05/2021 - Natural Hair Beauty

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been fighting your natural hair texture since grade school—especially if you were born with curls. From flat-irons to keratin treatments and hundreds of dollars worth of straightening serums, you’ve tried it all and after trial and error, found your customized secret to semi-smooth hair. Years into my beauty editor career, I had my anti-curly hair routine down pat. I’d get a blowout once a week and do everything in my power to make it last, even if that meant dodging workouts and going through dry shampoo faster than water. In fact, most of my coworkers thought I had straight hair. I did it because I thought sleek hair made me look more professional—and, well, prettier. Until one lazy day when I let my curls do their thing, and—wait for it—I got more compliments than I could count. Here, how falling in love with my curls—especially during the summer months—has simplified my routine and boosted my confidence.