Search Results: Evelyn
Cindy Tawiah
About 25 years ago, Cindy Tawiah, creator of Diva by Cindy, was 16 years old . . . and failing her chemistry class horribly.
“My father wanted me to become a doctor, so he picked my subjects for me—biology and chemistry,” she says.
After failing another chemistry test, her teacher decided to make the subject more interesting for her.
“He taught me how to make nail polish and lipstick,” Tawiah says. “I remember we had a big science fair and everybody came through. A man in the military came up and asked what was in my petri dish. My teacher proudly came by my side and said ” ‘this is Cynthia—our cosmetologist & chemist’ and I immediately loved the sound of that.”
Unfortunately, Tawiah’s father didn’t like that idea. Despite her new-found excitement for the cosmetics industry, Tawiah went on to become a nurse, staying in the medical field, as her father wanted.
“I always wanted to leave nursing from the day I started my training in 1989 – always knew I wanted to manufacture products – just stuck with it till I could find the strength to leave.”
She was a registered nurse for 13 years before she acknowledged that even simple tasks as a nurse irritated her.
“I went into to work and a doctor approached me for the results of a patient’s order,” she says. “I felt irritated and that was my sign to draft my resignation letter and leave.”
Thinking back to her high school days, she remembered how her worst subject became her biggest passion.
“My father’s opinion no longer mattered because he was no longer the one paying my tuition,” she says. “Once I decided to move on to what I loved, he realized it was what I wanted all along.”
“My teacher had the ability to change my life and draw my destiny out of me,” she says. In 2004, she opened ShadesofU, her very own salon. Tawiah didn’t attend cosmetology school, but loved the nurturing atmosphere she was able to provide with her facility and services.
“I love the atmosphere God allowed me to create. It was a place where NFL players wives, politicians, surgeons and the elite came to, but it was also a place of healing and restoration for victims of domestic violence who felt a community rally around them around Thanksgiving and the holidays,” she says.
ShadesofU was a stepping stone to Tawiah’s ultimate goal, developing and distributing a line of hair care products.
“With Diva By Cindy, the first priority was to create a hair care line without alcohol and ingredients which would provide extreme detangling ability and stop shedding and breakage,” she says. “This process of elimination is how I approached the research process.”
With the help of a chemist, she developed a formula. The final product was the Diva by Cindy moisture system for dry hair and shedding and the stimulating system to promote hair growth. The next step was to find a facility that would produce it in large quantities.
That’s where the difficulties started.
Diva by Cindy products
“A lot of people in chemistry are men. I had to keep hearing ‘no, no, no,’ encountering a lot of men in the industry,” she says. “But how can a man who has not used hair products like this or who has not had hair issues know what’s right?“
She also faced problems with distribution of her product line. “Here I have an exclusive line to get women’s hair longer and healthier. But the women were using Dr. Miracles and other brands and were stuck in their ways. I wanted to educate women on what certain chemicals do to the hair and scalp.”
Diva by Cindy started three years ago and completely eliminates alcohol and infuses products with panthenol (provitamin B5″> to promote hair growth. Diva focuses on preventing breakage, reducing shedding, and stimulating the scalp.
“Hair is dead—if you cut it, it won’t hurt. So our intention is to promote circulation in the scalp so hair grows from the scalp.”
She has been using the line on clients since the end of 2006. Her daughter and salon clients are proven models of the products’ success.
“Everybody was walking around with shine and body in their hair,” she says. “Eliminating alcohol and using moisturizing ingredients prevent that breakage that prevents hair from gaining length.”
So which products in this line can we use on our curls, coils, waves and kinks? One of Tawiah’s biggest goals was to put out a product with amazing detangling ability. She recommends the Leave-in Detangler. “It works especially with afro hair to moisturize and make the hair extremely manageable, not sticky, not goopy — and that is excellent.”
The Stimulating Shampoo and deep conditioners contain peppermint and menthol to further stimulate the scalp. The Super Grow—is a soufflé-like butter applied on the scalp.
While Diva by Cindy promotes hair growth, Tawiah’s other project promotes helping others in need.
“We were bringing in victims of domestic violence to do their hair for free. We wanted to uplift these women and pour back into their spirits,” she says.
“I want every woman to realize that a Diva is not just a woman who is fabulous and desires excellence. She is a divine, virtuous and anointed a woman who wants to help other realize that same level of excellence as well,” she says.
Tawiah would provide a free wash and styling, as well as provide food and a chance to talk and share what they’ve been through.
“We would light a white candle for each of them so she can blow it out and forgive the other party for the situation and experiences they’ve had to go through.”
What started out as several women became a group of 20, then 40. And just because Tawiah sold her salon in 2009 to focus more on the Diva line and travel the trade show circuit, didn’t mean the charity would stop. In order to reach even more people, Tawiah created Donate to a Diva.
This past December, with donations including Maybelline and her very own Diva line, Donate to a Diva put together packages of cosmetics and other goodies for 250 ladies, sending them to nine shelters in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia area. The nonprofit’s goal is to serve women all across the country.
“I’ve been on the receiving end; I’ve been a battered woman,” she said. “After you go through an experience, it’s your responsibility to help others when you’re now in a position to help them.”
Diva by Cindy strives to “minister through hair care,” providing support for women in tough situations and solutions for common hair problems.
What started as a difficult high school class has now led to Tawiah’s calling in life, and she’d love to share it.
“I call it being my sisters’ keeper. It’s my heart, it’s my passion. Women are my passion.”
One of our all-time favorite curlies, Kyra Sedgwick, stays true to her waves at the 62nd Annual Emmy Awards.
— Megan Dorcey
Gotta love the price tag on these hair conditioners! Which ones are your favorites?
- Alberto V-O5 Moisture Milk
- Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner
- Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
- Aussie Moist Conditioner
- Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition
- Pantene Moisture Balance Conditioner
- Tresemme Flawless Curls
- Dove Advance Care Therapy Conditioner
- Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner
- Sunsilk Captivating Curls Conditioner Blah
Who says our curly, coily, and kinky hair has to be unmanageable? With the right techniques and tools, maintaining your natural hair is a breeze. Here are the top 10 tools that you may need to get started on your healthy hair journey.
Top 10 Styling Tools
1. Wide-toothed comb
This is textured hair 101 if you’re new to your natural hair. The teeth are spaced wide enough to allow the hair space to glide through. Slather on your favorite conditioner before you detangle!
2. Denman brush
Some use it to detangle, some use it to “clump” and define their curls after using a gel. With different types to choose from, hair of every thickness and curl pattern should be able to find what works best for them.
3. Microfiber towels
The curlier and thicker the hair, the longer it can take to air dry! Don’t use a regular towel and rub it over your curls – that creates frizz! Instead use a light cloth to pat down your hair. Try the Curls Like Us Curl Cloths!
4. Satin scarf/pillowcase
Even tossing and turning in our sheets can cause hair breakage in the long term! Especially important for those of us rockin’ Afro-textured hair, a satin pillowcase or scarf will prevent your tresses from snagging.
5. Goody headband
A stretchy must have for keeping your hair up and out of your face. Make sure to avoid elastic hair bands that with metal connectors. Those could rip out hairs on the nape of your head! Ouch!
6. Hair pins
Be honest—you’ve probably lost a bobby pin or two in your curls, right? Bobby pins are flat and can snag your hair. Hair pins, on the other hand are wider and can hold more hair. We like that!
7. Processing cap
For those deep conditioning sessions, wrap your hair up in a plastic shower cap. Your body heat will allow the product to soak even more into your hair!
8. Diffuser attachment
To dry the hair even quicker, use a hair diffuser attachment on your blow dryer. This allows heat to gently dry your hair.
9. Big Scrunchie
Sometimes those small hair elastics aren’t enough to hold down your mane!
10. Butterfly clips
Great for securing hair in sections, keeping it out of your way while you style! Adding product and styling in sections makes the whole process easier and ensures you don’t miss a spot!
So you’ve got your natural hair regimen down, right? You found the products you love and you’re sticking to ’em! But every once in a while, you might want to give your curls, coils, and kinks a little something extra – a hair treat! Here is a list of the top ten products that’ll spruce your hair up. You deserve it.
- Oyin Handmade Juices and Berries
- Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment
- Oyin Handmade Greg Juice
- Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Moisturizing Conditioner
- Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery
- Wen Remoist Hydrating Mask
- Jane Carter Solution Nourish & Shine
- Curl Junkie Hibiscus & Banana Deep Fix Moisturizing Conditioner
- Aubrey Organics Blue Green Algae Hair Rescue Conditioning Mask
- Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade
In this video, NaturallyCurly.com vlogger Evelyn tries on Ecostyler gel, voted Best Styling Gel in our 2010 Best of the Best product contest! Check out this link to see if your favorite products won!
Check out the Top 10 Afro Goddesses here.
We’ve already made our Top Ten Afro Goddesses list, so it’s only fair that we give the men their time to shine! The following gentlemen prove that growing your hair out into an afro never really goes out of style.
Maybe this will encourage the men in your life to do the same? Hmm…we like that idea!
Jimi Hendrix
Blast from the past! Hendrix starts off our list with his simple afro – not uncommon in the 60s and 70s. Just like his music, we consider his fro a classic.
Maxwell
Yes, we know, the Grammy award-winning singer no longer sports big hair, but doesn’t a little part of you wish he did?
Maxwell before…
…and Maxwell after
Lenny Kravitz
He used to swing his locs, but for a couple of years, Kravitz rocked out and head banged with an afro.
Questlove
It’s no question…we love (get it?”> the head of hair on the inquisitive and artistic drummer for world renown band The Roots.
Andre 3000
Half of the dynamic duo Outkast, Andre’s hair changes as much as his eccentric style, but we’ll always hold his afro near and dear.
Musiq Soulchild
Summertime is the perfect season to turn up the volume to Soulchild’s music and feel the wind run through your coils!
Afta-1
We’re big fans of the musical projects he produces, but we go crazy for his neatly cropped fro.
Jesse Boykins III
Doesn’t his hair remind you of a lion’s mane? We love JB3’s hair, and his sweet serenades have our hearts as well.
K’naan
You may know him for the World Cup 2010 anthem “Wavin Flag”, but K’naan, also known as the Dusty Foot Philosopher, has been rocking his afro for years as a rapper born and raised in Somalia, East Africa.
Young Michael Jackson
His hair takes the title for most adorable afro! Period.
Who did we miss? Comment below and name who you think is an Afro god.
NC.com vlogger Evelyn celebrates July 4th, better known as National Afro Day. Read more about National Afro Day here.
A fresh hairstyle is one way to really kick your coils and kinks up a notch! But what ‘do should you tackle first? Check out our favorite summer styles and try them all this summer!
Here we have styles for 3bs, 3cs and 4s. Check here for looks for 1s, 2s, and 3as. Learn more about hair typeshere!
Wash n’ Go
Many curlies are concerned about using products containing silicones, for fear of having to use a harsh sulfate shampoo to wash the ‘cones out.
However, many curlies have found that there are a couple of cones that they can reasonably tolerate without buildup: amodimethicone and dimethicone. So we’ve put together a list of CurlTalkers’recommendations for conditioners that do contain one or the other of these ‘cones but not others.
- Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Leave-in
- Mixed Chicks Leave-In
- Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship
- TIGI Bed Head Self Absorbed Conditioner
- Herbal Essences Totally Twisted
- Ouidad Moisture Lock
- Miss Jessie’s Creme de la Creme
- Dove Advanced Care Therapy Conditioner
- Yes to Carrots
- Beyond the Zone Noodle Head Soften Your Curls Curly Hair Conditioner
If you get to feeling like you’ve got build up, regardless of what products you’re using, try these natural cleansing methods: baking soda or apple cider vinegar rinse — both work to remove dirt and build up.
Watch as NaturallyCurly.com vlogger Evelyn puts some Blended Beauty samples and her roommate’s mini flat iron to the test.
Questions? Comments? Experiences with the flat iron worth sharing? Leave a comment below!
Review the products you tried here.
Thanks for watching!
The hair on these leading ladies is the stuff of legend. We talk about it, we blog about it, and admit it — we might even collect their pictures for inspiration.
Erykah Badu
Even though her signature sky high fro is a wig, Ms. Badu made it cool to strive for a BAA.
Jill Scott
Actress and Grammy award-winning songstress Jill Scott proves that a simple afro can be playful and sexy.
Leela James
Gritty R&B singer Leela James has a big voice and even bigger ‘fro! Her voluminous hair makes a statement, just like her soulful music.
Shingai Shoniwa
Dynamic bassist & lead singer of British band Noisettes styles her ‘fro in ways we never even thought of before!
Esperanza Spalding
We stand in awe of her fro! And if her beautiful hair doesn’t catch your attention, her smooth voice and classy bass playing should.
Muhsinah
She’s made a name for herself as a young female producer and singer, touring with Common and winning a Grammy for her work with R&B duo The Foreign Exchange. Her natural hair styles are just as creative has her musical abilities.
India Arie
We have Arie to thank for our natural hair anthem – “I Am Not My Hair”! She braided it, picked it out, and even shaved it off! Her inspiring music has helped a generation embrace their natural beauty.
Janelle Monae
Her positive music, interesting style, and Afro Pompadour has grabbed the attention of Vogue.
Nneka
Nigerian-born Nneka is an internationally known singer and songwriter who’s toured with Nas and Damian Marley. Turn up the volume on her single “Heartbeat”, and shake your fro!
Lauryn Hill
Who could forget L. Boogie? Though probably most recognizable with her locs, Hill’s rocked that good ol’ afro from time to time.
Think we missed anybody? Leave a comment below and tell us who you think should be an Afro Goddess.
Need to beat the humidity? Our lovely CurlTalk users suggest these products to fight it!
- Kinky Curly Curling Custard
- Curls Gel-les’c
- Curl Junkie Curls in a Bottle
- Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel
- Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade
- Joico JoiGel Firm
- Curly Solutions Curl Keeper
- AG Re:coil
- Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
- DevaCurl Set It Free
Use these gels more like serum than a heavy curl defining gel. The goal is to prevent moisture from the air getting in and puffing up your curls into a frizzy mess!
Check out this article to learn more about humidity and curly hair.
Barbecues, pool parties, and vacations—these are a few of our favorite things! But you wouldn’t want to rock a routine curly hairstyle to these fun summer functions, would you? Here is a list of things you can do to spruce up your curly hair for the summer:
- Try Curlformers! With four different sizes and lengths of these curlers, you can achieve tight spirals, soft beach waves and anything in between.
- Add a touch of color with henna. Native to tropical regions of the world, the henna plant tints the hair a deep red color—it won’t lighten your hair, but rather simply lay a color on top. The darker your hair, the more subtle the color will be. Check out this article for a recipe.
- Switch up your hair accessories. Bright-colored headbands, clips, and flower pins all add a fun island feel to beautiful curly hair. Learn to make your own or purchase some from your favorite homemade etsy.com store
- Play with different styles. A fishtail braid or a flat twist down the side brings some spunk to everyday hair.
- Get a curly hair cut. Go to a stylist skilled in cutting curly to achieve the look you want. You can cut it short or remove some volume to get some relief during the hottest months of the year.
- Experiment with Curlmart products that you never thought would work for you. You might be surprised at the results! But remember, curly hair needs extra TLC. The curlier or kinkier, the more moisture you need! Keep a spray bottle of water and a couple drops of your favorite oil handy. Just shake it up and spritz to give your hair an added boost of moisture.
How do YOU spruce up your hair for the summer? Let us know below!
Don’t be scared to make a splash this summer! To fight the drying effects of chlorine on your curly hair, simply rinse it in the shower, slather on a moisturizing conditioner, and braid, twist, or put your hair in a swim cap before jumping in the pool. Hair that is wet already will not absorb as much chlorine, especially if there’s an added barrier of conditioner. After swimming, rinse out the conditioner.
Here is a list of conditioning products our readers love.
- Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Moisturizing Conditioner
- Aubrey Organics Swimmer’s Normalizing Conditioner
- Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner
- Aubrey Organics Island Naturals Replenishing Conditioner
- Curls Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner
- Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner
- MyHoneyChild HoneyNutt Conditioner
- Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner
- Nature’s Gate Jojoba Revitalizing Conditioner
- Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner
and a little excitement!
NaturallyCurly.com vlogger Evelyn shows you her updated regimen!
…just kidding!
Watch NaturallyCurly.com vlogger Evelyn see what it would be like to have locs!
