Search Results: Michelle Breyer

Forget the fancy veils and tiaras. Put roses in your ringlets; tuck a calla lily into your curls.

To show off some of the fresh flower bridal possibilities, NaturallyCurly.com gathered six curly models — along with a generous selection of calla lilies, ranunculus, hydrangeas, roses, peonies and proteas — at Austin’s Ann Kelso Salon and CitySpa. The stylists used the wedding dresses and each model’s curl type and personal style to inspire them.

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Blooming Brides

Softsheen-Carson Dark & Lovely recently launched the Au Naturale line specifically for natural styles. The Au Naturale Anti-Shrinkage maintenance and styling line is infused with mango oil and bamboo milk to provide all-day hydration, elongation, definition and nourishment for all curl types. The Au Naturale line includes a Hydrating Soak Shampoo, Knot-Out Conditioner, Curl Defining Crème Glaze, Coil Moisturizing Soufflé, Sheen Sealing Nectar and 10-IN-1 Styles Gelee, which contain no drying alcohols, mineral oil petrolatum or parabens.

NaturallyCurly sat down with Softsheen-Carson educator and natural hair afficionado Mezei Jefferson to talk texture.

We wanted to know

NC: When did you begin to see more women transitioning to natural hair?

Jefferson: I began to see more women go natural about six years ago in Chicago. More women — including my own sisters — were becoming more concerned about chemicals damaging their hair, and started to wait longer and longer between relaxers. At the time no one knew they were transitioning. It just happened.

NC: What are your biggest tips for women thinking of making the transition?

Jefferson: Make sure to keep your ends trimmed at least every 6-8 weeks. Deep condition often. Also, after about three to four months of transitioning, start to use less heat and stop straightening your hair. Straightening and excessive heat can cause protein loss and can cause your natural curl pattern to lose definition.

NC: What are some of the hottest natural hair styles?

Jefferson: The current hottest natural trends are twist outs. They are easy to do at home and look amazing. I’m also seeing a lot of braid outs and flat twist outs to create nice waves and corkscrew effects.

NC: Tell me about the new Au Naturale line and what makes it unique?

Jefferson: The Au Naturale line is amazing and has a full line of products for natural hair. All of the products contain mango oil and bamboo milk for an anti-shrinkage recipe to give your curls and coils all day elongation. We have a curl product for all curls and coils.

NC: What is your favorite product in the Au Naturale line?

Jefferson: My favorite product in the line is the Coil Moisturizing Soufflé. It is for tightly curled to coiled hair, and provides moisture to hair without stickiness or weighing hair down.

Get to know the NEW Dark and Lovely® Au Naturale line, and once you’ve tried it out be sure to let us know what you think in our Reviews section!

Hydrating Soak Shampoo – A rich quick lathering cleansing shampoo with mango oil and bamboo milk that moisturizes hair and scalp.

Knot-Out Conditioner – A moisturizing conditioner that provides the ease of detangling you crave. Hair is immediately softened, easy to comb through, and protected from dryness.

Curl Defining Crème Glaze – Indulge your curls with this delectable recipe of lightweight moisture and definition. It nourishes and conditions using mango oil and bamboo milk to define each coil with the perfect amount of hold for curly and wavy styles creating healthy looking, frizz –free, silky ringlets. Recommended for loose curls and spirals.

Coil Moisturizing Soufflé – Treat your curls with this moisturizing soufflé that Defines and moisturizes using mango oil and bamboo milk, tightening curls and coils to make hair soft and manageable. Recommended for tight curls and coils.

Sheen Sealing Nectar – Conditions hair and scalp using mango oil and bamboo milk for instant hydration and a succulent sheen. Revives coils, curls and waves for superb curl definition that lasts. Next day coils, curls and waves look and feel refreshed and brilliantly defined without shrinkage or frizz.

10-IN-1 Styles Gelee – The 10-In-1 Styling Gelee provides frizz control while elongating curls and defining styles. The gelee offers multiple styling options with a firm hold including: two-strand twists, faux hawks, flat twists, coils, bantu knots, cornrows, twist-outs, braid-outs, bantu knot-outs, and coil-outs. Recommended for all curl types.

All are priced at just $9.99, and contain NO drying alcohol, NO mineral oil, NO parabens, NO petrolatum!

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Save $1.50 off when you buy any ONE (1″> New Au Naturale Product

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Paul Mitchell educator LaDonna Dryer knows a little about working with coilier hair textures. She’s a 4c herself, and her Savannah, Ga. salon, he Said…she Said Salon in Savannah, Ga., has a large clientele of women who have transitioned from relaxers to natural hair. So she brought a unique perspective to “The Truth About Curls” campaign to launch the Paul Mitchell Curls line.

LaDonna believes it’s an exciting time for natural women.

“I see a lot of people making the transition,” says Dryer, who transitioned herself. “I didn’t think I would be natural. I cut it really short and wondered what would happen if I never put a relaxer in again.”

These days, Dryer fully embraces her natural hair, wearing it in a 2-strand twist one day or an afro puff the next.

NaturallyCurly’s own Michelle Breyer asked Dryer to provide her top tips for natural women.

Michelle Breyer: What are some of your top tips to help women who are transitioning?

LaDonna Dryer: One of the biggest challenges when you go natural is to retain the moisture in your hair. Using sulfate-free shampoos is key. They help a lot in terms of keeping the cuticle calm and retaining that moisture. I really like the new Paul Mitchell Curls Spring Loaded Shampoo, which is ultra moisturizing and sulfate free.

The second most important thing is to condition. There are different kinds of moisturizing conditioners, and one size doesn’t fit all. Even baby fine hair may need some type of moisture, but maybe not something as heavy as you’d use on tight coils. I like that Paul Mitchell offers several moisturizing conditioners to choose from. There’s The Rinse, a light conditioner designed to deposit moisture where it’s needed; the Tea Trea Lavender Mint Conditioner, a heavier conditioner; and the Super-Charged Moisturizer, an intense hydrating treatment. You have to find the right moisturizing plan for your hair.

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MORE: Paul Mitchell Launches “The Truth About Curls”

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MB: What are some tips for natural hair styles?

LD: Obviously you let it be free. We do something in the salon called the Mo ‘Fro (Modern ‘Fro”>. Other options are 2-strand twists and coils. When people come into the salon and want something more intricate, I may do a 2-strand twist or coils in the salon, but I show them how they can do it themselves at home.

I like to use Paul Mitchell Full Circle Leave-In Treatment to soften up the hair, and sometimes I’ll use it as a styling product. For coarser textures with a tighter curl, I may use the Paul Mitchell Curl Ultimate Wave to get some stretch. If I don’t want to manipulate the curl and just want to enhance what’s there, I use the Twirl Around Crunch-Free Curl Definer.

Another one of my secrets is to use the Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Styling Treatment Oil to prep the hair. It gives a good sheen to the hair without making it to heavy.

Other good options for added definition are Paul Mitchell Foaming Pommade and Paul Mitchell Super Sculpt. I find that I can use a lot of Foaming Pommade — about an ounce all over the head. Let it air dry, and you get a nice defined curl.

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MORE: Paul Mitchell The Gathering Opens with Dazzling Style Showcase

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MB: What other options do you offer for clients transitioning to natural hair?

LD: Blowouts are still big. The client may like the look of relaxers but they don’t want to use chemicals. But I do warn them if you use a flat iron or blowdryer all the time, you will lose your curl pattern. It doesn’t always take a chemical to straighten the hair. If you are natural and like your natural curl, you need to take a break from heat styling so your hair doesn’t lose the curly texture it has.

MB: What are your favorite product cocktails?

LD: There’s a difference between cocktailing and layering products. I may prep the hair with the Awapuhi Styling Treatment Oil and then layer the Ultimate Wave and/or Twirl Around on top of it. It depends on the texture, the style and the degree of dryness.

One guest could come in with extremely dry hair and it’s necessary to cocktail with more shine-inducing and moisture-inducing products. I’ll put her on a treatment program, with regular deep conditioning. The more I do that, the less I need to cocktail styling products.

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MORE: Paul Mitchell Launches New Curly Line!

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MB: There are some people with coilier hair textures who wonder whether the new Paul Mitchell products are made for their hair?

LD: I think there are a lot of misconceptions that it’s not for type 4s. I have to admit that before I came to the company, I wondered whether they had products that would work for my type 4c hair. Education opened up my eyes to what Paul Mitchell products can do for hair like mine. Paul Mitchell has had products for a long time that work well for my hair. I think the new Paul Mitchell Curl product made it easier for people with all textures to identify with the products.

MB: Any tips on how best to use the new Paul Mitchell Curl products for type 4 hair textures?

LD: You have to properly emulsify the styling products in your hands and work them through the hair. You’ve got to work it through.

For my natural looks, I’ll use Full Circle first. I also use Ultimate Wave and occasionally. Then, I’ll add the Awapuhi Styling Treatment Oil because I like the way it feels.

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MORE: Trying Out the New Paul Mitchell Curl Line

For years, John Paul Mitchell Systems Sculpting Foam and Foaming Pomade have been Holy Grail products for curlies. But the company wasn’t willing to sit on its laurels. They wanted to create a line of products that spoke to the curlies of the world — women who “describe their curls with sounds,” according to Robert Cromeans, the company’s flamboyant Global Artistic Director.

“During our conversations with curly-haired people, we were struck by the highly emotional relationship they have with their hair,” says Nikola Cline, Senior Director of Marketing for JPMS. “We heard some really honest, cathartic and touching stories about life with curls. It was time for us to create a collection of products that would help people embrace their natural curl rather than fight it.”

Read More: Paul Mitchell Launches New Curly Line!

More than 55 percent of the world has curly, wavy or coily hair, but not everyone is embracing their natural texture. The Paul Mitchell Curls line is designed to provide curlies the tools they need to feel confident about their curls.

Paul Mitchell Curls products — which was tested by NaturallyCurly readers — are designed to be used the way curlies actually use products.

The Spring Loaded Detangling Shampoo was developed to gently clean, hydrate and detangle without any sulfates since 70 percent of curly consumers prefer sulfate-free shampoos and like to do their detangling in the shower. Because guys and girls with texture prefer using a leave-in conditioner to help tame and moisturize dry, curly locks, Full Circle Leave-In Treatment was developed to replenish lost moisture, protect damage and control frizz without weighing hair down.

Read More: Finding Your Signature Hairstyle

Twirl Around Crunch-Free Curl Definer features an innovative dual formula featuring a hydrating cream and smoothing gel in a beautiful swirl. With Twirl Around, frizz will be controlled, leaving curls defined and tamed without any frizz or crunchiness.

The secret weapon for creating sexy, tousled beach waves is Ultimate Wave Beachy Texture Cream-Gel. This humidity-resistant cream-gel adds loads of texture and forms and separates waves for perfectly imperfect, frizz-free styles.

After extensive research, JPMS launched it’s campaign for Paul Mitchell Curls inspired by the emotional relationship curlies have with their hair — from the joys and struggles to the passion and love. They called their campaign,”The Truth About Curls.”

Read More: Trying Out the New Paul Mitchell Curl Line

JPMS made the decision to push the boundaries of its marketing for the launch of Paul Mitchell Curls by focusing on digital and social marketing to reach out to the growing number of curlies who consume much of their media online. “The Truth About Curls” campaign, developed by New York-based Indelible, launches with exclusive partnerships with influential online blogs and web sites, including NaturallyCurly.com.

This is the first JPMS campaign that directly engages the consumers. “The consumer is the active, driving force behind the campaign,” Cline says.

Curlies can submit a confession through the microsite to receive a Paul Mitchell Curls deluxe sample trio, which includes 0.5 fl. oz samples of Spring Loaded Detangling Shampoo, Full Circle Leave-In Treatment and Ultimate Wave Beachy Texture Cream-Gel. The microsite also features a “Curl-o-Meter” for users to obtain their “frizz forecast” in their zipcode, user polls, curl confession videos taped during the shooting of “The Truth About Curls” advertising campaign and Paul Mitchell Curls product information. Fans will also be able to ask questions on styling tips and tricks that Paul Mitchell artists will respond to on Paul Mitchell’s social media pages.

Instead of utilizing professional models for its “The Truth About Curls” advertising campaign, JPMS sought out real women and men to feature in its ads. A variety of women and men from all walks of life were shot for the campaign, including a dancer, Paul Mitchell-sponsored athletes and even students from Paul Mitchell Schools.

“No one knows curls better than curlies!” Cline says. “We made it a priority to listen to the insights and feedback that curly girls and guys gave us as we developed the products I the collection and to really understand their needs.”

Read More: 5 Tips for a Curly Hair Makeover

If Fox’s popular dancing show “So You Think You Can Dance” is a microcosm of what’s happening in popular culture, then texture has arrived in full force. Rather than the tightly controlled buns once associated with dancers, curls, waves and coils were on display every week as the dancers twirled, plied and leaped their way through the routines.

The four finalists, Eliana Girard, Chehon Wespi-Tschopp, Cyrus Spencer and Tiffany Maher, spanned the texture spectrum, from 2b to 4b, long and flowing waves to a ‘fro hawk. The female winner, Girard, wore her 3b bob curly nearly every week, smashing the stereotype of how a ballet dancer should look and, I’m sure, prompting many of the curlies to run to their stylists with photos of the charismatic dancer.

These dancers proved once again that the old rules no longer apply. Individuality can be celebrated rather than hidden, whether on stage or in the office.

So You Think You Can Dance

Eliana Girard and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp chat with curly DancePlug host Brittany Perry-Russell!

As I attended my last show at NYC Fashion Week Sunday, I had a full appreciation of the power of fashion. I loved watching the gorgeous gowns go down the runway — gowns that had power to take your breath away and cause an entire audience to gasp in amazement. But something was bothering me.

The streets of New York are a broad spectrum of fashion and beauty. You see it in so many forms, on the subways and sidewalks of the city every day. Whenever I’m in New York, I’m constantly snapping photos of people I see around the city. The audiences reflected this diversity — from the fashion editors to the bloggers to the celebrities. Although there were exceptions, the shows were dominated by models with one look: tall, lithe, perfect creatures with long straight hair. Yes, the talented stylists created amazing looks with that hair – beautiful waves and elaborate buns that complimented the designers’ collections. But there was a disconnect.

I thought back to Texture on The Runway, the show that TextureMedia produced during February Fashion Week. The vision was to create a show that enabled brands and their stylists to showcase texture. The models on the catwalk that night spanned a range of ethnicities, showing that there is no one standard of beauty. I thought, a  show like Texture on the Runway would eventually be obsolete because every runway would eventually reflect that diversity.

Unfortunately, that time hasn’t come yet. But I’m hopeful it will soon.

Here are some of my favorite looks from Fashion Week.

In July, Beautiful Textures Hair Care set out to find a fashionista to cover New York Fashion Week for NaturallyCurly.com. Kala Garner took New York by storm.

Kala was chosen from more than 500 amazing entries, all unique and creative. It was difficult to narrow it down to 10, who provided vlogs of why they should be selected. All of them were incredible. Garner, who has her own YouTube Channel and web site, stood out with her sense of humor and charisma that jumped off the screen.

Read More: 2012 Fall Fashion Week Trends

Kala received an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to cover New York Fashion Week, a shopping spree at Bloomingdale’s and the honor of co-hosting the Beautiful Textures Fashion Week Mixer “Couture Curls.”

Read More: End of Summer Hair Makeover

Kala’s car arrived at the Beacon Hotel, and this 5’11” beautiful bundle of energy emerged from the car. She exudes style and sophistication. We began talking a mile a minute as we took the car to lunch before her Bloomingdale’s shopping spree. Adrian Sexton, personal shopper assistant was ready to go, taking her around the store to pull a selection of dresses. She spent the next hour trying each one on, twirling around for us to see and finally selecting a gorgeous form-fitting indigo dress with shoes to match.

Read More: Natural Hair Takes Over Instagram

After a trip back to the hotel to freshen up, we headed off to the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, where Beautiful Textures was hosting a party during Fashion’s Night Out. After hair and makeup, Kala wowed the crowd with her glamorous look. Hosted by singer Teyena Taylor, the event was a who’s who of the natural hair industry. Guests included natural hair blogger AfroBella, Essence magazine beauty director Corynne Corbett, VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop – New York” star Olivia, Celebrity Hairstylist Hadiiya Barbel and Tia Williams. Beauty Editor and Owner of The Fly Cut Tia Williams.

Read More: How to do a Curlformers Mini Makeover

Beautiful Textures NYC Fashion Week Adventure campaign supported individuality and the freedom for women to explore and be versatile with their tresses and their style and it all converged at Fashion Week. Over the next three days, Kala and I traveled from the Meatpacking District to Lincoln Center. We saw shows a number of designers, including Charlotte Ronson, Christian Siriano, Jill Stuart and Lela Rose.

The scene outside the show was as entertaining as the actual runway shows, where fashionistas were everywhere. We saw every style under the sun.

Read More: Is Frizz the New Trend?

“As a brand, Beautiful Textures celebrates the beauty in women no longer being monolithic, but being able to freely express themselves in their choices of hair styles all the way down to their shoes,” said Charlene Bastien the Strength of Nature National Marketing Director, when the campaign launched.

Kala exemplified this philosophy throughout the trip, embracing all the options provided by her natural hair.

Read More: Best Summer Dresses for Your Hair Type

After a final show at Lincoln Center Sunday afternoon, Kala piled her luggage and bags into the cab and headed back to Detroit. While covering the fashion scene, Kala became a fashion icon in her own right.

Read More: Textured Hair Covers Fashion Spread in May 2012 Vogue

Kala heads back to Detroit

This weekend is the opening weekend for “Brave,” Pixar’s latest effort and first feature film led by a female protagonist.

The movie has gotten a lot of buzz from the curlies of the world because of curly-haired Merida, a princess who does everything possible to resist her fate in a male-driven medieval society.

On a blog post about the film by Jessica McGuinty of Jessicurl, one of the comments reads: “I heard this thing on NPR news this morning and they had to create special software just to do her hair. Too funny. Even animated curls require special treatment…”

For Jessica McGuinty, the movie took on a greater meaning due to the uncanny resemblance between her and Merida. So she decided to play it up to celebrate the opening.

How she got the look:

Jessica says, “I did everything I normally wouldn’t do. It worked!”

1. She put in more Jessicurl Too Shea than usual to make her haircurls softer and bigger, following it with Jessicurl Rockin’ Ringlets.
2. She followed that with Jessicurl Confident Coils, raking it in more than usual to make it looser and bigger instead of tighter and more defined.
3. She took the diffuser off for the last 2 minutes of blow drying to fluff it up.
4. She drove to the photo shoot as fast as she could with the top down on her Miata to make it as big as possible.
5. Right before the photo was taken, she bent over and “fluffed it like crazy from the roots.”

Jessica’s musings on “Brave” from her blog:

By now you must know of the (seemingly”> awesome movie coming out tomorrow called “Brave”. It stars Merida, the heroine who, by all accounts, goes against the norms of her traditions and society as much as her large, big, red curls would suggest. The curly hair world has been all abuzz about this movie for months now, clearly. The general consensus seems to be, FINALLY! One of us! The heroine, not the geek in the background getting called mushroom head or chia pet! (These are all presumptions of course, as the movie doesn’t debut until tomorrow.”> I think it’s safe to say though, that Merida prevails as the hero at the end of this movie AND that she’s able to do it without straightening her lovely curls as might be done in other movies.

Ever since the trailer began airing for this film, many, many, MANY of you wrote to me by Facebook, Twitter and email saying you see a pretty strong resemblance between me and Merida. Nah…REALLY? SO, since that just kept coming up again and again, I thought it’d be fun to grab my awesome photographer Terrence, borrow a bow and arrow and head out in to the woods to take a Brave-esque photo of our own. And I was right — it WAS fun. We got a few strange looks, but I’m used to that by now.

But this whole “Brave” thing is so much more than a cool picture or a charming movie, at least to me. I talk to a lot of curlies all over the country with all different hair types and it sounds like a common theme is that to do what we’re doing — to embrace our curls, to LOVE our curls — is something that initially feels quite brave. For me, it felt brave to stop wearing my hair in a bun every single day for 4 years and finally let it loose and curly. For MANY of you the bravest thing you’ve done, hair-wise, was to stop relaxing, do the Big Chop, and allow your natural hair to grow out in all its curly glory. This is NOT just about hair and you and I know it.

It’s about choosing to step out into the world and make a statement for which earlier in your life you may have been ridiculed. Maybe you’ll STILL be ridiculed by someone close to you. That’s scary. But you’re doing it. And THAT is brave. You’re telling the world that your hair is just fine the way you were born, thank you very much!

What does it mean to you to finally have a curly heroine in a movie like “Brave”? 

For Lisa Price, the kitchen has always been a source of inspiration. Price, the founder and president of Carol’s Daughter, has been mixing up her own homemade beauty recipes for nearly 20 years, starting her beauty business with $100 and a homemade lotion recipe in her Brooklyn kitchen.

Today, Carol’s Daughter’s 300 products are still made by hand with natural ingredients, and Price can still be found creating new recipes in the kitchen — this time in a large New York City Office.

To add to her recipe success, Price recently launched Lisa’s Kitchen, a collection of do-it-yourself bath and body kits available on HSN.

NaturallyCurly met up with her and talked about how she became one of the world’s most famous mixtresses and how she has inspired others to make and share their own homemade hair treatments.

NaturallyCurly: How did did it all begin?

Lisa Price:I have loved fragrance since I was a small child, so I found a way to make my own fragrances by blending fragrance oils. Body-care products like Mango Body Butter and Honey Puddin’ grew out of that. At the urging of my mom, Carol (the inspiration for the company’s name”>, I started selling my products at New York flea markets. Customers asked if I had any products for hair. When I said I had nothing, some would walk away from my table. I didn’t want them to walk away, so I went home and developed Khoret Amen, a hair care oil for dry, damaged or relaxed African-American hair. It was actually pretty easy to develop, and we still sell it today.

When the weather got cold, people came by my apartment to replenish their supply. Soon I wasn’t leaving my house on Saturdays because customers were coming by. By the time I opened my first store in 1999, Carol’s Daughter had sales of $1.7 million.

NC: How did you learn to make homemade beauty recipes?

LP: In the very beginning, I read a lot. I had books on essential oils and herbs and what things were used for what, both in the past and today. Then, I experimented. I was always tweaking things a little bit. If I read a lotion recipe that contained lanoline, I camp up with substitutes for lanolin. I was always reading labels of products on the market, approaching it like you would pasta sauce. Maybe you add a little extra garlic, fresh basil or extra mushrooms and see what happens. I was lucky because I had very willing friends and family to test my recipes. I made changes based on their feedback.

NC: Where do you develop most of your recipes?

LP: Most of the Carol’s Daughter lines have come out of the kitchen. Sometimes, I’ll create something in the kitchen and ask the lab to duplicate it. Other times, I want to work with certain ingredients but I want the texture of a certain conditioner. So, I’ll say “How can I incorporate chocolate? How is it available so I can incorporate its benefits into this product?” I come up with ideas for bodycare products while I’m watching cooking shows.

NC: What inspired you to put a kitchen in your office?

LP: Initially, we talked about putting the kitchen in my office for educational videos or news pieces, but my office is so big and spacious that I’ve been able to move things from home so I don’t have to worry about my 4-year-old taking out a bottle of fragrance. I love having the kitchen to experiment in. It is a working kitchen. There are days when I get an idea, and right then and there I’ll concoct something. When I got into making body splashes, I went into the kitchen and began mixing oils together and put it into the fridge.

NC: How does it feel to have inspired a whole new generation of mixtresses?

LP: It’s really nice to know I’ve had that kind of impact. When I started out, I had a friend who was doing a similar thing. We felt like we were these two crazy ladies in Brooklyn who made things in their kitchens. It’s wonderful to think of people looking at a jar of preserves and daydreaming about how to make it into a scrub.

Women cite numerous reasons for going natural. For Tauri Laws-Phillips, Tigi Haircare’s media and public relations manager, transitioning to natural hair after 16 years of relaxers was prompted by her upcoming wedding.

Her blonde, blue-eyed fiancé looked much different than her, and she realized her children were probably going to have hair that wasn’t like hers. She thought about her own biases about her kinky hair, and how they had come from her mother’s views about her own hair. She wanted her children to grow up with a more positive attitude about their hair, whether it be wavy, curly or kinky.

“I have a family where in which we have the full range of color and texture of hair you have in the African-American culture represented,” Laws-Phillips says. “I remember my family’s negative feelings about their natural hair texture. Such an importance was put on having straighter hair. All of us were relaxed so young—subscribing to what other’s views of beauty was. If I couldn’t embrace who I was, how could I teach my children to accept themselves? If I’m changing things about me, how can I help them accept who they are, exactly how they were made?

“I made the decision I wasn’t going to do another relaxer,” she says. “That’s when I started to fall in love with what it could look like. A lot of CurlyNikki and YouTube brought me to that realization.She started transitioning immediately.

She wore braids and roller sets for a year. Then, for a friend’s wedding, she let her straighten my transitioning hair.

” Afterwards, I was pulling out masses of hair,” she says. “When I got home, I made decision it was all over. After work, I got out the spray bottle and I cut the front first. Then, I cut all of my hair. I took a picture of my now husband as he came through the door.

“It’s beautiful,” he exclaimed.

“I thought ‘I can’t do that,'” she says. “I thought there was no way I could look presentable. I thought I would look terrible.”For most of her life, though, Laws-Phillips thought going natural was something other people did.

Today, Laws-Phillips is celebrating her 2-year natural hair anniversary, and has no regrets about

Laws-Phillips says transitioning to natural hair is both emotional and physical. It’s about changing your views, confronting your bias and getting up close and personal with the idea of how you’re going to look with natural hair.

“It’s about getting comfortable in your own skin,” Laws-Phillips says. ‘As your hair is growing out, it’s a great time to look at pictures and re-pattern all the thoughts you have about your hair.”

For so many years, she says her natural roots were the “big bad wolf”—signaling another trip to the stylist for a relaxer.

“When you’re transitioning to natural hair, you come to think about the new growth as something exciting,” she says. “It’s exciting to see whether you’re going to be a 3c or a 4a or a 4b. It’s kind of like the birthing process.”

“For the most part, my family is supportive,” she says

Her husband loves her natural hair.

“He knows everything possible about black hair,” she says. “He went to see the movie ‘Good Hair.’ He helped me take out my braids. He can tell anybody what product I’m using on any given day. It was really good for us because he went on the journey with me. It was important for him to understand what I was doing and why it was culturally important. Important especially for him to help understand how to support his children in the same way.”

It took her mother a little longer to get used to her new look. “When I was getting married, my mom asked if I was getting a relaxer for the wedding,” Laws-Phillips says

“Are you getting a straightener?” she asked.

That wasn’t an option for Laws-Phillips, who said she wasn’t about to go back. “For the wedding, I wore it in a twist-out puff,” she says. “It ended up raining the entire day so I though there was no reason to try to fight nature. I looked like me.”

Laws-Phillips joined Tigi in March, and is loving the opportunity to discover new product combinations.

“There’s no better job for a product junkie,” Laws-Phillips says.

Find transitioning trips and product recommendations from this tried and true transitioner on the next page.

Tauri’s Tips for Transitioning to Natural Hair

1. Stay away from heat! “If you must, protect your hair.” Tauri admits that in the weeks before she did her big chop, she broke down and let a hair stylist hot comb her hair for a friend’s wedding. “Big mistake! When I cut my hair, I had damage and ended up a bit shorter than I had hoped.”
2. Find fun natural styles. “I transitioned for nine months with mostly braids. When I needed a more polished look, I did a roller set or Bantu knot-outs.”
3. Involve everyone!  “It was such a fun journey to learn about my hair. I dragged my co-workers, friends and family along with me. My blonde German fiancée learned so much. He saw me put braids in and helped me take them out,” says Laws-Phillips.

   One big advantage of involving people is that she rarely received mean spirited comments.

   “In fact a co-worker and fellow natural did my big chop, and I never felt so loved as the day I debuted my two inches of curls to the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ of fellow co-workers. When presented with the story of an adult taking the journey into self-acceptance and awareness, I find everyone embraces you.”

4. Do research. Look at different styles. What works for others may not work for you.
5. Be gentle. Kinky hair can be fragile. “I have stopped over-detangling. One time in the shower is plenty!”
6. Experiment with products. Find out what your hair likes. “Olive oil is too heavy for me, but I adore jojoba oil,” says Laws-Phillips.
7. Water is your friend. “My hair is happiest when I co-wash one to two times per week and wash/condition and deep condition it weekly.”

Some of Laws-Phillips’ favorite look and Tigi products include:

– For a super defined curly ‘fro, she mixes Catwalk Curlesque Curls Rock Amplifier with Catwalk Curlesque Defining Serum She shingles the Curls Rock Amplifier through her hair and then when it’s 75% dry, she goes over the ends with the serum, which she emulsifies between her hands. – For an everyday wash and go look, she applies Sleek Mystique Fast Fixx Style Prep in the shower and then sections her hair and applies a “gumball-sized amount” ofCatwalk Session Series Wet Look Gel. “Then I shake, shake, shake and put a t-shirt on my head to catch the drips while get ready. I can’t tell you the joyous squeal I let out when I figured out that I didn’t have to shingle to get definition, and I’m done in about three minutes.” – For her “best twist and curl to date,” she uses Catwalk Sleek Mystique Blow Out Balm to protect her hair and shorten the blow-dry time. “I do a modified chasing method using my Denman brush and blowing my hair lightly until it’s 80 percent dry to stretch it.” Then she uses S-Factor Spun Satin to define the twists.

It’s no secret that many women rely on hair extensions for longer, thicker hair. But it appears that a growing number of people are willing to break the law to get them.

According to “The New York Times,” theft of real hair extensions and wigs is on the rise. Some robberies have ended in death, while others have perplexed cops completely: it seems thieves would rather walk out with hair than cash.

An article in the “Times” reports that, “during the past two months alone, robbers in quest of human hair have killed a beauty shop supplier in Michigan and carried out heists nationwide in which they have made off with tens of thousands of dollars of hair at a time.”

Once stolen, the real hair extensions are typically sold on the street or on the Internet, including eBay, according to shop owners and police. In recent weeks, packages of hair that may have sold for $80 or $100 retail have sold for as little as $25 out of car trunks in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Houston. Hair can be sold at the same types of beauty salons and supply shops that are being burglarized.

The most expensive hair type—and the one in highest demand by thieves and paying customers alike—is remy hair, which unlike most other varieties, is sold with its outermost cuticle layer intact, according to the “New York Times” article. This allows it to look more natural and to last longer without tangling. Remy hair from Indian women is the most popular. (Remy hair extensions can cost as much as $200 per package, and the average person requires at least two packages.”>

“They’re selling it to stylists who work out of their house, they’re selling it on the street, they’re selling it out of the car,” said Lisa Amosu, a Houston salon owner of My Trendy Place. “People who don’t want to pay the prices will buy it from the hustle man. It’s like the bootleg DVDs and the fake purses. But this is a quality product.”

CurlyNikki and Mizani are joining forces on June 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Blue Martini Orlando for a celebration of hair in all of its natural textures. This will be CurlyNikki’s first meetup for her readers in the state of Florida. The event will be held during Premiere Orlando, one of the hair industry’s biggest trade shows.

“It’s a great partnership,” says Veronique Morrison, Mizani’s Director of Education. “CurlyNikki has built an amazing network of women who are passionate about natural hair. We’re happy to champion her, and what she’s doing. It coincides with what’s important to us in the beauty industry—a passionate exchange of ideas.”

Mizani, a division of L’Oréal USA, offers a complete line of professional treatments customized to suit the individual needs of each texture, including naturally curly and highly coiled hair types. The event will feature Mizani giftbags for the first 350 guests, and models showcasing some of the hottest natural hairstyles, courtesy of Mizani. Light appetizers will be served.

Blue Martini Orlando is located at 4200 Conroy Road, Suite H-246. RSVP to michelle@naturallycurly.com. Space is limited.

Although Rachel Blistein has a head of tight 3c ringlets, she doesn’t want her new line of natural hair products to be limited to those with curls, kinks and coils.

“It would have been easier to create a line for curly hair, but I believe strongly it is important to address every hair type,” Blistein says. “It grew into Original Moxie.”

3-D Diagnostic System

Original Moxie is a line of paraben- and sulfate-free hair products which can be customized to your hair based on the 3-D Diagnostic System displayed on each product’s label. The system classifies hair according to three characteristics: density (thickness and strand diameter”>, dryness and degree of curl.

“Most hair-care companies target their products to broad categories like curly or straight, or simply ignore hair type altogether,” Blistein says. “We understand that purchasing hair products can be confusing and want to make sure that our customers are fully engaged partners in the process, and that they have all the tools they need to choose a product that will work for them.”

Learning to Love Her Curls

Like many of NaturallyCurly’s visitors, Blistein had an adversarial relationship with her hair growing up. She was surrounded by friends with straight, feathered ‘dos and was “always searching for a look that was unattainable.” She chemically relaxed her hair, damaging her scalp and turning her hair into straw.

It wasn’t until grad school at Morgan State University, a historically black school, that she truly accepted her tight curls.

“It was an eye-opening experience to see all these beautiful women with hair of all different curl problems,” Blistein says. “Suddenly, my hair wasn’t something to be remarked upon. It was just normal.”

So began her quest to truly embrace her curls—a journey that included Lorraine Massey’s “Curly Girl: The Handbook” and experimentation with every kind of hair product available.

Dissatisfied with what was available, she started concocting her own products four years ago, researching ingredients and customizing existing recipes using a variety of ingredients.

“I started figuring out what worked and what didn’t,” Blistein says. “Basic chemistry is something most people can understand. But I think you have to have a good intuitive sense of the properties of ingredients.”

She started off making products for herself and her curly friends, including a deep conditioner, a leave-in conditioner and a no-foam shampoo. Eventually, she came up with products for her straight-haired husbands.

“Those ends of the spectrum grew closer and filled the gaps,” Blistein says.

A Moxie Girl is Born

Blistein originally launched Original Moxie in 2009, getting her products onto the shelves of a local natural-food retailer.

“That was the moment I thought, ‘This is serious and I need to put time into it’,” Blistein says.

She launched her web site in December, and now sells her Original Moxie products at stores and salons around Michigan.

Her product offerings, which all contain natural herbs and botanical oils, have evolved over time with the help of customer requests. One woman, for example, had extensions and asked for a mix between an oil and lotion that would be easier to apply. The result was Scalp Therapy.

“That’s typical for most of the products,” she says. “It’s a personal development process.”

Original Moxie has grown to 18 products. Roughly 80 percent work well on curly hair, Hair Bling High Shine Pomade, Intense Quench Deep Conditioner and Twist Mist Lightweight Shine. The company’s slogan is “be youtiful,” which sums up the company’s philosophy of celebrating differences. Its logo—a curvaceous peacock with tail unfurled, is meant to convey a sense of pride in your own unique style—whether your hair is straight, super coily, or somewhere in-between.

“Curly hair will always be my first love,” she says. “When you’re curly, and you find something that works, it really can change your whole life. But I believe my products for straight hair are just as strong as my curly products. I get misty eyed knowing I’m crossing racial and textural divisions at my company.”

Developed by Oprah’s personal stylist of 25 years, Andre Walker Hair Products, is offering an exciting chance to win two tickets to one of the very last Oprah Winfrey shows. The sweepstakes is open to the public and free to enter by visiting the Andre Walker Hair Facebook Page or Andre Walker’s web page.

The winner will receive two tickets to “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” round-trip airfare for two to Chicago, two nights at a Chicago luxe hotel and a meet and greet with Andre Walker. Rules and regulations apply.

One winner will be randomly chosen for the winner and a guest to attend “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Subsequently, the winner will be announced on HSN during the next Andre Walker segment. Entrants must be legal U.S .residents and 18 years old to enter. Tickets must be redeemed by the deadline listed in the rules and regulations for travel before May 25, 2011, or the last “Oprah Winfrey Show.” For more information on the Andre Walker Hair/HSN Sweepstakes, please visit their web site.

Andre Walker’s hair typing system from his book “Andre Talks Hair” was the foundation for the system of hair types that has evolved at NaturallyCurly.

Andre Walker Hair, launched in November 2010 by seven time Emmy winning stylist to Oprah Winfrey, offers a line of hair care products developed by the finest raw ingredients to nurture all hair types.

If you didn’t get the hint from the Royal Wedding, than Sunday’s Kentucky Derby left no question. The hottest accessory of the moment is the hat—the bigger and more flamboyant, the better.

This year’s Kentucky Derby hats showcased America’s talent for taking something another country is doing and trying to do it bigger and better. Feathers? Of course! A brim that flops down to the ground? Why not? Strange shape? The stranger the better!

Hats and Curls?

Although hats may not seem curl friendly, curls actually are perfectly suited for hats if you choose the right hat styles and follow a few simple steps.

“Curly hair is actually better suited for hats than straight hair,” says Jonathan Torch of Toronto’s Curly Hair Institute and creator of the Curly Hair Solutions line of products. “One of the greatest joys of curly hair is you can get away with a greater variety of hats.”

Curls provide ideal support for a hat, Torch says. “You can tilt it any way, and it stays. The hat becomes an accessory rather than covering the head.”

Lorraine Massey, author of “Curly Girl” and co-founder of DevaConcepts, loves hats of all kinds — “some with crown space, some close to the head.”

Find the Right Fit

Look for hats that fit the proportion of your hair. If it’s too tight on top, the hair can look clownish (think Bozo!”>. In some cases, it may mean buying a larger hat than your head size in order to accommodate the volume of your hair.

Christo of curl salon Christo Fifth Avenue suggests opting for soft fabrics that are breathable and easy to remove, without changing the shape of the curl. Some women with curls and kinks like looser-fitting hats such as berets, tams and sock hats.

Quick Tips

When wearing a hat, make sure your hair is completely dry. Otherwise, it will leave a strong demarcation line that is hard to correct.

To make a hat look its best, put your head upside down to get as much lift and support at the root area as possible. Then put the hat lightly on your hair.

“Gravity will allow the hat to settle on its own,” Torch says.

When Massey does wear hats, she makes sure to keep clips in her curls at the crown to keep it lifted. “It actually aids in frizz prevention because the frizz can’t rise up,” she says.

Torch stresses that the hair exposed should be frizz-free and defined. “Otherwise, tuck it underneath.”

Hat Head Fixes

On the days you wear hats, carry along some pomade or a curl rejuvenator to combat “hat head.” Some good ones to try include Curly Hair Solutions Tweek and Jessicurl Awe Inspiraling Spray.

“When you want to fix hat head, it’s about fixing from the roots,” Torch says. “Take some Tweek and start rubbing it around the crown. It creates volume. The more you play with the demarcation area, the more you can correct the indentation.”

When the As I Am brand for natural hair was launched earlier this year, Joy became the official face of the brand. Joy represents the collective know-how of a number of real life natural-textured women who are highly knowledgeable and experienced in the care and styling of hair. Her mission is to help others embrace their natural hair.

NaturallyCurly wanted to learn more about Joy, and her own hair journey. She was thrilled to share her story in the hopes she could help others accept their coily, kinky texture.

NaturallyCurly: How old are you?

Joy: Joy doesn’t tell her age. I just like to say I’m fully grown, but young at heart.

NC: Have you always embraced your natural texture?

Joy: As a young girl, I did not. Like many African American women, I somehow got the notion in early childhood that certain hairstyles and hair textures are “pretty” and my natural tight-coily texture was not. It would take teams of psychologists and sociologists to unravel all of the reasons why these notions are so entrenched in our culture; however, I am certain that the media and social norms play a major part. At the age of six, my hair was straightened (pressed”> for the first time, and at age 13 or so, I got my first relaxer. Over the years, I attempted to “go natural” a number of times, only to go back to either chemically- or thermal- straightened hair when I could not seem to style it or get a look I was happy with. It’s been a little over two years since I made the decision to be forever natural… to joyously embrace the texture that nature provided.

NC: How would you describe your hair?

Joy: My hair is type 4b, a very typical texture among African descent people. It has a definite coil pattern, configured much like the small springs in retractable ink pens.

NC: What advice would you give women who want to transition?

Joy: I would first say to practice patience. As you grow in your natural texture, the new growth can make styling your hair in its usual style a virtual nightmare. You may be tempted to use a lot of heat to blend the coily with the straight. This is not the best approach because high heat styling can straighten natural coils permanently. Additionally, I have three main things to suggest: (1″> As you transition, It’s a good idea to switch to styles that better match your natural texture, like those created with rod sets, straw sets and braids (that are not too tight”>. In this way, you are coaxing your chemically-treated hair to behave more like your natural texture and not the other way around, (2″> trim your hair gradually if you are not one to go straight to the “big chop.” When you have only 2-3 inches of straight hair left, then go for it! Cut all of the straight portions off, and (3″> begin to “baby” your hair during the transition, just like you will want to do once your hair is fully natural. Use only the gentlest, most hydrating sulfate-free cleansers, deep condition often with a great conditioner, avoiding high-protein conditioners, except perhaps on the relaxed part of your hair (animal protein can harden the hair”>. Avoid styling products that contain alcohol and keep your hair well moisturized with rich emollients.

In my case, I wore weaves for two years as my hair grew out. My stylist would go easy on the underneath cornrows so that my hair would not thin out. I got my weave redone fairly often – every 6 to 8 weeks – and made sure to deep condition my hair well before the next one was sewn in. And I think this is very important… begin to visualize yourself wearing your natural texture – starting now. If you do weave your hair, select textured hair and have it styled attractively so that you can begin to see yourself natural. Weaving is not for everyone. Some would say that wearing weaves defeats the purpose of going natural, in the sense that they fall short of accepting yourself as you are. This, however, is an emotional thing for many women and we’ve got to cut each other a break. Some women will continue to blow dry their hair straight, even after going all natural… others will not. Some will wear weaves and braid extensions as they move away from chemical straighteners… others won’t. Some brave ladies go for the big chop and look and feel absolutely beautiful in a matter of a few minutes… others can’t fathom this idea.

Let me say here that, aside from the style aspect of wearing natural hair, there are undeniably emotional and even spiritual components involved for many women. I think that anyone who has spent time on websites such as NaturallyCurly.com, CurlyNikki.com and countless other sites and blogs can see that a wonderful sisterhood has developed. I am happy to observe that this connection is overwhelmingly based on mutual respect, understanding, a desire to help, and tolerance of others’ viewpoints and methods. How – and even if – you go natural is ultimately one’s own choice, and whatever the choice, it’s okay.

NC: Are you seeing more women working with their natural texture? Are attitudes changing?

Joy: Yes, indeed, to both questions! Wherever I go, I am seeing more women of all ages rockin’ natural styles. When I encounter another natural sister, often we take the time to compliment each others’ hair and choice. There’s an unspoken “congratulations” in the interchange for the freedom the other is inevitably experiencing because of her choice.

Attitudes are really changing. Most of the shift, however, is occurring in the hearts and minds of the natural women themselves. This is to say that others around us may think it strange and even ill-advised to wear naturally tight, coily hair. We who have decided to go natural, however, have already determined it’s the thing to do. For some, it is a matter of answering questions such as, “Why am I fighting with my hair?”, “ Who determined that only straighter textures are pretty and acceptable?”, “ Why have I internalized that determination?” and “If I believe that a creator purposely and lovingly made me this way, don’t I already have an inherent, unique and divine brand of beauty?” Aside from the metamorphosis taking place as these questions are addressed, there is measure of bravery and boldness involved in wearing natural textured hair, particularly for those of us with type 4 textures. Increasingly, women are saying that “I have the guts and I am enjoying the freedom!”

NC: What products do you use to get your amazing look?

Joy: As the official, trademarked mascot of As I Am, I am of course partial to this brand. Each and every one of the 11 products are on my shelf at home because there is a unique place for each one in my hair care regime, depending upon the style I choose to wear and my hair needs at any particular time. For the pulled back, off-the-face style that I am wearing now in my pix on the site, I use the Coconut CoWash most of the time for cleansing. I always use the Leave-In Conditioner, I deep condition every 3-4 weeks with Hydration Elation Conditioner, and I sleek my edges with the fabulous Smoothing Gel. I love twist outs, so I use the Twist Defining Cream. I also enjoy the wash ‘n go style. For this style, I use the Curling Jelly. When my hair gets a little thirsty, I reach for either the Moisture Milk or DoubleButter Cream. The CocoShea Spray is a superb moisturizer as well.

NC: What do you think women should look for in products for natural hair?

Joy: Ingredients that are gentle and moisturizing. Products that do not contain sulfates and alcohol, for sure. Many natural ladies avoid silicones and none of the As I Am products contain them, however, others still use them. That’s a matter of choice. I want to mention, though, that our R & D chemists assure me that some of the ones used in hair care products these days are easily cleansed from hair and are not as problematic as many believe. Finally, look for products that do what you want and need them to do. If a product hardens or builds up on your hair, don’t use it. If it dries out your hair in any way, get rid of it!

NC: What types of different looks can you get with your hair?

Joy: Bantu Knots: On clean, conditioned damp hair, part hair in neat medium-sized sections, smooth on Twist Defining Cream and gently twist each section until it twines around itself near the scalp. Gently wrap the ends around the base of the knot until they are out of sight. To secure, insert a hair pin through and underneath the knot.

Two-Strand Twists: On clean, conditioned wet or damp hair, apply Twist Defining Cream liberally to small or medium sections. Use less cream when twisting barely damp hair. The wetter the hair, the more Twist Cream you can use. Divide each section in two, and twist one around the other, leaving about ½” – ¾” untwisted at the ends. Twirl the ends around your forefinger and carefully slide your finger down and out of the coil. As you twist, arrange the twists in the places and directions that you ultimately want them positioned in your finished style.

Very important: Apply As I Am Leave-In Conditioner liberally before applying Twist Defining Cream. This adds a great finish and prohibits flaking.

Twist-Outs: Two-Strand Twist as described above and when the twists are completely dry, carefully undo the them. You may gently massage along your scalp to obscure the partings. Be careful not to disturb the coiled/curled alignment along the length and ends of the sections. Remember, in the days after your twist-out, your hair also will naturally fill in and become fuller.

To complete your style, you may desire fullness in some or in all areas of your hair. If you opt to separate your twists even further for more volume, take care to handle them very gently. Pulling and separating carelessly will cause the multi-strand coil assemblies to come apart and take on an undefined, frizzy look.

Remember: The more you manipulate your twists, the fuller your hair will get, so separate or finger fluff where you want volume or height. Fluff just a little or not at all where you want closer-to-the-head, flatter areas. Once hair has been fluffed, it won’t return to the original flattened alignment until you re-wet and re-style your hair.

Big Beautiful Afro: Braid or twist barely damp or dry hair. You may want to curl the ends with perm or flex rods for a curlier look. When you remove rods, braids and/or twists, fluff and arrange by hand. You may also gently use a pick to lift the areas near your scalp for shaping.

Ponypuff: Smooth back your hairline, sides and nape areas, and secure with a thin elastic headband. If you want a super smooth perimeter, dampen hair and apply the As I Am Smoothing Gel. The Ponypuff can be done on hair which has been styled via Twist-outs, Knot-Outs, Wash n’ Go and Big Beautiful Afro techniques.

Sleek Wash n’ Go: Cleanse and condition. Apply Leave-In Conditioner liberally and apply As I Am Curling Jelly to soaking wet hair section-by-section, from root to tip. Rake with fingers and allow your defined curls to air dry. Please do not even touch it while wet! This will cause your hair to frizz and lose some of its beautiful definition. It may take a long time to dry but it will look good every step of the way. This, of course, works better when it’s warm outside and you don’t have to worry about exposure to frigidly cold temperatures.

NC: Any words of encouragement for all the women out there who are thinking of going natural?

Joy: Be patient. This is a journey. It takes time to learn what to do for your hair and to get used to a new look. Listen to your hair. For years and years, many of us have fought with our hair, trying to get it to do what it was never meant to do. If it feels and looks dry, give it moisture, which does not necessarily mean oil. If it does not want to hang down and flow, let it be full, free and fabulous all about your head. If it simply doesn’t like a particular product, try another application method or find another product that your hair will love.

Do what you need to do to get where you want to go. Growing out your natural texture is not for the faint of heart. Do what you have to do! If after your latest styling session, your hair looks terrible to you (perhaps you just haven’t got the hang of it all yet”>, wear a pretty head wrap or a graceful pulled back puff or bun with nice earrings and pretty make up. If you need to temporarily wear braided extensions or “somebody else’s” hair, do it until your hair gets adequate care and you get the styling techniques down. Go to a knowledgeable and skilled girlfriend or natural hair shop to get a head start. And finally, surround yourself with positive people who have a more expanded view of beauty. There are plenty of people who will never like anything but straight hair, but increasingly there are more examples than ever of women who are undeniably breathtaking, with confident, serene demeanors, who fiercely display their natural tresses for the whole world to see.

Seek guidance and support. Ask people you know whose natural hair you admire. Visit natural hair sites and blogs. View YouTube videos of experienced naturalists. Visit the As I Am website, and send your questions to me. We all want to help others experience the ”Joy” of natural hair.

Speak beautiful affirmations to yourself and to your hair. I am beautiful As I Am, I am what I was created to be As I Am. I am Confident As I Am. I am free As I Am. My hair curls in perfect little spirals. I may not have gotten it right today, but there is a tomorrow.

When we opened the box, our initial thought was, “Did somebody get confused when our site said it dealt with all things kinky?”

We’ve seen plenty of “interesting” looking packaging over the years, but Samy’s new Twisted Frizz Control Spray, with its pink cylindrical shape, takes the cake (nice touch on the pink color, marketers”>.

Of course, Tigi Bed Head After Party Smoothing Cream is right up there, too.

Tell us what packaging has caught your eye. Meanwhile, we’ll be spending a little quality time with our, um, “product.”

You know what they say. A good frizz-fighter is hard to find.

NEW YORK, NY — To launch its new hair color, John Frieda wanted to do something truly innovative.

So for the biggest launch in the history of the company, they made the product—Precision Foam Colour—the star of a movie.

On Tuesday night, at a red carpet event at New York’s Lavo nightclub, beauty editors, company executives and celebrities gathered for the premiere of “The Decision,” a short film starring Katie Holmes and the hair color.

The tongue-in-cheek movie asks the question: Is cheating on your colorist worth the risk? Holmes plays Joan Hudson, a high-profile actress who makes the choice to leave her colorist and color her own hair. Ultimately, Hudson finds that John Frieda Precision Foam Colour truly delivers salon precise coverage at home.

A series of online teasers have led up to the debut of the short film, dropping clues as to the identity of the film’s star and the contents of her bag (John Frieda Precision Foam Colour”>.

With its 20 stylist-selected shades and foolproof foam texture, the unprecedented formula ensures effortless application and complete coverage for natural-looking, salon-quality results. Earlier in the day, John Frieda creative color director Nicola Clarke demonstrated the ease of using the new hair color by applying the foam color to her own hair in front of a room full of beauty editors at Hudson Studios.

“Part of what traditionally sets salon color apart from at-home color is the quality of the shades,” explained Clarke. “I worked with John Frieda hair care to create shades that closely reflect what I really use in the salon. There’s a full range of natural, luminous colors for blondes, brunettes and redheads, giving women access to a caliber of color usually found in the salon.”

Watch “The Decision.”