Search Results: Cristina Cleveland

By Cristina Cleveland · Published November 5, 2014

Introduce yourself!

What are your favorite products?

It’s always a constant quest to find the perfect product to make my curls happy, but the past few months I’ve been trying Original Moxie’s curly hair line and have been liking it so far!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published October 27, 2014

At this point it is near impossible to avoid Charli XCX’s voice on Billboard toppers like Icona Pop’s “I Love It” and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy,” but you’d never guess her pop royalty status if you got the chance to sit down and have a chat with her… which we were very lucky to do.

We sat down with Brit popstar Charli XCX on her current international tour to find out how she always manages to look so quintessentially bedhead (turns out, it’s pretty easy”>, who her beauty icons are, and what’s on her beauty bucket list.

What’s your curly hair routine?

To be honest, it’s pretty nonexistent. I just kind of wake up and I’ll just roll out and that’s it really. Add some of my favorite styler, and  that’s kind of it, I don’t really brush it too much. I brush it when I wash it, but I don’t really brush it. I’m happy to let my hair do its own thing most of the time. Sometimes I’ll leave it in ringlets and be totally natural.

Do you have any Holy Grails?

My favorite product is the Bedhead After Party, it always makes my hair a little smoother so that it’s nicer curls rather than frizzy curls, you know what I mean?

Yes, we so do. Do you have any curly hair hacks you’ve figured out along the way?

I always think a lot of hair flipping with curly hair is good, because if you have height at the top of your head it doesn’t matter how curly it is. I think when it’s flat on top and curly that’s when I have a problem.

Who are your beauty and style icons?

Can Marilyn Manson be a beauty icon?

Yes, of course.

Then Marilyn Manson is my beauty icon. My style icon is Rose McGowan, I feel like her red carpets were always amazing. And same with 90’s Mariah Carey.

Do you have any hair horror stories? Haircuts you regret or school pictures…

I do actually. When I was younger I’d always had hair exactly like this and I really wanted a change so I went to the hairdressers and I had the whole back half of my head shaved and I left a long bit at the front. I’d never really had regular haircuts before and it was so drastic, and it’s still growing out. It’s still different lengths from when I had one long bit at the front and everything else is shorter.

I tried to like it for a week and then I got to the end of the week and I was like “what have I done!?”

What colors do you want to try?

I would love to be blonde, blonde and green and they’re both on my bucket list to try before I die.

So watch out Charli’s Angels (as she affectionately calls her fans”> for your London Queen may soon be a blondie. We warned her about the damage, and if she needs tips we’ll be here.

Now, for a Giveaway

If you’d like to win a full set of TIGI Bedhead products for yourself, we’re giving away 3 huge prize bundles worth $150 each!

Each set includes:

• TIGI Urban Anti+dotes Recovery Shampoo, $15
• TIGI Urban Anti+dotes Recovery Conditioner, $15
• TIGI Bed Head On The Rebound, $19
• TIGI Bed Head Oh Bee Hive!, $19
• TIGI After Party Smoothing cream, $22 (Charli’s favorite”>
• TIGI Bed Head Queen for a Day Thickening Spray, $20
• TIGI Bed Head Masterpiece Hair Spray, $19
• TIGI Bed Headrush Shine Enhancer, $22
• TIGI Bed Head Motor Mouth Mega Volumizer, $22

 To enter

Comment below and tell us why you want to win! We will pick 3 winners on November 3, 2014.

This post is sponsored by TIGI Bed Head.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published October 7, 2014

PHOTO COURTESY OF KARLASCLOSET

You’ve been pinning pixie cuts and bobs for months, framing your face with your hair, watching long-to-short transformations obsessively on YouTube. Your haircut cravings are at a fever pitch. But, there’s just one thing…you have curly hair.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, when you cut your hair, it is not going to behave the way Emma Watson’s does (in fact, quite the opposite”>. We’ve had friends, parents, even hairstylists tell us “you can’t cut your curly hair short” but, we’re here to say — yes, you totally can. You just have to know what to expect.

Find Realistic Inspiration

If you walk into the salon with Kate Lanphear’s photo in hand, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Before you start looking for inspiration, take a moment to get to know your hair. Do you have Sharpie-sized ringlets? Or tighter, Z-shaped coils? In the curly community we call this curl pattern, and there’s even a quiz to find yours. Once you have a good feel for your curl pattern, you can look for inspiration among women with similar hair. This will give you the most realistic idea of what to expect and, hopefully, prevent feelings of disappointment — or worse — regret, in the stylist’s chair.

Your Hair Will Get Curlier

Long hair tends to stretch out the curl, and once free from the weight of that length, your curls will pop like never before. If your hair is loose and wavy now, it will most likely be curlier and more defined once you cut it. Be aware that your hair will shrink and appear shorter than it really is, so be sure that you and your stylist account for this shrinkage factor when you’re determining just how short you plan to go.

See a Curl-Friendly Stylist

Salons can be a scary place for a curly-haired woman.They’re the setting for many of our most traumatizing childhood memories. So, it is important to place your curls in the hands of someone who knows — and loves — curly hair. Someone who won’t take a straightening iron to them at the first chance he or she gets. You can search and read reviews from other curly haired women using our salon finder. Keep an eye out for “Deva Inspired Stylists” as they have been trained in the DevaCurl method of cutting and shaping the curls when the hair is dry.

Make Friends With Your Stylist

If you have long hair, and like many curlies, suffer from serious trim phobia, then your trips to the salon may be few and far between right now. That will all change once you get a short haircut. If you’re going for a pixie style, you can expect to need regularly scheduled trims every 4-6 weeks to keep the style looking fresh. Not only will this alter your lifestyle and bring you closer to your stylist than ever before, but it can also impact your budget. Those trims can quickly add up, so make sure you’re ready for the time and financial commitment before you schedule that first appointment.

“But, Your Hair Looked So Good Long”

Hopefully your friends and family will have the tact not to say (directly or indirectly”> that they don’t like your new ‘do, but in the event that they do not, be ready to let the negative comments roll off your back. When I cut my hair I had plenty of people express their distaste for it, but frankly if you care what other people think, then a bold, short cut might not be for you.

What matters most, of course, is how you feel! And, if you get to know and love your curls before the cut, then you will be best equipped to enjoy them in all of the lengths and styles to come.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published August 27, 2014

No-poo, poo-free, whatever you want to call it it sounds a little funny. But women in the naturally curly world know how life altering this regimen can be for the health of your hair. If you’re still on the fence about replacing your shampoo with baking soda then you can check out the Pros & Cons of Baking Soda Shampoo. Our curly community members use this recipe to wash their hair and you’ll be surprised how cheap, easy and effective it is.

NaturallyCurly member Curly-Kinky says:

No more shampoo or conditioner for me. I have been “poo free” for a couple of weeks and still can’t get over how great my hair looks. This treatment costs around 3 cents and does the same thing as sulfate-free shampoos.

NaturallyCurly member melindaann says:

I use this plus I do an apple cider vinegar conditioner made with hot water and 1 teaspoon of vinegar in a spray bottle…Hair is very soft and not so wild the next morning.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. baking soda
• 8 oz. hot water

Directions

1. Mix baking soda with hot water and stir or shake until well dissolved.
2. You can use a funnel and put this in a container like a squirt bottle.
3. Wet hair well, rub in some of the baking soda and mix into your scalp well.
4. Rinse.

One ingredient plus water, this might be a record breaking recipe for us. If you try this at home please leave your reviews down below, we know our readers will be curious to see what you think!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published August 8, 2014

PICTURED DR SUSAN WALKER

Sometimes we want to hear personal hair anecdotes from real women just like us, who have our hairtype and amateur styling skills. And other times… we prefer to take advice from the pros. This article was written by DrWalkerWellness, a licensed naturopathic doctor who loves doing research and then applying those concepts to daily life. These are her coily hair care tips, but we also want to know what works for you personally, tell us in the comments!

For new and experienced curlies it can often be difficult to develop a hair care regimen that is beneficial the needs of your hair. There are so many resources available to gather information from and making sense of everything can be a huge task. Women with type 4 hair can often find it challenging to manage and care for their hair effectively, as well as finding the best ways to bring out their kinks, curls and coils. I have type 4 hair and, while no two hair types are exactly the same, there are enough similarities among women with type 4 hair that general hair care and styling guidelines can be discussed. If you don’t know what type 4 hair is it’s considered to be hair that is kinky or coily in curl pattern. The strands are typically very closely packed together and this hair type has fewer cuticle layers than other hair types. In terms of strand thickness the hair can be fine, medium or thick. The curl pattern can range from an “s” pattern, “z” pattern and everything in between! Due to the thickness of the strands and the way they are packed together, the hair of some type 4 curlies appear as though there is no defined curl pattern.

Coily Kinky Hair Care Tips

Cleansing

Whether or not you want to cleanse your hair is based on your personal preference and product use. Many curlies opt to conditioner cleanse or co-wash their hair in order to ensure it remains hydrated and doesn’t get stripped of precious oils. If you are using a shampoo to cleanse your hair then use a sodium lauryl sulfate-free shampoo and/or a moisturizing and conditioning shampoo that can add conditioning agents to the hair, soften it and make it more manageable. If you use a lot of oils in your hair you may need to use a clarifying shampoo once a month to ensure there is no product build-up on the hair. Product build up can be partially responsible for products that used to work not working anymore, so it’s essential that you start with a clean slate monthly in order to keep your hair as healthy as possible. If your hair is prone to tangling then I recommend that you section your hair to wash it if the length allows. Divide your hair into 4-6 large sections and twist or braid each section. When you are washing your hair, undo each smaller section and distribute the cleanser through your hair in a downward motion, using your fingers to detangle your hair. Rinse the product from your hair and then continue the same steps with each section. Yes, it does require more time to cleanse your hair this way but I’ve found that it greatly reduces my detangling sessions and I’m able to style my hair a lot quicker because it’s already sectioned.

Conditioning

In my opinion conditioning is THE essential step in making sure your hair is healthy. Conditioners are meant to do a lot. Conditioners:

• Restore lost moisture
• Seal the cuticle
• Provide emollients and oils
• Soften the hair and make it easier to comb
• Improve manageability
• Strengthen the hair

Given the important job that conditioners have in improving the health of the hair finding an effective conditioner is extremely important. Deep conditioning the hair is a must for type 4 hair, especially if it tends to be on the drier, brittle side. A good deep conditioner will hydrate the hair and restore lost oils leaving the hair feeling soft and looking shiny. Deep conditioning treatments can be done once a week or once a month depending on the needs of your hair, and you can add heat for deeper penetration of the conditioner into the hair. I usually condition my hair in a similar way to cleansing – in sections.

Moisturizing

The number on challenge with natural hair is maintaining proper moisture levels. A good moisturizer will hydrate and nourish the hair deeply within the hair shaft. In my experience type 4 hair benefits very well from thicker, cream-based moisturizers and hair butters. Lighter lotions may not do much for your densely packed hair. Seal your hair with oil to keep in the moisture. You may need to moisturize your hair a little as once per week or as often as every day. The frequency depends on several factors including the porosity of your hair, the climate and the type of moisturizer you use. I’ve found that since I’ve been deep conditioning my hair and giving it some TLC, I can wait up to 1 week before needing to re-moisturize my hair.

Styling

For the first two years after my big chop I wore my hair in wash n’ go styles exclusively. After my hair reached a certain length I stopped the wash n’ gos and now I wear twist outs and braided styles. I find that twist outs are an amazing style for type 4 hair especially. This is because for some women, they may have no visible curl definition and twist outs and braid outs can be your best friend because they give the desired definition. For me, wash n gos can give me a nice big curly hairstyle. This is not the look I’m going for on a daily basis so I don’t wear this style that often. When I do opt for a wash n’ go after experimenting with a few techniques I’ve found that on my hair, gels – and especially thick gels – clump my curls a lot better than lighter gels and creams. While raking and smoothing the product through my hair doesn’t really result in major curl clumping, finger twirling can elicit some clumps from my stubborn hair. Another technique is a wet twist out in which you twist the hair with product in it, allow the curls to clump, remove the twists while the hair is still damp and then let the hair dry. Lastly, contrary to what the norm is for wash n’ gos, I apply gel to DAMP to DRY and not soaking wet hair. Yes this is against the grain but it works for me and it works well.

The objective with any hair care regime is to bring out the best in your hair and you have to find the products and methods that work best for you. Working through the amount of information available on natural hair care can be confusing as you try to determine what applies to you and what doesn’t. Ultimately you’ll need to try things out for yourself and acquire tips from other curlies with similar hair textures. Once you’ve found what works for you you’ll be well on your way to loving your natural hair!

From products to styling, what’s working for your kinky coily hair?

This post was written by DrWalkerWellness for CurlyNikki.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published August 6, 2014

Perfect deep conditioner, we know it’s a big call. But NaturallyCurly user Siennax3 says this deep conditioner is perfect for her Type 3b hair because it takes “dry damaged brittle hair to a shiny strong healthy state .” Now this is Sienna’s perfect deep conditioner, but as with all things curly hair – what’s perfect for one person may not work for another. Trial and error is key and we applaud Sienna for finding what works for her!

What You’ll Need

• 1 banana
• 1 spoon full mayonnaise
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbs honey
• 2 tbs olive oil
• * Optional Vanilla extract

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients thoroughly in blender, if mashing in a bowl do so completely (the less clumps the easier to wash out”>
2. Section hair into 4 parts apply mixture evenly everywhere
3. Put hair in a bun and put a cap or plastic bag over hair
4. Leave mixture on hair at least 30 mins or long (the longer left in the better”>
5. Co wash or gently hampoo hair complete rinse with cool water
6. Style as usual

Feel free to customize this recipe for your own curls’ needs, and if you do let us know what substitutions you made in the comments!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published August 4, 2014

Now we already know that green tea is chock full of antioxidants and drinking it can have many benefits for the body, but have you ever used this tea to rinse your hair? NaturallyCurly user springrolls uses it on her Type 3b curls for shine and manageability. She says “add this to water washes between your shampooing/co-washing days for shiny obedient hair.” NaturallyCurly user Unbreakableburr uses this mix every day, and her tip is “instead of pouring the whole thing I’ve put it in a bottle and left in the shower, and it always makes my hair look awesome. Simple, clean, smells great.”

What You’ll Need

• 1 Green Tea Bag
• 1 Cup of water
• 1 Table Spoon of vinegar (I used non fruit, ACV is also okay, whatever you have at hand.”>

Directions

1. Detangle hair. I prefer my hair oiled in advance before water washing.
2. Make one cup of green tea.
3. Add the vinegar.
4. Allow the mixture to cool.
5. Pour the mixture on your wet hair.
6. Let it sit in your hair for about ten minutes.
7. Wash off with cold water.

Feel free to customize this recipe for your own curls’ needs, and if you do let us know what substitutions you made in the comments!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published July 31, 2014

This month we’re lucky to have special guest Imani Dawson of Tribe Called Curl answering your curly questions on Curly Q&A! Imani has been thoughtfully answering questions from our curly community, like this one from member lalame. 

Question:

How often is good to straighten your hair? And what’s a good product to make it last long?

I  have very full, thick, Type 4 hair.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published July 25, 2014

We recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. We talked about our experiences on and off campus that informed our career choices and ultimately landed us here at NaturallyCurly. Here is the full interview, written by Virginia A. Cumberbatch.

Hair care isn’t exactly the industry that most imagine when envisioning platforms to drive the diversity and inclusion conversation or to enact social change, but for four University of Texas at Austin (UT”> alumnae, their individual expertise and passions have come together to drive forward important dialogue, where inclusion and cultural acceptance is at the center through the online platform, NaturallyCurly.com.

Nikki Green (09″>, Cristina Cleveland (08″>, Evelyn Ngugi (11″> and Susonnah Barklow (11″> each came to UT looking for a unique experience. Nikki, a communications major, desired a campus where she could get a great education in the state of Texas, whereas Cristina, who studied advertising, transferred her sophomore year from a prominent private Texas institution, believing that UT’s large international population could provide the cultural diversity she was missing in her college experience prior. “I couldn’t imagine graduating in four years and only knowing one type of person, I wanted an environment that offered people with different life experiences and perspectives.” Having grown up in Brownsville, Texas, Susonnah thought UT offered a refreshing opportunity to explore life outside of her Latina roots, “I was just amazed by all the languages I heard every day walking around campus. I grew up in a majority Hispanic community and I appreciated getting to know people from different backgrounds.” Dallas-Fort Worth native Evelyn, who majored in journalism, gravitated to UT for the big university experience, providing just enough people and things to do that she could challenge herself to try new things and meet new people.

It was at The University of Texas that these alums discovered their interest in observing social patterns and cultural dynamics. As women of color, they were each uniquely challenged and groomed to take on tough conversations about identity, access, space and place on campus and in the larger world. For Cristina such social politics were defined by space, “there was always a feeling that I didn’t belong in West campus, I didn’t understand being a part of such a homogenous world, everyone dressed the same way, everyone straightened their hair. It was strange and uncomfortable.” Nikki’s interaction with the diversity conversation started in the classroom. An active member of the Black Student Alliance, Nikki felt that student organizations like the BSA were essential to providing African American students with a platform to explore their shared experience; likewise, the organization served as an invaluable resource for many African American students who felt isolated on campus. “I recall that the only time I wasn’t one of the only African American students in my class in the comm school was when I ventured outside the department to take Africana Studies courses. It was there that I felt like I got to study myself and feel a certain connection with classmates and professors.” These types of experiences translated to life outside the classroom as well, and although at the time only prompted personal reflection, ultimately in partnership with their fields of study and academic interests would guide their professional pursuits.

Although Cristina, Nikki, Evelyn and Susonnah all landed jobs in their respective fields after graduating, not one of them felt truly connected to their work. That desire to fuse their intrinsic cultural understandings with their work in communications, journalism, and advertisement attracted them to the work of NaturallyCurly. A “dynamic social platform that empowers and engages a multicultural community of female influencers – the largest in the world of haircare,” the brand offered each Longhorn something they didn’t think was possible, the ability to empower, educate and evangelize in their 9 to 5 life.

The conversation of beauty in the context of the billion dollar hair-care and beauty supply industry has always created a damaging definition of social standards and division. The work of NaturallyCurly goes beyond providing hair tutorials and tips, for many women, it is a platform that helps to reaffirm their place in the beauty conversation. A reincarnation of the fashion evolution of the “Black Power” and “Black is Beautiful” movements of the 1960s and 1970s that offered opportunity for women and men of color to proudly wear their natural hair styles and not surrender to the chemicals or straightening practices globally encouraged and advertised, NaturallyCurly is leading a new movement that is bringing about an important cultural change in attitudes towards standards of beauty, social dynamics and self-empowerment. “It is so exciting to me to be a part of a company that is selling an idea of empowerment, rather than a product,” Susonnah, the company’s SEO strategist offered, “we want to be a safe space for woman to feel comfortable.”

For these four UT alumnae NaturallyCurly’s motto, “where curls come to life,” is also where understanding and power come to life for many. They believe NaturallyCurly helps women, particularly women of color form new appreciation and admiration for their natural locks and therefore self. Nikki, who serves as Naturally Curly’s email marketing manager recalls her own hair journey of self-discovery being challenged while at UT. “I always felt that I needed to straighten my hair or wear weaves to be considered approachable, trendy and most importantly professional. There are so many women of color who have been told their natural hair, whether it’s big curls, fros or braids is not acceptable in the work place or professional looking…that’s like saying who you are naturally isn’t acceptable.” This conversation of social acceptance has driven much of the work of NaturallyCurly and continues to dominate the online community space.

The decision to “go natural,” i.e. the decision to wear one’s hair in its natural state free from chemical straighteners, can be both empowering and daunting. The mere fact that even deciding to wear one’s natural hair is regarded in some circles to be a revolutionary act speaks to deeper issues of race, class and the idea of beauty. “The hair care is a billion dollar industry that spends much of his advertising dollars telling women how they can change their hair to meet a certain image of beauty standard. At NaturallyCurly, we are empowering women to share their stories,” shared Evelyn “and as the social media manager I have the power to transcend the hair conversation to speak to broader issues of visibility and self-empowerment. Just in posting a photo of a woman who is wearing her hair natural, I’ll see other women commenting about how that photo or story helped encourage them to feel comfortable to rock their natural hair at the their job…we are walking advertisements and spokespeople for a movement that is fighting for inclusion, visibility and diverse thinking.”

As each of these women continue to forge their own voices and contributions to the conversation, they confirm that this ongoing collective effort to break down infrastructure, institutions and industries that tend to marginalize women of color is a profession and passion worth pursuing. “Working in the advertising world, I realized I was just subjugated to being a product pusher, I wasn’t helping to promote anything of substance,” Cristina, whose role is to create stimulating content for the website as the senior content creator, shares, “at NaturallyCurly I get to encourage an idea, an idea that empowers women to be themselves.” Likewise, this forum challenges the world to reconsider concepts of culture and boundaries of beauty. Cristina, Evelyn, Nikki and Susonnah are part of a millennial movement that continues to demand a paradigm shift. “Media still dictates what’s the societal norm and some of my fondest memories on campus was challenging that societal norm,” Evelyn reflected, “I hope that the work we are doing at NaturallyCurly is taking form in other ways on campus to provide students of color and just any and all students with outlets to be themselves.”

The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin is a successful model for integrating diversity into the core mission of a university and integrating community engagement into teaching, research and service. As well, DDCE strives to connect the university’s intellectual resources to communities across Texas and offer education to those who may face the greatest challenges in accessing it. The DDCE works with a broad range of student, faculty, staff and community constituents to help make The University of Texas at Austin a national model for diversity in higher education.

Writer Virginia A. Cumberbatch is the marketing manager for the University of Texas at Austin’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement in Austin, Texas. She’s written articles for Politic365, GivingCity Austin Magazine, Clutch Magazine and has been featured in Tribeza and the Austin American-Statesman. In 2014 she was awarded the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader Award. Follow her on Twitter @vacumberbatch.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published July 21, 2014

Not every curly mixologist is up for a 17-step recipe – we get that. If flaxseed gels aren’t your speed, then this super simple leave-in conditioner is just for you.  NaturallyCurly member tiffjust2002 uses this recipe for an “easy and simple homemade leave in conditioner, detangling spray mix.”

What You’ll Need

• 6 oz distilled water
• two teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• two tablespoons your favorite conditioner

Directions

1. Mix ingredients in a spray bottle
2. Shake well

That’s got to be the simplest recipe we’ve ever published. No need to buy a new hair product, just use your favorite conditioner that you already have on hand. If you’d like to share your curly recipes you can do that here in our recipes section.

WATCH: DIY Olive Oil Deep Conditioner

By Cristina Cleveland · Published July 14, 2014

This aloe pectin styling gel recipe comes to us from one of our members, Valeriia.Sua. This simple recipe requires no cooking or heating at all, so even beginner Curly Mixologists can try it out. This batch makes 8 ounces, and can be stored in your own squeeze bottle for later use.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Aloe vera juice
• 1 1.59oz packet of instant fruit pectin
• 1/4 tsps Honey
• 1/4 tsps Agave Nectar
• 2 tsp EVOO
• 1 tsp Sweet Almond Oil

Directions

1. Place the pectin into a bowl and add aloe vera juice to it slowly, stirring as you go along to prevent clumps.
2. Add the honey, agave nectar, evoo and sweet almond oil and mix them in. The texture is similar to KCCC.
3. You can also add essential oils for fragrance.
4. Put the gel in a bottle or bowl with lid.
5. Refrigerate

If you’d like to share your own curly recipes with the community, submit them here.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published July 11, 2014

This Ayurvedic mask recipe was submitted by NaturallyCurly member samara22. She uses the mask to strengthen her 4a coils “back into shape and provide long lasting elasticity.”

Ingredients

• Ayurvedic henna mixture which includes Brahmi, shikakai, hibiscus powder, aloe vera, bhringraj, amla, neem, and jatamansi powders. What I use is Nupur henna from my local indian store which includes all of this in one package.
• coconut milk or aloe vera juice
• honey or agave nectar
• one large egg
• coconut oil
• your favorite moisturizing rinse out conditioner

Benefits

• Brahmi promotes hair growth
• Shikakai leaves hair clean and shining
• Aloe vera moisturizes hair and creates silkiness
• Henna also known as methi conditions and nourishes hair
• Bhringraj makes hair luxuriant
• Amla darkens hair color and adds shine
• Neem fights scalp infections and prevents dandruff
• Hibiscus revitalizes hair making it silky and shiny and jatamansi prevents graying of the hair

With all these powerful powders you should have one great head of hair. If you’d like to share your own recipe with the curly community, submit it here.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published July 9, 2014

Ingredients

• raw shea butter
• cocoa butter
• coconut oil
• flax seeds
• aloe vera
• olive, and vitamin e oils, various other raw oils of choice

Directions

1. Boil flaxseeds into a gel and straining out the flax seeds, this will create your flaxseed gel. Keep your gel warm.
2. Melt down the shea and cocoa butters and coconut oil to desired consistency.
3. Pour the melted butters and oil into a bowl and mix together.
4. Add in your favorite oils and stir the mixture until blended. 
5. Pour the mixture into containers while it is still in liquid-like consistency.
6.  Leave the containers uncovered til cool.
7.  Cover and store in cool dry place. 

To use your DIY cream, apply it to your hair in sections when doing a twist out and “you will still be able to feel moisture when you take it down!” says foxylilmimi.

Share your own recipes with the curly community here.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published June 27, 2014

Getting married? Congratulations! Looking for a hairstylist to demonstrate how to style you and your bridesmaids live in front of a camera? We’ve got you covered. This week we teamed up with stylist extraordinaire Tamika Fletcher and our curlfriends the NaturallyGG sisters, Carissa and Amber, to do just that. Tamika walked us through 3 different hairstyles fit to do yourself whether you’ve got a destination wedding, a low budget, or a tight deadline. The most amazing part was that she was able to complete each one in about 5 minutes flat. We were so impressed!

This hairstyle is perfect for a destination wedding, you can simply braid your hair (from bottom to top”> and then attach a pre-styled piece for a style that will last even the most humid of tropical climates.

This hairstyle would of course make a beautiful bridal updo, but we even love the look to wear to work. Depending on how you accessorize this style, it can be adapted to suit all seasons and settings.

Don’t be intimidated by this one. At first glance it looks like a lot of twists and braids are involved, but like we said Tamika was able to do this in about 5 minutes. Granted, she’s a professional so it may take you a little longer. But any formal updo that you can complete in under 30 minutes is music to our ears.

Watch the Video

To watch all three styles, you can watch the video on YouTube anytime. And feel free to share these photos with your wedding hairstylist for inspiration!

And be sure to subscribe to Tamika’s channel or visit her Natural Resources Salon for more information, and check out and subscribe to NaturallyGG for more of their natural hair videos!

If you’d like to be notified about our next Live Google Hangout, sign up to our email newsletter.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published June 10, 2014

My name is Rasheta. I am from a small town in Florida called Deland. I am a Registered Nurse and Captain in the United States Air Force.

How long have you been natural?

I have been natural since 2003.

What motivated you to transition?

I transitioned while I was in Nursing school at Florida A&M University. I decided to transition because the health of my hair was suffering. Perms were very damaging to my hair and I suffered a lot of breakage and stunted growth.

How would you describe your hair?

I would describe my hair as big, bold and fierce! I absolutely love my hair and wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m not really into hair typing but would say I have a combination of 4a/4b texture.

What do you love most about your hair?

What I love about my hair is the versatility. I feel that it is a lot easier to do styles in my hair than it was when I was relaxed. Since my hair is so big and full, I can create different looks and styles effortlessly. I also love the fact that my hair is very healthy and flourishing since I have been natural.

What has been the most memorable part of the journey?

The most memorable part of my journey was the day I decided to wear my natural hair out for the first time. I was so nervous and I was so scared at what reaction I would receive. It wasn’t as bad I imagined it would be. My journey has not been hard thanks to YouTube! There are tons of amazing naturals there that have helped me through this process.

What were your favorite hairstyles doing your transition?

During my transition, I mostly wore wigs and weaves. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have big chopped and gotten it over with! LOL

Any reactions from friends and family?

My experience being natural has been a very positive one. My friends and family love it and many have actually gone natural as a result of my journey. I get so many compliments and a natural and that was surprising to me at first.I was so amazed and flattered by all the positive feedback and comments that I received/recieve.

What is your hair regimen?

My regimen including weekly co-washing and deep conditioning w/ Aubrey Organics honeysuckle rose and Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner. I deep condition w the GPB conditioner.( I also alternate my deep conditioner with Shea moisture deep conditioners as well.”>While the deep conditioner is on my hair I sit under my heutiful hair steamer.I coat my hair with extra virgin olive oil along with the deep conditioner.Once I’m done steaming,I rinse my hair and apply my moisturizing conditioner which if AubreyOrganics honeysuckle rose.I them use an old t-shirt and dry my hair.I then use the loc method for moisture.For the loc method after I wash my hair I use Giovanni Direct Leave in Conditioner followed by an oil and end with Shea moistures curl enhancing smoothie. I put my hair it twist and braids and then cover with a satin scarf.I do the LOC method everyday and during the week I use water instead of the Giovani direct leave in.I keep my hair in a protective style during the week and only wear my hair in a afro or loose on the weekends. I also take Hairfinity vitamins and I love them.

Who are your favorite vloggers?

My favorite natural hair you tubers are myself (www.youtube/cannonbomb2″>,Naptural85,Taren Guy, FushionOfCultures, Nikki Mae and Hair Crush(Chime Edwards”>.

Any advice?

New naturals always look at my hair and tell me that they cannot wait until there hair gets big like mine. It is very important to embrace each stage of your journey because it is wonderful. I look back at my old pics and love my hair at each stage. The most important thing to do is make sure you show your hair a lot of TLC bc healthy hair is growing hair. I also would like to say that every texture is beautiful! You do not have to have a 3a curl pattern in order to have beautiful hair.All natural hair is beautiful and admirable.Do not forget that!

Where can we find you online?

I can be found on Instagram @ LuvLeeLioness, on YouTube @www.youtube/cannonbomb2, on the cover and in the winter issue of Naturally Happy Hair Magazine and on Facebook as Rasheta Cannon.

This post was written by Global Couture for CurlyNikki.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published June 10, 2014

As you’re probably aware there are a lot of Moroccan Oil hair products out there, but today we’re going to be talking about the brand Moroccanoil in particular. Susonnah has been testing their Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner on her Type 2 wavy hair for the past few months and here’s what she thinks of the products.

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If you’d like to see more tutorials and product reviews like this, subscribe to our YouTube channel The Twist!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published May 22, 2014

PHOTO SOURCE THEHEALTHYFAMILYANDHOME

I’m often amazed on how much money we naturalistas will spend on our hair! My own cabinet is testament to this. I am a self-professed product junkie myself and will try just about anything to get my desired results. Searching through the blogosphere researching the newest techniques and products, there seems to be common underlying themes which tend to revolve around two areas—how to maintain healthy hair and how to grow it fast.

My juice prescription for this is my Hair Lullaby Juice!  It will not only aid your hair growth but also give some the best night sleep you will ever have.

Hair Lullaby Juice

What You’ll Need:

• 2 cups of spinach
• 4 stalks of celery
• 1 small green apple
• 3 leaves of kale
• 1 small lemon

About a year ago, I stumbled across a little secret that not only speeded up my hair growth after my big chop but also changed the trajectory of my health—juicing. I juiced everything from leafy green and root veggie to fruit. Initially all in an attempt to lose my some baby weight I was hanging on to. What I found throughout the process is that it was speeding up my hair growth after the big chop. My hair growth doubled during my heaviest juicing phases.

When I researched further I found that one of my favorite go to juices was packed with vitamins and minerals that aided in hair growth.  It had cucumbers, which are high in sulfur, which is the building block mineral in many of your hair growth vitamins.  This juice also included carrots, which are great source of vitamin A and great for stimulating your scalp and thickening your mane.

While knowing how to maintain and take care of natural tresses is absolutely necessary when trying to grow your hair, we often overlook the one thing can help speed up and support this process—what we put in our mouths.

The average American eats 1-2 serving of veggies and fruit per day.

This is well below the 10-12 servings it is recommended. Juicing is an easy way to increase your daily intake.

There is something to be said about genetics and the role it plays on hair texture and growth. I’m not here to negate this fact, but what I can say for those us who weren’t so blessed genetically and need a little help in boosting and speeding up our hair growth, juicing is the way to go. Some added side effects to juicing regularly include weight loss, glowing skin, and added energy.  

For those of you concerned about the taste, well you would be surprised at the combinations.

Check out my e-guide JuiceMyFro for a 30-day hair-growth juicing program. This plan includes recipes and weekly shopping lists to make it easy for you to implement daily.  Happy Juicing Your Fro!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published May 15, 2014

We have a thousands (literally, thousands”> of helpful articles on NaturallyCurly.com but sometimes you just want to get your question personally answered. We know how you feel. That’s what our Q&A section is for! You can ask specific NaturallyCurly Editors your questions and we’ll answer them for you, like this question from Erin about her 2C pixie cut.

I answered Erin’s question with styling techniques for keeping the sides from poofing: my secret is bobby pinning the hair when wet, and if the hair is already dry use a travel sized straightening iron on the back and sides – the plate is small enough for short, pixie length hair and mine doesn’t get as hot as a normal straightener.

Erin shared that she uses Marc Anthony Curl Envy Cream and diffuses it to dry, but she was looking for product recommendations for shine and definition. These are my favorite oils for shine and curl creams for hold and definition:

• Ouidad Whipped Curls
• AG Beach Bomb
• TIGI Curls Rock Amplifier
• AG The Oil
• Ouidad Mongongo Oil

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If you have questions for me or any of the NaturallyCurly staff ask your own question here!