Search Results: Curly Suzy
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.
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.
Dear CurlySuzy: I am a 2b/3a hair type and I was wondering what your take on Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream for my hair type? I am on the hunt for the perfect product, like the Holy Grail. I have stuff I like but Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream gets a lot of accolades from people I trust.
Dear Amanda: I have heard good and not so good things about it. Here is a link to our review page on this product.
I wish I could say that I have tried it, but I have not. I am a little hesitant also because of the 2b parts of your hair. It might be too heavy. So sorry I could not be more helpful. Please email me again if you have more questions.
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.
Spring has finally arrived. Open windows and evenings on the porch are a welcome relief from the long winter. The fragrances of flowers and all the other springtime scents wafting in the air are enough to make me feel like I am in a perpetual Disney film. The birds singing in my yard are as thrilled as I am. My wardrobe has changed from wool to cotton and my toes are finally feeling some sunshine. I want this springtime feeling to last forever. Unfortunately, in Texas, spring is short-lived. I think this is the reason I am so attracted to hair products that have springtime scents. I have sniffed and sampled, and these are my top spring scent-sations.
Starting with cleansers, Max Green Alchemy’s Scalp Rescue Shampoo is one of my favorites. The scent is a slight lemon followed by lavender and rosemary. Another spring-inspired product is Carol’s Daughter Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo. It has a clean, minty smell with rosemary and sage mixed in. If a more fruity scent is your idea of spring, Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo is a great choice. The peach scent is sweet smelling but not too overwhelming.
Conditioners that continually end up in my shopping cart because of their scents as well as their moisturizing qualities include Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner with its clean floral scent. I like to alternate that with Jessicurl Aloeba Daily Conditioner in the Citrus Lavender scent. Both conditioners have the spring aromatherapy I am looking for.
Once I am out of the shower I want to continue with styling products that are just as luxuriously scented. Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk has a nice, light, lemongrass scent. Don’t be fooled by the lightness, though—this is a hard-working moisturizer. Another leave-in conditioner that smells of spring is MOP Leave in Conditioner. The clean scent of dandelion and aloe barbadensis leaf juice are what make this product one that I always repurchase. For those Curlies who need a styling butter, Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme with its cool and refreshing peppermint oil is a great choice. If you like lighter stylers but still need a lot of moisture and control, Curl Junkie’s Curls In A Bottle with its orange scent will make your spring curls pop and shine. For you mousse lovers out there, try Curlisto Bio Gel Mousse which is enriched with awapuhi, aloe vera, kiwi and passionfruit. This lightweight mousse will give your curls bounce and definition.
To keep your curls happy all day long try a curl-refreshing spray. DevaCurl Mist-er Right is the perfect lavender-based tonic that revitalizes even the most delicate curls. For curlies who like the seasons fruity scents, Oyin Handmade Juices and Berries will help your curls stay moisturized and smelling sweet. Juices and Berries is fragranced with the juiciest, fruitiest, brightest fruit scent Oyin Handmade could find.
Lavender Oil by Wen is the last step in my spring lineup. The smell when you open the bottle is enough to take you straight to the lavender fields of Southern France. Use it as a deep conditioning treatment, to soothe frizzy ends, or on dry hair for a fragrant, polished shine.
Happy spring and happy shopping for your curls.
Foram tries Curl Keeper and Re:coil on her friend; they love the results!
Dear CurlySuzy:
My hair has always been (3a”> curly, and up until a year ago I didn’t really care. Then, I became really self-conscious of my curly hair and started straightening (blowing out and flat-ironing”> it every time I showered.
It became too much for me and I decided to just leave my hair curly when I went out. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it. My first question is: did I do any permanent damage to my hair blowing out and flat ironing it every day?
My second question is: I’ve been thinking about getting it permanently straightened; will that do any permanent damage?
And my final question is: is there any product I could use to keep my hair straight through a shower? I have some friends who have almost the same hair as me (a mix of 3a and 3b”> who straighten their hair, and can shower, and the straight stays! I’ve heard them say they use a product, but is it possible?
Hi Mary:
I am going to give you some links that will help you learn more about some keratin processes that can be used for straightening or loosening your curls. The first one is an article we recently published about keratin.
Check out what one of the founders of NaturallyCurly did with her curls. The videos are near the bottom of the blog and they are great. She still wanted some curl — I am not sure if that appeals to you.
In regard to blow drying and flat ironing, yes, that is super-drying and damaging. I would suggest using a deep conditioner once a week for 30 minutes to help with that.
Deep Conditioners
30 minutes once a week with heat and follow with a cool rinse, really really helps!!
- Aubrey Organics Blue Green Algae Hair Rescue Conditioning Mask
- Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment
- DevaCurl Heaven in Hair
- MYHoneyChild Olive You Deep Conditioner
- Curl Junkie Hibiscus & Banana Deep Fix Moisturizing Conditioner
Here is a straightener that I know works very well with just using a blow dryer. No flat iron needed!
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!
Natural CurlMart Products
April is Earth Month, a time to be inspired to take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. In our fast-paced lives, the first step to this is usually changing our day-to-day habits. Trying to recycle, compost, drive less, carpool, not buy bottled water and shop at farmer’s markets are all important changes that we can all try to achieve. Reducing our daily personal carbon footprint is important, and I am thankful to Earth Month for reminding us how valuable this can be to our world.
Earth Month is also taken very seriously by these three well-established hair care companies. Every month is Earth Month for them. They are large companies that have chosen to make very inspirational environmental choices.
Aveda
Aveda has been mindful of their environmental footprint since 2000. Aveda has been minimizing packaging, maximizing the use of post-consumer recycled materials, using materials that can be and are recyclable, and designing packaging so that the individual parts can be separated for recycling. Their Caps Recycling Program, which started in 2007, has collected more than 100,000 pounds of product caps.
Aveda also has been phasing out parabens from existing product formulas; as well as, developing new formulas without parabens, and now has more than 480 products formulated without parabens on the market. Aveda tries to ensure that their products will not only benefit customers through exceptional performance, but will positively impact the people and economies from which the products’ ingredients are sourced. Aveda firmly believes that they will succeed in this effort by striving to use what they call Green Ingredients in their products whenever possible. The company is sourcing ingredients from organic, sustainable or renewable plant-based origins.
In addition to this Aveda is using environmentally responsible processing. For example, using steam distillation rather than chemical extraction of essential oils.
Aveda is also the first beauty company manufacturing with 100% certified wind power at their primary facility in Blaine, MN.
The facility is on 58 acres of certified wildlife habitat and has a restaurant open to the public that serves lunches made from seasonal produce grown on local farms.
“Aveda believes in conducting business in a manner that protects the Earth, conserves resources and does not compromise the ability of future generations to sustain themselves,” says Aveda president Dominique Conseil.
Aubrey Organics
Aubrey Organics is another company that has had a purpose to leave the Earth in better shape than it is today. All the Aubrey Organics packaging is recyclable and Aubrey Organics uses only the finest herbal, plant extracts and natural vitamins in all of their products. There are no paraben preservatives, no petrochemicals, no artificial colors or fragrances of any kind. At Aubrey Organics they believe great ingredients make great products. This is the simple philosophy at the heart of the pioneering personal care company Aubrey Hampton founded over 40 years ago.
Aubrey Hampton was born on an organic farm in rural Indiana and was educated in New York City. He learned, from the age of nine, how to make herbal cosmetics from his mother. A phytochemist and herbalist, he founded Aubrey Organics in 1967 with two natural products he formulated in his own kitchen—Relax-R-Bath and GPB Hair Conditioner. Since then he has created over 200 hair, skin and body care products, which are internationally recognized as the most natural herbal products available. Nearly every health food store in the United States and Canada carries his products, which are also sold throughout Europe, Asia and South America.
Aubrey’s list of “firsts” in the industry is impressive. He was first to use coconut fatty acids in hair and skin care; first to formulate cosmetic products with jojoba oil, evening primrose, blue camomile, Rosa Mosqueta and Matcha green tea; first to develop a natural preservative with citrus seed extract and vitamins A, C and E; and the first cosmetic manufacturer to be certified as an organic processor (in 1994″>.
Here at NaturallyCurly, we are proud to be selling this product line in CurlMart.
John Paul Mitchell Systems
The third inspirational company is John Paul Mitchell Systems. This company is completely devoted to making the world a better place. CEO John Paul DeJoria works to ensure the company follows earth-friendly policies and strategies. DeJoria’s commitment to the environment starts at the Beverly Hills corporate headquarters, where everybody gets a free lunch if they bring their own utensils, and they get free gas if they carpool. Recycled plastic, unbleached recycled paper and soy-based ink are used in product packaging whenever possible. The company harvests the organic awapuhi (a kind of ginger that helps soften and add shine to hair”>, used in Paul Mitchell products, without depleting natural resources. They also use giant solar panels to generate electricity for the company’s Hawaiian awapuhi farm.
DeJoria estimates the pollution caused by every step of the production process of his company’s 16-product Tea Tree line — “from the picking of the leaves to the boiling, bottling and transportation,” and then he offsets its climate-changing carbon-dioxide output by paying for trees to be planted where they’re needed through the organization American Forests. American Forests is an international non-profit that preserves and grows a healthier environment with trees. Their Tea Tree products will also fund American Forests Global ReLeaf and Wildfire ReLeaf programs to further preserve our natural resources at home and abroad.
John Paul Mitchell Systems was the first company to publicly oppose animal testing. They also created aerosol products that meet stringent Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC”> standards in California. John Paul DeJoria strives to make John Paul Mitchell Systems an example for other companies to follow. “Corporations can and should change the world for the better. We have the perspective needed to leave the world a better place for our having been here.” John Paul DeJoria.
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.
- Curl Junkie Daily Fix Cleansing Conditioner
- AG Re:coil Curl Activating Shampoo
- Hair Rules Aloe Grapefruit Purifying Shampoo
- Mop Top Gentle Shampoo
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.
Jonathan Torch speaks about his Curly Hair Solutions line
On February 11, Curly Hair Solutions hosted a media lunch and learn at Brassii Super Club in Toronto to educate and introduce distributors and media to the world of Curly Hair Solutions. Special guest model and host Jacqui Skeete from Oh So Comso TV came out to the event with camera in hand ready to film and speak about Jonathan Torch and the Curly Hair Solution’s hair care line. Other media was in attendance on this day as well.
Before Jonathan began to speak about the Curly Hair Solutions hair care line, event attendees, distributors and media had the opportunity to mingle and get to know Jonathan and the Curly Hair Solutions team a little better. With curly fries in one hand and a bottle of Curl Keeper in the other, Jonathan Torch was ready and willing to meet new people and answer questions regarding the curly hair community and Curly Hair Solutions.
Many individuals within the curly hair community have revered Jonathan Torch as the “King of Curls.” After the February 11 media lunch and learn, it was apparent why Jonathan is the king of kings within the curl world.
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.
Dear CurlySuzy:
My name is Kaci and I’m an African American teen with (who would know!”> curly hair. I’ve been a natural all my life, but since I’ve had my hair straightened for as long as I remember, it has never showed. I would simply stare at the beautiful washed wet hair before me and dream of having that hair and not the dried poof that followed after. The reason I’m mailing is because I’m having a little trouble with putting my hair into a category. My hair looks exactly like this when wet and applying Kinky Curly Curling Custard:
But what type is it? What other products would you recommend for this type of hair? So far, I have only used Carol’s Daughter and Kinky Curly. The two products have worked great for me. I’m pretty new to being a curly girl and would love to show off my curls instead of destroying them with a straightening comb. I would really appreciate your help!
Dear Kaci:
Your hair type I think is a 3c. You are using great things so far. KCCC and Carol’s Daughter products are really fantastic. Have you added or tried the Kinky-Curly Knot Today to the KCCC? That can give you a little more softness and control.
The other Line you might consider is Curl Junkie. The owner has hair that is 3c. She has a lot of hair but the curl type is 3c. Her products are great. My favorites are:
- Curl Assurance Gentle Cleansing Shampoo
- Daily Fix Cleansing Conditioner
- Curl Assurance Smoothing Conditioner
- Curls in a Bottle
- Coffee Coco Curl Creme
- Hibiscus Banana Honey Butta Leave-In Conditioner
Good luck and please email me again if you have any more questions. I love getting emails from teens that are proud of their curls. You are great role models.
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.
As women, we learn a lot in the kitchen from our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, sisters and friends: cooking, cleaning, how to listen, how to love and how to take care of ourselves. Taking care of our hair also sneaks itself in the kitchen as well.
Some women have taken it a step further and used the kitchen as the laboratory for some very special creations having more to do with nourishing the hair rather than the stomach. These innovative women are now successful hair care line developers and owners. Their business’ have flourished because of the great products they have created and their commitment to caring for curly hair.
Marsha Coulton
Marsha Coulton
Curl Junkie’s Marsha Coulton, armed with an MBA in international business in 1997, dove head first into the business world.
Over the next few years, her many jobs included a trader on Wall Street, an analyst for one of the nation’s largest retailers, a computer consultant at a global tech company and a career counselor with an Ivy League graduate school. “I was jumping around to different jobs because I wasn’t particularly happy,” says the creator of Curl Junkie, a line of products for curls and kinks. ”I was doing what I thought I should be doing. But since I was 12, I’d known I wanted to do hair.” One day she was complaining about her own hair to her mother, who asked “Why don’t you go to beauty school?”
Coulton says she always felt like she was expected to pursue a high-powered career. So her mom’s suggestion to go after her dream was a breath of fresh air. The timing was perfect because Coulton was just embarking on her own natural hair journey after decades of relaxing her hair. After graduating from beauty school at the Carsten Institute in New York, she began creating her own products. She began studying different ingredients, and developing her own hair concoctions. She spent hours each day on research, and her kitchen resembled a chemistry lab. “I set out to make products for me and my fellow Curlies,” Coulton says. “It helped that I hadn’t found my ‘Holy Grail’ product, and I wasn’t satisfied with the products that I had to use on my curly-headed clients.” Marsha launched Curl Junkie in 2006 and now has a huge loyal customer base. She and her products are dedicated to healthy beautiful curls.
Kelly Foreman
Kelly Foreman
Kelly Foreman founder of Mop Top is another woman who has created a curly hair care line. Kelly started the MopTop line of products five years ago, when she wanted help her daughter embrace her curls in a way she hadn’t as a young girl. Growing up with tight, corkscrew hair in humid South Carolina, Kelly Foreman was called “Fuzzy” by her classmates. She dreaded rainy weather and swimming pools, and subjected her curls to the ravages of blow-dryers, hot rollers and chemicals. Combs broke in her hair. Nothing she tried could tame her mane. Even her own mother struggled with how to manage Foreman’s frizzy curls, cutting it so short she looked like a boy. Now a mother with three daughters of her own, Foreman launched the Mop Top line of products—a sulfate-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free line specifically designed for curly, frizzy hair. Fuzzy Duck, a children’s line of products for curly, frizzy hair, followed. She has since added a pomade and a deep conditioner to the line.
Any Curly Mom or Mom with Curly kids will find this line of products a life saver.
Lisa Price
Lisa Price
Lisa Price is another creative woman who has a knack for creating unique and effective curly hair care products. Her company, Carol’s Daughter, is a complete line of hair and body care products made with love and natural ingredients. For as long as she can remember, Brooklyn native Lisa Price has had an inherent love of fragrance. Lisa’s mother, Carol, always encouraged her to use her knack for mixing essential oils and her innate feel for fragrance to create gifts for her family and friends. Inspired by her mother’s words, Lisa began whipping up products right in her kitchen that were an instant hit with loved ones. In the early 1990s, she branched out and sold her homespun hair and body care products at local flea markets and craft fairs, turning her longtime hobby into the start of a career. Lisa’s business— with a little luck and a lot of love— turned her at-home enterprise into a highly successful business within a matter of years. From the brand name and its products to the delicate care and attention mixed into each recipe your Curl will thank you after using any of her products.
Tit and Miko Branch
Titi & Miko Branch
Miss Jessie’s is a curly hair care line that most curlies have heard of and are very thankful for. Titi and Miko Branch are the sisters behind this line. They named it after their grandmother, the one that understood their hair when they were growing up. Miss Jessie would mix together ingredients to condition and style their hair right at the kitchen table. “Good food and good grooming” were their grandmother’s strong beliefs. In 1987, the two sisters opened a salon in Brooklyn, NY. They then developed the Miss Jessie’s hair care line and changed the name of their salon to Miss Jessie’s Salon (formerly named Curve Salon”>. Their passion and love of all textures of hair lead them to create the Salon and the “go to” hair care line for so many Curlies.
Jessica McGuinty
Jessica McGuinty
Jessica McGuinty is another Curly who was busy in kitchen and created some magic.
“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, how cool would it be if I could just make my OWN hair gel? I sure would save a lot of money!'” recalls McGuinty, who was working as a personal trainer at the time.
So she tried a basic recipe, with less-than-stellar results. That experiment inspired her to tweak the recipe, adding other natural ingredients she had learned about, such as jojoba oil and glycerin.
“The results were nothing short of miraculous,” she says. “I was shocked that FINALLY my hair looked like I wanted, and I had made the product on my stove!” She couldn’t wait to share her recipe with all her CurlTalk friends. But after posting the recipe, she was flooded with emails from curly-headed members asking if they could just buy some of the magic potion rather than making it themselves.
In September 2002, Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion — and a business — was born. The company grew slowly, with McGuinty working out of her 600-square-foot apartment, making labels on her computer. Soon requests came from customers looking for gentle shampoos and moisturizing conditioners. When customers requested a stronger-holding styling process, she turned to members of NaturallyCurly to help name the product
Annette Gaynes (CurlTalk’s NetG”> came up with the name Confident Coils, and the product was officially launched in Austin. The company now sells 11 hair-care products and a body-care line. Since the company’s birth, Jessicurl has moved its operations from the San Francisco Bay area to a 2,000-square-foot factory in Arcata, Calif., where products are tested on actual curls (not animals!”>. Her products are shipped to curlies around the world.
About International Women’s Day:
Each year around the world, International Women’s Day (IWD”> is observed on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but also throughout March to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women. The first IWD was held 1911 in the USA. For more information, click here.
In this video, NaturallyCurly’s product guru CurlySuzy says a hat is the way to go when your curly hair encounters snow, as it did today in a rare Austin, Texas, snowfall.
Dear CurlySuzy: I have been silicone- and sulfate-free with my hair and products for several months now and still trying to find a great combination of conditioning for my hair that is growing out, color-treated and overprocessed in the past. I feel a little overwhelmed with all the product choices in CurlMart and have ordered and tried a few different samples, but would love a recommendation on a simple hair routine. A great weekly deep conditioner and a great leave-in would be awesome. Still noticing that it’s hard to get the same level of softness and “feel” to my hair as I did when using silicones-even though I know they weren’t really conditioning my hair.
Dear Valerie: I am happy to give you my favorites for leave-in conditioners and weekly conditioners. Both of these are super important steps in keeping your curls healthy and happy.
Favorite leave-in conditioner (silicone free”>:
Silicone-free deep conditioners:
- Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment
- Curl Junkie Hibiscus Banana Deep Fix Moisturizing Conditioner
- DevaCurl Heaven in Hair
- MYHoneyChild Olive You Deep Conditioner
- Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment
- Arbre de Vie Shea Hot Oil Treatment
New conditioner that I am wild about (I know you didn’t ask for this but it is great when you are ready for a new daily conditioner”>: Curl Junkie Smoothing Conditioner
Dear CurlySuzy: I’m looking for a product suggestion to really work with the sides of my hair like a gel but not damaging for natural hair.
Dear De’Anne: Here are some gels that are healthy for natural hair. I hope this is what you are looking for. Please email me again if you have more questions.
This is a great gel, follow styling instructions exactly for best results:
Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Aloe Fix Hair Styling Gel
This will work best, I think, with a leave-in conditioner under it. It is lighter than the one above:
This is another medium-light gel:
Jane Carter Solution Condition and Sculpt
This is heavier. I am not sure what the texture of your hair is and how much weight you want:
Blended Beauty Happy Nappy Styles
Great leave-in conditioner that works great with any product over it:
This is a very unique product:
Only works well with the Knot Today It is a very thick gel, and has to be applied on very wet hair with the Knot Today already in your hair. Very, very concentrated; if you use too much, it will be sticky and super crunchy.
This is like a gel and a cream mixed together:
Mizani this month has launched its True Textures line, which is designed specifically to care for the growing number of people who choose to embrace their natural waves, curls and kinks.
True Textures addresses the unique characteristics of each curl type with specific products to meet individual needs, such as moisture, frizz control, and curl definition.
Natural growth patterns and spiral, ribbon-like structures in curly hair inhibit natural oils from reaching end shafts, resulting in dry, fragile hair susceptible to breakage at points where each curl turns. True Textures reinforces the curl with triple-action Curl Care Complex to add resiliency, moisture and anti-breakage protection.
The True Textures Collection consists of five products. For hair care, indulge in three products—a sulfate-free shampoo, intense moisturizing mask and cleansing conditioner to cleanse and soften the hair. Jojoba oil and vitamin E provide intense hydration, and apricot oil and fruit sugars seal the cuticle and infuse shine.
To style each texture, there are two new styling products: a defining cream gel for loose curls and waves and a curl-extending cream for tightly coiled tresses.
Mizani spent years researching the needs of women with natural texture, including enlisting the help of NaturallyCurly.com and CurlStylist.com.
As part of its efforts to help stylists and consumers understand texture, the company developed the Mizani Natural Curl Key. This easy-to-use reference guide allows professional stylists the opportunity to identify the hair type of any client and determine its key characteristics and special needs, as well as the most beneficial in-salon services and at-home haircare.
With the support of world-renowned scientists in the U.S. and France, Mizani developed this innovative guide to global hair types based on specific shape criteria and utilized a scientific approach to measuring features of hair strands. This includes the curve diameter, curl index, number of twists and number of waves. The results that emerged from this extensive research identified eight distinct hair types worldwide.
“Mizani’s approach to education is unsurpassed in the multi-ethnic category by constantly offering advancements like this diagnostic tool to equip the professional with excellence,” says Maria Cerminara, Vice President of Marketing for Mizani USA. “The Mizani Natural Curl Key will enable our stylists to not only properly evaluate and classify their clients hair but also make informed recommendations on the best products and treatments for different hair types.”
