The Longhairlovers Interview With Ouidad

You have to be pretty well-known to be called by one name – take Madonna or Cher, for example. Just like those famous women, Ouidad, the “curly-hair specialist,” falls into the category of celebrity and hairstylist extraordinaire to legions of curly-haired fans all over the world.

In 1982, Ouidad became the first stylist dedicated to treating curly and frizzy hair. Today, she remains committed to treating this special type of hair.

“Curly hair is very hard to grow without feeding it to give it strength so it can extend in length,” Ouidad said. “Since curly hair grows in a corkscrew shape, it's impossible for the cuticle layer to stay closed. This allows the molecular layer – which is the internal conditioning layer – to escape, causing the hair to become dry and break off before it can become long.

“When nutrients in the body extend to nourish the hair, skin, and nails, the dry hair absorbs it just to survive, not to extend in length. That is why you always hear, 'I can only grow my hair to this point.'”

With proper treatment, however, Ouidad says it is possible to grow beautiful long, curly hair.

“When the hair is fed by using a protein-based deep treatment every two weeks, the hair takes on new life. Curly hair can then use the body's internal nutrients to extend in length.”