The Curl Edit: Your Curls Don’t Have to Follow the Trend…

Fashion Week is always a fascinating source of hair inspiration.

It’s where creativity gets turned all the way up.

And this season, we’ve seen plenty of texture, movement, volume and expressive styling making their way down the runway.

As a curly hair specialist, I love seeing it.

But there’s something I want you to remember when you’re looking at runway hair, Pinterest boards, Instagram posts or your next saved collection of screenshots:

Inspiration isn’t instruction.

A beautiful hairstyle doesn’t automatically mean it’s the right hairstyle for your curls.

And that’s an important distinction.

The difference between inspiration and expectation

There’s nothing wrong with seeing a hairstyle and thinking:

“I want that!”

That’s often how we discover new possibilities.

The problem can happen when inspiration quietly turns into expectation.

You see someone else’s curls, shape or styling and start comparing them to your own.

Suddenly you’re wondering why your curls don’t look the same.

Maybe you think you need another product.

Maybe you think your hair needs to be longer.

Maybe you start questioning your curl pattern.

Or maybe you’re convinced you need to completely change your haircut.

And before you know it, you’re no longer being inspired.

You’re comparing.

That’s a very different experience.

Your curls have their own starting point

One of the things I love about working with curly hair is that no two heads of curls behave exactly the same.

Even two people with a similar curl pattern can have very different:

• density

• strand texture

• porosity

• shrinkage

• growth patterns

• curl formation

• volume

• movement

• and styling needs

So when you bring in a photo of a hairstyle you love, I don’t necessarily look at it and think:

“How do we copy this?”

I’m thinking:

“What is it about this look that you love?”

Is it the shape?

The volume?

The movement?

The length?

The bangs?

The softness?

The definition?

The overall feeling?

Once we know that, we can figure out what makes sense for your curls.

This is where the haircut matters

Sometimes the thing you love about a particular curly look isn’t actually the product.

It’s the shape.

A well-designed curly haircut can influence how your curls fall, where your volume lives and how the overall style moves.

That’s why a trend can look completely different on two people ~ even when they’re using similar products.

The haircut creates the framework.

Your curls bring the personality.

And the styling brings it together.

And yes, products still matter.

This doesn’t mean products don’t have a role.

They absolutely do.

The right product category can help you achieve a particular result.

For example:

A leave-in conditioner can provide hydration, slip and manageability as part of your styling routine.

A deep conditioner can give your hair a more intensive conditioning step when your curls need additional moisture and softness.

A styling gel can help create definition and hold so your curl pattern can stay together as your hair dries.

A detox shampoo can help remove accumulated product, oils and other buildup when your regular cleansing routine isn’t quite enough.

The key is understanding what you’re trying to accomplish first.

Then choosing the product ~ or combination of products ~ that supports that goal.

More products aren’t automatically better.

Better strategy is better.

So what should you do when you see a trend you love?

Instead of asking:

“How do I make my hair look exactly like that?”

Try asking:

“What do I love about this?”

Then break it down.

Maybe you love the shape.

Maybe you want more volume.

Maybe you’re ready to experiment with bangs.

Maybe you want your curls to have more movement.

Maybe you simply want your hair to feel more expressive.

That’s where inspiration becomes useful.

You don’t have to become the trend.

You can make the trend work for you.

And sometimes the most beautiful result isn’t a perfect recreation at all.

It’s the version that makes sense for your curls, your lifestyle and you.

A little reminder for your next scroll:

You don’t have to look like the inspiration photo to know that your curls are beautiful.

You just need to understand what makes your curls work.

That’s where the real transformation begins. 🌿