Hi Cookie!
I went through similar tactics when I was younger about my hair-LOL! What a trip! What really changed that was when I found that it took a solid half-hour to blow dry my below shoulder-length hair(I was in my mid-20's at the time)and I was up for re-thinking my hair. A magazine at the time had a feature article on "free hair" - with naturally-curly people who finally embraced their natural texture with an appropriate cut by someone who knows how to deal with curly hair. One of the women in the article had similar hair texture to mine, and looked like a million bucks in the after photo! The salon featured in the article was in NYC where I was living at the time. I basically ran to the phone and set up an appointment right away. I was a bit apprehensive at first, by my cutter started with just snipping a bit in front - voila, instant, beautiful loose curls - I have never looked back since. Into the trash went my big rollers and hairdryer. To this day I don't use a dryer or any other heat-styling stuff. Color is the only thing I do(as I mentioned above), and with scrunching gel, I'm good!

If I didn't color, I'd be totally gray! First I paid to have it colored (weave) and then it grew too expensive so I started doing it myself. But... I gave up and went yesterday to get it done again and the color looks great.

Regarding cuts, I have a tendency to let mine grow out, then I get it into layers because it's so boring, and don't like the layers, so I let it grow out again. I'm in the grow out stage now...

Cara, you are so lucky to have found someone who knows how to cut curly hair. I'm jealous.

I have naturally curly hair and went through it all during the 60's and 70's. Everyone with straight hair loves it because they pay for it. I was a carrot-top but age has taken some color out so I throw on a little auburn to keep it interesting. It goes with my green eyes and freckles.

Reading your posts, I'm worried I have a menopausal haircut. How do I know?

Saundra, I also have wavy hair that I straighten sometimes and it used to be auburn. It has faded quite a bit and I also color, but the color I use is lightest golden brown. It turns a little redder after being in the sun. I've tried the auburns, but they make my hair look too too fake.

Does the humidity affect your hair? There's no way I can wear it straight when it's humid.

As for menapausal hair, I think it's the short, permed stiff teased up bob. A woman I know has that look and she went to my salon, got it fixed really cute, but she went directly home and started teasing and spraying - she ended up with the same look she had. Look in the fashion and hairstyle magazines to get an idea. I've worn my hair almost the same for many years, I don't want a super trendy look either.

Daisygirl

[ June 09, 2006, 09:01 AM: Message edited by: Daisygirl ]

You all do anything special to manage your natural curls other than wash, gel, and go? I use to cuss at mine sometimes, but that just seemed to make my hair curlier!

I am fortunate that my haircutter knows how to cut curly hair. I put nothing on it because I don't like the way those things make my hair feel. I recognize that I have no control and I'm over it. I work outside so you can imagine what these hot humid days do to me (95 today). I let others deal with how I look - I can't see myself at work so it doesn't bother me.

The grass is always greener huh? Mines straight as a board and I'd love curls too! I also wish I could wear my hair super short. Some people look so cute that way. I've got a square/roundish face and I don't like how I look with short hair, makes my face look big. I think women start cutting their hair at this age because its easier and we get tired of it. I'm pretty active and it would be nice to hope in and out of the shower and just run my hands through my hair. (Mines long, auburn, and I color it myself).

I too have a square face and have been in the process of growing it into something for over a year now. I have a picture of Diane Keaton (who also has a square face) that I drag along to every hair cut, but for some reason, I never come out looking like the picture.... I especially liked her hair in the movie "as good as it get's"

I have 90% gray and wouldn't go back to the rat race of coloring for anything. But, I have a few quirky cowlics that drive my stylist nuts (which is why I'm still in the process of growing it out. She keeps cutting the cowlic off and I'm back to square one...

Sounds like thats your problem browser57. That or you need a new stylist, this one seems to have reached her peek with your hair.