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MY curly STORY
When did you start transitioning? Tell us about your journey - how has it impacted you?
I grew up in Asia where it's normal to be body shamed for having curly hair, so when I was 12 I chemically straightened my "unruly, ugly, untamed" curls to fit in at school. I would have continued to chemically straighten my hair but because of the damage it caused my scalp, my parents never let me straighten my hair again. From then on I always hid my curls away in a braid or bun to try and disguise it. Then I moved to the UK when I was 16 and after seeing other people embracing their curls I decided to cut off the last bits of my relaxed hair and wear my curls out in public for the first time when at age 17. It took me 3 more years until I felt fully comfortable wearing my hair down and I have loved my curls ever since.
What was your biggest hurdle while transitioning?
What I struggled with the most was figuring out how to take care of my hair properly and knowing what to do to keep it healthy. While I was transitioning I developed a passion for sustainability and non-toxic living which prolonged my search for the right products as I wanted to stop investing in companies that continued to ignorantly harm the planet. I experimented with lots of different products and tried various natural alternatives and hair care routines to see what worked best for my hair, but back then none of the sustainable companies I knew about specialised in curly hair so I suffered with damaged and dry hair for several years until I found the right products that worked for me.
What would be the best advice you’d give to someone that wants to start transitioning?
My best advice would be to focus on the health of your hair and scalp by using products that are specifically formulated for your hair type. Figure out how to determine if your hair lacks protein or moisture and keep a good balance of the two in your hair care routine. Scalp health also goes hand in hand with having healthy hair so give your scalp some TLC on wash day with a good detox and a nice head massage to stimulate hair growth.
Tell us about your passions and interests
I’m passionate about health, wellness and nutrition. I’m a big nerd so I enjoy researching things and reading! I love Astrology, Crystals and Energy healing, growing plants, travelling, animals, writing music, singing, playing my ukulele, and listening to bossanova and reggae.
"This is hands down the best hair cream I've ever used and I use it every day to keep my hair hydrated. My curls look so soft and so healthy now, I love that this curl cream doesn't leave my hair looking greasy and doesn't weigh it down either."
"I use the curl defining gel after applying my curl cream and it's definitely a game changer. I can't believe how great the results are from such a lightweight product, it prevents my hair from frizzing and gives my curls effortless definition - my hair care routine isn't complete without it! "
"I suffered from dry and damaged hair for so long and using the intensive moisture treatment as a leave-in conditioner has really helped to repair and restore my damaged curls. It brought back and enhanced my curl pattern just after the first use, my hair loves this product and has been so much easier to manage ever since I started using it."
"The Revive 5 Hair Oil is an amazing product, I use it as a scalp treatment, a sealer, and to refresh my curls and keep them tame as I am prone to frizz. The non-greasy formula absorbs into your hair rather than sitting on top of it like most oils do, and it is such a versatile product with so many benefits. I love that it protects against UV damage and humidity as I spend a lot of time in Asia. "
Curls similar to Amor? Need advice? Email her at amorandmichael@boucleme.co.uk and follow her Instagram @blueshroooms
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MY curly STORY
When did you start transitioning? Tell us about your journey - how has it impacted you?
I started growing my hair in 2015 after having it short my whole life. I listen to a lot of reggae music and I learned that Rastas dread their hair to lock spiritual energy in as they believe it is released through the top of the head. I want dreads one day so that was the reason for growing it but after growing my hair out I decided that I wanted to take care of it for a while and make it as thick and healthy as possible before dreading it later on.
What was your biggest hurdle while transitioning?
My biggest hurdle while transitioning was definitely not knowing about what was good for my hair and what wasn’t. When I had short hair I used cheap, toxic hair gels and waxes every day so when I started growing my hair I carried on using them because I didn’t know anything else. As I started to learn about what was good for hair, another thing I found challenging was figuring out what works well for my hair personally, because everyone’s hair reacts differently to different ingredients.
What would be the best advice you’d give to someone that wants to start transitioning?
My best advice to give someone who wants to start transitioning would be to stop using sulphate shampoos and co wash more often, keep their hair hydrated with natural hair masks and products and most of all be patient.
Tell us about your passions and interests
I enjoy playing Football and boxing to keep me active. I’m passionate about health and fitness, cooking and nutrition, Roots reggae, being outdoors and vintage clothing.
"The best shampoo I’ve ever used. I sometimes suffer with an itchy scalp especially after sweating during exercise and this shampoo really helps. It smells so good too! I use this shampoo once or twice a week at the most."
"I like to use this product every day on both wet and dry hair but I find it most effective when putting it on wet hair, letting it dry fully and then scrunching. Once dry it leaves my hair looking amazing and without leaving it looking or feeling greasy. I’d recommend this to anyone who struggles with frizzy hair."
"Great for dry and damaged hair. I prefer to use this product as a mask for an hour after shampooing if I have the time rather than before shampooing and then rinse with just water. I sometimes use small amounts as a leave in too just before I apply the curl cream and it makes my hair look so much healthier."
"I first tried this oil in summer to protect my hair from sun damage and it works really well. Smells amazing too and works well as a quick moisture boost for when I’m in a rush."
Curls similar to Michael? Need advice? Email him at amorandmichael@boucleme.co.uk and follow his Instagram @blueshroooms
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