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First off, does anyone want to be added to the ibeauty mailing list?
Second, I will not be replying to all comments. I will add a comment ONTO ibeauty. unless I really think the comment needs to be replied to on their blog, I will not answer all of them. There are just too many! o.O Good problem to have, of course. :) it's not because I'm fed up with them, it just takes so much time and now that school's started I'm pretty busy. :( But keep them coming! :D

NOW, to the entry:
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my natural hair type is something often classified as I.N.S.A.N.E.

for YEARS I tried to get it under control... I tried everything! Smoothing creams, blow-drying, air-drying, sprays, different conditioners, taming shampoos--but nothing seemed to work.

however, I've learned that there are ways to keep your mane tame, so listen to these tips I have for you, whether you have straight or curly hair:

1. Straightening doesn't have to kill your hair.
   Lots of girls don't straighten their hair because it leaves it looking like straw (mine used to do this, too.). Also, it would go back wavy after about two hours in the humid spring air.
   When you straighten (OR curl) here are some tips:
   --For straightening, do it LAYER BY LAYER. I separate my hair into about five layers when I straighten, and do those layers in four different sections. Same for curling. A small curling iron is not going to be able to handle a big piece of hair. Do lots of little curls, and then using simply your fingers entwine them together to get the one big ringlet look.
   --Dampen your hair before applying any heat. Curling and straightening alike suck the moisture out of your hair when they work their magic. get your hair slightly damp before starting. This will get rid of the dry straw look.
   --Use hairspray. when you're straightening, put hairspray on the part that you're about to straighten THE SECOND TIME AROUND. If you do it the first time it'll be hard to get you comb through. But it gets the little frizzles into control, and your hair still feels smooth as silk when you finish. when curling, use hairspray when the curl is on the iron. it helps keep the curly look, although your curls will be harder than usual.
2. Curl Perfect!
   If you have naturally curly hair, believe it or not it's a GIFT! You can go either curly or straight without much effort! But getting the curly under control is the hard part. 
   I'm going to reccommend three things:
   --A curl defining shampoo
   --A curl defining/natural conditioner
   --Moussing gel.
   For shampoo, I have fallen in love with two different brands: Herbal essence's "None of your frizziness" shampoo, and Charles Worthington Results: Curl Perfect shampoo. I especialy like the curl Perfect one. However, it's more expensive i believe of the two, and herbal essence's shampoo is easier to find.
   make sure if you use a curl-defining shampoo to not use a smoothing or taming conditioner. Your hair gets confused, and so becomes frizzy, and oily. Believe me. it's pretty bad. Use a conditioner that is also curl defining, or a natural. I use tresemme for conditioner, and I especially like their natural one or the one for colour treated hair.
   Last but not least, a moussing gel. Normal mousse leaves my hair feeling like someone rubbed jello in it and left it to rot, but with teh Alberto Moussing Gel I have my curls are hard, but well defined and there are no little frizzies getting in the way. I haven't tried other moussing gels, but i've heard they all act the same way. I use a bunch of the stuff, but most of it falls out when I tease my hair to make the curls curly (not 80s tease... like go upside down and scrunch it all).
   This should help keep your hair under control.
   Also, if you don't want to buy all of this, a good idea is to throw your wet hair into a messy bun and sleep on it and in the morning it should be all dry and curly. It works for me!
3. Random Tips
   --To get frizzies under control, put gel all over a comb and comb through them.
   --If you're in a hurry and your hair still needs to dry stick it into a messy bun to keep your curls under control and still have a cute hairstyle.
   --Want bangs but don't like them in your face? Use a cute clip to pull the back to the side, while they still sweep over you forehead and eyebrow.

Hope this helped you all!

Have fun!

ibeauty
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