Curly Like Me book review …
As some of you know, I have naturally curly hair. Growing up with afro curly hair in the ’80s was not as easy as it sounds.
Blessed with corkscrew curls and an unruly mane that no comb could tame, I tried every hair product on the limited Australian market to control my curls.
As the ’80s perm became passé, I realised that I was one of only a few waving the naturally curly hair flag.
When my mother tried to straighten her afro hair (perhaps due to colonisation or the result of watching too many episodes of the Bold and the Beautiful) and my friends were ironing their hair with an actual iron (long before GHDs were invented) – I was proudly defiant and wore my hair curly, staying true to my roots and my cultural identity.
But all this came at a price and I’m not just talking about the cost of hair products.
I resigned myself that I would never have hair a guy could run his hands through without getting tangled halfway (never a good look). I could never throw my hair sexily over my shoulders ala Farah Fawcett without getting whiplash.
My hair would always remain stationary in the wind and alas, I was not destined to have a starring role on an iconic show like Neighbours.
But enough about me and my curly hair woes … help is at hand in the form of a new curly hair bible called Curly Like Me: How to Grow Your Hair Healthy, Long, and Strong by Terri LaFlesh, a good friend of mine. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy to review for the blog.
After reading the book in one sitting, what strikes me about the book is that despite what cosmetic companies, hairdressers and popular culture would like us to think, looking after curly hair is relatively easy and the less you do with it, the more likely you are to have beautiful curls.
Teri is very likeable and easy to relate to as she writes about her personal struggles with her hair which any person with curly hair can relate to. The book has a lot of before and after pictures, describes the proper care for curls, recommends the best products, tools, and ingredients for curls and has great curly hairstyles that you can try.
The official release date is 17 May 2010 but thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can preorder the book. The best place to prereorder your book is at the Book Depository with free shipping to Australia. Other stockists include:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Borders
- Indie Bound
- Wiley
- Coming soon: Books-A-Million
I would definitely recommend buying this book especially if you are flirting with the idea of wearing your hair naturally curly or have a young child with curly hair. It’s about time us girls with curls embraced our natural hair. Remember curly hair is more than a hairstyle, it’s an attitude and a way of life.
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Hey Gillian
Love your article about the curly hair symdrome. Keep up your great articles as they always put a smile on my face.
Hey Gillian
Great article but can you recommend a reasonably priced product range for the early teen market to control those curls. I too spend a fortune on my daughters out of control mop and sometimes hairdressers can see me coming and I end up purhcasing very expensive products that do very little. Look forward to your advice.
Thanks for your comments Nicole & Tamara. In regards to your question Tamara, Teri recommends products in chapter eleven of her book- ‘Your Toolbox – The Best Products and Tools for Your Hair’. One of the recommended conditioners is TRESemme which I use as well. Another great conditioner that has been recommended by others is 5 Stars which you find at Aldi. I prefer TRESemme but it all depends on your daughter’s hair.
I don’t use actually use shampoo. Most girls with curls are better off to only condition their hair. If your daughter does use a lot of product and needs to shampoo her hair, then its best to use it on the root of her hair only. In lieu of products, you can also leave conditioner in her hair which is something that I also do. It’s all trial and error and if I can do a blatant product endorsement, you’re better off with a once off purchase of ‘Curly Like Me’ which explains this all better than me and it’s less than the cost of a hairdresser’s appointment!
Hehehe – now you’ve got me reading your blog Gillian! I knew you had curly hair – but I always assumed it was a perm 😉
What a cutey you were – say I think I had a dinky (what we used to call those little bikes) just like that one.
Keep posting and if you want anything technical done to your blog let me know.
[…] of curly hair. TRESemme is my favourite conditioner as recommended by Teri La Flesh, author of Curly Like Me and can be picked up at selected supermarkets and chemists for as little as $6 for a very generous […]