The Curl Alchemist

Throw back to 2025- Monday was a deeply emotional day for me one that reminded me why I do what I do.
It began with a young woman who sat in my chair with what I can only describe as one of the most breathtaking heads of hair I've ever had the privilege of working with.
And I don't say that lightly, I've worked with some stunning curls, but this was something else. Natural, fine, highly textured, full of depth and beauty... yet she couldn't see any of it.
She hated her hair. Wished she looked like everyone else
As she opened up, her mother sat nearby and quietly cried... heartbroken, watching her daughter carry the weight of not feeling beautiful in her own skin.
And here's the truth many wouldn't guess: despite its fullness, her hair is incredibly fragile. It's been silently breaking for years not from bad products or neglect, just from everyday life. She hadn't had a cut in 2.5 years, and broken inches shorter since. But on Monday, she trusted me. She gave me the honour of caring for her curls of educating, shaping, and deeply hydrating them.
The transformation wasn't just physical. She smiled.
Really smiled. And in that moment, I felt nothing but gratitude
She's not ready to share her face with the world, and I respect that deeply but her hair tells its own story.

YOU DON’T JUST HAVE A CURL TYPE. 🌀

This photo is exactly why I won’t put your hair in a box and tell you, “You’re a 2B” or “You’re a 3C.”

Look closely at this head of hair. 👀
How many different curl patterns can you spot?

You can have waves, looser curls, tighter curls and completely different curl shapes all living on the same head.

And that’s normal.

Your curl pattern is only one tiny piece of the puzzle.

Because a curl type doesn’t tell me about:

✨ Your hair density
✨ Your strand thickness
✨ Your hair colour and whether it’s coloured, lightened or natural
✨ Your porosity and condition
✨ Product build-up
✨ The water you’re washing your hair in
✨ Humidity and climate
✨ Your hormones
✨ Your lifestyle
✨ How often you wash your hair
✨ What you put your hair through day-to-day
✨ How your hair has been cut
✨ And, most importantly, how your individual hair actually behaves

If I give you a label, it’s very easy to start searching:

“3A hair routine.”
“Best products for 2C hair.”
“How to look after 3B curls.”

But two people with the exact same curl pattern can need completely different routines.

Your hair isn’t a textbook.
It’s constantly responding to what’s happening around it and what you’re doing to it.

That’s why when you sit in my chair and ask, “What curl type am I?”, I might not give you the 2A–4C answer you were hoping for.

Because I’d rather teach you to understand YOUR hair than give you a number to Google.

You don’t just have a curl type.
You have a whole head of hair with its own combination of variables.

And that’s what we need to learn how to work with. 🌀

A huge thank you to our friends Fern Collective and Brainsaver for supporting The Curl Alchemist with some fabulous new resources to help make appointments more comfortable, accessible and supportive. 💛

We now have a basket of sensory and fidget toys, along with resources supporting young people experiencing self-harm and people living with brain injuries.

These resources help me better support the different needs of my clients and create a salon environment where everyone can feel comfortable, understood and safe. ✨

We’re so grateful for the work these organisations do and for the support they’ve given us! 🫶

“$185 for a haircut?”

I hear it all the time.

But here’s the thing…

You’re not paying for a haircut.

You’re paying for 2 hours dedicated to your curls. No rushing. No shortcuts. No squeezing you into a standard appointment.

Swipe through and I’ll show you exactly what happens behind the chair.

Curly clients, share your wisdom… what’s one thing every curly newbie should know? 👇