Search Results: NaturallyCurly

By NaturallyCurly · Published December 18, 2014

NaturallyCurly community member Nadirah Iman is in the process of developing the natural hair documentary, My Hair My Voice, and we’re thrilled to share her project and her story with you. Iman and her producing partner have spent the last two years working on the documentary and here is what she has learned in the process.

What is the goal of your film?

The goal of My Hair My Voice is to celebrate the artistic expression of Black hair.

As my producing partner, Quenell Jones, and I began conceptualizing and developing this documentary, we wanted to present a new idea about Black hair. We settled on approaching the subject as an Art form.

For example, some methods of “Locing” resemble the process of creating Fiber Art while Afro textured hair has the ability to be manipulated into various styles much like the process of sculpting. My Hair My Voice’s goal is to look beyond the social and political implications of Black hair and open the door for a different perspective, which is to admire the beauty and diversity of Black hair.

In the earlier stages of filming this documentary, we decided to take our audience on the journey with us to completing this film. By posting relevant material to our social media pages like historical and scientific information, Art series pertaining to Black hair, to teaser trailers showcasing the footage that we have filmed thus far; we wanted to build a community around the process of making My Hair My Voice.

Is there anything you’ve learned in the process of making this film that surprised you?

Yes, there have been many discoveries that have been quite interesting and intriguing. One example in particular is how the word Natural is defined within Black communities across parts of America. Thus far we have interviewed over thirty women including hair care professionals from Chicago to New York. In those communities, Natural hair has a different meaning and significance. Another example that I have observed is the controversy over the Number system and its effectiveness within the Natural hair community.

How has making this film affected your own natural hair journey?

Producing My Hair My Voice has made a huge impact on my natural hair journey.  During the research and development phase of making this documentary, I was in the early stages of my transition to natural. While educating myself about how to take care of my hair at the different phases of growth, my knowledge of my own hair and Black hair in general accelerated. For example, by researching the scientific aspects of Black hair, I’ve learned how to discern which ingredients in products work best for my hair.  Furthermore, since my natural hair journey plays a significant part in this documentary as well as gaining a solid understanding of the history of Black hair and beauty culture; this information has helped me to confront my perceptions of my own hair, which allowed me to appreciate it even more.

Tell us about one of the people you’ve interviewed for the film?

One of the many professionals that we have had the opportunity to interview was Karen Tappin Saunderson, owner of Karen’s Body Beautiful. She gave us the opportunity to tour her production facility and provided insight into her inspiration to producing the product line.

There have been other hair documentaries, what did you feel was missing from the conversation that you wanted to shed light on with your film?

Diversity in the Natural hair community helps define this new movement and how My Hair My Voice wants to contribute to this vibrant conversation is with viewing Black hair culture as an artistic expression.

My Hair My Voice wants to investigate the diversity of hair textures and hairstyles styles, such as the evolution from the Press-N-Curl to the Jheri Curl, the birth of the Afro as a political symbol, the rise of the weave, to the reemergence of the Natural hair movement as a form of self-expression.

You’re currently raising money through your Indiegogo campaign, what will the money raised go towards funding? 

For making a contribution to the My Hair My Voice Indiegogo campaign you are supporting career filmmakers who have been developing and researching this feature film for the past two years. To enrich the brevity of our historical section, we will need archival footage and photographs of pioneers like Madame CJ Walker, imagery of Black hair during the civil rights movement, and political figures such as Angela Davis with her iconic Afro.  Also, we want original music that would bring life to the originality of the film.

For making a contribution you will help provide travel expenses to places such as Atlanta and Louisiana that have a rich history of Black hair culture.

For aspiring filmmakers or anyone reading this who may want to start a creative endeavor like this one, how did you get started making this film?

For us it started with the evolution of one idea, and with that came the enthusiasm to develop and research it. And lastly, your dedication to the completion of the project, by any means necessary.

You can follow this project at:

https://www.facebook.com/myhairmyvoice?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

@myhairmyvoice

By NaturallyCurly · Published December 16, 2014

By adding a little creativity of the mind and some good ol’ handcrafted personalization, creating one of these inexpensive gifts for your curlfriends this holiday season will be unexpected and appreciated.

Make it in a mug.

Find a plain mug and decoupage pretty patterned papers or pictures onto it. Go online and look for quotes about beauty, curls, hair, style, etc. Keep in mind your friends’ style and curl type. Look for hints and ideas for their hair type. Type up the quotes that pertain to their style on a plain Word document. Keep them smaller in font and lay them out so 15-20 cover a page. Cut them out in strips and place them in the mug. Layer the typed sheet onto cardstock (to reinforce the slips and make them look a little prettier”> then cut them out and fill the mug.

Or buy one of Keturah Ariel’s coffee mugs (pictured above”> if you don’t feel like doing it yourself.

A hair journal kit.

Get knifty – as in, knitting.

Journey vision/progress board.

Vintage recipe note cards.

By NaturallyCurly · Published December 9, 2014

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOVEEMBRACEINSPIRE.COM

Cold weather can make for itchy skin and a dry scalp. Curls can suffer too– from lack of moisture and dried tresses. Knowing how your skin and hair adapt naturally to the cold is helpful. Once you see and feel the changes of the season, begin to make some changes to your hair care routine too.

So, why doesn’t your hair like the cold? Perhaps one of these common reasons.

1. It’s dry out there!

Stay extra hydrated this winter. Curly hair tends to be dry by default, so it needs some extra love once the weather starts cooling down. Start drinking more water. Carry a small spray bottle with you on your commute filled with water and a leave-in conditioner.

2. Goodbye, shine…

Sadly, our hair suffers more when the temps drop and dull hair sets in. Do not wash your hair every day–this will disturb the natural oils in your hair that help promote growth and add natural sheen to your curls. Avoid dyes and fragrances in your product if you notice your hair feeling thinner.

Use a moisturizing cleansing conditioner (co-wash”>. Choose one based on your hair type, porosity, and thickness. For a list of conditioners with reviews from curly members, check the Product Database.

3. Split ends and brittleness

Dryer hair leads to split ends, ultimately leading to breakage. Set aside 30-45 minutes for a weekly deep conditioning treatment. Cover your hair with a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer. Rinse out product thoroughly with a sulfate-free shampoo or cleansing conditioner.

Look for products containing humectants for your curls during the winter. Puddings, creams and butters are great options. Experiment and find out just how much of the product your tresses can handle without being weighed down, but still moisturized. These types of products are usually heavier in consistency than other stylers.

If you haven’t tried a curl refresher before, you may also want to during this season as well. They are especially helpful for revitalizing second-day hair and beyond without cleansing or conditioning.

4. Dress up without flattening down

By NaturallyCurly · Published December 4, 2014

What you’ll need

Watch the video

To maintain

This article was written by NappturallyChicJere. You can follow her on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

By NaturallyCurly · Published December 3, 2014

High school is a roller coaster, which at times, seems to have more downs than ups, and other times more ups than downs. I found myself starting my junior year in a completely new setting with few friends. For those of you who have never been ‘the new kid’ take this piece of advice: confidence is key.

I walked in on my first day in a new high school with a smile on my face and curls in my hair. The amount of compliments that I got about my hair from strangers was astonishing.

“Oh my gosh is this your natural hair?” When I answer yes I usually get a ‘lucky’ or ‘I’m so jealous’.

When I was in middle school I woke up an hour earlier than I should’ve every day so I could hide something that I’ve come to love. I straightened my hair because that was what all the other girls did. I didn’t realize that having curly hair was a characteristic that set me apart from the teenage girl crowd. It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I started wearing my hair naturally. I felt different, like I had finally found the answer to the most important question to me. Who am I? I’m Hayley; yes the one with the curly hair.

Every girl feels that they should look their best going in to their first day of school, and I did that with curly hair. I wasn’t afraid of what people would think of my curls because I love them. I do stand out, but that doesn’t matter because I’ve accepted the fact that I’m different.

After every shower I have a short process to make my curls shiny and not frizzy. First off I comb through it and get all of the tangles out, then I run through it with an oil of my choice (Argon, Moroccan, Monoi, Keratin, or Macadamia”>, and lastly I scrunch sections of my hair with mousse or styling cream. I then let it air dry to get pretty curls.

It took me a while to find hairstyles that I could use at school, but I eventually found a few I wear often. I try to keep it simple because less is more. I usually wear my hair with a headband, pinned back by a few bobby pins, or half up half down. I like using a headband because I can coordinate it with my outfit or add a pop of color if I’m only wearing neutrals. It also keeps the hair out of my face and is easy to do with my hair in a pony tail or down. I usually pin my hair back when I have a test that day. This hairstyle keeps the hair out of my eyes and you can get creative with it, such as braiding, twisting, etc. Lastly, and my favorite, half up, half down. Its simplicity makes me confident that my curls look the best they can.

High School is a time in your life to figure out who you are. Don’t hide your curls because everyone has straight hair or you’re afraid of what others would think. Be your natural self, a curly girl.

This article was written by Hayley Sureck.

By NaturallyCurly · Published December 3, 2014

The United Kingdom is a diverse country and with that brings an exciting and beautiful multitude of waves, curls, spirals, and coils.

The British curly hair market has recently boomed in response to the increasing number of people embracing their natural textures, and it has lead to a wide range of products designed for wavies, curlies and coilies’ specific needs!

CurlMart ships internationally so you can always order your favorite curly products, but if you’d like to walk into your local store and pick up shampoo or conditioner, then this list is for you.

Illustration by NikisGroove

By NaturallyCurly · Published December 2, 2014

Hair color–lightening, bleaching–is always a matter of chemistry. Many women use hair color to give them a newer, fresher look, while others are simply covering some greys and roots. It’s estimated that over 1/3 of women over the age of 18 color or lighten their hair frequently. There is a growing trend of men as well, who are also using more hair color more now than ever.

Quick history lesson

The first commercial hair color was invented in 1909 by French chemist, Eugene Schueller. Since then, dozens of chemists have reformulated colors and lighteners to enhance natural colors and help rid of unwanted greys.

Today’s chemical processes may still not be considered safe, and coloring and lightening hair will always take  a toll on hair’s natural shine and body. But using a deep conditioning system and maintaining a healthy hair routine aids in making color last and keeping hair looking it’s best.

So, how does it work?

Normally, bleach is used to lighten hair. It reacts with the melanin (the part responsible for the color tones in your natural hair”> in the hair, and removes the color in an irreversible chemical reaction. The bleach oxidizes the melanin molecule. Although the melanin is still present, the oxidized molecule is colorless.

Hair bleach tends to leave a yellowish tint on the hair at first. The yellow color is the natural color of keratin, the structural protein in hair. Bleach also  reacts more readily with the dark eumelanin pigment than with the pheomelanin (longer polymers”>, so some gold or red residual color may remain after lightening.

Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most common lightening agents found in hair color. The peroxide is used in an alkaline solution, which opens the hair shaft to allow the peroxide to react with the melanin. Hydrogen peroxide reacts with melanin, breaking their double bonds and eliminating their ability to absorb light. Because pheomelanin is more stable than eumelanin, hair that is in the process of being bleached often begins taking on an orange-red hue.

In addition to hydrogen peroxide, commercial bleaching products will usually have persulfate salts to help speed up the process, and stabilizers to help prevent the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide also weakens the cell membrane complex by oxidizing bonds between cuticle cells, disulfide bonds in the cortical matrix, and other areas rich in amino acids. This makes the hair brittle and weak. Hydrogen peroxide also can damage a lipid on the surface of the hair called 18-MEA. As a result, bleached hair will also frequently feel dry.

It is most important to keep bleached (lightened”> hair extremely moisturized after a color/bleach treatment. Deep conditioning with natural products like coconut and jojoba oils will keep hair healthy and looking it’s best.

Try one of these products specially formulated to work with color-treated hair:

• Ouidad Color Sense Color Preserving Shampoo
• Hask Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment
• Tgin Honey Miracle Mask
• ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner
• John Frieda Sheer Blonde Lightening Conditioner

By NaturallyCurly · Published November 26, 2014

Many curly and wavy haired girls would agree that frizz is a fierce foe. If you want to defeat the enemy then it’s going to require you get cool, or rather cold, and if that doesn’t work then you may need to change up a few of your habits. Here are seven cool ways to beat frizz once and for all.

1. Cool It

Rinse your hair in cool water (turn the faucet down as cold as you can bear”> to lock in moisture and prevent that unwanted frizz. Taking cold showers aren’t as relaxing as our hour long warm ones but the results are enough to convince you. Not only do they prevent frizz, they also keep your hair color from fading if you’ve dyed it. Likewise, blow-drying your hair on a cooler setting for the last minute of your process will contain the frizz resulting in a beautiful shine. Score!

2. Refrigerate Before Use

Store your leave-in conditioner in the refrigerator between uses as an alternative to taking those not-so-awesome cold showers. If you want stronger, shinier strands but are not willing to give up your hot shower, then this is the next best thing. It will work in the same way to seal the cuticle in the final step of your hair care routine.

3. Co-llaborate

Don’t worry co-washing doesn’t mean having someone else wash your hair for you (talk about awkward”>. It simply means cleansing your hair with only conditioner rather than shampoo. This treatment hydrates dry hair making it shiny and healthy. You can also create your own cowash by cocktailing your conditioner with your shampoo (read here for an easy recipe”>. For some naturally curly girls, co-washing is all they do.

4. Conditioning, Not the Hair Product. Exercise.

Ladies, your hair can still look great and smell awesome when you are working out. Before you hit the gym make sure to distribute leave in conditioner or styling cream in your hair. After doing so just put your hair in a bun and go work out. This will keep the moisture in your hair.

5. The Curl Diet

Did you know that eating fruits and vegetables keeps your hair healthy? Well now you do! Asparagus contains folic acid, which is great for reviving thick hair and quickening hair growth. For those of you who lose hair easily, Garbanzo Beans will limit the loss and protect your hair from damage. Lentils contain a fair amount of iron which gives curls that bouncy look. Avocados consist of vitamins B and E, which will make your scalp healthier along with your curls! If you are experiencing frizz and no amount of product is making a dent, it might be time to take a look at your diet.

6. Quit Heat

Having curly or wavy hair isn’t easy at times. For some girls (including myself”> if we let our hair air dry it will end up extremely frizzy, but if we try to tame the curls/ waves with a straightener our hair fries. For those of you who do not have these problems, I am jealous. However, there are solutions to this dilemma. This heatless wave trick has saved me so much time and I recommend it to every curly girl!

7. The Nighttime Frizz Fighter

Let’s face it; morning hair for curly and wavy girls can sometimes resemble a lion’s mane. This trick will turn your role of ‘king of the jungle’ to the queen of curly hair. Sleeping with a high ponytail will ward off the frizz and the unnecessary craziness. I recommend using a scrunchie or a thick, elastic headband to tie your hair up with. These products are less likely to break your hair and won’t leave a crease. With this trick you’ll be able to start your day without having to tame your mane. Bow down.

This article was written by Hayley Sureck.

By NaturallyCurly · Updated May 28, 2024

Without conditioner, where would we be in our naturally curly lives? Seriously…

Textured hair LOVES moisture. And we need it.

Using a regular conditioning treatment (or conditioner”> within your shower routine can help improve your hair’s appearance, shine, bounce, and volume. Without conditioning treatments, hair can break, becoming more damaged and prone to the dreaded frizz halo. This also makes conditioners great detanglers for textured hair types.

So how exactly does it work?

The outer layer of our hair–known as a coating called sebum–protects the cuticle by keeping bacteria out and preventing water loss. With this, hair remains full of shine and luster throughout the day.

When we have mistreated our hair via heat styling tools, overdoing it on product, color, bleach, or relaxing, the sebum is removed, thus increasing the risk of damage to our hair. Here’s where our friend conditioner comes to the rescue. Because  shampoo can remove the layers of protective coating from the cuticles that are much needed, conditioner helps to replenish the oily coating by clinging to areas that are dry and in need of protection.

Cationic Surfactants

Most hair conditioners are made of only a few ingredients but the cationic surfactants do most of the work.

At one end of every cationic surfactant molecule is a positive charge that binds to the negative charge of a hair strand. The attraction is so strong that the surfactants completely surround the strand and cover the cuticle flakes, protecting and coating them.

Silicones, panthenol, detergents

• Conditioners that contain silicones may not just coat the hair but will also help to give the illusion that hair is healthier by leaving it with more shine.
• Some conditioner ingredients are able to penetrate the cuticle, entering the cortex. An example of one is panthenol, not only readily binds to the hair shaft, it is able to enter the hair and increase hair strength.
• Better conditioners will not contain detergents (which would have adverse effects on our hair”> and will use quality ingredients.

Some top conditioner picks for curls

As I Am Naturally Coconut CoWash Conditioner, WEN Cucumber Aloe Cleansing Conditioner, SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Cleanser, DevaCurl No Poo and Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk.

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By NaturallyCurly · Published November 24, 2014

You may have seen before and after photos where the before is curly and the after is stick straight, you know the ones. For women who dislike their curls and long for straight hair that may be compelling, but that’s not us. We love curls, coils and waves in every shape, size and color. We love to play with our hair and style it in a variety of ways, as long as we can feel confident that our curls will come back healthy and well, curly! So three of our own NaturallyCurly team members headed to the salon to try Brazilian Blowouts out on their own curls, coils and waves and reported back on how it went.

Kami’s Type 4 Blowout

First up was Kami, our Account Manager who big chopped just this year. She wanted to try the Blowout for some more definition and hydration, and she likes “the flexibility of easily temporarily  straightening my hair if I choose to do so.” Before getting the treatment she “wasn’t sure what to expect, honestly – it’s not something I personally have seen on many women with 4B hair. Those who do have 4B hair usually choose to wear the finished look straight. So I was a little nervous on the impact the treatment would have on my curls.”

As you can see from Kami’s before photo (above, left”> and after (on the right”> her curl pattern was not drastically altered, in fact you might not even notice the difference unless you felt her hair for yourself. Kami says “my hair is so soft! As the weather gets colder my hair is constantly breaking and getting firm – after the blowout, my hair feels so hydrated. I had no idea my curls could pop like this. I also feel like my curls are more stretched than they were before the treatment. I love the bit of extra length it gave me.”

So the Brazilian Blowout definitely doesn’t straighten hair every time, it really depends on your hair, your goals and of course your stylist. It’s extremely important that you have a consultation with your stylist before getting the treatment to give them a full understanding of what you would like to achieve with your Blowout (for example, that you want to keep your curls”>. This, along with your hair type and curl pattern, will determine how the stylist carries out the treatment.

Make sure you’re in good hands

Your stylist should be certified in using the Brazilian Blowout, as in they should have a valid certificate to show their clients. Make sure they’ve re-certified within the last 12 months to make sure they are up to speed on the latest and greatest techniques. During the client consultation make sure to share with the stylist that you want to customize the treatment to keep your curls. It’s up to the certified stylist to customize a treatment based on the porosity of the hair, coarseness, etc. For a true Brazilian Blowout, the steps of the treatment summary sheet should be followed, but most frequently skipped is the last step of masking and rinsing out the treatment. This is a no-no! A client should NEVER leave the salon with solution in their hair. EVER.

” src=”https://diana-cdn.naturallycurly.com/Articles/6W_Susonnah-1.jpg”>

Susonnah’s Type 2 Blowout

Susonnah is our SEO Strategist and resident Type 2B expert. Susonnah’s hair concerns are obviously very different to Kami’s! Type 2B hair can be very fickle, some days the waves decide not to clump and some days your Holy Grail does absolutely nothing for you. Depending on the weather, frizz can be a big issue. As you can see from Susonnah’s before photo (above, left”> she experiences a small amount of frizz, and after her Blowout she was expecting “to have absolutely zero frizz. Brazilian Blowout is known to smooth out the hair and get rid of frizz, so I was hoping to see that.” Susonnah definitely did not want to lose her waves in the process, and as you can see in her after photo (on the right”> she still has her waves, they’re just a little looser, “my hair is so much softer and lighter than it was before. It also has absolutely NO frizz, and my waves are looser.”

How to care for your Blowout

The effects of a Brazilian Blowout are meant to last up to 12 weeks after the treatment. Curly girls tend to wash their hair less often, so depending on your routine this time period may be even longer with curly hair. When washing your hair, the brand recommends that you cleanse and condition with their Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner, which includes the same ingredients found in the treatment so “the hair is infused with the Super Nutrient Complex with every wash, gently washing out impurities and conditioning without compromising the treatment.” If you want to prolong your treatment, then avoid “other shampoos and conditioners that claim to be ‘sulfate-free.’  Just because they say they are, doesn’t mean they work with the treatment and, over time, could wash out the treatment.” As far as styling goes, you can style your curls just as you normally would.

Jamie’s Type 3 Blowout

You can probably see the most drastic difference here with Jamie, our Account Manager with a mix of 3A and 3B curls. We get a lot of questions from our curly community asking if they can have more than one curl pattern, and the answer is yes! Jamie’s curl pattern varies on different parts of her head, “the crown of my head bears the brunt of my frizz and has a tighter curl pattern than the bottom half.” Jamie says “As you can imagine my main reason for trying the Brazilian Blowout was to minimize the frizz and take down some of the volume, while keeping my natural curls. I also wanted to be able to better define my curls, especially on day 2 and 3 of my wash. The left ‘before’ picture is how I woke up on second day hair.”

This was not Jamie’s first Brazilian Blowout, and she keeps going back because she loves the effect they have on her hair. But the first time she got a Blowout she felt “nervous that the treatment would straighten my hair and take out the curl, but neither was true.” You can see a visible difference in Jamie’s curls, but in terms of her hair regimen Jamie is finding that her “curls are drying faster, the frizz is better controlled, and I am using a fraction of the product that I was before.”

We hope this gave you a better idea of what to expect if you’re considering a Brazilian Blowout. If you have curly hair and have tried one, please share your experience with the curly community in the comments below!

Let us know, have you had a Brazilian Blowout? How did it affect your curls?

This post is sponsored by Brazilian Blowout.

By NaturallyCurly · Published November 23, 2014

You love your curls, your ends are trimmed, your hair’s as healthy as it’s ever been, but the season’s changing and you’re in the mood to try… something. When Tiffany was feeling like no matter what she did her hair looked “dull and bland” she decided to try dying her hair jet black. If you’re considering going darker for the winter, watch Tiffany’s video to see how she did it at home for less than $4.

Why did you want to color your hair?

I wanted to color my hair because it was looking very dull and the grey hairs didn’t help. Grey hairs at a young age is common in my family and I was seeing them a whole lot. So I thought to myself, “It’s time!”

Why did you choose Bigen?

My sister-in-law suggested I use Bigen as she is a user of the product herself. Having natural hair, I wanted to use a product that wouldn’t damage my hair, or change its curl pattern. Since Bigen is ammonia free, I thought I’d give it a try. It was quick and easy to use.

How did you choose the right color? Did the color turn out the way you thought it would?

I knew I wanted jet black hair. So finding the color was quite easy for me. As far as how it turned out, JB1 Jet Black was perfect for me and I was very happy with it!

Since this is a temporary color, how long did it last for you?

Honestly, it lasted for me longer than I expected and I think that’s because I chose a dark color on already dark hair. It lasted about 3 1/2 months or so.

Hair color can get messy! How do you keep from getting dye all over the place? And how do you clean up afterwards?

Well Bigen comes in a power form, so I just poured the powder into a plastic bowl and poured in the appropriate amount of water and stirred until it became a dark paste. I used gloves and made sure to follow the instructions which explain the process, so it was actually very easy and mess-free for me.

Did your hair feel dry or damaged from adding color to it?

No, honestly, I was so afraid to color my hair in the first place because I was afraid of my hair getting damaged along with feeling and looking dry. So I made sure to keep my hair moisturized which is a normal routine for me anyway. Especially with any kind of color or chemically treated hair, maintaining moisture is a must! I didn’t experience a change in my curls whatsoever and my hair wasn’t damaged after using Bigen.

Curly haired women often have to buy more than one bottle to color all of their hair, how many did it take to saturate all of your hair?

I used two bottles, just because I wanted to make sure it took the first time around and with having thick hair two bottles was more than enough.

Do you have any other tips from your experience that you want to share with someone who’s dying their hair at home for the first time?

Always make sure to do your research and make sure to follow the instructions for any product you put in your hair. If your unsure or hesitant, test a small section of your hair to see how your hair takes to a product instead of going all in at once. This way if you don’t like it, your whole head of hair is not affected.

Watch the Video

To see more of Tiffany, you can follow her on

Instagram: @NaturallyTN

Twitter: www.twitter.com/naturallytn

YouTube: www.youtube.com/naturallytn

This post was sponsored by Bigen, but Tiffany was not paid to try this product and these are her own opinions.

By NaturallyCurly · Published November 22, 2014

It’s one thing to practice trial and error on our own heads of hair. We may feel the thrill of trying a new product or have the patience to perfect a new hairstyle, but when it comes to our little ones – not so much.

We obviously love curly hair and want to raise our curly kiddos to love their curls too, and one of the big benefits of having curly hair is the freedom to style it curly, straight, coily and everything in between. Sometimes we get curious questions from the mommies in our community about how to straighten their curly kiddos’ hair and feel confident that those curls will come right back. The African Pride Dream Kids system is a kit of products that help you do just that. Watch the video to see how it worked on three different curl patterns.

Watch the Video

This post is sponsored by African Pride Dream Kids.

By NaturallyCurly · Published November 19, 2014

Question: How can I treat dry scalp?

My hair is perfectly fine. It holds moisture. It’s healthy. My problem is my scalp is dry. It’s eczema. It does not itch. It’s just dry. I’ve tried light oils heavy oils and and I’m still struggling with dry scalp. – Arlewis2186, Type 4b

Answer:

According to Dr. Kari Williams, Licensed Trichologist and Natural Hair Expert

Dry scalp is very frustrating. Eczema of the scalp can be treated with a salicylic acid based shampoo. The salicylic acid exfoliates and helps to remove the dry scales from the scalp caused by your eczema. I typically recommend Neutrogena T-Sal to my clients. When using the shampoo, apply it directly to your scalp, allow it to sit 10-15 minutes then rinse it out completely. Now medicated shampoos are drying so make sure you follow up with your moisturizing shampoo and deep conditioner to replenish your strands with much needed moisture. When you complete your shampoo regimen massage coconut oil and jojoba oil into the scalp. If you are not into mixing your own oils try Eden Bodyworks Jojoba Minoi Oil. Incorporate the medicated shampoo into your regimen once a week for one month. If the condition improves use it only when needed.

This week Dr. Kari is answering your questions on Curly Q&A. If you need advice on anything from hair damage to bad haircuts,  you can ask her here.

Dr. Kari is one of the leading voices in the natural hair care movement. She is the newly appointed Vice President of the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Dr. Kari is also a Board Certified Trichologist, Licensed Natural Hair Care Specialist, Barber, Master Loctician and owner of Mahogany Hair Revolution Salon and Trichology Clinic in Beverly Hills, California.

By NaturallyCurly · Published November 18, 2014

Curly and coily haired women are notorious for taking matters into their own hands when it comes to their hair. We trim, style and even mix our own treatments. We like to call it Curly Mixology. But if you are new to the world of natural hair then it can be hard, and sometimes overwhelming, to know where to start. So here are two simple curly cocktails that we guarantee anyone can do at home.

DIY CoWash

If you’ve begun to care for your natural hair, you’ve probably heard by now that you need to keep shampooing to a minimum. That’s not to say that you should stop shampooing, but when you do you want to make sure you are not stripping or drying your hair out too much. One of the easiest ways to do that is to mix conditioner into your shampoo.

Recipe:

• 1 part shampoo – such as HAIRepair Invigorating Shampoo
• 3 parts daily conditioner – such as HAIRepair Nourishing Conditioner

The amounts will really vary based on how long, thick and dense your hair is. So rather than telling you one tablespoon we prefer to give it to you in parts. Simply mix this together and shampoo as you normally would. Some curlies like to condition again after they cowash, but you should try this out for yourself and see if you need the extra moisture.

DIY Deep Treatment

It is important for naturals to do a deep treatment about once a week to make sure your hair isn’t losing too much moisture.

Recipe:

• 1 part conditioner – such as HAIRepair Nourishing Conditioner
• 1 part oil – such as HAIRepair Silkening Serum

For this cocktail, simply mix equal parts of your favorite conditioner with your favorite oil. Apply this throughout the hair and leave it on at least 30 minutes to an hour. To open up the cuticle you can wrap the hair or put on a shower cap so that your body heat warms up the treatment.

Watch the Video

To see celebrity stylist Darico Jackson explain these recipes, watch the video!

This post is sponsored by ORS HAIRepair.

By NaturallyCurly · Published November 17, 2014

Faux bobs are a great look for special events, or just a way to change up your day to day look on longer hair–without a long term commitment. Following these simple steps with Kayley Melissa’s video tutorial, you can create your glam faux bob.

1. Make a base with the back part of your hair.

2. Tie up the back section of your hair –and twist loosely into small bun. This will help add some volume and shape to the overall faux bob once it’s done.

3. Let the rest of your hair down and twist it into looser curls or waves. Spray lightly with a holding mist.

4. Separate your remaining hair into 5 sections. (3 in back and 2 at top”>

5. Gather the middle/back section of your hair and wrap it around 2-3 fingers, like a donut shape, loosely. Pin that section underneath (where you have the small bun from step 1″> and do the same with the sections on the side. 

6. Pin your sections underneath.

7. Use a curling wand for the front section of your hair. Curl hair away from your face.

8. Loosen the curl with your fingers.

9. Take one section, wrap around 2-3 fingers, in a donut shape again, and roll up and pin underneath. Do the same for the other top section.

At night, add a sparkly hair clip. If any pieces come undone, be sure to have a few extra hair pins with you to fix them.

Watch the tutorial

By NaturallyCurly · Published November 10, 2014

Whether you are going to school or heading to a wedding, this simple updo is versatile and most importantly, easy to do. It is an everyday wearable style that your little girl will love.

You will need the following:

• rat tail comb
• ponytail holders
• smoothing gel
• bobby pins
• barrettes

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Step 1

Use a rat tail comb to create a horizontal part from ear to ear and secure the back section in a ponytail. Create another part from the crown to the front and secure the left and right sections with two ponytail holders.

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Step 2

Add smoothing gel to the edges and braid each section.

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Step 3

Pull the two braids toward the back, crossing one another, and wrap around the rear braid. Pin the ends in place with bobby pins. Next, wrap rear braid around the others and pin into a bun shape.

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Step 4

Finish with a soft gel to smooth fly-aways and add a flower or hair bow for a girly look.

This cute three braids and a bun is so easy to do. You can add that chic and sophisticated look by just adding a flower. This is a great look for a little sassy girl.

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By NaturallyCurly · Published November 4, 2014

In 2008 I became very ill. I lost my hair as if I had been given chemotherapy, had severe headaches, my body ached to a point where I knew I was dying. I found out I had Celiac Disease (meaning I can’t eat wheat”> which had caused my intestinal lining to tear which caused everything I ate to spill into my bloodstream and then my body started attacking itself (an autoimmune condition”>. I removed the wheat, eliminated all toxic processed foods from my diet and made my health a priority. I have recovered and my hair is growing back nicely. I realize how much I took my hair for granted after I lost it. I had a beautiful head of hair but never worried much about treating it with the respect it deserved. I used whatever cheap products I could find, applied heat, relaxed it with chemicals, etc. To heal my “sick hair” (as I call it”> I started to research the best practices including using healthy natural ingredients vs. chemically based ingredients so sites like Naturally Curly have been a godsend in the last couple of years. A friend of mine who has natural hair told me to use a tshirt and ditch the terry cloth towel for hair drying. I adopted this practice immediately and saw a huge difference in just the first week. Six months later the idea for The Original Curly Tee Towel popped in my head and it has taken off from there.

When making the Curly Tee Towels, I saw quite a bit of left over material. I often wear a wig as a protective style but noticed how dry my hair would be using those synthetic wig caps. I knew how wonderful cotton was to dry the hair and thought that a wig cap made out of the same material could help with that. I searched online and found one company that sold a basic wig cap made of cotton primarily to women who had chemo. I asked my seamstress at the time to make one similar to that to try. She did and I was amazed at how my hair retained its moisture and condition under my wig. I now won’t use anything else. I also eliminated the fake satin bonnets (which also dry the hair/strip natural oils”> by replacing them with a sleep bonnet made out of cotton (also one of our products”>.

Why cotton is better than (fake”> satin

Real satin is made from silk.  Fake satin is manufactured from nylon or polyester and these fabrics just don’t absorb and contain moisture well.  A prime example of this is when trying to clean up a liquid spill with a polyester cloth, the liquid either runs right through the fabric or it just moves the liquid around.  100% Cotton will absorb and contain the liquid and does the same thing with moisturizing products on the hair.

The Curly Tee Wig Caps are so soft and nourishing to the scalp.  Just like we don’t want to use a terry cloth towel to dry our hair, when we use other man-made fibers or something rough on the scalp where new hair is trying to come back, we want to make absolutely certain we are not irritating the hair follicle or the new hair growth.  The caps just add a safe layer of protection between the hats, scarves and wigs.

How to grow hair after chemotherapy

What You Eat

The most important tip for regrowth after chemo or other health issues is to pay attention to what you eat.  After a compromised immune system, I didn’t have the luxury to eat a lot of the same junk foods that I had eaten previously before my illness.  Since I had become sick from something I ate, I researched and found out the exorbitant amount of chemicals, pesticides, etc. that is in our food supply, so the last thing I wanted to do was add additional toxins to my body, so I now chose to consume fresh “organic” vegetables and fruits, I gave up entirely my meat, fish and poultry intake (if you can’t quit try to reduce”> and I went easy on my digestive system,  meaning I ate small meals more often during the day and left ample time to digest what I ate.

Scalp Care

I incorporated a scalp care regimen which included nightly scalp massages and various herbal tea scalp rinses.  Two of my favorites to this day are nettles and rosemary that I still use today.  One of the more radical things that I added was inversions.  I had seen several youtube videos on inversions for hair growth so I bought an inversion table and hang upside down two times a day now.  This has accelerated my hair growth tremendously.

Give Thanks

A huge thing for me during my regrowth stage up until now is to maintain a positive attitude.  In the beginning it was devastating to look in the mirror and see my hair gone.  What helped me get through was gratitude.  I would journal 5 – 10 things daily that I was grateful for.  Sure my hair was gone but I was still breathing with great family and friends who were happy to see me get better.  I stopped taking life for granted and it seems that once I took my focus off what I didn’t like when I looked in the mirror, my hair said, “Okay, it’s time to grow back now”…In 2011 I chopped off all of what I called my “sick hair” and it’s been growing great ever since.  I still haven’t reached the thickness I desire because I had so many bald spots, my hair is catching up.  So I trim when needed and continue my protective styling.

Giveaway

Have you or has someone you know lost their hair to illness or treatment of an illness?

We are giving away 10 Curly Tee Wig Caps, just leave a comment below and we will randomly select 10 winners on Tuesday, November 11.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, as per our Terms and Conditions.

*Please make sure you have liked us on Facebook, so that when we reply to your winning comment you receive a notification.

This article was written by Jaie Benson, the creator of Curly Tee Towels. Thank you Jaie for sharing your story and donating your Wig Caps to our community!

By NaturallyCurly · Published October 29, 2014

We love Christina Caradona of the blog Trop Rouge and her menswear-inspired style. We may be biased, but we feel her curly hair adds a big dose of attitude to anything she wears. So we were thrilled when she joined us along with Ouidad in our fight against breast cancer.

This post was written by Trop Rouge for the Curls for a Cure Campaign.