I believe it was Moses himself who first said, “Curly, unruly hair is a problem faced by many Jewish girls.” OK, so maybe that’s not exactly right, but let’s face it: Curly hair is about as Jewish as matzo ball soup.

While some girls can and do wear their curls well, I find that when I try to go “au naturel” with my hair, I end up looking like I’ve just been electrocuted. So for those of you facing a similar struggle with your mane, I offer you the following advice for taming your Jewfro.

1The most obvious option is to straighten hair with a flat iron, but unfortunately, there are many downsides. First of all, the heat from the flat iron can damage your hair if you overdo it. The whole straightening process in itself can be extremely time consuming between washing, blow drying and flat-ironing, and sometimes requires up to a few hours. If you’ve got the curly hair I have, it will probably take at least that much time. In other words, straightening hair can be nice and fun thing on occasion, but much like cookies and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” – all are best enjoyed in moderation.

2  What do peanut butter and chocolate have in common with curly and straight hair? Answer: They’re both two unlikely yet spectacular combinations. That’s right, another option that should be considered when faced with wild, unmanageable hair is to “semi-straighten.” I’ve recently discovered this technique (perhaps invented this…my patent application is pending), and I’ve found it to be a lifesaver when faced with hair that looks as though I’ve just survived a tornado. See, what you do here is simply flat iron only the top layer of your hair. It’s the best of both worlds, because it creates the illusion of having sleek, controlled hair, but the curls and waves beneath ensure that you don’t have to sacrifice any texture or volume. Just make sure to run your fingers through and combine the curly and straight hair, so rather than looking like two different hairstyles, it just looks cool and beachy. And who doesn’t love beachy?

3 Finally, for my most practical suggestion, find an amazing product, like a gel, spray, or leave-in-conditioner, that’s tailored for curly hair. My personal favorite is “Be Curly” from Aveda, but there are dozens of others that work just as well. The key to wearing curly hair is to keep control of the curls and not to simply let them run wild. Think early Taylor Swift, not early caveman. A great product can really work miracles. Just wet your hair, apply the product, and let your Jew flag fly!

Need any more suggestions for how to manage your curly hair or some advice for that upcoming event called homecoming? Like “Ohr Chadash Teen Page” on Facebook and post your questions on our wall.