Curly Girlie.

Hi. I'm glad you're here.

Finding the right name for my blog was one of the most difficult tasks. I wanted to find something that would represent me while also being descriptive of what I am doing here. Mostly, I'll be writing about which hair spray to try and which to avoid or how to get that "perfect" smokey eye, but, hopefully not surprisingly, I love much more than cosmetics and I even like a whole lot of other stuff, too. It had to be "Curly Girlie" because, well, you'll see. 

The name refers to what I consider my first struggle in the vast world of beauty. I had stick-straight hair as a child, and went through a cycle with it: let it grow, then chop it to a bob. This suited me fine until one dark, miserable day in 6th grade. The bob simply did not stay straight. I had gone even shorter than times before, and that was the day hormones kicked in and said "Sorry we're not sorry, Katie. And welcome to your endless days of curly hair struggles." For about a year and a half I had a puffball of strawberry blonde messy that I tried to subdue with headbands, water, hairties, anything (Notice none of those things are actually known as being very effective for controlling frizz. Like, seriously, Katie, can't you read all those bottles of product your mom and sister are using every. single. day?) I just let it grow and grow and grow, thinking that if I added weight it would get at least a little better. (Side Note: Here is a picture of my hair at its longest. This picture is from about a year and half ago, and my friend Lizzie took it while we was in London.)

Finally my sister introduced me to my dear friend hair mousse, as well as other taming products. And what did I discover that lovely day when I first experienced the beautiful, shining foam? I do not have poofy hair. I have curly hair.

Since then there have been many trials, experiments, and tests to discover which hair products suit my hair the best and make me the happiest. I don't hate my hair, though I thought I always would. And I have even cut it short again, with no fears that it would betray me in a frizzled frenzy of hate as it once did. Proof:

Ok, I admit that there was some stylist involvement in this, but I couldn't actually find a picture just of my short hair. I promise it isn't frizzy even when I do it myself. 

Discovering that I have curly hair and learning to work with it is what I see as my first real foray into the cosmetic culture. Makeup and nail products followed that, and clothes, shoes, and jewelry did not take long to catch up. There was a time in my life when I refused, in fact I was terrified, to step outside of my bedroom without makeup on. That is not a time I cherish. There are many lonely places that cosmetics can take women, and I do not believe that any of us should stay there very long. The best part of my journey is that when I got past the time in my life when makeup was a way to make boys look twice and to make girls jealous, I discovered that I do simply enjoy it. I like trying new products and new colors, but I don't feel less worthy of someone's time or attention if I don't get all dolled up. I know now that makeup is a choice, and also not a very important one, in the grand scheme of things. I'm more thankful for the people that help me feel loved than the products.

And so all I ask of you, my reader, is that you come to Curly Girlie because you want to have fun, see what ridiculousness I have gotten into recently, and think what I have to say might affect the next lip gloss you buy. If none of those things are true, then maybe this isn't the place for you. I won't be able to tell you which brand of eye shadow will make you beautiful or which lipstick will make you seem the most kissable, because all the makeup in the world couldn't increase the amount of worth your life already has. Makeup doesn't make beauty, but it just might make beauty easier to understand. That's how I feel about it (I think), and if you do too, stick around. 

Welcome to Curly Girlie.