Nicole Kidman

[Lwaxana]

All this talk about curly hair and I have a question!

I have limp waves most of the time in Arizona, but when I spent the summer in Georgia a few years ago my hair looked amazing! I didn't do anything different than my normal wash and air dry, but my waves became curls that were tight and springy. Why? (I'm guessing humidity and moisture but still why?!) And how can I recreate that?

[dragonflie]

You sound like me onthepotty. I could recreate the waves I get in Hawaii if I make sure to wash hair VERY gently, scrunch after coming out of the shower and while washing. Dry in a soft t-shirt... then put in some gel while it was still damp, scrunching again. Also using a hair diffuser sometimes helped. For me it takes a LOT of work. The curls come out looking like true bouncy spiral curls... but it is most definitely not wash and go for me. It's also just not worth all of the work - because it still tends to flatten out after 1-2 days. eta: there's a lot of good advice in "curly girl method" topics online. Be warned though- a lot of them go product heavy.

If I lived in a humid climate I would embrace my curls and be so happy. Alas, limp waves are all I get throughout the day in most cases. I did read that over time if you don't foster and care for your curls, including working to keep them spirally/bouncy, the hair will lose its shape and over time curls get more and more limp.

[Auroranorth]

I live in a humid climate and keep my curls in a braid 99% of the time. I let my hair airdry a few months back and it actually looked really pretty, but I'd never be able to leave the house that way because it would be in my face all the time and I'd go up the wall in frustration.

[Lwaxana]

Thank you guys!

I have been using shampoo without the silicon or whatever, and it has cut down on the frizz but makes my hair straighter so that's something I guess.

[laurenj]

Oct 4, 2021 20:17:00 GMT -4 dragonflie said:

You sound like me onthepotty. I could recreate the waves I get in Hawaii if I make sure to wash hair VERY gently, scrunch after coming out of the shower and while washing. Dry in a soft t-shirt... then put in some gel while it was still damp, scrunching again. Also using a hair diffuser sometimes helped. For me it takes a LOT of work. The curls come out looking like true bouncy spiral curls... but it is most definitely not wash and go for me. It's also just not worth all of the work - because it still tends to flatten out after 1-2 days. eta: there's a lot of good advice in "curly girl method" topics online. Be warned though- a lot of them go product heavy.

I'm so curious how you guys are getting even 1-2 days of actual curls. My biggest gripe with curly hair is how you can't just run a brush through it in the morning and go. I wake up looking like Sideshow Bob if my hair is even a little damp when I go to bed and in the rare cases that I can actually reuse yesterday's hair, it's definitely not going to carry over an additional day.

Getting shiny-ish curls is pretty effortless, especially working from home where I just wash and air dry, but it's definitely not a multi-day hairstyle.

[groovethang]

Oct 5, 2021 9:24:40 GMT -4 laurenj said:

Oct 4, 2021 20:17:00 GMT -4 dragonflie said:

You sound like me onthepotty. I could recreate the waves I get in Hawaii if I make sure to wash hair VERY gently, scrunch after coming out of the shower and while washing. Dry in a soft t-shirt... then put in some gel while it was still damp, scrunching again. Also using a hair diffuser sometimes helped. For me it takes a LOT of work. The curls come out looking like true bouncy spiral curls... but it is most definitely not wash and go for me. It's also just not worth all of the work - because it still tends to flatten out after 1-2 days. eta: there's a lot of good advice in "curly girl method" topics online. Be warned though- a lot of them go product heavy.

I'm so curious how you guys are getting even 1-2 days of actual curls. My biggest gripe with curly hair is how you can't just run a brush through it in the morning and go. I wake up looking like Sideshow Bob if my hair is even a little damp when I go to bed and in the rare cases that I can actually reuse yesterday's hair, it's definitely not going to carry over an additional day.

Getting shiny-ish curls is pretty effortless, especially working from home where I just wash and air dry, but it's definitely not a multi-day hairstyle.

I once posted this question on my FB and had so many people pop in with advice. One was that a silk pillowcase is a must. And to either put my curly hair up with a silk scrunchie or wrap it in a silk head wrap while sleeping.

[Millis]

I think I now understand why actresses straighten their curls! Especially Nicole and Kerri Russell, I feel like they are both generally casual and athletic when they are not working, so they probably saw straightening as an easier alternative.

[tabby]

Suddenly, having stick-straight hair that won't even hold a perm is not sounding all that bad.

Um, topic - I think Nicole's hair looks nicer red than blonde.

[dragonflie]

Oct 5, 2021 9:24:40 GMT -4 laurenj said:

I'm so curious how you guys are getting even 1-2 days of actual curls.

For me it all comes down to the gel/hold I have the 1st day. If I can get a really good scrunch and hold on day 1, and the gel creates a good enough cast, it will hold the next day too. I use a satin pillow, and I keep it up while I sleep. In the morning if it's looking a bit blah I would also spritz it really lightly with water then scrunch again.

All of that is also evidence as to why I RARELY do it. I keep my hair limply curled ;p or if I want to look more professional I straighten it... not because I think curls are less professional- because I have to plan days in advance if I want to have nice curls. I'm not kidding when I say it's an 8 hour process, for me.

My impression is Nicole isn't of the same hair type as me... but it does speak to the work it might take, and reasonings behind people straightening their hair vs keeping it "natural".

[batmom]

When my hair was long, I'd wear down on day one and then up on day 2, unless the night was kind, in which case I'd crunch with a damp cloth. Short I almost always have to start over, but since styling takes less than a minute I don't mind. I have coarse curly hair and the best tip my hairdresser ever gave me was to mix in a bit of conditioner with my gel/styler so that it had hold without the crunch (and the weight, which my hair needs.) I still do it now that it's short.