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To be honest, I always feel a type of way when brands come out with products marketed towards bi-racial or multi-racial people specifically. I think this discomfort comes from being “othered” from either race that I am a part of. Additionally, the idea of mixed raced people not being able to find hair products that work for them in the beauty aisle is difficult to confront, even though that is sometimes the case. There is the majority of the aisle, stocked full of products made for women with straight-wavy hair looking for volume and texture, and then there is the “ethnic aisle,” with moisturizing creams and oils for natural or relaxed hair to lay down edges and keep coils defined. Throughout the years of walking down these aisles, I have been able to find products from either area, when cocktailed or used in a certain way that works well for me. But as far as using one product consistently or one brand for all of my needs, this hasn’t been easy.
Over the last decade, brands have started to capitalize on this need, creating products to address the needs of several hair types, and recognizing that not all coily hair is high porosity, nor is all wavy hair has a fine texture. Black, white, and multi-racial women all have curls that require particular attention to their individual hair types. This universal struggle to find the right products has led many naturalistas, including myself, to try dozens of products before finding one that works, as well as leading brands finally addressing the needs of severalhair types.
Many Ehtnicities
Many Ethnicities was created in 2014 by Dr. Ena Hennegan, a mother, a board-certified, practicing family physician in suburban Chicago. Her brand was created in response to her own personal journey to find hair products that worked both for her individual curls, and her three daughters who all have various hair types and needs. Many Ethnicities products are designed to be safe, healthy, easy to use while delivering optimal curl definition and performance.
While the struggles mixed-race people have had to find the “right” product are not struggles only we encounter, there are specific differences between what a white woman will need to style her hair, a Black woman will need, and what I will need. And that’s okay. It’s okay that what works for my cousin’s hair or my mom’s hair will generally not work for mine and vice versa. Dr. Ena Hennegan recognized this after having three multi-racial children all with different hair needs. She had already scrambled to find the right products for herself, and now she was forced into searching for products for four curly girls, talk about a struggle!
My Results
I tried the Many Ethnicities Invigorating Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner and really loved the results. I usually condition my hair every couple of days and shampoo once a week because shampoo often leaves my hair too dry and frizzy. With Many Ethnicities shampoo, my hair still felt soft after because it did not take away all of my natural oils but still left my scalp feeling clean and rid of product buildup. Usually, I have to pre-poo on wash days because the shampoo will leave my hair super dry and I will then have to condition my hair multiple times before it feels back to normal. This shampoo and conditioner mix moisturized my curls without weighing them down and saved me from having to do another condition every day after. I’m currently on day three of not washing my hair, and it’s still not greasy, and my curls are still poppin’.
Best of all, this line is completely free from sulfates, parabens, gluten, dyes, harsh salts, phthalates, and petroleum!
Our Video Producer Grace and Graphic Designer Fran have also been testing the Many Ethnicities products, so I asked them how they worked for them.
Grace’s Results
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Many Ethnicities as I had never heard of or tried the brand before. I had high hopes because it claims to be research-based but I was also worried that it would be too heavy for my hair as many brands who claim to be “multi-ethnic” are really geared toward thicker, curlier hair.
I tried the shampoo and conditioner. I love the shampoo because it feels like a clarifying shampoo but isn’t as harsh or stripping as most clarifiers. It washed away the product buildup I had and didn’t leave any residue or weigh my hair down.
The product I was most impressed with was the conditioner. Immediately upon putting it on my hair, it softened and detangled. I barely needed to put any work in to get the tangles and knots out of my hair, and I didn’t need as much conditioner as I usually do. I think this could be a holy grail product for someone with even coarser or thicker hair because of how well it works. The icing on the cake of this brand is that Many Ethnicities is female and minority-owned and doesn’t test on animals.
Fran’s Results
“I definitely felt skeptical about the brand being called Many Ethnicities, very skeptical. The idea that a brand would market themselves toward such a specific group of people weird to me. Personally, I don’t really feel it’s been difficult to find products either in the “mainstream” aisle or the “ethnic” aisle, I went to all the aisles that had “curly” hair products period. So I’d be in both the mainstream and ethnic aisles all of the time. I’m bi-racial, Filipino and African American, and I have very fine, low density, 3b hair. The last brand I tried that wanted to market towards “mixed” people, I hated. I figured that hair texture and the products designed for them can be independent of ethnic background; that being said, I was really surprised that I ended up loving how the Many Ethnicities products worked on my hair.
I tried the Many Ethnicities Moisturizing Conditioner and what stood out to me was the consistency. I loved that it was so thick it almost felt like a deep conditioner. Of course, I liked it even more when I rinsed my hair, and my hair felt great. I also tried the Many Ethnicities Leave-In Conditioning Cream, and this leave-in left my hair feeling moisturized with the perfect amount of definition, which is important to me.”
Many Ethnicities is now available in SHOP NaturallyCurly. Start addressing your hair needs today!
It’s almost October 31st which means discounted chocolate from your local grocery stores and cute kids in even cuter costumes are right around the corner. This year I’m being sponge bob, as a 24-year old it’s more of a funny costume than cute, so I will spare you those photos. Instead, I’ll share some cute curly kids in adorable costumes to help get you through your week and maybe give you some last minute inspiration for your mini me’s.
It’s almost October 31st which means discounted chocolate from your local grocery stores and cute kids in even cuter costumes are right around the corner. This year I’m being sponge bob, as a 24-year old it’s more of a funny costume than cute, so I will spare you those photos. Instead, I’ll share some cute curly kids in adorable costumes to help get you through your week and maybe give you some last minute inspiration for your mini me’s.
Icons
What’s cuter than Bruno Mars? Baby Bruno Mars.
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Mini Colin Kaepernick here to fight for justice and eat some candy
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A subtle way to teach your babies about the GOAT Lauryn Hill
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Fitness guru Massy Arias’ daughter as Frida Kahlo and then as Solange from Cranes in the sky.
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Rayna’s daughter as mini Issa
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Reclaiming my candy.
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Kylie has absolutely slayed different Beyoncé looks each year. ICONIC
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The children are our future, but the women form Hidden Figures paved the way.
,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>If you know, you know! Craig and Smokey for the win.
,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>Abrielle as her favorite Troll Princess Poppy!
,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>Anyone remember the Gross Sisters from the Proud Family?
Creative DIY
Ziya’s mom, beauty and lifestyle blogger Raven Elyse gets creative with her daughters costume each year.
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Superheroes and Protectors
Parents may be the protectors 364 days of the year, but this Halloween the kids are taking over and saving us..mostly just from eating too much of their candy. This family absolutely killed this look. Goals.
,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>Nadia Tomlinson in the center as an Incredible, Jaxon Downs as a police officer on the left, and the Newberry crew, Lorenzo on the right as Captain America and Kadience center left as Marshall from Paw Patrol.
NACHO LIBRE to the rescue! Not only did Jessica’s son nail this costume, but look at Maleighkigh’s perfect ringlet curls!
Superman is a classic for a reason, and Kayden was sure happy to be his mama’s savior. 
The audacity! Nadia Tomlinson as the cutest curly BatGirl. 
Briana’s son Harlem trick or treating as Iron Man last year. I’m sure that pumpkin was full by the end of the night! 
The Wizard of Oz Who says your curly-haired kid has to be the lion from the Wizard of Oz? Serenity shows us how to be the cutest version of the tin man all while showing off her beautiful curls.
,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>Serenity leads the Oz crew across a grassy field as the tinman, but I’m pretty sure she has a big enough heart for all of us.
Nylah as Dorothy. Look at those braids!
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Stitch may be a pain in Lilo’s behind sometimes, but how can you stay mad at something so cute!
It’s a family affair! Jazma and her family SLAYED their costume. From left to right: Lilo, Stitch and the trusty bodyguard Cobra Bubbles
Villains (but cute villains”>
Serenity and her mom Angela perfected another look for Halloween this year, and I’m sure it will leave Dalmatians SHOOK after seeing their version of Cruella De Vil.
Brandy G’s son dressed up as a dragon, but he looks a bit too happy to play any tricks this year.
BONUS PICS!
I thought it would be fun to add a couple Halloween pictures from us here at the NaturallyCurly office. #throwback My mom always says this was my favorite costume, I was Barney 3 years in a row!
NaturallyCurly designer Cara as a genie. Who taught her how to smize like that?!
NaturallyCurly editor Devri, can you guess her costume?
Video Editor Grace as Cruella De Vil, she’s still this fierce-a bit nicer though.
Lizzie, our Digital Account Manager, as a 50’s sock hop gyal.
My younger siblings as bees for their first halloween 9 years ago.
Why let hair dictate your child’s costume? Let your child know they can be anything they want this Halloween, kinks, curls, coils and all. What were some of your favorite costumes as a kid and what are your curly kids going as this year? Share in the comments below!
But You’re Too Big to Have an Eating Disorder
A common misconception. A mistake. A “reassurance: I’ve heard too many times. Fake news. What a lot of people do not know about eating disorders is that not everyone that has one is bone thin. Some of us are big or curvy, some of us have athletic builds, some of us look “just right.”
Some of us are recovering from an eating disorder, and although we may have a healthier relationship to food and our bodies, still let thoughts of discontent and self-hate creep in from time to time. What a lot of people do not know about eating disorders is that they never really go away.
**Just as important, not all thin women have an eating disorder. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes naturally so try not to assume things either way.
I remember my favorite movie in high school was 500 days of Summer. When describing Summer, the narrator said “Summer Finn was a woman. Height, average. Weight, average. Shoe size, slightly above average. For all intents and purposes, Summer Finn was just another girl.” Meanwhile, on the screen flashed, 5’5 121 pounds.
5’5 and 121 pounds. Average height. Average weight. Average girl.
I graduated high school at 5’6, 118 pounds. So according to 500 days of Summer, I was basically the average girl. A girl who ate 500 calories a day, weighed herself every morning, had anxiety about hanging out with friends because I didn’t want to end up eating more than I planned for, and at the end of the day, still felt too big. Average girl?
A couple years later I left for college and was still struggling with my body image and self-esteem. I had stopped getting my period and had fainted multiple times at soccer practice, so my coach had me see the athletic doctor. I was nervous he would know right away something was up, I actually wanted to tell him, but the first thing the doctor said to me was that I was in a ‘healthy weight range’ so I shouldn’t be worried. I remember wanting to scream at him. To tell him that I was starving myself and that I tried but couldn’t get any smaller.
I wish I could say there was an exact moment that sparked my eating disorder. It wasn’t right after my soccer coach said I looked ‘slow’ after gaining some weight or when my mom gave me a funny look for going for seconds. It wasn’t when a girl in my class, same height as me casually said “I just don’t want to ever be in the 140’s, that’s way too big” right after we had weighed ourselves in our yoga class. It wasn’t after finding blogs on Tumblr solely committed to thigh gaps and weight loss. It was a combination of things. It was continuously feeling not good enough or in control enough, feeling like I took up too much space, and in sum feeling like if I lost weight, all of these things would be fixed.
I’m not exactly sure when or why it happened, but towards the end of my freshman year of college I was beginning to focus on recovering. I was tired of not performing well in soccer because I was so exhausted and hungry, and I was tired of letting this disease take over my life. When I went home that summer I stopped weighing myself, deleted my calorie counter, and began on a road to recovery from a disease that nobody knew I had.
Even today, years after “recovering,” there are many days when I feel like I could stand to lose 10 or so pounds. Even when I was training for a marathon and was more fit than I was as a college athlete, I would occasionally look in the mirror and think to myself, “If I just lost 10 pounds I’d be perfect.” Of course, if I ever said these things aloud my friends would drag me, rightly so. I recognize as a size 4 smallish girl that these thoughts are annoying for some people to hear, but eating disorders do not discriminate. They whisper the same thing into all of our ears no matter how big or small we are, and it can take years, maybe a lifetime to silence them.
Some of my greatest mental breakthroughs with this disease have been through to talking to others that have dealt with similar body insecurities. I used to be so scared to talk about anorexia. That word is still hard for me to say out loud, but every time I talk about it I recover a little more.
And while I am not cured from these negative thoughts and still have the scars from my past, I do think sharing these stories is important. Some of my greatest mental breakthroughs with this disease have been through to talking to others that have dealt with similar body insecurities. I used to be so scared to talk about anorexia. That word is still hard for me to say out loud, but every time I talk about it I recover a little more. I love myself a little more and I create a bigger distance from where I once was.
At the end of the day, I know my body is beautiful. I know food is fuel, and not the enemy. And I know to silence these thoughts when they come. I do not understand why women are put under intense scrutiny and pressure to look a certain way, when bodies thrive in all different types of shapes and sizes, but I do know that the media is only vaguely different now than it was when I was growing up- so, if there is going to be a change it has to come from us. From each of you reading this. It has to come from checking yourself before you make an assumption that may be harmful, or say something that isn’t body positive to yourself or others. In an age of social media highlights, face-tune and photoshop, we need to hold each other accountable. Because there are few things worse than starving yourself and people telling you not to worry, “you’re too big to have an eating disorder.”
Celina Caesar-Chavannes, a Liberal Member of Parliament for Whitby, Ontario received a standing ovation in Parliament last week after speaking out about body shaming and hair discrimination. Her simple yet powerful statements complimented her hair, which was worn in cornrows as a statement of solidarity with girls who have felt the judgmental gaze and unfair biases of society.
“I want them to know their braids, their dreads, their super curly afro puffs, their weaves, their hijabs and their headscarves and all other variety of hairstyles belong in schools, in the workplace, in the boardroom, and yes, even here on Parliament Hill,” the representative said to the other legislators.
I want them to know their braids, their dreads, their super curly afro puffs, their weaves, their hijabs and their headscarves and all other variety of hairstyles belong in schools, in the workplace, in the boardroom, and yes, even here on Parliament Hill
Photo courtesy of Celina Caesar-Chavannes’ Twitter Account.
In response to the many young girls in “Canada and other parts of the world who are removed from school or shamed because of their hairstyle,” Caesar-Chavannes took a stand against hatred, “body-shaming of any girl from the top of her head to the soles of her feet is wrong.”
Her speech condemns not only the societal pressure to ‘tame’ natural hair, but also the pervasive harassment young girls receive by school administrations and teachers around the world. Reports have shown that black girls are twice as likely to be suspended in every state-and it’s not because of more frequent or serious misbehavior. In addition, due to historical and inaccurate depictions of black girlhood, and despite widespread discourse about hair discrimination, black students continue to face barriers because of their hair and body; including facing detention, being sent home, kicked off sports teams, barred from taking exams, and even expulsion.
This is not the first time Caesar-Chavannes has used her platform to advocate for women’s rights and bring awareness to important issues. Last year, she penned an honest essay about her struggles with depression in a blog post for Huffington Post titled, “I’m An MP And I’m Among Those Who Struggle With Depression.” She describes a day when her depression almost won, and she had to go to a hospital under an alias where she sat for six hours before she could see a doctor. Sharing this raw moment not only helps to alleviate the stigma of mental illness- especially in the black community, but also alludes to issues in the healthcare system, “When I finally saw a doctor — who clearly knew that I needed to be an in-patient — there were no beds. Alas, the paradox of being a mental-health patient in our health-care system.”
The Canadian MP’s vulnerability with the public and in front of her colleagues is a prime example of why we need more women in government. Her powerful statements, present and past, have brought to light issues that are often overlooked and disregarded at a government level, and has given a voice to women around the world.
Irrespective of her hairstyle, the size of her thighs, the size of her hips, the size of her baby bump, the size of her breasts or the size of her lips, what makes us different is what makes us unique and beautiful.
Caesar-Chavennes reminded her colleagues that body shaming will not be tolerated, and that women and girls deserve respect and equality, “Irrespective of her hairstyle, the size of her thighs, the size of her hips, the size of her baby bump, the size of her breasts or the size of her lips, what makes us different is what makes us unique and beautiful.”
And although she generally wears her hair straight, last week Caesar-Chavannes returned to a style she knows well and rocked braids in front of parliament.
“This week I have my hair in braids, much like I’ve had for much of my childhood,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll agree they look pretty dope.”
Now that is some Black Girl Magic.
Who is your favorite woman in government? Have they helped to give you a voice? Share in the comments!
If you’re like me, the idea of curly bangs used to bring up imagery of “Flashdance” or mom and aunties in their wedding photos. Today, however, bangs are seen as more modern than retro, and every year more women with all different hair types are rocking the look in trendy ways.
After seeing some of my favorite celebrities and style icons wear curly bangs over the last few years, I decided to take the plunge and try them out. It’s been a year since I first swapped face framing layers for short fringey bangs and then later straight across bangs, and while there are definitely some days I look in the mirror and think to myself, “Girl why did you do this?” most days I really love them. Here’s a few things I’ve learned over the past year that help keep the “Girl, why?” days to a minimum.
- Do your research. There are many styles of bangs that you could try out, and the right style for you depends on your personal style, face shape, and curl type. I began with short fringey layers that were a safer way to break into the bang world, and eventually moved to a bolder straight across style after feeling more comfortable with the idea of bangs. Look up photos of bangs with different lengths and volumes and also how someone with curly bangs manipulates them to style in different ways. The easiest way to research a style is to find a “hair twin” with bangs. If you like how it looks on them, surely you will like how it looks on yourself. My main bang inspo was Sophia Roe, a healthy food and lifestyle advocate I follow on Instagram with a very similar hair type and length (at the time”> as me. I also often played around with folding my hair over itself or taking my layers and laying them across my forehead to see if I liked the look.
- Let yourself warm to them. It’s normal to think you don’t like how a new style looks just due to the fact that you aren’t used to it. When I got my nose pierced 5 years ago, I was practically mortified when I looked in the mirror, and was sure I was going to take it out. After about a week though, I started to love how it looked on my face, and now I can’t imagine myself without it. I had a similar experience with my new bang cut initially. I thought they looked silly at first and that they didn’t work on me, but again I stuck it out and after some time and patience learning how best to style them, I started to love them.
- Don’t ever cut them yourself. Just don’t do it. I know it seems like an easy and quick thing to attempt, and I’ve definitely seen friends with straight hair successfully do it, but I promise going to a professional is worth it. Often times if you call your stylist or a salon they will do it for free or for very cheap, especially if you add it onto a trim or haircut. I call my stylist for bang trims every couple months, and she does free them of charge since they only take a couple of minutes. Cutting bangs is different from trimming your own hair and requires specific skills and scissors in order to be done right, especially with curly hair.
- Add face framing layers with your bangs. If there is a big difference between your bang length and the rest of your hair, the style can tend to look more dated than modern. Ask your stylist to add some shorter layers to help blend your bangs with the rest of your hair. This way you can style your bangs with a middle part and to each side (shown below”>, or across your forehead as shown in the first picture. These layers also work well to soften or dress up a look when you want to put your hair up and need some extra curls on the sides of your bangs. One of my favorite lazy hair day looks now is putting my hair up, and leaving my bangs and a few longer curls on the sides of my face down.
- Style them separately. Not much unlike how you would take care of your dog differently than you would a cat, your bangs sometimes need specialized care. My bangs for instance, need to be brushed and styled while wet so they keep their curl and don’t frizz, whereas the rest of my hair can be styled while damp. I usually style my hair as soon as I get out of the shower, focusing on my bangs first so they are still wet, and then moving onto the rest of my hair. Additionally, I often finger coil some hairs in my bangs and leave the rest of my hair to do its own thing. I have found that when my bangs have ringlet curls, the rest of my hair doesn’t matter as much.
- If it’s a bad bang day, you can always pin them back. Unfortunately, bangs are not immune to frizz or funky curl patterns from time to time. One of my favorite styles on a bad bang day is a middle part and twisting my hair back into bobby pins on one or both sides. I always keep a few bobby pins in my purse in case my bangs decide to go rogue. This is also a good style for when they are a bit too long and you need to keep them out of your face until you have time to get a trim.
Bangs were the perfect way to change up my look in an inexpensive, trendy, and fun way. Have you ever had curly bangs or would you be willing to try them? What was your experience with them? Share below!
While the main focus of the natural hair movement has primarily focused on Black women and their hair journeys, Black men have always been a part of the movement too. However, due to the disparate ways men’s hair is policed in comparison to women, many men have kept their hair short in order to look “professional,” similar to how women have been pressured to straighten or relax their hair for similar reasons. Despite this, with increasing regularity I have been seeing curly men embrace their texture and length and join the carefree and curly movement.
Some are calling it the “Nappy Headed Black Male Revolution,” with celebrities like Jayden Smith, J.Cole, Michael B. Jordan, Odell Beckham Jr., Kendrick Lamar, Colin Kaepernick, and Future joining in on the movement.
The visibility of these male celebrities has potentially cleared the path for all of us to feel confident rocking our natural hair and growing it out.
Damon Young wrote about this movement for The Root:
“If you go to any inner-city high school cafeteria, or a college campus student union, or U Street in Washington, D.C., on a Friday night, or even to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the NBA draft—basically, anywhere you can find a large number of young black males—you’ll see hairstyles ranging from frohawks with bleached tips and full beards to Afros and boxes that have been meticulously and intentionally uncombed for months.”
While the term nappy comes with many negative connotations, some in the Black community have reclaimed it in order to embrace their natural textures and reject European beauty ideals.
In the past, Black men have been heavily criticized for growing out their hair and have faced similar hair discrimination that women deal with in school systems and in the workplace. And while anti-Blackness and hair discrimination is surely not over, it’s good to see men challenging mainstream ideals of “professional” hairstyles and leaving their hair uncombed and in the best possible way, “nappy.”
Enjoy some inspiration from these carefree and curly men with natural styles, I know I did.
Kad’s hair growth and transformation shows just how dynamic textured hair can be. Apart from growing out his hair and serving looks, you can find Kad’s writings on his blog where he discusses all things’ politics, race, social justice, and his personal views. I also follow Kad on Twitter, where you can find some pictures of him and his continuing hair journey, as well as hilarious and relatable tweets about all things Black culture and politics.
I am personally a HUGE Future stan, not only because his music bops, but his hair is incredible. Shekinah Anderson, his longtime stylist said she first put dreads in his hair when they were teens. The look obviously stuck, and Future’s hair has become a stable part of his celebrity and look, with the dreads now reaching the middle of his back. Whatever your opinion may be on his music or personal life, it’s hard to disagree that he has some gorgeous locs.
As a girl whose Dad signs off every text and Facebook message with 213*CPT Tip, Kendrick Lamar can do no wrong in my family. The last couple of years Kendrick has strayed from the staple clean shave with a fade look and has ventured into the world of short braids, locs, and full beards. His newest look has an effortlessly cool factor, intricate yet simple, that seems to mirror the style of his music.
The aesthetic in this photos is almost as perfect as TrillMile$’s hair is. The contrast of the pattern created by his braids with the curved line up and fade beneath it is a perfect example of the versatility of curly hair, and how men are experimenting with it. Trill Miles is an artist and actor, you can follow his latest web series on Facebook: The Beginning and Ending of Everything.” You can also follow TrillMile$ on Instagram here, and the photographer, Gabby Marevalo, here.
Have you seen the Black Panther trailer yet? If you haven’t.. open up a new tab, go watch it, and wipe the drool from your bottom lip and come back. MBJ is serving serious looks with his hairstyle in the upcoming movie. Prior to being cast in the movie Jordan was known to sport a more traditional cut, but has been growing it out and often leaving it uncombed at events and in films. Honestly though, I think he could have a flamingo on top of his head and I’d still be in to it.
I’ve been a Donald Glover/Childish Gambino since high school. The first time I saw him in concert he opened for himself as a comedian and then came out as a rapper-genius. Just like Gambino has experimented and achieved success in the worlds of comedy, acting, music, producing, and directing, he has also played with different hairstyles successfully. Whether Gambino is wearing his hair uncombed and longer, in short twists, or in a college-inspired beanie, he always makes it look cool.
Khris has experimented with the length of his hair over the last couple years, including his facial hair. The Costa Rican and Texan native has cut his hair since this photo, but the beard is still in full effect, proving that men can rock poppin curls or a fade and still look fly.
“Striving for the best in everything I do” is the bio under OBJ’s Instagram. You can tell this includes his hair care routine whatever it may be. I know firsthand how time-consuming it can be to have bleached hair and to keep it healthy, and Odell makes it look easy. His blonde hair and full beard contrast perfectly to compliment his beautiful complexion and jawline. OBJ proves guys can rock a bleached do just as well as Beyoncè, well almost.
Who’s your favorite curly haired guy? Share in the comments below!
Two years after a petition from fans to honor the late singer Aaliyah with a makeup collection, the makeup conglomerate, MAC, has finally listened. On the eve of the 16th anniversary of R&B legend Aaliyah’s death, MAC cosmetics announced the launch of the MAC x Aaliyah line. But try not to get too excited, because you won’t be able to scoop up the collection until Summer 2018,
“Aaliyah is truly one in a million—an unstoppable icon whose groundbreaking work in R&B music and film inspires us all. Today we join her countless fans in celebrating her with the announcement of the MAC Aaliyah collection. You made it happen! Stay tuned in 2018. #AaliyahforMAC” –@MACCosmetics
After the astronomical success of MAC’s first posthumous line, Selena X MAC, it only seems natural to celebrate Aaliyah’s legacy next. The “Are You That Somebody” singer died in a fatal plane crash in the Bahamas shortly after filming the music video for “Rock the Boat,” but her success, style, and music has lived on. Aaliyah became a household name as a teenager, starting with the major success of her debut album “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number” in 1994. She worked with other music legends like Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Jay Z, and was a powerhouse in the music industry and style icon on and off stage. The late singer was the queen of 90s style (no one wore a sportsbra with baggy pants like Aaliyah”>, with brands still looking to her most iconic looks for inspiration, so it’s no surprise makeup conglomerates should look to her for inspiration too.
Details about the line are still TBA, but based off red carpet, music videos, and performance looks, I think we can expect lots of gloss, brown and nude lipsticks, and smoky eye shadow palettes.
Who would you like to see MAC give a collection to and what do you hope to see in the Aaliyah inspired collection?
Share in the comments below!
If you haven’t yet heard of Nathalie Emmanuel, I’m sure you have heard of HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones, where Nathalie plays Missandei, Khaleesi’s right hand. Missandei joined the cast in season 3 and quickly became one of my favorite characters due to her honesty, complexity, and the fact that she is one of just a few characters of color in the cast. Additionally, there are limited characters on mainstream television that wear their hair natural onscreen.
While representation of Black people in the media has seen a rise recently, representation of Black women wearing their hair in natural styles is still not common.
“I think my hair is the first thing people recognize me for” Nathalie says in a recent interview with Byrdie, where she opens up about embracing her natural hair.
Wearing my natural hair wasn’t really allowed when I was in primary school
“Wearing my natural hair wasn’t really allowed when I was in primary school,” she said and recalled an incident where her school called her mother and demanded that Nathalie’s hair be put in braids because it wasn’t safe. “So my hair was always slicked down or put in braids, sort of hidden away,” she continued.
This kind of discrimination oF Black hair in schools is something I have written about before, and for many children, getting past that opposition to wear their hair natural does not come easily. For Nathalie, going to visit her family in the Caribbean, helped her feel more connected to her roots.
Something about being there and embracing the culture made me realize for the first time that my hair is a part of my mixed-race heritage. It’s a part of me.
Nathalie goes on to tell Byrdie that ever since her trip she has experimented with different styles and hair care routines, even picking out her hair and wearing an afro to school.
It’s ironic that Nathalie’s character Missandie has become so recognized for her beautiful curls on the show and yet she was discouraged from letting her curls out when she was younger. Today, it is clear that Nathalie no longer succumbs to the pressure of “taming” her hair, and Nathalie hopes wearing her curls onscreen and in real life will help the world catch onto the beauty of natural hair.
Representation of Black women is important in the media; and if you have ever felt insecure about wearing your naturally curly or coily hair to work, formal events, school, or just outside of the house – then you have felt the effects of that lack of representation. And while I have a lot of opinions about Game Of Thrones casting choices (you can have dragons and white walkers but melanin only makes sense in the form of slaves?”> I’m glad GOT at least features Missandei and her beautiful hair.
You can catch Missandei and her natural curls every Sunday night on HBO.
How do you feel about Nathalie’s decision to wear her hair natural on screen? What are some of your favorite TV characters that wear their natural hair? Share below!
When I was 12, my parents had two talks with me. One was the usual birds and the bees. The other talk was about what to do if a cop stopped me.
As quoted from early in the novel, the protagonist character Starr Carter tells the reader about a talk she had with her parents before the tragedy of the story unfolds,
“Mama fussed and told Daddy I was too young for that. He argued that I wasn’t too young to get arrested or shot. Starr-Starr, you do whatever they tell you to do, he said. Keep your hands visible. Don’t make any sudden moves. Only speak when they speak to you.”
If you are Black in America you know this talk well. You have most likely been on the receiving end of it, and you may have had to give it to your son or daughter before they could even fully understand the implications of having Black skin in America.
The NaturallyCurly Book Club read of the month is The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas.
This novel comes at an extremely divisive moment in American history, where news of police brutality is relentless, media coverage produces flattened or negative narratives of the victims, and the state continues to fail in holding police accountable for their actions. Exploring issues of race, white privilege, code switching, and the killings of marginalized people by police is a contentious topic in America today. However, Thomas notes that she began writing the novel as a short story following the shooting of Oscar Grant in 2009, and then picked up the project after the continued deaths of Black folk at the hands of the police, in hopes of giving a voice to marginalized groups that are too often silenced.
Synopsis
“The Hate U Give” is a young adult novel by Angie Thomas, which follows the protagonist character Starr Carter after witnessing a white police officer shoot and kill her best friend Khalil. Starr Carter is a 16-year-old High-school student who is tasked with navigating two very different worlds: being a Black girl from the hood and attending a predominantly wealthy and white private school. Starr’s journey leads her on a path to activism, paralleling the Black Lives Matter movement, in her quest to find justice for Khalil’s death.
While this novel is meant to raise strong and cogent arguments that counter the one-dimensional accounts of police brutality often represented in the news media and by authorities, the first person narrative also forces us, (the reader”> to explore the endemic nature of racism in our society at large, and what each of us are potentially or inadvertently doing that allows these systems to operate.
As we continue to fight against injustices of police brutality in a time where mainstream society refuses to acknowledge the persistence of institutionalized racism, Thomas’ debut novel serves as much needed literary device for change.
Get your copy
Order The Hate U Give on Amazon or in your local bookstore. You can also sign up for Audible and get two free audiobooks.
Sign up for the NaturallyCurly newsletter
Sign up for our NaturallyCurly Book Club newsletter here to be in the loop on the book of the month, and remind you when our virtual book club meeting will be.
Chat with us
Our virtual book club meeting will take place live on Facebook, so that everybody can attend no matter where you live! Tune in to the NaturallyCurly Facebook page on August 17 at 2pm CST to discuss the book with us and other book club members! You can also follow #NaturallyCurlyBookClub on Instagram and Twitter to chat with us through the month as you read.
Editor’s Note: The Facrebook Live has been rescheduled for August 18 at 2pm CST.
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