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And I’m curly.
Very tall.
And very curly.
I’ve tried to be small. Didn’t work.
I’ve tried to have straight hair. Didn’t last.
So I thought : “Hey ! Let’s try something new ! Let’s try to be myself !”
And that is : tall, and curly.
Some people think it’s nice to be tall. Some people think it’s nice to be curly. Some people would rather die than being one or the other. In my case, I simply have no choice, so I try to enjoy myself as much as possible. But some days… oh some days…
I have created this blog for these days when, if there was a vaccine against inches or curls, I would run to get an injection.
And for some other stuff too ;)
Welcome ! :D
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UPDATE
I’m taking the time to write this post because I’ve received a few messages asking me if I keep my hair natural or not, if I have relaxed my hair before, and if I’m against relaxing.
I also got a comment on my Pinterest profile that made me realize some people might think that because I draw all these comics about being tall and curly, I hate being one or the other, or both.
Therefore I’ve decided to add some details in my about section so that everyone can understand my approach concerning my blog and comics, and here they are. 
So first of all, the HAIR.
The comment on Pinterest said that I should enjoy my hair because kinks are in. In other words : that I should stop complaining about it. I must admit I didn’t really see the connection between kinks being in or not and the fact that curly/kinky hair is very difficult to manage and sometimes complicated to deal with.
I’ve been natural for over 10 years now (Did something stupid in 2008 but that doesn’t count). Before that, I’ve relaxed my hair for about 10 years. And before that, my hair was kept natural. The problem is, as I’m multiracial, my mother being white just never could figure out what to do with my hair and couldn’t teach me a single thing about it.
Things were okay until I was 9 because my hair was very long and I always wore one or two big braids. But one day my mom decided to cut it very short because she found it too difficult to wash, comb and style. A little girl screaming for two hours when you’re trying to detangle her hair can get really nerve-racking – I guess.
So I went from this :
To this :
Please notice the smile in the before pic, and the “WTF” look on my face in the second one. Ooooh was I happy.
And so from there on kids started to make fun of me because I looked like a poodle, a sheep, a boy, the Jacksons 5… name it.
I grew up thinking I had the worst hair in the world and didn’t know what to do with it besides buns or ponytails. But that was until I discovered blow-drying. Then I spent a few years straightening my hair every week, fighting against the rain, the snow, the wind… you know what I’m saying. But that was until I discovered relaxers. Then the real trouble began.
I didn’t know how relaxers worked, so I went to this afro hair salon. I’ll never know wether the hairdresser didn’t like me or if she had missed a class in hairdressing school, but she relaxed my hair from the roots to the ends everytime I went there, which means every two months for 2 years.
My hair is veeeery thick and strong and I think it’s the only reason I’m not bald today.
Anyhow, one day I eventually said that to a girlfriend – didn’t think of mentioning it before, I didn’t even know there was a problem. I only knew my hair looked like sh*t, was dry as the Sahara, and almost cut my cheeks at night because it was so hard. The only thing that mattered to me by then was that it was straight and manageable.
Anyway, my friend looked at me with big eyes and told me it was a miracle I still had hair. So I stopped going to the hair salon and started relaxing my roots myself.
I remember hating my hair at that time, but as I said, it was manageable. At least.
I used to look at straight haired girls, envying their hair. I wanted their hair, I used to think they were the lucky ones. Like if I was born missing a leg or something. I simply couldn’t see my hair like a strength, a quality, something nice that made me special. I only felt handicapped. I tried to convince myself that straightening my hair made me part of the straight haired girls gang, glamorous and all, when I actually looked more like an old and worn out broom.
I think I would have relaxed my hair all my life if, when going to college, I hadn’t found myself tired of focusing on my hair instead of on my studies.
I remember one day looking at myself in the mirror, my roots being 2 inches long. You know when you have this adorable palm tree look, with the hair going up a little bit before falling back down like polluted waterfalls. It was time to relax.
But it was winter, it was cold outside and snowing, and I just didn’t feel like going out of the house. I had homework to do – homework that I loved because it was drawing homework – so suddenly I thought “Oh screw it. Damn hair. Do whatever you want.” And so it started to grow.
Months later I had to cut the relaxed part of my hair, which I did. I ended up curled up in my bathroom crying because as I’m tall, the little fro I had around my head made me look like a giant microphone.
Still, I don’t know why, I chose not to go back to relaxing only to gain a few inches. I decided to wait. And my hair grew and grew and grew. I didn’t have a clue about how to comb it, style it, wash it or take care of it. I was a newbie. I was getting mad at it 99% of the time. I thought so many times going back to relaxing you have no idea (or you do 
). But I did not. I waited. I learned, and tried stuff. And like any curly girl, years later, I’m still learning and trying stuff. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes the hair will cooperate, sometimes it won’t.
The thing is, growing up, we all learn things about life, and the path I chose brought me closer to nature. Looking for the truth everywhere I now believe everything happens for a reason. And in “everything”, there is my hair. I was born with this hair. There must be a reason for that too. So although I still – and will always – get angry a lot at it, I now respect my hair for what it is : a part of me.
Actually it’s not that different from who I am. I’m pretty stubborn and rebellious too. What was I expecting from it ?
So to answer the question “Am I against relaxing ?” I will say that I understand when girls with curly/kinky/nappy hair relax it. I understand because it’s complicated and sometimes expensive to take care of this kind of hair. I don’t judge girls who relax their hair. It can turn out very pretty when it’s done right. So no, I’m not the naturalista-power-dictator kind of girl, no.
On the other hand, I find curly/kinky/nappy hair not only beautiful, I find it magical. This kind of hair is strong in essence. It’s the root. The origins of hair. It’s a force of nature. It looks like there are magical powers in it. There’s something magical about a woman who walks proudly in the street with this big, voluminous, “do-you-have-something-to-say?” hair. She walks on top of the world. She couldn’t care less about what people think or say. She couldn’t care less about what products or beauty ideal the magazines are trying to sell her. She’s not discreet. She does not hide. She is there. She IS. And to have the courage and the pride to BE who you are, under everybody else’s eyes, THAT’S magical.
I also tend to find that a curly girl is always prettier when she wears her hair curly. Simply because it’s her ! Her true self ! How could it be better than that. She can be pretty with her hair straightened too. I blow-dry my hair sometimes and I like the way it looks. But I always end up being in a hurry to go back to my curls, and right after I washed my hair, seeing my curls living again in the mirror gives me the feeling I’m back to my true self.
If a girl relaxes her hair, I will respect her choice. But if I see the tiniest shadow of a doubt in her attitude, the kind of “I’d like to go natural but I’m afraid of what other people may think” I’ll definitely encourage her to stop putting dangerous chemicals on her head and to walk the path to learning to love herself in spite of others’ opinion. And to walk that path, you have to learn to love or at least accept every single thing about yourself. The curls are often a big part of the journey.
So people, I LOVE my hair. 
Still I fight with it all the time, and that’s why I find it funny to draw some of these experiences because I know – I hope hahaha – I’m not the only one having to deal with all of this.
Now, the HEIGHT.
I used to hate being tall too. I went to the same school from age 6 to age 16, and during all the time I’ve spent there, the same kids who made fun of me because of my poodle haircut made fun of me because of my height. I can tell you it’s very difficult to love something about yourself when everybody has been telling you you look ridiculous for over 10 years. I admit it, it took me ages to get over it !
I did model for 3 years or so, and it did help me accepting my height. I definitely wasn’t the tallest girl in the runway shows, and wearing heels seemed to be normal for all these giant beautiful girls so I started to think being tall wasn’t that of a curse. It still felt weird sometimes and I was having a hard time understanding what I was doing amongst the models, and I still had to work on myself a lot to stop focusing on what shorter people had to say about me all the time, but eventually it did help.
Some may think being a model should have cured everything instantly but it didn’t. My complexes were too deeply ingrained !
Another thing that helped me a lot is that my cousin is very tall too. She’s 6’3″ so we shared a lot of the tall girls problems and learned to laugh about it together.
The journey to accepting my height was pretty much the same as accepting my hair. One day I simply got sick of feeling bad about it. I thought that I came on Earth with these extra inches, so that I had to deal with it. There was reason for that too. I worked hard and had to hush my complexes often, but today I feel great about my height and wouldn’t let go half of one of my inches. I wear heels, I walk with my head up, I’m proud.
Still, like for the hair, being tall can be REALLY complicated because you have to deal with other people’s remarks, questions, and sometimes stupid attitude. That’s what I like to share through my comics, because again I know I’m not the only one going through this.
Lastly, the fact of being tall AND curly, let me tell yall, that’s something you better accept and love because otherwise, your life can be a hell of a nightmare. You simply CANNOT HIDE no matter what you do, no matter where you go, no matter how hard you try. You are THERE. So yeah, some days you just feel like you could have used a little bit of invisibility but in the end, all that matters is to feel great about yourself at least 99% of the time. That’s where I’m at, so I’m able to laugh about everything that makes a curly and/or tall girl life’s sometimes irritating, and so that’s how and why I draw my lil comics
I just discovered your blog, and all I can say is YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER.
I’m in my early teens, tall and very curly. I’m the only mixed-race girl in my class and I never wear my hair out in it’s natural afro state because I know I’m just going to have a bunch of hobbits sticking their hands in my hair -.-.
reading your blog has really helped me; In fact I am building up my confidence and who knows, I might just wear it out someday ;).
Again Thank you so much, you help me get through my day (and school especially).
wow ! a little me :))) Well you’re so very welcome sweetie :)
Oh you’ll see, one day you WILL wear it out, you have time to get used to your uniquess :) You still have time ahead of you to realize how lucky you are. The most important thing is that you eventually DO realize it ;)
Teenage years were very hard, looking back. Feeling so different when all you wish is to blend in is VERY difficult I know… But WHY ? WHY do we want to blend in, WHY standing out is so annoying when we’re young…? After that, you spend all your life trying to be unique and special, and to stand out ;)
I think as teenagers are building their own identity, they don’t know who they are yet, they haven’t live enough to know themselves, they haven’t experienced life enough to know what they like or not, what they want or not… so during that time, as they’re not sure of themselves, they would rather hide instead of showing someone they’re not certain of. You need to know and love yourself very well to stand tall and proud in front of everyone else.
Just just think of it that way : teach yourself not to make your height and your curly hair an embarassment or a handicap. Tell yourself again and again that you only own something unique and precious, something that you need to understand, that you need to learn to handle, something you need to know by heart before letting it shine into the world. One day you’ll be ready, you’ll feel great about yourself, you’ll love every single thing about yourself, and when that day comes, I bet you’ll spread your gigantic wings and gigantic hair and will shine like you wouldn’t have ever imagined. :)
I’ve always thought my Patronus would be a giraffe, so I LOVE the little illustration at the end. :D
Thanks ;D As a kid I wanted to live in Africa so I could own a giraffe of my own :) Sometimes I’m wondering if THAT’S the real reason why I grew so much… damn spirit of the giraffe !! ;p
Hey,
I’m new to your blog & I must admit I absolutely love it! I find it (freakishly) relatable and downright hysterical!!
Being the tallest girl everywhere I go (I am also 5’11 and 1/2;) was pretty difficult for me deal with while growing up & I too have curly kinky hair. Unlike you though, I have not embraced my natural hair and I ALWAYS have it straight (blowout every weekend). Anyways, it was tough not having anyone to relate with while growing up and stumbling upon your blog made me realize that I’m not the only tall & curly out there! Thanks for your honesty & humor, I’ve bookmarked your page so I can keep following …
TALL, CURLY, & PROUD.
Sheila :)
Hello Sheila ! Thank you so much ! :)
What don’t you like about your curly hair ? The hair itself ? Or the fact that it makes you feel even taller ?
I remember something a friend told me once when I used to wear my hair straight. I was trying to explain that I felt taller with big curly hair and that it made me stand out too much, and she told me “oh I see… I mean yeah… you’re so much shorter and invisible that way…” :)
Haha, you’re friend is so right about that! Unfortunately my dislike for my curly hair stems from a very personal trauma I endured as a child. It has been over 10 years since I really LOVED my curly hair. I mean, I like it… but only in the summer when I do not have another choice (i.e at the beach, pool, amusement park, etc.) haha!!
Nevertheless, you have opened my eyes to being more accepting of its natural beauty, and I so appreciate that! It is very true that laughter is the best remedy for any pain and tallncurly.com may just be the kick in the butt I needed to rock my natural hair! I think the world will be seeing some CURL POWER this summer :) THANK YOU!
Time to be Fierce!
HAHA you’re WELCOME !! :D As long as there are curls everywhere I’m happy :D
And you don’t have to speak about it but I’m very curious to know what trauma you endured that made you dislike your hair that much :s
I am not sure the world wide web is the best place to post such information… As I mentioned, it is personal, but to make a long history short: a VERY BAD person from my childhood liked my curly hair, a lot. Sporting the curls does not help in shaking those memories out of my head, no pun intended!
Random question: are you on instagram? I can tag you when the CURL POWER is rocking this summer!
Best :)
Oh no… I’m sorry, I didn’t expect that kind of answer at all… I wouldn’t have insisted :s
That is terrible.. Indeed the web isn’t the best place to discuss this, but if I just can say something. Two persons really close to me went through the same kind of story. One never recovered, the other one tried to put it behind and move forward. They’ve had two very different lives, very very different lives… I don’t know how old you are and how far behind you this is, but I just hope you’ll be able to remember how perfect you were when you came on this planet, and how perfect you still are. I understand the bad memories. Then hopefully one day you’ll be able to see yourself as one whole perfect being who can be freed from all things, and I hope that day you’ll see your hair as one of the most beautiful and powerful things about yourself… :)
Instagram. I created an account a few months ago because some people asked me, but I don’t remember if I closed it or what, what I know is I never went back ! I will check it and tell you. I must say instagram and twitter are the two social medias I just can’t seem to grasp :)
Thank you for your kind words, and I am deeply sorry that two people close to you have similar stories! We must allow those negative parts of our pasts be the drivers that push us towards greatness in the future.. I’ve never let my past define me and, instead I’ve seen those experiences as fuel to push forward be the best human I can be. Your words really touched me, you are wonderful woman and I am so glad we connected, virtually anyways!
Agreed, instagram took me some time to grasp, when you get that running please let me know.. I’d love to follow your stories there also.
Cheers!
Well I’m really happy to read this :) You’re a strong woman :) and I can’t wait to see that strong woman with strong curls haha !
I’ll let you know about instagram, if it’s still open I think I have only one picture uploaded, gotta work on this ;)
Take good care of yourself !
Sorry for the delayed reply!
Please keep me posted, thank you soo much, its people like you that keep us Tall & Curlies strong!!
Have a wonderful memorial day weekend! !
God Bless
So glad I found your blog! I love graphic bloggers!
I don’t consider myself tall (I’m 5’9) since I have many friends that are over 5’11 (making me relatively short) but I guess others would. And my hair is curly. CURLY. CURLY!!! Not those beautiful Botticelli curls that looks straight when wet. Not that, Jennifer Freeman just hangs before it ‘hangs out’ curls. I have those teeny, tiny coils; curly hair that shoots up like little arms reaching from the underworld to grab random bits of tree debris because even when it’s only 8 inches long, you’re close to the branches since you’re so tall.
I had sort of given up on my hair. Wash it when it’s gross and put it in a single braid. But my hair truly loves moisturizing sessions and twists so the skit about needing an entire day for your hair was so close to home I could touch it from my window.
But I feel re-inspired. When nothing you do (flats, hats…) can help you hide, it feels like anything additional is a cry for attention. But you’re helping me realize that my needs are not additional, they’re exceptional. I’m going about life all wrong if my goal is about reducing my existence so as to fit in.
So yay!
I just loved your message, thank you for taking the time to write it :)
It’s amazing to see that some little comics can bring something more than just a good laugh sometimes !
You’re right where you should be : not additional, EXCEPTIONAL. I like to think that everything that makes us special is indeed not an addition of elements but a multiplication of strengths. They all combine and grow exponentially and as soon as we realize this, our confidence, our pride and our strength simply have no limit, making us the women we were born to be. Trying to run from who we are and from how we are is pointless and such a waste of time. Until our very last breath, we’ll be who and how we are. I hope that when that day comes I know I’ve made the most of it :)
NO MORE HIDING ! :D
Wow! You are truly gifted! I absolutely love the site–please keep up the great work! I am also very tall 6’1” and I have big curly natural hair. So this is the story of my life lol. It took me a while to become comfortable with how God created me, but I have finally arrived. Now, I love my uniqueness! It’s what makes us beautiful!
Thanks so much for creating this fun and empowering blog! I will be following and spreading the word to all my fabulous tall ‘n curly friends!
Thank you very much Tall N Curly friend ! :D I’m glad you found me and happy to know you now realize that life is way more beautiful with a little extra curls and extra inches ;D welcome !
Just wanted to say Hi from a tall N curly girl. I am 6.1 and i have not only very curly hair but it’s also ;-) needless to say that makes for happy teenage years. I, now, love my height and my hair!
Hi Tall and curly friend ! WELCOME HOME haha :D
u r so rite my mom is so not going to touch my hair again now i do my own hair now and now i now how to take care of this big kinky curly coily thick hair but im still retransisioning all i do is just watch youtube vids of how to take care of my hair and i go on naturally curly as well to to check out some hair products that will work well for my hair type
This is a wonderfully amusing, quirky, honest manifesto. Everybody isn’t tall N curly, but I think most folks can identify with the process of reconciling the good, bad, and ugly as we grow in our concepts of self. LOVE this and will be following your adventures!
Thank you ! :) Yes, we’re all “something N something” and we all have to learn to love 100% of it :) Laughing is a good way to learn I believe ;) Welcome and thank you for following ! :)
I actually burst out laughing when you said you looked like a microphone. Thanks for that – your writing style is wonderful and I love your humour.
You’re welcome and thank you too ! :)
Lady, my hat is off to you. I am so loving your blog. Can we talk?
Thank you very much lady :) Let’s talk ! haha :D
I was curious to see your site, love the little drawing of you ! But didn’t see any of your work, am I blind ?
i also use to not like my hair growing up i hade long very healthy curly kinky big and very thick hair my mom i would say did okay but wat i hated the most was her combing when she was done i would have a huge hair ball come out of the comb then suddenly she texturized it that thing burned my scalp off it was suppose to make my curls looser but it made it straight my hair was doing fine back then i was texturizing it fir 2 yrs kindergartan and first grade then she cut it off like ur length so i wore extensions lol then it grew bra strap and was healthy then my mom texturized again then i had scalp burns on my scalp my edges from one side looked liked someone tooke a shavor and shaved my edges but it was from the texturizer so my mom cut a couple inches off its short now its like shoulder length im retransitioning still im going to big chop at the end of december trust me my mom is not gonna touch my hair again
Oh my ! I’m so sorry to read this it’s terrible ! Oh my… Moms sometimes…
Well I’m very happy to see you gained back control over your head ! It’s YOURS ! Take good care of it now and yeah, don’t let your mom EVER touch it again ! :-O
can you show us a pic of you now? i can tell your are very pretty from your younger years.
haha well, you know.. there are pictures of me everywhere in my comics, it’s me that I draw ! ;)
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Wow…I like this…I’m 6’1…when I’m slouching, I drop to 6’0. I’ve been natural for a year and love to wear big twist outs…by the time I’ve put on my heels (the taller the better), and pushed out my hair, I’m damn near 6’5 and I absolutely love it!!!
Wow !! :D Talk about some confident lady ! You rock ! :D
Love your blog. I’m 52 years old, 5’11″, size 10-12. Growing up I had no other support from others about being tall other than my family. I love what you a other young bloggers are doing to create a community of support and expression for tall women. As a tall teen I was ridiculed so viciously that I hated being tall. In my 30′s I begain to embrace my tallness despite what anyone said or how hard they starred. I enjoy your sense of humor as well.
Hello Paulette ! :)
Yes, we have to stick together ! Growing was not easy for me either even if I’m younger than you, difference is and always will be the greatest reason behind bullying unfortunately… that’s why we all have to try to love ourselves and teach our kids the same, as this will never stop it’s the only way to become bulletproof to these attacks! :)
You’re waaaaaaaaaaaay younger than her so you have time ;) but my beloved grandmother was very tall too for her generation and always used to tell me she hated it when she was younger, but getting older she thought it was a good thing because while all her friends were shrinking down to the ground, she was shrinking too but was still tall, and even, she was happy to finally be average for the first time of her life :)
Evan if your really taller than me I can still understand. I’m 4’8 by the way turning 16 on March 15th. I get teased all the time for being short and it’s something I have to deal with because it is what it is. I don’t know what you look like in person but I believe you’re a beautiful women and everyone is beautiful in their own way. I have an aunt that’s 5’9/10 and she’s beautiful she’s more of a natural person and I feel that she’s should use what she has and be a model because if I was tall and skinny id’e rock the Modeling world! What i’m saying is when people ask if your a Model it’s a compliment!
You rock! I just found your blog and your cartoons had both me AND my hubby so tickled!
I love your work and your story. I think a lot of we curlies had some security issues growing up, but there’s so much magic in accepting and then loving who you were created to be!
I’m a dark ‘n curly, lol! Once I saw/realized the breathtaking beauty in my rich chocolate skin and the spirit of each of my bouncy curls, I was head over heels in love!
Keep up the awesome art so others can realize their magic powers too!
Namaste
-Kelli
I’m 6’3″, natural and a freshman in college. I haven’t been one to get annoyed when people ask questions and make statements about my height until recently. Maybe it’s because I’m realizing that there is more to me than my height and hair, but that’s something I’ll figure out in time. I just wanted to say I love this blog, explains my life!
Wow! im 5’11 3/4″ and i totally get you!! Im also a new natural with 4a-4c hair….its refreshing to see this site!! Thank you!
You’re welcome AND welcome Tall and Curly friend !! :D
5’11 3/4 ?! HOW PRECISE IS THAT !! HAHAHAHA But I get it !! You are NOT 6′ !!! ;DDDD
Im 6 feet tall and curly! I love it! I always wear 4 inch heels! Proud Tall curly over here!
Welcome Tall N Curly friend !! :D 6 feet tall with 4 inch heels?! You’re my hero !!! :D I don’t even think my feet are technically able to wear some of these ! I need to train them !!
Not tall, just extra curly. This is very well stated and funny too.
I’m 5’9 and I had to get use to being tall, but I have to say going to college changed my mindset when a guy called me an Amazon. lol I never was called that I was usually called the Statue of Liberty, Giraffe, Big Ria, or whatever else you can think of. Although, she’s a fictional character, I look at Wonder Woman because she’s confident and sure with herself.
You’re a beautiful writer and I love your hair story.
Thank you very much Curly Queen ^^ I love your alias !
I totally understand I’m 5’11″ and I was the tallest girl in my class until I got to middle school and then I was the second tallest!! It was hard growing up listening to the jokes. Even though my permed my hair it was still so thick that when I wore my hair in a ponytail it looked like a big poof ball. So I’ve heard it all and it just got to a point where they started to sound redundant and I accepted myself for who I was. I love being tall and curly( now that I’ve gone natural)!!
Hi Jiovani !
Nice to meet you Tall N Curly fellow ! :-) I was the second tallest too but the tallest was a boy so… It didn’t help me much ;)
I’m wondering if I didn’t actually get “big poof ball” as a nickname once haha ;D
Well yeah… it all gets redundant at some point so the only solution is : freedom baby ! :D
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