Search Results: Akshay Joshi
No pain, no gain? It has to be your mantra!
For years, our curls have suffered through the installation of braids, weaves, and extensions for the sake of enviable style and grace. The tighter the braid, the longer the style lasts. However, this beauty practice can come at a cost: scalp itch and traction-based irritation.
It is time for a new way to care for your scalp when protective styles are installed, worn, and maintained: the new Jojoba Oil and Ucuuba Butter Track Tension & Itch Relief Serum from SheaMoisture offers a cooling, calming scalp reliever that nourishes as it soothes.
Whether your style featured box braids, cornrows, or flowing wavy extensions, this easy-to-apply serum soothes discomfort and keeps those moments of pat-down-my-weave at bay! What makes this serum even more wonderful is its natural and certified organic ingredients.
Use this serum for protective styling every time!
The SheaMoisture Jojoba Oil and Ucuuba Butter Track Tension & Itch Relief Serum is comprised of powerful antioxidant Carrot Seed oil, deeply hydrating Jojoba oil, and fast-absorbing fatty acids-rich Ucuuba butter!
You will love this soothing scalp serum. Learn how to use it now!
Long-lasting protective styles don’t have to be a pain! Get the SheaMoisture Jojoba Oil & Ucuuba Butter Track Tension & Itch Relief Serum today at Walmart stores and Walmart.com now!
This post and video are both sponsored by SheaMoisture.
As ever, stay curly!
If you have been looking for the best moisturizing gel to set your protective style with, you have come to the right place.
The new Jojoba Oil and Ucuuba Butter Braid-Up Conditioning Gel with Carrot Seed Oil from SheaMoisture offers a lightweight, yet powerful styler that keeps protective styles moisturized and intact for longer, more comfortable wear.
From the most intricate cornrow designs to gently woven crochet and box braids, this conditioning gel hydrates hair strands, soothes the scalp, and adds slip to curls for ease of installation. Because you deserve the best, this gel contains natural and certified organic ingredients that will not add cakey build up to your protective style. This gel is also recommended for naturals that want to switch up their look with extensions and weaves.
What makes this gel different from others used in protective styling?
The gentlest conditioning gel for protective styling on the market is comprised of the following quality ingredients:
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Carrot seed oil – In addition to the fact that this vegetable lends its delightful smell to the conditioning gel, it is also an antiseptic and antioxidant, that detoxes the scalp and your curls upon use. Since this oil contains carotene and Vitamin-A, your scalp will be stimulated by these natural cell regenerators that promote healthy hair growth.
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Jojoba oil – One of the most popular plant-based oils is one of the key ingredients in this conditioning gel. Why? It has to do with Jojoba’s ability to control evaporation so your curls and scalp with retain moisture throughout the life of your protective style. Another added bonus of Jojoba oil: it is a naturally occurring fungicide that controls the growth of mildew, which is perfect for long-wearing protective styles!
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Ucuuba butter – This fatty acid-rich butter derives from Central and South America, and has been used to revitalize hair strands that need moisture. Post-use, you will notice that the conditioning gel gives twist- and knot-outs a health bounce and natural sheen that can be attributed to Ucuuba.
Watch how to use this conditioning gel for protective styling!
As demonstrated by Houston, TX stylist Okwe, you can achieve stunning long-lasting protective styles with the SheaMoisture Jojoba Oil and Ucuuba Butter Braid-Up Conditioning Gel with Carrot Seed Oil. Get your tub of this amazing conditioning gel today at Walmart stores and Walmart.com now!
This post and video are both sponsored by SheaMoisture.
As ever, stay curly!
As its moniker indicates, this hairstyle protects hair from external factors like environmental conditions, such as humidity and heat – both of which are enemies of natural, textured curls. To combat these conditions, textured hair needs nutrients and moisture sealed and locked into every strand. One of the best protective styles to achieve this is Bantu knots.
Simple and easy to create, Bantu knots are a staple in the African-American community and beyond. According to Ebony magazine writer Princess Gabbara, “Bantu knots made a comeback in recent years with celebrities such as Mel B. a.k.a. Scary Spice, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Rihanna, Blac Chyna, and Teyana Taylor stunning the masses. These women and plenty of others slayed Bantu knots, helping to bring them to the forefront. However, the hairstyle can be traced as far back to at least 1898.”
Now, it is your turn to get this stunning look that is steeped with tradition!
Watch this super cute How-to-Bantu video, starring your favorite mommy blogger and SheaMoisture Ambassador Jenell B. Stewart:
YouTube video provided by sponsor: SheaMoisture
Jenell used the Jojoba Oil & Ucuuba Butter Braid-Up Conditioning Gel with Carrot Seed Oil to achieve her gorgeous Bantu Knots. Each of the hero ingredients aforementioned are rich emollients that provide deep moisturization to curls. Because Bantu knots help curls retain moisture and keep fragile ends free from dryness and snagging, this reliable gel will help curls stay healthy and strong.
The Braid-Up Conditioning Gel is great to use for other protective styles such as box braids, cornrows, extensions, and weaves. It is color-safe and also free of sulfates, mineral oil, parabens, petrolatum, phthalates, and propylene glycol. The Track Tension & Itch Relief Serum is a must to cool the scalp and soothe tightness, itching, and discomfort.
For travelers, summertime sunbathers, and curly girls that want to switch up their look, Bantu knots are a beautiful way to protect curls while looking beautiful at every turn. Grab your 12 oz jar of the SheaMoisture Jojoba Oil & Ucuuba Butter Braid-Up Conditioning Gel with Carrot Seed Oil today at Walmart stores and Walmart.com now to get the look of the season!
This post and video are both sponsored by SheaMoisture.
As ever, stay curly!
Argan oil has been heralded in Morocco and throughout the world for its moisturizing, restorative properties. Its popularity has grown over the past decade and has created a sustainable source of economic and environmental growth.
In addition to its benefits outside of the cosmetic industry, argan oil is one of the best plant oils for naturally curly and textured hair because it is comprised of Omegas 3 and 9. As noted by CurlyNikki Contributing Writer T. Johnson, “Omega 3 helps to prevent hair loss while Omega 9 repairs damaged hair follicles.”
It is also important to note that Argan oil is a miracle worker for skin problems, so if you experience scalp issues such as dryness or pH-restoration, you will want the plant oil in your hair and scalp care maintenance kit.
What Argan oil did for me:
You need Argan oil in your curl hair regimen. Period.
That is why I am telling you about the Creme of Nature with Argan Oil from Morocco line that moisturizes, enhances, and improves the health and appearance of curly, coily, and wavy hair. Its Argan oil and Exotic Shine™ formulations quench dry hair and improve hair health, which in turn helps to establish a prime environment for daily curl maintenance and styling.
For us product junkies, I often recommend clarifying cleansers to keep the scalp free of product buildup and debris. In this case, I recommend the Creme of Nature Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Rinse for its ability to sooth the scalp with clearing out heavily built upproduct. The most impressive characteristic of this clarifying rinse, besides that lovely Argan oil scent, is the shine it leaves on my 4C coils. Exotic Shine™ is a unique formulation that my coily hair responded verywell to.
To maintain the shine, I followed up with a combination of the Moisture & Shine Curl Activator Cremeand the Flexible Styling Snot, both of which kept my curls defined throughout the day. The Curl Activator Creme has a medium consistency that adds a hefty dose of moisture to mycoils, but is still lightweight enough to rake through my damp hair, which I credit to the Argan oil.
The Flexible Styling Snot gives a super strong hold and will not flake on you. Its thick consistency is great to use your edges and for long-wearing protective styles like finger coils and two-strand twists!
All in all, the Creme of Nature with Argan Oil from Morocco has MVPs in the line that you will want to get your hands on for sure. So, why not try them all today? Simply visit SHOP NaturallyCurly and Creme of Nature – #IAmSuperNatural to have them delivered to your doorstep.
If you are feeling lucky, enter the NaturallyCurly + Creme of Nature giveaway right now!
Enter the new Creme of Nature #IAmSuperNatural Giveaway Now!
When: June 5, 2017 to June 7, 2017
5 lucky winners will receive:
To enter, comment below with the #IAmSuperNatural hashtag to tell NaturallyCurly + Creme of Nature what makes you a super natural!
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions. Please make sure you have liked us on Facebook and Instagram, so that when we can notify you if you’ve won.
BONUS:
The ladies of The Real RAVED about the Creme of Nature with Argan Oil from Morocco collection, and with good reason: Argan oil is a dream come true for naturally curly and textured hair!
To purchase curl-savers from the Creme of Nature with Argan Oil From Morocco line, visit SHOP NaturallyCurly today!
#IAmSuperNatural, baby – and so are you :”> As ever, stay curly!
You know why pyrite is called Fool’s Gold?
Classism, honestly. If you were a desperate prospector, half blind from sweat and cave dirt, and down to the pickaxe you had to give up your last 14 rations of gruel to buy, you’d jump on a nugget of this comparatively worthless stuff in a heartbeat while the upper-crust laughed their waxed mustaches off.
Even though a raw gold nugget looks…fairly dissimilar, you have to admit the struggle can make you see what you want to see.
And when it comes to properly caring for our curls and coils, it’s easy to fall into the same role as that overworked miner. If you’re growing out transitioning afro-textured hair, sometimes the combination of breakage, shrinkage, slow growth, and cultural baggage will get you frantic to grab at anything that looks like it’ll help you out. That’s a great mindset…for any less-than-scrupulous manufacturers.
Of all the types of ingredients that pop up as THE next thing for your hair, oils take the lion’s share of mentions. There’s always going to be a rotation of old and new carriers, essential oils, and infusions, and it’s a good thing!
As avocado seed oil rotates to the bottom and almond oil comes back up, more newbies that need the lighter oil will get the message, and the old guard that the heavier avocado works for can enjoy a season of finding their favorites on the shelves and stocking up before the hype rebuilds and a new crop of fresh big-choppees gets their feet wet in caring for their natural texture.
And when newcomers like baobab or broccoli seed oil pop up, we all get to check out what might be an undiscovered holy grail!
But it’s that naïveté and excitement that brings the fakers running with their sub-par weasel wares.
At least real weasels have the decency to be cute.
For all the fresh TWAs out there, and even some of us who aren’t new to the game, but could always use a refresher, here are a few things to be aware of when you’re buying oils to help figure out what’s actually best for you.
Specialty stuff? Triple check labels!
Sometimes even reading the labels isn’t enough, you also have to do research on what labels to look for! The FDA official logos for organic cosmetics products..don’t actually exist for instance. And country-specific origin of appellations for products that are explicitly only from one region of the world with certain standards to meet will all vary. This is the mark that will distinguish your legitimate imported champagne France from your sparkling white wine (still good though”>. You can make out the Monoi Institute’s official stamp on products in ORS’s Monoi oil line for example, and that mark is going to be how you know what you’re getting into.
Beware the Blends…sort of.
Oil and water don’t mix, but oils and oils do! However, while DIYers like myself go out looking for essential oils to work with, there’s a wall that we can hit. Rose Absolute, for instance, is something like two dollars per tenth of an ounce. That’s about one pulse point tap if you’re not a liquid measurements whiz. It makes sense—flowers are mostly water after all, so you need literal truckloads to extract oils from of them.
But that steep price is what makes blends a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, some companies choose to bury the fact that you’re not getting 100% essential oil down in the fine print. You get what seems like a bargain, only to get an overly diluted end result once you’re done over the double boiler.
On the other hand, essential oils are only meant to be used with no filters in humidifiers. Anything that goes directly on your hair or skin in large quantities needs to be suspended in a carrier oil, or mixed in with some butters, or you WILL get burned—it’s why you’re meant to spot treat acne with tea tree oil rather than slather it on like a night cream. Take it from someone that added pure lemon and clove to a bath to a VERY un-relaxing effect.
Blends are a great thing, but when they’re not disclosed up front, and the price looks too good to be true, that’s when you know to take your money elsewhere.
Prioritize Packaging
The sun, as much as it may do a decent job of sustaining life on this planet, is no friend to unprotected skin OR unprotected oils.
It’s a complicated relationship.
While it won’t happen in an instant, heat and UV rays break down the useful components of oils, and lead to decreased efficacy at best, spoilage at worst. Looking for bottles that are dark in color or are labeled as having UV protection despite being clear is going to save you that pain, especially if you’re anything like me and need to see everything you have at all times.
As always, look for packaging with a prominent ingredient list—even on single-ingredient items like almond oil. Not only will you see the exact species of plant used, you’ll also be able to avoid anything you’re allergic to, and know that the brand you’re buying holds themselves accountable for quality and accuracy.
Has there ever been an oil you’ve had to pull back on? What happened, and what did you move on to?
Let us know in the comments, and keep tuned for more purchasing tips!
Curlfriends don’t let curlfriends use anything less than the best.
The answer is YES!
The reason why monoi oil is good for your curly hair lies in the power of Gardenia taitensis, most commonly known as the Tahitian Gardenia or Tiaré Flower. The flower’s scented oil extract has been a health and beauty staple in the French Polynesian culture for hundreds of years, used primarily as a skin and softener. These benefits are now brought to you by NaturallyCurly.com sponsor Design Essentials and their new Coconut & Monoi collection! By combining the softening power of monoi and maximum moisturizing propers of coconut oil, this offering is ideal for all textures, no matter porosity, width, or curl pattern.
BONUS: Monoi plays well with coconut oil!
Understanding that coconut oil reacts differently for every texture type and porosity level is important. As much as it is lauded within our natural hair and curly community, coconut oil is not a straightforward ingredient for all hair types. It can work wonders on low porosity waves and coils, while drying and caking onto medium porosity ringlets and curls at the same time. That is why the Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi has blended coconut and monoi oils, creating a lightweight and nourishing formula that is suited to all textures.
AUTHENTICITY TIP: When studying the authenticity of product ingredients, make sure the label says “Cocos nucifera” for coconut oil and “Gardenia tahitensis” for Tiaré flower extract, or monoi oil. Rest assured, you will find this on every Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi item because it is the real deal.
I got healthy results from monoi and coconut oil blends. You can, too!
Because the hair shaft is so dynamic, opening and closing according to environmental factors, it is challenging to keep curly hair soft and hydrated for curls that are healthy and primed to withstand the elements. That is why the Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi Collection offers moisturizing, emollient-rich formulations to define and nourish natural curl patterns for people with curly, coily, and wavy hair. What’s better is that all items in the maintenance and styling regimen contains quality ingredients and leaves out gluten, petrolatum, parabens, paraffins, and phthalates.
These attributes are exciting to me, not mention I am an advocate for effective ingredients. I could hardly wait to try the line and tell you about it… and now I can! Take note so that you too can have excellent results from monoi and coconut blends by Design Essentials:
Second-Day Hair
My coily hair concerns center around low porosity, which means that my tight curls do not absorb products quickly (or sometimes at all”>. To address this concern, I sectioned my hair in 6 parts and applied a nickel-size amount of Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi Curl Enhancing Dual Hydration Milk to my coils post-wash day. For better absorption, I spritzed warm water onto my coils to get them damp, not wet, prior to application. To ensure that my hair would get the full hydration treatment, I firmly smooshed (or squeezed”> and massaged the milk into each section, working through from root to tip with my fingers.
Sidenote: I rely on the smoosh/squeeze technique because it allows product to fully penetrate the hair shaft.
After each section was fully hydrated, I spritz on Coconut & Monoi Intense Shine Oil Mist as a finisher. Because I like accessorizing, I pushed my coils back into a halo with an elastic-lined multipattern headband so they could air dry and also look stylish. As per usual, I went about my day – writing, researching ingredients for you (*wink*”>, meetings, et. al.
After several hours, I noticed that my hair was still moist which was surprising to me. Normally, my hair gets very dry due to evaporation and other elemental factors. In this particular instance, my hair was fluffy! It was very difficult to not touch the hair because it was that soft and moisturized.
As my day progressed, I did not need to refresh my curls with water or product. Talk about a win! I can only attribute this to the coconut and monoi blend in the dual hydration milk. As mentioned, the emollients in the milk are very powerful. However, the most impressive aspect was that the blend was able to penetrate my low porosity curls. As mentioned, that is something I look for in a product on a consistent basis. The Coconut & Monoi Curl Enhancing Dual Hydration Milk exceeded my expectations. I will be adding this product to my second-day refreshment and styling routine because of this.
Wash and Go Hair
About the third day into a style, I get a bit bored and default back to the tried and true wash and go. When this happens, I reach for my favorite curl cleansers and leave-ins and get to work! This time around, I grabbed the Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi Curl Defining Gelée and applied a quarter-size amount to sectioned, wet hair and finger-raked it through from tips to roots. It has a thick consistency which I would normally be intimidated by, but I found that my hair was very responsive to it.
Much like my accessorizing for second-day hair, I push my curls back into a halo with a headband and let them air dry. To add an extra layer of ‘cute’ to the style, I applied a finger glide amount of Coconut & Monoi Moisturizing Edge Control Glaze to my hairline with a toothbrush. You can use a regular sized brush or small-tooth comb, but I stick to my tradition of toothbrushing the edges down. The glaze has a pomade-like consistency and slides onto the hairline very smoothly, almost like butter. I really like it!
In the end, my third-day wash and go style looked very nice and was still soft! This is because my coils had been thoroughly hydrated from the dual hydration milk days prior, and simply needed moisture-rich stylers to extend the life of my look. The blend of monoi and coconut is remarkable because, when applied according to instruction, the products enhanced my 4Cs’ natural state: beautiful!BONUS: Perfect your Wash and Go – watch our quick and easy tutorial!
I am excited to share my first-hand experience with you because, much like me, you are searching for a collection that works for your texture type. The Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi collection is one I highly recommend you try. Just click over SHOP NaturallyCurly today to get your hands it!
As ever, stay curly!
Have y’all read my bio here?
Don’t scroll down, I have a screencap for you.
The assaulting school children part isn’t true (probably”>, but the procrastination bit DEFINITELY is. Unfortunately. And that’s why it’s important to me as I slowwwwwwwwwwly put my hair back in twists for the summer to admit my faults in hopes that our curly community reading knows they’re not alone…but they need to quit.
Mea maxima culpa, coils. I’m ready to confess my sins and move on!
“Sorry, you say you used holy anointing oil to pre-WHAT?“
Let’s let this list go in chronological order of how I hadn’t been living up to my full braid potential.
Scratching
Biotin doesn’t break me out like it does some of our other editors, so I’ve always got some pretty fierce claws going on. They’re great for scritching kitties, puppies, and any other little creature that needs my love; but they’re NOT good for dragging across my scalp.
Look at these things.
Scratching scrapes your skin and introduces more tangles at the roots. Even if you don’t feel the effects immediately after you can feel your mother shooting you ‘the look’ from wherever she may be, you’re still lifting layers of skin, potentially introducing contaminants from under your nails, and not doing an irritated scalp any favors with the weight of your incoming hair installation.
Skipping Deep Conditioning
Fun fact, you can’t really get to all of your hair when it’s braided, so conditioning-wise you have to set the scene beforehand. One of my worst traits, is overestimating my abilities to do things both thoroughly AND quickly, and it’s not uncommon that my train of thoughts will run something like ‘I’m sure I can pre-poo and deep condition the night before I get started, I definitely won’t be tired THIS time, choo choo’. But when the day comes, and my hair is only partly elastic from mist and leave-in, getting pulled in different directions and then then back the other way, the guilt over breakage I can practically feel as it’s happening is pretty intense.
Find an oil treatment and/or some deep conditioning and get your hair at it’s springiest before you start to part. Leave the snapping strands in the past, and move forward with confidence!
Not “wash-washing”
This is the point where I reiterate that I’m trusting all of you with how I’m baring my soul here. But because I used to co-wash exclusively, like with legit conditioner, not a co-wash cleanser, I wasn’t doing the best for my scalp’s pores or my hair. Naturally, there’s going to be some deep cleansing to do once you take down the store bought portion of your crowning glory once the protective style has run its course. But the knots of natural grease, old beeswax, and dirt I’d pull out, I thought were just an inevitability, until I realized I could have been attacking that buildup well beforehand. Astringent agents like apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, and mints are going to be your friends here
Leaving them in too long
Honestly, when Marley hair came to my local hair shop before I moved out of my parents’ house, I was thrilled. Sure some of it shed, but it mimicked my natural 4A texture so well, it was so much harder to tell that I’d left them in for 2…3…6 more weeks than I was supposed to have. Now I’ll be real, a lot of this stemmed from being so self concious about my shorter hair, AND not being able to go back home and get it done easily once I left Fort Worth for school and work. But now that I’m a big girl with much more positive feelings toward my natural mane, money to buy hair, and my own ride to get wherever I need to, there’s no excuse. New growth needs to be tended to, hair needs to be deep cleaned, and ‘Scraggly chic’ only works in a very small settings, like the ones where no one knows me professionally. And also it’s dark.
Quick, which one’s me? Haha, exactly.
But I can’t hide out at shows forever. Besides, I feel that having “check in time” with your curls is important! After all, as much as I love not having anything to do before I plop into bed, I start to miss handling them!
Rushing takedown
Everything comes full circle, and so does this article. This goes right back up there with overestimating how fast I can go in a pinch—except here, the dangers are much more tangled and tangible. When you’re taking your hair down, especially if it’s a 100% solo effort, you’re going to be in exactly the same ‘I need snacks, a nap, a hug, an intensive yoga course’ position that you are when you started putting it up, with one exception. The light at the end of the tunnel is that you still have more work to do detangling, deep cleaning, and vacuuming your floor. And that can get pretty discouraging, frustrating even! But you can’t take that out on your hair. Leave yourself enough time so that you’re not getting crazy with the seam ripper or yanking your hair free from an errant twist rather than gently coaxing it out (again, that next day guilt is a killer for me”>. Make sure you’re in a position that you won’t have to use dynamite for a job that calls for a chisel.
Well I feel better getting that off my chest!
And best of all, I’m feeling optimistic about my curls’ future in extensions. I’m currently installing as of writing this, I’ve pre-pooed, deep conditioned, queued up the appropriate classic Disney movies, and I feel like I’m set.
How about you, coily kinfolk? Which of these protective style sins have you been guilty of? Unburden yourself in the comments, then go forth and keep it cute.
There are 2 ingredients available to curlies and coilies that stop frizz from occurring in humid climates: Coconut Oil and Manuka Honey.
Curly and coily textured hair is as susceptible to frizz as those with wavy hair, if not more so due to the hair cuticle keratin levels and a tendency to curl into itself especially in humid climates and inclimate weather.
Women-owned Long Aid Naturals understands this fact and set out to use sustainably sourced ingredients to help us manage the inevitability of our curls’ reaction to Mother Nature’s ups and downs. By incorporating Coconut Oil and Manuka Honey into a new collection, these savvy women have created everyday humidity and frizz protection to people with curly, coily, and wavy tresses.
Because I too am no stranger to frizzy ends and dry coils, I am sharing why the two hero ingredients in the Long Aid Naturals line are important to your fight against frizz and humidity.
How Coconut Oil Combats Humidity
According to natural hair influencer and research MoKnowsHair, “Frizz occurs when the cuticle layer of your hair is raised, allowing moisture to pass through and swell the strands. As a result, your hair appears dry and frizzy instead of smooth and defined. In general, curly hair tends to have more frizz than straight hair because of dehydration in the strands, which leaves it more vulnerable to [frizz].”
That is why coconut oil, an emollient derived from coconuts with a molecular structure that makes it easier to penetrate the hair shaft, is among the best ingredient to use when hydrating curly hair. [Learn more here: Hair Care Glossary by NaturallyCurly.com]
Stylers that host emollients are also going to help you fight frizz and let humidity work for you rather than against you. Humidity will cause shrinkage, which is a recurring issue in the natural hair community. When you apply a generous amount of Manuka Honey & Coconut Shrink Away Elongating Curl Cream to your hair, you are bound to achieve your length goals. I used it for a two-strand twist-set and was pleased when I unraveled them the following morning: the aloe vera and Manuka honey keep my typically dry ends coiled all day. I highly recommend it!
For those of us that wash and go on a regular basis, you will want to invest in Manuka Honey & Coconut Curling Jelly and Manuka Honey & Coconut Triple Cream Styling Custard. The not-so-secret agent in both the jelly and custard, Manuka honey, helps shield the hair cuticle from weather changes in order to keep curls defined and beautifully styled. Dependent of hair length, apply about two pea-sized amounts of custard to sectioned hair. Then, finger rake the jelly through your strands and air dry for a beautiful wash and go style.
BONUS: The combination of coconut oil and Manuka honey work wonders on second-day hair. Use the Manuka Honey & Coconut Shine & Refresh Spray when second-day curls need refreshing moisture and shine. It also hosts sweet almond and sesame seed oils which will help prime your hair for growth.
How Manuka Honey Combats Humidity
Because moisture is ever present in the environment, curls will always need a humectant applied to them. As noted by writer and research NaturallyChelsea, “Since honey is a humectant, it will help to draw moisture from out of the atmosphere and into your hair.”
In addition to its moisture-absorbing property, Manuka honey aids in the prevention of split ends, a curly hair concern that is connected to hair loss and length retention difficulties.
As I have mentioned in the past, a healthy scalp is the base for healthy curls. With the aid of the Manuka Honey & Bergamot Conditioning Cleanse, your curls will be gently cleansed and primed to fend off humidity. The addition of ginseng extract will help with hair growth and length retention. You will want to follow up with the Manuka Honey & Bergamot Daily Conditioner and Manuka Honey & Bergamot DoubleCream Moisture Masque, both of which you should apply generous amounts to cleansed, sectioned curls.
For non-wash days, the Tea Tree Detox Clarifying Spray is my personal go-to. I product test often, which means that my scalp and hair tend to hold onto product and causes buildup almost weekly. I have found a miracle product in this clarifying spray because I no longer need to wash my hair every other day to get products out of my curls. I section my hair, spray the clarifier on each section, and gently rub it into my scalp. It works wonders!
For those of you that need not use a clarifier so often or if you wear a protective style for weeks at a time, I recommend this spray to keep product and/or fungus buildup at bay while soothing scalp itch.
BONUS: Prior to cleansing and conditioning, I recommend spritzing the Tangle & Twist Rescue Detangling Spray onto damp (not wet”> sectioned curls to help you easily remove hair shed and untangle knots.
Long Aid Naturals Combats Humidity with Coconut Oil and Manuka Honey
I know that you will enjoy the lasting effects of the new Long Aid Naturals collection as much as I do. Each offering was formulated to prevent split ends, reduce hair fall, regrow thinning hair, prevent scalp dryness, remove product buildup, and fight frizz.
What is even better is that this scalp and curl nourishing regimen is in tune with the naturalista and curly girl lifestyle; the collection is cruelty-free; its ingredients are sustainably sourced; and none of the product offerings contain harmful chemicals like DEA, Formaldehyde, Mineral Oil, Parabens, Paraffin, Phthalate, and Sulfates.
There is one more reason you will love Long Aid Naturals:
In partnership with SHOP NaturallyCurly, Long Aid Naturals will donate a portion of your purchase through our e-commerce store to MIFA and CASA charitable organizations. As an avid volunteer and active community member, it is important to me that brands like this one are openly giving back to the community at large; it is an admirable, inspired action.
Want to give Long Aid Naturals a try?
Hop over to SHOP NaturallyCurly to get this Manuka honey and coconut oil infused collection today!
Tell me how you liked them in the comments below or on their product pages.
As ever, stay curly!
Crisis Scenario.
You have an upcoming date, but the day has left your hair high and very dry with no time to deep condition, rinse, and style before you hit the town!
Do you risk showing up looking ‘extra crispy’, or do you take action? (Psst! The correct answer is “Take Action!””>
Action plan:
- Swing by your nearest Walgreens.
- Grab a couple of items in the ORS Monoi line!
A luxe oil infusion backed by the hair-care creatives at ORS AND 1,000+ years of island culture?
Yes please, and thank you!
Monoi oil is an ancient Polynesian infusion that combines the sweet scent and soothing power of the Tahitian gardenia flower. Blended with the cortex-penetrating goodness of beloved coconut oil, the ORS Monoi line can be part of your maintenance and styling routine.
To keep your date hair out of the desert zone, grab a bottle of the Monoi Oil Anti-Breakage Oil Fusion in the hair care aisle, scoot on home, and follow these steps as modeled for us by curlfriend and NaturallyCurly Editor Alex Wilson!
First things first: spritz it up! Get your curls a little moist, then we’re going to lock that H2O right in where it needs to be.
Step two is getting smoothed and structured with your go-to curl pudding, milk, or creme. Because we like to keep things in the family here, Alex used ORS Anti-Breakage Curl Perfecting Smoothie Creme on her hair. You’ll want to use about a nickel to half dollar sized dollop per section according to your length.
Not only is this creme going to shape your curls, it is also going to help keep them in place. No need to brush your date’s duds down after a snuggle sesh! Speaking of brushes, you’ll want to get this Smoothie Creme all through your hair with a good paddle brush. Your hair will be good and saturated at this point, so you are not going to hear any snapping… unless someone tells you just how fierce you are.
Got finer, less spiraled, or spaced out curls?It’s all gorgeous, and it’s all good. Just finger twist across your head to coax those cute springy locks out of hiding! After you have all moisturized and shaped your curls, grab your hair dryer, pop on that diffuser, and flip your hair over the dryer for maximum bounce in minimum time. Bonus: you get a good deep stretch in!
Finally, we’re going to add a little insurance to this whole deal. Sure, the world in your bathroom is great hair central, but we all know how the outside likes to mix it up (surprise April Showers, anyone?“>. Gently rub a small amount of the Monoi Oil Anti-Breakage Oil Fusion over your curls for shine, frizz-protection, and a hint of Tahitian scent!
Voila!
You’re ready to hit the town arm in arm with someone special, looking cute and collected! Best of all, you didn’t have to do more than walk into a corner Walgreens and back home. And because Walgreens is offering a FREE third product with the purchase of two through the rest of April, you can check out the Anti-Breakage Edge Control Gel, and the Anti-Breakage Straight Silk Sheen for more moisturized, length saving looks at a lower price. The more Monoi, the merrier!
Check out the full Instagram video and watch the magic happen:
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Is this a look you want to show off in a romantic setting? Go paint the town pink (it’s spring guys, think thematically”>, but take a few selfies and tag us @naturallycurly! We love seeing y’all looking good!
There’s more to islands than coconuts, you know…
A lot of our favorite hair and skin care ingredients come from islands— red palm oil, coconut oil, hibiscus flower—the list goes on. But these smaller nations also have rich histories behind them that we tend to ignore in favor of assessing either recent tragedies or vacation plans. Jeff Porath of Rejected Princesses is helping us fix the gaps in popular knowledge of female figures everywhere, and his selections on ladies in the tropics go harder than a monsoon.Te Puea Herangi, 1883-1952 – A Maori ruler that ran a tight ” target=”_blank”>waka
You’ve heard of ‘turning over a new leaf’, but former spoiled royal Te Puea flipped the script on the whole forest. Going from a carousing teen to a ruler that lobbied for her people’s protection in both World Wars, set up homes for influenza orphaned children, brought the Maori further into economic independence under New Zealand’s colonization, and more is about as big a 180 as anyone can do. And she did. Just don’t call her a princess.
Ranavalona I, 1778 – 1861 – The monstrous (?”> Malagasy Queen
In honor of historical ladies rewriting the rules, let’s play two lies and a truth!
Question 1– Ranavalona ruled Madagascar with an iron fist, and ingeniously dispatched her enemies with:
- Giant attack scissors
- Weaponized mosquitoes
- Poisoned feet
Give up?
Well, due to European missionaries (and the imperialist crowns that backed their excursions”> having a somewhat vested interest in painting the staunchly traditionalist queen as a tyrannical idolater, we may never actually be able to pick apart the real facts from the racially motivated embellishments. What we do know is that Ranavalona was a serious lady that shrugged off multiple coups, successfully kept invading British and French forces from colonizing the island, oversaw her nation’s industrial revolution, and…reinstituted slavery? Eesh. Can’t make an omelet without breaking a few human rights laws, I guess. Although given her achievements in keeping European powers at bay, those might not even be on the menu.
Kumander Liwayway, 1919-2014 – A commander that brought compacts to combat
Classic story: small-town girl grows up in a good home, works hard, racks up loads of beauty pageant wins, sees her freedom-fighter father’s body horrifically exhibited in the middle of town by the invading Japanese, swears vengeance, and moves through the military ranks to become a key figure in the Filipino resistance.
Born Remedios Gomez-Paraiso, Kumander changed her name, joined the Philipines’ guerilla forces, and went from a nurse/supply runner to a gun-toting head of a squadron that turned the tides of battle, survived two rounds as a POW, and never went onto the field without makeup and a manicure!
Although it’s easy to ask why she prioritized her looks on the battlefield, it’s even easier to admire how she refused to let the war affect how she chose to express herself. Gotta love how she… stuck to her guns.
Nanny of the Maroons, C.1680 -C. 1750 – Windward Warrior Woman
With the formalities out of the way, Nanny wasn’t this queen’s real name or profession. She led the Windward Maroons—a community of escaped and freed former slaves that would circle back to liberate supplies and their brethren from British slavers on the east side of Jamaica.
For nearly twenty years, Nanny successfully organized her people using long-distance signaling, forest cover, and tactical city planning to smash platoon after platoon of the colonizing forces. Like Ranavalona I, her reputation is also colored by the passage of time and imperialist racism, but also from the awe of her fellow Maroons.
Stories of her feats include growing pumpkins for her starving companions in a single night, boiling noxious herbs without fire to confound her enemies, and catching and re-firing adversary ammunition with her “batty jaw”, as my cousins would say. Black Girl Magic isn’t quite that literal, so those stories probably aren’t true, but Granny Nanny’s not on the Jamaican $500 bill for nothing. Just putting it out there.
So how do I find out more about amazing women that history couldn’t quite erase?
Great question! Mr. Porath not only runs several social media accounts detailing these ladies of lore, he’s also got a pretty great book out including looks at legends like Nanny, Te Puea, and more that aren’t detailed in full on the Rejected Princesses website.
For more from us, you can always sign up for our newsletter!
Meanwhile, did any of these seaside sovereigns leave an impression on you?
Let us know who you’ve got the most love for in the comments!
While other publications choose to perpetually celebrate Emma Stone’s quirky charm or Blake Lively’s vanilla, not-a-blonde-hair-out-place look, can we just pause for a moment of silence in honor of the elegance that is the beautiful, black, ageless woman in entertainment?
Some humans just give me all the feels. Halle Berry is one of those humans.
Every time she makes an appearance anywhere, really, her aura is followed by the heavy allure of fine-grained elegance. Ever since I can remember, seeing Halle Berry, whether it is on a magazine cover, in a movie, or on an awards show stage, has always demanded attention like no other. And per usual, she didn’t let us down during last night’s 2017 Oscars ceremony. While other publications choose to perpetually celebrate Emma Stone’s quirky charm or Blake Lively’s vanilla, not-a-blonde-hair-out-place look, can we just pause for a moment of silence in honor of the elegance that is the beautiful, black, ageless woman in entertainment?
From the stunning Atelier Versace dress to rival all others that have landed her on annual best-dressed lists, to the voluminous, flowy ringlets and natural hair, Halle Berry was a sight to be seen walking down the red carpet. In nearly 90 years of Academy Awards history, only 16 women of color have been nominated in the lead actress category, including last night’s winner Viola Davis, Penélope Cruz, Whoopi Goldberg, and Angela Bassett. In addition to her momentous 2002 win for Best Actress in Monster’s Ball as the first African-American woman to do so, the actress hasn’t stopped representing us since. In the acceptance speech for that award, she mentioned the importance of sisterhood and inclusion, dedicating her award to:
“the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett [Smith], Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox…it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened…Thank you. I’m so honored.”
In my opinion, the best part of Halle’s night, however, might have had nothing to do with the actual show. In a quick video clip posted to Berry’s Twitter account, the fifty-year-old goddess teased followers all the way to her backyard pool as she peeled her stuffy gown off to take a late-night dip. The clip, posted at 2:02 AM, sums up all of the beautiful reasons why Halle Berry will always have my heart. In the black community, we like to call women who age beautifully “like fine wine,” and Halle continues to prove that sentiment to be true. In public and on social media, the actress has never shied away from celebrating her color, age, shape, and achievements out loud with such a divine sense of grace.
Unfortunately there was an outpour of criticism on social media over Berry’s hair. Twitter trolls accused her of wearing multiple wigs and obscuring the view of Oscar attendees.After a long award show a girl can’t wait to take it off!@brunomars #24kmagic pic.twitter.com/3TfwsV4kZ0
— Halle Berry (@halleberry”> February 27, 2017
From the Alternative Facts wig collection by Rachel Dolezal pic.twitter.com/ewOWvD5h98
— Babylon (@stout_87″> February 27, 2017
Natural hair or wig, this is why the natural hair movement is important. Today, I raise a glass to the beautiful, outstanding women who love the skin they are in. Like Halle Berry, may we continue to provide an inspiration for everyone watching, from our race to our age, with no self-imposed limitations.
May we love ourselves, out loud.
Read The 2017 SAG Awards Speeches Gave Us the Hope We Needed
Even a veteran will tell you that they are still figuring out parts of their natural hair regimen. That would include me, someone who is constantly trying out new products, testing new curly cocktails and application techniques.
It gives me a headache.
No, literally–lying down with damp hair does not fare well for a spoonie like myself. A voluntarily rush of blood to my head? No thank you.
It gets matted.
Since I keep my curls in a DevaCut shape, they are too short to properly pineapple. Additionally, I am too lazy to twist my hair, so freshly washed and conditioned hair usually ends up matted the next morning.
I prefer rocking a wash and go.
Big natural hair that swells throughout the busy day, I live for that. Since I embrace having frizz over super-defined curls, it just works better for me to co-wash or shampoo in the morning while I am getting ready for my day. Sure, I have to wake up about 30 minutes earlier, but it’s well worth it in order to achieve the style I enjoy rocking the most.
The solution…
If a crammed schedule calls for co-washing the night before, I like to run some cool water over my head as my final rinse. Then I wrap my hair into a microfiber towel, making sure to avoid rubbing it against my texture. While I dry my body off, I allow my curls to work their magic with the towel and the air while also making sure not to draw too much moisture away.
Although it is not always ideal, one way to speed up the drying process is by pulling out a good ol’ dryer and diffuser attachment. The other night when my head was throbbing with cold, wet hair on my head and I wanted to wind down peacefully before falling asleep, I used my DevaFuser on the low setting, passing over each section of curls quickly with a focus on my scalp (rather than the length”>. I finished the drying session off with the cool shot for a quick blast of cool air to give my cuticles some love.
Once my hair feels and looks at about 70 percent dry, I divide it into quadrants, slathering a deeply penetrating leave-in onto each one. I usually create chunky Bantu Knots to keep each section in tact. The next morning I take each section down and gently fluff with my fingers to get rid of any flatness and create more of an even shape. Then I spritz with a refresher like Oyin Handmade Juices and Berries.
Following these steps prevents matting, an unwanted headache, doesn’t require as much time commitment as two-strand twists, and allows me to keep my curls in their unaltered state so that I can properly rock a wash-and-go the following day.
Night or morning washing–which do you prefer?
Let us know on the NaturallyCurly Facebook page.
Read How I Practice Self-Care Through Thrifting
Follow me @DevriVelazquez / photos taken by @thebenchmarc
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Mothers are known for doing everything themselves.
These original DIY-ers work without complaint, manage their household, educate their children, wrangle their moody teenagers, and even spend QT with their spouse.
As matriarchs of the family, these women rarely put themselves first and often experience fatigue. The signs of stress doesn’t just show on their bodies, but in their hair as well.
So that just leaves one question: who gets the award for person most deserving of a wind down from the goings on of life?
YOU DO, AMERICAN CURL!
It’s about time you treat yourself to much needed TLC, even if it’s only for a brief moment-styling your curls in the morning.
Yes! You need versatile, multi-use products that can be quickly applied for effortless chic styling. These products should always be part of your wind-down-from-the-day routine. That’s why the NaturallyCurly team wanted to share two curl-loving concoctions from EDEN Bodyworks with mothers that need to nurture their inner beauty and outer strength with natural ingredients.
In this sponsored post, you will learn about the scalp-soothing powers of peppermint and tea tree oils.
You’ll also have a chance to win products featured in the #AmericanCurl Style Seconds ‘Mom Chignon’ video at the end of this post.
Now, let’s examine the benefits of the oils our friends at EDEN Bodyworks have chosen to add to their formula:
Peppermint Oil
Although there are several benefits of peppermint oil, we referred to Sabrina Perkins for specifics. She states that peppermint oil “can relieve a dry scalp, stimulate hair growth, and give hair a healthy shine.”
Not bad, right?
Well, what else can peppermint oil do for your scalp and hair?
“It stimulates hair growth because of the increased blood circulation to the scalp when it is applied through an oil massage or in the shampoo or conditioner.”
So you’re getting a soothed scalp and stimulating natural hair growth in a bottle. That sounds like something every woman needs, especially moms-on-the-go!
Tea Tree Oil
You’ve heard women everywhere rave about tea tree oil, but why?
According to Tonya McKay,”Using it as an occasional clarifying agent for hair that is predominantly conditioner washed or that may have buildup of styling product on it is may also provide some benefit and make it easier to rehydrate and condition your hair.”
So if you’re one of those mommas that co-washes regularly or needs a reliable refreshing agent, you’re in luck with the EDEN Bodyworks Peppermint and Tea Tree Natural Hair Oil!
When you massage the natural hair oil into your scalp, you’re activating the tea tree oil’s antiseptic properties. This all-natural bacteria fighter is ideal for naturals that like to keep their curls fresh without add more product and buildup to strands.
Coconut and Shea
You may be familiar with the attributes of the natural hair community’s shinning stars: coconut oil and shea butter.
No matter what style you wear, you’ll always need to keep your strands moisturized while sealing your curls with a reliable oil. Since coconut oil is a sealant and shea butter is the grandmother of all moisturizers, the EDEN Bodyworks Coconut and Shea Natural Leave-In Conditioner will be a best friend to your hair.
Get these nutrient-rich scalp care and maintenance tools today!
As the do-it-all mom-on-the-go, you don’t have time to waste when it comes to maintaining your scale health and styling your curls so purchase what your hair needs by clicking on the images below.
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Are you an American Curl?
American Curl is the story of every woman. From sunrise to sunset, Monday to Sunday, the American Curl puts her best foot forward in everything that she does. Whether it’s in the boardroom or in the nursery room, we know that with your busy schedule and life, it can be daunting to stop everything you’re doing to care for your curls.
In the following #AmericanCurl Style Seconds, brought to you by NaturallyCurly and Walmart and EDEN Bodyworks, learn how easy it is to style a mom-friendly look with a gentle leave-in and powerful hair oil!
Just press play!
Enter the #AmericanCurl: EDEN Bodyworks Real Beauty Giveaway now!
When
December 12, 2016 – December 16, 2016
Prize
5 lucky winners will receive:
- EDEN Bodyworks Peppermint and Tea Tree Natural Hair Oil
- EDEN Bodyworks Coconut and Shea Natural Leave-In Conditioner
How to win
All you have to do to win is tell us: Why do you as an #AmericanCurl need the EDEN Bodyworks Coconut Shea Natural Leave-In and Peppermint Tea Tree Natural Hair Oil? Simply share in the comments section below to WIN!
You can also enter to win by following our Facebook and Instagram pages and leave us your response.
Just a head’s up, International curlies: This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.
As ever, stay curly!
Since getting a new haircut with bangs, I have become a finger-twirling, gel-loving hot mess of a curly girl.
Per usual, her hands performed pure magic on my curls.
Of course, I flew back home to Texas in high hopes of replicating the super-defined formation of my curly bangs. Admittedly, I am having a bit of a struggle. I realized that with a new cut and style come a refined wash day routine to maximize a new look on my high density, high porosity type 3c curls.Revisiting my curl-defining routine from the ‘big chop’ days
In between trims, I normally like to keep my routine relatively simple and straight to the point. During my early transitioning, pre-big chop days, I cared more about curl definition, clumping, frizz-smoothing, and elongation. These days, not so much. As my product stash has changed over the years due to a changing routine, paired with a conscious focus on ingredients and their intentions, I find myself revisiting some Holy Grail brands and NaturallyCurly community faves in an effort to maximize my new shape.
Here’s how I do it–keep in mind that I am still experimenting with this routine, so I am definitely open to suggestions.How my styling routine has changed
Now, I have included a gel within my styling routine. I apply it in the shower while my hair is soaking wet, immediately after shampooing or co-washing, then applying a moisturizing leave-in from root to tip (in quadrants”>.
I scoop out a quarter-sized amount of gel and style setter into my palm, rubbing both palms together and smoothing over my halo.
Then, I find my bangs and gently separate them from the rest of my hair with my pointer finger, finger twirling each section with a tiny bit of gel underneath the running shower head. Before exiting the shower, I grab my super absorbent microfiber towel, turn my head over, and plop each quadrant of curls.If I am running low on time, I diffuse on a low setting, focusing on small sections of hair at a time. Since this is when my curls start clumping, it is also the time I like to position my bangs so that they appear even in length across my forehead.
I spend a few minutes fluffing my roots to even out the shape around my entire head with a tiny bit of oil on the pads of my fingers.
My bangs are still not quite cooperating with me like they did with Robin.
Days after my appointment with Robin, my curly bangs stayed in place much more cooperatively than they do when I style them. Stay tuned for her detailed styling routine of my 3c hair.
What’s your secret to styling curly bangs?
Bangs acne is a real thing–see how StyleFeen prevents that.
Follow me on Instagram @DevriVelazquez
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I haven’t dyed my hair since February 2015–I have been wearing my natural strawberry blonde color.
My texture is between a 2c wavy and 3a curly and as it grows longer, it actually gets curlier! My strands are naturally high porosity, dry and drink up conditioner. My hair is getting healthier and the curls can get nicely defined (with the right styling product and application“>. As far as density, I have a lot of hair, and it is nice to feel the thickness returning that my hair had before I started bleaching and using other chemicals.
Back then, my hair was glorious: it was super long and curly.
I loved the color and length so much. However, I was bleaching all of it. Despite babying my hair the last few months by using Olaplex, in addition to doing everything I could to nurture it back to health, it started breaking off badly in December 2014.By March 2015, I was forced to big chop my hair due to having so much breakage. Truthfully, the cut killed my confidence; I was very depressed for a long time. While some people say ‘it’s just hair,’ for me, having long hair was such a huge part of my identity.
Suddenly, I felt ugly and not like myself. This is why I have not colored it since–February 2015, to be exact.
I am on the road to regrowing my natural hair longer and stronger than ever before. My front hairline pieces are currently driving me absolutely insane, though. They are a lot frizzier and more damaged than the rest of my hair; their curl pattern is crazy and they are not cute. I am still figuring out what to do to tame that area.
Today, my hair is on the road to recovery.
It’s not as badly damaged as it was when it was all bleached–the still-bleached ends are better. The length of my hair is still short, but it is longer than it once was.
I don’t despise this length as much as I absolutely hated the shorter length last year. Shorter curls look beautiful on some people but I just did not like it on me. There are a bunch of uneven pieces due to the breakage and my unwillingness to go even shorter, but it still just has to grow out and catch up.My biggest hair goal is to baby my hair and help it grow as fast as possible. Believe me when I say, there is no miracle for faster hair growth because if there was, I would have found it by now!
I go for trims two to three times a year with Jason at the Ouidad Flagship Salon in NYC. The dude is seriously a hair god–he listens to me when I say I want a dusting and respects my desire to leave my uneven shorter pieces alone so they can grow. I have learned that a cut catered to my specific curl pattern is super important for the overall look of my hair; trims are also important in order to prevent breakage.
My current road to recovery regimen for healthier hair
At home, I snip away bad split ends in between with a professional pair of hair scissors I bought. To help gain length and keep my hair its healthiest, I use a scalp oil blend by SheaMoisture as well as a pre-shampoo treatment from Tweak-d. Once every other week, I use a pre-shampoo protein treatment from MCJW before I wash my hair–about two to three times a week–as well as frequent deep conditioning treatments. I almost never use hot tools, but as the weather gets cold, I may need to start diffusing–I’m dreading it. I hope to get that new Dyson Supersonic Dryer in the near future, as it is supposed to cut drying time into half. As far as supplements go, I have been taking Viviscal religiously twice a day since I started noticing excessive breakage two years ago. I also drink bamboo tea every day since it is rich in silica, which is said to be good for the hair and skin. Plus I eat pretty healthy and a lot of protein which aids in healthy hair as well. Finally, I also drink plenty of water.I haven’t dyed my hair since February 2015–I have been proudly wearing my natural strawberry blonde color.
It looks light by itself, but the contrast to my still bleached hair makes it appear darker than it actually is. I have also begun noticing some grays pop up here and there but I figure I would rather have gray hair than no hair, so I’m fine with it. Aside from healthier hair, the silver lining to rocking my natural color is that I no longer have to bother with the purple shampoo.
On most days, I wake up at 5:30 AM to exercise before work. If I have to wash my hair, I do it at night with one wash on Saturdays. To refresh, I apply either the PhD dry shampoo from Living Proof or SheaMoisture Peach Rose Oil onto my scalp to soak up the sweat from a workout.
After my shower, I spray a refresher, section by section. Some of my Holy Grails are Ouidad Botanical Boost, MCJW Beauty Curl Refresher Mist and Tweak-d Mist and Raw Curls Anti Frizz Spray. Depending on how dry, or frizzy, or wonky my waves are, I apply a cream, oil, or serum (in that order”>. Sometimes, I apply a cream, oil, then a serum.Some days, I need next to nothing. On others, my unpredictable hair needs a miracle.
It sounds so much more complicated than it really is, I promise! On second or third-day hair, I love the DevaCurl SuperCream, Ouidad Mongongo Oil (I am thrilled they brought back”>, DevaCurl MirrorCurls Serum, or any of the Carol’s Daughter oil blends. As the weather gets cooler I also start using the Q-Redew, which helps to enhance my wave definition when the air is dry. The key to preventing frizz is moisture. The more refresher sprays and creams I give my hair to drink, the happier it is. It is true: sleeping on a satin pillowcase makes a huge difference. Since I throw my hair when working out, I have fallen in love with Invisibobbles. They do not leave me with that ugly ponytail dent in my hair that some hair ties can. Also, hands off! The more I play with my hair, the frizzier it gets.
When I get the best wave definition ever
It begins on the second or third day after showering. If I do not use a good conditioner or masque or apply products on my wet hair correctly, I find my hair not looking as good as it could on the following days. For years, I have been using the Ouidad Rake and Shake Method to apply any styling product with either a cotton t-shirt or Curly Tee Towel.
Despite having waves, my hair is so dry and I think Ouidad Curl Immersion Triple Treat is fantastic. I also love Original Moxie Intense Quench Deep Conditioner as well as the MCJW Beauty Wonderful Deep Conditioning Masque. Raw Curls Wavy Swavy Cleanser and Conditioner have been great to me for enhancing definition, shine, softness, and frizz control. I use the Wavy Swavy Conditioner as a leave-in quite often, sometimes rotating it with Original Moxie Every Day Leave-In. I also recently began using the DevaCurl Wave Maker Cream and it really blew me away. Not only does it make my waves more defined, but the definition lasts through sleeps and workouts. Plus, it smells like skittles.
Visit Diane’s personal hair and beauty blog, Diane Mary Beauty and follow her on Instagram @DianeMary126
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Every one loves a good ‘first.’
Whether it’s a first kiss planted gently on that special someone’s cheek or the distinct scent of a brand new car’s interior, there truly is something unequivocally intoxicating about a ‘first.’
But there are some ‘firsts’ that leave a sour taste in your mouth. Much like an unwanted fly trapped in vanilla cream icing on a birthday cake, no sane person would revel at the sight of their first gray hair.
It’s a rare occasion for a naturally curly woman to leap with glee at the sight of lightning white streaks in her glorious mane.
In fact, she’s likely to pull a hat over her head, hightail it to a drugstore where neighborhood motormouths and lurkers can’t see her homely get up, and snatch the first box of permanent hair color that matches her mane’s former state of un-streaked brilliance.
Unfortunately, this shortsighted clutch and run for color means that her textured hair may not get the tender loving care it needs because the wrong permanent color was purchased.
Please. Don’t let this happen to you, my friend.
Instead, take a deep breath and pick up a box of the brand new Bigen Easy Color, formulated with your textured hair in mind. Then, select the color that matches your curls:
You’re going to like using this color treatment for several reasons, especially if you’ve had issues in the past with low porosity (meaning that your curls tend to reject the color by nature’s design”>.
Less chemicals, more glow.
What’s even better than having a hair color designed to penetrate low porosity strands and natural color? A hair color that doesn’t contain harmful ammonia.
That’s a wonderful thing for us naturals and here’s why:
According to the editors of Skin Sheen, “Ammonia has the capability to penetrate to [the] center of the hair shaft to commence the coloring process. Once the outer layer of the hair has been penetrated by ammonia, it is usually seen that the hair does not return to its original quality.” Yikes!!!
In addition to this, inventors of chemical processes to permanently dye all hair types have reported that, “Hydrogen peroxide is the leading solvent for melanin used in the bleaching process; however, along with melanin removal, the peroxide reacts with keratin to cause loss of tensile properties and damage to the hair.”
*Ahem [pushes glasses back up bridge of nose]* Don’t worry, I won’t go full-blown super nerd on you. If you’re interested in the aforementioned chemical processes, read the full patent by clicking here.
Bigen doesn’t hurt your hair; it loves coloring textured curls!
As you’ve gathered, using ammonia and high levels of peroxide on your curls is a big ol’ no-no. That’s why Bigen’s no ammonia and super low peroxide formula is the way to go. And besides, it won’t leave tell-tale stains on your skin!
This new line works wonders for curlies that want the most natural looking color achievable but somehow still have a difficult time covering their grays. Its infusion of aloe vera and olive oil will give your strands a chance to be soothed during the permanent color treatment process while adding shine… all in only 10 minutes!
Now how’s that for your ‘first’ successful gray coverage?
Tell me all about it in the comments section below.
As ever, stay curly!
In order for a protective style to live up to its name, both the natural hair and scalp need to be taken care of equally.
Are you considering installing a protective style like Marley twists or box braids? Everyone likes to rock these styles for various reasons. I like to take advantage of the opportunity to play with color without using chemicals, experiment with length while retaining my actual length in between trims and giving my strands a break from the atmosphere and frequent co-washing.
In order for a style to be considered truly protective, there are some important rules of thumb to follow before, during and after the process.
Before installing my twists
My scalp needs a blank canvas to work with. This is the order of my steps and products I currently use.
- Pre-poo: Deity America Nourishing Scalp Serum uses 100% natural ingredients to prep my scalp for the loss of sebum when I clarify. Although it is distributed all over my roots, the main areas of focus are along my hairline and the nape of my neck.
- Shampoo: For a deep scrub that will not irritate my canvas, I turn to a phthalate-free bar like Dyevercity Indulge Your Body (caramel apple scent”> because it works well for clarifying sensitive scalps. I gently massage in a circular motion with each finger simultaneously–no scratching.
While rocking my twists
In an ideal world, going through the lengthy–and sometimes painful–process of installing protective style twists would allow your hair and scalp to breathe fully for a couple of months at a time. However, for a lazy natural like myself, prolonging the lifetime of a style might seem nearly impossible. That is why I used to care about neatness but now don’t mind if my twists start channeling my inner Lisa Bonet.
Low manipulation styles are always a good idea. While my hair is already protected in twists, I don’t want to cause too much tension on my scalp or irritate it. It simply depends on my mood, but most of the time a half-up bun or a loose three-strand ponytail will suffice.
Throughout each day, I try not to touch my twists for three reasons:
- I don’t want to transfer oils and dirt to my real hair (which will force me to co-wash sooner”>
- I don’t want to encourage unraveling
- I don’t want my real hair to frizz up
If a twist does unravel, I use a whipped butter-gel to provide a soft hold that lasts.
At night, I wrap my edges with a satin headwrap and stuff the length of my twists into a satin bonnet. To maintain a more polished appearance for my protective style, the next morning I might apply an edge tamer to the baby hairs–but otherwise, I prefer to let them run free.
After taking down my twists
Depending on how long I wore my protective style twists, it may be time for a protein treatment restore the strength of my strands. This is how my wash day goes the day I take them down:
- protein treatment: OmniPotent Duosity Double Whipped Treatment delivers quick results and the viscosity is perfect–not too thick, not too runny.
- conditioning cleanser: SheaMoisture African Water Mint & Ginger Detox & Refresh Hair & Scalp Conditioner is everything that it sounds like–a refreshing cleanser that leaves my scalp with a tingly clean.
- leave-in: My curls need root-to-tip moisture, so I use Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Leave-In Treatment
Want more protective style content?
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It’s a bizarre thing to say, but being overweight when I was younger probably saved my life.
My name is Ti, I live in Los Angeles and I’m a writer/producer in television and now also in digital.
My mother straight up refused to perm my hair when I was a child so I’ve actually kept my kinks going since birth.
I was raised in a household where there was never any notion that there was something wrong with my hair the way it naturally grows out of my head. Even once I got older and my mom was no longer looking after my hair, the thought of getting a relaxer never crossed my mind. I was ridiculed in school by some of the other girls for my hair, so it’s been kind of surreal to see how much the tide has changed in recent years!
I reached my peak of awkwardness in junior high/high school (though, my awkwardness as an adult today is still considerable”>. Along with that awkwardness came some serious weight gain.My initial interest in nutrition and exercise came purely out of a desperation to lose weight.
Going as far back as high school, I have kept food journals and workout logs. I didn’t know much about eating properly in the beginning, so what I had once thought was healthfully eating actually makes me cringe today! At that age, I used workout DVDs and videos for exercise. In high school, I’d lose weight typically using extreme measures like crash diets, fall off the wagon, and then regain the weight. My weight still fluctuates now but my maturity, education and experience ensure that it is to a far less extreme extent.
I reached my heaviest weight during my freshman year of college. Shocked by the number on the scale, I lost around thirty pounds in the summer between my freshman and sophomore year. I then continued to lose weight once I returned to school for my sophomore, junior and senior year. Since then, I’ve more or less managed to maintain a weight loss of over forty pounds–I say “more or less” because my weight remains a weighty issue and it requires constant vigilance.
It has taken many years to get to where I am.
While I still have goals to attain with my health and fitness, I feel more in control of my fitness destiny more than I ever have. I’ve got a few years under my belt maintaining my smaller size now, and I approach my fitness each year with the philosophy that being in the best shape of my life is still ahead of me. That always encourages me to stay on the right path!
This journey has been terrifying and wonderful. I’ve loved finding a community of people from all different walks of life, and having a way for us all to walk together on our journeys. More than anything, leading fitness challenges on my blog and YouTube channel has kept me accountable. When eyes are on you, it really keeps you honest and makes it easier to stick to a workout schedule and clean eating.
The first tip is the simplest but possibly the most difficult.
After all, simple ≠ easy. Remove added sugars from your diet. There are all sorts of conflicting data on whether grains, dairy, animal protein is good for you, etc. but there isn’t an argument that can be made that added sugars are healthful. Naturally occurring sugars in fruits are okay but I recommend avoiding foods and beverages that have any sugar added to them. I also recommend staying away from fruit juices because they are extremely high in sugar and calories without offering any of the fiber that you’d get from eating the fruit itself. Always read labels because you would be shocked by some of the things that have sugar added to them.This journey has been terrifying and wonderful. I’ve loved finding a community of people from all different walks of life, and having a way for us all to walk together on our journeys.
Second, set attainable and specific goals. General goals like “I want to tone up” or “I want to lose weight” don’t really empower you to set a plan to take specific action. I mean, we all want to lose weight! One way I qualify a goal is with a pair of jeans in my closet that are one or two sizes too small for me. I’ve set a goal to fit into those jeans by this October. I also like to set task-specific goals, when it comes to my fitness. Rather than just saying “I want to be more fit,” or “I want to get stronger,” I’ve set a goal to complete 3 strict pull-ups by the end of the year.
I’m currently leading a fitness challenge on my blog and YouTube channel called #SnatchedForSummer.
I’m really on point with my eating and exercise, right now. Part of that has included counting my calories, which I’ve been doing for about 5 weeks. I do eat animal protein, but I make a point to be mindful of eating high quality meats and eggs–grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, pasture-raised eggs–while still ensuring that my overall diet is plant-based and not meat-focused. In this video, I go through all of my meals from breakfast to dinner:
For exercise, I tend to go for metabolic conditioning, or metcon. I started doing CrossFit in 2010, which is when I was first introduced to metcon. I love this style of workouts because they’re time efficient. (Translation: I don’t have to work out very long to torch a lot of calories!”> Ideally, I’d knock out either a kettlebell or CrossFit-style workout first thing in the morning, then have some breakfast to replenish my body and carry on with my day. I’m not a morning person so there are many days where I have to get my sweat on at night instead!
It’s a bizarre thing to say, but being overweight when I was younger probably saved my life.
If I were a naturally thin person, I would never have had the impetus to learn about nutrition, to read about food production, to learn about exercise science, to work out. Caring about what goes into my body, and what I’m able to do with my body has affected every aspect of my life in a positive way. If I didn’t care about maintaining my health, I probably would’ve never learned how many cool things I can do (like deadlift 270 pounds!”>.
Feeling inspired?
Keep up with Ti on her blog, nappyheadedjojoba.com and on YouTube at youtube.com/nappyheadedjojoba where she uploads regularly.
