Gina Chong

A blog about food and stuff

  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • CONTACT
  • FOLLOW ME
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Curly Girl

Uncategorized May 26, 2015

We started off our Memorial Day weekend at a pretty little lunch spot in Napa Valley called Addendum. It’s another one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants, right behind our favorite one, and is such a pretty spot. Aaaand I’m showing off my natural hair, guys.

I don’t know why it doesn’t appear on my blog more often because most days I have it au naturale. The thing is, my hair is half curly, half just frizzy, and growing up I hated it. Probably I just didn’t know what to do with it. I come from a big family with 7 kids, and every single person in my family has pin-straight Asian hair. So they were no help with my hair conundrum and I always wished I could have just been born with straight hair as well. So for years and years, through both high school and college I would straighten it. Every. Single. Day. And whenever I visited Korea I would get a straight perm.

Well you can imagine where that led me. My hair ended up horribly damaged, especially after I started coloring it, and it wasn’t until a year or so ago that I was able to nurse it completely back to health. Since then I’ve learned to work with my curls, and I’ve found that they give back as much love as I give them. Now I take much better care of my hair, rarely using heat and also washing it less often. And when I want to show off my natural hair, I make sure not to comb it after the shower so that it can retain it’s curls, use some serum, let it air dry, then I fill in the gaps by using a curling iron on any stray frizzies. It works pretty well and I end up blessed with some curly hair with very little effort.

It’s interesting, though, how common my story is. I got a little package from Dove with their Quench Absolute line for curly hair and a book called Love Your Curls. The products are supposed to provide up to 4x more defined, natural curls and I loved them. And I especially loved the message in the book. I’ve really liked the campaigns Dove has been coming out with lately (remember the Dove real beauty sketches one?). In this book they talk about how only 4 in 10 little girls with curly hair actually think that their hair is beautiful (which was so true for me!), and how only 10% of women with curly hair are actually proud of their hair. It’s essentially a collection of poems inspired by true stories from curly girls and talks about loving your curls. You can download an e-book HERE and personalize it to dedicate it to the curly girl in your own life.

Do you guys have any tips for working with natural curls?

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

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related

SHARE:
Korean Spicy Ribs »
« Grilled Shrimp Scampi over Whole Wheat Spaghetti

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • Red FlannelRed Flannel
  • Coconut Dream PuffsCoconut Dream Puffs
  • Road Trippin’Road Trippin’
  • Beef Yaki Mandu (Fried Dumplings)Beef Yaki Mandu (Fried Dumplings)

Comments

  1. Gina G says

    June 8, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    I can't believe that haha! I mean they seriously sell like 2 things there, what are the chances they would run out! And thanks Tania!

    Reply
  2. Tania says

    June 5, 2015 at 7:53 am

    I tried to go to Addendum once but unfortunately they were out of the fried chicken before I got there! I still need to plan a trip back one day. Anyways your natural hair is totally beautiful. I didn't even suspect that your hair was not naturally straight. But it looks so good with curls! You should definitely leave it like this more often!

    xx freshfizzle

    Reply
  3. Gina G says

    June 1, 2015 at 5:06 am

    Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Gina G says

    June 1, 2015 at 5:06 am

    thanks!

    Reply
  5. Adriana says

    May 30, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    You hair looks so good! And your outfit is so casual and pretty!
    xx
    theblackblush.blogspot.pt

    Reply
  6. Antonio Garcia says

    May 30, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    You look amazing!
    mynutrition

    Reply
  7. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    Curls are just a bit unruly and tend to frizz easily, but yeah they can be a blessing if you learn how to work with them. Thanks Annie!

    Reply
  8. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:56 pm

    thanks!

    Reply
  9. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:56 pm

    thank you!

    Reply
  10. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    aw thanks!

    Reply
  11. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    aw thanks!

    Reply
  12. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    thanks!

    Reply
  13. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    Oh I love letting it dry in a braid too, it makes for more uniform curls! Thanks for the tips Alexandra!

    Reply
  14. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Agree! Wish I'd found out earlier

    Reply
  15. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Glad you can relate!

    Reply
  16. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Thanks!

    Reply
  17. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Ha I can't tell you how long I craved your hair~ the grass is always greener I guess

    Reply
  18. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    thanks Abby!

    Reply
  19. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    thank you!

    Reply
  20. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    Thanks!

    Reply
  21. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    thank you!

    Reply
  22. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    thanks!

    Reply
  23. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    thanks!

    Reply
  24. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    Right? Glad you agree! And thanks!

    Reply
  25. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    thanks 🙂

    Reply
  26. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    🙂 thanks Melanie

    Reply
  27. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    Thanks!

    Reply
  28. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    🙂 thanks Kristina

    Reply
  29. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    Yeah my Mom's hair is like that, when she first moved to the US, the hair dresser didn't know what to do with her because she wasn't used to Asian hair haha! Thanks June!

    Reply
  30. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Haha it's rough being a girl 😉

    Reply
  31. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Yeah that's so true

    Reply
  32. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Haha I've been thinking about cutting mine for the first time in years. I love shoulder-length hair that has just a couple big waves in it, I think it's so pretty

    Reply
  33. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    I'm glad! You have the prettiest hair!

    Reply
  34. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  35. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    thank you 🙂

    Reply
  36. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Thanks!

    Reply
  37. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    thanks~

    Reply
  38. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Thanks!

    Reply
  39. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Thanks for the tip!

    Reply
  40. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Yeah I can relate, mine just takes a bit of coaxing

    Reply
  41. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:18 pm

    Haha you guys are funny!

    Reply
  42. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:17 pm

    thanks 🙂

    Reply
  43. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:17 pm

    Haha well they are 90% natural Deniz, thanks.

    Thanks guys!

    Reply
  44. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    Haha true that

    Reply
  45. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    Yeah I'm not sure if mine is as soft as it used to be, it's been so long. But it's so so much better than it was a year or two ago. Glad you can relate Mikela!

    Reply
  46. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    thanks!

    Reply
  47. Gina G says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    Oh so true. And yeah my hair is pretty much the same, that's why I have to use a curling iron on the weird not-quite-curly strands ha

    Reply
  48. prudence yeo says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    Your curls look so lovely and adore you casual chic style in a hat too, so pretty and cute!

    Prudence
    http://www.prudencepetitestyle.com

    Reply
  49. Sarah Modeee says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    Hello,

    Beautiful pics ! 😀

    Sarah, http://sarahmodeee.blogspot.fr/

    Reply
  50. annie lee says

    May 29, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    i in the other hand always wanted natural curls i think they make it so much easier to style! but you look stunning in any style gina! such a beauty really 🙂 xo

    Reply
  51. Kreyola says

    May 29, 2015 at 1:55 am

    Dove did a great job by picking you :D. Lovely look and beautiful flowing hair :D.

    Kreyola Jounerys | Instagram

    Reply
  52. JOURNAL OF STYLE says

    May 28, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    Gina, your hair is perfect! I wish I had curls, really!! I've got to use tons of products to have some structure and volume in it! And your hair color is gorgeous too! You look adorable here! What I love about Dove is that they take "real" women for commercials! Great review / post, Gina!!!

    xxx Ira
    JOURNAL OF STYLE / BLOGLOVIN

    Reply
  53. Chanel From Je M'appelle says

    May 28, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    Ugh these photos are so pretty as are you!
    xox
    Chanel
    JeMappelleChanel.com

    Reply
  54. Jan says

    May 28, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    You have such beautiful hair! <3

    -Jan
    janmloves.blogspot.com

    Reply
  55. Irene Papadopoulou says

    May 28, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    i love your hair! natural hair is always the best! it is really important to use very good products to protect your hair!
    Irene
    http://www.thedailylace.com

    Reply
  56. Simply Alexandra // My Favorite Things says

    May 28, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    So fun! You look so pretty! I love having curly hair, but I definitely didn't always!! It would get so unruly that I spent most of my childhood with it pulled back super tight into a pony tail. It wasn't until I was a sophomore in HS that a friend told me my natural hair was pretty down. We had just got out of the pool and it was drying. That changed things, I'm so glad she said something! I am currently on the hunt for natural products that are perfect for my hair. I never brush it I just use a comb, and let it dry in a braid a lot. I also find switching my side part lets me go longer between washes. 🙂 XO -Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

    Reply
  57. Mimi Gonzales says

    May 28, 2015 at 8:57 am

    I feel you there. Growing up, I had curly hair and I wasn't very proud of it. I was wondering what made everybody love it so much while I hated it. It was only when it got so damaged did I realize how much it really meant to have a curly hair. I'm still trying to nurse it now, but I sure wouldn't mind bringing back my old hairstyle! 🙂

    Mimi | The Foxy Heroine

    Reply
  58. Abigail Castro says

    May 28, 2015 at 7:30 am

    Gina, love those curls on you! I also love what you're wearing here. Everything is perfect, including the place!!

    xo,
    Abby of Life in the Fash Lane

    Reply
  59. Chelsea Borgerding says

    May 28, 2015 at 7:30 am

    Your curls are stunning in these photos! I also adore your hat, so perfect look all around. I am also so jealous that your hair naturally curls. I have stick straight hair and no matter how hard I try, it barely holds a curl.

    Chelsea
    Ginger Side of Life

    Reply
  60. Anonymous says

    May 28, 2015 at 7:30 am

    I have big thick wavy hair and I've just been wondering what to do with it lately. So, I really appreciated this post. Thanks for the tip! Also your photos are are so fun!:)
    http://trend-mixblog.com/

    Reply
  61. Adri Lately says

    May 27, 2015 at 10:29 pm

    Your hair and curls look so pretty! I always feel like we want the opposite type of hair we have. I have REALLY thick hair and would love less. It looks like you have found ways to make it work for you:)
    xo Adri
    http://www.adrilately.blogspot.com

    Reply
  62. Marina Ingvarsson says

    May 27, 2015 at 10:29 pm

    You look lovely, love the photos1

    http://www.bonaupetite.com

    Reply
  63. IYL says

    May 27, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    Well your hair looks amazing so well done Dove! Love the curls!

    http://theavantguardian.com

    Reply
  64. Eleigh Llaneras says

    May 27, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    Dove is the most effective women empowering brand I know. Lovely curls, btw! 🙂

    Miss Eleigh Neux | Bloglovin

    Reply
  65. Trou Vang says

    May 27, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    Love the outfit! And definitely adoring your curls!

    <3 Trou
    The Peculiar Trouth

    Reply
  66. Miss LovelyAttitude says

    May 27, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    I have the same problem 😀 But seriously, your hair looks great!

    http://lovelyattitude.com

    Reply
  67. Danika Maia says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Your hair looks amazing!! My natural curly hair is so frizzy and wild after years of straightening that I never wear it natural. I should!

    Danika Maia
    http://www.danikamaia.com
    BLOGLOVIN'

    Reply
  68. Diane says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    My hair is half culry/half wavy so I now do the keratain treatment on it. Game changer! I don't know how I've lived without it!

    Love your outfit in this post!

    Diane
    http://www.mychaneltaste.com

    Reply
  69. Zarrah Jane says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    You look so pretty over that curls.
    I love Dove too
    XO

    Check my new post.
    The Bandwagon Chic | Instagram | Bloglovin

    Reply
  70. Kelsey Bang says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    your style is the cutest! what a darling spot to take photos!
    kelseybang.com

    Reply
  71. Rumela says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Omg ur hair is beautiful. Love ur outfit and the pictures too .
    http://www.rumelatheshopaholic.blogspot.com

    Reply
  72. Anonymous says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Oh, your hair is so beautiful. xx

    ALLURE OBSESSED – BEAUTY BLOG // BLOGLOVIN'

    Reply
  73. Adria says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Fortunately, or sometimes unfortunately, my hair is naturally wavy so all I don't blow-dry it when I want to show off my curls! Great tips, though!
    http://fashion-soup.com/

    Reply
  74. Paige Flamm says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    I love your curls! I have natural pin straight hair that's so hard to curl and I often wish it was curly, but I've learned to just embrace the straightness over the last few years and I've learned to love it!

    Paige
    http://thehappyflammily.com

    Reply
  75. Shaira Manalo says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    You honestly have a nice hair. I now regret that I had my hair cut into shoulder length. I don't know how i'm going to style it 🙁

    Have a great day!

    xoxo,
    SHAIRA
    http://www.missdream-girl.blogspot.com

    Reply
  76. Brighton Hill says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Your hair is beautiful! The curls look pretty. It seems like people with straight hair often want curly hair and the people with curly hair want straight!

    xo, Bry

    Leather.and.Diamonds.Naughty&Nice

    Reply
  77. Straight A Style says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Umm your natural hair is gorgeous! I totally know what you mean though. My natural hair is NOT pretty.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

    Reply
  78. June Paski says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Gina, I really love your natural hairs, the curly are perfect! I really want curly hairs but it's very difficult to make my hairs curly nor wave, they always back to straight >.< btw, love your outfit, it's casual and chic!

    xxx June
    http://www.junepaski.com

    Reply
  79. Kristina says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Your natural curls are so pretty! I have pin straight hair and always wish it would curl better.

    Kristina does the Internets

    Reply
  80. Amber Shannon says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    You can have mine… Lol

    ♥
    Amber
    All the Cute

    Reply
  81. Amber Shannon says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    I know the curly haired struggle for serious…

    Your hair is beautiful, though!! Cute outfit by the way, such a fun little picnic table setting!

    ♥
    Amber
    All the Cute
    Latest Post: Little Red Dress

    Reply
  82. meandmr.com says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Your hair looks amazing!!! I love the curls!
    melanie @ meandmr.com

    Reply
  83. BluePixel (aka Sophie) says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Love your hair and curls! Your hair is just gorgeous and looks so silky and smooth!
    Sophie
    http://smittensophie.com

    Reply
  84. julie @ jewelswandering.com says

    May 27, 2015 at 3:17 am

    I always wished I had an afro! My hair is poker straight and any curls or updo falls out after an hour or so. So sad! Would love your hair!! 🙂

    Reply
  85. Naeun says

    May 27, 2015 at 2:25 am

    Your natural hair is so beautiful Gina! Funny thing is, growing up I wished I had curly hair instead of my dead straight hair. I guess we always want what we can't get haha also love the idea of an e-book, I must check it out 🙂 xx

    http://www.tongue-in-chic.com

    Reply
  86. Deniz G says

    May 27, 2015 at 2:25 am

    Your hair is simply gorgeous (: Your curls look so natural!

    – Deniz
    http://www.dressedupdeniz.com

    Reply
  87. Emma Walker says

    May 27, 2015 at 2:25 am

    Love this! 

    Emma | With A City Dream

    Reply
  88. Aleczandra Sallows says

    May 27, 2015 at 12:11 am

    Um…your hair looks AMAZING!!! I love it! And the chambray top is so cute with that floral skirt.

    https://forsevenseasons.wordpress.com

    Reply
  89. Simply Davelyn says

    May 27, 2015 at 12:11 am

    Oh my gosh you sound just like me! I've always had half curly and half straight hair and all through highschool I would either re-curl it all or straighten it. My hair ended up damaged too and I'm still trying to repair it. It takes forever, though! I mean, it looks pretty good now. But it just doesn't feel as soft as it did long ago.

    Your hair is gorgeous! 😉

    xo, mikéla / simplydavelyn.com

    Reply
  90. Shea Sayers says

    May 26, 2015 at 9:30 pm

    Your curls are GORGEOUS. I think it's so hard to embrace what you have–hair, skin, body type… the grass is always greener, right? My hair is naturally wavy, but not uniformly so, they waves go all over the place. I need to learn to just go with it though! Thanks for showing off your pretty curls!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No posts found.

Make sure this account has posts available on instagram.com.

Click here to troubleshoot

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

All photos and content ©Gina Chong. Printables and recipes are for personal use only.

Cleantalk Pixel