Search Results: Jen Hill

By Jen Hill · Published February 17, 2017

Anita’s Babassu Shampoo bars are all vegetable-based and are crafted to be both conditioning and long-lasting. Her shampoo bars are created using only natural ingredients, providing a rich and fluffy lather while gently cleansing the scalp and hair without stripping its natural oils.

Anita Grant is Clean Beauty

Grant is the real deal; her small and sassy hair care start-up is based in the UK and is completely natural with a big emphasis on fresh, and she doesn’t include those nasty synthetic preservatives or ingredients in her products. Anita often shares her knowledge of what unique natural ingredients can do for our hair, as well as offering some very unique hair care “goodies.” Her hard work and dedication provides us all with a big batch of pure and wholesome hair goodness — always fresh, homemade, individually cut and packaged. To learn more about her, check out our feature on “Why Anita Grant’s the Brand to Try in 2017 (And Where to Find It!”>.

To be specific Anita explains that her shampoo bars are “conditioning “, which refers to the amount of emollient content in the soap. Because her bars are super-fatted with oils and butters, and work with our body’s natural oils, her soaps provide both a creamy, bubbly lather that provides a super-satisfying soothing cleanse for the hair and the body.

Super Yummy Add-Ins

Babassu Oil is the key ingredient that makes Anita’s shampoo bars super fatty! This oil is unique in that is highly prized as being beneficial for both dry and oily natural hair textures.

For both types, how can this be?

Possessing some similar qualities as Coconut oil, Babassu magically knows how to lend its moisture and work with our sebum, giving more or less as needed. Babassu oil is quickly absorbed, aiding in the conditioning of the hair and scalp while sealing in moisture and reducing frizz.

Nutrient-rich amla, kale and plantain, pair up with fragrant essential oils like lavender, rose, peppermint and ylang-ylang and are examples of some of the lovely add-ins you can choose from. Anita Grant’s Organic Bergamot Babassu Shampoo is the newest formula in the shampoo bar line-up, sweet and citrusy, bergamot awakens the senses and lifts your spirits.

Anita’s Babassu Shampoo bars are cured and pressed so they are long-lasting, however they must be properly stored and treated. She takes great care in sharing the details about the science and her methods in the saponification process and how she makes them. After the bars have been created, she explains that it takes several weeks of curing, allowing excess water to evaporate, before these bars are ready to be wrapped and available for use.

Shampoo bar best practices

If you’re not used to using a shampoo bar, here are a couple of tips that can make it a much better experience.

1. Allow it to fully dry after using.

“Absolutely do not place it in a soap dish that is a bowl. You know what happens then. You toss it in with wet hands and come back to a squishie soap with great globs of it wasted by being stuck to the holder. Get the type that has a grid which raises the soap so that it will dry out.”

2. Cut it into small pieces, perfect for traveling.

“I use the same exact soap. What I do is cut it into small slices (5-6 per bar”>. Put all the slices in a zip lock baggie. I use one at a time, easier to handle and less is wasted. I rinse the suds off the soap and place it on the top of my shower, and it stays nice and dry.”

Giveaway

Three very lucky winners will receive a prize package including 3 of the following:

• 1 x Babassu Amla Shampoo Bar 110g
• 1 x Organic Kelp & Ylang Babassu Shampoo Bar 110g
• 1 x Babassu Peppermint Shampoo Bar 110g
• 1 x Lavender Rose Babassu Shampoo Bar 110g
• 1 x Babassu Plantain, Spinach & Olive Shampoo Bar 110g
• NEW! 1 x Organic Bergamot Babassu Shampoo / Shower Bar 110g

HOW TO ENTER

Comment below and tell us which shampoo bar you’re most excited to try and why!

Be sure to “like” NaturallyCurly on Facebook, so we can contact you if you’ve won!

This giveaway ends February 24^th, 2017 and is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.

*Editor’s note: This article is not sponsored.

By Jen Hill · Published January 17, 2017

@jessicurl

With many of the products you buy you may have no idea who owns the company that makes your products, how they got their start,  what went into them, or even the best way to use them. That’s not the case with the curly community. We love to get to know the founders of the brands we use, and in some cases they got their start here on NaturallyCurly. That’s the case with Jessicurl, and we got to talk to her about her products, and troubleshoot a few of the issues some people have had when they don’t use them correctly.

How did Jessicurl get started?

“Go brush your hair!” was often the parental charge given to a young teen Jessica McGunity from her mother. Without a doubt, she was receiving the absolute worst natural curl advice from her clueless, (but still trying to be helpful”> straight-haired mom. To be honest, Jessica was a bit clueless too, but it wasn’t her or her mother’s fault. Like many of us, we’ve been fed and convinced by an ongoing wave of bad hair information that using conventional sulfate, hair-stripping shampoos and silicone crap-junk conditioners are the ideal solutions when it comes to creating beautiful “straight” hair. If we could collectively obtain the staggering amount of money, time and frustration that has resulted due to the historic lack of good hair information, we’d be living on Mars, reversing Global warming, or something equally awesome by now.

Having curly hair is like playing a really scary guessing game, where you don’t know what it’s going to do until it does it and the only way to fix it is to take another shower.

To solve her big hair issues, Jessica needed information and inspiration, and she found it, from seeking, participating and sharing with the NaturallyCurly hair community on CurlTalk. The simple fact that you are NOW reading an article on the NaturallyCurly site, you are aware that the tides have shifted for the better. We now have accurate information available to us, from 2A to 4 triple-Z, we have guides to help us determine our specific hair types, community participation at CurlTalk continues, oodles of articles of every topic, mountains of DIY ideas, tutorials and reviewers featuring sulfate and silicone-free brands for those having natural textures. In celebrating one’s curls, NaturallyCurly.com proudly claims Jessica McGunity as one of its pioneers!

As a teen, Jess was struggling to know how to control the frizz and felt powerless in fighting her hair’s natural “bigness.” Often teased with mean spirited names and comments from her classmates, Jessica McGuinty had no idea then where her hair hardships would take her. Having a naturally brilliant mind, Jess remained strong, owned her power, and with confidence set out to share ideas, and ultimately create the unprecedented Jessicurl hair care line. Jessicurl products are made from pure, natural ingredients (no fillers!”> that create curls so gorgeous, those punk kids from high school are probably all kicking themselves for being such dimwits! I can’t even tell you how many times in high school I’d be half way out the door to school, check the mirror and be like, “Oh HECK no!”, and go stick my head in the sink to start over. I was late for school a lot …

I can’t even tell you how many times in high school I’d be half way out the door to school, check the mirror and be like, ” Oh HECK no!”, and go stick my head in the sink to start over. I was late for school a lot … 

 It all started with flaxseed (and NaturallyCurly!”>

Starting from scratch, Jess rolled up her sleeves and read up about creating a hair gel using the mucilage derived from flaxseed.

The hair care and styling benefits that come from utilizing Flaxseed are many. Flaxseed contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which generously nourishes and seals in moisture, aids in repairing and strengthening dry, damaged hair follicles and even encourages hair growth. In addition, Flaxseed carries an anti-inflammatory effect, helping to preserve and prevent hair loss, control dandruff, and mend other hair and scalp conditions.

The Jessicurl Rules: Do’s and a few Don’ts

While we always like to report the good, and there is a lot of good out there when it comes to the many positive reviews and experiences with Jessicurl. With that said, a lack of understanding of how to properly use this line can lead to disappointment. Let’s point out some of these concerns, and share a list of DO and DON’T solutions that will allow you and your gorgeous curls to fall in love with Jessicurl, if you haven’t already!

DO: Use the products best suited for your hair.

Being familiar with the hair typing system, Jessicurl provides a chart to help you determine which products are best suited for your unique needs.

Jessicurl's Product Chart

Thick and dry curlies, the Rich & Radiant Collection is for you. Along with the Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream, to restore and condition, Jess created Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner, with you guessed it, pure Shea Butter, Jojoba and Avocado oil, a cult favorite, leaving those curls feeling soft and bouncy, never pulled down or heavy.

For those with coarse hair, the Confidence Collection has a similar hair care line up, including a top NaturallyCurly Editor’s Choice for 2016, Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment, which can be used as a daily or a DT for those with high-porosity, thick and thirsty curls. Read about what this NaturallyCurly Reviewer had to say about it, “My hair is the coursest of course [sic] (4zz”> Lol. No my texture would be labeled as a 4C, and very fine. It’s doesn’t take my hair long to get dry after moisturizing it. However, Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment is the #1 DC that I have found in my 5 yrs. natural to give me soft and manageable hair. This is a staple in my weekly hair regiment for sure.”

For those with fine waves and curls which tend to get weighed down easily, Jess didn’t forget you! Reach for Jessicurl’s Light & Luminous Collection. You’ve got some options here, but if losing volume is an issue, the Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo another NC Editor’s Choice for 2016, pairs nicely with her lightweight Aloeba Conditioner, effectively detangles and controls frizzies.

DO: Apply Jessicurl styling products to dripping wet hair.

Once your hair is freshly cleansed, conditioned and dripping wet, it’s time to bring those curls to life! Flipping the head down, styling starts with the application of Jessicurl’s Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion which is a curl-enhancing leave-in lotion and a little goes a long way. To provide tighter definition and a bit more hold, follow up with her Confident Coils Styling Solution.

CurlTalk’s “Kddub3” with type 3a, low porosity, and protein sensitive hair explains her concern after using both Rockin’ Ringlets and Confident Coils on a conversation thread entitled, “Jessicurl defined hair well but…”

“I’m currently transitioning from straightening my hair for a period of time. Jessicurl products brought my curl back to life, but seemed almost too defined. I still don’t feel confident with my natural texture and never wear it down. It just seems so out of control!”

For this particular NC transitioner, the solution may simply be to leave off using Confident Coils Styling Solution altogether, and if she does choose to, using a lot less of it.

DO NOT: Apply too much styling product to avoid the crunchies. Easy does it, start small.

Watch in this “How to Apply Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion” video as Jess demonstrates how only a dime or quarter sized amount applied to soaking wet hair is needed for spectacular results. Too much product equals crunchy, over-defined, weighed down curls.

When it comes to styling, a few finer haired curlies have expressed that sometimes Jessicurl products can make their hair feel heavy or greasy. One NC reviewer asks a question about her experience while using Jessicurl Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion.

“I found this to make my hair kinda greasy/weighed down around the roots. I have low porosity hair, so maybe that’s why it makes my roots feel greasy…?”

And Gemma.Milbur on CurlTalk pleads for help,

“Whether my hair is dry or over moisturized, I ALWAYS struggle with frizz and lack of definition. Product wise, I have tried Jessicurl gelebration spray and Confident coils and really found no benefit from them, in fact I really don’t think gel works for me at all. I’ve actually gone back to a sulfate shampoo for the last couple of washes and my hair is much less limp and holding a curl better but STILL frizzy. Sigh”

For these two ladies, the problem may be build-up.

DO NOT: Avoid the use of sulfate shampoos, or silicone based products. Be aware of build-up issues, hard water included!

Avoiding alcohols, silicones and sulfates, Jess is not trying to create the ridiculous “strip, build-up and repeat” dependency issues with her products. Jessicurl’s pure ingredient conditioners, cleansers and styling products sculpt soft curls, breaking free from products that keep you on the downward sulfate/silicon cycle.

From time to time, creating a “clean slate” by clarifying one’s hair may be beneficial, and it doesn’t have to damage the hair, be overly complicated or expensive. For high-porosity hair types, simply create a slightly acidic 10:1 ratio ACV (apple cider vinegar”> with water, rinse through to clear residue. Low-porosity types will want to use a more alkaline solution, and a clarifying paste solution using baking soda combined with a sulfate-free shampoo or conditioner should do the trick. For coarser hair types, a clay-based detox treatment is a spectacular way to clear off residue, exfoliate the scalp and leave your hair feeling super manageable and soft!

Another solution may be they are using too much or the wrong type of styling product.

DO NOT: Again don’t use too much, a little goes a long way.

Along with buildup issues, it’s important to note that Jessicurl products are quite concentrated with no fillers added, unlike many other styling products, very little is needed. Usually less than a quarter sized portion is required to style and define decadent, humidity-resistant curls. For fine or low-porosity hair types, too much product will make for a not so happy outcome. If this sounds like it applies to your hair type, Jess suggests selecting her Gelebration Spray instead of using Rockin’ Ringlets as well.

DO: These styling and drying tips are a Must!

The last, and very important styling step is DRYING – with or without a hair dryer. For gorgeous, crunchless curls, how you choose to dry your hair is key. If you follow all of Jessicurl’s styling steps, but skip her hair drying advice, your results will be compromised – don’t cheat yourself!

1. Hair Dryer Method – Diffusing helps to deter frizz, and gives your curls greater volume, especially if you diffuse upside down. Gently scrunch while diffusing, and until your hair is about 75% dry. To avoid frizz, do not touch your curls until your hair is completely dry!
2. Air Drying – After scrunching (with a microfiber towel or t-shirt”>, carefully arranging your curls, avoid touching your hair until it’s totally dry, which can disturb your curl pattern and cause frizz.
3. Plopping or “Plunking” – Recommended for longer hair styles, after application of styling solutions, drop head and “plunk” hair by folding one’s hair accordion style into a microfiber towel or t-shirt. Plunking protects the hair while you are getting ready, and reduces diffusing time with a hair dryer.  

Choose your fragrance, or not!

If everything about Jessicurl wasn’t unique and phenomenal enough, she also created three fragrance options with every product. Using natural essential oil blends, Island Fantasy is a favorite with coconut and tropical fruity notes, Lavender Citrus is well, a soothing scent with a twist, and Unscented provides a thoughtful choice for those with sensitivities – your nose can do a happy dance!

Did we mention a Jessicurl Giveaway!? Enter to Win!

One winner will receive a Jessicurl hair care collection of their choice!

• Confidence Collection (8 oz.”>
• Rich & Radiant Collection (8 oz.”>
• Light and Luminous Collection (8 oz.”>

How to enter

1. Comment right here, and tell us which Jessicurl Collection you want to try, and why!
2. Be sure to “like” NaturallyCurly on Facebook, so you’ll receive a notification when you’ve won. 

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.

This giveaway has now ended. 

By Jen Hill · Published January 3, 2017

Sometimes one’s whole way of being can change in a very dramatic moment.  In 2005, Anita Grant made an attempt to straighten her natural hair by using a chemical hair relaxing kit, and instead of enjoying the results of that hair treatment, perhaps by sipping on a warm cup of tea or reading a good book, found herself in the hospital. Anita explains,

“My hands had been blistered by a lotion that contained propylene glycol (propane-1,2-diol”>. This ingredient is used widely as a humectant in hair care products, car anti-freeze, and is generally referred to as safe, just not safe for me. With hands throbbing and scalp tingling my thoughts were clear, ‘No more off the shelf cosmetics, for me, ever!’ I stopped straightening my hair with harsh chemicals, and began my journey from bone-straight relaxed to natural fluffy Afro.”

Anti-freeze on your scalp, yikes! That just can’t be right. Anita Grant’s story is not fiction, her scary hairy-tale is painfully true, and resonates with many of us who have been “burned” countless times, and cross our fingers that the products we select to treat our hair will be effective and safe for our bodies, hair, and environment. With true resilience, her negative experience set Anita into positive action and ignited her quest to take an alternative approach with her hair. She dedicated time to learn, research, and play around with different natural ingredients. With a collaboration of fellow naturalistas, she experimented and developed her formulations, bringing us to all that Anita Grant can offer us today. With an elevated emphasis on the word care, Anita’s natural haircare provides products that will never, and let’s repeat NEVER, blister or burn one’s skin or scalp!  Anita Grant utilizes the power of Mother Nature, providing protective hair care and styling products that utilize a trove of treasure-filled ingredients, such as raw beneficial oils, butters and clays that lovingly restore and embrace your natural texture.

Anita Grant believes that natural hair should always be a joy, whatever your hair type, despite rain, humidity, or tropical wind gusts.

Anita Grant’s “Goodies”

The Anita Grant line is completely natural, with a big emphasis on fresh, and because she doesn’t include those nasty synthetic preservatives in her products, it just has to be that way. Succinctly, Anita shares her knowledge of what natural ingredients can do for our hair, as well as offering some very unique hair care “goodies.” Anita Grant’s hard work and dedication provides us all with a big batch of pure and wholesome hair goodness — always fresh, homemade, individually cut and packaged.

Let’s Play with Clay!

Bentonite clay, montmorillonite and rhassoul, are all mineral packed clays from around the globe, each has unique properties, and they are purely sourced from the Earth. These particular clays have been highly sought after and used throughout the ages for drawing out impurities and detoxification of the skin and hair. While it may sound a bit sketchy to use clay on one’s hair, clay-based hair treatments are amazing for cleansing and exfoliating the scalp, repairing damaged hair, removing build-up, as well as enhancing curl, shine and manageability.

Calling out rhassoul, or red Moroccan clay, this clay is mined from the eastern mountains of Morocco, and when translated into English means “washing.” This “washing clay” can be used gently and effectively to take the place of soap or a shampoo. Rhassoul clay is naturally rich in trace minerals such as boron, zinc, and iron, its negative charge attracts positively charged particles, drawing out built-up product and debris. High in silica and magnesium, rhassoul’s it’s softening properties make it ideal as a conditioner for the skin as well as the hair.

Let’s Wash & Fro!

Created to restore the moisture balance of extremely dry natural hair, Anita’s got two sweet treats for you! Best suited for those with natural Afro hair, Anita offers two unique Rhassoul clay based products which she enhances with other hair nourishing products that make them work even better.

Curl Condition Clay Hair Washes 

How to use a cleansing clay

Anita explains how this cleansing with clay technique works:

1. Break the Curl Conditioning Clay Hair Wash into 4 – 6 small pieces.
2. Add 25 ml to 30 ml (0.84 oz to 1.01 oz”> of warm water (or liquid of choice”> per piece until you achieve the consistency of pancake batter
3. Apply the mixture to hair, in sections.
4. Let it sit on your hair for 10-15 minutes (do not allow it to dry”>
5. Massage scalp as you thoroughly with warm water until water runs clear from your hair.
6. Style as usual, done!

Rhassoul Deep Condish 

To apply, the Deep Condish cubes are melted in with heated liquids (coconut milk preferred”>, and are applied similarly as the Curl Condition Clay Wash.

Chinyeloves offers an excellent tutorial and shares her experience when using this the Rhassoul treatment in, her tutorial and reviewabove. She reported that after applying this DT to her 4c hair, it felt extremely soft, released most of the tangles, noticed no residue, rinsed easily, didn’t weigh her hair down, and smelled like chocolate cake!

Here’s another NaturallyCurly review from Suburbanbushbabe:

“I’ve used coconut milk with Anita Grant’s rhassoul cube and it works great. I’m going to do a DT with it mixed with yogurt and maybe coconut oil. What it looks like it does is soften and hydrate the hair incredibly.”

Passion Fruit & Coconut Goodie

Whichever clay hair treatment you choose, passion goes along perfectly with the style of a true naturalista. Anita Grant’s Organic Bergamot Passion Fruit Coconut Pomade [link to: https://anitagrant.com/] is the frosting on top of all of it. Passionfruit and Bergamot Oils encourage scalp circulation and deter product build-up, while Coconut oil and beeswax beautifully seal in moisture, polish up those curls, and tame those silly flyaways without any crunch – mmhmm!

Go on have a lookie, cookie.

While you can purchase Anita Grant products globally on her site, Anita Grant. With international shipping rates and whatnot, it may take a little more time and cost a tad more. Below are the stockist sites that offer Anita Grant’s hair care goodies in the USA and the UK, and they’re sooo worth every bite!

USA

• Hattache 
• Pampered & Twisted

United Kingdom

• Antidote Street
• The Good Hair Club
• Rivers’ Remedies / Waterloo Body Station
• Curly Essence

Want to try them out!?

Now’s your chance to win a generous collection of some of Anita Grant’s finest treats.

Three very lucky winners will receive a prize package including 3 of the following products:

• 1 x Rhassoul Deep Condish Cuber (3 x 30g box”>
• 1 x Vitamin Enriched Omega Concentrated Hair & Scalp Booster Serum 15ml
• 1 x Petroleum Free Jelly 100g

• 1 x Monoi de Tahiti Oil 100g
• 1 x Japanese Camellia Kissi Oil 100ml
• 1 x Creamy Cafe Latte Unscented 57g

• 1 x Creamy Cafe Latte Vanilla 57g
• 1 x Curl Conditioning Single Cream Damage Repair 57g
• 1 x Organic Bergamot Passion Fruit Coconut Pomade 100g

How to enter

Comment right here, and tell us which product you’re most excited to try and why!

Be sure to “like” NaturallyCurly on Facebook, so we can contact you if you’ve won!

This giveaway ends January 10 and is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.

*Editor’s note: This article is not sponsored.

By Jen Hill · Published November 17, 2016

Pictured: DevaCurl One Condition old and new labeling

Once Upon a Time…

…20-something years ago, a NYC hair stylist Lorraine Massey brought about a revolutionary hair care handbook called “Curly Girl: The Handbook,” and along with it, created DevaCurl, a hair care line designed to make all those with different textures look and feel gorgeous. We credit Lorraine for many well-established curly terms like, “no-poo” (no lather shampoo”> and “co-poo” (washing hair using only a conditioner”>.

Wait — did I just read that correctly? No shampoo!? Isn’t a rich soapy lather what gets your hair clean?

Lorraine rocked our world by out-smarting traditional hair conventions, and challenged us to stick to the curly girl commandments, avoiding non-water soluble silicones, sulfates, wet haircuts, brushing and even blow-drying. Eagerly, we held onto the hope that her advice, tips and products would help us. In the dark for so long, it was high time for this liquid gold! It’s clear DevaCurl products have been Holy Grails for many members of the curly community for years, so when DevaCurl started changing things up with new labels and new products this year, the community had questions!

What’s going on at DevaCurl?

If you’ve seen any news from DevaCurl recently, you may be excited for new product additions or nervous about cha-cha-changes. Have no fear – many products just received a new look or a name change to better assist us in finding the best products for our needs. While the labels of your old favorites may be different, Dana Epstein, DevaCurl’s Director of Communications assured us the tried and true formulas are not. She told NaturallyCurly “All of our existing formulas have remained the same. The only thing that has changed is our packaging to provide an easier, more simple shopping experience. Our new user friendly labels feature specific details about each product including ingredients, benefits and usage to help consumers better navigate the selection process. ” So fear not, the original formulas have not changed, but they have added new products to their lineup. New products are now broken up into 3 categories: wavy, curly, and super curly.

Wavy — “Delight”

The Delight Low-Poo and Delight One Conditioner duo were created to provide volume and a degree of lighter moisture for those with wavy hair. Additionally, the Wave Maker (Touchable Texture Whip”> is a feather soft styling formula that keeps working for your hair. Check out one of our contributor’s thoughts on this set. NaturallyCurly contributor Diane Mary loves Wave Maker for its keen ability to create soft and shiny definition for her waves, and even added it to her Holy Grail list. NaturallyCurly editor Cristina agrees with Diane Mary, the Wave Maker is her new go-to for light, touchable definition that can be refreshed on day 3 and day 4 without looking weighed down. Read Diane Mary’s full review of the Delight Low-Poo, One Condition and Wave Maker here.

Curly — “Original”

DevaCurl’s classic One Condition set a new standard for curly girls everywhere. Lorraine’s intention was to keep her hair care line as simple as possible, she named this particular conditioner “ONE” because it was designed to do-it-all if necessary: co-wash, condition, deep condition, and leave-in.  And why is it known as a classic? With its numerous high mentions and 5-star reviews from stylists, beauty bloggers and magazines, the NaturallyCurly community has also awarded DevaCurl One Condition with a Best of the Best Award for the last two years running, and it received the Editor’s Choice Award for Best Multi-Use Product in 2016. The Styling Cream is added to this category which provides bounce and frizz control while banishing the crunch.

Super Curly — “Decadence”

The DevaCurl No-Poo Decadence is a zero-lathering cleanser while the One Condition Decadence is a mega-hydrating conditioner that understands the intense need for moisture from super curly curls. The Supercream Coconut Curl Styler is a styler that allows for defined curls no matter the style. NaturallyCurly editor Devri Velazquez loves Supercream, in her review she shared that Supercream created long-lasting, super soft, and frizz-free definition on her type 3c curls. NaturallyCurly’s Video Manager Evelyn says No-Poo Decadence is “probably the thickest cleanser I’ve ever used that actually cleanses my hair and scalp. The fact that I can finger detangle with it = game changer” for her type 4b coils. She also liked that the One Condition Decadence left her hair “so soft I don’t need a leave-in, which is great because the Supercream is so moisturizing, it doubles as a leave-in anyway. A+!” Read the NaturallyCurly’s team’s reviews of the whole Decadence line here.

We wanted to get to the bottom of the changes happening at DevaCurl, so we decided to chat with Megan Streeter, the Chief Marketing Officer of DevaCurl about the motivation behind these modifications.

DevaCurl’s curly hair care line seems to be more hair type specific now, tagging each product for use with wavy, curly and super curly textures. What brought about these changes?

MS: As a curly hair brand, our heritage has always been to cater to the traditional curly girl and to help women love their curls. Natural texture isn’t a trend, it’s a way of life, and we’re thrilled that so many women are continuing to embrace the hair they were born with. There’s no denying that the curl presence in so many variations is unapologetically here and stronger than ever before. In fact, 65% of the population has texture in their hair but texture doesn’t just mean curls. Texture also refers to wavy hair and super curly hair and we knew we were not servicing this part of the market.

Texture also refers to wavy hair and super curly hair and we knew we were not servicing this part of the market.

Both wavy and super curly consumers frequently misunderstand their own curl’s potential. Many girls with wavy hair do not identify as curly, but “just frizzy.” They need weightless moisture for more manageability, allowing them to wear a variety of styles that complement their individual pattern without being burdened by a huge time commitment. At the other end of the curl type is the super curly consumer—those with a tighter curl pattern. The super curly girl often has very dehydrated hair and needs products with even more moisture by way of super-charged formulas packed with intensely hydrating ingredients to create the foundation for healthy hair. While listening to our clients during our interaction at the salon and on our social platforms it became increasingly obvious that we had a major opportunity. One of our key tenets as a brand is to listen and cater to your needs first and foremost.

What sets DevaCurl apart from the rest?

MS: Our mission statement begins with “Ask a curly girl about her hair and she’ll tell you about her life.” DevaCurl is always at the heart of the curly conversation. We’re here to listen, support and celebrate curly girls every day, in every way. We do that in our salons with education and by teaching her how to care for her curls; we do that with our products that help her create beautiful curls she can count on; and we do that with our social platforms and our blog where we highlight beautiful curly girls who help other curly girls embrace their natural beauty. Across all fronts, being a brand that truly listens enables us to provide our expertise to help her find solutions.

What is your favorite new or classic DevaCurl product and why?

MS: The DevaCurl Celebrate Wavy Holiday Kit, which includes Delight Low-Poo, Delight One Condition and Wave Maker! Being a wavy girl myself these products are my new go-to hair care regimen. I love the scent and performance of all three. Like everyone, life is busy and these three products together allow me to walk out the door feeling great. My hair looks and feels moisturized and my natural wave is enhanced so that I don’t need to blow dry.

It’s giveaway time!

Do you like this more specific approach to DevaCurl products? Have you tried the products, and if so did you like them?

We want to know what you think so we’re giving away 6 DevaCurl Celebrate Curly Holiday Kits for either wavy, curly or super curly hair. Each kit contains one hairtype-specific cleanser, conditioner and styling product.

How to enter:

1. Comment below on which DevaCurl Celebrate Curly Holiday Kit (“Delight” for wavy, “Classic” for curly, or “Decadence” for super curly”> you’d like to receive.
2. Subscribe to DevaCurl on YouTube and watch the video: Winter Curly Hair Routines – Celebrate Curly Holiday Kits!
3. Be sure to “like” NaturallyCurly on Facebook, so we can contact you if you’ve won!

This giveaway ends November 24 and is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.

Editor’s note: This article is not sponsored. 

By Jen Hill · Published October 27, 2016

NaturallyCurly was started to help women with naturally curly hair embrace their texture and love the hair that grows out of their heads. For some women that means going all-natural and mixing their own homemade products, for some women that means coloring their hair every color of the rainbow to express their personality, and for some women that means rocking their hair in whichever style matches their mood and outfit that day – whether that means, curly, coily, wavy or even straight.

Through our market research we know that our community wears their hair naturally curly most of the time, but not all of the time. Wavies wear their hair natural an average of 78% of the time, while curlies and coilies wear their hair natural over 90% of the time.

The risk of styling against the grain of our natural hair type is that it’s easy to damage our hair in the process. Cantu was created to keep your style options open, with the added benefits of protecting and nourishing your hair – without regrets later! 

When choosing what to eat for lunch, a health-packed, crunchy salad is a fabulous choice most days, but sometimes we crave a cheesy, hot slice of pizza. Respecting and understanding our need for fun and versatility, Cantu Beauty has created both wavy and straight hair care products that allow us to do just that. The products give us the option to rock our natural texture or go sleek and straight for a few days by adding nourishing and restorative ingredients like pure Shea butter. Style your hair exactly how you want to wear it that day, guilt-free! 

Play It Straight

University of Texas student and full-time yogi Isabella explains that she likes to straighten her naturally wavy hair often, and worries about the heat damage and breakage that can result with that repeated choice. Applying heat to the hair repeatedly is usually a big no-no when it comes to styling curly hair if you want to avoid heat damage. By applying the Cantu Thermal Heat Protectant to her clean, damp hair prior to blow-drying, the result is smooth, straight, and most importantly protected hair. After her blow-out session, she increases shine and fly-away control by smoothing on a few drops of Cantu Anti-Frizz Oil to the ends of her hair. Hair damage attributed to straight-styling has been successfully averted!

Rock It Wavy

Of course natural styles demand an extra boost of definition and shine too, and if that’s your preference, Cantu has it. Going back to her waves, Isabella washes and scrunches into her hair some Cantu Curling Wave Whip Mousse.  Moisture-packed, pure Shea butter in this formula adds weightless moisture and volume to the hair without leaving the bewildering crunch and stiffness of some styling mousses.

For second-day wavy hair styling, Cantu Comeback Curl assists to refresh vibrant bounce and shine. Simply spray on the hair and re-scrunch to freshen things up and keep those waves lively.

Cantu leaves out harsh ingredients such as mineral oil, sulfates, parabens, silicones, phthalates, gluten, paraffin, or propylene in these products so you can avoid extra dryness.

Isabella’s busy lifestyle and college-student budget require hair care products that can accommodate her styling choices and not slow her, or her hair, down. Cantu provides a no-excuses permission slip to style your hair however you may want it – wavy to straight and back again.

See Isabella’s waves in action below!

How do you feel like wearing your hair today? Let CANTU help you decide!

This post is sponsored by Cantu.