L'Oreal Paris Takes The Curly vs. Straight Hair Debate Head On

NEW YORK, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- One of beauty's longest-standing debates is that of straight versus curly hair.  For years, some have said curls signify frazzle while others have argued curly girls exude confidence.  Now, it is time for women to let their curls dazzle because curly girls turn heads.  In fact, according to a 2013 "Curly Girl" survey*, commissioned by L'Oreal Paris and conducted online by Harris Interactive among over 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, 74 percent of women with wavy/curly hair say their curls get compliments. It does not stop there – here are the "straight up" results of why women (and men) say curls rule:

Team Curl:

• Curls Have More Fun – Nearly 50 percent of men and more than 50 percent of women perceive curly-haired girls as fun
• Morning Call – Nearly 80 percent of women would wake up with wavy/curly hair if they could choose their natural hairstyle; only 16 percent would go straight
• Stand Out – More than 3 in 10 women with wavy/curly hair (31 percent) say their curls make them feel unique
• Leave it Alone  – 47 percent of women with wavy/curly hair wear their curls "au natural" every day; only 15 percent say they style it straight most of the time

Curly Cues:

• Men Take Notice  – More than 3 in 10 men (37 percent) see curly-haired women as adventurous and more than 4 in 10 men (42 percent) see them as sexy
• Let Loose – 43 percent of women with wavy/curly hair feel free when rocking their wavy/curly hair, while 25 percent feel girly and 22 percent feel young
• Women Want Waves – 54 percent of women reach for the curling iron when they want to get glam

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130605/NY26463)

Mane Concerns
With 50 percent of women saying that having smooth, frizz-free hair is important but 30 percent citing frizzy hair as a top beauty complaint (even over acne and chapped lips), L'Oreal Paris introduced EverCurl – the first-to-mass sulfate-free haircare system designed specifically for women with curly hair. The six-piece collection offers 48 hours of frizz control and leaves curls hydrated, defined and full of bounce.

"Previously, women with curly hair felt the only way to achieve defined, frizz-free curls was to load up hair with a hard gel which ultimately resulted in a stiff style," L'Oreal Paris Consulting Hairstylist Johnny Lavoy says. "Luckily there have been great advancements in products for curly hair. From wavy to coily, L'Oreal Paris' EverCurl shampoo, conditioners and targeted range of treatments leave women with soft, manageable curls no matter their curl type."

Straight Talk
L'Oreal Paris is inviting women and men across America to weigh in on the "Curly Girl" results. They can share their views via Twitter on whether curls truly rule or straight styles still take the cake by tagging @LOrealParisUSA using #straight or #curly. While this age old debate may never have an official resolution, evidence points to curly girls coming out ahead. However, people should be prepared for strong rebuttals as everyone has their own stance when it comes to something as personal as hair.

About L'Oreal Paris EverCurl Sulfate-Free Curl Care System
Free of sulfates, the L'Oreal Paris EverCurl products deliver on the top concerns of curly girls – moisture, definition and shine. This collection uses naturally-derived cleansers and botanicals, leaving curls feeling deeply conditioned with elastic bounce and that perfect spiral shape. The six-piece line offers women a customized hair care regimen that suits all curl types – from loose waves to tight curls. In addition to being gentle on the hair fiber, EverCurl's sulfate-free formula causes very little friction on hair – which ultimately means fewer frizzies for curls.

The L'Oreal Paris EverCurl Sulfate-Free Curl Care System is available now at mass, food and drug retailers nationwide. Shampoos and Conditioners are $6.99 each; Treatments/Stylers are $8.99 each.

About L'Oreal Paris
The L'Oreal Paris division of L'Oreal USA, Inc. is a total beauty care company that combines the latest technology with the highest in quality for the ultimate in luxury beauty at mass. The L'Oreal Paris brand encompasses the four major beauty categories – hair color, haircare, skincare and cosmetics – and includes such well-known brands as Preference, Excellence, Feria and Healthy Look hair color; Advanced Haircare, Elnett Satin Hairspray, EverPure, EverStrong, EverSleek, EverCreme, EverStyle, EverCurl, Studio Line and L'Oreal Kids hair care; Youth Code, Revitalift, Age Perfect, Ideal Clean, Ideal Moisture, Go 360 Clean, Sublime Bronze, Sublime Sun and Men's Expert skincare; and the Colour Riche, True Match, Infallible, Visible Lift and Studio Secrets Professional MAGIC cosmetics collections, along with a portfolio of mascara including Voluminous, Double Extend and Telescopic among many others. For more information on L'Oreal Paris and its brands, and to receive personalized beauty advice, expert tips and exclusive beauty content 24-7 (wherever you may be), check out the new www.lorealparisusa.com.  

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of ALISON BROD PUBLIC RELATIONS for L'Oreal Paris from March 20-22, 2013 among 2,054 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Katie Wright at ALISON BROD PUBLIC RELATIONS: 212.230.1800/[email protected].

SOURCE L'Oreal Paris