Reader Question: Curlaway Or Bust

Reader Question:

I would like to know if you have had any knowledge or experience with a product called Curlaway. I am AA and have used relaxers to keep my hair straight for many years. While my hair is not is bad condition, I would like it to grow out a bit more which seems isnt happening. I decided to stop getting touchups (every 4-5 weeks) and have been trying to manage my hair through the use of protein and deep conditioning*, and this has allowed me to extend my retouch time to 10 weeks.

I have been perm free for 10 weeks and over that time have come across a product by the name of Curlaway. I did actual purchase it, but I have not used it yet. My goal is to have healthy manageable hair of a decent length. I still want to wear my hair straight, but I would like to achieve this without chemicals.

Question 1: How do you feel about Curlaway?

Question 2: How do you suggest I continue this transition?

Our Answer:

I do not have any personal experience with curlaway but based on the hair boards, a few ladies have tried it with little result to show for it. I get the feeling that this product is not necessarily aimed at African American ladies with tight curls because it does not loosen the texture enough.

Good for you for managing to go 10 weeks without a touch up! Stretching your relaxers is one of the best things you can do for relaxed hair and if you want to continue stretching past 12 weeks then you should be very careful that you are not experiencing breakage at he line of demarcation between your relaxed and natural hair unless you are planning to transition all the way to natural hair.

Transitioning is a very personal journey that you should not undertake lightly. I understand that you like to keep your hair straight, a lot of ladies do but you can also keep your hair straight if you were fully natural and you would have the added benefit of hair with is interal strength and structure intact! I’m a great believer in the benefits of natural hair or at the very least only texturizing or texlaxing your hair to leave strength and texture in your hair intact. Curlaway may or may no be the product that helps you acheive a chemical free hair care regimen but you don’t know if you don’t try!

Good luck whatever your decision.