Search Results: Kiana Tipton
Kiersey Clemons talks social media, speaking out, and “creepy” fan culture in her Betty Davis inspired shoot and interview with Galore Magazine.
Most of us know Kiersey Clemons for her career-launching role as Diggy in the indie comedy Dope, co-produced by Pharrell Williams, Forest Whitaker, and Sean Combs. Clemons played an androgynous lesbian teen in Southern California forced to navigate high school as a self-idenitfied geek obsessed with 90s hip-hop culture, who gets entangled in a mess of lust, high school drama, and a drug deal gone wrong. Since then, Clemons has remained in the spotlight not only for acting, but for her outspoken sentiments on Twitter, rocking her natural and short curls, bold fashion statements, and for just being unapologetically herself.
Speaking up against issues of oppression and equity as a Black woman is not easy. In Hollywood, it can stop you from landing a role or affect which roles you recieve, it can even blacklist you from certain studios or productions. However there has been a trend of the Black young women and youth of Hollywood resisting the notion that they are only entertainers and should not speak their minds or tell their stories. Kiersey, along with Zendaya, Willow Smith, and Yara Shahidi, among others, have used social media as a tool for activism rather than soley relying on selfies and self-promotion.
Serving Serious 70s Vibes^^^
In her latest interview with Galore’s Senior Editor Molly Mulshine, Kiersey remained on brand, speaking out on issues in Hollywood that affect women in disporportionate ways, specifially naming social media as one of the culprits.
“I wanna get rid of the conversation of social media when I’m in meetings. I wanna just make movies because the actors are great. I don’t wanna work with someone who’s not that good of an actor but they have a million followers. It affects the entire film. That actor is weighing down everyone else.”
Earlier this year, Clemons mirrored this same sentiment, tweeting publicly of the double standard she faces as a woman in the industry.
Our pay, (as women”> are determined not by talent but followers and im done pretending it’s not because I’ve been in the conversation.
— kiersey (@KierseyClemons”> April 18, 2017
I found this point particulary interesting because as a non-famous regular working woman, I have noticed that same double standard reflected in my own life online. Where my friends and I are concerned about what we post, how we look online, what the perfect witty caption is, our male counterparts post whatever they want, whenever they want, and seem less worried about what anyone thinks. Just like women, and women of color specifically, are held to different standards in society, that heirarchy is often reflected online and in our social media. There have been many times I have also wanted to get off of Instagram, and I have some girlfriends who have this year, but for some reason there is an invisible pressure I feel to stay on, to post, and to be seen.
Clemons also discussed how being vocal on social issues has impacted her career, and why she refuses to stop speaking out,
“I’m for sure aware of the fact that my career and my image has been affected because of the way I speak my mind and I do get backlash. I’m probably least likely to carry a TV series, for example, because when you’re pitching a show like that, middle America is what carries that show. That’s the main audience.”
In today’s political enviroment it would be nearly impossible to ask a Black woman to stay quiet, because our existence alone is political. Kiersey explained that she isn’t bothered by the fact that she could be missing out on roles due to speaking her mind, because those aren’t films/scripts she would want to work on anyways, claiming that the quality of a film should outweigh the audience’s opinions of an actor.
More of the interview and photos with Kiersey can be found here, and make sure to look out for Clemons in new films like Justice League and Flashpoint!
Credits:
Photography: Prince and Jacob
Styling: Alexandra Mandelkorn
Makeup: Ernesto Casillas
Does social media affect your self-esteem and have you ever thought about getting rid of it? Share in the comments below!
Didn’t we just have this conversation last week? Or was it the week before? Anyways, apparently the UK mags didn’t listen when Solange said “don’t touch my hair,” and decided to touch another Queen’s royal coils. But Lupita Nyong’o did not come to play.
Last week after yet another magazine conjured up their “digital scissors” to alter the image of a Black woman, Lupita took to social media to say this,
As I have made clear so often in the past with every fiber of my being, I embrace my natural heritage and despite having grown up thinking light skin and straight, silky hair were the standards of beauty, I now know that my dark skin and kinky, coily hair are beautiful too.Being featured on the cover of a magazine fulfills me as it is an opportunity to show other dark, kinky-haired people, and particularly our children, that they are beautiful just the way they are.
I am disappointed that @graziauk invited me to be on their cover and then edited out and smoothed my hair to fit their notion of what beautiful hair looks like. Had I been consulted, I would have explained that I cannot support or condone the omission of what is my native heritage with the intention that they appreciate that there is still a very long way to go to combat the unconscious prejudice against black women’s complexion, hair style and texture.
According to a set of images shared by Lupita on Instagram and Twitter, her hair was actually styled in a pulled back afro ponytail for the photo shoot.
The Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has notoriously used her platform to advocate for Black representation and to acknowledge the beauty of Blackness in all of its facets. She has also been open in sharing her struggles on the journey to self-love, “I remember a time when I too felt unbeautiful. I put on the TV and only saw pale skin. I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin” she recalled in a speech delivered at the 2014 Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon.
I remember a time when I too felt unbeautiful. I put on the TV and only saw pale skin. I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skinThis speech later went viral, and was an ode to Black women across the world that despite the hegemonic standards of femininity and eurocentric ideals of beauty embedded in Hollywood and society; that we are here, and our dark skin, coily hair, big lips, and differences are all a part of what makes us beautiful.
Unfortunately, three years later and mainstream beauty standards have yet to make any great strides, especially when it comes to images of Black women rocking their natural hair. In fact, this is just one of several incidents this year where Black hair has been heavily surveilled. NaturallyCurly editor April just wrote an article about the London Evening Standard magazine that was forced to apologize to Solange last month for removing a significant portion of her hair from their October cover issue. The month before, Nicki Minaj called out the double standard Black women face in magazines where their hair is altered in ways that their white counterparts are not. “For years, fashion mags would change my hair for their covers but allow women of a diff race to wear the exact style on the cover,” she said on Twitter.
So what is this persistent and infuriating obsession with “fixing” Black hair and why do these mistakes continue to happen? I’d be remiss to argue that this is just ignorance or an oversight by magazines. There is something about a Black woman’s hair that makes society uncomfortable, something about it that they think won’t sell magazines. And while these setbacks are evidence that we have a long way to go when it comes to combating hair discrimination and acceptance, women like Solange, Lupita, and all of you out there rocking your own natural hair are essential in the changing tide. We are a part of a revolution whether we want to be or not, and every time we walk out the door with our coils, curls, puffs, and braids we are forcefully challenging these mainstream ideals.
At the end of Lupita’s speech in 2014 there was an analogy she shared from her mother that stuck with me, “You can’t eat beauty. It doesn’t feed you.” With this she meant that beauty is not something that you can make or in her words, “consume,” rather it is something you have to just be. So I hope after these embarrassing affronts to Black hair, magazines will allow our hair to do just that, be.
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!
I am not a dietitian, fitness guru, or even a self-proclaimed health nut. I am just an ordinary 24-year old that is doing her best to not let the readiness of the American fast food industry and convenience culture get the best of me and negatively affect my lifestyle.
As an ex-college athlete with free and full access to a campus cafeteria, I had gotten used to having meal options on demand, without having to go far or pay for them. Once I graduated however, I struggled with cooking healthy meals, staying active, paying bills… well kind of everything to be honest. After taking some time to adjust to the real world, I realized that my fitness and health goals were failing because it was never about improving my health, it was about a number or a specific goal. Today, a few years post undergrad, I no longer weigh myself or count calories, but I do feel healthier and happier than ever thanks to a few simple lifestyle changes, and to a new focus on what it means to be healthy.
After several failed attempts at fitness or diet goals, I have made some subtle yet impactful changes that better fit my lifestyle, and therefore have been able to sustain these health driven changes.
1. Kombucha > diet soda
There has been a lot of discourse in the healthy living industry about water intake and hydration. But if you’re anything like me, sometimes water gets (don’t drag me for this”>, boring. Instead of opting for a sugary juice or diet/regular soda to satiate your bored taste buds, try kombucha. I started drinking this when I worked at Whole Foods, and quickly became addicted to it. Kombucha may be an acquired taste for some, but when you know how good it is for you it tastes even better. Most Kombucha contains live cultures, and evidence is mounting that friendly bacteria or probiotics aide digestion and can possibly even strengthen the immune system. My favorite is Ginger Kombucha of any brand, and it’s about $3 at your local grocery store in the refrigerated section.
2. Sleep More
I have always thought of myself as most productive creatively between the hours of 11pm and 2am. Almost every college article or essay was written between those hours, and was written well. However, post-college and entering work/grad school life, this is no longer efficient. I struggled for years half-heartily attempting to go to bed earlier, and always found myself accidentally scrolling social media or in a black hole of the internet until early morning. I eventually remedied this by setting a bedtime reminder on my phone. If you have an iPhone (I can’t speak for other phones”> there is a heart embedded as an app that lets you track your sleep and set a bedtime. I have it set so I get 8.5 hours of sleep every night, and to get reminders so I know when I’m up too late.
3. Walk to Run Errands
It’s very easy to forget that you have legs when you own a car. Instead of trying to find time to work out on top of everything else you have to get done each day, I have found it easier to incorporate exercise into my daily activities. I walk to and from my classes, about two miles each way, and I try to walk to the grocery store a couple times a week. It doesn’t feel like exercise because there is no gym involved and I’m getting things done in the process. This also allows me to enjoy being outdoors, listen to a new podcast or album, and just be with myself for a while. I also deleted all of those food delivery apps, because they were making me lazy. Instead, if I absolutely must have tacos or eat out, I challenge myself to walk to get them.
**If walking longer distances is not for you, biking and public transportation are good options too.
- Tysons Tacos, Austin, Tx
4. Less Meat
As an adopted Texan, giving up meat was not something I thought I would ever consider. However, after giving up fast food and watching one too many documentaries about the American meat industry, I became a pescatarian (couldn’t give up fish tacos!”> Becoming a pescatarian was a slow process where I ate less and less meat, until I no longer desired it at all. Surprisingly, it felt very natural to give up, and I attribute my ability to stay in shape without regularly exercising greatly to my diet. It’s been over a year now, and while I do still eat fish on occasion, taking meat out of my diet has helped me prioritize other food groups like vegetables, fruits, and legumes. Also, if you eat out as a vegetarian, lots of places give you the option of adding free guac or avocado as a replacement for meat-big plus for me. If you don’t think giving up meat is for you, try going without it a couple days a week and experiment with other protein options. Let me know if you try it!
5. Say No
This last one isn’t necessarily a fitness or diet change, but I had to include it because it has been really important for me on my journey to wellness. I have always been a people pleaser, I enjoy making others happy and am a caregiver at heart. But as with all parts of life, balance is important. Part of learning to say no, is recognizing when you do not have the time, energy, or knowledge to help someone out, and choosing to prioritize yourself when appropriate. I’m not advocating for people to be less caring and more selfish, but rather advocating for incorporating self-care into your health journey, even if that means saying no sometimes. You can’t take care of others if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Remember that.
What are some changes you’ve made that have improved your health and lifestyle? Share 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’ve ever landed on a curly hair article or forum then you will have quickly realized that this community speaks its own language, some of which was started here in our CurlTalk forum. If you’re new to caring for your curls then the terms can feel overwhelming, so we created this comprehensive curly hair glossary as a tool you can use to look up commonly used ingredients, techniques, and abbreviations.
2nd Day Hair
Hair that looks good enough to wear the day after wash day. It may only require misting with water or a little product to revive and refresh the style. Find out how these women achieve 2nd day hair.
Accordion Technique
Wash n’ Go styling technique that produces well-formed, highly-defined coils/curls. While soaking wet, a styling curl cream or curl gel is applied to cleansed and conditioned hair. As the head is tilted in various angles, the hair (now weighted with water and styling product”>, is lowered into an open palm and gently pressed to the scalp repeatedly.
Aloe Vera Gel
The mucilaginous material obtained from the aloe vera plant. The benefits of the gel to your hair include improved detangling, increased moisture, scalp healing, remediation of dandruff, restoration of pH levels, decreased frizz, enhanced cellular regeneration, anti-inflammatory action for the scalp and stimulation of hair growth.
Learn more
Products with aloe vera gel
- Honey Hemp ConditionerSpiral Spritz Natural Styling Serum
- ORS Curls Unleashed Aloe Vera & Honey Curl Boosting Jelly
Apple Cider Vinegar
When apple cider vinegar is diluted with water it can be used to restore the pH balance of the hair. Apple cider vinegar can work to close the hair’s cuticle, make it smooth with less frizz, and give you increased shine. For your ACV rinse, mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar and 2 cups of water.
Learn more
- How to do a Vinegar Rinse for Removing Dandruff
- Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar with Sister Scientist
- Do You Use Apple Cider Vinegar for your High Porosity Natural Hair?
Products with ACV
- Cantu Refresh Apple Cider Vinegar Dry Co-Wash
- Cantu Refresh Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse
- SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo
Armpit Length (AL”>
Armpit length is a common term used to describe hair that reaches the armpit from the back when stretched for a lengthcheck.
Ayurvedic Regimen
This regimen uses all natural Indian products to grow healthy, thick, long hair. Some of the products include but are not limited to the following: amla oil or powder, henna, neem, Vatika, brahmi, shikakai, and marshmallow root.
Learn more
Baggy Method
The baggy method includes applying moisturizer and then covering your hair with a plastic bag to trap the body heat for expedited product absorption into the hair’s cuticle.
Learn more
- Get the Softest Natural Hair, with a Ziploc?
- No, the Greenhouse Effect is Not the Same as the Baggy Method – Here’s Why
- Watch this Baggy Method Tutorial for Moisture & Length
Banding
Banding is a styling technique used to inhibit hair shrinkage and show more of the hair’s actual length. Gathering the hair into one ponytail or several smaller ones, covered elastic bands are affixed snugly from the scalp area, one after the other, all the way down to the ends, of the hair. Bands are left in for a period of time or until the hair is dry (if banded while damp or wet”>.
Bantu Knots
A hairstyle created by carefully and precisely parting hair in small-to-medium sections, and then twisting the sections in one direction until they wrap into neat knots.
Learn more
Big Chop
This is when you decide to go natural and cut off all your relaxed hair. To big chop includes cutting the relaxed and significantly heat-damaged portions of the hair.
Learn more
Blow Out
A blowout means styling your hair straight with a round brush as you blow it dry.
Bra Strap Length (BSL”>
Bra strap length is when the ends of your hair can reach the back of your bra strap upon extension.
Breakage
Breakage is when the hair breaks due to manipulation and/or excessive dryness. Not to be confused with shedding, the evidence of breakage is when the end of the hair strand does not contain a bulb the way a naturally shed hair would. Breakage can be reduced by limiting manipulation with heat tools, styling, washing, chemical processing, and increasing your moisturizing frequency.
Learn more
- You Need This: Top 2 Ingredients That Stop Curly Hair Breakage
- Is Hair Breakage Inevitable?
- How I Detangle Without Causing Breakage
Anti-breakage products
- ORS HAIRepair Anti-Breakage Creme
- SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Shampoo
- SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Masque
Butter
Butter is a solid form of oil that are primarily used to seal the moisture in the hair after applying a moisturizer. Some butters that curlies use for their hair include shea butter, mango butter, cupuacu butter, cocoa butter, and avocado butter.
Learn more
- What You Need to Know About Hair Butter and Oils
- Is that Oil a Moisturizer or a Sealer? You Should Know the Difference
- The 10 Most Popular Oils for Curly Hair
Castor Oil
Castor oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties of ricinoleic acid, which can help prevent scalp infections that can cause hair loss. It is humectant that contains fatty acids to nourish the hair and prevent dry scalp. The best time to use castor oil is in the winter season or colder weather, because it is the thickest of the oils.
Learn more
- I’m a Cosmetic Chemist. Biotin & Castor Oil Don’t Thicken Your Hair
- 4 Reasons Castor Oil is Basically Magic
- How to Use Castor Oil for Natural Hair Growth
Products with castor oil
- Coffee-Coco Curl Creme
- Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil
- SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Conditioner
Clarify
Clarifying thoroughly removes buildup of excess sebum, environmental elements, chlorine, and products from the hair. This can be done using treatments like clarifying shampoos and bentonite clay mixes
Clarifying cleansers
- Elucence Volume Clarifying Shampoo
- Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo
- Kinky-Curly Come Clean Moisturizing Shampoo
Cleansing Conditioner
Cleansing conditioners are also known as co-wash conditioners. These products are formulated to lightly cleanse and moisturize the hair in between clarifying. They are moisturizing like conditioners, but contain surfactants that remove dirt and oil from the hair.
Cleansing conditioners
- As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
- Curl Junkie Daily Fix Cleansing Conditioner
- Camille Rose Naturals Caramel CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
Clumping
Clumping happens when the strands of hair gather to form bigger, chunkier curls.
Co-Wash
To co-wash is to use a conditioner to lightly cleanse and moisturize the hair in between clarifying. The term is short for “conditioner wash.” Co-washes are used by curly-haired women who choose not to use shampoo as part of the Curly Girl Method or the No Poo Method.
Learn more
- Co-Washing: Is Your Conditioner Good Enough?
- 5 Problems Everyone Has with Co-washing (and How to Fix Them”>
- What are the Differences Between Cleansing, Deep, and Daily Conditioners?
Co-wash products
- As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
- Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner
- Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Quinoa Co-Wash
Coconut Oil
An ingredient derived from coconuts with a molecular structure that make it easier to penetrate the hair shaft. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties and is rich in vitamins and minerals.
Learn more about coconut oil
- These 2 Ingredients Stop Frizz In Its Tracks
- Low on Style Time? Refresh Second Day Curls with Coconut Oil and Vitamin E
- 10 Coconut Oil Hair Products Every Type 3 Curly Needs, NOW
Products with Coconut Oil
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
- DevaCurl Supercream Coconut Curl Styler
- Briogeo Rosarco Oil
Crown
The crown is the center region of the scalp atop of the head. It tends to be sensitive, especially for those who are tender headed.
Crunch
Crunch is the hard, crunchy feeling left by some gels when they dry, which can sometimes be scrunched out.
Curly Girl Method
The Curly Girl Method, created by curly hair expert Lorraine Massey, includes discontinuing the use of shampoo, products with silicones, brushes, combs, and towels.
Learn more
- How to Follow the Curly Girl Method
- 15 Curly Girl Method Approved Products
- 3 Different Ways to Follow the Curly Girl Method
Deep Condition
Deep conditioners are thick products formulated with ingredients that penetrate the hair shaft, nourish between the cuticles, within the cuticle layers, and/or within the cortex. They generally require longer treatment time of anywhere between 10-30 minutes based on the instructions.
Density
Density is how closely individual strands of hair are packed together on your scalp and ranges from low to high.
Learn more
- Hair Density
- Why Hair Porosity & Density Matter
- 3 Ways to Figure Out Your Hair Density, Once And For All
Diffuser
A diffuser is a blow-dryer attachment used to disperse airflow over a larger area so as not to disturb the hair’s curl pattern.
Dusting
Dusting is slight trimming of the hair done in between full trims.
Learn more
- How to Dust Your Own Curls at Home in 4 Easy Steps
- The Secret to Getting a Trim That’s NOT Too Short
Elongation
The process of loosening the curl pattern with products or styling techniques.
Emollient
Emollients are usually hydrophobic oils that form films on the surface of the hair, where they often act as anti-humectants or sealers. They are lubricants that make detangling easier by providing increased slip (decreased drag”> between adjacent hair strands.
Learn more
- Question of the Day: What Is An Emollient?
- Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel
Essential Oil
Essential oils are potent liquids derived from flowers and plants. They are known for their healing properties and aromatic scents that have therapeutic benefits for the hair and scalp. Some essential oils for hair are tea tree, rosemary, lavender, chamomile, myrrh, basil, sage, and peppermint oil. These oils tend to be extremely potent so it is encouraged to dilute them with carrier oils.
Learn more
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is extracted through cold pressing, and is one of the four oils that penetrates the hair shaft. Many curlies use this to pre-poo, deep conditioner, oil rinse, and seal.
Learn more
- Video: How to Deep Condition Your Dry Hair With Olive Oil
- The Benefits of Olive Oil for Hair
- 5 Best Oils for Coily, Type 4 Hair
Fatty Alcohol
Fatty alcohols are derived from natural sources and often used as an emollient in skin and hair care products. They give a smooth, soft feeling to the hair shaft by helping the cuticle to lie flat on the surface of the hair. Some fatty alcohols include lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol.
Fine Texture
Fine hair has a very small diameter and is very delicate and easy to damage.
Flat Twists
A technique whereby the hair is two-strand twisted flat to the scalp, in cornrow fashion.
Fluff
The use of fingers or a pick to add volume and shape to curly and coily hair.
Glycerin
Glycerin is a water-soluble conditioning alcohol that is an extremely effective moisturizer and humectant.
Learn more
- < a href=”/article/glycerin-the-ultimate-love-hate-relationship-with-natural-hair-hi/” rel=”bookmark”>Glycerin: The Ultimate Love-Hate Relationship with Natural Hair
- Should You Avoid Glyceryl Stearate
Hair Type
Hair typing is a system that classifies hair texture based on curl pattern, density, width, and porosity, which helps to determine how she will care and style her hair. Loose-wavy hair is type 2, curly hair is type 3 and coily hair is type 4. NaturallyCurly created the sub classifications from a-c, based upon the diameter of the wave, curl or coil. Take the quiz to learn more about your hair type.
Learn more
Henna
Henna is an herbaceous shrub used to condition and safely color the hair. It is commonly used in India for cultural customs and for conditioning the hair. It is important to purchase pure henna that does not contain metallics and chemicals like PPD, which can cause adverse reactions to the hair and skin.
- Choosing Between Henna & Cassia? Here’s What You Need to Know
- How to Use Henna for Healthier Hair
- How to Remove Henna Dye from Your Hair
Holy Grail
Holy Grail is a title given to the tried-and-true products that can be relied on to deliver consistently amazing results.
Humectant
This is an ingredient used in moisturizing products to draw moisture from the air to retain it for your hair. Some of the most commonly used humectants are honey, aloe vera, and glycerin.
Learn more
- These Are the Common Humectants Found in Your Hair Products
- The 411 On Dew Points & Humectants
- Should You Be Anti Anti-Humectants?
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is a non-greasy, moisturizing hair oil that is the most similar to the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in your scalp.
Learn more
- Got Dry, Dull Curls? Let Cantu Butter You Up with Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Almond Oil!
- 8 Benefits of Jojoba Oil for Hair & Skin
Products
- EDEN BodyWorks Jojoba Monoi Revitalizing Conditioner
- Aubrey Organics 100% Organic Jojoba Oil
- Design Essentials Natural Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Leave-In Conditioner
A leave-in conditioner is a lightweight, watery product that is formulated to add moisturizing properties to the hair without the buildup of a regular conditioner. It derives its name from the fact that this conditioner is not rinsed out.
Leave-in conditioners
- SoCozy Cinch Detangler + Leave-In Conditioner
- Soultanicals Fluff-A-Licious Curl Nutricious
- SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Extra-Moisture Detangler
Locks/Locs
A hairstyle whereby small sections of hair are twisted and over time, the strands become permanently secured. This is one type of protective style.
LOC Method
The LOC method stands for applying product in the following order: liquid or leave-in conditioner, oil, and cream. Most naturals will either use water or a moisturizer, an oil, and a cream or butter. This ensures long-lasting, moisturized hair in between wash days. The technique was introduced by Founder of Alikay Naturals Rochelle Graham.
Learn more
- LOC Method: The Routine EVERY Curly Should Know
- 5 Questions Everyone Has About the LOC Method
- WATCH: How to Do the LOC Method
- The Ultimate LOC Method Shopping List
Medium Texture
Hair with medium width consists of strands that are strong and elastic, and neither too thin nor too thick.
Moisturizer
A moisturizer product that includes humectants, which are extremely hydrophilic molecules that use hydrogen bonding to attract and hold water molecules from the environment. Moisturizing ingredients include glycerin, propylene glycol, panthenol, honey, agave, and aloe vera.
Learn more
- Why You Need a Moisture Foundation for Your Hair!
- Moisture or Hydration: What is the difference?
- You need these 3 moisturizing ingredients for long-lasting protective styles
Moisturizing products
- Alikay Naturals Shea Yogurt Hair Moisturizer
- As I Am DoubleButter Cream Rich Daily Moisturizer
- CURLS Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner
Nappyversary/Nattyversary
The anniversary of the day one decided to “go natural” and to refrain from applying chemical straighteners (relaxers”> to the hair.
No-Poo Method
No-poo method includes removing shampoo, products formulated with water-insoluble silicones, and products that require sulfates for proper cleansing from your regimen.
Learn more
- 4 Ways To Wash Your Hair Without Shampoo
- All About the No Poo Method
- How to do the Curly Girl Method on a Budget (With 4 Products”>
No-poo products
Oil Rinsing
To rinse your hair with an oil after cleansing and before conditioning. To oil rinse you add your favorite oil to wet strands and leave on for about 5 minutes. This step helps to detangle and seal in extra moisture for the hair.
Learn more
- Oil Rinsing vs. Hot Oil Treatments: No They’re Not the Same
- Oil Rinsing for Beginners (It’s Easier Than You Think”>
Paraben
Parabens are preservatives commonly used in cosmetic products. They have been associated with cancer, but researched linking them to causing cancer has been inconclusive.
Learn more
- 15 Paraben-Free Products For Type 4 Hair
- Top 15 Paraben-Free Products
- Why Do People Avoid Parabens? The Answer, According to a Scientist
Paraben-free products
- Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Penetrating Hair Treatment
- Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Sulfate-Free Shampoo
- Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel
Phthalate
Phthalates are plasticizer (dispersant”> ingredients in products that reduce brittleness/cracking/stiffness in hair and skin products like hair spray, soaps, and shampoos, allowing them to form a flexible film. The most common phthalates used are dibutylphthalate (DBP”>, dimethylphthalate (DMP”>, and diethylphthalate (DEP”>.
Pineapple
To gently gathering the hair atop the crown with a hair tie to preserve curls for second day hair.
Learn more
Plop
This method includes wrapping wet hair in t-shirt or microfiber towel in order to quickly to gently absorb excessive water that would drip otherwise.
Learn more about plopping
- The Curly Girl’s Guide to Plopping Your Hair
- 3 Curl Defining Techniques for Curls & Waves
- The New Plopping Towel I’m Loving Right Now
Polyquat
Polyquaternium polymers are ingredients commonly found in styling products. Polyquats (polyquaternium”> are polymers frequently used in hair care products to provide conditioning benefits to the hair.
Learn more
- This Polyquat is Like a Shield Against Frizz – Even When it’s Humid
- How Polyquats Work as Conditioning Agents
Porosity
Porosity is how easily your hair is able to absorb and hold moisture and chemicals. There are varying degrees of porosity that we commonly use: high porosity, medium porosity, and low porosity.
Learn more
- Know Your Hair Porosity for Healthier, Stronger Curls
- Everything You Need to Know About Hair Porosity
Pre-Poo
This includes applying an oil or conditioner prior to shampooing to help the hair maintain necessary moisture during the drying shampoo process.
Learn more
- Use This Jamaican Oil as a Hair Growth Pre-Poo
- Should I Use a Hair Mask or Pre-poo?
- DIY Conditioning Pre-Poo for Hair Growth
Propylene Glycol
This is a humectant found in many personal care products including shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in conditioners, and styling products. It is known to be a very effective humectant.
Learn more
- The Truth About Propylene Glycol, According to a Chemist
- The Signs You Have a Propylene Glycol Allergy
Protective Style
This is a type of style that does not expose the ends of the hair and is typically left un-manipulated for 2-4 weeks. Protective styling is primarily used to retain length.
Learn more
- 7 Protective Styles Perfect for the Beach
- The Best Way to Care For Your Protective Style While on Vacation
- How to Maintain Your Braids this Summer
Protein Treatment
A protein treatment deposits protein structures on the hair’s cuticle in order to replace the protein that was lost through manipulation, chemical processing, and aging. Everyone’s protein sensitivity is different, but usually it is advised to incorporate this into your regimen only once a month. Some proteins include hydrolyzed wheat, hydrolyzed keratin, and hydrolyzed quinoa.
Learn more
- The Must-See Guide to the Best Protein Treatment for Your Hair
- 3 Telltale Signs It’s Time for a Protein Treatment
- Repairing Hair Damage: Olaplex vs. Protein Treatments
Protein treatment products
- HASK Keratin Protein Smoothing Conditioner
- ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment & Balanced Moisturizer
- Curly Hair Solutions Pure Silk Protein Deep Moisturizing Treatment
PVP
PVP is a water-soluble polymer found in most gels. It is an excellent film-former and relatively inexpensive. The water solubility is extremely attractive to companies who wish to sell products to consumers who do not use shampoo or who use very mild shampoos, as it makes the gel easy to rinse.
Scrunching
To scrunch is to gently squeeze the hair upward from ends toward roots to encourage curl definition and remove gel crunch (aka
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!
It’s 2017 and Black girls and boys are still being sent home from school or punished for wearing their hair in natural styles.
In fact, it seems like stories centering on Black hair discrimination are surfacing a lot recently. I think many of us have seen, this year especially (side eyes U.S. administration”>, that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Now let’s re-wind to the 1990s
Growing up, my mom would spend countless hours detangling, combing, braiding, slicking back, or adding berets to my hair. I never understood why it was so important to her that I “looked presentable” at school until I got older.
When I got to the age where I could begin doing my own hair for school, I would get it wet, throw it up in a ponytail, and be ready to go.
Finally, the days of my mom hacking through my kitchen, re-doing my middle part and pigtail braids until it was perfect was over.
My mom would deliberately let out a loud sigh as I walked out of the house with fuzz on the top of my head and hairs out of place, before calling out to me “make sure nobody thinks I did your hair today.” I would then ignore her sardonic disapproval and head to my predominantly white school, without any realization that wearing my uncombed hair could be considered rebellious and threaten my education, or even be seen as a representation of my mother’s parenting.
It wasn’t until middle school that I began to feel the pressure of society to straighten or “tame” my hair. From the various curious hands coming for my hair, to the constant comments about how “cool” or “fuzzy” or “big” it was, to the boy in middle school who sat behind me and would throw things in it to see if it stuck, I was fed up with my hair, and I finally began to understand my mom’s insecurities.
Now, back to 2017
As I approach my mid-twenties, and I read stories about girls like 20-year-old waitress Akua Agyemfra, who was sent home from work for wearing her hair in a bun, or a third-grader from Belton, Texas who was sent home from school because the principle did not approve of her hairstyle, I am reminded that my natural hair is still not celebrated or accepted by mainstream society. And although there are many supportive people in my life who encourage and inspire me to love my natural hair, I still feel this judgment heavily, and it weighs on me daily.
Fortunately, due in part to social media and the strength and unity of the natural hair movement, many of the cases that had girls sent home from school were confronted and later condemned, one of which started the #SupportThePuff hashtag that went viral on Twitter last summer and is still used today.
The hashtag began in support of Tayjha Deleveaux, a high school student in the Bahamas who was confronted by school officials during school hours and told her hair looked “untidy,” and that she could be suspended if she did not braid it or put it up.
Untidy where? How beautiful is Tayjha’ s hair!
The notion of society passing judgment on Black women’s hair is not new, and even with today’s natural hair movement and awareness of Black hair discrimination, stories of Black boys and girls being targeted for wearing traditionally Black hairstyles is plentiful. In fact, Black girls have still been experiencing detention and overall criminalization in schools at an increasing rate over the years.
At a moment when footage of the brutalization of Black men has emerged with horrifying regularity, the media has overlooked the oppression of girls of color.
According to Monique Morris, author of “Pushout: The criminalization of Black Girls in Schools,” African American young women make up only 16 percent of girls enrolled in school, but make up 33 percent of girls with school-related arrests. Her book reveals the cultural beliefs, colorblind policies, and biased practices that are at the center of this issue.
While curly hair is something my mom has always taught me to commemorate, I learned at a young age that it is also something others feel they have the right to judge and control.
Not only are Black girls asked to change their hair to better fit mainstream beauty standards, they are at risk of having their education threatened if they refuse to conform.
Initially, when I read about these girls being sent home it reminded me of all the hair related insecurities I had growing up, and the present, residual concern of whether I look “presentable” or not depending on how frizzy my hair is that day. But then, I think about the supportive community I’ve curated online through following curly hair bloggers, how much my self-confidence and hair confidence has grown despite the many mainstream standards and image policing still in place, and the inspiring women I work with at Naturally curly that have gone through similar insecurities and hair journeys that I get to learn from every day.
Society still has a long way to go when it comes to accepting and celebrating a variety of hair textures and styles, but I know that I have come a long way, and I’m confident that if we continue to stand against injustices and discrimination, mainstream standards will follow suit.
Have you ever felt that your hair has been policed due to its texture or style? Let us know in the comments 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.
Subscribe to our Book Club Newsletter for updates and reminders for our hangouts, and to learn about the next book club pick!
Question
I’m new here so I’ll try to keep this short. My hair is 2c-3a and a little section at the nape of my neck is straight. I have been co-washing for a month and I know transitioning takes time. I also have low porosity with high density hair. Well, my hair is kind of weird lately. My hair when dried is between my shoulder blades so for 1 1/2 inches at the ends are defined curls/waves and from there on up can get frizzy with oily roots and a dry scalp. I use As I Am CoWash Cleansing Conditioner or Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner, GVP Conditioning Balm (Sally’s brand”>, SheaMoisture Hibiscus and Coconut Curl and Style Milk, and Eco Styler Argan Oil Styling Gel. And because of this I have to wash every other day if I can. Also, the curls in the back underneath are stretched and pulled down. Has anyone had this problem before and is this something that I have to wait out.
Answer
There seems to be a lot going on, in which it appears that product buildup is the main culprit. Based on the information you provided you are transitioning with low porosity, high density, 2c/3a hair with oily roots and a dry scalp. I am not sure if your use of the term transitioning is in reference to transitioning from chemically straightened hair to the natural state of your hair or in reference to incorporating co-washing into your regimen.
3 Ways to Quit Doing Too Much
You shared that you use As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing or Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner to co-wash, GVP Conditioning Balm, SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk, and Ecostyler Argan Oil Hair Gel. Opting out of clarifying when you have low porosity hair and layering on three products might be excessive, especially for someone with a looser curl pattern. I suggest three things:
- Start clarifying
- Reduce the amount of products you leave in
- Try to find dual moisturizing and styling products
I am not sure how it is possible to have a dry scalp with oily roots. You did not explicitly state that you have excessive sebum so I assume that you mean sebum, but after reviewing your regimen your oily roots may be due to product buildup.
The nape of your hair is probably straight because it is a looser texture and/or the weight from the products that you use. I encourage you to peruse editors Cristina (2c”> and Jamie’s (3a”> picks and to find a dual moisturizer and styler or a light moisturizer the can build with a styler without weighing your hair down and accumulating buildup so quickly.
I know embracing your curly hair can be exciting, but all of the information that is shared online is merely testimonies and suggestions, not rules. It appears that you may have too much going on in your regimen. Take some time to decide what needs to stay and what needs to go before you get burned out. I would hate for this transition to not be a pleasant experience and become overwhelming. Do what works for you and a lot of the time that does not always involve every new tip that worked miraculously for someone else.
Have you ever had a moment in your regimen when you were doing too much?
