Search Results: Desiree Johnson
In honor of their five-year anniversary, Undefined Beauty came full force into hair care with their debut product, the R&R Scalp Serum. This innovative water-based serum hydrates, stimulates, strengthens, and nourishes your scalp. R&R Scalp Serum contains clinically proven hair actives such as Plant Peptides (Pea), to stimulate and strengthen follicle stem cells, which helps to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss and Capiyxl, a biomimetic peptide combined with a Red Clover extract that targets the main causes of hair loss. The product also contains Niacinamide, Saw Palmetto, Ashwagandha, Amla, FoTi, and Caffeine for revitalized hair wellness. Healthy, shiny, thick hair starts with a healthy, balanced scalp.
We sat down to chat with CEO and Founder Dorian Morris to discuss the brand’s newest haircare product and how it differs from traditional scalp-based products.
Congrats on your five-year anniversary, what have been your favorite entrepreneurial milestones over this time period?
I’m just proud of my ability to pivot and the power of the pivot. If you go back to the beginning of the Undefined Beauty launch in 2018, you know my focus was on the magical plant wisdom of CBD, and I still believe in the power of cannabis. But unfortunately, you know, it’s limited from a commercialization standpoint because there’s so much regulation around that plant. I’m proud that I was able to listen to my community, listen to the retail landscape, and pivot to our collection, which is what has unlocked so much opportunity and growth for me. If I had been stubborn I wouldn’t be where I am today.
You know, in over 600 Targets, Ultas, and Whole Foods, and all the fantastic partnerships that I’ve been able to secure, based on my pivot. So I think the power of the pivot and understanding the changes and reframing failure is just learning because I continue to evolve and take calculated risks.
What inspired the transition into adding hair care to your brand? Why?
I have always been a “hair bear” AKA hair enthusiast and in my previous lives, I worked on hair care brands. Going back to J&J days, I was an intern there or co-op working on Aveeno hair care which was my first foray into more mass haircare. I had this amazing opportunity to lead the Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture initiative when I was at Sundial and this was phase one of their rebrand where they had the hair care brand in Sephora. Hair has always had a very special place in my heart and I have big curly hair, as you know so I’ve tried so many products and I’m just so deep from a community standpoint in the hair care space.
Funny enough, a lot of my growth, in the beginning, was these boots-on-the-ground events and most people would assume that I’m a hair care brand just because I have such big curly hair. I thought it made sense to try and take all the plant wisdom that Undefined Beauty is about and bring that to a new category. I’m super excited that I worked really hard in this formula to really pair clinically proven actives alongside these heritage ingredients, that kind of come across culture from the Amla and the FoTi.
I know the wisdom that Mother Nature has blessed us with in one formula that’s going to work across hair types. It doesn’t matter if you have straight hair, curly hair because it is a water-based formula so it’s not going to weigh your hair down rand focuses on this universal need state because healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp.
What did you find compelling about moving into this category?
This product has been two years in the making because I have very high standards from an efficacious standpoint and in this process, I tried a lot of the the leading hair scalp serums on the market. I purchased probably all of them from Sephora just so I could understand the competitive landscape and they were expensive. I’m using a lot of the same active ingredients and realized I want to make it easy for the woman who’s shopping at Ulta or Target on a budget to also have access. People can have the prestige quality formulas at mass pricing.
What was the formulation process like?
Because for me it’s about solving key pinch points and the scalp is a universal need state. We all have a scalp and I think there’s also this ability to take the scientific aspects and really incorporate some of these skin care actives into your scalp. One good example is niacinamide is one of my favorite ingredients and lives across almost all products in the R&R collection but it also has some amazing benefits for your scalp. Specifically, if you have an oily scalp it helps with the oil production and has skin care benefits. Another nice skincare ingredient that has great efficacy from a scalp care standpoint is caffeine and so I use caffeine in my Hydro Jelly, but there’s also a place to have it within the scalp product.
I wanted to be extremely intentional with all of the ingredients so I focused on a water-based formula that’s gonna penetrate. I also incorporated some additional penetration agents and penetration-enhancing ingredients like the MSM in the formula, which is a sulfur compound that Madam CJ Walker, sulfur used as one of the major ingredients in her hair.
What are common scalp issues this product can help/solve?
Dryness, I think is a a good one because it is going to help to nourish your scalp and help with irritation. It’s a foundational step that’s going to help to hydrate, nourish, and strengthen, so that way it’s going to promote healthy hair growth.
What new haircare products can we look forward to from Undefined Beauty?
For now, it’s really focusing on this water-based scalp serum and also educating people around how you can incorporate other skin care products you might already have in your routine and your regimen.
When you hear 4A hair texture, what comes to mind? Beautiful top knots and finger coils? If you’re familiar with hair typing then you know 4A represents one part of Type 4 hair textures that help people learn their curl pattern. Understanding your curl pattern is essential to building your hair regimen, identifying which products are best for your hair, and maintaining your hair health.
Defining 4A hair textures
If you have 4A hair textures then your curls can have a spring S or O shape that is medium-sized and loosely packed. They often do not interlock and can curl or spiral away from the rest of your hair with lots of volume at the roots. Celebrities who sport 4A textures are fan favorites like Solange Knowles, Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, and Yara Shahidi. 4A hairstyles can range from free-flowing coils, updos, or protective styles like twists and braids because of how voluminous the texture is.
If you’re looking for inspiration this season and want to switch up your everyday hairstyle, we’ve got you covered with 15 options that you’ll love.
1. Frohawk
Image source: @curlsidoadore_
You can create this fun and funky style regardless of how long, short, or voluminous your coils and curls are. A Frohawk isn’t about the texture, but the attitude you bring with this edgy look, just grab your favorite gel, edge control, and hairpins and you’re all set.
2. Flexirod Curls
Image source: @njeberhart
Using Flexirods is great for 4A naturalistas looking to add a little bounce to their look without applying any heat. Heat-free damage is something we can all get behind and they create an effortless and voluminous style that can be easily manipulated into other styles.
3. Twists
Image source: @globetrottercurls
Achieving the perfect twist-out has never been easier with the right hair products and a bit of patience. The key to making this style your own is deciding ahead of time how you’ll part your hair and in which direction you’ll twist your hair.
4. Slicked Back Ponytail
Image source: @maisabel_
A slick ponytail is the perfect addition to dress up any outfit whether you’re going for an everyday casual look or a sex night out. Make sure to apply a thick gel that will keep your coils and kinks laid down and allow the pony to take center stage.
5. Twists With Beads
Image source: @razorempress
We love to see accessories added to braids, locs, or twists as they can easily elevate the look and can range in size, shape, and color.
6. Locs
Image source: @jadenikaylah
Creating locs is an easy 4A hairstyle that begins with coils and double-strand twists and then they slowly begin to lock up. Depending on the length and thickness you’re going for this can be a temporary or long-term hairstyle.
7. Claw Clip
Image source: @jay_anoka
There’s nothing like pulling your hair back and sometimes a ponytail isn’t enough so we need reinforcements. Using a claw clip is an easy way to add some life to your curls and coils, just make sure it’s thick and won’t snap easily.
8. Two Buns With Beads
Image source: @_cicimichele
There have been several variations of buns you can wear as a 4A hairstyle, but this fun look is accessorized with wire and beads. The mix of twists, buns, and accessories gives depth and dimension to this hairstyle.
9. Updo
Image source: @theesperanzamaria
Updos never go out of style and they can be an elegant way to showcase the beauty of your texture whether you want a pineapple or braided style.
10. Tapered Cut
Image source: @wanessarodriiguess
If you love an edgy TWA, then a tapered look could be your next hairstyle if you’re aiming to shorten up your curls and coils. You always want to consult with a barber before getting a tapered cut and explore the types of designs or patterns you want to accompany your hairstyle.
11. Half up/down
Image source: @slimreshae
How gorgeous are these curls? A good 4A hairstyle isn’t complete without the classic staples like a half up/down hairstyle that shows your texture.
12. Passion Twists
Image source: @damnthatschev
Passion twists are a fun, boho vibe that is fun, low maintenance, and can easily be worn over a long duration of time. Don’t forget the type of length, color, and style you want to use for your passion twists and be prepared to sleep with a bonnet or pineapple.
13. Braid Out
Image source: @candacee_renee
A braid out is a simple and easy way of letting your curls and coils shine after you’ve unraveled a braided style. They can help enhance your natural pattern and give definition to your curls and coils for a chic look.
14. Two-Strand Twists
Image source: @lynnettessilhouettes
Two-strand twists are an easy and healthy protective style that you can jazz up with barrettes or bands. They require zero heat, don’t create tension on the hair, and help you maintain moisture longer.
Looking for more hair inspiration? Check out our roundup of the creative and decadent styles from Afropunk 2023.
Kim Lewis blazed her way into the natural hair world back in 2015 with CurlMix which evolved from a DIY box set for curls into having a flaxseed gel as a it’s hero product. As a CEO and Co-founder she’s become known for her resilient attitude in an over-saturated category and entrepreneurial spirit that has landed her on the Forbes’ “30 under 30” list and getting Oprah’s endorsement for CurlMix. She’s expanded her empire with the first and only brand dedicated to serving the 4C woman and hair texture.
4C ONLY celebrates and honors the kinks, coils, and coarser textures that have often been overlooked and alienated from mainstream products. Every aspect of the brand from the messaging, products, branding, and aesthetic caters to uplifting and honoring the 4C texture in all it’s beauty. We sat down to chat with Kim about expanding her brand, why she created 4C ONLY, and how it’s products differ from what we see on shelves today.
How would you describe your hair evolution?
For much of my life, I was relaxed and my mom went natural and I saw how beautiful her hair looked. She had gotten alopecia and then went natural in her 40s I remember being in college and I had my first bout with alopecia right around 20 years old and I went to go get my hair relaxed and my stylist wouldn’t do it. She was just like “You have alopecia, I’m not going to relax your hair at this time.”
I ended up just going natural and I literally spent maybe three months growing it out and then I realized I had never actually seen my hair texture as an adult. I hadn’t seen it since I was like four or five years old, which is kind of crazy because I feel like most ethnicities do not say that, like where they don’t know what their natural texture looks like or out of their head. And so I went natural short, like in college maybe junior year, and then I’ve just been rocking ever since.
You currently own another brand CurlMix, Why was creating another brand focused on specific hair types needed?
So I have very kinky hair and some people say 4B or 4C. It doesn’t matter it’s kinky and I didn’t think my hair curled. In 2014-2015 I went to a stylist who did a wash and go on me and I was floored like, oh, my God, my hair curls. This is after I’ve been natural for several years and wearing my hair and all kinds of natural styles. I started CurlMix and the number one comment I got was “This is not for 4C hair.” Even if we would demonstrate to someone who we thought had 4C hair, they would still declare it wasn’t for their type.
With us being a direct consumer brand, the 4C woman wanted to see herself. I didn’t want to see an ad that had wavy and loosely coiled and you tell me it works for all hair textures because the truth is my hair is very different. My hair shrinks up, kinks up, knots up, and does all these different and beautiful things. But don’t tell me that the same thing that works for wavy textures will work for my kinky and coarse textured hair.
Not every kinky woman wants to wear, a wash-and-go and CurlMix is a wash-and-go brand. I always considered creating a 4C brand but thought maybe it was too niche. When I came to realize that 4C is identity, it’s not a hair type. 4C means that my hair is kinky and I celebrate and identify with that and to lump that texture with other hair types isn’t fair. It doesn’t highlight her in the way that she deserves to be celebrated.
We decided to launch 4C ONLY not as a product because that wouldn’t be enough, the 4C woman needs to be highlighted on all fronts: advertisements, photo shoots, videos, and social pages. She needs to be able to go everywhere and see herself. There was no other brand with 4C in the title which I thought was crazy because most brands know that 4C women convert 2 times higher than other customers.
What inspired 4C ONLY?
CurlMix started as a DIY brand and then we landed on flax seed gel because that was the box people kept buying. But what I learned is that CurlMix as it was the wash-and-go brand with the four-step system, I was not going to be able to fully satisfy my 4C customer and it’s because she doesn’t always gonna wear wash-and-go and she doesn’t always use her products in tools or pump.
One of the things I learned is 4C girls scoop their product, they don’t squirt it and I know it’s like a risky thing to say, but she wants to scoop her hand in the jar. She wants to scoop her conditioner, leave-in and shampoo and be able to manage how much she’s getting to be able to apply to her twist out or braid out. She’s not trying to pump 1,000 times or she’s not doing her hair in the shower necessarily so I could not fully satisfy her with the way CurlMix was designed.
In order to do that it had to be separate vibe and also it was chance for us to speak to her in the way that that feels more comfortable, real, and natural versus just like a broader brand. We use cheeky language with 4C ONLY whereas we couldn’t do that you know with CurlMix and our customer on the CurlMix side is more mature as well.
How would you describe the conversation around haircare for 4C textures?
The conversation around 4C hair is very emotional because the 4C woman has often been rejected for their hair.It can be a sensitive topic so we have to be careful with how we communicate and make sure that we’re never using language like nappy or derogatory because we always wanted her to know that she celebrated. We have like taglines such as “The revolution will be moisturized,” as a nod to the old school, Black afro power to the people, but also funny and cheeky rhymes and cheeky, but celebratory.
We address topics with a lens into the fact that we need to be considerate, thoughtful, encouraging and empowering. For example, I like to say that natural hair is formal hair, you don’t have to straighten your hair to go to a graduation or a wedding. Your afro could be worn on your date night and that’s what I want to be able to celebrate with 4C ONLY and we make that come to life on our social media. If you look on Instagram, you’ll see lots of nods to The Soul Train Line videos or retro blackness because that was beautiful in the 60s and it’s still beautiful in 2023.
How does the “Kinks Guide” help with 4C education?
The Kinks Guide helps with 4C education because it’s very specific to somebody who has more coarse, coils and kinky textures but it doesn’t necessarily mean thick because we can have finer textures as well. A misconception is that we have thicker products, but you still need more water when you’re applying it to your hair, so it’s not just about applying the thick products and it’s your one and done right? Your hair still needs to be very saturated, you still need to finger come first and then go through with the brush. It’s tailored to her because we don’t need a dimesize amount in each section or wrap your head in a towel while it’s drying. It’s not the blanket education that you might get on the back of a bottle, it’s very tailored to her experience in the shower and, going to get braids, locs, adding shea butter, you know, because there are some of the misconceptions that.
One of the benefits of being a direct consumer first is that we know exactly what people are struggling with. We would get a lot of questions in the inbox for customer service with questions like “Do I rinse out the shampoo?” so we learned we can’t assume that people know what we think we know about hair. How do we make it fun to read? How do we make something your not gonna just download and throw away that you will never reference it again. How to make it entertaining? How can we be helpful? What most brands do is they make products they think you’ll buy and that’s it. But what I have learned in my eight years of running two direct consumer brands is that what sets you apart is helping people. The more education you can give them to help figure out how to use your product, the better. It’s not just you take these millions of products and you figure out what you want to do to your hair. It’s like, let me help you achieve the happiness that you seek with your hair.
Which product do you recommend for first-time users?
It is the leave-in which is great because it gets so much slip and I use it on my little boys, because they have really tightly coiled hair. My youngest is so tightly coiled it takes me 4 hours to detangle to do the entire head before I go and braid it up. It’s super slippery and so I think the 4C girl wants slip that’s like #1.
How are your products specifically designed for 4C textures?
We made the products thick, so our shampoo is not a runny shampoo, you can scoop it. You can literally scoop it into the jar and the shampoo will sit in your hand. It has thick, marshmallowy type of texture and so people are always react like “Oh my God, what? This is crazy.” But it looks so cool and then they apply and it’s not as stringent as a clarifying shampoo. so if you were trying to really deep cleanse your hair, our shampoo is not the greatest for that, it’s more moisturizing. It doesn’t strip your hair like a lot of the oils, it cleans it, but it’s just not like squeaky clean, you know.
Our deep conditioner is really thick if you open it in the jar you turn it upside down nothing’s gonna fall out. It’s highly concentrated so for example if you took our deep condition and you rub it in your hand, your whole hand is going to be white right. Whereas if you took like a cheaper drugstore shampoo, you rubbing your head, it might end up being clear because it’s mostly water. Ours is mostly product so you have to add a lot of water to it which means it ends up lasting for a long time. We use 10 ounce jars versus your normal 8 ounces because the 4C girl is going to use more product when she’s doing her hair. We actually have a theme song “I’m too soft, I’m too slick, I’m too thick…and that was the idea was to create a brand with only the 4C woman in mind.
Are you read to try 4C ONLY? Let us know in the comments!
The love for scalp care products has been real for the past few years with some of our favorite brands debuting scalp care collections dedicated to cleaning, stimulating, and invigorating our hair. Aunt Jackie’s is throwing their hat into the ring of scalp care with their new Elixir Essentials Hair & Scalp Oils Collection. This trio includes pure blended oils formulated with special ingredients such as Biotin, Rosemary, Collagen, Tea Tree Oil, Saw Palmetto, and Jamaican Black Castor to retain hair length and moisture while supporting thicker fuller strands. The three different products ($8.99 each) each target your top hair concerns and can easily be cocktailed into your already-standing hair routine.
We chatted with Monique Salas – VP of Marketing, House of Cheatham to discuss the brand’s newest launch and the benefit it brings to consumers.
Why do you think there has been a renewed interest in scalp care this year?
We’ve really seen a huge resurgence and energy in scalp care in the past couple of years. We’re also seeing this trend trickle in from skincare. Haircare and scalp care that’s taking a page from skincare routines is on the rise and we’re here for it!
What’s the best way to use the scalp elixir oils?
The beauty of our fleet of Elixir Essentials is that they’re so versatile. It’s one of the many reasons our consumer has seamlessly integrated it into her routine. I love using the elixir as a pre-shampoo treatment and doing a whole root-stimulating scalp massage. Another way to use it is by adding it post-shower on wet or dried hair. The moisture is unmatched. We even love seeing our customers use it throughout the week when their hair feels a little dry or on braids.
Why were these ingredients chosen for the collection?
Each of the ingredients we’ve chosen to create our elixir oils is an ingredient that is known for its efficacy and ability to target the specific curls and coils of our consumers. Some of the elements such as Biotin and Tea Tree have been used for centuries and are known to help aid in the hair growth process.
What is a misconception about using hair oils?
I’ve heard consumers shy away from adding hair oils into their routine out of fear it’ll make their hair oilier. In reality, when used the right way in the proper routine for your hair it can be hugely beneficial.
What’s your recommendation for selecting an oil from the collection? Should you go based on needs or goals?
I use all three interchangeably and consistently! I always recommend buying all three and using them based on current hair goals and what you’re striving for in your routine. I’ve also seen consumers having fun and cocktailing the oils as well.
Which scalp elixir do you plan to get your hands on this season? If you’re looking to improve your hair regimen, read more on how you can decide if your scalp needs a detox.
Leader in Spain’s hair care category, I.C.O.N., has been recognized by many, especially with their mission of creating effective, yet eco-friendly products that benefit EVERY hair type. Founder and hair expert Chiara Scuderi has always been passionate about creating quality products for everyone and empowering women to appreciate their hair as is. I.C.O.N. has custom remedies for all, with development happening right here in Los Angeles, CA. Her latest launch: Power Peptides is a powerful leave-on treatment to treat hair to restore strength, and ensure flexibility, condition, and shine.
Between her passion behind her CURE line where she donated over half a million dollars to Breast Cancer research, her expertise in maintaining thicker, fuller hair after COVID-19 impacted hair growth with her 5.25 hair growth serum, and her company is made up of 90% women, Chiara is putting her dreams to life of impacting the beauty community and creating high-performance hair products backed by science, passion and ethics. We sat down to chat with Chiara Scuderi about the resurgence of Rosemary Oil in modern hair products and its benefits for hair loss.
BENEFITS OF ROSEMARY OIL FOR HAIR LOSS
1. What are the benefits of rosemary oil for hair?
Rosemary oil has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It smooths down the cuticle and heals and calms the scalp from irritation and itchiness. Rosemary oil (as well as Peppermint oil) stimulates blood circulation, promoting a healthy scalp and thereby encouraging hair growth.
2. Are there any particular textures or hair types for which rosemary oil is ideal?
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Rosemary oil is ideal for all hair types, but it is erratic (where the cuticle is open – common with curly to coarse hair) and dry textures can benefit from this oil as it smooths and soothes the cuticle.
3. Is applying rosemary oil directly to your hair harmful? Should it be diluted?
Using essential oils directly on the scalp may irritate, so you should test a small area first. It is best to mix about 3 drops of Rosemary Oil with your shampoo, conditioner, or treatment to receive maximum benefits. If applying directly to the scalp, add only a couple of drops, massage to reduce inflammation nourish the scalp, and use the remaining product from midshaft to ends working it through with your hands to seal the cuticle.
4. Which rosemary oil-rich products do you recommend?
At I.C.O.N. we have an amazing product – our detoxifying conditioner Awake contains organic oils (Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Rosemary Oil) to detoxify the scalp while protecting and moisturizing the hair. Our clients love the invigorating sensation it gives the scalp.
If you’re looking to understand how you can use rosemary oil to improve your hair health, check out our article hair loss.
What was your relationship with your natural hair growing up?
JT from the City Girls is carving her own lane in the beauty world with her newest KISS Colors & Care collaboration. As a brand dedicated to celebrating individual self-expression through high-quality hair products, JT brings her own unique style to the collection. JT’s love for different hairstyles has kept her a pro at switching up her look and vibe. Her passion for braids, stunning updos, and gorgeous locks make her the perfect advocate for the new KISS Colors & Care styling products. The new styling collection includes Braid, Loc and Twist stylers, Edge Fixer Wax sticks, and Reversible Premium Crepe Satin Hair Bonnet Super Jumbo and Braid Bonnet.
I wouldn’t describe it as nappy, but I would say brittle. My hair was so brittle because of the perms, but now that I don’t do them anymore, it is softer than ever. I have type 4c hair and it’s beautiful, soft, and it’s so cute now.
Did you have any women you looked for hair inspiration growing up?
Growing up, most of the women that I looked up to were wearing weaves which I saw with groups I loved like Destiny’s Child. Like growing up. I couldn’t get my hair like theirs growing up because they were wearing weaves although sometimes Beyoncé would do the blonde braids in the front and the curly hair in the back. That was my favorite hairstyle to get done by my stylist growing up and I wore it every year up until middle school. I really, really liked how Alicia Keys used to wear her hair with braids and the afro on the side. My stepmom used to braid hair so that was an achievable style. I couldn’t get the little Kim hair because we were on a budget but I could get the capelli hair with the blue magic hair grease and my stepmom would crochet it in.
Why did you choose KISS Colors for a haircare partnership?
Well, KISS Colors is a big, big brand and I feel like I’m a big brand as well so it was a perfect marriage. You see KISS colors everywhere from their accessories, hair products, and makeup and it was a big part of upbringing. I remember running into Walgreens shopping for hair, makeup, or lashes and really being captivated by their beauty products. It was a dream come true to partner with KISS Colors because it felt like an “I made it” moment. I love their edge control, scarves, and headbands, they were such a big part of my childhood and now I get to collaborate with them for my own collection.
What was the collaboration process like with Kiss Colors?
It was a very 50/50 process because we both came together and identified the products that would be perfect for me to collaborate on. I think my favorite segment is that they’re starting their own wig products which was the most exciting part. I personally needed more products for my braids, edges, and wigs, especially my edges which is where the edge control came into play. The apple-scented edge control is my favorite, but all of their products have a sweet smell I enjoy because there are a lot of products that I’ve tried in the past and it’s just after a while your hair starts to stink. You don’t want to go around, you know your partner or a group of friends, and then your hair starts to stink because of the product.
How do you practice maintaining healthy hair between weaves, wigs, and extensions?
Well, my hair when I take down my hair, I always get my hair washed and a hot oil treatment. I’m about to get one today and then I sew my hair in and let my hair breathe or my hairstylist always oils my braids between wearing wigs. I also enjoy a good deep conditioning treatment and make sure I trim my hair all the time.
How do you achieve a balance between wearing wigs, weaves, and braids with your natural hair?
It definitely depends on the event. If I’m not on the stage then I will wear my natural baby hairs out and put them out on a sew-in or braids. But if I’m performing and I’m not wearing braids then I have to wear a wig because of the sun and me bouncing around with my natural hair would just frizz up. The sun, humidity, and my hair don’t really get along so I have to wear a wig for performances.
You have amazing edges, what’s the secret to keeping them slick and laid down?
When wigs first came out, I don’t think we knew how to properly take them off without damaging our edges. Now I can wear a wig, take my wigs off and wear a leave-out like tonight with my real hair. I won’t have any tan lines, bald spots, or damage.
I love to lay my edges down with the KISS Color cheetah brush, it’s gonna fight the edges back. You need something that’s gonna fight back with your edges like some brushes will not lay your edges down and you’ll be swooping forever. Just came from. Personally, I love products that are light and can help my edges still maintain a natural look. I don’t like looking like I have black gel on my edges from back in the day, you always you got to keep it cute. You don’t want to be laying your edges with a Colgate brush.
We’re coming into the hotter months, what’s your ideal protective style for the summer?
I would say a wig because they are versatile and you can swap it out depending on your mood for the day. I just love to have fun with wigs because you can change the colors, flat iron them 100 times without any damage and I don’t have to commit to a certain color. Check out the new collection from KISS Colors and JT available at KISSColors.com, Amazon.com, and select Walmart and CVS stores.
If you’re interested in learning how you can use these products for your protective styles and wigs, read more from Celebrity stylist Arrogant Tae to create your ultimate protective styles.
There’s nothing worse during the hot summer season than frizzy hair and finding the right styler can be a bigger challenge with so many options on the shelf. Frizzy hair can be caused by a range of factors like dryness, lack of hold in your products, styling techniques, and humidity. While we can’t control all of these factors, we can control the types of styling products we use that need to be moisture rich. You voted and we’re sharing the stylers that won your heart this season which can help to smooth and hydrate your curls!
BEST STYLING CREAM
Best Styling Cream for All Curl Types: Melanin Haircare Twist Elongating Style Cream
If you’re looking for a buildable and lightweight styling cream, look no further than this nourishing, hydrating product that helps with detangling and manageability. As a natural styling cream, this was created for a range of hair textures with 5 nutrient-rich butters that work with thick, coarse, thin, and soft hair. You can watch your curls instantly transform into defined, shiny, and healthy textures that you will love.
Best Styling Cream for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Defining Hair Cream
Let’s maximize our definition with this cream that adds a little extra bounce to type 2 curls and waves. As a daily styler, the curls benefit from hydrating ingredients from the rice curl complex that include amino acids, enzymes, and keratin. This muti-functional product provides a range of benefits such as sealing in moisture, and adding shine, and is safe for color-treated hair.
Best Styling Cream for Type 3 Curly Hair: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream
As their best-selling styling cream Ouidad has infused anti-frizz nano technology with this product to help users achieve shiny and hydrated curls regardless of the climate they are in. The lightweight oils blended into the formula help to create a soft and flexible definition for touchable curls. It can be applied on damp curls and activated with a diffuser or by air-drying.
Best Styling Cream for Type 4 Coily Hair: Melanin Haircare Twist Elongating Style Cream
Since this was specially formulated for thick and coarser textures, it’s no secret that this is a favorite for type 4 textures. It can be easily applied to wet or dry curls and works as a vitamin-rich detangler that is highly adaptable and buildable with other products. As a vegan and clean ingredient product, this is ideal for men, women, and children and is non-toxic.
BEST ANTI-FRIZZ PRODUCT
Best Anti-Frizz Product for All Curl Types: Mizani Press Agent Smoothing, Frizz Control Blow Dry Styling Serum
Say hello to a styling serum that is here to add shine, lock in moisture, and smooth the cuticle! This layerable blowdry serum can withstand heat up to 450 degrees which can help you achieve the ultimate blowout during the summer months. It’s ideal for all hair types and textures because of its ability to tame dry hair and prevent frizz and flyaways.
Best Anti-Frizz Product for Type 2 Wavy Hair: COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment
As the #1 anti-frizz treatment that waterproofs your hair to stop frizz even in the worst humidity, it’s no secret why type 2 wavies love this product. This advanced formula leaves hair super glossy, glassy, and ultra-smooth with humidity-blocking technology that stops moisture from ruining your style. It’s an ultra-light spray, doubles as a heat protectant, and can last through 3-4 shampoos.
Best Anti-Frizz Product for Type 3 Curly Hair: Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer
Frizz does not stand a chance with this dry conditioning spray that is an instant de-frizzer for type 3 curls. As a dry conditioning spray, this tames up to 92% of frizz and leaves your hair smooth, soft, and shiny while replenishing the hair’s lost natural lipids. If you’re looking to revive your curls between wash days, this can take your dull strands to dynamic in a few simple steps.
Best Anti-Frizz Product for Type 4 Coily Hair: Mizani Press Agent Smoothing, Frizz Control Blow Dry Styling Serum
So nice we, you voted on it twice for type 4 coils, kinks, and tighter textures. The jasmine, grapefruit, and mandarin floral medley will have your hair shining as it stays sleek and frizz-free. This can be easily applied to wigs, braids, and twists, and will still help lock in moisture and prevent flyaways.
BEST HEAT PROTECTANT
Best Heat Protectant for All Curl Types: EDEN BodyWorks Hibiscus Honey Blow Dry Cream
This silky thermal protectant is an excellent choice for helping to safeguard your curls against heat damage. It provides heat protection for a variety of hair textures and helps to control frizz all day long for a sleek and smooth look you will love. As a 2019 BOB winner, it’s proved to be a consistent fan-favorite product for heat protection.
Best Heat Protectant for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Pantene Heat Protectant Spray with Jojoba Oil for Curly Hair
The moisture lock curl mist with jojoba oil is rich in Vitamin E and helps to detangle and define curls. As a hairspray, it protects against heat and allows you to use a variety of hot tools without any damage. It can be sprayed evenly on dry, styled hair and used as a finisher to help hold your style throughout the day.
Best Heat Protectant for Type 3 Curly Hair: OUAI Hair Oil, Multitasking Oil Protects from UV/Heat Damage and Frizz
As a lightweight, multitasking oil that fights frizz, prevents heat/UV damage, and delivers a super smooth finish. This product works great for medium and thicker textures and is packed with African galanga, ama oil, and Asian borage oils to keep color from fading and protect from heat damage. It can help improve split ends and has great fragrance notes like violet and gardenia.
Best Heat Protectant for Type 4 Coily Hair: EDEN BodyWorks Hibiscus Honey Blow Dry Cream
Eden Bodyworks never disappoints when it comes to protecting your curls and this hibiscus honey blow-dry cream is no exception. With ingredients like honey and hibiscus sabadariffa flower extract, tighter textures will love applying this to their hair before they add any heat.
Are you wondering how to choose the right styler for your hair? Read more on how you can Choose the Right Products Depending on The Weather.
We all know the dread that happens whenever you’re enjoying a nice long shower and then your hair starts falling out. This can happen in different ways whether it’s small pieces or long pieces, but it can be challenging to your hair all over the tub. There are several factors that can affect hair loss like styling routine, hormones, gender, and genetics, but that doesn’t stop us from wondering how much hair loss is normal. What’s too much and should I be concerned? In honor of National Hair Loss Awareness Month, we’re talking about all the ins and outs of hair loss in the shower.
How Hair Grows
Hair has several stages and phases that determine how fast, thick, long, and strong it grows. There are three stages that describe how our hair grows: Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen which break down how active our hair grows at any given time. These phases cover how our hair follicles produce individual hairs before the last phase Exogen which sheds old hair so new hair can take its place. What helps to maintain our hair health during these stages are nutrition, vitamins, reduced stress, and proper hair care.
Hair Shedding vs. Hair Loss
Before we can go into how hair loss occurs, let’s get an understanding of what is considered normal. A 2018 scientific study showed that on average a person sheds about 100 hairs a day. The American Academy of Dermatology Association conducted a study that this can only increase when you get older and that hair loss differs from hair shedding. Hair shedding is described as a normal activity we all encounter, but stressors like weight loss, giving birth, and recovery from an illness can exacerbate hair shedding. Typically hair shedding is normal and temporary and your hair will bounce back between six to nine months. Hair loss differs from hair shedding because there are factors that stop the hair from growing back such as hairstyles, genetics, or medicine that you are taking.
Celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood shares that “Hair is at its most fragile state when wet, so you find that when washing your hair in the shower, you can experience more breakage. Hair shedding is also normal in the shower if you have not detangled the hair properly before. Hair shedding is normal, but hair loss is not. You may also find that if your hair lacks protein or something is going on with your diet or stress, it can snap very easily. The hair almost becomes like a weak rubber band when it’s wet and will snap easily.”
Factors That Affect Hair Loss
While there are many factors outside of your control that are causing your hair loss in the shower, here are a few to consider.
- Water temperature: How hot or cold your water is can severely impact your hair follicles, in the same way, using heat tools can. A hot shower is great, but hot water can make your curls more susceptible to breakage and frizziness. It can also affect your scalp by drying your hair follicles which can lead to inflammation or dandruff.
- Over shampooing: You should never be overwashing your curls, but if you must, then you need to ditch the shampoo. Over-shampooing can remove your natural oils and sebum and irritate and damage your hair follicles. At best you should be shampooing no more than 1-2x a week, but anything more could be contributing to your hair loss.
- Drying with a cotton towel: Your is fragile and delicate and should be treated with care even when you get out of the shower. Using linens like a cotton towel can put stress on our cuticles and hair follicles and result in breakage and thinning. The thickness and constant pulling against your hair, when it’s wet, can gradually lead to additional hair loss over time. Try swapping out the cotton for a microfiber towel which can be a big game changer for your wash day.
Best Practices For Washing Your Hair
Now, does the shower have to be our enemy? Absolutely not. Cleansing our curls is one of the most important aspects of our hair care, but we have to start implementing practices to do it the right way.
Leatherwood shares “When you’re detangling your hair while in the shower and not using your fingers to do it, you will experience snapping and breakage. You should use a tool such as the Felicia Leatherwood Detangling Brush, to aid in detangling. Also, make sure that you are using
a really good, conditioner like the Pardon My Fro Detangler Leave-in Conditioner from root to end of the hair. Then section your hair in 4 sections with your fingers very gently/delicately and brush through and detangle from the bottom of the hair back towards the scalp towards the root of the hair. If you notice that you have two hands full of hair, then you may need to add protein treatment for remedying, followed by deep condition to add moisture. Anything more than that, there’s something more serious going on and you should see a doctor.”
Have you experienced any hair loss in the shower? What remedies worked best for you? Let us know in the comments!
Who doesn’t love a good conditioner? It’s typically the second step in your hair regime after giving your curls a good cleanse with your shampoo. Conditioners can not only add hydration back to your hair but also help to detangle, reduce frizz, and add definition to your curls, coils, and waves. Every conditioner works differently depending on its function, use, and ingredients, but you voted, and we’re ready to break down the winners of our Best of the Best awards for 2023.
Whether you’re looking for a co-wash, leave-in conditioner, conditioner, or deep conditioner, we’ve got something for everyone!
BEST CO-WASH
Best Co-Wash for All Curl Types: Eden BodyWorks All Natural Cleansing CoWash
This conditioning co-wash is excellent for detangling any hair texture due to its rich ingredients which include coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice, and shea butter. This has been a staple of any curly regimen for years because of its ability to quickly remove residue between regular washings, promote a healthy hair environment, and promote healthy hair growth. It’s affordable, thick, and very easy to incorporate into your hair regimen.
Best Co-Wash for Type 2 Wavy Hair: As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
As I Am has been bringing a game-changing co-wash to curlies for years and they aren’t stopping anytime soon. This co-wash is very gentle for type 2 wavies looking to preserve moisture and is an alternative to your normal shampoo routine. As an award-winning conditioner, it has a great blend of tangerine, coconut oil, castor oil, and saw palmetto, that works with your waves to gently remove product buildup, residue, and scalp sebum from your hair.
Best Co-Wash for Type 3 Curly Hair: Curlsmith Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash
Curlsmith is bringing us a co-wash that also includes cleaning properties that are gentle on the scalp and can melt away dirt and buildup. For type 3 curlies with medium to coarse thickness, this is great for frequent cleansing without sacrificing the natural moisture and oils from your hair. The creamy non-foaming blend of avocado oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and shea butter can be massaged into the scalp to give you a gentle cleanse you’re going to love as you transition into your styling products.
Best Co-Wash for Type 4 Coily Hair: Eden BodyWorks All Natural Cleansing CoWash
We’re eyeing our type 4 coilies looking to change up their co-wash game with this cleansing and conditioning co-wash. This is a great option to us if you rock coils and kinks because it helps to blast build-up and residue, condition hair between washes, and can be used generously. The blend of ingredients ensures a hydrating and moisturizing experience that your coils will love.
BEST LEAVE-IN
Best Leave-In for All Curl Types: Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave-In Conditioner
A hallmark product from their “leave-in” collection, this product is here to provide maximum hair hydration for everyone. The simple blend of honey, olive fruit oil, and aloe leaf juices can be applied to damp hair liberally to ensure moisture across every strand. If you’re looking to achieve soft, smooth, and moisturized hair that will protect your hair from damage, this is a product to add to your arsenal.
Best Leave-In for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner
Bounce Curl is bringing the juice with their Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner which is ultra-concentrated and works to provide the ultimate nourishment for customers sporting waves. The leave-in is blended with 5 ancient eastern Mediterranean oils Egyptian, neroli, jojoba, olive, and argan oil which provides fantastic moisture and daily protection. A little goes a long way with this product and is clinically proven to help improve shine and moisture retention.
Best Leave-In for Type 3 Curly Hair: Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Curly Hair Cream
If you’re looking for a versatile leave-in conditioner that can be easily incorporated into your routine, type 3 curlies, Curlsmith is calling your name. The silky and lightweight texture is great for finer curls because it includes lightweight ingredients such as castor oil, jojoba, babassu, and murumuru butter to provide nourishment for your texture. This product is best applied with wet curls after a wash day so the hair shaft and cuticles can easily absorb the coat the curls.
Best Leave-In for Type 4 Coily Hair: Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave-In Conditioner
Calling our type 4 textures with coils and kinks looking for maximum hair hydration, this product is here for your hair. The simple blend of honey, olive fruit oil, and aloe leaf juices can be applied to damp hair liberally to ensure moisture across every strand. As a hydrating conditioning base, the hair can be transformed into smooth and soft textures that can maintain moisture and be protected from damage.
BEST CONDITIONER
Best Conditioner for All Curl Types: Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner
Mielle is always a winner in our books and the Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner can help any hair type and texture achieve shiny, smooth hair with the ultimate slip and texture. This has versatile uses whether you’re looking to cleanse the curls as a leave-in conditioner, prime the hair before styling, or define the curls. Whether you have thick, fine, or curly hair, this is an excellent conditioner to help improve your texture.
Best Conditioner for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl-Defining Anti-Frizz Conditioner
Your curls take front and center with this rich oil blend conditioner that blends papaya butter and plumeria extract. For our type 2 wavies this is a fantastic product for helping to detangle, defrizz, and define your curls. It’s a very moisturizing and curl-enhancing conditioner that helps with softness and shine.
Best Conditioner for Type 3 Curly Hair: Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner
We love a great conditioner and that’s why Mielle Organics made the list twice! Type 3 curlies love this product for its ability to provide intense hydration with a silky feel that locks in moisture for thick and curly hair. Its detangling properties create a shiny and smooth-to-the-touch hair experience that conditions, primes, and defines the curls.
Best Conditioner for Type 4 Coily Hair: Donna’s Recipe by Tabitha Brown Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Moisturizing Conditioner
Donna’s Recipe Sweet Potatoe Pie Extra Creamy Moisturizing Conditioner has a wonderfully sweet and creamy texture full of nutrient-rich ingredients like sweet potato extract, cinnamon, and vanilla. It works exceptionally well with type 4 coils and kinks because it helps with moisture, frizz control, scalp nutrients, and shine. Customers love its nourishing hair and scalp properties that help with hair growth, build-up, and prevent dullness in the hair,
BEST DEEP CONDITIONER
Best Deep Conditioner for All Curl Types: Tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask Deep Conditioner
Let’s give a round of applause to our deep conditioner that took the prize as best for all curl types and textures. The Miracle RepaiRx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask helps to restore dry and damaged hair with biotin and castor oil. If you’ve experienced any damage due to dryness or color treatments, this is a deep conditioner to keep in your product arsenal.
Best Deep Conditioner for Type 2 Wavy Hair: amikaThe Kure Intense Bond Repair Hair Mask
If you’re looking for an intense bond repair mask, look no further than the Kure which helps to reduce breakage and prevent future damage for finer textures like type 2 waves. It was specially formulated for thick and coarser hair types and includes ingredients like mango, shea butter, and borage oil. The clinically tested and proven results are deeply hydrating and can provide significant help to dry and brittle hair.
Best Deep Conditioner for Type 3 Curly Hair: Camille Rose Naturals Black Castor Oil + Chebe Deep Conditioner
We love a rich and nutrient-filled deep conditioner and Camille Rose is bringing a hair butter that is crafted and designed to restore moisture for thicker hair textures. Type 3 curlies will benefit from the strengthening power of African Chebe Powder and Jamaican Castor Oil for healthy hair growth and maximum softness. It can be applied liberally to freshly washed and conditioned strands and be used to moisturize and set protective styles.
Best Deep Conditioner for Type 4 Coily Hair: Tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask Deep Conditioner
Type 4 coilies can look forward to improved shine, manageability, and a deep conditioner that locks in moisture and repairs damage. The Miracle RepaiRx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask reduces shedding and breakage while restoring life to any damage your hair has experienced over your lifetime. You can enjoy a deep treatment after cleansing your hair and then rinsing it out with warm water for maximum results.
Are we excited about this amazing list of conditioners? If you’re looking to improve your conditioning technique, read our article on The Dos and Don’ts of Deep Conditioning. Let us know in the comments below!
We spent all month covering the ins and outs of hair loss from how it happens, and what is normal. Hair loss occurs from a variety of factors outside of our control like genetics, immune deficiencies, and stress. Research shows that there are certain drugs and treatments that can directly contribute to our hair loss. Creatine is a controversial supplement in the hair community because it has not been scientifically proven to cause hair loss. You’ve probably heard of creatine as it’s a common muscle-building supplement to improve your body composition. Fitness is an important function of our daily lives so we decided to explore if creatine correlates with hair loss.
What is Creatine?
Creatine is a popular supplement amongst athletes and fitness enthusiasts for its ability to improve muscle mass, performance, and recovery. It can be consumed in a powder form as a dietary supplement or through meat and is an amino-acid derivative. Creatine naturally occurs in our body from our kidneys and liver after eating protein. Taking creatine helps elevate your body’s energy levels and build your muscles without bulking up. Many people who consume creatine can have an older age range because it helps to slow age-related muscle loss. Other people take it to help improve neurological functions like memory and related diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
How Creatine Affects Hair
The conversation regarding creatine and hair loss happened when in 2009 scientists monitoring rugby players consuming creatine over a week-long period saw an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a metabolite of testosterone which for males can shrink hair follicles and lead to hair loss, which can also lead to baldness but this has been determined more of a myth than a hard fact. The rugby study showed an increase in testosterone no definitive proof that consuming creatine led to any hair loss or baldness in their subjects. The short-term effects of creatine usually include weight gain since it focuses on targeting muscle growth and helping achieve greater gains.
The Verdict
At this point, creatine is not proven to negatively impact hair health or result in hair loss, but you should always do your research before incorporating any new supplements into your routine. Everybody reacts to supplements and vitamins differently, so if you’re concerned how this could affect your curls or coils, we always recommend seeking out the expertise of a medical professional. You can easily purchase creatine at any vitamin or supplement store in a powder form, energy bar, tablet, or drink mix. Since creatine is a naturally occurring substance that our body already produces, some dieticians recommend that it’s best for vegetarians who don’t consume creatine as part of their regular diet.
What are your thoughts on creatine? Have you ever taken it and seen a change in your curls? If you’re experiencing hair loss, read our latest article on Why is Hair Loss More Common for Women with Curly Hair?
Monique Rodriguez has helped revolutionize the natural hair game with her best-selling collections of Mielle Organics products. For years she has been bringing us products with rich ingredients that help tackle any hair and scalp issue you may be having. Her beauty products span hair, skin, and nails, with a blend of herbs and amino acids to help support your immune system. She focuses on healthy ingredients incorporated into each luxurious collection she has created for her global customer base. With so many fantastic options, it can be hard to determine what you need to shop for, but we’ve rounded up the most popular Mielle Organics products to make it easier.
Read more below to learn how these Mielle Organics products can help take your hair to the next level!
Rice Water & Aloe Vera Braid Set Foam
Are you ready to set it and forget it with a fast-drying foam that can help your braids last for days? The Rice Water & Aloe Vera ingredients help to moisturize, strengthen, and nourish hair which can help retain length when wearing a protective style. The foam blends with synthetic and human hair and can be used on wet or dry hair to smooth fly-aways and prevent braid frizz.
Moisture RX Hawaiian Ginger Moisturizing Overnight Conditioner
As our 2023 Best of the Best Hair Butter, to say this is a winning product is an understatement. This overnight conditioner help to restore moisture to your hair while you sleep provides intense hydration, and protects your hair from split ends. If you’re a Type 3 curly, you will love how hydrated, shiny, and soft your texture becomes after applying this conditioner to your hair overnight and rinsing it out in the morning before your shampoo.
Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
It’s no secret that this product became a viral sensation in 2023 as the #1 hair oil in the US market, but it is also the 2023 winner for our Best of the Best Hair Growth product. Customers love this product because it features more than 30 essential oils and nutrients that nourish hair follicles, smooth split ends, and help with dry scalp. It can be directly applied to the scalp or integrated into any scalp treatment routine like a hot oil treatment.
Mango & Tulsi Nourishing Instant 3-IN-1 Serum
If you’re looking for instant satisfaction, this instant 3-IN-1 Serum offers a trio of benefits by nourishing, repairing, and strengthening damaged hair and split ends. It can be easily applied to help improve weak and frizzy hair that has been damaged by hair color and excessive heat. It is truly versatile and can be used to help repair the ends of the hair during a wash n go, smooth out styles after blow drying, or can be applied as a finisher after your routine.
Sea Moss Gel Hair Masque
As one of the newest Mielle products, the Sea Moss Gel Hair Masque is already making waves with customers for its unique combination of hydration and moisture. If you’re experiencing dry or brittle hair this is an excellent, lightweight product that promotes shinier and healthier hair. It can be applied after cleansing your hair for a deep hydration that your curls will love during these summer months.
Oats and Honey Sooth Scalp Stick
Dry scalp does not stand a chance with the Oats & Honey scalp stick that is convenient and easy to apply to dry or itchy scalp. The soothing ingredients of oats, honey, olive, and mango combine to saturate and nourish your scalp leaving it feeling calm and refreshed. It can be used by any gender and and is perfect for on-the-go hydration.
Pomegranate Honey & Curl Defining Mousse
Mousse is all the rage this summer season because of it’s hydrating and easy application to our dry curls. This is an excellent mousse for type 4 curlies looking for a non-sticky mousse that will hold and define their curls. Ingredients like apple, honey, and aloe help add moisture and hydration that will rejuvenate your curls when you need it the most. It can be applied to damp or dry curls from the root to ends for fantastic results.
Mint Almond Oil
This luxurious oil has been a crowd favorite for years because it helps promote healthy hair and soothes and balances the scalp. The rich blend of mentha and almond oil with glycine soja helps to bind each strand and helps to lock in moisture. As an organic oil, it’s super lightweight and has a sweet, refreshing scent that your hair will love.
Brazilian Curly Cocktail Cream
Who doesn’t love soft and defined curls? Mielle’s Curly Cocktail Cream is a specialized formula that is designed to help hair absorb the product quickly and lock in moisture. If you’re looking to achieve frizz-free curls then this is a must-have product that you want to include in your product arsenal. This is a curl cream that contains a rich blend of Brazilian oils and can be applied to damp hair.
Moisturizing Avocado Hair Milk
Hair milk is an important part of your hair routine that can help provide hydration to very thirsty hair. As an award-winning moisturizer with organic ingredients like jojoba oil, avocado oil, and sage extract, it can be used to seal ends and refresh curls alongside your favorite leave-in conditioner. It’s light enough to be a daily moisturizer that you can continually apply to improve length retention and make your curls more manageable.
Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray
The heat is no joke this season which means protection is key to helping sustain healthy hair. The Mongongo Thermal and Heat Protectant Spray can be used with a high heat style whether you’re blow drying or straightening your hair. Using a heat protectant helps to reduce frizz, maintain shine, and prevent your hair from being damaged when applying a high level of heat.
Honey & Ginger Styling Gel
Gel is a curly staple for your product arsenal that is extremely moisturizing and hydrating during the summer months. This amazing Honey and Ginger Styling Gel is great for freshly washed curls or second day curls needing a bit of a refresh. The blend of ginger, aloe, and honey make a fantastic combination of nourishing ingredients that can smooth frizz, enhance definition, and help create a manageable hold for your hair.
If you’re interested in trying out her viral Rosemary Mint Scalp Oil, read more about the 4 Ways to Use Rosemary for Hair Growth.
We’re leaving summer behind and about to embrace the fall season which means you may be looking for your new signature style. Look no further than the French bob haircut which has been undeniably making a comeback this year. This is a flirty, fun, and chic style that is face-framing and trendy for all hair types. It’s a versatile cut that we have worn across several hair textures and can help give your hair a much-needed health boost if you’ve been needing to reduce styling with heat. We’ve seen the French bob on celebrities like Zendaya, Kat Graham, and Rihanna who have played with sleek and curly versions of the cut. If you’re interested in seeing if this is the new cut for you, then keep reading.
Image Source: @romeufelipe
What Is a French Bob?
When you think about a French bob what comes to mind? A short cut? Perhaps something from a black and white movie? The French bob is typically a blunt ear-length cut that can be accompanied by bangs but can be adjusted to fit your face shape and personality. More modern takes on the cut specifically focus on a lightweight length that encourages curls, waves, and fringe. As a classic Parisian haircut, it’s always associated with ultra-chic style and fun accessories like hair clips and a beret. The key to pulling off a French bob is maintaining the texture and avoiding an over-styled look, it’s meant to be effortless and easy.
Is It Curl-Friendly?
The French bob has evolved since its 1920 origins which means we’ve seen tons of variations of it across the natural hair spectrum. The misconception is that need straight or loose waves in order to truly pull off this look and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Having curls, coils, kinks, and waves allows for this style to have lots of volume and for your stylist to play around with layers versus just a blunt cut. Products like mousse and styling creams can add definition and dimension to the French bob and elevate it to a more textured look.
Inspiration comes in many forms and whether you’re looking to make it short, textured, layered, or a straight cut, we’ve compiled 15 French bob haircuts to save for your stylist.
Image Source: @shorthair_queen
Image Source: @glogovan
Image Source: @jayne_edosalon
Image Source: @iamaswann
Image Source: @bigcurlslittlecurls
These looks are stunning and can have you rethinking your currently curly style for the upcoming holiday season. If you’re ready to make the big chop and transform your curls, coils, and wave s into this chic French bob, you can show your stylist the following Instagram Reels and TikToks! The transformations are stunning and showcase the versatility of this unique cut on a variety of textures.
Image Source: @ginaatinukeknight
Image Source: @edwardkutana
Image Source: @heatherisradder
Image Source: @whitneyleehair
Image Source: @amandarrwalker
Image Source: @notkayleerose
Image Source: @curlygirlmeg
Image Source: @aasian
Image Source: @joycecrawfordhair
Image Source: @beautyconamor
Image Source: @nataninixon
Which French Bob do you plan to try this season? If you’re looking for additional information to help elevate this cut, read how you can learn how to Diffuse Curly Hair Without Frizz.
Wavy hair is one of the most recognizable hair types because it often sits between straight and curly with loose loops or “S” shaped waves. These curls can look like spirals, beach waves, and swirls and often fall between straight and curly hair. Typically categorized as type “2” curly hair, wavy hair commonly deals with challenges like frizz and needs lighter products like creams and mousses to help with definition. As a matter of fact, wavy hair patterns need products that will enhance the waves without weighing them down because it can create a bulky effect. If you’re in need of a product refresh, we’ve compiled a list of the Best of the Best wavy products too add to your shelf!
Best CoWash for Type 2 Wavy Hair: As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
As I Am has been bringing a game-changing co-wash to curlies for years and they aren’t stopping anytime soon. This cowash is very gentle for type 2 wavies looking to preserve moisture and is an alternative to your normal shampoo routine. As an award-winning product, it has a great blend of tangerine, coconut oil, castor oil, and saw palmetto, that works with your waves to gently remove product buildup, residue, and scalp sebum from your hair.
Best Leave-In for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner
Bounce Curl is bringing the juice with their Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner which is ultra-concentrated and works to provide the ultimate nourishment for customers sporting waves. The leave-in is blended with 5 ancient eastern Mediterranean oils Egyptian, neroli, jojoba, olive, and argan oil which provides fantastic moisture and daily protection. A little goes a long way with this product and is clinically proven to help improve shine and moisture retention.
Best Conditioner for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl-Defining Anti-Frizz Conditioner
Your curls take front and center with this rich oil blend conditioner that blends papaya butter and plumeria extract. For our type 2 wavies this is a fantastic product for helping to detangle, defrizz, and define your curls. It’s a very moisturizing and curl-enhancing conditioner that helps with softness and shine.
Best Deep Conditioner for Type 2 Wavy Hair: amikaThe Kure Intense Bond Repair Hair Mask
If you’re looking for an intense bond repair mask, look no further than the Kure which helps to reduce breakage and prevent future damage for finer textures like type 2 waves. It was specially formulated for thick and coarser hair types and includes ingredients like mango, shea butter, and borage oil. The clinically tested and proven results are deeply hydrating and can provide significant help to dry and brittle hair.
Best Shampoo for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Suave Professionals for Natural Hair Cleansing Sulfate Free Shampoo
If you’re a type 2 looking for a moisturizing shampoo that will create a creamy lather and gently cleanse the scalp to remove buildup, look no further than the Suave Professionals for Natural Hair Cleansing Sulfate Free Shampoo. This formula includes terrific ingredients like shea butter and pure coconut oil to help fight frizz, reduce breakage, and enhance shine. Wavies love it for its ability to tame frizz and reduce brightness at a cost-efficient price point that only Suave can deliver.
Best Pre-Shampoo for Type 2 Wavy Hair: SheaMoisture Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-Dandruff Pre-Wash
Let’s give your scalp something to look forward to with this SheaMoisture Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-Dandruff Pre-Wash that’s fantastic for taking care of your scalp’s microbiome and strengthening your hair. For type 2 wavies, this can gently exfoliate and remove flakes while detoxifying your scalp. It’s best used as a pre-shampoo treatment on either a wet or dry scalp and is beloved for its powerful blend of apple cider vinegar, vitamin B3, and shea butter.
Best Clarifying Cleanser for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Aveeno Scalp Soothing Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo
Type 2 wavies need a product that is going to be gentle and lightweight in their hair and this product does the job with a scalp-soothing formula of oat and apple cider vinegar. As a sulfate-free shampoo, it is clarifying and adds shine to the dullest hair that can be massaged generously into the hair and rinsed out.
Best Mousse for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam
Did someone order volume with their mousse? This lightweight styling foam is perfect for type 2 wavies looking to uplift their roots and build body in their hair. It includes ingredients like aloe vera, honey, and sugarcane for an airy foam that you will love. The lightweight foam won’t weigh down your hair and helps to increase fullness and manageability so each strand is moisturized and hydrated.
Best Styling Cream for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Defining Hair Cream
Let’s maximize our definition with this cream that adds a little extra bounce to type 2 curls and waves. As a daily styler, the curls benefit from hydrating ingredients from the rice curl complex that include amino acids, enzymes, and keratin. This muti-functional product provides a range of benefits such as sealing in moisture, adding shine, and is safe for color-treated hair.
Best Gel for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel
Say goodbye to frizz with this award-winning gel that is infused with ceramides and defines curls with a strong, long-lasting hold. Designed for extreme humidity, this helps to bring hod and definition to finer curls with a crunch-free finish. The combination of sericin, anti-frizz nano technology, and molecules works to protect your curls in any climate.
Best Hair Butter for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Innersense Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer
Innersense is here to bring your curls inner peace with their whipped creme texturizer that focuses on hold, separation, and texture. As a lightweight texturizing formula with shea butter and bee-friendly honey, you can look forward to flexible and defined waves. For type 2 waves and finer curls, this is a very moisturizing formula that protects from humidity, and elimination frizz, and flyaways.
Best Refresher Product for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Maui Moisture Lightweight Curls+ Flaxseed Curl Refresher Mist
As an Aloe Vera-focused product, this curl-defining mist can deliver perfect hydration for type 2 waves. Maui created a lightweight conditioning spray that is vegan, silicone-free, and works to invigorate flat and dull curls without weighing them down. The tropical blend of coconut water, flaxseed oil, and aloe vera is an excellent combination for fine to medium curls that need an extra boost between wash days.
Best Anti-Frizz Product for Type 2 Wavy Hair: COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment
As the #1 anti-frizz treatment that waterproofs your hair to stop frizz even in the worst humidity, it’s no secret why type 2 wavies love this product while applying heat or just wearing their waves loose. This advanced formula leaves hair super glossy, glassy, and ultra-smooth with humidity-blocking technology that stops moisture from ruining your style especially when you’re out in the heat. It’s an ultra-light spray, doubles as a heat protectant, and can last through 3-4 shampoos.
Best Heat Protectant for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Pantene Heat Protectant Spray with Jojoba Oil for Curly Hair
The moisture lock curl mist with jojoba oil is rich in Vitamin E and helps to detangle and define curls. As a hairspray, it protects against heat and allows you to use a variety of hot tools without any damage. It can be sprayed evenly on dry, styled hair and used as a finisher to help hold your style throughout the day.
Best Hair Oil for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Pattern Beauty Jojoba Oil
Pattern Beauty is coming through with a jojoba oil blend that type 2 wavies love for its super lightweight and oil residue-free blend. Ingredients like safflower oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, and lavender oil help low-porosity hair that prevents damaged hair by reducing breakage. You can massage this oil into your scalp to help with pesky problems like itchiness, soothe dandruff, and prevent a dry scalp.
Best Hair Growth Product for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
It’s no secret that this viral sensation dominated all of social media and the haircare aisle for 2022 and it’s certainly given users countless reasons to love this product. Mielle’s Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil is an intensive formula infused with biotin and features more than 30 essential oils and extracts to get curls, coils, kinks, and waves strong and healthy. This multi-faceted oil can be used for braids, weaves, and protective styles to increase longevity and preserve the hair under the scalp. Get ready to smooth split ends, condition dry scalps, and help improve your overall length retention with this all-star oil that won’t disappoint.
Best Strengthening Treatment for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!™ MegaStrength+ Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment
This is a concentrated hair formula that works to protect against breakage and moisturize the curls before any real damage can occur. Your hair will go from dry and brittle to nourished and happy due to the fortifying rice protein complex. It can be used as an intensive treatment as left on overnight with users citing seeing a 60% decrease in hair breakage after just one use. Mixing rosehip oil, algae extract, B vitamins, and rice protein complex can help balance hair hydration and control frizz.
If you’re looking to improve the definition of your waves with any of these products, check out How to Clump Your Waves For Better Definition.
While “Barbie” has been the talk of the town lately, let us not forget we started the summer with “The Little Mermaid”. We were able to revisit this classic Disney film and marvel at the updated storyline and visuals that saw Ariel (Halle Bailey) with bold red locs. We didn’t just see little girls donning the signature mermaid tale but finding creative and bold ways to incorporate mermaid-esque styles into their hair. If you’re looking for inspiration then we’ve got you covered with parents who are killing the curly game with 15 mermaidcore hairstyles that truly bring out their child’s inner mermaid.
IMAGE SOURCE: @social.lenaa
What Is Mermaid Core
MermaidCore takes inspiration from all of the fanatical elements of Mermaids whether it’s beachy waves, pastel highlights, peal-inspired accessories, or any sea-aesthetic materials. The fashion industry has had waves of showing Mermaidcore styles in clothes and accessories, but this rendition of The Little Mermaid widened the conversation about what Mermaidcore could be. Mermaids are mystical creatures which means that the fanatical elements about what they can look like and the styles they wear should be versatile and creative. The hues of colors and seaside variations of Mermaidcore mean there are even more opportunities to get whimsical with your child’s hair.
Whether it’s decadent braids, colorful extensions, or beachy accessories, we’ve seen a wonderful assortment of hairstyles that have transformed curls and coils into their versions of the Disney princess. Many of these items can be purchased at local beauty shops and craft stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby which has an assortment of beachy accents like seashells, starfish.
Color
IMAGE SOURCE: @mayelinrosario_
IMAGE SOURCE: @meish_miri
IMAGE SOURCE: @designedbyjahiya
IMAGE SOURCE: @bonnie_braids
IMAGE SOURCE:@razzi_boo
Braids
IMAGE SOURCE: @princessaraeah1
IMAGE SOURCE: @t_eraburton
IMAGE SOURCE: @thalia.hairstyles
IMAGE SOURCE: @katclark
Accessories
IMAGE SOURCE: @jfam.ily
IMAGE SOURCE: @ourlovelypak
IMAGE SOURCE: @gabanadahllia
IMAGE SOURCE: @abbys_hairstyle
IMAGE SOURCE: @heybambino_
IMAGE SOURCE: @hblazevic
Which mermaid-inspired hairstyle will you create this season? Let us know in the comments!
Antoinette Hill has been creating game-changing hairstyles for the past 20 years with Hollywood’s top talent. As a licensed cosmetologist and hair extension specialist she innovates and creates intricate hairstyles that have adorned the red carpet, magazine covers, fashion runways, and the small screen. Her specialization in weaving and extension techniques has allowed her to bring her client’s visions to life with box braids, sleek looks, and fishtail ponytails.
As one of the most sought-after celebrity stylists, her impressive portfolio with stars like Michaela Coel, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Law Roach, and Zendaya. We sat down to chat with Antoinette about her glamorous work with Zendaya and how to keep your curls frizz-free this summer.
What or who inspired you to become a stylist?
I have always wanted to be a hairstylist ever since I was a little girl. I started with doing cornrows for my older sister every Sunday for the school week.
How long have you been working with Zendaya and what have been notable projects you worked on?
I’ve worked with Zendaya for almost two years. I’ve styled Zendaya’s hair for the Venice Film Festival, the Cover of W Magazine, the Cover of Vogue Italia, the 2022 Oscar’s, the Cover of Time 100, Lancôme Campaigns, Bulgari Campaign, Smart Water Campaign, and Louis Vuitton Campaign, to name a few.
Photo Credit
If you could share 2-3 of your favorite summer styles she’s worn, what would they be and why?
Zendaya’s bob haircut is truly one of my favorite summer styles. It is a very versatile haircut that can be blown out straight or worn with its natural wavy texture. My other favorite hairstyle is when we add wavy clip-ins for added length. The clip-ins blend seamlessly with her natural wavy curl pattern.
What inspires the summer styles (onscreen or off) that you’ve created for her?
The inspiration for her summer styles is a collaborative effort between Zendaya, her wardrobe stylist, and me. The chosen hairstyle is an accessory that compliments her entire look.
What are the hallmarks of styling curly hair during the summertime?
Styling curly hair during the summertime is made simple once you find the right products to assist with styling. My go-to brand for curly hair is Aunt Jackie’s, which has a wide range of products for all types of curly coily, and wavy textures.
Do you have a few tips in regard to tools or products you want to keep on hand during this season?
Aunt Jackie’s is a staple brand that I use for defining curly patterns and eliminating Frizz. My signature favorites are Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La, Ice Curls, and Frizz Patrol.
Are there common mistakes or missteps you see naturalistas make with their curls doing the summertime?
The key to effortless, movable, frizz-free curls is moisture and serums added to styling routines while the curls/ waves are wet. Also, allowing the hair to dry without disturbing the texture is essential to a beautiful finish.
What advice or tips could give aspiring stylists looking to broaden their range with natural hair?
Stylists looking to broaden their range with natural hair takes lots of practice and observation. My advice is to approach styling natural hair in sections first with freshly cleansed and detangled hair. Then, assess what the end goal is for the texture you’re working with. Have a range of curly texture products available, like serums and curl creams. Lastly, the curl pattern will guide you on which way its natural direction wants to flow.
In honor of National Hair Loss Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the importance and impact that hair loss has on our daily lives. Alopecia is a common disease that directly attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. However, there is a specific type of alopecia that directly affects people with natural hair because of the way we style our hair. Traction alopecia is a common condition for Black women due to tight and curly spiral hair that can be exasperated when wearing tight braids. Protective styles like cornrows, extensions, weaves, buns, and dreadlocks create constant tension on your scalp and potentially damage your hair follicles. Once the hair follicles are damaged it makes it harder for your hair to grow back which can lead to permanent hair loss. It can also be caused by certain hair accessories like elastic headbands, sports helmets, and relaxers which change the structure of your hair shaft
Am I Experiencing Traction Alopecia?
Traction alopecia can occur anywhere on the scalp and can look like broken hair around your forehead, receding hairlines, and any patches of hair loss where your hair is pulled tightly. If you have tight or protective hairstyles on a regular basis then you want to start checking for these early signs of hair loss. For some people, it gets to a point where the hair no longer grows back and there is just shiny, bald skin. You don’t want to let it get to this point because then your hair will not grow back.
Before you start feeling hopeless or panicking, the great thing to know is Traction alopecia is preventable and reversible in some stages. We spoke with Yetty Bames who has been a full service beauty artist (hair, makeup, brows, lashes, and fashion styling) since she was 15. She has been professionally working on set and in salons since 2009. She worked exclusively with models from 2009-2011, MIZU Salon 2011-2013, Garren NYC 2013-2015, John Barrett 2015-2020, Sharon Dorram 2020-current and currently works at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon.
What Is Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss caused by consistent heat to scalp damage, incorrect chemical processes, hair pulling, and tightness to the hair follicle. Over time, tight ponytails, tight extensions, heavy locs, and tight braids can contribute to scalp sensitivity, hair breakage, and permanent hair loss.”
Is this more common with specific hair textures/types vs. others?
Traction alopecia was considered most prevalent amongst African American/ Black women or women with coarse/ coily textured hair. We now know that traction alopecia can affect anyone, male/ female from any background who puts considerable tension onto their scalp consistently over time.
What are the symptoms or signs of Traction Alopecia?
Traction alopecia is also noticeable when hair easily breaks or becomes miniaturized around the hairline and in the middle of the scalp where the hair is most sensitive. When any of these symptoms are identified, going to the dermatologist for a scalp test requires immediate action. A visual scalp test or a biopsy may be done depending on the hair loss degree.
Is Traction Alopecia preventable or reversible?
Traction alopecia is reversible and preventable if the symptoms are detected early on and if a hairstyle change is made. The symptoms of traction alopecia can be mild to intense scalp soreness, follicle bumps, tenderness, and inflammation.
What are your recommendations for products or tools to help treat it?
Topical scalp antibiotics like clobetasol may be prescribed for mild traction alopecia. For severe scalp pain and sensitivity, cortisone injections in conjunction with topical antibiotics may be necessary to slow down the progression of the traction alopecia. If all else fails and there is permanent hair loss, hair transplant and custom wigs are an option.
If you are experiencing Traction alopecia then we recommend a few steps you can take on your own before heading to a doctor. You can start avoiding any tight hairstyles, changing your hairstyle each week, and limiting any use of relaxers or chemical products on your head. You can also purchase hair growth products to help restore any thinning hair.
Holy Curls is a London-born haircare brand looking to innovate, inspire, and change the direction of curly conversation with its Curls 2.0 Campaign. Founder Badria Ahmed used her experience growing up in Sweden as the motivation to break myths and misconceptions about hair type and texture with products that will have big results. As a multi-award winning brand, Holy Curls is clean, vegan, and made with ingredients that will nourish and moisturize the curls like coconut oil, baobab oil, and yucca plant.
We sat down to chat with Badria about her ‘Curls 2.0’ campaign which was born out of the realization that “the way we currently speak to our customers about curl care simply isn’t good enough.” Instead of focusing on curl patterns and using the classic curl typing system to inform how customers should use products, Holy Curls decided to pivot “to bring education to the forefront so that curlies understand their hair holistically – without complicating it or getting too science-y.” The team developed a Curl Routine Finder questionnaire, which will identify a person’s curls by their behavior using different hair products, porosity, density, and thickness. The team is also working with experts to create a new, holistic hair typing system that makes it easy for consumers to learn and understand their curl DNA.
How did living in Sweden impact your haircare education/routine?
That’s really where it all started for me because there was nothing when I grew up in Sweden. I mean, there was not much in general in the market at that time. But in Sweden, there was nothing because there were very few black people with the exception of my own and also Muslims. I covered my hair as well, so it was a complex relationship that I had with my hair but the one who styled it was my mom and she’s Somali. She would put everything in my hair but she didn’t have the education on what would care so. She was just really struggling and I remember when I was 7 I was begging her to chemically perm my hair. her my hair. We bought the perm and it was just for me and I was just so excited that I wouldn’t have to worry about it.
Where did you find the resources to help you care for your hair as you grew up?
I moved to Australia when I was 21 and perms did not exist at all and I was searching for this product so I was like, you know, at that point you’re an addict like you don’t know what to do. Australia was hot and humid and I didn’t know what to do with it. I started researching and I just knew that natural was the way to go and no one needed to tell me that.
I knew that oils would work on my hair because we used to use oils on our bodies. Yeah, we didn’t do it in our hair. It just made sense for me to go that route and I didn’t need to go and buy products because I could put together the ingredients myself. I used aloe vera, coconut, and olive oil, and I started researching on the composition and the structure of my hair type.
The information was more kind of a scientific education because back then we didn’t have YouTube.That’s how I discovered and fell in love with the whole natural movement just going away from the synthetic and that’s carried over into the vision I had for Holy Curls.
What was missing from your haircare products that inspired you to create your brand?
No one cared about branding and making the packaging look nice. You know, if it was for black people you’d see big letters or all these colors. I was working as a copywriter with creative teams, and understood the importance of aesthetics for example skincare brands were much further ahead in obtaining the eye of the customer. It felt like no one was looking at the full picture of, you know, high-performing products that you want to put in your space. When I came to London we had these big beauty stores with only wigs and weaves everywhere and haircare products on some shelves. There and just like, oh, my God, what is this? It just didn’t feel right or sustainable to me. You know things have changed today, but when I was researching and developing the idea for the brand I didn’t have much to work with.
Do you feel hair typing limits or expands our understanding of natural hair?
I think in the beginning it expanded because it created a conversation and before that, there wasn’t any real way to discuss our different hair types. There wasn’t a wider conversation or a mainstream conversation, so it did help to create that understanding and health education along in ways but today it’s very limiting. You know, it’s just not good enough today because we know that hair typing isn’t the most important aspect of hair care.
Why do you think porosity isn’t discussed with the same weight as hair type/texture?
I think about who started the whole prototyping conversation and he was linked to Oprah Winfrey and was named Andre Walker. He was a celebrity and he started the conversation and it took off because of the platform he had. If someone with the same influence as Oprah Winfrey started talking about porosity it could curb the conversation in mainstream media. Overall, I think it’s just a lack of education and laziness from brands that just go along with what’s already out there.
What products do you recommend for first-time users?
Holy Curls is a brand built on simplicity and we have six to seven across the brand so it’s not like all these products that will overwhelm the customer. Everybody in my opinion should wash their hair so the shampoo would be a great start. The cream is a bestseller because it’s super moisturizing that can be used across the board with fine and wavy hair all the way to coily types. It’s very slippery as well and for me, this has been missing from creams because you know they’re moisturizing but I want slip, not just in my conditioner, but also in my cream.
The Curls 2.0 Finder on the website shows people a quiz they can take and it asks you a few questions about your hair, about how it behaves, and all of that, and then builds a profile. You also get a step-by-step routine about how to use the products and that’s personalized for that particular texture type. I’ve seen a lot of quizzes online and a lot of a lot of them recommend products that they will tell you how to use I think the most important part is understanding how to use the product for your hair type. It’s just like taking it that one step further and just putting a bit more effort into actually educating people and that it has been missing on the paths that we want to change.
What is the hero ingredient of your brand and why did you choose it?
The baobab oil. I was traveling in Africa when I was working on Holy Curls and just understood the creation of so many ingredients. It was amazing to see ingredients for skin, hair, and build up and oil was one of them. I was traveling in Madagascar and you see these big beautiful baobab trees and the communities that all live in these areas get so much from the ingredients. Every part of this tree can be used for something and the oil that they create they extract the the food is incredible. It’s called the Tree of Life and that’s the one ingredient we’ve got across all the products.
Did you have entrepreneurial mentors or guides that supported you?
I would love to say that I did, but that wasn’t the case. When I grew up, my family owned a restaurant, so running a business was always something that I had experience with in addition to when I was working for other companies. I felt I knew that I wanted to create something for myself, but I didn’t know what that was. When I started working on all the components to create a brand and a product all the little things had to come together right? It was just learning the industry as a whole and the lingo, like a minimum order quantity, and with the Curls 2.0 movement, this is an entirely new initiative. We just launched it a couple of months ago and we’re trying to move away from the one-size-fits-all approach to the paths and we must educate ourselves because there are just very basic things that will just help us.
You know, you don’t have to go to the specialist you can, it’s great, but you can you know you don’t have to because you can do it yourself and it’s not that hard if you do your research. What we’re trying to do as a brand is make that research part easier for people and to give that value to people that they don’t have to, you know, look somewhere else to to figure out how to do this with our products. We’re moving away from the old curl charts that box us into narrow spaces and put an emphasis on valuing education.
Read next: How To Condition High Porosity Hair – And KEEP It Moisturized
Knotless braids have been a mainstay of protective styles since Janet Jackson donned them in “Poetic Justice” and have only evolved from there. This braided style is popular because they are lightweight and can reduce tension on the scalp. Unlike box braids, they use a feed-in method that blends with your natural hair versus incorporating extension at the beginning of the braid. They can be used with short, medium, and long hair and used in a variety of styles like Bohemian, bun, waist length, half up/down, jumbo, goddess, and more.
If you have ever been interested in learning more about knotless braids, we’ve secured the experts to give you all the details. Swella Beauty is a black woman-owned luxury braid bar in Atlanta, Georgia setting a new standard for the braid experience. They take the guesswork out of protective styles whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-timer with efficient services that are fast, luxurious, and educational. We sat down to get the 411 from their stylists about knotless braided styles, maintenance, and best practices.
What are knotless braids?
“Knotless braids are a great protective style in which hair extensions are gradually braided into
the hair” says Swella Stylist Gabrielle Wood, “very similar to traditional box braids, but without the knot at the base.” “The technique used creates a more natural look with a lot less tension [than box braids]” shares Swella Stylist Chantelle Clay “Nowadays with the way everyone is caring for their natural
curls, less tension is always better. Knotless came in about 5+ years ago and really changed the
game” says Clay.
What are the benefits of wearing knotless braids?
Zanbria Asante, Swella Founder, says “Knotless braids have less tension on the scalp but also in my opinion look neater than the traditional knotless braids. You’re able to do versatile styles to your braids immediately after installation, without feeling the braids are stiff or uncomfortable.” She started wearing knotless braids about four years ago. “With traditional box braids, I constantly felt the tightness for at least five days after getting them installed, and after 15 years of dealing with this, I was excited to try out a different method of receiving braids.”
Stylist Chantelle Clay likes how lightweight and flexible they are, “The same day, if installed correctly they can be worn in a top knot bun or a ponytail.” They also last weeks longer than box braids because of how they are installed. “Perfect for all ages during summer break and warmer seasons” Clay says.
Why do stylists like knotless braids?
“As a stylist, I absolutely love knotless braids because they look sleek and sexy, and I know I am
contributing to saving edges one client at a time” shares Wood. Clay agrees, “knotless braids are saving the girls’ edges all over the world!” They typically receive little to no complaints in regard to knotless braids being too tight or too heavy.
“Some of the best benefits of wearing knotless braids are how easily you can access your scalp and strands for oiling and maintaining the moisture and health of your hair” says Wood. “It is also a low-tension style that allows a lot of versatility for changing up your look. The best part is waking up for weeks without worrying about what to do to your hair!”
What are the best practices for maintaining knotless braids?
Zanbria Asante: It’s important to still show your hair love while wearing braids. Try your best to wear a scarf or bonnet to bed. For those who are active, I recommend putting your braids in one or two big braids or putting them in a bun while working out. Make sure when taking a shower to wear a shower cap, to protect your hair.
Knotless braids are a great hairstyle for outdoor activities, even including water activities. We recommend picking your favorite moisturizer and mousse to refresh your braids after water touches them, this will help with the frizziness.
Chantelle Clay: The best practice for maintaining knotless braids is to number one PUT ON THAT BONNET! Or scarf, or Durag, or whatever it is that you tie your hair down with. Making sure your hair is
protected while you sleep is very important but also protecting your hair while you shower is
important too, especially with knotless braids. Also, don’t be afraid to wash your edges and oil
your scalp at least once a week. Product build-up can be harmful to your edges and nobody’s
scalp should be dry while you have such easy access to it.
Zanbria Asante: We offer braid touch-ups at Swella for those who want to keep their braids in for an extra two weeks. Braid touch-ups provide a fresh look by getting the front and back touched up in half the time of a regular braid service. After six weeks with braids, we recommend coming in for a braid takedown and wash and blowdry before moving on to another style!
How do you maintain boho knotless braids?
Gabrielle Wood: Boho hair can be maintained by spraying on a leave-in conditioner, followed by an oil of your choice. To maintain frizz, a mousse or foam wrap may be used as well. Finger detangling occasionally is also helpful.
Chantelle Clay: To maintain those beautiful boho braids I recommend detangling curls after you have applied a generous amount of leave-in conditioner. You will probably need to detangle twice a day, morning and night. Once you detangle at night put your braids in 2-4 twists and put that bonnet on. The twist won’t prevent tangling but will make your detangling in the morning a lot less stressful.
Who are celebrities with good examples of knotless braids?
Chantelle Clay: Celebrities with good examples of knotless braids are Gabrielle Union, Jhene Aiko, Keke
Palmer, & of course the Iconic BEYONCÉ (shoutout to my fellow beyhive!)
Gabrielle Wood: When looking for braid inspiration I frequently check out Eva Marcille, Gabrielle Union, and Tia Mowry. Sophisticated, sexy, and cool is the vibe I get when seeing the styles they step on the
scene with.
Are you ready to book an appointment for knotless braids? Have you tried them before? Let us know in the comments!
