Can One Haircut Really Work for Curls and Blowouts? I Went to Ouidad to Find Out.

While I’ve spent much of my life straightening my naturally curly hair for ease, I do let my strands run wild every now and then. My approach to styling depends on a mix of factors: Is there a week-long heat wave on the horizon? Then the curls are out. Am I heading to an event where a sleek all-black outfit calls for a slicked-back hairstyle? Here comes the flat iron and bobby pins. A casual backyard BBQ with friends? That’s a flowy white strapless top moment—with my hair up and curly, of course.

My decisions are shaped by the weather, my outfit, my mood, and everything in between.

The author’s curls before.

The author’s straight hair before.

One thing I’ve never seriously considered, though, is getting a curly haircut, or a cut specifically tailored to your curl pattern, typically done by a curl expert. With my 2C/3A hair, I started wondering if it was possible to get a cut that worked for both of my worlds: curly one day, sleek the next. I didn’t want anything that would look choppy or uneven once straightened. I wanted shape, dimension, and a little more oomph—especially since my hair had grown so long that my curls started to fall flat under the weight. So, I turned to the experts at Ouidad for a solution.

Ouidad Salon in New York.

If you’re familiar with Ouidad, you know the brand is beloved for its curly hair products, with multiple lines designed for different curl types. They also have a flagship salon in New York City, where I met with stylist Shantell Kelly for a consultation. I told her I wanted to keep my length while making sure the cut would work for both curly and straight styles.

After our chat, Shantell recommended a layered cut. And since the stylists at Ouidad deeply understand curl patterns and how they fall, all cuts are carefully tailored to your texture, shape, and daily styling needs. (Spoiler: This means the process involves lots and lots of trimming.)

Here’s how it went for me: First, she washed my hair to evaluate its natural curl pattern. Then came the haircut, followed by a second rinse to revive any curls that may have dried or flattened during the trim. After that, she applied a leave-in conditioner and gel using the rake-and-shake method—sectioning the hair, combing through it with fingers, then gently shaking it to activate the natural curl pattern. Once the product was evenly distributed, she used a diffuser to dry my hair while preserving my curl shape.

The author’s curls after.

The author’s straight hair after.

Walking out of Ouidad, I felt like I finally had a haircut that didn’t make me choose between straight or curly. My curls had bounce and definition, and when I straightened my hair a few days later, it still looked sleek and even, no weird layering or awkward ends. Turns out, you really can have it all.

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