Search Results: NaturallyCurly
Written by Cozy Friedman, founder of SoCozy
After 20 plus years in the kids’ hair salon business, I get asked a lot of questions, but one that always seems to pop up is “what are some quick AND easy hair styles for getting my kids out the door in the morning?” Clearly, hair can be quite an issue for parents. Tack on teeth brushed, backpack ready, breakfast made – turning bed head into something presentable can easily become the straw that broke the camel’s back.
I believe that every mother deserves to have that one quick, super cute, but super easy, go-to hairstyle for her daughter. Easy for you and she can hold her head up high at school drop off in the morning. Here’s the style I wish my mom knew when I was a kid, because that basic pony was basically boring.
One of the things I love so much about the SoCozy Side Twist is that it’s good for every hair type and length, plus it’s so easy that anyone can do it. What will you do with all the extra time in the morning that you now have?
What you’ll need
- Comb
- Bobby pins
- Boing Curl Gel-Cream
Directions
- Apply a curl cream to the hair to keep it defined and moisturized throughout the day. This can be done on freshly washed wet hair, or to 2nd or 3rd day hair with a curl refresher or water in a spray bottle.
- Part the hair on whichever side you prefer and grab a small section from the front.
- Take that small section and start twisting it away from the face, twisting it all the way to the end. Secure the end with a bobby pin or clip.
This post is sponsored by SoCozy.
Whenever I would straighten my hair, my dad would ask me why I was wasting my time and making the house smell. No matter how much I cranked open the bathroom window or sprayed Febreeze, the scent of burning plastic coming from my flat iron would ultimately spread throughout the house. But I still did it anyways. After all, it was worth the extra compliments. Right?!
For much of middle school and high school, sleek, straight hair was the style of choice.
I would spend countless Sunday afternoons standing in front of a bathroom mirror straightening my hair, which was no easy task; it took me two hours to complete. At the time, I didn’t know how to properly take care of my naturally curly hair or what products to use or even what heat damage was. My curls were subpar and I was clueless as to why.
By the time I hit senior year in high school, straightening my hair became a draining task that I dreaded. I got tired of waking up extra early just to go over my hair with a flat iron before heading to school.I was simply over it. There was no ah-ha, eureka moment.
I could not bother with the extra effort and upkeep. I had lost patience with the process. Having straight hair truly did not make me any happier, so why continue doing it? Plus, I was about to begin university and knew I could be doing better things with my time. Unlike makeup, straightening my hair did not enhance my natural features–all it did was make me look like a different person and stink up my house!
Fast-forward to today.
I have graduated from university and have not straightened my hair for over four years. My curls are in their best condition ever. I love them and I embrace them. Funnily enough, these days I get just as many, or maybe more compliments on my curly hair than I did when it was straight. There definitely seems to be a shift of acceptance, thanks Instagram and Tumblr!
Though I never, EVER think about straightening, I am not against it. I’m sure some day I may want to straighten my hair, in fact, now that my curls are completely restored I actually feel more comfortable doing so. I just won’t make it a Sunday afternoon chore.
Watch my video
How long have you gone without straightening your naturally curly hair? Let me know in the comments!
We can’t get enough of how versatile curly hair can be. One day you can embrace your frizz and wear it big and voluminous, and the next day you can create shiny, defined curls with a few easy steps. No matter how you wear your hair, this tutorial featuring the latest from Carol’s Daughter will give you some easy-to-follow tips on getting the curly look you’re going for. Whether it’s super defined, big and voluminous, or pinned back for a more professional look.
What you’ll need
- Bobby pins
- Gentle cleanser
- Detangling product such as Carol’s Daughter 4-In-1 Combing Crème
- Your favorite detangling tool
Directions
Step 1
Wash your hair with a gentle cleanser or co-wash like Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Cleansing Conditioner.
Step 2
To detangle, apply a detangler like Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk 4-In-1 Combing Creme throughout freshly co-washed, wet hair. Then take your favorite detangling tool, whether it’s a wide tooth comb, a brush or your fingers, and run it through your hair
Step 3
Separate your hair into 2-4 sections to make it easier to work with. Then starting with the bottom section, take a 1-inch section and twirl it around your fingers to create a tight twist. Continue this step until all of your hair is coiled. Depending on how much hair you have, you may have 10-15 twists when you are done.
Step 4
To unravel the coils, rub a small amount of Carol’s Daughter 4-In-1 Combing Creme between your palms and fingers and begin unraveling and untwisting the coils, separating them into individual curls. Doing this with a light coating of smoothing product on your hands will help prevent frizz. The more you unravel, the more volume you will have. This step is really up to your personal preference.
Optional Step 5
You could stop here and wear your hair down, but if you’d like to style your hair (or change things up on day 2 or 3″> you can take a small section above one of your ears and twist it towards the back of your head. Then use bobby pins to secure it in place and add an accessory if you like.
Watch the video
This post is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter.
You want to grow your natural hair long, but constantly having to cut all of your split ends isn’t helping your retain any length. This is a common scenario that, believe it or not, is it possible to “fix” using a candlestick. The Velaterapia (“candle method””> treatment literally uses a candle to burn off split ends.
Feel like playing with fire? Leave it to the pros.
“Of course, playing with fire certainly comes with a risk, and shouldn’t be a DIY move,” says celebrity hairstylist Anh Co Tran. “It takes major control, which can be hard. I like to see exactly what to cut and what not to cut, so with the burning method, if you don’t stop it on time, you may take off more [hair] than you wanted.” Like most specialized hair techniques, this one requires a well-trained stylist to get the job done right. Trying this at home isn’t like opening a box of dye, or color–leave it to the pros.
Ricardo Gomes, NYC Maria Bonita Salon stylist who has used the candle method for three years now says that “a lot of people get confused about the treatment because they think it has to do with the wax of the candle, but it actually involves just controlling the flame.”
Like most specialized hair techniques, this one requires a well-trained stylist to get the job done right. Trying this at home isn’t like opening a box of dye, or color–leave it to the pros.
Other than playing with fire, clients, and stylists, also have to understand that the smell involved in this method isn’t always pleasant. Our hair contains keratin and sulfur. The burned hair smell can not only be extremely strong, but lingers for some time, too.
“It’s not so far-fetched that we’re playing with heat with the hair,” says celebrity stylist Sarah Potempa, who explains that sometimes hairstylists use heat in other ways, like by heating their scissors before giving a haircut. She also adds that women put intense heat on their hair regularly at home with hot tools, anyway.
How the candle method is done
For best results, the candle method requires dry, straight to loose wavy hair, which is then sectioned into smaller pieces, which are twisted. Then, the stylist runs the flame over the frayed pieces which stick out of the twist and burns them off. By twisting each section, stylists can ensure that only damaged hairs are removed. After this part is done, the stylist washes the hair and adds a deep conditioning treatment. With the heat having opened the hair cuticle, it’s an opportunity for nourishing vitamins to be added to the scalp and sealed in for restoration and reparation. The treatment and cold wash and rinse ensure that the cuticle is closed and aids in the growth of new hair. Lastly, the hair is usually blown out and a last “spot check” for any leftover split ends is done.
And while the idea of having your split ends be gone may be a nice one, the method isn’t for everyone. “It’s recommended for people who have pre-treated hair, highlights or use lots of hot tools. This is ideal for those people with lots of split ends who don’t want to cut the length,” says Gomes, who advises that only people with shoulder length hair or below consider the treatment.
And due to the nature of the candle method, it’s intense heat and shock to the hair, it is recommended that this method is only done every three to four months. In a salon such as Maria Bonita in NYC prices start at $150 and go to $250 depending on the type and length of the hair.
What exactly are plant stem cells?
A plant stem cell is a non-specialized cell capable of self-renewal. Meristem cells are stem cells found in plants.
What do plant stem cells do?
Stem cells are the most important cells in the skin. They are the source for continuous regeneration of the epidermis, the formation of new hair and hair pigments. Active plant cell technology works to increase the lifespan of hair follicles so that the hair can stay longer in the anagen phase of the hair. We recommend éprouvage Restorative Scalp Serum which is formulated with plant stem cells to help reduce thinning hair and produce stronger and healthier hair.
Can you find plant stem cells for individual purchase? Or are they only available in formulated products?
Companies manufacturing formulated goods use plant stem cells, as they are intended to be formulated into a finished product. They are not available for purchase directly by a consumer.
What is a powerful plant stem cell used in haircare?
The Egyptian blue lily in the éprouvage regimen is a plant stem cell cultivated for its anti-aging and skin balancing properties, leading to healthier hair and scalp. This smart cell therapy better anticipates and helps slow down the aging process. The éprouvage Reparative Treatment Masque contains this ingredient in a deeply penetrating, intensely conditioning treatment that strengthens hair from within to restore strength and elasticity.
What are the benefits of the other ingredients used in éprouvage?
Lavender Oil
Lavender Oil promotes scalp health benefits, and is known to regulate blood circulation in the body, including the scalp. This awakens the hair follicle for ultimate growth.
Vegetable, soy & Rice Keratins
By using vegetable proteins and wheat and soy keratin, hair can repair faster, leaving it shiny and supple. When hair is damaged, then the hair structure is opened up and vegetable keratins penetrate into the fiber and bind to the internal structure, rebuilding the damaged proteins to restore strength and condition to the hair. Through multiple uses, it will increase hair strength and elasticity to prevent breakage. It can protect the hair when it goes through harsh processes such as coloring and bleaching and will reduce damage from the excess force of styling. éprouvage Fortifying Shampoo and Conditioner utilize these powerful proteins to repair damage and prevent breakage.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus improves overall health of the hair, as well as promotes blood flow to the skin around hair follicles.
Where are éprouvage products available for purchase, and are they for professional hairstylists only?
No they are available to both professionals and consumers. You can currently find éprouvage products in Ulta stores and online at Ulta.com or eprouvage.com. Stylists can purchase the products through professional haircare distributors once partnerships have been finalized.
[prodmod]This post is sponsored by éprouvage.
Genetics are usually what determine the graying of your hair, and we tend to be in favor of rocking what your genes gave you. But we understand that some women are determined to get rid of these natural changes in color, so let’s take a closer look at what’s going on here.
As we age, we build up hydrogen peroxide in our follicles… we lose some of this enzyme which results in buildup that appears white.
While genetics do play a role in going gray, scientific researchers are also looking at stress and the buildup of hydrogen peroxide in our hair as another cause of going gray. According to the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB”>, as hair ages, it accumulates hydrogen peroxide which causes it to go white.
Hydrogen peroxide is produced by our hair cells all throughout our lives. When we are younger, the enzyme catalase simply breaks the hydrogen peroxide down into water and oxygen. As we age, though, we lose some of this enzyme and the buildup of hydrogen peroxide results. In a sense, this building up of hydrogen peroxide bleaches our hair from inside.
Fact or fiction: If you pluck and pull your gray hairs, they will come back with a vengeance.
According to dermatologist Dr. Martie Gidon, plucking grays is harmless. They simply grow back like any other hair would. “Gray hair already has a coarser texture than naturally pigmented hair, and it will grow back as coarse as before it was pulled,” says Gidon. However, if you happen to pluck a gray hair with a red tip on it, you may have pulled too deep–up to the root–and in that case, the hair may not grow back.
If you absolutely have to pluck those grays…
Here’s how to do it safely and effectively, according to LiveStrong.
- Find the hairs you’re looking to remove. Be careful not to remove too many from one area so you don’t find yourself with a balding spot or excessive breakage and damage to your hair and scalp.
- Carefully trace the hairs to their roots and use your tweezers to remove them.
- Place your index and middle fingers an inch or two away from the root of the hair being removed. Pull back gently, making the skin around the hair root taut.
- Squeeze the tweezers together around the hair to get a firm grip.
- Pull the hair out. Make sure to pull straight out. If you pull in one direction or the other, you could cause the hair to break before the root is out, causing an ingrown hair or hair that is too short to tweeze until it grows longer.
Better yet, love your natural gray
Marc Anthony, who has a famed line of hair care products, says “It is better to leave it be. There are so many options for gray hair these days—including just leaving it gray.” And we agree. Allowing your hair to simply grow its natural gray and silver has become an easier option for many men and women, since going in for very regular color treatments can be both costly and timely. Plus we just love the way it looks on women like Instagrammer Chubahkah (pictured above”> and NaturalSilvaSista . We just recommend using a purple toning cleanser like Clairol Shimmer Lights to keep your gray fresh and prevent yellowing. But for those who want to continue to cover up their silver streaks, there are a number of options including professional and over the counter color treatments that can be done at home too.
In conclusion, plucking will not lead to more gray hairs or coarser gray hairs, but you do risk damaging the hair follicle.
Related: Scared to Gray Naturally? This Might Change Your Mind
We like Curlformers because they’re a heatless way to change your curl pattern for a few days. And when you wash your hair you know your curls will return right back to your natural curls without any risk of heat damage. We know learning a new tool can be intimidating, but these are so simple to use – on any curl pattern. Watch for the hacks Nikki, Evelyn and Cristina have figured out for getting your best Curlformers results.
1. Make sure your hair is completely detangled first
In order to have your quickest and easiest Curlformers experience, it is extremely important that you detangle your hair first. This will make the Curlformer glide over your curls much more smoothly, and can also help elongate your curls for your best results. Detangle how you normally would, whether it’s before or during your shower with a slippery conditioner in your hair. If your hair is already dry, then spritz it with water in a spray bottle to dampen it and detangle with your fingers, a wide tooth comb, or a brush. Nikki used the Curlformers Delux Brush to remove her tangles.
2. Spot treat heat damaged hair with Curlformers
You may have seen tutorials where Curlformers are used on all of the hair, but that does not have to be the case. Cristina has hair around her face that refuses to curl, which is likely due to heat damage or the manipulation of pulling her hair back frequently. She uses a couple of Spiral Curlformers on her dry hair to spot treat those curls without using any heat (which can further damage her hair”>. To do this, simply spray with water or apply a light styler to the sections you want to curl, then put one or two Curlformers just in the spots that need help curling. You can leave them in while you put on makeup and get dressed for the day, then remove them and you have curls that match the rest of your head. You can also use this trick when you wake up in the morning and have a few curls that look misshapen or frizzy.
3. What to do if your Curlformer gets stuck
If the wand gets stuck as you’re pulling your hair through the Curlformer, do not pull and force it through. Simply push the wand back up so that you can start over with that curl. It only takes a second, and is so simple to do.
4. Make sure your hair is completely dry before removing
This is one of the most important tips, do not skip this one! If you remove Curlformers (or any roller set”> before your hair is 100% dry, your hair will likely frizz and lose the curl definition that you have worked so hard to achieve. If you do not have the patience to wait until it is dry, or if you have highly porous hair that takes a long time to dry, use a hood attachment for your blowdryer that will speed up the process. Set your blowdryer to the cool setting to avoid heat.
5. How to remove a Curlformer
You detangled your hair, put in your Curlformers, and waited until they were completely dry. Now what? Removing them is actually pretty simple, especially if you know this trick. The easiest way is to stretch the Curlformer out using your fingers, then pinch the end near your roots and the one at your ends to open it up, then pull. Your hair will easily slide out without any pressure on your hair or scalp. You can see Nikki removing an Extra Wide Curlformers from her hair to create large barrel curls.
6. How to preserve your curls for 2nd day hair
If you want to make your style last for 2nd, 3rd and 4th day hair, the best way to preserve it is by sleeping with your hair in a pineapple. This will prevent you from messing up your curls as you lay on them to sleep. To pineapple, simply pull all of your hair on top of your head and secure it very loosely with a scrunchy or hair tie. This will not only keep your hair from rubbing on your pillow, it will also prevent you from creating a dent in your hair where the hair tie was. If your hair is too short to reach up into a pineapple, try the multi-pineapple by pulling your hair into several loose hair ties instead of just one.
[prodmod]This post is sponsored by Curlformers.
Fact: Curly hair needs more moisture than other hair types.
We retain moisture from our diet and the products we treat our hair with every time we wash and style. On some of our busier days, we just can’t seem to get every step of the regimen in. If you simply want to make the best of your second day hair by keeping your natural wavy texture moisturized, there is a product for that now.
What is dry conditioner?
Dry conditioner has now arrived to the market of hair care products–not too long after the glorious comeback of dry shampoo. According to professional celebrity stylist Jennifer MacDougall, dry conditioner is perfect for those who get frequent blowouts and want to maintain their style for two to three days before washing again.
“Dry conditioner is the perfect refresher for the ends, especially for someone who has medium to thick hair,” says MacDougall. It’s also a great product for those who want to wear their hair up or in a ponytail. The conditioner helps to add some sheen, revive ponytails, and extends the style of your hair for another day or two. It can also help with flyaways and getting rid of static on dry climate days.
How it works
A dry conditioner product is a suspension of oils and nutrients in a powder-mist/aerosol form, it does just about the same job that your “wet” conditioner does, except this one won’t mess up your locks and style. So, if you’re trying to make the most of that blow out, this is your new best friend. Dry conditioner won’t soak up oil, like dry shampoo, but it will deliver shine and moisture to dry and coarse locks.
For the days that you’re in a rush, or simply don’t feel like getting your hair wet, dry conditioner can be the “Go to” product you’re looking for. “Dry conditioner adds shine to ends, separates the strands and revives the hair,” says MacDougall. “Usually dry conditioner contains oils and are aerosol. They help hydrate and add shine and texture to dry hair without wetting the hair.”
Dry conditioner is great for those who like rocking a messy bun look on days old hair. Section your hair into 4 parts, spray the dry conditioner (which is a lightweight, dry mist”> onto each section, twist each section gently or scrunch carefully. This will give your wavy hair a more natural, tousled appearance–even on dirty hair.
“I enjoy dry conditioners as a finish,” says celebrity stylist and Pantene ambassador Danilo. “They enhance and texturize while doing good by your hair at the same time. They are also a great way to get fresh hair to achieve an undone, tousled finish and a great way to give lackluster hair a pump up without a full shampoo, condition, and blowout. You can first use dry shampoo and then dry conditioner on clean or dirty hair.”
But does it work?
There are already a number of dry conditioners out there to try. Here’s what curlies have to say about how dry conditioner have performed on their hair.
Kardashian Beauty Take 2 Dry Conditioner, $14.99; available at Ulta stores
“So happy to have discovered this. i was in the market for a fine mist shine spray. one that wasn’t a hair spray but also wasn’t a “dry oil” which i find to be too heavy on my hair. i gave this a shot and am so pleased. I was hoping the scent would be a bit more vanilla/warm spicy for some reason maybe because of the packaging but it has a very strong floral rose scent. Almost a bit old-fashioned to be honest, but the product itself works great. Gave lots of shine without grease. Perfect to freshen up dry ends or smooth down frizz at roots. Packaging also looks luxurious. Great product just wish the scent was a bit more sexy/spicy and less grandma.” Ulta reviewerL’Oréal Professionnel Next Day Hair, $25.50; available at drugstores
“Amazing product! So versatile for different looks, love it!!” Feefo reviewer
TIGI Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Conditioner, $8.08; available at Target stores
“Have actually never heard of dry conditioner before, only dry shampoo, but love this brand! Works amazing and doesn’t leave my hair greasy.” drugstore.com reviewer
“This dry conditioner is great. Nice and shiny ends- no frizz, doesn’t make my hair look oily. A bit of bounce. The only cons about it are: price (too high”>, and the fact that my dry shampoo (Dove”> smells about 100x better than the TIGI conditioner does.” drugstore.com reviewer
Suave Professionals Dry Conditioning Spray, $3.39; available at drugstores
“I was hoping that it would do more actual conditioning, but it is perfectly serviceable as a hair de-funkifier. More hair perfume than anything else. I have shoulder length kinky curly hair there doesn’t appear to be any sort of aerosol product that has the reviving and conditioning properties that I need for my hair.” drugstore.com reviewer
“This is great, lots of shine if you shampoo daily. I found that is makes my hair sort of gummy if applied without a fresh shampoo. I usually shampoo every four days.” drugstore.com reviewerPantene Aqua Light Weightless Conditioning Shake, $6.25; available at soap.com
“This product really put my hair under control, its not oily or greasy but super light, your hair look natural. The only bad thing is that is hard to find at the stores.” soap.com reviewer
“This Pantene conditioner untangles my wet hair without breaking it. If you blow dry or use a curling iron it is heat resistant. Your hair will feel very fresh and clean instead of greasy and heavy like most conditioners do. I am pleased with this product.” soap.com reviewerWill you be trying dry conditioner? If you already have, weigh in below on whether it worked for you.
You found a DIY homemade recipe that is the solution to all of your hair issues. Your favorite natural hair guru shared it on YouTube and now you must try it.
But wait.
Does your local grocery carry those ingredients? Do you have empty containers and all of the various utensils you need? What about the time, patience and money to source all of those supplies?
If not, you can still be a curly mixologist with the subscription box CurlMix.
What is CurlMix?
CurlMix is the first DIY subscription box for curlies and it has everything you need to make natural hair products without any of the fuss!
What do you get?
In your box you receive all of the natural ingredients and tools you need to create a different DIY project each month. The October CurlMix box has everything you need to make a Honey Lemon Mud Wash, which is a great detoxifying cleanser for hair and skin!
How do you buy one?
You can purchase CurlMix once a month, so sign up to their mailing list to be notified when the next CurlMix is available for purchase.
But I want one right now!
We’re giving NaturallyCurly readers the opportunity to win their own CurlMix box, just comment below telling us why you’d like to win! We will chose 2 lucky winners.
And if you don’t win, we’re also offering NaturallyCurly readers a special opportunity to order a CurlMix box today, instead of waiting until November 2nd for the next box. Simply go to this link and type in the password naturallycurly.
This giveaway ends October 10 and is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.
*Please make sure you have liked us on Facebook, so that we can notify you if you’ve won.
This post is sponsored by CurlMix.
Do you remember your mom saying “You’ll catch a cold!” if you have wet hair? While for the most part, catching a cold is just a myth, there are other health risks that can cause unhealthy situations for those who opt to go to sleep with wet hair. According to hair Svenson hair expert Teresa Cruz, going to bed with wet hair can introduce real health issues to some.
It’s just like wearing a wet piece of clothing. It is more prone to bacterial or fungal infection,” says Cruz.
“It’s just like wearing a wet piece of clothing. It is more prone to bacterial or fungal infection,” says Cruz. “It will cause an unnecessary increase of blood flow in the scalp as your body’s way of protecting itself from bacteria. A reaction occurs on the scalp which can lead to a headache.” And while it may not be true for you, there are people more prone to developing infections who may want to reconsider their wet hair habits. While the experts are still unsure of the exact number of people this affects, it is always a safe bet to take the necessary precautions to avoid getting an infection if this is something you are prone to.
According to Natural Healing Magazine, it is also easier for your hair to break when it’s wet. Hair that is rubbed against a pillow at night could suffer more breakage and damage from the friction since “during the night we always crush and sleep on our hair.”
If you happen to live in a place with typically warmer climates, the experts at New Health Advisor say you may not suffer from any of these issues, but if you sleep in a cold room or simply live in a colder temperature, this may still be a concern for you.
If you MUST go to bed with wet hair…
For some curlies, going to bed with wet hair is the only way to achieve the definition you are looking for. Some just find that this works the best for their lifestyle. If you must go to bed with wet hair, here are three options to minimize the damage to your hair.
Diffuse
Instead of going to bed with soaking wet hair, towel dry gently with a damp towel and add your usual styling product. Use a diffuser to dry another 10-20% of your hair afterwards.
Twist
For pretty curls and waves the next morning, apply a light mousse or gel-cream to your damp locks and move the product from roots to tips, split your hair into sections and twist sections gently. Secure the ends of the twists with elastics and allow your hair to dry overnight on a satin or silk pillowcase. Be sure to remove the elastics in the morning and gently shake your hair to release your natural pattern. You can finish with a bit of hair spray or pomade.
Scarf
Another version of this “damp-do” is wrapping your hair with a silk or satin scarf at night instead of twisting and adding elastics. Be sure to tie or secure the scarf loosely so your hair and scalp can breathe. Again, damp hair is better than dripping wet hair when heading off for a good night’s rest. Be careful, however, and do not use a towel. Your body temperature changes as you sleep, and having a sopping wet scalp can be the cause of headaches for some people. Using a thin, silk scarf that lets your curls breathe is important for scalp and hair health at night.
Our fave YouTubers show us how they prep their hair at night for the healthiest hair possible:
[prodmod]
1. Wen by Chaz Dean Fig Re-Moist Hydrating Mask
Use this unique treatment like a daily conditioner or hair masque. It is designed to rehydrate your dry, heat damaged, lifeless, or color-treated hair. It also works to improve hair using a unique blend of botanical extracts to get your hair back to a healthier state. Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Shea Butter, and Sea Buckthorn Fruit Extract help to maintain healthier, bouncier curls.2. SheaMoisture Tahitian Noni & Monoi Hair & Scalp Weekly Therapy
This moisturizing treatment keeps every hair type in mind. It helps to soothe and provide antioxidant benefits to the scalp to promote healthy hair renewal and growth. Made from certified organic Shea Butter, revitalizing Tahitian Noni and Monoi Oil blended with Keratin, Peptides and Botanical Extracts, all work to repair and protect distressed hair fibers. Hair will appear thicker and fuller over time.
3. Aesop Rose Hair & Scalp Moisturizing Masque
This intensive deep conditioner restores the vitality and luster to all hair types. This hydrating tonic deeply conditions, leaving parched, brittle super soft and well nourished. In addition, your flaky scalp will feel better thanks to Sweet Almond Oil, Glycerin, and Camellia Japonica Seed Oil.
4. Neal`s Yard Rosemary and Cedarwood Hair Treatment and Deep Conditioner
This original, deep conditioner stimulates the scalp and revitalizes hair, adding shine and bounce. It is particularly beneficial for hair affected by over-dyeing, chlorine and harsh weather elements. This treatment contains: Coconut, Cedarwood, Rosemary, Lavender, and Coumarin essentials oils that will work together to blast the dirt out of your pores, leaving you with thicker, longer hair.
5. Mastey HC Formula + B5 Leave-In and leave-in conditioner
This split end ‘mender’ will fortify even the driest hair. Its cuticle smoothing ingredients will give you more defined curls. The formula also provides weightless shine and suppleness. This product can also help to protect the hair from styling heat. It also stimulates the scalp to boost cellular energy production. Vitamins, EFA lipids, protein and minerals provide comprehensive replenishment for a proper moisture balance. Neutralizes trapped ammonia in the hair.
6. Ouidad Mediterranean Bay Leaf Exfoliating Hair & Scalp Treatment
A deep penetrating cream with a light texture and a natural AHA complex of sugar cane, lemon, and apple extracts for gentle enzymatic exfoliation of scalp as well as mild, naturally derived bamboo for manual exfoliation. This multipurpose formula clears product build-up in the scalp and follicles. The fennel seed extract cream increases micro-circulation and oxygen flow to the root for deeper penetration of the nurturing Bay Leaf Oil. If you have concerns with an excessively oily or dry scalp, this treatment is for you.
7. Parnevu Hair Mayonnaise
Provides intense rejuvenating olive oil and egg protein therapy specially formulated over-processed hair. This product works from within the hair shaft to help strength fragile roots, mend split ends, and moisturize dry brittle hair. Parnevu mayonnaise brings hair fibers back into balance and leaves hair silky and shiny. The non-greasy formula leaves hair healthy and silky with added body. This DC will work wonders on your severely damaged or weak hair.
8. ORS Shealicious Moisture Lock Conditioning Treatment and Deep Conditioner
Brittle, heat damaged hair will benefit deeply from this cute deep conditioner. Shealicious gives you a chance to mix and blend your treatment to your own specifications in a convenient one-time use conditioning cup. One side contains a rich Shea Butter conditioner. The second side is filled with a pure essential oil blend that includes Rosemary and Black Currant. Carefully balanced with quality sourced ingredients and teamed alongside avocado extract, this customizable product helps hair bring luster and shine back, stops itchy scalp and restores moisture.
9. EverButter Sweet-P Pudding Pre-Treatment
helps to restore and activate your tresses. Sweet-P Pudding is a pre-treatment designed to help prep your hair by strengthening the hair before the process of washing and styling. It also aids in detangling and loosening dead scalp follicles so that your hair and scalp can be vibrant and shiny. The product contains sweet potato in the mixture, giving scalp extra moisturizing and conditioning properties. This pre-treatment also contains natural ingredients including: Coconut Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Basil, Mongongo Oil, Curry Leaves and aloe juice work to restore your hair and scalp back to health.
What’s your tried and true deep conditioning treatment?
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If you were so bold as to dye your hair purple (or any fantasy color”>, you may have found by now that it does not stay bold forever. With every wash, semi permanent hair dyes fade until you are left with a washed out version of your former glory. Fortunately, it is very simple and easy to touch up your color without going to the salon or creating a mess in your home.
Our Social Media Manager Evelyn has been rocking blue and purple hair since last year and by now she is a pro at refreshing her color. She is rocking an the ombre look with natural, dark roots and purple ends so she chose to touch up the color of her ends. However, if she wanted to color all of her hair purple she would need to bleach her roots first so that the color would show up. Purple or any vibrant color will not show up on naturally dark hair without lightening it first. Here is Evelyn’s routine:
- Start with clean hair. If you have Type 4 coils like Evelyn then she recommends stretching your hair first, she sleeps with her hair in twists overnight. Stretching your hair helps you see the full length of your hair more easily, ensuring that you do not miss any sections.
- Divide your hair into sections using clips. This is crucial so that you can apply color to each section and apply the dye without the rest of your hair getting in the way.
- Put on plastic gloves before you start so as not to stain your hands purple.
- Apply your color using your fingers to comb the product through your strands, finger detangling as you distribute the color evenly. Evelyn used Bigen Vivid Shades in Royal Purple.
- Once your section is saturated in color, two strand twist or bun it and clip it again. Then move on to the next section.
- When you’ve completed all of the sections, put on a shower cap and let the color sit for 30 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water, do not shampoo.
Evelyn repeats this process every 6 weeks or so, or whenever her hair color starts to look faded.
[prodmod]This post is sponsored by Bigen.
Question:
I think my hair is between a 2B and a 2C. I comb my hair with either a wide-tooth comb or a fine-tooth comb. I wash my hair no more than twice a week. Whenever I comb my hair (which is most days”>, it becomes a poofy triangle on my head. If I don’t comb my hair, it gets extremely knotted and is such a hassle to detangle! What do you recommend I do?
Answer:
While combing hair helps detangle the knots in your hair, there is a risk in combing too frequently. Do it everyday can cause friction, which eventually turns to breakage and weaken it–especially if you do it while your hair is dry and not moisturized.
However, if you prefer to detangle with a comb instead of your fingers, follow these precautionary rules:
- Use a leave-in conditioner or treatment that works with your hair type and keep the amount of strokes you comb with, to a minimum. The conditioner will allow the comb to glide through your hair more gently , and lessen the damage to your hair. If you need a slippery leave-in, add Carol’s Daughter Sacred Tiare Combing Creme to help the comb glide through your hair and let you retain smooth, frizz-free curls.
- Use a wide tooth comb, even on hair that’s not thick or coarse. The NuBone II Finish is anti-static and has thick, sturdy teeth, so it won’t cause unnecessary friction. A wide tooth comb is exposed to less hair at one time and still help to get rid of even the worst knots.
Lastly, you may want to try using a brush that helps your hair dry as you style and detangle. Goody’s QuikStyle brush has microfiber to help dry hair faster as you brush. Again, while you want to keep brushing and combing to a minimum, you should look to protect your curls at the same time. A brush like this can help cut drying time in half while detangling at the same time.
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Watch how 2c vlogger Curly Penny finger detangles her hair:
Have a hair question or want to help our NaturallyCurly.com community out with your answers? Visit our Q&A section!
We recently became aware of a new category of hair product. And if you’re a Product Junkie (like we are”> then this news is very, very exciting. The product is called a combing creme, or “creme para pentear” as the Brazilians call it (pentear means comb in Portuguese”>. Right now you may be wondering where a combing creme goes in a hair routine, or thinking to yourself “but I don’t comb my hair” – we were too. So we took our questions to Carol’s Daughter, who just released their own line of Combing Cremes inspired by the popular Brazilian product.
How do Brazilian women use combing cremes?
When Lisa Price, Founder of Carol’s Daughter, recently travelled to Brazil she found combing cremes were a staple for Brazilian women, they were “using the combing cremes for extra moisture, for controlling frizz, for battling the humidity that they encounter day in and day out being so close to the beach.” Whether you live near the beach or not, a product that can do all of that is probably sounding pretty appealing right about now. So Carol’s Daughter got to work developing formulas that would work for us, because Lisa knew “we needed amazing detangling, we need moisture of course, we need to battle frizz, we need definition for our curls.”
What is a combing creme?
Think of a combing creme as a BB cream for your hair – BB creams can moisturize and protect the skin, they can be used as a primer for your foundation or worn by themselves. Combing cremes have moisturizing benefits for your hair and works as a base to prime your hair for your styling products, or you can use it on its own for second or third day hair.
The entire Carol’s Daughter range is designed to prep and prime your hair for styling, but it’s important to choose the formula that suits your curl concerns. If your hair feels fragile, fine or frizzy, and you want smoother styles then use the Sacred Tiare Combing Creme. If you’re looking to enhance the definition of your curls, coils or waves then you want the Hair Milk Combing Creme. And if your hair is dry, brittle or dull and you need extra hydration and shine, go with the Black Vanilla.
Do we need to apply a leave-in conditioner after a combing creme? What about a styler?
With the Carol’s Daughter combing cremes, you won’t need to apply a leave-in conditioner afterwards. For styling, feel free to use whatever styling products you like after you’ve applied the combing creme.
Do combing cremes provide hold?
Our combing creme was not created as a styling product but rather as a detangler and conditioner to prep for styling your hair.
So “combing cremes” are not just for combing. How else can we use them?
You don’t have to use a comb to use a combing cream! Many curly girls detangle with their fingers and that works just as well. These cremes really work to loosen your tangles, whether you use a comb or not. Here are a few other ways you can use a combing creme:
- Apply it as a leave-in moisturizer to dry or damp hair
- Enhance shine for dull 2nd day hair
- Reduce frizz in high humidity
- Mix it with your favorite gel for moisture and hold
- Refresh your curls, coils or waves for 2nd day, 3rd day and 4th day hair
If you’re curious and want to give combing cremes a try, the Carol’s Daughter collection just launched this month and is available at Target! And if you’ve already tried them let us know what your experience was in the comments!
[prodmod]This article is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter.
If you have made the decision to cut sulfates out of your hair and skin regimen, you still have alternative options for cleansing. There are plenty of sulfate-free shampoo products to choose from, or you can take matters into your own hands and make your own. The latter will give you total control over your exposure to chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS”> and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES”>.
If you’re looking for a sulfate-free cleanser that will still leave your hair and scalp feeling clean, try this easy recipe.
What You’ll Need
- ¼ cup of distilled water
- ¼ cup of castile soap
- 1 tsp. of jojoba oil
- measuring cup
- whisk/spoon
- plastic bottle
- funnel
- *optional essential oil for fragrance
How to make homemade shampoo
Pour a quarter cup of distilled water into a bowl. Distilled is the best choice for DIY recipes, it is free of any other minerals, contaminants, or gases that other types of water can contain.
Add a quarter cup of castile soap to the distilled water and stir the two ingredients together with a whisk.
You can find castile soap in grocery stores, pharmacies, and online. We used Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap because it’s easy to find in our local groceries, but you can use any brand of castile soap that you can find. Here’s a list of 4 castile soaps we like.
Add one teaspoon of jojoba oil to the mix. Jojoba oil is one of the most common carrier oils and is packed with benefits for your hair and skin, so it is a useful ingredient to keep in your cabinet.
Use a funnel to pour the contents of the bowl into a plastic bottle. Depending on the size of your bottle you may want to adjust the quantities of this recipe to either make more or less. Just remember to use equal parts of distilled water and castile soap, and a proportional amount of jojoba oil.
Watch the Video
Do you DIY your own cleansers? Share your favorite ingredients below!
For more curly mixology recipes, or to share your own favorite at-home treatments, go to our recipes section.
You may have noticed a hashtag trending among the women in your social feeds lately. With over 100,000 images uploaded and 20 million people reached so far, it’s hard to miss the #1 trending hashtag on Instagram and Facebook.
#BornandMade is a new movement that encourages every girl to be who they were truly born and made to be. It was started when Carol’s Daughter teamed up with I Am That Girl, a non-profit co-founded by Emily Greener that inspires girls to love, express, and be exactly who they want to be. You know that’s what we strive to do here every single day so we are so here for this!
If you are too, then it’s easy to get involved. Simply upload your own photo at BornandMade.com and tell us who you were born and made to be, because “where we’re born, what we were made with — whether those are good or bad things — all play into the people that we ultimately become,” Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter, told Pop Sugar.
Lisa Price and Emily Greener joined forces with a few more of our favorites from Naptural85 to activist and writer Michela Angela Davis and more, and together they’re giving women a powerful platform to showcase their individuality while inspiring others to be who they are. This couldn’t have come at a better time, when there are so many voices telling them who they’re “supposed” to be – what we should wear, how we should talk, what our careers should be, and, of course, “acceptable” ways to wear our hair.
That is why it’s more important than ever before that we help our girls “understand and recognize their power and the right way to use it. It’s imperative to remind them of who they are, and what they are…in the world. If I can help with that, then I’m getting up for a good reason every day,” says Lisa Price.
As daughters, mothers, friends and women who work every day to help other women embrace what they were born with, we couldn’t resist getting in on the movement.
We shared ours, now we’d love to see yours! Create your own at Bornandmade.com.
This post is sponsored by Carol’s Daughter.
Coconut oil is one of the most popular oils in hair care, and there’s a scientific reason for it. Coconut is “able to have this powerful effect on the hair is because of its linear structure and low molecular weight, which allows it to actually penetrate into the cortex,” according to DrWalkerWellness. While most oils act as sealants and sit on top of the hair cuticle to lock moisture in, coconut can actually penetrate your hair’s cortex to moisturize your hair.
That is why new brand MultiEthnic included coconut oil in the top 5 ingredients of its Coconut Silk Curl Definer (while leaving out sulfates, silicones and parabens”>. They base many of their formulations on the ingredients found in ancient, natural remedies that women with curly hair gravitate towards today.
If you’d like to try the Coconut Silk Curl Definer for yourself, enter our giveaway below.
Giveaway
5 lucky winners will win their own Coconut Silk Curl Definer, all you have to do is comment below telling us why you’d like to win!
This giveaway ends September 25 and is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.
*Please make sure you have liked us on Facebook, so that we can notify you if you’ve won.
[prodmod]This post is sponsored by Jirano.
DevaCurl products have been mainstays in the bathroom cabinets of curly girls since its launch in 2002, but the line wasn’t completely meeting the needs of those with tighter textures.
“We heard from our consumers that they needed more – more moisture benefits, more strength benefits,” says Shari Harbinger, VP of Education for DevaCurl. So this year DevaCurl introduced three new products formulated to suit the needs of tighter, coily-haired women: SuperCream, No-Poo Decadence and One Condition Decadence. SuperCream came out in July and several of our editors have been using it since then, but the No-Poo and One Condition products just launched this month and we’ve been testing it and discussing our experiences here in the office, and it’s only right to share!
Here is what three of our editors, with curl patterns ranging from Type 3c-Type 4a, think of all three of the new products. For a reference of what their hair looks like, you can see Amanda’s 4a coils in action here, Devri’s 3c curl pattern here, and Evelyn’s colorful 4b coils here.
Note: This post is not sponsored by DevaCurl.
No-Poo Decadence
“Probably the thickest cleanser I’ve ever used that actually cleanses my hair and scalp. The fact that I can finger detangle with it = game changer. When I rinse, my hair is soft and I can honestly skip the conditioner portion if I’m in a hurry. It’s color-safe and sulfate-free, with minimal lather. It doesn’t just feel like a conditioner marketed as a cleanser – my scalp and hair is truly clean after use.” – Evelyn, Type 4b“I was amazed at how this shampoo had no lather but still gave me a fresh cleanse. It wasn’t a squeaky clean, either–I didn’t feel like the natural oils in my scalp were being stripped away with a Brillo pad at all (which is what a lot of shampoos make me feel afterward”>. The Decadence shampoo almost made me feel like I could have used it on my entire head as a 2-in-1 conditioner and shampoo. It was moisturizing and removed my styling product from the last wash out of my scalp, allowing for more natural volume and lift that lasted for days. The scent is a bit heavy, but overall, I would use this again.” – Devri, Type 3c
One Condition Decadence
“I love a thick, moisturizing rinse-out conditioner. And while this is thick, it isn’t heavy–so I never once felt like it was weighing my curls down. The ingredients penetrated every inch of my hair from root to tip. It almost felt like my longtime deep conditioner holy grail Eden Bodyworks Jojoba, as far as consistency goes. I also didn’t mind the scent at all, and I have a pretty sensitive nose. I love that this conditioner contains strengthening/softening Quinoa and olive oil. This conditioner didn’t require me to seal with an oil afterward like I typically do on wash day. After a couple of uses, my wash-and-gos were so soft and bouncy. My curls were instantly revitalized and my 2nd and 3rd day hair never lost definition.” – Devri, Type 3c
“Decadence is right! This conditioner is thick enough to double as my deep treatment, but not so thick that I can’t work it through my hair. Easily able to finger detangle my hair, both on wet freshly washed hair and dry, dirty hair if I feel like doing my wash day routine in reverse. It smells like cologne which I wasn’t expecting. Not a fan of the fragrance. A little goes a long way, and my hair’s fairly short, so $22 for 12 oz is okay. When I rinse it out, my hair is so soft I don’t need a leave-in, which is great because the Supercream is so moisturizing, it doubles as a leave-in anyway. A+!” – Evelyn, Type 4b
SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler
“My hat goes off to DevaCurl, because this DevaCurl Supercream styler is perfection. Oftentimes I struggle to find stylers with moisturizing benefits and holding properties that do not leave my hair crunchy. My biggest deal breaker with any styler is lack of spreadability. When a styler is not formulated with a lot of lubricating properties, then my hair tends to drag and even tangle and I did not do all of that detangling for nothing. The cetearyl alcohol, coconut oil, and glycerin gives this styler plenty of slip and leaves your hair buttery soft with a lightweight hold and no crunch. My hair has maintained its wash and go definition for 5-6 days with this styler, which is impressive, especially with my 4a a coils in hot and humid Texas.” – Amanda, Type 4a
“It’s definitely a two-in-one product! No leave-in conditioner necessary. I never thought I’d utter those words, but it’s true. The Supercream moisturizes and defines. It has enough hold for easy 4-day hair. Amazing slip, but that tricks me into using way too much per section. Use too much, and I have slight dust flakes. I’ve been able to fix it with a couple drops of oil though. It’s pretty pricy, like add my leave-in and styler together and it’s still cheaper than this pricy. Overall, this product does what Deva promised it would!
Overall: My hair may be color-treated/damaged but this is still a TON of moisture! I don’t need both the cleanser and the conditioner. I’d just go with one and then the Supercream.” – Evelyn, Type 4b
“My hair usually shrinks quickly after washing–it’s big with some frizz at the top of my crown on most days. With Supercream I have noticed defined, soft, and shiny curls that haven’t lost their definition or gotten frizzy all day long. My hair may look elongated when I get to work, but usually halfway through the day my curls usually shrink up and my hair takes on a rounded, short shape. But after using Supercream, my curls look healthily elongated, enhanced, and super defined all day long. I actually notice the length of my curls more and my hair still appears as if they’re wet and fresh out of a wash, even though they are 100% dry.
My curls are also softer than ever. I just got my hair colored two days ago, but I can say this styler has helped restore the natural sheen and life back into my curls. Its consistency is that of a cream-gel, with a bit of hold but not too much. I haven’t experienced any flaky cast that sometimes comes with a styling cream or gel.” – Devri, Type 3c
The verdict
These products are packed with moisture and caused our editors to use terms like “impressive,” “TON of moisture,” “perfection” and “A+!” But at more than $20 per bottle, you’d be spending upwards of $70 if you went out and bought all three – which is no small consideration. Luckily, the reviewers pointed out that the no-poo is so moisturizing you could skip your conditioner, and the conditioner is so effective you don’t need a leave-in, and the styler is practically a leave-in and curl definer in one – so instead of buying two or three products you can splurge on just one.
Which of these products are you most excited to try?
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