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Celebrated on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2nd with a huge feast on Nov. 3rd, Día de los Muertos is a holiday traditionally celebrated in central and southern Mexico that is all about honoring your loved ones that have passed on. November 1 is a day for thinking of children, and November 2nd is for celebrating the legacy of the adults. And yes, we all know the cemetery is the hotspot for this time, not to the mention the Westernized costumes we have seen come from it (skull face paint with a Frida crown anyone”>, this celebration is definitely much more than what meets the eye! So y’all ready for un poco de historia?
Peep these 8 facts about Día de los Muertos!
Las ofrendas are everything
It’s all about the altars when it comes to Día de los Muertos. Just like creating an altar with special items for religious purposes, these ofrendas for Day of the Dead are normally filled with items that were significant to the deceased’s life, so you might have toys, hair combs, sugar skulls, bottles of mezcal, or even fragments of their clothing. Each alter must also include cempasuchil or marigolds as they are the official flower of this holiday. Some families even spend months of their income to make these altars beautiful for their ancestors.
La Catrina – The calavera next door
The most famous icon of Day of the Dead is La Calavera Catrina, a political caricature of an indigenous Mexican woman influenced by European standards pre-revolution. Often seen wearing elaborate clothing and a hat, Catrina is a sign of the modernity in the Mexican revolution, as she was created by the famous Jose Guadualupe Posada, one of the most iconic printmakers and illustrators of his time.
It’s not just a Mexicanidad holiday
Yes, Día de los Muertos does have origins in Mexico, but that doesn’t mean it’s just a Latin American Holiday. Celebrations happen all around the world such as the United States, the Philippines, Spain, and even Italy!Fun Fact: Northern Mexico does not participate in the elaborate parties we all associate with this holiday, but holds a more somber celebration instead.
Don’t call it Mexican Halloween
Not to be confused with Halloween whatsoever (completely different holiday and completely different meaning”>, Día de los Muertos is a 3-day celebration that begins on Oct. 31st. At midnight on this date, it is seen to be the time when the spirits begin their transition back into the living world.
CDMX just had its first parade – thanks to James Bond
Mexico City just had its first parade celebrating this holiday in 2016. Shocker, I know! Originally created for a James Bond movie, the parade was such a hit that the government decided to keep it around for the long haul. While some appreciated the parade, others were unhappy because of the mainstream nature of the event.
Colonization transformed into cultura?
Historically an Aztec ritual of honoring those that have passed on, Day of the Dead is a combination of the mixing of both Catholicism and Mesoamerican culture. When the Spanish conquistadores came to Mexico with Christianity, Día de los Muertos was born.
The face paint means something
You may be familiar with the tradition of painting faces as skulls, and there is a belief behind the calavera look. According to Amparo de Jesús Rincón Pérez, anthropologist and expert at the National Museum of Popular Culture of Mexico City, this is done as a preventative measure to ward off death. Rincon told the Dallas News in Spanish, “To wear the face paint was a way to say ‘Don’t look at me. I’m already dead.'”
Actually, it’s just an insane amount of symbolism!
Literally, from the flowers to the altars, the naked spirit dogs that are there to guide the spirits back to the pan de muerto, Día de los Muertos is a days-long celebration of symbolism.Another Fun Fact: The bread is round because it is supposed to symbolize the Circle of Life. #imshook
Want more Dia de los Muertos inspo? Catch me on ig @whatsuplauren_ as I am traveling to CDMX next week to celebrate!
Nos Vemos!
All photos courtesy of Pixabay
Genedor Beauty, a new product on the curly market, has been making some new waves for the curly community. With a unique blend of products including cexotic butters, honey, vanilla tahitensis fruit oil, pequi oil, Argan oil, jojoba oil, and super fruits, the team behind this collection created a powerhouse line that gets the job done from start to finish. I recently had a chance to try their shampoo, conditioner, styling gel, and hair vitamins and had a few thoughts for how these products performed in my hair. Check out my take on Genedor to see how it performed on my 3c/4a hair!
Superfruit Antioxidant Shampoo
My first impression of the shampoo was that while it was very runny, the lather was straight up spa like. It definitely did not strip my hair though. Once I rinsed it out I had a ton of shine, and I also enjoyed how the shampoo had a little bit of detangling ability in it also. Slated on their website to provide “anti-aging, moisture, strength, and gentle but effective cleansing,” I did find that the shampoo lived up to its description. The smell was also slightly “perfumish” and overwhelming at first, but nothing that would deter from me using it again in the future.
Moisture Resuscitate Deep Conditioning Treatment
Immediate reaction, great slip right off the bat! I did use a pretty hefty amount of this on my hair after sectioning everything into 4 sections, but I think more is more in this case. I needed the extra product, because my hair was suffering from a lazy wash day earlier this week. It does say on the bottle that this is a deep conditioning treatment, so to get the full effect I let it sit on my strands for about 15 minutes. I could feel my hair soften, but it didn’t start out that way whatsoever. Once I let it sit and detangled my hair, the product rinsed out super easily. This product also had more of a strong vanilla scent, but overall it served its purpose as a conditioning agent.
Swirl Curls Gel Styler
Normally, I don’t use styling gels in my hair, so I was a little apprehensive to give this one a go. It is a clear gel with a really thick and sticky consistency, so I wasn’t quite sure how it would perform, but it did well! I did the rake and shake method on my curls with a little light scrunching at the ends with my fingertips, and I had good definition with slight frizz. To combat the frizziness, I added a little bit of Argan oil to my hair for additional moisture. It did take my hair about 30 minutes longer to dry than normal, maybe because the product is so thick, but I had poppin’ curls for sure.
Healthy Hair Gummies
I haven’t taken these for very long, so this review is purely based on taste. It does have an initial chalkiness to it, but it has a fruity aftertaste which kills any negative remark I had. Also touting 5,000 MCG of Biotin, a vegetarian formula, and it’s gluten-free, while all of this sounds grand, definitely get at me in a month and I can let you know if I saw growth or not.
All done! What do ya think?
Overall I approve of what it did for my hair, but I am most excited about mixing it with other products I have it home to see how it holds up.
Genedor Beauty is now available on SHOPNaturallyCurly, so you can give it a try for yourself.
Be sure to let me know your thoughts below!
Drop us some love on Facebook!
All photos by @itspheelosophy
Rated 5 stars on SHOPNaturallyCurly, the Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Leave-In Treatment has been a product I have been pining over to try. I support all things coconut, because I am one of those people who thinks the word alone will make my hair grow 5 inches overnight. Coconut is often slated to be a miracle ingredient to put on your hair, so please believe trying this was a serious matter for me, and it did not disappoint. 
I have never tried anything from Camille Rose Naturals before, so I didn’t have any expectations for how I thought it was going to perform in my hair. When I am not chasing my coconut obsession, I am a self identified “procrastinatural” as coined by @thoughtscaughtinmyfro, meaning I do the bare minimum with products and often push the envelope on how long I can go before I do a serious wash. It’s ok, you can go ahead and shake your head at me for admitting that.
Application
After washing and conditioning my hair, I separated my hair into two sections, front and back. I used a quarter-sized amount on the front section and another quarter-sized amount on the back sections of my hair. From there, I squished the product into my hair, and gently smoothed it down the length of my coils. As a weird prequel I take before putting anything in or on my body, I like to smell it. Whether it be food, lotion, whatever, it’s getting smelled. This product had a super light scent though, with just the smallest notes of coconut. It definitely wasn’t overpowering, and I found that the scent lasted well into the next day once I applied this into my wash and go. My hair could have been properly moisturized from just the scent alone (which also made me later go to the store and buy a couple of bottles of coconut water to drink on the daily, obsession much?”>.
Results
People, what you are seeing here, are happy and quenched curls with shrinkage like none other. Y’all, when I tell you my curls were juicy! Like Camille Rose got me all the way together. On the bottle, it says that this is a detangling treatment, but I didn’t use it that way. I just added it to my hair as a leave-in conditioner for a wash and go and went on my merry way. I wouldn’t look to this choice for definition, as I definitely had frizz all day, but my shine and moisture levels were on point.
Price
Coming in at around $14.00 a bottle, I can say while the price point isn’t super magical, it’s still a good product and one I would buy again. Plus, if I were to have used it correctly, I would have gotten two products for the price of one, a detangler and a leave-in. Can’t beat it!
What did you think? Let us know your thoughts below!
There are three qualifications I look for when determining a good styling product for my 3c hair:
- It must be or have a holding agent present so I can achieve at least Day 3 hair.
- It must be moisturizing to my strands and not contain any harsh chemicals that cause buildup and breakage.
- The smell must also be tolerable. Smell is a super subjective trait, but hey, its important lol
Eden Body Works Natural Curl Defining Creme
“This product moisturizes and keeps my 3b/3c curls tame. My hair has been very dry and frizzy after pregnancy and all the products I used before (kc knot today, miss Jessie, curl junkie, dev one cond”> were not helping but making it worse! Then I tried this curl cream and my hair transformed! I added curl junkie gel after and now my hair stays presentable for almost a week! It is nice thick cconsistency, which is exactly what my hair type needs and the price is exactly what my budget needs :”>” – Justina
ORS Styling Smoothie
“This is my first time trying any style product from ORS and I’m very impressed. This styling creme is very moisturizing and instantly defined my 3c, low porosity curls. I did a three-strand twist out and my curls were fluffy and defined. I would pair this with the Olive Oil for Naturals Butter Glaze Gel Souffle for more hold.” – curlywishesccd
Camille Rose Aloe Whipped Butter Gel
“FANTASTIC product. I absolutely love it. I use it for twist outs for myself (3c”> and twist outs and cornrows for my daughter (about a 4b”> and we BOTH have wonderful definition and shine. The smell is divine! We also use it to seal in moisture using the L.O.C. method, usually water or a leave in, organic coconut oil then the Aloe Whipped. It’s absolutely perfect and a little goes a long way. One jar covered us for almost three full months (this is weekly twist outs on below shoulder length hair and bi-weekly twists or cornrows on mid-back length THICK hair”>.” – Anonymous
Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La Defining Curl Custard
“…I’m a guy. I use Herbal Essence Hello Hydration and Main ‘N Tail. I alternate between conditioners. However, without Main N Tail I would not have very defined curls. The Curl La La magnifies my curl pattern exposing each curl individually and decrease volume drastically. (Water on Cotton Candy”> Instantly feels moisturizing when applying, but dries like a light gel. No signs of excess residue after running my fingers through my hair via styling. I like the way it feels when it’s just applied and not so much when it dries, but it looks good. I have to style with Jamaican Mango & Lime Locking Firm Wax for my coily curly Afro-hawk. This product does not create curls; it will expose your curls.” – Jetfire
Kinky Curly Original Curling Custard
“I’ve been using this product for 10 years. I would give this product 10 stars if I could. Please continue to make this. I don’t know what I would do without this product. It provides great definition and a little product goes a long way! It’s well worth the money.” – Carice
Mielle Organics Brazilian Curly Cocktail Curl Cream
“The overall product works great! … I received a lot of compliments on my hair… I have used other products in the line and I am very pleased” – Sonya
Soultanicals Marula-Muru Moisture Guru
“I use this on both of my kids’ hair. My 6 year old daughter always comments on how wonderful it smells, like chocolate candy! It gives her curls great texture and height and I can only hope that there is a product for locs that smells the same!” – Melissa
DevaCurl Light Defining Gel
“DevaCurl Arc Angel is my typical curl gel of choice but my new favorite is this Light Defining Gel. It gives a Gel cast, has definition and leaves my curls frizz free and feeling light.” – Jess
SoCozy Boing Curl Gel-Cream
“This product worked surprisingly well in my hair. I used it for a coil out and it provided good hold without any flakes. It was a bit too lightweight for my Type 4 hair but works well for type 3 hair.” – hillaryjl
Design Essentials Curlforming Custard
“I’m still new to the whole “natural” life and I try so much with awful results. Piling product on top of product is not the life I want to live, I have recently found my cocktail and this honey custard is my C. So often these products just leave me with flakes and crunchy hair, but this custard does the job and no ‘hours’ of waiting to dry. And FANTASTIC smell. Both products are not cheap but I love my results.” – Kiana
What styling products do you use on your hair? Let us know below!
This article was originally published in 2014.
In a heartfelt moment, Serena Williams, tennis powerhouse and legend and fellow member of the #blackgirlmagic tribe, penned an open letter to her mother on Reddit,following the recent birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia. In her words, she highlighted the strength of her mother as a woman, her sincerest gratitude towards her mother’s presence in her life, and the role she played in helping Serena during some of her roughest times.
Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as a challenges–ones that I enjoy. I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia the same, and have the same fortitude you have had.” – Serena Williams
You could feel the love and admiration Serena holds towards her mom radiating off of the page, and through her words the legacy she knows she will provide for her own daughter as she grows into motherhood.
As this beautiful ode to motherhood made its rounds in our office, amidst tons of “Let me go call my mom” statements, some of our staff decided to share their thoughts on Serena’s letter. Muva Williams, you put us all in our feelings, and through your deeply personal expression of gratitude, we are sharing a few of our responses to your letter and to the matriarchs of our families.
Alexandra, Content Editor
The sincerity, authenticity & genuine love in this letter is so amazing to witness! I could relate on many levels of growing up thin & tall, looking different from my peers. My mom has always been my #1 fan and biggest supporter, I’m beyond grateful for her unconditional love. Also, it’s such a great reminder to celebrate your body and the power you hold!
Fave line:
“I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like. We don’t all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!”
Cristina, Managing Editor
I read this letter and thought… I need to call my mom! She’s the strongest woman in the world, and she’s the reason I’m so strong-willed – she would call it “matigas ang ulo,” which means hard-headed in Filipino. In addition to our stubbornness, we share a birthday (watch out, double Scorpios”>, our compassion for others, and our muscular calves. We both danced ballet into our 20s and we have these big calves that never fit into boots and pants. To me they’re a symbol of strength, and my mom.
Kate, Mother of Two Amazing Daughters & NaturallyCurly’s CEO
As a mother of two young women, one who barely made it to birth let alone adulthood, there is no greater gift than seeing your daughters grow to be a strong, amazing, resilient and articulate females owning all they are, no matter how different, leading the way for others behind them to also stand strong for who they are and what they believe in, leaving the world a better place each day they wake up in it. That letter from Serena is a both a testament to how intelligent and grounded Serena is as well as something that her mother and her own daughter will cherish forever.
Lauren, Content Editor
If I continue to evolve into even half of the woman my mother is, then I know I will have a resiliency like none other, the biggest heart full of love for myself, others, and the world, and a hustle that cannot be matched. Reading this letter made me realize how much I take my mom for granted and don’t tell her I love her enough, but mom if you’re reading this, you’re my favorite girl and I love you deeply. Shout out to all the mamas!
Gerilyn, Senior Copywriter
Conversations about life, the future, family and creating traditions have permeated many conversations I’ve had in recent days. That’s why this love letter, written by Serena Williams to her mother, resonates so deeply with me in this moment. It’s not just that she loves her mother, or that because she is now a mother… it is because she is proud to be her child. She thanks her mother for instilling pride in her mind, body, and soul; just like my mother did when the weight of childhood bullies seemed unshakable. I am 100% here for the diamond-bright love Serena has for her mother and feel inspired to call my mom right now (after the lump in my throat swells down”>.
Devri, Content Editor
*wipes tears away*
So what did you think of Serena’s letter to her mom?
Share your response with us on Facebook, and tell your mom you love her!
As a frequent “non-shampooer” and self admittedly leery of all things DevaCurl (I’ll hit on this later”>, I was definitely apprehensive to try out their Low-Poo Original Shampoo and One Condition Conditioner Line, despite it having won the Naturally Curly Editor’s Choice award in 2016. Over the years, I have created a pretty solid regimen for my hair with a once every two months usage of shampoo and my preferred cleansing agent consisting of Apple Cider Vinegar and a little alkaline water. To remove product buildup, I tend to gravitate towards some no name brand shampoo or a good cleansing conditioner, since I am not shampooing my hair that often.
My apprehension with DevaCurl products stemmed from the facts that they were:
- A little pricey
- Products I thought were geared more towards looser curl patterns
While my thoughts were a bit unfounded, I was definitely biased based on some internal preconceived notions I had. But y’all, after trying this line out, DevaCurl won me over. My hair was thoroughly cleansed by the shampoo without being stripped of moisture, and the conditioner was super hydrating and had good slip without feeling like I needed to use the entire bottle to saturate my curls and get out tangles.
Pre-Use
While my hair is very dense and thick, my individual strands are fine and I often experience single strand knots and tangles when my curls are clumped together. From doing a little bit of research online and reading the product bottle, I found that DevaCurl Low Poo works wonders for “fine hair” and is a preferred gentle cleanser for those that need to remove buildup without using a harsh cleanser.
During Use
I began my usage by saturating my hair with water and proceeding with a 2 tablespoons amount in my palms. LOL this is the funny part y’all, because I was definitely throwing DevaCurl the side-eye as to why my shampoo wasn’t lathering. But it’s a mild lather product! My bad! After smushing it around my hair for a while and letting it sit for about a minute or two, I rinsed it out, and then did the typical shampoo steps (lather, rinse, repeat”>. After two applications, I then went on to the conditioner and used about a tablespoon in each section of my hair. I created 4 sections. I then detangled with the Curlpro Wet Brush, and that’s all she wrote!
Conclusion
Overall, I would give this a 9/10, because who digs perfection? LOL seriously though, for everything it is supposed to do, DevaCurl does it. Mind you, when I used this product I had just gotten done taking down a protective style that left my edges full of buildup, so a deep cleansing was in order. DevaCurl Low-Poo got your girl together, and set up a solid and CLEAN foundation for my conditioner afterwards. I will for sure be using this again.
Peep that after hair though! Glistening curls for days!
Have you tried DevaCurl Low-Poo Shampoo?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and shop my new Holy Grail item in SHOPNaturallyCurly!
Leave it to #NYFW to bring out some heavy hitting fashion! Powered by Sally Beauty and Presented by Naturally Curly, Texture on the Runway was no exception. Each collection presented was a carefully curated melody, styled to perfection and all on trend for the Fall! From tribal prints to micro fashion and even all white ensembles that can be worn well after Labor Day, TOTR Fashion were all such a look, and I think it’s time for me to go shopping now! ;”>
Carol’s Daughter
Ranging from edgy to Athleisure, Carol’s Daughter gave us an ode to all things Brooklyn culture. With an emphasis on taking each look to the max, each look “consisted a wearable style, but to the extreme”- Ty Hunter. I should also mention that Ty Hunter has styled Beyonce and Solange for years. Yep, you read that right.
Cantu
Cantu gave us chic family friendly styles that featured a myriad of orange and green hues to match their brand persona. Styled by Harrison T. Crete take a look at some of their top styles, featuring menswear, kids wear, and lastly women’s wear in ready-to-wear styles.
Mielle Organics
Mielle doused her models in gilded gold, and made all our black=gold dreams come true! With a fresh take on “Cranes in the Sky”, and models that literally glistened down the runway, her looks created an air of royalty, magic, and overall appreciation for dynamism of melanin. Peep her looks below!
Creme of Nature
With an opening from Hiplet dancers swaying in two gorgeous dresses in vibrant hues, Creme of Nature upped the ante with a focus on neon hues. A myriad of dresses and skirt sets gave us a little flirtiness, while a killer jumpsuit and acrylic earrings brought a swag like no other to the runway.
CurlFormers
Featuring the most ready-to-wear looks out of all of the collections, Curlformers gave us bohemian chic with a little bit of flair. Can we talk about this yellow blazer and green silk cardigan though? All so swoon worthy! The jewel tones featured in their ensembles are currently on trend for Fall 2017, so think of these looks as your next shopping guide.
Shea Moisture
Who doesn’t love a good all white fit?! Shea Moisture proved that we can still break all the fashion rules and rock white, as long as we keep it in simple silhouettes and let a statement piece, such as our hair, do the talking. All models rocked styles from the UNIFORM collection, just one of the aspects of Shea Moisture’s community empowerment initiative. Read more about that here!
Crowd Looks
Of course we can’t forget the crowd when we mention New York Fashion Week! The textured world showed up and showed out with their fits, and each one was better than the last. Influencer fashion is a category all on its own, and our crowd pulled together some stylish looks.
Michelle, CoFounder of Naturally Curly looked radiant in a red ruffled dress. Mo from Mo Knows Hair rocked a powerful matching kimono and pants set, and Karonda from Sally Beauty gave us space age chrome, another hot trend for Fall & Winter 2017!
Stay tuned for more coverage of Texture on the Runway for a full look at the beauty and products launched at the event.
Powered by Sally Beauty and presented by Naturally Curly, Texture on the Runway is a platform that encourages the visibilty of textured hair in the fashion industry during New York Fashion Week. With 6 brands presenting lines this year, I had the pleasure of working with Cantu beauty to discuss all things curls and coils, and how their products cater to all members of the family. Opening up for Texture on the Runway 2017, Cantu Beauty came to set it off with a showstopping performance by the Syncopated Ladies, viral sensation Team Twins, and the cutest little curlies ever, The McClure Twins.
Brand Ambassador and Lead Stylist for Cantu Beauty, The Maria Antoinette, took us all on a trip as the emcee for the night, where Cantu featured protective styles for women, men, and kids. With the inspiration of curls on vacation, we sat down before the show to discuss some of the styles she created, the versatility of Cantu’s products, and how Cantu is a brand that is here to stay.
Lauren Murray: Thank you so much for sitting down with me! I am very excited to work with Cantu this year as it was one of the first brands I used went I went natural in 2012. Can you tell us about some of the looks you’re styling for Texture On the Runway?
Maria Antoinette: Everything is about everyday styling with an edgy runway appeal. We wanted to make sure everyone felt inclusive and we wanted everything to be realistic. For instance, for our Cantu Men’s Collection styles we wanted to go from everyday to boardroom, showing the diversity of styles possible with the product line.
LM: What was your inspiration for the looks you came up? How did you decide which styles to showcase?
MA: Once we came up with the theme, the styling came natural to me. I wanted the styles to be very detailed and take the personality of each of our models. I thought about trips I’ve taken in the past, tropical, fun, exciting, vacation!
With the Syncopated Ladies for instance, you have a ton of movement, and it’s very important that when you want to do curly styles that you build in curls that can withstand that movement. So I’m using a tiny wand curler. With wand curls, you let them set in the same way that you curl them. Literally, it’s chemistry. When you use heat you are breaking ions [in the hair], and when the hair cools, [those ions] reconnect and stay in that shape. So basically we are setting her hair. When we take these down and separate them, they will have more longevity with their curls.
LM: What Cantu products are you using on the Syncopated Ladies?
MA: I am using the Thermal Shield and I am also using our Anti Frizz Smoothing Oil which contains argan oil. It’s amazing and super lightweight with a heat protectant built in, so you can use it on top of your other products and that’s it!
LM: Can we talk about the men’s line? What are you using on the Team Twins hair? What ingredients does it have in it?
MA: The men’s line is functional! We have a 3 for 1 in the men’s line! It’s a shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I used it on of our male models today, and it is amazing. It’s literally a one stop shop. One product and they were done. It cleanses your hair, cleanses your body, and of course it has a moisturizer in it, so it conditions the hair as well as well. It has some pretty amazing ingredients in it as well, such as willowbark and caffeine. Cantu really went all in. Willowbark gives you strength and shine and promotes healthy hair growth, whereas caffeine promotes scalp stimulation. It’s great for beards and things like that, and it’s good for women too because it stimulates the scalp and increases the blood flow causing more hair growth.
LM: And if you really wanted to use just that product, you wouldn’t need to use anything else?
MA: Well, that’s what it is. It’s perfect to throw in the gym bag. It’s ideal, because men tend not to do a whole regimen.
LM: Can these product lines be used interchangeably? For example, men use women’s line? women use men’s line?
MA: That’s the beautiful thing about Cantu. We have something for men, women, and kids! I find myself using the Cantu Men’s Beard Oil as body oil because the product is that great! The ingredients are amazing and the formula is non-greasy and includes hemp seed oil and tea tree oil.
LM: With kids there is a lot of movement also, so what products did you use for the twins?
MA: We used our kid’s line for the girls. It is totally sufficient. We have a cream as well as a styler, and that’s the combination that everyone should be using. You have to start with your cream and then your styler. Some people don’t need a cream because they use a leave-in, but you definitely need a styler. That is your holding agent. I always tell people to think back to your relaxed days when you had a roller set. Your stylist put a wrap foam on there, so you still need something to hold your hair. And we have that in the kid’s line.
LM : Can an adult use the kid’s line?
MA: For the McClure Twins, we focused on using products from the kid’s lines that would be easy on the girls’ curls. Cantu has a detangler conditioner in the kid’s line that is amazing. The women’s line has one too called the Coil Calm Detangler, but I use the kid’s and women’s interchangeably between whichever is left in the house between my son’s products or my products.
Cantu is the perfect brand for the family and for those who are looking to buy all of their products in one stop. Also, by featuring the only male models in the Texture on The Runway show this year, Cantu also recognized a key consumer in the natural hair movement: Men! As we journeyed through their vacation theme this year, Cantu showcased the diversity and flexibility of their products, noting that “Each category has its own line of products, but they can all be used interchangeably based on need.” Finally, Maria Antoinette offered up some lasting words of advice for all our curly families out there on how we can continue the curl & product conversation.
LM: How can we encourage other brands and stylists that curly hair education is important in the world of natural hair care?
MA: We need to keep pushing healthy hair is good hair. It doesn’t matter the texture or type. Educating fans, followers, supporters, and consumers on what products work for their hair type will always be most important to Cantu and should be to other brands and stylist as well.LM: Are there any tips you’re using on the models today that our readers can try at home?
MA: Of course! Make sure you’re using a heat protectant for any blown out styles and Cantu’s Edge Stay Gel to lay those edges. Two tips that’ll take your hair styling to the next level!Thank you Maria for sitting down with me and duscussing Cantu! Stay tuned tomorrow for even more event coverage from Texture on the Runway 2017!
This post is sponsored by Cantu.
Known for being a natural detoxing agent, Bentonite Clay is commonly used a skincare product, perfect for those days when you need a serious deep cleanse. In the next installment of the “We Tried It:” series, I gathered some of our Naturally Curly Editors to try out various Bentonite Clay mud masks. Let’s see what they thought!
Alex
I used The Shea Moisture Beauty Hack Bentonite Clay Mask which requires a mixture of water and a pure oil, so I added a couple drops of Josie Maran Argan Oil.
I applied my clay mask to a clean face, and removed my makeup beforehand. When I applied the clay mask it immediately starting drying and after 10 minutes my face began to feel very tight. Afterward, my skin was slightly red but was extremely soft and smooth and I didn’t need to moisturize afterwards. Before I knew it my skin was glowing!
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
This was my first time using a clay mask and I was very impressed with the benefits it offers such as glowing skin, unclogged pores and healing powers to lighten up dark spots. I would definitely implement a claymask in my skin routine once a week.
Nikki
I used the SheaMoisture Sensitive Skin Mud Mask and put it on top of my makeup.
I thought it would do the double duty of removing my makeup and doing what a mask does. The mask said it was for sensitive skin, but it really burned and irritated my skin so I did not keep it on long. It didn’t get a chance to dry. After I rinsed it off, my skin felt kinda dry and I did need to moisturize afterwards, but unfortunately I did not have a moisturizer on hand. I used an argan oil that was in my purse. It says it was for hands, but hey I was desperate.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
Nope. Not at all. I really like sheet masks.
Cara
I used the Pixi Glow Mud Mask with aloe vera, ginseng and sea salt all up in it. Honorable mentions, it also has hops, rosemary and sage in it. I really do love an herbally product.
I washed my face before applying it, but I still had my eye makeup on. It went on so smoothly. I would say it went on like butter, but then again it wasn’t greasy at all so that’s not really true. It was smooth and homogenous, and very soft. It was very light and never made my skin feel tight. The pores on my nose became so distinct as it was drying, like they were really sucking in all the moisture they could. I knew that it was dry because the color got darker, but not because it felt different on my face. My skin felt soft after I washed the clay off, but it took several minutes to wash it off completely. It didn’t necessarily feel cleaner or exfoliated, but it was nice and fresh. I followed up with toner and night cream (the mask’s instructions were for PM use, so I used it before bed”>.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
I’ll use this mask maybe once a month now. I like to mix up my masks (face masks and hair deep conditioners alike”> so I’ll rotate it in every now and then. The smell was nice and pleasant, which that more than anything is a deciding factor for me.
Lauren
I used the Alikay Naturals Bentonite Me Baby Clay Mask.
I mixed the clay with a little bit of Apple Cider Vinegar, tea tree oil for extra cleansing, and water so it wouldn’t burn my skin, and I put it on top of my makeup. It starts out in powder form, and then of course when you add liquid, it clumps up. I like to mix mine to be slightly thick and then I apply it to my face with clean fingers. It dried in about 15-20 minutes. When it dried, it became super tight. Like insanely tight! I could literally see all of the pores on me face. Once it was off, my face was super tight, really dry, and about a shade lighter than before I put the mask on. I typically like to follow up with a toner and an oil to moisturize after I use this product. For the toner, I used a Rose Water & Lime face spray that I made at home, and for the moisturizer I used my fave oil, the Josie Maran Argan Oil Collection.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
I currently have this mask in my routine, and use it 2x a month. I plan on switching to a different clay product though, since it was the subject of a controversial warning by the FDA last year for containing high levels of lead. I don’t see it available in stores anymore.
April
I used Peachy Keen’s Bonne Terre Bentonite Clay mixed with bottled water and Egyptian Magic.
Because mud and clay masks tend to leave me a little dry, I thought the mixture of bee products and oils in Egyptian magic helped make this mask extra moisturizing, and it payed off! I removed my makeup before putting the mask on—and in fact, on my normal spa days, I’d exfoliate gently to make sure none of the mask is being wasted on dead skin. Thinking of it now, that might contribute to the masks being super drying on me…but where there’s a humectant, there’s a way!
It was a REALLY hot day when we got together for this, and the mask was nice and cooling when I started spackling it on. Because I layed it on extra thick, it didn’t get all the way dry on the outside, however, once I felt it tightening, I knew it was time to rinse off. You don’t want your skin being pulled too much after all. Post rinse, my skin felt great! I was very dewy, and my face was refreshed. There’s always room for more moisture though, so despite mixing my go-to moisturizer into the mask, I applied a thin layer of the Albolene I used to remove my makeup to keep everything sealed in. I definitely used less of it than I usually would for any moisturizer after just a facewash though.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
I could see myself doing this any time I needed extra pampering! My skincare “routine” is actually anything but, and past washing and SPF, I tend to just go with what I feel like. But given the results, this might need to be a weekly thing. It’s definitely making the ‘no makeup challenge’ we have going on much easier to bear.
Leslie
I used the Formula 10.0.6 “Pores be pure” skin-clarifying mud mask with strawberry + yarrow.
Typically, I like to remove my makeup before putting on any masks and then let the mask remove what ever makeup I may have missed. I don’t know that this mask would have removed all of my makeup. It was a lot more gently than I anticipated, so if you have sensitive skin, this would be something to try. The mask was different than those i’ve used before. It dried extremely quickly and kind of blended with my skin, so it was difficult trying to figure out what spots I missed and what spots had enough on. Once it was all dry (which took literal seconds”> it wasn’t hard or difficult to move my face like some masks. The smell was also amazing, and my face felt extremely soft and clean without feeling stripped.
I naturally have dry skin but I didn’t feel the need to moisturize afterward I removed the mask. The only product I used after was my Glossier sunscreen.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
My skin care routine is already a process, so i’d probably add something like this once every 2 weeks. I’d like to know what everyone else thinks of this product!
Gerilyn
I used the SheaMoisture African Black Soap Clarifying Mud Mask, and put the mask on top of my makeup-free, moisturized face.
My skin felt as if it could not soak up enough of the moisture the mud mask had, so much in fact that the mask seemed to not dry within the 10 minutes it was on. I fanned my face to help the process. Once the mask was dry, it did not feel like a clay mask that hardens and cracks if you burst into laughter all of a sudden. This may have been because I put it on top of my moisturizer. Although I wanted to immediately reach for my face lotion, I waited to see how the mask truly felt. After about 2 minutes of dry time, I ran my fingers over my face. I noticed that my skin felt soft to the touch and was visibly refreshed. Moisturizing is my life! This mud mask was not as drying as others I have used in the past, but I still needed to layer my face in moisture. Although it is for the body, I used a penny-size (or less, depending on the weather”> of SheaMoisture African Black Soap Soothing Body Lotion on my face after rinsing the mud mask off.
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
Although it did not dry very fast, this is the first mud mask I tried and liked. I would probably use it on longer than usual self-care or spa days, but not on a regular basis. For the sake of time, I will stick to my regular gel peel-off masks.
Cristina
I used the PUR Dirty Girl Detoxifying Mudd Masque. I like this masque because I don’t have to mix it with water or ACV, which I find can be messy and tedious to clean up.
This time I put it on top of makeup, but most of the time I apply it on a freshly washed face. Once it was dry my face felt ight, and then tighter! I found it hard to smile or move my face once it dried. It took a lot of scrubbing with a towel to get the mask off, so immediately afterward my face was very red and felt a bit irritated from the scrubbing. Once that settled down, my skin and pores felt tight – in a good way! I didn’t moisturize afterwards, but maybe I should have…
Would you implement this mask into a skincare routine?
I do use this masque whenever I remember to, which is probably once every couple of months. Using it today reminded me how good it makes my skin feel and that I should be doing it more often. I do use a daily cleanser that has mud in it (Osea Cleansing Mudd“>, so I use mud twice a day.
Would you try a clay mud mask?
Show us your masks on Style Nook and follow us on Instagram for more NC editor inspo!
As America continues to be shocked by the actions of its people, it’s hard to not become upset in the face of those who are asking our communities to just “Be Kind” as if this act alone would solve all of our racial transgressions. I think not. The United States was not built on fairness or kindness, so what’s the point now?
I found myself searching for an emotional release due to the current calamities in our country, but I didn’t know exactly what kind of space or mental mindset I needed to be in for this release to happen. What I really needed was familial melanated strength, and that’s what I found at AfroPunk 2017.
No words can describe the magic over Brooklyn.
As I write this, to my left I have a group of people playing double dutch, laughing and bonding, embracing each other like long lost cousins from a distant land having seen each other for the first time in 400+ years. To my right, I have a woman draped in Fulani braids, her pink crop top billowing around her, carrying her waves of sage smoke higher into the air as she twirls to the music, cleansing the area of any ill will. Ahead of me, I have a woman climbing a tree, desperate to get a better look at her favorite artist, but also a visual reference of the elevation of people of color rising and reaching higher ground and higher thinking. And not soon after I leave this space, I am welcomed into a dance circle of Afro Drum beats, voguing, and so much #BlackBoyJoy and #BlackGirlMagic that my cheeks hurt from smiling so hard.
My brown body has always been a source of unnecessary and unnegated conflict as my very existence is determined to be a threat to all those who do not look like me. But here I feel safe. I am allowed to take up the space that is rightfully mine, without feeling like I have to shrink into my being or sit by meekly.
Black & Brown people hold so much weight, and we are valuable and important, and necessary to the existence of this Earth.
We are revolutionary.
Performances from SZA put me all in my feelings thinking of failed loves that had no stake in my life, but I’m cuter and finer now so it’s all good. Mother Solange consistently took me to the brink of life altering consciousness, as her artistic performances always do. And Princess Nokia yall! Her energy was unmatched, her faith was astounding, and her self-confidence RADIATED across the stage. She has a newfound fan in me. But while I didn’t get around to see all of my favorites, watching the crowd was the highlight of my experience and the fashion was something out of the dopest cultural fairytale.
Starting in 2005, this was a festival created to celebrate Black people whom were left out of the Punk scenes in America. Afro Punk has since morphed into not just Punk culture, but an entire experience for all of the many facets of Black people. It’s a celebration, and trust, I left it all out there in Commodore Barry Park with not one ounce of regret or expectation to fulfill. A true sensory experience, Afro Punk reaffirmed to me the power that lies in progressive community, what it means to be celebrated, and how impactful people of color are when we stand together as one, under the strength of our ancestors and the Earth, all while praising our existence.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I must get back to whipping my teal colored locs to this Kaytranada song enveloping me right now. I am living my best BLACK life.
What did you think about AfroPunk 2017?
Let us know below, and for more on my Afro Punk journey, check out @WhatsUpLauren_on ig!
You hear a lot of “what did you put in your hair?” and “I love your shoes!” around the NaturallyCurly offices. Personally, I am always finding inspiration in what my colleagues are wearing to the office and on their Instagrams, so we’re starting a new series to share what we’re loving with the rest of our community – beyond our hair!
Who doesn’t love a good off the shoulder maxi dress that is breathable, stylish, a solid color, and has pockets?! Talk about jack of all trades! This dress was the perfect outfit for my day, because it allowed me transition effortlessly from day to night! Without changing up my accessories, I was still able to be fully me in my comfort chic aesthetic, while also being on trend with my tassel earrings.
For this particular hairstyle, I chose to rock an updo, because this Texas heat ain’t no joke! Plus, whenever I’m serving a little shoulder action, I like to highlight the neck. It’s my best feature in my opinion haha. To achieve this style, I slicked my hair upwards using Eco Styler Gel, and then used about 50 million bobby pins to hold it in place (I’m still pulling out bobby pins”>.
The dress and earrings I am wearing are from Haute Dimensions, a black-owned and woman-owned boutique in Houston, TX, and my shoes are from Target, which are on sale right now!
As an evolved shopper over the years, my shopping habits have definitely changed than from when I was younger. If there is a clearance rack, I’m there. Lol Trust, I’m headed straight to the back of the store for the deals, and then making my way to the front to check out the new styles. I find that fashion evolves so much and history repeats itself, so I also look at my grandmother’s and mother’s closet for inspiration. Thrifting has also singlehandedly saved my wardrobe as well! I created a Pinterest board based on my personal aesthetic and how I would like to dress, and then from there I look for those items and similar silhouettes when I’m out thrifting. Always a win.
When I’m out shopping, the first thing I gravitate towards is the pants rack. I LOVE PANTS! Lol I’m such a jeans lady also, so that’s what I’m looking at. To wear this dress was HUGE! I went with this choice because 1. It has pockets, and who doesn’t dig functionality? 2. It’s black, which we know I dig far too much, and 3. It gave me the most comfort, while also being super stylish with the off the shoulder detail. Winning all the way around.
I also tend to be very casual in my dress attire, and will wear minimal accessories. I loved that this outfit allowed me to be a bit dressier in my style evolution, and also the color from the earrings plays along nicely with my skin-tone. I don’t mind dressing up, but I definitely prefer to go for a laid-back casual look that easily be switched from day to night with the addition of a bold lip or a bootie.
How do you dress for your style?
I’d love to know.
Follow Lauren on Instagram for more style inspiration @whatsuplauren_
Photos by Cassandra J. Klepac
Alright y’all. You now have permission to keep your coffee addiction alive, because it can actually help your hair!! Caffeine is a stimulant that increases blood flow to the scalp and aids in the regeneration of hair follicles can help hair grow even longer. Often consumed orally, through coffees, teas, and in pill form, we know caffeine can help wake us up from our drowsy state, increase our mood, and rev us up for the day. But the same benefits can occur to our scalp through the use of coffee as a moisturizer. Caffeine, a byproduct of coffee, works to regenerate the scalp tissue by increasing blood flow and allowing more nutrients to be released into the hair follicles. Coffee grounds can also be used as a scalp exfoliator to help remove dead skin cells and buildup. Just be sure to wash your hair thoroughly, after doing this method. Check out your ingredients list on your products though and see which ones contain caffeine. You might be pleasantly surprised!
1. Shea Moisture Tahitian Noni & Monoi Hair & Scalp Weekly Therapy
Encouraging hair growth and scalp stimulation, this weekly treatment by Shea Moisture contains caffeine as a direct ingredient in its product list. This wonder product also works to smooth strands, repair damage, and discourage frizz in the hair strands by coating your curls, waves, and coils with a myriad of herbs, keratin, and peptides.
2. Curl Junkie Coffee – Coco Curl Creme
Listing caffeine as one of the first ingredients and even in its name, this product works to moisture the strands while also being able to be used as a styling product. Check this one out for a little bit of a hold, but not necessarily wanting a gel.
3. Carol’s Daughter Lisa’s Hair Elixir 7-in-1 Complete Conditioner
This product literally is magic in a bottle, as it works to condition and moisturizes your hair 7 different ways!!!
4. Shea Moisture Dragon’s Blood & Coffee Cherry Volume & Lifting Spray
Alright Wavies, If you are looking for a boost in your hair volume, try out this line! It is known for lifting the roots and adding height to hair.
5. naturally smitten Hydrating Hair Custard
My favorite product on this list hands down due to the texture and consistency! Whenever I am looking for a bomb twist out, this hair custard is the way to go.
So how do you coffee?
What do you think about the use of caffeine as a scalp stimulant and moisturizer?
We want to hear your thoughts! Share your feedback with us on Facebook!
You hear a lot of “what did you put in your hair?” and “I love your shoes!” around the NaturallyCurly offices. Personally, I am always finding inspiration in what my colleagues are wearing to the office and on their Instagrams, so we’re starting a new series to share what we’re loving with the rest of our community – beyond our hair!
As someone who is a lover of all things neutral, I feel like my best self in a crisp white shirt and a solid pair of mom jeans. When mom jeans aren’t available, I lean to my second fave, the denim skirt. I found this skirt at Goodwill in Houston, and snatched it up immediately! As a plus size woman, sometimes it can be hard to find good denim that skims over your curves while also making you look fashion forward. And don’t get me started on wearing white! This is a new development for me. As I continue on in my style evolution, I find comfort in choosing styles and shapes that complement my body, make me feel powerful, and also have a minimal palette because then I know it will match everything. This is the perfect office outfit for me because it was quick to throw on, it features a mule (which I LOVE”>, and my glasses are the only color pop I need. :”>
My shirt is from Old Navy. My skirt is thrifted. My glasses are from Zenni Optical, and my shoes are from Ross. My earrings are really special to me because they are by a black-owned and woman owned-business in Houston called Tribe & Sol.
By far my signature color is dark black, light black, soft black, etc. Ha! It’s honestly just black. Colorful clothing really overwhelms me, and it would take forever for me to find something to wear, so I chose to go the “uniform” route and focus on only buying black clothing. When I am not in black, I tend to wear a lot of whites, denim, taupe, and grays. It makes the getting dressed process really easy in the morning when I am pressed for time.
Right now, my closet is going through a transition, as I am dressing for stylish comfort. I don’t own many dresses, but I have pants for days. I would consider myself to be a maximalist, as once I find something that works, I am rocking with it and never letting go and will buy several pieces that resemble each other. I also really enjoy thrifted fashion, because it allows me to take modern styles and try to find the thrift version of it, leaving me to become more creative in my clothing options.
In 5ish words, my style would be described as “That Cool Aunt, Easy, No-Frill, Streamlined, & Efficient”.
With my style being so streamlined right now, I do actually find a lot of inspiration and have been looking at ideas from plus size style blogger Gabi Fresh. Ya’ll, I am obsessed with her!! She dresses so perfectly for her body type, knows how to kill every outfit in various colors, and just designed her own line of plus size clothing with fellow blogger Nicolete Mason, called Premme! Hey Gabi & Nicolete, if you have any extra clothes, holla at ya girl!
How do you dress for your style?
I’d love to know.
Follow Lauren on Instagram for more style inspiration @whatsuplauren_
Photos by Cassandra J. Klepac
Melissa Chanel, curl influencer, blogger, and Cantu’s National Beauty Ambassador recently sat down with me for a few of her favorite tips on how to make your back to school curl care easier. Cantu is one of our featured brands at Texture on the Runway 2017, powered by Sally Beauty. You can find Cantu’s products at Sally Beauty, our exclusive retailer sponsor for Texture on the Runway. As we gear up for back to school season, Melissa and I discussed dads and ponytails, college and hair stylists, how to style your hair for the school year, and a peek into what you can carry in your bag to preserve your style!
Hi, Everyone! I am Melissa Chanel, Cantu’s National Beauty Ambassador and I’ve been natural for 9 years! I started my natural hair journey when I was in school. As I was attending college, my stylist at the time was like “Hey Melissa, I can get your hair straight without putting a relaxer in it” and that’s how it started. And after graduating college, I didn’t have this stylist to go to anymore, because she was in a different state. So, then it was like ok, let’s see how my natural hair pattern is. Cantu was the first product I used because it was in my local store. Ever since then, I never looked back. I started a blog sharing tips and tricks with my followers about natural hair, and I’ve done everything from cutting it off, to coloring it, to letting it grow back, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
L: So recently, Cantu has come out with a line of products for the whole family?
M: Yes, we want everyone to know that Cantu is for the whole family. We have a kid’s collection, we have women’s, and we have a new men’s collection launching. We try to be a one stop shop for the mom who is looking for something for her, her husband, and her child.
As we prepare for back to school season, her top tips included detangling, moisturizing, protecting your strands, and reviving your hair.
1. Detangling
Detangling the hair and using a curl cream on the strands in order to make the styling process a tad bit easier was Melissa’s first tip. For dads who are possibly styling their child’s hair, Melissa offers these words of wisdom:
“A detangler is going to save your life! Detangling [before washing will make wash-day] 100% easier. Cantu has an amazing Care For Kids Conditioning Detangler. It detangles hair and helps with making and it actually won a NaturallyCurly award in 2015. I know some adults prefer the kid one to the adult one, so detangle hair before you wash it. This will help the wash day be smoother.”
2. Moisturize
Moisturizing the strands to ensure healthy hair is all the ways at the top of our curl list. Melissa’s take on moisturizing curly hair involves utilizing the Care For Kids Curl Cream as your styler.
“Get a good curl cream. Ponytails will be the easiest style you can do or two pigtails. Use the curling cream after you condition as it helps define and defeats the frizz. So, the curl cream will be your next best friend. Use it after the detangler, define the curls, and help hair get into a ponytail or 2 pigtails. For little boys, try the Care For Kids Styling Custard, because you want a product with a little bit of hold. I would use a detangler (if necessary”>, a curl cream, and then the styling custard.”
3. Protect
Once we have our style set, we have to know how to protect it at night. I am a huge fan of the satin pillow case myself, as my satin bonnet falls off consistently. Melissa suggests to “use a satin pillowcase or a satin bonnet, and also have a water bottle with just water. The next morning, mist [your child’s] curls to rejuvenate and revitalize and bring their hair back to life.”
4. Revive
Lastly, after a rough day at school, not to mention recess, your child’s hair is sure to sweat out! Melissa and I discussed her preferred methods of style revival and how she keeps her curls looking fresh. One of her favorite product lines features Apple Cider Vinegar, and it specifically works to provide relief at your roots and control oils. “Cantu has a line of products that are about refreshing your style. The refresh collection consists of a Root Rinse, a Root Release, and a Dry Co-Wash, with this line being perfect for college students that are protective styling. Our hair produces so much oil, so revival is important to keep hair full and shiny.”
For children, she recommends sticking with the kid’s based line and then transitioning to adult products once they hit the age of 13.
Her last words of advice for parents of curly kids, and curly women and men in college:
M: “When I first started [working in the hair industry], I would tell young people that when you find something that works, stick to it. You don’t have to be a huge product hoarder that tries 50 million products. If you find something that works, use it. Also, get trims regularly. Don’t be afraid to cut your hair. Healthy hair is good hair, so you want to make sure you’re trimming, deep conditioning and if you find a product that works, stick with it.”
One thing to keep in your backpack is the Curl Come Back Spray, as it revives hairstyles that may have fallen throughout the day. I, personally, am a fan of carrying around a spray bottle of water and hair milk whenever I am worried about my style falling. “This spray redefines, moisturizes, and restores the curls.”
Thank you so much to Melissa for speaking with me, and I am looking forward to seeing Cantu Beauty at Texture on the Runway 2017!
For more from Melissa, you can follow her @melissachanel and at her site melissachanel.com, and for more on Cantu’s new lines look for them at Sally Beauty.
What do you think about these back to school tips? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook!
Sponsored by Cantu.
Pekela Riley won “Hairstylist of the Year” at the Curlbox Awards in Las Vegas, an event that recognizes vanguards within the beauty industry during the Cosmoprof Beauty Trade Show.
Over the past year Pekela has been a key hairstylist for numerous national hair care brand campaigns and activations including Loreal, Mizani, Revlon Creme of Nature, and Curlbox. To date, Pekela’s work has also been featured in numerous popular print and digital magazines including Essence, People, Ebony, Sophisticates Black Hair, Hype Hair, and NaturallyCurly.com. Her salon in Florida is called Salon PK.
Recently, I had the chance to speak with her for an in-depth convo about her presence in the natural hair community and her CurlBox 2017 Stylist of the Year win!
How did you feel when you won the Curlbox “Hairstylist of the Year” Award?
I was really excited! I felt moved and a sense of honor to be recognized in a room with so many other power players and industry leaders pushing the needle of excellence in the beauty industry. It was an amazing assembly of black excellence and #BlackGirlMagic that I was extremely proud to be a part of – the event was all about us! I felt the love, excitement, and honor – especially due to the fact that the award I won was based on votes cast amongst my peers and market base. I didn’t know that I won until I heard my name announced – so of course, you know I was grateful and lit lol!
What does this award mean to you?
It means a lot because I felt like it was given by people who earned the right to validate it because they are engulfed within servicing our community and continuously strive for excellence. Curlbox has that direct communication with the real consumer and woman – who voted for this award. To me, it was the equivalent of a “people’s choice” award.
What things stand out in your career and in this past year that put you in a position to win this award?
I’ve been blessed to work with fabulous companies and people that showcase texture, like Revlon, Creme of Nature, Loreal and Mizani. I’ve also had the pleasure of being highlighted and featured amongst many publications and bloggers, becoming a more valuable thread in the natural hair dialogue.
In addition, I’ve been able to curate a constant stream of accessible imagery from Salon PK because we create it all day. All of which is a testament to hard work and dedication.
What is unique about your skillset as a hairstylist?
The range of my skill set! Whether it’s long hair or short hair – natural, relaxed, or extensions, 2B to 4C, or a variety of cuts and colors across the spectrum, my clients and hair brands I work for feel confident they can achieve an array of imagery options with me as the key stylist.
How do you continue to be a trendsetter within the beauty industry?
I organize my inspirations and make sure I’m naturally inspired to move the needle within my industry. When I truly tap into that natural passion place of styling and beautifying people, I can consistently operate in a zone where I’m inspired and motivated to be at the top of my game, by achieving looks that allow my client to feel and look the way they want, to be at the top of theirs. I also keep in mind that I’m a service provider, so I go above and beyond to humbly operate in a space of service.
Congratulations to you Pekela!!
If you’d like to visit Pekela at her salon, Salon PK is located in Jacksonville, Florida. You can book an appointment by calling 904-636-0787 or emailing CustomerCare@salonpk.com.
To see her styles, follow her @salonpk!
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I am a person of the people. All of my friends know that I will shower them with compliments all day long, and when they thrive, I thrive.I love seeing others put on, and I will rep you all day long… Until it came time to recognize me, and I just couldn’t do it.
It felt almost egotistical in a way to be nice to myself, and I just couldn’t seem to recognize the magic within.I am my own worst critic by far. Over the past 2 years of my life between stressful relationships, career transitions, and overall growing into my womanhood, I began to feel extremely detached from myself and whom I was perceived to be.
1.
When I first started writing for NaturallyCurly, it was because I was deeply inspired by the women whose articles I had read, whom I presumed to have amazing confidence to share their stories. Over time and many many articles later, I learned that real confidence comes from being vulnerable with your being, putting your work and your story out there in hopes that it can heal someone else while also healing yourself, and just living day by day and being your best self.
2.
Y’all, I don’t take selfies for anything. I am always the person behind the lens capturing someone else in their best light. But what if I flipped the role? Should I start saying yes to selfies? Well, I was dared by my NC team to start taking Selfies for Self-Love as a way to
1. Break me out of my selfie shell and
2. Develop a consistent practice of speaking better to Lauren.
To be honest, I was super fretful of this challenge and didn’t know how it would turn out.
3.
I will say these selfies are a collection of bad camera angles, no makeup days, in-the-moment clicks, definitely filters, and taken over a 2-week timeframe because some days you just really don’t feel like being cute for the gram. They are me in my rawest form though, and I feel beautiful in each and every one of them.
4.
During my selfie experience, I really harnessed my power as a Body-Positive warrior and embraced every bit of glitter that makes me me. Some of my selfies are with friends, and some are just my face, but here I am: aware and visible to the world, but also loving myself and embracing my melanin, hair, size, and personality. I might not be the finest or the prettiest (these things are so subjective anyways”>, but I am beautiful in the best of ways, radiating from within, and I will continue to be a champion of all that is self-love and my “Laurenisms.” I invite you to enjoy my naked moments with me and hope you are inspired to embark on your own selfie journey.
5.
I was having a real good eyebrow day here! LOL
6.
I invite all of the NaturallyCurly readers who are feeling some type of way about themselves, to try out selfies for self-love for 5 days. See how it makes you feel afterward. What did you learn? What did you gain?
7.
8. My Favorite Selfie of Them All – Some of the NaturallyCurly Team!!
How do you feel about selfies for self-love? How are you practicing body-positivity?
Over the next few weeks, some of our contributors will be sharing their experiences with the body posi movement. Check out Facebook for their stories, and share yours!
Let’s break the internet with our selfies!
Here, at Naturally Curly, we are no strangers to the Pineapple method, as it one of our faves to protect our curls, coils, and waves when we sleep. From one huge pineapple to several small ones, the pineapple method has always been a consistent go-to for bedtime curl protection, and sometimes we even rock our’s throughout the day! So what better to celebrate National Pineapple Day, than with a compilation of some of our curlfriends rocking their up-do’s!
What is the Pineapple Method?
The Pineappling method is one of several ways to achieve frizz-free and defined hair to extend your style longer. By plopping the hair on top of the head, and securing loosely with a scrunchie or tear-free hair-tie, and then tying a scarf around your edges, this method keeps hair secured at night, leading to an extended style the next day! For more information on pineapples, and how we style ours, check out this to how- to for creating your pineapple! Alex, one of our Content Editor’s, strongly appreciates her pineapple noting that “It definitely preserves my curls, and I have sensitive skin so wrapping my hair up at night and putting it in a pineapple is also really good for keeping my skin free from extra oils.”1. @jadashairdiary
This is Jada’s 4th day hair! Look at those curls!
2. @gomesamara
- Photo Courtesy of @gomesamara
3. Style Nooker @amandarrwalker
4. Style Nooker @AngelDemure
5. Style Nooker @Ariana.Atwat
How do you rock your pineapple?
We want to see your pics!
#HappyNationalPineappleDay
The summer solstice occurred yesterday, which means astrologically the wheel of the year has turned. This portion of the year is significant to honoring the light covering the earth, embracing our inner light, and recognizing the cyclical nature of the seasons and life itself.
2017 is also a one year numerically, meaning it is the beginning of a new cycle, symbolizing starting anew.
I started 2017 in bed, conducting a tarot reading, determined to make 2017 my year of saying yes to relaxation and recognizing my higher self. Last year was a hot mess, but Nah, 2017 would be different. It would be my personal year, my year of honoring my relationship with me, developing my self-care practice, and most importantly loving Lauren in all ways. Elevated in my thoughts of how I envisioned the year to look in front of me, I just knew that every day would be filled with positivity and rejoicing, as I felt closure on the previous cycle of my life, and fully welcomed this new time. How often though do we get a little overconfident about something, and then become completely blindsided when our expectations aren’t met, or we feel disappointed if something doesn’t pan out quite how we planned? Right?! This was the beginning of my 2017. Yes, I accomplished a ton, but home girl’s self-care was lacking majorly.
So, I am taking a pause, and recharging. Earlier in the year, I came up with these Zen Commandments as a way to establish my self-care for 2017, but I have found that I need them now more than ever. I share these with you in hopes that you find some of the light I have found, and that it jump starts your cycle of self-love. We all deserve this, so let’s reclaim our light and rock the remainder of the year.
Detoxification & Letting Go
It’s time to let go. Scream, shout, Dance it out! Do whatever you have to do. Give away those incentive pants. Throw out those expired hair products. Repurpose your vibes, and recognize what it is you want to offer to yourself and to the world. Feel all of your being, and cultivate it.
I enjoy detoxifying through my senses. So, whether that be taking a physical bath and imagining the warm water wrapped around me like a tight hug or doing a juice cleanse while I physically try to imagine the tastes of what I am drinking, detoxification is so necessary for my mental and emotional health. I also practice detoxification on a daily, with trying to reframe my mind during times of high-stress. It’s so easy to go down the rabbit hole of negative self-thoughts when you are having a stressful day. But what if during those times of high-stress, we said something nice to ourselves? Detox your brain and thoughts with a quick “I’m a work in progress, and That’s Ok”, and continue on with your day.
Feel Everything
How has 2017 been for you so far? Have you felt joy, pain, sorrow, happiness, zealousness, anything? Have you allowed yourself to feel at all? Do you have something that you have been meaning to clean house on, but you just can’t seem to bring yourself to follow through with it?
Once we allow ourselves to actually feel then we are becoming whole within our truest selves. One of my favorite blogs, The AstroTwins, discusses the importance of recognizing our shadow selves, honoring our not so lovely traits, and learning to work with them, because after all, it is a huge part of our being. I have learned that I am a huge crier when I am frustrated, angry, and or just burnt out. In the past, I would push these emotions away and not deal with them head-on, because I thought it made me feel weak. By allowing myself to feel though (and several months of therapy and self-care”>, I can now say with confidence that I have been embracing my shadow side about 45% more (still a work in progress y’all”>, and I am honoring ALL of the traits that make me unique.
Recognizing Your Magic
Look. We are all magical in our own way. We all have glitter in our veins, and we are all bright lights who have something to contribute to the world. Your contribution doesn’t have to be small, and it doesn’t have to be large. Your physical presence and your being holding space in the universe is enough a contribution in itself. So, say yes to staying conscious and say yes to being ALIVE. You are killing it every single day, even when you don’t think you are. Your light is worthy, and you are everything you have ever needed. As Shonda Rhimes would say. “Stand in the Sun, and Dance it out!”. Love yourself for making it halfway through 2017, and embrace yourself for moving on to the next half. We got this!
How are you resetting for 2017? What self-care methods are you engaging in?
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook!
For more on my journey, follow me at @whtsuplauren
