<p>If you’re someone with long hair, it is a truth universally acknowledged that women with straight hair would love bouncy curls while women with curly hair want their hair sleek and straight. </p>.<p>Over the last couple of years, we’ve gone from seeing barely any curly hair representation to now seeing it all over social media and other entertainment platforms. Whether it’s Mithila Palkar in Little Things or actress Taapsee Pannu who proudly showcases her curly hair in her movies or Indian comic artist, Angela Vaz, who documents her struggles with her curly mane, curly hair is finally getting the representation it deserves.</p>.<p>For decades now, Indians had always treated straight hair as the ideal type. The obsession was fuelled by advances in technology and the ready availability of salon-quality straighteners on the high street. Such was the obsession with straight hair that curly hair was often portrayed as unruly and rebellious, and the solution was always to settle it by using a particular serum or a shampoo, that would straighten and smoothen it out in some way.</p>.<p>However, curly-haired Indian women have started a revolution, encouraging everyone to embrace and flaunt their natural curls. The curly girl method, popularly known as the CG method worldwide, has been adopted and promoted by various Indian influencers.</p>.<p>“While there is a lot of talk about curly hair online, what I truly believe helped so many women accept their natural curls, was the lockdown. I’ve heard so many stories where women stopped forcing their hair to be straight during the lockdown and that’s when they realised there was truly nothing wrong with their curls. It was just the study that had pressured them to conform to societal beauty standards.” says Elizabeth Alex, curly hair stylist and Instagram influencer.</p>.<p>Elizabeth runs her own curly hair salon and does online consultations specifically for curly-haired men and women. “I first started properly taking care of my curly hair in 2017, we barely had any products for curly hair back then. Today, it’s a completely different story. Many local curly haircare brands have come up in the last two years specifically.” She adds.</p>.<p>Some Indian brands which focus on curly haircare like Ashaba Botanics, Arata and Fix My Curls have made their mark in the haircare market and are widely loved by Indian women. There are also several online communities like ‘The Curly Hair Community’ and ‘Curly Hair Co’, which comprise of various influencers who advise on which products to invest in according to your hair type. “We’re a strong bunch of influencers online, who are all promoting and embracing natural beauty.” adds Elizabeth. With the range of products that are created and made available for curly hair today, it’s time to embrace the real beauty in you.</p>.<p><strong>Three products every curly-haired person must own</strong></p>.<p>Apple cider vinegar with Mother – Do a thorough rinse of your hair with this once every week.</p>.<p>Deep conditioner – This is a must-have for all kinds of hair. Use it once a week for thick hair, once a month for fine hair and twice a week for coloured hair.</p>.<p>Silk or satin bonnet – Use this every time you’re sleeping or lounging around the house, it helps retain moisture in your hair and keep it frizz-free. You can use a silk scarf instead of a bonnet.</p>.<p><strong>Busting curly hair myths with Elizabeth Alex</strong></p>.<p>Curly hair care products are expensive – This is a false assumption many have. There are many Indian brands that exist today that make good and affordable products. Plus, you can DIY almost everything. I make a hair gel for myself out of flax seeds. You just need to do your research before choosing products.</p>.<p>Styling and products cause damage – There will be damage only if you use damage-inducing products. Stick to natural products, free of sulphate and silicon, that’s the number one rule while maintaining curly hair.</p>.<p>No need to take care of hair while at home – This might work for straight hair but curly hair is completely different.</p>.<p>You can’t just make an attempt to style it once every week before Church on Sundays. If you want healthy curls, you need to put in the effort and take care of them every time you wash them.</p>
<p>If you’re someone with long hair, it is a truth universally acknowledged that women with straight hair would love bouncy curls while women with curly hair want their hair sleek and straight. </p>.<p>Over the last couple of years, we’ve gone from seeing barely any curly hair representation to now seeing it all over social media and other entertainment platforms. Whether it’s Mithila Palkar in Little Things or actress Taapsee Pannu who proudly showcases her curly hair in her movies or Indian comic artist, Angela Vaz, who documents her struggles with her curly mane, curly hair is finally getting the representation it deserves.</p>.<p>For decades now, Indians had always treated straight hair as the ideal type. The obsession was fuelled by advances in technology and the ready availability of salon-quality straighteners on the high street. Such was the obsession with straight hair that curly hair was often portrayed as unruly and rebellious, and the solution was always to settle it by using a particular serum or a shampoo, that would straighten and smoothen it out in some way.</p>.<p>However, curly-haired Indian women have started a revolution, encouraging everyone to embrace and flaunt their natural curls. The curly girl method, popularly known as the CG method worldwide, has been adopted and promoted by various Indian influencers.</p>.<p>“While there is a lot of talk about curly hair online, what I truly believe helped so many women accept their natural curls, was the lockdown. I’ve heard so many stories where women stopped forcing their hair to be straight during the lockdown and that’s when they realised there was truly nothing wrong with their curls. It was just the study that had pressured them to conform to societal beauty standards.” says Elizabeth Alex, curly hair stylist and Instagram influencer.</p>.<p>Elizabeth runs her own curly hair salon and does online consultations specifically for curly-haired men and women. “I first started properly taking care of my curly hair in 2017, we barely had any products for curly hair back then. Today, it’s a completely different story. Many local curly haircare brands have come up in the last two years specifically.” She adds.</p>.<p>Some Indian brands which focus on curly haircare like Ashaba Botanics, Arata and Fix My Curls have made their mark in the haircare market and are widely loved by Indian women. There are also several online communities like ‘The Curly Hair Community’ and ‘Curly Hair Co’, which comprise of various influencers who advise on which products to invest in according to your hair type. “We’re a strong bunch of influencers online, who are all promoting and embracing natural beauty.” adds Elizabeth. With the range of products that are created and made available for curly hair today, it’s time to embrace the real beauty in you.</p>.<p><strong>Three products every curly-haired person must own</strong></p>.<p>Apple cider vinegar with Mother – Do a thorough rinse of your hair with this once every week.</p>.<p>Deep conditioner – This is a must-have for all kinds of hair. Use it once a week for thick hair, once a month for fine hair and twice a week for coloured hair.</p>.<p>Silk or satin bonnet – Use this every time you’re sleeping or lounging around the house, it helps retain moisture in your hair and keep it frizz-free. You can use a silk scarf instead of a bonnet.</p>.<p><strong>Busting curly hair myths with Elizabeth Alex</strong></p>.<p>Curly hair care products are expensive – This is a false assumption many have. There are many Indian brands that exist today that make good and affordable products. Plus, you can DIY almost everything. I make a hair gel for myself out of flax seeds. You just need to do your research before choosing products.</p>.<p>Styling and products cause damage – There will be damage only if you use damage-inducing products. Stick to natural products, free of sulphate and silicon, that’s the number one rule while maintaining curly hair.</p>.<p>No need to take care of hair while at home – This might work for straight hair but curly hair is completely different.</p>.<p>You can’t just make an attempt to style it once every week before Church on Sundays. If you want healthy curls, you need to put in the effort and take care of them every time you wash them.</p>