Natural Hair Update: Dear, Hair …

When L’Oreal Paris asked me to write a letter to my hair, I immediately said yes. Why? Because my hair has been an epic battle for me my whole entire life. A love/hate relationship probably best describes it. So I feel now is the perfect time to let my hair know how I really feel …

Dear Hair,

We’ve spent the past 34 years together and what a crazy journey it’s been. All of the different styles, colors, and treatments I’ve subjected you to- not to mention the tears and heartache you’ve caused me. I know, I know I sound super-dramatic right now but it’s true.

Being a woman of mixed ethnicity (black, white, and Cuban) I’ve always found it difficult for us to fit in. Growing up in a predominately white area, I longed for a shiny bouncy ponytail like the rest of the girls at school had. Even my best friend, who is black, had long silky hair like the other girls. You never seemed to behave yourself. It was like you went out of your way to be difficult.

me and my mom

Remember when my Mom was always trying out a crazy DIY hair treatment on us? The mayonnaise hair mask? We smelled like a sandwich for a week! You also had a lot of olive oil, chemicals, and nearly every hair product ever made slathered on you. Probably the worst of all was the chemical relaxers, sorry about that! That had to burn.

Recently I took you on this natural hair journey. I thought I finally found the answer, being curly and free. Now a year into it, I’m so sick of wearing you curly. Now I’m blasting you with heat so I can wear you straight and still be natural. Honestly at first I felt like we weren’t be “authentic” to the natural hair thing but now I’m at a place where I just don’t care.

I’ve spent my whole life fighting with you. First trying to make you something you’re not with chemicals and dyes. Then I tried to do the right thing and wear my curls with pride. Now I am finally at a place where I am going to let us be the style chameleons that we are.

Hair, you are thick, resilient, and versatile. You’ve actually never let me down. Okay that time you fell out after I dyed my hair blue – that was messed up. But overall, I couldn’t ask for a better head of hair. At 34 we’ve had minimal grays. At 34 you’ve transformed yourself into countless styles. From pigtails to dreadlocks, from short and straight to wild and curly – you’ve done more than most hair has done in that amount of time.

So Hair, I dig you and I will do my best to continue to accept you and treat you right. I am going to try out this Smooth Intense line from L’Oreal Paris to protect from the heat of straightening you and to smooth out those frizzies that you love to product. So lets spend a lot more time together (no thinning hair as a I age, please).

Sincerely,

Lauren

In addition to sharing my feelings with my hair, I also test drove some product on it. The L’Oreal Advanced Hair Care Smooth Intense Xtreme Straight Cream was exactly what I needed for an at-home flat iron job. A little product went a long way and it really kept my ends in check. For under $7 it was a total no-brainer. I polished things off with some L’Oreal Advanced Hair Care Intense Frizz Taming Serum, which gave my hair the extra polish it so desperately needed. Another great product for under $7. I love a a high-end hair experience for less.

That was my hair story, what is yours? Share it in the comments below.

We ladies know that not all locks are created equal, and so does L’Oréal Paris. With the Advanced Haircare line, Glam girls have the power to pick their shampoo, conditioner and treatment based on their specific strand needs, taking their tresses to luxurious levels. Beautiful hair has never been more personal.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by L’Oreal’s Advanced Hair Care via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of L’Oreal