Hi!

What a nice board. :)

My hair is curly, which is fine when I am inclined to romance, but what should I do to look serious?

I've had a job interview recently and wore my hair half-up; the interviewer thought I was a teenager. If I have a presentation in front of strangers, or need to act from a position of authority, I want to be taken seriously.

The obvious solution would be to wear an updo, and I do. But although it does make me look more mature and responsible, some curls always sneak out, softening the look, and I end up looking gentle, which is the last thing I need. All the other women have short or medium-long hair.

And yet, I don't want to give up my hair for a more 'professional' image (meaning I am too vain to cut or straighten my locks).

Another such formal situation is coming along and I am already nervous about it. Such things are largely a matter of confidence, and if I speak firmly and well, it should be fine. But, still, those people don't know me, and I want to do my absolute best.

What do you do in such cases? I imagine that a beautiful sleek Franch twist would work for a straightie. What would be a 'serious' look for a curlie?

Would a low bun be better than a high one? :? Something else? What do you think?

Hello there Olivia,

I worried about this as well for my teaching
interviews (my hair wasn't as long at the time
and I really stressed out with what to do with it!)

I ended up wearing my hair back and in a low
pony tail with a slidey barrette thing (usually dark
leather). That way, it was back and looked professional
and clean and I didn't have to cut it!!! (which I had no
plans of doing!)

I hope this helps you.......and good luck with your
interviews! :)

Hi, Olivia. (Love your name, by the way!) I like LongRed's suggestion about the low pony. I don't have curly hair, I have straight hair. However, what about some sort of hair gel for when you want to do a French twist or something? Even though I have straight hair, sometimes I'll use a straightening gel just to make my hair behave in a braid, or to keep the layers from poking out. Maybe that is an option for you. Good luck, and your job sound pretty cool!!!! :)

Hee hee... I managed to sneak in here for a few moments before leaving! Olivia, I think Wishing4 does french twists, and she's got curly hair. Also, one of my aunts has really curly hair, and a french twist looks good on her!

Stick with the french twist, and maybe put a teensy bit of gel or hair spray on, so you don't get the wispies. That should work and look very nice.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh Olivia!!! Welcome to the boards!!! Your hair sounds BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pictures, we want pictures! ;) <Tbear, quite being so pushy with the newbie! :) LOL>

It sounds like these occasions are somewhat in frequent. If so, then you might gel your hair really well before putting it up into an updo.

I agree, an updo tends to make one (ok, ME at least) look more professional than any down-do. French twists ALWAYS look classy, even if there are tendrils (I'm spelling that wrong, aren't I?) falling out of it. Gel helps minimize the tendrils from springing out.

Anyway, I hope that helps, and Welcome, welcome, welcome! :)

I don't have any suggestions that haven't already been made, but just want to say welcome! :)

Ohhhhhhhhhhh Olivia!!! Welcome to the boards!!! Your hair sounds BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pictures, we want pictures! ;) <Tbear, quite being so pushy with the newbie! :) LOL>


Geez, Tbear, don't scare the woman away!! ;-) (Ummmm, do you have any pics, Olivia?)

Welcome, Olivia! First, in case you didn't know, LongRed recently had her hair thermally reconditioned. It is naturally curly, and would have been for her teaching interviews. Her post might make more sense in that light. :-)

I really don't have any ideas other than what's been mentioned, but wanted to welcome you to LHC! :DD

Welcome to the group Olivia!

A french twist is very professional looking. If you don't like the curls that sneak out try using a gel to hold them in place. I think they'd look great, but that's your decision.

What about a bun? Easier than a french twist. You didn't say how long your hair was, so hopefully you have enough hair for a bun. Try both a high and low bun and decide for yourself. Which one holds better and keeps those curls hidden? Use a set of nice looking hairsticks to add professionalism.

Well, hope that helps some. Let us know what you did.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh Olivia!!! Welcome to the boards!!! Your hair sounds BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pictures, we want pictures! ;) <Tbear, quite being so pushy with the newbie! :) LOL>


Geez, Tbear, don't scare the woman away!! ;-) (Ummmm, do you have any pics, Olivia?)


LOL, well SOMEONE has to expose her to how we REALLY act around here . . . I just thought it would be me this time! LOL ;) hahahahahaahhaahhaa

And, I really need to watch my spelling . . . ARG! quiete instead of quit! :sick: <shrugging> Oh well . . . you get the idea! ;) hahahaa

Adding my welcome and (not sure what this style is called) I think it's called a roll, where you take the hair in the back, roll it upwards until you reach the nape of your neck (looks something like a crescent roll from ear to ear) then pin in place or use some kind of comb to hold it in place.

I LOVE that style and it looks great with curly hair too, not to mention a very romantic style :D

Thank you! :D

Where do I begin now?

(Love your name, by the way!)
Thank you! :)


It sounds like these occasions are somewhat in frequent.

Well, actually, they are not, and that's exactly why I am so nervous about this. My hair makes me look mild, and I'm trying to find a style that would make people (especially senior men) least inclined to assume a patronizing tone when talking to me.


I worried about this as well for my teaching
interviews (my hair wasn't as long at the time
and I really stressed out with what to do with it!)

I ended up wearing my hair back and in a low
pony tail with a slidey barrette thing (usually dark
leather). That way, it was back and looked professional
and clean and I didn't have to cut it!!! (which I had no
plans of doing!)

I appreciate your suggestion and I thought about this, but my hair is big and I'm afraid my ponytail looks too bushy.


Stick with the french twist, and maybe put a teensy bit of gel or hair spray on, so you don't get the wispies. That should work and look very nice.

A french twist is very professional looking. If you don't like the curls that sneak out try using a gel to hold them in place. I think they'd look great, but that's your decision.

I agree that a French twist is professional, but on me the whole look is still somehow too soft. However, my perception may be wrong, or perhaps I'm just incapable of doing it properly.


Adding my welcome and (not sure what this style is called) I think it's called a roll, where you take the hair in the back, roll it upwards until you reach the nape of your neck (looks something like a crescent roll from ear to ear) then pin in place or use some kind of comb to hold it in place.

I tried something similar to what you described, because I concluded that for some strange reason a lower updo makes feel more confident. (When my hair is high on the head, I instinctively hold my head in a more feminine way, and, as I said, I want to look a bit tougher than I really am.)



Anyway, in the end I made some kind of a low bun, making sure that the ends are all tucked inside, and used a fair amount of aloe gel to make the whole thing presentable. I felt confident enough, so I hope I'll survive.

I really appreciate being able to talk this through. I'm aware that a should-I-wear-my-bun-high-or-low question may sound like hair-splitting, but in places where casual clothing is generally frowned upon, the same goes for long hair, and I can't help but be nervous. Some professions and some geographical areas are worse than others. Normally, I just wear what I want and play with my hair as I please, but a job interview or a formal exam is not the place to be stubborn. We are never as free as we would like to believe. (Please, Olivia, do stop now.)


Thank you, all of you, for the warm welcome. :D

Glad it went well for you! And welcome to the board. This is a great place to get advice.

Welcome, Olivia! I'm a softy, too -- people can tell right away that I'm a softy, and there's no way I'm going to come across any other way. However, I have found that when my ATTITUDE is confident and strong, I come across that way, regardless of what I am wearing or how my hair is styled. Of course, I'm still working on adopting that air of confidence all the time, but when I do get it, it really works. I have found that is waaay more important than my exterior appearance.

Just my two cents. Glad you are joining us -- we love curlies here! :D

Hi Olivia... welcome!

I'm a curly as well and I fully understand about the "curls making me look like a little girl" thing. For "power" meetings I wear my "power" suit, my "power" pumps and bring my "power" briefcase ;) and I wear my hair in the "power" french roll - for some reason a french roll always makes me feel ultra sophisticated.

Also, I usually set my hair to dry in jumbo rollers - it mostly straightens my hair and allows me to have that smooth look. If I want curls I can always just wet my hair again.

HTH, Sheba

:DD :DD looks like my hair and your hair were sisters in previous birth! mine gives a soft look whether i want it or not. sometimes it looks wavy, sometimes, more wavy and sometimes curly and sometimes just plain unruly. and no, i dont like any styling products on my hair. so, i just cant have a sleek sophisticated look.

a client once told me when i was giving a presentation - 'so, what have you got there, kiddo!' and next day, he asked me if i had gone to college to do computers and if i were seventeen... nope! this guy was defintiely not flirting with me. he was so serious thinking that i was a real kid that he even confirmed with my manager about this. the whole time that this went on, i found it very funny but i was also a bit concerned. i just politely thanked him, for making me feel younger, with a smile ;)

well, i didnt want to stress my hair because of his comments, so i just let my hair on its own, just was myself - worked a little way up with my dressing. upped my casuals to smart casuals or semi-formals as they are called, focussed on my posture - stand straight with heads up and talk softly but clearly making my point.... and now he recommends me to his peers - there's this 'kid' in IT department and she's very professional :D :D :D

you are always taken serious when you are professional - in all possible ways. and about your updos, you can try a small bun at the nape, neatly pulled back. i somehow feel that this updo makes look people pretty serious (not old!).

Hi Olivia, and welcome!

Boy I wish I had some advice for you, but I am updo impaired. And when I was in the Army and needed to look professional I caved and cut my hair short. WAY short. :? But hey, I needed to be at my desk at 0730! :puke:

Hope you can post pictures soon, we'd love to see your curls and updos!

I know what you mean about not being taken seriously at work. I was in my 30's and was the senior scientist in my organization. I had to brief generals, majors, colonels and other uppity-ups all the time. I was in and out of the Pentagon with my briefings a lot.

My colonel was a hard line briefer and I credit him for all my progress. He held briefing reviews all the time, and he was tough. He also told me that I was too soft and would get no respect. His suggestions? I wore my glasses when I had to brief; I even bought a pair that were glare free and plain glass so I could still wear my contacts. And I wore my hair, which was shoulder length at the time, in a half up with a barrette. Those two simple things did wonders for the men listening and for my self esteem. They weren't big changes so I felt very comfortable with them.

But then, we got a new base commander. I briefed him on our security procedures. He asked me a few questions, and I replied. He then said "you sound like my daughter, always have an answer for everything don't you?" I told him "That's my job sir, and your daughter sounds like a smart cookie" He laughed and I was his favorite briefer after that.

This has been an interesting read. It's good to know I'm not alone and see how you deal with this.

smiles,
I also dislike styling products, and your story sounds almost the same as the interview I mentioned. Our hairs just must be twins on some level.

About the pictures,
I don't know. I like to look at others', so it wouldn't be fair to refuse. I hope I'll get to it at some point. Apart from the description in my signature line, I could add that my hair looks similar to Dulci's: mine is much shorter, and a tiny bit curlier (on some days I could be a 3a-b).

I have been reading some old threads and I'm just amazed at the amount and the quality of information around here. And not just about hair. I'm in my mid-twenties and still have a lot to learn, but I hope I will soon be able to give advice, not just ask for it.

Thanks, and see you around!

I think Sheba's suggestion about drying the hair in large rollers b4 doing the updo is a great one. It will make the hair straighter to eliminate those wispies / tendrils.

Other than that, you need to be more assertive and not worry so much about how others perceive you. We can't always please or live upto everyone's expectations. Just be as confident as you can and let the chips fall where they may...things usually have a way of working out for the best.

Good luck!

Hey, Olivia!

I've got almost stick-straight hair, personally, but I've got a friend with really tight ringlets - when her hair is wet (at it's straightest) it's several inches longer than when it's dry.....a good look for her is a low bun (high bun tends to look slightly "gypsy"-ish, esp. when worn with hairsticks! I'd suggest drying your hair on the rolers for maximum non-additive straightness, and perhaps use a bun holder over the bun to further contain the curls. I've got 2 - both metal - one is shaped with metal scrollwork, and the other is one of those "infinity" doohickies that you can make into several different shapes. There's a website out there with fabulous bun holders, and when your hair gets to long/thick for your present one, you can send it back and get a larger size for a small fee. Ladies - what's the name of that site? With the hairscrews, too, and the demo pics of the figure 8 bun?

Hi! I know nothing about curly hair but just wanted to welcome you :D

I think the site that Rennie was talking about is www.bronzejewelers.com . Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

I think the site that Rennie was talking about is www.bronzejewelers.com . Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

That's it! I was thinking it was bronze something, but I wasn't sure...thanks! I think that all the hair toys on that site are hair-safe, Olivia...some are a bit expensive, but they're worth it!

Hey, what about that Gibson Tuck? It's where you make a low pony tail, and divide the hair in half *above* the elastic (like you are making a flip through- topsy tail ponytail) but just push all the length of your hair into the divide... not pulling it through.

this style is done of curly hair in the "Braids" Klutz book. It looks really really good on the curly hair.

Also, I usually set my hair to dry in jumbo rollers - it mostly straightens my hair and allows me to have that smooth look. If I want curls I can always just wet my hair again.I think Sheba's suggestion about drying the hair in large rollers b4 doing the updo is a great one. It will make the hair straighter to eliminate those wispies / tendrils.I'd suggest drying your hair on the rolers for maximum non-additive straightness

Your suggestion makes perfect sense, and several days after a (weekly) wash, when my hair is on the wavier side, the updos are tidier. However, I'm still trying to find 'serious' styles which would make the curls look good. Thanks! :)

There's a website out there with fabulous bun holders, and when your hair gets to long/thick for your present one, you can send it back and get a larger size for a small fee. Ladies - what's the name of that site? With the hairscrews, too, and the demo pics of the figure 8 bun?I think the site that Rennie was talking about is www.bronzejewelers.com .

Hey, those toys look great! Thanks.

Hey, what about that Gibson Tuck? It's where you make a low pony tail, and divide the hair in half *above* the elastic (like you are making a flip through- topsy tail ponytail) but just push all the length of your hair into the divide... not pulling it through.

this style is done of curly hair in the "Braids" Klutz book. It looks really really good on the curly hair.

Thank you! I've just tried the Gibson tuck for the first time and I really like it. :D

long_haired_rennie

I misspelled your name twice! I'm sorry.

long_haired_rennie

I misspelled your name twice! I'm sorry.

*grin* Not a problem....I get hung up on "Renaissance" all the time!