As someone who lives in the Phoenix area, I have to put my hair up in the summer. It is just too hot not to. Good luck with cosmetology school! I followed a calling and went to nursing school. I am retired now. I am so blessed by my time as a nurse. I hope you will have the same with cosmotology.

I'm so excited for you to be going to cosmetology school! You will definitely be in my prayers. I so wish that I lived near you because I'd love to have you cut my hair. I love the length check T-shirt.... what a great idea!

I've had a length check shirt for ages, but thanks to bad haircuts I've had to cut off more than I wanted a couple of times. We're back on track, though, so I also want to see how long I can grow my hair. I feel like your length check would be more accurate if you did it on straight hair. If you do it on wavy hair it seems like you're not really going to get an accurate reading if you have more curl definition sometimes than others.

I have never tried anything like L’occitane Purifying Freshness Dry Shampoo Mist. It’s not an aerosol dry shampoo, it’s a wet mist, and it doesn’t build up or feel gross. Literally feels like it cleans your hair. Tabitha Gingerich mentioned it as one of her top faves. I usually can only go 2 days without washing, and I can now go 4. It’s really amped up my refresh game! It might work for you!

I saw online a while ago that curlsmith got bought by another company and that they no longer use organic ingredients.have either of you noticed a difference in their products?

I love the Suave Captivating Curls mousse, it is so different from what you expect a mousse to do and smells amazing! I know you normally prefer gels, but you’ve gotta try the mousse! It’s how I found the waves I never knew I had.

My hair is so much fuller when I use your styling method than upright. So if you come up with a method that still gives that fullness and less back ache let me know. ❤

I am on board with you on ALL of this!! I took a HUGE cut of about 10 inches, ADDING layers, so that my gray can grow and cut off all the dye as quick as I can. So, I am having to re-learn my curls along with gray hair textures. I bought brushes to try, and learning all of this. Good luck, Courtney! Good luck to all of us for this year's goals!!

I've been watching your videos since shortly after I started my wavy/curly journey about a year and a half ago. I also started growing my hair out from a chin length bob at the same time. My hair is now just past my shoulders. Your videos have been very helpful my journey especially since my hair changes the longer it gets. I have a long S wave pattern so the longer my hair gets the wavier/curlier it gets. At night what works for me these days is to do a combination of using small foam pillow soft curlers in the front sections of my hair, twist the back in two sections lightly and use claw clips to pin them on top of my head and wear a satin bonnet. This helps reset my curls and in morning I don't take it out til the end of my getting ready routine. I use SGX NYC Dry Touch Shampuff to help with oily scalp and hair. I rarely have to add any extra styling products now and only wash my hair twice a week. My goal is to grow my hair at least halfway down my back!

I live in florida. 40s is are cold. It hasn't snow here since 89.😅

Hi Courtney! As a Texas stylist myself I’m so happy to hear you are going to cosmetology school! I’ve been watching you for a couple years and I think you’re going to kill it in the industry! I totally agree with you, there is a need for more curly specialist and that’s exactly why I went to school as well. My best tips for school would be to pick the right school that’s really going to focus on getting you through that state board test, go with what fits your budget, and most of all have fun! You’re going to meet some great people while you’re there. I can’t wait to hear how it goes🤗

You girls are so much fun-and so interesting and educational! See you next week. ♥️

Pineappling totally straightened the hair at my crown! I slept with my hair in a pineapple every single night during the summer. Now I'm paying for it.

In case you are interested in the supplement I mentioned, here is the link 🤗 bit.ly/scc-makewellness

Congratulations Courtney! Have you tried using a head band or mini claw clips to keep your hair out of your face? My hair is in a pineapple only for bed. If I need to, it'll go in a low loose pony. I'll be turning 59 years young next month, and l letting my hair grow long too! Alright I am due for a trim. I, too, struggle with up right styling.

I look forward to the upcoming year and your sweet spirit. Thank you for all that you do!

Best wishes on your resolutions!

Ooooooh, I know you're a Texas girly. So am I! So whenever this all comes to fruition, I would LOVE to come to you for all my hair goals!! ❤

I'm thrilled that brushed out waves are coming back because I prefer soft waves over defined waves on myself. In Tennessee, we're going through the Southern Snow event that y'all are. My hair is confused, but I'm staying home anyway because I'm not driving in this mess! lol! All the best to both of you. Be safe in the weather.

I was wondering why I have never heard you talk about refreshing your waves and curls between wash days. What I have found that works for me is wetting my hair with a spray bottle and then using a watered down "It's a 10 Lite" solution spray. I brush it through and scrunch it. It makes day-two look like I took my hair out of braids or crimped it and it doesn't look frizzy.

I use a satin sleep bonnet and it has definitely helped keep the curls/waves on the top. I had a loose fitting one but the curls got flattened. Much better with a snugger fitting cap.

I absolutely LOVE the Swavy Curly Confidence Product Guide! Courtney, I am sooo happy for you! Best wishes in all your endeavors this year. 🙏🏼 ❤

I am guilty of the ponytail/hair clip-I do work in a lawn and garden center and am outside in 90-100 degree heat but I don’t have that excuse for winter months other than lazy. I do need ideas for pulling hair away from face. I really wish I could master upside down and upright styling. If I use a brush my waves go poof but when I minimize the brush it is sometimes on the overly messy side. I so need help with this. Today my styling attempt was so bad-the hair almost immediately went into the hair clip (I use a hair clip most often over hair ties). I need to join you on the refresh. My scalp and crown are often on the drier side (but not dry just not oily). I think how I sleep makes my attempts at refresh harder. Congratulations on the almost graduation. I haven’t found anyone who cuts curly hair. It’s always a gamble when I get a cut. My goal-figure out a way to do a night time wash routine so I can avoid the ponytail when I go to work at 6am.

Congratulations on starting cosmetology school! I know you will kill it! 🥂

Omg the ponytail/pine apple life is real. Especially after work cause I work with my dog and she jumps high enough she can bite my hair even if im standing so it has to be up

Keep us updated on your journey! I'm so happy for you.

Knowing where you live, growing your hair out without pulling up, how do you plan to stay cool this summer

You should see the 1920's thing I do with my hair to get it out of the way! Upside down, hair dry or wet, gather all the hair somewhere on the top of my head, twist once, twice, maybe 3 times (my hair is long), holding this, I stand up and make a bend in the gathered hair then put a 1-2 inch claw clip at the base. The rest of the hair goes down the middle to the back of the head. If the Gibson Girl effect isn't poofed enough on one side, I gently slide some of the side hair up into that side of the holding clip. I have actually worn my hair out! In public! To a They Might Be Giants concert! With this 'do (mostly because I have long hair pull anxiety about having it out at shows after a bad experience last March at the Adam Ant concert- a drunk guy was struggling to make it down the aisle behind me and as he got past my seat, his hand grabbed the back of my chair- and my hair- and a bunch pulled out. My long, fine, greying hair cannot take abuse like that!). Nobody gave me funny looks and it is the only 'do that does not cause my crown to hurt or bother me because the hair is long and heavy.

I love all of these resolutions and I am actually SO doing every one you are doing except cosmetology school, lol. I have the exact same issues with having to always style on soaking sopping wet hair upside down. Doing brush styling right side up is very attractive to me but it’s been a big fat fail every time. I can’t get that needed seasoned hair that way no matter what I try. I have very similar hair to you, Courtney, but high density and still growing out the blonde highlights. I struggle with strongly curls, protein overload in all this crazy dry winter weather, and because my hair doesn’t look good and I am terrible at refreshes, I put it up on the second day. Period. I actually like how I look with my hair up too, so there’s that, but I think it may be affecting my curl pattern on the top of my head just as you mentioned. I also want to grow my hair longer. So. I’m in with all your goals/resolutions for 2025! Love this! Excited for this year alongside you! Thanks for always being so helpful and sweet. 😊

The Lord leads us in ways we may not expect. But honestly he has so much more planned for us than we can imagine. I feel you girl on the hair up thing. I love having mine in a bun. 😂

Oh wow!!!! This makes my heart so happy that you’re going to cosmetology school 😍😍😍 From what I’ve learned from you on here, i know you’re going to be amazing 😁😁😁 As a cosmetologist myself whose been doing hair for 20 years, i believe it’s truly one of the most rewarding careers out there 😊😊😊 Good luck Courtney!!!

🐶

I’m so excited to hear that you are taking cosmetology!!!! You are going to do great! This is also been a dream of mine. I do not know If this is still considered a ponytail or not, but this is how I wear my hair up at night. It helps preserve my curls the next day without messing them up too much. I take one of the XL curl friend collective scrunchies on my wrist and flip my head upside down and gather my hair into the scrunchie one time.(by the way, my hair is not thick and it is shoulder length.) I then leave my hand around my ponytail To help support it and scrunch it to my scalp. I flipped my head head right side up. I take mini claw clips and claw clip the scrunchie to my scalp about 4 clips all the way around. I use a mini claw clip to make a little puff in the front so it doesn’t stretch the front pieces out. I am still holding my hand on the excess hair coming out of the scrunchie/the ponytail. with the excess hair coming out of the ponytail, I take a mini clip and claw clip a section of curls down into the scrunchie. I do this about three or four times so it creates a little bun on the top of my head with the scrunchie around it. I hope this makes sense. It is sort of similar to the way Sophie Marie sleeps with her hair, but I just don’t bend my curls when I use the claw clips I like to scrunch the curls.

Currently my hair is waist long. And it’s only in a pineapple when I sleep. I use mini claw clips and pull a little bit on one or both sides. My hair is like that most of the time unless we are going somewhere. Mini claw clips keep it out of my face, but don’t pull at my curl pattern.

Keeping my hair down takes effort. I typically wear it up and back for work. I'm almost fully converted to claw clips but still put my hair up in a high ponytail at night when I go to bed. I'd love to see you in cosmetology and what you'll do!

I'm so excited for you good luck with getting your cosmetology license.

I'm sooooo happy for you!!! Congratulations on getting a cosmetology license. That is awesome!

No pineapple after 5pm and upright styling??? Who are you and what have you done with Courtney?? 😂 I would come to Texas and get my hair cut or styled by you in a ❤beat! Excited for you in this journey and can't wait to see all the new things you can teach us! 🎉🎉

Congrats and good luck on all of your resolutions!! You have SAVED my hair! Though with refreshing, I've always found that just a super light mist of water and a scrunch with a small amount of mousse gets me the best results, then a quick fluff when everything has dried. Any more and my hair is super weighed down and stringy. Can't wait to follow your journey in 2025!! (But remember to give yourself grace if it doesn't go perfectly, we love you anyway😊)

Hi Courtney! I am protein and amino acid sensitive. Do you know of a comprehensive listing of proteins and / or amino acids? I keep thinking I am using a protein-free product only to discover it isn’t.

Could not agree more with the pineapple! I’ve similar hair to yours and I no longer pineapple at all. I have totally stopped and I now use a silk bonnet made by Silkburys and it’s not too small and not too big. Not sure if available in the US however as I’m in the UK. My curl pattern has improved as has the longevity of my waves and curls since my no pineapple rule! Good luck with the resolutions 😊!

I'm SO excited for you, Courtney!!!

😅 I've been doing this for years by standing up straight and pulling it over my head to cut. It works great because my hair is curly/wavy and you can"t tell if I screw it up. My problem is I like it to frame my face more and that's where I get a little stuck. I haven't found a stylist who can do it as well as I can. Have also had the same haircut since I was a Teen as a result. LOL (A terrible haircutting experience when I was 16 led me to doing it.)

What is a good deep conditioner my is really frizzy from from thinning shears I need help 😅 will do anything

I love the Aussie Miracle Curls Shampoo and Conditioner and then the Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream. I also like TRESemmé Flawless Curls Mousse which is more budget friendly, but it will leave your hair crunchy if you aren't careful.

Gurl, I cannot refresh either. I have an oily scalp as well and I have loose waves and they just do not hold up. And my scalp hurts after about 36 hours of washing so I HAVE to wash. So if you can master a refresh I would love to see your tricks!

Try the scrunch it brush for brush styling! I would love to see what you think when compared to the bounce curl brush.

🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤2025🎉

Congratulations on cosmetology school! I’m in west TX and it would be so fun to come see you for a cut, styling session, or makeup session! 😃