Search Results: Cristina Cleveland
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
Feeling good about the skin you’re in; it sounds simple enough, but in my experience it takes some serious thought work to ignore all of the messaging we receive on a daily basis from the media, our peers, coworkers, family members, significant others and sometimes total strangers about the way we look. If all of those opinions are impacting your own opinion of the way you look, you’re not alone. Here are some tactics that I’ve found helpful to help me feel better in my skin.
1. Stop trying to change it
Have you ever played that game with a friend, where you talk about the one thing you would change about yourself, if you could change any one thing? It’s a ridiculous game, I know. Not least because it’s unhealthy, but also because it’s a total waste of time to wish for thicker hair or to be taller. You can spend time and money on home remedies or luxury beauty treatments and that may make you feel better momentarily, but a cheaper and more effective way to fix the problem is to stop trying. The amazing thing about accepting one part of yourself is that mental transition starts to affect the way you feel about other traits you were born with. That’s why NaturallyCurly means so much to so many people. Accepting your curly hair is often step one to accepting your freckles, your nose, your boobs, or whatever your “one thing” is.
2. Don’t pay attention to rules
The rules can be fed to us on TV shows about what not to wear, in magazines that declare who wore it best (have you ever noticed it’s always the skinnier one?”> and by well-intentioned family members telling us what does and doesn’t look good on us. My best friend often tells me about a classmate she had in college who ignored all of the “fashion rules” and dressed exactly the way she wanted to, regardless of whether it “suited” her body type. Depending on the environment we grew up, this can feel like a radical act, but a freeing one. I make it a point to wear my hair, makeup, and clothes exactly the way I want to. When someone tells me they don’t like it (which happens a lot, comments sections are a cruel place”> that just makes me like it more. Like this shirt says, “I’m fine.” It’s a good reminder to myself, and to anyone else who happens to disagree.
3. Don’t wear anything uncomfortable
While feeling better in your own skin is mostly a state of mind, I do believe there is a physical aspect to this as well. If you’ve ever forced yourself into a shirt that was too tight in the armpits, you know what I’m talking about – I hate that feeling! When a skirt is just a little bit shorter than what you feel comfortable in, your mind is constantly wondering “is this riding up?” and your hands are repeatedly reaching down to adjust it. Even when no one else thinks anything of the skirt, the fact that you’re uncomfortable can be a mental distraction. I try to say goodbye to things when I notice I’m avoiding wearing them.
Whether or not you agree to Marie Kondo’s “Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” I do think that holding on to clothing or shoes that make you physically uncomfortable means you will feel bad when you wear them, and you’ll also feel bad when you look in your closet and see unworn clothes that you spent money on and never wear. It’s a lose lose, so I prefer to donate them to someone who will feel good about them.
4. Wear one piece that makes you smile
This is a fun one. I try to wear pieces that make me smile! Like the pink rubber shoes I got this summer, or my sparkly glitter boots (yes, I have a thing for shoes as long as they’re comfortable”>. Whether it’s a gift from a loved one or something you picked up on a trip, there are memories attached to our things, and I like to bring up the positive memories whenever I can.
5. Practice gratitude
When all of these tactics above fail me, the thing that always does the trick for me is to practice gratitude. Sure, maybe I’m having another breakout of adult acne. I could get really down about the fact that I’ve been to more dermatologists than I can count, starting at the age of 9 and continuing now into my 30s. If I listen to the ads on TV I could get my hopes up and buy one more cream or serum to “fix” my face. Or I could shift my focus, and just be thankful that acne is purely cosmetic, and not a more serious health problem. The creams, pills, and peels have never worked for me, but this last tip does. And it’s free.
I can only speak from my experience, so I would really love to hear how you have dealt with insecurity in your own way.
Have you found tricks that helped make you feel better in moments of negative self talk?
Let me know in the comments!
Photos by @Cassandra_jk for NaturallyCurly. Clothes and accessories from Beehive Boutique.
You can follow me on Instagram @cristinacleveland, and @NaturallyCurly for more inspiration.
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.
Carol’s Daughter paid homage to the many facets of Brooklyn style at this year’s Texture On the Runway powered by Sally Beauty. Before the show I spoke with Carol’s Daughter’s lead hairstylist for this event, Mezei Jefferson, and he told me what to expect when it came to the hairstyles and how they interpreted the theme Brooklyn: Then & Now, but nothing could prepare me for the way the collection took shape on the catwalk.
From the moment the bright, pop prints flashed on the screen and three dancers entered the stage jumping rope to the tune of Mary J. Blige’s Real Love, the 90’s nostalgia hit me hard. The cabbage patch and running man made cameos, along with a solo sung by Renee Neufville of Zhané.
This was swiftly followed by the one true sign of any successful show – iPhones in the air. Instantly, the moment was shared with hundreds of thousands of people.
Next the models began strutting down the runway representing the street style of Brooklyn, Afropunk, and the Caribbean flavors of carnivale.
While the collection brilliant showcased a variety of hair textures, stylists Ty Hunter and Imani Rose brought texture to the clothing as well with a mix of metals, crochet and denim from a selection of Brooklyn designers. I spoke to Imani Rose after the show to learn more about the looks we saw.
The designers – who did you choose and why did you choose them?
We used different pieces from Laurel Dewitt, who’s known for all of her metallic elements, really elemental work, with all of the chains. Also Dope Tavio who’s a cool Brooklyn artist originally from Miami who designed all of the cool deconstructed jackets with the camouflage and the denim, and all of the layered, textured sleeves. We also used Batista Collections who is originally a Dominican designer. It was really great to work with her because she does a lot of crochet and knit pieces.
Were there any women who you were channeling as you styled the models?
There are so many really dope Brooklyn women. I’m really inspired by Cipriana and Takenya Quann the sisters, they’re so beautiful and they do such amazing work, they’re really multi-talented and they epitomize Brooklyn women. We were also really inspired by, of course, our girl Beyonce.
You can tell us more about working with her if you want… we won’t stop you.
I’ve worked with Ty for years, he is the consummate professional and such an example of peace and energy. I’ve worked with Solange and Beyonce through Ty, and they helped inspire the collection tonight. Black women in general. Black women, Latina women, they are so multidimensional. We’re still so underrepresented today in 2017 so what I really loved about this project is the fact that it’s highlighting everything we’ve brought to American culture. Big bold earrings, big bold hair, layered hair, textured hair. We’re unapologetic and we’re fearless. We do things that most women in other cultures, especially New Yorkers and Brooklyn girls. That was really inspirational.
The major icons from back in the day inspired us as well, the Black Panthers were so bold with their fros. Diana Ross and the Supremes had big hair, Donna Summer, all of the tribal women in Africa wore the original, major necklaces so there’s been a long tradition of bold, beautiful women of color behind it. We really tried to take that history and bring it to modern day because it’s always great to honor that history and let that flag fly. Especially in this industry where we do so much mainstream work, it always feels good to highlight what makes being a woman of color so awesome.
To read more about the hairstyles you’ve seen here, read my interview with Carol’s Daughter stylist Mezei Jefferson.
This post is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter.
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.
In our latest series, My Middle School Beauty Blunders, NaturallyCurly editors discuss that one awkward phase we sometimes wish could have come with a redo: our pre-teens.
Below our Managing Editor, Cristina, discusses an important beauty lesson from her middle school days.
In middle school, I remember a lot of frosted makeup.
Silvery frosted lips, frosty eyeliner, maybe even some light blue eyeshadow. Needless to say, it was not good.
Like other curly girls, I hated my “poofy” hair.
I was trying (in vain”> to straighten it using many ineffective methods, like straightening it with a curling iron, Velcro rollers — I think I may have even attempted a clothing iron (see photo above”>. I was also getting haircuts that were not meant for curly hair, like Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel” and lots of flippy layers that looked cute on the girls with fine, straight hair but only made my hair poofier. I remember breaking a lot of butterfly clips trying to style my hair.
My biggest beauty blunder was trying trends that worked for other peoples’ hair and bodies and trying to force them on my own.
This lead to so much disappointment. I wish I knew then what I know now about hair types. This was made worse by the fact that my friends and I liked to dress up and do our hair the same.
Advice to my 7th grade self: it’s cool to be different.
You don’t understand it now, but one day it will be your job to love the hair that you hate so much.
My favorite hairstyle was wearing two French braids. (It’s funny that the same hairstyle is actually trending right now.”> I think my style icons at the time were the girls from Clueless, and Clarissa Explains It All.
I remember often going to school and field trips dressed up in the same outfits as my friends. I think it’s pretty indicative of what made me feel secure at the time. Everyone was wearing the same clothes, the same hair, the same Jansport backpacks even. I spent a lot of time trying to be like other people, and I wish I had spent that time working on learning and loving myself instead.
Want more from Cristina? Of course you do.
Follow her on Instagram @cristinacleveland and read her curly hair journey
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
We are constantly advising that our readers not compare their curls to others’ curls. That what works for your hair type won’t necessarily work for someone else’s, and vice versa. That you should embrace your curl pattern, and not covet thy neighbors’ curls. But I am guilty of breaking all of those rules when I say that I long for @joyjah’s hair every time she pops up in my feed.
I was thrilled to get the chance to ask the Carol’s Daughter brand ambassador exactly how she gets that volume, her hair color, and yes, even those freckles. We’ve been working with Carol’s Daughter closely as we prepare for the upcoming Texture on the Runway, our annual fashion show at New York Fashion Week showcasing textured hair, which is powered by Sally Beauty this year. We can’t wait to see what inspiring looks they will be sending down the runway.
1. What’s your cleansing routine?
“Every 3-4 days I do a new wash and go using Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Restoring Conditioner to detangle my hair in the shower. Once a week I deep condition with Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Hair Mask for 30 minutes or longer. Then once every 2-3 weeks, I do a hot oil treatment after which I shampoo using Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Sulfate-Free Shampoo followed by the conditioner.”
2. How do you keep your long hair detangled?
“I only detangle my hair when it’s wet using conditioner, running water and a wide tooth comb. For the duration of my wash and go I always protect my hair to avoid tangles and breakage. I normally wear a pineapple around the house and I always go to bed with a satin bonnet or scarf.”
3. What’s your moisture routine for maintaining moisture and softness throughout the week?
“Deep conditioning for at least 30 minutes in the sun! You can use a heat cap or blow dryer, but since I live in Belize it’s just easier to chill outside. My Holy Grail deep conditioner is the Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Hair Mask! I swear by the Almond Milk Line, it’s everything you need for moisture, slip, plus a little takes you a long way. I also ensure that the base of my wash and gos are moisturized. I’m heavy handed with Carol’s Daughter Pracaxi Nectar Wash N’Go Leave In. It’s thick, it’s rich, smells amazing, and you can slap the product on and distribute throughout your entire head of hair. It’s water based so it won’t weigh your hair down.”
4. What’s your advice for everyone who has long hair goals?
“Scalp massages with your favorite natural oils will give you that extra boost! Mix up your own concoction. Mine usually include: Jamaican black castor oil, coconut oil, pimento oil, and essential oils like lavender and rosemary.
Put down the heat tools, they’re only hampering your growth, including that diffuser (I’ll explain later”>.
Lastly, consistency and dedication hold so much weight in your journey. Don’t compare yourself to others, you’re doing great and you’ll get there. When you feel like giving up, look back at old photos to see how far you’ve come. You got this.”
5. Is your color natural?
“Everyone asks this question and I’m so proud to say the color is in my genes. It’s natural.”
6. Our editors are dying to know, how do you achieve so much volume?
“My Afro pik is my hair’s bestie, I tuck and lift throughout my hair until I get the look I desire. The bigger the better!
And I always air dry, it shows off my length more, plus my hair’s naturally big. I find that when I use a diffuser my hair shrinks up and appears a lot shorter. I don’t like that. Besides, air drying has been part of my hair growth process. From experimenting, I found that when I would diffuse my hair I ended up needing more frequent trims. My ends would be so dry and my hair didn’t look or feel as healthy as it does now, since I only air dry. So I’ve completely ditched my diffuser and it’s helped me retain so much length.”
7. Ok we love your freckles, do you wear a light foundation? How do you wear makeup while letting your freckles show through?
“Awe! Thank you. Sometimes I do a little concealer under my eyes, I blend it with my fingers for a more seamless look. For foundation, I use a little mainly over zits or scars. I gentle dab my brush on the affected areas until it’s blended and looks natural. Secret: If I’m going somewhere special I’d turn that zit into a freckle. *Wink wink*”
The only thing better than asking your curl crush what they do with their hair? Finding out that you share products in common. I use the Pracaxi Nectar Wash N’Go Leave In as well, and I know NaturallyCurly contributor ThePolishedCurl likes to cocktail it with the Pracaxi Nectar Style Control Gel. I’m always impressed when a Type 2c wavy and a 3c curly can get amazing results using the same products. It’s all in the technique and quantity you use.
The Pracaxi Nectar line and plenty of your Carol’s Daughter favorites can be found at Sally Beauty.
This post is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter. All photos courtesy of @joyjah.
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
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Leslie
TonyMoly Banana Sleep Pack
Las Ofrendas Tassel Earrings
H.E.R Volume 2 and SZA Ctrl
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Devri
Brown Butter Sweet Milk Detangling Leave-in Conditioner
It’s been my holy grail leave-in for a year now. With a ton of slip for detangling knots and defining curls, as well as a light scent that isn’t too overpowering, it’s the perfect leave-in to cocktail underneath any styler. I liked it so much, it even won my Editor’s Choice Award for Best Leave-in.
Conscious breathing
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Nearly clear sunnies
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Michelle
Veep
Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
Tabata
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April
Long Tall Sally
Stakich’s Royal Jelly
Drink Maple
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Cristina
Nightshift
I’ve been trying to be more thoughtful about the way I use my phone and how it affects everything from how well I sleep to my ability to focus on my IRL conversations. The nightshift mode is something I just discovered and everyone already has it on their phones! It changes your display from the blue light that disrupts your brain’s ability to generate melatonin, to a warmer yellow light.
Barbie shoes
I found these pink, plastic Jeffrey Campbell mules while shopping with NaturallyCurly editors and they convinced me I needed them in my life. They look just like the types of shoes Barbie wore and are actually a plastic/rubber material that reminds me of the jellies we wore growing up. They’re a perfect summer shoe that’s just for fun.
Amber oil
Out of all of the perfumes and fragrances I try, I always come back to this. It smells the best, it’s the cheapest, and it’s also the one that lasts the longest. You can find it wherever you get your essential oils.
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Gerilyn
eos Smooth Stick Lip Balm in Sweet Mint
Naturally Smitten Tangle Free Pudding
Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up For the First Time
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Cara
Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Burt’s Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter
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Alexandra
Queen Sugar
Camille Rose Naturals Moroccan Pear Conditioning Custard
The Hate U Give
Do you remember the day you made the decision to start your healthy hair journey?
For many curlies it was a day they made a shift in their lifestyle that affected their buying habits, regimen, and oftentimes a mental transformation as well. For Verna it was a tentative decision, “in my mind, I was going to give it a try for at least 6 months & if things didn’t go well, I was going back! Well, it’s one year later and I made it! My hair has totally recovered & healed itself with over 20 years of damage.” The picture says it all, but I wanted to know more. Luckily Verna is very generous with her advice and the knowledge she’s gathered over this transformative year.
What was the state of your hair one year ago?
If I could sum up the state of my hair one year ago using one word, it would be lifeless. And the sad thing about it is, is that it was mostly self-inflicted damage. I abused my hair with chemicals like relaxers, bleach and hair dyes, heat styling tools (I had to try all the latest craze”>, hair extensions, mechanical manipulation and stress, etc. for over 20 years.
What made you decide to pursue a healthy hair journey?
What made me decide to pursue my healthy hair journey is realizing that if I didn’t do something about my hair, I would go bald. I became tired of the cycle of hair breakage and damage. I was tired of my dependence on clip in hair extensions or wearing my hair in a bun for weeks at a time because I couldn’t do anything more with it. For years, my hair was literally crying out to me to stop the vicious cycle and I finally woke up last year. And what really was the catalyst to starting my healthy hair journey was losing my precious mother. Life is too short to keep putting off what you know you should have done a long time ago. My goal was to get my hair back into a healthy state.
What changes did you make to your regimen at that point?
The very first change I made when I began this journey was to leave all heat styling tools and chemicals alone. Then I made the decision to get a deva cut to get rid of the damage and last, to follow the Curly Girl Method, which I followed strictly the first two months of transitioning.
What do you think made the biggest difference in the way your hair felt and looked?
I would say that my Deva cut made the biggest difference in the way my hair looked because I was so used to having long hair. I was able to let go of 8 inches of hair because I was ready and determined to go all in on this journey.
What is the state of your hair now?
The state of my hair is now healthy. I got the true texture of my hair back, my hair is much stronger and thicker now. And I can hardly believe I did it under a year.
My top tips
Be consistent
Establish a regular haircare routine and be consistent with it. We all know that consistency is the key to everything. Consistently doing the right things for your hair is key to achieving healthy, defined curls/waves. Routine is really the only way to tame out of control frizz and dryness, which are probably the two most common struggles among the curly/wavy hair community.
Check the label
Pay close attention to the ingredients on the back of a product rather than what a product claims it will do on the front label, learn the function of the ingredients. Keep track of the products you use and make a note whether your hair responded positively or negatively. This is a great way to not only use it as a process of elimination when an issue arise, but to help get to the root of the issue.
Find balance
It’s also really important to try to keep the protein and moisture level balanced as much as possible because too much of one can harm more easily than you think. It’s also vital to learn what your hair needs in order to determine which products are best for your hair type and porosity. Unfortunately, that will come through trial and error.
Listen to your hair
Rather than being caught up on products, products, products, it’s more important to listen to your own hair’s need and adjust your routine accordingly because believe it or not our hair speaks to us, we just have to learn pay attention and listen. Always remember that what works for someone else’s hair may not necessarily work for your hair; everyone’s hair is unique and will react differently to hair products.
Get trims
Don’t skip out on regular trims, it’s a must.
Never give up
Damaged hair isn’t the end of the world. With great hair care and consistency, anyone can gradually rebuild strength in their hair and see the curls/waves come back. It’s important to become a lifetime learner by continuing the learning process throughout your hair journey. Improving your knowledge is an ongoing effort that will ultimately provide incremental improvements overtime or breakthroughs in your journey.
Thank you Verna for sharing the wisdom you’ve gained over the last year!
If you’d like to follow Verna for more of her tips and hair health updates, you can follow her on Instagram @vmuse919.
Lauren
Mielle Organics Babassu Oil Deep Conditioner
I have been using the Mielle Deep Conditioner faithfully every week for the past 2 months. Mielle is the truth. My curls do really well with liquid products, and Mielle has achieved a happy medium between a liquid and a custard. My hair is also incredibly soft after I deep condition with this product, and smells AMAZING!
COSRX AHA/BHA Face Toner
I just started using the AHA Toner about 2 weeks ago to find something to tighten my pores. The AHA Toner doesn’t leave my face feeling tight, which is something I am not a huge fan of skincare products. It goes on as a mist, which I find very refreshing, and so far so good for making my pores look smaller! AHA Toner can be found at Ulta.
Shonda Rhimes Year of Yes TED Talk
Oh Shonda, Where Do I Start? I stumbled on her TED Talk after looking for some midday motivation, and I immediately was drawn to her message. Shonda is such a powerhouse, and my new inspiration!
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Grace
Sun Bum Sea Spray
You may recognize this brand from the cool branding on their sunscreen, but they branched out into haircare! I picked up this sea spray because it is UV-protecting AND a sea spray and I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks. It sprays really well/evenly, has a great beachy smell, and really helps enhance my waves.
Fresh cosmetics Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen
I’ve been using this for about a year – it’s one of the only lip products that I actually emptied. I finished the honey color and just bought the berry. I love it because it’s moisturizing, tinted, and spf all in one. It’s on the expensive side but the colors are flattering for almost every skin tone (I bought the berry which is usually too dark for my skin but since it’s buildable color it looks great!”>. And it actually moisturizes and gives you a nice glass, unlike a lot of lip products. Perfect for my light and bright day makeup look!
Pod Save the People
It only has 2 episodes so far and it comes from a series of podcasts by Crooked Media that you may have heard of, including Pod Save America and Pod Save the World, which are about politics. It was started by Obama’s former speechwriters and they recently brought on DeRay Mckesson for a podcast about culture, social justice, and politics. Find it anywhere you can find podcasts – I listen on itunes.
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Gerilyn
Long Aid Naturals Tea Tree Detox Clarifying Spray
For the past month and a half, I have been using Long Aid Naturals Tea Tree Detox Clarifying Spray and am loving it. I like that it helps me keep a clean scalp between wash days, which are getting farther apart thanks to my scalp health improving with the use of this spray. I also like that its ingredients are sustainably sourced and that the company is woman-owned.
Pure Lemon Oil Deodorant
A month or so ago, I met local entrepreneur Erin Bee. She created Naturally Deodorizing Honey Butter as an alternative to traditional bar and gel deodorants. What I like most about this deodorant is its contents: organic, unrefined Coconut Oil, unrefined Shea Butter, Hemp seed oil, 100% raw Manuka honey, and other natural ingredients. I am currently using the Pure Lemon Oil deodorant (which will probably last me another few weeks since I don’t need to use a whopping amount per application”>. Erin Bee is currently taking individual and small batch orders at erinbeenaturals@gmail.com, and will be in retail stores soon. For Austin locals, you can find her wares at farmers’ markets and via word-of-mouth.
Bare Minerals Original Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15
Last year, I decided to start wearing makeup again… I have not been serious about wearing makeup since my college years. This year, I was gifted Bare Minerals from a friend. I am crazy about it! My skin looks soooo good when I use it. I have two colors that I move back and forth between: Golden Dark and Golden Deep. Sometimes I will blend both colors for color correction. No matter what I choose in terms of color, I heavily rely on this power foundation to help me enhance my melanin!
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Cara
Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Hair Milk
It smells so good, and it makes my hair soft and fluffy, not greasy or weighed down :”> It’s been sitting on the back of my shelf (I’m not crazy about the packaging”> but I finally got around to using it a couple of weeks ago. It’s in the shop!
Organic Wear Mascara
I love that it is bright green and shiny, and allegedly organic (although I’m too lazy to look into stuff like that”>. Been using it for about two weeks. I found it at Target.
Trader Joe’s Spa Natural Facial Cleansing Pads with Tea Tree Oil
These are a daily for me—when I feel all of the dirt on my face but don’t have the time to wash it. These have been in my life for about two years now It’s at Trader Joe’s Also, I’m so glad Silicon Valley is back on!
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Devri
Controlled Chaos Original Curl Creme
Koyvoca Cosmetics Nude Lip Perfection Lipstick in Vanity
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Cristina
RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up
I’m trying to be as vigilant about my beauty product ingredients as I am about my hair products, and in my search I found RMS Beauty. I’ve been using their Un-Cover Up as my foundation and it’s a big departure from my usual high coverage, matte foundation. It’s light coverage and very dewy since it’s coconut oil-based so it might not be for everyone, but I like knowing that I’m not putting harsh chemicals on my face every day.Diffusing oils
Scented candles are so tempting to buy, but I find that the artificial fragrance actually irritates my nose and throat when I burn them, especially in my small apartment. Instead I’ve been diffusing essential oils and I absolutely love the way they make my home feel like a relaxing spa. I diffuse tea tree oil in the morning when I’m getting ready for work, and lavender oil in the evening when I’m going to bed. It makes my normal routine feel much more indulgent.
2 Girls with Curls
Lately I’ve been very into pampering myself by making my home feel as much as a spa as possible, and 2 Girls with Curls has been helping me do that. This brand won an Editors’ Choice award for Best Emerging Brand and their products have a wonderful natural lavender scent that’s unlike any other hair products I’ve used. I’m excited to see what’s next for this new brand!
I am really excited about this month’s NaturallyCurly Book Club pick, written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Even if you aren’t familiar with her writing, you may know her voice well as her TED Talk was sampled in Beyoncé‘s Flawless. I read her third novel Americanah when it was released and found her writing style to be highly observant of our culture. It’s the kind of writing that will make you say “YES, I’ve thought that before!” and if you’re the type of person who highlights their books as you read, you may find yourself highlighting every line of her writing as it comes packed with wit. I wasn’t alone in loving it as the book has been optioned as a feature film starring Lupita Nyong’o. This month we’ll be reading Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun.
The synopsis
Based loosely on political events in nineteen-sixties Nigeria, this novel focusses on two wealthy Igbo sisters, Olanna and Kainene, who drift apart as the newly independent nation struggles to remain unified. Olanna falls for an imperious academic whose political convictions mask his personal weaknesses; meanwhile, Kainene becomes involved with a shy, studious British expat. After a series of massacres targeting the Igbo people, the carefully genteel world of the two couples disintegrates. Adichie indicts the outside world for its indifference and probes the arrogance and ignorance that perpetuated the conflict. Yet this is no polemic. The characters and landscape are vividly painted, and details are often used to heartbreaking effect: soldiers, waiting to be armed, clutch sticks carved into the shape of rifles; an Igbo mother, in flight from a massacre, carries her daughter’s severed head, the hair lovingly braided. – The New Yorker
Get your copy
Order Half of a Yellow Sun on Amazon or in your local bookstore. You can also sign up for Audible and get two free audiobooks.
Sign up for the NaturallyCurly newsletter
Sign up for our NaturallyCurly Book Club newsletter here to be in the loop on the book of the month, and remind you when our virtual book club meeting will be.
Chat with us
Our virtual book club meeting will take place live on Facebook, so that everybody can attend no matter where you live! Tune in to the NaturallyCurly Facebook page on July 11 at 12pm CST to discuss the book with us and other book club members! You can also follow #NaturallyCurlyBookClub on Instagram and Twitter to chat with us through the month as you read.
Win a book
We’re giving away a copy of Half of a Yellow Sun so that you can get in on the fun!
To enter, comment below and tell us if you’ve read one of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s books before.
This giveaway ends June 9 and is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.
*Be sure to like NaturallyCurly on Facebook, so we can contact you if you’ve won!
I don’t pay much attention to red carpet events. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very passionate about seeing how people use fashion, beauty and design to express their personalities, always have been, but in my experience you see very little personality on the red carpet. It’s where actors, actresses and musicians who play vibrant and ebullient characters on stage and screen slip into a uniform – red gown, red lip, wavy hair – and hide all evidence of quirks and imperfections. The Met Gala, on the other hand, is like a playground. The Met Gala is the annual fundraising benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. For a smooth $30K ticket, celebrities (or let’s be real, their stylists”> get the opportunity to creatively interpret the annual theme. Like when we DIY our outfit for a themed birthday party – except with couture ateliers.
I was especially excited for this year’s theme, Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons. Kawakubo has made her name by challenging standards. According to the New York Times, she “refuses to accept any of the rules that govern normal clothing design: that clothes need to be flattering, for example, or that they need to have armholes. Instead, she is interested in challenging our ideas about what defines beauty, identity and gender.” Our community of readers is no stranger to challenging standards every day just by wearing their hair as it naturally grows out of their heads, so Kawakubo’s message resonates with me.
While there was no shortage of long, shiny straight hair and basic mermaid silhouette dresses, there were a few women who really embodied the Comme des Garçons spirit.
Last year, Zendaya wore a bowl cut. She is not interested in anyone’s idea of “sexy.” She’s not concerned about having the most defined curls or battling frizz, and I love her for it. There are some who may claim that wearing this hairstyle is inappropriate for the formal ballgown, but I think she’s doing a beautiful job of showing the world that big, beautiful hair is a natural fit for formal events.
Solange, aka my bff, was giving us Missy Elliott “The Rain” vibes and challenging the archaic notion that women must show their body to be beautiful. Rei Kawakubo doesn’t subscribe to society’s flatter figuring requirements, and if that means walking down a red carpet in a dress so comfortable you could sleep on it, I’m here for it. Obviously I’m also here for hair looks like art no matter what Solange is wearing.
As my good friend put it last night, “@badgalriri showed up in laundry basket chic and WE LOVE IT.” Rihanna reminded me last night how fun it can be to take a fashion risk and love every moment of it – even if no one else does.
You may not be dawning a sleeping bag to work tomorrow (but wouldn’t that be amazing?”> but nonetheless, when you get up and get dressed this week take a little inspo from Rei Kawakubo’s avant garde message and the women who embodied it last night.
Who was your favorite look of the night?
Follow me on Instagram at @fujifiles, and get more curly hair inspiration with @NaturallyCurly
