By April MacIntyre Feb 2, 2010, 6:03 GMT
In
this world there may be
worse things for a woman
to endure than a bad
hair day, but that list
would be small for the
countless curly-haired
women who have spent
years of their lives in
search of just one
miraculous stylist,
haircut, coloring
products, tips and
techniques that would
finally set curls free
and their wide heads
looking sane, soft and
sexy – say like Minnie
Driver or Sarah Jessica
Parker to name a few.
Amiel in action, flipping over client to snip Bonsai-style photo by ©M&C
All they want is to be “normal.” Curly hair specialist, Shai Amiel says there’s a simple solution. It starts with accepting your hair will never be ‘normal.’
“Curly hair is not like straight hair. It can’t be cut the same, colored the same, washed the same, conditioned, styled or even dried the same as “normal girls.” However, it can be coveted like none other.
Amiel knows this because he has women come from all over the West Coast and the Country to his beloved Capella Salon in Studio City, (near the Studios in Los Angeles.)
They make the trip because Amiel was one of only two people trained in the U.S. to cut, color and tame the curly headed by the famed Lorrain Massey.
Amiel photo by ©M&C
It all starts with the right cut. Amiel cuts each hair individually and precisely and only the hairs that need cutting. Although a native of Tel Aviv, watching Amiel’s gentle and almost meditative process is reminiscent of watching the Bonsai tree artists of Japan shape the exquisite leaves to grow in their natural and unique shapes.
“It takes years to learn how to do that,” Amiel, who is also a Bonsai hobbyist says. “ But your cut will only take a half an hour and hold its shape for a very long time.”
Here are a six of many tips from Amiel for Monsters and Critics:
l. Curly hair has to be washed differently: Amiel only uses sulfate free shampoo (the sulfate adds lather but also problems for curly girls.
2. Put your attention primarily on washing your scalp and not the hair.
3. Run your conditioner over your hair. Be careful not to glob it onto your scalp. Comb wet hair only with conditioner in it.
3. Don’t dry your hair with a regular towel. Use paper towels or a cotton t-shirt to blot the hair dry. This will hold your curls in and keep the frizz out.
4. After you put product in your hair don’t touch your hair until it is 100% dried to avoid frizz.
5. After hair is dried, scrunch hair only. Don’t comb.
6. If you use a blow dryer, keep it 12 inches from your head.
Shai adds, "And above all, if you can, get the right cut. If you’re going to color or highlight your hair know that natural, glorious looking curly color is a specialty. Curls don’t take to color the same way that straight hair does. It’s about mastering the color on individual strands of hair and not streaks and sections of it."
“There is a world of women out there who would love to have natural curls,” Amiel laughs. “Where’s the justice? There’s no reason why those who have the curls shouldn’t be able to set them free, flaunt them and feel fantastic.”
