perceptions of curly hair....

[beatrixpotterspencil]

I was a child in the 80's with curly white hair, I hated it, everyone else loved it. I was singled out because of it and always told it was special, enviable, etc. I never liked it myself and thought people were mad!
Hair stylists encouraged me never to colour or straighten it as people would pay a fortune for what I had naturally.

This lasted up until my mid twenties, so into the 2000's. And then suddenly the compliments vanished and people even occasionally told me they had sympathy for me having to suffer curly hair!
Hair stylists in the past 10 years have even said my hair is 'problem' hair.
Such a turnaround!
This went hand in hand with straighteners and ghd's exploding on the market.

So I guess I lived through a fashion change, a massive alteration to the perception of curly hair. I have always semi straightened mine and never liked the curls from being a little kid, so none of the fads really affected how I wore it, but I did notice how deeply and suddenly the rejection of curls came about.

So, all the way to the present day, I still see people trying to avoid wearing their curls. It is often seen as 'unprofessional' or untidy, and people say they don't feel groomed or well put together with their curls.

Strangely, nobody said that back in the 80's or 90's.

do you believe fashion dictates this, and our perceptions of what is well groomed?
Will curls have their day again, and flat straight hair become the 'ungroomed' look?
Having lived through these changes of perception and noticed how others react to my hair, it is quite interesting.

I take the middle ground, I prefer it wavy, haha!

I also have naturally curly hair (as did my dad and as fo my 2 brothers).. it’s usually bern about ear length, I can’t sayI’ve ever liked it, despite all the “ooh, lovely curls” compliments over the years. When I was 18, DM (poker straight hair) said to me, “the problem with you is that you just never look tidy”. Not exactly confidence inspiring words to a retiring 18 year old. I’ve never embraced straightening. As pp have said, even when my hairdresser does it, it only lasts an hour or two.

I have often wondered though if my curly hair and size 9 feet have influenced my lack of interest in fashion though.

“ My Instagram is full of adverts for curly hair products to make most of curls. I am sure it is back in fashion”

Totally agree. Curls are everywhere.

I have noticed a lot more people out and about with curls and waves in the past 6 months. I wonder if lockdown made some think 'sod it' too.

it would be nice if all hair types were perceived as ideal. there's certainly a bit more variety at the moment.

Another curly here! I love my curls, they are a huge part of who I am. I've never considered that they make me look scruffy or unprofessional. It would be nice to meet a hairdresser who didn't come at me with a hairbrush or straighteners though no I don't want it blowdried straight you cheeky sausage!

Yes, curls do seem to have become unfashionable and I think it's quite sad. As you say, OP, this has only happened since the introduction of straighteners. I think naturally wavy or curly hair, especially if it is well cared for, is so beautiful. Far nicer than obviously straightened, heat damaged hair. That 'Morticia Adams' look isn't for everyone, is it. I really hope that curls and waves will become a common sight again.

My hair is straight and very flat. I spend much of many time, and loads of money on products, trying to give it volume, bounce and waves. I don't buy into the curly hair can't be shiny myth. Mine certainly shines; wavy, curly or straight.

I’ve got curly/wavy hair in the most part I like it. However some days it looks lovely, and the next it looks shit. Despite doing exactly the same thing with it.

I'm 40. I've always hated my curls. But I grew up with my mum (who is also curly but denies it) trying to get me to blow dry it straight. I also went straight in the noughties when decent straighteners came in. I'm mostly curly now but do straighten it when I can be bothered.

I do remember kids at high school getting (hideous) perms but I also remember one friend who walked around with a carrier bag on their head because getting their blow dry wet was a disaster.

Apparently perms and crimpers were big in 80s according to one of my colleagues who had a perm in the 80s

“. It would be nice to meet a hairdresser who didn't come at me with a hairbrush or straighteners though hmm no I don't want it blowdried straight you cheeky sausage!”

Well, on the flip side, hairdressers tend to use a curling iron on my (straight) hair. I think often they just think we might like what we can’t easily achieve ourselves, so they try to give us something a little different to our own hair texture.

@beatrixpotterspencil

I have noticed a lot more people out and about with curls and waves in the past 6 months. I wonder if lockdown made some think 'sod it' too.

it would be nice if all hair types were perceived as ideal. there's certainly a bit more variety at the moment.

I’ve noticed how a lot of my friends have become curly, and how actually, there are not as many natural blondes as I thought!

Curls and waves are on their way back. I think a lot of people are tiring of the poker straight look.

I've got curly red hair - it's taken until my 40s for me to like it (I'm 48 🤣) It's just never been 'right' for whatever look was 'in' - like the 'Rachel' in the 80s, or the sleek and straight look, or the gentle waves. I've always disliked looking different I suppose, but am embracing it now, especially as most women my age spend a lot covering their grey, and I've not got any yet. And it stayed the same all through lockdown. However, it never, ever looks tidy and groomed. It looks lovely, don't get me wrong, but not professional/polished. So even dressed up I don't feel I look quite right. I tried straightening it and it just doesn't suit me. Spent a small fortune having it blow dried and straightened for an event. Left the hairdressers on a red hot day, and within minutes I was all sweaty and the curls boinged back. But for those few minutes I felt very elegant and grown up!

Even when I wasn't wearing my hair wavy, I thought it looked odd straightened. There was always one bit that curled back up regardless, though. Annoyingly, it's turned out to be the least wavy part of my hair.

Mine's pretty curly, usually ok at the hairdressers but I have to get it dried straight every time (which I don't mind occasionally for a change) as they don't have a clue how to dry it curly, it ends up kind of straight but hugely frizzy, crunchy and hopelessly tangled - hat on and home for a hairwash territory. Never use any heat on it at home and it usually looks ok, although never neat!

@Thingsarel00kingup - my dad had red curls. He was hugely proud of them. My nephew inherited both the red and the cults; his mum:my SiL is a primary school teacher and was concerned that he might be teased about them so she told him how wonderful they were so much when he was tiny, that he would not let her cut them. She used to have to do it when he was asleep.

My mother is convinced that the reason my job is at risk of redundancy is because I wear my hair naturally curly. Nothing to do with covid or Brexit or the fact that the entire industry is in ruins. Nope all will be fine if I straighten my hair every day.

One of the CG's on insta (curly cailin) posts some really interesting stuff on how curly hair has been perceived in film and TV over the years. The more successful women have poker straight hair and curlies are perceives as disorganised, ditsy, lazy or stupid.

(I realise I'm on MN so ........ disclaimer disclaimer disclaimer ....... not in all cases but in many )

Try having afro textured hair. Its seen as 'ugly' in many parts of the world.

i have coarse textured loose wave random ringlets hair and dense growth over my scalp. my hair grows out in all directions and sits very high off my scalp without styling or products.

i dont think curly hair has ever been out of fashion but the type of "fashion" curls changes.

Natural curls managed well are beautiful but it takes effort and time. id say it takes more effort than straighter hair.

I prefer my hair straight. its suits my face shape better and the coarse texture of my hair to be blow dried straight and then straightened with ceramics.

I hate the suggestions or actual comments that curly hair is "crazy, difficult or wild", "puffed up" or "bouffant" etc. Its really offensive. I got bullied a lot about my hair as a child and teenager.

I don't think straight hair gets as much flack even though "lank" etc could be used.

if you are blessed with "nice" natural curls, then lucky for you.

to answer the question of perceptions of curly hair? Personally, my hair looks sleeker straightened and i feel i look more polished. If i wear my hair curly, like another said, i feel i have up my make up and outfits.

on others with curly hair? Depends on the curls and what they have done to style them. My default thought is certainly not that curly hair looks unprofessional or scruffy.

I have curls and a total love/hate relationship with them. I am also an 80s child, OP, and have seen exactly the same turnaround in opinions on curls. When they're cut well (which they're currently not) I think they look nice... But they're a bloody nightmare if, say, the wind blows a bit hard. Literally, if the wind blows in the work car park, my hair is fucked for the whole day before I've even entered the building.
The other thing I hate is the fact they will ONLY curl (as opposed to frizz) if left to air dry. This means washing every single morning without fail and also getting into work with wet hair, which makes me feel unprofessional and disorganised. Don't know what the answer is but I have a cut at a fancy curl place this week so fingers crossed..

@mamapearl indeed, afro hair is a massive political issue for women. Us European curlies don't have it half as bad but I do think the associations are based on "rebellious" Celts/"fiery" (urgh) Mediterranean people.

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy your curls are lovely! They're a lot looser than mine but I find similar re air drying. What works for me is: day 1 - wash, condition, rinse, oil, defining product, quick blast with dryer so not bone dry but will be fairly dry by the time I'm at work, bit more defining product, John Frieda finishing spray in my bag for when I get to work and it's dry. Day two: spritz with water mixed with leave in conditioner, just enough to surface dampen, tease through with afro comb for knots but not properly comb, defining product, leave to dry, touch up with finishing spray at work. Day three: as day two. Day four: depending on how it looks, either day one or day two. I sleep with my hair in loose plaits ready for morning prior to day two days.

My eldest son has amazing curls, and he prefers to wear it long. He's just 17, so no need to worry about how he is seen professionally. He's let it grow very long during lockdown, and it suits him, adds a bit of 'cool' to his nerdy image

I wonder if there is a difference in perception of long or shorter curly hair? When mine was long, men seemed to like it. Shoulder length and above - NOPE.

Thanks @TheKarenWhoKnocks

These are both me. Depending on what product I use it and how much I scrunch it, it goes either wavy or ringlety. I always air dry.
I’m guessing im a 2a.
I have to wash mine every morning, it looks shit after I’ve slept on it.