Search Results: NaturallyCurly
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
As a curly kid, I was teased about my hair a lot. I never liked it. Growing up with curly hair was tough and it was super difficult. Also, there was nearly ZERO representation of curly hair. This made me long for luscious straight hair as the showed on the advertisements of shampoos and products. I loathed washing my hair because I felt t was a lost cause. It would get tangled again, there was no happiness that came out of a washday and it was a lot of work. I wanted to straighten my hair so badly, but my mother never allowed it, and I was really mad at her – until about 5 years ago! But I’m so glad about how she silently helped me embrace my hair by saying, “Straightening isn’t needed, because your hair is just special.”
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
I have always been curly. I moved places in 2016, and the change in water and hair products was a huge blow on my hair. I was losing a lot of hair and I completely lost my curl pattern. The density of my hair also was very less. I could see small bald spots appearing on my head and was terrified about being bald forever. I figured it was time to change my hair routine and give some tender loving care to my hair, this was in May 2018. It’s been a year since I started the CG Method, well almost(May 10, 2018″> and I have never looked back!
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering moment is the boost in my self-confidence after I started the CG method. The CG method has helped me with patience, confidence and also helped me help others. It’s a huge change in how I look at myself and present myself to the outer world.
<34>How do you protect your curls at night?I use a satin bonnet to protect my curls at night.
Who is your curl crush?
Elizabeth (@honestlizhere“>, Lal (@curlygallal“>, Cynthia (@curlycyn_“>, sara (@sara_by_the_sea“>, Sally (@hispaneek“>, Chissy (@chrissycurls_“>, Uzma ( @curly_uz“>, Leslie (@leslie.joanny“>
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Leave in and gel!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My current hair regimen is:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Deep Conditioner
- Leave in / Cream
- Gel
My favorite product lines are Cantu, Breahni, Cachos Brazil Haircare, Righteous Roots oil, Mysoigne. They have never failed to give me an amazing washday!
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Learning how to be patient while constantly doubting myself when the results were not good. I was super worried when I didn’t see the results in 1/2 washes. I have learned that there are both good and bad hair days. And it’s more important to have healthy hair than hair that someone approves of.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Deep conditioning has helped my hair a lot to heal faster and help it retain the right amount of moisture.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Love your self and embrace your curls, however they are! You don’t need to change yourself for the world!!
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I never knew how to style my hair growing up! I’m half Indian and half white and neither of my parents have curly hair, so they didn’t know how to deal with my curls either. I had pretty curly hair as a toddler but as a preteen/teen it became straighter/slightly wavy. When I was younger, I consistently used heat to dry and straighten my hair because all my friends were doing it too and I never really knew how bad it was! I didn’t know about the Curly Girl Method because I didn’t have many curly haired friends growing up at all. As a result, my hair was pretty dry and frizzy, not at all what it is today.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally wavy hair?
As a freshman in college, I didn’t have as much time to dry my hair or straighten it, so I let it air dry some days. At this point, I had a lot more Indian friends than I used to, and they had similar hair textures to me. They complimented my waves and slight curls and I thought I would try this new thing out. I started watching YouTubers like Penny Tovar and I followed people like Ayesha Malik on social media to look to them for advice and found a group of curly sisters I ended up watching regularly for tips and tricks. I started getting so many compliments as my hair transitioned and I loved how it looked naturally. I haven’t straightened my hair in months and I love my natural hair so much now!
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
When I was a freshman in college, I was lightening my hair, straightening it almost every weekend and overall treating it pretty badly. My hair was quite long, about halfway down my back, but it was looking dead and dry and even when I let it go natural, I hated how it looked. I was too scared to do a big chop, but during 2017, I cut my hair little by little and started looking into how to make my hair healthier and found the CGM. I have straightened my hair a few times since then but when I did, I found myself missing my curls so much, which was a shock to me–I’ve never felt like that! As I found hair role models like Ayesha Malik and Penny Tovar, I found so many relatable stories and similar hair types and learned about the steps I should start taking.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I usually use the pineapple method when I sleep at night. Before doing this, my hair would get so frizzy just from how much I move at night and the next morning it wouldn’t look great. Now my curls last longer to my next wash day and it’s easier to manage when I wake up.
Who is your curl crush?
Ayesha Malik and Penny Tovar are my curl crushes for sure. Ayesha has a bit more volume than me but her curls look pretty similar to mine. I love Penny’s videos and all her product testing really helped me figure out what kinds of products worked and which ones might not work as well. Curly hair products can get pretty expensive so it’s always a good idea to hear about them before trying them. I also really like her videos because she shows her audience how much product she uses for her hair and it helps me figure out how much I should use for my hair type and length.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
As silly and boring as it sounds–my old cotton t-shirt! I started using it to dry my hair when I was transitioning and it made such a huge difference with frizz control and the quality of my curls.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I’m still trying to find the right products for my hair that also won’t drain my wallet, but for now I’ve been trying different sulfate-free/silicone-free shampoos and conditioners. I wash my hair around twice a week because my hair gets dry pretty fast if I wash it more than that. To detangle my hair in the shower, I apply SheaMoisture Curl and Style Milk with the praying hands method and comb through it while it’s still wet. Recently, I’ve been using Cantu’s Coconut Curling Cream after detangling and then scrunching excess water out of my hair with a cotton t-shirt. I also love SheaMoisture’s Curl Enhancing Smoothie and have used that for a long time before trying Cantu out. I then plop my hair to help it dry and then finish by air-drying.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The start of the journey was probably the toughest part, because my hair was neither here nor there and I couldn’t figure out which products worked for my hair type. Some products would weigh it down or make it too greasy and others wouldn’t be enough. I’ve struggled getting volume with my hair, especially now that it’s longer and heavier and I’m still trying to figure that part of it out! I’m also trying to figure out how to make my curls stay defined for longer, as they get a little bit flat after a few days.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Plopping and scrunching my hair with a cotton t-shirt has really helped my hair. I go to college in Boston and the winter really dries out my hair so I have been loving the curl and style milk that I use to keep my hair extra moisturized and to keep it from drying out too much! It’s made a huge difference and my curls are way more shiny and hydrated.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Be patient with yourself and your hair! This is what you were born with and this is the hair you’ll carry with you throughout all your journeys through life. Look for role models and curly sisters if you don’t have any curly hair friends in real life like I did until recently. It really helps to find a community whether it’s in person or online, whether it’s to send pictures of a good hair day or whether you’re comparing products. It’s really fun once you start seeing results!
Image:@coily_dawn
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
What made you decide to embrace your naturally coily hair?
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Image:@coily_dawn
How do you protect your curls at night?
Who is your curl crush?
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
Image:@coily_dawn
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up with textured hair wasn’t really an issue until Middle School. My mom, who had her cosmetology license at the time, managed my hair before then. I begged her for a relaxer when I was about 12 because it was around the time that I began to do my hair myself, and I wanted it to be straight.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally coily hair?
I actually unintentionally transitioned in high-school after learning to do my own sew-ins. By my senior year, I had a full head of natural hair that I didn’t quite know how to take care of. I was a “straight natural” until about my sophomore year of college when I big chopped. I finally began to rock my hair naturally in June of 2018 when I got a nice DevaCut and golden Pintura Highlights.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering moment of my hair journey was a couple of months after I’d started my hair blog on Instagram. One of my best friends (hey, Tee!”> told me that they’d showed my page to their baby sister who has a kinkier texture, and that ignited her desire to wear her hair naturally. It definitely touches my heart to make an impact on the kids.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I usually just toss a bonnet, silk, or satin cap on before going to bed, and it varies depending on the style.
Who is your curl crush?
I have severalllll curl crushes, but my ultimate curl crush is @shanilla26 on IG and YouTube! She has such a full, voluminous, healthy fro and two daughters with equally beautiful hair.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
The SheaMoisture JBCO leave-in is my ultimate curly girl essential. I’ve used it for years now, and it never fails to leave my hair soft and moisturized after a nice wash.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I currently wash & deep-condition my hair 1-2x’s per week depending on how well I’ve been sticking to my workout regimen. I switch between different low-manipulation styles (twist-outs, wash and go’s, mini-twists, etc.”>. I really love using any cheap conditioner with great slip to detangle my hair before I start the washing process.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moment of my natural hair journey was my big chop. I just needed to figure my hair out, but that period only lasted for about a week or two.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
I do have colored hair, so weekly deep conditioning treatments and monthly protein treatments have changed the game for me. My hair feels strong and looks great, and I haven’t had to deal with the dreaded chemical damage that some naturals have faced. (whew”>
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Learning how to handle your hair is a huge part of learning to love it. Some people may have a difficult time loving their own hair because they’re just not sure what works for them yet. I would advise those who are struggling with loving their own texture to focus on finding a realistic routine that works for them (not anyone else”> and to look towards those with similar hair for inspiration that’s attainable. You’ll never be happy if you focus on wanting something that you can’t have, so you might as well love what you do have! Remember that every curl and coil is beautiful in its own unique way!
What’s your hair story? Share your story with us [here](http://texture-tales.naturallycurly.com/80584361764160″> to be featured in our [Texture Tales series](/texture-tales”>.
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I actually grew up with straight, blonde hair. When puberty hit, my hair started curling, although at the time, it looked more like ‘frizzing and poofing up’ than actual curls. It looked like Mia Thermopolis’ hair in The Princess Diaries, before they straightened it. I would always have these beautiful, defined curls at the nape of my neck, but they were always covered in a layer of frizz. It never occurred to me that I had actual curly hair; in my head I just had ‘frizzy hair with some nice curls underneath’. People asked me if anyone else in my family had hair like me as well, and I always said “Umm, no, not really…”. Turns out, my mom, dad brother and sister ALL have wavy/curly hair! Of course, they hadn’t been taking care of it properly either. We have never been educated on how to care for it.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
When I met the guy who is now my boyfriend, about two and a half years ago, I was still straightening my hair pretty much daily. There had to come a time that he would see my hair in it’s ‘natural state’, and when he saw it, he said: “You shouldn’t straighten your hair anymore, your curls are so beautiful!” So, I decided to ditch the hair straightener, and haven’t touched one in over two years. I still had no idea how to care for my hair though, it wasn’t until about a year later that I stumbled upon naturallycurly.com. I spent several hours on the site that first time; it felt really good to see and to read I wasn’t the only one struggling with her texture. I read up and decided to start with the Curly Girl method. Best decision ever.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
One of the turning points in my curly hair journey, was the first time I got a good haircut from a stylist that knows how to cut curly hair. I always dreaded getting a haircut, it never looked good afterwards, I always had the “triangle shape” problem. The first time my hair was properly cut, the top layer of my hair immediately started to curl up. It was the first time in years I left the salon with a smile on my face.
Another moment that comes to mind, was a couple of months ago, when I asked my mom to indulge me for once and allow me to do her hair. It looked amazing, she had tears in her eyes and switched to the CG method. My brother switched too, and it feels really good to have inspired them and to help them take better care of their hair.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I sleep on a satin pillowcase, and I put on a satin bonnet as well. I’ve tried pineappling it and using just the pillowcase for a while, because my bonnet got too small and my curls would come out flat and “squished” the next morning. But I missed sleeping with a bonnet, since I feel it conserves my hairstyle much longer and I just think it is really comfortable, so I ordered a larger one which does fit all my hair. I always, always take my pillowcase and/or my bonnet with me if I sleep somewhere else.
Who is your curl crush?
Oof, there are so many curly girls that have helped me learn how to take better care of my hair and that have inspired me to push through, it is hard to pick just one! I’m not on Instagram, but I’ve become addicted to Youtube-video’s. My favorite channels are Jannelle O’Shaugnessy Engels, Manes by Mell, Green Beauty (very educational!”>, Lana Summer, HiF3licia, and Curlsandblondies (a fellow Dutch girl!”>.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Another question where it is hard to pick just one thing! I always have an invisibobble with me (one of those plastic-y hairtie thingies”>, so I can put my hair up in a pineapple and protect it if necessary when I am on-the-go. Whenever I want to lean back against anything (a chair, the couch”> I put it up in a pineapple. And, as I said earlier, I cannot spend the night somewhere without my satin pillowcase and my bonnet.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I wash my hair approximately once a week. If I need to wash it sooner I’ll use a co-wash, but I make sure to shampoo it once a week, since my low-porosity hair is prone to buildup. I switch up my routine and products according to my hair’s needs, but currently I’m a big fan of the Giovanni 50:50 Balanced Shampoo and Conditioner, and I’ve recently started using their Natural Mousse Hair Styling Foam, which also works really well for my hair. I deep condition with Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment (no fragrance”> and the Jessicurl Hair Therapy Wrap. For 2nd, 3rd and 4th hair, I refresh with some water and Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie, which really defines my curls.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
It is not necessarily one moment, but I am bummed that none of my friends have curly hair, or better said: none of them are following the CG method or “into the whole curl-world”. They don’t really understand all the effort it takes, and they joke about my satin pillowcase and bonnet, for example. It feels kind of lonely, but thankfully, there’s an entire loving and supporting curly community out there! My friends do all agree that my hair looks really good compared to before I started my natural hair journey, so I get the last laugh. I get complimented a lot on my hair nowadays. A few years ago, if I were asked about the one thing I would like to change most about my body, I would have said my hair. Now, it is the one thing I am most proud of!
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Using heat when deep conditioning made an incredible difference, it helps me get a lot more out of my deep conditioning sessions. Also, I discovered Olaplex No. 3 a while ago, and I have to say, it is a game changer! It really does what it says: it actually repairs my hair. I don’t know how, but it works.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Don’t be discouraged if your curls don’t look as you had hoped they would by a certain point: it really takes time. And by time, I mean months, years even. My hair is still improving, and I’ve been following the CG method for a year now. Don’t let your friends make you feel silly about taking care of your hair. Our hair is part of our bodies, and it is just as important to take good care of your hair as it is to take care of the rest of your body. Also, do your research. I’ve learned that ingredients and application methods make a LOT of difference when it comes to how my hair looks. Try to listen to what your curls are telling you, nourish them, love them, and they will reward you with a poppin’ style you are proud to wear.
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
When I was younger, I wasn’t too fond of having textured hair because at that time it was painful when my hair had to be combed or styled & I blamed that on having thick natural hair. Also, I remember softer & straighter hair textures being publicized as “good hair” & easier to manage. Hence why I got a relaxer for the first time at 11.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
I decided to embrace my natural hair after binge watching Youtube videos from Naptural85 & Mahoganycurls.
I realized that I didn’t even know what my natural curl pattern looked like or even get to enjoy it because I associated it with pain. It was 3-4 years after my first relaxer when I chose to transition back to my natural hair & I am so happy I did!
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering part of my natural hair journey so far would definitely have to be, receiving positive messages from others stating that just by embracing my natural hair & sharing the love I have for it publicly helped give them the confidence & push they needed to embrace theirs!
Being able to share my knowledge & experiences with others to help make their journey easier & more enjoyable is an amazing feeling & accomplishment to me!
How do you protect your curls at night?
At night I put my hair into a loose pineapple & tie a satin scarf around my head.
Who is your curl crush?
My curl crush is @halfricanbeaute.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Conditioner!
If I could only choose one hair product to use for the rest of my life I would definitely choose conditioner! It can be used as: a regular conditioner, a deep conditioner & even a leave in! I’ve tried it all those ways before & its great!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I wash my hair every week, which consists of:
Shampooing, Conditioning & Deep Conditioning. Then, I always apply my leave in conditioner in sections & style however I choose to that day.
My Favorite Products:
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Learning to have patience with my natural hair. I’m usually a very patient person, but having patience for my natural hair is on a WHOLE other level. It can be super tiring & stressful sometimes, but is worth it when you see the outcome !
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Low manipulation protective styles & stimulating scalp massages are amazing! Also being stress free & happy definitely boosted my hair health. I think once your healthy mentally everything else just does what it needs to.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice would be to take lots of pictures! Try new styles that may be outside of your comfort zone & also find styles that you’re comfortable with to mix things up. You are in control of your hair! Have fun, enjoy every stage of your natural hair journey. Once you’ve taken that stance to freely embrace, love & be confident with what you were naturally blessed no matter what, you will probably wished you did it sooner!
Check out more Texture Tales here!
@mamacurlee
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Everyone always says my hair was big and wild. It was either in a messy bun or a tangly mess. Not too much has changed. I’m one of three sisters and my mom always did her best to style our hair, but it usually made a steady progression from braided to wild woman to messy bun. It wasn’t until I was about twelve that had any interest in actually styling my hair.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally wavy hair?
I always wore my hair “curly.” I was a pretty “straight and narrow” kind of kid, so my “wild” hair was the one thing about me that didn’t play by the rules. Even to this day, my hair makes me feel sassy, confident… fiery!! I will say this though, I always wished for either CURLIER hair that I didn’t have to straighten or STRAIGHTER hair that I didn’t have to make curly. My pre-teen self didn’t like having to work harder to get my in-between hair to the ends of the spectrum. Sooo, I enjoyed rocking the Wanna-Be Chola Crunch for a while until my mom and I discovered the Iron!!
What has been the most empowering moment of your curly hair journey so far?
The most empowering moment(s”> are when I can share what I’ve learned with my daughters, one of which has hair almost identical to mine. I’m excited that they won’t have to wait until they’re my age to see the potential in their amazing manes. But hair care is just one part of raising them to love and accept themselves for the goddesses that they are!
How do you protect your curls at night?
Eek! I should be better at this. Sometimes I sleep on a satin pillowcase on my fave pillow, but more often than not, that pillowcase gets jacked by one of my girls. Perhaps I should have more than one, huh?! If I am trying to keep my style intact, I will always pineapple. I use a small hair tie and pull my hair halfway through. I find that not pulling my hair all the way through and wrapping the hair tie around a second time really helps me to avoid that “pony tail bump.”
@mamacurlee
Who is your curl crush?
There’s not enough space here for me to name them all. I’ve been fortunate enough to become friends with a lot of people who were/are/should’ve been my hair idols through social media. But the one that started it all was Elaine (aka @CurlySue291 on IG”>. I saw her transformation photos on Pinterest and I was like, “What magic is this?! CGM can make my hair look like THAT?! WHAAAAT!!” Then I YouTube’d like crazy and binged watched all of India Batson’s videos.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Do I have to pick just one?! Well then… if I was stuck on a desert island with only one essential, it would have to be Mousse/Foam, because it gives me all the volume and… well… Volume = LIFE! And I might try to sneak in my diffuser.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I really enjoy experimenting with different techniques and product combinations. I currently rotate between squishing in my products, #RakeWetScrunch, and using a Wet Brush. Choosing a favorite product is like choosing a favorite child, and since I have three kids, I’m going to choose three favorites… my “All Star Combo” of Rizo’s Curls Curl Defining Cream, BounceCurl gel, and DevaCurl foam, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my favorites!
@mamacurlee
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Fighting the urge to strive for perfection (whatever that means”>. Once I was pretty much out of the transitioning stage, I realized that my curls and waves weren’t uniform and that my wavy parts weren’t going to get curlier. It wasn’t until I got a couple of great hair cuts that my hair literally begin to take shape. Now I appreciate the versatility that being in between wavy and curly gives me.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Before I began this journey, I never deep conditioned… EVER!! I never knew there was a correlation between frizz and hydration, so you can imagine my amazement the first time I styled my hair soaking wet! Where was that little tip my whole life?! And remember that Wanna-Be Chola look I so lovingly referred to earlier? Well, Scrunch Out The Crunch (SOTC”> coulda helped that look out big time!
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Be patient and commit to healthy hair! And most importantly, have fun with it! It will NOT happen over night and we all get frustrated, but even on our worst of hair days or during our transitioning stage, if we can make it through 4th-7th grade hair, we can make it through anything!
What’s your hair story? Share your story with us [here](http://texture-tales.naturallycurly.com/80584361764160″> to be featured in our [Texture Tales series](/texture-tales”>.
Hey Curlfriend,
In response to the negative comments and hair shaming in the past week on social media we want to take a moment to remind you of the importance of this diverse community we have built that welcomes and embraces all textured hair types.
Image: Brio Photography
Together, our own team represents a diverse range of ethnicities, cultures, lifestyles, ages and more. We truly believe that there is a special beauty in the power of storytelling, which is what we encourage amongst and within this community.
NaturallyCurly was founded over 20 years ago to create a safe online space where women of all hair types, from wavy to coily, could connect and share their real hair experiences to learn from each other to properly care for their own. It is a place where we are connected over a common mission – to embrace our natural texture.
The NC community is rooted in self-love, sisterhood, education and support.
In order to create a space for open dialogue we have to be conscious of the cultural connection to hair and understand that it’s not “just hair.” Recognize that everyone has different hair struggles and experiences.
To be clear, women with wavy hair will have much different struggles than women with curly and coily hair and vice versa. Everyone has unique hair stories and experiences. No one hair type has more hierarchy than the other.
We can coexist. We can respect each other’s differences and learn from each other.
The NaturallyCurly platform does not encourage, or tolerate, divisiveness or discrimination of any kind. Learning from one another is key through healthy, honest conversations.
Our community was created with both inclusiveness and diversity in mind and we hope to continue spreading images of love and positivity to our beloved community.
“Since founding NaturallyCurly 20 years ago, the highlight has been to see women of all texture types and ethnicities unite to inspire and help each other. We may have completely different hair journeys, but we all came together to support each other in a world where textured hair was too often seen as something to be fixed. I spent nearly three decades of my life fighting my curly hair. Growing up, I was bullied and called names. I was told that my curls were unattractive and that I needed to straighten them to be attractive. I have learned so much from our amazing community, and I want this to continue to be a positive place, whether you have curly, coily or wavy hair.” -Michelle Breyer, Co-Founder of NaturallyCurly
Image: Brio Photography
Much love from the NC team,
Ps. We want to hear from you in the comments. Let us know how we can continue to facilitate a safe space for healthy and honest conversations?
Image:@curliecrys
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up, I had relaxed hair until I was 20 years old. Growing up with relaxed hair felt “normal” because my hair’s texture mirrored almost everyone around me (white and black”> since it was straight. Although, I knew having my hair in that state could not be “natural” because unlike other races, I had to regularly go to a beautician to keep my hair straight while it came natural to other races. However, I never looked too much into the reason why until I began college. Additionally, while growing up, having natural hair wasn’t as relevant as it is today since the “embrace your natural hair era” didn’t truly begin until recent years.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally coily hair?
The decision to embrace my natural hair came about when I entered college because I became curious to see how my hair would naturally grow from my scalp if I did not regularly get perms. Around this time, many people on my social media and around me began to wear their natural hair, which moved me to do research and begin my journey although I was extremely hesitant and told by many (including my mother”> that I was making a mistake. What I had to realize was that many people who viewed it as a mistake weren’t trying to be downgrading, but they were just innocently ignorant of the process since being natural was not very common around that time. In 2016, I made the decision to begin transitioning, scared out of my mind to see what would naturally grow from my scalp, but I took the leap!
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 is the amount of people I am able to motivate and educate by sticking true to my decision, including my mother. By creating my platform “CurlieCrys”, I am able to reach thousands of people to help them along their journey and reassure them that embracing the natural you is beautiful. Yes, it may require more work, tbut nothing worthwhile is easy. I also empower myself because I made an appearance-altering decision 3 years ago without knowing what the outcome would be and from that, I have developed an increasing love for myself.
Image:@curliecrys
How do you protect your curls at night?
At night, I either sleep on a satin pillowcase or put my hair in a bonnet. It depends on the style. However, I always make sure my hair is on satin while sleeping to eliminate breakage.
Who is your curl crush?
My curl crushes are Naptural85 and MiniMarley.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
I cannot live without a moisturizing butter! All of my family (aka my followers”> know how much I am a die hard for a good thick butter/cream because it adds so much lasting moisture to my thick hair!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My current regimen is shampoo/cowash, deep condition (with heat or steam”>, leave in conditioner, styler (preferable cream”>, and oil to seal. My favorite cowash is the As I Am Coconut Cowash. My favorite cream is either Glammed NaturallyOil Mango Cream or Qhemet Biologics Aethiopika Cream. Both are bomb and leave me with lasting moisture for my twistouts.
Image:@curliecrys
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moment would be finding the right products that worked for my hair. Everyone’s hair is different, which means what works for one naturalista will not always work for you. The trial and error process of finding what techniques, regimens, products, and what your hair likes is so challenging. However, once you find it, you’re basically unstoppable ;”>
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Making sure to style my hair while wet and keeping it extremely moisturized with regular trims have given me the best results. Getting regular trims is the most challenging routine I feel most naturalistas have a hard time staying consistent with because not many like trimming their hair, but they fail to realize its the best way to see growth because it keeps your ends healthy, which prevents them from splitting up the hair shaft.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Embrace you 100%! Once you wholeheartedly accept who you are, you are unstoppable and other people’s opinions only become just that, OPINIONS! Not facts! The fact is you are beautiful just the way you were created! No additives, no adjustments, no chemicals…just you!
What’s your hair story? Share your story with us [here](http://texture-tales.naturallycurly.com/80584361764160″> to be featured in our [Texture Tales series](/texture-tales”>.
Image: @kats.curls
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up I was surrounded by other little girls with straight hair. From 1st grade all the way up until high school. In high school girls I know with curly hair wanted their hair straight too! I always wanted my hair straight and never learned to treat my curly hair up until I was forced to learn. I never loved my curls like I do now and honestly, I never ever knew my hair was even this curly.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
I was kind of forced to embrace my curls. After about 5 years of intense heat damage and two years of chemical damage, my hair was fried and dead. Product wouldn’t even stick to my hair and I had no choice, but to learn to care for my hair because at that point I realized (and my mom did too”> that my hair was getting ready to fall out. The damage and breakage was REAL!
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Letting go of all the heat I was so addicted to has been the more empowering moment for me. I literally don’t even remember how to straighten my hair anymore and I’m PROUD of that. Additionally, I have empowering moments every day helping women embrace and learn about their unique natural hair.
Image: @kats.curls
How do you protect your curls at night?
At night time I use a silk wrap and a silk pillow case to protect my curls. Honestly, I’ve tried the pineapple and the double pineapple and other methods but in my opinion silk always works best.
Who is your curl crush?
My curl crush is Amanda Walker @amandarrwalker. Her hair is beautiful and I love all the looks and content she puts out.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Something I can’t live without is a scalp scrub! This is something that truly changed my wash day for the better! My scalp drives me insane and the scalp scrub I have clarifies it exactly how I like it, leaves my scalp feeling clean and itch free! It’s from Rawkyn, it’s called Gold. This is something I use every single wash day no matter what other products I use.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
To keep my hair consistently healthy I deep condition once a week, wash once a week (sometimes I will co-wash in the middle of my hair week”>, I do a protein treatment every 3-4 weeks, and I protect my curls at night. My routine is simple and I try to limit myself to 2 products every wash day. Some of my favorite go-to’s are, Breahni Leave-in Conditioner, BounceCurl Light Creme Gel, DevaCurl Supercream, and Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream. These products are consistent, reliable, and healthy.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moment of my journey was also super depressing for me. It was going through postpartum hair loss. It’s sad because no woman wants to see chunks of her hair coming out. Sometimes I postpone washing my hair just so I wouldn’t have to see that. Nothing I tried helped or would work, but now I am working to gain all my hair back again.
Image: @kats.curls
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Deep conditioning and avoiding heat made a huge differences in my hair health. My hair has always been extremely dry, you would think I bleached it 10 times but deep conditioning changed that and added so much definition to my hair. Even without product my hair looks defined. Avoiding breakage got rid of a lot of my frizz and also made my hair a little thicker. I didn’t realize the damage I was doing and how much I was breaking my hair until I stopped.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice to women who are struggling with loving their natural texture is….it’s not going anywhere. Your hair is not going to up and leave you. That’s what you were born with, that’s what you were BLESSED with. There are people who would die to have the hair you have. Learn to love it because it’s a part of you. Damaging your hair is not going to help. In the end, you might even end up with no hair! The sooner you go back to your natural hair state and learn to love your natural hair, the sooner you will realize what you’ve been missing out on this whole time.
Image:@curlsandtwirlsfordays
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
What made you decide to embrace your naturally wavy hair?
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
How do you protect your curls at night?
Image:@curlsandtwirlsfordays
Who is your curl crush?
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Image:@curlsandtwirlsfordays
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Image:@chazzzisawesome
What is your hair type?
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
What made you decide to embrace your naturally coily hair?
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Image:@chazzzisawesome
How do you protect your curls at night?
Who is your curl crush?
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Image:@chazzzisawesome
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
What’s your hair story? Share your story with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.
Image:@lizzys_curlycare
What is your hair type?
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Image: @lizzys_curlycare
How do you protect your curls at night?
Who is your curl crush?
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
Image: @lizzys_curlycare
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
What’s your hair story? Share your story with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.
This month, Naturally Curly and The Curl Talk Project are partnering to explore the link between natural hair and the notions of identity, femininity, diversity, race and representation.
Six ladies will share their experiences, from Germany to the UK these women reveal what it means to be a curly-haired woman in a society where beauty standards are otherwise. Discover their stories below.
Image: @4ur3lia
You are French and live in Copenhagen, tell us how curls are perceived over there?
I am not sure how they are perceived but what I know is that there are not represented at all. It started to change last year and not because brands are now aware of the importance of diversity but because it’s a trend. Therefore, it’s difficult for me to find this very authentic.
Interestingly, my hair will be perceived differently when I am out with my black friends rather than when I am hanging out with my white friends. Often, the black group that we form leads people to be very interested in us and curious about the way we look, especially our hair.
What was it like growing up with curly hair?
I never really experienced life with my curly hair until now as I got it relaxed from a young age to prevent people to tease me at school. I remember classmates throwing things in it for fun, which was very frustrating for the younger me. It simply made me feel too different from them.
Do you feel there is a connection between femininity and how you feel about your hair?
There is a connection but I don’t believe femininity only comes from our hair. Some men will have long hair and look very masculine, some women will have very short hair which doesn’t make them less feminine. For me the connection to femininity is more linked to what’s inside of us, our personality and character.
Image: @4ur3lia
Why is natural hair so strongly linked to identity?
Our hair, the way we take care of it, what we create with it is deeply ingrained in our culture as black women. It’s part of us and therefore is a clear representation of our cultural heritage. It’s through my hair that I progressively became connected to my mother’s ethnicity.
What has your experience been like wearing your natural hair to work?
I am an artist/freelance designer which means that I am not evolving in a corporate environment at all. I am free to wear my hair however I like and never had to face any issue because of it.
What has been the most challenging moments of your hair journey?
The big chop was a very hard thing for me to experience. I couldn’t do much with my hair, couldn’t put it in a bun… However my hair grew quite quickly so I didn’t have to experience it for too long. I progressively gained my confidence back.
Image: @4ur3lia
What advice would you give to women struggling to embrace their curls?
Work on yourself and try to accept who you are as a person first. The hair acceptance will come afterwards. Once you reached that point, experimenting with a diverse range of products is important too as it helps you understand what your hair does and doesn’t like and what routine is appropriate.
What does your natural hair represent?
Pride. My afro hair is versatile and is something I inherited from my mother. I couldn’t be prouder to have this on my head. The number of things we can do with it is very broad, I wouldn’t change this for the world.
Read more stories of The Curl Talk Project here.
Conditioners are the cornerstone of any healthy-hair regimen. Besides providing moisture, they are used for detangling, co-washing, refreshing, and for frizz-control. Conditioners help to strengthen the hair shaft, enhance curl definition, and impart sheen to your strands. We asked you to vote for your favorite cleansing conditioners, daily conditioners, leave-ins, and deep conditioners for our 2019 Best of the Best Awards, these are the winners.
Cleansing Conditioner:
As I am Coconut Cowash
Best for Wavies
There are several reasons that wavies love As I am Coconut Cowash. It provides a lot of moisture to parched waves without weighing them down. It helps reduce frizz and encourages texture. Lastly, it has a wonderful coconut scent. You can pair this with other conditioners if you like or use it as a stand-alone product to keep your waves healthy and bouncy.
DevaCurl No-Poo Original
Best for: Curlies
No-poo Original has Holy Grail status for so many curlies. It’s a reliable, tried-and-true cowash that leaves your hair fresh and clean without washing away beneficial oils and precious moisture. For springy, luscious curls, start your washday with the no-poo that everybody loves.
As I Am Long and Luxe GroWash Cleansing Creme Conditioner
Best for: Coilies
Fans of this creamy cowash tout its moisturizing and slip properties as reasons for its favorite status (you can even detangle with it”>. It’s also loaded with ingredients to strengthen and moisturize strands such as aloe, cetyl alcohol, coconut oil, biotin, and shea. It cleanses your hair while keeping it hydrated.
Daily Conditioner
DevaCurl One Condition Delight
Best for: Wavies
As the lightest of the One Condition line, One Condition Delight will give your hair all the moisture it needs without weighing it down or making it look greasy. With its citrusy scent, it will keep your hair smelling lovely.
DevaCurl One Condition Original Creamy Daily Conditioner
Best for: Curlies
The original is still the best for curlies. It moisturizes those curls and keeps them looking fresh and frizz-free all day long.
DevaCurl One Condition Decadence Ultra Moisturizing Milk Conditioner
Best for: Coilies
The most moisturizing of the One Condition line, Decadence is as rich and luxurious as you would expect it to be. It gives good slip to aid in detangling, and envelopes coils in all the hydration they need to keep them looking radiant.
Leave-in:
Kinky-Curly Knot Today
Best for: Wavies, Curlies and Coilies
This is a much-loved leave-in for all the texture types. It is the perfect addition to everyone’s regimen. Knot Today is an excellent detangler, moisturizer, and daily refresher (just mix it with water at a 1:4 ratio and spritz with a fine mist sprayer to perk up those waves, curls, and coils”>.
Deep Conditioner:
DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture Matcha Green Tea Butter Conditioning Mask
Best for: Wavies and Curlies
Brittle, fragile, dry hair is instantly transformed with this buttery treat that smells like almonds and green tea. Banish the winter blahs with the mask that wavies and curlies are raving about.
TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask
Best for: Coilies
This hair mask contains a blend of raw honey and olive and jojoba oils to hydrate hair and give it major shine. It will also help soothe irritated scalps and reduce dryness and flaking.
What is your favorite conditioner on this list? Let us know in the comments below.
This month, Naturally Curly and The Curl Talk Project are partnering to explore the link between natural hair and the notions of identity, femininity, diversity, race and representation.
Six ladies will share their experiences, from Germany to the UK these women reveal what it means to be a curly-haired woman in a society where beauty standards are otherwise. Discover their stories below.
Image Source: @pennyfroreal
You are from the UK, tell us how curls are perceived over there?
Quite well, but it also depends on the type of curls we are talking about.Being mixed-race, my curls are quite loose which I believe makes my hair be perceived as more acceptable than the tighter type.
What was it like growing up with curly hair?
My mother was good at taking care of my hair so it didn’t appear as an issue for me. I also had a lot of black friends in school who had similar hairstyles as me so I didn’t really think anything of it. This changed when I moved to a predominantly white school and started competitive swimming. This new life made me realize how different from other people, my hair was. It became difficult for me to fit in an environment where something that naturally grew out of my head was being highlighted as uncommon.
Do you feel there is a connection between femininity and how you feel about your hair?
In people’s minds length is strongly linked to femininity, which I don’t think is quite right. Women with kinky short hair can be as beautiful and feminine as women with long loose curls. It’s time to accept this and understand that society has simply imposed beauty standards for us to aspire to.
Why is natural hair so strongly linked to identity?
Your hair can be an indication of your ethnicity. I am mixed-race, juggling between two ethnicities and struggling to fit into each of them.
What has your experience been like wearing your natural hair to work?
Generally, it’s been good. I received a lot of compliments, but also a lot of ignorant questions in regards to my routine and to what it looks like (noodles seem to be a plausible option for some people”>. Random hands touching it can also be quite common.
What has been the most challenging moments of your hair journey?
It’s hard not to compare your hair to other women’s especially in this social media age where some people will inspire you, but will also make you feel quite bad about your achievements during your natural hair journey. It’s also difficult to unlearn what has been taught to us and embrace our hair as it is. People tend to underestimate the courage it takes to go out with your natural hair from one day to another!
What are your holy grails?
- Shampoo & conditioner: Revlon realistic
- Mask: Bighair clay mask
- Leave-in conditioner: Retro rich – royal roots
- Cream styler: SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
- Gel: Boucleme Curl Defining Gel
What advice would you give to women struggling to embrace their curls?
Don’t compare yourself to other people. Each journey is different and needs to be.
What does your natural hair represent?
It is representative of my personality. I struggled so much to like my curls that I am now in a position where I can make up for all this time spent hating it.
Read more stories of The Curl Talk Project here!
Image Source: @janibellrosanne
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
It was a real hassle to be honest. My grandma would usually do my hair and although she finessed a pigtail look, she didn’t exactly know what products to use in my hair when it was curly. I think because of that my mom made it a habit to take me to the salon every two weeks. Straight hair was just ‘easier’ to deal with. Don’t even get me started on how hard it was to keep it sleek and straight on a rainy day! A total nightmare.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
I decided to go natural back in 2011 because I was TIYAD. Tired of having to flat iron my hair every morning, tired of spending $40 at the salon and tired of the overall maintenance that came with going against my natural texture. My scalp was so dry that it would take 3-4 weeks for my natural oils to come through!
Image Source: @janibellrosanne
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Definitely when I cut all my hair off March 2018 I had let myself be defined by my giant afro that I didn’t know who I was outside of my hair. Truth is, I thought my hair was what made me beautiful. If I didn’t get any compliments on it I felt less than and I couldn’t live like that anymore. I’ve never had my hair this short so it’s nice to experience the growing process. Every month it looks different and now I feel like people see me in a different way as well!
How do you maintain your color? Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
I bleached my hair twice last year and keep my hair healthy by deep conditioning 2-3 times a week. I’m currently using the Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Strong Roots Red Pimento Moisture Retention Deep Conditioner and add JBCO to ensure I seal in all of that moisture with the steam from the shower.
Image Source: @janibellrosanne
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My favorite styling combo right now is the Palmer’s Natural Fusions Style Hold and The Good Stuff Frizz Control Oil. It’s the perfect combination for soft, yet defined curls!
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice would be to find other women in the natural community! Whether you find them online or in person, it’s important to develop that system of support so that you don’t feel alone in your hair journey. Plus, this way you get to pick their brains about their favorite hair products and protective styles!
Have you done a big chop? Share your experiences with us in the comments below!
This month, Naturally Curly and The Curl Talk Project are partnering to explore the link between natural hair and the notions of identity, femininity, diversity, race and representation.
Six ladies will share their experiences, from Germany to the UK these women reveal what it means to be a curly-haired woman in a society where beauty standards are otherwise. Discover their stories below.
Image Source: @axounn.p
You are from Martinique, tell us how curls are perceived over there?
Having straight hair has always been seen more positively in Martinique. It’s always been like that, but for the past few years I started to witness some change. Women have been experimenting more and have become proud natural hair advocates. I believe this is linked to the increased number of products that are now available, which help them during their journey and hair education.
What was it like growing up with curly hair?
I used to struggle to do my hair and always found it difficult and painful. I saw chemical relaxers as the best alternative for me, which is something that my mother eventually accepted to put on my hair. In addition to an easier styling process, having straight hair was also about looking like other black girls surrounding me and fitting in.
Do you feel there is a connection between femininity and how you feel about your hair?
Certainly. Hair contributes to our femininity whether it’s short, long, curly or straight. It’s like an accessory that needs constant nurturing and love.
Why is natural hair so strongly linked to identity?
Hair is a clear representation of who I am. I am a black woman and my curls are highlighting my cultural heritage.
What has your experience been like wearing your natural hair to work?
I work in finance which is a very strict and corporate environment. This means that I will generally go to work with a sleek bun. Not because I don’t embrace my natural hair in the workplace but I am aware that some codes are omnipresent within the corporate world. I am progressively thinking of letting my hair be in the office and when this will happen, people will have no choice than to embrace it as much as I do.
What has been the most challenging moments of your hair journey?
Transitioning was tough! Dealing with the different textures wasn’t easy, but I was really excited about the positive results I was expecting to see. Step by step I tried different products, styling techniques, and tried to stay positive even though seeing other girls going through an easier transitioning process was frustrating.
What advice would you give to women struggling to embrace their curls?
We should all be proud of our hair. In my opinion, the first step is to accept what we naturally have on our heads. Your hair is unique and shouldn’t be compared to anyone else’s. The idea is to experiment and accept that what works on others won’t necessarily work for you. You’ll go through bad phases and that’s ok. The more you try the more results you will get!
What are your holy grails?
I mainly use Cantu products in addition to As I am and Activilong. My favorite to define my curls is As I Am Coil Defining Jelly.
What does your natural hair represent?
Pride. The versatility linked to it is undeniable. Natural hair is an asset!
Read more stories of The Curl Talk Project here.
