Vivacious, zealous, or just plain crazy about her curly hair, Ouidad is the spunky Lebanese owner of Ouidad salon and eponymous curl-centric hair care line. Standing in the middle of her Midtown New York salon, Oudiad welcomed girls with and without curls to try her revolutionary products and services at “Curls Night Out.”

For those who don’t get the reference to Eve Ensler’s groudbreaking performance piece “The Vagina Monologues”, both Enzler and Ouidad crusade to address subjects that women may be taught to feel self-concious of. For Ensler it was the word and secrecy embedded within “Vagina,” but Ouidad seeks to reverse irksome attitudes spiraling tendrils often receive.

Oudad’s belief that curls are beautiful came from her mother, whom Ouidad describes as a “demure femme fatale.” During Ouidad’s sermon at Ouidad Salon, she exorcised the pin-straight hair demons from the audience and preached the freedom of curl — one which her mantra “iron clothes, not curls” is inspired by.

Ouidad stated that 70% of women have curly hair, and most of them straighten it.  “With my products and advice you will be blown away by how beautiful your curls can be,” she assured. Ouidad’s main piece of curly hair styling advice is that “less is more.” And if you’re dealing with naturally straight hair, have no fear, start with a gentle perm-from Ouidad salon of course!

With my naturally wavy hair I was handed to Ouidad stylist Vincent, whose first piece of advice was to never use hot water on hair. This might be the hardest rule to follow given my heat-seeking ways. He then proceeded to wash my hair twice with Clear and Gentle Essential Daily Shampoo and then worked “>Ouidad Playcurl Volumizing Foam . Careful to use it on solely the hair, Vincent methodically used Ouidad Climate Control® Heat & Humidity Gel; massaging it in from front to front, side to side and back to back.

With my hair Vincent advised to rake and shape each product, wiggling the strands to create curls. After ensuring the waves, I put my head back as Vincent brought the towel towards the curls. He was careful to soak up excess water without ruining the curl and then did the same with a hairdryer equipped with a diffuser. I then air dried under those spaceship-like devices and emerged with more like individualized beachy waves rather than stereotypical squiggly curls. But something I’ve learned from Ouidad is that the curl comes in many beautiful forms, and I haven’t washed my hair since!

Curls Night Out was sponsored by Gilt City.