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So things are shifting around in the Essence Magazine camp.
Time Inc, full shareholder of the company for some twelve years, has announced that although Essence remains one of its “core publications”, they’re looking to grow the brand name by selling a majority of the shares. For those of us that aren’t as business savvy (so…me, basically”>, being a shareholder essentially means that while one is not fully legally liable for a company’s failures, your own fortunes are tied to the company’s success. And as you’d have put money into the purchase of those portions of semi-ownership, you’d have some say in the general direction of that company’s movements.
Because of that level of control, naturally, people are calling for a group of black investors to take over those shares in order to keep the magazine true to its roots of prioritizing the needs of black American women in all of our multitudes. Or at least many of our multitudes. I wouldn’t pick up an Essence issue expecting to find the same things I would in AfroPunk, but that’s neither here nor there.
To get to the heart of the issue, I wonder—does not having a personal stake in the troubles/triumphs of your audience necessarily equal complete tone-deafness? After all, despite being a publication for black American women from the jump, Essence was founded by four men in the 70s that noticed black women weren’t being catered to. However, though it’d be nice to say with complete certainty that anyone can found anything as long as they’re getting the right information out, Essence had experienced some representation hiccups with heavily featuring only lighter complexioned, slender models in the early 2000’s, as documented by this study by Vanessa Hazell and Juanne Clarke, after having 49% of its shares taken over by Time Inc. When Time took full ownership of all shares in 2005, it marked the first time a black magazine had been under white ownership and what I can imagine were a lot of concerned readers. In 2011, Michael Bullerdick was named managing editor of the publication amidst controversy about his being a white male, then shifted from that position the next year after racially incendiary remarks were found on his personal social media. So considering Essence’s history, surely that’s all the more reason to hope it gets pushed in the direction of a black and majority womanly board of investors?
So in sync they even coordinated their outifts. I’m into it.
Well, I love seeing sisters succeed, so I do have my own reasons for wanting that. But in the more broad sense of ‘Is this the only way the publication can be any good?’ I don’t actually have an answer…yet.
Trust me, I’m surprised too.
It wasn’t until my 20s that I learned different brands I consumed were often owned by parent companies. The day I found out my fun “quirky” little Odwalla drinks were owned by Minute Maid, which itself is a division of The Coca-Cola Company, I practically went into conniptions.
And that was before I looked at the sugar content.
Certainly in the scheme of being alive and cognizant, that’s not a lot of years, or in fact atypical of most consumers. But that’s the reason I don’t have a straight answer—I can’t always say for certain that I know who owns what I buy or click. With regards to media consumption, most of the publications I read at least have an author byline letting me know who people are, and I can follow the outlet itself on social media and at least have some clue of their sense of ethics even if I rarely delve into whose name is stamped on everything. I just share what I share, read what I read without doing much research into the name on all the checks. It’s really only when I notice a trend of unsavory stuff that I start following any trails. Were I to find out today that Wear Your Voice was owned by Pfizer some-crazy-how, it’d only be after they’d published something about how medical markups help everyone by weeding out “the poors”, and not while they’re giving me hot intersectional takes, and feel-good gems like these. Similarly, while I’d like to think I’d still do my utmost at research and representation, if I were to be hired into a ‘President-King of all Media’ type position by an organization like ADAPT, an advocacy group for the physically disabled, I could more than understand why audience suspicion would be tossed my way.
We’ll have to see what the future holds for Essence. But hopefully, whatever happens will bring out the best in the publication.
When I was younger I would mentally sneer at women age 40 and up not “dressing their age”.
I know, I know. Not great behavior. Mommy always did and still does maintain that I was an awesome kid; but, like all teenagers, I still had some ways to go as far as wringing out all the idiocy of childhood before I could become a decent adult. And as I learned and grew, I saw how willing society was to tear down women past age 25 for any little imagined infraction, especially as far style choices were concerned, and resolved to mentally police other women much much less (still side-eyeing socks with sandals, not sorry”>.
Then I turned 25, and got style-shamed for the first time related to my age, and not my texture.
The picture’s a little blurry, but I’m the one in the middle.
I happened to be able to roll my birthday party into a French Revolution themed event, and although I like to have fun with my outfits, the French flag colored bows were clearly part of my costume. But during the ‘How old are you now’ portion of everyone singing me the birthday song, an acquaintance chimed in with ‘And way too old to be wearing bows in your hair!’.
Yeah, what she said.
I was incensed, naturally—firstly because how DARE anyone tell me I can’t do ANYTHING in this life, and secondly, because it embodied that same policing that I’ve been trying so hard to shed. But it did get me thinking.
Is there such thing as ‘too old’ when it comes to adorning your curls? If one can be too old for ribbons, can one be too old for fro-hawks? Cornrows? Elaborate Pintrest worthy fishtail combos? Funky colors? If there’s a cutoff date, is there some sort of grace period? And who enforces this stuff anyway?
You always hear about the concept of ‘Aging with grace/dignity’, but honestly…I feel like that’s code for ‘Aging in a way that I find acceptable’. And what’s deemed acceptable somehow seems to tie back to not standing out, or not taking up too much space—not too big, not too loud, not too visible…basically the easier you make it not to notice you, the more approval you get.
Don’t get me wrong! Understated style is still style. I certainly wouldn’t tell Oprah that she had to look like Grace Jones lest she give in to her own oppression. I just wouldn’t accept a vice-versa. Also I’m 100% sure that trying to tell either of these great women anything would get me thrown out of the nearest building à la Uncle Phil and Jazz.
Furthermore, we here in the states spend a lot of time putting ourselves in a constantly preparatory stage. I feel like I’ve heard ‘You can’t wear your hair out NOW, what will happen when you have to go to debate championships/get into college/get a job/get promoted/become president-pope’ for years! And then once you’re retirement age, the line becomes ‘Well, you’re far too old for THIS’. Leaving the bounds of professionalism aside, when exactly am I supposed to be able to do what I want?
Side note, if anyone knows that what’s considered professional is heavily biased against naturally curly hair to begin with, it’s everyone here. But that’s another article…
Bottom line, my take is that even if I don’t LIKE something on someone, due to usually seeing it on younger people, no one makes it to X age to not do what they want. Having your curls get their own cool look is a triumph in and of itself, I say bring on the purple pigtails and hair bubbles no matter where you fall generationally. As long as it’s coming from the heart, and you look good to you, the naysayers can go pout elsewhere.
Also, two years later, and beyond, I’m not going to stop with the bows until I’m good and ready. So there.
Any thoughts, Curl Community?
Are certain hairstyles and accessories not acceptable past a certain age? Tell us your take!
I can’t do sitting still if I don’t have anything to focus on.
No, my breath DOESN’T count.
If I’m not in my jammies and unconscious, this brain has to stay activated. Point of fact, blanking my mind is actually very difficult for me. And considering the waves of articles and conversations touting the importance of stilling your thoughts, and being present, and serenity now, et cetera, it took me a long time to realize that my level of required thought processing is 100% okay! I’m a babbling brook, not a still pond. As long as you can relax in your own way, neither metaphorical body of water is better than the other.
Although one has fewer mosquitoes, just saying.
When it’s time for me to find my happy place, I have a few physical practices that are keeping me from becoming a serial arsonist; and one of the most meditative in my relaxation repertoire is making my own hair and body butters.
That’s my kit!
At least, it’s what all I could fit in this shot. Kind of a ‘Little Mermaid’ scenario, except less waterlogged. But it’s not a static collection by any means!
The only thing more exciting than researching the effects of different oils, waxes, and butters is getting to try and buy them all! I have simple pleasures…or at least you could say that if my collection weren’t as extensive as it is. I proudly live out the woman-targeted stereotypes of loving to heal and loving to shop, and the sheer breadth of different types of raw materials you can purchase for just as many purposes makes my head spin in the best way!
I take my skin health seriously—never forget that it’s literally a bodily organ, and the largest one you have!! Caring for it isn’t some shallow pursuit—dryness, cracking, infection, movement inhibiting scars, and more can be ameliorated with the right kind of pampering. And when that skin is your scalp specifically, that translates to better hair health as well. The seriousness factor doesn’t keep me from having fun with unboxing and butter hauls, but it’s there!
Protip: If you’re acquiring raw materials in the summer, do it in person, or face the melty consequences.
Once I’ve got everything in place and a “recipe” in mind, getting down to work is fulfilling as well. Watching and smelling everything melt and meld together over my tea light trivet is refreshing! It’s a lot like cooking:
- Gather ingredients
- Blend until harmonious
- Slather all over your hair and body
…in fact, the way I eat sometimes, it’s exactly like cooking. But unlike all of my unfortunate alfredo sauce incidents, I get to get in a little auto-massage therapy afterward, and even during the creation process. The ‘I just made whipped hair butter’ all-over glow is REAL y’all.
As far as getting results go, I’m okay with leaving things to the professionals sometimes. I’ll admit that nothing I’ve made so far works as a hair lotion or style holder, and I’m too busy getting melted hemp butter everywhere to remember writing down any silly things like ‘measurements’ or ‘jar labels’. But where my spirit’s health is concerned, making my own emollient blends can’t be beat. I feel more in touch with my inventive nature and my ancestors through my craft, and I love having a tangible reward to go with my relaxation! It’s like a swag bag from a refreshing party for one.
Are you as into your cocoa butter cooking as I am? Shout out your favorite blends in the comments!
Nothing messes up a good story like an incomplete ending.
I mean, people are still making ‘Sopranos’ jokes, and it’s been a minute. As of writing, just shy of ten years’ worth of minutes actually. And any hairstyle is much the same way—if the roots are set, the curls are popping, but those ends are struggling? The whole thing is gonna fall flat. And if you prefer to keep things spiraled and sharp, that’ll be a pretty sour note.
Fortunately, as far as twist-outs go, getting those freshly released curls to a happy ending is easy! And things are especially simple with an instructor like the incredible Okwe. NaturallyCurly partnered with ORS Olive Oil for Naturals and this Houston, TX stylist’s expertise to put together a how-to to wow you—watch and learn!
Those are some sweet spirals right there.
Okwe used ORS Butter Creme Styling Smoothie to help with hold and moisture after her first round of sectioning. A good brushing through is what’s going to distribute the product evenly through each strand before she flat twists her hair down. The extra rollers there at her ends were the part of the equation that kept her ends so perfectly coiled!
Post dryer time, a little Hydrating Hair Butter on her fingertips kept flyaways from forming as she fluffed out her twists, while adding some extra moisture and shine at the same time!
Both of these products, and in fact the whole Olive Oil for Naturals line has the power of clarified butter, AKA ghee, behind the the rest of the expertly formulated ingredients! And because Okwe’s really been churning her super-smooth style sessions out, we have a whole playlist for you to look through on the NaturallyCurly YouTube channel. Not to milk a good tutorial series, but you’re going to want to watch cholester-ALL of them.
As always Curlies, if you take a page out of Okwe’s amazing tutorial book…show your work! Tag us @NaturallyCurly on any channel and show us what you got!
This post brought to you in partnership with ORS.
Your entrepreneurial spirit is indelible. That is why your curls should always reflect a can-do attitude at all times!
The NaturallyCurly Video Team partnered with Design Essentials to highlight a remarkable woman whose daily wake up and slay routine is one you will want to incorporate into your life. Take a look at the inspiring Kimberly Finley, co-owner of The Listening Tree Booktique!
Get the maintenance and styling tools Kimberly uses to get luscious finger coils and that boss lady style:
- Kimberly uses the nourishing Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi Coconut Water Curl Refresher for her second-day styles.
- She follows up with Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Curling Crème, which features a blend of avocado and almond oil, to define her curls.
- There are more Holy Grails in Kimberly’s collection, including the Almond & Avocado Detangling Leave-In Conditioner, Almond & Avocado Nourishing Co-Wash, and Almond & Avocado Curl Enhancing Mousse (which is sensational for style-setting finger coils and other super cute styles”>.
Learn more about Kimberly Finley by visiting The Listening Tree Booktique today!
What are your favorite women-owned businesses?
Comment! Like! Share! Subscribe to the NaturallyCurly YouTube Channel for more amazing, inspired content like this!
This video and post are both sponsored by Design Essentials!
Do you ever feel like only a few natural ingredients get the spotlight?
There’s good reason for that—earth-friendly components like peppermint oil, shea butter, and the almighty coconut oil work really well for a lot of people. But that’s not the case with everyone. And for those of y’all whose skin and hair don’t really pick up what coconut oil’s putting down, the constant fascination with its effects can seem a little…off-putting.
Same, Chief. Same.
However, unless you have an honest-to-medical-science allergy to everyone’s favorite palm tree byproduct, you might find that it’s not necessarily the coconut oil itself that’s getting you and your curls all bothered, it’s the concentration of it.
“All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison.” — Paracelsus
Maybe straight-up coconut oil just isn’t your thing, but you can still take advantage of the way the oil penetrates if you partner it up with some other ingredients. So whether you’re DIYing it up with the double boiler, or reading the backs of bottles like a good curly, these are a few issues that you can solve by pairing coconut oil with a few other select ingredients, buddy-cop movie style.
Problem: It just GETS everywhere.
Okay, once coconut oil melts, like most oils, it tends to get pretty slippery. As in, you could comb a half melted chunk through your hair, flick it all the way across the room and not notice until the missing piece has melted all over your stuff, not that I’m still mad. But if you need it to STAY on your hair or scalp long enough to actually do what it’s meant to, you’ll want to combine it with beeswax. A little of the stuff melted goes a long way, and has shining properties that go along with its natural sealant nature.
Problem: I need something more strengthening
There’s a myth floating around that says coconut oil imparts proteins into your hair with each use. Unfortunately, that’s just…not the case. If you’re looking for something to strengthen your hair, you’ll need to find something with added keratin or milk proteins to firm things up. Otherwise, you’re welcome to introduce other contaminants, but remember, not every gross find is going to turn out to be a diamond in the rough like penicillin. I’ll be leaving this one to the scientists, personally.
Problem: It’s not keeping my moisture in.
Bees are the MVP. Seriously. They go around pollinating our world, and giving us this next ingredient—honey. Honey, and its byproducts like honeyquat or honey extract, all serve to moisturize your hair with some pretty bomb humectant action. The same properties that make honey edible for literally thousands of years are going to keep your hair adequately hydrated and soft in a way that coconut oil alone might not be able to handle.
Thanks, ladies.
Problem: It’s TOO HEAVY.
Okay, so you need the cortex penetration of coconut oil…but it’s either weighing down your fine curls, clogging your pores, or both, and you’re about done with it all. Cystic acne hurts, I get it. Blending coconut oil with a much lighter oil however, your jojobas, your almonds, etc can give you and your hair gets the best of both worlds! If you’re worried about runoff, see above for beeswax, or check out some wide cloth headbands to keep things isolated while you’re applying your hair treatments.
Protip for acne: Make sure you’re WASHING those headbands on a regular basis. Snag a variety pack and some garment bags so you can keep things hygienic.
Problem: I need softness!
Luxury is relative. My brief stint living in the woods of Alabama as a little April saw the development of my having a bathroom with a skylight, and me just losing all of my nine-year-old beans about it because of how fancy it was. And of course it was great for birdwatching. Because we lived. In the woods. But no one of any class background can make an argument about silk not being super luxe. The amino acids, also called sericin, are water-soluble proteins that help impart moisture, serve as a protective barrier to hair, AND give products a super silky feel.
Special shout out to the Yangshao Chinese people that got started on this all those centuries ago!
So now that you know everything you can about cutting your coconut oil (so to speak”> with other great ingredients, do you feel any more confident about using it in your routine?
Weigh in about how you’ve been weighed down, and how you might like to proceed with the Curl Queen of Oils!
Full disclosure, reading dress etiquette makes my head spin.
I didn’t know there were more facets to how to put yourself together past ‘Casual, Office, or Red Carpet’ until I was 23. Shout out to the good people doing the Lord’s work with Pinterest infographics! With that newfound knowledge came the realization that smart-casual style can be hard to pin down a lot of the time, especially when you have a lot of hair.
But there are more ways to look a little less laid back with long locks than just pinning it all into submission!
Our very own SHOP NaturallyCurly Merchandising Supervisor Julissa Pacheco used the Coconut Restore line from Nature’s Protein to create this romantic, yet structured look with her waves. See her beautifully styled look in the Pin-worthy infographic below!
Nice, right? Let’s take a look at what was used here!
We started with the Moisture Replenishing Shampoo
The sulfate-free shampoo uses coconut oil to penetrate the cortex of the hair, and keep the strands moisturized during a gentler (and delicious smelling”> cleansing process.Next step, Daily Strengthening Conditioner
This conditioner’s still using the power of coconut to aid in elasticity, but it also features added protein to strengthen your hair and stave off breakage. Because this is a less protein-packed formula (think your yoga instructorversus your drill instructor“>, it’s A-OK for everyday use, as well as the ideal conditioner in the line for finer, less-densely packed curls and waves.
We finished up with the Curl Control Leave-In Conditioner
Like most Type 2s, Julissa’s hair didn’t need anything heavy flattening out her waves. We used a small amount of the Leave-In to keep her defined throughout the day, and the best part is—that light touch is going to make this bottle last forever. Stock up now, and ground those flyaways permanently.
I’m not a wavy myself (stay tuned for me maybe buying some wavy wigs, though”>, but it’s always cool to see companies come out with suites including products that can be used amongst all curl patterns. Take a look at the entire line with your curlfriends to see who can use what!
Keep up with us by signing up for the NaturallyCurly newsletter to see what other curl patterns we can style with this line!
As always we’re total suckers for cute style pics from our curly community, so keep the @s coming once you try this tutorial for yourself!
Our NaturallyCurly + CVS Pharmacy’s Who Run the World? Curls! series for Women’s History Month 2017 features beauty industry trailblazers and their product innovations. Among the top woman-owned brands on the market, CURLS was founded by none other than Mahisha Delligener – a natural-born maverick and leader in the natural hair care category. This interview reveals her moxie, entrepreneurial spirit, and how she keeps her hair immaculate!
Mahisha Delligener is responsible for driving the direction of the company, from strategy to product creation and everything in between. As a leader in the natural hair care industry, Dellinger has studied our curly and textured hair community to create and deliver nutrition-first products. This focus led her to create the Blueberry Bliss collection to help textured and curly women grow and maintain healthy hair.
“I have always been a true believer in the law of reciprocity.” -Mahisha Dellinger
When asked how she’s continued to formulate innovative products that are changing the natural hair landscape Dellinger said,”I sow seeds on fertile ground and have been continually blessed to reap a harvest. I also believe that to whom much is given, much is required. I give of my time, talents, and fortune. This is, I know, propels me forward, and also keeps me grounded.”
And as any great woman can attest, this type of growth cannot be done alone. Dellinger’s humble beginnings continue to propel her to focus on creating Holy Grail maintenance and styling products.
Family matters. Always.
“Two women inspired me,” she explained, “My oldest daughter Kiana, who is 22 years old, has always been my muse from the day she was born. I was a young, unwed mother when I had her. I was a girl from the projects that had a dream to change her destiny and the destiny of her newborn daughter. That was the path I blazed. I am now a mother of 4; their lives are polar opposite from mine growing up, and for that, I am extremely proud and grateful.”
“The second woman that inspired me was my mother,” Dellinger said, “She had such a hard life… full of abuse, poverty, generational curses. I longed for her to experience happiness, beyond measure, for the second half of her life.”
It is with this heritage of strife that Dellinger has found the impetus to uproot herself from her past to propel herself into a successful, thriving future. She knows that the way forward can be challenging, but she has never given up. That is what makes her a trailblazer in the industry.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
As a gift to you for Women’s History Month 2017, Mahisha Dellinger offers this personal and professional advice:
“I give this advice to everyone I mentor, no matter what industry they are in, it is relevant and applicable:
- Do your due diligence before you launch a business. Know your industry, competitive landscape, and your product position of power (differentiation”>.
- Don’t recreate the wheel, get a mentor in your industry. Not sure where to go? Check out score.org. They partner business owners with mentors.
- Create a comprehensive plan of attack. Every business needs a business plan and a strategic marketing plan. Failing to plan, is planning to fail.”
Healthy hair growth
For healthy hair growth, Dellinger recommends introducing vitamins and a healthy hair care regimen into your life. That’s why her nutrient-packed CURLS Blueberry Bliss Collection needs to be added to your current Holy Grails.
Feel like you’ve caught the entrepreneurial spirit?
Great! Share your thoughts, words of encouragement, questions about entrepreneurship in the comments section below.
Curious about entrepreneurs from days gone by? Learn about past texture-preneurs that paved the way.
Remember to subscribe to the NaturallyCurly newsletter today for more curl-centric content!
We’ve talked about shrinkage here plenty of times.
For those of us that want to show off how great growing out our coily splendor is going, knowing that loss of length actually translates to healthy elasticity is sometimes not as comforting as it should be. There are great ways to stretch our hair without heat to open up different styles and looks, but it doesn’t hurt to use products that can lengthen our coils, especially when they include some our results-proven floral and fruity favorites!
Take a gander at these three standouts from the line in this NaturallyCurly + Luster’s You Be-Natural Infographic!
Let’s take a closer look at these, shall we?
Botanical Moisture-Lock Curl Lotion
This is going to be your everyday bedside table grab. Unless you’re one of those “I don’t shed where I sleep” types, in which case it’ll be your everyday vanity counter grab (also, respect”>. A multi-tool that moisturizes and keeps frizz to a minimum is a great addition to your routine, and the Curl Lotion does both. As a bonus, it also leaves hair softened and helps to temporarily lengthen tighter coils for different style options! Grab for this coming out of the shower, or after a good misting session, and let it go to work!
Botanical Curl Shaper Custard
When you see “For Tightly Coiled Textures” smack on the bottle, you know a product’s really made with you in mind. The Shaper Custard will help fight frizz, stretch coils, and keep your hair incredibly soft, par for the course for the You Be-Natural family. What sets it apart from its lotion sibling here is the level of intensity you’re looking at. Because it also has ingredients for definition and hold, the custard isn’t going to be your daily humectant. What it is going to do is become your creamy assistant for overnight stretching methods like banding and flat twisting. One SMALL (whatever amount that is for your hair—dime, half-dollar, whole wallet, etc.”> dollop, 8 hours, and a satin scarf later, you’ll have curls that will make you have to tell yourself not to touch.
Botanical Edge Tamer All Day Hold Gel
The second you open the jar, you know this gel didn’t come to play games. Much like Luster’s Pink Edge Smoother, the thick surface is harder than you’d expect, think shea butter or the coconut oil that one time you accidentally put it in the fridge—and actually keep them in mind, because this Edge Tamer is packing both ingredients. Gels don’t have to be 100% lab created to keep your nape and forehead looking sleek, and this little jar is proof positive. If you keep your fivehead behind a twist out like I do most days, try smoothing a little into your palms at night before the cap goes on for more HD definition!
Feeling that green thumb yet?
Check out the line (plus a version of the custard for type 3Bs and down!”> at Sally Beauty when you’re ready to try these out!
Stay tuned for more product spotlights by subscribing to our newsletter!
And as always, if you’re loving what these botanicals can do for your ‘do, share pics, we love ’em!
Spring’s sneaking up on us again. It’s time to think about renewal, rebirth, and retooling our looks! That means it’s tutorial time again, y’all. Our curlfriend Nicollette aka @modelesque_nic styled herself using every single product in our sponsor’s amazing Coconut Restore line, and we had to share the results!
Let’s get started!
The first part of any style is to start with a good clean and conditioned base. Nicollette is using the Moisture Replenishing Shampoo, Daily Strengthening Conditioner, and Keratin Intensive Repair Masque to cleanse and hydrate her hair, making it soft and strong for styling.
Then she tops it off with the Curl Control Leave in Conditioner to help enhance curl definition and keep strands elastic.
Nic stepped off camera to blow out her curls, using a lower temperature. This is where the strengthening and leave-in conditioner combo will really shine in keeping the hair healthy through heat styling!
Once you’re at the post-blowout point, divide your curls in about a 2:5 top to bottom ratio. Set the top half aside for later.
Next, rub Revitalizing Whipped Coconut Oil onto your hair for extra shine. To control frizz, add the Styling and Setting Gelee .
Bring on the Style!
Section out and rubber band the bottom half of your sectioned hair.
Each section will be vertically stacked twists, each banded together in an upward larger twist. Secure the top of the twist with bobby pins.
Follow up with more of the Gelee on top.
Then add your perm rods to ensure that the ends of the hair are curled!
To set your style, you’ll need to use heat.
Sit under a hood attachment for about an hour, hour and a half. Pop in a good movie and turn on the subtitles!
Now that everything’s dried and set, perm rods come out, big curls get divided into smaller ones, and you can add some more volume by picking out your roots.
The finishing move is to pin everything in place! Now, set phasers to “stun” and get ready to turn some heads!
Gifs not enough for you?
Check out the full, Nature’s Protein-sponsored video with @modelesque_nic here, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube channel for more looks you’ll love!
Weigh in, curly community—is this a ‘do you’d do? Let us know in the comments!
“What greatness am I going to kick off today?”
From choreographing contagious dance moves to writing a hit Netflix series, everything has to start somewhere.
Because we live in a world that’s crazy-obsessed with a linear progression towards making your mark in it, I have a huge amount of respect for people that can start things from what you’d call “imperfect” points. The following are a few of my favorite stars who got their start in their own homes before influencing me and the rest of the world.
J. Alexander, AKA Miss J
Source: The CW
“When one door closes, come back looking amazing, and they’ll open it for you!” is my first favorite’s modus operandi. Miss J started in his folks’ place, altering and creating entirely new sartorial sharpness on his grandmother’s sewing machine out of hand-me-downs. That kind of vision would have most of us ironically giving up an eye for!
Pushing past gender barriers, strutting into extra-exclusive clubs, and coaching models on their backstage power-walks, Miss J made his debut to the rest of us plebs on America’s Next Top Model as the judge with a personality that inspires us all to get to work on getting fabulous.
(PS. I’m working my way through his book as we speak!”>
Serena Williams
Source: Australia Open TV
I’m not big on sports for good reason…
Watching the last few minutes of Superbowl ’17, and the complete reversal of fortunes made me feel like my heart was going to beat out of my chest and onto the floor, and I’m still not 100% on who any of those gentlemen on the field even were. My delicate constitution might not be able to take it on the screen, but Serena Williams is a shining example of fulfilling aspirations no matter what you’re into. The greatest athlete in the world (seriously, does she work out just by lifting her trophies?”> started out with her dad taking her and sister Venus away from the overt racism and childhood destruction of the country club courts and instructors to a home-taught regime which built their skills and confidence. Obviously, the results speak for themselves, but when it comes time to put a critic in their place, Serena can grand slam it down with the same kind of precision. “Love all” of it!
Franchesca Ramsey, AKA Chescaleigh
Source: Chescaleigh
I know where I was when I first watched ‘S*** White Girls Say…to Black Girls’—half way through my Bachelors, still living in the Blanton Dorms, and definitely not procrastinating on some essay or other, no sir. The video struck several chords with me, having grown up in majority white spaces. I screamed in agreement through the whole thing, and the sequel, and the phone call to my mom telling her to watch it all.
Franchesca was already making her own moves when the video went viral, but going back to her channel’s beginnings, you’ve got reviews, rehearsals, and tutorials all coming at you from her own home. She’s keeping busy with MTV’s Decoded, speaking and comedy gigs, and social media branding these days, but no lie, I will be attempting her old victory rolls for locs tutorial once I get my next protective extensions.
Jamie Broadnax of Black Girl Nerds
Source: Black Girl Nerds
Nothing good ever happened from being bored on the internet in my house. Well, nothing great, anyway… all the novelty candles I got from aimless clicking around on Etsy are pretty darn cool. After starting out with indie city-scene and pop-culture blogs across her moves through the East Coast, a night of bored googling yielded zero results and a vision for a much-needed geeky niche filler of a site that stepped in to meet the needs of black comic, anime, and tech-loving women everywhere.
Kayla Newman – AKA Peaches Monroee
Okay, fine… The vine that launched a thousand embroidered beanies wasn’t made at “home home”, but the day I don’t call the Burlington’s Coat Factory parking lot my home is a day the sun won’t shine on.
As with any phenomenon that goes viral, Kayla’s vine blew up without her having outlined any specific plan other than to share how good her newly groomed eyebrows looked. Her newly minted phrase, first written as ‘on flick’ by Newman herself, and later adjusted to her pronunciation in the initial video, became a vernacular juggernaut.
Probably my most controversial entry in this series, but hey, when you can enter a word into the vernacular and start celebrity beef by just having fun on your own? Get back at me. Homegirl is also looking into crowdfunding her own cosmetics line, which to be honest, I couldn’t be more excited for.
What could you start from home? Let us know if you got any ideas!
Yes. Coffee!
I’m living in the wrong city (and century”> for this opinion, but I’m not that keen on writing in coffee shops. I don’t like how only one chair in any given place is going to have what I need in terms of space, light, and a place to charge my phone. Or being startled by the bean grinder or being exposed to people having fun on dates while I’m knee deep in 50 open tabs, 30 of which feature words via an online thesaurus.
Kind of a Grinch that way.
But it’s not like you can’t take the focusing positive power of the coffee shop atmosphere with you on regular office days!
This is how I do it:
Café Inspired Conditioners
I’m not the only one in love with Camille Rose Naturals’ Leave-In Collection. When you know what the company has achieved in less than a decade, it’s not difficult to understand the popularity! Shakespeare asked ‘What’s in a name?’, and while these guys don’t exactly smell like something you’d pick up from the barista, the collection’s honeypot look and beverage-inspired branding gives off that cute coffeehouse vibe. When I can’t find the collection itself, going back to the kiddie table with a milk, their Moisture Milk, to be precise, isn’t a half-bad compromise.
Coffee Toned Lipstick
The resurgence of 90s style right as I’m more than old enough to actually purchase and wear it out brought deep brown lips to my attention in a major way. My favorites include Deepest Taupes and Dreams by Limnit Lipsticks and a perfect little beauty store brand that looks like a dead ringer for the OCC Sybil I was about to buy. Black coffee is high-key not for me and my baby stomach, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the aesthetics, right?
Matcha Powder
The power of matcha compels you! This powdered green tea does take a moment or two to get the hang of, blending-wise (think palette-swapped cinnamon challenge type results”>, but shaking it into my sweeter smoothies, or protein shakes adds a nice hit of energy for me along with an earthy flavor I just can’t get enough of. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:Thanks, Japan!
Lemon Square Lip balm
My number one favorite café snack is the lemon bar. Perfectly tangy yet sweet, soft but crunchy—they’re the best of a lot of worlds in one resolution destroying little package. But seeing as I can’t type from beneath a mountain of crumbs, EOS’s lemon lip balm makes for a perfectly sunny solution! The lemon smell is rumored to help focus, and out of the office, this flavor is also packing protective SPF 15. Can’t be sour about that.
Pandora Plus
Not to sound like a shill for ‘Big Streaming’, but I can’t have focus music while I’m working. For someone that likes to talk as much as I do, the silence of other focused people can be absolutely deafening! It takes some time to fine-tune Pandora to make sure your stations are actually reflecting your mood music (Pitbull is NOT like Shakira if any of the execs are reading this”>, but the ability to mindlessly listen to a personalized ad-free radio station is well worth the few minutes and five-something per month. I prefer to leave playlist curation for the gym anyway.
Can you focus in coffee shops, or is it just me that needs to bring everything home? Tell us what you sip on and where!
And if you want more Camille Rose Naturals in your life, venture over to SHOP NaturallyCurly to get your hands on her hair care and styling system that is made of super healthy, food-grade ingredients!
Growing up with naturally red, curly hair was funny. People would call me “Little Orphan Annie” at the park, or ask my mom whether she dyed and permed my hair as a child. Why would she do that?
White Mystery: the sound and the style
White Mystery is a candy flavor and my last name is White, so the concept fit well. I am sweet and mysterious. 3 words I would use to describe my personal style are: flower, boss, Cartoonland. You can see a diagram of my influences, which includes Tina Turner, the MC5, and Marc Bolan from TREX, here. Even after performing on NBC Last Call With Carson Daly, serving as Vice President of the Recording Academy for the Chicago Chapter, self-releasing seven full-length albums, producing the feature length film, That Was Awesome, being one of the few women endorsed by Orange Amplifiers, attending DePaul University School of Commerce, and modeling for Levi’s Jeans, the accomplishment I am most proud of is being from the city of Chicago, and graduating from Chicago Public Schools.
How my personal confidence came about
Growing up with naturally red, curly hair was funny. People would call me “Little Orphan Annie” at the park, or ask my mom whether she dyed and permed my hair as a child. Why would she do that? Sometimes the attention was a little too much, so as a teen, I shaved my head, then straightened my hair when it finally grew back. Finally, when I was about 20 years old, I realized how cool it was to have very different hair from most people. Now I pick my hair out to make it as big and in-your-face as possible. Embrace your curls!If I could tell my younger self one thing about life and love, it would be, this too shall pass.White Mystery is an official South By Southwest Artist (SXSW”> and will perform a showcase in Austin, Texas this March. The band releases a new album every April 20, and this year marks the 8th release! Visit the band’s official website, WhiteMystery.com and click here for our upcoming show schedule. Listen to White Mystery Music on Bancamp or Spotify.
Follow White Mystery Band on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
Vashti Joseph is a jill-of-all-trades. She is the content creator for VeePeeJay.com, a digital strategist and consultant with VashtiAJoseph.com, and the owner of the lifestyle apparel brand Ven & Rose. Additionally, she has co-hosted the Bella Kinks meet up. Her resume is overflowing and her schedule is a wide mix of speaking engagements, strategy talks, writing, and creating new products for her line. On top of all of this, Vashti is a pro at getting out of her comfort zone. If this list of spectacular achievements seems glamorously unattainable, Vashti is here to tell you it’s not. Here, she gives us the secret to living the life that we deserve.
How did you find the courage to step outside of your comfort zone?
VJ: For me the courage comes from doing. For anyone reading this, who may be afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone, I know you may be thinking, “well how can I DO if I’m scared?” I can’t promise you that it will be easy, but I always ask myself if I’m willing to stay in the place where I’m comfortable or do I want to grow. My choice is always growth so even when I feel fear, I still move forward.
I also try not to overthink things too much. I used to be such an over thinker about almost everything. Now when someone offers me an opportunity that really scares me, I almost always say, “YES,” as long as it’s a good fit. The courage to step out of your comfort zone is almost like a muscle that you have to make the choice to exercise day-by-day, opportunity-by-opportunity.
How do you identify what your own comfort zone is in your life, and when it’s time to make a change?
VJ: At the risk of sounding repetitive or cliche, a comfort zone is just that, a safe, comfortable place that doesn’t challenge you. One of my favorite quotes is “a comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing grows there.”
My comfort zone was being behind the scenes, away from the spotlight. My first effort at stepping out of that comfortable place happened when I made the decision to start my blog VeePeeJay.com and my YouTube channel. At the time, I thought that this was a big deal, because being on video and sharing my thoughts with the world via my blog were not what I was accustomed to.
A few years later I was asked to co-host local Dallas meet ups with my friend Julian of Bella Kinks. I was petrified, because in keeping with my behind the scenes/safe place, public speaking or hosting was something I would NEVER volunteer for. I initially tried to get out of hosting that first meet up, but I couldn’t. Looking back I can definitely say that this was the beginning of REALLY pushing myself far out of my comfort zone.
In a comfort zone… not only do you deprive yourself of growth and opportunities, but you also deprive others who would have been impacted, inspired or served if you did step out.
What can others do to push themselves through the discomfort or fear of trying something new?
VJ: I know from experience that we are often more concerned about the outcome of stepping out of our comfort zone, than the act itself.
“What if I try this new thing and I fail?”
“I don’t want to look foolish”
“What will people think if I fall flat on my face?”
“This is too scary and uncomfortable and it isn’t what I’m used to. I think I’ll just play it safe”
I have found that changing my mindset, and my attachment to the outcome has helped me a lot. I no longer fear failure because I look at it as a learning experience. I still get uncomfortable, scared or nervous depending on the situation, but I do not allow those feelings to cripple me to the point where I don’t act.
Do you think there are risks associated with staying in your comfort zone?
VJ: There’s another quote that says “if you’re not uncomfortable, you’re probably not growing.” By staying within your comfort zone you really deprive yourself opportunities to grow in every area of your life.
Not only do you deprive yourself of growth and opportunities, but you also deprive others who would have been impacted, inspired or served if you did step out.
In that moment I made the decision that “failure” was not something that I would ever be fearful of again.
Are there any particularly memorable breakthrough moments you’ve had?
VJ: I think actually launching Ven & Rose (after thinking about it for really long time”> was a really memorable moment for me. Not only was it different type of venture, it was something that was all mine, and a project that really pushed me to confront my fear of failing more than ever before.
I’ll admit that I was a bit nervous, but a few minutes after I launched, I got my first order. I knew that if I could get one, I definitely had what it takes to get many more. In that moment I made the decision that “failure” was not something that I would ever be fearful of again.
Coaching was a way I could empower others to take their own leaps toward living life fully present and fully engaged, stretching their comfort zones beyond simply existing…
My name is Melanie Holst-Collins.
I am originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, but currently reside in Austin, Texas–proud Howard University Alumna! I am a Conscious Lifestyle Expert. I inspire, motivate, challenge and empower men and women to live more conscious, mindful, insightful, present, peaceful lives, to live life awake.
I have always felt a pull to this path.
However, in 2011 my first experience in a Yoga class was a Bikram class. I almost ran out, but I stayed and then began going three times a week. At this time, I began noticing how my practice on my mat allowed for huge shifts and a transformation in how I was–in relationship with myself, others, my beliefs and thoughts, and with everything.
I was in a 105-degree room exploring all dimensions of myself. Withstanding the heat was not the accomplishment for me–it was the fact that I could remain in this relatively uncomfortable space, but still be breathing, fully present, immersed in stillness and peace at my core. That’s when I said “Whoa, this is much bigger than just physical exercise.”
My journey with Yoga became a way of living versus something I intellectualized about.
That was a huge turning point for my journey. In the beginning, honestly, the reminder from the individual guiding the class that self-compassion, breath and patience would guide me and allow me space to move through the difficulty. These were not reminders I gave myself at the time I began my practice, so this is where the guidance of the teacher was actually imperative.As time went on, those reminders turned into truths.
I became able to offer them to myself. In 2013 I quit my job, packed a moving truck and moved to a city, Austin, where I had no job prospects and did not know a soul.
I was purely led by intuition, by a deep knowing that was the step I wanted to take in order to live the way I had always thought about living: consciously, alive, fully, spontaneously and led from the inside.Shortly after settling in, I began doing some research on coaching as a profession; every single thing I read resonated with me. Coaching was a way I could empower others to take their own leaps toward living life fully present and fully engaged, stretching their comfort zones beyond simply existing. And finally, I could offer my experiences as inspiration. I knew embarking on the journey was a step deeper into my purpose.
I am inspired by the human experience.
I also find inspiration in the lessons, insights and shifts made on the Yoga mat moving through asana (postures”>, which are easily translated into lessons, insights and shifts that are relevant. It can be experienced off your mat and in your real life, too. #yogaoffthemat is simply a manifestation of that. My blog’s title is a reminder that what you practice on your mat is simply one aspect of an all-encompassing practice and lifestyle.
The current state of our society is pretty damn scary.
We are in survival mode and in a constant state of fear; we continue to be conditioned to seek and see everything at the surface and outside of ourselves while we are never really encouraged to be in touch with ourselves or in touch with each other or even to experience life organically.
However, I do sense and feel a shift.
Even in the last four years, the norms of society have been challenged by people like myself, who are committed to shifting the culture, uplifting and engaging people in a way that allows them to wake up to their limitless potential and their dopeness. We want to shift the scales from an outside-in to an inside-out mentality and become empowered. Even though society is where it is, I do sense a shift in human culture.
We must get away from such a logic-heavy way of thinking by reversing our current approach to change.
I recently posted about this on social media and engaged in a group discussion about it a few weeks ago. A lot of people perceive that practicing asana, meditation, breathwork and energy work are not valuable when it comes to making changes in society–or making change, period. But this is the furthest from the truth. These are survival tactics, ways to self-heal.This is why I do what I do with conviction.
I know that no external change is sustainable without internal change, first. We return to being tuned in and trusting our intuitive nature by committing to practice to do so. Whether this is through Yoga or any other helping, healing modality that allows us to practice getting back in tune with ourselves, understand that none of this will happen in the microwave.
I am currently developing ways in which people can work with me whether one-on-one, digitally or in group settings. In the meantime, keep up with me via Instagram @therealcoachmel, where I share my journey, information about my Yoga classes and all things new with Grow Your Lovespace. Check out my new blog #yogaoffthemat on the website by subscribing to my newsletter. As I plan to begin traveling and teaching Yoga classes, look out for that in the future in a city near you!
What people need to understand is my freckles are not a choice but I choose to embrace them. I can’t put them on or take them off.
The moment that awakens me
I feel the most beautiful early in the morning when the sunlight barely hits my skin.
I love the peace and the freshness of mornings when my dreams are still present in my mind. That’s also when I am probably at my most vulnerable and powerful moment of my day. I am stripped down to my bare essentials and all that I’d dreamed of is within my reach. The stress of the day has not set in yet and I am just me. I can look in the mirror and truly accept myself as I am.Still, I definitely have moments when I am feeling ugly and ashamed.
To be completely transparent, I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety my entire life, and these illnesses make me second-guess myself often; whenever I feel the doubt creeping in I close my eyes, take a few deep breaths, and whisper to myself that I’m okay. I think of it as a quick meditation. I know that I am beautiful and at the same time I’m still learning to fully embrace that. I have to remind myself that I’ve come this far because I’m supposed to be here and that I still have a ways to go. Discovering our own beauty is a journey.
The lyrics that inspire me
“It keeps holding on and it’s holding strong…”
My friend Jana and I always sing this song by Gregory Porter to each other and change “ it” to “I.” It reminds us of the hymns and spirituals we grew up hearing in the South. It’s the same as when old people say “keep on keeping on.” The climate of our society today tries its best to keep us down, but we’re still holding on. That dedication and resilience is deep within my spirit.The ink that keeps me rooted
The tattoo on my left arm is the Adinkra symbol Dwennimmen–the two rams horns–and the other one is a lyric from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird that reads “And this bird you cannot change.”
Both works of ink are on my arms, my wings. They keep me rooted in my heritage as an black woman and also a Southern girl. If you know anything about Dwennimmen or Free Bird, then you know that the strong will and the determination represented in both. That’s me through and through.The feature that has thickened my skin
There are times when I look at myself and I don’t see freckles. Then there are other times when all I see are freckles.
What people need to understand is my freckles are not a choice but I choose to embrace them. I can’t put them on or take them off. Over the years folks have picked on me or stared at me like I’m an alien because of the spots on my face. Dealing with that has made my skin thicker and in turn I have been able to stick up for myself and others that may not know how to speak up for themselves. I think my freckles are beautiful and more and more people are embracing them along with their own so-called imperfections. I’m glad I’ve been able to contribute in changing the tide.
The conversations that moved me to create Black Girl Beautiful
Black Girl Beautiful was inspired by conversations I’ve had with girlfriends about the lack of representation of black women in mainstream beauty.
When you look through beauty ads, you may see one black face that is supposed to represent all black faces. But how are we supposed to see if this foundation or lipstick works on us if it’s only being shown on one black model? And in my own experiences modeling, several makeup artists and hairstylists have not known what to do with my melanin or my hair texture.
Instead of making me feel beautiful, they made me feel like my beauty didn’t matter, like black beauty is an afterthought.
After talking to other black models and other women of color, we all share similar stories. How can this be when we’re the one group of people who spends the most on beauty and hair products in the U.S.? Our beauty needs to be respected and admired. We have to start by embracing our own beauty ourselves. We are still coming into our own and that’s fine, let’s just do it together.
This black beauty revolution will take a village to succeed–let’s build our village.
Black Girl Beautiful a unique beauty and shopping event for women of color. It is more of an experience that will be filled with memories and Black Girl Magic to get you through until the next go ‘round. I’m so happy to say that NaturallyCurly is the media partner for Black Girl Beautiful and I cannot be more excited.
You can keep up with me in so many places.
Visit nikiaphoenix.com and blackgirlbeautiful.com (purchase tickets to Black Girl Beautiful on Saturday, October 15th here“>.
Follow us on Instagram @nikiaphoenix and @blackgirlbeautifuldotcom.
Check us out on Facebook.com/thenikiaphoenix or Facebook.com/blackgirlbeauty.
Find me on Twitter @nikiaphoenix @blckgirlbeauty.
Having a diagnosis explains so much. It has helped me to create a life structure around my special needs…it has enabled me to build much stronger, more open, happier relationships with people.
My name is Alis Rowe. I am an author and entrepreneur in London, UK. The Curly Hair Project is an organisation which aims to support women and girls on the autism spectrum. It does this through a variety of media including: social media, books, videos, blog articles, workshops and seminars and mobile apps.
To be honest, I can’t really remember how the name came about.
I wrote my autobiography and had no idea what to title it… “the girl with the curly hair” just came to me. It was a simple, personal, catchy name for a book. I always stood out because of my hair as a child. People always used to comment on my hair. I hope my book and my work stand out now. ‘The Curly Hair Project’ is a shortened version of ‘The Girl with the Curly Hair Project’ and I think it sounds better to say.
Having suspected I was on the autism spectrum from around age 17, I did not pursue the diagnosis until I left university several years later.
As a teenager, I didn’t really know how important and helpful a diagnosis would have been (I was still very emotionally young and immature”>. Also, after all the years spent conforming and trying to fit in, I had started to forget who I really was. I think there was a time that I actually started to believe I really was the person I had tried so hard to be.
By the time I graduated from university, I’d had enough of not feeling like I could be myself. I was grown up enough to really acknowledge and appreciate what a diagnosis could do for me, i.e. it would provide me with an authentic reason for my behaviours, which I could tell others.CHP is an enterprise, not a charity. Social enterprises come in many shapes and sizes from large national and international businesses to small community based enterprises. But they all aim to generate their income by selling goods and services, rather than through grants and donations, are set up to specifically make a difference, reinvest the profits they make in their social mission”.
My diagnosis has been very helpful in two primary ways.
It has helped me in understanding myself and answering all the questions I had about my life and why my life is so much harder than everyone else’s appears to be. It explains to other people why I am the way I am, (e.g. any ‘strange’ behaviours”>. As a consequence, my diagnosis has enabled me to build much stronger, more open, happier relationships with people.
Having a diagnosis explains so much. The more I learn about what it means to be on the autism spectrum, the more I understand myself, my limitations, my challenges, and my strengths. It has helped me to create a life structure around my special needs. For example, I need a routine, I need a lot of uninterrupted alone time, and I need time to do my special interest (Olympic weightlifting“> every single day. I also need to manage how much or how little I socialize, where, when and how I do that. Generally, all these things are very important to people on the autism spectrum. If I didn’t know I was on the spectrum, how would I know how important these things were? It would have taken me a very long time.I have not changed as a person, I am the same person as I was before my diagnosis.
As a child, my curly hair was the thing that made me stand out everywhere I went. I was incredibly shy and I wanted nothing more than to be invisible and go unnoticed. However, my hair was the thing that made me noticeable! I used to get a lot of comments about how cute my curly hair was–then later, I was bullied for it. I used to wish I had straight hair because everyone else in my school did. It was another thing that made me feel ‘different.’ It’s quite awesome now, however, that I have turned it all around and have used my hair to create a successful global brand that actually has nothing to do with hair!
The difference is that now I am more confident and comfortable in being myself. I feel like I fit in somewhere now. I feel like it is OK to be me. So really, the diagnosis gave me a form of self-acceptance.
Don’t shy away from accepting that you may be on the autism spectrum.
Once you accept it, you have a greater chance of having a happy and fulfilling life. Spend time reading about it and seek like minded people. Interacting with others who are like you can stop you from feeling so lonely and isolated–no one should have to feel that way.
Realise that everyone in this world is different and that there is no one way to do something. There is so much pressure and expectation in society that we ought to be behaving in a certain way, or doing certain things… but it’s also OK to take a different path.
I don’t have a traditional 9-5 job, I’m not married, I don’t want children, I don’t have a big social life, I don’t have a car, I don’t own my own home, etc. I don’t really ever envisage living that sort of lifestyle, I know it wouldn’t work for me. I do things my own way, and I am happy.
Keep up with The Girl With The Curly Hair
We run workshops and seminars all over the UK (and we are aiming to take them to other countries in the near future”>, please visit www.thegirlwiththecurlyhair.
Hi, My name is Angelica Sweeting. I live in Miami, Fl. I am a full time entrepreneur and the founder/CEO of Naturally Perfect Dolls.
What (or who”> inspired you to start your Naturally Perfect doll collection?
Like most young girls with kinky and curly hair, my daughter Sophia was not happy with hers because of the doll I was putting in her hands every day. She wanted long straight hair, and she even started expressing a strong dislike for her facial features and skin tone. With the help of my daughters, we created The Angelica Doll–the first natural hair 18-inch doll for young girls.
What makes these dolls different from Barbie?
Naturally Perfect Dolls have features that are true to women of color (skintone, nose, lips, eyes”>, hair you can style and wash just as natural curly hair and new/interesting careers. The hair was a really important piece for us. We tested the hair for over 8 months. We are dedicated to showing the full spectrum of beauty.
Where did the four names of each doll come from?
The original Angelica Doll was named after me. We surveyed young girls and asked them to describe their perfect doll. All of the young girls unknowingly described their mother from head to toe.
How has the community responded?
Visit the Naturally Perfect Dolls site to purchase The Angelica Doll & follow on Instagram @NaturallyPerfectDolls.
