As the long-suffering owner of curly hair, I’ve struggled to a curly hairdresser in Norwich or Norfolk (and suitable hair care products) over the years.
But I recently had the epiphany that I can’t be the only one.
So, with that thought in mind, I’ve compiled a list of recommendations to help other people on their journey.
If you have any tips or recommendations, drop me a line and I’ll check them out before adding them to this page.
My curly hair journey
When I was younger, I had wavy hair, which transformed into tighter curls in my teenage years.
For background, I have 3a hair. It is highly porous and thicker at the back of my head, so it absorbs water like nobody’s business and takes forever to dry. When I was younger, I used to go out with it wet because I couldn’t be bothered to dry it.
My hair is also highlighted, which, according to Curly Girl rules is bad. But my natural hair colour is dull, so what the hell.
For many years, I struggled to find anyone who could give me a curly cut, suffering from ‘triangle hair’ and the effects of razoring. And that’s without mentioning the mental scarring caused by a hairdresser who coloured my hair with a cap rather than foils.
Here are my recommendations:
Curly hairdressers in Norwich and Norfolk
The Egg, Lower Goat Lane, Norwich
Or, more specifically, Becky.
She has cut and coloured my hair since before lockdown and always makes my hair look and feel amazing. She shapes and thins it nicely, so it’s tidy and manageable.
In possession of a fine head of curls herself, she understands the challenges and dramas of getting a curly haircut. Plus she has a bunch of hair-related qualifications, which is reassuring.
I should probably mention that she is in demand and it can take a while to get an appointment.
Da Vinci, Rose Lane, Norwich
Many moons ago, Jade at Da Vinci used to cut my hair and used to get a great cut from her. The only reason I changed hairdresser was because she went on maternity leave and I needed a hairdresser who understands curly hair.
Curly hair products
Just Essentials, Guildhall Hill, Norwich
This shop was one of the first to sell Cantu products in Norwich (to my knowledge) and has amazing products for textured and curly hair.
TK Maxx, Castle Quarter, Norwich
TK Maxx can be hit and miss, but you can often get cheap curly hair products in there. I regularly have a browse to see if there are any new products I want to experiment with before committing to full-price bottles.
Boots, Various locations
Boots in Castle Quarter and Chantry Place in Norwich both have a good selection of curly hair products on offer. They’ve stocked Cantu and Boucleme for a while (although I’ve never tried this brand) and have just started to sell Curlsmith products too. I’m a big fan of their Hydro Style Flexi Jelly. It holds my curls without any crispness once it’s been scrunched out and smells amazing. It’s not cheap but lasts forever.
Kitsch, Online
I recently discovered that my hair absolutely loves their purple-toning shampoo bar and rice water protein conditioner. They even lather in the hard water of Norwich, which is something that I’ve struggled with in the past. Plus, they’re great for travelling because they’re hand luggage friendly and there’s no risk of leaks.
Online curly hair resources
Sensible Curly People UK Facebook Group
I’ve been a member of this group since before lockdown and it’s changed my relationship with my hair. You can search the existing resources, learn about styling techniques and find out about others’ experiences of available products. It’s also a great place to ask questions.
