The problem in english is that “for” can have multiple meanings in this case. It can mean the product is just meant to be used on item X or it can mean it intended to make the product more like X.
In this case, I’m confused because some people with curly hair hate it and want it straighter, so “for curly” hair might make it straightens or at least not make it curlier, while people with straight hair who DO want it curly would want a intentional product “for curly hair” to make their hair curly.
Which is it?
I’m one of those people with curly hair that hates it. I hate it, because I can’t opt out of dealing with it.
That out of the way, products for curly hair are designed to assist in caring for curly hair.
Products that are designed to straighten hair, or intensify curls will state that explicitly for all the ambiguous wording issues you’ve mentioned
Technically you can opt out of it. Bald.
Nobody can opt out of the type of hair they have.
As a person with straight hair, I empathize with this so much. I cannot opt out of it either, my hair will not hold a curl to save my life and it’s dull, scraggly, and takes so much effort to manage when it’s long.
I know it’s not an option for everyone, but I just said fuck it and cut it all off. I’ve had a pixie cut most of my adult life lol
Opting out and getting dull and scraggly as a result is the type of opting out I want
lol I wish we could switch hair because I’d love to have my hair be able to have any kind of body at all
Curly hair is great for people that love beauty routines and self care sessions!
It’s not so great for people who don’t
I get that. I feel like it’s the actually really similar for my hair type. When it’s long, if I don’t have an extensive routine with conditioners and hair oils, it just knots up with the tiniest breeze. Like, if it’s a sort of windy day, I will end up with a rat’s nest of knots.
But that’s why I cut mine all off, I’d rather deal with a pixie cut than spend an hour+ keep it manageable every day. It’s probably a grass is greener kind of thing lol
I think it’smostly a problem that straight hair is taken as the default and everything is made with that in mind.
It’s because if I just ignore my hair, it turns to knotty frizz that takes hours to deknot. And I can’t brush my hair unless I’m in the shower washing it. Which means I have to wash it 2 or 3 times a week. And every time I wash it, I can’t dry it with a towel. I have to either use a hair dryer for 20 minutes, or wear a towel on my head for an hour, and then let it air dry for another 30 minutes or so after that.
I don’t do skin care, I don’t do makeup, I don’t do my nails, yet my fucking hair… My skin, face and nails are fine despite me ignoring them. Sure, they might look better with a bit of attention, but they function just fine even when I don’t put any time in to them. But I have to have a routine for my hair, because the only other option is cutting it all off
That’s why I resent my hair.
I do like doing my hair, and to some extent curly is easier (at least it always does something, I can just scrunch it) but occasionally it’s nice to go let the stylist blow it out straight - that will hold for a week.
And I wanted to comment on the brushing - I used to have SUCH tangly hair that “tangled” was my hair type. If I looked from one side to the other, it would tangle. These ladies on the old Naturallycurly site kept telling me to stop brushing it, just detangle with a wide tooth comb in the shower and then it would not be so tangly. I thought they were out of their minds, that my hair was just different - it wasn’t damaged, no split ends, nothing, just tangly. Well I tried it and guess what? Once I had a crop of never brushed hair, it was not tangly. Ever since putting down the brush it is so much easier. No big detangling sessions. Just wash, can comb the shampoo through it. Condition, some styling products, and go. It doesn’t dry as fast as yours but if I wash in the morning, diffuser a few minutes, it’s dry by lunchtime.
I may have to try that. My curls are never happy