Search Results: Cristina Cleveland

By Cristina Cleveland · Published October 4, 2016

Your Instagram feed is a veritable rainbow these days, and you’re feeling the urge to try the trend. But, there’s just one problem: Your hair is curly. Curly and coily locks are more delicate than straight hair, as each bend in the strand is a weak point prone to breakage. Also, curly hair tends to be more porous and, as you probably know by now, you need a significant amount of moisture to keep it healthy. Unfortunately, lightening and coloring only aggravates these issues by causing more breakage, higher porosity, and more dryness.

Don’t fret just yet — there’s a way for you to go purple! Many of our readers have been asking how to go purple, but these tips will actually work for any hair color your heart desires. By paying attention to a few key steps, you can get in on the trend all your straight-haired friends have been rocking.

The Coconut-Bleaching Method

If you want to get pastel or vibrant locks, then you will most likely need to lighten your hair before coloring in order for the dye to show up. Unless you already have very light, blonde hair, the color simply will not show up on your strands, which will make bleaching or double-processing a necessary step in the process. Of course, bleaching can be damaging — but coconut oil can help. We recommend the coconut-oil method.

The night before your bleaching appointment, take pure, unrefined coconut oil and saturate your strands completely, from root to tip. Cover up with a shower cap, and leave in the oil overnight. The next day, bleach (or go to a professional stylist”> with the oil still in your hair. The oil acts in the same way that your hair’s natural oils do, protecting the tresses and scalp from the harmful effects of bleach. Some women in the curly community have even found that it helps the bleaching process go faster.

My purple waves, using Manic Panic

Temporary Color

There are many color options on the market when it comes to blues, purples, and pinks, but you’ll find that most of them are temporary. Manic Panic and Pravana are among the most popular lines carrying an array of unicorn colors, and both wash out over time. Depending on how vibrant you want your color to be, you can mix a small amount (start out with just one drop”> of a purple like Manic Panic’s Violet Night or Pravana’s Violet or Lavender to 2 cups of conditioner to create a lavender tint. If you want the color to be darker or more vibrant, you can add more color to your mixture until it resembles your desired color. You can also add small amounts of blue or pink to alter the resulting color, just remember that these colors are extremely pigmented so even a drop to make an impact. I initially went to a salon to dye my hair purple, but when that dye faded I used Manic Panic in Ultra Violet mixed in with my conditioner to maintain my lavender color.

Watch how askpRoy applied Manic Panic in Ultra Violet and Hot Pink to her hair. She used the whole jar for a deeper, richer color payoff.

To enhance her color, askpRoy enhanced her curls using our next temporary method.

Eyeshadow

If you don’t want to commit to the rainbow and are looking for an even more temporary fling, then try artist’s soft pastels (make sure they’re not oil pastels or chalk”> or cream eyeshadow, like Maybelline’s Color Tattoo. These options will appear vibrant even on dark hair, but application and maintenance can be a little messy. Watch to see how Evelyn and I used eyeshadow and pastels on our hair, and read this tutorial for detailed directions.

Maintaining your color

Now that you’re a purple-haired beauty, you’ll want to know how to maintain the color and keep your curls healthy.

Avoid Sulfates

Curlies prefer sulfate-free shampoos as it is, but if your hair is color-treated, then you will definitely want to avoid these stripping agents as they’ll make your color fade faster.

Add Color To Conditioner

Mix a small amount of your hair color in with your conditioner, so that every time you condition, you are also giving yourself a color touchup.

Do A Weekly Protein Treatment

Protein will help fill the holes created by bleaching and lightening the hair, and it will also help soften the hair when it feels like straw. We like ApHogee’s Two-Step Protein Treatment and Tigi Dumb Blond Reconstructor. Check out our full guide to finding the right protein treatment for you.

Deep Condition

By now you you may be growing tired of this refrain, but lightening your hair creates a damaging chemical reaction that cannot be undone. While you can’t completely prevent or reverse the damage done by bleach, you can help reduce the negative effects by moisturizing your hair. We like EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea All Natural Hair Masque, Ouidad Curl Recovery Melt-Down Extreme Repair Mask and MYHoneyChild Honey Hair Mask, but read here for a full list of deep conditioner favorites.

Want more? 

This is the key to maintaining healthy, bleached Type 4 hair.

Subscribe to AskpRoy for more of her videos and tutorials here.

For more articles like this, sign up for our newsletter!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published September 15, 2016

NaturallyCurly is proud to be the Media Sponsor for The Curly Monologues, a series of gatherings where women can share their personal stories of growing up curly on stage to an audience of other curlies. Curly Monologues founder Jonathan Pillot says “it’s an amazing thing to witness curly girls as they step into the theater, their eyes pop open and they all viscerally laugh or nod or shake their heads because there’s never been a time in their lives where they walk into a place and everyone has curly hair.”

I recently sat down with Jonathan to find out what inspired him to start the Curly Monologues, and what makes the events such a cathartic experience for everyone involved.

What inspired you to start the Curly Monologues? As a man, and one with straight hair, what did you see in the curly story?

Curly girls always have something to say below the surface, and in my work as a storyteller and director I always try to focus on what’s going on below the surface. When I would ask a woman with curly hair if she had a story about her curly hair, she would look at me like I was crazy, because she didn’t have just one story – she had hundreds.

I realized that what these women were saying was so universal and powerful and personal and emotional and open and vulnerable and true and authentic, that the stories would and could work live on stage. And that was the moment that the Curly monologues were born.

I mounted a few in New York at different venues and they keep getting bigger. For the women, being in a room of other curlies kind of blows their minds and helps them feel welcomed in an environment where everybody gets everybody, and that gets to the heart of what this is about. My work as a storyteller around tribe is that they transcend age and ethnicity and all of those very limiting silos that people usually connect on.

Have you seen any common themes in the Monologues?

Curly hair is really just a metaphor for the bigger thing. The metaphor of fitting in, hiding out, not being yourself, accepting yourself. The Curly Monologues are about elevating the conversation beyond just hair.

Who started the whole notion that straight hair was professional? I often say when people make judgments about curly hair at a job interview it’s like saying that candidate’s arms were too long or something. You can’t make an extrapolation about their choices when they come to an interview based on how they look, that’s just so off.

I just want people to be themselves. I’m all about personal empowerment and celebrating who you are. I don’t want people to be discriminated against based on their hair, it’s just ridiculous.

What’s your goal for the Curly Monologues?

I want to grow it , I want to go on tour, I want to find the right partner who can see the big picture. I love that NaturallyCurly is a part of it and I want to grow our relationship together.

I’ve always thought this would do really well overseas, so I’d like to do that too. It’s not just a New York thing, it’s certainly not a white thing, black thing, brown thing, it’s just a curl thing.  I just filmed my first monologue entirely in French with a mom and a daughter.

How do they come up with the stories?

They write their monologues, I just try to help them tell the story. In most of us there’s a little bit of a storyteller right? And in the Curly Monologues they’re telling a story that they know very well, it’s not like I’m asking them to act. They’re very comfortable because they’re just telling the truth. They don’t have to think about lines or forgetting something, this is their story.

What I always say is it’s really just allowing people to be. I’m never there as a director to tell somebody what to say. I’m just trying to create whatever it takes for them to be the most authentic version of themselves.

The next Curly Monologue is in San Francisco on Sunday, September 25. Click here to purchase tickets, and follow the Curly Monologues for more updates. 

By Cristina Cleveland · Published September 13, 2016

We spend most of our time on NaturallyCurly talking about the naturally curly hair we love and embrace, but today we are talking about the naturally curly hair… that we don’t want.

This is why you always get ingrown hairs

Curly and coily hair is actually different from other hair types, and that can make it more difficult when it comes to maintaining a close, smooth shave. Dr. Henry explained that curly or coarse hair is “more prone to bending or curling back into the skin, so if we cut the hairs improperly they can bend into the skin, and when they re-enter the skin it’s almost like having a splinter. So that area becomes red, it becomes raised, and it becomes what we know classically as an ingrown hair… The curlier the coilier the hair, the more pronounced the arc, the angle of the curve. So the curlier the hair the more difficult it is and the more important it is to shave appropriately so we don’t create an ingrown hair.”

You’re shaving the wrong way

Many of us have spent our adult lifetimes shaving one way: against the grain. We slide our razor from our ankles up towards our knees, and apparently we’ve been doing it wrong all along. Blackwell explains that “at Bevel we always say shave with the grain. Which means, shave in the direction that your hair grows in. I think there’s a lot of education or even in commercials you see everybody going against the grain, so pulling up, and doing all of these things that go against the grain. But really shave in the direction the hair goes, which helps to keep that shave smoother and right against the skin.”

What does shaving against the grain do?

Is this just a difference of opinion, or does shaving against the grain actually have negative effects? Many of us shave against the grain because we feel that it gives us a closer shave that will give us longer lasting results, but this may not work for our naturally curly hair. Dr. Henry says that when you shave against the grain, “you’re lifting those hairs and cutting them below the surface of the skin, so when that happens, when the hair starts to grow and starts to curl as it does, it may even start to transept the follicle, or grow into the skin deep. That’s when you get the deep, painful ingrown hairs. So it’s really important to go with the grain and cut the hair right at the level of the skin.”

If this goes against everything you have ever learned and believed in, you’re not alone! “Honestly, it changed my life learning that. It really changed my life, because I did it wrong for years and that one shift was a profound revolution” said Blackwell.

Why do ingrown hairs matter?

Ingrown hairs can be annoying and even painful, but the effects can last far beyond that single hair. Dr. Henry told us that “in brown skin or in darker skin, what I see is that razor burn can also cause hyperpigmentation. Ingrown hairs can cause hyperpigmentation. This becomes a huge, not only a kind of painful, uncomfortable condition but also an un-aesthetically pleasing condition. So that’s probably the biggest concern with dark skin is that when we get the ingrown hairs, the hairs will grow out and the bumps will go away but the hyperpigmentation will last for a long time.”

If hyperpigmentation is an issue for you, Dr. Henry recommends using an after-shave – no, they’re not just for men. She likes Bevel’s post-shave Restoring Balm because it has salicylic acid and lactic acid in it. “What’s great about that is it doesn’t only feel good because it’s kind of moisturizing, but it’s also preventing ingrown hairs. So that salicylic acid and that lactic acid will help to lighten that hyperpigmentation just a touch.”

Don’t skip shaving cream

We know our community embodies the DIY spirit when it comes to caring for and even cutting our hair, and many of our community members like to use coconut oil or other oils to shave with. So does oil really work just as well as a store-bought product?

According to Dr. Henry, “It’s nice to use an oil because it will provide a barrier, but what’s really going to help your shave and to help you prevent ingrown hairs is using something that can lather and lift those hairs. So what the shaving cream does is lift those hairs, and in addition it’s hydrating. What happens when we hydrate the hair is that it swells, and when it swells it’s easier to cut. You’re just not going to get that with an oil alone, so it’s really important to use something that’s hydrating and moisturizing and with a little bit of a foam to help lift those hairs.”

Cassidy recommends using the Bevel Badger Brush, because she says “when you whip a lather with this it also works to do exactly what Dr. Henry says, which is to lift those hairs and really prepare them to shave.”

Watch the full Hangout

We covered even more ground in the Hangout, like the best way to shave our bikini areas and why shaving every 2 weeks is not enough (I know, we were disappointed too”>. Watch the full Hangout for more surprising shaving tips.

Want to know about our next Hangout before it happens? Sign up for our newsletter!

And subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos like this. 

By Cristina Cleveland · Published September 7, 2016

Did you grow up feeling like your hair was wrong? You’re not alone.

Despite 60% of the population being born with textured hair, it’s amazing that the experience can still be such an isolating one. Every day we strive to change that here at NaturallyCurly, and it’s one of our priorities that we support people who share our mission.

We are proud to be the Media Sponsor for The Curly Monologues, a series of gatherings where women can share “The Secret Lives of Girls with Curls” through music, spoken word and theater.

I recently sat down with two-time Curly Monologuer  Valerie Bennis to find out what it’s like to get up on a stage and discover you’re not alone. 

What did you feel it was important to share in your Curly Monologue?

I shared throughout my life what it was like having curly hair, starting from being a little girl and wanting a ponytail. And having a mother who wasn’t very adept at hair grooming, so she kept my hair short through most of my childhood and I thought people might think I was a boy.

But I think more than anything there was a certain amount of shame I had about my hair.

All I wanted was a long ponytail or braid, yunno something very sleek or smooth.

But then as I grew up, as a teenager my mother and I used to go and get our hair straightened. So we would go to a professional place and get my hair professionally straightened once a year. 

The message was always that there’s something wrong with your hair.

I got teased about it. My mother when I would let it grow a little bit wild when I was a teenager would make me smooth it out, sit under a dryer, put it in rollers, wear it in a bun, I wore kerchiefs on my head.

The whole message there’s something wrong with your hair. Through family, through our culture, through people at school, I remember someone teasing me at school and saying your hair is like pubic hair. For a teenage girl to hear that, I couldn’t feel attractive with this hair.

I didn’t know what to do with it, there were no grooming products, it was a source of shame where for many women hair is a source of pleasure. When you feel that your hair looks good, you feel that you look good.

Then to make matters worse, my twin brother has beautiful, thick wavy hair. So it was like why did he get that hair and I got this hair?

My hair, which I now appreciate, is very tight curls.

What happened to me when I turned 50 was I went to Devachan and they taught me what to do with my hair, and now there are all of these products – but that was a lifetime, from the age of 8 to 50, of not liking my hair. I wore it short, I straightened, I curled it, I did everything to try to manage it and hide it.

Did you feel alone in that process?

I did, I did because if I look back on the people I went to school with, no one had hair like mine. If they did they surely were straightening it. My best friend in high school had really beautiful, long straight hair down her back. My grandmother had beautiful long straight hair. But my mother had curly hair, and she didn’t really know what to do with it, she used to go to the beauty parlor every week. So I felt alone, I didn’t know anyone else who had the same issue – and it was an issue. I used to lie in bed and wish for straight hair.

There was a loneliness, there was a sense of not being attractive, and not looking “right.”

What was it like to get on stage at the Curly Monologues and tell your story?

It was very cathartic, it was very cathartic seeing other women with curly hair and hearing their stories. Also when I went to Devachan for the first time, seeing other women with my kind of hair and being in a place where curly hair is totally accepted and loved – that was so different!

But at the same time, what’s interesting is there were people who would come up to me and say “wow are those curls yours” and “did you get a permanent,” and there were people getting permanents so in a way it was a conflicted message. In a way, people were telling me no this is not the right kind of hair to have, but there was an interest or fascination with it so that also made it confusing.

It sounds like it took a long time to get to a point where you knew what to do with your hair, do you feel that now you’re fully at peace with it?

I think for the most part I am. Do you have curly hair?

Yes I do

So you know that with curly hair, there are days when the curls look really good, the weather conditions are right. Mostly I don’t think I would ever straighten it again, I recently had it blown straight out of curiosity. Most of the time I’m okay with it, but sometimes I do think I wish it wasn’t as curly or I wish I had a different kind of curl, I wish it was a looser curl, not these tight curls. So I still go to that place of inacceptance of what my hair is.

Do you feel like you’ve seen a shift in the culture around the acceptance of curly hair?

Without question, I definitely see a change. The products on the market – there are so many products on the market for curly hair now.

But still, I recently met a woman who has wavy hair and she straightens it because she thinks it’s not professional to be wavy curly. I still hear women say that they think it’s not professional looking and that they straighten their hair for work. That woman shared her feelings with me and I was able to give her some tips since she wanted to try going naturally curly. I think we’ve made a lot of progress, certainly with Devachan Salon, Ouidad, I know there are other great salons now, what you’re doing, what Jonathan is doing, this is all very positive. So I definitely, definitely feel we’ve made a lot of progress and that curly hair is definitely more accepted.

What do you think is so special about the Curly Monologues?

First of all I think it’s great that it was started by a man who sees the originality of curly hair and wanted to give women who struggled with it a platform. I just think that’s such a beautiful contribution.

Because it is, no matter whether a woman has straight hair or curly hair, hair is part of her sense of beauty and confidence, it can be such an integral part of identity, so what he’s doing is giving women a special platform to share how they feel, really about themselves. It is a connection to their identity, it’s personal, it’s funny, it’s poignant, it says a lot about our culture and what is supposed to be “good.”

Like somehow straight hair is better, or more elegant or more professional. So having all of these women together, younger and older, women who have finally accepted their hair, I think it’s very special and unique.

I think it’s many-layered, because ultimately it’s not really about their hair but more so about how they feel about themselves.

I hope that we as a culture keep going in the direction that all looks are perfect, no matter what. And that there is no better than or best hair. Hair can be used to our advantage as a form of self expression, because each curl is really unique and different.

To get tickets to a Curly Monologue near you, click here.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published September 6, 2016

As a NaturallyCurly Editor and community member, I’m pretty proficient in reading my hair product labels at this point. I speak the language of water-soluble silicones and fatty alcohols. I also use sunscreen rated highly by the Environmental Working Group and natural charcoal deodorant, yet somehow I still remain blissfully unaware of what’s in many of the cosmetics I use every day.   I realize it’s a contradiction, and speaking with fellow curlies it’s one I believe many of us share.

I firmly believe that embracing your natural hair is just one step in the larger journey to self-love, and for many that journey includes becoming a more conscious consumer and being more thoughtful about what we put on our bodies. One switch I’m in the process of making is from using nail polish brands that contain harmful ingredients to brands that make an effort to leave out these culprits. Here’s what to look for.

What’s so wrong with nail polish?

Leading nail polish brands contain many chemical ingredients that help the formula stay on our nails longer, apply evenly, and prevent them from chipping. Of course we want our nail polish to do all of these things, but at what cost?

Many nail polishes have traditionally contained formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, three chemicals that have come to be known by public health advocates as the “toxic trio.” Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen while the other two, toluene and dibutyl phthalate, are linked to developmental defects. As brands have been making the move to remove phthalates from their formulas, they have been replacing them with a chemical called triphenyl phosphate, also known as TPP or TPHP. Triphenyl phosphate is a flame retardant used in many household products such as foam cushions in furniture and is used to make plastics, it also helps make nail polish last longer. According to the Environmental Working Group, “TPHP might disrupt hormones in humans, and in animal studies has upset reproductive and development processes.”

Even when brands have stopped listing these toxic ingredients on their product labels, a 2012 investigation by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control found that brands were continuing to use the ingredients in their formulas even after removing them from the labels.

Why does it matter?

• Salon employees – who are exposed to these chemicals all day, every day
• Teens and children – who are especially vulnerable to hormone disruptors during the developmental stages before and during puberty

What to avoid

Even “natural” nail polishes are still going to contain synthetic materials and VOCs that you will be exposed to during the application, wearing and removal, but if you are looking to find nail polishes that don’t contain known harmful ingredients then it’s a good idea to start with the “toxic trio” of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. Products that don’t contain the “toxic trio” are common referred to as “three free.” Here’s a short list to look for:

• triphenyl phosphate, aka TPP or TPHP
• formaldehyde
• toluene
• dibutyl phthalate
• formaldehyde resin
• camphor

A few of the popular brands that EWG’s Skin Deep database lists as containing TPHP in their polishes include:

• Sally Hansen
• Essie
• OPI
• butter LONDON
• Revlon
• Wet N Wild 

Should you stop using nail polish?

As with all ingredients, it is a personal choice. It is important to note that the studies on the effects of TPHP that have been done so far have been conducted on animals, not humans. As Richard Sachleben, an expert spokesman for the American Chemical Society, points out in the Huffington Post, the results found in the Duke and EWG study hasn’t been directly linked to human health. Keep in mind the high risk groups who may be affected most greatly by use of these products, nail techs, teens and children.

I’d love to know, do you avoid chemicals in all of your cosmetics and household products? Or mostly just in your hair?

And if you’ve found a “three free” nail polish that you love, please share it below!

What’s next?

Want to know what to look out for in hair products? Here are 5 ingredients to know and avoid. 

It’s not all bad, here are 4 ingredients that are good for your hair and your face. 

Like what you see? For more articles like this, sign up for our newsletter!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published August 26, 2016

I have yet to meet a curly girl who doesn’t have a haircut horror story in which a stylist cut their hair too short. Whether it’s because they failed to take our natural shrinkage into account, or they simply didn’t listen to our requests to cut just one inch (and instead cut 6″>, many curly girls have been burned one too many times and now boycott the salon.

Why do you need a haircut?

Avoiding the salon when you’ve been disappointed before is understandable, but it can also lead to hair that is pyramid shaped, has damage on the ends, and stops cooperating no matter what products we use. I have definitely gone years without visiting a salon before in an effort to save my length, but in the process I was left with long, damaged hair that stopped clumping into defined curls. I’ve since discovered stylists who know how to cut my curls and embraced the game-changing effect a haircut can have. 

If you’re in a long-term salon boycott right now, it’s important to know that it is possible to get a curly haircut without ending up with a bob. The key is to:

• Do your research and find a stylist who has experience with your hair type
• Schedule a consultation with them first to talk about your goals and their approach

There are many curl stylists now, and each has a their own techniques and cuts that they pull from depending on your goals and personal style. One stylist may use a dry cut for one client and a wet cut for another. I recently spoke with stylist Amanda Troisi, aka MyCurlsNY, at Julien Farel Salon about how she works with clients who want to keep their length, and this is what she shared.

Before

My client wanted to achieve more height and movement, without creating choppy looking layers and jeopardizing the length. She also wanted to get rid of any dead ends and discover an overall shape for her thick curly hair, which did not have one. She asked for a curly cut that was low maintenance and modern.

The cut

One of my haircuts that I do is called the bonsai cut.  I brush the curls out into its full form using a silicone brush  that combs through the curls with ease and does not rip at the hair. This cut helps see the shape of the hair (the perfect shape is circular, not boxy”>. I then trim it just as you think – like a bonsai tree!

Why do you brush out the curls first? How do you make sure not to damage the hair when brushing?

Brushing the curls is a huge part of the cut. I use a silicon brush that detangles the curls gently and with ease! This brush is by a company called Janeke and is made in Italy. I brush the curls to see where the hair sits when it’s reaching for moisture, this gives me the opportunity to find the curls that reach out of place.

It’s like sculpting the curls.

What was causing the boxy shape of the cut before, and what did you do to create a rounder, more flattering shape?

What was the outcome of this cut? 

After

She felt like the cut gave her hair appropriate height which she said highlighted her facial features. Her final words were  “this is the only way I’ll cut my curls now!”

You can follow stylist Amanda on Instagram at @MyCurlsNY, and her client is dancer @Rosiepbell.

If you love seeing before and after photos as much as I do, check out these 15 Curly Hair Transformations You Have to See to Believe.

To see more cuts by curly hair specialists, check out the 18 Best Haircuts for Curly Hair. 

Like what you see? For more articles like this, sign up for our newsletter!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published August 11, 2016

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVAN JOSEPH SALON

We recently published an article on the curly hair concern our readers refer to as triangle hair, mushroom head, Christmas tree head, and perhaps most commonly, pyramid head.

PHOTO VIA NATURALLYCURLY ON FACEBOOK

Curly hair specialists weighed in on the importance of a flattering cut from an experienced stylist to combat this common shape. But beyond the cut, there are a few tricks that curly hair specialists use to prevent pyramid head. Ultimately, we are trying to avoid two common tendencies that curly girls have:

• flatness at the roots and 
• excessive volume at the ends

These two looks combined create the triangle shape that many curlies are trying to avoid. I do want to note that this shape is not inherently bad, it can look fabulous! Curly hair stylist Isabella Vazquez loves this silhouette because she says “opening the curls at a starting point of the eyes will accentuate and draw attention to the eyes, cheeks and lips.” But if you prefer more lift at the roots and less weight at the ends, try these expert styling tricks.

PICTURED: BREANNE PRINCE

1. Clip the roots

Shari Harbinger, Vice President of Education at DevaCurl, recommends using clips at the roots to create lift, “keeping the hair from weighing down on itself.” To clip your roots “take two fingers and lift one family of curls and place the clip as close to — or on — the scalp, east to west.” Use a minimum of six clips, and for best results use 10. For your best results, try not to touch your hair during the drying process. I know that’s easier said than done, so for a full guide to clipping check out curly hair stylist Brianne Prince of  Brianne Prince Salon‘s step by step tutorial, complete with a handy name that will make easier to recreate, “O Clipping.”

PICTURED: ROCIO MORA

2. Rake & shake

Ouidad, owner of New York’s Ouidad Salon, the Curl Education Center, recommends that you “style it from the bottom, with our ‘shake and rake’ method. With gel in your palm, rub your hands together and grab your hair in sections from the root, sliding your fingers through the end to recreate the curl pattern. If you do that in steps all the way to the top, you’re setting your curl pattern. Then, take duck clips, put them on their side, and slide them on your scalp to lift the root up and allow the curls to cascade down.” NaturallyCurly contributor Rocio Mora filmed how she uses the Rake and Shake method for defined, touchable curls, you can watch her full tutorial here.

PICTURED: NATURALLYCURLY EDITOR GERILYN H

 3. Section to style

Christo, global artistic director of New York’s Christo Fifth Avenue salon says “The bottom layer of your hair will expand, even with a good haircut, if you’re not styling it properly. Invest the five to 10 minutes it takes to section the hair and apply your products correctly, so you won’t have to worry about frizz or pyramids.” This tip holds true for every hair type, from loose and wavy to tight and coily, no matter your hair length. Here is our Branded Content Editor Gerilyn sectioning her TWA into “tiny, tiny, tiny puffs” in her article “Yes, You Can Section a TWA in 3 Easy Steps.”

We don’t all have easy access to curly hair stylists in the areas we live in, so if you are in between haircuts, or if you have had the misfortune of getting a bad haircut, Christo recommends that you “make sure your hair is styled well, then you can pin some of your curls back with bobby pins. It will add lift to the root area so you can fake a haircut.”

PICTURED: TANESHA AWASTHI

4. Bun while drying

Fashion blogger  Tanesha Awasthi has an envy-inducing wardrobe and a gorgeous head of curls to match. She has a game-changing trick for air drying that anyone can master: air drying in a top knot. After applying her styling product, she air dries it in a loose top knot until it is 50% dry, then she takes it down to air dry the rest of the way. For a full tutorial from cleansing to the finished look, watch Tanesha’s tutorial here.

PICTURED: NATURALLYCURLY EDITOR JAMIE K

5. Plopping

Plopping is a tried and true technique that was born right here on our NaturallyCurly forums. It is similar to a towel turban that many of us learned at a young age, but instead of using a terry cloth towel we use a t-shirt or microfiber towel. This prevents frizz, blots out extra moisture, and gives hair the opportunity to dry without being pulled down by wet hair. To plop, flip your head forward into your t-shirt or towel and tie it in a knot around your head. We created step by step tutorials for both the towel and the t-shirt method here.

PICTURED: BREANNE PRINCE

6. Curl kebabs

When clipping became difficult for Breanne Prince due to a limited range of motion, she invented a new gravity-defying technique: curl kebabs. For this technique, Breanne recommends using anything that’s long, thin, and not blunt at the ends so as not to disturb the curl pattern. Kebab skewers, pencils, chopsticks, rattail combs, or anything you have in this shape will work. Slide the skewers towards each other to lift the curls up at the roots and allow them to dry this way, then slide them out when your hair is dry. This may be easier for some to master than the clipping is – it’s all about finding a method that works for you. Watch Breanne’s full video tutorial here.

PICTURED: SANDRA AKA JUSTCURLY

7. Diffusing upside down

Diffusing is a major time saver for curlies who don’t have time to wait for their hair to air dry fully. Not only do diffusers speed up your drying time, they also create volume. If you’re pressed for time or find that your hair dries flat to your head, make sure you focus your diffuser at the roots to create lift there. To prevent frizz, NaturallyCurly contributor Sandra recommends that you “don’t move your drier whenever it’s turned on. Always turn it off before you move to diffuse another section of your curls.” Watch her routine for getting her curls to clump here.

Have you dealt with Christmas tree head?

What’s next?

A good routine and a flattering cut can make all the difference, just look at these 15 Curly Hair Transformations You Have to See to Believe. 

Haven’t found a curl stylist yet? Look for these 6 Signs a Stylist Knows How to Cut Curly Hair. 

In a hair rut? Follow us on Instagram @NaturallyCurly and stylist @EvanJosephSalon (whose work is pictured above”> for inspiration.

Like what you see? For more articles like this, sign up for our newsletter!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published June 23, 2016

,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-captioned=”” data-instgrm-version=”7″>

We still can’t believe Natalie got invited to the attend the @uswomen2016 #StateofWomen conference for her efforts to empower young girls to find their inner superpower! #MoxieMcGriff #jaxmomsblog #ilovejax #kinkcoily #blackgirlmagic

A photo posted by Adventures of Moxie McGriff (@adventuresofmoxiegirl”> on Jun 2, 2016 at 4:49pm PDT

Do you remember what it felt like to be 8 years old? Do you remember the messages you were seeing on TV in cartoons and ads every day, and how they made you feel? For me it’s been decades since I was in those shoes, so I personally found it both inspiring and humbling to speak with Natalie McGriff, the award-winning co-author of “The Adventures of MoxieMcGriff.” Natalie recently attended  The White House Summit on the United State of Women for her efforts to empower young girls to find their inner superpower and promote literacy amongst girls of color, and did I mention she’s 8 years old? Natalie co-wrote the comic “The Adventures of MoxieMcGriff” about a superhero with superpower afro puffs along with her mother, due to Natalie hating her natural hair, the color of her skin and reading. After writing the comic, in which the heroine (based on Natalie”> gains superpowers in her hair, Natalie realized the power and beauty in being unique and loving yourself.

What inspired you to write this book?

What inspired me to write was that I didn’t like my hair, and so I wrote this book about a girl who doesn’t like her hair and she saves the library with her red and blue afro puffs.

How did you come up with the red and blue afro puffs?

Red and blue is my favorite color, and they stand for fire and ice.

When they see me in the cartoon they’ll feel confident about themselves and learn to love themselves, because they’re seeing someone their color and someone who looks like them on TV.

,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″>

A photo posted by Adventures of Moxie McGriff (@adventuresofmoxiegirl”> on May 27, 2016 at 5:08pm PDT

Had anyone ever said anything negative to you about your hair?

Well no one said anything negative about my hair, but I wanted my hair to be straight because I saw other people with long and straight hair. So that’s why I wanted my hair to be long and straight.

I know a lot of our readers have felt that way about their hair at some point too, so I think this book will be really helpful. What would you say to other girls your age who don’t like the way their hair looks or don’t like the way they look?

To love the way their hair is made and have confidence in themselves.

What have your family and friends done to help you be more confident in yourself?

Every day my family tells me I’m beautiful, but it was when I wrote my book that’s when I really started liking my hair.

What do you think it’ll take for other young children and children of color to feel self-love?

I think it takes kids seeing people like them, people their color doing things. So when they see me in the cartoon they’ll feel confident about themselves and learn to love themselves, because they’re seeing someone their color and someone who looks like them on TV.

What are you doing to promote literacy among young children?

Donating books, reading to children, having book drives where other people donate books. I go read to the Boys and Girls Club and I go into schools to read too.

,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″>

A photo posted by Adventures of Moxie McGriff (@adventuresofmoxiegirl”> on May 14, 2015 at 1:20pm PDT

What are you most excited about attending the United State of Women Summit?

Going to Washington DC, and meeting Michelle Obama.

Angie, Natalie’s Mom: Maybe, maybe meeting Michelle Obama.

Natalie: Maybe. That’s on my list, my bucket list.

Can you tell me about the cartoon?

One character is based on my cousin Chris, he has hearing aids and we decided that could be his super power, good hearing. He uses his hearing aids to hear very long distances and he throws it as a boomerang.

Angie, Natalie’s Mom: We came up with some more characters for the next book and the cartoon to add to the Moxie Crew, and a lot of those characters had insecurities or disabilities. So we used those insecurities and disabilities as their super powers.

What’s a talent or a skill of yours that you’re most proud of?

Track, running, and gymnastics. But mostly track.

,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-captioned=”” data-instgrm-version=”7″>

#MoxieMcGriff at the @uswomen2016 #StateofWomen Summit #StateofWomen

A photo posted by Adventures of Moxie McGriff (@adventuresofmoxiegirl”> on Jun 14, 2016 at 5:41am PDT

Angie, what are you most proud of about Natalie?

Angie, Natalie’s Mom: I’m proud that she’s starting to come out of her shell and really starting to love herself. Before she was infatuated, because I work with a diverse group of people in community organizing, and she would be fascinated with my friends that are Caucasian. She would say “I want long straight hair like Miss Meredith” and so we incorporated Meredith into the book. Every time she saw someone who was white she wanted their long hair, and I think that’s because oftentimes in television shows, in books, on clothing items and book bags all you see are girls like the ones from Frozen. So I’m proud that she’s ok with herself now, that’s sad to see your daughter having those insecurities at the age of 6, which is when it started happening. So I had to take a plan of action, which is why I encouraged her to come up with the idea of the superpower book. At first she wanted her superpower to be fire coming out of her eyes, but I said “what about your hair!” So then she came up with fire and ice.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Angie, Natalie’s Mom: I really want to remind mothers and fathers to really speak life to their children. Even though me and Natalie’s dad aren’t together, when I noticed she was having self esteem issues I told him you have to start taking her out on dates and every day call her and tell her how beautiful she is because that goes a long way. I was never told that much as a child, and I think that had a negative impact on my childhood, which is why it wasn’t until I became an adult and graduated from college that I started to love who I was, being natural, being me, and being my authentic self. I think it’s very important that we speak life into our kids and start instilling in them a healthy sense of self love and self worth.

Giveaway

We’re giving away a copy of the book to a lucky reader! To enter, comment below telling us who you’d like to win this for.

This giveaway ends June 30, 2016 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.

You can follow on The Adventures of Moxie Girl on Facebook, Twitter @moxiegirlcomics and order the comic book online at moxiemcgriff.com.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published June 17, 2016

As NaturallyCurly editors we have a strong grasp on the wavy, curly and coily hair landscape in the United States, and we always love learning about what that looks like in other countries, from our Swiss contributor Nora to our Jamaican contributor Vanessa who lives in Canada, to our Kenyan contributor Tabitha who lives in Australia. Every curly girl brings with her a unique perspective, and that is why I am excited to introduce Anjana, a Software Engineer from India who started to embrace her curls 2009 “as a curly haired girl I saw few beauty bloggers in India writing about curls. So I started my blog to make all curly haired beauties fall in love with their curly hair.”

While Anjana doesn’t speak for the curly hair experience of all Indian women, she is sharing her own journey with us today, and we look forward to continuing to represent more stories from our worldwide community.

I still remember the days when I used to comb and brush my curly hair over and over again expecting miracles to happen, but my hair forever looked like hay. Nobody around me told me that I should be doing it any differently. Thankfully I had never chemically straightened my hair. So my transition was just from ugly curly hair to curly hair that I love and adore and hair that I am obsessed with. And this love started around 7 years ago. There was no chronological flow really – I just started realizing that my hair looked better uncombed, and that was followed by a good haircut one sudden day, and then months and years later I realized I had fallen in love!

Wash hair, oil it, comb it, braid it – this is the most prevalent hair care routine in India

ANJANA'S HAIR, BEFORE SHE EMBRACED HER CURLS

It was not at all common in India to see curly hair in all its glory – wash hair, oil it, comb it, braid it – this is the most prevalent hair care routine in India. Most people in India are not aware of their hair type. They assume what they have is frizzy ugly hair. You can hear excuses like “My hair isn’t curly, it’s just frizzy” “I don’t really have curl, just unruly hair”. And they keep combing and brushing it to make it look straight. Or resort to chemical relaxers. Because hair can only be straight, right? Even advertisements and movies (Bollywood included”>, magazines and posters mostly showcase women with straight hair. This is despite a large proportion of the population actually having curly hair, especially in the southern part of India.

Advertisements and movies (Bollywood included”>, magazines and posters mostly showcase women with straight hair. This is despite a large proportion of the population actually having curly hair, especially in the southern part of India.

Finding curly products in India

There are no brands in India like DevaCurl or Ouidad to cater exclusively to curly hair. So, be it products or hair stylists, straight hair wins here as well. You have to check labels and ingredients and see if products will suit your hair. Of course products can be imported, but they come with hefty shipping fees. From my experience here are some of the products that have suited my curly hair and are quite easily available in India, mostly on online shopping sites like

• Flipkart
• Amazon India
• Nykaa
• Purplle 

We can find brands such as L’Oreal Professional TEC Hair Mix Spiral Splendour, Mythic Oil and Masque, BBlunt High Definition Curl Defining Leave-In Cream, Silicone free conditioners by Enliven and Revlon Flex. I have also found products from brands like OGX, The Body Shop, John Frieda, Toni & Guy, BedHead and drugstore brands like Dove, Pantene, Sunsilk, L’Oreal, Tresemme, and Garnier. Even with these drugstore brands their curly hair products like Tresemme Naturals or Pantene Pro-V Curly Hair are never seen. Isn’t that strange?

And the oh-so-loved ingredient in the curl community, our very own coconut oil, is so easily available in India and is dirt cheap. So much so, that a state here called Kerala (aka God’s own country”> is nicknamed the Land of Coconut trees.

” src=”https://diana-cdn.naturallycurly.com/Articles/kZ_Anjana-Muralidharan-Curls-and-Beauty-Diary-2.jpg”>

Finding curly hair stylists

Most stylists will tell you not to get layers for curly hair, they give advice on how “straightening” or “smoothening” can make your life better, they beat the life out of you trying to detangle your curly hair with a brush, and finally they blow dry your hair after the cut. At the end of all this, you will more likely than not, walk out of the salon with a triangle head.

And not to forget the Great Indian Monsoon that lasts for 4 months every year – the rains and humidity can test your patience!

Where to find curl inspiration

When I started out on my curly hair embracing journey, there were very few Indian bloggers to inspire me. So I turned to curl bloggers and YouTubers and NaturallyCurly contributors like Curly Penny, Polished Curl and Sandra (Just Curly“>, as well as Hif3licia for inspiration. That also made me realize the importance of telling my story and curly hair techniques to my fellow Indians. And my blog was born.

And then with the mails and comments flowing in from the readers, I realized that it was just the lack of awareness that was holding people back. They were ready to accept their curly hair. And I’ve had the urge to walk up to so many women and tell them just how beautiful their curls would look if only they stopped brushing it dry. But that would be too rude. My family & friends were more than supportive because they were astonished to see my “steel wool hair” become “curly spirals”. I’ve had many of my straight haired friends tell me that they wish they could swap their hair with mine.

One thing I’ve noticed is that there’s no discrimination against curly haired people in India (especially on a professional front”> like in the stories I’ve heard from across the world. That’s really a big positive here! On a lighter note, curly haired women are often addressed as Maggi noodles (a popular instant noodle brand here”>.

,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″>

A photo posted by Kangana Ranaut (@kanganaranaut”> on Nov 26, 2015 at 11:46pm PST

Even other major brands have curly haired women as models. Bollywood actors like Kangana Ranaut & Tapsee Pannu are embracing their naturally curly hair. I remember, around 10 years ago you would think India didn’t have any curly haired women.

,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″>

A photo posted by Taapsee Pannu (@taapsee”> on Aug 22, 2014 at 5:03am PDT

Now when I see photos of my friends or their friends on social media, rocking beautiful curls, I realize that there’s a big proportion of curly haired women in India. And that there are even more hiding beneath the combed, oiled, poofs waiting to come out!

You can follow Anjana on her blog Curls and Beauty Diary and on Instagram as @curlsandbeautydiary. 

By Cristina Cleveland · Published June 9, 2016

Do you put your hair up while it’s drying, or do you have your own air drying trick? Share below so other curlies can try it out!

By Cristina Cleveland · Published May 30, 2016

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATEHER STOCK

The NaturallyCurly Editors will be the first to tell you it is hard to find images of women with natural hair for our articles. We spend hours every week searching for beautiful imagery of natural curls, coils and waves that we can purchase or get permission to use – in fact one of our favorite pastimes is sharing ridiculous stock images with each other and wondering who ever thought this was a good idea? And while things have certainly improved, we want to see more! And we know you do too.

One of the ways we do this is by supporting innovative businesses who are making strides in this area like CreateHer Stock, a “destination for images you can truly relate to.” Their founders, Neosha and I’sha, along with their talented team of creatives are working to create stock imagery that represent and inspire our community.

That’s where you come in.

We know our community is full of inspiring women and we’d love to give you the opportunity to model for the CreateHer photographers and be published here on NaturallyCurly! CreateHer is holding curly model casting calls in several cities, and you can sign up to be a part of it!

So far, they are planning casting calls in Texas, Atlanta, and New York City. Space is limited for each location so sign up before they run out.

Sign up here

By Cristina Cleveland · Published April 26, 2016

NaturallyCurly is partnering with Curly Essence on their upcoming Pop Up Store in Lisbon, so we wanted to chat with founders Ana and Denise about what the natural hair movement likes like in their part of the world, and what they are doing their part to shift the conversation around natural hair where they live. 

What was it like growing up curly in Portugal? 

Denise: It was a mix, like me ;”>. I from a mixed family, so I had situations when my hair was straight people assume I was Portuguese, and with curly hair everything switched and I was Angolan in a flash (Yes, I was born in Angola hihihi”>. All my friends growing up had straight silky hair and off course I wanted the same, and me being an introvert, standing out from the crowd was not ideal. I only met Ana 4 years ago, and when Curly Essence started, I started my transition, physically and mentally #bestthingever.

How do your friends and family feel about natural hair?

Denise: My mum and my sister, had their wishes came true when I decided to go natural. They love it and always wanted me to wear my curls all the time. My friends the same, I was the only one who thought that straight was better. So I had all the support, but zero confidence.

Ana: Today everyone loves my hair but wasn’t like that all the time. My mother at beginning of my journey was completely against to my decision (she was just jealous and I know that one day she’ll admit”> but nowadays she’s totally fine.

PICTURED: ANA

Have you noticed a shift in the last 5 years in the view towards curly hair?

Denise: Definitely, don’t know if it is because I’m now constantly searching and being more aware of the movement, but I for sure can see the idea that, natural is better, and healthier and is so beautiful to see young girls just rocking their curls in the street.

Ana: Yasss!! 5 year ago everyone though natural hair was just “another” trend when it wasn’t. Natural hair in 2016 is love, pure love without labels.

How easy or hard is it to find products and information about your hair? What about salons?

Denise: We as a brand, want to change that exact concept in Portugal. Even though we see girls being more interested in the matter, it is still a challenge for us to find the right products and most important, information about curly hair and how to take care of it. The big labels are still very strong in the market, but we’re ready to change that :”>

Ana: We live in a Wi-Fi world, so today there’s no excuses for the lack of information I think! Thankfully I live in a city (London”>, where I can find almost every product. Every brand that I want to give a try and a couple of salons with hair stylists specialize for my hair type. In another hand, if I was living in Lisbon I would probably be lost and a Ebay freak.

Did you feel isolated or alone in your curly hair journey? Or do you see other women with curls in your daily life? 

Denise: I was very lucky to have Ana with me through the process. Is definitely easier having someone by your side going through the same challenges. But we did learn a lot, and was the best thing we did in our lives. During the process I was more aware of other girls in the street with gorgeous curls. Is really a fun thing because curly girls always have that secret stare to each other like “yaass sister” ahaha is amazing.

Ana: Not at all! I already had Denise in my life when I started my curly hair journey but since I’ve moved to another country, UK totally changed the way I feel when someone approach me to say something about my hair (“Hi girl, I love your hair! Oh, thanks!!””> and, I really appreciate the love.

PICTURED: DENISE

What trends have you seen in Europe when it comes to natural hair?

Denise: Big and voluminous curly hair. I think curly girls have acknowledge that frizz free is not always the best and you can still rock and feel fabulous with big loose curls.

Ana: No matter the length, they keep rocking their fro like no one else. But, when you walk around the city there’s no way you can’t see a beautiful woman with bantu knots, long braids, colorful turban and a big smile upon her face.

Do you think there’s generally a negative or a positive view towards natural hair right now?

Denise: I think, that in a more professional and corporate environment, the idea of curly hair is still consider as careless. Many companies today don’t allow women wearing their natural hair at work unless it’s in some kind of protective styling. But, I’m definitely optimistic about the change.

Ana: Definitely a positive view. I feel like internet gave us the chance to learn how to love ourselves and appreciate who we are as a human. And, today when we log in on tumblr all we can see is love for natural hair and words of encouragement.

PICTURED: ANA

How is it different from the natural hair movement in other parts of the world?

Denise: Lisbon is very small, comparing to other big cities, we have the feeling we still live in a place where everyone knows each other and have something to say. One thing I still notice is the eye staring, where you can totally read the other person positive or negative reaction toward’s you. People say they don’t care, but they do, and definitely have an opinion about it. Curly hair, Afro hair, Kinky hair, is just hair, and people still need to get that #Iamnotmyhair.

Tell us about Curly Essence and what you’re doing to influence the natural hair movement in Portugal and beyond?

Denise & Ana: We as Curly Essence Founders, we are determined to shift things around for the Afro community in Portugal. We want to bring the right products for our hair and most important, educate how we can treat and love ourselves being natural. We truly aim to inspire other women to join us on our journey. Because of Curly Essence, we meet so many wonderful people. Bigger the family, better the love! :”>

PICTURED: DENISE

If you’d like to join Denise and Ana on their mission to shift the natural hair movement in in Portugal, you can attend their Curly Essence Pop Up Store at Espelho d’água in Lisbon on May 19th, 6pm. The aim of Curly Essence Pop Up store is to expose their favorite brands that unfortunately are not sold in Portugal YET to their favorite people.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published March 31, 2016

PHOTO BY CREATEHER

Too many of us have known young girls who were once fearless, inquisitive, active and loud as children, but by adolescence had grown unsure of themselves, and their bodies. I was that girl. According to research by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, girls are less likely than boys to act, and feel, like a leader.  And we know first hand the damaging impact of young girls looking in the mirror and being unhappy with what they see.

Months later Bried has partnered with an impressive roster of female influencers to create a new kind of magazine for girls, and she has launched a Kickstarter page to get the magazine printed and into the hands of the young girls who need it.

CC: Many of our readers are mothers who have gone natural to show their daughters how to love their hair. How have you found ways to lead by example for your own daughter, especially when it comes to self confidence?

EB: I try to be a good role model for my daughters when it comes to body image, and I lead by example in several ways. First, Inever say anything disparaging about my own looks or anyone else’s in their presence (or, for that matter, out of their presence, either”>. We live in a world where girls and women are constantly being judged on how they look and I want her to know there are more important qualities, like kindness, honesty and humor. Second, I make time to swim laps a few days a week, because I think it’s important to show them that I value my body and my health and take the time to take care of myself. Finally, I make it a point to praise my daughters for things other than just their looks. “You’re such a fast runner” inspires more pride in them than “you’re really pretty.” (Although, I do tell them both.”>

I don’t plan on running very many, if any, pictures of girls at all, because I don’t want to ever put the reader in a position, where she compares herself to another girl.

CC: Judging by the content in ad campaigns and our social media feeds it’s easy to feel like feminism is “trending,” and yet you point out that “girls and women are completely underrepresented in our culture. Look at Congress (80% men”>; the modern art section of the MET (95% men”>; the engineering profession (89% men”>; Oscar-nominated cinematographers (100% men”>; even children’s books, where boy characters are 3 times more likely than girl characters to appear.” What do you feel it will take to move the dial on some of these stats?

CC: You have some amazing contributors lined up for the first issue. How did you convince them to sign on, and what advice do you have for other women who may be looking to collaborate and connect with like-minded women on a project?

CC: What is your goal for Kazoo? What would constitute success for you?

EB: In the short run, my goal is to raise $150,000 by April 25th. That’ll cover the cost of creating, printing and shipping 5000 issues four times in the first year. During the first year, I want to build the audience. I want to be sure I have a large enough subscriber base to really make this work. In the broader sense, my dream is to get KAZOO into every little girl’s hands, so she can not only read, laugh and learn, but also see the world from a new perspective, one where she is celebrated for being smart, strong, fierce, and, above all, true to herself.

CC: You have over 16 years of experience creating content for women through your work at SELF magazine, GLAMOUR and WOMEN’S SPORTS & FITNESS. How has your time spent catering messages to adult women influenced your vision for Kazoo?

CC: What advice do you have for women with a great idea who want to start their own business venture?

If you’d like to be a part of bringing this magazine to life, head to the Kazoo Kickstarter.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published March 28, 2016

The moment I found out I was pregnant, my motherly instincts immediately set in. I have known organic, natural, eco-friendly, and non toxic products are important, but the significance of those health standards have taken on a whole new meaning these last 8 months.  I have spent hours investigating product labels to make sure that what I am ingesting, and slathering on my hair and body are safe for baby. Through my research, I have come to realize what many of our community members (pregnant or not”> already knew – there are tons of natural and safe products out on the market. Many of which cost just about the same as products engorged with fillers, nasty toxins and cheap ingredients. Baby or not, I think we all deserve the very best for ourselves (without breaking the bank”>.

Here are some of my favorite brands and product picks for hair, body and even everyday living that are safe for mamma and baby.

All Good by Elemental Herbs

This brand has a plethora of natural products from sunscreen to lip balm, but my favorite includes their Lavender Coconut Oil Skin Food. You can slather on this safe oil to help hydrate your curls, moisturize dry skin, and even aid in stretch marks. It’s like your one stop shop product. I personally like to use it at night so that I can slather it on without having to worry about a greasy looking skin effect in public.

Briogeo Curl Charisma 

I have been a long time fan of Briogeo’s Curl Charisma line well before my pregnancy, so it was easy to keep this product line in my pregnancy routine. The products smell fantastic and work wonders on my 3B curls. The rice amino + shea moisture shampoo and curl defining conditioner are great, but my go-to product in the line is the rice amino + avocado leave-in defining creme. This product serves two purposes (leave-in and curl definer”>, which means I save a few minutes time by using one product instead of two. Plus my curls always dry defined yet crunch free.

 Silcone free, Paraben free, Phthalates free, No Mineral Oil, No Synthetic Fragrance, No Artificial Colors

Ever Bamboo Inc. 

Even the most adorable baby comes with all kinds of mess and smells. This brand is super cool in that it uses unscented bamboo charcoal to help eliminate odours. I found the cost to literally be a fraction of the price than purchasing a fancy diaper pail that will do the same thing. You can simply place the Deodorizer + Dehumidifier  pouch anywhere in your house (I chose a pail I am using in baby’s room”>, and its effects will last up to a year.

California Baby

From creams, to body washes and and even hair gel this is brand has quite an impressive arrangement of SKU’s. Even though the products are made for baby, they are great for adults with a sensitive scalp too. I was excited to try the Shampoo and Body Wash, especially since my scalp has become sensitive and sore with pregnancy. This is low foaming and has a similar feeling to a co-wash since it cleanses, but also feels moisturizing. It is also sulfate and scent free (a plus for a pregnant momma with an insane sense of smell”>. Best of all, I feel 100% safe using this product on my baby.

Bebe au Lait

Not all 100% muslin cottons are the same, and you can definitely feel the difference in the Bebe au Lait products. In my opinion, the quality, texture and stylish designs have yet to compare to anything else I have seen on the market. I have been obsessed with this adorable grey nursing scarf that is not only incredibly soft, but is lightweight enough to use in the summer when I have my baby. Plus, it is an accessory I will actually feel cool pulling out of my baby bag. The same quality muslin also makes an appearance in many of this brand’s other items such as their swaddle blankets, sheets and more.

Earth Mama Angel Baby

From natural stretch oil to morning sickness spray, this brand’s adorable pampering kit called “A Little Something for Mama-to-Be”, has been my pregnancy go-to. This kit includes a sampling of some of some their larger products, which makes it perfect for testing what you like or as a unique gift. What I love most is that their products literally have zero toxins, so I have felt comfortable trying each and everyone. My favorite in the kit is the Luxurious Earth Mama Body Butter, which I have slathered all over my body to help with dryness and stretching. They also have a kit specially for baby that includes shampoo, cream, rash soothers and more called “A Little Something for Baby”, and even a kit to help momma with breastfeeding called “Breastfeeding Essentials Bundle”.

aden + anais 

I have learned to take baby advice with a grain of salt since everyone thinks their way is best. Yet, one tip I have heard over and over again is that a nursing pillow is absolutely necessary. Aden + anais recently came out with their 100% cotton muslin pillow  and I’m so in love. It has the perfect amount of plumpness for my arm to not get tired and is super comfy for baby. They don’t have a ton of choice when it comes to the pillow covers, but what they do offer is really cute. I like the Twinkle pattern because it is gender neutral.

Belly Armor

This blanket is organic, protects from environmental toxins such as radiation, and gives $10 of every purchase to Healthy Child Healthy World! That’s one heck of a blanket! This blanket is obviously great for baby because of its radiation shielding protection, but I have found it incredibly useful while pregnant because I can work with my laptop close to my belly without worrying about radiation effects. Not to mention it is incredibly soft and totally neutral color friendly.

Baby K’tan, LLC

From baby carrier’s to diaper bags, this brand has won a plethora of awards. That definitely didn’t sway my decision to add these products to my  product pick list, but it is reassuring to know that awesome rated products are also affordable! Their original baby carrier in particular is a must have. You can actually order the size that fits your body type and it slips on like a t-shirt. The fabric reminds me of the super soft t-shirt hair wraps I often use. You can wear baby with this carrier in multiple positions and it comes in different colors.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published March 27, 2016

Early in 2015 a one of our editors sent me a link to Blavity.com in G-chat and told me to watch their astounding growth – and watch we did as over the past year this media outlet has worked swiftly to fill a void by creating content for black millennials.

This month Blavity Founder Morgan DeBaun was awarded a Top 10 Innovators of 2015 Award by mvmt50 at SXSW here in Austin and I had the opportunity to ask her a few of my burning questions, like why has Blavity grown so quickly, what’s coming up next for the company, and of course, what’s her hair routine? Here’s what she had to say.

As a content creator, I also had to ask – what’s the secret behind the Blavity pieces that have gone viral, is there a way to tell what’s going to resonate before publishing them? DeBaun said “The Blavity community is incredibly diverse and I’m frequently surprised by what ‘hits’ and what doesn’t.  Typically the stories that reach the most readers are personal narratives about an experience that many people identify with.”

We look forward to seeing Blavity continue to grow and innovate in a content and tech atmosphere that is rapidly evolving, “in the next few years we will continue to see the consolidation of consumer tech, brands and entertainment. As builders we’ll need to continue to keep the user experience as the first priority.” 

To see the rest of the mvmt50 Innovator Award winners click here, and be sure to check out Blavity if you haven’t already.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published March 11, 2016

The South By Southwest (SXSW”> Interactive conference has descended on Austin, the home of NaturallyCurly headquarters, once again and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with MVMT50 to bring more awareness to their movement during the festival. MVMT50 is a coalition of Black thought leaders committed to sustained and systematic improvement in employment diversity, cultural representation and leadership development in the innovation, technology and digital sectors.

Dr. Tausha Robertson is the founder of the app primpii, a platform that works to make word of mouth beauty referrals easy! It’s used for crowd-sourced, intimate reviews of salons and hair stylists all over the country. Primpii also offers benefits for beauty professionals, as they can benefit from client referrals; post VIP deals for customers, and have a web/social media presence without spending a lot of capital and time.

We interviewed Dr. Robertson about her innovative app and her experience as both a natural looking for a stylist and a woman entering the tech world.

Was there a moment or an experience that inspired you to develop Primpii?

I got the tech bug when I moved to Austin 3 years ago. Since I was new to tech, I thought about ways to solve problems I experience with tech. I tossed around several with friends/family and finding beauty professionals resonated with everyone so I refined that idea into the functionality of primpii.

What do you see as the major challenges or barriers for women and stylists, and how does Primpii help provide a solution?

Primpii was designed to create a respository of all the great beauty pros your friends use and keep them accessible and searchable any time, anywhere.  Many of my friends across the country have downloaded the app and put in their best beauty professional referrals.  When I open the app, I can click friends in the menu to look at all of my friends and their referrals or I can go to the search function and type in a state, like FL. All of the beauty pros entered by users for FL will appear but most importantly, I know if someone in my Facebook network has recommended any of these beauty pros because their picture will be associated with the listing and I can click  on that beauty pro to read the referrals! There is a huge reason to tell your network to use the app. You want access to pros they have vetted when you need them.  That could work on a local level as well. What if your current pro goes on vacation?  How do you find another quickly? Call, text, post to ask friends and maybe you’ll get an answer but probably not in a timely manner.  With primpii, you could have those in the palm your hand.  

Why is the search for a hairstylist such a difficult one, especially for women with textured hair?

It really is and the only way you find a good one is from your friends who have tried them.  Again, this is what separates primpii from Yelp or other referrals…it’s coming from someone you know. When I made my referrals I noted whether the pro was good with managing my natural curls or if they happened to be someone who does a great blow out on natural hair. The heart in our logo is about sharing the love! Don’t keep that great pro a secret from your friends who need them.

How can women with textured hair use Primpii to find stylists that are trained and experienced in caring for their texture?

Right now that information is in the referral text that friends or others input and also in the info section that the pro can customize.   In the very near future we will be launching some affiliate relationships that will further assist you in finding great pros that specialize in textured hair.

Why is the power of word of mouth referral so important in this industry?

Studies have shown that it is the primary source of new business for stylists and other beauty pros. That’s why we built in functionality to allow beauty pros listed on primpii to customize their pages with pictures and more details about their services. Primpii also allows them to send special offers and open seats directly to users.  No other app does this.  We designed the app to be a win-win…a discovery tool for trusted referrals for users and a direct marketing tool for beauty pros to users who are actively seeking beauty services!

How is the search for beauty services changing, and where do you see it going in the next few years?

Primpii innovated in two ways: 1^st by allowing users to find easily beauty pros vetted by friends they trust and second, most beauty pros are small businesses without a lot of marketing resources or access to technology. Our app is first to the market to allow a direct line of communication for special offers and open seats to the most fertile pool of potential customers, users of our app. Our app users are only there to find great beauty pros!  I think the mobile platform will continue to make this marketing channel more accessible to small businesses.

Many of our community members view stylists in a negative light, what would you say to the woman who has been burned one too many times by negative salon experiences?  It is unfortunate but we’ve all had some tough experiences.  That’s why primpii was developed on the premise that referrals from friends are much better than trial and error.  If like-minded users make it a point to collaborate  to input their referrals, they all benefit by having a handy repository of those vetted pros. I know that lots of people do things themselves but there is also large proportion of the market that still needs professional services to maintain the health of their hair. We think that primpii will be a platform for those pros with specialized skills to shine.

Congratulations on your MVMT50 Innovator award! How do you think initiatives like this can bring about change?

I was thrilled to be nominated by MVMT50 for an innovator award this year!  They were really intrigued by this use of tech in the fairly untapped beauty space.  I hope that by participating with the other thought leaders and innovators in MVMT50 we can support and push each other forward and provide opportunities for other people of color to engage in the tech space.  I want to share my journey with others so that they can bring their products to the market. MVMT50 can be a great catalyst for improving access and opportunities.

Dr. Tausha Robertson and 9 other awardees will be recognized tonight, March 11, at the MVMT50 annual SXSW Welcome Reception.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published March 7, 2016

Oils are a key ingredient in many naturalistas’ regimens. We use them to moisturize, seal and heal our strands and our scalps, and there are many in our community who even use them to create their own cleansers, moisturizers and deep treatments. They have mastered the science of the carrier oil and the essential oil, and found the exact proportions of ingredients like grape seed oil, aloe vera, olive oil, castor oil or jojoba oil that works best for their hair.

If you prefer the more convenient route of buying products rather than making them yourself, but do not want to compromise on ingredients or go too far to find them, you can still give your hair the benefits of all of our favorite oils. Here are 3 products by Pure Oils by Silk Elements that you need to know about. 

Pure Oils by Silk Elements Moisturizing Detangling Shampoo

This is a gentle cleansing, sulfate-free shampoo that nourishes hair with grape seed oil for moisture and nutrients that help to restore dry, brittle hair. Olive oil and aloe vera help to smooth the cuticle and improve manageability for hair that is left feeling softer, moisturized and stronger.

What is it best for?

Gently cleansing while helping to begin the detangling process.

Pure Oils by Silk Elements Leave-In Moisturizer

Passion fruit oil and honey give this lightweight leave-in plenty of slip for easy combing, styling and manageability while coconut oil and shea butter reduce frizz, moisturize and leave hair soft and defined.

What is it best for?

A lightweight daily detangler or moisturizer that can give soft hold to twists and braids.

Pure Oils by Silk Elements Intense Conditioning and Hydration Masque 

What is it best for?

Helping damaged or dry hair retain moisture and softness.

Want to boost your moisture?

When you are feeling like creating a custom cocktail, the simplest DIY is adding a few drops of oil your products. Pure Oils by Silk Elements makes 100% pure oils like their Pure Jojoba Oil or their Pure Argan Oil, and you know they’re pure because when you look at the ingredients label you will only find one ingredient listed.

You can find all of the Pure Oils by Silk Elements products at your local Sally Beauty.

Tell us, how do you use oils in your regimen?

This post is sponsored by Sally Beauty.

By Cristina Cleveland · Published February 29, 2016

Even if you wear your hair naturally wavy most of the time, you may be tempted to reach for a flat iron to change things up when you have a date or formal event. We get that you want to set your look apart from your daily hair and makeup! But you don’t have to straighten to feel glamorous.

This date night look accentuates your natural waves by practicing safe heat styling, for a look that still feels like you!

Ashley has loose, Type 2b waves, but this technique will work for many natural waves and curls.

Step 1 – Protect

On freshly cleansed wet hair, apply a leave-in conditioner to prevent dryness and frizz. Ashley used the Zotos Professional 180PRO Miracle Repair Damage Eliminator Treatment because it also acts as a heat protectant. Start with a small amount of product but make sure that the product is evenly distributed on any hair that will be heat styled to prevent heat damage.

Step 2 – Diffuse

To speed up the drying process and add volume to your waves, use a diffuser. The GVP Pro Blow Dryer has adjustable settings so that you can choose the heat and intensity of the air. It also has a unique advantage of being motion activated, so when you put your hand on the nozzle it turns on and when you take it off the dryer switches off.

Attach a diffuser and gently place your waves in the bowl of the diffuser, pushing it up towards the roots to encourage more curl. You can also diffuse the roots to create more lift and volume there.

Step 3 – Spot treat

Once your hair is completely dry, you can use a curling wand to spot treat any waves that are undefined or loose. Ashley used the Hot Shot Tools 1″ Nano Ceramic Taper Iron, which matched her curl pattern and allowed her to adjust the heat being applied to her hair. Make sure to always wait until your hair is 100% before using a heat tool.

You can curl just a couple of face-framing ringlets or do more pieces throughout your hair, you can decide what works best for you. This way you limit your hair’s contact with direct heat by doing just a few sections for a second or less each, rather than passing a flat iron over all of your hair several times for a straight look.

Step 4 – Pin back

Create a deep side part and pin back a few waves from one side using bobby pins to create a sideswept look.

Watch the tutorial

This post is sponsored by Sally Beauty.