What inspired this post
In 2023, Dutch newspaper NRC published a beautiful article about curly hair and the Curly Girl Method. I proudly shared my personal journey of embracing my waves and curls in the magazine.
Below are some translated excerpts and original Dutch quotes from the article.
My Curly Girl Method Story
Flaxseed Gel
I grew up in Indonesia with the idea that straight hair was “more beautiful, well-kept, and clean.” Every two months, I chemically straightened my naturally wavy hair — it was expensive and damaging. During the COVID lockdowns, I started searching for ways to straighten my hair at home, but instead I discovered the Curly Girl Method. That’s when I made my own flaxseed gel, and I was sold.
Original Dutch quote:
“Lala Nur Fitriani (25, 2c) uit Rotterdam groeide in haar geboorteland Indonesië op met het idee dat steil haar ‘mooier, verzorgder en schoner’ was… Ze maakte haar eigen krullengel van lijnzaad, en was verkocht.”
Finding My Routine
English explanation:
It took me almost a year to figure out a routine that worked for my hair. Along the way, I started sharing curly hair tips on Instagram, and now over 90,000 people follow my journey. Many Asian women with curls have told me that they finally feel represented. But of course, not everyone agrees — some people even say I don’t have “real curls” because I rely on products and a strict routine. These critics are sometimes called the “curl police.”
Original Dutch quote:
“Het duurde bij mij wel een jaar, zegt Lala Nur Fitriani, die via Instagram krullenverzorgingstips geeft aan inmiddels 90.000 volgers… Maar sommige vrouwen zeggen dat ik helemaal geen ‘echte’ krullen heb… De ‘krullenpolitie’ worden deze vrouwen wel genoemd, zegt ze.”
Reflection
Being part of this NRC feature was such an honor, and I hope it inspires more readers to embrace their natural curls and discover the Curly Girl Method for themselves.
Want to know which combs and brushes work best for wavy and curly hair?
