Curly hair is something that looks great, on other people – but is it so great to have for yourself? Those of us with straight hair often covet those big, curly and healthy looking locks. What we don’t realize is that the girls we envy so much face struggles of their own. Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of having hair that is naturally curly.
Pro AND Con: You’ll Get Lots of Attention
Curly hair is certainly an attention-getter. When you’re looking good, your curly hair will make you look even better. However, when you’ve just gotten out of bed, or you’ve just finished a workout and your hair is frizzy and flyaway, it will STILL get you lots of attention. You can’t hide in a corner when you look less than perfect or want some peace and quiet.
Pro: Just Wash and Go
While girls with straight hair will have to keep spending time using curling tongs or irons, you can just wash your hair, towel dry it, then use a wide-toothed comb to loosen it up a bit, and you’re good to go. You can get some super-cute looks in just a few minutes, no stress, hassle, or sitting in a hairdresser’s all day required.
Con: Curly Hair is High Maintenance
While you don’t need to spend a lot of time on your hair, you will need some styling products to condition it, stop the frizz, and keep it looking healthy – and you’ll probably find that you spend more on those products than girls with more “boring” hair. 😉
Pro: Several Looks in One
It’s easy to come up with super-cute looks for your hair when you’re blessed with healthy, curly locks. From elegant up-dos to dreads, simple tie backs, or cute looks with a headband and a beanie, you can convert your hairdo into something appropriate for any occasion pretty easily. A comb, beanie, and a spray bottle of water will cover almost all of your needs.
Con: Too Many Choices
Unfortunately, that versatility often leads to the paradox of choice – you have so many options for what to do with your hair that you decide to do nothing, put it in a bun, and forget about it. This curse isn’t just one that applies to girls with curly hair, though. Many girls who have straight long hair end up doing the same thing. It’s too much work to take care of it, so they’ll just put it in a plait or a ponytail every day, wasting the potential.
Pro: It Looks Great in The Summer
During the summer, curly hair looks great – you can show it off at the beach or by the pool, and when your straight-haired friends are feeling bored and looking soggy, you’ll look fresh and vibrant.
Con: It Gets Lots of Questions
For some reason, a lot of people think that they have ownership over other people’s appearances and that it’s OK to make comments about your hair. They’ll tell you how lucky you are, they’ll ask you how long it takes to take care of it – or they’ll ask you if you’ve ever thought of straightening it and give you tips on how much better you would look.
To be fair, this isn’t unique to curly hair. Girls with dark skin get comments about that, as do those with fair skin, blondes and those with ginger hair. Very tall people get comments, as do very short people. If you’re ‘average’, spare a thought for those who have some form of genetic difference.
You may think you’re being helpful or that you’re very witty, but the chances are that the person you’re talking to has heard all those comments before. They can’t grow taller, get shorter, or change their hair or skin tone, so let them enjoy it.
Pro: It’s What Makes You, You
Having curly hair is a part of your identity. When you learn to embrace it and work with it, you’ll find that it can be a lot of fun, and the benefits do outweigh the downsides. It’s something that you can show off and have fun with, and it’s a part of what makes you special – just like how having straight hair that is a little easier to work with makes other people special. Any color, any style, it’s all awesome if the person rocking it knows how to have fun.
So, stop worrying about your hair, skin, or body. Just enjoy being you and take this chance to have some fun – cosplay your favorite characters, get dolled up for a big night out, or just wash your hair and chill out at home. It’s your hair and you can do whatever you like with it.
My hair is naturally wavy so I semi understand the curly hair struggle! I try to embrace it wavy when it’s hot and humid!
What percentage of people have varying degrees of curliness in their hair?
That would be really interesting to know!
I’ll check if there are any surveys or studies done into this