Worldwide Assault on Curly Hair Prompts Rebellion from Editor

Fashion Emporium Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:39:41 EDT

This morning I came across a story about schools in Scotland buying straightening irons to help girls with their self-esteem. You may think that this type of expenditure would be low on an educational facilities' priority list, however the move is getting praise from--an Olympian?

Liz McColgan, the Scots Olympic pride, believes it would help more girls to participate in physical education. She said: "It's difficult to get young girls into sport. Half the reason is peer pressure from the boys and wanting to look good."

But what are people really implying here? Curly mops are heinous. That's what!

Discrimination by silky straight-haired people against us with curves and "q's" on our head has been acceptable. Until now.

Thinly veiled commercials for products like the InStyler, feature women with sad faces and big mops, in a lonely man-less setting. They use this oppressive tool, and voila! Guys flock to their side. This hair tool and other flat hair products never come out and say "spiraled hair looks like a rat's nest, " but, oh, I'm on to you, corporate pigs!

Even our own thesauruses give "synonyms" with derogatory connotations: crisp, convoluted, and frizzed? Gasp! Well, I never....

It's time, curly hair ladies! Its time to say that straight hair is not the only hair. We're not matte...but, er...we're here, we're curled and... um...we're mad as hell and were not going to take it anymore!

Last, loop-haired ladies, I leave you with words of inspiration spoken to me from the great Diane von Furstenberg, creator of the iconic wrap dress:

"One day in 1976, I did a picture for the cover of Interview. And I had my hair very straight, blown out, and so we did the shoot, we shot the picture. And then my friend the photographer said, 'Now wet your hair.' And I said, 'What do you mean? I can't wet my hair.' And he said, 'I just want to try something.' And my hair was super frizzy, and of course that's what ran on the cover, and that's how I've worn it since."

Well, she didn't say it to me. I read it in Interview magazine. But it felt like she was speaking to me. It still inspired me to let it all- the giant, voluminous ball of cylindrical filaments--fly free! Be free to frizz! Be free.

Naturally Curly Heroine, Diane von Furstenberg

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Worldwide Assault on Curly Hair Prompts Rebellion from Editor