Search Results: NaturallyCurly
Image: @curly_colleen
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
My nickname was lion’s mane and for good reason. My mom didn’t know how to do my hair and there weren’t nearly as many curl friendly products on the market. As I grew up, I was constantly told by boys how much better I looked when I straightened my hair.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
After I had my third baby, my hair started falling out due to back to back pregnancies, over-processing and straightening my hair. I realized that I was just running from who I was meant to be. Embracing my curls had more to do with accepting myself and being content with who I am. I decided to stop trying to fit in and start embracing my natural curls. Now I have the best of both worlds!I am fully loved by those closest to me, and they know and love me as Curly Colleen.
Image: @curly_colleen
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Finding out that the thing I grew up disliking is my superpower. “Our greatest strength is our greatest weakness”. Throughout high school and college looking pretty meant straightening my hair. I wouldn’t let people know that I had curly hair because I didn’t want them to make fun of me. Now, I have the honor of connecting with thousands of people through my blog and Instagram all because we have one similar bond…Curly hair! The curly community is so supportive and empowering and we actually “get” each other.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I do a quick scalp massage using oil and mix a bit of leave-in conditioner in my spray bottle and spritz it over my hair for added moisture. I always sleep on a silk cap.
Who is your curl crush?
I’m currently obsessed with Lisa @curly_n_fab and Lindsay @goldilocks_1117. Both of them have hair similar to mine and they have mastered it.
Image: @curly_colleen
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
A good deep conditioner. There is just something about incorporating a deep conditioner into your weekly or bi-weekly routine that hydrates your curls and gets them looking fabulous!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
- I use a deep conditioner once per week because my hair is very dry and still a bit damaged.
- Then I style with DevaCurl leave-in decadence, Kinky-curly curling custard, and finish with Aussie instant freeze gel.
- I apply these using praying hands method to help encourage curl clumping.
- Follow up styling with what I like to call a hybrid drying method.
- I plop my curls in a t-shirt for 15 minutes, clip my roots, diffuse for 20 minutes, then let it air dry.
- Once my hair is completely dry, I use my leave-in conditioner to gently scrunch out the crunch.
This regimen typically lasts me 3-5 days.
Image: @curly_colleen
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Bringing my curls back to life. I had curly hair growing up but after I had my third baby my hair was severely damaged and had no body. I never thought it would be curly again. It took a good year of going back to my natural color, salon deep treatments, and learning to love and care for my curls at home. I could not have brought my curls back to life without the curly girl method!
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Yes, there are so many!
- Finger coiling during deep treatments and styling helped bring back a lot of curl definition.
- Praying hands method has helped preserve curl clumping.
- The bowl method has helped maintain moisture.
- And plopping has helped increase curl pattern as well as decrease drying time.
I share all of my tips for these methods on my Instagram page to help other curlies along the way.
Image: @curly_colleen
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
It’s a journey. Some days, I still struggle to love my curls, and other days I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I think having curly hair is just a constant reminder to love and accept the way we were made. Love your curls and treat them well, and they will bloom for you.
To all of our curry loving Curlies, this one goes out to you!
Ayurvedic medicine gives us a lot of great options for hair and overall health to chose from in our curl-friendly products and regimens. While we don’t discriminate when it comes to ‘unpronounceable’ components in products here, there’s definitely something to be said for stepping away from the science lab and taking a look at what nature has to offer us in terms of hair care solutions—specifically about hair loss. Today the spotlight’s on turmeric!
However, much like its effects on other inflammation related ills like arthritis and ulcers, the jury is still out on whether or not turmeric, or its active compounds are really capable of stopping hair loss on their own. Higher level clinical studies have been conducted and the results, unfortunately, haven’t been definitively proven one way or the other.
Photo Courtesy of Jaleesa M. Instagram @saythelees.
While the benefits of turmeric for hair are still up for debate, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get in on using it in your everyday life! This is a spice that has been used throughout much of southeast Asian medicine, food, and beauty regimens for centuries after all. Can 1/3rd of the world’s population be all wrong? We certainly hesitate to say yes!
There are turmeric supplements available to help add this super spice to your diet. However, because turmeric is not water soluble, taking it with your morning tea as a capsule doesn’t allow your intestines to fully absorb the properties of it the same way as cooking it with oils and other fats, so sprinkling some of the spice on food is a better way of adding turmeric to your routine. Even those of us with an all-white color scheme in the house can’t argue with a good curry. And if you notice your hair’s looking better and better while scientists try to find a definitive answer for that aspect of the spice, then consider it an added bonus to an already delicious flavor! You can also find turmeric in products for topical beauty use like My Honey Child’s Type 4 Hair Creme and Reshma’s Moisturizing Soap Bar and anti-aging Face Mask.
Ready to give this golden spice a try in your routine? Let us know below!
Here at NaturallyCurly, we love innovators in the curly and textured hair care industry. Christian Karega, Founder of Ayur Luxe, is one the premier innovators you need to know about right now. This Leader in Curls has a “B.S. in Engineering from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School with distinction” and long-range goal of owning a “world-class brand with the potential to popularize Ayurvedic herbal traditions in the mainstream American beauty market.”
That’s why we were thrilled to sit down and chat with her about Ayur Luxe. Get ready to fall in love with her approach to haircare!
To start, will you please tell us about your company’s history?
The idea for Ayur Luxe was birthed in August 2018. I was in another hair care rut. Like most natural girls, I went to YouTube to find a solution to the slow growth, breakage, and damage that I couldn’t seem to stop with any product I used. When I came across Ayurvedic herbs for hair, I knew it was the thing I was missing. Unfortunately, at-home recipes are just not practical for my busy life. Ayurvedic herbs were hard to find and the recipes were difficult and messy to use. I started working on Ayur Luxe in September 2018, and it took me almost a year to iterate on the formulation for the Damage Control collection. I wanted to make sure it lived up to its promise to harness the power of these herbs in the most effective way possible. We launched in July 2018, and the response has been amazing over the last month. People are really loving the products.
Have you always had a passion for natural hair and hair care?
No. The natural hair movement selected me. I have been natural for over 20 years; long before the natural trend started. I was forced into natural hair because although my hair looks thick, it is very fragile and can’t handle relaxers. I had to stop relaxing my hair if I wanted to keep it on my head! Back in those days, very few people knew how to care for natural hair. I was afraid of my natural hair. It wasn’t until I spent time on YouTube and read blogs like Curly Nikki that I began learning about natural hair. I learned what it likes and how to treat it and I fell in love with my natural hair for the first time. Now I see how blessed we are as Black women to have extremely versatile hair.
Please tell us about your hair care collection.
The Damage Control Collection is a Whole Hair Food that contains a proprietary blend of nutrient-dense Ayurvedic herbs (Bhringraj, Brahmi, Amla, Tulsi, Fenugreek, Hibiscus, Shikakai, Reetha, and Neem”> with deeply hydrating oils such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, castor oil, and shea butter. The goal of the Damage Control Collection is to reduce breakage, shedding, split-ends and damage that impedes hair growth and retention. We worked with an Ayurvedic expert in India to develop a proprietary blend of 9 Ayurvedic herbs to address these issues. The Damage Control Collection includes a sulfate-free low lather shampoo, leave-in conditioner, and a hair rehab mask. For those who want an extra boost of Ayurvedic herbs every day, we have a Raw Herb Hair Treatment Oil.
What curly and textured hair concerns does Ayur Luxe address?
Ayur Luxe launched with the Damage Control Collection, which focuses on damaged, dry and overworked hair. The Damage Control Collection addresses breakage, damage, and shedding. I started the first collection to deal with these concerns because they are huge concerns for curly and textured hair and this is an area where Ayurvedic herbs shine.
There are so many products on the market that condition and soften the hair and make it feel good, but not many actually protect the hair from damage, shedding, and split ends. There are 9 Ayurvedic herbs that are used in all products in the Damage Control collection. Just about every one of these herbs has been scientifically studied in independent labs to produce amazing hair outcomes. These herbs have been scientifically proven to grow hair better than Minoxidil 2%, reduce shedding, strengthening hair, and detoxifying the scalp.
What intrigues me most about Ayur Luxe is that it contains ingredients that derive from the Ayurvedic herbal tradition. For those unfamiliar with Ayurvedic practice, will you please explain why it is vital to hair care, beauty, and culture?
Ayurveda is an ancient healing system originating in India. It has a belief system around healing the body naturally with diet, exercise, and herbal remedies. It intersects with beauty because many of the herbs that are used to treat ailments have done wonders for the hair and skin for thousands of years. There has been extensive scientific research that explains why these herbs work so well on the hair and skin. For example, in clinical studies, Bhringraj extract increased the average number of hair follicles by 50% and caused hair to regrow in less time than Minoxidil 2% in mice. Researchers believe Bhringraj does this by keeping hair in the growth phase longer. When combined together, Amla, Brahmi, Hibiscus, and Fenugreek all have been studied to also extend the growth phase of hair and the number of new hair follicles. Shikakai thickens and protects hair because it is a hair super food-loaded with Vitamin A, C, D, K, E, antioxidants, minerals, and micronutrients. Lastly, the scalp is largely ignored when talking about hair health, but it is so vitally important. Fungus and bacteria on the scalp can inhibit hair growth and damage hair. Tulsi and Neem have been scientifically proven to reduce dandruff and kill fungus and bacteria that inhibit hair growth. Ayurvedic herbs address all these issues, which is why we put them in our products.
In your opinion, which of these factors is most important to consider when purchasing hair products: hair density, hair width, porosity, curl pattern, length, or something else?
I think they are all so important. If I were to choose one, I would say one’s curl pattern is a vital factor when selecting hair products. Your porosity will help you understand how your hair handles moisture, shrinkage, heat, and retention. It will tell you how your hair handles protein, oil, and conditioning agents. Another important factor in hair care is the scalp, which is so often ignored. Healthy hair starts with the scalp. So, when selecting hair care products, make sure to find products that thoroughly cleanse the scalp and feed the scalp with the nutrients it needs to grow.
What advice do you have for burgeoning hair care and beauty entrepreneurs?
Firstly, we need you. Black women are 5% of the US population, but we purchase 33% of the hair products sold in the US. We need more women of color developing hair and beauty products for us.
Secondly, when developing your product, find your customer and develop your products for them. Some of the best features of the Damage Control line came from hard to please hair enthusiasts who gave me honest feedback on how to make the products better. Spend the extra time during development making sure what you offer your customers is the very best that it can be.
Lastly, do not give up. The movies always cut to the end and never shows the mundane daily grinding it takes to launch a business. In real life, it is a grind, and you are not always sure if and when your hard work will pay off. Stay motivated by focusing on how you would like to impact the world with your business.
Are there any hair care industry trends catching your eye?
I absolutely believe that over the next 5 years, everyone will be talking about Ayurvedics in beauty in the same way everyone is talking about CBD now. I already see Ayurvedic herbs showing up in food products, teas, and herbal products. I also see a few Ayurvedic herbs show up in beauty products here and there. I know there are so many hidden jewels in the lexicon of Ayurvedic Herbs that will be known as miracle herbs in the US. I want Ayur Luxe to be positioned as a leader when this trend catches on.
What can we expect to see from Ayur Luxe in the next year or two?
Ayur Luxe’s mission is to popularize Ayurvedic herbs that have been used for centuries to address beauty’s toughest challenges. I have at least 3 different hair care collections that I want to launch in the next 12-24 months. Because of the high concentration of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and cleansing agents of Ayurvedic herbs, they have wonderful applications for skincare. You can expect an Ayur Luxe Skin Care line coming out that harvests the very best Ayurvedic herbs for the skin.
Image Source: @sydneylynnn
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
It was challenging, not knowing what to use on my hair. Especially back then there were NO curly hair products. Being mixed black and white, my parents would use a ton of different products and they would either be too greasy or too dry, or they would just put it up. It wasn’t until I was about 11/12 when I started doing my own hair but I was using you know, Tresemme Flawless Curls Mousse and my hair was so dry from it. I was washing it everyday with sulfate, But how was I supposed to know lol.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly, wavy hair?
Well, I have always wore my natural curls, but in middle school I started to straighten my hair a lot because I wanted to fit in. When I was in middle school that’s when it was the “scene stage” so everyone had the heavy side bang with different colors. One day my stepmom told me I had heat damage and that I needed to stop straightening my hair. We went to Sally’s and found some different curly hair products. I started going on YouTube and watching videos of other curly girls. I would watch Shameless Maya, Lipstickncurls and Lisette. I looked up to them and started exploring new products and routines to use for my curls.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
I think my journey has helped me form my career! If you don’t know, I am a licensed cosmetologist who specializes in natural hair. I think I wouldn’t have gone through my journey, I wouldn’t know how to help others with theirs. I noticed when I was in middle/high school and got my hair cut wet that my curls were so uneven to the point where the back look chopped in the middle. It was bad. So I started researching curly cuts and slowly started doing my own and family, now I have a whole curly clientele! I started the CG method in 2014, my mom got me the DevaCurl Kit. I love helping others with their transition, it makes me so happy!
Image Source: @sydneylynnn
How do you protect your curls at night?
I sleep on a satin pillowcase and put my hair in a high ponytail (pineapple”> and sometimes a satin bonnet.
Who is your curl crush?
I can’t just pick one!! Lol definitely Jade Kendle @lipstickncurls , Jude Demorest from Star @judedemorest, Lynn Kate @lynnkatee, and Felicia @HiF3licia.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
I definitely can’t live without my scrunchies and hair pick!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I usually clarify once a month, wash and deep condition once a week, sometimes I’ll wash twice if my hair is dry. I usually style with a leave in, cream and gel. That’s interchangeable so sometimes I’ll do cream and gel, leave in and gel. Depends on the mood. My favorite products are BounceCurl cream, leave in and gel. I love Rizos Curls 4 Step System, Devacurl Melt Into Moisture Mask, Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair mask, Curls Blueberry Bliss Jelly, and DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel.
Image Source: @sydneylynnn
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging thing I would say is texture changes. My textures have changed some over the years and sometimes I do feel discouraged. I also get stressed out because when the weather affects your hair it’s like you have to start from square one with your routine.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Definitely trims every 3 months! I notice a huge difference in my curls to the definition and elasticity. Deep conditioning is very important as well. I can tell if I skip a week of DC’ing.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Love YOURSELF!!! Love your hair!!! It’s what you got so you might as well rock it! Don’t compare yourself to others. I think we are all guilty there but don’t get so caught up in what other people use, everyone’s hair is different so listen to what yours needs!
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
For me growing up with curly hair was very hard. I wasn’t born in the US and I was born to a mom with straight hair. She didn’t know how to treat curly hair and I grew up with what the whole neighborhood called a “sponge” for hair.
My curls were constantly being brushed, causing a bush lol. Which made me HATE my hair all my life until adulthood.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/coily/wavy hair?
I remember 2 years ago, taking a picture of myself with what at that point was my “styled” hair, and I remember looking at it and saying, omg your hair looks awful. What happened? It looks SO burnt!
Immediately then, I went into my Instagram and it was like my phone was listening to my thoughts, because it introduced me to @hif3licia. I stalked her page literally lol, and her YouTube. And the rest is history. 2 years into my healthy hair journey now. And it was the best decision.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering moment so far in my hair journey has been the acceptance of myself, the acceptance of my true self. How I learned to re-love myself and accept me for who I am, because there’s only one.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I usually pineapple my hair at night and sleep in a satin pillowcase.
Who is your curl crush?
Definitely @Hif3licia and @ayesha.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My hair is very dry so my I can’t live without product will be deep conditioner.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My hair regimen consists in Deep Conditioning once a week, and styling with a cream and gel.
My favorite products at the moment are Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk line, and Bounce Curl gel.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moments of my natural hair journey was saying goodbye to my hair and cutting it off.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Olaplex definitely made a HUGE impact on my hair at the beginning of my journey, and leaving the hair straighter.
Styling upside down helped with volume and using a diffuser helped a lot to retrain my curls to curl again.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My best advice is to not take it too seriously. Take it a day at the time, and love every moment. All the years of damage you cause will not be cured in a month, it takes a lot of time and patience. And the best way is just to go with the flow do all the right things and keep living. Don’t compare your stage 1 to someone’s stage 10, because they could have been on their journey for years
In 2017, Ameka Coleman received a vision from God to start her own company and operate in her purpose. As a Type 4 Natural Hair Enthusiast, Ameka felt some curly hair types were more glamorized in the media than others, so she utilized the power of social media to inspire and build a community to show the beauty and versatility of type 4 naturalistas. Now, as the CEO of Strands of Faith, she’s on a mission to teach others how to embrace their God-given natural hair while promoting self-love and community.
To start, will you please tell us about your company’s history?
Strands of Faith was launched in February 2018. It was born due to passion meeting purpose. I have always had a strong passion for embracing natural hair and went over and beyond to educate myself and others on the process of returning natural. However, God knew His plans for me all along because He led me to create the company accompanied with a strong vision to do so. In hindsight, everything that I have done in my life has led me to this moment. It is surreal when I actually think about it. My scientific background has helped me to formulate the products. My MBA has helped in the business sense of things. My trial and error hair journey has given me first hand experience to truly relate to the struggles of others who deal with the same. The only way I can explain how Strands of Faith came about is that it came full circle. It was His plan for me all along. I am simply grateful!
Have you always had a passion for natural hair and hair care?
Yes indeed! My passion stems all the way back to 2006 when I first returned natural. The freeing and liberating feeling that I felt in that moment was the driving force behind me wanting to encourage other women to embrace their God-given beauty in the way that their tresses naturally grew from their scalps.
I went on a recruiting spree and gradually converted everyone who I encouraged to eventually return natural themselves. I do understand that some people still prefer relaxers over their natural textures due to the maintenance etc. and there is nothing wrong with that choice. However, the issue that I am encouraged to get people to overcome is to actually truly love their natural texture and to not let the reason for relaxing to be solely because they hate their texture.
I have also always had a strong desire to educate women about growing their hair and letting them know that the shoulder length hair that they’ve always had their entire life is not their end story. Our hair grows when properly cared for!
Tell us about your Faith of Strands collection
Our initial collection is the Holy Grail Collection, which includes 6 products that focuses on moisturizing the hair for Hair Types 3/4. The entire collection was personally formulated by me utilizing my research and scientific background. My main focus was to create super quality products that did not have harsh ingredients such as phthalates and parabens. Our products are handmade in small batches.
Since our initial collection, we have added 3 additional products to our offerings. We have products that will get your tresses right from the start (wash”> to finish (style”>.
In your professional opinion, what are the most effective ingredients for Type 4 curls?
I believe it is the combination of ingredients that matter most. For example, our line is formulated with 4 key and awesome oils/butters including Kukui oil, Babassu Oil, Baobab Oil, and Shea butter. I have found that this combination and the percentages used are great at moisturizing type 4 curls.
However, in general, Type 4 Beauties usually have great results with heavier type of butters as they do a great job in further sealing in the moisture once the hair has been properly moisturized.
What is your favorite natural hairstyle to wear and why?
My favorite styles have definitely changed throughout the years as my lifestyle has changed. In my earlier natural days before having kids, I used to love doing styles like rod sets (flexi, perm, curlformers”>. These styles are fun and super cute but they are also tedious and time consuming.
During my childbirth years (2015-2019″> which seems life most of my life lol, my favorites leaned towards quick and easy styles such as freestyle updos, mini twists, and occasionally twist outs, or bed head lol!
Lately, surprisingly, my favorite style has been the wash-n-go! I used to despise the wash-n-go because for kinky textures like mine if they aren’t done in a correct manner they could lead to single strand knots, matting, tangling etc. However, the key to getting longevity with a wash-n-go is to style it once and then let it gradually do its own thing. No manipulation after the first set. Our styling custard has been essential in allowing me to achieve a healthy wash-n-go!
What curly and textured hair concerns does Strands of Faith address?
Our products are all about restoring the moisture balance. We believe that moisturized hair is the key to length retention. There are many products on the market that emphasize hair growth, but truth be told there are no hair oils, potions, or pills that will grow the hair beyond the length that it was already intended to grow. The caveat to this is if there are any health related issues preventing hair growth.
Otherwise, the main focus should always be “length retention”. A healthy head of hair is constantly growing at a normal speed. Most people think they have a hair growth issue when in reality they have a length retention issue. And mostly what’s happening is that the hair is breaking at the same rate it is growing. This is why our products focus heavily on restoring moisture. If your hair stays moisturized while it is growing, you are guaranteed to reach all of your hair length goals. I have proven this strategy with my own hair, as I have been able to grow it to waist length.
In your opinion, which of these factors is most important to consider when purchasing hair products: hair density, hair width, porosity, curl pattern, length, or something else?
I believe that symptoms are most important when searching for products. For example, dry hair, damaged hair, brittle hair. The first step is to identify the symptoms and then to work backwards from there. However, porosity, density, curl pattern all have their place as well. Usually, you can tweak a product to meet these specific needs if it’s a product that already works well for your hair.
For example, someone with low density may only need a dab of our twisting butter whereas someone with high density could use more. Most of our products are buildable according to the individuals hair needs. Also, most times a person won’t know how a product works for them until they try it. What may work for someone who is 4b, high density, low porosity may not work the same for someone who is 4b, low density, high porosity. It’s all trial and error!
What advice do you have for burgeoning hair care and beauty entrepreneurs?
Know every aspect of running your business. All the ins and out. In the beginning, you don’t need to be an ‘expert’ in all things, but you definitely should learn how to do all things until you’re able to get to a point of outsourcing your duties.
For example, I know how to make my product, label, package, ship them, handle customer service, all aspects of marketing including email and influencer, manage social media for all of my profiles, and the list goes on! Some of these things I’m still doing and some I’ve already delegated to others. In the end, the true goal is to be the CEO of your business and to not necessarily constantly work in it, but to continue expanding the vision!
Having a good mentor/coach is a blessing, but don’t allow the lack of one to stop you from moving forward. Google has been my biggest mentor to date! Most of the things I’ve learned while being in business came by way of simple research.
Also, no one is going to have the same passion and vision for your business as you do so you have to be willing to put in the work even during the tough times. There’s no such thing as becoming an overnight success. You don’t plant the seed today and reap the harvest tomorrow. Put in work, have Faith, and allow God to do the rest!
What can we expect to see from Stands of Faith in the next year or two?
Wow! This question has my wheels spinning hard. I’m a visionary so it’s kind of hard to not think of the endless possibilities. However, right now my main focus is be sensitive to hearing from God and the direction He wants me and the company to go. This is my true season of having “faith”.
To stay connected with Strands of Faith, follow along their journey on Instagram to see what’s new.
Image: @curlienish
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up, I did like my curls when they were wet but was clueless of how to take care of them or make them look pretty once dried out!! My hair was mostly brushed out dry, in braids or in a pony tail. I would never leave my hair open and felt really self conscious about myself because I felt like my hair always looked untidy. That made me feel less presentable. I would come across some kids with beautiful spirally curls and would never understand why my hair never looked as defined as that. Even my mom didn’t know much about enhancing my natural curls while I was a kid. Most girls would plaster their hair down with oil and I hated doing that especially while going to school. I didn’t know any better. No one around me did.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/coily/wavy hair?
Over time through trial and error figured that not combing my hair after it was washed out and conditioning well really let my curls show, and they were much softer too. I would smooth down my hair with some light hair oil when damp and this would give me a little definition but it wouldn’t last long. When I saw the little improvement it led me to seek more information on curly hair care. I liked the change and decided to work on making this better. One day last year I chanced upon the “Curly Girl Method” on a blog! It all started to make sense finally!! I binge watched YouTube videos and I discovered a few curly hair bloggers on Instagram who really made me feel like I can do this!! Their transformation stories made me believe in this magic. There was no looking back from here onwards.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
You know, when I look back at old photos of me in my teens right till my late twenties, there are almost none with my hair left open, even on my best hair days it was always tied up. That made me realize the extent of how much of a hit my self image took. I had zero confidence to let my hair down. It may seem trivial, but after I started the CG method the most empowering moments were when I first started letting my hair down, on my best days and even on days when they were just hanging in there. And that’s because I had gone past that point where I’m always occupied with how my hair looks. The CG method has helped me embrace not just my textured hair, but me as a whole at my best and worst. Just being me is empowering.
How do you protect your curls at night?
After a light scalp massage I put my hair up in a loose pineapple with a telephone wire scrunchie or sometimes just leave it open and spread it above my head while I sleep on a satin covered pillow at night. I always use a satin pillow case.
Image: @curlienish
Who is your curl crush?
This one’s a tough one because there are so many beautiful curly haired ladies I love!!
I started my CG journey 8 months ago following and loving the curls of @curlsandbeautydiary @desicurly @themestizamuse @powerdomi @marisascurls @curl_pal @chicmedusa and @thecuriousjalebi and I totally crush on all of them to this day!! I’ve learnt not just about curl care but so much more from them. They’re beautiful kind and strong women inside out.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
I need my telephone wire scrunchie and I carry one in all my bags. I have a few spares in my drawer at work too coz I’m always losing them.
Also I’d like to add here that I’ve recently grown to be quite a product junkie, but if I had to de-stash for whatever reason, the essentials I couldn’t do without are Righteous Roots Oil, Vilvah Goatmilk Shampoo, Aaranyaa DC, Ashba Leave In, Arata Cream and Gel. I could use these products for life and I know my curls would be thanking me. ;”> Can’t live without these for sure!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I wash my hair twice a week. I pre-poo with my Righteous Roots Oil blend. Deep conditioning, like I said, helps me really feed my hair the nourishment it needs on a weekly basis. My current favorite moisture DC is Shea Moisture Manuka Oil & Mafura Oil Intense Hydration Masque and when my hair needs a protein boost I do a DIY Gelatin treatment. I clarify at least once a month or more often if my scalp feels gunky. My favorite shampoo is the Vilvah goatmilk shampoo and in conditioners I love the Aaranya Argan Hair Pack. My all time favorite hair cream & gel are from Arata. Their flaxseed gel is just the best! Gives me shiny defined curls and great hold every single time. Another brand I can’t do without is Ashba Botanicals, Indias first CG friendly brand. It’s amazing that we now have so many CG friendly products in India, something that we lacked for a long time.
Image: @curlienish
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Coping with the changing climate and managing my curls in accordance with it has been extremely challenging for me. My hair is naturally very frizzy with plenty of flyaways and a lot of new baby hair now, thanks to my scalp massages!! And I live in a very humid place where except for two or three months of good climate ( cool winter months”> the rest of the year my hair is constantly trying to adjust to the changes in my hair care routine.
I have learnt to love and embrace the frizz but sometimes I wish my good defined results last longer than a couple of days. I’m yet to find the perfect lineup of products for high dewpoint days. Honestly, I don’t enjoy picking up products so meticulously. But it is a learning experience and I hope I can figure this out before the seasons change up again.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Deep Conditioner!! This has been a game changer for me. For me, deep conditioning once a week is key to maintaining healthy curls and nourishing them inside out.
Oh yes and scalp massaging too. Righteous Roots Oil has been my constant for months and scalp massages are never the same without it. I can go on and on about how scalp massages and deep conditioning have been key in improving the health of my curly hair. Healthy hair grows from a healthy scalp, and these two aspects are very crucial for me.
For me, technique has always come first before products. I even started my healthy hair journey by practising the methods like squish to condish, styling on wet hair, praying hands, scrunching and pulsing, wet plopping… all of this with non CG products before I made the switch. Believe me, it made things so much easier once I went full CG.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
There’s nothing better than God’s gift to you of textured hair, be it wavy, curly, kinky or coily. It’s who you are! Embrace it, accept it, give it some TLC and see how it loves you right back!
Especially my Indian sisters, I know you’ve always been made to feel like you are not enough, your hair is not good enough. Don’t idolize those unreal beauty standards. Go make your own! The confidence and satisfaction you get hereafter is unmatchable.
Also, starting the CG method doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. Start like I did, use what you have first and practice the technique. See how your curls clump up, notice how your natural texture gets enhanced, feel the difference. And then think how this can improve hundredfold when you switch to clean label products and follow the CG method more closely. Make it yours and watch your curls thrive! It’s the best thing you could do for yourself .
Our latest edition of Texture Tales features fellow curly/coily girl Emani Nicole, who has shared her experiences with her natural hair journey, tips and inspiration.
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up my hair was very thick. Often, my family would always refer to me as Chaka Khan. However, in my grandmother’s words my hair was unmanageable. I never fully got the chance to embrace my beautifully textured kinks growing up. As soon as I was old enough, my grandmother introduced me to the creamy crack and that was all I knew. I was not reintroduced to my natural kinks until I decided to big chop and return natural in 2012.
Image:@_crownedwithcurlss
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
My mom played a huge part in the beginning of my natural hair journey. Seeing her big chop, walk freely and be comfortable with who she was inspired me to do the same. At that point, I knew that it was time to let go of my damaged hair. I was tired of trying to fit in with my classmates. I was tired of thinking that the only way I could feel beautiful was if I wore my hair straightened and relaxed. I wanted to be and feel free of the pressure of fitting in. I was ready to get back in touch with my natural roots and embrace what God blessed me with.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering moment of my natural hair journey thus far has to be the day I big chopped. I honestly did not know what to expect when I did it. However, once it was done, I felt so free! It pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to accept beauty in other forms, forms that aren’t ideal. It allowed me to love myself even if that meant being different from the norm. Starting my journey and remaining serious about it, opened the door for me to help other women feel the same way!
How do you protect your curls at night?
If I am not sleeping on my silk pillow case, best believe I have on a bonnet! You won’t catch me without one or the other!
Image:@_crownedwithcurlss
Who is your curl crush?
This is a hard one! I have so many! There are so many beautiful girls with curls out there. But if I had to pick my top 5 curl crushes it would be:
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
One curly girl essential I absolutely cannot live without is my Pik! I have to have my pik at all times. For me it’s all about VOLUME, VOLUME, VOLUME.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My hair care regimen is pretty straight forward. I cleanse my hair and scalp with ACV. I make sure I deep condition my hair every wash day. For style, I make sure I use oil based leave-In conditioners and then follow up with a curl defining cream/custard or gel!
My favorite Deep conditioner as of right now is The Brahmi Root Hair Mask by Bask and Bloom.
My favorite Leave-In conditioners are Luster’s Pink Shea Butter and Coconut oil Leave-In, Bask and Bloom Ease Leave-In Conditioner, and As I Am Leave-In Conditioner.
Image:@_crownedwithcurlss
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moment of my journey thus far has to be trying out new styles and them not coming out the way I had it in my head lol. Failed styles are always a mood killer lol.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Yes! I’d have to say taking the time to learn your hair and being patient and gentle is the best technique I could’ve developed. I am the type of person that likes to see results right away. However, when it comes to perfecting your crown in your own way, it takes time. I did my research and found what worked for my crown and porosity type.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
For the longest we have been made to think Type 4 hair is not beautiful. We were taught that it’s unruly/unmanageable, that it’s not professional, etc. Well I am here to help remove all of those negative associations when it comes to type 4 textured curls. Your hair isn’t unmanageable, you just need help learning how to take care of it. Be patient, do your research, and enjoy the ride. You’ll find at the end, you won’t be disappointed. Stop comparing and START believing that kinky hair is just as beautiful as any other hair type. BEAUTY HAS NO LIMITS. Rock your curls the best way, YOUR WAY!
What’s your curl story? Share with us in the comments!
If you’re new to embracing your naturally curly hair it can seem daunting and overwhelming on caring for your natural texture with so many products to choose from and an overload of information coming at you. Not to mention trying to understand the ingredient list and know what each one means and the benefits they provide.
On the bright side, there are plenty of resources, tutorials, methods and even apps to help you be sure you’re taking all the right steps to properly care for your waves, curls and coils. One app in particular that captured our attention is Curl Scan. How you ever wondered, “Is this product Curly Girl Approved?” Well, you’re in luck because this web-based app scans your barcode on hair products and confirms whether or not a product is CG approved or not before you waste any money or time using a product that has bad ingredients like sulfates, drying alcohols, and non-water soluble silicones. Plus, CurlScan can be accessed on a desktop where you can easily dive deep into their database to learn more about CG approved, vegan and cruelty free products and information to soak up all the knowledge you need.
If you’re just as excited as we are, let’s meet the brains behind this much needed CG essential, founder Samantha Cross, and learn more on her journey to creating this innovative tool to make choosing the right curly hair products stress-free.
Tell us about your company’s history and what inspired you to create Curl Scan?
My husband Chris and I first discussed creating an app for the Curly Girl Method a couple of years ago. He wasn’t really on board, but I kept coming back to it because I could see there was a need for something like CurlScan. Finally after seeing how many people were asking for this kind of tool on some of the Facebook groups, Chris was convinced. We began developing the website – we decided to make it web-based instead of downloadable so that it could be used on computers too – at the end of 2018 and released CurlScan in June 2019.
Have you always had a passion for natural hair and hair care?
No. I hated my puffy, frizzy hair until I finally learned how to take care of it properly. I spent years pulling it into a bun or ponytail just so I didn’t have to deal with it. My passion for natural hair started about two and a half years ago when I discovered the Curly Girl Method.
In a sea of curly hair products, I think that Curl Scan is among the most innovative. Can you please tell me what spurred the idea to create this technological resource for us curlies?
I love technology and my husband is a software developer. I use apps for other things in my life, so I could see how beneficial one would be for the curly community.
What curly and textured hair concerns does Curl Scan address?
It can be so overwhelming to look at lists, photo albums, blogs, and forum posts when you’re out shopping for hair products. I’m sure I speak for a lot of people when I say most of us want to quickly find what we’re looking for and move on with our day. With CurlScan, you can scan a barcode, search for a product by name, or view a list of Curly Girl Method approved products alphabetized by brand.
We have recently started adding the ingredient list to each approved product as formulas seem to change so frequently. They can also vary by country. It allows curly people to compare the ingredients on the bottle in their hand to our list to ensure they are using the same formula we marked as approved. This isn’t possible with just a product name or picture, which is a problem we quickly discovered and had to figure out how to solve.
In your opinion, which of these factors is most important to consider when purchasing hair products: hair density, hair width, porosity, curl pattern, length, or something else?
For me personally, it’s my porosity. I have a lot of hair, but the stands are thin. I thought it would be easily weighed down but it isn’t because it’s high porosity. It needs all the moisture it can get.
What advice do you have for burgeoning hair care and beauty entrepreneurs?
Done is usually better than perfect. If you look around at any other website or software (or product, service, or anything else”>, updates and improvements are made all the time. When we started CurlScan I was so discouraged and frustrated. People were mad at us or considered the tool useless because our database wasn’t complete, but then wouldn’t take the time to submit missing products to us when we asked for their help. There are thousands of CG approved products in the world. If we had waited for me to finish the database, we never would have released anything. Now people are submitting products every day and we are so grateful for that! I’m finding out about products I’ve never heard of and therefore never would have included on my own. That wouldn’t have happened if we had waited for perfect.
Are there any hair care industry trends catching your eye?
People are becoming more aware about animal testing and choosing to avoid products that test on animals. This is forcing companies to change their testing practices and I’m very happy about that.
What can we expect to see from Curl Scan in the next year or two?
We are working on adding features that will help people new to the method to understand how to use different products to get the most out of their curls. We are very open to feedback because this is such new territory for the curly community. If anyone has features they think we should add there’s a feedback form on the website. CurlScan is far from finished and we really look forward to continuing to grow as a resource for people following the Curly Girl Method.
                                        July 2001:
Several of you alerted us to Disney’s new film, ‘The Princess Diaries,’ where an ordinary teenager goes from ugly duckling to beautiful swan after learning that her grandmother is a Queen. Reader Angela says, ‘I was horrified when I saw the stylist imply that the girl’s curly hair was unruly and unattractive. Of course, when she was made over, she had straight hair. Clearly another example of curl bias! Shame on Disney!’ We agree! !
Reader Natalie points out this bit of ugliness March 2003:
‘There is a little blip about Chelsea Clinton … how she looked like a ‘geek’ with curly hair, but now she is sooo glamorous with her straight hair … shame on them!’
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I didn’t know I had textured hair! My family doesn’t. My mom doesn’t and so she didn’t know how to tackle my hair. She made me brush it and clamp it down with a bow growing up. It was HORRID. I HATED my hair. It felt broken. It was big, misshapen, messy. I couldn’t do ponytails like my friends. If I put it up, I had a crown of frizz. Nothing looked good. And then at 16, a friend told me I had curly hair and, um, had I tried gel? Um, WHAT?! I had no idea. As dumb as it sounds, I had no idea. I am Iranian/Danish & grew up in Spain, surrounded by non-curlies. I didn’t know. No one told me. No one taught me.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly wavy hair?
The thought of not embracing my hair was never an option. I DID try to figure out so many wrong ways of tackling it. Misguided/ignorant/uninformed hairstylists would thin it out, haircuts were atrocious and too short, proper use of stylers was always hit and miss, but not embracing my hair in its natural state was never an option. My whole identity is deeply intertwined into my hair. I AM my hair. My hair is me. I can’t breathe when my hair is damaged. I feel damaged. It is an extension of who I am. It reflects my personality and what makes me uniquely and unequivocally me.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
My hair was recently severely damaged & up until that point, working my curls, finding the right product, learning to diffuse etc. was always hit & miss. I didn’t know there was a curly community out there. I had NO knowledge of ANYTHING to do with the inner workings of curls, in spite of being a curly haired woman. Delving in and learning all I can about porosity, texture, curl pattern, sulfates, silicones, application methods, what all of it means to hair in proportion to its particular makeup etc. has all been very empowering. My hair is no longer this huge unknown. I understand it better. I love it so much more. And being able to care for it better has been everything!
How do you protect your curls at night?
I am moody with how I sleep and how I feel so I go through phases. I started out loving bonnets and I’d sleep with my bonnet on atop my cotton pillow. I’d tried satin and hated how a satin pillowcase felt against my face. Then I left my bonnet and opted for a silk scarf. Now I wrap my scarf around my pillow (I’m still waiting on my order of silk pillowcases to arrive!”> because I need a break from wrapping my hair, but I still want it protected. But all three methods are my go to (well, that rides on whether I will like sleeping on a silk pillowcase. ;-“>”>, based on my mood. I alternate and mix it up.
Who is your curl crush?
Diana Ross! Ever since I laid eyes on her as a little girl, I wanted her hair. I will forever harbor Diana Ross magical hair dreams!
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
I went blonde in 2015. My hair was damaged in April of this year, 2019, and since then, ApHogee’s Two Step Protein Treatments are my LIFE! I ONLY use ApHogee for my whole wash ritual and I cannot praise it enough. It is my hair’s very breath.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
Once a month I start with ApHogee’s shampoo for damaged hair, followed by the Two Step Protein Treatment, finishing with the balancing moisturizer. All other washes I start with the same shampoo, followed by the 2 Minute Keratin Reconstructor, finishing with the Curlific Texture Treatment.
For styling on wash days I spray ApHogee’s Green Tea Restructurizer, a VERY TINY amount of the Curlific leave-in, followed by SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus styling milk (super tiny amount”>, then very generous pumps of SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Mousse follow and if needed a light amount of SheaMoisture’s 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Daily Hydration Styling Gel.
I go super light on styling creams and any gel because my hair is damaged high porosity right now and gets easily weighed down by anything remotely heavy or moisturizing.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Dealing with the damage done to my hair. In April a colorist completely fried my healthy high porosity blonde hair SO badly it was breaking off in my hands! I had to chop it off from below shoulder length (took me FOUR YEARS to grow it there!”> to above my shoulders. And then DevaCurl products proved to be SO damaging and drying for my hair that I had to chop it down further to just under my chin/nape of the neck. Four years of growth gone. The texture of my hair killed from coarse to fine. Porosity altered from healthy to damaged high porosity. My curl pattern is not the same since most of my hair is damaged so my natural, tighter pattern needs to grow out again. I have short hair & SO prefer long hair. It will take me 5-6 years to get to where I want to be.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
NOT applying product to soaking wet hair and ensuring I dry my hair as much as I can with my 100% cotton tee towel before styling to remove as much excess water as I can. It’s one of the best techniques for damaged high porosity hair, helping it release that excess water, then applying the stylers and then diffusing. At the onset of my damage, it took me 2 hours + to diffuse my hair dry. Since I fine tuned my technique, I am now down to 45 minutes or so. Not bad!
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Delve into the science of hair. Learn to understand it, to master it. I find that oftentimes when we don’t love our hair, it is based on a lack of understanding birthed out of living in a society that doesn’t understand it and therefore shuns what it doesn’t get. So understand hair. Learn the basics. Apply this to your hair. Why does it behave the way that it does? What does it like? What makes it happy? Work with it, play with it, find what nurtures it, makes it happy and makes it thrive. Mastering the basics, gaining knowledge, enriches the hair journey, it makes it personal, tangible, real and reminds us of what we need to remember… we are worthy. Our hair is worthy and perfect just as it is… unabashedly, unequivocally and uniquely our own. Wear it proudly and loudly!
My hair is currently recovering. She’s lost density, length. So much. Loving her as she heals is key!
Image: Maxine Dimalanta
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up in a traditional Filipino household, I was the only person in the family with textured hair. My parents were never sure what to do with my giant head of frizz and I was constantly made fun of by other family members for not looking “Asian enough.” My grandmother even called me dirty and said that my hair made me look like I didn’t shower!
Because I had no idea how to manage and style my curls, I learned how to straighten them. I flat ironed my hair almost every day for 5 years, and I didn’t feel confident if my hair wasn’t pin-straight. Whenever I went out without flat ironing my curls, someone always had something negative to say, so I was extremely insecure about my natural hair for a long time.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
I was always curious as to where my hair came from since I had never met another full-Filipina with curls. After doing my research, I learned that the indigenous people of the Philippines had a lot of Afrocentric features, including textured hair, and a lot of these characteristics were lost and looked down upon after the Spanish + American colonization of the islands.
Embracing my natural texture is how I connect with and pay tribute to my ancestors that cultivated the Philippines long before the colonizers arrived. Loving my curls is how I push back against the glorification of European beauty standards in my own culture and continue to de-colonize my perspective of the world around me.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
My big chop was definitely the most empowering moment of my natural hair journey. For me, big chopping was more to me than just cutting off all of my hair (which many people at the time thought was healthy”>; big chopping allowed me to free myself from a lot of the mental and emotional baggage that I was holding onto. I big chopped right after I graduated from high school, and the huge change really allowed me to become a whole new person, who didn’t care about what others thought or said! There were people who definitely had their comments about my new hair, but the amount of freedom and confidence my cut gave me was unmatched. If I had the choice, I would absolutely do it again.
Image: Maxine Dimalanta
How do you protect your curls at night?
Because my hair is still pretty short, I sleep with it in 3 separate sections, each tied up with a satin scrunchie. I’ll wrap it in a silk scarf and then go to sleep on a satin pillowcase, just in case the scarf falls off!
Who is your curl crush?
Definitely Nia the Light (@niathelight“>! She was actually the person who inspired me to big chop, and the way she carries herself through the world is truly uplifting.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My Denman brush! My hair definitely needs the extra definition that finger detangling just doesn’t give me.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
Lately, I’ve noticed my hair needs a lot more moisture, so I’ve been using the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner.
To style, I section off my hair and spray the Curlsmith Moisture Memory Reactivator onto each section, detangling with my fingers. Then, I’ll rake in a bit of the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie, and then follow with a little of the Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl Shaping Gelee. I’ll then brush each section with my Denman brush, making sure there’s a bit of tension as I brush through, just to ensure maximum definition!
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
After my big chop had grown out a bit, there was a challenging stage where my hair was at an awkward short-ish length. My bad hair days were REALLY bad hair days, and I couldn’t just throw it up in a bun to hide it! These moments were rough, and I regretted cutting my hair for a while. Luckily, I pushed through that weird stage and I’m really liking where my hair is at now.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Styling my hair while soaking wet has definitely improved the results of my wash days! At first, I didn’t believe it, but applying my products to soaking wet hair keeps my hair moisturized and defined.
I also style my hair in sections, and I try to take my time with each of them. If I go to fast and try to rush a wash and go, it’s not a good look.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Learning to love your hair takes time, and it’s a process that won’t happen overnight. Don’t give up on your hair when it gets difficult to deal with. Also, there may be people in your life who always have something negative to say about your natural texture. Do your best to tune out those voices and know that your texture is truly beautiful!
What’s your hair story? Share your story with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.
@kandidkinks
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I wore my hair natural until I was 9 years-old. I felt like getting a relaxer would make me look more mature and beautiful. I wasn’t taught to believe that natural hair was beautiful.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally coily hair?
I decided when I finished high school that I was tired of spending money at the beauty salon. I felt like whatever grew out of my hair must be good enough since it was the hair I was meant to have.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Seeing other women with textures like mine embracing and loving their hair as a result of me doing the same. It has made me want to go harder, and I see how beautiful we all really are.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I wear a satin bonnet or satin head scarf depending on the style.
@kandidkinks
Who is your curl crush?
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Denman or Paddle Brush
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I style my hair weekly. I wash, deep condition, and twist it up using the LOC Method. It helps me retain moisture and length. My favorite products would be anything from Camille Rose at the moment, but that always changes.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
That would have to be learning which products work for me, and embracing my shrinkage. I still struggle with the shrinkage part!
Image Source: @kandidkinks
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
LOC method for sure. Which stands for liquid, oil, cream. Applying oil directly after rinsing my conditioner to seal in the moisture from the water and applying a creamy leave in and twisting butter have helped my hair flourish!
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
It takes time, but it’s a wonderful journey! No matter your texture or length, use this journey to deepen your love with yourself as well as your texture. Don’t let societal norms make you feel less than, because you are far from it! Consume positive content with people whose hair texture resembles your own so you don’t experience hair envy. We are all different for a reason, embrace it! It’s beautiful!
What’s your hair story? Share your story with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up everybody around me had a different hair type; which was difficult for me, because I couldn’t relate to anybody and it was hard for my family to control such “crazy hair”. Fast forward a few years into my childhood, my hair got chemically relaxed was due to lice. I was five years old and my mom was trying to find a solution because no other hair product was working, but the chemicals worked. Ever since not only did i believe straight hair was prettier than curly hair, but that my natural hair was ugly and IMPOSSIBLE to manage. I use to straighten my hair everywhere, even to go to the beach.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
Necessity. I’m from a small island in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and a few years back we were hit by hurricane María. I spent six months without electricity and that meant that I was unable to straighten my hair everyday as per usual. After a few weeks, I gave up on the ponytails and started looking for products and videos to learn how to work with my curly hair, and suddenly I WAS OBSESSED. I began to embrace, accept and love my natural hair.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering moment of my natural hair journey so far has been when I started to use hair products with no sulfates and silicones. I am a big advocate of products not containing this kind of ingredients, because I’ve witnessed the great you can acquire without them. At the beginning I was skeptical about this, but after a couple of weeks I started noticing drastic changes on my curl pattern and on the strength of my hair. This motivated me to continue on this curly hair journey. I wanted to revitalize my hair.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I’m classic. I like to protect my curls using the pineapple hairstyle and combine it with a satin bonnet. This combination not only protects my curls, it also results in frizz free curls and decrease the chances of having tangles.
Who is your curl crush?
I’m a fan of many curly influencers, but my curly crush is Franchelli Rodriguez (@chelliscurls“>. The first curly hair video that I watched was from her, and I have learned so much since then. She is not only hair goals, but she definitely inspire me to continue on my curly hair journey.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My Denman brush. I LOVE this hairbrush. Since I discovered it everything changed for me. If I style my hair with another brush I feel like I’m betraying my ancestors, not using it makes my curls look different and the don’t last as long.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
The start of my hair regimen always begins the same way… me, wondering “What does my hair needs to look healthy today?”– I do a mental checklist of things: “Does it need moisture?”, “Does it need protein?”, “Does it has too much product?”, etc. and eventually, I just go for whatever look I am feeling that day. Regarding the question about favorite products, I must admit that I do like to moisturize my hair with a hair mask once a week and use a heating cap that’s why currently, my favorite hair mask is the Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moment of my natural hair journey was learning what techniques give me the best results. Is true that you need to use the right products to have good results, but in my case (especially at the beginning”>, learning which techniques will result in bouncy defined curls was definitely the hardest part.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Using a heating hair cap while deep conditioning has been a game changer for me. This technique accelerates the transitioning process and it moisturizes my hair better. I also like to twist my hair while deep conditioning to train my curls and have a better definition.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Your natural hair is part of you and your daily life. Does not matter if is too curly, doesn’t have enough volume, or is too dry; learn how to love it and love yourself everyday. Time, love and patience are the best ingredients to embrace your curly, hairy crown.
Image:@kimdollxo
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I’ve always had really big frizzy hair so in the morning before school, I would wake my mom up to style my hair because I didn’t know how to myself. She’d always do a ponytail or braids, but my hair was never left out. One day I decided to do my own hair and I just left it out and let it do it’s own thing. People would always try to touch my hair and would make comments like “your hair looks weird” “why does it look like that?” “why does it look so big?” Having curly hair was something I began to dislike because of all the unwanted attention I would get.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
I became tired of straightening my hair all the time. I also didn’t like that because of the fact that I applied so much heat to my hair, when I would want to wear my curly hair, my curls didn’t look how I wanted them to. That was when I told myself it’s time to begin this transition. I was also inspired by alot of the curly haired women around me and how much confidence they showed in being natural.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
My most empowering moment of my natural hair journey would have to be when I cut my hair. My hair wasn’t even touching the back of my neck after my first big chop and I absolutely loved it. I always heard people talk about how women should have long hair and they shouldn’t cut it because it doesn’t look “feminine”, but I felt absolutely beautiful. I always had really long hair growing up so it felt good to get rid of all the damage I had done to my hair and completely start over.
Image:@kimdollxo
How do you protect your curls at night?
I always wrap my hair up at night with a satin-lined head-wear from @wovenroyal. One of the reasons why I love this head wrap so much is because it prevents my hair from going flat over night which makes day 2,3,and 4 hair easier to maintain. The head wrap can also be used 5 different ways which I think is game changer for us curly haired women.
Who is your curl crush?
My curl crush is and has always been @sunkissalba! I have definitely binged watched all her youtube videos at some point because she’s so amazing. Alot of the things I know now about curly hair and certain regimes I do, I learned from watching her videos.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My curly girl essential I can’t live without would definitely have to be my diffuser. I take my diffuser with me literally everywhere I go, I may not even know if I’m going to use it, but I still take it with me anyways.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My hair regimen usually depends on what style I’m going for, the weather, or if my hair needs some deep treatment so it is always changing. Some products I absolutely love and recommend is the Matcha Green Tea & Wild Apple Blossom Nutrient Butter Masque it’s a great deep conditioning mask. Rizos Curls has a Curly Hair Define bundle set that I always use and I can never go wrong with DevaCurl Arc Angel Gel.
Image:@kimdollxo
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moment of my natural hair journey was learning to appreciate my hair through the process. I would get really impatient and I wanted to see results immediately and that is never the case. Slowly, but surely I was able to just let my hair do it’s own thing through my transition and in the end the wait was worth it.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
I have to say that your diet is so important to hair health. How you are in the inside is definitely going to reflect on the outside and I have seen a big difference not only in my hair. but skin as well once I cut out certain foods and drinks. As for techniques, styling your hair when it’s really wet is the best time to style it. I love the results after because my curls are really defined and I get little to no frizz.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Don’t compare your hair journey to someone else’s. The best thing about curly hair is that all textures aren’t the same, our hair is unique in it’s own way and that’s what makes it beautiful. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new products or techniques, if one way doesn’t work for you, try another. Through your transition you will learn so much not only about your hair, but about yourself and in the end you’ll be able look back at pictures and be proud of how far you’ve come.
What’s your hair story? Share your journey with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.
Image: @blessedcurls_
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up I didn’t know how to take care of my natural hair. At times I wished my hair was more straight and easier to manage. I never saw people with hair like mine on TV and that made me feel very insecure. This led me to get perms and damaging my hair with heat.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/coily/wavy hair?
A friend of mine helped me to embrace my natural hair while in college. She told me my hair was beautiful. And although I had heard people say it before, I could tell she truly meant it. She could tell that I was insecure and helped me to reach down deep inside to find that inner peace and self-love.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Being able to empower others. So many people ask me for advice and tell me that I have encouraged them to wear their natural hair out more. It warms my heart to see others embracing their God-given beauty. That’s what this journey is all about.
Image: @blessedcurls_
How do you protect your curls at night?
Silk, silk, silk. Bonnets, scarves, and pillowcases. Pineappleing helps preserve the curls as well.
Who is your curl crush?
Kiyanna Azonwu @thisisglory
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My Denman brush and my edge control brush!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
Wash/co-wash once a week
Deep condition every 2 weeks
Protective/low manipulative styles throughout the week
Trim once every 6 months
When styling I use the LOC method: I use a leave-in, followed by my favorite oil, and then a twist or curl cream.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Comparison. Comparing my hair to others really gets me down sometimes.
I had to learn that comparison is the thief of joy. What’s yours is yours…and what’s yours is beautiful. What works for someone else may not work for you and that’s okay.
Image: @blessedcurls_
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Deep Conditioning to maintain healthy hair and moisture! Protective styles and little to no manipulation to help maintain length.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Be patient. It’s called a journey for a reason. Some days you will love it and some days you will be ready to shave your head. But always remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
What’s your hair story? Share your journey with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.
Image: @swavycurlycourtney
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Well growing up I had very very curly hair from birth until about 4 years old. Then for whatever reason my hair went pin straight. I mean STRAIGHT! Until I turn 13 or so, a magical time in everyone girls life, and my hair went wonky. It hasn’t curly like when I was very little, and it sure wasn’t straight anymore. Not knowing what to do, I started straightening and fried my hair into submission. In college I had virgin hair and I got really lazy with my whole straightening routine. I started going to bed with wet hair. I would wake up to a glorious surprise of ringlets all over my head! I didn’t know how to care for that treasure and started highlighting and straightening my hair again and lost all those curls.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
While I was at work one day, a co-worker who usually had the most beautiful smooth straight blowout, came in one day with beautiful ringlet curls. Her hair was always so pretty, and I asked her what curling iron she used to curl her hair. Needless to say she giggled a bit and very sweetly told me that they were her natural curls and “have you every heard of the curly girl method?” I said that no I hadn’t and she handed me a copy of her Curly Girl Handbook. Remembering that my hair had been curly when I was young, and in college, I decided to give the Curly Girl Method a try. I dove into curly girl research head first and didn’t come up for air for two months! I watched all the YouTube videos, blogs, and began following curly girls on Instagram to learn everything I could!
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Strangely enough it had little to do with my hair. For the first time in my life, instead of fighting to change something about my appearance to conform to beauty standard, I was intentionally caring for and cultivating something that was naturally mine. It wasn’t always pretty, especially in the beginning. But I kept at it. And something switched deep down inside my heart. By finally accepting and appreciating my hair, I was somehow accepting and appreciating myself! A deep deep acceptance that I was fearfully and wonderfully made was unleashed!
Image: @swavycurlycourtney
How do you protect your curls at night?
I really enjoy and get the best results from sleeping on my MyK Silk pillowcase, and pineappleing my hair with an invisibobble. I have also really enjoyed tying my hair up in my Lily Silk scarf when I travel.
Who is your curl crush?
Oh my goodness there are so so many! To name only a few would be:
- Ali @wavycurl
- Jessica@suddenlywavy
- MaryAnn @goodgravyitswavy
- Alyson @reallifecurlygirl
- Heather @curlywhirlyred
- Lindsay @goldilocks_1117
- Katherine @katherinepagewaves
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Conditioner! If that is all I have left to use on my hair I would be ok. Haha, you can co wash, condition, etc and have healthy hair, even if it isn’t styled!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
As a chronic #wavycurlyscientist experimenter, I don’t tend to keep my routine consistent. I am constantly playing around with different products. But some products that have never done me wrong are Inahsi shampoos, conditioners, and custard, and the Simply Curls Co on Etsy.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Honestly, its kind of lame. Haha, I have really struggled with accepting that my hair isn’t going to every be as curly as it was when I was younger. My curl pattern has just changed over the years, what with hormone changes after pregnancy etc, from 3A to strictly in the 2A, 2B, and 2C on a good day. I feel so bad about feeling bad about this! I do love love love my hair, but curl envy is so real. Some days are harder than others, what with all the glorious curlies on Instagram. It is a conscious choice to love my hair just as it is. This is what the curly girl method is all about, accepting your hair as it is. And in doing so, accepting yourself for how you were made!
Image: @swavycurlycourtney
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
This is a tough one! One thing that has really really helped me are to give up silicones and heat! My hair finally quite snapping off mid shaft once I was able to get it properly hydrated because the silicones were no longer blocking moisture from properly penetrating my hair shaft! Deep conditioning was a double edged sword, while being awesome in restoring moisture to my very dry damaged hair, I did push it too far and over moisturize my hair. So that lead to learning how to properly balance protein and moisture, which makes all the difference for a fine haired, barely wavy gal! Learning that my hair doesn’t necessarily need all the moisture, and that protein is not the enemy have really really improved the health of my hair!
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Make it fun! Make it an experiment! When you have a “bad hair day”, document it! I know that is when you’d really rather not, but having pictures and knowing what products and techniques didn’t work for you are vital in figuring out what works. Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.” Keep going! You have got this! Healthy hair is the goal! It is worth the struggle because you are worth it!
What’s your hair story? Share your journey with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.
