Search Results: Cristina Cleveland

As a 2c wavy, I have discovered over the past year how important it is for me to cleanse my waves. My hair is extremely prone to frizz and buildup because of my need to use some heavier products in the summer. In my attempt to fight frizz, I have discovered some methods that work best to control my frizz as well as cleanse my hair.

1. Co-wash

Co-wash frequently. The amount of co-washing needed will vary because not everyone washes their hair every day, or even every other day. Your wavy hair type will also factor into the “official” amount needed. I typically co-wash my hair three times a week, but I’m also getting it wet six days a week because that’s what my current workout routine is. The other three days of the week when I am working out, I wash it with a clarifying shampoo one of those days, or just get it wet and do a water wash. Co-washing will help prevent frizz and the dryness that can cause it.

2. Clarify

Although I gave it away in the first method, use clarifying shampoos. Natural oils produced by your scalp as well as product buildup can be distributed more easily through wavy hair compared to curls that are tighter. Clarifying shampoos are a great way to gently remove those oils and buildup on days when you need a break from conditioner. My favorite clarifying shampoo is the Carol’s Daughter Rosemary Mint shampoo. Not only does it smell amazing, but it also leaves my hair feeling great without seeming dry. I use the clarifying shampoo about two to three times a month, but of course the amount of products you use on your hair on a daily basis will determine how often you need to use a clarifier.

3. Clean your scalp

Pay attention to how you wash your hair. That might not sound like a technical method, but it will make a world of difference. If you have wavy hair and co-wash more frequently than not, your hair can look dirty and feel heavy if you don’t rinse the conditioner out of your hair completely. Another way to help your cleansing process is by concentrating on the scalp. It’s so easy to put shampoo or conditioner in, scrub for a second and then rinse. Instead, focus on using your cleansing product directly on the scalp and massaging the product in with your fingertips to loosen dirt and buildup. Make sure you rinse your hair thoroughly and you’ll be on your way to enjoying cleaner and healthier hair.

If you have any other tips for cleansing your waves, please leave a comment below and share the knowledge. Figuring out something that seems as simple as cleansing your hair can actually be tough, so the more ideas and product suggestions the better!

Who hasn’t longed for soft, spiral curls? Even those of us with naturally curly hair sometimes dream about altering our curl pattern, if only for a little while.

This dream is exactly what the UK- based Hair Flair Ltd set out realize when it developed Curlformers, a revolutionary, patented new curling tool. The family-owned business identified a gap in the market for a tool or product that would create variety of curls, from ringlet spirals to loose-barrel waves, which could be used by everyone, without damaging the hair.

Curlformers are a revolutionary type of hair curling device, revolutionary because the curls are formed inside the Curlformers, rather than outside, as with conventional curlers. And they do it without using potentially damaging flat or curling irons.

“Curlformers are more versatile than Velcro rollers in terms of the looks you can create. Velcro rollers works on a limited range of hair types, whereas CurlFormers works on all hair types, including curly, kinky and wavy,” says Alexandra Malet, Hair Flair’s vice-president of marketing. “They even work on fine hair, relaxed hair and hair extensions.

“It is important to watch the instructional video to see how best to apply your Curlformers,” says Malet, “After you have applied a few, they’re so easy to use,” she says.

Start with freshly washed, damp hair. “Section your hair — or better still, why not make it girlfriend time, and do each others’ hair— then load the Curlformer on the hook. Hook a section of hair, squeeze open the Curlformer and draw the hook back thru the Curlformer,” Malet explains. You can do a head full in 20 minutes, she says.

Malet emphasizes Curlformers’ versatility. “You can get so many different looks,” she says. Some people, she says, just apply them to the bottom part of the hair, so they get the straight-on-top, curly-at-the-bottom look. “If you have wavy hair, you might want to just add a bit of curl here and there.”

After applying the Curlformers, you can dry your hair with a blow dryer or stand dryer, or better yet, let it air dry. The Curlformers’ fun and funky bright colors are practically a fashion statement, so wear them out shopping, Malet encourages. Then take them out just in time for your night on the town, she suggests. Interestingly, in the US, cheerleaders are some of Curlformers’ most biggest fans. “They absolutely love them. They love the curls they can create with them. They lend themselves perfectly to that sort of audience,” Malet says. Other folks, too, like them: children, brides, moms. “Everyone who tries them, loves them, because they’re great fun to use,” Malet says. Check out the Curlformers website to learn more.

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This videos shows how fun and easy Curlformers are to use, and the great results you can get:

Bring on the Curls!

1 Shampoo and condition hair and towel dry. If you wish, apply a mousse or styling product evenly through your hair to give extra hold to your curls.		2 You may find it easier to section your hair and use clips to keep it out of the way until you are ready to apply Curlformers to that section.		3 Make sure you have put together the two parts of the Styling Hook and then, holding the handle, feed the Curlformer on to the Styling Hook. (watch the demo video for help”>
4 Starting at the nape of the neck, take a small section of hair approximately 1/2″ or 2cm wide.		5 Give it a quarter turn twist, hold the handle higher than the hook, and slip the twisted section into the hook. You may find it easier to ask your mum or a friend to help you!		6 Using your thumb and index finger, squeeze open slightly the end of the Curlformer closest to the scalp, enabling you to draw the hook back through the Curlformer.
7 Draw the hook back out through each Curlformer.		8 Apply all the Curlformers in this fashion, working your way from the back of the head through the sides and top to the front.		9 Dry the hair for 30 minutes with a hairdryer. Ideally, leave the Curlformers in for as long as possible for longer-lasting curls—you can even sleep with them!
10 To remove the Curlformers, use your thumb and index finger to squeeze open the end closest to the scalp. At the same time, use your free hand to unfurl the Curlformer and gently remove from the hair.		11 The curl will spring back into place. You can either brush your fingers through your hair for a soft, tousled, textured look or leave for perfect party curls.		12 Apply your favorite hairspray for longer-lasting hold and shine.

The list of ingredients in Janelle Beauty’s Diva Smooth reads more like a dessert recipe than a treatment to straighten your hair.

Honey. Sugar. Lemon juice. Molasses.

Diva Smooth is a natural alternative to traditional chemical relaxers. The finely tuned mixture of natural ingredients when applied together with a flat iron create smooth, shiny hair without breakage or hair loss. It is so gentle that it can be left on overnight, says Anika Janelle Pettiford, founder of Janelle Beauty.

Since it went on the market in June 2008, Diva Smooth has amassed a growing and loyal customer base who see it as an inexpensive and easy-to-use straightening treatment. Many stylists also have become fans, with more than 180 salons using Diva Smooth.

“It makes your natural hair look beautiful and you feel better, because you are not putting chemicals into your hair,” says Diva Smooth user Lauren of Virginia.

Keep in mind I have not permed my hair since June 2, 2009,” says Felicia of Dallas. “My hair turned out very soft and straight considering I had wavy and curly roots. When I begin blow drying, I noticed my hair was soft and straight at the roots to the ends. Yes, I will most definitely use it again.”

It was Pettiford’s own health scare that prompted her to find safe alternatives to the hair and skin-care products that lined her shelves. She realized a lot of the personal-care products she was using every day contained carcinogens.

“I threw out all of my shampoos and conditioners,” says Pettiford, a former IBM consultant who left to start a family. “I had been relaxing my hair since I was 8 years old and I stopped.”

Pettiford says she had no idea what her natural hair looked like, and began experimenting with different ingredients to help control her texture. Janelle Beauty’s first product, Virgin Coconut Hair Serum, was born out of her transition to natural hair. The coconut oil contained protein that smoothed her hair.

One day, Pettiford got a call form a stylist who said she was using a chemical-free concoction on clients’ hair to straighten it.

“My initial reaction was ‘Whatever.,” she says. “But I felt obligated to see what it was.”

She had the stylist use her home-made mixture on her hair, and she was “blown away.” Her hair was smooth and soft, with no damage or breakage.

“I said ‘We need to market this product,'” Pettiford says. “At the time, it had no labeling or packaging.”

The stylist signed an exclusive agreement with Janelle Beauty to bring it to market. Initially, there was skepticism in the market that an all-natural product could work. But through demonstrations and word of mouth, sales began building quickly.

With traditional lye and no lye relaxers, the chemicals penetrate the cortex or cortical layer and loosens the curl pattern. This inner layer of the hair shaft gives curly hair its shape, and provides strength and elasticity. Once the process is performed, it is permanent.

Diva Smooth, which contains such ingredients as jojoba oil and grapeseed oil, is brushed in, and can be left on from 35 minutes to overnight. It works by strengthening the hair with the virgin coconut oil, and creates a light protective coating that prevents heat damage through the use of honey and molasses. There is no stripping of hte hair cuticle because there are no chemical ingredients.

It is shampooed out with a sulfate-free cleanser that is included in the kit. It won’t make the hair stick straight, Pettiford says. What it does do is make it easier to get smooth, straight hair when used with a flat iron.

For those who like to wear their hair curly, it makes the curls smoother and more defined. Since the hair is not chemically altered, the hair can be worn in twists, afros and other natural hair styles. Pettiford says it also can help women who are transitioning from perms to natural hair by making the demarcation less noticeable.

“For the first time, my hair is completely natural, and it’s never looked better,” says Pettiford, who uses Diva Smooth on a regular basis. “It has volume and shine and it looks healthier than it ever did when I was using a chemical relaxer.”

The Janelle Beauty Smooth Deluxe Starter Kit – which contains Rosemary Mint Hair Wash, Tea Tree Hair Wash, Moisturizing Conditioner, Virgin Coconut Hair Serum, Diva Smooth, a brush, cap and gloves – sells for $49.99. Other Diva Smooth kits are available.

Diva Smooth is sold online, and Pettiford says she is getting requests from a growing number of stylists who have heard about the product.

In addition to Diva Smooth, Janelle Beauty is like a Sephora for natural and organic beauty products, Pettiford says. In addition to its own product lines, Janelle Beauty has evolved into an online e-tailer for other all-natural beauty brands.

Six years ago, Mahisha Dellinger launched a hair-care line for multi-ethnic women like herself. At the time, CURLS was a small, 100 percent independent e-commerce site.

Today, CURLS has grown by leaps and bounds. The products now are distributed around the world and are sold in several hundred salons. Nordstrom and Macy’s may soon carry the CURLS line as well.

This month, the company has unveiled a fresh new look. The neutral bottles, with their gold cap and metallic typography, have disappeared, replaced by bright, fun, appealing packaging that better reflects the products inside. The packaging also provides more educational info about how to use them, to cut down on confusion.

“The new fresh packaging to me symbolizes a new era in our growth and development,” says Dellinger. “We don’t just have great products, but we also have a cutting-edge look.”

The company’s explosive growth doesn’t surprise Dellinger.

“It’s my passion,” Dellinger says. “There are many things I understand because I’m the consumer I’m selling to. People have told me ‘Finally, someone gets it.'”

Growing up multi-ethnic with thick curls, Mahisha Dellinger felt no products were available for people like her.

In the ethnic market, the products were heavy and greasy, designed for women who wanted to fight their kinks and curls. In the traditional haircare market, products were aimed toward finer, looser curls that looked nothing like hers. She was forced to create her own kitchen concoctions, at one point using grease and water to control her mane. She knew others must be dealing with the same frustrations.

Although she wasn’t a stylist and hadn’t worked in the beauty industry, she set about to create her own products, hiring a cosmetic chemist and developing the products she always wanted — products designed to meet the unique needs of multi-ethnic women and girls with naturally curly hair.

In 2003, she launched her company with four CURLS and four Curly Q’s products for kids. Now the line has grown to 11 CURLS products, seven Curly Q’s products and three in her new baby line, It’s a Curl!. These include a full range of cleansers, moisturizers, conditioners and styling products. The products contain natural ingredients such as Monoi de Tahiti, green tea extract, pomegranate seed oil and soy protein to hydrate, strengthen and nourish curls and kinks.

CURLS’ latest product is Curl Gel-les’c, a gel-like, silicone-free serum style that defines, defrizzes and holds curls.

In 2007 and 2008, CURLS was named one of the Top 5 Finalists for “Favorite MultiCultural Company” in Behindthechair.com’s 7th Annual Stylist Choice Awards. The Stylist Choice Awards are among the most coveted awards in the professional salon industry as winners are chosen by salon professionals.

Dellinger says always believed CURLS would do well.

“I’ve always had high expectations for the company,” she says. “It’s just been a matter of making it happen. We’ve learned a lot and grown a lot.”

One of the most important things she’s learned is patience.

“My mentor told me long ago that it isn’t a race, it’s a process,” Dellinger says. “You have to be patient and learn and grow at your pace, not putting expectations on yourself to come out of the gate at a certain level. I was told that if I went in and learned my market, I would succeed.”

Patience has meant growing the company at a pace it can handle, and adding those products consumers are asking for.

As CURLS has grown, Dellinger says she has watched the competitive landscape change as well.

“Before we came out with CURLS, there were very few companies targeting ethnic and multi-ethnic consumers,” Dellinger says. “That consumer didn’t have choices. Now, there are a lot of lines for curly hair. I think we helped bring attention and focus to the curly consumers.”

In addition to growing her business, Dellinger and her company have partnered with adoption agencies throughout the United States to host live hair care demonstrations, provide hair care tips, author articles for their online resource centers, and donate Curly Q’s products. Her goal is to provide a comprehensive resource to parents adopting across the racial lines.

“The more we grow, the more we give back,” says Dellinger.

Dellinger doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon. She wants to introduce curly hair tools as well as adding those products consumers want. She’ll also continue her worldwide expansion.

“I want to bring CURLS to everyone,” Dellinger says.

Bumble and bumble, which recently relaunched its Curl Conscious line, offered NaturallyCurly members the opportunity to win virtual makeovers from Bumble and bumble Senior Vice President and Artistic Director Howard McLaren.

NaturallyCurly members sent in photos, and earlier this month, Bumble selected five winners and McLaren shared his expertise on how to care for their curls. McLaren describes how they can change each look, the ideal length, the ideal product combinations, styling techniques and recommendations for casual and special occasion hair and more. Winners will also receive the entire product range along with the company’s Curl Tote, pins and paisley combs.

Bumble and bumble wants people to embrace the unstraight. Sixty percent of the world has curly hair, and many still live under the tyranny of straighteners, flat irons and blowdryers.

Amy Stoval

She has gorgeous, well-cared-for hair. She seems to use a lot of product, which is great for curl formation. I would take the hair that is reflected in her photo and ask her to shake it out a bit to get rid of a bit of the crunchiness. I also suggest she use our Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Reactivating Mist on off days to revive the style of her hair without drying it out.

Her key product should be Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme. She should apply it along the full length of hair and then air dry or use a diffuser. When it’s dry be sure to shake out the hair.

Joey Hope

Another head of great curls. I like her natural style. Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme seems like a right fit for her to encourage curl formation. I would shy away from applying too much product at the root since her hair is a bit flat at the root.

Lisa Hope

She wrestles with the opposite problem of her daughter. She would benefit from a liberal application of our Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Holding Foam from roots to ends. She should apply product to sopping wet hair so that the style benefits of the product are locked into place and frizz is not allowed to develop. I would have her use our Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Nourishing Masque as her every-other-day conditioner and use Reactivating Mist on her non-shampoo days.

Christy Barker

She’s another Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme natural. I would also use a bit of Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Holding Foam along the crown as her hair tends to get a bit frizzy there and needs extra control.

Emily Richmond

She has such a great mass of curls that just need the right combo of products to make them shine. I would have her use our Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Nourishing Masque as her regular conditioner to really quench her thirsty curls. I would have her use Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Holding Foam at the roots on sopping wet hair, and our Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme on the length of hair. Wash hair just once or twice a week and use Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Reactivating Mist on her non-shampoo days.