Search Results: Cristina Cleveland
Walk into the bathroom of a curly girl and there’s a good chance that you’ll find a stray kitchen utensil or pantry item in there. Have you seen what I did with my strainer? So it may not surprise you that we’ve even found a use for everyone’s favorite source of caffeine.
Coffee is loaded with antioxidants that helps increase your cell turnover, and caffeine is known to block dihydrotestosterone (DHT”>, a hormone linked to hair loss, both of which make this a a great natural way to fight hair shedding. We are not talking about consuming more coffee, unfortunately, but actually applying it to your scalp topically. Another benefit of using coffee on your hair is its rich, dark pigment which temporarily stains the hair. This natural color enhancer can also add dimension and depth to dark haired curls. Brunettes looking for a natural way to enhance their hair color or cover up gray hair should give rinsing their hair with coffee a try.
Coffee Hair Color Rinse
NaturallyCurly user Curly-Kinky uses this rinse because she finds that it adds richness and shine to her brown hair.
What you’ll need
- 1/2 cup triple strength black coffee (cold”>
- 3 tbsp non-alkanized cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup leave in conditioner
Avoid using instant coffee or coffee that has added flavor, as these coffees typically contain additives and sugar that make them less potent for these purposes.
Directions
- Mix all ingredients together
- Pack mixture onto hair after conditioning
- Leave in overnight under a shower cap
- Rinse the next morning
2 More Quick Ways to Do a Coffee Rinse
You can also do a coffee rinse in 20 minutes or less if you don’t want to wait overnight. Simply brew 2-4 cups of coffee and be sure to let it cool completely before using. Never use hot coffee!
In the shower
Wash and condition your hair as you normally would, then pour the cups of coffee over your hair until fully saturated. Put a shower cap on for 20 minutes, then rinse.
Before the shower
You can pour the brewed, cooled coffee over dry hair at the before you shower, and then rinse it out in the shower and finish up with a leave-in conditioner.
Read next
PICTURED: @ABBIGAILCORINA CUT & STYLED BY @EVANJOSEPHSALON
I have yet to meet a woman with curly, coily, or wavy hair who doesn’t harbor some fear or anxiety toward salons. For many of us, the dissatisfaction started at a young age with too-short haircuts and hurtful comments from stylists who found our hair “difficult.” Once you’ve had a few of these experiences, it’s easy to understand why so many curlies swear off salons completely and take matters into their own hands.
But we want you to know that there are knowledgeable, trained stylists out there who LOVE curls, coils, and waves, and it is possible to walk out of a salon with a big smile on your face and curls that pop — you just have to know how to find them. Here are six signs to look for when searching for a stylist.
1. Their Instagram feed (or portfolio”> is full of curls
Before you go to a new restaurant you probably check them out on Instagram, read a few reviews on Yelp, and look at the menu on their website — all within a matter of minutes. You know what to expect before you ever set foot in the door, and your stylist should be no different. If there’s a salon in your area that you’re interested in, get on their Instagram or website and take a look at their work; chances are they have tagged the individual stylists and you can quickly see if one stylist is consistently featuring curly clients.
Readmore: 9 Amazing Deva Cut Transformations
2. Another curly recommended them
One of the best ways to know that a stylist is trustworthy is when another curly says so. But if you’re the only one with your hair type in your family or your friend group, don’t be discouraged! You can easily access reviews on Yelp or on our Salon Finder. And next time you see someone with a fabulous curly haircut, tell them so — and ask who does their hair! I’ve done this, and I’ve even had straight-haired friends do this for me when they spotted someone with hair like mine. Curlies are a generous bunch when it comes to sharing tips and recommendations.
3. They speak your language
Pineappling, no-poo, Type 4a — the curly community speaks its own language, and so should your stylist. When a stylist understands that you’re on the CG Method so you’re currently co-washing and avoiding cones, then you can rest assured that they are one of us. Now, I don’t think you need to quiz your stylist, but I do think it’s important to listen to the language they use to describe your hair and your hair concerns – do they want to “fix” or “tame” your “unmanageable” hair? Or do they want to enhance your natural texture so that you can fully embrace it?
4. They have curl training
Textured hair skills are still not a mandatory part of many stylists’ education and training, but luckily today there are a variety of courses, workshops, and seminars that stylists can attend to become certified in working with texture. Always feel free to ask a stylist about their training, or check their website to see if they are a Deva-Inspired stylist, Ouidad-certified, or are a member of the Curly Hair Artistry group.
5. They have a gorgeous head of curls
Of course this is not a requirement by any means, but I always feel at ease when I meet a stylist for the first time and they have healthy, curly hair. It means that not only do they share that personal experience with you, but they also embrace it by choosing to wear it curly and — if their curls are popping — then they know how to care for and style them.
6. They tell you no
There are some things that some hair types cannot or should not do, and a stylist who is experienced with textured hair knows that and will tell you. For example, if you have damaged, fragile, or chemically processed hair and you walk into the salon and ask to go blonde, a stylist should know the high risk of damage and talk to you honestly about that. I recently had a stylist tell me no when I showed her inspiration photos of short bob haircuts on fine, straight-to-wavy hair. She kindly told me that my thick, wavy curls would not behave the same way and pulled up her own curly Pinterest board so that together we could agree on a cut that would work for my hair type.
Photo source: The curly above is @Abbigailcorina and her hair was cut and styled by @Evannhair of @EvanJosephSalon
NaturallyCurly reader Caitlin shared her photo and routine on StyleNook, and since I live in a constant state of “should I get bangs?” I had to ask her more about her routine. It often feels like you have to choose between volume and definition. I can use a strong hold product for definition, but then you lose out on fluffy, bouncy, touchable curls. That, or I can diffuse my wavy curls for extra volume but have to accept the bit of frizz and loss of definition that comes with it. That’s why I’m always impressed by curlies who manage to achieve both. Here is how Caitlin does it, along with her top secret bang styling trick.
What are your Holy Grail products?
My Holy Grail products would have to be:
- Ouidad’s Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner and Styling Primer
- Dippity Do Girls With Curls Curl Defining Cream
- My large glitter purple pik by Tool Structure
Ouidad’s Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner and Styling Primer
I only use my Ouidad’s product on wash day. It’s the very first product I apply to clean dripping wet hair. I use about a quarter size of product and scrunch it in. I love this because it gives my curls major hydration while prepping it for my styling products.
Dippity Do Girls With Curls Curl Defining Cream
I’m obsessed with the DDGWC Defining Cream because it’s one of few styling products that give my hair loads of definition without the feel of product in my hair. It literally feels like there is nothing weighing my hair down.
Large glitter pik by Tool Structure
Lastly, my purple pik! I have spent money on several piks and nothing compares to this one. I cannot live without it, I literally own 4 of them! One stays in my bathroom, one in my car, one in my purse, and one in my drawer at work. This is the best product to fluff your hair and get that big Beyoncé like volume. Trust me, I’m all about big hair and obviously my girl Queen B!
Are there any tricks or tips that you’ve figured out along the way that have made a big difference in the way your hair looks?
I have learned a lot along the way of my hair journey. I will say the best tip I have is to swap your styling products out either weekly or monthly depending on your curl type. I have noticed if I use my DDGWC Curl Defining Cream for too long that my hair tends to get used to it. So I usually end up with curls that don’t react the way I want them to. It’s like they get immune to product. So I’ll swap it out and use my other favorite styling cream. Which happens to be Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Defining Cream by Briogeo. I love this styling cream because it gives me awesome defined curls while feeling lightweight. It makes my hair soft and leaves no product texture in my curls.
What piece of advice would you give to a someone who’s just starting out in his or her curly hair journey and feels frustrated?
I have felt frustrated many times on my hair journey and that’s putting it lightly. My advice it that your curls are badass and you should embrace them. They are unique and make you stand out as an individual. They have more of an impact than you think. People notice your hair! And most of the time they wish they could have it. Recently a stranger asked me if I hated my hair. Honestly I was offended by her question and proudly said, “No I love it.” Moral of the story stand up for your curls and be prideful in them. Embrace the uniqueness of them because that is what will help define your own individuality. I’m a fan when someone has confidence and owns their personality and I think hair has a big influence on how someone makes an impression on how others see them.
What’s your styling routine? How do you achieve definition and volume?
My routine is fairly simple. It’s just keeping the definition and volume on point until next wash day, which is the most difficult for me I use my Curly Co diffuser to get instant volume while drying my hair. To keep my hair defined the days after I wash I use leave in treatments, dry conditioner’s/shampoo’s and oils. I really love products that are lightweight and effective such as Curls Lavish Curls Moisturizer and Jane Carter Slumber Party leave in. I mixed these too along with Briogeo’s Rosarco Milk into my hand and scrunch them into my hair. Together they bring life and definition back to my curls.
Do you have any tips for keeping your hair healthy when it’s lightened?
I have naturally auburn hair and I lighten it to so that it is blonde. I prefer my hair lighter because it doesn’t age me as much. It also goes well with my skin tone. My tip for keeping it healthy is to find you a curly hair specialist. I don’t know much about dying/bleaching my hair that’s why I choose to spend the money and go to someone who specializes in it. It is key to have a good hair stylist. They are the expert and are trained to help keep your hair healthy and in shape.
Do you have any special advice for styling bangs?
Bangs are a love/hate relationship for me. Some days I love them and most days I hate them! They key is to not over think them when styling. Lately I have learned the fewer products you apply to your bangs the better they turn out. Let them do their thang girl! If they end up looking wack after they are dried I have a secret weapon. I got it from Wal-Mart for under $13 it’s the Revlon Curl Heat ½ inch curling iron. I love this tool because it’s small enough to mimic my natural curls. I only use it if my bangs act up, or if I have random hairs not acting right.
Thank you Caitlin for sharing your story and tips with us! If you’d like to see more of her looks and routines you can find her on StyleNook and on Instagram.
If you’d like to share your own selfie on StyleNook, you can post it here.
Want more tips like this? Sign up for the NaturallyCurly Newsletter!
There is no feeling in the world quite like walking into a room full of curly haired people. Unfortunately, many curlies still have yet to experience it. We do our best at NaturallyCurly to create that for millions of people around the globe with our online community, but it’s even better when we can meet, greet, and connect with you in person.
Hundreds of thousands of people converge on Austin, Texas for SXSW each year, so this South By we partnered with SheaMoisture to host a meetup for all of the curly, coily and wavy haired Austinites and SXSW attendees.
“It was so powerful seeing so much texture and so many curls and beautiful protective styles in one space” said NaturallyCurly Senior Copywriter, Gerilyn Hayes, “our small textured community in Austin showed up and showed out in full force at this meetup, proving that when we all get together, we make a BIG impact.”
Beyond the power of feeling not only welcomed as you are, but celebrated for it, our meetup offered live music from curly R&B musician Alesia Lani, SheaMoisture products galore, hair styling by textured hair experts, tunes by Austin DJ Kay Cali, cocktails by a curly mixologist, live artwork Shani Crowe, whose work centers around the ritual and beauty of African-American braiding, and so much more.
Taking a look around the event space at all of the innovative ways people were rocking their texture, it was easy to see that traditional media and antiquated beauty standards got it all wrong – textured hair is stunning in all its forms. NaturallyCurly Editor, Alexandra Wilson, feels “grateful to be a part of this generation that is going against the grain to rewrite the rules and pave our own way. Even though we are all on our individual journeys, one common theme we each inherently have is the power to redefine what beauty looks like and make it our own.”
In speaking with guests Michelle Breyer, NaturallyCurly’s Co-Founder, said “everybody I spoke to had been on some kind of journey to get to where they were. Whether they were 50 years old or 20 years old, learning to love their natural hair had been a process, and this meetup was an amazing chance to celebrate where we all are in our journeys.”
Curly haired men and women traded haircut horror stories (we all have them”>, Holy Grail products, and the local salons they trust. “I was surprised by how many stories I heard from curly men that reflected their own unique journeys to accepting their hair in its natural state” Breyer shared, “I spoke to Jared, whose high school basketball coach wouldn’t let him play on his team unless he cut his hair short.” Jared told us that now he’s in the business world, runs a sales team, and considers his afro a part of his style that he takes everywhere he goes.
In our first segment of CurlTalk TV, Gerilyn Hayes took to the streets to see how SXSW festival-goers felt about their hair, and found that not only did many of them embrace their own texture, but they wanted other curlies to embrace theirs too. “It was kind of touching. Just to know that the insecurities they’ve had about their curly hair propelled them to just let go and embrace the curl! And they wanted to share that with other people.” Watch the conversations and check out some of our favorite looks from the event!
This post is sponsored by SheaMoisture.
In the natural hair community, there are lots of so-called miracle solutions for your curls. One of the most touted and trusted is that of coconut water.
Used for skin and hair alike for a boost of hydration, this wonder oil is a mainstay in the routines of curlies everywhere. Here’s what you need to know.
“Can I put coconut water in my hair?”
According to a study published in US National Library of Medicine, “The wide applications of this ingredient can be justified by its unique chemical composition of sugars, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and phytohormones.” The question is: should you put it in your hair? And what effects will this ingredient have on your curls? Coconut water has some hydrating properties which make it ideal for treating thirsty curls. This solution is also anti-fungal, which helps to promote a healthy scalp. While the effects of coconut oil and water have been documented by many natural hair enthusiasts, the benefits of coconut water itself has not been substantiated.
How to choose the right coconut water
When adding coconut water to your routine, here are few tips to set you off on the right track.
Choose coconut water that is pure and sugar-free. Sugar can be a drying agent for hair and skin, so opting for something pure is always best. Sugar, flavoring, and other additives found in certain brands of coconut water can leave hair sticky as well. With pure coconut water, you might still have a little bit of stickiness, but not enough to be bothersome.
Don’t try to make your own unless you are a wizard at DIY concoctions. You can make coconut water at home with whole coconuts and certain tools, but store-bought coconut water is just fine, and it will give you the same benefits without all the work.
One of the best things about making a DIY beauty product is you know the ingredients are safe and non-toxic. When you purchase a hair or skin care product at the store, you have to study labels to find the ones that meet your standards. Sometimes, even products that claim to be all-natural have added ingredients such as fragrances which can be grating to your skin or other chemical compounds that are not necessarily great for you. With at-home blends, you know the ingredients are natural!
How to use coconut water on your hair
Use coconut water as an after-wash rinse.
The best thing about using coconut water is that you literally just open the bottle and pour it onto your scalp and strands. Massaging it into the scalp is always a good way to get the antifungal properties for the full benefit. Then just rinse your hair and you’re ready to go.
Use coconut water as a leave-in conditioner.
It provides a silky texture that combines coconut water with penetrating natural oils to provide maximum moisture and shine in a lightweight, non-greasy formula. Of course, this will only work with pure coconut water to avoid a sticky mess. Transfer it to a spray bottle. Apply evenly to strands, and experience hydrated hair all day!
NaturallyCurly Editor Cristina Cleveland tried the coconut water leave-in (pictured above”> to refresh her curls by pouring it into a Curly Hair Solutions Spray Bottle and evenly coating her dry hair. “I honestly thought it’d be a sticky mess, so I diluted it with water in my spray bottle just in case. I was pleasantly surprised with the results! It was NOT sticky at all, and it even gave my hair a light amount of hold. It was great as a curl refresher, but the likelihood that I’m going to keep going to the store and buying new bottles of coconut water is pretty slim.”
Would you put coconut water in your hair?
Browse coconut products for hair at our SHOPNaturallyCurly
It usually starts with noticing a supremely confident woman (IRL or on Instagram”> rocking an amazing wavy bob haircut. Then you start idly Pinning photos of short hair to your inspiration board, and holding your hair up to imagine what you’d look like. These are all signs you’ve caught the haircut bug.
Over the course of 1 week, no less than 5 of my friends have cut their long hair into short bobs. I don’t know what’s in the air, but if you’ve caught it too then you might be exhibiting the above symptoms.
“I hadn’t gotten a cut in about six months and I felt like my waves were getting weighed down by the length and weight of my hair,” our Video Producer Grace explained. “The longest I had ever had my hair was a long bob, and I figured since summer is on the way it would be fun to see if I could pull off a shorter cut than I’d ever had!”
She scheduled an appointment with her curly hair stylist, Brooke Michie of Lyric Salon in Austin, and the nerves set in.
Of course Grace had nothing to worry about, her cut is fierce, just watch to see what happened.
Not only is Brooke an expert at cutting hair, but she’s also an excellent teacher to her clients, “Every time I see Brooke I learn a new styling technique or product trick,” Grace says. When I joined her at the salon on the day of her cut, I realized Grace was right. I learned many new styling techniques – apparently I’ve been doing it all wrong. I’m styling in the wrong part of my house, I’m using the wrong product, and I’ve never even heard of glazing.
First, turn down your water pressure
“I like to encourage people with looser textures or finer hair to turn the water pressure down on the shower head at the end of their shower,” The strong stream of water can often disrupt the curl pattern when you have wavy or fine hair. Allowing a light stream of water to flow over your curls helps them to clump.
Styling starts in the shower
According to Brooke, styling starts in your shower, “I recommend that people actually coddle the hair as they’re rinsing. Then squeeze it, release it, and move to the next side.” These steps can go a long way in encouraging your loose curls or waves to form.
Apply product in the shower
Once you’ve coddled (gentler than a scrunch”>, it’s time to apply your leave-in or styler, yes right there in the shower. “Whatever your step one is, whether it’s a spray, a glycerin-based product, whatever your favorite styler is, there are so many ways to do it depending on what your goals are, just make sure you apply it before you get out of the shower.”
Don’t scrunch, glaze
“Glazing is taking enough product to essentially coat the palms of your hands only, a light coating, and then gently swipe it over the surface area of very wet hair without applying pressure – no squeezing, scrunching, or praying hands.” That gives you a good initial distribution of product, especially for frizz-prone people. Then you can apply styler to the hair – whatever your favorite is – and scrunch it. Brooke prefers this method because “When you apply your product to wet hair then you have more control over the outcome.”
Bring back the hairspray
I stopped using hairspray years ago, but Brooke changed my view on the product when she chose to use hairspray on Grace’s waves. “Spray hairspray from about a foot away from the hair, lightly coating the hair. DevaCurl Flexible-Hold Hairspray is a flexible hairspray, water-soluble and workable, it doesn’t stink” Brooke said of her hairspray of choice. She likes it because it gives light, touchable hold on day 1, and can be refreshed with just water on day 2 and 3. “I love refreshing with straight up water in a mist bottle. If you don’t have that, just wash your hands, and glaze your hair with water. Touch it like a harp. Give it a scrunch and it’s good to go again.”
Grace’s gorgeous cut is giving me the urge to go from long to short again!
Let us know in the comments – have you caught the wavy bob bug?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos from us.
Read next: Can you pull off a short curly haircut?
Curly girls have a reputation for being Product Junkies. According to our research, they continue trying new products long after they find their Holy Grail. So every year we poll our NaturallyCurly community in our Best of the Best survey to find out their favorite curly products (and update our must-try lists”>. Here are the most popular curly hair products of the year, according to the women who know their hair best.
1. Kinky-Curly Knot Today
This multi-purpose product is consistently picked year after year – and we’re not surprised. It can be used as a leave-in conditioner, a rinse out conditioner, a detangler, and it can be cocktailed with other products. The slip (that feeling of being able to easily glide your fingers through your hair”> is some of the best we’ve ever felt. It has won Favorite Leave-In Conditioner & Favorite Product to Cocktail, and Favorite Product for Coily Hair.
2. DevaCurl One Condition
Curly hair products can be slightly pricier than other hair products, so curly girls like to get their money’s worth! This is another multi-purpose product that can be used as a rinse-out conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, and a cleansing conditioner. If you practice the Curly Girl Method you’ll be happy to know this product does not contain any silicones or sulfates, earning it the Favorite Daily Conditioner award.
3. As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
Many curlies find that shampoos leave their hair feeling dry and stripped, so they opt for using a cleansing conditioner (also known as co-wash”> instead. If the first thing you do when shopping for product is to flip the bottle over and read the ingredient label, you’ll be happy to know this one’s free of parabens, glycerin, protein, silicone and sulfate. Its blend of natural ingredients removes product buildup but leaves your hair feeling moisturized, making it your Favorite Cleansing Conditioner.
4. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo
Even if you are a fan of co-washing, you will still want to have a gentle shampoo in your product arsenal to use every now and then, and some curlies with fine or loose curls find that co-washing doesn’t work for them and prefer to cleanse with a shampoo every time. Just because a product is a “shampoo” does not mean it will be harsh to your hair, like this fan favorite. You can rest easy knowing that this shampoo contains no paraben, phthalates, paraffin, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance or synthetic color. One of our community members even says it “moisturizes my hair even better than some conditioners that I’ve used in the past!” No wonder it keeps winning the Favorite Shampoo award year after year.
5. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
Curly hair is prone to dryness, which leads to frizz, breakage and undefined curls, so a monthly deep conditioning treatment is a must no matter what your curl pattern is. If your hair is damaged or especially dry then you may want to try a weekly treatment, and this one is proven to bring the life and elasticity back into your curls! The fact that we can depend on this product no matter what state our hair is in makes it worthy of the Favorite Deep Conditioner award.
6. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Once you have cleansed and moisturized your hair, it’s time to add a curl defining product. Again, we can all agree that moisture and hold are priorities, and this one product gives us both. A little goes a long way so you get your money’s worth (which is important when you have a Product Junkie habit”>. This won both Favorite Styling Cream and Favorite Product for Curly Hair, so if you have Type 3 curls like Annalynne McCord or Crystal Westbrooks then this is an ideal styler for you.
7. Ecoco Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel
If styling creams are too heavy for you, you may want to opt for a gel. This Favorite Styling Gel award winner avoids the common pitfalls of gels like crunchy looking curls and white flakes. This would work well on Type 4 coils like Willow Smith or Yaya Dacosta’s. One of our community members says she loves this gel “for my 4A hair. It’s the best for doing my wash and go and doesn’t leave my hair stiff at all. I’m usually able to get at least 4 days out of a wash and go with this.”
8. Kinky-Curly Curling Custard
Kinky-Curly Curling Custard (or KCCC for short”> is versatile in that it can be used to define your twist out or your wash and go. It will help you fight frizz and give you defined curls whether you have a TWA (teeny weeny afro”> or shoulder length curls. Start out with a small amount of product and build from there, you probably need less than you think. Its botanical formula won’t leave your curls dry or crunchy, earning it the Favorite Styling Pudding, Butter or Custard award.
9. Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper Original
If your curls are popping until you step outside and humidity undoes all of your hard-earned curl definition, then you want to enlist a frizz fighter. This formula is extremely lightweight so it will not weigh your curls down with product buildup if you apply it in the morning and throughout the day for touchups. Some curly girls rock their frizz, the bigger the better! But if you like defined curls that last all day, try this Favorite Frizz Fighter.
10. Denman D3 Brush
Brushes and combs can be a controversial topic in the curly world. We all know that brushing dry, curly hair can lead to disastrous results. But once you have a slippery detangler (like Kinky Curly Knot Today”> on your side, a brush can actually be a useful tool. Fingers are by far the gentlest way to detangle your hair, but a brush can help you speed up the process. Some women have found that this brush works even better when they modify it by removing every other row of bristles, making it a wide tooth brush. If you dread your detangling sessions, try adding this Favorite Styling Tool award winner to your regimen.
These are just ten of the winners over the years, for a full list of all of this year’s winners click here.
This article was originally published in 2014 and has been updated based on reader feedback.
If you have a neat, minimal collection of curly hair products that are well organized and easy to find, then this is not for you. If, however, you struggle to close your overflowing bathroom cabinets, or your hair products have migrated from your bathroom out to your kitchen, your linen closet, or your car, then this is for you.
According to our research, women with textured hair purchase hair products more frequently than women with straight/relaxed hair, and when they do, they spend more than women with straight/relaxed hair. Searching for a Holy Grail product that suits your curl pattern, porosity, lifestyle, hairstyle, hair goals, and personality is a process. It’s not just that we’re looking for our Holy Grail, our TextureTrends report found that 62% of women with textured hair admit to buying more products even after they’ve found products that work, just to see if they can find something better. Seeing as we invest so much of our time, effort, and money into these products, it’s no wonder we’re hesitant to let go of them – even when they don’t work for us. And this is how you end up with products in your glovebox.
As a NaturallyCurly Editor, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s time to reclaim some space in my bathroom. Some of our editors have even been weighing their product stashes to really drive the point home. That’s why we’re dedicating a week to our Product Junkie Spring Cleanout.
The Product Junkie Spring Cleanout
It’s time to clean out that stash. Starting on March 12th we’ll walk you through a step by step guide to getting more organized in just 5 days. You will be fully equipped to spring clean with our expert articles including:
- How to Know if Your Product is Expired
- How to Sort and Categorize Your Pile
- How to Donate Products
- How to Organize Your Cabinet
Sign up here to join our Product Junkie Spring Cleanout and get all these tips and more. You’ll want to see what happened when we invited a professional life decluttering coach over to Gerilyn’s place.
Join Our Pound for Pound Challenge
Put your product junkie-ism to the test in our Pound for Pound Challenge! Simply snap a photo of your product stash, @ us on Instagram and use the hashtag #NCpound4pound. Whoever has the biggest stash wins a $100 giftcard to the Container Store.
Let us know in the comments: Are you a Product Junkie?
Not sure? Here are 25 Signs You’re a Product Junkie.
As NaturallyCurly Editors it’s our job to test co-washes, mousses, curly custards, and on occasion, highlighters created by women we deeply admire! When Jackie Aina released her Artist Couture x Jackie Aina highlighters we scrambled to get our Product Junkie hands on them, and we’d thought it’d be fun to give you our first impressions on camera. If you love everything Jackie-Jackie-Jackie-Jackie-Jackie-Jackie-Jackie too, then read on to see what we thought.
Grace
As someone whose skin is nearly always the lightest shade in any collection of foundations, I didn’t expect either of Jackie Aina’s highlighters to work for me. I knew for sure La Bronze wouldn’t work for me, and was doubtful about the “universal highlighter” claim of La Peach. I usually use Fenty’s Killawatt Highlighter in Lightning Dust or Fire Crystal, which are both pearlescent shades. I find that these are the only ones that usually work for my skin (in general, the closer to white they are, the better they work”>. When I tried La Peach, it was definitely too dark to be a highlighter for me. It would look great as a bronzer and I love both of the highlighters used as eyeshadows because the orangey tones bring out the green in my eyes. I’m disappointed that La Peach isn’t truly universal, but I understand how hard it is to make a highlighter that looks good on all skin tones.
April
Normally, I highlight with my Milk Holographic Sticks! Since they’re in stick form I can’t mess up nearly as much as I can with loose powder, which is great for me, but they’re also very cute and effective.
I was so impressed by the color load on these, although it’s true I kind of loaded up the brush extra hard, so I might not be the best reviewer. Still, considering the source, I really wouldn’t expect anything less. As the video shows, I’ve got a long way to go before I can be trusted with the ‘big girl’ products, but once I got things semi under control, I really liked the way I looked!
I loved these highlighters! I was surprised by the fact that I liked the La Peach better than the La Bronze. I’ve had misadventures with too-light highlighters making me look more ashy than glowy when I’d try a more delicate look with pink ones, but the lighter La Peach was actually exactly what I needed.
Cristina
I have oily, acne-prone skin so I have spent a lifetime trying to mattify my skin, not highlight it! But I’m over trying to cover up my face and ready to start having more fun with my makeup. Lately, I’ve been highlighting with the gold eyeshadow that comes in my Lime Crime Venus palette – I don’t like having to buy any more products than is absolutely necessary! This is my first time using a loose powder highlighter, mostly because I find that loose powders tend to wind up lightly coating everything in my makeup bag, my purse, and eventually, my entire life. But this highlighter was easy to use and the shimmer is so pretty I wouldn’t mind if everything had a light dusting of La Peach. While I initially thought La Peach would be the better match and La Bronze would be too dark, when I tried them on I liked both colors and La Bronze didn’t pull brown or dark on my skin.
Alex
I really liked the Jackie Aina Highlighters, especially once I mixed them it gave me a beautiful shimmering glow.
I’ve always preferred a powder highlight. Ever since Fenty came out, I’ve been obsessed with the entire line and use the Match Stix in Rum and Killawatt Highlighter in Mean Money/ Hu$tla Baby. Since this was my first time using a loose powder bronzer, I thought it was going to be high pigmented and leave me covered in shimmer, but that wasn’t the case. I first applied the La Peach because that’s what I thought would look best on my skin tone, but it was actually too subtle for my style. So, I applied the La Bronze on top and that gave the bronze glow I was looking for!
I will be very honest with you up front: I don’t do anything special with my hair when I sleep. I’ve tried the pineapple, but pulling my hair up into a pineapple stretches out my waves and curls. I’ve tried a braid out, but that leaves me with misshapen curls. I’ve tried sleeping in a plop, and while the results are alright, the t-shirt never stays on my head.
As a wavy it sometimes feels like the best way for me to sleep is just leaving my hair down and refreshing the flattened waves in the morning. So I was keen to try CurlTalker serasgf’s sleeping method for extra volume when she shared it in our forum and Gretchen wrote about it in an article. We got clarification from serasgf on exactly how she ties this t-shirt turban, and I tested it out myself.
Step 1.
Start with dry hair (this is not a method for drying wet hair overnight”>. Take the bottom of the shirt (the end without sleeves”> and wrap that at the base of your neck. Take the two corners of the shirt and bring them together at the middle of your forehead. There may be some overlap of the fabric, so cross one corner over the other.
Step 2.
Take a safety pin and secure the corners of the shirt at the center of your forehead.
This was my least favorite part, because I was poking a safety pin towards my face without being able to see very well what I was doing. It’s probably the one deterrent for me from using this technique.
Step 3.
Now that the shirt is securely fastened, take the sleeves of the t-shirt and tie them in a knot.
It took me a couple tries to get this step right, because my hair was getting caught in the knot.
That’s it!
Serasgf says “your hair should be sticking straight up and spilling from the front towards your face. I try to keep it tied well above my eyebrows/forehead, whatever feels like it is lifting my hair further from my head.” Remember the goal for this method is volume, so you want to keep the hair lifted at the roots to avoid flatness.
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What I thought of the method
My first impression is that this turban feels very secure. Much more secure than a plop or a pineapple does for me (since you’re only supposed to tie the pineapple loosely”>. I also like that it creates a good amount of lift at the roots, since my personal goal with my hair is for it to be as big as possible. When I took my hair down the curls and waves were pretty much in tact, with just a tiny bit of refreshing and tweaking needed in the morning.
The one drawback for me is the safety pin, I just don’t feel like poking a safety pin towards my face every night. I did try a few other ways of fastening the t-shirt, such as different kinds of clips, but none of them worked in the way the safety pin does. Even though I think this method works, candidly I think I’m too lazy to keep it up and will probably go back to sleeping with my hair down.
If, like me, you haven’t had success with pineappling or plopping, then I would definitely recommend giving this method a try. Chances are you have a t-shirt, and a safety pin, so why not?
If you try it please let me know how it works for you!
Knowing our community, there will be even more innovations on this hack and I can’t wait to see them.
You can learn serasgf’s full nighttime routine, including the products and she takes before and after this turban here.
Read next: I tried diffusing with a strainer, here are my results.
I sit next to NaturallyCurly Graphic Designer Cara, and it really seems like she has a different curl pattern every day. Sometimes it’s close to straight, many days it’s a mix of straighter and curlier bits, and some days it’s very curly. The variation is a testament to the wishy washy tendencies of Type 2 naturally wavy hair. If you’re a Type 2, you’ve probably experienced some of this. So it was interesting to me to watch Cara’s recent Watch & Go, the show where we review shows we’ve watched while we do our wash and go, on our NaturallyCurly YouTube channel.
I asked Cara a bit more about her wavy routine, here’s what she had to say.
You have a mix of curl patterns – how do you deal with that?
I have Type 2a, 2b, 2c and maybe some 3a curls. And I don’t know how to deal with that yet! Mostly I treat them all the same.
Do you typically use a co-wash instead of a shampoo?
I co-wash when I want to refresh my hair between shampoo washes. I usually wash with shampoo on Sundays, and sometimes – but not always – co-wash mid-week. That works out to me co-washing my hair about 2-3 times a month.
What do you find gives your waves the best curl definition?
Time and effort always give my hair more definition, but I’m pretty lazy and low-maintenance about my hair, so I usually just put it up in a bun. Washing my hair in the morning and diffusing it and plopping always help to create greater waves, but I usually wash at night because it takes so long to dry.
Washing my hair in the morning gives me much better curl definition than when I wash at night and sleep on it. Plopping it until it’s dry or diffusing it until it’s dry give me my best curls.
What are your favorite products for waves?
I really like the Eden Bodyworks Peppermint Tea Tree Hair Milk, I use the
Dyakim microfiber towel, and I’ve recently been using Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel for frizz control. I really like the Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, and also their Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Shampoo.
Any techniques or tips that have made a big difference in the way your hair looks?
I use a lot of scrunching and plopping. Before I started working here I washed my hair all the time, but I’ve since found out that using better products, and even wavy-specific products, work better for me. I had bought products for curly hair that were full of oils, and those weren’t working well for me.
How would you recommend Shameless to someone who hasn’t seen it before?
It’s really funny and dramatic, but moreso funny. It’s basically a complicated family that still loves each other. They cover a lot of current event sort of topics and social issues, especially substance abuse and mental health issues, but in a funny way.
Curly girls are no strangers to using items typically relegated to the kitchen in their hair. We use flaxseeds and aloe vera to style with, avocados and honey to deep condition, and chopsticks to dry. Now there’s a new tool to make the transition from the kitchen to the bathroom: your strainer.
HolyCurlyRiRi on Instagram recently shared on her blog that she diffuses her hair using a strainer. This may sound crazy to the the non-curl enthusiasts, but when I shared it with my NaturallyCurly teammates they mostly nodded and said, “yea, I can see that.” It’s brilliant really.
Why use a strainer?
Curl definition
This technique gives Riri “perfect little ringlets that look like I used a curling wand.” The trade-off is that what you gain in frizz-free curl definition you lose in volume. Wavy Instagrammer @Annabananas3474 tried the technique after seeing Riri’s post and reported that she gets better definition too, “More shrinkage (no stringy separated ends which can be the bane of my wavy hair existence”> and the clumping I work SO hard to achieve but usually kind of falls apart was just not an issue. The smaller sections really allowed the clumps to stay, well, clumpy!”
If, like me, you don’t mind giving up definition in order to achieve big hair, then you may want to stick to your regular diffuser, but if you’re looking to cut down on frizz then grab your strainer and give this a try.
Faster dry time
After trying this with her own Ikea strainer, Lulu, aka @curlicue_lu, shared that “I seem to get a lot of air flow around my curls, and more control by moving the strainer toward or away from my head. With more drying surface area than my normal diffuser, I’m able to dry more hair at a time.” This sounds extra-appealing to me because after years of air drying my hair, the extra step of diffusing (for volume”> is a real drag on my morning routine. Anne also noticed the time-saving benefit, “My hair dried SO fast!”
What kind of strainer?
Riri uses a big strainer, and says that a smaller strainer still does the job but just takes longer. Just make sure whatever strainer you use is not too deep, “The first time I tried it, my strainer was WAY too deep and my hair just kind of blew around in there. Reminded me of a cotton candy machine” says Anne. Like Lulu, I used the metal mesh strainer you can get from Ikea.
How to diffuse with a strainer
Using your strainer, cup a section of wet curls into the strainer and bring it up towards your scalp, then point your blowdryer at the hair without the diffuser attachment and turn it on. Follow the pixie curl diffusing method, which means you cup the hair, turn the diffuser on, then turn it off before you move onto the next section. Then cup the next section, bring it up towards your scalp, turn the diffuser on again, dry for a minute, turn it off, and repeat. I recommend using this method when you use a diffuser attachment as well, it really cuts down on frizz!
Keep the strainer still to fight frizz. Anne says “I imagine Curly Girls with more defined curl patterns and thicker hair could probably move the strainer around more, but I found I needed to keep my hair stable or it would’ve been a frizz fest of epic proportions.”
Depending on the type of strainer you have, you may need to follow up with your diffuser attachment. Lulu says “I like the strainer I’m using because I can get it very close to my head. [However] it’s difficult to get to my roots, plus I don’t want to smash them, so I end up using my normal diffuser at the end to lift the roots.”
Watch HolyCurlyRiRi diffuse one half of her head with a diffuser attachment and the other half with a strainer to see the side by side comparison.
I want to hear from you, have you tried this? Or do you have some other household item that you’re using to diffuse with? Let me know in the comments.Their results
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“I got MORE definition, MORE volume, MORE curls as opposed to waves,and the curls are holding up beautifully. My hair dried faster and had hardly any frizz. I’m so in love with this technique and I’ll be doing it more often than not, I think.” – Anne
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“This allows me to dry a bit faster. I also seem to get about the same definition and volume as my normal diffuser.” – Lulu
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“I can’t even describe you the amazing definition I get! Perfect little ringlets that look like I used a curling wand. The volume isn’t as good due to the amazing definition and no frizz.” – Riri
I gave it a try
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I’ll be honest, I was mostly trying this for kicks. I’m pretty devoted to my universal diffuser attachment so I didn’t think I could be converted by a kitchen hack. But then… it actually worked! Yes, it was awkward holding a strainer and drying my hair (especially when I had my phone in my hand trying to Instagram story it”> but once you get the hang of the angles it’s not so bad. I personally didn’t think it dried faster than my diffuser attachment, but I may have had the strainer on too tight or the dryer too close to the strainer (I was trying to prevent frizz”>. I’m definitely willing to give this a few more tries.
These are my results below. With some more fluffing and flipping upside down, I was actually able to achieve a good amount of volume – albeit fleeting volume as a wavy – and that’s ultimately my goal. When I diffuse with my diffuser attachment I find that my waves form tighter ringlets than they do when I air dry. I can achieve 3a curls when I diffuse, and way more lift and volume. With the strainer, my waves actually formed bigger S-shaped waves than I’m used to. You can see them in the photo below. I think this may be because the strainer works almost the way plopping does, bending the hair accordion-style to fit into the bowl shape of the strainer, and creating the big S-waves. The biggest selling point for me was when my coworker told me my hair looked like a lion’s mane. That’s what I’m going for!
This technique gets my thumbs up, and I’m excited to see what other curlies think of it.
Have you tried this? Did it work for you too?
Read next: I tried this new technique sleeping, and it worked better than a pineapple.
I’ve had the great pleasure of working on many articles and videos during my time here at NaturallyCurly, but the day I got to interview our Graphic Designer, Fran, and her boyfriend while he did her hair just might be my favorite. Topped only by the day my dad came in to do mine. We can talk co-washes and pre-poos until the sun goes down with our NaturallyCurly colleagues, but can the same be said for the men in our lives? We enjoy putting them to the test to find out just that.
Fran and Devan have been together for two years, and in that time they’ve quickly become our favorite world traveling, photo taking, #relationshipgoals making couple. As curly girls, our hair can tend to play a role in our romantic relationships. Whether it’s our nighttime routine, the space our products occupy in the bathroom (and kitchen, and bedroom”>, and everything in between. We just wanted to see how closely Devan’s been paying attention.
I asked Fran how she thought it went, and I’ll also include a few of my favorite snaps of them so you can see the level of cuteness we’re dealing with her. And be sure to watch the how it all unfolded – especially his innovative use of styling products.
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What were your expectations going into this?
A little anxious. I have hair products all over the bathroom, I would assume he would generally know what to use, when to use it, and how to use it since he’s around a lot of the time I do my hair… but you never know. Thankfully my hair isn’t too difficult so I feel like there’s a lot of room for error with it still coming out “okay.”
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Did you two prepare for the video at all?
Originally Devan and I were supposed to practice… so at first I had high hopes that he’d nail it! But we weren’t able to practice… so we just had to wing it.
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Any other funny stories/tidbits you’d like to share?
He loves to call my hair plopping towel a “durag!” Sometimes before we go to sleep and I’ve just washed my hair he’ll be like “You’re not going to put on your durag tonight?”
What did you think of the final result?
It wasn’t bad! Simple wash and go, a little flat a the top near my roots but the curls looked good. I didn’t have the volume I normally like to achieve with plopping + clumping… but that’s okay :”>
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What did Devan have to say after you shot the video?
We discussed his logic on why he thought it was okay to start with a styler on my dry hair first and laughed about it all. He said he had over thought it and started second guessing himself as soon as the camera was on. Overall he had a fun time and might even consider doing my hair again if I asked him. :”>
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Ok NaturallyCurly World weigh in… would you ever let your significant other style your hair?
Let us know in the comments! And happy Valentine’s day from the NaturallyCurly family!
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more shennanigans like this. We make videos every week!
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Cristina
The Ordinary
I know I’m late to the bandwagon on this one, but what finally sold me was beauty expert Nadine Baggott’s glowing reviews of this skincare brand. As she explained, most skincare is exorbitantly expensive, packed full of fragrance, and labeled with misleading marketing claims of “exotic” ingredients that have not been proven to work. The Ordinary is reasonably priced at around $5 a product, and the ingredients are transparent and high quality. I’m loving the way my skin is feeling. All skincare should work this way.
Shopping secondhand
I did a 1-year Secondhand Shopping Challenge last year and judging by my recent trips to Savers and Goodwill, I’m going to keep riding that wave right through 2018. I’ve discovered a newfound creativity to my style through secondhand shopping, not to mention it’s WAY cheaper! You can follow my thrifting adventures on Instagram if you’re curious about giving it a try too.
Redavid Orchid Oil Dual Therapy
When NaturallyCurly Intern Kiana came into work with particularly poppin’ curls I had to ask what she had in her hair, and she said it was this Redavid Orchid Oil Dual Therapy. I’d never heard of the brand before, and probably wouldn’t have picked it up on my own if it weren’t for her recommendation. The innovative packaging is made up of one tube with two different pumps, one with oil and one with cream. You can create your own custom formula based on how much you want of each. (Keep reading to see how you can try it out for yourself”>.
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Lauren
Black Girl In Om Podcast
As an avid anti-podcaster (I prefer to listen to music”>, there is one that I must pay dues too, as it captures my attention from the jump. The Black Girl in Om Podcast founded by two women of color based focuses on all things wellness, health, glowups, and so much more! I love listening to this on long drives or when I’m cleaning my apartment because it inspires in sometimes the most subtle of ways or will have me shouting! Recommended Listening: Their interview with Roe of @brownkids (one of my fave insta pages”> on minimalism and intentional living”>!
Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil
This oil has saved my face! I was always one of the oily skin people who did not think I needed an oil to cleanse, because duh I’m already oily, but one stop at Sephora and my skin and budget have decided otherwise. I use this oil now as the first cleanser in my 8 step skincare routine, and it has helped my skin look more even, feel extremely moisturized, and remove impurities in a non-abrasive way for my oily, yet sensitive skin. Plus! It’s main ingredient squalene comes from 100% plant-based, renewable sugarcane.
Apple Watch
Is it weird to say that I find my apple watch to be extremely grounding, in an almost “technology is taking over everything” kind of way? lol In all seriousness though, I decided to purchase one, because I thought it would help elevate my workouts, but a hidden gem in the form of the Breathe app has helped with so much more. I have Generalized Anxiety & Panic Disorder, so often my heart rate spikes and I’m so wrapped up in the moment that I don’t immediately recognize what’s happening. My watch’s technology catches these spikes though, and then sends me a little notification to breathe for at least 10 minutes, forcing me to calm the f down and take a chill pill. It might be a tad big brother-ish, but no complaints over here.
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April
Low-Sugar Treats
I’m still loving my low-sugar desserts!
I combine:
- Unflavored yogurt
- Thawed berries
- A handful or two of hemp hearts
and then top it off with a dash of cinnamon. It’s actually very filling and satisfying, and with enough hemp hearts it actually works as a full meal!
*Editor’s note: I’ve seen April eating this in the office and I can attest to the deliciousness of this snack!
The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story
I’m currently trying to keep up my post-move decluttering efforts, so I bought the manga version of Mari Kondo’s house clearing methods!
The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story is really cute, and it seems like it’s going to help me out! Also, even though romance isn’t my genre of choice, I thought it was super sweet that the clutter-loving main character might get the guy in the end now that she has space in her heart and her house.
Overnight Sensation
Harley Deville’s album Overnight Sensation changed. My. Whole. LIFE.
It’s somehow full of the kind of jams that could lull you to sleep, but also leaves me daydreaming about doing cocaine and going on road trips through the deserts in roofless cars (both of which I absolutely should not and will not start doing, but still”>. Is ‘sexy disaffected elevator electronica’ a genre? It might as well be. And Harley is the pioneer.
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Devri
IPKN Radiant Cream Primer ($28 for 1.35 oz”>
I have been looking for a good primer for a while now because I’ll admit, sometimes I skip that step. I’m not far from 30, so extra protection is not necessarily something my skin can afford to miss out on. Then I stumbled upon the IPKN Radiant Cream Primer, which has SPF 15 in it and gives my T-zone a healthy shimmer. This reminds me of one of my all-time holy grails, NYX Liquid Illuminator, but with the added skincare benefits. Since a little goes a long way, so the price point is justified.
Innersense Hydrating Cream Hair Bath ($28 for 10 oz”>
Innersense has held a special place in my heart for years. I enjoy the salon quality products that make my hair actually feel healthy — not just smell good. The new Hydrating Cream Hair Bath is a great clarifying cleanser for the moments when you’ve realized it has been an entire week since the last shampoo session and the grimy buildup is out of this world.
Plant Apothecary RE: FRESH Organic Toning Facial Mist ($9.60 for 2 oz”>
Who isn’t a sucker for a refreshing facial toner with aloe, cucumber, and rose water as its top 3 ingredients? Plant Apothecary’s mist is the perfect size for carrying literally anywhere so I can give my face a quick boost on long treks throughout the city. This product has easily become one of my favorites over the past 5 months or so, lasting me well into two seasons with more than enough left in this tiny bottle. I also use it as a makeup setting spray.
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Alex
Pomegranate & Honey 2n1 Face Cleanser & Scrub
This cleanser and gentle scrub have my skin clearer than it’s ever been! I use this to wash my face in the morning and evening and I absolutely love the smell and how soft and moisturized it leaves my skin feeling. I mean who doesn’t love waking up to the fresh smell of pomegranate and honey?
Kenyan Coffee Face Polish Exfoliator
I’ve never been a skincare guru or even had much of skincare routine, but now that I’m becoming more intentional about taking care of my skin it’s essential to create something simple and easy to use. I love this exfoliator because it not only removes all the dirt and make-up residue off of my skin, it leaves my skin smooth and soft.
Mielle Organics Honey & Ginger Styling Gel
I never thought I was a gel kind of girl. I would use light-weight leave-in conditioners and heavy butters and creams when I wanted a more defined look, but lately, I’ve been trying gels and I’m actually surprised how well they work on my hair! I’ve been trying several gels in the past few months and this one takes the cake for provindig curl definition, moisture and managing my frizz.
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Cara
Carmella Marie Deep Conditioner
I’m into the Carmella Marie deep conditioner. It smells good, is thick and really soaks into my hair. It looks like a delicious strawberry smoothie, and a lot of the ingredients are edible (but not all”>. It’s got honey hibiscus to “naturally soften and smoothen hair.” It’s cute packaging, too for a small brand.
The Hair Flair Brush
The Hair Flair brush we go in with two different bristle types is one of the best detangling brushes I have used. I had some pretty ratted up hair and it trucked through it without ripping or breaking my hair and minimal finger detangling mixed in. It’s nice and gentle on my fine hairs.
Grace and Frankie season 4
Grace and Frankie season 4 is on Netflix now and I just love Lily Tomlin. It’s like a cheesier much-later sequel to 9 to 5. But really, I would like to be friends with Lily Tomlin.
Giveaway
What have you been loving this month? Leave a comment with one of your favorites down below for a chance to win the Redavid Orchid Oil Dual Therapy to try for yourself!
This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 7, 2018 and is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.
*Please make sure you have liked us on Facebook, so that we can notify you if you’ve won.
In our latest episode of The Best Ever, our Texan, warm-blooded editors share our survival methods for braving our 60 degree lows. It’s true, we don’t have winter bomb cyclones, but we do have a pretty temperamental air conditioning thermostat in the NaturallyCurly office.
The good news? Two of these methods come completely free, and the other is less than $10 at drugstores.
According to April, her Hot Hands are worth the investment because they will "keep you from dying." She loves that "they don't just cover you against the elements, they warm you right at your extremities. Frostbite can beat it."
Gerilyn is a bonafied layering champion. You can find her wearing at least 9 stylish pieces of clothing on any given day, "I don't like big coats or puffy jackets - I don't like to feel bulky! So instead I layer until I'm warmed up."
And now that I've irreparably damaged my reputation by showing you how I dance in the privacy of my own home, all I ask from you in return is a comment. Do you live in an actual cold climate? How do you deal?To see more from us (yes, including how we do our hair"> subscribe to NaturallyCurly's YouTube channel!
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Congratulations ladies, you survived the NaturallyCurly No Sugar Challenge! The NaturallyCurly team (and over 7,500 of our community members!”> gave up sugar, artificial sweeteners, high glycemic fruits, and refined flours for two weeks and lived to tell these tales.
April
I was expecting the hard part to be social eating. I had a birthday party at Olive Garden to go to (looking at the menu I could have water, lemons, and maybe some salt”>, and a girls’ trip that’d involve a LOT of eating out. But due to medical interference canceling my attendance at both of those, the temptations of social eating never came up much. So I think the hardest part was that this struggle summoned some kind of Monkey’s Paw/Be Careful What You Wish For type spirit.
Also meal prep was a little difficult. I’m still pretty unorganized, so there were a lot of nights where dinner was just fruit and Kefir. No regrets though.
My biggest takeaway was how fortunate I am not to have developed any food allergies. For some people reading ingredient boxes, apologizing to restaurant waitstaff, and risking hospitalization due to something as simple as a Starbucks order accident is a way of life. The constant reading and checking and brand deception drove me crazy at first, but support from my friends with dietary restrictions really put the fact that this was only 14 days out of my life in perspective.
I actually do intend to stay mindful of ingredients after this—I’m still salty about the brown rice noodles I picked up that contain white rice. Moreover, due to my negligent flossing in college, I have fillings that are sensitive to sweetness. Through this challenge, they haven’t twinged at all, and that’s been GREAT. I still want macarons, but maybe adjusting my shopping habits more won’t kill me.
Gerilyn
Real talk: everything, from the mental preparation to reading food labels was difficult. What put me off the challenge was the constant thinking about food; it’s not something that I concentrate on (yes, I know that I have #skinnb*tch privilege”>. Regularly policing my eating habits was annoying, and for that reason alone I was done with the challenge after a day and a full afternoon.
I learned that going a day without sugar is not akin to going a day without water; depriving oneself of too much sugar is doable. If anything, this challenge has made me more aware of my soda consumption. I was able to go without drinking a Sprite or Dr. Pepper for 13 days… it was hard, but I did it (at least I did something, gosh!”>.
Even though I was a complete failure at this challenge, I can say that I am more cognizant of sugar’s presence in almost every food available for human consumption.
Even though I was a complete failure at this challenge, I can say that I am more cognizant of sugar’s presence in almost every food available for human consumption. Knowing this, I am going to choose my meals and snacks more wisely, but you may still have to pry a Big Gulp of Sprite from my hands every couple of months or so.
Alexandra
The hardest part was giving up white flour and starches such as bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta. Those are staples in my diet and I didn’t realize how much I ate them until this challenge. I tried my best to limit my intake, but definitely failed when it came to those foods.
My biggest takeaway from this challenge was the importance of being mindful of what I put in my body and taking a moment to read the ingredients before I throw it in the bag. There are so many foods that have added sugars in them that I wasn’t aware of until doing this challenge. It has definitely caused me to be more conscious of how much sugar I’m consuming daily, especially since I do have random sweet teeth. So after this instead of grabbing something sweet, I’ll try my best to grab fruit instead.
Cara
The hardest part was cooking all of the time. Cooking a meal every night, times three meals a day plus snacking, is not something I am in the habit of. It’s so many extra dishes! At the beginning I picked a bunch of recipes out, and I think I made about four of them. Most nights I just kind of improvised and sometimes the food tasted great, sometimes less so.
Snacking actually wasn’t too hard. I ate a lot of berries, nuts and cheese. Or blue corn chips and hummus.
Cooking a meal every night, times three meals a day plus snacking, is not something I am in the habit of. It’s so many extra dishes!
What I got from this challenge is being more aware of what’s in the foods I’m choosing. I had always been more partial to foods that are healthier, but this just added another layer to that. I never got to a point where I felt the “benefits” of not eating sugar. Basically, I was just doing this challenge to prove to myself that I could do it. It was hard saying NO to free cookies and juice samples at the smoothie place and that day someone brought in homemade gorditas. Starting again today, if it’s something that I want to eat, I am going to eat it.
I’ll definitely keep up with choosing the healthier option of foods that are comparable. Like, a taro chip vs a Dorito. Or a sugar-free/homemade salsa vs the kind you can keep in your pantry for a few years and it’s still good. But is there a sugar-free milkshake you can offer me that tastes just as good? Ok, I’ll stick with this milkshake.
But like really, did we need to cut out bananas?!
Devri
The hardest part was cutting out sugar completely. I didn’t realize how much energy it took to pay attention to all of the food that has hidden forms of sugar in them. I had no problem doing the act of cutting sugar out of my diet, but I’m not one to be mindful of reading instructions. I am too impatient, so that was my biggest challenge during this process.
I didn’t realize how much energy it took to pay attention to all of the food that has hidden forms of sugar in them.
I need to continue practicing patience and have a better game plan ahead of time. I also realize that cutting a habit cold turkey doesn’t always work, and sometimes it backfires completely.
My life is complicated enough minding a chronic illness, so I don’t have the physical energy trying to monitor my daily sugar intake. I will continue rewarding myself every now and then with a slice of pie or some midnight hot chocolate. Hey, the heart wants what it wants.
Kanika
The hardest challenge was cravings for items I couldn’t eat. I got through it by eating the foods I could eat and trying not to overthink what I couldn’t eat. I was also hungry all the time so I tried to eat every couple of hours.
My biggest takeaway was awareness of how much food had added sugar and which foods are high glycemic. I’ll definitely be super aware of it going forward and keep that in mind even after the challenge when making decisions on what I’m eating. I don’t want to go back to how much sugar I was intaking because I did feel less bloated on the challenge.
Cristina
The hardest part was having to watch my friends eat bread and drink wine at a restaurant and not being able to have any of it. I learned that in order to survive this, I had to eat a pre-meal before the restaurant meal. This worked for the purposes of the challenge, but am I going to keep that up after the challenge is over? No way.
My biggest takeaway was just how difficult it is to figure out what’s in the food we buy, especially processed food and the food we eat in restaurants. I did it for 2 weeks for the challenge, but if I had a serious dietary restriction it would be prohibitively difficult to go out to eat socially.
Overall I found this kind of diet way too restrictive, making it unsustainable.
Overall I found this kind of diet way too restrictive, making it unsustainable. I think the best way to approach “wellness” is by making it something you actually enjoy and that suits your lifestyle.
We want to hear from you! Have you ever given up sugar? How did you feel about your results?
If you’ve been joining in on our NaturallyCurly No Sugar Challenge, then you’ve probably discovered how difficult it can be to eat sugar-free. There are hidden sugars in just about every processed food we eat, and it takes a lot of time and energy from of our already-busy schedules to source snacks and weeknight meals that abide by the challenge rules. That’s why I called on experienced vegan chef, health coach, cooking instructor, and one of my personal favorite YouTubers, Jenne of Sweet Potato Soul, to share her sugar-free tips.
Whether you’ve cut sugar out of your diet completely or are just looking to transition into a healthier lifestyle this year, give these tips a try.
What are some easy sugar free snacks for in between meals?
Fresh fruit makes a great and healthy snack in between meals.
Do you have any tricks or advice for getting through sugar-withdrawals?
Smoothies are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth while consuming a nutrient dense food. I love blending a frozen banana with a medjool date, unsweetened plain non-dairy milk, raw cacao powder (super antioxidants”>, frozen blueberries, and spinach.
You can also blend dates, nuts, and spices to make healthy desserts. Add raw cacao powder for a boost of antioxidants, magnesium, and pure joy.
What essential sugar-free items do you keep in your pantry at all times?
Stave off sugar withdrawal symptoms by eating starchy complex carbohydrate foods like sweet potato. Roasted sweet potatoes make a great snack, even late at night.
In my kitchen I always have dates, dried figs, fresh fruit, and sweet potatoes to satisfy my sweet cravings.
What’s your favorite sugar-free meal to prepare on a busy weeknight?
One of my favorite sugar-free and healthy meals is my “everyday Buddha Bowl”. It’s so simple yet it’s filled with fiber, complex carbs, healthy fat, and other nutrients. Eating this way helps me maintain healthy blood sugar levels, feel nourished, and stay energized.
If you want more healthy recipe ideas, Jenne’s cookbook Sweet Potato Soul comes out February 6, 2018. Preorder it now on AMAZON, INDIEBOUND, or BARNES & NOBLE.
The NaturallyCurly team has been excited, anxious, and nervous about our upcoming No Sugar Challenge. We will be giving up sugar from January 5-19, and we sincerely hope you’ll join us! There’s nothing to keep you from reaching for that can of soda like thousands of encouraging women behind you in solidarity. So far over five thousand of you have committed to the challenge (so I guess we can’t back out now!”>.
You maybe wondering what exactly “no sugar” means, does it just mean black coffee and no desserts? As it turns out, sugar has snuck into the ingredients lists of processed food items we never dreamed would be sweetened, and yes, that includes “un-sweetened” and “sugar-free” foods too. We’ve created this helpful guide to shed some light on what to eat, and what not to eat, for the next two weeks.
We’ll also be sharing a recipe meal plan, tips and tricks to help you stick with it, and updates on how we’re faring throughout the challenge.
How to Join
Sign up to join the challenge here, and we’ll send you everything you need to stay motivated.
What Not to Eat
Avoid sugars, sugar substitutes, artificial sweeteners, drinks and sauces with added sugar, refined flours, and high glycemic fruits. Here is list of examples of those foods, as well as what we can eat.
You may be tempted to eat all of the sugar in sight before you start (I for one am eating a rum cake as I write this”> but it is highly recommended that you slowly wean yourself off of sugar gradually. We have one editor who started her challenge early in December, and so far she says it’s not as hard as it sounds. We shall soon see!
Will you be joining our No Sugar Challenge?
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