How the Pandemic Changed Attitudes Toward Curly Hair in Kuwait

When the world was put on pause due to the pandemic, a movement for embracing natural curls suddenly flared up in Kuwait. With salons closed and the inability to maintain usual routines, many were forced to look at their appearance in a new way. Why did hair, seemingly such an everyday element, become part of a debate about freedom of choice, self-respect, and cultural standards? Can we speak of a true revolution of identity, or is this just a trend influenced by circumstances?

The Pandemic That Changed Everything

During the period of strict quarantine, familiar self-care rituals were disrupted. Salons closed, public events were canceled, and access to keratin treatments and straightening products disappeared. The pressure to conform to the standards of sterile “neatness” weakened, and for the first time in a long while, many saw their natural curls without masking or straightening.

People began to notice that years of manipulating their hair often led to damaged structure, brittleness, and loss of natural volume. Finding themselves outside the field of others’ gaze, Kuwaitis began to rethink their habits: they rediscovered forgotten curl patterns and started to wonder why they had tried to hide them before.

Social Pressure After Returning to Normal Life

However, the changes did not end there. With the resumption of social activity and return to the usual rhythm of life, old stereotypes quickly resurfaced. Once again, there were reproaches about “untidiness,” “unprofessionalism,” and even the “undesirability” of curls. These attitudes are rooted in rigid appearance criteria, where straight and sleek hair is associated with “cleanliness” and “success.”

A logical question arises: why, in Arab society, where according to experts 60% to 80% of the population has naturally curly hair (data from the American Academy of Dermatology), is this hair type considered a flaw? Where does such a one-sided beauty standard come from?

Women’s Stories as a Path to Embracing Curls

For many girls, the path to acceptance began with an internal struggle. The main barriers were family traditions, pressure from the older generation, and fear of judgment. According to members of The Curl Club community, the situation is changing, but not without resistance: “The older generation is used to seeing only straight hair. We grew up with the example that curls were considered unkempt, but now we teach children to be proud of themselves.”

Personal stories often feature similar stages:

1. Refusing straightening procedures after damage and realizing the real cost of “perfect” smoothness;
2. Overcoming insecurity and fear of looking ridiculous among peers and relatives;
3. Positive internal changes: increased self-confidence, a sense of uniqueness, and belonging to one’s roots.

Travel and living abroad became a real breakthrough for many girls. Abroad, individuality is valued more than conformity to a standard. Here, curls are seen as a natural part of personality, not a flaw.

Local support communities also played an important role. Thanks to online clubs, women exchanged advice, shared successes and disappointments—this very diversity of experience helped many move away from a single “norm” and feel safe.

Stereotypes and Freedom of Self-Expression Among Men

Men’s stories show that the topic of curls is not just a women’s issue. In Kuwaiti schools, restrictions were often imposed: strict rules did not allow long hair, and any differences were interpreted as a challenge to tradition. As they grew older, some young men decided to express themselves differently.

For Fahed Al Saleh, curls became a symbol of individuality. He admits that sometimes he feels like getting a haircut, but the desire to keep his own style is stronger: “Even when my hair is messy, people react with interest. It’s part of me.” In his opinion, the freedom to express oneself through hair is an important step toward self-acceptance.

What prevents men from choosing their own style? The pressure of those around them and the legacy of past decades, when an unconventional appearance was seen as a challenge to social norms.

In Kuwait, the influence of traditions, preserved by the older generation, is deeply rooted. This concerns not only appearance but also behavior. And here, the country does not orient itself toward European norms. For example, gambling is strictly prohibited in Kuwait. This is related to the religious norms of Islam.

Despite strict laws, some Kuwaitis find ways to participate in gambling through international online casinos. To bypass internet restrictions, they use VPNs. Online platforms licensed in jurisdictions such as Malta, the United Kingdom, or Curaçao open up a new world for the country’s citizens.

Online casinos offer access to slot machines, roulette, blackjack, and live dealer games. In addition, one of the explosive hits in Kuwait is crash games, such as Lucky Jet or Aviator. They are offered by many international platforms—as confirmed by data on the website https://lucky-jet-game.com.in/. At the same time, using such platforms in the country remains illegal and their use is associated with risks.

Gambling in Kuwait is not just entertainment; it is a form of protest and a search for identity.

Cultural and Historical Context

But behind the outward choice lies a deep cultural context. In Kuwaiti Arabic, there is a special term for curly, “unruly” hair—kisha, meaning something messy or inappropriate. For a long time, curls remained outside the bounds of a “decent” image, giving way to the Western ideal of straight hair.

In recent decades, under the influence of Western trends, the so-called “clean girl aesthetic” has spread—an image of flawless smoothness and grooming, in which there was no place for curls or a bit of messiness. These ideas intensified internal complexes and distanced people from natural beauty.

According to expert estimates, the majority of Middle Eastern residents have wavy or curly hair, which makes the existing standards especially paradoxical. Curls have always been part of the cultural code, but they were often hidden under scarves or subjected to chemical treatments.

The Beauty Industry with New Trends and Support for Change

What is happening inside the beauty industry? Over the past three years, demand for specialized products for curly hair has grown, and salons and clubs have appeared where the focus is precisely on the features of natural textures. Online platforms and blogs influence the formation of a new aesthetic, and discussions on social networks support the confidence of newcomers.

Professionals warn about the dangers of frequent keratin treatments and aggressive straighteners. According to research from the International Journal of Trichology, systematic straightening can lead to thinning, brittleness, and even follicle structure disorders (published in 2021). Therefore, modern curl experts recommend:

• Gentle cleansing with mild products,
• Using moisturizing masks and leave-in conditioners,
• Air drying without flat irons or curling irons,
• Regular combing only with wide-tooth combs,
• Consulting stylists familiar with the specifics of curls.

A New Perspective on Identity and Diversity

The path to acceptance begins with the mirror—this image often appears in community members’ stories. Having embraced their curls, girls and boys note not only better relationships with their hair but also increased confidence. Curls stop being a “mistake” and become a symbol of freedom and uniqueness.

These changes go beyond fashion. Embracing naturalness becomes a marker of a new identity, in which individuality is valued above outward resemblance to trends. Abroad, as the article’s subjects claim, diversity is perceived as the norm, inspiring Kuwaitis to bold experiments.

But how stable are these changes? Experts note that the movement for natural hair is still built on personal enthusiasm rather than large-scale research. The opinions of the older and younger generations still differ; for some, the new values are close, for others, self-acceptance is merely a reaction to external circumstances.

Perhaps the curly revolution is only just beginning, and its success depends on support, education, and cultural dialogue. But one thing is clear: the discussion about curls has already gone beyond appearance, becoming the beginning of a conversation about freedom, self-respect, and a new identity for an entire generation.