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This book changed my life. No really, it did. I know that they say its an old wives tale that pregnancy causes changes in hair texture. But I am living proof that this is no wives tale!
I had wavy hair growing up. Wavy, but soft and "swingy." In fact, I used to get perms back in the 80s when it was "cool." Spiral perms even! Remember those? I used to get them to "even out" my curl since I had curlier hair underneath. Plus I needed that big hair WOW factor. You know, the teased out bangs and the hair-sprayed-out sides. Yes, my hair always performed well.
But then the 90s hit, and straight, stringy hair was the desirable style. So I purchased a straightener and life was livable again.
But then... I got pregnant with twins back in 1999...and life got complicated. My hair started curling in crazy masses of spirals. Then I got pregnant again in 2001. More spirals, more tangles, more frizz. I pulled out and broke off most of my hair just trying to brush through it!
Simple fix, you say? Straightening iron, you say? Yeah, it lasted about 4 hours...even with the highly acclaimed "products" that were recommended by my stylist. And, it resulted in more damage than I ever had...even with the perms of my youth.
Speaking of "stylists," I had stylists "thinning" my hair, and layering my hair as if it were straight, and I'd go home to more of a frizzy mess than ever!
Then, I met this book. Curly Girl: The Handbook by Lorraine Massey, and my life changed.
I came across it at the library, just by chance, as I was glancing through the "New Books" section and the word "Curly" caught my eye. So I pulled it off the shelf, and because I wanted my hair to look like the girl on the front, I checked it out with plans to take it to my stylist saying, "I want this style."
But instead, I read it cover to cover that afternoon...and watched the video about three times.
And the lights went on, and a choir started singing...(not really.)
And I went to the shower and did what she said. I washed my hair with conditioner, rinsed it, and then doused my hair with conditioner again combing it through with my fingers, and DIDN'T RINSE! And a hairbrush has not touched my hair since that day. I followed the book to the letter.
Never in my life have I gotten so many compliments No really, I have...almost every day...especially on the days that I wash it. (Sorry, not trying to blow my own horn here, just trying to convey the dramatic change.)
The routines recommended by Ms. Massey are unprecedented and some would say even strange, but it has changed my life. Now I look like the girl on the cover...only heavier...and with longer hair. I guess now I have to work on the "heavier" part. (Shoot! I guess it didn't take THAT away.)
