Search Results: Cristina Cleveland
The weather was balmy in Los Angeles. In Toronto, freezing rain was falling. The sidewalks of downtown L.A. were filled with people in shorts and T-shirts. Toronto residents were bundled up in their winter coats and scarves. In L.A. streets were lined with palm trees. The leaves on Toronto’s oak and maple trees had turned gold and red.
Los Angeles and Toronto may be dramatically different in many ways. But the tour stops for The Curl Revolution; Inspiring Stories & Practical Advice from the NaturallyCurly Community shared the same incredible curl kinship, with women of all ages, ethnicities and textures.
It was a packed house at The Curly Hair Institute salon in Toronto’s North York suburb. Jonathan torch, founder the salon and the Curly Hair Solutions brand, hosted the party. He was a key expert throughout the book. As attendees sipped sparkling water and nibbled on appetizers, they shared their stories with each other.
Veteran TV meteorologist Suzanne Leonard of The Weather Network, who was still dealing with pressure to straighten her curly bob. Some of the leading voices in the natural hair community, including Stephanie Joseph, founder of Toronto’s Textur’d Hair & Beauty Show and Christina Piazza, founder of the Curls & Confidence subscription box.
There were also newcomers to the curly world. Deepti Avinash – a NaturallyCurly Trendsetter – was two weeks into her curly journey and was trying to get used to her hair’s natural texture. Another, who went natural a year ago, found out about the event on a blog post and came in hopes of getting inspiration from other naturals. She got plenty.
The event included Q&A with Jonathan and me. I have known Torch and co-owner Steve Torch for nearly two decades, stumbling upon his company in the early days of NaturallyCurly. In the curl desert that existed when we started, I was thrilled to see a curly hair company and quickly connected with him. Curly Hair Solutions’ Curl Keeper became an early Holy Grail and still remains one of my favorite products. Curl Keeper has since expanded into an entire brand.
Thursday’s event was also a great chance for Torch to showcase the brand’s new look. The new packaging features a color-coded system, making it easier for curlies to identify which products address their unique hair needs.
Torch never thought he’d become an expert on cutting curly hair, but he had one curly-headed customer with bulky, unmanageable hair and he made it his mission to find a cut that could help her get the haircut she desired. So Torch began to study curly hair. He studied the way it looked wet and dry; he worked with tight curls and loose waves. He learned about shrinkage and frizz and curl formation. He learned how to create different layers of ringlets. He learned to play with the hair to see what it wanted to do. And he learned to throw some old ideas out the window — ideas that were the holy grails for cutting straight hair.
The Curl Revoluton has been an opportunity to celebrate pioneers like Torch and Ouidad, whose passion for texture has made the world a better place for all of us curlies.
You can order “The Curl Revolution” now from SHOPNaturallyCurly for 20 percent off with the coupon code: CR20.
Here is where we’ll be next:
- Baltimore – Dec 2
We can’t wait to meet you and hear your story!
We receive article submissions from our readers through our pitch form and this one came from Dominique, a home birthing, breastfeeding, Mother Nature loving womyn, and the blogger behind DommiesBlessed.
Oiling the scalp is quite nostalgic for me. It reminds me of when I used to sit between my mother’s legs and she would rub oil into my parts. It felt funny and so satisfying at the same time. Here are three reasons our family still oils our scalps today.
Oils Promote & Maintain A Healthy Scalp
Our youngest allegedly developed “cradle cap” when she was an infant (I say allegedly because I’m not fully convinced that’s what it was”>. I knew her scalp needed some natural ingredients to promote self-healing. After massaging olive oil into her crown, the “cradle cap” cleared up. Our now two year-old has the most beautiful head of hair and no scalp problems.
Neither I nor our five year-old daughter ever had scalp issues. Yet, we still use oil to maintain healthy heads of hair.
Oils Create A Beautiful Shine
After oiling their scalps, I brush their strands to bring the oil all the way down to the ends. This leaves their tresses soft and shiny. I prefer to use oils over leave-ins, creams or any other products, mainly because it is a simple and natural ingredient that enhances our curls.
Oils Coat The Strands
The oil seems to protect their precious curls from dryness, knots and breakage. I use a very small amount of oil once or twice a week.
We do not use grease or petroleum on our scalps. Just oils. Olive oil, straight from our kitchen cabinet, is our household favorite. How do you feel about oiling the scalp? What oil(s”> do you use?
Our editors weighed in on whether or not oiling their scalp is a part of their routines.
Kiana, Type 3c Curly
I do not regularly use oil on my scalp, but once a month I do a hair mask with avocado oil that I use all over my hair, but also on my scalp. Coconut oil is too heavy for my finer hair and can leave my hair feeling greasy even after shampooing. My DIY oil mask consists of about 2 tablespoons of avocado oil, and a couple drops of honey. I massage in into my scalp and distribute the rest throughout my hair, leaving it in for about an hour. I shampoo and condition again after.
Grace, Type 2a Wavy
I used a lot of oil on my scalp when I was transitioning from using a lot of sulphates/silicones/stripping products to going sulfate-free/more natural. My scalp was a hot mess, flaky but still kind of oily, and using oil as a treatment seemed to help balance it out and calm it down a little bit. I found that I could use it pre-shower and then after my shampoo my scalp was clean but not as dry and irritated as usual. I still do this if I notice my scalp getting dry – especially when the seasons are changing. I don’t have to do it as often now because I use products that aren’t as harsh and use heat less often. My favorite oils are Darshana and argan oil. I’ve tried coconut, moroccan oil, etc. but those two are definitely my favorites!
Gerilyn, Type 4c Coily
Absolutely, I do oil my scalp! My scalp needs consistent moisture. The best way for me to maintain this is by applying hair oils that contain olive oil, neem, and nourishing emollients. I’ve tried coconut, argan, macadamia, grapeseed, and flaxseed oils, but of all these I am a fan of olive oil. A new oil I’d like to try is passion fruit. What works best is when I massage multi-oil formulas into my scalp. My go-to is Alikay Naturals Essential 17 Hair Growth Oil.
Cristina, Type 2c Wavy
Since I’ve cut down on shampooing I find that every now and then my scalp gets super itchy between washes. I know how harmful it can be to scratch, so when I really can’t fight the urge I use an oil with tingling ingredients like tea tree and peppermint oils. I have a bottle of Mizani Scalp Care Oil on my desk at work, and
Devri, Type 3c Curly
Hair grease and a scalp oil are two different things. Grease contains petrolatum (mineral oil”> which prevents moisture from entering. For some, it’s also known to clog pores. I use the ingredient on my hands in the winter or on a fresh cut and tattoo due to the very reason I don’t put it on my scalp. It literally suffocates the follicles, preventing healthy and normal hair growth.
I suggest mixing carrier oil with an essential oil to stimulate the scalp. Applying an essential oil directly onto the skin is strongly suggested against. My faves over the year have been peppermint oil (although it’s a doozy for people with hypersensitive allergies”>, olive oil, jojoba, almond, rosemary and lemongrass, lavender.
Massage the scalp under the showerhead for about two minutes before shampooing for healthy and soothing results (also known as the “pre-poo””>. I have been doing this for years and find that it has great aromatherapeutic qualities, too.
I also want to hear from you in the comments section. Do you oil your scalp?
Weigh in!
The OmniPotent Duosity Double Whipped Repair Treatment is super popular among the NaturallyCurly editors, but I haven’t seen it widely talked about in my social feeds or on YouTube, so I wanted to share a full review and hopefully get the conversation going around this product. It was included in a CurlKit last year and has won a few NaturallyCurly Editors’ Choice awards, so if the name sounds familiar that may be why.
I first started using this product after my hair was bleached platinum blonde. Needless to say, it was damaged and in grave need of moisture and protein repair. I was well aware that my damage was self-inflicted and I could not expect any product to undo the damage done by lightening my hair color that drastically, so naturally I had low expectations when OmniPotent first came into my life.
Key Ingredients
- Keratin, Soy Protein, Vegetable Protein, Rice Protein
- Silk Amino Acids
- Polyquaternium-7
- Panthenol
- Glycerin
- Rosemary, Sage, Aloe, & Camellia Leaf Extracts
The proteins and silk amino acids in the formula make this a strengthening treatment, while the glycerin and extracts are humectant ingredients that provide nourishment and moisture. It does not contain any parabens, gluten, salt, sulfates, or silicones.
The packaging is actually a single bottle with two compartments. When you squeeze the tube, product comes out of two spouts.
Consistency
Aside from the results, the consistency of this product is one of the most standout features of this product. The packaging is actually a single bottle with two compartments. When you squeeze the tube, product comes out of two spouts. Then you mix the two components together in the palm of your hand, and a chemical reaction occurs that creates a new, foam-like texture. Seeing the change happen before your very eyes feels like a science experiment.
Application
I apply this to my hair in the shower after cleansing about twice a month. The directions say it only needs to be left on for 3-5 minutes, so I apply it and then go on with soaping rest of my body and my face, which is just enough time for me to rinse out the treatment. I really appreciate that I dont have to apply this and then get out of the shower for 30 minutes, only to have to take a second shower to rinse it. After this quick treatment I can always feel a marked difference in the elasticity and feel of my hair. It feels strong and moisturized, and I see my curls come back in areas that may have been stretched out and having a hard time curling.
I have a mix of Type 2c/3a waves and curls, but I know NaturallyCurly Editors with a range of curl patterns have tried and loved this product, and we’ve actually fought over who was going to give it an Editors’ Choice award before – the Type 2s or the Type 3cs (incidentally, it won both awards”>. I would definitely recommend Omnipotent Duosity to other curlies who are dealing with damage and a loss of elasticity, because that is when I saw the greatest impact with this product. Considering the quality of the product I think $14.99 for four ounces is a fair price. You won’t find anything else like it, so I’d also recommend this to Product Junkies who love trying something new and different.
Have you tried this unusual product? Let me know what you thought of it in the comments.
If you’re a procrastinator with absolutely no idea what you’re wearing for Halloween this year, we’re here to say… we’re procrastinators too. But that’s okay, because sometimes our most creative ideas come to us under pressure. The NaturallyCurly editors challenged each other to see what last-minute ideas we would come up with, and here’s what happened.
Leslie
I dressed up as Missy Elliott from “The Rain” music video. I’ve always been a huge fan of both Missy Elliott and her stylist June Ambrose. Both were/are revolutionary and changed the industry. The music video was released 20 years so I thought it was only right to pay homage this Halloween. I definitely took the easy route when making this costume, so all I really needed was black trash bags (prepare to sweat”>, sunglasses, and a bike helmet, all of which I found at a thrift store. This was probably the funnest costume i’ve ever made. Not only is it completely ridiculous to walk around it, but I really enjoyed channeling my inner “The Rain” Missy.
Cara
I’ve been watching the original running of the show Twin Peaks. It was filmed very near my hometown, but I hadn’t ever seen it. My costume is Bob from the show, who is a scary mad man who only certain people can see. He makes really crazy faces in the show—he does very little speaking but lots of mouth snarls. I like to play the part that fewer people expect, so I decided to dress up as this terrifying man. I already owned the owl, a black face paint crayon and some grey eyeshadow for my beard, jeans and a belt, I just had to buy silver and white hair paint. You can use Jerome Russell’s Temp’ry Hair Colors in Silver for this. Then I borrowed hairspray to keep my bangs back, a denim jacket, and my boyfriend’s flannel (since the colors of mine were too girly”>. As a bonus, I printed out the wanted poster.
Gerilyn
Although most would assume just by looking that I am the forsaken light bearer, villainized in ancient texts and scriptures, I am a regular ol’ demon with a penchant for modeling. The bow tie is a spirited nod to the literal red-headed stepchild, “Junior,” in the movie Problem Child, starring John Ritter #RIP. As an adult, I like elaborate the youthfulness of my character as much as possible, so dressing up as a playful demon was the perfect choice for me.
Being a kid means you don’t have a lot of moola to spend on extravagant costumes. Such is the case for the lazy adult, making CVS a lifelong friend. It took me $5 and my regular clothes to create the look. I love the fact that I can move with ease while still getting into the Halloween spirit. Plus, I like the idea of being a horned supernatural entity. It’s pretty cool!
April
This Halloween season, I’m a reminder of what’s truly inside of all of us—a skeleton!
It’s pretty easy to find bone themed goodies when you’re the kind of person that shops on the creepy side of Etsy and Hot Topic well into adulthood, even if I DID have to swim through a sea of ‘Adventure Time’ merch to find the outfit. Meanwhile, in the interest of keeping things extra quick and simple makeup-wise, I forewent laying on any of my clown white paint for a skull face in favor of just deeply outlining my jaw, deepening my eye “sockets” and drawing in the suggestion of exposed teeth and finger bones with black eyeliner, shadow, and lipstick! The cool thing about All Hallows’ Eve is that even if you’re going all out, you don’t need to be an anatomy student or a practiced MUA to get the spooky vibe right. Just believe you can be frightening, and you will be!
Cristina
I dressed up as an old man a couple years ago, and even created real wrinkles using liquid latex. That costume was so much fun but if I’m being honest it was a literal pain to remove, so this year I wanted to resurrect my wrinkles and moustache in a quick and easy way. To create my Einstein face, I simply took an eyeshadow brush and the eyeshadow I use for my brows, and drew wrinkles on. To make this realistic, I would raise my eyebrows or furrow my brows and trace my actual wrinkles with the shadow. It’s basically contouring, but the opposite of what we normally aim for. I dotted the eyeshadow to create a few liver spots, for a special touch. Then I brushed out my dry, curly hair – which is such a big no no, it was actually fun to do it for once – and sprayed some white and grey hair paint on it. I didn’t have spirit gum on hand so I used hairspray to make the mustache stick to my face, and I stole a shirt from my boyfriend and put on a blazer of mine. To top it all off, I stuck my tongue out! I know for many Halloween is a fun time to bring out their sexier side, but I actually like to do just the opposite. I think everyone should give it a try.
What are you planning to wear this year? Share in the comments for anyone who still needs ideas!
Photos by @DahliaDanda.
One of the top two reasons I love working at NaturallyCurly is the talented, diverse group of people who I get to work and collaborate with every day. The other reason is the mission, providing visibility and a voice to people who have historically been underrepresented in the media. What’s really cool is that many of us work towards this mission day in and day out at NaturallyCurly, then go home at night to create and produce awe-inspiring personal projects.
You may be familiar with our Director of Video Strategy, Evelyn from the Internets? If, like me, you’ve exhausted every video in her YouTube archives and every NaturallyCurly video and you need more, then you are in luck. She’s co-starring in a new short film series called “We Are” that’s airing on Issa Rae’s YouTube channel. The series was created, directed and produced by B.B. Araya, a former NaturallyCurly team member who is doing her part to ensure that women of color are represented on screen in all of their many layers. I interviewed her after the Austin screening about how the project grew from its inception to a full anthological film series on Issa Rae’s channel.
What was your vision when you initially set out on this project? And did that change or morph as you collaborated with your co-writers and producers?
My vision when I set out to make “We Are” was to bring together all of the things about Austin that I know and love, but tend to get overlooked – performers, artists, musicians, landmarks/murals – while portraying honest depictions of women of color.
For me, collaborating is building together and being open to something different, so while the foundation of the vision never changed, it sort of became realized and more fleshed out as it was written and pieced together with everyone on the team.
In filmmaking, it’s also common to alter the vision to accommodate circumstance and resources, but all of those alterations were ultimately for the better.
Tell us a bit about the We Are Series, how did the stories come together?
We Are is an anthological short film series that lets you drop in on seven women of color at different moments in their lives. Performers co-wrote their episodes so that we could infuse a sense of realness to each film. We also feature a lot of visual art and music from local Austin creatives, particularly creatives of color and women.
The series came together as the first large collaboration between myself and Tamar Price, our head producer. We met at an Austin Film Society party, gravitated towards one another and hung out the whole night. We bonded over the fact that we both wanted to make movies, so we decided to do it together. I got Jessica Vasami of RoosterTeeth on board as another producer and the ball started rolling quickly thereafter.
I outlined the stories with these specific actors in mind and approached them about the project letting them know that it would involve co-writing their episode. A lot of them are already writers and some of them hadn’t written narrative before. We would just get together on evenings or weekends and talk about our experiences and where we could take these characters. After everything was written, we were constantly massaging it, even on set.
You chose to work with several people on this project who had never officially produced or acted before, but you had faith in their talent and abilities. I know many of us have experienced impostor syndrome in our work before, and I’m wondering what it was like overcoming those kinds of feelings and supporting each other as you worked on this project?
It’s true; prior to We Are, Tamar had never produced, Evelyn had never acted, and Tope had never done production design before, but I just knew in my heart that given the opportunities to shine, everyone would. We’re not going to get these sort of opportunities unless we are giving them to each other, so I’m all for working with first-timers. Plus, they already had the skill set (Tamar works fast paced events, Evelyn is a without-a-doubt a comedian, and Tope is an art collector/has a passion for aesthetic”>, this project just allowed them to flex those muscles under different circumstances. Also, this was my first time directing something of this caliber, so I was essentially a newbie as well.
I like to laugh my way through imposter syndrome. There were many days on set where Tamar and I would just look at each other and laugh, like “What is happening? What are we doing?” Ultimately, the stakes are very low when making art, so I just like to constantly remind everyone that it’s okay for us to fall and make mistakes. We’re trying things and experimenting. It’s not supposed to be perfect. We’re here to make a mess and tell the truth.
You co-wrote the series with the actors in each episode; even though they had different plots, were there one or two themes that you noticed kept coming up?
Yes, episodes were outlined with the actors in mind and then co-written with them. It was a part of the experience I enjoyed so much, because we just did a lot of talking about our experiences in this world and then incorporated those things into the episodes. A theme that pops up a few times is mental health. It’s not something we often to get explore on the screen with women of color, but it’s something we all deal with. Fortunately, WOC are being more outspoken about our mental health which is great because it removes the stigma and makes room for healing.
Other than that, a general theme that shows up a lot is just the angst of being a human – regardless of our race or gender. I sort of wanted to explore the exhaustion that can stem from being a human and having so many feelings.
Congratulations on having your series live on Issa Rae’s YouTube channel! What does that mean to you?
Having our series on Issa’s channel means everything to me. When representation was really poor (right after the 90s”> her channel is where I went and felt home. It’s where I saw people that looked like me having regular, everyday, awkward experiences. There’s no better place for the series and I’m genuinely honored that it gets to share a home with “Awkward Black Girl” and other great content. Not to mention what she’s doing now with Insecure by showcasing friendships between black women and putting black people in front of and behind the camera – which is so powerful! (I am still coping with the fact that Season 2 is over”>.
I also think it’s beautiful and necessary the way she pulls us up and gives us opportunities to shine. If we want more representation and visibility in the entertainment industry, we’re going to need more people following Issa’s model of uplifting and showcasing the voices without microphones/platforms. I’ve been a huge fan of hers for like five years now and I’ve enjoyed watching her climb the ladder of success and win so hard. I take her success very personally. A lot of us do.
What can we look forward to seeing from you next?
Hopefully, a feature!
You can watch the first episode here, and tune in every Sunday for more.
Something I really love about working at NaturallyCurly is that on any given day I can turn to my coworkers and ask what they think of certain products, and get input from several different hair type. We all have different hair goals, lifestyles, and expectations when it comes to our products, and I never get tired of learning about what works – and what doesn’t. When The Mane Choice recently released their new Heavenly Halo line at Target, we decided to try it out on a Type 2 wavy, a Type 3 curly, and a Type 4 coily because A”> we thought it’d be fun and B”> we hoped it would be helpful for you. The 6-product line was designed to “restore moisture-depleted hair with intense hydration. Highly concentrated with essential hydrating ingredients to help deliver vital moisture to each strand.” Here’s what Gerilyn, Alexandra and I thought of the line.
The Mane Choice® Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Serum Oil Mist
Gerilyn’s Hair Type: My hair is Type 4C, low porosity, high density, and mix of fine and medium width.
First Impressions: Compared to hair oils I typically use, this one of the lightest feeling of all. It’s somewhere between a dry oil mist and a thick oil. As you will learn, hair oil tends to show up on my face, making it appear oilier than normal; because of this, I am very particular about hair oils and which ones I recommend to NaturallyCurly readers.
Application: I used the serum oil mist immediately after rinsing out the Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Mask and drying my hair with a microfiber towel. Then I spritzed my wrists with a signature fragrance and did not notice a clash in aromas which is key for me.
Results: After consulting with a few stylists, each one of them told me that even though my scalp is healthy, I need to oil it more often than not. Admittedly, I am annoyed by this because that means more work for me in between wash days. It also means that my T-zone and nose will be oil slicks; for some reason, the more I put on my scalp, the oiler my face is… and it’s gross. When I saw The Mane Choice® Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Serum Oil Mist, I was very excited to try it because of the misting bottle it’s in. This product design told me 1″> this oil is most likely lightweight and 2″> if it’s a serum, it’s got to have super ingredients in it. Going into the application process, my fingers were crossed that I would be able to easily apply to my scalp and curls and not experience the face-oil-slick-grossness that hair oils tend to give me. With that hope and blotting papers at the ready, I drove to work today to experience the full extent of the serum oil mist’s wear. It’s about 2 pm CST; I applied the serum oil mist to my curls around 9 am CST; and my face isn’t covered in oil! Also, my hair is so soft you’d be envious. Instead of turning green, get yourself a bottle. I recommend it because it has been 5 hours, and my hair is still holding strong to the product’s hydrating ingredients. I’m a fan; if you have low porosity hair strands and dense curls that make sometimes impossible to get to your scalp to oil it, you will be a fan, too.
*Gerilyn also reviewed the Deep Hydration Mask from this line, you can read her review here.
Mane Choice Softening Milk
Alexandra’s Hair Type: I’m a combination curly, I have a mix of Type 3b and 3c curls, with medium porosity.
First Impressions: I’ve never used the Mane Choice line before, but know it’s a staple for many curlies, black-owned and affordable so I was eager to give it a try. What I noticed first was the smell! It has a heavenly scent with a mixture of sweet citrus and fresh roses. The texture was whipped to perfection, creamy and light-weight. I’m usually to prefer a heavy cream on my hair but was quite intrigued how much I liked the texture of this hair milk.
Application: I applied the Softening Milk on my damp hair, raked it through from roots to ends. I then finger coiled my hair into sections and let it air dry.
Results: Usually, I prefer more of a defined look with tighter curls but was surprisingly impressed how fluffy and voluminous this softening milk made my hair. Not only was my hair fabulously fluffy, but extremely soft and shiny! I’ve never seen my curls this with so much volume, this is a new look for me and I’m loving it!
The Mane Choice® Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Pre-poo
My Hair Type: I have Type 2c waves mixed with 3a curls. My hair is coarse, with high porosity (due to lightening”>.
First Impressions: I’d never used The Mane Choice, and I’d also never used a pre-poo, so I was very excited to test this. My initial expectations were that a pre-poo may weigh my hair down and make it feel oily. I also primarily see The Mane Choice being used by curlier and coilier women in my social feeds, so I didn’t know if it would suit my waves.
Application: I followed the directions and applied the pre-poo to my hair before cleansing and let it sit for 5 minutes. It felt strange applying so much product to dry hair, but I was happy it didn’t add much time to my normal morning wash routine. Then I hopped in the shower and rinsed the pre-poo, and followed up by cleansing with the Mane Choice Heavenly Halo Shampoo. I fought the urge to use a clarifying shampoo because I really wanted to see how the products worked together in the line.
Results: I was pleasantly surprised by this pre-poo! It did not make my hair feel oily, weighed down, or limp. If anything it actually made my hair feel a lot softer, and I’ve had great volume on the days I’ve used it. I do have highlights on the ends of my hair, and now that my hair is getting longer I find that my ends get very dry, so I appreciate how soft and moisturized my hair feels when using this. I also do hot yoga classes most mornings, so I tend to cleanse a little more often than I otherwise would, and having a pre-poo in my arsenal now makes me feel like my workout routine doesn’t have to be at odds with my hair health. I would definitely recommend this to other wavies and curlies who are curious to try a pre-poo!
Have you tried the new Mane Choice Heavenly Halo line? I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below, and be sure to share what your hair type is.
When I was considering cutting my hair short I tried to find examples of women with short Type 2/3 curls, and as you probably know if you’ve ever considered a cut, they are few and far between. There are plenty of “short curly cuts” that feature curling wand-induced waves and curls, but those are not a reliable predictor of what my hair will look like when I wake up in the morning. If at all possible, I like to find my haircut inspiration and then study the cut from every angle – front, side, back – and in many different situations from wash day to gym hair to refreshed 4th day hair. Perhaps it’s a lot to ask, but the world of social media has been a big help in this regard. TV and movies? Not so much.
That is, until recently.
I was settling into the latest binge-worthy drama Ozark on Netflix last week (think Breaking Bad, but set in the Missouri Ozarks and starring a financial planner instead of a high school teacher”>, when I was struck by one of the characters’ curls. Ruth Langmore, played by Julia Garner, is the brilliant ring-leader in a family of criminals and holds her own against stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney. Following my Netflix binge I promptly got on Google to search for Garner’s curly hair routine (as you do, when you’re a curly”> and unfortunately I came up short. After watching and reading interview after interview with Garner throughout her career, inexplicably none of the interviews have asked her the one question we all want to know “what do you do with your hair?”
I did learn though, that she hasn’t always had curly hair. Garner told TheCut “When I was like 12, suddenly my roots started growing out curly and the ends were straight,” she recalls of that fateful time. “It looked like a rat’s nest — it was disgusting. I went to the hairdresser to fix it and he had to cut all my hair super short, so that all of my hair could be curly,” Garner recalls. “That was one of the weirdest experiences that I’ve ever had in my life. I went to school the next day and everyone was looking at me like, Who’s the new girl? My best friend didn’t recognize me.”
She embraced the dramatic new look. “I also started wearing super red lipstick when I was like, 14. I just feel like a lot of boys were like, ‘What’re you wearing lipstick for? Are you trying to like, impress us?’ And I’m just like, ‘No, I’m wearing it for myself.'”
I can get behind a woman who wears her hair, makeup and clothes because she likes it, and not for anyone else.
I have cut my hair short a couple of times now, and each time I was met with a surprising number of people who felt the need to tell me that curly hair does not look good when it’s short. That it made me look old. And that they preferred it long. I can honestly say that I don’t care what they think, but if I were younger and less confident it would have upset me and hurt my self esteem. This is why I think it’s so important that the women we see on TV, in movies, on the news, on red carpets, and in our magazines continue to push boundaries and wear their natural texture no matter what response they’re met with. I’m thankful for Garner and all of the women who continue to wear their hair for themselves.
By the way, I have asked her about her hair, and I will definitely let you know if I hear back.
We have published hundreds of curly hair recipes on NaturallyCurly, but to this day the most popular treatment of all time is: the mayonnaise hair treatment. This is probably because our grandmothers, our mothers, the magazine you browse at the grocery – everyone is telling you to use mayonnaise on your hair.
Does it really work?
Yes and no. We often see eggs and mayonnaise (because it contains eggs”> incorrectly touted as a strengthening protein treatment that can combat breakage. However, in truth they do not work as a protein treatment because the protein in eggs is too large to fit into the cuticle. Proteins must be hydrolyzed in order to do the job. So if your goal is strengthening, try a protein rich product that has been formulated for that purpose instead.
If your goal is softer, shinier, smoother feeling hair, then mayonnaise may be a good match for you. Mayonnaise does contain some hair healthy ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar and soybean oil which contain fatty acids and vitamins that can boost shine and act to seal in moisture. To find out what’s in a store bought jar of mayonnaise and its benefits, read here.
If you want to try a mayonnaise treatment for yourself, follow these steps.
How to do a mayonnaise hair treatment
- Apply mayonnaise to freshly cleansed, damp hair the way you would a conditioner. Focus on the ends as they are the oldest part of your hair, and avoid your roots especially if you have fine or thin hair.
- Put on a shower cap (a plastic bag works just as well”> or a heated thermal cap. This step can increase the absorption rate of the mayonnaise into your hair.
- Leave the treatment in your hair for 15-30 minutes.
- Cleanse with a gentle shampoo to remove the mayonnaise from your hair. If you feel you still have some residue you can cleanse again.
Update:
“I tried it on my Type 2 & 3 curls! I went into this certain it would not work. We’ve published articles before about how the protein in mayonnaise is not hydrolyzed and therefore cannot work as a protein treatment. I’m also not a fan of using food for my hair – it’s just too messy! The mayo also smelled, and that was extremely offputting. So I was very surprised when I tried this treatment and it really did make my hair feel noticeably softer! My hair felt the way it does when I do a nourishing deep conditioning treatment. Anecdotally, I’ve seen a lot of people say this makes their hair feel smoother, softer, and shinier, and now I have to agree. I’d recommend this as a cheap and easy treatment for anyone hoping to get those results! Will I be doing mayo treatments on the regular now? Probably not. I just can’t get past the smell, and there are too many delicious-smelling DC’s on the market for me to put up with smelling like a sandwich in the shower.”- Cristina, NC Managing Editor
You can buy store bought mayonnaise or you can make your own with eggs, olive oil, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil. Whichever mayonnaise you choose, always remember you can also add other natural ingredients such as olive oil, avocado, or honey to mix a custom cocktail for your hair needs. In fact, specifically adding almond oil and vinegar can help to get rid of lice.
If you’re looking for softer hair and extra shine, we recommend trying this treatment once a month.
Have you tried mayonnaise on your hair? How did it work for you?
This article was originally published in July 2011 and has been updated for grammar, clarity, and reader feedback.
There’s no excuse to wear your hair in a top knot or ponytail every day. Especially when curls, coils and waves are this versatile! Here are 30 different braided hairstyles to get you out of your topknot rut.
Many women curl their hair before starting a braid because they find that it helps give them the hold and volume that they’re looking for, but if you have naturally curly hair you can skip that step and get right into the fun part!
1. Easy Messy Side Braid
You don’t have to hide away your gorgeous curls in your braid. This quick, messy side braid by HoneysCurls lets you show off all of that curl definition.
2. French Braid
This tutorial by Luhhsetty will show you how to do one of the most basic braids there is: the French braid. Getting a grasp of this template will help you achieve many of the other braids on this list.
3. 2-Minute Half Crown Braid
You may (mistakenly”> assume that a braided hairstyle has to be a time-consuming. That’s not true with this 2-minute look by Hair Romance.
4. Ghana Braids
These braids go by many names, banana cornrows, Cherokee cornrows, invisible cornrows – just to name a few. No matter what you call them, they look gorgeous on J’AdoreMyCurls, who is lucky to have a sister who knows how to braid.
5. Inverted Braid
Once you’ve mastered the 3-strand braid, you are so close to being able to do an inverted braid! With a couple minor adjustments you’ll have two braids in your toolbox, just watch FarahDhukai’s easy tutorial.
6. Double Dutch braids
A Dutch braid is another name for the inverted French braid. Once you know how to do one, you can easily do two to create Jasmine Brown’s gorgeous double braid style.
7. Faux Goddess Braid
If you want the big, full braids that you see on Pinterest or Tumblr, but you don’t have long or thick hair, you can create the look with Kanekalon hair. In this tutorial Yolanda Renee covers up her own twist with braided Kanekalon hair.
8. Waterfall Braid
This waterfall braid by Sandra aka Just Curly is another great way to showcase your curls, while keeping your hair out of your face.
9. Milkmaid Braid
If all you know is a simple 3-strand braid, you can still create an enviable look with this milkmaid style. We like that AsplashofDR left a few of her curls out in the front like bangs.
10. Lazy Curly Braid
If you love the look of a big, loose braid but you find that your hair is always falling out of the braid and you have to re-do it partway through the day, this hack by CurlsBeauty could change your braiding life.
11. Braided Bun Loc Hairstyle
Whether you wear your hair in locs or not, this braided bun by Chescalocs will save your everyday bun from getting boring.
12. Braided Faux Mohawk on Short Natural Hair
Just because you have short hair doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun of rocking a mohawk. In this video both Sadora Paris and Yolanda Renee show how they create a braided fauxhawk on their natural hair.
13. Jumbo Braid
Even if you have short hair, you can be whipping a long braid back and forth with Marley hair and a couple of minutes if you follow ShineStruck’s tutorial.
14. Box Braids
This style will take some skill to section evenly and time to complete (4-6 hours”>, but once you do you’ll have amazing box braids like ForeverCryssy!
15. Half Up
If you love to wear your curls down but hate the feeling of having hair touch your face, this quick fix by MaddieCuan will give you the best of both worlds.
16. Space Buns with Braids
When you want to get your hair out of your face and don’t much time, this is a quick and easy style from ChellisCurls , remember it doesn’t have to be perfect.
17. Boho Braided Loc Style
This half up braided style by Locs of Love works best on a braid out. We love that you can get more life out of your braid out to extend the number of days between washes.
18.Trendy Braided Sleek Ponytail
Spice up your everyday ponytail by adding 3 braids and gold cuffs to make a statement. You can follow Kenzey_Cooper for the ultimate curly girl slay.
19. African Fulani Inspired Braids
When you want to keep your puff and rock braids, this look by Luchi_Loyale is perfect. Whether you’re hair is long or short, she shows you how you can add hair extensions to get more volume and length.
20. Micro Braids on Your Own Hair
Sometimes it can be hard to see the steps in detail when it comes to braiding videos. That’s why Breanna Rutter’s detailed tutorial on how to micro braid using blonde hair as a demonstration is so helpful.
21. Rope Braid for 2nd Day Hair
It doesn’t get much easier than Waterlily716’s rope braid. If you haven’t gotten the hang of a 3-strand braid yet, give this a try.
22. Half French Braid Ponytail
Do you wear a ponytail every day? Be honest. If you do, this quick embellishment by JustCurly can take your go-to style to the next level.
23. Bubble ponytail
Here is an alternative for those who don’t braid. Naptural85’s bubble ponytail creates the appearance of a jumbo braid, but secretly it’s not.
24. Cornrow Your Own Short Hair
YouTuber Cynthikay Obi says this technique takes a lot of practice to master, but keep trying because it’s worth it. It works on most lengths, including short hair.
25. Fishtail Braid
Your Pinterest is full of fishtail braids, but they just look so… complicated. Hair Kandy breaks it down in this easy to follow tutorial. She uses close ups and different camera angles to make sure you really know what’s going on.
26. Dutch Fishtail Braid
You could call this look by Fancy Hair a Dutch fishtail braid, but most people call it the Elsa braid (from Disney’s movie Frozen“>. If Elsa were real, this is how she would have styled her hair.
27. Box Braids Fishtail
Once you’ve installed your box braids you have so many options to play with them. Here is one easy look by MyBlackHair.
28. Flat Twist + Double Bun
This is such a cute hairstyle when you’re on the go! It’s also a great way to rock you’re day 4 hair and not quite ready to wash your hair. This look from lipstickncurls for school, work or even going to the gym.
29. Spicy High Puff
This hairstyle is definitely one of my favorites and can be a great go-to for my curlfriends who are in the awkward phase and want to switch up their everyday puff. Try this style from Chev B. to spice up your puff.
30. Easy Braided Updo
This is not your normal pineapple, but such a fun way to rock an updo. Also, I love the wand curls MyNaturalSistas added, but you can even use perm rods, flexi rods or do a braid out for heatless options.
Which of these braided styles is your favorite? Let us know in the comments if you’ll be trying any of these to switch up your look.
This article was originally published in 2015 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.
From their slip-rich Green Tea and Carrot Mask to their strengthening Ancient Egyptian Anti-Breakage & Repair Antidote, they seem to know exactly what’s driving our Product Junkie purchasing decisions. Now that they’ve nailed slip and anti-breakage, they’re zeroing in on what just might be the number one challenge in every curly girl’s regimen: moisture.
The Mane Choice recently released their newest line, Heavenly Halo, which is being sold exclusively in Target. The 6-product line was designed to “restore moisture-depleted hair with intense hydration. Highly concentrated with essential hydrating ingredients to help deliver vital moisture to each strand.” Luckily for our Product-Junkie wallets, the products are all under $20. The line includes a pre-poo, a shampoo, a conditioner, a mask, a softening milk, and a serum oil mist. The moisturizing formulas contain hydrating ingredients like curly favorites Burdock root oil and yucca root, along with Umutanga oil, palmarosa oil, and Yashtimadhu root.
After the long, hot summer we’ve had in Texas, our Senior Copywriter Gerilyn was eager to see if the Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Mask would live up to its promise of “noticeably restoring hydration in dry, thirsty hair.” I asked Gerilyn about her first impressions so far.
Can you tell us about your hair type?
“Type 4C, low porosity, high density, mixed fine-medium width”
How would you describe the consistency of the mask?
“The product feels like lightly whipped butter cream and smooth to the touch, almost like a heavy body lotion. I am used to hair masks weighing down my curls, but this surprisingly lightweight formula was easily absorbed into my wet hair strands. When I worked it through my curls, from roots to ends, I was pleased that I didn’t have to readjust how much I put in my hair; one scoop was generous enough to coat my entire head of curls. The mask soaked into my shower cap-covered curls for the instructed 15 minutes.”
What does it smell like?
“The mask smells sweet, stirring memories of multi-colored marshmallows and birthday cake icing, which is as soothing as it is sensorially pleasant.”
Now most importantly, did it work?
“Knowing that my natural hair would be in need of deep hydration and nourishing replenishment after taking down my box braids and immediately subjecting my my curls to a blow out, I needed to nourish, hydrate, and reintroduce strength to my curls. That is why I reached for this deep hydration mask from The Mane Choice. I would like to use this mask once more this week because so far, it has made my hair ridiculously soft, even after washing it out and adding oil to my scalp. Typically, my hair is soft for all of 12 hours due to its low porosity, or inability to be penetrated by moisturizers and humectants, and this is very frustrating for me. I expect for this mask, upon regular use, will help me maintain moisture balance because it really is so hydrating for my coily hair. So far, I’m here for it!”
Gerilyn had me at “ridiculously soft,” but as a Product Junkie who’s trying to control their urges, my next question is “how is it different from the Mane Choice’s other masks?” aka “if I have a drawer full of deep conditioning masks, how can I justify buying this one?” The answer is that this mask doesn’t contain proteins, so if you are protein sensitive or looking for a moisturizing mask to balance out the protein in your regimen, this is for you.
And if that doesn’t have me running to my nearest Target for a mask plus 32 more items I don’t need, the glowing reviews I’ve seen in my social feeds lately are doing the trick.
We’re currently testing the 5 remaining products in the line on types 2, 3 and 4 hair this week so stay tuned to hear what we think of them. Personally, I’m trying a pre-poo for the first time, and I’m excited to share my results with you.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments: have you tried any of the new Heavenly Halo line yet? What do you think so far?
If you frequent curly hair forums, the curly social media community, or even read our articles, it’s easy to feel like EVERYONE PINEAPPLES.
Some people pineapple and find that it gives them their best chances of successful second and third day hair. Some people use bonnets or scarves, some sleep on a satin pillow, some twist their hair at night, some braid it.There are so many techniques that I would hate to think you feel like pineappling works for everyone – except you. The truth is, there is no one thing that works for every curly across the board. It depends on how long your hair is, how tightly it curls or coils, how you style it, how much time you’re willing to spend on your hair before you go to sleep, and what your morning routine is.
To drive this home I thought it’d be fun for our team to experiment with the nighttime routine. I asked my NaturallyCurly teammates what pineappling means to them, and why they do (or don’t”> have a place for it in their routine.
Nikki
Do you pineapple at night?
No, when I’m wearing braids I just sleep with them loose. I have been sleeping on a satin pillowcase, but I always do that so it’s nothing special or new for me. I don’t use a satin scarf, bonnet or really bother protecting my braids because I feel like my own hair was already protected by the braids, and I’m not worried about protecting the braids. It’s just weave, and these braids were actually too tight so I didn’t want to prolong the style.
I do put my hair up in a pineapple to shower and to work out because it’s hot, and I’d tuck the ends in to a loose bun just to keep it out of my face.
Leslie
Do you pineapple at night?
It depends where I am in my wash week. If I washed my hair that day I’ll sleep with it in a high bun or pineapple, it helps preserve fullness and my waves. If we’re working with 2-3 day-old hair, I just wear it down when I sleep. It does flatten it but I just fluff it out in the morning.
During the day if my hair’s not down it’s pretty much always in a pinapple, bun or 2 buns if I can’t find a few of my 100x bobby pins. It’s my go-to.
Cristina
Do you pineapple at night?
No, I’m too used to sleeping with my hair loose. I don’t find it as comfortable to sleep with my hair in a pineapple. I have a mix of 2c waves and 3a curls, and tying them up kind of stretches out the bottom layer. After working on this article I’m starting to think I should at least try sleeping on a satin pillowcase. Sometimes I pineapple my hair as a hairstyle when I want to put my hair up in something other than a boring ponytail or bun.
Gerilyn
Do you pineapple at night?
No, but I do pineapple when I shower because I don’t want to get the braids wet – it takes them so long to dry! And it makes the braids fray more easily because they lose a little bit of their integrity every time they get wet. To pineapple I flip my head over, put it in a ponytail at the top, then twist it into a bun, and wrap a scarf around my head. That was it, nothing elaborate.
I don’t pineapple at night because it feels awkward for me to have long hair anyway, so to then tie it up and have this weight on my head is uncomfortable. So I just got a satin pillowcase and I sleep on that instead. I don’t even bother wrapping it up because I don’t like it.
Alexandra
Do you pineapple at night?
Whether I’m wearing my hair out or in a protective style, I simply tie my hair up with a scarf to preserve my curls at night. I don’t pineapple because my hair is too short, so I prefer to use a scarf.
April
Do you pineapple at night?
I don’t! When my hair’s in a protective style like my crochet braids, it’s way too heavy and unwieldy for me to sleep in. And when my hair’s out and free, my curl pattern and density are too much for a single scrunchie to keep organized at night—to say nothing of the fact that I’m too coily to have it fall back into shape the next day. Pineapples for me are for taking baths and doing facial treatments only.
When my hair is out or in smaller protective styles I use a silk bonnet from Adorabella baby, and when it’s in a bigger protective style like my current one I use a Satin hidden zipper pillowcase.
I’ll also twist every night when my hair is out unless I’m SUPER drained, in which case it’s satin scrunchies and two puffs, it’s ouble-pineappling. When I wear two pineapples on the side of my head it’s much easier to separate out when I’m getting ready the next day without looking like it’d been molded into a Smurf hat.
Cara
Do you pineapple at night?
I’m too low maintenance for that. Also I worry my hair would tangle in the hair tie, so I just sweep my hair up off my neck in a pineapple effect. I do wear my hair in a pineapple-like style most days just because I like to put my hair on top of my head. It’s not exactly pineappling, but that’s just how I wear my hair all the time. I pineapple when I shower, and when I eat I like to put it up to get it out of my face.
Lauren
Do you pineapple at night?
I do! I create 3 pineapples and then put a satin cap on.
I’ve tried retwisting my hair at night, but found that it stretched my already-stretched hair too much. Pineappling for me helps preserve my wash and go’s and my protective styles, by allowing me to still have volume in the morning when I take my hair down. Plus, the 3 pineapples are easier to sleep on.
To take down my pineapple I use a curl refresher spray at my roots, just to create some volume there. My favorite right now is by One Little Parrot. After that, I push my hair back together with my fingertips and use my pick to create my shape. I can probably get up to 4th day hair with this method.
As you can see, not everyone pineapples at night. Out of 8 of NaturallyCurly team members, only one wears a traditional pineapple to sleep. One wears a double pineapple, another wears a triple pineapple, and the rest of us don’t pineapple at night at all. I was surprised to learn that even when they don’t pineapple at night, a lot of people do pineapple when they shower, work out, or just during the day.
As with all things textured hair, you just have to find what works for you and your lifestyle. If you don’t want to pineapple, you absolutely do not have to. If you want to pineapple but you feel like you can’t, I’d recommend trying out a double or triple pineapple! It works well for short hair, can be more comfortable to sleep on, and can be easier to take down.
Here are some more resources for anyone interested in pineappling:
How to Pineapple, Step by Step
How to Take Down a Pineapple (and Love Your 2nd Day Hair”>
Video Tutorials on Pineappling for All Hair Lengths
Photos taken by Cassandra_jk for NaturallyCurly
You know what I love about the curly community? People are so generous with their information. If someone discovers an amazing DIY deep treatment or invents a new styling technique, they share it with the world! My Instagram feed is a never-ending source of personally tested product reviews and tutorials. When I asked Sanne, aka @curlsandblondies on Instagram, how she manages to achieve such defined, frizz-free curls, she was more than willing to divulge what she’s learned. Here’s what Sanne had to say:
Frizz, it’s the No.1 thing I’ve been afraid of since I started my curly hair journey. To be honest it’s an anxiety-inducing threat that is on my mind almost 24/7, like a mosquito that keeps buzzing around your head during the day. I find frizz can be especially problematic during the warmer months — the struggle is real for a curly girl. One upside to my frizz obsession is that I have been able to find some essential steps to prevent most of it, and of course I will share it with you so we all can have frizz-free curls. Well, almost.
Soaking wet
When I style my hair, I make sure to start on soaking wet hair. I style in the shower because the weight from the water helps to clump the curls together, and this makes a huge difference when it comes to “in-the-curl frizz.” Just take a look at your curls when you’re in the shower: perfect, well-defined curls. When styling on soaking wet hair, we’re kind of trying to catch that perfect curl with our styling product. When you’re not able to put on your styling products in the shower or bathroom you can put on a shower cap after you’ve rinsed your conditioner or mask, get dressed, and go to the room where you can style your hair. This way your hair stays as wet as possible.
Second-day hair
I restyle my curls with a moisturizer and a tiny bit of gel mixed with water in my hands. I always make sure to use a minimal amount of product because I want to keep the volume. Last week I shared a video on Instagram how I restyle my hair using my smoothing/scrunch method. This method really helps to reduce frizz, especially that halo frizz on the surface of the hair. I mix the products and water in my hands. Next I smooth my hands over my hair in sections and then scrunch in an upward motion. Smoothing really eliminates the frizz while the scrunching helps to activate my curls and get back the volume. I finger-coil the curls that lost definition.
Products
Healthy hair is the key for definition and frizz free curls. But besides that, products can help you just as well. Moisturizing is the key and DevaCurl Supercream never lets me down with that. Even though my hair isn’t wavy, the DevaCurl wavemaker does magic for the definition of my curls. In the warmer months I use it on its own and if my hair needs some extra moisture I mix it with the Supercream. I love using hard hold gels such as Giovanni styling gel. If I want extra defined curls, I mix a tiny bit with my holy grail gel Bouncecurl. Custard also works wonders when it comes to frizz, and Kinky Curly Curling Custard is definitely my favorite. I only use a pea-size amount per section and it gives me absolutely frizz-free results every time. When I want extra volume to avoid flat first day curls, I love using a mousse. The Mane Choice mousse gives me amazing volume! For a glycerine free option I would recommend DevaCurl Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam.
My favorite budget-proof curl definer is my flaxseed gel. It’s not only very cheap, it’s also moisturizing, promotes hair growth, and nourishes your hair and scalp with omega 3. It’s the best curl enhancer I have ever used. I shared my recipe on my YouTube Channel.
Diffusing
I’m not a hype-type girl — actually I’m more an anti-hype kinda girl. In general hype makes me skeptical. But this time I couldn’t resist joining the hype train — I can’t keep this to myself in good conscience because it changed my life.
As curly girls we know that drying are curls can be a day job. The Dyson supersonic gives me the freedom to do things I love instead of drying my hair for hours. I really cannot compare it to my old hairdryer. I was shocked at how much power it has. It is not only fast as getting defined results, but it’s also kinder to my hair because of the self-regulating microprocessor that keeps the temperature in check so your hair doesn’t suffer from heat damage. And we curly girls care about the health of our hair, especially when you just started your journey and your hair is still damaged and fragile.
Honestly, it’s the most powerful thing I’ve ever used, it dries my hair in 35 minutes and 20 seconds, versus the usual 60 minutes it takes to dry. Sixty minutes of doing that thing where you flip your head upside down and diffuse all over it then flip it back over and keep going. And my hair still wasn’t completely dry by the end.
No device has ever managed to dry my hair in less than an hour, but the Dyson Supersonic cuts down my diffusing time almost in half. The Dyson Supersonic really has blown me away and is a game changer in my world of curly hair.
I only diffuse my hair until 80% dry and let it air dry until it’s fully dry, so I get less frizz and more definition. When my hair is not fully dried yet, I always apply a tiny bit of product mixed with water to the curls that lost definition due the diffusing process.
I make sure to diffuse my curls starting at the the roots down or from the bottom in an upwards motion, not from the side. This method may be a bit more time consuming but gives me the best results.
Humidity
Humidity can be a killer for my hair. My goal is to prevent moisture from the air getting in and puffing up my curls and causing loss of definition and a frizzy mess. In the warmer months I always look for styling products low in humectants. Humectants can kill your definition on humid days. Especially when you are transitioning and your hair is high porosity, humectants like glycerin swell up strands and make it poof and frizz as soon as you step outside. If you are someone who struggles with frizz like me during the hot, humid months, glycerin-free products can become your best friend. I love the CURLS Blueberry Bliss leave in and Giovanni direct leave in on humid days.
Proteins
Although humidity can be tough for my curls, I love summer. Because the days are warmer I spend a lot more time in the sun. But because the sun breaks down the proteins in my hair, I make sure to do protein treatments more frequently. This way I keep my protein/moisture balance in check.
Our curly hair has a raised cuticle. Because of this raised cuticle, moisture in the air sneaks in through those holes, where it expands the hair shaft and causes curls to frizz up. I love using products with hydrolyzed proteins because they temporarily fill up the holes in the cuticle of your hair so the cuticle is flat. Bye-bye frizz.
Besides a monthly protein treatment like Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment, I really advocate for using Olaplex. Olaplex is a reconstructor that repairs broken bonds. If I were to recommend my fav reconstructing treatment it would be an Olaplex stand-alone treatment — especially when your hair is truly damaged. I recommend you find a salon where you can get an Olaplex stand-alone treatment. It made such a difference for my hair!
Embrace it
Since I started my natural hair journey there have been times I was obsessed with frizz. This even resulted in staying at home on humid days, wearing protective styles all day and checking my hair in every window I walked by. It was a serious obsession. Frizz can be a struggle. And although I just gave you my favorite tips to eliminate it, I found out one of the best ways to fight it is actually not to fight it. I started to realize that I can’t fight my hair so I learned to love my texture and embrace the frizz. Your hair is who you are, loving it is easier than fighting it. Make your frizzy fro your trademark. I love to enhance it and make my hair even bigger. The bigger my hair the more compliments I get! And I can tell, life is a lot easier when you just go with the fro.
You can watch my updated routine here.
Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK7JIjCb8e4Thank you, Sanne, for sharing the lessons you’ve learned!
To see more from Sanne, subscribe to her YouTube and follow her on Instagram.
This year at NaturallyCurly’s Texture On the Runway, powered by Sally Beauty, six trendsetting innovators in the textured hair industry took to the catwalk to change the way women are represented at New York Fashion Week.
If you’re a lover of beauty and fashion then you’ve likely followed or been exposed to coverage of fashion week. In scrolling through the photos you might have gotten the distinct feeling that fashion week wasn’t about you. The straight hair, the impossibly tall, lithe bodies, the impractical shoes, they don’t apply to the majority of us.
Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, famously disagreed when she said “Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select… I don’t know… that lumpy blue sweater… But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean. And you’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns… And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin.” Why do we have to wait for fashion and beauty to filter down through mass retailers and publications before they are relevant to us? Why can’t we see ourselves represented on the runway from the get go? These are questions NaturallyCurly Co-Founder Michelle Breyer had when she was covering fashion week as a journalist.
“I would go to show after show and I would see the same thing on every runway, basically some variation on straight hair parted down the middle, straight hair in a bun, straight hair in a ponytail. But there wasn’t anyone who looked like me or our community. It represented a small sliver of the population and only one standard of beauty. So I came back to the office and said ‘why don’t we do our own show? It’ll be all about texture, and we’ll do it during fashion week.'” Texture On the Runway was born, and initially reactions were mixed. “People thought we were crazy, they said ‘there’s no way you’re going to get people to come to a show about hair in the middle of fashion week.’ But as it turned out we had people lined up around the block, excited to see something completely different and to see curls, coils and waves finally celebrated. And hairstylists were excited because they got to dictate the styles rather than designers telling them what they had to do.”
What started as a presentation on textured hair has grown exponentially, each year topping the last. “It’s kind of become almost a competition among the brands to see who can outdo each other,” Breyer says. “Now I feel like it’s become a more complete entertainment event, each brand is bringing something bigger and more exciting to the runway. We’re seeing men, kids, tap dancers, singers. It’s unlike any other event during fashion week.”
This year, teams of brands, hair stylists, wardrobe stylists, makeup artists and models teamed up to creatively collaborate around their chosen theme. Cantu took us on a trip fit for the whole family, Carol’s Daughter paid homage to the birthplace of the brand and Lisa Price, Brooklyn, Creme of Nature showcased what makes us supernatural, Curlformers served up bohemian chic flower power, Mielle Organics channeled Cranes in the Sky, and SheaMoisture gave us the Braid Revv-olution. All of the brands are available at our retail partner, Sally Beauty.
For me personally, the fashion show was only half of the fun. The people watching was on another level. From the line of attendees that extended out the golden doors of Gotham Hall, to the beauty industry heavy hitters in the VIP room, to the steady stream of influencers walking our red carpet. “It’s become kind a who’s who of influencers, every major beauty publication is there, major networks are covering it. It’s become a must-see. We had one writer for a major beauty site tell me it was the only show she was looking forward to going to this fashion week” Breyer said.
And for those who didn’t attend, you likely experienced it virtually through your social feeds.
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What touched me most (aside from chatting with Beyonce’s stylist”> was after the show, seeing community member after community member coming up to our Co-Founder and expressing their gratitude for putting together such an inclusive event. It made them feel like they were part of something, and together we’re helping change the conversation and world views around diversity and representation in the fashion and beauty industry. This Texture On the Runway was a dramatic example that there is no one standard of beauty. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, ages, and of course, texture types.
When I learned that Carol’s Daughter’s theme for this year’s Texture On the Runway was Brooklyn: Then & Now I couldn’t wait to see how they were going to bring it to life. Style in Brooklyn is multi-faceted, cutting edge, diverse, prophetic, iconic – how could they possibly encapsulate all of this in one 15-minute collection?
By pulling together a star-studded team of hairstylists, models, and wardrobe stylists that includes Mezei Jefferson, Gabrielle Corney, Diandra Forest, Temitope Adesina, Ty Hunter, and Imani Rose. That’s how. If you recognize those last two names from your Instagram feed it’s because they’ve been styling Beyoncé and Solange for years. The degrees of separation between us and the Knowles sisters are small right now, ladies.
So how did the team collaborate creatively to bring the many elements, textures and idiosyncrasies of Brooklyn style to our catwalk? I spoke with Mezei backstage as he was prepping the models for the show to find out.
Could you tell us about the styles you’ve chosen to represent Brooklyn tonight?
Since our theme is Brooklyn: Then & Now we really chose styles that you would see out in Brooklyn, so we pulled from Afropunk to the Caribbean carnival scenes, and the hip Brooklynites that you see walking down the streets. We’re doing something really different for Carol’s Daughter, all of the styles are wearable styles but taken to the extreme. So we have two feet tall afros, we have braids dragging on the floor.
For the huge afros, we did some really big chunky twists, not to give it definition but just to stretch so you can really see her length. We also have a tapered style that’s focusing on the height on top. So with those styles we have width, we have height, then we also wanted to feature braids. With our braided style we wanted to do a mixture of Lemonade braids and more traditional African heritage, but super, super long. Shout out to Nicki Minaj! For the Caribbean look we’re doing a blowout and adding tongs to it so it has a nice wave to it. Not super straight, we’re not doing housewife hair, we still want it to have that afro-textured feel to it.
,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>With all of the styles we made sure to take them to the next level because we believe Brooklyn is the place where the fashion happens in New York. It’s where the cool kids have always been, but now everyone knows it.
That’s why I was so excited about this theme, because what’s born in Brooklyn has a tendency to impact popular culture in the rest of the country, and the world. Can you talk to us more about the role has Brooklyn has played in the natural hair movement?
First off we have to give props to Lisa Price because she was the cool kid in Brooklyn when no one else was talking about natural hair so really her products coming out of Brooklyn and representing the natural community before there was a natural community!
Which trends are you seeing from women in Brooklyn that you’re loving most right now?
We’re seeing a lot of braids and a lot of afros! More women now who are wearing their hair natural are forgoing twist outs and bantu knots, they’re really just rocking their natural texture. Type 4c hair has come to the forefront. Before everyone wanted 3a, 3b hair, but now you see 4c hair everywhere. That’s a mainstay in the natural community and especially in the Brooklyn scene.
What do you see as the next big thing to come out of Brooklyn?
Color – for hair and makeup. You know we just got finished with Afropunk and color was everywhere. Makeup for hair is really big now, and we’re seeing a lot of body painting and face painting, it’s a trend that’s really starting to grow into the other boroughs.
The inspiration coming from Afropunk attendees was unreal this year. Are there any other style icons, past or present, who you’ve been pulling inspiration from leading up to the show?
Right now a lot of our inspiration’s coming from Solange since she released A Seat at the Table and the braided styles she featured. And then we also had Beyoncé come out with “Lemonade braids.” They’ve really kind of set the tone for where we’re going and taken us back to our roots with the African heritage. On the Brooklyn streets you’re seeing the African heritage and the Caribbean heritage fusing itself together.
Do you have any tips for our audience who may want to try these looks at home?
First check our social media because we’re gonna have tutorials for recreating some of the looks. At our booth at Texture on the Runway we have step by step instructions and pictures of the models and the products we used on them, which will be online as well. My number one tip is that water is your hair’s best friend. Keep your hair moisturized, use any of our leave-ins because they’re really lightweight and can be used as either a curl refresher or a detangler. Start your style there.
Gone are the days where we’re trying to get a lot of definition, you can start your twist out from dry or from damp hair to help it dry quicker and to give you that stretched look that you’re going for.
Which products are you reaching for the most today? And what makes them Holy Grails?
Right now we’re pulling from all of our Carol’s Daughter products but we’re really focusing on our Pracaxi line, which is based on styling, and obviously the Monoi Hairspray because everybody loves the Monoi Hairspray. It smells so good and the Monoi oil leaves the hair in such good shape. Then we sprinkled in our Hair Milk line, like we’re using the Hair Milk Foam just to give some soft texture to it while keeping some hold, but never crunchy.
I really think it’s gonna be different from what we’ve seen from Carol’s Daughter before, which is a good thing – we’re always evolving.
If you’d like to try any of these Carol’s Daughter products you can find them at Sally Beauty.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Texture on the Runway for a full look at the styles and products launched at the event.
This post is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter.
If a video crew walked up to you on a New York City sidewalk and asked you to strut your stuff down an impromptu runway, would you do it? That’s what the NaturallyCurly team did recently in preparation for our annual fashion show, Texture On the Runway, powered by Sally Beauty.
We laid out our own runway on iconic Brooklyn sidewalks and challenged our team, NaturallyCurly community members, and complete strangers to walk the catwalk. As much fun as it was playing loud music, connecting with other curlies and cheering them on as they danced their way towards the camera, when my turn came it wasn’t so easy. There were common refrains of “you go first,” “I’ll go after you,” and “I’m not ready yet” as we all summoned up the courage to take the spotlight.
While it’s been one of my biggest struggles as a teen and now as an adult, high self esteem and boundless self confidence actually did come naturally to me when I was a child. I was talkative (annoyingly so, I’ve been told”> and loud and fearlessly took up space. But around the age of nine that all changed, as it does for so many young girls. It’s the age we become painfully aware of the way our bodies look and how people value, or don’t value, certain features. Textured hair is one of those contested features, and traditionally Fashion Week has been a seasonal reminder for many women that their beauty is not the right kind of beauty. For 19 years NaturallyCurly has been working to change that conversation, and that is why we feel it’s so important for Texture On the Runway to take place at New York Fashion Week every year. Because representation has everything to do with our confidence.
If you too are in need of a self esteem booster this morning, read these words of wisdom from a few of the women who walked our catwalk.
You have ownership over your appearance
“To me, confidence is freedom and I have found a big part of my confidence from choosing to wear my hair my way, not anyone else’s. I love how I can switch it up anytime I want, just like my clothing; natural hair is all about versatility. In order to truly feel comfortable in my own skin, I have taken ownership of my outside appearance, and my hair makes up a huge part of that.” – Devri Velazquez
Treat yourself like your best friend
“It takes a conscious effort to unlearn the messages the media has taught me about the way I look and how I am valued by society, so I try not to be hard on myself when high self esteem doesn’t come naturally. To combat self doubt I try my best to talk to myself the way I do my friends and loved ones. Would I ever tell my best friend her skin’s looking really oily? Would I tell my mom her hair is too frizzy? Of course not! So why can’t I show myself the same kindness?” – Yours truly
We all have seasons of feeling down
“To me, confidence is being self aware and not being afraid of showing the world who you really are. When I need a boost to my self esteem I listen to podcasts by Gary Vee because he is very real about us being in control of our feelings when it comes to our business and personal lives. I also read poetry by Alex Elle, and her writing reminds me that it is okay to have our seasons of feeling down about ourselves and work through it to make things better.” – Kristy Ramos
You deserve it
“Confidence to me is loving and accepting all that is you. Your inner beauty, your outer beauty, and your mind. Finding my own confidence has allowed me to push and go after what I want 100% because I know I deserve it. With media and everyone around us telling us who we should be, what we should look like, and how we should feel, it’s important to stay true to you and stand in what you believe in.” – Leslie Lozano
If that doesn’t work, turn to Google
“When my self esteem needs a boost I like to Google people who became successful later in life. Like what was J.K. Rowling doing at 27? And when that doesn’t work, I tell myself I’m not the first person in the world to feel bad about myself and I won’t be the last, so get over it as quick as you can sis.” – Evelyn Ngugi
As you can see, we’re all a work in progress.
I’d love to hear in the comments, what do you say to yourself when you need a self esteem boost?
You can see the full video we created on our NaturallyCurly Instagram.
Michelle, Co-Founder and EVP of Strategic Partnerships
Hairfinity Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner
FORM Protect Heal Serum
Fargo
Kiana, Marketing Intern
Trader Joes Blueberry & Acai Facial Scrub
Olaplex No 3
Cardi B-Bodak Yellow
Cara, Graphic Designer
Nerdette
Paige Russell
The Roots of Chicha Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru
April, Copywriter
Soca remixes of Dancehall songs
Health Beauty Life Treatment Oil
Revlon Colorstay 2 in 1 Angled Kajal
Cristina, Managing Editor
Packing Cubes
I’ve been traveling a lot this summer for work and play, and these packing cubes have saved me. I have 3 sizes, and every trip I go on I can fit everything I need into these 3. They take up very little room in my suitcase, and they keep me organized during my trip so that I don’t wind up with a mix of clean, dirty, folded and unfolded clothes thrown into my bag by the end of the trip. They make my least favorite chore – packing and packing – a breeze.
Playa Endless Summer Spray
The packaging is gorgeous, naturally, but I was curious to see if the contents live up to the hype? The product is also marketed as a solution for an undone beach hair look, so I wanted to see how it would work on my wavy-bordering-on-curly hair. I’m happy to say I really loved the soft, touchable hold it gave. I like to start out with a super light styler on wash day as I typically add a little more styler every morning throughout the week when I refresh. I even applied it to my roots as directed, since it has SPF and I’m guilty of not protecting my scalp as well as I do my face. I’d definitely recommend it for wavies with fine to medium hair who like light hold products with absolutely no crunch. If you’re into scents, this one is botanical and fresh, not too sweet or loud.
B. Jones Style
I just discovered this YouTube channel and she has already changed the way I think about getting dressed in the morning. She calls it “playing dress up” and every morning she chooses a character that she wants to take on. You can tell she has a lot of fun getting dressed, and she’s inspired me to get more joy out of that part of my morning routine. She also wears almost exclusively thrifted clothing and accessories, which suits my second-hand shopping challenge really well. I blogged more about B Jones and my challenge on my blog here.
Leslie, Social Media Manager
Insecuritea podcast
Now that Insecure is back for season 2 i’m excited to listen to the Insecuritea podcast with Fran (HeyFranHey, TheFriendZone”> and Crissle (The Read”>. Insecuritea is the official recap podcast and comes out every Tuesday after the episode airs.
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater
A.CHAL
You hear a lot of “what did you put in your hair?” and “I love your shoes!” around the NaturallyCurly offices. Personally, I am always finding inspiration in what my colleagues are wearing to the office and on their Instagram, so we’re starting a new series to share what we’re loving with the rest of our community – beyond our hair! #OOTD
This week in Austin we’ve had highs of 106 degrees, and you don’t want to know what the temperature inside my car is. It can be tempting to wave the white flag and resort to flip flops and t-shirts for the rest of the summer, but I strongly believe it is possible to be comfortable and still look good, even in these conditions. The two are not mutually exclusive.
When I get dressed my first priority is comfort. I hate feeling bound by my clothes! I want to be able to breathe and eat, and still look good.
This is why I love loose rompers, flowy tops, wrap dresses, culottes, linen dresses, and silk trousers. I have pretty much listed out for you the contents of my closet, and while I do think they happen look good, I want to stress that these clothes are so comfortable that I don’t even take them off immediately when I get home. That is a very big deal. If you’re looking to stay comfortable in extreme heat this summer, this is how.
Avoid waistbands
I have an extreme aversion to tight waistbands, they are my WORST enemy. I want to be able to eat lunch without having to undo my top button in the afternoon. This is one of the reasons I love rompers so much, there is no stress placed on my tummy. This is especially important when dressing for work, as many of us are sitting all day long. Those tight skinny jeans that feel fine when you’re standing up can turn into a tourniquet when sitting down. This romper from Beehive Boutique here in Austin is loose and flowy in the arms and legs, and the midsection doesn’t have an elastic band or constrictions around the waist, making it a winner. I don’t really do deep necklines so I layered a tank under this, but it probably would look cute without for a night out.
Choose mules
Shoes are an area where I simply won’t sacrifice my comfort. I’m done with stiletto heels, there’s no room in my life for them. Mules are the perfect solution because they have a big chunky heel and wide straps that make me feel supported. They slide right on and off – no straps or buckles to mess with or cause blisters. There are plenty of mule options with low, 1 to 2 inch heels. I was a little worried about the comfort of these shoes because they’re rubber (like the gellies of the 90s”> but they have proven to be surprisingly comfortable. I’ve been wearing them a lot this summer.
Wide leg pants
Bedouins wear loose and flowy clothes in the desert heat because they allow the air to travel up between the clothes and the skin. If you’ve ever worn jeans on a summer day, then you know what it feels like when you don’t have room for the air to flow. Luckily, wide leg palazzo pants and culottes are trending right now! This romper also has wide sleeves, as an added bonus. There’s nothing worse than tight fabric bunching up in your armpits – that area of our bodies is hot enough as it is.
Cover up
We’ve been talking a lot about SPF here in the office, but do you know what’s even better than SPF? Covering up with a physical barrier. I’m wearing pants and my shoulders are completely covered in this outfit. For even more sun protection a wide brimmed hat can protect both your face and your hair from UV rays. The older I get the more seriously I take my sun protection, so it’s something I now take into consideration when I’m getting dressed.
Personalize with accessories
I happen to love minimal, loose fitting silhouettes, but I understand they’re not for everyone. If you have a more maximalist design sensibility, accessories are the perfect way to splash your personality. Colorful lenses, tassel earrings, hats and bags – these are all areas I like to play. While the clothing may be free of embellishments, this outfit’s far from boring.
The romper, earrings and sunglasses are from Beehive Boutique, and the shoes are by Jeffrey Campbell.
To see more from Cristina, follow her on Instagram @cristinacleveland or check out her blog, FujiFiles.
You hear a lot of “what did you put in your hair?” and “I love your shoes!” around the NaturallyCurly offices. Personally I am always finding inspiration in what my colleagues are wearing to the office and on their Instagrams, so we’re starting a new series to share what we’re loving with the rest of our community – beyond our hair! #WhatWeWore
This is the first company where I have felt like I really need to step up my style game when I head into the office, but I’m also big on feeling comfortable. The solution? Wearing pajamas to work.
I’m a big fan of pajama sets. When I’m at home I’m always in a button down pajama set, but this was my first time experimenting with wearing the look in public. I’ve seen street style photos of women rocking both pajama tops and bottoms as a set at fashion week, but for my casual Austin office purposes, I went with just the top. Instead of a flannel or cotton fabric it’s in this pale satin that’s all the millennial pink rage right now. It’s not too low cut, which makes it a safe bet for work.
Our office is pretty casual so I paired it with my all-purpose backpack and jeans. I finally found a pair of mom jeans that I liked last month so I’ve been wearing these non-stop – but I’ll probably have to retire them for the season soon because the denim is just too thick for the Texas heat! Because I like to keep my clothes pretty basic I usually show more personality in accessories like these giant tassel earrings and the sparkle boots.
The top is from Beehive, along with the earrings and sunglasses. The jeans are Levi’s 501s, the boots are Zara, and the backpack is Anello.
Tell us about your hair, what products are in your hair? How did you style it?
I used the Everyone Style Hair Gel because it’s been super humid in Austin and I needed a slightly stronger hold styler to fend off frizz. It has more hold than something like DevaCurl Wave Maker (which I love for light-hold days”>, but not as much hold as a gel like Eco Styler. This is Day 1 hair so I diffused with cool air to help set my curls and give them some extra volume.
How do you like your clothes to make you feel?
My clothes play a big role in the way I feel about myself, so if I wear an outfit I feel off all day. I like my clothes to make me feel creative, put together, and fun.
Is there a person, designer or character who inspires your style?
Claudia Kishi from the Babysitter’s Club book series is my ultimate style icon. Some of my favorite parts of books like Babysitter’s Club and Nancy Drew when I was younger was hearing what characters were wearing in certain scenes. In fact it’s something I still enjoy.
Tell us about your closet!
It’s mostly easy button down shirts, striped tees, jeans and culottes. I like being able to mix and match my tops and bottoms without much thought in the morning, and I don’t mind repeating a uniform over and over again. I like getting dressed to be very easy and to feel comfortable all day, but for the end result to still be inspired.
How has your style changed over the years?
I’m in a bit of a transition right now. For a long time I’ve loved neutral colors and tiny, tiny jewelry, but right now I’m loving big statement earrings and experimenting with color more. These pink sunglasses are a perfect example of something I could wear with an all black outfit but still show my colorful side.
Would you wear pajamas in public?
I’d love to know.
Follow Cristina on Instagram for more style inspiration @cristinacleveland
Photos by Cassandra J. Klepac
