My Curly Hair Journey: The Beginning

I grew up in dry climate where my hair always appeared straight, but scraggly, and I struggled with keeping my hair smooth while making it appear not as thin as it actually is (I was also a swimmer, so there's history of damage, too). There may have been little hints here and there that should have told me that I have curly hair (like how it would hold pin curls for days after taking them out, or my hair would puff-up with the humidity of summer), but my hair didn't have any visible curl to it other than the ends, so I never thought much of it.

It wasn't until I took my first vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida (where I brought my straightener along with me) that I started to realise there was something more to my hair. The first day that I was there, I did my hair and then never bothered to do it again. It just did whatever it wanted to, so I didn't see the point, but when I got home it went back to the same old flat hair with a bit of curl at the ends (or more when it was really short).

My trip to Hawaii for my 30th birthday made me a little more suspicious, but, again, I was in a humid climate (with access to salt water) and as soon as I got on the plane it fell flat and "back to normal". Last year I went to a stylist that specializes in cuts for curly hair, thinking that might help, and she was able to get the top layers of my hair to create a wave, but I could never replicate it at home, except for a day (but by the end of the day it had all settled back to normal).

Then, I had a breakthrough moment. About two months ago, when my old shampoo ran out, I decided to try to find some shampoo and conditioner for curly/wavy hair, and that's when I went down the rabbit hole of blogs and websites that told me about the Curly Girl Method. After a little bit of research, I purchased a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and a cream. The results surprised me, and I thought to myself "perhaps I really do have curly hair". So I dove in deeper, and, after a clarifying wash with a deep moisturizing treatment, I started my journey.

It has been rough, but I have made it through the first month. Curly hair is a lot more work than I expected. Trying to figure out the products and concoctions that my hair needs has taken a lot of research, and figuring out what combination work best can be frustrating. Even my husband noticed that my hair days take a lot longer than they used to (legit it was just wash and go). But I am so happy with the results so far, and get really excited when I see a super tight spiral curl, having thought that my hair was only wavy. I know that this is only the beginning (and I really need a trim), so I am eager to see how my hair evolves!

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My Curly Hair Journey: One Year Reflection

It's been a year since I began my curly hair journey, and I can't believe we have already reached that point. It's been six months since I last gave an update, and I have learned a lot more about my hair since then. 

After realising that I have a sensitivity to coconut, I also learned that I have a sensitivity to aloe vera. Both are in pretty much every single product for curly hair that you encounter on the market, so it was a serious struggle to find products that would provide me with what I need.

I also started to scale back significantly and, other than the odd clarifying wash with apple cider vinegar, I would only wash with a conditioner, condition my hair, and then use a foam to hold in some of the moisture, until my hair had settled a bit more into the curly hair routine. 

I eventually added in a scalp massager to help get a deep scrub while cleaning my hair with the conditioner, and it has been a game changer because it can scrub my hair in the shower better than my fingertips ever could.

While I have stopped brushing my hair altogether, and don't even use the brush to do curl training anymore, I did start plopping after every wash day, and found that the extra time for soaking in the moisture and products has helped my hair immensely. I miss the feeling of the brush on my scalp sometimes, but I enjoy letting my hair figure out it's own way of doing things.

What I loved about the curls you see in the photo above, and why I took the photo, was that they were my second day curls at the end of a long day at work. Compared to other days, I was so excited that they still had volume, and shape. This was the first time that they hadn't fallen flat by the end of the day, and that really felt like progress.

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My Curly Hair Journey: Six Months In

How it started... 

Back in July 2020, I shared the beginning of my curly hair journey with you, and I want to give you an update of how it's going. I was so excited to see the changes in my hair already at the beginning of my journey, but there have been a lot of ups and downs, and incredibly frustrating moments throughout the last six months. There have also been a lot of changes and hope. 

Once the hairdresser was able to open again, I went in for a trim, and it made a world of difference getting rid of nearly two years of split ends, but then I started to struggle again as my hair became really dry and started falling out. It wasn't severe, but every time I would run my hand along my hair, there would be a large quantity of strands that would come out at the ends. That's when I started to realise that my hair may have a sensitivity to coconut.

The struggles continued as I searched every where for products that do not contain coconut or coconut derivatives (which is not easy to find in drug store brands...or even online). Once my hair calmed down from the coconut, it seemed to be doing better, except that I couldn't figure out how to make my curls look less scraggly, tangled and frizzy. 

That's when I started doing more research. The curly haired people on Instagram have been a godsend, and I have learned so much from them. Once I found people that have similar hair to mine, I started to experiment with different techniques, and how to use the products I have. One thing that I learned that has really helped me is that it doesn't matter what products you use, it's how you utilize them.

The photo below is from my last wash day, and I couldn't be happier with the results. It's days like this that give me the most hope...that and looking back at past days when I took photos where I thought my hair looked amazing. It really does help to document the good hair days so that you can see the changes, and progress, that have been made. 

I knew going into this that it would be a lifelong journey. The people that I have found to learn from have been working with their curls for 2-3 years already, and I am only at six months. I know that there is so much more to learn, and so many more changes that will happen along the way!

How it's going!

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Healthy Body: The Beginning Of My Korean Skincare Routine

My skincare journey has been a difficult one. In university I used a physical exfoliator that didn't just cause small tears in the delicate skin on my face, but caused so much damage that I needed to apply a medical ointment every day until it had healed (it was a huge red patch on my cheek). After that, I didn't trust exfoliators anymore.

Me with acne (and makeup) while using face oil

 & me after one month of following Korean skincare routine (no makeup)

A few years later I noticed that the toner I was using was really drying out my skin, so I gave up on toners because, at that time, they all had alcohol in them. Then, after giving birth to my son, I started using a face oil that made me get tiny pimples all over my face. So I started simply washing my face with water and applying a moisturizer with sunscreen during the day, and a night time moisturizer before going to bed. That was it. 

Despite all of this, I have never been truly unhappy with my skin. I just realised that I had to give up on this idea of using a million products to keep my skin nice because there were no products designed for the sensitivity of my face.

When I started doing the work to care for my curly hair, I started hearing about Korean skincare and it got me wondering if it would be something that I could do. My skin was happy with just water and moisturizer, but if I could do something more to help ease it into the later stages of life, I was not resistant to it. Now I see that what I am doing for my skin is the same thing that I am doing for my hair; providing moisture to help it to be wonderful in its most natural state.

I watched the above video and began my journey following Korean skincare just over a year ago. I found Angel's Youtube Channel after looking for information on Korean skincare and sensitive skin, and she provided a lot of information about which products she uses, but also that she doesn't do all of the steps every day (or even in the morning). She helped me to understand how I could make a routine for my skin.
I also did a lot of research about the history of Korean skincare (I can't find the original site I used, but this one has some good info) because I didn't want to just jump into something that I didn't understand. Byrdie had a lot of useful information when I first started, and continues to be a very helpful resource, as does Instagram. I made sure to learn about why each step is important, and how the application of each product can make a difference, too.
I started slowly with a moisturizer and night cream, and added more products as I found them. Because of my sensitive skin, and a personal choice to try my best to purchase ethical products, it took me a little while to find what I needed -- the most difficult to find was the essence as it is not a common product to find on shelves in Canada. Since then, I have changed some of the products that I use, incorporating more from Korea that I found in an online store called Chuusi for people that live in Canada, but continuing to use my favourites (which I'll share later).
One year in and I am very happy with how my skin looks and feels. While my skin was not awful, I know that the hydration that I am giving it is helping it a lot. Like with curly hair, taking care of your skin is a long game and I will continue to see the benefits as I move along my journey.
My Korean Skincare Routine: Cleanse & PrepMy Korean Skincare Routine: NourishMy Korean Skincare Routine: Protect

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Curly Hair: My Conditioning Products

I have two products that I use for conditioning: Adwoa Blue Tansy Reparative Conditioner is my go-to at the moment, but I also have Shea Moisture's Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing Conditioner with Sea Kelp & Argan Oil -- though the one I currently have is the leave-in conditioner. 

I like to be able to alternate between the two when I notice that my hair may be a little brittle from too much protein from the Adwoa one, I will use the Shea Moisture one for a little bit. Neither of these products have coconut or aloe vera in them, and I like that they are the source of protein for my hair as none of the other products that I use have any protein in them. 

I have learned that though my hair needs it, I do have to be careful about how much protein it gets, and it has been a difficult balance to figure out. This does get easier over time as you get to know your hair better after being on your curly hair journey for a little while.

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What We Love: Winter 2021

 

One of the things that I am absolutely loving right now is my satin-lined toque that was made by Yetunde of the shop The Obsessed Crocheter. You may have seen the shop name before in the post for Canadian Handmade Christmas Gifts, but I had already owned the toque for a month before. As a newly minted curly living in a cold winter climate, I knew that I would need something more than a regular old toque to keep out the cold. Yetunde lives in Canada (support local!), so she knows how cold it can get, and she understands the importance of protecting the hair from the harshness of wool, and any other materials that toques are made of. You can tell that she takes great care in the work that she does, and I love how she picks out the satin just for you. Check out my Instagram to see the inside, it is gorgeous, and a fun surprise!

Lately, I have been hearing 1st Time from Bakar all over the one radio station that I listen to while driving. It is so smooth and upbeat at the same time and I absolutely love it!

This wooden letter board from the shop Knot Knot Outfitters is simply gorgeous. The natural wood grain and colour, and the simplicity of the lines carved directly into the board are what really draw me in.

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My Curly Hair Journey: 1.5 Years

Y'all!! The amount of growth that my hair has done in the last year is unbelievable. The way my roots have started to curl and lift...beyond exciting!

When I got my hair cut to clean it up back in September 2021, my hairdresser let me know that there had been a lot of new growth and so we decided to cut the ends up to match. It instantly looked thicker, and it, surprisingly, didn't need to be cut very short to meet up with the new ends. 

I have kept up with staying away from coconut and aloe vera, which has proved to be quite difficult, but doable (I'll be sharing my routine and products soon, so stay tuned!). Right now, for the winter months, I have been doing a clarifying wash with apple cider vinegar weekly, and making sure I add a lot of moisture to my hair.

These photos were taken the morning after wash day. I had just sprayed them with water, scrunched them up again, and let them dry. These are the first second day curls that I thought looked better than wash day, and I was so happy to see some of the holes in my hair slowly being filled in on the side of my scalp.

It is no lie when they tell you that it is a long journey when you first start doing the work to care for your hair. My hair has changed so much, my routine has changed so much, and it can be a lot of work sometimes (a lot of the time), but I love the evolution of my hair so much. It's worth it!

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Life Lately: Winter 2021

There have been some beautiful days of glistening snow and frost so far this winter. We have been very fortunate that we have only had a few days of severely cold weather. I am hopeful it continues that way, as it makes the days much nicer when we can go outside to play.

I have been doing more research on curly hair, and the products that I use. I just recently figured out that the shampoo I use still has a coconut derivative in it, so I have cut it out and am waiting to see how it changes my hair. In the meantime, I am just using my conditioners to scrub away the residues and buildup in my hair. I am really struggling with finding products that have absolutely no coconut in them.

Finding foods that we are not used to, and good for our bodies, is something that I've been trying to do on grocery trips lately. I picked up a pomegranate (my son was not a fan of the seeds, but would eat the fruit and spit them out), and a yellow pepper, in the hopes that it would be another vegetable we could enjoy. I ended up just putting chopped up yellow pepper in my salads this week because it was not a fan favourite, and I really enjoyed the new flavour. I think I will continue buying them...for myself.

I purchased this beautiful bowl, that reminds me of Saturn, from Karlie King, and it is now my new favourite porridge bowl. It would also make a fantastic chip or popcorn bowl, as it is both deep and wide enough that I would feel satisfied with the amount of snacks that I got. Haha!

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My Curly Hair Journey: 2 Years

It just amazes me that there can be so much growth and change in hair in a short period of time. As I was looking back at previous posts to prepare for this one, I was once again blown away by the amount of growth there has been on the sides of my head. There's a lot of filling in going on, and I notice baby hairs all along my scalp-line all the time.

I have recently started doing all of my after shower work upside down, from applying my gel and mousse, to even brushing it out after a wash (yes, I have started brushing again sometimes), and have noticed a difference in the lift from the roots.

I have also noticed that the top layer of my hair has done a lot of healing from when I first began (two years is a long time), and have started to see more curls starting at the root on the top layer. I'm excited to see what other changes happen as I'm starting to get some really good spirals of curl in my bottom layers.

I now understand the concept of the curl journey even better: I remember when I first started, I read a lot of blog posts that would talk about being in different places in the curl journey, and not to compare your first month hair to someone else's seven year hair. 

It's difficult in the moment, but so important to remember that your curl journey is unique to you, and you've got to research, experiment, and try many different things to help your hair become healthy without thinking you'll be the exact same as someone else. Hair growth isn't the only growth that happens on this journey.

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2022: The Year In Numbers

For the fourth year in a row, you have made the Curled-Up Pup pin the most wanted item in the shop! As always, we continue to donate $1 from every purchase of the enamel pin, art print, and card to our local SPCA. Since 2016 we have raised nearly $150 thanks to you!

For the fan favourite cards of the year this year, Chosen Mom was in the top four for the second year in a row, along with Moon of My Life, Sun and Stars, and Hanerot Halalu. I love that the Game of Thrones inspired cards are still standing out!

Feel Better, Ivan is the top art print this year! I feel so blessed that this little fellow speaks to so many people, and that it connects me with so many different dog lovers. I never would have guessed that this little drawing of my sweet pup would resonate around the world.

This year's top blog post was about the cleansing products that I have been using recently during my curly hair journey. It took me a long time to find what worked best for me, and I hope that people will be able to take some of the information that I have gathered to help them along on their journey as well.

Take care in 2023! I can't wait to see where the year will take us :)

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What We Love: Summer 2020

Breezy Tee T-Shirt Towel

In the past year, I have realised that I have have wavy hair, and since the quarantine, I have realised that I have curly hair (more on that later). I have used a cotton t-shirt as a hair towel for the past year and it has done the job, but these t-shirt towels from Breezy Tee look fabulous, and they are so much bigger! Brie Moore (the designer behind the shop) also creates silk-lined beanies, scarves and scrunchies for all us curl-loving people.

Like always, CBC radio gives me exactly what I need (I love that they play all kinds of musics across all genres, not just Top 40). This song from H.E.R. is the one that caught my attention most recently. I did not hear the name of it, or the title of the artist both times I had heard it (luckily they have a playlog) as I turned the car on in the middle of the song. The smooth voice, the slow soothing sounds of the music, and the spoken word section got me, specifically the lines "You are desensitized to pulling triggers on innocent lives/Because that's how we got here in the first place". It's powerful!

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I have been wanting to get back into wearing nail polish this summer, but have been struggling to find beautiful colours that don't have all the chemicals, and last a long time while painting nicely onto the nail. Enter Law Beauty Essentials: Owned by entrepreneur Tanisha Lawrence, Law Beauty Essentials is a Black-owned cosmetics line that has the most amazingly brilliant shades of nail polish that are vegan-friendly and 13-free (go here to find out what that means). The next shop update is next week, so you know I'll be jumping on all those juicy summer colours!!

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My Curly Hair Journey: 2.5 Years

This winter, I started to add some stuff to my routine, as well as change the way I do some things (thanks to this blog post):

1. I stopped scrunching out my hair once it was dry, and started letting it naturally crunch itself out during the day. This helped to keep the moisture sealed into my hair, as I had started to noticed that my hair was a lot more dry by the end of the day at work.

2. I started giving myself a scalp massage with some oil once a week, and then clarifying it with apple cider vinegar.

3. I have been drying my hair completely instead of letting it air dry for the last little bit of time.

4. I have been applying products and squeezing out extra water in the shower (while my head is upside down) and have not been plopping.

Through these four things, I have noticed that my hair is able to retain moisture a lot longer, as well as keep the curl a lot longer before I wash it again. It's been quite surprising, but I it's the best kind of surprise!

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Curly Hair: My Cleansing Products

I gave up on using shampoo to clarify my hair when I realised that it was causing my hair to dry out, and made it so I was having to start all over again to get moisture into my hair. For a while I was just washing with conditioner, but then my scalp started to get incredibly itchy and I knew that I needed something to clean up the build-up as cleaning the hair is not really the purpose of conditioner (it's just gentler on my hair).

I use a formula of 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar (with the mother, of course) and 3/4 cup of warm water (water temperature doesn't really matter, I just like the feeling of warm water on my scalp). I work in sections and scrub it into my scalp as I pour it over my hair. Once it's all been used up, I give my scalp a good scrub, twirl my hair into a clip, and let rest for a few minutes as I prepare my shower.

Right now, I am doing this once a week as I am finding I have more buildup and dry scalp during the winter months. In the summer, I tend to do this once a month.

It took a long time for me to find a conditioner that didn't have coconut or aloe vera in it, and was simply a moisturizer (without proteins). This is the conditioner that I wash my hair with every time I'm in the shower. I apply it to my hair and then use the scalp massager below to really work it in and cleanse my scalp and roots.

Because I don't use products with cleansing agents, I have to do it all manually, and this scalp massager helps me to get deep into my roots and scalp without rubbing off my finger prints. Honestly, the scalp massager has been a game changer for me, and I don't think I could go back to cleansing my hair with just my fingertips.

 

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What We Love: Summer 2021

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My satin scunchies from me&you handmades have been a lifesaver this summer! With all the hot weather we have been experiencing, it is so nice to be able to put my hair up to get it off of my face, and my curly hair simply adores the satin scrunchies!

I heard Daydreaming from Yehra while driving to work one morning. You know I'm a sucker for a good beat and a smooth voice, and this song is the perfect storm of combinations. 

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I am in looooove with the pronoun enamel pins that are available from Atelier Persephone. Marie has created a stunning way to share your pronouns that can be dressed-up or dressed-down and worn for all occasions!

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