Search Results: Michelle Breyer

By Michelle Breyer · Published April 9, 2018

For influencer Kayla MaDonna, her big curly hair has become her signature. “Everywhere I go, I’m asked about my shape and color. Finding the perfect shape for my hair has definitely been a journey.”

Atlanta curl stylist Robin Sjoblom has helped Kayla create this look. “I’m so grateful to have found Robin Sjoblom and her team at Southern Curl.”

The Curly Cut

Sjoblom described how she gives Kayla her look. “This is a dry cut, curl by curl. To get the shape, I did a deep face frame cut so that the curls push back out of her face. Kayla is growing her length so we just “oxygenate” her ends (dust“> and then build the cut from the bottom up, no tension to allow for her different curl patterns to be visually balanced.”

It’s probably the first thing you notice about Kayla’s hair, but she “loves VOLUME so the focus of the cut is from her temple area up, paying close attention to her head shape and density.”

The Style

You may be wondering, how does Kayla get her hair to look so big? There are a few factors at play. Kayla’s natural width and density definitely play a role in the way her hair looks. As we just learned, her stylist has cut her hair into a distinct shape that contributes to the volume, and there are also styling techniques that help her achieve the look.

Chunky clumps

According to Sjoblom, “Kayla uses a variety of products and methods, but our styling method for her is usually small sections to detangle, then rake and smooth her leave in and gel.” Kayla likes Miss Jessie’s Leave-In Condish as a leave-in, and a combination of the DevaCurl Styling Cream and their UltraDefining Gel for styling. She likes that these products give her definition without any crunch.

“Smoothing in the product is very important as it helps to clump the curls together and give a chunkier effect as opposed to millions of curls.” If you’re someone who prefers very defined, clumped curls, then you likely will not have the volume of a less defined look. But if you’re willing to sacrifice the look of frizz-free curls, you can achieve bigger hair.

Fluff

After Kayla dries her hair by either air drying or diffusing, Sjoblom says “we shake her out and fluff fluff fluff!” Sometimes Kayla uses a pick at her roots for extra volume. On Wash Day Kayla’s hair isn’t at its biggest and boldest – it typically grows even bigger on day 2 and day 3.

You can book an appointment with Robin Sjoblom at Southern Curl here, and follow Kayla MaDonna here.

By Michelle Breyer · Published March 22, 2018

Stephanie Rodriguez is a light-skinned Latina with 3b curls. When she goes shopping for haircare products, she said she is looking for sulfate-free shampoos and curl-specific products from brands like Carol’s Daughter, SheaMoisture, Pantene and Garnier. “I think it should be organized by hair type/brands so it’s easier to pick out what you need for your hair, rather than just shoving the ‘ethnic’ section in the corner where people can feel left out.”

The terms “ethnic” and “multicultural” are fine when it comes to identifying one’s ethnic origin. But when it comes to shopping for haircare, these terms are increasingly outdated, according to TextureMedia’s recently released Perception Study: Ethnic and Multicultural Haircare Experience.

The study finds that most people with curly, coily or wavy hair – no matter what their ethnicity – consider their hair to be natural, textured or curly rather than “ethnic” or “multicultural. The term ‘ethnic’ on products or beauty aisles causes dissatisfaction among a major group of consumers who consider the term to be causing division.

Martha Fast, who is white, says she always feels like she is “intruding on someone else’s space” when she’s shopping in haircare aisles labeled “ethnic.”

“Curly hair isn’t limited to one ethnicity,” says NaturallyCurly community member Jennifer Jevy.

it’s something I think about every time I have to pick up hair stuff,” says community member Ada Nicole. “It’s no wonder ethnicities feel ostracized. Races don’t need to be “called out”, and not every white person has straight hair!‬‬”

For many who do search out the Ethnic aisle in their store for their favorite products, it’s more out of habit. “It points me in the right direction,” says Ebonie Andrews.

The textured-hair category has been one of the fastest growing and most dynamic in the beauty industry. Since NaturallyCurly’s inception 20 years ago, the number of products on the market has grown exponentially, with dozens of new brands launching each year specifically for texture. Every major hair care brand now offers products for textured hair, and traditionally “ethnic” brands have expanded their offerings to a broader customer base that wants to enhance their natural texture. The question about what to call the aisle or section devoted to these products is one of the most hotly debated among retailers.

There was a time when retail stores divided their haircare aisles up by general market and ethnic. As the texture category has exploded, catering to a diverse customer base, naming the section has become more complicated. How do you create a name that’s inclusive and descriptive? How do you attract new customers without alienating others?

We asked our community. TextureMedia’s Perception Study surveyed 613 women – Black, Caucasian, Latina and biracial/multiracial about the terms “multicultural and “ethnic” as it relates to haircare products and their shopping experience We also conducted eight online discussions with 31 NaturallyCurly community members followed by an online survey.

Among the key findings:

• Almost half the respondents believe hair cannot be classified as ethnic or multicultural while some defines ethnic or multicultural hair as hair belonging to someone who is ethnic or multicultural respectively.
• All ethnic groups other than ‘White/Caucasian’ group consider themselves to be ethnic.
• The majority of White/Caucasian consumers started shopping in ethnic/multicultural aisles after getting educated about haircare for their hair types; Most Black/African consumers have always shopped on ethnic/multicultural aisles.

For Heather Wexler, the name of the aisle isn’t as important as what’s in it. “I don’t really care, as long as it’s there and it’s stocked. I understand that as a white/Jewish/Italian American woman with extremely thick and tightly curled hair, I’m not generally the target demographic for these products. I use them anyway because nothing else works for my hair type.‬‬”‬‬

How do you feel about the use of the words “ethnic” and “multicultural” to describe hair.

Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear your opinion.

By Michelle Breyer · Published March 19, 2018

Here at Naturally Curly, we are all about continuing and driving the conversation on all things textured hair, and we realized we haven’t shown anywhere near enough love for our sisters with locs! This is a serious problem, and one we’re actively working on. Today we’d like to introduce you to world-renowned musician, Kris Brooks, who is going to be sharing her loc journey with us.

We were lucky enough to meet Kris coming out of Soho House in New York. Brooks, a longtime NaturallyCurly community member, is a New York-based world-touring professional musician and has worked with such performers as Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and Mary J. Blige, Right now, she’s on her second World Tour with Sam Smith.

Brooks has a passion for educating through music, and considers herself a “music-lifestylist.” Outside of her ventures in music, she has a personal website expressing her passions, which include natural hair! She is on her own personal hair journey, having started locs, which she documents on her YouTube Page. You can find her on all social media realms under ‘The Kris Bliss,’ and can visit her personal website here.

When speaking with Kris about her locs, she stated, “I am a newbie to the loc community, but I believe that is my advantage! A lot of content and videos I find on YouTube are outdated or are of women with mature locs. A big part of the reason why I wanted to document my loc journey on YouTube was to provide visibility of a woman who started from Day 1 and is showing the process/progress/concerns/frustrations from month-to-month. It has been an exciting process thus far, and I am starting to develop a community of loc sisters on YouTube- which is AWESOME!”

“There are so many people who want more info on locs because it’s the least talked about/celebrated style in the natural hair community (in my opinion”>! I get so many questions from women who want to start locs, or have general questions regarding locs, because they are considering them. I also get questions from women who work in corporate America who are concerned about locing because they fear it would disrupt their image in the workplace. Some are worried about the potential negative reaction from friends or family members, and the overall negative connotation surrounding locs. It is also really hard to find mainstream products that work well with loc’d hair, because most of them are suited for loose-natural hair.”

Kris will be reaching out to the NC world every month to go over her loc journey and to answer all of your questions about all things locs. Send her some of your burning desires, and stay tuned for some more loc knowledge!

What do you want to know about locs?

Let us know in the comments below.

To get started, read here:

• 4 Ways to Start Your Locs with Dr. Kari Williams
• 6 Loc Retwisting Products for Shine, Hold, and Length Retention
• The Hierarchy of Natural Hair: Are Locs Counted Out?
• 3 Myths About Maintaining Locs

Just started your loc’ing journey? Drop us some pics on Facebook!

By Michelle Breyer · Published March 2, 2018

Ampro Industries, Inc., has been making hair products for seven decades, and the company’s gels are legendary. The Pro Styl Protein Styling Gel is the best-selling gel in the country, and their Pro Styl’s Olive Oil Gel is a NaturallyCurly Editors’ Choice Award winner.

“I love using Shine n Jam because it can be used on any hair texture to achieve multiple styles such as braids, ponytails, locs etc.,” says Stasha Harris of The Braid Up. “It gives a neat, moisturized and totally sleek finish to styles, and, can be reapplied as often as needed without leaving buildup/residue.”

Ampro doesn’t take success for granted, and is always looking for ways to improve, especially with changing hairstyles, increasingly ingredient-savvy customers, and the development of new technologies. Ampro’s new Shine & Jam Shea Butter DD Crème for Hair | Skin, an all-in-one haircare and skincare treat, is one of the first “dynamic do-all” products designed for both hair and skin.

We asked Ampro’s Vice President of Marketing Camille Wright how the company innovates to improve its existing products and create new ones, especially in such a fast-paced, competitive time in the natural hair world.

NC: How does Ampro come up with new products? For example, how do you come up with new products like DD Crème?

Camille Wright: Our innovations begin with open ears pointed toward our customers. Whether they are discussing our products or others, we tune in and turn up the volume. We care about the voices of our consumers. The problems/issues/disappointments they have with products they are using – even if it’s our own products – lead us to innovate and develop solutions.

We are a very “solutions-driven” company. Whether it be for our current consumers, potential consumers, or distribution partners, we want to provide resolutions and a wonderful product experience.

Our process begins with “lightbulb moments.” Wherever the spark comes from Research & Development, Sales, Marketing, our Professional Stylist Forum, a conversation with a consumer, we all work together to present a path to a new product/category/formula/update whatever it takes to solve the need.

NC: When developing new products or collections, how do you find out about the latest beauty trends?

Camille Wright: Our goal is to provide our customers with products that will give them the greatest benefit while also saving them money. We are very dialed into the beauty industry. Our team travels a lot throughout the United States and abroad to experience the industry. When we see trends pop in other spaces of the industry, our No. 1 goal is to determine whether or not that trend will present a benefit to our own consumers.

NC: What are some innovations that Ampro has come up with before other haircare brands?

Camille Wright: Our customers should know that our best innovations are in what they don’t see. The processes we use to make our gels are very refined, even with the gels we’ve made for more than 70. We are also constantly innovating the way that gel, in general, is made. Each of our gels is crafted differently to make each one unique from our other formulations, and to provide the best product performance, whether it be our Clear Ice Aloe Hydrating StylER, our Protein Styling Gel, or our Clear Ice Coconut Oil Styling Gel.

We don’t just switch one ingredient for another in an effort to keep up with what’s trending. We discover the need, find the ingredients that suit that need and begin crafting the perfect product with the highest level of performance. We believe listening first is what gets us the results.

Being first to market, while important, is not nearly as important as providing the best possible product. It’s critical to us that when our consumer uses it, they have the positive experience they’ve been looking for.

NC: Are there any Ampro formulas that you have changed over the years based on community feedback or changes in technology?

Camllle Wright: One of the innovations we’ve tested for a number of years was our preservative system. Though parabens are tried and true, consumer feedback led us to remove them from our products and find a replacement. We’ve invested years in developing a new paraben-free formula for preserving products that helps to maintain our high standards while giving our consumers products they can feel comfortable using.

NC: Is the Shine & Jam Shea Butter DD Crème for Hair I Skin the first of its kind, and what prompted you to create it?

Camille Wright: Our DD Crème for Hair | Skin, a first-to-market product, was consumer driven. Because of the love our customers have for our Ampro Pro Styl Curl Enhancers, we weren’t often asked why we don’t have a cream. Our curl enhancers do a great job of defining curls and keeping the hair moisturized, but consumers wanted the option of having a different experience in terms of consistency. Some wanted the lusciousness of a cream.

We listened. We captured the idea and then took it a step further. We didn’t simply want our consumers to trade their Curl Enhancers for our DD Crème. We wanted them to enjoy them both. So we worked to craft a “Dynamic Do-All.” The result is an all-over, head-to-toe moisturizer that can be used on the face, but can also be used all over their body. We are a value driven, and wanted to provide them with added utility. We are in love with this product, and our customers are loving it too.

In addition to the DD Crème, Ampro has recently released the Castor Oil Gel and the Shea Edges Edge Control in this collection.

This post is sponsored by Ampro Industries, Inc.

By Michelle Breyer · Published February 28, 2018

When Phyto is developing new haircare products, the cosmetic chemists look no further than their own herbarium for the powerful botanical ingredients that are at the heart of the brand.

Fascinated by nature, Phyto’s Founder Patrick Ales decided to study the power of plants, their history of use in traditional medicine, and the role they might play in haircare. Phyto works with more than 500 plant ingredients to develop the formulas for its products.

Phyto’s innovative scientific lab – complete with doctors, pharmacologists, botanists and biochemists – is able to identify and produce the most active plant extracts. Their work, validated by rigorous scientific experiments, has allowed Phyto to extract the most active part of the plant  (leaf, flower, stem or root”> to use in the most effective concentration.

Phyto’s products are 95 percent natural and are free of chemicals like parabens, silicones, mineral oils, and synthetic and alcohols. For example, Phyto replaces synthetic alcohol in all its hairsprays with beetroot alcohol, which less drying for the hair. 

For example, Phyto replaces synthetic alcohol in all its hairsprays with beetroot alcohol, which less drying for the hair.

We spoke with Anthony Cristiano, global artistic director for Phyto, about Ales, the power of botanicals and the newest products for curls. Cristiano met Ales in 1989 while working as an apprentice at Vidal Sassoon and was struck by his passion and the quality of Phyto’s products.

“Innovation is at the core of this company,” Cristiano says. “Phyto still has its own lab and chemists, and grows herbs for its products in the South of France. It’s uniquely developed for textured hair. Each bottle of Phyto is pure integrity and passion.”

How was Phyto founded?

AC: Patrick Alès launched the brand in 1967. Alès noticed that chemically-laden products were taking a serious toll on the hands of hairdressers and the hair of their clientele. He wanted to create a gentler, less harmful range of products.

At the time, he was renovating his old farm house and found three jars of herbs, which became his inspiration for Phyto. He decided to study the power of plants, their history of use in traditional medicine, and the role they might play in hair products. All Phyto products are comprised of 95 percent botanicals.

Phyto’s first products, Huiles D’ Alès and Phyto 7, were created to rescue his clients’ dry, bleached-out locks.

In 1998, Phyto Specific was launched. It is a specialized, professional brand designed to meet the particular needs of curly, coily and relaxed hair. Phyto Specific PhytoRelaxer is the first no-lye relaxer.

Tell me about Phyto Specific’s new products.

AC: The new Cleansing Care Cream hydrates and cleanses the scalp and hair. We recommend applying twice – first to cleanse and second to treat. It can be used on wet or dry hair. We recommend cleansing two to three times a week, alternating the cleansing care cream with your maintenance shampoo. Buildup can clog follicles preventing hair growth.

Both cleansers can be followed with one of Phyto Specifics curl masks, which include the Rich Hydration Mask, the Ultra Smoothing Mask and the Curl Hydration Mask.

We also launched our Curl Legend styling products. The Curl Energizing Spray – a curl spa in a bottle – defines and hydrates loose to tight curls. It can be combined with the Curl Sculpting Cream-Gel, which defines curls and controls frizz without crunch. The Spray is perfect for people with finer hair, while the Cream-Gel is ideal for those with coarser, tighter curls. What’s inside? Quinoa to hold moisture and definition for 24 hours. 98% botanical formulas! Available at ULTA, PHYTO.com and in top salons nationwide.

We also have our Pre-Shampoo Baobab Oil, a luxurious oil that nourishes and regenerates the hair and scalp.

What are some of your favorite Phyto and Phyto Specific products?

AC: My first introduction to Phyto was Phyto Plage L’Original Protective Sun Oil, which I use to style the hair. It has a little tackiness and creates great beachy hair.

My favorite product is the Phytologist Scalp Treatment. Beautiful hair grows from a healthy scalp. It’s a product meant to be used a minimum of two days a week for hair strengthening and growth. Instantly after using, you’ll stop shedding and see results. 

I also love PhytoVolume Actif Volumizing Spray, which is a great base for creating voluminous shapes, and Volume Intense Mousse, which provides amazing control and creates beautiful volume.

What are the benefits of layering/cocktailing products?

AC: I love to cocktail products. You want to think about what each product does to each other – how they relate. If I want to break down a gel, I mix it with a cream-based, emollient product. For example, I would use Phyto 7 and Phyto 9 leave-in conditioners with Curl Sculpting Cream-Gel. Or I would cocktail Curl Energizing Spray with PhytoDéfrisant Botanical Smoothing Balm. They complement each other.

Phyto Specific Integral Hydrating Mist is a great base for every curly person. It provides complete hydration, which can prevent frizz. Frizz results when the cuticle is blown open. The spray fills in the cuticle, making it much suppler.

The majority of the Phyto line can be layered because of the botanicals. They don’t leave the hair feeling weighed down or heavy. They just do the job. Phyto allows you to have fun. You can’t really make a mistake.

What are some top trends you’re seeing in curly hair?

AC: People are really embracing their curls. I can see it with my children, especially my 16-year-old daughter. There was a time when she didn’t like her curls because all her friends had straight hair. Now she’s embracing her curls.

We’re seeing more short curly styles – mid-length bobs and layers. We’re even starting to see women with straight hair creating beach waves. Everyone wants texture!

You are a curly yourself. What is your own personal hair story?

AC: I didn’t always embrace my curls. When I was growing up in the ’70s, everyone was wearing their hair with straight. I slowly learned how to enjoy my hair curly in my 20s and 30s, wearing it long. After cutting it short for a while, I’m embracing wearing it long again. It’s down to my shoulders. I’m happy about my curls. But thank God for Phyto!

Phyto’s 9 Top Botanicals

1. Sage

Sage has been used since ancient times to combat hair loss and baldness. It encourages new hair growth as by improving circulation to the scalp, providing more nutrition to the hair follicles.

2. Willow

White Willow Bark is a gentle cleanser, great for clearing out skin pores of excess oil. It helps to balance oily scalps while maintaining a healthy level of sebum for conditioning and protecting the hair strand.

3. Calendula

Calendula oil applied to the scalp promotes growth of stronger hair by increasing collagen production and circulation in hair follicles.

4. Baobab oil

It can be used to treat dandruff/dry scalp, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. It helps with skin and hair regeneration by improving skin elasticity and healing damaged hair. Baobab oil also contains Vitamins A, D, and E to help with dry winter hair and it is packed with Omega 3, 6, and 9.

5. Narcissus Flower Wax

It can be used in hair styling products to impart hold, gloss and hardness.

6. Rosemary

Rosemary contains ursolic acid which helps to increase scalp circulation – this means more oxygen and nutrients will be sent right to your hair follicles, and that in-turn promotes healthy hair growth.

7. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus oil improves shine, thickness, and overall health of your hair. However, too much use can actually reduce the shine and result in a greasy scalp. Most experts suggest using eucalyptus oil for the hair an hour or so before bathing, and then using a good shampoo to remove the residue, followed by a good conditioner.

8. Cacao

Cacao helps increase blood circulation in your scalp, increasing the growth of healthy and lustrous locks. Cacao has anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in minimizing the odds of getting scalp infections.

9. Mallow

The Vitamin E increases blood circulation levels to your scalp, ensuring hair follicles get ample nutrients. At last, you can boast of soft hair with no split ends.

This post is sponsored by Phyto Specific.

By Michelle Breyer · Published February 27, 2018

Stacey Cantor walked into the Aspen Grove location of Tattered Cover bookstore Saturday afternoon with her teenaged son and daughter to shop for books when she was greeted by a display for The Curl Revolution: Inspiring Stories and Practical Advice from the NaturallyCurly Community.

Cantor, a curly, was so excited that she was taking several photos of the books to share with her curly friends. She heard the sounds of laughter and conversation coming from around the corner and went to explore, discovering a whole gathering of curlies attending my book signing. Cantor happily joined in. “I can’t believe I didn’t know about this,” she said, buying copies of the book for both herself and her curly daughter and posing for photos with the group.

Like other stops on The Curl Revolution book tour, Denver was a celebration of the personal journeys that are unique to curly women – each completely unique yet familiar.

At Saturday’s signing, Denver’s curl stylists came out in force. There were more than a dozen stylists from Denver’s top curl salons, including Shapes Salon & Studio, MOP Factory, The Station Hair Studio, Curl Culture and Rocky Mountain Curls. Lori Lambert-Sandshaw, a curl expert at Rocky Mountain Curls and The Station Hair Studio, drove 75 minutes from the mountain community of Dillon to attend the book signing.

“Besides being in a room with a bunch of amazing curlies there was a LOT of Denver Curl specialists that I got to meet and chat with. The curl love is strong here in Colorado!” said stylist Andee Hoos, co-owner of MOP Factory Salon, a curl salon in Denver.

Before the book signing, I was able to catch up with Shapes owner Richelle Bishop. She was Denver’s first Deva-trained stylist, and I was lucky enough to have my curls colored and highlighted by Bishop I also got to watch curly expert Cindy Koder cut off the long curls of a young man for Locks of Love.

One of the highlights of Saturday’s event was meeting Analise Harris from Curls on the Block, an enrichment program for girls of all ethnicities and texture types to explore and embrace their natural selves while working to increase engagement, investment and commitment to careers in science, technology, engineering, art and math. Harris also runs the Miss Curly Self-eSTEAM Pageant. The pageant recognizes and celebrates the beauty of culture, curls, kinks, and even frizz.

Harris came with her friend Yazz Almore of Crowned Curls, Atmore founded Crowned Curls in 2016 to help young women of color share, create and explore, their natural hair, health and wellness journeys. Through events like the annual #CrunkCurlsFestival, online publications and partnering with brands, the organization aims to create a community among women of color that engages in love, self-care and healing.

The Book Tour has been a wonderful way to experience the curl cultures of different cities. Whether it be Toronto or Chicago or Denver, there is a curl kinship that is truly amazing.

By Michelle Breyer · Published February 23, 2018

AP Images

An article from the Daily Mirror has been making the rounds among NaturallyCurly Editors this morning. The article blasts Jennifer Lawrence’s full, curly look at the movie premiere for Red Sparrow.

“Jennifer Lawrence is famous for making the odd misstep on big occasions, notably falling flat on her face at the Oscars in 2013. The actress made another style stumble last night by swapping her usual chic hair for a rather disheveled ‘do at the premiere of her new film…The puffed-out style also obscures her lovely features, leaving us itching to tuck it behind her ears or pop in a hair slide. Fair play to Jen for trying something new, but we much preferred her sleek, polished appearance at the BAFTA’s on Sunday night.”

Seriously?

I immediately had flashbacks to the 2001 trailer for “The Princess Diaries,” in which Anne Hathaway’s wild curly ‘do and glasses were deemed unprincess-ly (is that a word?”>. The trailer – and the message it sent about texture – prompted a NaturallyCurly boycott of the movie.

Even with all the advances we’ve made in the curly world, too many people are still uncomfortable with texture. An Austin news anchor told me recently that the one day she decided not to flatiron her naturally wavy hair generated some emails asking what had happened to her hair.

Waves and curls – other than those artificially created – have been few and far between on the Red Carpet this awards season.

NewBeauty magazine dedicated an entire article to 7 Celebrities Who’ve Stepped out Proudly Wearing their Natural Texture, implying that it takes courage to do so, “we decided to round up the unusual instances when celebs are caught au naturale.”

It was surprising to see photos of stars like Selma Hayek, Emmy Rossum and Ariana Grande with waves, although the photo of Sara Jessica Parker’s long waves didn’t look much like the natural tighter curls she wore earlier in her career.

I was heartened to see an article in Glamour (by a self-described 3a/3b Jewish American curly”>, who found Lawrence’s style inspiring: “With a little frizz, her soft layers, and a huge dose of volume, Lawrence’s curls’ coming out is like spotting an alternate universe, where curls and texture aren’t hammered out of actresses as soon as they have a hairstylist on call.”

My thoughts exactly.

By Michelle Breyer · Published February 19, 2018

Growing up in College Station, TX, Julianna Masabni always felt out of place. “I was always the girl with the curly hair.” Her hair made her stand out, and she hated that. She often woke up wanting to shave off her curls. People had come to associate her with her hair, and since she viewed her hair as ugly, she thought others saw her that way too.

Then she went off to college, where again she was the girl with the curls. “But now I saw my hair in a positive way. I’m the (resident assistant”> with the curly hair, and I love that.”

Going off to college is a time of discovery, a chance to discover who you are. Hair – specifically curly hair – can be a big part of self image and exploration. That was the topic Thursday night at Kinsolving Dorm at the University of Texas in Austin, where a standing-room-only crowd gathered to hear a panel of curlies discuss their curls, kinks and waves.

Some of the topics were amusing, like how to deal with shedding curly hair when you share a bathroom with a bunch of other people. Others were practical, like how to find cost-effective products on a college student’s budget. And some were emotional, like when Timia Bethea shared how her natural journey inspired her mother to do the same. “I realized I could make a difference in how other people see their hair.”

Deanna Hausman grew up fighting her long curly hair. “Growing up, curly hair wasn’t something I thought I should want. I got so much attention when I straightened my hair, so that reaffirmed that straight haired was the right way to be.”

When she got to college, she realized that her constant struggle to straighten her hair was, in fact, fighting her own body. “At college, I saw other people celebrating their hair, and it changed my mindset. It became about seeing what my hair can do rather than trying to fit into other people’s image.”

Embracing her hair enabled to appreciate other things about herself, including her Mexican heritage.

Gerard Smithwrick grew up getting his hair cut short at the barber. That’s what black men were supposed to do. “That was the ideal image of being clean, proper and put together.” It wasn’t until two years ago at grad school that he decided to let it grow out and see what happened.

“I loved it” he says.

But will that confidence follow them out of college as they move into the workforce or grad school? They expressed concerns that as the only black woman in the business school, or the only woman in her biochemistry major, or the only black person in the school of classical music, they already stand out. They are already different. So to wear their hair natural is to emphasize that difference even more, and that’s not something they feel comfortable with in a professional setting.

Masabni says she was faced with self doubt as she applied to Dental Schools and once again found herself being the only curly girl in the room. “I worry when I go to school and start seeing patients, is my hair and my identity going to be the reason they don’t come to me?”

When Smithwrick was applying for the job in the residence hall at the University of Texas, he didn’t’ know if he should keep his hair long or should cut it short again. After talking to his mentors, he cut it short. “After cutting it, my heart dropped. I didn’t know who this person was. It was not Girard.”

A light bulb went off. “I decided that no matter what happens next, if I cut my hair, it’s because I want to cut my hair.”

Smithwrick, believes this generation is pushing the envelope for change that they’ll take with them from college into their professional lives. When he attends job conferences he already notices there are applicants wearing their hair natural, wearing locs, “How are they going to get a job with locs?” he mused. But he also sees the recruiters are embracing their individuality too. “This generation is going to change what professionalism looks like. We are creating a culture of self acceptance.”

Did you wear your hair natural in college? Do you see the attitude towards natural hair in the workplace changing?

By Michelle Breyer · Published February 16, 2018

One of the busiest areas of our CurlTalk forum these days is the Going Gray section.

CurlTalker Newtocurls has trouble finding the right products for her gray hair, “I’m 49, more grey but not all, and can’t seem to find the right, products or cut. I began experimenting with different hair products many, many years ago.

Teachermrw posed the question “Are you Embracing or Running Away from Your Gray Hair?” And Jeepy’s Grey Hair Progress thread has nearly 10K views.

“Grey hair doesn’t make anyone look older. It’s just the media telling us so. Grey is just another color,” says JeepCurlyGurl.

As the time between salon visits for root touch ups has steadily decreased for me, I have toyed with the idea of letting my hair go gray. Even if I color my hair at home, it is a tedious task. But what’s the alternative?

Lorraine Massey, who brought us the bestselling Curly Girl: The Handbook, which changed the lives of millions of curly girls and created a new lexicon of ‘pooing and cones, is providing a guide for those who want to “let their natural light shine.” With Silver Hair: A Handbook, Massey has created another empowering how-to book that is sure to become a bible for women who want to go gray.

Written by Lorraine Massey with Michele Bender, the book addresses the many ways to go silver, along with an overview of the science behind the transformative process, including:

• How to grow out the dye naturally, without any chemical assistance

• Using highlights, lowlights, and toners to blend color

• When to get a little help from silver color

• The best cuts to help the process along

• Tips on revitalizing wardrobe and makeup routines

• DIY recipes, like Blue Dew Toning Hair Bath and “Berry” Effective Hair tonic.

Silver Hair: A Handbook by Lorraine Massey and Michele Bender (Workman”>. Copyright © 2018. Photographs by Jeremy Saladyga.

The book grew out of Massey’s own “uncoloring journey,” which began when she was waiting to meet a friend at an upscale NY salon.

“I kept seeing women emerge from the salon,” she writes. “It was like a conveyer belt of women, who all seemed to be around the same age, leaving with the same bleached-blonde highlights and blowfried, straight hairstyle. ‘Why do they all want to look alike in both texture and color?’ I wondered. . What the heck was my real color, anyway? What had I been hiding all these years?” – Excerpted from Silver Hair: A Handbook by Lorraine Massey and Michele Bender (Workman”>. Copyright © 2018. Photographs by Jeremy Saladyga.

A staggering 75% of women admit to dyeing their hair. Over four decades, a woman may shell out an estimated $70,000 on hair color in Los Angeles – the equivalent of a down payment on a home!

Massey addresses the difference between “letting yourself go” and “letting go.” And how to tone out the critics. One woman had to deal with a husband who told her “When we met, I signed up for a blonde” when she told him she wanted to go gray.

Trae Bodge photographed by Karston Tannis from The Curl Revolution: Inspiring Stories and Practical Advice from the NaturallyCurly Community

I love the real stories sprinkled throughout the book, because no two women will have an identical experience when they go gray.

They include Jen, a 53-year-old personal trainer and yoga instructor. “It’s such a relief to not be going to the salon, because the second I left, I felt like the clock was ticking until I’d be back again.” For her, the hardest part of going silver was the line of demarcation.

Ashley, 30 discovered her first gray hair at 14, and began to color it. After six years, she got tired of coloring and decided to go gray naturally. “My silver makes me feel full and happy.” She regularly receives compliments on her hair.

Janine, 44, had been coloring her hair since her early 20s. But with two young kids, she no longer had time for it. “I get stopped on the street by a lot of people asking questions about my hair and wanting to take pictures. I was even asked to audition for a Dove hair care ad.”

The book also addresses “Silver Wear,” adapting your makeup and clothing to match your silver locks. Tips include “skip khaki and tan,” and “Change the way you think about neutrals.”

I want to give a big shout out to Lorraine, for providing a much-needed inspiration to so many women, including myself. I’m not quite ready, but I feel so much better knowing that someone has provided me with all the tools and options I’ll need when I do decide to embark on my own uncoloring journey.

By Michelle Breyer · Published February 15, 2018

Snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis may be best known for her three unsuccessful Olympic appearances in 2006, 2010 and 2014. But to me, she will always have gold medal curls, no matter how she does Thursday in Pyeongchang.

She’s one of the world’s top snowboarders, flying down frosty mountains, twisting and flipping down the half-pipe and racing over obstacles in the snowboard cross. But in addition to her superhuman skills, she is known for her thick blonde ringlets that peek out the back of her helmet.

I first interviewed Lindsey in 2007. Unlike most of her interviews, the topic wasn’t about snowboarding or the Olympics. It was about her hair.

Jacobellis has had curly hair since she can remember, but admits she wasn’t always so comfortable with her ringlets.

“They were a pain — a lot to manage for a little kid,” she said in the 2007 interview. “If I wore braids, they turned into dreadlocks. I brushed my hair every night with conditioner.”

Cutting it short gave the athletic kid much-needed freedom. By high school, it had grown long, making it easier to take care of. She didn’t do another drastic haircut until high school, when she donated 10 inches of her long curls to Locks of Love, an organization that takes donations of hair and makes them into wigs for cancer patients.

Jacobellis says she sometimes longs for straight hair, and says it can be frustrating not to wear the latest trendy hairstyle. Her friends have straightened her hair every now and then — a 3 1/2-hour ordeal that requires three people working on her.

“I’m limited in the styles I can do with my hair,” she says. “I pretty much live on the road, bouncing from mountain to mountain.”

When she’s in the mountains, where the humidity is low, she says her hair is easy to work with. But during a recent surfing trip to Fiji, she said the curls turned into a big frizzy poof.

A look through her Instagram feed shows just how much her curls are a part of her identity. In virtually every photo, she wears her curls curly – on the beach, on the slopes, with her dog, at a fancy event. In fact I couldn’t find one photo of her with her hair straight – something refreshing in a world where celebrities seem to grab for their flat iron the minute they get famous.

Lindsey told me that even on those bad hair days, she sees her hair as a major asset.

She is a Paul Mitchell sponsored athlete, and uses a variety of products. Among her favorites:

With her curls, she conditions a lot – both detanglers and masques. Her two favorites lines are MarulaOil and Awapuhi, which are both very moisturizing. She uses MarulaOil Rare Oil Shampoo, MarulaOil Replenishing Conditioner and MarulaOil Intensive Hair Masque because “It’s super moisturizing for when I’m out in the cold.” She also uses the Awapuhi Moisturizing Lathering Shampoo and and Awapuhi Keratin Intensive Treatment. Paul Mitchell The Conditioner is also a longtime favorite, along with the Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner.

Jacobellis uses Express Style Round Trip to define her curls and Super Skinny Serum to tame frizz.

One of her go-to moves is to put a conditioner in her hair the night before and she braids it. When she takes her helmet off and unbraids her hair, it’s moisturized and defined.

By Michelle Breyer · Published February 8, 2018

Photo by Konstantinos Angelos Gavrias

Everyone knows the fear and trepidation that comes with looking for a new stylist to cut and color their curls. How do they know a stylist has received special training to cut and style curls?

Christo has gained an international reputation for the cutting, coloring and styling techniques he has created for curly hair. The founder of New York’s Christo Fifth Avenue Salon and the Curlisto® line of products has created a certification program for stylists and salons that receive this training.

Christo has been dubbed as the King of Curls® by Wall Street Journal and Women’s Wear Daily. He has worked with a wide range of clients, from celebrities like Debra Messing and Noel Fisher to everyday curly girls who want to learn to love and care for their natural curls.

He has been teaching his Diametrix Cutting technique to stylists around the globe for several years. The technique features the innovative “inner layer sliding texturizing cut,” which helps to reduce bulkiness and avoid the pyramid-like shape that is often synonymous with curly hair. This unique method inter-locks the puzzle-like layers of curls and will give you fantastic results every time, which work for all curl textures.

NaturallyCurly’s Salon Finder now features Curlisto Certified Salons and Stylists. They include:

By Michelle Breyer · Published January 29, 2018

Where have all the 3s gone?

And the Grammy goes to….Alessia Cara!

Thank you, Alessia. For your beautiful music, and yes, for wearing your 3b curls, curly on the biggest night in the music industry.

And a big shoutout to Kimberly Schlapman! I have to be honest. I didn’t even know who Kimberly Schlapman was until I saw her interviewed on the Red Carpet. But now I’m a huge fan of Little Big Town’s Schlapman and her beautiful blonde curls.

Alessia and Kimberly are notable because they are two Type 3 curlies who actually opted to wear their hair curly at an award show this year. I’ve been hard pressed to name many curly celebs who rocked their ringlets at any awards shows.

Taylor Swift? My younger co-workers don’t even remember the days when Taylor wore her hair curly and I had to show them photos to prove that yes, she does have curly hair.

Nicole Kidman? Her strawberry blonde curls have been flatironed for so many years that they probably don’t know how to curl.

Sarah Jessica Parker? Nope.

I don’t mean to curl shame these women. At NaturallyCurly, we’re big believers that you should be able to wear your hair however you want, as long as the decision is yours and yours alone. And if you decide to straighten your hair, we hope you’ll do it in the healthiest way possible so that your curls can still curl.

Alessia and Kimberly weren’t alone. There were other examples of beautiful 3a/b curls at the Grammy Awards. Some of my favorites included Canadian singer-songwriter Alessia Carra and Rhianna, who wore her hair big and curly. I loved Quin’s short, layered curls. Lorde’s long wavy bob was beautiful.

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A post shared by QUIÑ (@thequincat”> on Jan 28, 2018 at 4:23pm PST

And there were some straight-haired celebs who opted for textured looks, including Kelly Clarkson, Sarah Silverman and Anna Kendrick.

I just wish some curly celebrities would opt for curly looks at high-profile awards shows.

I know there will be some who think I’m making a big deal out of about nothing. “It’s just hair.” But for all the millions of people who watch these events and look at photos of the events – especially the young curlies – wearing hair curly sends a message that curls are glamorous and sexy and yes, award-worthy.

After all, we still live in a time when many women feel the need to straighten their hair for job interviews. Saturday Night Live did a skit earlier this month about the TV show The Bachelor, with one contestant admitting she had a deep, dark secret: “I’m really curly.”

On to the Oscars!

Have you been watching the Red Carpet coverage in recent years and wondering where all the Type 3 curls have gone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

By Michelle Breyer · Published January 4, 2018

The news this week that Sundial co-founder Richelieu Dennis was buying Essence magazine came as a surprise to many in the media business. But Dennis says that for those who know him, acquisition of the iconic publisher of black culture makes perfect sense.

“Anybody who knows my philosophy won’t be surprised,” Dennis said during an interview Thursday. “I’ve always felt that there is an opportunity to serve women of color more deeply across genres, across geographies, across platforms, across content… With Essence, we’ve got a great brand to build upon and an incredible consumer audience to speak to and with.”

Dennis created Essence Ventures LLC, an independent African-American owned company focused on merging content, community, and commerce, to acquire Essence. The group is a completely separate entity from Sundial, with a different leadership team. Essence President Michelle Ebanks will continue at the helm of the company and will also join its board of directors. In addition, the all-black female executive team of Essence, including Ebanks, will have an equity stake in the business.

“This acquisition of ESSENCE represents the beginning of an exciting transformation of our iconic brand as it evolves to serve the needs and interests of multigenerational Black women around the world in an even more elevated and comprehensive way across print, digital, e-commerce and experiential platforms,” said Ebanks. “In addition, it represents a critical recognition, centering and elevation of the Black women running the business from solely a leadership position to a co-ownership position.”

Essence was founded by Clarence Smith and Ed Lewis 47 years ago. They sold a minority stake to Time Inc. in 2000, and the rest of the company to Time in 2005. In November, Time Inc. announced it was being sold to the Meredith Corp. for $3 billion and Essence, which was not a part of the sale, became available. And Dennis jumped at the chance.

“I thought, ‘Wow what an opportunity to take an iconic brand and bring it back under black ownership,'” Dennis says. “We were lucky enough to be the ones chosen to be the custodians of the Essence brand moving forward.”

With the sale, Essence magazine is once again a fully black-owned publication.

Essence has a majority-black readership, with a focus on black culture, entertainment, empowerment, and beauty. Essence currently reaches a global audience of more than 16 million across its various platforms encompassing its signature print magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials, including the Black Women in Hollywood Awards on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network; books; and live events, including the Street Style Block Party during New York Fashion Week.

The Essence Festival, the magazine’s annual music festival in New Orleans, has grown into one of the largest events for the black community – attracting nearly a half million people last year – and is a staple for brands wanting to reach them.

Dennis says he’s long had an interest in publishing, having sold books under the Nubian Heritage retail whole business early in his career. He says to expect big things from Essence, although he didn’t want to tip his hand. “I want people to be surprised by some of the things we’re doing. Keep in mind, everything we’re going to do is about serving and engaging women of color at a deeper level.”

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By Michelle Breyer · Published December 25, 2017

It’s been quite a wild ride this fall – the most action packed two and half months of my life! Now that the 2017 portion of the book tour for The Curl Revolution: Inspiring Stories and Practical Advice from the NaturallyCurly Community is over, I’ve had time to take a breath, unpack my suitcase and reflect on some of the highlights of the tour.

Thanks to the momentum built by the influencers, stylists and curlies who have embraced it, the book still maintains its bestseller status, topping all hair books in Beauty, Grooming & Style on Amazon over the past 90 days. A big thank you Essence, Allure and Latina all for including it in your holiday gift guides!

Among my key takeaways, in no particular order:

1. Magic happens in person.

Even though NaturallyCurly is online, nothing can replace hugging someone and talking to them face to face.

Makeba Lindsay and sexologist Shan Boody in LA

2. Everyone has a story.

Some are heartbreaking. Some are funny. All have shaped in one way or another the curlies I met along the road. In one case, it was the constant back and forth between a mother and a daughter – the mom pressuring her to keep relaxing her hair after she opted to transition to her natural texture. Now the mother had moved on to what she should do with her childrens’ hair. In another case, it was a mother with two young curly daughters, one who came and one who refused because she hated the way her hair looked.

3. Curly hair connects.

Each event attracted a wide ranges of ages, texture types and ethnicities. It was wonderful to meet greying curlies who had just embraced their texture as well as children who were inspired by all the curl love in the room.

2 new curlfriends in Miami at Quintessential Naturals

4. Throw away old hotel plastic keys.

I ended up with a large stack and was stuck at my door trying to figure out which one was the right one. I finally had to head downstairs to get a new one.

5. Uber drivers are wonderful!

I met so many interesting people, from San Francisco to Toronto. A big shout out to my Boston Uber driver, who insisted on taking me for a tour of Marblehead and Salem on my way to the airport from Beverly. And his wife just happened to be a client of Cala Renee Salon, where we held the event.

6. Just because you have an early flight is no excuse to wear your clothes inside out or backwards.

I kept wondering why my neck was itchy and it turned out my label was in the front.

Evelyn & I in Miami

7. Close doesn’t mean best.

In booking hotels, proximity to the event was the big decider in where to stay. In some cases, that was fine. In others, not so much. I don’t know where the travel web site got the photos from the “boutique hotel” in Miami, but it bore no resemblance to the old motel that Evelyn and I stayed at. It was downright scary, but having Evelyn along made it a lot more fun. Ask around before booking.

8. Layer.

I went from balmy 80s in Fort Lauderdale to cool and foggy in San Francisco to snow in Toronto and back to the 80s in Miami.

Mom & I in Los Angeles

9. Take advantage of the opportunity.

In nearly every city, I was able to see a friend or relative. My mom and dad helped greet the crowd in L.A. and truly got to experience what this curl revolution is all about! In one case, a boyfriend from 32 years ago showed up at an event, which was a little surreal!

10. The curly world is filled with incredible entrepreneurs.

From Ouidad, “The Queen of Curls,” to Jonathan Torch of Curly Hair Solutions to Nikia Phoenix, the lifestyle influencer and top model, this community is filled with amazing innovators. They all have made the world a better place for women with curly, coily and wavy hair.

Friends Jess McGuinty from Jessicurl and Cassidy Blackwell in SF

11. Every name can and probably is spelled multiple ways.

I met Ayshas, Aishas and Aishias. I met Micheles, Michelles and Michels. So ask before you write.

12. NaturallyCurly has touched so many people in different ways.

From introducing them to the stylist who now cuts their hair or the products that have become their Holy Grails to connecting them to other curlies to chat with on CurlTalk, I got to hear these stories firsthand. In some cases, it was the inspiration for them to start their brands, or was the place they launched their curly company.

Oasis Salon in Rockville, MG

Young attendee in Miami

With Diane Mary in NYC

With Ouidad in Fort Lauderdale

With MaduSalon in SF

With Robin Sjoblom of Southern Curl

With my curly likeness in Beverly, Mass.

Curly Hair Institute in Toronto

The first stop of the book tour in Austin, TX

Jamyla Bennu and I at Oyin Boutique & Salon in Baltimore

Cally from Curls & Co. Chicago

I’d like to thank our sponsors who made the tour possible: Ouidad, DevaCurl, CurlFormers, Coconut Restore, Paul Mitchell, As I Am, Curly Hair Solutions and Oyin Handmade.

I’d also like to thank all the amazing stylists who welcomed me into your salons: Oasis Salon in Rockville, Md., Southern Curl in Atlanta, Cala Renee Salon in Beverly, Ma., MaduSalon in San Francisco, Curly Hair Institute in Toronto, Oyin Handmade Boutique & Salon in Baltimore and Curls and Co. in Chicago.

By Michelle Breyer · Published December 6, 2017

When I took a poll of where people had come from at Saturday’s Curl Revolution Brunch at Oyin Handmade Boutique & Salon in the heart of Baltimore, I expected most people to be locals. Instead, many had come in from hours away, including some who attended one of the first book signings in Rockville, Md. Back in early October.

The book, to my delight, has become a catalyst for curl conversations before, during and after each event. Many told me they wanted to bring friends, daughters and even husbands to experience this curl kinship!

Baltimore was the 11^th stop for the tour of The Curl Revolution: Inspiring Stories and Practical Advice from the NaturallyCurly Community. And the brunch was an ideal opportunity for Oyin Handmade founder Jamyla Bennu and I to reflect on our curl journeys and the dramatic changes we’ve experienced in the texture world.

When I first connected with Bennu 12 years ago, she had recently begun selling her brand of hair and body products online. At the time, Oyin Handmade included a handful of botanical styling products, lotion and shampoo bars and lip balms. It already had become a cult hit among with women with curly and textured hair.

Bennu, who grew up with “very pro-Black hippy parents,” wore her hair natural most of her life and had only started relaxing her hair in high school. At Spelman College in Atlanta, she was inspired by all the natural hair around her and transitioned back.

Oyin Handmade – the company gets its name from the Yoruban word for honey – was a way to channel her lifelong creativity and combine it with a desire to create products that were good for the hair. What was once four products has grown into a staple in in the natural haircare space, with products ranging from early favorites Greg Juice, Hair Dew and Burnt Sugar Pomade to her latest offerings – Ginger Mint Co-Wash and Oh My Glide! Prestyling Detangler. Bennu still oversees all aspects of her business, and was heading off after the event to mix up a few batches of products.

As has happened throughout the tour, the real magic comes from the people who have attended the event. One curly woman broke into tears as she talked about her two young curly daughters – one who was with her that day and one who refused to come because she dislikes her tight curls so much.

I also met other amazing female entrepreneurs, including Jillian Gee of The Black Synergee Podcast, Niccara Campbell, Creator of The Urban Tea, a blog that mixes her love for politics, food, and beauty, and Wan Campbell, CEO and Senior Publicist for WanCampbell PR.

And best of all, my 17-year-old daughter, Emma Seaborn, was there to experience it all. It was the first book signing she’s been to since the Austin launch at BookPeople Oct. 3^rd.

She was able to reunite with a friend she met this summer while volunteering with Amigos de las Americas in the Yucatan. Sari Finn, who lives in Washington, D.C., recently did the Big Chop herself and was thrilled to meet Jamyla and talk with other naturalistas. Her sister, she said, was floored that her friend Emma’s mom was co-founder of NaturallyCurly because that is her go-to site.

For two brief hours, I think I was a little ;”>less uncool in the mind of my daughter. And that was invaluable!

I can’t fully express how inspiring, empowering and emotional these book signings have been, and how they have reinforced the need for these types of conversations to be happening. Each one also provides a powerful reminder of why we started NaturallyCurly 19 years ago, and the important purpose it continues to serve.

See you in Chicago on Dec. 10^th at Curls & Co.!

By Michelle Breyer · Published November 30, 2017

Photo by Tempura — Getty Images

When NaturallyCurly got its start almost 20 years ago, the core of the site was CurlTalk. That’s where our community slowly formed, providing us with the ideas and the energy for NaturallyCurly.

Our CurlTalkers were loyal and passionate, coming back multiple times each day to check in on conversations or start new ones. They helped create the curly vocabulary that we now use – words such as plopping and pineappling and CG (The Curly Girl method”>. They took our 2-4 Curl Type key and created the nuances of 2b and 4a. They created “Grow-Out Challenge” threads where they could get support as they transitioned from relaxers to their natural texture in the days before blogs and YouTube.

Products were created on CurlTalk. CurlTalker Jessica McGuinty’s experiment with flax-seed gel recipes turned into Jessicurl, a curl favorite sold around the world. AG Hair Care used CurlTalk feedback to develop its Re:coil Curl Activator – a 13-year-old product that is still the Canadian company’s bestselling product.

When I was doing research for our book The Curl Revolution: Inspiring Stories and Practical Advice from the NaturallyCurly Community, I found a treasure -trove of great tips, anecdotest and recommendations on CurlTalk.

CurlTalkers initially came for hair topics, but their friendships flourished. Hair boards were soon joined by topics ranging from politics to books to fitness. There were spirited debates about every topic imaginable. A thread debating the merits of E-Z Cheese was hundreds of pages long. The PT Cruiser elicited hundreds of posts. Looking for “Better than Sex” brownies?

The community has celebrated thousands of births, weddings, graduations, new jobs and other accomplishments. They’ve mourned with sisters who lost loved ones, and rallied around members sad enough to consider ending it all. (At least one life was saved by a frantic CurlTalker who tracked down a woman on the brink of suicide”>.

On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of CurlTalkers gathered online for support. They checked in on their friends in New York and Washington, DC, to make sure they were okay. CurlTalk was their safe space – the place they knew they were sure to find friends at any time of the night or day.

CurlTalk grew into Curl Gatherings – a precursor to meetups. “Any Columbus, Ohio curlies?” “SoCal Curly Meet!”

As other areas of the site grew, CurlTalk took a backseat. But CurlTalkers kept coming back, even though technical issues and all matter of SPAM made it increasingly difficult to do so.

You asked us – begged us – to fix CurlTalk. It’s taken a while, but we’ve finally done it.

Earlier this month, we launched a new, improved CurlTalk with a number of new features including:

• Elegant new design with improved legibility

• Better spam-killing capabilities

• Dedicated moderation team (including Gretchen Heber, who co-founded NaturallyCurly, and has always been CurlTalk’s biggest cheerleader”>

• New “Best of CurlTalk” section that highlights top discussions

• New points system rewards long-time and prolific posters

For those of you who loved CurlTalk but left, we hope you’ll come back. For those who have never been there, please check it out.

By Michelle Breyer · Published November 29, 2017

Twenty-six years ago, Richelieu Dennis and his college roommate were selling products created from his grandmother’s shea butter recipes on the streets of New York. Monday, Dennis’ company, Sundial Brands, was sold to Unilever in one of the largest beauty deals of 2017.

“I feel humbled and I feel grateful,” Dennis, Sundial’s CEO and founder told me Monday, shortly after the deal became public. “I also feel like this is a victory for minority-owned businesses. They’re able to build something of tremendous value and keep it grounded in the community.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and it is expected to close in 2018.

As part of the agreement, Unilever and Sundial are creating the New Voices Fund with an unprecedented initial investment of $50 million to empower women of color entrepreneurs. The intention is to scale the Fund to $100 million by attracting investments from other interested parties.

Dennis said Sundial – parent company of such curl favorites as SheaMoisture and Nubian Heritage – has been pursued by large consumer products companies like Unilever for several years. Several factors made this deal with Unilever especially attractive.

One of the benefits of the deal for Dennis is that Sundial Brands will operate as a standalone unit within Unilever, and the fact that Dennis will continue to lead the business as CEO and Executive Chairman. The company will still be based out of its Amityville, NY headquarters, and its products will continue to be manufactured there, he says.

The investment fund for minority-owned businesses was a huge part of the appeal, Dennis says. For the past two years, he says he’s been focused on how to get capital to help entrepreneurs – specifically women of color – launch and grow their businesses.

“I’ve been looking for a way to accelerate our ability to invest in our community,” Dennis says. “This provided us with the opportunity to do that.”

Acquiring Sundial is a major coup for Unilever, which has been on a buying spree of late with acquisitions such as Dollar Shave Club, Tazo Tea and Carver Korea, the manufacturer of AHC skincare products. Buying Sundial accelerates Unilever’s push deeper into personal care products, which tend to grow faster and be more international than its food business.

“The Sundial team has built differentiated and on-trend premium brands serving multicultural and millennial consumers that enhance our existing portfolio,” said Kees Kruythoff, President, Unilever North America. “Sundial is an important addition to our U.S. portfolio of purpose-driven companies, which includes Ben & Jerry’s and Seventh Generation.”

Sundial Brands has become one of the best-known names in the beauty industry, known for its use of high-quality and culturally authentic natural ingredients. In 2015, Sundial was named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States and received the WWD/Beauty Inc. award for “Corporate Social Responsibility Company of the Year.”

Through its Community Commerce purpose-driven business model, the company creates opportunities for sustainable social and economic empowerment throughout its supply chain and communities in the North America and Africa, focusing on entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, education and wellness.

Sundial took some heat two years ago when Bain Capital took a minority stake in the company. The blogosphere went into a frenzy over what the investment would mean for the company and its products, as well as its commitment to its core consumer.

Dennis wants to make sure consumers know that the deal won’t change what’s in the company’s products.

Dennis says he has seen how Unilever was able to acquire and grow brands without them losing what made them successful, using Ben & Jerry’s ice cream as a prime example. Unilever was able to more than triple Ben & Jerry’s revenue and added hundreds of jobs, while maintaining the company’s social mission and the product’s quality.

“Unilever largely gave Ben & Jerry’s the autonomy to pursue its own agenda, so long as the ice cream kept flowing,” according to a 2015 New York Times article.

Ben & Jerry’s offers its lowest-paid workers more than twice the national minimum wage, and uses only cage-free eggs. The company supports marriage equality and campaign finance reform, and it introduced a flavor, Save Our Swirled, intended to raise awareness about climate change, according to the article.

“When you look at what Unilever was able to to do with Ben & Jerry’s over the past 20 years, there’s an understanding of how you can leverage their platform for scale without losing the flavor of the brand,” Dennis said.

“When our customer opens up her Curl Enhancing Smoothie, what she’ll see is her same Curl Enhancing Smoothie,” Dennis says. “When she uses her leave-in conditioner, she’ll still find her same leave-conditioner. What will change as a result of the acquisition will be the company’s ability to access the latest innovations and the best ingredients for every need. And now we’ll have the resources to educate people about how to use these products.”

Photo courtesy of SheaMoisture’s YouTube channel.

By Michelle Breyer · Published November 8, 2017

Monday night was the seventh stop of The Curl Revolution book tour, and it was one of the best yet.

The salon, located in the seaside town of Beverly north of Boston, quickly filled up for Monday’s event. Salon owner Cala Sabella Mahoney of Cala Renee salon pulled out all the stops, from the balloon version of me  – complete with curly hair – to the curl-themed cookies. It was the perfect environment for curl camaraderie.

After giving a brief introduction about NaturallyCurly and what inspired me to write the book, the women shared their curl stories. One, from the Domincan Republic, grew up in a culture where curls were always seen as something to be straightened – something referred to as pelo malo (bad hair”>. Her father made her feel like she wasn’t attractive unless she straightened her hair.  Another older woman, who grew up in the 1960s, remembered ironing her hair on an ironing board. There was a 9-year-old who proudly wore her natural style, adorned with pink pompoms.

One theme that really stands  out on this book tour is the importance that curl stylists have play in each person’s journey to curl acceptance and empowerment. Finding a skilled stylist who truly loved and understood their curls – someone who didn’t immediately assume they wanted a blow out or a relaxer – was life changing for many of these women.

I’ve also been thrilled to see all the stylists from different salons who have attended, and been welcomed, by the host salon. There is a kinship and understanding between them. Rather than feeling competitive with each other, they are supportive.

“In the past, you wouldn’t see more than one salon owner at a hair event exchanging ideas and support,” Cala said. “But in the curly girl world, there is support, love and understanding for our craft. We get excited to hear what product lines someone else is using and what cocktailing they are doing, and we are happy to share our ideas and conclusions with them.”

Cala initially opened her salon in 1989 as a family salon focused on children’s haircuts. In the 90s, the salon began to direct its attention towards curly hair, and by 2005 it was truly a curly salon. All of the stylists are curly hair specialists who have received training from DevaCurl and Lorraine Massey.  She has turned it into  a true curl mecca, recently doubling her space to accommodate a growing  clientele. Many travel hours to have their hair done there.

After the event, Cala perfectly summed up the role of the stylist

“After the guests were gone and the salon was cleaned up, I really had an opportunity to just think about the impact I personally have made in my client’s curl journeys. I walk away with a very warm heart because I know that I make a difference in every person’s life that has curly hair. I always say… We are changing the world one curl at a time.”

It is stylists like Cala who have the power to significantly impact the hair health as well as the mindsets of frustrated curlies everywhere through their work. “I want to help this next generation of stylists  to love what they do and have a passion for it. There is nothing better than showing stylists how to help curly girls work with their natural hair and to be PROUD of it.”

The Curl Revolution book tour is in full effect now, and we’ve already been to Oasis Salon in Washington D.C., Ouidad Salon-FL, San Francisco’s MaduSalon, and Southern Curl in Atlanta.

We’d love to see you at the next one! Here’s where we’ll be next:

• Los Angeles – Nov 11
• Toronto – Nov 16
• Baltimore – Dec 2

You can order the book now from SHOPNaturallyCurly for 20 percent off with the coupon code: CR20

Thanks to The Curl Revolution Promotional Partners: Aunt Jackie’s, As I Am, Coconut Restore, Curlformers, DevaCurl, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Ouidad.