An Open Letter to My Curly Hair + Dove Quench Absolute Collection

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Dear Curls,

I owe you a serious, from-the-bottom-of-my-heart apology…

for the years I abused you, straightening you out every single day before school,
for the buns I hid you in whenever I didn’t have time to straighten you out,
for the products I used that did nothing to moisturize you properly,
for the days I cursed you for getting bigger in humid weather,
for the split ends I let you accumulate,
for ignoring the fact that you exist when getting haircuts,
namely that pixie cut in the fourth grade…
I apologize for the envy I felt for my straight-haired friends,
for putting you through two chemical straightening processes,
and crying when they hardly had any effect besides frying you.

But the last few years, I’ve learned to embrace you,
and give you the attention you deserve,
and put you in the spotlight— not because I’m lazy, but because I genuinely like how you fall around my face.
Because with the right products, you don’t betray me.
You shine and bounce and steal the show.
You’re not unruly, you’ve got character.
Each one of you is unique, which makes me feel special.
You’re always voluminous, which makes me feel glamorous.
I can’t help but to #LoveMyCurls now.

Love,
Miranda

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Yes, I haven’t always loved my curls, but thankfully I’ve come to seriously enjoy them in their natural state when I’m using the right products. Dove recently launched their “Love Your Curls” campaign to encourage women to celebrate their curls instead of working against them, like I did for so long. Can you believe that according to a study, only 4/10 little girls with curly hair think that their hair is beautiful!? That seriously needs to change.

Dove designed the new Dove Quench Absolute line, which I’ve been using lately, specifically for managing and embracing curly and coarse hair. Back when I was first learning how to actually care for my curls, I turned to Dove products which worked wonders. However, this collection is the perfect fit for exactly what my hair needs: moisture and definition! All infused with protein, nutrients and Buriti Oil, these formulas work to make curly hair look and feel amazing as is. Because, newsflash: not all hair is the same, and hair products are not one-size-fits-all.

The Dove Quench Absolute Ultra Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner offer a gentle cleanse and extra hydration. After shampooing, I feel refreshed but never stripped of my natural oils, which is so important with curly hair. The conditioner has a consistency that leans thin, which lets it sink into your hair quickly (although I’m afraid I’ll get to the end of this tube quickly!). It gives high shine and leaves my hair soft and manageable with my curls looking defined, not frizzy.

I’m super excited about the Dove Quench Absolute Intensive Restoration Mask, because it seems like drugstores are lacking a selection of great deep conditioners. This mask has a richer texture than the conditioner for a boost of nourishing ingredients and moisture. I focus it halfway down my hair shafts and on the ends, letting it sit for about ten minutes while I shave my legs in the shower. After rinsing, my hair is detangled and oh-so-smooth.

My favorite product in this line is the Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Creme Serum. This is sort of like a hybrid between a leave-in conditioner and a lightweight gel. I find that not only does it add crazy silkiness, but offers a light hold to define and set my curls. I use it throughout the week to revive the shape of my hair; one pump is all I need and I never feel like it’s building up. If you’re not looking to change your whole hair care routine, at least pick this one up because I love how it makes my curls feel!

As part of their efforts to give cred to curls, Dove also released the Love Your Curls e-book full of fun poems about the beauty of curly hair. Some are whimsical, some are more poignant, but they all send an awesome message about embracing our natural beauty! The cool thing is that you can actually customize it for yourself or a curly girl in your life with a special dedication, inserting their name into a poem, and even turning a picture of them into an illustration (check out mine above!). You can print it out or share the digital version on social media from the Dove website. Hopefully it can help inspire you or a friend to appreciate your natural ‘do. 🙂

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.