Curlies, listen up: This is the BEST salon to get a haircut in Metro Manila if you have curly hair
When you’re born with naturally coily, curly or wavy hair like me, then you know the struggles of styling it. It really is one of the hardest things to master when you start learning how to take care of textured hair, am I right? Especially if you’re just starting out, it can get complicated and overwhelmingly messy.
And so it was such a thrill when I was finally able to book a haircut with Cutz and Curlz by Jazz’s hair salon! They offer quality haircuts and styling sessions for beginners taking care of curly hair, as well as long time CGM (Curly Girl Method) practitioners alike.
The Curly Girl Method for beginners: What it is, how to do it, and where to find products in the Philippines
During most of my childhood I had pin straight hair that needed little to no management. Then right before high school, my curls happened! My hair started growing out curly to my surprise. I would try to hide with wide headbands and ponytails because people said it was buhaghag. In high school I was regularly rebonding my hair during the summers. By the time I was in college, my hair was fried, so I chose to stop getting my hair treated. College was more than five years ago at this point and while my hair is more alive, I wasn’t completely sold on how it looked. I knew I had curly hair; I just didn’t know what to do with it.
How I learned to love my natural curls
“Your hair looks amazing,” a stranger on the street comes up to me with a smile on her face. “Where did you get the curls done?” I then proceed to tell them that the curls are natural. It’s often met with an amazed face when I tell them I got them from my dad or a smirk that shows they don’t really believe me. Sometimes, I get someone who wants to touch my hair just to make sure. You see, all this has been pretty recent. Growing up in the Philippines in the 90s and early 2000s, my hair was never considered pretty. Straight, shiny hair was glorified and curls were often seen as unruly or buhaghag.
This hair sanitizer is keeping my curly tresses clean between washes
The most dedicated curlies know this by heart: Washing your hair every single day is like sentencing your mane to a sad, dry, and frizzy life. When the pandemic hit, one of the major considerations I had whenever I would step out of our flat is if I’m ready to give my hair another wash the moment I get home. Will it survive this constant abuse and come out bouncy once this is all over?
Lubricant for styling? We tried this weird hack for curly hair
A member of the PVC Facebook Group recently raved about a hack that we'd never heard of before. Instead of the usual hair gel, Katrina used water-based lubricant as a styler for her curly hair and got great results! We were definitely intrigued and had to test this out for ourselves.
This cute galaxy hair iron delivers frizz-free, fuss-free pretty hair
I’m perpetually jealous of people with nice hair. I see people with healthy tresses all the time and wonder, how do they do it?! I had always promised myself to get better at hairstyling, so I welcomed the Healthy Heat Ceramic Styling Iron from Eva NYC with open arms.
Curly Since Birth: Here's how I learned to love and maintain my curls
I cursed my frizzy, curly hair as a child of the '90s. Back then, there were no Korean stars with gorgeous perms so everyone coveted the sleek, straight ‘do they saw in shampoo commercials. Like most girls that time, I regularly rebonded my hair for years and years! When I moved to the US for graduate school, I discovered that rebonding procedures are not common there and that regular trips to the salon would be way too much for my student budget. There was also no way I could afford to spend hours with a straightening iron everyday. I felt that I had no choice but to grow my hair out and slowly cut the straightened ends until they were completely gone.
Reader question: Hair problem! Help!
Hi Miss Liz! Growing up I have been teased a lot about my "sumpa"- CURLY HAIR!!!! I don't mean the cute Goldilocks type but the "so-kinky-its-llike-an-afro" type of curl. An even weirder combination? I have pale skin Asian skin and got called names like "negrang hapon", "albino na negra" blah blah blah.
My self esteem was suuppeerr low that I had my hair straightened when I was in 6th grade and have been religiously straightening since (I'm turning 23 this year). The teasing stopped. I got lots of compliments, some even forgot I was curly to begin with. Don't get me wrong, I honestly enjoyed it at first but it was tiring to me (dreading my natural hair growing,enduring the long hours and chemical burns of the process).
Anyway, I don't know how but I finally found myself some confidence to stop pretending and embrace the real me! My question Miss Liz is; how do I transition to my natural locks without looking like a freak? (curly hair at the roots and stick straight hair at the tips).
Hi Miss_D22! Great question! Kudos to you for finally having the confidence to embrace your natural hair! I also had the same problem before - had my hair straightened so many times that I have damaged my scalp permanently. And for what? Because people teased me all the time! One girl even called me Jesus Christ. Damn. That's one of the worst insults to me ever.
In the end, like you I realized that I would be happier if I just enjoyed the real me. We're never so ugly or so bad as we think we are; it's all in the head!
Bed Head Tigi Foxy Curls
I thought that the Love/Serum Moisturizing Curl Enhancing Serum from Davines was the ultimate product for curly hair. It was everything I wanted! But when I tried the Bed Hed Tigi Foxy Curls (P1,645), I realized that the Davines serum was missing something crucial: hold.
Foxy Curls makes curls stand out without feeling greasy or heavy, much like Love/Serum. It is a lot stickier and thicker though while it's wet. This texture helps keep curls and stray hair in place, something that Love/Serum does not do all that well, since its main focus is to show up curls and moisturize hair. Oh FC also smells amazing!
Anyway, Foxy Curls was put to an extreme test when I used it before attending a media event.
Love/Serum Moisturizing Curl Enhancing Serum from Davines
I've been using the Love/Serum Moisturizing Curl Enhancing Serum (P1,203) from Davines for more than a month now. As you could have guessed from my initial review, I absolutely love it! Its a gift to frizzy, messy curly hair like mine.
This serum defines my curls without making them stiff and sticky, although I have to admit, the initial texture and smell is quite unpleasant. It smells off but thankfully the smell dissipates as soon as it dries.
Bed Head Tigi Styleshots Hi-Def Curls Shampoo and Conditioner
Let me tell you about my hair care routine before! I shampoo and then...that's it. I normally don't wear conditioner unless my hair is feeling dry (maybe once a month?). As for styling products, I just use serum and then mousse when I'm going somewhere important.
I make a conscious effort to keep my hair low-maintenance because my scalp is very sensitive, and besides, all the hair care products I've used in the past simply don't do much for my unruly, curly hair. But! All that changed when I started using the Bed Head Tigi Styleshots Hi-Def Curls Shampoo and Conditioner.
Bed Head had an event for bloggers at Basement Salon a few weeks ago, which is where I first experienced their products. Allow me to tell you why I LOVE my Styleshots Hi-Def Curls set. I have photos to prove it, too.
What I love about the product
- As promised, the shampoo and conditioner defined my curls and lessened frizz. My hair also feels smooth, soft, and bouncy instantly after I use them. Like I just came from the salon.
- Smells phenomenal! Hi-Def Curls has this sort of fruity candy scent that really stays until I wash it off.