I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve been told “you’re so lucky to have naturally curly hair!” or “I wish I had your hair!” Well, you are more than welcome to take it! Life with curly hair is no easy task.

1. Want to straighten your hair? It’s about a two-hour long process

If I choose to straighten my hair, I must be super motivated for the process I’m about to go through. Layer by layer I battle the curls and feel the burn in my arm as I hold the straightener. I usually take breaks between each layer otherwise I become too bored and my arm gets tired.

2. Don’t expect to have “get up and go” hair after sleeping on it wet

If you decide to wash your curly hair and then go to sleep, be prepared to battle the mane in the morning. Curly hair has a mind of its own and when you sleep on it wet, well, the curls do as they please. Often the result is not very pretty.

3. Humidity is your worst enemy

You don’t know the true struggle of having curly hair until you wear your hair down in the humidity. I’ve watched my hair grow with frizz and puff out in every direction. You can try all the hair product you want, but it will never control the curls.

4. You cannot touch it when it’s dry

If you want to style your curly hair, that needs to be done while your hair is still wet. Once the hair has dried, it does not want to be touched. Touching it will lead to frizz and curls that now stick out from one another.

5. You must avoid rain at all costs

Don’t even attempt to wear your curly hair down when it’s raining. The curls and rain do not get along. What starts as a cute hairstyle will end looking like the hair on a poodle. If you must go out in the rain, a bun and headband are your best bet. You must pull out all the tricks to stop the rain from getting the best of the mane.

6. It takes FOREVER to air dry

Sure, we’ve all been told that letting your hair air dry is better than blow drying it, but who has hours to wait for their hair to dry? Curly hair is very thick which causes it to take even longer to air dry. Taking a blow dryer to your hair every day might not be the best idea, but it sure saves a lot of wait time.

7. No hair product will ever tame the mane

Hair product companies love to target girls with curly hair, but the truth is, nothing will ever beat the curls. Trust me- all girls with curly hair have tried every product known to man to help their hair. Turns out we don’t yet have the technology to beat the mane at its own game.

8. You plan your outfit based on how your hair decides to look that day

I always wait until I begin to style my hair before deciding what to wear. I could pick out the perfect outfit to go great with my curly hair down and then my hair decides it’s not a hair down kind of day. I usually have little to no say in this decision because my hair truly has a mind of its’ own.

9. You cannot brush it when it is dry

This is the number one rule told to anyone with curly hair. I’m pretty sure my hairdresser reminds me of this golden rule every time I visit her. If you want frizzy, curly, out of control hair, then by all means, brush it when it’s dry. Otherwise, only take a brush to your hair when it’s wet. It’s for your own best interest.

10. One hair tie will never hold your hair in place

Growing up a gymnast, I was used to having my hair up. If I wanted it to actually stay in when I moved, it took a minimum of three hair ties. Now if you’d like to attempt a bun, prepare to use at least five hair ties.

11. You will never be able to have short hair

Curly hair tends to work best when it’s longer and there’s some weight to hold it down. Otherwise, you end up with the afro style, which works for some people, but I am not one of those people.

12. Sometimes you love your curly hair

It’s not always terrible to have curly hair. At least, there’s the option to wear it curly or straight. On really good days, your hair will fall into perfect curls and stay just the way you like it.

99% of the time, I view my curly hair as a curse, but there’s always the 1% chance that the mane might actually work with me and look nice. Nonetheless, having curly hair means dedicating your life to the care and keeping of the wild beast.