Big Hair

After several seasons of straight, smooth hair trends, it’s safe to be seen with Big Hair again. The afro style and natural curl is back. Reminiscent of the seventies look of Roberta Flack or Art Garfunkel, the trend is letting natural curl do its own thing and glorifying in it.

Big Hair or the afro, in the seventies, represented a nonconformist attitude. At that time, they were breaking away from the norm by rebelling against stretching and straightening naturally curly hair into the smooth conservative style. The message was that whatever your hair did naturally was beautiful. However, the seventies afro was still neat and trimmed and round in shape.

This season’s big hair is again breaking away from smooth, straight haired norm, but is freer, shaggier and less neat and round.
Those of you with naturally curly hair will be happy to note that you can easily achieve the new trend. All that is needed is to let your hair do its natural thing. Fortunately there are now many anti-frizz products available (not available in the 70’s!) to help you can get rid of an overly frizzy look.

You may use Matrix Sleek Look Smoothing System. Formulated to smooth hair into a straight style, it is perfect for use with a curly look. Simply use the shampoo and conditioner, and then apply the styling crème to towel-dried hair. Allow your hair to dry naturally or use a diffuser to speed up the process. When it is completely dry, use your fingers to loosen the curl and add fullness. For a fuller look and for staying power you may use some backcombing in the root area. The smoothing agents give natural curl a lot of control and moisture allowing them to be pulled and pushed into the wild natural look you are aiming for, without creating frizz.
Any combination of moisturizer, smoothing serum, gel, hair crème or mousse that will keep your curls separated and curly and to give your hair body is advisable.

If you happen to have straight hair and would like this look for a change of style, you can achieve it by setting your hair on small bendable rollers or on permanent wave rods, and then, after removing them, simply turn your head upside down and run you fingers through your hair to separate the curls. Use backcombing and hairspray as needed to achieve fullness.

If you are bored or feeling confined in the previous years’ straight, close to the head styles, this year’s trend may be just what you are looking for. If you have been conforming your naturally curly hair into someone else’s idea of style, this is the year to create your own style, safe in the knowledge that big hair is beautiful.

For more information, try one of these books from Amazon.
Curl Talk: Everything You Need to Know...