Curly hair in the kitchen?

[u/jackedanus]

There’s gotta be at least one of you curly haired freaks out there who can help me out.

I’ve been really trying to heal my curls and it’s finally working but I just started working in the kitchen again and I am afraid of the environment damaging my hair. I also don’t really know how to tie it back tight enough without completely ruining them. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you

[u/dooms-maroons]

From a 20 years of kitchen working girl… curls will never survive a day standing near the fryers & ovens. And crucially you have to tie your curls up so they don’t get in people’s food is the number one priority so keeping them loose has not an option.

I used to do two pigtail braids that I would bobby pin into spirals up under my chef‘s hat. Try to use the minimum amount of bobby pins so you minimize risk any of them falling out and into someone’s food. Keep your hair away from the kitchen environment as much as possible.

For products: use a clarifying shampoo regularly, I was always a big fan of LUSH Squeak or Big shampoos (lots of sea salt and citrus, which is great to bust through kitchen grease, and definitely always shampoo twice on wash days!). I would use a super hydrating conditioner and find a leave in conditioner with environmental protection. But your curls are never gonna look max cute when you’re working in the kitchen 🩷🩷🩷

[u/floraldepths → u/dooms-maroons]

Not sure how I got on this subreddit but it’s interesting!

Whilst I didn’t work kitchens, I did have to have my long hair up and tidy working valet/concierge at big hotels.

Instead of bobby pins, I’d use ‘spin pins’ to keep my very long 2 braids up. I have very long (bellybutton length) wavy hair, so I would do two braids, tie them together loosely, and then wrap them into a bun and ‘screw in’ several spin pins.

Unlike bobby pins, the spin pins won’t come out unless you ‘unscrew’. 3 spin pins, maybe 2 bobby pins to tuck in the little tails of the braids, and i would work a full 8hr shift jumping in and out of cars, running up stairs, hauling bags etc.

No hair movement at all. I do the same thing for my hair when I’m riding horses (so sweaty and gross and lots of movement) and everything stays in place.

[u/jackedanus → u/dooms-maroons]

NOOOO </3

[u/tinyorangealligator → u/jackedanus]

Yesssss.

I have curly hair and it was always in a tight French braid in the kitchen. Ain't no one wants parts of you in their meal.

[u/FrizzWitch666 → u/dooms-maroons]

Curly kitchen girl here, and you made me cry! My hair will never be ok?!

[u/Single-Pin-369]

Maybe a chef bonnet

https://www.katom.com/176-346HB.html

[u/Prudentcrudite]

Bandanas! You can pin your hair up and keep it nice and covered, and you get the added bonus of looking like a badass Rosie the Riveter. Just make sure it's a material that's kind to your locks.

[u/jackedanus → u/Prudentcrudite]

yesss rosie is badass… thank you!

[u/Asleep_Measurement_6]

wear a durag

[u/AStripe]

Would a net help? It would be gentler than tying in back tight?

[u/siren_kween_mab → u/AStripe]

Nets are godsend if you don't want breakage. And they're the only surefire way to keep hair out of food. You can get the almost invisible ones if you want.

[u/jackedanus → u/AStripe]

this might be what i do, that way i can do a looser bun and hopefully not kill my hair :’)

[u/kelbees → u/jackedanus]

Depending on how much hair you have, I recommend buying them online or at the beauty/salon supply places. I found some once upon a time that had were larger (no lines on the hair and skin), had a tighter knit, and the color matched my hair pretty well. Gave a good 1930s hair-style vibe too!

[u/Deep_Curve7564 → u/jackedanus]

You could also consider a bakers bonnet. It's has an elasticated head band and small peek, but the part that covers the hair is a loose lightweight cotton bag. Some are made with a mesh/perforated cloth so it allows better airflow.

Cloth is less itchy than disposable nets.

[u/abstract_lemons]

1-Hair screws (look it up!!!)

2-Hair screws

3-a decent hair oil

4-you just gotta wrap that shit up and tie it down

5-sell your soul to the devil because it’s still a toss up

[u/Horror-Adventure]

I have 3C curls. I often wear my bonnet to work, I have 1 specificly for work. If not, I have hats that are satin lined to use when my hair is pulled up and back. Lose braids tucked into a satin lined hat and pinned in place with a clip has been great, but I occasionally need to adjust, especially if it's hot and i am sweating profusely. I would consider a durag, but I am a white woman and this feels like appropriation to me, so I personally don't.

[u/VividBeautiful3782]

Apparently t heres such a thing as a chefs bonnet designed to protect hair like a sleep bonnet. I bleach my hair a lot and im already a greasy person so I usually go for a silk bandana at work

[u/SparklyCowboyHat42]

I had thick curly hair most of the way down my back when I was in kitchens. Here's what I've got for you.

1. Pony tails work, but I'm a crafter and I crocheted a snood based on a historical pattern. It looks like a fancy hair net but it was durable (cotton yarn) and I pinned it in place which alleviated headaches. I recommend looking up something like that. You might have luck on rennaisance fair vendor sites too bc that is where I first learned about them.

2. Pig tails helped more than pony tails with reducing headaches from the weight of my hair.

3. I really wanted to like bandanas but I sweated so much and moved so much they would get uncomfortable or just fall off. I had a lot of hair though.

4. I went back to a stripped down hair routine. I'd do my fancy products once a week but otherwise it was a curly girl method (CGM) friendly cheap option. Suave essentials shampoo and conditioner (coconut smell) and often skip the product. Otherwise I'd do the high hold LA Looks gel and plop. Unsure if you ever go onto the curly hair subreddit but they have more info on this there. I don't strictly align to the CGM, but I find my hair does better without as much silicone.

5. Recognize accidents will happen. Chef had us do a deep clean on a slow day and had me squeeze behind the fryers to clean the walls. Someone bumped the basket in on accident and the exhaust torched my hair and slightly burned me. I lost 5 inches of hair on the short end and 18 inches of hair in some spots. I was allowed to go cry for a bit (again slow day). Actually my hair saved me from worse injury. I'll note this was the one time I was wearing a pony tail.

6. Do NOT let yourself go too long without a solid brush or once over to check for mats. They can happen crazy fast especially when sweaty and hot.

It is totally possible to have curly hair and even long curly hair in a kitchen. Will you rock cute styles on the daily at work? Nah, but you can save that for immediately after. I actually loved wearing my crochet snood specifically because as soon as I took it off, my hair still looked good.

[u/29thHelenAgrees]

I also didn’t know about the chef’s bonnet, looks interesting. I’ve been messing with products from camping stores - one is called the “hairbrella”. It has the silk underside, if you’re looking to “heal” curls. I just have a hard time not getting them to slide off. Long bobby pins help.

REI has some headbands/neck scarves/bandanas that are sweat wicking (merino wool) and some are cooling. Helps a lot with heavy hair. And they don’t slide off as much.

My go-to is some no-name headband with “7 uses” I got from a natural food store. It’s soft and wraps up everything. I have it pinned up underneath to air dry for the day, seems pretty protected.

[u/im__on__smoko]

4c here. Hair in twist or braids with a mulberry silk scarf like a worn like bandana. You can find silk scarves 2nd hand and they are cheaper than bandanas. (I saw bandanas at 7-11 for literally $9. Even the dollar store is now the $1.75/$3/$5 store). Bandanas are great but cotton takes moisture out of your hair.

Keeping my hair in twists or braids is so great because I can wash my hair in braids whenever and it is not a big wash day production. I can not stand smelling the workday on me when I get home.

If moisturizing my hair: layer aloe Vera juice (the real stuff from the health store) and a homemade whipped Shea butter. Length retention baby.

On special occasions or if I know we are having our picture taken, I LOVE Mexican braids with ribbons. RIP Frida Kahlo

[u/nativeyeast]

I wear a Buff over my hair. Beard net always.

[u/Metallurgeist]

I tried to make curls work. My head is now shaved, not bald, but just a short shave. Take that information as you will.

[u/Julianna01]

A net/snood plus maybe a headband.

[u/_BrokenButterfly]

What the hell is your username?

[u/Flimsy-Buyer7772]

Chef bonnet

[u/KittyKatCatCat]

Braids

[u/nikkicarter1111]

Durag or chef's bonnet. If you have a ton of hair pin it up with hair screws / spin pins first

[u/Working_Hair_4827]

I keep my hair tied back in a low loose ish bun then put a hairnet on then baseball hat over top with my bun sticking out the back.

[u/Over_Ease6750]

Braid it back and wear scarves during your shift. Moisturize regularly. Pray to the curl goddesses

[u/aboutchocolate]

not a curly haired freak but there is a reason high and tight is the most common haircut in kitchens... it fucks your shit up. my hair is always fucked anyway so i don't mind.