely hormones.

I had white blonde dead straight hair until I fell pregnant.

It turned brown and curly!!!

My dad has curly hair so I guess I was genetically predisposed to it? Although since chemo his hair grew back straight!!!

I agree with going to a Barber - look for one who specialises in curly hair.

Also look for shampoos etc that are specifically for his type of curl. There are some expensive ones on the market but I use Cansu and the Aussie curls leave in conditioner.

Took me a while but I learned to embrace it in the end!

CreteBound · 05/09/2025 07:41

Curly not city

CreteBound · 05/09/2025 07:41

Sympathy OP. Dd 11 currently has half straight, half city hair! Hers was caused by an episode of hair pulling though, the traumatized hairs grew back curly!

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 05/09/2025 07:20

Look at curly men’s styles together.

What about keeping the wavy hair short, and keeping the curls on top? That will help it look tidier.

Never brush- detangle while wet. There are loads of wavy hair groups for advice. Generally gentler shampoo with an occasional clarifying wash to remove product.

Squirrelblanket · 05/09/2025 07:17

There's a curly hair UK forum on Reddit which is really useful, you can post a photo of his hair and people will advise, or if you say where you are in the country they can recommend a good hairdresser near you.

GreenGodiva · 05/09/2025 07:16

Don’t go to a male barbers for this, they tend to do 3 styles and that’s it. You need to find a hairdresser that specialises in curly/Afro hair. Figure out the topper of hair he has and they will tell you how to treat it. You will probably be better off engraving the curly girl method of hair care to maximise the curls at the back so they better match the corkscrews at the front. But you defo need specialists to get you started.

FiveCustardTarts · 05/09/2025 07:16

I’d think that a unisex hairdresser would be more helpful style and product wise?

You can buy a couple of travel size curly products to try in boots?

Squirrelblanket · 05/09/2025 07:15

He needs a good haircut, from someone who knows how to cut curly hair so that it lays nicely. Then he needs the right products, I use mousse in my curly hair but gel will do either. Apply while his hair is wet and then either rake through with his fingers or use a brush (a Denman is a good choice) and leave to dry. If it leaves a cast, you can scrunch this out once the hair is dry.

NEVER brush curly hair when it's dry. As he's discovered, this will create frizz!

Celeste123 · 05/09/2025 07:13

party4you · 05/09/2025 07:10

Being him to a barbers and ask for their help? A lot of teens are getting perms for the curly look so they’ll definitely be able to make it stylish.

Yes we went to 2 different barbers for help - they both advised grade 1 clippers all over. DS resolutely refused.

OP posts:
GeniuneWorkOfFart · 05/09/2025 07:13

Hormones. It's a thing, my hair went from straight to a ball of frizz (because I didn't know how to look after the curls) at puberty too and I've heard of women who's hair has gone curly at menopause.

He needs to use curl products, and to only ever brush it when it's dripping wet. Use gel on wet hair then leave to dry and scrunch out the crunch - that should make it much more manageable.

Take him to a place that can do a proper curly cut, if you can afford it. They'll show him how to style it in a way that works.

party4you · 05/09/2025 07:10

Being him to a barbers and ask for their help? A lot of teens are getting perms for the curly look so they’ll definitely be able to make it stylish.