Search Results: Curly Suzy

CurlySuzy’s "Brave" Review

Coily Manifesto: Silicone Hair Products Work For Me

By Curly Suzy · Published June 25, 2012

Princess Merida and Jessicurl with curly hair

Disney–Pixar Brave and Jessica as Merida

Last Saturday, I went to go see “Brave” with my sons. We rotate on whose turn it is to pick movies. I was a lot more excited than they were to see the movie, but they were good sports about it. I had just gone to their movie choice, “The Avengers” a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t very excited about that one, but Mark Ruffalo did make things more tolerable — not the Hulk part but the real guy part.

Last week I had heard an interview on NPR where Linda Wertheimer spoke with the producer of “Brave,” Katherine Sarafian. The most exciting part of the interview was when they talked about Pixar having to create new software for Princess Merida’s curly hair. “We’d really worked with the same suite of software since the earliest days.” Sarafian said. “It was definitely time for an upgrade, but adopting new software is highly traumatic for a team. Everything had to be reinvented. But, you know, it was worth it, because the story served up this challenge of this spirited, untamed wild child of a girl. And that hair was part of her design and part of her character.”

A female heroine who has curly hair — it is about time! I was also really curious to see how her curly hair would fare by the end of the movie. We have all seen countless movies where the curls are straightened for a happy ending, or where straight hair becomes curly when the story takes a turn for the worst.

“Brave” starts with Princess Merida as a small child, and her hair is amazing. In the next scene, she is a teenager and her hair is still beautiful. Merida’s curls are the most realistic that I have ever seen on a big screen. I was thrilled that the curls never looked perfect. They moved, had texture and she had several different curl types on her head. There were even some realistic looking frizz and tangles. I imagine if she had modern day curly hair products, she would be a dead ringer for Jessicurl’s Jessica McGuinty. Apparently a lot of others were thinking the same thing, including Jess.

Disney–Pixar’s Brave

The movie continues curly until Merida is forced to cover up her curls as part of her royal presentation to the clansmen. At this point, I was sure this would be the end of her curls, but just then, she pulled a lovely front curl out from under the cloth headdress. Whew, they’re still there! What’s more, they remain with her throughout the entire movie. Her curls were part of her strength and her identity. I was surprised by that and the way the story ends as well. She keeps her curls and her true personality in tact while learning to be a young adult. What a refreshing change from all the Disney movies I grew up with. “Brave” is a Disney fairy tale with a happy ending, but Princess Merida with her curly hair and a bow and arrow offer a twist that is very modern. Disney will be Disney, but they finally let the curls be alive and beautiful.

“Brave” is a movie that every curly can love. It reminds us that there are a lot of ways to be brave. Certainly embracing our natural hair and making curls a part of our identity has required many brave moments of all of us.

Have you seen Disney’s first curly heroine on the big screen? What did you think?

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The Pixiecurl Method: A Curl Revelation

By Curly Suzy · Published May 20, 2012

Learning how to dry my curls has been a long process of frizz and frustration. There is so much to consider; towels, plopping, clips, air drying, hair dryers, diffusers, and the actual mechanics of how to position your head. Embracing my curls has taught me that experimentation is part of the process of learning how to get great hair. Through that experimentation and frustration, I have also had many amazing curl revelations. Most poignant was the discovery of my Holy Grail products, finally understanding dew points and becoming an avid ingredient label reader. They were all thrilling curly moments. Drying my curls has been one of the longer learning processes. Only recently, last week to be exact, made it to that moment of wonder with my hair dryer and diffuser.

How Do I Dry My Curls?

It wasn’t a case of being lazy about learning a foolproof method for drying my hair. It was just my assumption that I had already found what worked best for my curls. I would start out with all my styling products in my hair. I would then scrunch my hair with my Curls Like Us Cloth. I thought my next step should be plopping, but I never really felt like I had perfected the plopping method. I would always end up with crushed, crazy curls. I don’t have a lot of hair, and it is cut in a curly bob, so for the moment I knew that I would get better results by skipping the plopping method.

After letting my styling products set for 5-10 minutes, I would be ready to dry my hair. There was a rush of decisions to make and I knew them by heart. The hair dryer temperature settings, the size of the diffuser, how to hold the hair dryer with the diffuser to get my curls to dry without causing too much frizz, and lastly how long to dry my hair.

When I first started trying to use a diffuser, my attempts were comical. The mere mechanics of it defeated me right away. The diffuser kept coming off my hair dryer causing my curls to blow around mercilessly. By the end of the second day I couldn’t take the diffuser crashing to the floor any longer. I bought a new ionic hair dryer that came with a diffuser, a very exciting purchase. I turned that baby on and realized I needed to make some serious decisions. I was going to have to experiment with the hair dryer settings and time management. Too hot of a setting would speed up the drying time but caused a lot of frizz. The same problem happened with the high setting. Too much force and frizz was inevitable. A few bad hair days later I figured out the warm temperature setting on low was my best bet. I was finally winning the fight with my frizz.

I had figured out the first components of the drying challenge, now I was on to what position should my head be in? I decided I needed volume but didn’t want to sacrifice the clumping that I had achieved with my styling products and the Curls like Us Cloth. I was holding my head upside down and gently putting my curls in the diffuser, working my way around my head. I tried to scrunch a little bit, but knew too much touching would cause frizz. I dried my hair until it was about 85 percent dry.

At this point I felt like I was pretty close to getting this process right, but I was still getting some frizz and my clumping was breaking up. It wasn’t so bad that I needed to start over, but I finally got to the point of realizing I was having more bad hair days than I could tolerate. So like every curious curly out there, I started to look on Curltalk and YouTube for drying techniques and tips.

After some searching, I found The Pixiecurl Method. Thanks to some Pixiecurl Method threads on Curltalk and Waterlily176 ‘s video, I was seriously tempted to try this new method. Would it work for me, and could it really make a difference? I had read about it before, but never really paid that much attention to it. I decided the experiment was on.

The Pixiecurl Method

I co-washed my curls, added my favorite products, scrunched with the towel and got my hair dryer and diffuser out.
I put a section of my curls in the diffuser with the hair dryer OFF, and then moved the diffuser up to the crown of my head. I didn’t go all the way to the scalp because that seemed to smash the root volume. It also created a weird bend on the top of my curls — not a good thing.
With diffuser almost to my head, I turned the hair dryer ON for about 45 seconds using the warm/low setting.
I then turned OFF the hair dryer. I continued this all the way around my head, stopping when all the sections were almost dry. It took two passes around my head to get my curls 85 percent dry.

If you have super thick hair this may not be for you, because it would take forever. I did not hang my head upside down through out the whole process.

Curl Revelation

This experiment was a huge curl revelation for me. I had no frizz, great clumping and super curl definition. It really worked! Why hadn’t I thought about it before? My hair needed to stay still and have the curls scrunched (kind of like plopping”> and baked gently until almost dry. I still got lots of volume AND kept the precious clumping. A tricky look to achieve with my hair. My life hasn’t been the same since I embraced experimenting and discovering my many moments of curly joy. I really love all my curl revelations, and now the Pixiecurl Method is another great one to add to the list.

What was your most significant curl revelation?

CurlySuzy: Curly Bobs Are Just as Fabulous as Long Curls!

By Curly Suzy · Published April 19, 2012

In my curly hair history, I’ve either always had a curly bob and loved it, or I was in the unsatisfying process of trying to grow it out.

Usually a month into my curly bob, I would start getting lost in my long hair fantasy and cancel my hair appointment. As my hair grew longer, my curly bob would start turning into a 1970’s Peter Frampton look, and it was downhill from there.

My hair is fine and very prone to frizz. It takes a lot of work to get my 2c curls defined and relatively frizz free. The longer my hair would grow, the harder it became for me to take care of. Most of the time I would end up wearing it pulled back. It may have been my need for a better haircut or my lack of patience, but I never made it into my long hair dream. I was then always disappointed in myself for not reaching my hair goal. I felt like longer hair was somehow more attractive, sexier and more beautiful than short hair.

Recently, I realized this struggle was exactly like the straight hair vs. curly obsession that I lived through all my teenage years and well into my thirties. What am I doing? I can’t imagine going back to straight hair! When I look at pictures of my hair when I was most vigilant about straightening, I’m always surprised that I liked it. My hair closely resembled straw on a good day. I now like my curly hair thanks to NaturallyCurly.com and my good friends with curly hair. I have learned how to embrace and take care of my curls.

So why am I still struggling with the curly bob vs. long hair issue?

A few weeks ago after my most recent curly bob haircut, I had a few moments of shock. But the moments were fleeting and I realized that this curly bob was the best one ever. It was a spontaneous decision to cut my hair, and I have left my long hair obsession behind. I already made a hair appointment for 8 weeks from now. I’m loving the compliments, but most of all I am thrilled that I like it. I still think long curly hair is gorgeous, but my curly bob is just as fabulous.

My Curly Bob Hair Care Routine:

I cowash every day. I never get second day hair, and have given up on trying. The time I spent on trying to get second day hair looking like first day hair is now better spent on cowashing and starting fresh. I recommend Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner, Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Smoothing Conditioner, As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner, Sunny Island Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil Natural Deep Conditioner.
Once a week I wash my hair. My favorites include: Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Gentle Cleansing Shampoo, Elucence Mosture Benefits Shampoo.
Once a week I do a deep conditioning treatment. My favorites include: Mop Top Deep Conditioner, Curl Junkie Curl ReHab Moisturizing Hair Treatment, DevaCurl Heaven in Hair.
Once a month I do a ACV rinse or use a clarifying shampoo. My favorites include: Apple Cider Vinegar as a cleanser, Alba Botanicals Clarifying Shampoo.
I sleep on a satin pillowcase and never touch a terry cloth towel to my hair. I always use the Curls Like Us Cloths.
Next, I use a mousse because I need the volume and definition. I apply the mousse in four sections. I use a tablespoon in each section, gently scrunching it into my curls. All of these mousses have a good hold to them, which I need: AG Foam Weightless Volumizer, Curlisto Bio Gel Mousse, DevaCurl Volumizing Frizz Free Volumizing Foam.
Then I diffuse my curls with my head upside down until it is almost dry. I follow with gently scrunching and I am good to go. If my hair starts to get a little frizzy midday I always keep a pomade in my purse: MOP C Glisten High Shine Pomade.

Have you learned to embrace your curls, whether they are short or long?

CurlySuzy Q&A: I Need Wheat-Free Hair Products

By Curly Suzy · Published November 29, 2010

Dear Curly Suzy: I am an African-American female with Type 3/4 (3 in the front and 4″> in the back. I have developed a wheat/gluten allergy recently (found this out when I broke out in hives from Miss Jessie’s Stretching Silkening Creme. Can you suggest shampoos, conditioners and finishing cremes to take away the frizz? I wish I could still use Miss Jessie’s (been buying for 6 years”> but my allergy will no longer allow it.

Dear Natalie: I am sorry that you have to switch from a product that you have been using for so long. I hope I can help with some new ideas for wheat- and gluten-free hair products.

Wheat- and gluten-free cleansers

Kinky-Curly Come Clean Moisturizing Shampoo

Oyin Handmade Honey Wash

MYHoneyChild Banana Creme Scalp Cleanser

Wheat- and gluten-free conditioners

Oyin Handmade Hemp Conditioner

Hair-Treatment-p-943.html” target=”mart”>Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment (this can be used as a daily conditioner or a deep conditioner”>

MYHoneyChild Organic Shea Butter Light Conditioner

Wheat- and gluten-free leave-in conditioners

Kinky-Curly Knot Today

Darcy’s Botanicals Vanilla Delight Leave-In Conditioner

Wheat- and gluten-free finishing cremes

Darcy’s Botanicals Madagascar Vanilla Styling Creme

Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Aloe Fix Hair Styling Gel

Blended Beauty Happy Nappy

CURLS Curl Souffle

I hope these or some of these look good to you. Please email me if you have any questions about this.

Quick Curly Hairstyles for Moms on the Go

By Curly Suzy · Published November 22, 2010

Whether you are a new mom or a mom hustling to keep up with your toddler and kindergartner, you’re well aware that this is a seriously exhausting business. That means time slots for going to the hair salon are hard to get on the schedule. Here are some quick curly hairstyles and tips for busy moms.

Don’t skip getting a haircut and color

Of all the things you have to sacrifice because there are not enough minutes in the day, ignoring taking care of your hair should not be one of them. Quick curly hairstyles and styling methods work so much better when your hair is healthy and you have a good haircut. Personally, it helps me gain a little sanity knowing my hair looks good, or at least okay, in the midst of my busy mom lifestyle. If you haven’t found a good stylist, check out Naturallycurly.com’s Salon Finder.

The curly ponytail

Pulling your hair back is always a good option when you are in a rush. Be sure to use fabric-covered rubber bands. Curly hair is fragile and the less stress you put on it the better. You can jazz your ponytail up with decorative bobby pins or a headband. A great product to use on wet or dry hair before you pull your curls into a ponytail is HerCut Ponytail Styling Balm.

It keeps your curly ponytail soft and pliable, while the humectant-concentrated ingredients de-frizz and define curls. This product also adds shine and controls stubborn fly-aways.

In a hurry, co-wash and air dry your curls

Use a good conditioner for co-washing your hair, instead of a shampoo. Washing your hair with a conditioner is a quick way to add moisture to dry frizzy hair. Once you are out of your shower gently pat your hair dry with a moisture absorbing towel. That will cut down on frizz and the drying time. Either of these two are great to use:

Curl Like Us Curl Cloths are smooth-surfaced and very absorbent.

The Hand Dry Hair Glove, a super-absorbent microfiber that soaks up excess water.

Both of these items are huge time savers. They also have another function. When you put your styling product in your hair, both of these are great for scrunching a little bit and then you are good to go. Your hair will dry much faster and look like you actually had time to style it.

Find 30 minutes once a week to deep condition

Deep conditioning once a week for 30 minutes will make styling your hair so much easier for the rest of the week. Your curls will be moisturized and more manageable. The fight against frizz and dryness will be diminished. It really is that easy. The “to-do” list is long when you are a mom but adding a once-a-week deep conditioning to the list is well worth it. Make deep conditioning part of the professional multi-tasking Moms are so expert at. I put deep conditioner on my hair, wrap it in saran wrap (that is what I have handy, no time to hunt for a shower cap”> and then I put on a cap to hold in some heat. I usually vacuum or pick up around the house while the conditioner is doing its job. When my boys were tiny I had to use a timer to remind myself to rinse the conditioner out. And to be honest the timer was also to remind me to not go out of the house on an errand with the saran wrap and hat still on my head.

The messy bun

I am so thrilled that the messy bun is so in fashion right now. I strongly believe moms created this look way before it was chic. The best new accessory that makes this look so effortless is the Goody Simple Style Spin Pins.

They do the job of 20 bobby pins! I use two of them and I have the messy bun ready to go in record time. If you are sleep deprived or haven’t had enough coffee yet, these Spin Pins make life just a little easier.

CurlySuzy Q&A: What’s the Difference Between Glycerin and Vegetable Glycerin?

By Curly Suzy · Published November 1, 2010

Dear CurlySuzy: While reading about dew point and humectants and looking to test out products without humectants for this winter (because in some climates, there is some risk of the humectant actually removing moisture from the hair, creating the problem it was intended to prevent— read more here“>, I found myself in doubt about this: is glycerin and vegetable glycerin the same thing? Do they perform the same way?

Dear Cíntia: Yes, glycerin and vegetable glycerin are usually the same thing. Some hair care companies will specify where the glycerin is derived from and list it as vegetable glycerin. In most cases when it says glycerin, it is vegetable derived. This is because vegetable glycerin is the cheapest and the most readily available to manufacturers. In vegan products, the glycerin would be derived from a vegetable base, as well.

Animal-fat based glycerin is not used as much. The soap-making process, from which glycerin comes, is almost always vegetable-based instead of animal-based.

The big time manufacturers could use petroleum-based glycerin. I am not sure which ones and what products those would be. Some companies list the ingredients, some don’t.

Glycerin—any glycerin—is a humectant in most products. The only time it is not a humectant and can be an emollient is when it is used in very, very small amounts.

I hope this helps. I was confused until I got all the facts straight—hope it make sense to you!

Please email me if you have any more questions.

Quick Curly Hair Tips for Date Disasters

By Curly Suzy · Published November 1, 2010

Do you have a date tonight, but your good hair day is turning into a bad hair night? We’ve got great curly hair tips for emergency date-hair fixes!

No time to fix your curls?

We have all had days when nothing is happening on time and feel like you are falling behind schedule from the minute you wake up. The worst part of this kind of day for me is at 7:00 pm when I have a dinner date. My curls are not in top date-night condition. And you guessed it—I don’t have time to go home. My emergency solutions to making my curls date-ready are hair accessories, aka hair candy. Headbands and decorative clips and combs are all great ways to make your curls look great.

I am having a great dinner date. My new hair product that I used this morning worked much better than I thought. I am sipping my wine wondering why he has not complimented my curls yet?

A few minutes later, looking in the bathroom mirror at the restaurant, I understand why. My hair looks terrible. My new hair product has not lasted all day. My bouncing curls are now a stringy, frizzy mess.

Thank goodness I have my emergency hair products stashed in my purse:

For sad droopy curls I have Kevin Murphy’s Powder Puff. Use a few sprinkles at the roots to create volume.
For stringy, frizzy curls I have a little bottle of leave-in conditioner. My favorite is Kinky-Curly Knot Today. I use a small amount and gently scrunch it into my curls. Then I use a paper towel for one final scrunch to absorb the last bits of the conditioner.
If the curls are beyond repair my third and last option is to put the curls up. The Goody Simple Styles Updo Maker is always somewhere in my purse.

Panic situations

I’ve spent time making my hair look perfect. I’ve used my favorite combination of products and done all the styling tricks that make my curls just right. There are only three things that can ruin this effort and cause a hair panic attack:

I get a text that he has rented a convertible for our special night out.
We have had a nice dinner. It is still early and he wants to go for a walk on the beach.
We are walking to a favorite restaurant and the weather changes. It starts to mist and get windy and we still have many blocks to go.

All of these situations are going to destroy the curls. A favorite hat or scarf is a safe solution. Pulling my hair back in messy bun or a ponytail are good too. I can imagine a nice wind blown look as well, but the curl reality is never as good as what I imagine.

Your purse might be heavy, but with these curly hair tips and fixes, you’ll be ready for any date hair emergency.

Honey Curls

By Curly Suzy · Published September 1, 2010

Honeydew melon, honey cake, honey buns, honey on my toast. Honey on my hair? Won’t that be sticky? What about insects? Can it really be the right ingredient for curly hair?

Since it’s September, and September is National Honey Month, we thought we’d offer up some fun facts and tips about this fantastic natural ingredient.

Honey is a natural humectant: This means it attracts and holds on to water molecules. This makes honey a great treatment for dry, damaged hair. Honey can be added to cleansers, conditioners, deep conditioners and oils. Or you can look for products that contain honey. Honey for your hair works best combined with other ingredients.

If you want to know the science behind honey in your hair, read this great article, Buzz About Honey, by NaturallyCurly.com’s curly chemist Tonya McKay Becker.

Honey recipes for your curls

Pre-Cleansing Honey Conditioner that will nourish and moisturize your curls and scalp.

Ingredients: 3-6 tbsp. of honey, 1-2 tbsp jojoba oil or olive oil and a few drop of favorite essential oil.

Directions: Mix all ingredients. Apply in sections to your hair and massage into your scalp. Leave on for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing out. Follow with your favorite cleanser and conditioner.

Favorite products that contain honey

Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey

Curl Junkie Hibiscus and Banana Honey Butta Leave-In Conditioner

Darcy’s Botanicals Avocado Honey Twisting Cream

CATWALK TIGI Oatmeal & Honey Treatment Conditioner

MYHoneyChild Honey Hair Creme

John Masters Organics Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor

Oyin Handmade HoneyWash

Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner

Beecology Honey Botanical Sulfate Free Shampoo

Leave-in conditioners

Great to control frizz and define curls, both of these work great with any styler over them:

Stylers

On dry hair to refresh curls

Do I Have Too Many Layers?

By Curly Suzy · Published May 24, 2010

Dear CurlySuzy:

I have fine, frizzy waves and curls. I went to a curly hair specialist for a cut because I had had my hair permed to give it more body (it was shoulder length at the time”> and it totally fried my hair. I had it cut to my ears, and a million layers for curls. It looked pretty good but still in bad condition. I went to another place (more reasonably priced!”> and we both agreed to cut shorter to get rid of the damage. My hair is in better shape, but it’s so layered that it doesn’t curl easily and my scalp shows through in places.

I wash my hair 3x a week and always wet and condition it everyday. I use all different products—sometimes they work, sometimes not. Lately I’m using DevaCurl AnGEL. It’s pretty good and washes out easily. One question is that mousses are recommended for fine hair, but it seems to knot up the back of my head and then the curls are sticky and stuck together. I like the smooth, clean curl, not the ones stuck together that look like plastic.

Did I make a mistake by getting too many layers? They cut my hair dry and seem to snip where needed, not like the usual wet cut and systematically cutting sections “equally” on both sides. Would my hair curl neater, fuller and cleaner with fewer layers? I’m trying to grow it out a bit and want to know if it’s wise to ask for less layering or do I need it because my hair is so thin?

help!

Dear Barbara:

I think layers are a good thing most of the time. You might want to let it grow a bit. That I think will make the layers more likable. Short layers are hard to deal with unless your hair is really thick.

Here are some products that may help you get through the grow-out phase.

I agree with you that mousses are tricky. Here is one that I think you will like. You have to let it dry with very little touching. Touching causes frizz. When it is dry gently scrunch out the glaze. The product is suppose to be scrunched to get soft waves and curls. It is water soluble so it will not have that plastic, non-water-soluble, silicone feeling.

AG Foam Weightless Volumizer

Also are you doing any deep conditioning? That will really make a huge difference. It really helps to do this once a week for 30 minutes. Adding as much moisture as you can is key to getting your hair back in shape.

Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment

DevaCurl Heaven In Hair

CurlySuzy Q&A: Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate a Sulfate?

By Curly Suzy · Published May 10, 2010

Dear CurlySuzy: I was looking at the ingredients for some of the shampoos, and I noticed that AG Re:coil Curl Activating Shampoo has sodium lauryl sulfoacetate. Is this a sulfate?

Dear Robyn: The sulfate thing is a little confusing. That ingredient is not one of the super-harsh ones. Here is an explanation of how we categorize sulfates:

Sulfate-free

This designation refers specifically to the anionic surfactants sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and ammonium lauryl ether sulfate. These cleansers are very strong and can be quite harsh for delicate, curly hair. This is especially true for those with chemically processed or dry, damaged hair. (This does not apply to any of the sulfosuccinate cleansers, which are much more gentle detergents, and which are not sulfates, strictly speaking”>.

I hope this is helpful. Please email me if you have any more concerns.

CurlySuzy Q&A: My Long, Blonde, Wavy Hair is Too Dry

By Curly Suzy · Published April 19, 2010

Dear CurlySuzy:

I’m a teenage girl with not a lot of time on my hands, so I can’t go out all the time and experiment with new products. I have very long (goes down to low back”>, blond, wavy hair that tends to be very bipolar. It is also very texturized. I have been doing the shampoo free method for 8 months now, but my hair seems to still be dry! I usually use the cheap $1 White Rain (co-wash”> and Alberto V05 every day. I DESPERATELY need a hair guru like you to pick the perfect conditioner for me! (preferably on the cheap side…?”> I’ve been having curly girl suicidal thoughts about going back to the regular silicone way — but I know that’s not good for my hair! I know my hair is healthy, it just needs to work on looking good now. I would really appreciate any advice you can give me!

Dear Aylin:

Thanks for your funny email. I totally understand bipolar curls but please stay away from the silicones if you can. Here are some suggestions for good conditioners.

These two are the best for the buck!

CurlySuzy Q&A: Looking for Products that Contain EDTA

By Curly Suzy · Published March 29, 2010

Dear CurlySuzy: I’m a 3a/b, trying to be shampoo free for 6 months now. My current routine is a modified shampoo free (I use Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat shampoo a couple times a week”>, because my hair gets awful buildup fairly quickly. I’ve read that having hard water may be the cause of the buildup, not my products, and that products with EDTA may help. So are there any products that are shampoo free friendly that contain EDTA?

Dear Robyn: You are exactly right that EDTA (ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid”> will help with your hard water problem. Here are some products that contain that ingredient and are CG friendly. Please email me if you have any questions.

Please also check out this excerpt from an article from NaturallyCurly’s CurlChemist, Tonya McKay Becker:

“It is estimated that at least 65% of Americans have hard water at home. The degree of hardness varies tremendously with geography, but those with extremely hard water know intimately the problems associated with it. Pipes can clog, coffee pots die, clothes get a dingy, gray tinge, and the sinks and tubs develop unattractive residue. It is necessary to use more detergent, more hand soap, more shampoo, and more conditioner and fabric softener to get things clean and soft. Perhaps the most aggravating thing for us curly-haired people (and even our straight-haired friends”> is the insidious build up that develops on our hair, rendering it dry and unmanageable.

“Hard water contains dissolved minerals, usually carbonates of the metal ions calcium and magnesium. Calcium sulfate and iron deposits are also not unusual. These minerals react with soaps and surfactants, reducing their effectiveness at cleansing, and forming a salt that precipitates onto your hair (and your clothes, your skin, and your bathtub”>. This means that not only are oils and dirt more likely to accumulate due to your shampoo not working as well as it should, but also a scaly film gradually develops over the surface of the hair. This leads to hair that is dry (due to the inability of moisturizers to penetrate this film”> and prone to tangles and breakage (due to the roughened cuticle surface”>. The best way to remove these alkaline inorganic salts is to use shampoos or rinses containing organic acids with multiple acidic sites (see figures below”>. These sites form a cage around the metal ion of the salt, and the entire complex can then be rinsed from the hair.

“These acids are called “chelating agents,” and some examples are EDTA (ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid”> and citric acid. Organic acids containing only one acidic site can also be used for removal of these minerals, but may be less effective and require higher concentrations. Some examples are acetic acid (vinegar”>, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid. Installation of a water softener or shower filter is the ideal method of avoiding this type of problematic mineral buildup at home. However, when that is not an option, the best approach is occasional use of a shampoo with a relatively short ingredient list containing EDTA or citric acid and a strong surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate. SLS helps remove any oily buildup that has occurred as a result of the mineral film, and a simple formula without lots of additives prevents interference with the chelating agent. For those who prefer to avoid shampoos and the surfactants found in them, a mixture of distilled water and vinegar can aid in the removal of the minerals. Follow up either treatment with a deep, moisturizing conditioner.”

You also might want to try a shower water filter to help get rid of hard water.

CurlySuzy Q&A: Can I Co-Wash Every Day?

By Curly Suzy · Published March 22, 2010

Dear CurlySuzy: I just did the big chop about three weeks ago. One of the main reasons I went natural is because I sweat a lot in my hair. When I am finished working out, my hair is literally dripping. I couldn’t possibly have a relaxer and work out as much as I want to. Now that I am working out about 4-5 days a week, I am not sure how much I should co-wash my hair. I am not sure how to get second-day hair so I co-wash pretty much every day. I feel like my hair doesn’t look good if I don’t co-wash, reapply leave-in and then styler. I am currently using Kinky-Curly Curling Custard but I have a lot of other products that I am going to try. I just need to know if I am doing too much co-washing and is it ok to do it every day.

Dear Alicia: I know a lot of curlies who co-wash every day. That is just fine. Be sure you are using a conditioner that is water soluble so you don’t have a lot of build up. That would be my only caution. If you want a list of good silicone free/water soluble conditioners, I am happy to suggest some below.

One more thought is, are you cleansing at least once a week? You might do that if you think you need to. Otherwise you are doing everything else right, I think.

White Chunks from Curling Custard?

By Curly Suzy · Published March 8, 2010

Dear CurlySuzy: I used your CurlMart product Curling Custard for the first time yesterday. I noticed that I had lots of white chucks on my hair. The white things on my hair were not looking good, so I had wipe them off. What do I do to eliminate this? Other than that, the product is great. Could it be the amount I used? Please let me know.

Dear Esther: The Kinky-Curly Curling Custard will do that white chunk or white ball thing for two reasons.

1. It doesn’t work well with other products. If you are using a leave-in conditioner or have any residue from a conditioner, it will do that white reaction. Any product on the hair under the custard will cause problems. The only leave-in conditioner it works well with is the Kinky-Curly Knot Today. That leave-in is great, my top favorite and it does work with any other product unlike the Custard.

2. The other reason could be if you are using too much and then not applying it on VERY wet hair. It is a super product—just a bit tricky.

Curly Hair Q&A: How do I Use Curl Keeper?

By Curly Suzy · Published February 8, 2010

Dear CurlySuzy: I have used Curl Keeper and it makes my hair very fuzzy and fine feeling without any curl definition. Any tips?

Dear Janie: Curl Keeper is a very unique leave-in conditioner. You have to use it with a gel or cream over it for best results. Also you have to apply it correctly or you will not get great results.

After you cleanse and condition your curls apply the Curl Keeper to very wet hair and use a lot of it. As you scrunch it in it should make a squashy sound. You have to use a lot of it. Then you would apply your styling product. AG Re:coil is the best curl cream to use over the Curl Keeper. It is a very concentrated cream that has great frizz control and curl definition. You would apply that in sections.

Try not to touch your hair when it is drying. Then when this combination is dry it will have a crunch or glaze. You have to very gently scrunch out the crunch. If you scrunch too much it will get frizzy so be careful! I hope this helps and the Curl Keeper performs better for your curls using these tips.

Curl Care for Winter Athletes

By Curly Suzy · Published February 2, 2010

Lindsey Jacobellis

The winter season is the toughest on Curls. Especially if you are out in the elements—running, skiing, snowboarding or ice skating. Winter curly athletes need to protect their hair from the blustery cold air and wind. Whether your are a USA Olympic curly like Lindsey Jacobellis, Stacey Cook, Sarah Schleper, Jessie Vetter or an otherwise avid winter sports athlete, you are going to have to take extra good care of your winter curls.

Curls are already prone to dryness and frizz and the winter weather makes taking care of those problems more of a challenge. A healthy winter hair care routine should start by reducing the frequency of cleansing or shampooing your hair. Try to avoid shampoos that have sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium myreth sulfate. On the days when you don’t wash your hair, co-wash with a moisturizing conditioner.

It is important to always use a conditioner on your hair after you wash or co-wash your curls. A good conditioner should have essential fatty acids (EFAs”>, cetyl or stearyl alcohols, humectants, essential oils and vitamin E. All of these healthy ingredients help prevent dryness and will make your curls happy. You can also add jojoba oil to your conditioner or use it once a week as a hot oil treatment. Jojoba is a great extract for your curls because is similar to sebum and is easily absorbed into your scalp and hair.

Check out this article about some adorable winter hats.

When you are in the shower avoid washing and conditioning your curls in hot water. Warm or cool water will lessen the dryness and help lock in the moisture. This will be a great help to your curls as well as your skin.

Once you are out of the shower, using a leave-in conditioner is a must for any curly in the winter. Follow with your favorite winter stylers. Air drying is the best practice for your curls. If you don’t have the time, don’t go outside with wet hair. You will be risking breakage caused by your curls freezing! Instead, use a diffuser on your hair dryer. Your hair dryer should be on the cool setting. Once again avoid adding extra heat to your hair.

Jessie Vetter

Now that your curls are looking great and you are ready to go, you look out the window. Freezing winds, snow and ice are all ready to ruin your curls. Wearing a hat is a necessity. Hats are warm and provide protection for your curls, but there are a few things to be cautious about. A hat can cause a whole new set of problems. Make sure the hat isn’t too tight. It can constrict circulation to your scalp. This causes your sebum glands to go into overdrive producing more oil which can lead to greasy limp curls. Hats can also cause split ends, static electricity and frizz. If your wear dreadlocks the wool fibers can lodge themselves into the locks and loosen the lock strands. Hats can be a problem for curlies, but I am not suggesting giving them up, just a little modification can do the trick. Be crafty and turn around bad hat head curls. Sew a silk or satin lining into your hats, or if crafty is as scary as the bad hair days, wear a silk or satin scarf under your hat. This will reduce the friction that hats cause and your curls will thank you. Winter hair breakage and damage is as much about dryness as it is about what you put on your head.

Wearing your curls in protective styles is also a good option. The winter weather will tangle and snarl curls faster than a snow flake melts on your tongue. Whether you are racing down a mountain or jogging through a snow covered park, the more precautions you take to protect your curls the better. Keeping your hair out of harms way by wearing protective styles is another perfect winter hair care solution. Braid, twist or gently pull back your curls so they are safe and healthy.

This evening sit by the fire or under a warm blanket and make your winter hair care list. Get crafty with your favorite warm hat or do a hot oil conditioning treatment. Your newly moisturized and well cared for surls will look great while you are out in the cold weather enjoying your winter sports and later when you are indoors.

Here are some of my favorite winter hair care products from Shop.NaturallyCurly.com.

Cleansers

Conditioners

Leave-in Conditioners

Stylers

Share your winter hair care tips in the comments area below!