American Girl Goes Curly

Michelle Breyer, curl expert and founder of naturallycurly.com, discusses what really makes her daughter happy.

Sometimes you get the best curly tips in the strangest places. In this case, it was at the new American Girl store in Dallas - a two-story fantasyland for young girls.
In addition to looking for a new doll, my curly 7-year-old wanted to rejuvenate the look of her disheveled curly "Just Like Me" doll. And with an in-store beauty parlor for dolls, there was no better place to do it.
For those who know nothing about American Girl dolls, the vast majority of them have straight hair. So dealing with a curly doll - just like a curly human - requires special skills. The women - some who sported natural texture themselves - weren't intimidated at all. They spritzed her hair and twisted small sections of hair into ringlets. This was no easy task because this doll has a lot of hair.
Forty-five minutes later, Elizabeth looked like a brand-new doll. Her shiny ringlets bounced, and my daughter had a huge smile on her face.

Would you still love me if...

Suzanne Schroeder curly expert for naturallycurly.com muses about second day hair and first night romances.

Bedhead and men. Bedhead and curls. How much do you really want that man to know about you and your curls in the morning? Most curlies would answer as little as possible. Bedhead has a completely different definition when curls are involved. It is a constant damage control mission. I have tried embracing the idea that my hair couldn't look that bad in the morning. That he will smile with cute sleepy amusement at the state of my curls. Shouldn't he be able to embrace all of me even my frizzy smashed unruly curls in the morning? I like my curls and love this fantasy. I have even thought that my curls could have that sexy wild look. At some point reality comes crashing in. His look of sleepy shock is what I am really waking up to. Some men are better at hiding their expression of horror than others. The problem is that the man is usually as unpredictable as my curls. I can't do anything about the reaction to my curly bedhead, but I can try to get the curls back from the night before. Sneaking out of bed before he wakes up. Getting my little bottles of hair products out of my purse. Hopeful that I can get second day hair. I've brought a hat in case my curls are impossible beyond repair. Quietly back in bed I am thinking why all this crazy effort for the curls and the man? Maybe there is a special pillow that I don't know about that will keep the curls safe? How will I fit that in my purse?

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False Idol: Jordin Sparks drops her curly locks

Jordin, how could you? Part of your charm on "American Idol" was your beautiful head of curls. And you rocked those curls with confidence as you advanced each week. Your voice was amazing, but so was your unique look. You stood out from the pack of Hillarys, Britneys and Mylies, with their stick-straight tresses. You were so confident with their natural beauty.
So what's with the new look? What happened to those shiny coils? I know they're lurking somewhere under that straight mane - a style that makes you look like every other teen queen. Did they make you do this?
On the American Idol web site, they have a slide show of the" Jordin Sparks' Transformation," as if it's a good thing. With each slide, we see your hair get progressively straighter. By the last frame, the curls have disappeared.
We beg you to toss that flat iron. Just say no to the Brazilian Keratin Treatment. Embrace that gorgeous texture that helped you stand apart from the rest.