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What better way to celebrate 20 years of NaturallyCurly than with an epic display of textured hair on the runway at New York Fashion Week?
Once again, Texture on the Runway powered by Sally Beauty, proved itself as the most diverse show during New York Fashion Week (in my humble opinion”>. With models of all sizes, ages, curl types, ethnicities, and genders, NaturallyCurly’s biggest hair event of the year exemplified that beauty comes in every form.
The runway showcased iconic hair and fashion looks from seven of our favorite hair brands: Camille Rose Naturals, Cantu, Carol’s Daughter, Creme of Nature, Mielle, Shea Moisture, and The Mane Choice. Check out my top 20 looks from the show below!
1. Co-founder of NaturallyCurly Michelle Breyer and Afro-Latina rapper Amara La Negra MC’d the event together in bright monochrome outfits that absolutely stunned.
2. Amara La Negra’s second look of the night stole the show when she performed a brand new song on stage for the audience.
3. This opening look from Camille Rose Naturals set the precedent for a truly iconic around-the-world-themed show that prioritized diversity.
4. Camille Rose Naturals’ second runway look was another one of my favorites of the night. Brushed out pigtails!? So much yes. I’m never wearing basic pigtails again!
5. This was one of the fiercest looks of the night. From the face jewelry and heavy eyeshadow, to the long braided extensions, this whole look brought drama to the runway.
6. Cantu was the second runway show of the night and came through with a New Orleans-themed show including a full jazz band that surprised us all by popping up in the audience! When the bride came down the runway to the beat of the band, we were all shook.
7. Cantu also had a flower girl prance down the runway that sent my ovaries on fire. How cute is she!?
8. Speaking of ovaries aflame, Lisa Price came down the runway with her daughter after rapping her version of Jay Z’s “Public Service Announcement.” Iconic.
9. Staying true to their brand identity, Carol’s Daughter themed their runway show “mother and child.” Last year supermodel Deandra Forrest walked down the runway pregnant; this year she strutted first solo, and then again with her baby on her hip. Mothers are incredible.
10. Creme of Nature stepped up their game with an Afro-Punk Queen Bee theme. This was one of my favorite looks from their show.
11. Blue lips and melanin are so hot right now, making this look from Creme of Nature right on trend — with a dash of Queen Bee drama in all the right ways.
12. Creme of Nature also brought some beautiful men down the runway. Praying that the men’s natural hair movement is moving to more long-haired curly men!
13. Not going to lie, Mielle really brought the house down with their show. Hair was truly the focus because the models barely wore any clothes! Instead, the models’ bodies were fully painted as they walked and danced down the runway.
14. This model was one of my favorites from the whole night. She walked to the beat of Nikki Minaj’s Chung Li and gave the audience a sensual dance and walk that I literally cannot stop thinking about. Iconic.
15. First fighting over crowns, the models then each found their own and placed them on their heads, showcasing Mielle’s theme of women empowerment. Yes, Queens!
16. Shea Moisture made big moves and presented their Jamaican Black Castor Oil collection with the help of Miss Jamaica (the first woman ever to wear an afro at the Miss Universe Pageant”>.
17. Bringing the Jamaican Queen on stage was only the icing. Shea Moisture also had a live performance with Jamaican music during the show while showcasing the versatility of natural hair. This was one of my top hairstyles from the entire night!
18. While hair may have been the focal point of the night, this model slayed in this yellow suit. Monochrome suits are one of my favorite trends right now and I hope they never go away.
19. The Mane Choice was the last show of the night and they did not come to play. They utilized lighting, music, and their models to represent their theme of empowerment for all women and all textures.
20. The last look I’m choosing is one of my favorites because it encompasses so much of what Texture on the Runway and NaturallyCurly are all about: diversity, inclusion, expertise, invention, and empowerment.
Those are my Top 20 favorite looks from the show! If you didn’t catch it, make sure to watch our re-cap video (coming soon”>, or go to our Facebook page to watch the live recording of the event!
After 20 years in both the media and natural hair industries, we hope our brand is strong enough that our audience recognizes our commitment to empowering and connecting women all over the world. Whether that commitment consists of encouraging women to wear their hair in natural styles, educating the public on the natural hair movement, representing women of all sizes, hair types, and gender identification within the natural hair movement, or empowering women to pursue their own companies and passions, it has always been our number one priority to support and uplift. In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, we are sharing a little bit more about ourselves with the community that helped us stay around (YOU”>! Let us know in the comments which of these you didn’t know, and check out the video at the end of this article for more in-depth answers with Grace and Nikki!
1. We’re based in Austin, Texas
2. Only 20(ish”> people work here
3. We have endless products and are constantly receiving more weekly
4. We shoot and edit every video you see
5. Evelyn no longer works here SO STOP ASKING
6. We host Texture On the Runway every year during New York Fashion Week
7. We consult up-and-coming brands
8. We have a shop called [SHOPNaturallyCurly](http://shop.naturallycurly.com/”> where you can buy hundreds of curly hair essentials, our founders book, read reviews on products, and more!
9. We have a book! Our founder Michelle wrote the best curly girl book around, and it features all your fave influencers, stylists, and us!
10. We have a forum called [CurlTalk](https://curltalk.naturallycurly.com/”> where you can chat with other curly girls, getting and giving great advice
11. With a couple of delightful exceptions, our office is mostly female
12. We take tequila shots when we celebrate wins
13. We’re zen and have diffusers placed around the office for when we get stressed
14. Cool perks include working from home, meeting brand owners, traveling to events like Afropunk, our co-workers are all friends, so many free products, and more
15. When we take breaks we like to go on walks
16. We do our hair at work (and often our makeup”>
17. We donate unused products to women and children in need
18. Many team members have side hustles and community passion projects
19. Our logo has changed a few times
20. We were founded by two newspaper journalists
If that didn’t satiate your endless curiosity about NaturallyCurly, watch the video below and follow us on social, where we spill secrets all the time!
This list is for anyone who:
- Spent their childhood in pigtails finished with butterfly clips that flopped in the air as you skipped double dutch or attempted to bounce on a pogo stick;
- Spent their adolescence playing MASH at the lunch table and listening to the Spice Girls on a CD player;
- Watched Living Single on Thursdays nights and took trips to Blockbuster with their boo on the weekends;
- The sulphuric yet nostalgic smell of a relaxer now makes you want to vomit;
- Or, you just enjoy a good pre-1998 listicle.
From religiously watching Love and Basketball to AIM messaging your middle school crush on the low after school, a lot has happened since the late 90s. To celebrate NaturallyCurly’s 20th Anniversary, here is a list of some of the most memorable hair products from before NaturallyCurly arrived on the scene in 1998.
1. Blue Magic Conditioner
First up on the list is Blue Magic Conditioner. Anyone else share the experience of sitting in between your mom’s or aunties’ legs in the kitchen, getting your hair done, and having them finish it off with plenty of good ol’ Blue Magic? For whatever reason (let’s blame Eurocentric beauty standards”> a shiny, not a hair out of place look used to be everything I desired, but I am happy that I’ve moved on #freethefrizz
2. Motions Shampoo
This yellow and purple bottle brings back scents of fruity body spray that transport us right back to the hair salon. From their relaxer and wash to their conditioner and oil sheen spray, Motions is the brand we all remember using to make our hair moisturized, slicked back and shiny as my forehead in the Texas heat.
3. Butterfly hair clips
Potentially my favorite on this list. Who else used to match their clips to their outfits? From clipping my bangs to the side, twisting my hair back or just dangling the clips at the bottom of my pig tails, these clips were the perfect addition to my ringlet curls as a kid.
4. Mane ‘n Tail
The shampoo and conditioner made for horses, that for some reason took the hair care market by storm. Specifically made to promote growth and achieve longer, luxurious, fuller and thicker hair, it’s no surprise everyone had a bottle of Mane ‘n Tail in the shower.
5. Ampro Black Gel
I’ve never been a big fan of gel, but I do remember using this gel to slick back my baby hairs or smooth my hair back into a curly bun. I also remember those flaky leftovers the gel left in my hair though… gel formulas have come a long way since 1998!
6. L’Oreal Kids Swim Shampoo
Everyone I’ve spoken to while preparing this article let out the most nostalgic smile when I mentioned this fish-shaped no-sting shampoo. And the no-tears formula (as demonstrated by the kid in the commercial that literally smeared the soapy mixture all over their face”> wasn’t even the best part. It also smelled like a popsicle, meaning it was basically every kid’s dream shampoo.
7. Luster’s Pink Oil Moisturizer
Dry hair? Frizzy hair? Breakage? Pink Lotion was the fix-all for every hair problem growing up. It was the kind of product you knew would be at your auntie’s house, your grandma’s house, and your best friend’s house if you ever needed a little pick me up of moisture.
8. Sta Sof Fro Hair & Scalp Spray
This was the go-to wash-day product for coilies in the 90s. It didn’t matter how big or small the fro, this soft sheen promised to take dry hair to a moisture wonderland with a few sprays.
9. Liv Creme Hairdressing and Conditioner
You can still buy this old-school product at Sally’s, just be careful and make sure to rub this white creme all the way in because it has a habit of hanging around your hairline!
10. Just for Me Hair Relaxer
“I want style, body and shine. A look that’s totally all mine. Hair so soft, silky and free. I want something just for me. Just for meeee!”
Anyone else still know the beat of this song?? Glad we learned we can have style, body, and shine without harmful chemicals and by being all natural.
11. Isoplus Oil Sheen Spray
Is it just me or did every product before NaturallyCurly contain enough oil to fill an axel truck? It seemed like every brand had a version of an aerosol oil can.
12. Alternatives by SoftSheen Carson
A small rub of this stuff on the top of your head would send those frisky hairs right back where they belong. When we look back on it, I think these products were much less about actual moisture and more about that shiny look we all wanted.
13. Con Air Hot Sticks Flexible Hair Rollers
These squishy, slow-heating pink and blue tubes were all the rave to get the best waves. Who needs a perm??
14. Sun In Spray-In Hair Lightener
A beach bag was not complete without a bit of Sun In to “naturally” lighten your hair in the summer.
15. Barrettes
Who needs rubber bands? Barrettes, the more practical but less extra big sister to butterfly clips were a staple in every curly girl’s hair accessory drawer (you all know the madness of this drawer in the bathroom cabinets”>.
16. Dax Pomade
You know we couldn’t finish off this list without another pomade that slicked down your hair so tight that those edges couldn’t move even if you were in a hurricane. Dax was filled with nutrient-rich ingredients like vegetable oils, castor oil, bergamot, and lanolin, so even though it had those edges laid, it also kept them moisturized.
17. Crimping Iron
While crimped hair is apparently trying to make a comeback in some fashion circles, the trend was originally born in the 80s. Thankfully, the trend passed by the time I was old enough to use heat styling tools.
18. Fantasia Frizz buster serum
Our intern Selome reminded me of this product and as soon as she described it I knew exactly what she was talking about. This was the baby hair frizz extinguisher!
19. Suave
These sleek bottles and affordable prices made this brand a must in every curly home. Their conditioners and shampoos have stayed a curly girl drugstore favorite – and you seriously cannot beat the price.
20. S curl
This brand was created by Luster and mostly used by men to create the perfect waves and slicked back looks. Any man with this in his home definitely cared about his do.
What throwback products did we miss? Weigh in down below!
Long before YouTube tutorials, Instagram influencers, and vloggers, NaturallyCurly lead the revolution of texutured hair communities online. While the conversations and activism surrounding natural and curly hair has existed for generations, it wasn’t until the emergence of the internet that individual women were able to connect and build a widespread community that existed outisde of the confines of their local friends and family.
In 1998, two curly-haired women, co-founders Michelle Breyer and Gretchen Heber, partnered to publicly address their personal frustrations with the lack of attention, representation, products, salon services, and national dialogue surrounding textured hair in the beauty industy. In their initial frustration, the friends and co-founders created a simple online discussion board (which has been revamped to our new CurlTalk“>. Their collective passion and vision fueled something much greater — the biggest online platform offering qualified user-generated product and stylist reviews, expert editorials and advice, and direct digital access to known products as well as emerging brands.
Did you know that people with textured hair make up 60 percent of the overall population!? NaturallyCurly has worked to ensure us curlies are not left ignored by the beauty and hair industries for 20 years now! That’s something to celebrate.
– Giveaways! Want to a win a chance to attend one of the biggest Textured Hair events of the year during New York Fashion week? Make sure you are following us on all social media.
– Texture Tales. Have you seen any of our Texture Tales stories yet? This series showcases community stories about hair and self-growth. You can submit your story here!
– Tickets to Texture On the Runway. Our biggest event of the year held in New York City!
– Pop the Cork: Champagne and Questions with NC Editors. A series on Instagram starting this week!
– Live Questions from you to us on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube !
– Top 20 content; including the top 20 conditioners, cleansers, stylists on Instagram, hairstyles for different hair types, and more!
-Texture Tuesday. A series on Twitter where we retweet textured hair photos from our followers all day long.
– More, More, More! Make sure to follow us on all social channels to be a part of this celebration!
Want to know more about our co-founders? Watch Gerilyn ask them some questions in the video below!
Today, NaturallyCurly continues to champion ideas, entrepreneurs, brands, stylists, influencers, quality original content, invaluable insights and most of all, the curly community: YOU!
Traveling with curly hair can be difficult. The last thing you want to worry about while on vacation is spending an hour or more detangling and styling your hair. I know, and you know, and Champagne Papi Drake knows that we wanna “Vacay to a, place where you could, take pictures, post on insta..” but that can be difficult when your hair is acting a fool. In order to minimize non-photo ready hair days, I laid out some of my best tips for traveling with curly hair.
Last month I traveled to England, Italy, Greece, and Tanzania and lived out of a backpack, a carry on and a checked bag for a month (okay so clearly I’m not a minimalist, but I tried”>. I did however, try to keep my beauty and hair items to a minimum and kept most of them in my carry on just in case my checked bag was ever lost. It can be overwheliming to know what is essential and what is excessive while traveling internationally and to multiple countries, but don’t worry we got your (hair”> and back.
10. Look at Airport Security Restictions Ahead of Time
TSA is no joke. And depending on the country you are traveling to, the size requirements for liquids and baggage size changes. I found out this the hard way the first time I traveled to Europe.
A moment of silence for the sample beauty and hair items I lost in January 2018.
Okay back to regularly scheduled programming. CHECK THE AIRPORT WEBSITE. Just do it. Your countries airport rules will not necesarily apply everywhere, even if they are similar. In Europe you are only allowed ONE clear, re-sealable plastic bag of not more than one litre capacity per passenger. I like using the pink clear bags from Glossier (as shown above”>. “These liquids must be in individual containers with a maximum capacity of 100 millilitres each.” For me this meant bringing my travel size face wash, facial serum and moisturizer and my 3 of my most esseintial hair products all 3oz and less. My clear plasitc bag fit about 7 travel size products, with a little room. Most airports have plastic bags available for free at the security checkpoint.
9. Pack your holy grails in your carry on
If you’re like me and the idea of living out of a back pack or carry-on luggage for an entire month is simply not happening, make sure you pack wisely. Meaning, your holy grail leave-in creme, conditioner, and comb or whatever detangling instrument you prefer to use are never far from sight. This is something I didn’t think about the first time I ever traveled, but I made certain to do this time around. Long flights, Jet Lag, Delayed flights, long layovers, or any of the other various complications of traveling often lead to a change in your routine that can affect both your skin, hair and mood.
Keeping all of your favorite items with you while at the airport can save you from one hell of a weird hair day and unfortunate breakouts.
I always kept a wide tooth comb in my back pack along with a curl refreshing spray, my purple toning shampoo, a leave-in conditioner, bobby pins, and my olaplex that I switched into a travel size container.
8. This is not the time for experimenting.
Did your friend just offer up some of their old travel-size hair items to you for your trip? While that is super sweet of them, unless you have tried that product before and liked your results, you better leave that gift at home. Same goes for any random travel size products you may have laying around your bathroom. I love saving money as much as the next person, espeically while traveling, but this is not the time for experiementing. Either try the product prior to your trip or better yet, stick to what you know. If your favorite products don’t come in travel size options, you can run by your local drugstore and grab empty travel size bottles or order them on Amazon. There are plenty of affordable options and they can be re-used for your next trip!
7. Dust your ends/touch up color before your trip
While I wouldn’t reccommend getting a full trim before going on vacation, dusting your ends and in my case bangs is a great way to prep before traveling. If your ends are healthy detangling, styling, washing, basically all hair maitenanace will be easier on your trip. For everyone that colors their hair, a root touch up a few weeks before your trip is also a pro-tip, but not absolutely neccessary.
6. Bring a Deep Conditioning or Protein Treatment
Depending on the climate you are entering into your hair may require extra moisture or protein. *Don’t know if your hair needs protein? Check out this article. My hair generally needs both after a coulple weeks of traveling, which is why I always bring olaplex with me when I travel. I also brought 2 bottles of Oiudad Curl Immersion Triple Treat Deep Conditioner in the travel sizes. This is my favorite deep condioner, and I tried to use it weekly whenever I had some down time at my hotel so I could leave it in for at least an hour. My hair always detangles so easily after using it and feels healthy and moisturized.
5. Travel Scarf/Pillow
I had one flight that was 14 hours long. On flights as long as these I always try to sleep as long as possible, but that can cause problems for natural hair. While you could put your hair up in a bun, that is often uncomfortable on flights, especially when you want to sleep as much as possibe. I like to use my Aquis hair towel as shown in the photo or my silk hair wrap from Ruby Sampson that you can purchase from the NC shop as a pillow. The best thing about bringing this wrap in my carry-on is it can be used for beautiful wrap styles as well.
4. Test Products that Maximize time until your next Wash Day
My holy grail product as a bleached blonde is olaplex, however it is not the kind of product that can help my wash-n-go last all week. Skimdo on the other hand can. While traveling you hair needs change, and if you are changing hotels or air-bnbs often, it can be difficult to make time for a full wash day. Due to this I made sure to test out some of my favorite products to see which held my curls the longest number of days. My winner was Skimdo curl creme.
3. Ask Locals about their Favorite Products
By the time I got to Greece I had already ran through half my supply of hair products, so while I was walking through the local markets I began to keep my eye out for hair care. Multiple stores had a brand called “Venus’ Secrets” that was made with argan oil and donkey milk! My curiosity outweighed my apprehension and after talking to the sales associate I bought a deep conditioner and a regular conditioner to take home with me. Turns out my curls love donkey milk. Who woulda thought!
2. In-Flight Hair Treatment
Sometimes you dont have time to finish your hair before your flight, especially if you stay on cpt like me. Twist-outs, braids, and bantu knots are great styles to wear in your hair while flying. Just make sure to wrap your hair tight while on the plane so you dont wake up with any funky imprints after sleeping. I prefer two french-braids, because I can do that quickly in the airport bathroom with just a comb and a curl creme, and since they are on the sides of my head they don’t get messed up when I fall asleep. In-flight treatments will have you walking off the plane looking brand new and not like you’ve only eaten pretzels, peanuts and chewing gum in the last 12 hours.
1. Let Your Frizz Thrive
Frizz is inevitbale, especially if you plan to travel in the summer or to hot and humid places. Instead of trying to prevent it, lean into it. Solange, Yara, and Zendaya have all rocked “frizzy hair” to events and even on covers of magizines. There will be days where your hair is just not cooperating, but as the now dead Mr. West once wisely stated “how you gon be mad on vacation?” Rock your best outfit to give yourself a boost of confidence if needed and enjoy the city regardless of how your hair looks. I promise you are probably the only one thinking about it.
The testing is over, the votes are in, and the winners of Editors’ Choice are finally here.
At the NaturallyCurly offices, we talk to industry experts about haircare products and regimens all the time. Stylists and hair specialists tell us the right cuts for different hairtypes and face shapes. Brands share the right products for our specific needs. We spend hours discussing the newest trends and whether we should buy into them or not. But that’s only part of it. Throughout the year, we are also trying out thousands of products from all over the world on our own hair and testing them on a range of curl patterns (our job is so hard, right?”>.
That’s why every spring, we share our favorite hair (and for the first time ever, skincare”> products as part of our annual Editors’ Choice Awards, where our team of editors vote it out over our favorite products, new and old.
After several months of product testing, clarifying hair strands and scalps, deep conditioning, and trying out what seemed like 100 types of clay facial masks, the NaturallyCurly editors divide into four groups, based on curl pattern: Type 2s, Type 3s, Type 3cs, and Type 4s. Then we have (sometimes heated”> debates over which products best addressed our individual hair and skin concerns. From 2-in-1 skin and hair butters to curl cremes that keep definition for an entire week, we have deemed our favorites as Holy Grail worthy.
Process of Elimination: How We Choose The Winners
Brands all over the world sent us their newest and best products over the last few months, and we tried all of them! It was not easy, but the process allowed us to try brands and products we use all the time, and also some we hadn’t come across before. Only the brands that we loved made our coveted Editors’ Choice 2018 list!
For the NaturallyCurly Editors’ Choice Awards selection process, we considered the following criteria when making our selections:
Product efficacy: Does the product work for my hair/skin type?
Miracle claims: Does the product packaging deliver false hope or stay true to its claims?
Added bonus: Does the product exceed my hair/skin goal expectations by providing unlisted benefits?
Innovation: Does the product contain ingredients that I have not used before? Is the product new to the curly community?
Industry expertise: Are ingredients suggested for use by hair/skin care experts?
The Main Categories in our list consisted of:
Shampoo
Conditioner
Hair Treatments
Styling
Finishers and Refreshers
Facial Care
Body Care
Each category has a winner for each curl type, and we will be publishing articles throughought the next 30 days that show how our editors use these products in our own hair and beauty routines. Make sure you follow us on Instagram and Twitter to stay updated!
The process of choosing which products make it onto our annual list is thorough because we want to ensure that we choose the best of the best for every curl and skin type. When you decide to try or buy one of our award winners, you are getting what our NaturallyCurly editors keep in our curl cabinets, our Holy Grails, and the collections of our most coveted brands.
Without further ado, it is our pleasure to share the winners of the 2018 NaturallyCurly Editor’s Choice Awards with you, dearest curlfriend!
Check out the full list here!
Over the past 6 months or so I have been obsessed with skincare and finding the products that work for my individual skin needs. After sampling all of the prestige brands that I can’t afford full sizes of, trying out all of our Editors’ Choice Award picks (which will be announced next month”>, and trying out brands recommended by my favorite beauty bloggers and closest friends – I have finally found something that works. This mixture of products helps to even out my skin tone, keeps my skin clear and moisturized, prevents fine lines, and leaves me with a healthy dewy glow – with or without makeup. But just like entering into any new field with literally millions of options and limited funds, finding the right routine and products was a process. Here are some of the brands that have become staples in my spring skincare routine.
Let’s start with the more affordable products I use:
Natural Mixologist
My absolute favorite line of skincare right now comes from Natural Mixologist. I reached out to them early this year to try out their customized skincare set, and have been using it in my skincare routine ever since. Natural Mixologist products are all simply made from plants, seed, oils and infused botanicals to create nourishing + nutrient-rich skin and body care. And major bonus, it’s an indie Black-owned brand! You can choose specific products to try out, but I recommend taking the customized skincare quiz here, and buying from their recommended list or buying the entire customized skincare kit. I cleanse night and morning with the No.44 Moroccan Facial Cleanser, tone with the No. 26 Toner, moisturize with the No.31 Facial Serum with rosehip + papaya which targets hyperpigmentation and blemishes, and use the detox clay mask 1x a week or when my face is feeling extra oily. The products smell amazing, and the best part is that I’m using all natural products on my skin and supporting a woman and Black-owned independent company.
The Ordinary
I have been experimenting with several of the Ordinary’s products to see what truly is a dupe for my favorite prestige brands, and what is not. So far my favorite is the AHA/BHA Peeling Solution and their Serum Foundation. The Peeling solution is priced at $7.20, making it the cheapest form of AHA/BHA that I have found on the market, and to my surprise – it really works! Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA”> exfoliate the skin’s topmost surface for a brighter and more even appearance, and Beta hydroxy acids (BHA”> exfoliate the skin’s deepest places to help clear pore congestion. The combined 32% AHA/BHA solution offers deeper exfoliation to help fight visible blemishes and makes my skin brighter and more radiant with each use. I also love their serum foundation. It evens out my skin tone while still looking and feeling natural on, and it’s also priced amazingly well at $6.70 a bottle. They are so cheap I bought two just to make sure I had the right color!
Avene Body Oil
I have no trouble finding time to take care of my skin, but whenever it comes to moisturizing my body on a daily basis, sometimes I have a hard time leaving enough time to moisturize before throwing pants on and running out of the house. Well now I have no excuse because Avene Body oil absorbs into the skin quickly, so you aren’t left with any greasy residue like many body oils, but still nourishes my skin with all the moisture and vitamins it needs to be as glowy as the skin on my face. Its rich in natural plant-based oils and Vitamins A and E, making my skin feel soft as ever all day long. The nourishing body oil hydrates parched skin and Avocado Oil and Vitamins A and E nourish and restore the skin while Calendula Oil soothes, and their key ingredient Avène Thermal Spring Water softens and calms the skin. I’ve been using it regularly for three months and I still have half of the bottle left. It also smells divine and has become my holy grail body moisturizer ever since I received it. Summer is upon us, make sure you aren’t out here looking ashy!
These products are more expensive, but worth the splurge.
Pai
Pai is also an independent skin care brand, and is woman-owned! While more of a prestige brand, this blemish serum has SAVED my skin. Since using this serum daily, I rarely break out and my skin tone has been more even than ever. I use this as the second step in my skincare routine, right after cleansing and before other serums and moisturizers. Pai products are free from Parabens, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Petrochemicals, Detergents (SLS/SLES”> and artificial fragrance. They also avoid anything that has the potential to upset or imbalance sensitive skin. This is one of the few products I will pay a big sticker amount for- because it simply works.
Schique
I’m in my mid-twenties now, so I’ve started to worry about things like fine-lines and anti-aging ingredients. I received the Brilliantly Firm Firming Serum, the Lumistone Hydration Face Moisturizer, and the Intuitive Restoration Renewal Mask and my skin has been GLOWING ever since I added these products into my skincare regimen. Although clay masks are all the rave right now, my skin often needs moisture too, and these three products were the perfect addition to what I had already accumulated in my skincare journey. Schique skincare Increases collagen activity, leading to firmer and tighter skin for a more youthful appearance, assists in cellular turnover, aiding the skin in showing its true radiance, and soothes, calms, and reduces age-inducing inflammation. Their key ingredient, the Dandelion, is known for its diverse therapeutic properties and its ability to give women a radiant glow. All of the products are vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free. I use the firming serum at night after the Pai Zinc serum, and the hydration moisturizer after (I like using these products for my nighttime routine, or under makeup for a dewy look”>. I use the mask about 1x a week or as needed.
What are some of your holy grail skin care products? Share in the comments below!
In February NaturallyCurly Editors took on the daunting task of trying 100 products in a month. Yes 100. Now this could be hair, skincare, body, etc., but let me tell you my bathroom and room were full of curly products and skincare goodies (ask my roommates, sorry guys”>. Although I don’t think I fully accomplished the challenge, I did try more new brands and products this month than I probably have in the last few years. I have to admit, some days my hair looked real crazy. Since we had to try so many products I was washing my hair more than usual, and some days I would try a product without hold, or one that weighed my curls down, or one with absolutely no slip so I couldn’t even get my brush through my hair, but luckily these days were minimal, and I actually found a lot of products that my hair responded to.
I used the AG Cleansing conditioner, AG hydrating conditioner, and Skimdo curl creme to achive this wash-n-go.
Generally, when I find a product that works, I stay loyal to that product for months or until it runs out before trying a new one, and even then, I often go back to my holy grails. This challenge definitely pushed me (and my hair”> out of my comfort zone, but I found some really innovative products and brands that took my hair to a new level. Here are a few of them:
Skimdo
This was curl creme came recommended to me by the lovely Nia the Light. Still a relatively new kid on the block, SKIMDO has gained cult status amongst natural hair stylists and influencers who use it, including FKA Twigs, Aluna Francis, Ella Eyre, Lianne La Havas, EVE, and Nia the Light. Kim Cowans created the product in response to her own curly hair struggle, “I made SKIMDO so that I could keep the ringlety, voluminous complexity of my natural hair, but also have the swish, the shine, the effortlessness I always admired in straight hair.” Skimdo is free of parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates, or any of those trendy ‘buzz’ ingredients often found in new products, and it was one of my favorite finds of the month. It left my curls soft, ringlety, and voluminous for 5 days, which is the longest I have ever gone without a wash day. You can purchase the product here.
RedDavid Orchid Oil
This was one of the first products I tried in February, and I continued using it for a week – even though I had a shelf full of products I was supposed to try – because I loved it that much. One side is an oil, and one side is a curl creme, and since I often cocktail my products this 2-in-1 was perfect. You can choose how much oil to mix with your creme, I found that a 2-1 ratio of curl creme to oil worked best for me, and later in the day you can easily add more of whatever your hair is needing. I found that for refreshing my curls I only need the creme portion, but when my hair needed added moisture I could just add a few pumps of oil. The mixture left my hair SO soft and the slip was one of the best out of all the products I tried this month. I’m definitely adding this product to my Holy Grail list. You can buy it here.
AG RE:COIL
For over 25 years, AG has been creating hair care products designed to treat common hair problems with a gentle approach. And their new line for curls is no different. This line is SUPER moisturizing, and even on wash day I had volume and was able to detangle my hair easily. I was able to try out the entire line which consisted of the cleanser, conditioner, treatment masque, and curl creme, and each one worked well for me. I also used them alongside some of my other favorite products, and they worked just as well. This brand has definitely been added to my list of holy grails! I hope they never change the formula. You can purchase AG products from our NaturallyCurly Shop here.
Macadamia Professional
Macadamia Professional is another brand whose full line I was able to try. Since my hair is chemically dyed blonde, it requires A LOT of moisture in order to stay healthy and soft. In addition, I also have fine hair – I have a lot of it, but it’s fine enough that it’s prone to being weighed down by many curly targeted products. Finding a balance between sufficient moisture and being able to go a few days without washing my hair before my curls start to look weighed down has always been difficult for me, but this Ultra Rich Moisture Line gives me the perfect hold and curl for multiple days. My favorite from the line is definitely the curl creme; I don’t usually have a hard time finding a cleanser or conditioner that works well for me, but curl cremes can be hit or miss. The Soothing Curl Creme had great slip, great hold, and left my curls super defined and soft. Basically everything I look for in a curl creme, plus it smells incredible. You can purchase the line here.
Urban Hydration
I initially tried Urban Hydration’s cult favorite body wash and body scrub and fell in love. Your girl was soft as hell. So when I found out they had hair products too, I couldn’t wait to try them out. This all-natural, moisturizing, ingredient-packed hair line, which can be used on wet or dry hair, is formulated with coconut, argan, and avocado oils to deliver unbelievable moisture without weighing down your curls. Not only is the scent of this line incredible, but the shampoo-conditioner duo and styling cream have worked wonders for my hair. The shampoo is said to promote growth and shine, and the conditioner is lightweight and non-greasy, while still bringing out the texture in my curls and hydrating my hair from root to end. It’s also safe for color treated hair, major plus, and it’s WOC owned, major major plus. You can find the line here.
What are your holy grail curly products? Mine change seasonally, but I swear I add new ones each year. Let me know in the comments!
My mom was always meticulous about how my hair looked growing up. I couldn’t leave the house with a single hair out of place, and every morning was spent in our little bathroom with her detangling, slicking back, braiding, pigtailing, or twisting my hair into perfect curls until it looked perfect, adding beads or bows to match with my outfits or school uniform.
Looking back, I can sympathize with my mom, and I can better understand the pressures and insecurities of being a white mom with a mixed raced child. She has since told me she was always afraid how I/we would be judged if my hair looked ‘a mess.’ Due to this, whenever I used to spend weekends with my dad growing up, I was always worried about how my hair looked when I went back to my mom. Usually she would braid it back for me so I wouldn’t have to do much to it, but after a few days those pesky little frizzes would start to appear. Soooo, one day when I realized I had a bunch of “frizzies” at the top of my head after being at my dad’s for a few days (mind you like many kids, I was a little scared of my mom”>, I made the rash decision to cut off all of my frizzes. Of course this only made it worse, and my mom noticed right away. All this is basically to preface why I started getting cornrows in the summer.
Missin some teeth, still cute tho.
The First Time I Wore Cornrows
Since my mom no longer trusted my dad, or me to take care of my hair… I started getting cornrows before any summer camp, sports camp, or extended period of time that I would be away from her. I distinctly remember the first time I had my hair braided back for a camp, and how freeing it felt to not have to worry about my hair. But I also remember feeling nervous about how others would perceive my new hair, even though I was proud of it at the same time.
Najae and I at Summer camp with our fresh braids.
One of my favorite kid hair stories besides cutting off my frizzes (I know we all have some”>, was when I told my best friend Rachel in the 4th grade who was complaining about taking care of her hair, that she should just go to Kitaka (my hairstylist and swim teacher”> to get her hair braided. I continued with “after she braids your hair, just go cut some of your mom’s stockings to make a durag to wear at night! Then you can keep the braids in for weeks.” Rachel, who is still one of my best friends today, is also mixed, but she is Korean and white. So today, when Rachel and I look back on this time, we can’t help but hysterically laugh about the innocence of such a conversation.
A drawing Rachel made for me in the 4th grade that I kept all these years #realfriendshowmanyofem
While I didn’t know much about cornrows at the time, I was beginning to understand the cultural and racial signifiers of the hairstyle. Since I went to a predominantly white school, many of my friends were curious about the style, “Is that your real hair?” “Can you make your hair into an Afro?” “How do you wash your hair?” “You look like a mini Alicia Keys!” Honestly, thank God for Alicia Keys and Destiny’s Child, because they were popularizing cornrows to my generation around the same time my mom decided that would be a part of my summer hair routine – therefore making it “cool” and not othering me more than I already was.
But it wasn’t until I was much older that I learned more about the roots of cornrows, the political and social impacts that come with wearing them as a Black woman, and about cultural appropriation more broadly.
Cultural Appropriation of Cornrows
In high school, I started to notice that every time one of the more wealthy non-Black girls traveled to the Caribbean, they would post about 183 photos of themselves on Facebook with their hair braided back. At the time it bothered me, but I didn’t have the language or education yet to articulate why.
The common argument against what I would later know as “appropriation,” is that they were merely appreciating a culture. That America is a melting pot, and this is simply a symbol of inclusion, an homage to Black culture. However, these girls never made me feel included. I grew up very insecure about appearing “too ghetto” or too “Black” in white spaces. This followed me for much of my adolescence, and this is just one of many reasons why I find it problematic when white people wear this style. When I wore the style, I had to worry about being followed around in a store, but when they wore it- it signified wealth, that they were well traveled and ‘trendy’.
Those who appropriate cornrows often ignore the roots of the hairstyle, yet are credited with conjuring up a ‘new’ ‘trendy’ or ‘fashionable’ style, whereas Black men and women that have been wearing the style for years, have been suspended from school, told they look unprofessional, been banned from wearing the style in several organizations across the world, including the US military, and have been looked down on by mainstream society when they wear it.
Those who appropriate cornrows often ignore the roots of the hairstyle, yet are credited with conjuring up a ‘new,’ ‘trendy’ or ‘fashionable’ style, whereas Black men and women that have been wearing the style for years, have been suspended from school, told they look unprofessional, been banned from wearing the style in several organizations across the world, including the US military, and have been looked down on by mainstream society when they wear it. One of the most stark examples of how national discourse positions cornrows as more acceptable when worn by white women, is when The LA Times posted an article about the new trends in hair, and stated “Cornrows are moving away from urban, hip-hop to more chic and edgy,” alongside photos of Cara Delvigne and Rita Ora. Hmmm…
Kareem Abdul Jabbar explains in an essay for TIME that one strong point proving the legitimacy of appropriation, is economic; “In general, when blacks create something that is later adopted by white culture, white people tend to make a lot more money from it. Certainly, one can see why that’s both annoying and disheartening. Through everything from access to loans to education, systemic racism has created a smoother path to economic success for whites who exploit what blacks have created. It feels an awful lot like slavery to have others profit from your efforts.”
Another point I often use to explain the issues with appropriation is through the term “columbusing.” Urban Dictionary defines this term as “When white people claim they have invented/discovered something that has been around for years, decades, even centuries.” But the word was coined by College Humor in a funny skit you can watch here.
These are Goddess(Ghana”> Braids. I haven’t worn traditional cornrows since I was about 13.
Can non-Black People Wear Cornrows?
Contrary to widely circulated and unfounded myths, racism is not just based on skin color. It often manifests in microaggressions pertaining to hair, specifically textures and styles. So when it comes to who is ‘allowed’ or not allowed to wear cornrows, the deciding factor is not just about melanin – it’s about power structures and equality. And until Black people receive credit – both economically and aesthetically for styles on and off the runway, be it hair, fashion, beauty, etc. – in my opinion, the style is FUBU (For Us By Us”>.
As stated in a previous article about the History of Bantu Knots, I don’t have the power to determine whether or not you should wear them if you are not Black. And I certainly don’t possess the power to make people listen. But, I can advise that before trying on other peoples’ culture and traditions, that you understand and appreciate the importance of what you are trying on, acknowledge its history, recognize the social implications that belong to the tradition, and vocally and physically support the people affected by those social implications. If that doesn’t make sense to you and you are not Black, then I would skip the hairstyle on your next trip to Jamaica or during New York Fashion Week as an attempt to look ‘cool’, and try complimenting the women who do wear it.
Do you have any funny kid hair stories, or do you remember the first time you got cornrows? Share in the comments below because I know I am not alone!
I’ve thought about writing this for a while now, and I know that by saying this I am leaving myself subject to criticism and even hate from Rih Rih’s Navy and Fenty Beauty lovers around the world. I know I may have my Black Card Revoked, Apple music might block me from listening to Work, and the Clurb may make me pay extra at the door – but as a graduate student and researcher, product junkie and skincare connoisseur committed to truth, I had to let it be known. Fenty foundation broke my co-worker, my roommate, and me out. Badly.
When Queen RiRi announced she would be dropping a makeup line, I, like many others who had trouble finding a perfectly fitting foundation shade were ecstatic. Fenty Beauty dropped 40 shades. FORTY!!? And sure enough, I found the perfect shade that made me look like a glowing, photoshopped, matte, Goddess, and I began wearing it any time I went out. Unfortunately, I quickly noticed that this new addition to my makeup routine didn’t only make me glow – it made me break into these little underground zits all over my cheeks and forehead.
I wore Fenty two nights in a row over a weekend and a bunch of undergound bumps appeared. It was worse than it looks.
What is Making Me Break Out?
I tried multiple times to see if it was something else I was using in my makeup routine, removing different products at a time to see what my skin was trying to purge out, but after a month of no Fenty and great skin, I’m positive it was the foundation. So I did some research. Turns out Fenty Foundation is a dimethicone-heavy product, and my skin HATES dimethicone. You may be familiar with dimethicone as a popular non-water-soluble silicone found in hair products, and an ingredient that Curly Girl Method devotees avoid.
Unfortunately for me, this ingredient also seems to be in EVERYTHING makeup based and even sneaks into many skincare products. So why was Fenty in particular breaking me out if this ingredient is everywhere? According to Allure, ingredients are listed in order of their concentrations, “except for ones that are less than 1 percent of the formula and colorants, fragrances, and preservatives.” So when you look at Fenty’s ingredient list, it begins with dimethicone, and then that ingredient repeats several times in different forms throughout the ingredient list. While most conventional foundations do contain dimethicone at least somewhere on the list, Fenty seems to have a high concentration of it compared to other brands I have used.
The ingredients listed in the Fenty Foundation are as follows:
Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Talc, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polypropylene, Isododecane, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-10/1 Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Glycerin, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Methicone, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Propylene Carbonate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum/Fragrance, Silica, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple”> Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya”> Fruit Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid. May Contain (+/-“>: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891″>, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI77499″>.
Note how early and frequently Dimethicone appears on the list.
What is Dimethicone?
According to CVSkinLabs, Dimethicone (also known as polydimethylsiloxane or PDMS”> is a silicone oil that is man-made in a laboratory, and used in personal care products as an anti-foaming agent, skin protectant, and skin and hair moisturizer.
It is used commonly in the beauty industry because it provides a smooth application, filling in uneven texture and fine lines, which helps create a smooth and flawless look in products like primers, foundations, and serums. It also provides a protective barrier, which is meant to keep moisture locked in, keeping your skin and hair hydrated for longer. However, this artificial coating on the skin can cause several skin issues.
Why is Dimethicone Bad?
Firstly, the protective barrier dimethicone is known for trapping everything underneath it, including bacteria, sebum, and dirt. Obviously, all of these things can lead to new zits and blackheads, which can continue to be trapped under skin if using makeup to cover up these impurities. Additionally, the coating can prevent skin from being able to breathe, meaning the normal gland functions work improperly. This affects your ability to sweat, to regulate its own temperature, and to rid itself of dead skin cells. And if this wasn’t enough to make you double-think what you are putting on your face; dimethicone is a non-biodegradable chemical that is terrible for the environment.
A small part of my weekly skincare routine that helps prevent and calm breakouts.
What are the Alternatives?
As stated earlier, most beauty brands do contain dimethicone at some level of concentration in their products. But there are a few ways to either avoid it, or at least limit its presence in your skincare routine. Since I found out that my skin reacts badly to dimethicone, I have been insistent on checking the ingredients before I buy anything. If I notice that a foundation’s first ingredient is dimethicone – Bye. If it lists dimethicone more than 2x, bye again. I also discovered a new favorite brand that stays away from dimethicone in its entire line: Drunk Elephant. Unfortunately, a majority of the products in this brand are out of my price range, but it’s still one of the few brands I have found that does not use dimethicone in any of its products. They also have a tinted moisturizer with SPF that I use daily and costs about the same as Fenty Foundation. Here is me wearing Drunk Elephant Umbra Tint:
Although this tinted moisturizer does not provide a lot of coverage, it’s become my ‘everyday makeup’ look, and my skin is SO much happier.
In order to keep my skin breakout free and my wallet happy, I use a mix of all natural products which often offer less coverage on the weekdays, and heavier products on weekends or when I have some kind of event where my face needs to look beat. I also NEVER go to sleep without taking off my makeup and double-cleansing. But in the end, skincare-similar to hair care, is all about what works for you. Test things out, ask for samples at Sephora (I do this A LOT”>, and slowly add new products into your skincare or makeup regimen so you know what may be affecting you. And as always, what works for me may not work for you – but it can never hurt to know what you are putting on your face.
*Some people have little to no reaction to products carrying dimethicone. This is based on my own personal experience. So if Fenty has been working for you, more power to ya.
What are some of y’all’s favorite non-silicone, paraben-free, not-tested on animals, and/or natural based beauty brands?
Please share so I can check them out!
One of the most recognizeable leaders in the natural hair movement, 20-year-old Nia Petitt has amassed over 500,000 social-media followers and has been the star in advertisements for multiple name brand hair product lines as well as co-founding the @GoWiththFro tour with fellow curly Lauren Lewis. Nia built her entire career off of embracing her big hair, connecting women and encouraging them to embrace their natural hair too- but last month, she did a big chop. And not for the reasons we usually see big chops online.
“My relationship with my hair became less about self-love and more about validation. I couldn’t go out without my hair big, all my pictures had to have hair covering my face and ultimately I became my hair” – Nia The Light
Kiana: You did your first big chop at 11, how was this big chop different from your original at such a young age?
Nia: Well when I was 11 I didn’t cut it this short, I only cut it up to my ears. And it wasn’t intentional at all. My mom kept noticing I was washing my hair like three times a day; because I used to relax my hair and I wanted it to be curly, and my auntie told me that as soon as I got out of the shower I had to run and put product in it and then scrunch my hair. When my mom saw me doing that she told me that if I wanted my curls back I would have to cut them. So, I went to the hairdressers and said “I want my curls back” and the hairdresser just started cutting and cutting. At the time I was so young, that I didn’t really know that cutting your hair could have such a big impact on your life.
Whereas, this one it was more of me reclaiming myself. I feel like I was doing a lot for social media and I lost sight of who I was at some point and I didn’t really know who I was anymore, and all I knew was my hair. So this one was a lot more sentimental.
Kiana: Could you walk me through the process of feeling like you were embracing your curls to the point when you felt like your hair took over?
Nia: Well after I big chopped at 11, I still straightened my hair because I didn’t know how to cater to curly hair nor did I have the funds to do that. And The YouTube community was only just starting, so when I started the [natural hair] journey it wasn’t about self-love for me, it was more about finding how to wear my curly hair and wanting to have my curls back.
When I got to about 15, I big chopped again because my hair was so damaged. I had straight ends and then curls at the top, and so once I cut it I had this rounded fro, and people from the older generations started saying I resembled Angela Davis and Black women in the 60s and 70s. So I started googling and learning more about my American sisters and the civil rights movement and I just wanted to embody the strength of a woman in that era. So I began to start connecting back to my African culture more, and was always wearing tribal prints and then eventually I started documenting on Instagram. And when I started getting the attention of brands like shea moisture I would be excited for like a week if they liked a photo, and if a picture of me got reposted and I gained followers I would freak out, and I was only 16. And from there it happened so quickly, I took one picture that went viral, and so then I felt like I had to keep taking more of those same photos in my bedroom.
It started about me loving my hair and slowly it just became everyone loves my hair, and then it became all they love is my hair, and my beauty comes from my hair. And it didn’t happen in a way that I was aware it. It became a subconscious thing where I didn’t want to go anywhere without big hair, and I would always be late to things because my hair wasn’t big enough, or if it wasn’t shaped perfectly then I wouldn’t want to go. The obsession I had with looking like the girl portrayed on instagram all the time was so tiring, and it wasn’t me.
Kiana: How do you find time for yourself away from social media even though it’s such an essential part of your brand and job?
Nia: I made my room kind of peaceful place, I have sage and candles and loads of plants, I try not to make it a place I ‘work’. And I have the most amazing friends that I met in real life, and not through social media, so when we connect and are together in real life there’s no pressure to take photos, we just dance, and eat and escape from that world, which is really nice. I practice self-care a lot more now, last year I felt that I was never really in the moment.
Kiana: How did your family react?
Nia: I know my mom was a bit scared at first, because I built my career off my hair so she was worried about my future. And I saw my dad 3 days before my cut and I remember telling him, “yeah I’m cutting my hair on Sunday dad” and he was just like “no you’re not,” followed by “well don’t cut it too short.” So I told him “yeah I’m just getting a little trim.” But when I saw my parents in person they both told me I looked amazing and they were really supportive. Both of my parents say I looked more like them now.
Kiana: What is your hair routine looking like now?
Nia: I just wash my hair and my current favorites are Bumble & Bumble. But before I cut my hair I literally got rid of so many products I knew I would no longer need and gave them to charities.
So now I use Bumble & Bumble and their visible oil, their new line is great. And I use my favorite product in the world it’s called skimdo, and it’s the best curl creme you will ever try. NaturallyCurly hasn’t covered it yet, but you need too! And trust me I’ve tried every curl creme. I just use that and do a little shake and I’m good to go!
I feel like there is only one image of a woman within the natural hair world and there should be many. There should be darker skinned women, and women with short hair, and women with tighter curls and different textures, and room for white women with looser curls too.
Kiana: While the natural hair movement has definitely been a place for representation, community, and education, everything has room to grow. In what ways do you hope that it continues to grow and improve?
Nia: Well you said that there is representation, I don’t think there is. I feel like there is only one image of a woman within the natural hair world and there should be many. There should be darker skinned women, and women with short hair, and women with tighter curls and different textures, and room for white women with looser curls too. I want everyone to know that there’s a safe space for them and where they don’t have to have curls in the form that I had them to be accepted.
I’m on a one-way plane ticket to another island and to a different career path.
Kiana: Where do you see yourself career-wise in the next few years?
Nia: I’m on a one-way plane ticket to another island and to a different career path. I loved the natural hair community, but one of the reasons I cut my hair was to escape having to use my hair as a tool to get likes, or peoples’ attention or to get jobs. It was really annoying to get cast because of my hair, and then the whole shoot becomes “can you flick your hair, can you move your hair this way.” So now my passion has really been about getting rid of the stigma around stretch marks and bacne and things society doesn’t want us to think are beautiful. I really want to inspire girls and let them know that these things are normal and we should embrace rather than hide them. And my biggest purpose in life is to connect women and to help poverty-stricken communities, particularly in Zimbabwe because that’s where my moms from and I have such a connection there. I want to open schools one day and help young kids.
Kiana: What advice would you give to young girls and women just getting started in the natural hair community?
Nia: Be brave. It’s really hard to stand out now because there are so many of us, so you will have to go above and beyond to get people’s attention. But my advice is – Don’t do it for attention, do it because you love it. Do it because you enjoy connecting with women. Don’t do it for money, or products or likes. Do it out of love. I never even knew you could make money out of blogging, I began doing it for fun. Also, collaborate with friends and other young women around you and support them. If you have a friend that is a photographer work with them. Support your system so you can all be elevated together.
#NaturallyCurlyWorld How is your relationship with your hair? Have you ever thought about doing a big chop for similar reasons?
I know I definitely hide behind my curls sometimes. Let us know in the comments below!
What do an axe murderer, a satire, and Love Actually have in common? Romance and comedy.
Now if this isn’t your favorite genre, I can understand. Rom coms generally reek of third-wave feminism; meaning they often lack intersectionality, center on cisgendered thin white women, and reinforce the common American myth that we need romantic love to achieve happiness – BUT if you turn down your woke Twitter brain for a short hour and a half or so and embrace the complexities of love written in the story lines, rom coms and you will get on just fine. I mean, I’m woke as hell and it’s one of my favorite genres (don’t drag me”>.
In our latest episode of The Best Ever, editor Gerilyn talks about “So I Married an Axe Murderer,” graphic designer Cara discusses her one exception to the rom com genre – The Princess Bride (hater”> – while I talk about one of the best movies of all time, regardless of genre, Love Actually.
While Cara calls out the “sappy stuff” in most romantic comedies, and Gerilyn talks about her love of true crime and goofy people, I fully embrace the genre… because I love myself (side eye”>, and because Hugh Grant was an essential part of aiding in my unrealistic expectations of love – think “About a Boy,” “Notting Hill,” “Bridget Jones Diary,” the list goes on.
Me calling out Gerilyn and Cara for not respecting my favorite genre.
So whether you’re going through a breakup, a make-up, having a girls’ night in, or a bottle-of-wine-to-yourself kinda night and just want a little break from the world, a romantic comedy is often my choice to let my mind rest and just enjoy something that makes me feel warm and mushy. Watching a rom com probably will not solve your problems, but it will give you about 2 hours of worry-free laughs, maybe some tears, and a whole lot of unrealistic expectations of love. And in this economy, in this 2018, who couldn’t use a little extra love – unless your Cara.
What are some of your favorite Rom Coms films? Let us know in the comments below!
It may be Black History Month, but I’m Black every.single.day. And while it remains an important tradition to remind the country of our accomplishments, sacrifices, and to shine a light on the injustices this country often tries to overlook.. real change, progress, education, and awareness, cannot be achieved in a single month. One simple way to support the community is by buying from Black owned brands. Whether that be hair care, skincare, clothing, food, books, art, blogs, podcasts, you name it – there is a Black person doing it that needs your support. Since you clicked on this article, I’m assuming that’s exactly what you plan to do more of this year, so I’ve made it a little easier for you by listing some of my favorite Black owned brands and organizations to support not just this month, but year round.
HAIR
Eden Body Works
When the founder, Jasmine Lawrence, was only 11 years old, she started her own line of beauty and hair care products(Can you say Black Excellence!”>. She had experienced hair damage that resulted in hair loss at an age when appearances can make or break a young girl’s confidence. However, she bounced back by creating her own hair care concoctions from her kitchen. With a strong following of curlies who have faced similar hair care concerns, EDEN BodyWorks is now celebrating a decade of creating high-quality hair care solutions for the curly hair community. NaturallyCurly editor Gerilyn is always raving about this brand, so I had to try it for myself. I absolutely love the “Butter” which is for hair and body. It’s creamy, thick, and SO moisturizing, which my dyed blonde hair needs. I also love the coconut shea leave-in conditioner.
OYIN
I only recently tried this brand while doing the NaturallyCurly 100 products in a month challenge, and now I don’t want to try any others! The hair dew is amazing, and the co-wash smells divine. Founded in 2001 by lifelong naturalista Jamyla Bennu, Oyin hair products use natural ingredients of the highest grade. Oyin expertly blends them together to give you care that embraces the beauty of your natural texture!
Mielle Organics
Mielle Organics founder, Monique Rodriguez, who holds a degree in registered nursing, has tested and proven the effectiveness of the Mielle Organics product line. And my co-workers and I can tell. After hearing Alex rave about their styling gel, I decided to give it a try. Usually my hair doesn’t like gels because they leave my hair sticky or crunchy, but this gel had a soft hold and a lovely scent. I’ve added it to my rotation after wash day. And since Mielle Organics’ products are paraben-free, and no harsh chemicals or harmful preservatives are ever used, I can feel good about using the line in my hair.
Soultanicals
With their attitude of empowerment through high-quality hair care formulas, Soultanicals products bring a new, soulistic concept to the marketplace. A fresh, new approach with a distinct earthy flavor. They do not just plan to deliver just another hair cream to the marketplace; they strive to produce goodies that awaken the spirit in the process. My favorite from the line is the Soultanicals Aqua Mane Instant Moisture Potion Leave-In Conditioner. The spray bottle evenly distributes moisture throughout my hair, which is perfect for mornings I don’t wash my hair and need some added definition.
Check out our Support Black Business Shop for more!
SKIN
Cara, my poreless friend
Foxie Cosmetics
I bring this brand up every time I can because it is truly my Holy Grail skincare brand. Foxie Cosmetics is a vegan and handmade line by Kayla Phillips that encourages healing, self-care and aiding in chronic illness and pain. One of my favorites is the Imperial 24k Mask, which leaves my skin unbelievably soft, clean, and moisturized after. The mask has real specks of gold in it, so I always use it when I need a little confidence boost. I also have the Green Tea Body Butter, which exfoliates then melts into my skin, leaving my legs so soft and smooth. Kayla is currently taking a break from taking orders, but follow her on Instagram because she should be opening up again soon!
Brown & Coconut
I found out about this brand through MelanGlow, a blog that explores the skin care concerns of the brown beauty novice & enthusiast. The brand is not only Black owned, but prides itself in using plant-powered ingredients to help you maintain a natural and healthy glow. The line carries powder masks, facial oils, cleansers, and super cute mask mixing ceramic bowls for all your face care needs.
Nyakio
We received this brand for our Editors Choice Awards this year, and have since been raving about several different products. My favorite is the eye/lip moisturizer. I use it at night and wake up with de-puffed, bright eyes and soft supple lips. I also really like the cleansing oil for taking off makeup easily and quickly. It leaves some residue, but nothing a light cleanser can’t fix.
True Moringa
With more vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk, more protein than eggs, and more iron than spinach per serving, Moringa leaves may just be the healthiest superfood under the sun. Moringa oil comes from the seeds of Moringa Oleifera Tree, and is getting more and more popular in the beauty industry due to its excellent anti-aging, dark-spot reducing, acne fighting, and moisturizing benefits.
MAKEUP
Beauty Bakerie
Beauty Bakerie caters to us makeup lovers who don’t have hundreds of dollars to drop on our product junkie habits. Their bakery-inspired line includes best-selling products that range from liquid lipsticks, setting powder, and illuminators to eyebrow gel, eyeshadows, and eyeliners. For color that pops on every skin color, head to Beauty Bakerie right now. Just do it.
Black Opal
Black Opal offers some of the most affordable and easy to use foundation sticks for all your coverage and contour needs. The shade range is great for women of color, and even fits my hard to blend reddish tan-hued skin. The finish somewhere between matte and dewy and looks great year round, regardless of the weather. At less than $10 a pop, it really can’t hurt to try.
Magnolia Makeup
For super bright eyeshadows and lipstick that STICKS on all skintones, try Magnolia Makeup.
“Magnolia Makeup, based out of New Orleans, Louisiana, is a company devoted to color. We are trying to fill a void in the cosmetic industry and our tool is the spectrum.”
Fenty Beauty
We LOVE Fenty in the NaturallyCurly offices, with shades for everyone, highlight that pops, gloss that shines bright like a diamond (sorry I’m so corny”>, and coverage to hide even the most annoying zits, Rihanna really lived up to the hype. I usually only wear this foundation on weekends, as it can cause me to breakout if I wear it too much like many heavier foundations, but honestly its worth it for glowy, smooth, and natural looking skin. My faves from the line are the matte lipstick and foundation. Have you tried Fenty yet?
ENTERTAINMENT
Nneka the Uber Driver
A HI-larious webseries created by Nickclette and Fum Fum Ko, and the first season is out now. The show stars Nneka: who is described as “the oldest, and a Harvard graduate, (who”> was on track to follow her mother’s dreams and attend medical school and become a doctor. Now, she’s an Uber driver. And mom’s found out. And so have her twin siblings. As she comes to terms with not being the “perfect” Nigerian-American, she is forced to look for what her true purpose in life may be. Nneka is on a journey of discovering her truth and is taking steps towards loving herself. Part of her growth is learning that she has to follow her heart and let go of trying to appease others.”
You can watch here: and if you like it, make sure and donate to support the show make a second season.
Black Card Revoked
The card game of all card games. You may lose a friend or two while playing but it will be worth the fun. You can watch Grace, Evelyn, and Nikki play on the NC YouTube channel here!
Black Panther
Imma keep this short because you should know this already. Go see it. Go support Black actors, writers, directors, producers, etc. There is natural hair, strong women kicking butt, Michael B. Jordan, Kendrick Lamar produced the soundtrack, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, and also MICHAEL B JORDAN. Sorry but have you seen him? Anyways go watch it. I already have three tickets for different days.
CLOTHING
Me in my Adorned by Chi Tee :”>
Adorned By Chi
I found this brand in Highschool back in my Tumblr days and ordered a laptop decal with the same print I’m wearing above. Today, the brand has expanded and creates graphic tees, pillows, mugs, accessories (pins & patches, hats, and totes”>, as well as stickers. The site truly has a collection for everyone, from anime and comic book lovers, to Migos appreciation and Melanin pride, Adorned by Chi has a Tee for you. T-shirts average around $30, making them the perfect and unique holiday gift for a friend or family, or yourself!
Philidelphia Print Works
Philadelphia Printworks was founded in 2010 by Maryam Pugh and Ruth Perez. It was born out of a love for DIY culture and social justice. The site features several collections of tees, patches, zines and has developed into a space for creative collaboration around activism. My picks from the site are the Cats Against Catcalling collections, which is a collection of 3 designs illustrated by Alaina Ewins that addresses street harassment (10% of the profits are donated to Pussy Division, a group of feminist activists based in Philadelphia”> and the “Embodied” Collection. The latter was created by Black Yogi and collection co-designer, Jean-Jacques Gabriel, to honor and inspire and represent POC engaged in self-care practices. The line is rooted in the words of Audre Lorde, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” 10% of the profits will be donated to the Black Yoga Teacher’s Alliance Scholarship Fund.
As You Are Intimates
Created by Skylar Marshai, As You Are Intimates is a New York-based intimates brand, providing handmade lingerie that hugs your body in all the right places. “We strive to produce lingerie that not only allows for intimate comfort, but that allows women to embrace who they are, as they are, from any shape, shade, or size. Through detailed lace and design, our goal is to regenerate the usual perspective of lingerie, providing pieces for women seeking lingerie that can be bought as a reminder to themselves.” You deserve to feel sexy, cute, pretty, and beautiful! Indulge in some self-care and body-positivity, and buy yourself some lingerie.
CANDLES
Eden’s Glow
I found her on Twitter after she posted a photo for our #TextureTuesday, and saw that she made incredible candles. They come inside coconuts, how cute!
LitBklyn
Their motto is “It’s lit” a proverb for millennials (drag me”>. Each candle is hand poured, packaged, and shipped from Brooklyn with the highest quality ingredients. The line is made with 100% natural soy wax and scented with the finest of fragrance oils.
Southern Elegance Candles
“One of our goals is to support other small southern businesses. With that in mind, we searched high & low for the best suppliers in the south.Our fragrances, so incredibly lush & luxurious, come from South Carolina and Georgia. Our wax, wicks, and containers come from (almost”> right down the road here in North Carolina. We know that our customers appreciate our doing our best to help keep business local.”
ART
Harper Iman Dolls
Instead of your buying the standard Barbie or American Girl dolls, support a doll maker that caters their designs to black and brown kids. Shoot, I’m 25 and I want one. Harper Iman dolls can be custom-made from the hair, skin complexion, and clothing, or you can buy a pre-made doll. Click Harper Iman Dolls above to find the site!
Loveis Wise
A Freelance Illustrator based in Philadelphia from Washington,DC., Loveis Wise has a collection of art that is unique, beautiful, and affordable. You can buy her work and support her on Etsy or Philadelphia Printworks.
Debra Cartwright
Known for her watercolor art, Cartwright creates to represent Black women in all of their beauty. What I love most about her work is how she depicts not only the female form as soft and delicate, but their hair as well. You can purchase her work at her store.
Now get to shoppin’ and supportin’! What are some of your favorite Black owned brands? Share in the comments below!
Photo by: Rondo Starr for Vulture
If “Baduizm” means empathy for Hitler, sexual assault, and staying silent on issues of injustice, then I want no part of it. Sorry Ms. Badu. In an interview with David Marchese for Vulture, Erykah Badu, 46, said, “I saw something good in Hitler… Hitler was a wonderful painter.”
The interview continued to move in an odd direction when Marchese asked “what would his skill as a painter have to do with any ‘good’ in him?”
“Okay, he was a terrible painter. Poor thing. He had a terrible childhood. That means that when I’m looking at my daughter, Mars… I could imagine her being in someone else’s home and being treated so poorly, and what that could spawn,” she continued. “I see things like that. I guess it’s just the Pisces in me.”
After that statement, it was hard to continue reading the article and remain impartial. Before I go further into any analysis of her bizarre comments in the interview, let me make it very clear that I am (was”> a Badu fan. From her musical genius and lyricism, to her style on the red carpet, including show-stopping hairstyles that often push the boundaries of what it is to be beautiful or fashionable in Hollywood, I generally ship Badu. Even after she said some controversial things in the past, I continued to root for her, I mean how many times have some of my favorite rappers said some problematic things? However, over the years Erykah Badu seems to be moving farther and farther away from the realities of being a Black woman in America. Just like skin color is a privilege, so is wealth. And wealth seems to have made Badu a bit oblivious to the issues surrounding the country and world today.
Earlier in the interview, the Neo-Soul legend refused to condemn Bill Cosby, who as you probably know, admitted to drugging and sleeping with multiple women. “Because I love Bill Cosby, and I love what he’s done for the world. But if he’s sick, why would I be angry with him?” she questioned. “The people who got hurt, I feel so bad for them. I want them to feel better, too. But sick people do evil things; hurt people hurt people.”
My issue with her comments, which have been mirrored by some NC colleagues and around the interwebs, is that by showing empathy for these obviously vile people, she is choosing the side of the indifferent.
Erykah Badu, when you say you can see good in Hitler, just remember something… in your mind, that might seem like a real smart and nuanced point. To Holocaust survivors and their ancestors, it’s a kick in the teeth and an unnecessarily offensive thing to say.
— Joshua Zitser (@mrjoshz”> January 24, 2018
Erykah Badu-“I see some good in a lot of people”
— Rashad (@BRashadBeal”> January 24, 2018
Me reading the interview: “Yes, I can see her point”
Erykah-“Even Hitler, He was a beautiful painter”
Jewish Interviewer-“No he wasn’t!”
Erykah-“Ok he wasnt”
Me thinking: “Then why would you use him as an example?” pic.twitter.com/lWfC9VI5V5
The Erykah Badu interview in Vulture is problematic to say the least. If you're going to operate without professional PR, you need to have enough discipline to resist volunteering any opinion on Hitler.
— Clayton Rainey (@runningfool75″> January 24, 2018
Badu admitted that her opinions often go against mainstream beliefs, but she remained adamant throughout the interview that she was an “empath” and that her views simply reflect how she sees things.
“I’m not trying to rebel against what everybody’s saying, but maybe I want to measure it,” she said. “Somebody will call me and ask me to come to a march because such and such got shot. In that situation, I want to know what really happened. I’m not going to jump up and go march just because I’m green and the person who got shot is green. The rush to get mad doesn’t make sense to me.”
It’s as if she’s saying, “nothing offends me, because I have this superior ability to rise above conflict,” instead of understanding that her wealth and status has afforded her some evasion of the oppressions that Black men and women face at the hands of the oppressor. It is disconcerting that Badu, a woman that so many have considered an icon and someone to look up to, would proudly dismiss the wrongdoings of these men, and other injustices, and claim it as empathy. I think her Baduizm (the way she sees things”>, could use some direction from one of the greatest minds of all time, James Baldwin:
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.”
You can read her full interview with Vulture here.
Is Badu operating on a higher moral plane than us all, or has she reached the ranks of celebs like Kanye that are way too far removed from society? What are your thoughts?
Black hairstyles have been at the forefront of pivotal social justice movements, the star accessory of red carpet looks, an ever-changing representation of personal style and growth, and unfortunately, co-opted for consumption and revenue by those who do not understand the culture it belongs to. I often focus my energy onto the latter, cultural appropriation, because I see it so often; Miley, what’s good? However, exhausting my energy on calling out those who steal our ideas, traditions, and then profit off them without credit is tiring, and I been there done that many times. So instead, I’m taking a quick break from the Jenner Sister ignorance, and I am shifting the focus to celebrating Black women who have inspired and continue to inspire us today.
Black culture has not always been celebrated by mainstream society, but it has always been at the forefront of trends that go mainstream. This goes for hairstyles too. In fact it’s hard to think of a currently “trendy” hairstyle or fashion statement that wasn’t inspired by Black culture or tradition. Here’s a list of some of my favorite women across generations that give me all the courage and hairspiration I need to start out 2018 with confidence and style.
The 60’s and 70’s
Black women like Angela Davis and Nina Simone wore their hair natural long before big hair and volume was trendy, and brought the picked out afro into the mainstream in the 60’s-70’s, paving the way for Pam Grier to rock her afro in Foxy Brown, 1974. The Afro has always been more than just a hairstyle; these two queens wore their hair natural in a time where the afro was seen as an act of resistance and symbol of the civil rights movement. Left fists up!
The 80’s
Diana Ross’ hair evolution goes unmatched throughout her career, but the 80’s added length and volume to her hair resume as well as an iconic sparkly fishnet headwrap.
This list would not be complete without Grace Jones. She made waves in the industry with her bold and iconic high-top fade, which people to this day still trace back to her.
The 90’s
The 90’s were a big year for Black hair (potential slight bias because I was born in 1992″>, as artists and performers started to gain more recognition and celebrity, everything from how they wore their hair to how they spoke became enviable.
Janet Jackson popularized box braids in the film “Poetic Justice”, Brandy sported her signature micro braids, Halle Berry and Nia Long’s cropped cuts had women everywhere thinking about a big chop, and while Bob Marley brought dreadlocks into the mainstream in the 70’s, Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu became well-known for their own take on locs and were seen throughout the 90’s experimenting with different lengths and styles.
The 2000’s
The 2000’s got a lot of inspiration from how music artists were wearing their hair. This decade incorporated a lot of color, soft waves, and twist outs that turned into signature looks for some icons. Beyoncé became the queen of blonde, a color that has followed her for over a decade now, Missy Elliott chose a deeper red color with textured short hair, Lil’ Kim had a wig in every color of the rainbow and outfits to match, and Alicia Keys took a lesson from her predecessors and became the new face of braids, while Corinne Bailey Rae was known for her natural hair and twist out signature look.
The 2010’s
The latest decade has brought the natural hair movement to a whole new level with celebrities, politicians, athletes, bloggers, and everyday people joining in on the natural and expressive movement.
Taking the lead have been newer hair icons like Issa Rae, Lupita Nyong’o, Solange, Yara Shahidi, and Janelle Monae, who have each experimented with several colors, headwraps, accessories, and hairstyles. Janelle Monae has become well-known for her natural pompadour style on the red carpet and Lupita was named People’s most beautiful person, wearing a fade on the cover of the magazine. Solange has become known for her hair accessories, clapbacks at the beauty industry, and aesthetically pleasing Instagram, music videos, hair, outifts, and essentially entire life. You can find Issa Rae wearing intricate and fun hairstyles on the red carpet and on her show Insecure, and Yara is out there leading the youth on and off air with stunning hair styles.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, so who are some of your favorite hair icons? Share below in the comments!
Graphics by the talented NC Designer: Cara Logue
You know what they say about a glass of red wine a day keeping the late night munchies away? Well, fortunately for us, there is another reason to start stocking up on wine.
In recent years, studies have shown the health benefits of moderate wine drinking specifically attibuted to red wine. Of course, I took this concept and ran with it, although adjusting to red over my white wine preference took awhile. But what if I told you there are also studies claiming that a wine rinse applied topically could give the same benfits, but even more pronounced? People in the beauty industry have been writing about using wine for skin and haircare purposes and contemplating if it’s worth it. So, can a wine rinse good be good for your hair?
The Science Behind The Rinse
Most studies suggest that wine applied directly to the hair as a rinse can have some unique benefits that are hard to find elsewhere. It is important to note you want to use red wine over white wine since red is higher in antioxidants than white. Rinsing hair with red wine can help with UV protection, hair loss, dandruff, and irritated scalp. Red wine contains an ingredient called resveratrol, that helps stop hair loss while also stimulating the scalp with improved circulation. Resveratrol gets rid of inflammation while encouraging new cell turnover for a healthy scalp capable of producing new growth. According to Allure, “Wine does contain resveratrol, which has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant and useful for treating sun damage and the effects of aging,” reports dermatologist Jason Emer. “And other polypheols (like tannins”> that are common in wine may be useful for aging and inflammation, as they have been thought to fight free radicals and decrease the risk of cancer when drunk. To have any long-term benefit, however, they would likely need to be constantly applied topically.”
Will It Color My Hair?
Many women with blonde or lighter hair shades may worry about the red wine dying their hair. While red wine can be used to create a temporary dye, it is usually combined with henna to achieve that effect. Red wine alone won’t change your hair color. If it does give it a slight red hue, it can be washed out with a few washes. If you are worried about this, you can always do a strand test to make sure it won’t be a problem for you.
Olivia Pope in Scandal. via GIPHY
Can’t I Just Drink It?
You can drink red wine and reap these same benefits for the most part. However, if you apply the red wine directly to the source, you will see results faster and in a more pronounced way. Hair will also get a luster to it when the wine is applied topically.
How Do I Do a Wine Rinse?
It is best to do a wine rinse after you shampoo and condition. While some rinses are best when completely rinsed from the hair, such as eggs, mayonnaises, or anything that can take on a spoiled smell, red wine is acceptable to not wash out fully from your hair. Simply apply wine to hair and scalp until saturated. Rinse it out, but don’t shampoo it out. If you leave a little red wine behind, it is not going to hurt your hair at all. You can choose to do this treatment once a week or every couple of weeks, depending on your preference. If you don’t enjoy the smell of wine, you can also dilute it with water prior to applying it to hair, but the results may be less noticeable than using undiluted wine.
The wine craze has reached full peak when it becomes a staple of your beauty routine. With such great benefits, who can blame you?
As a curly that has been through the ringer when it comes to finding the right hair products, I LOVE sharing when I find a new brand that works for me. So, meet Hairstory.
Since working at NaturallyCurly, I have changed up my hair care regimen a lot. And I don’t just mean trying out new products, which I CERTAINLY have enjoyed, but more along the lines of my wash day routine. For instance, I used to wash my hair every day, not shampoo or cleanse it, but wet, condition, and detangle my hair daily before I left the house. If this sounds like a lot of extra work, it was. Now I have learned how to go a few days between washing with the help of a silk scarf and satin pillowcase, refreshing curl sprays and waterbottles, and new cleansing products that don’t leave me hair stripped of moisture. I’m sure none of these things are ground breaking to you if you have curly hair, but sometimes it’s easy to fall in the trap of a routine that works, even if there are better ways to alter your routine.
After several other editors shared with me that conditioning my hair daily was not necessary, and I could just use a scarf to preserve my curls overnight (which I knew, just never took the time to try on my hair”>, I began only washing my hair two or three times a week.
Since I had previously been washing out my leave in products each morning, I wasn’t used to the product buildup that occurred after a few days of refreshing my curls in the morning, and so, I then began to shampoo on my washdays. Generally, I only shampoo with my purple conditioner when my hair starts to look brassy, because shampoo has always dried out my hair. However, more brands have begun to acknowledge this problem by creating innovative products that work to both cleanse and condition, often referred to as no-poos, or cleansing conditioners. Hairstory is calling theirs the “New Wash“.
Michael Gordon, founder of Bumble and bumble and the brain behind the innovative Hairstory project, which has been called not only a hair product company but “a creative space dedicated to experimentation and refining craft“, where top of the line hairdressers were brought on to create, sought to challenge the shampoo industry. Gordon beleives that Sulfate-free, cleansing conditioner, and even baby shampoo all fall under the detergent umbrella. This ‘detergent’, is the reason conditioner is neccessary, because it strips all of the natural oils from your scalp.
To go along with what he calls a goundbreaking formula, Gordon also developed a line of styling products, a leave in balm, a blow-dry cream, and a texturizing spray. Each of which were designed to “Encourage hair to do what it wants, not force it.”
This look was created on wash day, using the new wash, hair balm, and my Devafuser until my hair was 50% dry, then letting the rest air dry.
I tried both their “New Wash” and their “Hair Balm” products, and my curls stayed ringlet(y”>, frizz-free, and my scalp oil free for three days. I could’ve gone another day without a wash, but I’m still learning how to properly sleep with a scarf on my head at night, so on that fourth day I woke up strugglin’. The ‘New Wash’ was created to simplify your wash day routine, and the claim is that it can wash, condition, detangle and repair your hair in one. As someone with type 3b curly bleached hair, I used to have medium porosity hair, however coloring my hair has changed my hair into high porosity, so I need A LOT of moisture. For me, the ‘New Wash’ did a great job of removing product buildup in my hair without drying out my hair, but in order to easily detangle, I still opted for a light daily conditioner after. However, maybe after my hair gets more used to conditioning less I’ll be able to use it as an all in one.
After washing and conditioning my hair I used some of the ‘Hair Balm‘ on my still wet hair. I then diffuse until about 50% dry, and let the rest air dry. And let me tell you my curls were POPPIN. I’m not sure if it was a direct reult of the ‘Hair Balm’ or the mixture of the ‘New Wash’ and the balm, but my curls really never looked better or felt softer. Since the ‘Hair Balm’ is made with natural oils and is very conditioning, I only need one or two pumps of it, so although the price us on the upper end, I can tell it will last me a long time.
It’s always fun to switch up products and brands when you get too comfortable with something that you know works, but it’s even more fun when you find a new holy grail. Have you tried any new products or brands that you are loving recently? Let me know in the comments below!
Hair loss is something no one wants to face. While the cause can sometimes be simply a fact of aging, most often it can be combatted by making certain changes in your diet. It has long been reported that certain herbs have the potential to stimulate hair growth. With that in mind, can they also aid in preventing hair loss?
While there are studies showing that herbs can help hair to generate new growth, it depends on which ones are being used since some are better for this purpose than others. For example, while oregano is great for flavor, you are better off using rosemary to stop hair loss. Herbs can help stimulate the blood flow, increase circulation, support the follicle, and create a healthy environment that encourages growth. Certain herbs can also balance out irregularities with DHT, the hormone that causes hair loss, to help with this area of hair health. Herbs can also help with premature graying for an added bonus! Here are the top 8 herbs that are great for combatting hair loss.
1. Gingko Biloba
This herb helps improve circulation, block DHT levels, and helps with nutritional deficiencies that affect the follicle. It can be used topically but is more commonly used as a tea. It can also be taken as a supplement in pill form.
2. Stinging Nettle
A powerhouse herb for hair loss, this herb helps block the overproduction of DHT. As anyone suffering from hair loss knows, an overabundance of DHT is what leads to hair loss. Stinging nettle helps to restore the hormonal balance to stop hair loss by regulating DHT levels. This versatile herb can be taken as a supplement or as a tea, but can also be applied directly to the scalp as an oil.
3. Green Tea
Used either topically or as a drink, green tea is rich in polyphenol and antioxidant properties. It can help with circulation, as well as block DHT from overproducing. It also contains high levels of carotenoids, tocopherol, Vitamin C, zinc, selenium, manganese and chromium. All of these can aid in hair growth and preventing hair loss. There are also plenty of hairlines that use green tea in their ingredients, like Briogio Be Gentle Be Kind Green Tea Shampoo.
4. Bhringraj
A lesser known herb, this herb has been touted as a hair loss remedy. It has unique properties that help stimulate hair follicles for new growth, as well as helping to retain the active state of hair. It can be added to food as a spice.
5. Peppermint
Peppermint helps to heal the scalp to generate new growth, but it is also helpful for preventing hair loss. This herb not only stimulates the hair follicle while soothing an irritated scalp, but it is also super moisturizing. As a powerhouse that keeps the scalp healthy, it can help prevent hair loss due to follicle damage or scalp irritation. Remember, a healthy scalp is the key to not only hair growth but also preventing hair loss. Peppermint can be taken as a tea or applied directly to the scalp in the form of an oil and is used in hair products as well, like EDEN Bodyworks Peppermint Tea Tree conditioner.
6. Chamomile
This herb features a hard to find compound called blue chamazulene. This little-known compound can help with tissue regeneration which helps stop hair loss. It can be used as a drink, a supplement, or a rinse. There are also hair products that incorporate this into their formula, such as hair loss shampoos. The best results for this herb will occur when applied topically instead of ingested.
7. Horsetail
This is an herb often seen in hair products, but it can also be taken alone. It has high levels of a compound called silica which is proven to help strengthen hair and bones. More importantly for those suffering from hair loss, horsetail can also make the follicle less brittle so more hair is retained instead of lost. While you can find tons of shampoos with horsetail in the ingredients, you can also take it as a supplement.
8. Burdock
Perfect for healing an irritated scalp to help retain hair, this herb is loaded with necessary components such as essential fatty acids and phytosterol compounds. Since it is great for restoring scalp health, which is a key element of reversing the effects of hair loss, this herb can be found in a range of hair care products. It can also be taken as a supplement and is found in the many scalp products like the Alikay Naturals Blended Therapy Hot Oil Treatment.
It is also important to note that you get the most results from ingesting them as opposed to applying herbs directly to the hair or scalp. Not to say you won’t get results from applying them topically, but since it is easier for the body to get nutrients through the use of natural digestion, adding them to your diet may be your best bet.
If you plan on applying herbs directly to your hair and scalp, and there is nothing saying you can’t, it is best to opt for herbs in their oil form such as essential oils. If you are adding herbs to your hair in oil form, make sure it is pure since some oils may be mixed with other additives that may irritate your skin.
If you are looking to add any type of herbs to your diet as a regular supplement, you should first check with your doctor to make sure there won’t be any interactions with any medications you may be taking. Adding herbs into your weekly cooking regimen is a pretty easy edition to your diet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, “You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas”>, glycerites (glycerine extracts”>, or tinctures (alcohol extracts”>. Unless otherwise indicated, make teas with 1 teaspoon herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5-10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10-20 minutes for roots. Drink 2-4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.”
When looking for a way to stimulate the scalp to promote the retention of hair, while encouraging new growth, herbs are a great solution. Add some to your routine and see for yourself!
Photo Courtesy of of Jalisa’s Instagram: imadamejay
