hair-stories
Maryam Hair story
Dec
This Beautiful Big Curly Hair Is Actually Mine
From weekly heat damage to walking into a family wedding with her curls fully out, Mariam shares how she almost gave up on her hair, then found the confidence and routine to finally own her natural curls.
I realised this beautiful big curly hair is actually mine.
Meet Mariam
Mariam grew up feeling different because of her hair. Most girls around her kept their hair straight, so her curls stood out in every classroom and corridor. That difference made her a target. She remembers being bullied in school and feeling like her hair was something she had to fix, hide, or constantly fight with.
At home, it was a different story. Her mum took care of her curls and kept repeating that her hair was beautiful. Even with that support, the world outside sent a louder message. So Mariam did what so many of us do when the pressure gets too much. She turned to protein treatments, weekly blow dries, and any quick fix that promised smooth, controlled hair.
Years later, standing in front of the mirror with three different textures fighting on one head, she reached a breaking point. Her hair was falling, the ends were damaged, and she felt like she had run out of options. In her words, “Curlit was honestly my last hope before I gave up and did protein again.”
Fast Facts
| Hair pattern | 3C curly. |
|---|---|
| Density | Medium. |
| Strand thickness | Medium. |
| Scalp | Balanced. |
| Hair length | Around 4 to 6 on the Curlit length scale, roughly medium length. |
| City | Cairo. |
| Water hardness | Soft. |
| Porosity | Not stated. |
| Wash frequency | About 2 times per week. |
| Drying style | Diffuser. |
| Heat use today | Never. No more weekly blow dries. |
| Styling goal | Balanced. Definition, volume, softer feel, less frizz, and longer lasting cast. |
| Night protection | Satin bonnet and pineapple. |
| Current chemical treatments | None. |
| Past salon and protein history | Long phase of protein treatments and weekly salon blow dries that caused damage. |
Not sure what your curl pattern is yet? Try the Curlit Hair Quiz and get a starting point for your routine.
Take the Curlit Hair Quiz
Work & Hobbies
Outside of her curl routine, Mariam is building her future and taking care of her body.
Work and studies: Maryam Solyman, 20 years old, 3rd year business administration student.
Hobbies: Air yoga and going to the gym.
The Hair Day I’ll Never Forget
The day that changed everything was a family event. Her cousin’s wedding, who is also her best friend. Big lights, big photos, big memories. For the first time, Mariam decided to show up with her hair fully curly.
She spent the whole day getting ready. Finger coiling. Diffusing. Checking every section, then going back over the pieces that needed more love. By the time she was done, her curls were shiny, defined, and full of life.
“It came out beautiful. I realised in that moment that my hair could look amazing at the most important occasions.”
That wedding was not just a dress and makeup moment. It was a turning point. For the first time, she looked in the mirror at her full curly routine and thought, “This is my hair.”
The Turning Point
Before that night, Mariam’s journey with her curls had been heavy. Growing up, she had to deal with bullying about her hair texture. At school she was teased, and comments about her hair stuck with her more than she wanted to admit.
At the same time, she was trying everything she could to fix it. Protein treatments. Salon visits. Weekly blow dries and quick touch ups whenever she could squeeze them in. For a while, it felt like that was the only way to keep her hair under control.
Eventually the damage caught up. Her hair started to fall. Her curl pattern broke up into three different textures that did not feel like they belonged on the same head. She describes that stage as her last warning sign. Either she would go back to more harsh treatments or give her real curls one final honest chance.
“It was my last chance before going back to protein. Curlit was honestly my last hope.”
The Transition Phase
When she finally committed to going natural, the first week and month felt surprisingly good. It was not just about products. It felt like a decision. A line she drew for herself.
- No more letting people force her to straighten her hair.
- No more quick fixes that left her hair weaker every time.
- Patience over instant results.
She treated that first phase like a tunnel she had to walk through in order to reach the healthier curls she has today. Some days looked great. Some days were messy. But she knew as long as she stayed consistent, her hair would eventually show her the results she had been waiting for.
What I Learned About Caring for My Curls
The biggest shift did not come from one magic product. It came from how she thought about effort and time.
“If I care for my hair, it pays off.”
Before, Mariam did not really take consistent care of her curls. She wanted fast results and got frustrated when nothing changed overnight. Now she understands that curls respond slowly and honestly.
- Consistency over quick fixes.
- Real hydration instead of just coating the hair.
- Gentle styling to avoid breakage and fallout.
- Time and patience so the hair can actually recover.
Like she says, “Before I did not take care of it and expected results very quickly. That is not realistic. Like anything in life, you have to wait and be consistent so you can see the full effect.”
Compliments That Stuck
There is a special moment that still makes her smile. After she committed to her routine and let her curls grow back in their natural pattern, her friends were genuinely shocked.
“My friends were amazed. They kept saying they could not believe this was actually my hair.”
For someone who used to hide her hair or change it completely, hearing that was a big deal. Their reaction made her see the beauty she had been hiding. It turned her curls from a source of stress into something she felt proud to show.
One Mistake, Big Lesson
When asked what she would go back and change, Mariam does not hesitate. The biggest mistake was overusing protein treatments and relying on weekly salon blow dries.
Week after week, she would reheat and restyle her hair, even going back midweek if she could not get to the salon on time. All that heat and manipulation left her curls weakened and fragile.
If you are in a similar place right now, take her story as a gentle warning. Break the cycle earlier than she did. Save your curls the extra damage she had to undo.
Routine Snapshot
Today, Mariam’s routine is simple but intentional. It is built around moisture, definition, and protection, not punishment.
Wash Day Flow
- Cleansing and conditioning: Shampoo then conditioner to reset and soften her curls.
- Leave in: A hydrating leave in worked through to keep her hair soft and moisturised all day.
- Gel: Gel to seal in the moisture, add hold, and define her natural curl pattern.
- Defining serum: A defining or finishing product to boost shine and polish.
- Diffuse: Diffusing instead of direct heat to dry her curls with less damage.
At night she keeps things protected with a bonnet and a pineapple so she can wake up with her curls still intact instead of flattened or frizzy.
My Go-To Technique
For everyday curls, the basic routine is enough. Shampoo. Conditioner. Leave in. Gel. Serum. Diffuser. Bonnet. Pineapple. But for special occasions, she adds a little extra detail.
Special Occasion Styling
- Apply leave in on clean, damp hair.
- Layer gel on top to lock in hydration and start defining curls.
- Finger coil sections that need extra definition so each curl clumps nicely.
- Diffuse until the curls are dry and the soft cast forms.
- Scrunch out the cast to reveal soft, bouncy, defined curls.
It is the same hair she used to hide. The difference now is technique, patience, and products that work with her curls instead of against them.
Why Curlit Mattered In My Journey
Mariam first discovered Curlit on Instagram and TikTok, during a stage where she was tired, frustrated, and close to going back to heavy treatments. What captured her attention was how specific Curlit was about curly and wavy care and how her texture was seen instead of ignored.
“What pushed me to try it was how much they focused on my hair type. It felt like my last hope before going back to protein.”
She started with two products. The leave in and the gel. Together they became the backbone of her routine.
The Leave In That Softened Everything
With the Curlit leave in, she noticed her hair becoming softer and easier to manage. In her words, it felt like the vitamins inside were actually doing something, instead of just sitting on top of her curls.
If you are in a similar stage of damage recovery, a good leave in can be the difference between breakage and progress. You can explore the one Mariam uses here: Your Biggest Flex | Leave In Conditioner (Curly).
The Gel She Reaches For Most
Out of all the products she has tried, the Curlit gel is the one she reaches for the most. Even on days when the leave in runs out, she still relies on the gel to hold everything together.
“It gives a strong cast that breaks easily. No white cast. No flakes. My curls just look beautiful.”
For her, the gel is not just for full routines. On low energy days she uses it to slick her hair back quickly and still feel put together. You can find it here: Holdin’ You Tight | Hair Styling Gel.
How Curlit Makes Me Feel
Compared with other brands, Mariam sums up Curlit in three words. Trust. Confidence. Lovable. Her hair feels softer, styling is easier, and her curls finally hold their shape in a way that feels like her.
The only thing she still wishes for is more real time, uncut routine videos. Full length, full head tutorials that show every step without skipping anything. “People would trust even more if they saw everything happening on camera,” she explains.
Until then, her own story is proof that with the right products and patience, you can come back from damage and fall in love with your curls again.
- Take the Curlit Hair Quiz to understand your pattern a bit more.
- Pair a nourishing leave in with a flake free gel you can trust.
- Give yourself at least a few months of consistency before judging your curls.
Your Turn
Maybe you are reading this with a diffuser in one hand and doubts in the other. Maybe your hair is in that in between stage where it feels like three different textures at once. Or maybe you are simply tired of starting over after every treatment.
Mariam’s journey is a reminder that your curls do not have to be perfect to be worth loving. They just have to be yours. With the right care, they can become the part of you that walks into weddings, photos, and big life moments with quiet confidence.
If you want your hair story to be featured, email us at info@curlit.shop.