Many curlies quit their natural hair journey due to it becoming overwhelming. Some girls have cited that straightening their curls is quicker and easier than wearing them natural. If straightening your curls is quicker and easier, then you are DEFINITELY doing something wrong in your routine. Wearing your hair natural should be much more convenient than straightening it. After all, your natural hair is simply YOU, whereas straightening it requires active change to your appearance.
Think of curls like makeup
Some girls love doing their makeup and will spend hours perfecting their craft. Other girls prefer a quick 5 minute makeup look and are happy to be quick about it. Both are great! There is no superior outlook. If you enjoy makeup, then spend your time on it! If you think of it as simply another step to your morning routine, then keep it quick and simple.
The same applies for curls. Being born with curly hair does not mean you need to have a passion for hair styling.
Let’s break down misconceptions in the curl community that could be leading you to feel as though straightening would be quicker and easier (spoiler alert: it’s not).
Curl Put-Off #1: TikTok routines
The internet is not reality. Many curl routines you see on TikTok and Instagram are for views; not for practicality. Read that again: views over practicality. With thousands of curl routines online, content creators need to create videos that stand out. A simple curl cream raking in and finished off with some gel just won’t cut it. Curl routines online are pieces of media that are manufactured to create interest and engagement. They are not realistic.
There is nothing wrong with fun, yet unrealistic, curl routines on social media. They can be very enjoyable to watch! The problem is if you think this is real or normal, you are very mistaken. The average girl does not have the time or desire to spend an hour to style their curls – and that’s okay.
Social media often drags out the curl routine for a funner, more enjoyable video. You do not need any more than 2 steps to achieve great curls. All you need is a curl cream and a gel. Forget finger coiling, brush styling and a million curl products.
Curl Put-Off #2: A million products
We briefly touched on this above. You don’t need anything more than 2 styling products to have popping, lasting curls. All you really need is a curl cream to moisturise and a gel to lock in. It’s that simple. Now, if you enjoy curl products and find styling fun – go crazy with the foams, sprays, jellies, custards, etc! But if you don’t find styling fun, don’t burden yourself with lots of different steps.
Curl Put-Off #3: A million methods
Rake & scrunch. That’s all you need. Rake in your cream (gently), scrunch in your gel. It does not need to be more complex than that. Once gain, if you have a passion for curl styling; then have fun with twists, finger coils, brush styling, etc. If you don’t enjoy styling, then keep it simple.
Taking complexity out
Curls don’t have to be complex. The media often times make being born with curls seem like you’re committed to a lifetime of custards, jellies, finger coils, twists and the list goes on.
Wearing your hair natural should always be easier (unless you enjoy complex routines) than straightening it. Straightening is literally changing your natural feature into something else. It makes no sense for straightening to be quicker and easier!
Don’t allow yourself to suffer curl burnout. If you are feeling burnout, it simply means you have an overly complication routine. End the burnout by taking complexity out of your routine and remembering that what we see on social media is not reality.
