Ima Caldwell, who once feared water and frizz, now embraces her natural curls after years of straightening and hiding her hair. Growing up in a regional coastal town, she felt pressure to conform to the 'sandy blond beach babe' ideal, leading her to chemically straighten and dye her hair.
At age 11, she saved up for an infomercial-famous Instyler, which left her hair smelling 'deep-fried'. In year eight, a blond classmate insulted her natural hair tied back, calling it 'like a dog shit', while praising her flat-ironed locks.
It wasn't until her early 20s, after moving to the city, that Caldwell began to reject that mentality. Inspired by her mother and aunties, who told her people paid for curls like theirs in the 1980s, she adopted the 'curly girl method'—a care routine designed to enhance natural curls.
She was surprised by the dormant ringlets springing to life as she squished conditioner into her hair. Now, she hydrates her curls with water, mousse, and gel, and uses a silk pillowcase and loose updo to preserve them overnight.
Caldwell says her curls are 'thirsty girls' and she no longer spends hours burning them. Instead, she pursues hydration and enjoys the 'curly community'—sharing nods with strangers who have similar spirally hair and receiving product recommendations from colleagues.
She lives by Dolly Parton's mantra: 'The higher the hair, the closer to heaven.'
