Search Results: NaturallyCurly
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
As a young girl, I always struggled with wearing my hair naturally. I could never find the right products that would actually work. On top of that, there was always this stigma around natural hair- that it was messy, an everyday look, but never elegant, chic, or classy.
In middle school I promised myself I’d change that and in college, I finally got the opportunity to start the business of my dreams, CURLē. A company that did more than offer haircare, but one that empowered curlies around the world to feel confident and elegant in their natural in ALL contexts with customized hair products for curls and coils.
I took one of my biggest insecurities growing up and decided to try my best to never allow anyone to feel the same insecurity I did- not knowing how to do my hair, and not feeling confident rocking my crown.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
For me, embracing my hair was more than just changing my hairstyle or not wearing braids anymore – it was embracing myself and my roots. In the tenth grade, I decided to transition to wearing my hair natural, teaching myself everything I could through YouTube, and then graduated to textbooks online – I really did read about curls for fun. And then when I started getting good at doing my hair, I started to teach the people around me, slowly becoming the curly hair expert that I am today.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering moments of my natural hair journey have been moments when the people around me started to embrace natural hair. My favorite moment was when my little sister asked me to do her hair for the first time. I remember she used to hate curly hair, as a little girl she would always complain about how frizzy and ugly it was, that she wanted straight her, but then one day she asked me to do her hair and she’s been a dedicated curly ever since.
How do you protect your curls at night?
A must-have for my night routine is a silk or satin pillow and a silk or satin scrunchie to pineapple my curls. I like to use the CURLē satin scrunchie because it’s huge! If my hair’s not in a pineapple, I like a good bonnet or silk wrap to keep my curls popping longer
Who is your curl crush?
Elaine Welteroth is my absolute curl crush! She embodies pure elegance and beauty while embracing her curls and I loveeee to see it, especially on TV- represent!
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Three things I absolutely cannot live without is a Denman brush, a scalp massager, and a great styling cream!!!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I like to keep my routine pretty simple so I make sure to deep condition once a week to maintain my hair health and then I just use a styling cream for my wash and go. I am absolutely in love with the CURLē deep conditioner and styling cream that I basically haven’t used anything else for the past two years.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
My most challenging moment was overcoming all of the internal biases that were so deeply ingrained into me by society. The thought that I could rock my hair elegantly at a business meeting or wedding or any fashionable event was always so difficult for me to really embrace. Sometimes I catch myself wanting to straighten my hair to get a more elegant look and I always have to check myself to really dig deeper and understand why it is that I used to feel more elegant in sleek hair than my beautiful curls.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
One of the biggest things that I learned when researching hair was that there are so many products on the market, many of which are popular that contain cancer-causing agents. When I realized this, I started to really look into the ingredients of the products that I was using and understanding that not all products are made for my hair type, texture, and porosity and that was a huge game-changer on my hair health.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My biggest advice to women who are struggling with loving their natural texture is to try new things and fantasize about your curls.
The beauty of natural hair is that not a single person on this planet has the same exact texture as you, it’s what makes you unique and beautifully you- embrace that and run with it!
Learn more about your curls and get products that are made for your hair porosity, type, and texture; enjoy the journey and appreciate progress.
Sometimes your waves need a little extra help after a wash day.
If your loose curls lose their bounce after you’re done cleansing and conditioning, you’re not alone! But for every curl problem, there’s a curl solution, and this one’s as simple as an old t-shirt.
No, we don’t mean DIYing something cute out of your “vintage” shirts to distract from your deflated hair (although, that’s not the worst idea…”>. We’re talking plopping. Basically, it’s wrapping your freshly cleansed hair in a t-shirt before bed in order to wake up with a head full of clearly defined curls with locked in moisture. It doesn’t have to just be a bedtime routine either. Depending on your texture, you might be able to make this work for drying and defining your hair in just a few hours! This is how you do it.
How to plop curly hair
1. Get the excess out
You want to plop freshly washed and detangled hair. However, you don’t want to plop with sopping wet hair or hair that’s already mostly dry, so find the middle ground. Use a different t-shirt to squeeze out extra water to get the right level of dampness—no dripping, but still wet to the touch. Alternatively, try a product like the Aquis Microfiber Towel to stop those droplets extra fast.
2. Style
This is where you put yourself to work!
T-shirts do a lot, but they’re not going to style your hair for you. Grab your styler and get to it. While you don’t want to get your hair wet again, or overload it with product, you do want to make sure that you’re giving your hair a good amount of hold. If you need to re-wet your hair during this process, grab a good spray bottle, and fill it with a mixture of water, and a creamy leave-in to get the same ingredient combo you like without the weight!
3. Wrap it up
Take an old cotton t-shirt and lay it flat on the bed or any flat surface with the sleeves at the top. Many curlies have found that long-sleeve shirts work best because you have more material to tie your knot with. Hang your head upside down and gently lower your curls onto the center of the t-shirt. Once all your hair is on the center of the shirt, begin rolling the bottom of it up towards your forehead while bringing the back to the nape of your neck. Tie the two ends at the nape of your neck into a knot to secure the shirt.
If your t-shirt isn’t long enough to secure the ends at the nape of your neck, you can also tuck them in during the next step.
Bring the top of the t-shirt towards your head while making sure your curls are all still at the center. Bring the arms down around the nape of your neck, covering the bottom of the t-shirt with the top of the t-shirt. Stand upright and bring the arms together to tie a knot that will secure the shirt in place, then tuck in any loose corners. From there, it’s just a matter of waiting until your hair is dry to see the high-def results!
So what makes plopping different from other drying methods?
Think of it kind of like making a pot roast on your head—the whole secret is letting your hair cook/dry slooooooooowly. Your hair’s not free to frizz as it pleases when you air dry it, and you’re not using any potentially curl disruptive heat! Bonus: cotton t-shirts are that happy medium between regular terrycloth and silk—absorbent enough to actually get your hair dry, while smooth enough to not cause breakage to damp hair.
Will this tip have you raiding your closet, curlies? Let us see your results!
This article has been updated.
Photo by Robert Gomez on Unsplash
More and more naturalistas are saying goodbye to harsh shampoos and adopting no-poo routines. With the use of just their favorite conditioner, they have combined the steps of cleansing and conditioning in one to remove the harsh additives found in most store-bought cleansers. Some people are taking this one step further by omitting all products and simply using water only.
Is less more when it comes to cleansing your natural hair?
Here’s why it could be
The reasoning behind this is that your scalp needs the natural oils, called sebum, it produces for the health of both your scalp and strands. Shampoos strip these natural oils from the scalp. Sebum is actually the scalp’s way of providing all the moisture your hair could ever need. Aside from the sebum, water is the most basic form of hydration for hair. Even store bought moisturizers and conditioners aren’t as effective as your own natural sebum or pure water at restoring the moisture in strands. Between the naturally moisturizing properties of water and the need for more evenly distributed natural oils, the idea of a water only routine makes sense.
Can you wash natural hair with just water?
The simple answer is yes, you can choose the water only routine with any hair texture or hair type. However, all water is not created equal, if you have hard water in the area where you live (water that’s high in mineral content”> then that is going to have an effect on your hair. You can learn more about hard water and your hair here. Even if you do live in an area with hard water coming out of your tap, there are a few great benefits for natural hair that takes on a water only routine.
The benefits of water-only washing
Sebum decreases
Over time, hair becomes more accustomed to a water-only cleanse, so your natural sebum and hair oils will decrease overtime if you are consistent with a water only routine. Meaning your hair will be less greasy in between wash days.
Less drying
Water is also more moisturizing than most shampoos, so that dry brittle feeling you may have experienced after shampooing is less likely to happen with a water only cleanse.
Natural oils travel further
Another benefit is that the natural oils and sebum will be able to travel easily down the shaft of strands, because the shampoo residue will not be there, and that is it’s natural path without interference. This leaves your hair with a nice and natural gloss.
Resist breakage
If you are in an area with softer water, rather than hard water (you can check here”> your hair will able to resist breakage better while combing or detangling, since shampoo will not have stripped the natural oils prior.
Longer gaps between conditioning
You may be able to go longer without conditioning after transitioning to a water only cleansing method, since the natural sebum isn’t being stripped by the ingredients in shampoos.
Will my hair get greasy or oily?
Going to a water only regimen will be a journey. The initial phases of not using any products will feel uncomfortable, but the growing pains will eventually go away.
The sebum will make your hair feel greasy to the point of possible embarrassment after a few days or a week, depending on your production. While you may be tempted to throw in the towel just know that your hair doesn’t look as oily as it may feel to you.
Like any other hair care routine, there are keys to successfully making this one work for you. If you find that adopting a water only habit doesn’t work for your curls, there is certainly no shame in going back to what your hair is used to.
How to decrease oiliness
If the oil production gets to be too much for you, you can always use a natural solution, such as apple cider vinegar, to gently and naturally cleanse away some sebum without over-drying or stripping it completely.
If you do experience oiliness, don’t overdo it with the water. While you may be tempted to rinse hair longer under warm water to try to break up some of the natural oils, you should resist this urge. The goal is to let your scalp do what it does naturally without interfering too much.
Have you tried the “water washing method? If, so how was your transition to a no-poo routine? Share in the comments!
As a curly girl, you may already be fluent in the language of product labels. Early in our curly journeys we start to learn the scientific names of a whole range of obscure additives, but you may be surprised to learn of this common ingredient: salt.
Otherwise known as sodium chloride, common table salt is actually added to many shampoos as a cost saving thickening agent. To shed some light on this practice we spoke with AG’s Co-Founder John Davis, who leads the brand’s product formulations. When he founded AG as a hair stylist with his wife in 1989, Davis saw firsthand how many bags of salt were being poured into third-party manufactured products, and decided he wanted to experiment and manufacture his own salt-free alternatives.
Davis explained that while we all love the feel of a thick, rich shampoo, it is an expensive texture to produce from a manufacturer’s standpoint. “There is a trick,” says Davis, “you can add salt, or sodium chloride, to a water-thin product and make it nice and thick. This is very common in drugstore shampoos and far more common in other shampoos than you might think.”
How does sodium chloride affect hair, and specifically textured hair?
“Moisture in the hair is important as it helps keep hair healthy and improves tensile strength (the ability of the hair to stretch without breakage”>. Anything that removes or reduces the amount of moisture in the hair is potentially damaging and this is particularly true with curly hair. Sodium chloride can reduce levels of moisture in the hair leaving it feeling dry and brittle, and therefore much more prone to damage through combing, brushing etc. This affects all hair types of course, but particularly curly hair, which may be particularly prone to damage through moisture loss. Hair looks and feels best when it is properly conditioned and moisturized. That’s why all AG shampoos are formulated without added sodium chloride to minimize moisture loss in the hair. Sodium chloride has no benefit other than cost savings to the manufacturer.”
Is sodium chloride typically found in shampoos that have sodium lauryl sulfate (an ingredient curlies often watch out for”>?
“Shampoos containing sodium lauryl and sodium laureth sulfate are more common and more cost effective than sulfate-free shampoos, and they often are thickened with sodium chloride. It’s not a guarantee when purchasing sulfate-free shampoos that it’s not thickened with sodium chloride. We recommend reading the label when purchasing any shampoo to care for your hair.”
You’re launching a new line, Curl Fresh, and in addition to excluding sodium chloride you also chose to leave out other thickening agents like MEA/TEA, and dispersing agents like propylene glycol. What ingredients did AG choose to use instead and why?
“Cocamide MEA helps provide viscosity (thickness”> to certain shampoos when combined with sodium chloride and TEA is used to adjust the pH of personal care products, while butylene and propylene glycols are generally used as moisturizing agents. In terms of viscosity build in our shampoos, firstly we use less water, so our products are naturally thicker, and we also use a naturally derived xantham gum for additional viscosity and product stability. Depending on the product, we use differing ingredients to achieve moisture, but propanediol is one example among many. While we do not use propylene glycol in AG products we may use butylene glycol, which is considered a safe ingredient in cosmetics, for its moisturizing benefits and has a score of 1 (negligible”> on the EWG (Environmental Working Group”> toxicity scale.”
“Our Plant-Based Essentials line started with our continuing search for improvement looking for naturally sourced ingredients that are milder and gentler on the hair. We started with a shampoo and conditioner, Balance and Boost, which contains over 98% plant-based and naturally-derived ingredients. Based on the success of those two products we expanded the line considerably over the last few years and a move towards plant-based curl products was simply the next step in this collection’s growth. A few years ago we developed one of our best selling products for curly hair, Re:Coil, with feedback and input from the Curlies in NaturallyCurly’s CurlTalk forum, so it is particularly exciting for us to have you be the first to test and try our newest plant-based curl collection and get your honest and important feedback.”
As a NaturallyCurly reader you may be familiar with Re:Coil, because not only was it formulated based on reader input, but it was also the first product ever sold in our e-commerce shop, back when it was called CurlMart and was run out of NaturallyCurly Co-Founder Gretchen Heber’s garage. We know how you feel about Holy Grails Re:Coil and Fast Food, and now we’re excited to hear what you think about the new Curl Fresh line. You can find out more about the Curl Fresh Shampoo, Conditioner, and Definer at aghair.com.
Now that you’re well versed in sodium chloride, take a look at a few of the shampoo labels next time you’re at the drugstore. You may be surprised how often you find salt.
This post is sponsored by AG.
The curly community has always been savvy when it comes to purchase decisions. We know how to read labels, the ingredients to watch out for, and the common and not-so-common names for them. This consumer savvy holds true when it comes to the brands behind our products as well. We want to know who is profiting from our purchases, what their sustainability policies are, and what they’re doing for the communities they serve. Now more than ever, this transparency matters to the NaturallyCurly community.
Our Leaders In Curl interview series aims to highlight the people and brands who are redefining the hair industry. That’s why we are thrilled to be speaking with Lanaia Edwards, the VP of Global Marketing for Alaffia. Alaffia recently launched their Beautiful Curls line and part of the proceeds are funding their Beautiful Arrival maternal care initiative. Social impact has been woven into the Alaffia brand from its inception in 1996, and we got an inside look at how that approach continues to drive the brand today.
Lanaia Edwards, Alaffia’s VP of Global Marketing
More than ever before, our community wants to know who is behind the brands they purchase their curly hair products from. Can you tell us about Alaffia’s founder and who owns Alaffia?
Edwards: “Our Founder & CEO Olowo-n’djo Tchala’s journey is quite extraordinary and inspiring! He grew up in Togo, West Africa, sharing a small room with his mother and seven siblings. After dropping out of school in sixth grade to help support his family through farming and collecting shea nuts, he witnessed the unfair systems that the women around him faced when trading valuable indigenous resources. After completing his GED and college degree stateside, he returned to Togo to put projects in place to create a more sustainable and equitable future for communities throughout the country.
“Olowo-n’djo founded Alaffia with Prairie Rose Hyde in 2003. He met Rose in his home village of Kaboli, Togo in 1996 where she was invited to serve as an environmental volunteer in the Peace Corp. From the beginning, the two shared a desire to positively impact humankind. They returned to the US determined to make a difference in West Africa. In 2004, armed with his understanding of the value of indigenous West African resources and an understanding of sustainable business ideologies, he launched Alaffia’s first collective.
“Since the Alaffia cooperative was founded, Olowo-n’djo’s mother, Ina, the inspiration for Alaffia, guided him in how to manage a women-led organization in a traditional setting. Ina helped him understand the importance of our cultural heritage, and it is this heritage that Alaffia preserves with traditional recipes and methods as well as handcrafting indigenous ingredients. She also made sure that the Alaffia Village Cooperative was inclusive to all of Togo’s 42 different ethnic groups. Ina embodied a selfless existence that guides me as we continue our mission to alleviate poverty and gender inequality.”
How does your team measure success at Alaffia? It seems to go far beyond the sales of beauty products.
Edwards: “It’s all about people before profits. When Alaffia was founded 18 years ago, the decision was made to always measure success based on our social impact, not dollars. As time was of the essence, empowerment projects were created that provided immediate impact to help people work, attend school and receive health care. We continue to see the positive impact on the West African people, which has been made possible through the support of our amazing Alaffia community and partners.”
Can you share more about the Maternal Care Empowerment Project?
Edwards: “Supporting motherhood and family is a core value of ours. Unfortunately, there’s a dire need for maternal care for women of color in marginalized communities. If we give more women access to proper prenatal care, fewer children grow up as orphans. Uplifting women is key to alleviating generational poverty. By gaining knowledge the women gain a feeling of self-worth. This lifts up the next generation and gives them a chance to progress beyond those before them. The project assists in all aspects of maternal care services and education, from pre-natal to post-pregnancy care. Since 2006, Alaffia has helped fund safe births in Togo, West Africa, and to date has helped over 6,500 women.”
How does the sale of products like the new Beautiful Curls line impact Alaffia’s Empowerment Projects, specifically Beautiful Arrival?
Edwards: “Our Alaffia Empowerment Projects are what keep us going! These projects are our mission in action, funded by the sale of our products. This allows Togolese communities to provide their skills and knowledge to the rest of the world and rise out of poverty. Our drive is to empower West African women to support themselves and their families in sustainable ways while advancing gender equality. Facilitating access to the global trade market through the fair trade of indigenous resources and community empowerment projects is a successful way of achieving this.
“Our empowerment projects in West Africa have positively impacted the lives of tens of thousands of people through Maternal Health, Eyeglass Distribution, Reforestation, Regenerative Agriculture and Education (including building schools, providing school supplies, bicycles for students”>.
“We expanded our maternal care stateside given the need for access in so many communities. According to the CDC, the maternal death rate in the US for black women is more than double that of white women. For Hispanic women in the US, it is more than 3X. Even in states with the lowest pregnancy mortality rate ratio and among women with higher levels of education, significant differences persist. Factors leading to mortality rates are usually a combination of institutional racism as well as black women’s increased susceptibility to certain health conditions and lack of access.
“5% of Beautiful Curls purchases are donated to Beautiful Arrival, our new project that helps provide maternal care to women in marginalized communities in the U.S. Alaffia and Beautiful Arrival are partnering with SisterSong, an Atlanta-based national organization that works to improve institutional policies and systems that positively impact maternal health care for women of color.”
What are your goals for Beautiful Arrival and your new partnership with SisterSong?
Edwards: “Our goal is ensure that all women receive access to services and support for safe and healthy birth throughout all aspects of her pregnancy and birth. SisterSong’s advocacy and leadership are instrumental in facilitating awareness and resources.”
We love featuring the Leaders in Curl who are shaping the hair care industry! At NaturallyCurly we’ve been working to redefine this space through education and empowerment for women with textured hair. How do you see Alaffia redefining the hair care industry?
Edwards: “Alaffia is redefining the industry by showing that a social enterprise model works. We’re built on the philosophy of ‘going beyond fair trade’—paying a fair local price or wage, offering equal employment opportunities, engaging in environmentally sustainable practices, providing healthy and safe working conditions, being open to public accountability and reducing the number of middlemen from supplier to consumer.
“We handcraft indigenous raw materials in traditional ways at our Alaffia Village Co-op to preserve culture and assure the efficacy of the ingredients, such as unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, neem extract, baobab oil and African black soap. Products are then finished at our U.S. headquarters in Olympia, WA. Proceeds from the sale of our collections are returned to communities to fund community empowerment and gender equality projects.
“We’re so proud of our Beautiful Curls Collection which is super luxurious and high-performance, without all the synthetic ingredients. It’s formulated to work well for all types of waves, curls and coils from type 2 hair to 4c hair, as well as for all styles. Beautiful Curls products don’t contain sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance and artificial colors. The collection is cruelty-free and plant-based. Each product is formulated with aqueous extracts, which makes even the water efficacious and beneficial to hair and scalp. Using Alaffia’s reverse osmosis water system, purified water is infused with botanicals such as yarrow, comfrey, arnica, calendula and chamomile.”
As a Leader in Curl, do you have any advice for brands and entrepreneurs who are just getting their start who want to build social impact into their business model?
Edwards: “Assess and answer the call on how you can strengthen your community through employment opportunities and programs that ‘prime the pump.’ When you invest back into your community through providing opportunities that help people work and have better access to important resources, you’re lifting up an entire community. You can be the catalyst for great change.”
This post is sponsored by Alaffia.
If your curls, coils or waves spent the last year up in a pineapple, you’re not alone. But this summer has us feeling inspired to give our curls the love and attention they deserve. There are new products to test, fun haircuts to try, and bold colors to experiment with! One of the new lines we’re most excited to share with the NaturallyCurly community is Beautiful Curls by Alaffia.
You may already be familiar with Alaffia through their face and body care products, all made from natural, plant-based and fair trade ingredients, and this year Alaffia released a new line specifically formulated for textured hair. There’s a wavy/curly range, a curly/kinky range, and products to bring definition to all curl patterns and porosities. If you’ve been taking a closer look at your ingredient lists, you’ll be happy to know that Beautiful Curls contains no silicones, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, artificial coloring or mineral oil—AND it’s cruelty-free! What’s more, many of the ingredients are sourced from Alaffia’s West African women’s cooperatives where they handcraft indigenous ingredients like unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, neem oil and African black soap. All for under $15 each.
Here to share how we can achieve our best definition this summer is Celebrity Hairstylist and Alaffia Brand Ambassador, Allyn Antoine. He’s been working with textured hair for over 20 years in New York City’s top-tier salons and you’ve seen his work on the big screen, TV shows, magazines and more. We brought Antoine some of your top curl concerns from making a twist-out last to the frizz-causing mistakes to avoid, here are the expert tips he had for us.
Do you have any tips for wavies or curlies with fine hair who need moisture but find that moisturizing products can weigh their hair down or make the roots look oily sooner?
Antoine: “Hydration is a curly girl’s best friend, but with thin curls it can easily become their enemy if they apply too much product. I get this question from my clients all the time—usually after a lot of trial and error. I always recommend that those with fine textures start applying product at the mid-shaft to the ends of the hair. This way, you are giving your curls the moisture they need without the risk of weighing them down. Make sure that you apply while the hair is still wet—this allows the product to soak into each strand properly and gives the best result. This is exactly how I like to apply the Beautiful Curls Curl Enhancing Leave-in Conditioner to ensure curls are enhanced and defined every time.”
Do you have any unique finger styling or curl defining techniques that you use on wavy or curly clients for applying the Beautiful Curls Curl Defining Gel?
Antoine: “Get it wet! Just like your leave-in, you definitely want to make sure you are applying the Beautiful Curls Curl Defining Gel to completely wet hair. Take small sections at a time and finger comb while applying the defining gel from roots to ends. This will help to shape and define your curls all over. From there, you can either let your hair air dry or you can use a diffuser for extra volume.”
How do you recommend curlies refresh their second- or third-day curls with Beautiful Curls?
Antoine: “You have to get your hands on the Beautiful Curls Curl Reviving Tonic—it’s a texturizing mist that rehydrates and re-shapes your curls without adding too much product that could weigh them down. I recommend it at the salon all the time because I find it to be an easy way to bring your curls back to life at home. After misting all over, use your fingers to re-curl small sections at a time. This will help to define while removing any excess frizz. I’ll let you in on another secret; on the days you need a little more moisture—mix just a small amount of the Curl Enhancing Leave-in with water in a spray bottle, shake it up and use it as a ‘moisture mist.’ It works well to smooth out frizz, and it’s something I have been doing forever—even when I’m on set for a photoshoot and curls have gotten unruly from all the hot lights, it works wonders every time.”
The Beautiful Curls Curl Activating Leave-In Conditioner can be used to moisturize and detangle, do you have any detangling tips for curlies to achieve curl definition with this product?
Antoine: “The Beautiful Curls Curl Activating Leave-in Conditioner is a fantastic product that can be used in a few different ways. Firstly, you can apply this as a pre-poo to detangle before you wash. Then, it can be used after shampooing—apply the product in sections and comb through to ensure even distribution of the product throughout your hair. Keep in mind that because this product is lightweight for tighter textures, your curl will start expanding shortly after the hair is dry.”
What advice would you give for making a twist-out or braid-out last longer when using the Curl Activating Cream?
Antoine: “My clients ask me this all the time. I always tell them for the best longevity, preparation is key. Make sure to use Beautiful Curls Curl Activating Cream after applying the Curl Activating Leave-in when your hair is wet. Together, these two products give your hair maximum hydration and definition while minimizing frizz. Then, plan to leave your style in for at least a full day before you take it down. The longer you leave the style in, the more defined your curls will be.”
The Curl Activating Cream can be used with a diffuser for volume, do you have tips for curlies who find that diffusing can create frizz?
Antoine: “Diffusing your curls seriously feels like taking a masterclass in patience, but I promise the payoff is worth the time. Time truly is the trick to frizz-free. You want to hold the diffuser in one position for at least 10-20 seconds before moving on to the next section. Moving the diffuser rapidly is what causes the frizz and frustration to happen. Getting into the habit of taking your time is all it takes to make a huge difference while diffusing.”
How often do you recommend people use the Beautiful Curls Shampoos so that they’re removing product buildup, sweat or oil, but retaining their moisture and not drying out their curls, coils or waves?
Antoine: “My rule of thumb is once-per-week or once-per-week-and-a-half, but where you fall in that timeframe is completely personal. Looser curl patterns and waves can be washed more frequently than tighter curls and coils. Beautiful Curls shampoos are sulfate-free, which means they will not strip your hair the way a traditional shampoo would, but you still should look to limit your wash days to every 7 to 10 days for best results.”
What coil defining techniques do you recommend when using the Curl Control Custard for a defined wash-and-go that lasts?
Antoine: “When you are looking to do a wash-and-go, you want to make sure you thoroughly detangle your hair all over before applying your styler. This will make applying the Curl Control Custard much easier and smoother. Always apply product from root to ends in small sections. Once the hair is dry, scrunch for added volume.”
Any other frizz fighting tips for the summer?
Antoine: “Cocktails were made for the summertime—and I’m not just talking about happy hour. Cocktailing stylers together can help to give your curls a surge of hydration to minimize frizz and keep them looking their best. I like to pair something super hydrating, like one of our Beautiful Curls Leave-Ins with a styler that helps to retain the moisture and give your curls enough hold, like the Curl Defining Gel or Curl Activating Cream (when you need extra hold”>. And, as always, make sure you are choosing products like Beautiful Curls that are clean—meaning no sulfates, silicones, parabens and phthalates. Your curls will thank you in the long run.”
One major benefit of Beautiful Curls that goes far beyond curl definition, is that by purchasing these products you’re supporting Alaffia’s Empowerment Projects to help fund safe births worldwide. Five percent of Beautiful Curls sales goes towards Alaffia’s Beautiful Arrival project to improve maternal care in the U.S. through a partnership with SisterSong’s Birth Justice Fund. You can learn more about how Alaffia is redefining what social impact can look like in the hair care industry here [will insert link to Article #1].
This post is sponsored by Alaffia.
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up I found myself, at such a young age, wondering why my hair was different than the girls around me, than the girls in movies, magazines, etc. I grew up desperately wanting my hair to be straight, to be able to just run my fingers through, and to simply just love my hair. In most of my schools (I went to quite a few”>, there weren’t many girls with my kind of hair, if not any at all. I remember wanting straight hair so bad, after I’d wash my hair, I would wear it in a sleek, tight bun before bed so that in the morning my hair would be dry and my curls all stretched out to the point of being straight. Once I hit High School, I started just embracing my curls the way they were, still lacking proper knowledge on how to care for them.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
After I started High School, the desire for straight hair quickly faded. I was more focused on just wearing my hair to where it looked good in my eyes. I would feel uncomfortable in straight hair, feeling like it was frizzy or not straight enough. I didn’t want to deal with that on a daily basis. Although I wore my hair curly throughout my life, I didn’t quite have the proper knowledge on how to care for it. After years of using the wrong ingredients, then pregnancy hormones, and bleaching it at home, I decided no more! I went deep into research on how to restore the health of my curls and I’ve never looked back.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering moment in my hair journey had to be when I came across the Curly Girl Method. While, I didn’t/don’t 100% follow the method (I tweaked it to work for me”>, it opened my eyes to so much more, to products I had never even thought to try, to a community I had no idea existed, and to a love for my curls I should have had from the start.
What is your curl pattern?
How do you protect your curls at night?
To protect my curls at night (most nights “>, I have my beloved silk pillow case from LilySilk, as well as a silk bonnet that surprisingly stays on the whole night. I also pineapple my hair whether I wear the bonnet or not.
Who is your curl crush?
To name a few, I’d say Hortencia @stylefeen, Michelle Ana @lovemichelleana, Mel @manesbymel, Rocio @larocioisabel, Merian @herbalmmo and I could go on and on.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My curly girl essential that I can’t live without would have to be Righteous Roots Oils. I use this every single day for scalp massages, to scrunch out the crunch, and to pre poo. This holy grail oil has been a part of my routine since March 2017.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My current routine is quite simple. My wash days consist of a good clarifying shampoo, conditioner/deep conditioner, a leave in or light weight cream, a gel with good hold, the CurlyCo Diffuser and Righteous Roots Oils to scrunch out the cast. I also love a good one and done product for styling. Some of my absolute favorite brands right now are LUS Brands, Rizos Curls, Curlsmith, Flora and Curl, Breahni, Ouidad, TreLuxe, Not Your Mother’s Natural, My Soigne, Aunt Jackie’s, RealSelf Works, to name a few.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moment in my journey has been probably achieving volume while also keeping my length. Wanting a specific type of volume and not accepting my own. Some days I want long hair, other days I want it short. Another frustration I hardly mention is parting my hair. Parting my hair can be such a struggle because my hair tends to part however it wants and it’s usually not how I want.
Read more: I Have Fine, High Porosity, Type 3b Curly Hair
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
I would have to say I had no clue what scrunching out the cast was. It was mind blowing what was hiding underneath my gel cast. All my life, walking around with crunchy hair, who knew right? Another thing was, deep conditioning and scalp massages have made such a huge impact in the health of my hair. And another thing I had no knowledge of was diffusing. Diffusing for me, helps me achieve that volume I strive to achieve.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice to those who still struggle to love and accept their natural texture is to never stop finding ways, finding reasons to embrace it. To really sit back and embrace the very beauty of what makes you, YOU. Every texture is unique and learning to see the beauty in it, accepting what you have will not only allow you to feel beautiful inside but will radiate on the outside for others to see.
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I never could figure out my hair! It was always a struggle! It was never straight or curly. Just always fluffy! I’m so happy I finally figured out my hair just a few years ago! What a game changer!
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
Once I figured out what my hair wanted it was easy to just embrace the curls and the silver for that matter! I love it!
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Just seeing my hair become so healthy and happy! It’s amazing!
How do you protect your curls at night?
I usually sleep in a buff it’s long enough to hold all my curls and stay on my head all night!
Who is your curl crush?
@mymanecurls (Jackie Johnson-Smith”>
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
So many things, but if I have to pick one…. I’d say my buff, sleep protection is everything! Without that I would have to wash more often!
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I wash about once a week! I love testing out new products! My hair seems to handle a lot and stay happy! It’s so fun, but two of my must have products are Hairdance dry shampoo and Righteous Roots hair oil!! I can not live without these two!! Use them weekly!
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
I would say just figuring out everything that my hair wants at the beginning! It was a small challenge but it was well worth it now! I love my natural curls and silver streaks!
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Yes! Brush styling for me changed everything! I’m so happy I figured it out! Now my curls last so much longer! Also scalp scrubs made a big difference for me!
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Keep trying! Follow people that inspire you! It’s a little difficult at first but once you get it all figured out it’s so worth it!
What country do you live in?
India
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
In a country where poker straight hair is considered the standard of beauty, I was often mocked for my hair, which was different from the rest. And I hated my hair then!
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
After a point in my life, I realized that I should not try to fit into someone else’s shoes. People knew me by my curly hair, so why not embrace it? Why not be myself?
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The very first day I started following CGM [Curly Girl Method]. It was so liberating.
How do you protect your curls at night?
A silk bonnet or a silk scarf wrapped around my pineappled hair.
Who is your curl crush?
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
A conditioner, I keep experimenting, my current favourite is Love Beauty and Planet.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
- Prepoo: Jojoba oil
- Shampoo: Petal Fresh Tea Tree
- Conditioner: Love Beauty and Planet
- Leave in: Love Beauty and Planet
- Curl cream: Cantu Curl Activator
- Gel: Ashba
- Plop for 10 min, then air dry
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
I haven’t faced any issues so far.
What is your hair type?
Type 3b
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Using the praying hands method and STC [Squish to Condish].
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice will be not to compare your hair with that of someone else. What works for me might not work for somebody else. You have to carefully find out what suits you best. Find out which products suit you and be patient!
Read more: What it’s like to have curly hair in India
Telegraph.com columnist Judith Woods reveals extreme anti-curl bias March 2004
This is just a taste of the column:
‘The actress Kate Beckinsale couldn’t have caused a greater frisson of horror if she had appeared at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles this week wearing Dynasty-style shoulder pads and dangly earrings. For once, it wasn’t a daring decolletage that helped her to hog the limelight, but something much more seditious: her hair.
The Pearl Harbor star, you see, has gone curly. Not just half-an-hour-with-heated-tongs kinky, or can’t-be-bothered-blow-drying wavy; no, she has a magnificent mane of fully fledged Crystal Tipps curls. Worse, tongues are wagging that she might even have had a perm.
In fashion, where flat is chic and everyone uses hair straighteners, going curly is tantamount to anarchy. From Avril Lavigne to Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie to Jennifer Lopez, poker-straight has long been considered the height of glamour.
Being born with curls is considered a relatively harmless affliction, but actually going to a stylist and asking for a perm is one step from shaving one’s hair off and joining the Hari Krishnas.’
Appearing on AOL July 2001
:
Apparently, AOL recently bashed Jennifer Lopez’s curly locks, merely for being curly. We’re not AOL members, so we couldn’t see the page, but thanks to all of you who alerted us!
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I always liked how my hair looked when it was wet, but it would dry puffy and frizzy. I tried using gel but that made my hair stiff and crispy looking. I was never taught how to style my hair naturally. At one point I got a chemical straightening treatment, but I hated the results because it was still wavy after the treatment, just a little less so. I hated it so much that I actually got a perm to try to get my waves back. For most of middle school I straightened my hair daily. I rocked the wavy hair with straight bangs look too.
At one point in high school I played around with wearing my hair wavy, but a botched hair cut my freshman year of college led me to start straightening it again.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
I stumbled into the subreddit r/curlyhair and it inspired me to really to to learn how to care for my hair and learn how to style it well.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Learning how to care for my hair so that it is actually healthy and looks good naturally. It’s so nice being able to wear my wavy hair confidently. I have loved connecting with the wavy curly community on Instagram as well. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in this journey.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I sleep with my hair in a loose pineapple on top of my head.
Who is your curl crush?
I’ve loved Megan/ @wavycurlychronicles from the beginning of my hair journey. She’s so kind and uplifting and I love her hair. My hair loves a lot of the same products as hers too.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
Gel. If I had to pick one hair product it would be a good hair gel. If I could pick two I would pick a good hair towel.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
- Shampoo: Bounce Curl clarifying shampoo
- Conditioner: Bounce Curl conditioner
- Stylers: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel, Xmondo Wavetech foam, Innersense I Create Volume lotion
- Hairspray: Innersense I Create Finish
- Tools: Hairrepear towel, Curl Keeper spray bottle and Flexy Brush
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Having the patience to see results. It takes a long time to undo all the damage you’ve done to your hair. I didn’t do a big chop, so I had to wait while I grew out my hair and slowly cut off the damage. It also takes a lot of trial and error to find the products and techniques that give you the results you want.
What is your hair type?
Type 2c
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
The MAP Method by Scott Musgrave. I took his online course and it was a turning point for me. His course helped me find the right application techniques for my hair specifically.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Don’t worry, you will get there! There is a lot of trial and error to find the products and techniques that work for you, but you’ll find them eventually. Keep experimenting.
Text faces or Lenny faces describe emotions just like emojis. Browse these unicode character strings in the gallery.
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up with textured hair was a bit challenging for me. It was easy as a young child when my mom would do my hair. But difficult for me once I began to explore my hair on my own. At the elementary/middle school I attended, there were only 5 African-American students, and I was one of them. I was surrounded by long strands of wavy and straight hair. And it was a bit upsetting because no one had the same hair texture as me. I felt pressured to straighten my hair because I didn’t like how curly and frizzy my hair was. I didn’t like how “poofy” my edges were and the fact that they would not lay down. I decided to straighten my hair and keep it straightened all the time. I was not accepting of my natural curly hair.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
In 2015, I was a freshman in high school. I was in a completely different area with a major shift in demographics and I was surrounded by people who actually had similar textures as me. For me that was a big wake up call. But by then, my hair was fried. My natural curl pattern was non-existent. So I decided to educate myself about my natural hair. I would stay up all night watching YouTube videos from different naturalistas and researching terminology and products that would benefit my hair on Google. Seeing how these women wore their natural hair in different beautiful styles no matter the texture or length encouraged me to take care of my hair better so I would be able to achieve long and healthy hair as well.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most empowering moment for me in my natural journey was when I finally did the big chop. It was liberating for me. Not only letting go of inches of my hair, but releasing all of the past internal struggles I dealt with along the way that held me back from loving my natural self. I remember that day like it was yesterday. December of 2016 I was a sophomore in high school. I remember telling myself in school “I’m going to do the big chop when I get home”. And that’s exactly what I did. I went home, took my dad’s scissors, stared in the mirror and smiled. I went straight for it. As soon as I was done, I had a huge smile on my face. I was so happy that my then bra strap length hair was now a short bob.
How do you protect your curls at night?
To be honest, I’ve become a bit of a lazy natural. I usually just put a bandana around my edges and a regular bonnet over whatever style my hair is in. But if I truly want to protect my curls. I either do the pineapple method or the banding method and cover with a satin bonnet which was life changing for me and my curls.
Who is your curl crush?
I have so many, but my favorite curly girl is definitely Bianca Renee. Her curls are perfect and her tips are so helpful. She was also a major help for me while I was transitioning as well as after my big chop.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
I absolutely cannot live without my pick. My motto is, “The bigger the hair, the harder they stare”. It is a must that I fluff my hair out 24/7 and I can’t do that without a pick!
Read more: How to Use An Afro Pick For Big Curly Hair
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My current hair regimen varies based on what style I want to achieve. Different styles require different kinds of maintenance. However, it is a must that I moisturize daily (LCO method when I’m doing a wash and go”>, massage my scalp daily, and oil my scalp every 2-3 days.
My favorite products are:
- Curls Leave In Conditioner
- NeoCurly Curls Poppin Moisturizing Leave- In Cream
- HoneyCurlz Daily Moisturizer
- Xtreme Wetline Gel
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The most challenging moment was the transitioning period. Since my hair was 2 different textures because of the new growth and the damaged hair, it was hard to do styles that would hide that. I tried to do braidouts and twistouts but they would not be successful. Ultimately, I ended up keeping my hair in buns.
What is your hair type?
3c
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
As far as styling wise, the praying hands method has really helped to elongate my curls so I won’t have as much shrinkage when I’m doing a wash n go. Health wise, I’m still learning. But I would say doing ACV rinses every now and then and hot oil treatments have really helped to revive my hair when it’s a bit dry and dull.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice to anyone struggling is to not give up. It may be a bit cliche, but natural hair journeys are not meant to be perfect. We are all different, with different textures and no one’s hair journey will be the same. Know that sometimes the product that works for the other girl won’t work for you. Know that sometimes it can take 20 tries before you get the perfect wash n go. Know that even though your curls may not curl up like the girl in the YouTube videos you are watching, your curls are still beautiful and unique. Know that there is no such thing as “good hair” when referring to textures. Don’t compare your curls or yourself to anyone else. Accept your natural curls for what they are and embrace them. No matter if it’s naturally wavy, curly, coily, or kinky. We each were given a unique crown on our heads, and you gotta make sure you rock it.
@jamiefrombklyn
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
It was different since I was the only one in my family with big kinky hair. I almost always had a protective style before getting relaxers. My hair has always been big.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally coily hair?
I was on Tumblr one time and this girl had big beautiful curls, and I wanted my hair just like hers. My mom told me I could have hair like the picture if I chose to start taking care of my hair. So I took the next step.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Being able to love my hair and all the tests and trials it comes with. I also love the fact that I’m able to help so many people with tips and tricks on how to handle thicker hair.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I do a loose pineapple and sleep with a bonnet.
Who is your curl crush?
@Jasmeannn, she and her curls are so beautiful! And she’s a cancer like me :”>
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
A leave-in cream!! I can be a lazy natural so whenever I don’t want to spend hours doing my hair a leave-in cream comes in handy.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
Kaleidoscope hair products, Garnier Curl Cream and Carol’s Daughter have been a huge part of my hair regimen. I wash my hair every two weeks:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Deep Condition
- Leave-In
- Styling products
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Now that my hair is the longest it’s been I find myself having to learn it all over again. It’s a little frustrating but also exciting because I get to try new products and methods.
What is your hair type?
4a
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Working in sections!!!! It helps to prevent breakage which natural hair is prone to.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
YOU are beautiful. Your hair doesn’t define you. It’s very easy to compare your hair to other hair textures but you were blessed with your own crown for a reason. Learn it, love it and embrace it.
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Growing up with textured hair was a struggle. I did not know how to properly care for my hair or which products to use. As a result, whenever I did rock my curls my hair was crunchy and had no volume. I always felt prettier with my hair straightened, so my mom took me to the hair salon monthly. This went on all through my high school years.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
Crazy enough, This pandemic! Back in May when the hair salons were closed I started to watch YouTube videos on how to care for curly hair. I kept seeing all the girls with beautiful curls and remembered that I once too had pretty curls. At that point it just became my mission to recuperate my curls.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
My most empowering moment was when a total stranger on one of my Facebook groups told me how much more confident I looked in my pictures with my curly hair. It was amazing to me how she was able to notice just by looking at my pictures.
How do you protect your curls at night?
To protect my curls at night, I put my hair in a pineapple and use both a satin bonnet and a satin pillowcase.
Who is your curl crush?
Tracee Ellis Ross is my hair queen.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
That would be my diffuser. The volume I get with it gives me life.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I’m still in the middle of transitioning so deep conditioning weekly is a must. I also like to do oil treatments twice a month. My favorite styling products right now are LUS and Ecoslay Orange Marmalade.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Not dying my hair! I’m trying really hard to stay away from hair dye since I’m still transitioning so I have to let my little grey hairs live their best life.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Avoiding heating tools all together. My hair has changed so much in just a few months sometimes I can’t believe it myself. I also used Olaplex 3 for the first 2 months weekly and I know that made a big difference for me as well.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice will be to take time to educate themselves in their hair texture. When I decided to transition I watched many videos, followed girls with similar hair to me and took their advice on how to take care of my hair. Some of the things worked some didn’t and that’s how there is going to be trial and error. The important thing is to be patient and embrace the journey.
Image:@jenny_thecurlymom
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I am one of two siblings. My elder sister has straight hair, while I inherited curls from my maternal uncles. My mother (straight-haired”> always took care of our hair ever since I could remember. From DIY homemade masks to oil blends, she did it all. Hence why we grew up loving and taking care of our hair. Unfortunately, she had no clue how to manage my frizz and define my curls. So I grew up confused! I knew how to take care of my hair health, but didn’t know how to make those curls hold together for days! And like others, I was also subjected to mean jokes and taunts on my mane. And finally the moment I touched 21 years, I started getting my yearly straightening done— almost 6 times in 12 years!
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?
It happened one fine day when a fellow curly recommended me to join this Facebook group “Indian Curl Pride”, a group dedicated to curlies all across the nation. It was then I learned about the Curly Girl method. And the rest is history. While researching and studying, I also came across NaturallyCurly and since then there is no looking back. It has been a life changer!
Image:@jenny_thecurlymom
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The confidence it gave me to love myself the way I am. Today people recognize me for my CURLS !
How do you protect your curls at night?
My night routine starts with 4-5 mins of scalp massage with my finger tips. On alternate days I incorporate oil during scalp massage. Post massage, I make a loose bun with a satin scrunchie, wear a satin bonnet and sleep on a satin pillow cover. The pillow helps protect my skin as well. Also the reason I use both the bonnet and pillow cover is that I don’t want the oil to transfer on the pillow as I have acne prone skin. This helps in keeping my pillow clean.
Who is your curl crush?
Since the first person I interacted with was Asha Barrak, Admin of “Indian curl pride” Facebook group and Owner of the Brand Ashba Botanics that makes curly hair approved products, she will always be my first crush.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
There are many! My satin scarf, my satin robe (current favourite”>, my heat cap, my silk mittens for SOTC, and my microfibre cap and gloves. In short, anything satin is my curly girl essential ❤️
Image:@jenny_thecurlymom
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
So I will share my routine and write my favourite products next to it.
- Co-wash: 2 times a week. MySoigne Hair cleanser
- Shampoo: Once a week. Earth Rhythm Murumuru Shampoo Bar & Only Curls hair cleanser
- Conditioner: Not Your Mother’s Tahittian Gardenia & Mango Butter, Reequil Murumuru conditioner (Indian Brand”>
- Leave In Conditioner: Kinky Curly Knot Today Detangler
- Curl Cream: Cantu Curl Activator and BounceCurl Clump and Define Cream
- Gel: As I Am Curling Jelly, Giovanni La Strong Hold gel
- Oil: Righteous Roots Oil
- Deep conditioner: Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Mask and Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Mask.
Ps: I am a big PRODUCT JUNKIE. I hoard products like crazy. I love experimenting with different product combinations and comparison. Luckily we as a family of 5 members have shifted to 100% CG approved products hence none of my products go waste. My straight haired husband and 2 boys also co-wash their hair, use conditioner and leave-in.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
I struggled with products. It was difficult to understand what will work for my hair type . Balancing protein & moisture was another challenge. Second challenging part was the transition stage. Being conditioned to shampooing my hair daily, shifting to co-washing and extending my wash days was hard.So yes, coming out of age old deep rooted conditioning was very stressful at some point .
Image:@jenny_thecurlymom
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
My to-go method to ensure ultimate hydration is Squish to Condish using the Bowl Method. I never ever skip this step.
It works so amazingly well on my hair that on days when I don’t use any stylers, I still get well defined curls which last for a good 24 hours.
Another favourite technique while applying gel is the modified shingling method. Here I pick the thick clumps and smoothen it with my fingers . It takes less time as compared to shingling.
AND PLEASE DO NOT SKIP YOUR DAILY SCALP MASSAGE.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice would be to start with focusing on hair and scalp health first, and then curl definition. I believe that a healthy scalp is the key to healthy hair.
Secondly, more than the products, it’s the technique that matters. Once you get a hold of the technique, you will definitely get good curls with minimum products.
Image of @naturalfrecklesandcurls
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
Extremely challenging! Growing up I knew my hair was very different, but I just didn’t understand how or why. I had seen others with curly hair, but always just thought I was born with a textured tangled mess, and that my hair had missed the actual curl memo.
We kept my hair very short most of my life because of how tangled it always stayed and how I reacted to brushing it. I was even given a perm at some point while I was younger to try and help control it. Then as soon as I was old enough, I began bleaching and flat ironing it…every single day. Growing up, it was the main thing I wished I could change about myself on a daily basis.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/coily/wavy hair?
I have to give most of the credit to my husband. From day 1, he has always been partial to my curls. He encourages me to embrace my natural beauty and self daily and it finally rubbed off.
I began to research about caring for curls online and came across a few Facebook groups where I read about the Curly Girl Method. I had no idea something like this existed until this point. The transformations were so inspiring to me that I wanted to give the curly Journey a try for myself. I never dreamed the one thing I despised the most would transition over to something I love and now cannot imagine changing about myself.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Image of @naturalfrecklesandcurls
Hands down it would be meeting my Curly stylist. I had never met anyone more knowledgeable about curls in my life and the moment I sat down in her chair I took on a whole new love and appreciation For my curls! For as long as I can remember I have held onto this attachment to length for my hair And the moment I finally let her shorten It , I have never looked back. That was like the biggest pivotal moment of my curl journey and a sense of relief for the unrealistic expectations I held onto so very tightly. She helped me understand more about my hair in that 2 hour span than I had in my 30 plus years of life.
How do you protect your curls at night?
My sleep routine is pretty simple! I don’t love having things on my head at night when it comes to fabric of any kind so I pineapple my hair with a PuffCuff and sleep on a silk pillowcase. I also try to do a scalp massage every night with a few drops of oil. A silk pillowcase alone was a major step towards improving my morning curls.
Who is your curl crush?
This is so tough because there are so many unique and beautiful curlies in the world that it’s hard to pick! But the curls that I have been mega inspired by since the first time I saw them are rocked by toni_macaroni ! The volume she can achieve will always be a major goal for me, and she is a huge promoter of loving yourself as you are, which I have always admired about her.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My brushes !! I have such a tangled texture that brushing multiple times during a wash day is imperative for me. This is one of those curly girl rules that I absolutely cannot follow.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
Image of @naturalfrecklesandcurls
I detangle often each and every wash day. I like to dry brush before washing, then shampoo and detangle while I condition. To style I like to detangle again, rake in a cream, scrunch in mousse and a gel, and then I go straight to diffusing. I have a handful of products that I use consistently which include:
- Lusbrands steps 1, 2 and 3
- Innersense Enliven Curls Collection
- Pump Haircare Curl and Grow Mask
- Uncle Funkys Daughter Squeaky Shampoo
- Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Mousse
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
The constant trial and error. When I first started the Curly Girl Method I thought the only way to success was sticking to the rules exactly as they were spelled out in the book.
It took me some time to understand that these are just guidelines and that the Curly Girl Method isn’t a one-size-fits-all outline. Having very fine, mixed porosity, multi-textured hair, I had to learn to bend and break a few rules, and let go of the fact that my curl journey might look a little different than others.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
When I finally gave up on soaking wet styling and discovered damp styling, I began to have mega success in my wash days.
Other techniques that have got me to this point are upright side to side styling, brush styling to break up curl clumps, and micro-plopping. Styling upside down always spelled disaster for me, and I would get so frustrated thinking I was doing something wrong. Learning that there were other techniques to try out changed everything. You have to learn that it’s okay to try something new when you aren’t pleased with the results you are getting.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Image of @naturalfrecklesandcurls
My biggest piece of advice would be to learn to love your hair in all of its moments and stages. Curls are like people, amazingly unique. No two curlies are exactly alike, so each journey will look a little different. I always tell people to think of it like a road trip. We all have the same destination programmed, but the routes and distances will all be different depending on where we’ve started. The key is to learn to love and embrace your texture where it’s at in this moment,
then the journey will come across a little more smoothly and become life-changing as you learn and grow. Letting go of perfection is a must, because it truly doesn’t exist; instead we must embrace and believe that all waves, curls and coils are equally exquisite.
Image: @curlyhairnepal
What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
As a curly girl in Nepal it is difficult to get hands on good hair products, let alone “curly girl” products. I grew up chemically straightening/relaxing my hair for 15 times. Also multiple use of iron rods to smooth my hair was a norm for me. I never left my home with my bushy, curly hair because I feared being bullied for having hair like that. Getting names like “noodles”, “broom”, or anything bushy was kind of normal and still prevailed here. However, my perspective towards having good hair has changed and I’m more than happy to carry my curly hair wherever I want to. I am also encouraging my fellow curly girls in Nepal to accept their hair texture and be confident with what they have.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/wavy hair?
After constantly relaxing my hair in the name of making it look good, I had totally damaged its actual texture. Returning back to my homeland after completing my studies made me realize that there is much more than just “looking good” in your hair. I vowed not to chemically torture it again. That’s when I came across naturallycurly.com and learnt about hair types, texture, porosity and all. After almost 2 years of not manipulating my hair with any chemicals or heat, I followed tips to even take care and make it look good. My curly hair journey is not just a trend for me but it’s my lifestyle now.
Image: @curlyhairnepal
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Almost 2 years of transitioning phase without knowing about how to take care of my curls is my most empowering movement. I had a mix of straight and curly (frizz ball”> hair on my crown, but still I did not hesitate to carry that with confidence. As I vowed not to straighten them ever, this 2 years long journey was a challenge for me. Especially being in a profession as a doctor, where I am supposed to look “put together” all day.
How do you protect your curls at night?
Satin bonnet, pillows and pineapple bun, all those methods help me.
Who is your curl crush?
Spisha, I love her confidence. She is the first person I saw on social media with perfect curly hair. Never thought my hair would look perfect too. She inspires me.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My satin scrunchie or invisibobble. This will sound funny but, good hair days don’t need any attention. However, bad hair days need “hair styles”.
Image: @curlyhairnepal
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
I am following CGM but modified according to my hair needs.
After shampoo and conditioner, I use ample amounts of Cantu Coconut Curling Cream (favorite”>, followed by diy flaxseed gel. Scrunch and microplop then air dry. Alternatively, I deep condition my hair.
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
Limited and expensive products available in my country made/ is making my curly hair journey difficult. I wish we have good products available so that I can explore and give my hair what it deserves.
Image: @curlyhairnepal
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
Deep conditioning regularly on each for around six months helped my hair health a lot. I was almost addicted to deep conditioning. I used the diy deep conditioning method mostly.
Image: @curlyhairnepal
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
Curly hair journey is not a trend, it’s a lifestyle. It’ll take time to embrace a certain lifestyle, that’s why patience is the key here.
Follow your favorite curly hair guru and be careful not to overdo anything.You will get there one day. Hugs and kisses, Curlyhairnepal.
