Search Results: NaturallyCurly

Trying to keep your curls frizz-free this summer? Looking for some extra shine or a way to settle those fly-aways? If you’re not sure where to start looking for the perfect products to polish off your curls, you can start here. Tara reviews some styling products that she has used to put the finishing touches on her type 3 curls.

Finishing Touches

For Type 3 Curls

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NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!

Anya Grant: My name is Anya Grant and I’m the Creative Empowering Officer and Marketer of iHEARTmyhair.com.

NC: Tell us about your natural hair journey. Have you always worn it natural, or when and why did you decide to start wearing it natural?

AG: I was Natural from the day I came out of the womb until grade 7 (twelve years old”>. It all started once I hit grade 6. I wanted to perm my hair so badly, especially since everyone was doing it. I was raised by my grandmother who was not having that, not one bit! So for my elementary school graduation there was no straightened hair do. It was like a regular school day with big plaits and hair ribbons and a few tiny plaits in front for a bang.

I got my first perm, back in 1996 at the tender age of 12. From then on I HATED perming because of the burning sensation during the process, the scalp burns (scabs”> after and a week later, the hair all over the bathroom floor. I hated perming my hair so much that I would stretch it to two perms a year. I remember my then hair stylist would blame me for the hair loss because I was not perming as often as I should have. (Really?”>

I stopped perming my hair in 2003 during my first year of University. I have done EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to my hair: I dyed my hair 3 times, texturized it twice, damaged it with heat from flat ironing and put Hydrogen Peroxide in to lighten it. I’ve done every hairstyle you can think of — straw sets, corn rows, braids, twist outs, wigs, weaves, water curls, etc.

It wasn’t until the end of 2008, after much distress, that I got fed up and turned to the internet, read books and articles and educated myself about natural hair. On December 19, 2008 I did, what I considered to be my last BIG CHOP. It was more than just cutting off stringy damaged hair it was liberating and uplifting. I began my natural hair journey again this time with a healthy, well informed start.

Read More: Texture Perspective: Tracey Wallace

NC: Were you a long-term or short-term transitioner? Any big chops?

AG: I call myself the queen of big chops in a span of 7 years I big chopped my hair 5 times. Every time I damaged my hair I would start all over again. If you are thinking of going natural, I recommend that you do a BIG CHOP. The feeling that you get after is just out of this world. Everything around me started to fall into place. More importantly I was forced to love and accept myself just as I am. I HEART my hair.

NC: How did your friends and family react to the decision to go natural?

AG: My dad loved it. Most of my family is natural, and as I transitioned into being natural, I was also transitioning with my friends. I was too busy having a love and hate relationship with my hair plus counseling other women to do the same to even care about who liked or didn’t like my natural hair.

NC: What is your current hair care routine?

AG: Currently I’m a low maintenance gal. I keep my hair in protective styles so that I can retain length. I wash and condition my hair every two to three weeks, at that time I also do a deep treatment to keep my tresses soft and smiling.

NC: What are your favorite products?

AG: Oh my goodness, I’m still trying to figure this out! I’m really in love with Koils by Nature Hair and Body Butter and Koils by Nature Eucalyptus Gel. These products combined give my hair the perfect twist out. From Shea Moisture’s black soap line, the shampoo cleanses my hair so gently.For really defined twist outs and amazing curl definition I like Jane Carter Solution Curl Defining Cream.

NC: What are your favorite go-to natural hairstyles?

AG: I very rarely wear my hair out so my go to style for work, dance and normal daily activities would be my hair protective styles with twist.

NC: What are your must-have products and tools for yourself or your clients?

AG: I must have: a creamy conditioner, a wide-tooth comb, a detangling brush and a moisturizer filled with yummy natural oils.

Read More: Texture Perspective: Quinn Smith

NC: What about your hair stylists, since you are one? Do you think you are your own best stylist, or do you ever have anyone else do your hair?

AG: I do believe that I understand my hair the best! However, no one can see the top of their head, so I do see a hair stylist for other services such as flat ironing and trimming.

NC: Who are your personal natural hair idols?

AG: Alicia James (aka hair crush from YouTube”> and My grandma — she always kept her thin, easy to comb hair in a short signature cut.

NC: Do you have any tips or tricks for women with natural hair as far as styling, fighting frizz, retaining length, etc?

AG: I have so many, but I guess I’ll start by mentioning styling tips since this is always the issue of concern that comes up for many women. When it comes to styling your hair, always look for what looks good on YOU. As for me, I look better with the back of my hair up, so twist outs or any afro styles do not look that great on me. Once you know what looks good on you, just be creative and don’t be afraid to experiment. Try to create one different style a week just by looking in the mirror and make your hands do the rest. You never know what you may create.

NC: Why did you start your blog/business, iHEARTmyhair.com?

AG: I started I Heart My Hair during a series of events. First, I transitioned from chemical to natural 5 times and was growing sick of constantly cutting my hair. Second, I was living in Brazil with a TWA and everyone kept telling me I should straighten it. Then I dabbled one last time into a mild mild mild perm which made my hair two tones. I got fed up again with the pressures of society and chopped it off one last time in 2008. Since then I started to document my journey to hold myself accountable for myself and for others. The 3rd event that took place was being extremely emotional after watching Tyra Banks show on good hair. After listening to how those girls felt about themselves I knew I had to make a change for the girls in my immediate community and internationally.

NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?

AG: I Heart My Hair is unique because we connect self esteem with hair and create fun, interactive workshops for young girls and their guardians in a series of workshops called “I Heart Me”. We also offer concrete and reliable referrals for fans to visit a natural hair salon in their area.

Read More: Texture Perspective: Cassidy Blackwell

NC: Why is it important to you to help your clients understand their hair “personality”?

AG: When encouraging a client to embrace their natural hair, I always refer back to the reasons why they originally wanted to go natural. Going natural is not a trend, its a way of self discovery and a way of being. Very often people get caught up in the day to day hair struggles and quickly give up. But when I get them to think about why they are going natural in the first place, it allows them to be strong and continue with the journey.

NC: Do you have any advice for women looking to go natural?

AG: I have 10 tips:

1. Make sure you know & understand why you want to go Natural.
2. Be ready to LOVE your own hair texture.
3. Prepare yourself with the right hair tools.
4. See a consultant & stylist that understand your hair vision
5. Find a HOLISTIC hair & body care routine that works with your lifestyle
6. Be Patient
7. Communicate to your hair
8. Be conscious of the hair products you buy, READ THE INGREDIENTS!
9. Be clear on your own hair texture and pattern
10. “Love the hair you’re in” ™

NC: What about following your passion and embracing what you love to do, which is very much what you have done. Do you have any advice for women thinking about taking the plunge? Anything they should know beforehand?

AG: Whether we’re talking about going natural or being an entrepreneur, both are not easy tasks to accomplish. But as my grandmother would say, “Nothing good in life comes easy. You have to work hard to get it.” Passion and purpose equals success. So live your dreams. After all, we only live once.

NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects. Tell us about your life and what you are up to!

AG: I Heart Me Summer programming, re-launch of a Portuguese (Brazilian blog”>, back to school natural hair event (August”> and Natural Hair Meet-up in Brazil (December”>.

Read More: Texture Perspective: Suzanne Schroeder

This is the last part of the first installment of Texture Perspectives, a new series of discussions involving the perspectives of four different women of different hair textures and types. We invite you to meet them and join in the discussion, interacting with these ladies and the rest of the NaturallyCurly community by commenting. If you missed the first three parts of the first Texture Perspective, be sure to go back and meet Tracey, Quinn and Cassidy. At last, meet the fourth of the Texture Perspective ladies, Suzanne.

Suzanne Schroeder: 3A

NaturallyCurly: Please, introduce yourself! Where are you from? Where do you live?

Suzanne Schroeder: I’m Suzanne, product editor at NaturallyCurly. It’s a job that I have a big love for. I am also CurlySuzy on occasion, writing about curly hair and the products that go along with it. I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. I moved to Austin for college, and left for a few years to try out New York and Boston. All the while, Texas kept calling my name, and I returned to Austin to stay. I have two lovely sons and a wonderful man (who loves my hair”> in my life.

NC: What’s your curl story? Have you always loved your hair? Did you just start embracing your curls? Why?

SS: I spent my childhood not ever giving any real thought to my hair, other than thinking that it always looked worse than my friends hair after a sleepover. I mostly wore my hair in pigtails, and that was the extent of my hair routine. When I was in sixth grade, I did have some fleeting moments of wanting my hair to be like Dorothy Hamill (the 1976 Olympic champion figure skater”>. Thinking about that now, I realize that was really the beginning of the end for me and my hair. By seventh grade, I had latched on hard to wanting straight hair. I am sure I nagged my wonderful mother, who has gorgeous, straight blond hair, for haircuts, hairdryers and a new brush. My dad and brother both have short curly hair that’s easy to take care of, and my sister has straight hair like my mom. I was on my own with my hair struggles.

Like any other teenager, I was obsessed with clothes, my hair and my social standing. By the time I was in high school, I had mastered blow drying my hair until it was straight and never looked back. I kept up the struggle to keep my curls out of mind and out of sight until college. Being at college was a whole new world of people and hair. I was seeing a lot of variety and had lost the desire for really straight hair. I just let my hair live in a state of limbo. It was the 80s, and big frizzy hair was in style. I was letting some of the texture come alive, but not the curl definition.

When I moved to New York in 1989, the big hair era was coming to an end. I had a brief, very unsuccessful few months of trying to wear my hair curly. I used too much product, and it was a disaster most of the time. I went back to straightening my hair full time. Once I was back in Austin, I was still at odds with my curls, but was letting them be a little wavy.

In 1999, I gave birth to my first son and was in complete bliss with my baby. He was an easy one. I was wearing my hair in a bob. I kept it that way for a long time. I was still washing and brushing my hair and the waves managed to maintain themselves with no thanks to my hair care routine. Another baby boy and a difficult, but amicable divorce later, I was ready to start thinking about my hair again. I had turned forty, and it was time to spruce myself up. I had also just met Michelle of Naturallycurly. She inspired me to embrace my curls, and I started my curly journey that I am still on to this day.

NC: What’s your approach to curly hair?

SS: Everyday is a new day with curly hair. I have learned to embrace the unexpected. My hair is never the same from day to day. I am always experimenting with products and styling techniques. Of course I have my HG products, but I am always excited about trying new things. I have also learned to really appreciate my hair and not fight with it any more. Making peace with my curls has been a bigger lesson than I expected. I feel like my joy with my curls has led to finding more joy within myself. It’s weird how loving your hair can make you realize you need to love all of yourself.

NC: What’s the BEST advice you ever got about your curly hair?

SS: Learn how to take good care of your hair. A million thanks to all the great women on the NaturallCurly boards. I have gained so much knowledge from them.

NC: What are some of your go to’s — styles, methods, tools, etc?

SS: Satin pillowcases, Curls Like Us Cloths, deep conditioners, leave-in conditioners, mousses, ACV rinses and my diffuser. Those are the basics that the my curls have grown to love. I have also happily given up the struggle to get second day hair. After many failed attempts and sad hair days, I have learned the value of co-washing. I spend less time co-washing and styling than I did struggling to attain second day hair.

NC: Tell us about YOU — what makes you unique?

SS: Right now in my life, juggling is the name of the game. I am busy with my two sons who play sports all the time. I have managed to learn most of the rules of baseball and basketball. Lacrosse and football are still a mystery. I have never been a sports fan, but having two boys has taken me into that world. So as I am trying to pay attention to a really long baseball game, I am still able to scan the crowd for inspirational hair and ask questions about products and techniques. I am always trying to merge the world of curls with my life as a mother of two boys.

NC: What are you favorite things? What are you passionate about? Nail polish? Fashion? Shoes? Books?

SS: I love to paint and create art. Going to museums and galleries thrills me to the core, and I am continually inspired by what other artists have done. When I don’t have time to do these things, I find inspiration from fashion, especially shoes.

NC: What do you do for fun?

SS: Most of my time is spent with my two boys, my boyfriend and my cute dogs and cat. Going to parks, riding bikes and spending time on the sidelines of a sporting event are what most of my weekends are filled with. When it’s “me” time, I read, paint, garden or go for walks around the lake.

NC: What’s going on in your life right now? Moving, relationship, etc?

SS: I just finished painting a wall below the counter in my kitchen, bought a great new pair of shoes and my tomatoes are turning red. Next week we are taking the boys to New York City for the first time. Not sure if I am bringing the shoes. It will be a tough packing session deciding between hair products and shoes space.

NC: What is your NaturallyCurly.com username?

SS: CurlySuzy

Look out for next month’s Texture Perspective discussion on straightening!

Texture Perspective is a new series of discussions involving the perspectives of four different women of different hair textures and types. We invite you to meet them and join in the discussion, interacting with these ladies and the rest of the NaturallyCurly community by commenting. If you missed Texture Perspective yesterday, be sure to go back and meet Tracey and Quinn. Now meet another one of the four Texture Perspective ladies, Cassidy.

Cassidy Blackwell: 4A

NaturallyCurly: Please, introduce yourself! Where are you from? Where do you live?

Cassidy Blackwell: I’m the Global Editor of this really awesome website called NaturallyCurly. Have you heard of it?  You should definitely check it out. I was born and raised in Minnesota, schooled in St. Louis and live in San Francisco.  Oh, and my name is Cassidy Blackwell. Amigos call me Cass, my Nana calls me Quesadilla, and the NC.com fam calls me CB3. Nice to meet you.

NC: What’s your curl story? Have you always loved your hair? Did you just start embracing your curls? Why?

CB: I have actually ALWAYS loved my hair. Even when I had a relaxer. I had some great stylists, and my hair always looked damn good #ifisaysomyself. I never had any breakage and always had long, thick healthy hair. However, one fateful and sunny day I just got sick and tired of the chemical burns, the $150 styling sessions and having to spend 5 hours in a salon. My hair was healthy, but my body and wallet were not, so I decided to give up my beautiful straightened tresses and swooped bangs in favor of what was then the great unknown.

I’ve been rocking my natural curls ever since doing the big chop in 2009. At first, my hair was a bit touch and go. Very dry. Zero to no definition. Kind of helmet-like. So shrunken that it was practically growing back into my follicles. Then I figured out my unique texture and how to make it look good and I’ve loved it ever since! You should also know that my hair is named Lola.  She is a showgirl. And whatever she wants, she certainly gets, which mainly consists of regular deep conditioners and fun haircuts.

NC: What’s your approach to curly hair?

CB: Two words: Laissez-faire. I keep my hair well-conditioned and moisturized, and other than that, I just style in wash’n’gos. The more I try to alter my curl pattern or mix it up with creative protective styling, the more frizz, breakage and damage I see. Turns out that I’ve got fine hair and a fragile curl pattern, so I have to keep manipulation to a minimum.

NC: What’s the BEST advice you ever got about your curly hair?

CB: Treat it like a cashmere sweater!  Seriously. Echoing what I wrote above, the best thing I can do is to use gentle cleansers and maintain my curls with a ton of care.

NC: What are some of your go to’s — styles, methods, tools, etc?

CB: My Ouidad Double Detangler. Scrunchies and a sleep cap. A super creamy conditioner. Some sort of styler that combines moisture and hold like Jane Carter Curl Defining Cream, Hair Rules Curly Whip, or DevaCurl Heaven in Hair. I like to apply products on soaking wet hair and let air dry.  Doing my hair takes a matter of 5-10 minutes.

NC: Tell us about YOU — what makes you unique?

CB: I live in a very eclectic city (San Francisco”>, and beyond that, I’m constantly traveling and engaging with diverse people and cultures. As a result, I live a colorful life and draw my creative inspirations from a lot of different places.

NC: What are you favorite things? What are you passionate about? Nail polish? Fashion? Shoes? Books?

CB: Dresses. I absolutely despise wearing pants and as a result I have a pretty rocking wardrobe filled with all different styles of dresses.  I tend to collect them like people collect shoes or art.  I love buying them vintage or having them made because they’re one-of-a-kind pieces custom fit to me.  Some only get worn once or twice a year, but it’s hard for me to let them go.  They’re like a tangible archive of my life.  I’m headed home soon to Minnesota and I’m thinking I want to pay a visit to my old debutante dress!

I also love blogging (obvi”> and photography (natch”> and spend a lot of time having fun with both.

NC: What do you do for fun?

CB: Fun fact: I own three grades of professional hula hoops and can do a lot of tricks on them. You know, hooping around my shoulders, around my knees, some moves involve some jumping and tossing. I’ve had to take a bit of time to learn how to do all this stuff over the past few years, but hooping makes me smile, so no complaints!

I also love riding my bike! My bike is named Lady Lavender and she is such a gem. We spend a lot of time zipping up and down the hills of San Francisco. It’s awesome!

NC: What’s going on in your life right now? Moving, relationship, etc?

CB: There’s a lot going on in the world of curl these days, so you can expect that I’ll be on a plane checking it all out!

NC: What is your NaturallyCurly.com username?

CB: cassadie3. I’m not on the forums that much these days, but I do write a bunch so make sure to check out my articles!

Meet the fourth of the four Texture Perspective ladies today!

Texture Perspective is a new series of discussions involving the perspectives of four different women of different hair textures and types, of varying ages who are in different stages in life. We invite you to meet them and join in the discussion and interact with these ladies and the rest of the NaturallyCurly community by commenting. If you missed the first part of Texture Perspective, be sure to go back and meet Tracey. In this second introductory portion of Texture Perspective, meet another one of the four ladies, Quinn.

Quinn Smith: 3B

NaturallyCurly: Please, introduce yourself! Where are you from? Where do you live?

Quinn Smith: My name is Quinn Ryan Smith. When I was younger, I hated my name, because when people saw it, they always expected me to be a boy. As I got older, I began to appreciate the uniqueness of my name and grew to love it.

I live with my family north of Atlanta in Buford. I love it here. Though I am definitely not an outdoorsy kind of gal, I love that we are surrounded by nature and that my girls will have adequate exposure to God’s creation.

I’ll be 31 in August. For the most part, I’m okay with where I am in life, so I don’t have any particular issue with disclosing my age. My weight is a whole other story. Right now, my main occupation is wife and mother. Blogging is my side gig, and I am actively pursuing its growth and success.

I had my oldest daughter, Peyton, a month before my 19th birthday. While I got into my fair share of “trouble,” I effectively became an adult when the doctor came back with the results of that pregnancy test. My husband and I have been married for four years now. We have two daughters together: London, who will be 4 in June and Kensington, who is 17 months old.

NC: What’s your curl story? Have you always loved your hair? Did you just start embracing your curls? Why?

QS: When I was a little girl, my mother took such great care of my hair; it sort of set a precedent for me. I didn’t go to a hairdresser for the first time until I was in high school, but even after that, my visits to a salon have always been few and far between. I was always given kind of a hard time when I went to salons to get my hair done, like it was so bizarre that I didn’t have a relaxer and it was a huge hassle to straighten my hair. I’ve never had a relaxer. My mom always told me that I didn’t need one, and when I expressed any desire to have one, she put me off by telling me that I could get one when I turned 13 (I chose not to get one, a decision I’m very grateful for to this day”>.

Even when I started to do my own hair, it never even occurred to me to wear my hair curly until high school when I became good friends with another curly girl. Seeing my friend’s beautiful, curly tresses gave me the courage to finally wear my hair in its natural state. I still preferred to “tame” my mane until it was bone straight. I felt more “me” with straight hair. Curly was simply an alternative when I wanted to do something different, or felt too lazy to tackle the daunting task of straightening it.

And then there was Peyton. Let’s just say it’s hard to find the time to regularly (and painlessly”> wield extremely hot objects when you have a little one knocking you in the knees every five minutes. Curly finally became my regular state of being, but only by default.

The biggest factor to change how I view my hair is my husband. I knew he was special because he preferred me just the way that I was; he was the first man who did not prefer my hair straight. Then there was the discovery that our daughter was a curly girl too. To see the time and effort he (yes, HE does our daughter’s hair”> spends on making sure her hair looks its best, from researching new products and washing and taming those tangles. The two of them have really helped me to embrace the texture I was born with.

NC: What’s your approach to curly hair?

QS: My approach to my hair is sort of “less is more.” I try to be as low maintenance as possible, but I also like to treat my hair well. I wash and condition my hair, use some kind of frizz serum or cream and leave it alone. In general, I try not mess with it too much, because that causes tangles, and I LOATHE tangles. I prefer to use creams and oils, but only lightweight ones.

NC: What’s the BEST advice you ever got about your curly hair?

QS: My mom taught me that, in addition to making sure that your hair is well moisturized, it’s important to get regular trims and not to be afraid to cut off as much as you need to in order to get rid of split ends or damage. It may be a little scary at first to see your hair falling to the floor, or to see that haircut, but you’ll get used to it. More importantly, it will grow back longer, better and stronger. Just take care of it.

NC: What are some of your go to’s — styles, methods, tools, etc?

QS: My number one go to product is COCONUT OIL! I use it to detangle my hair before I wash it while it is dry. I use it as a deep treatment; I will literally drench my hair in it, twist it in a bun, put some kind of cap on, and leave it in at least overnight. My hair loves it! The best tools are my fingers. My hair is the best it’s ever been, and it has a lot to do with the fact that it’s been two months since I’ve straightened it or used a comb or brush in it.

NC: Tell us about YOU — what makes you unique?

QS: I am unique because I am. Gotta love that circular reasoning! I am a host of contradictions coexisting in (moderate”> peace within a single being. How does one put into words what makes them unique? I think the ability to articulate what makes you unique, negates that uniqueness. Whatever it is that makes a person unique, is unique because it cannot be identified or put into words. So there!

NC: What are you favorite things? What are you passionate about? Nail polish? Fashion? Shoes? Books?

QS: My favorite things are numerous and sundry. I love GOOD music of ALL kinds. I love fashion and have been obsessed with makeup and skincare for as long as I can remember. I collect pens and stationary, particularly Sanrio/Hello Kitty. But I think more than anything. I am PASSIONATE about writing. Not a day goes by when I don’t write something. It’s not just something I do, it’s who I am.

NC: What do you do for fun?

QS: I have the most fun being with my children. Watching them discover and enjoy the world and just be cute brings me the most joy. Dancing around with them and teaching them and just being with them fulfills me. And when my husband is with us and we are enjoying each other as a family. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing or where we are, I’m having fun.

NC: What’s going on in your life right now? Moving, relationship, etc?

QS: Right now I’m focused on being a good wife (I’m kind of throwback; I truly see my husband as my king and the head of our household, and I’m reminded why I love him every day”>, the best mommy to my girls (it’s a huge responsibility; they will learn what it is to be a lady from me”> and not lose myself in the mix. I spend what little spare time I have working on my blog. It’s my passion project and I’m working towards that being a bigger (paying”> side gig.

I was a little bitty thing before I had Peyton. I never made it back down to my pre baby weight, and after two more babies, I’m nowhere close to it presently. I feel like a skinny person stuck inside a not so skinny person’s body; my vision of myself doesn’t mesh with what I see in the mirror. I’m working towards getting those two images to match. It may sound trivial or vain, but honestly, right now, losing weight seems to be my biggest struggle.

NC: What is your NaturallyCurly.com username?

QS: Mamafashionista

Meet the other two Texture Perspective ladies tomorrow!

Welcome, curlies, coilies and wavies to a new series of discussions involving the perspectives of four different women of different hair textures and types, of varying ages who are in different stages in life. Four women with different backgrounds and preferences and therefore varying perspectives on their hair and other related topics. The fabulous four are none other than Tracey Wallace, Cassidy Blackwell, Quinn Smith and Suzanne Schroeder.

We invite you to meet them over the next two days and in the following months, to join in the discussion and interact with these ladies and the rest of the NaturallyCurly community, sharing your own opinions and perspectives by commenting.

So without any further ado, it is our pleasure to introduce to you one of the the four perspectives, Tracey Wallace.

Tracey Wallace: 2B

NaturallyCurly: Please, introduce yourself! Where are you from? Where do you live?

Tracey Wallace: I’m Tracey, content editor at NaturallyCurly. I’m a recent NYC transplant all the way from Austin, TX, though originally from southeast Texas. You might know my hometown if you have ever driven between Houston and New Orleans. Most people tell me they have stopped there to use the bathroom on their way to Mardi Gras. I guess it is better to be remembered for something rather than not at all. Right?

NC: What’s your curl story? Have you always loved your hair? Did you just start embracing your curls? Why?

TW: My curl story truly began back in 7th grade when I first “noticed” that my hair wasn’t straight when I towel dried it like many of my other straight haired friends. This was a revelation, and an exciting one at that: I had wavy hair!

I started wearing my waves the only way I knew how — by adding so much mousse that my final look was identical to my wet hair look, and super crunchy. I even carried my mousse to school with me in case my waves stopped being so crunchy. I had no idea what wavy hair was supposed to look like, especially what mine were supposed to look like. My mom wasn’t even wholly convinced that my hair was wavy. To her, what I saw as texture was just something that needed to be brushed out. For years, she would call my wavy hairstyle a “rat’s nest,” insinuating that it needed to be tamed (aka straightened”>.

It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I decided to completely give up and put the straightener down. I stopped caring at that point about what the Debutante committee said was proper for a young, Southern woman, though my mother would remind me for years that my choice to go wavy could have had me expelled from the program. Of course, it didn’t, though I was required to straighten it for the actual event. #smh

NC: What’s your approach to curly hair?

TW: Here’s the deal: I kind of went natural because I was too lazy to keep up with the straightening. My approach to my waves is the simpler, the better and always keep doing what works. Don’t change what is working for your hair just because a new product comes out. I’ve dried out my hair more times than I can count and have gone crazy in the meantime by tossing out beloved products for newer, better marketed ones. Don’t do it. Trust your hair.

NC: What’s the BEST advice you ever got about your curly hair?

TW: Rose oil — hands down! Before my “big chop” of sorts, my hair was super long and super damaged, but I couldn’t bear the idea of cutting it. A friend recommended rose oil to help keep my hair hydrated and frizz-free and I’ve been using it daily ever since.

NC: What are some of your go to’s — styles, methods, tools, etc?

TW: I don’t really have any specific go-to products for my hair other than rose oil. I pretty much use what I have on hand, and as an editor at NaturallyCurly, I have A LOT on hand! Some of my favorites so far have been DevaCurl AnGel and the Moroccanoil Mousse.

I am absolutely in love with my curling rod. If you are a wavy girl and you don’t have one, what are you waiting for? Buy one now! There are tons of cheap ones at drugstores across the country! Go. Right now! I know, I know — it is a heat tool, but I love it. I don’t use it on all of my waves, just a few that have fallen flat here or there. It’s how I get second day hair. Without it, I would be hopeless (especially because I still can’t, for the life of me, figure out how to curl hair with a curling iron without creasing it”>.

As for my favorite styles, you have all seen it! My signature front twist that I starting doing over in France when I was living with a host family who only allowed me two showers a week. The twist would hide my dirty hair and roots from the rest of the world. Over time, I got better and better at it, and now I use it almost on a daily basis, usually just to get my hair out of my face. Of course, it’s awesome as a lazy girl second day hairstyle too.

NC: Tell us about YOU — what makes you unique?

TW: I’m really into feminism, and I often get so upset with myself for always wanting to explain that away, as if I just dropped the “f” bomb at a Presidential tea. Some people really just don’t get that all being a feminist is about is believing and standing by the belief that all women deserve the same rights as men. After spending 18 years of my life in east Texas, where I learned first hand that women are not seen as equals to men by so many people (including women themselves”>, I know what it looks like and what it feels like to be defeated because of your sex, to not have had an equal opportunity, to feel powerless based simply on who you are. I think my feminism is actually what makes me fall in love with the natural hair community. It is about the same things: learning to love and fight for who you are, and helping your sisters to do the same.

NC: What are you favorite things? What are you passionate about? Nail polish? Fashion? Shoes? Books?

TW: I love books and reading, especially feminist literature. Go figure. I even have a tattoo of Virginia Woolf’s “Anonymous was a woman” quote. Also, shoes. I love shoes. In fact, despite the small size of my current apartment, I have already figured out that I can fit 21 more pairs of shoes in my room, and that is a conservative number. Guess what I’ll be doing this weekend?

NC: What do you do for fun?

TW: Walk around NYC, sit in parks and read, write, listen to J.Cole, go to free concerts, hang out with friends — all the usual things.

NC: What’s going on in your life right now? Moving? Relationship etc?

TW: Well, I just moved to NYC, and that is a challenge and adventure all in itself. I have no relationship status, and I have a feeling that lack-of-status will stick around for a while, but I’m in no rush.

NC: What is your NaturallyCurly.com username?

TW: Tracey Wallace

Look out for introductions to the other three Texture Perspective ladies!

I’m so excited about the Curly Pool Party! I’ve never been to a pool party before that catered to fellow naturalista’s (usually the two don’t mix”>. This will be our first time being a part of such an event. I’m so thrilled! I’m looking forward to meeting other fellow natural hair bloggers, communing with fierce curlies and the experiencing the overall vibe of fun, relaxation and great weather (I swear if a drop falls from the sky, I’ll be sheltering in the nearest cabana”>.

But wherever there’s a cluster of gorgeous natural haired divas discussing different products and curly textures and sharing hair journeys, I’m 100 percent confident that I’ll feel right at home! It never fails — every time I go to any kind of natural hair meet and greet or hair function, I always leave with new knowledge about hair care tips and how to treat and maintain my own tresses. I also love to a share tips as well as trial and error stories of my own. So everyone goes home happy!

We’re greatly honored that we’ve been chosen to be a part of the texture squad, or that we’re even being acknowledged in the natural hair community. Last time we went to Curly Nikki’s meet up in Orlando last year, Taneica cried (tears of joy”> because we ran into a few of our loyal readers who actually recognized us. To be quite honest, it was almost like finally meeting a pen pal or something because some of the log in names actually sounded familiar. We try to remain as close knit to our readers as we possibly can. That’s very important to us. So whenever we see our readers at these types of gatherings, it’s kind of like when you run into one of your long lost home girls that you haven’t seen in ages, and now that you’ve found each other again, you’re talking about swapping hair products and doing lunch! I’m looking forward to the same circumstances taking place at the pool party tomorrow.

When Taneica and I first started Shatterproof Glass Dolls, we had hopes of educating men and women on maintaining, loving, accepting and restoring the natural beauty and texture of their curls. That was our main focus (followed of course by fashion, health and female empowerment”>. So to be asked by NaturallyCurly, one of three most influential beauty blogs since 2009, to help participate in such an honorable event is beyond words! Man, you’d think I was talking about the Hair Oscars or something! But it’s a great privilege, and we look forward to taking part in this fabulous affair that’s going to be filled with fierceness, fellowship and beautiful natural curls. See you all there, Dolls! Keep up with us via Twitter #curlypool.

It’s still not too late to send in your RSVP for the Curly Pool Party! You won’t want to miss this curl-tas-tic event!

There are a few ways that you can maintain your hair’s manageability after a day at the beach! A very important factor in maintaining managibility is how you prepare or style your hair prior to a day of fun in the sun. I try not to go to the beach when I’m wearing a fresh or fairly new protective style like braids, twists or a sew in. I normally leave my hair as is (I rock rough and stuff with my afro puff”> and I opt out of washing my hair when it’s in protective styles because I never feel like my hair is getting a real “good wash” under those circumstances, especially with a sew in.

Some naturalistas have no problem washing their hair during protective styling and will co-wash post beach instead of doing their full on regimen. My hair has never been much for co-washing though, so whenever I wash my hair, I have to shampoo, deep condition and all of that other good stuff in order to achieve adequate results. The only thing that I am able to subtract from my regimen for sure post beach is the apple cider vinegar rinse since the ocean water already clarifies my hair of dirt and product build up naturally!

It’s still not too late to send in your RSVP for the Curly Pool Party! You won’t want to miss this curl-tas-tic event!

A Hairstyle Idea for the Curly Pool Party

Strawberricurls shows how to get hair fit for the beach!

A couple of weeks ago, NaturallyCurly, Sherica and I got to brainstorming about what topics we should cover leading up to the big event: The Curly Pool Party on June 2nd at Omni Resort in Orlando (Let the church say WOOT! WOOT!”>! For some reason, I kept seeing Bo Derek slow jogging out of the ocean in the 1979 movie “10”. She was rocking a fresh cornrow ‘do and was serving it to the gods, let me tell ya! Anyway, whenever I think natural summer hairstyles for the pool, beach or hot tub (for the curly dolls like me who don’t do the whole swimming thing. Lol!”>, I think Bo Derek braids.

For me, hairstyles that present the least amount of issue when it comes to tangling and shrinking are key. However, I don’t have the “island lady” expertise needed to cornrow my hair by myself. With that said, I have learned how to make use of other protective styles that work well both in and out of the water.

• The Pollyanna: This style consists of two French braids on either side of your head. Though the style is a little kiddie and cutesy, it keeps my hair from becoming a tangled, unruly, mess, which is not cute at all.
• Medium/Mini Twists: I love medium and mini twists in the summer because they afford me the freedom to do just about anything I want with my hair. Not only can I style mini twists several different ways, but I can wear them to the pool, rinse them out, tie ’em with a scarf for an hour to tame frizzies, then style them into an updo for a date! Can we say easy and chic?
• Plaits: It’s no secret that I hate combing my hair. It’s also no secret that I love braid outs. I have learned a secret from my sister that has both given me a protective style and an awesome braid out. Here’s what I do: I plait my hair (usually dirty hair works best for trips to the beach”>, I pull it into a pony tail so I don’t look like one of the rappers from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and have fun at the beach! When I return home, I wash my hair in the plaits and apply a leave-in conditioner. I let it dry overnight and the next morning, I have very soft, very defined curls!
• Afro Puffs: For dolls with hair long enough to pull back, but not long enough to put in braids, twists or cornrows, an afro puff may do the trick. The key is remembering to wash your hair as soon as you return home.

So there you have it! My favorite summer styles for the beach, pool or hot tub!

Enjoy and happy swimming!

It’s not too late to send in your RSVP for the Curly Pool Party!

Defining a head full of curls requires patience and some fabulous products, like the Beautiful Textures line. Whether you like your spiral-shaped tresses to look fluffy or incredibly defined, all of us curly girls must adhere to a few simple styling commandments.

It’s All About the Products

1. Using a softening shampoo is key, but a hydrating conditioner is an absolute must. Detangling keeps your curls in check and helps you lock in your most defined pattern. After smoothing on conditioner, use a paddle brush to gently detangle from ends to roots. Try coiling curls in large bundles to maintain shape and prep for styling. Try: Tangle Taming Shampoo with Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner.
2. If you finger style, pay particular attention to your roots. Finger styling is the process of vigorously running product through your wet hair. Many naturalistas miss this important area and don’t spend enough time or use enough product to get the look they really desire. Don’t be afraid to reach close to your scalp to ensure that your product is evenly distributed. Try: Curl Control Defining Pudding with Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Crème.

3. Curly hair is perfect for coiling. You don’t need a straw or roller rod to get the look of a wet set. Simply saturate your tresses and finger-coil your mane for a chic, soft look. Set hair under a dryer and unravel using a little oil. Try: Leave-In Conditioner with Shine and Silken Growth Oil.
4. Two-stand twist for a wavy look. You can instantly transform your curly tresses by two-strand twisting in large sections. The result is a beautiful soft wave. Try: Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Crème.

What products and routines do you use to define and perfect your curls?

NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!

Kelsey Morrison: My name is Kelsey and I’m 26 (almost 27″>. I live in San Francisco, CA but I was raised in Rye, NY.

NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls, or have you always been curly?

KM: When I was a little girl, my mom would comb my hair after a bath to get all the tangles out. My mom has curly hair too, so she knew what she was doing. One time, when I was three-years-old, my mother left me with my grandmother (who had four sons”> at the beach for the week, and when she picked me up, my hair was in one big knot in the back of my head. She took me to a salon where they basically cut a lot of it out. When I was in my middle school/awkward phase, I would brush out all my curls creating a nest of frizz. I finally started to embrace my curls and experiment with different hair products when I was a freshman in high school.

NC: What is your current routine/regimen?

KM: I believe the key to keeping curly hair fresh is to use a combination of different products throughout the week. Never use the same product two days in a row because your hair will get used to it and stop working the way you want it to. Right now I am switching around between John Frieda’s Sheer Blond shampoo and conditioner and TRESemme Flawless Curls shampoo and conditioner.

When I feel my hair is particularly dry, I use Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition shampoo and conditioner (my boyfriend’s favorite, so I keep it in the shower”>. I always leave the conditioner in for a few minutes before combing through my hair to get all the tangles out (while the conditioner is still in”>.

Read More: Willow Smith’s Big Chop, Hair Dye & Her Parents’ Insight

Post-shower I use a mousse, like TRESemme Flawless Curls or Rusk CurlSilk Texture Control Mousse. I sometimes use a creme like Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme, but recently it’s made my hair more oily so I use it less. Either way, I scrunch it through my hair using an old t-shirt, and let it air dry. I finish it off with John Frieda’s Secret Weapon serum and wear it down. It sounds like a lot, but it’s actually pretty low maintenance!

NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?

KM: I don’t always wash my hair in the morning if I think my hair looks good enough to get through the day. If that’s the case, I give it a little spritz of Tigi Catwalk Fast-Fixx and walk out the door. If I decide to wash my hair, I do the routine in above.

NC: What about your hair stylists?

KM: I love my stylist! I see her twice a year for a highlights and a trim. She uses a lot of Bumble and bumble products on my hair, and usually I have her blow dry and straighten it with a little wave at the bottom.

NC: What are you favorite hair styles to wear with your curls?

KM: Down. I always wear my hair down. I used to wear it half up, half down a lot, but I stopped doing that.

NC: What are your must-have products and tools?

KM: TRESemme Flawless Curls mousse, John Frieda Secret Weapon serum and Tigi Catwalk Fast-Fixx. When I decide to do my hair straight (very rarely”>, I love using the comb attachment on my blow-dryer, then I finish it off with a ceramic flat iron.

Read More: Solutions for Summer: Stay Cool and Look Hot

NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to embrace your curls or have you always worn your hair curly?

KM: I get more of a reaction when I go straight because it rarely happens! I’ve been curly my whole life, so that’s what people are used to seeing.

NC: What do you do at night time for your hair?

KM: Wear it down and sleep on my stomach or side. If it’s really hot, I’ll put it up in a bun.

NC: What is the best thing about being curly?

KM: It’s versatile, fun to style, and people love to play with your hair!

NC: How do you think having curly hair has impacted your everyday life?

KM: I probably spend too much time playing with my hair, especially when I’m bored or reading something. There is one strand on the left of my face that I play with so much that it becomes straight.

NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?

KM: Be sure to comb out the tangles in the shower, otherwise you’ll end up with a painful mess!

NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects. Tell us about your life and what you are up to!

KM: I’m looking forward to getting my hair cut and highlighted!

Read More: Hair Color Tips for Vibrant Summer Curls

Long lazy days by the pool and in the sun yields me lots of curlies with washed out color. I’m going to share the at-home routines and in-salon services I’ve prescribed for 3 of my clients a blonde, a brunette and a redhead. If you’re suffering from summer hair color blah’s, ask your stylist if some of these options will work for you.

Blonde Bombshell Nicole

Nicole is what I refer to a Billboard Client. She is literally a walking billboard for my work — heads turn when she walks through the salon, and I’ve had clients point to her picture on my digital picture frame many times and exclaim “I want THAT hair!” Nicole lives an active lifestyle, enjoys the beach (sun”>, fishing (more sun”> and organizes many charity events that take place outdoors (even MORE sun”>. She receives a base touch up to lift her natural level about 2 shades lighter and a partial highlight and sometimes lowlights for a beautiful dimensional blonde effect. Last summer, her hair was losing dimension and looking washed out in between visits, so we enlisted a summer specific routine to keep her curls looking fresh, hydrated and vibrant.

In addition to her touch up, I gloss her ends with a demi-permanent color at each visit (this isn’t necessary in the “winter” months.”> Every other visit, and sometimes between, I add a clear gloss after rinsing her color and allow it to process for at least 20 minutes. Then I follow up with a deep conditioner such as a L’Oreal Power Dose or a soothing gel mask like Vitamino Color or Absolut Repair. At home she adds Ouidad’s Sun Shield to her styling routine and when spending a day of fun in the sun, she braids her hair while still wet, with a generous dose of conditioner.

Read More: Solutions for Summer: Stay Cool and Look Hot

Jessica Rabbit Red

She’s not just my client, she’s also my close friend. Sometimes I think I know more about her hair than I do my own. When Jess first came to me her hair was a mousy brown that did nothing for her gorgeous face — or curls for that matter. Once we got her curls super healthy and hydrated, she convinced me to take her 3 shades lighter and a beautiful copper red. Jess can go up to 6 weeks between touch ups, with almost no fading — all thanks to her vigilant at home care plan. I touch up her base with a permanent color and refresh her ends with an ammonia free gloss on her ends. We occasionally add a clear gloss like Nicole gets, if I can get her to sit still that long. Sigh.

When developing Jessica’s home routine, she said the words I SO love to hear: “Tell me what to use and what to do and I’ll do it.” She followed my instructions exactly and she has billboard curls that don’t require her to spend a ton of time in my chair. Once a week, she fires up her hard top dryer and applies either Ouidad Deep Treatment or L’Oreal Absolut Repair Mask, covers with a processing cap and plants her butt under there for a good 20 minutes. Every Sunday. No exceptions. She no-poo’s once a week, co-washes daily and adds only Ouidad Moisture Lock with a little OC left in, then pulls her curls back into a loose yet secure bun.

Jessica is a dentist, so she needs her hair out of the way during working hours and likes to give it a good rinse each day. She soaks away the stress of the day in her hot tub and always taking the time to pineapple her curls before entering the water to protect them from the chemicals. She’s a fan of floppy brimmed hats for poolside weekends, and she always follows my “wet sponge theory” before taking a dip. Reds can be the trickiest colors to get just right and can require lots of expensive salon visits due to fading (reds contain the smallest dye molecules, making it easier for them to slip out of the hair”>. Proper at home care can extend their depth and vibrancy, making a high maintenance situation manageable.

Read More: Curly Pool Party Texture Squad Stylist: The Curl Girl

Robin, Natural Brunette

When Robin first came to me, her heavily highlighted hair was almost all blonde. It was pretty, but she was seeing roots at 4 weeks and wasn’t making it to the salon but every 6 or 8 weeks. Life happens. Robin is busy taking over the world, networking and generally being awesome. This left little time for color touch ups. She wanted to gradually go back to her natural color, while still covering a few grays. “I don’t want people to look at me and know I got my color done.” Reasonable request. I gradually did away with the excess blonde by painting a demi- permanent color throughout her hair, leaving less and less blonde over a series of visits, ending with just a few face framing tendrils exposed.

When rinsing, I “smushed” the color around, which toned down the lighter pieces while still leaving a good deal of dimension. Robin is in and out all day seeing clients, and the sun exposure is actually to her advantage, causing a slight bit of fading between visits that just leaves her hair with a soft sun-kissed look at the ends. I opt to leave a few of these pieces exposed when I refresh her color. This gives her hair continuous dimension without the additional damage, time or cost of highlighting.

Robin uses a high quality sulfate free shampoo like L’Oreal Delicate Color, Ouidad Climate Control, or sometimes even Ouidad Curl Quencher shampoo, which does contain sulfates but we’ve found that her hair likes this in the rotation. She leaves in a little conditioner and always adds Ouidad Moisture Lock before applying a little Climate Control Gel before she’s out the door. Her curls stay in their best shape with just a light trim at each visit instead of a “bigger” cut less frequently.

I know that even if I’d like to see Robin in 6 weeks, it realistically might be eight weeks until her schedule allows her back. The process we’ve developed tailored to her needs can hold up if necessary. (I know you’re reading this, Robin and I know you’ve been good lately, I just need to make my point”> Really listening to my clients — understanding what they put their curls through each day, their lifestyle, activities and the amount of time they are willing to and the time they actually have to devote to their curls — enables me to develop personalized product prescriptions, services and styling advice that will really work for them.

Final Thoughts

All of these women have 3 things in common:

1. They’re awesome.
2. They have great curls that stay looking great in between visits.
3. (whisper this aloud”> They all did what I told them to do. Wink.

These women only did what I told them to do because I took the time to find a routine that fit their lifestyle and their budget. No two curls are the same and no two clients will have the exact same needs.

Ask your stylist to work with you to create a customized plan to keep your curls and color looking their best. Minimalist to diva, it can be done.

It’s not too late to send in your RSVP for the Curly Pool Party!

Florida living — wear a hat, simple as that. Unfortunately, it’s SO not as simple as that. Sun + Heat + Sweat + Hat can equal hat-head of disastrous proportions for sure. But for those events that require long stints in the sun, you’re doing your curls (not to mention your face”> a favor by shielding them as much as possible from the drying, color-fading, burning rays. Covering your curls to protect them is in no way a form of accepting defeat and “throwing on a hat” — it’s simply another way to be fabulous while protecting your assets.

Summer Hats

The Fedora style hat has been a big hit lately and translates nicely into a summer go-to. It looks especially adorable with aviator sunglasses for the “just arrived at LAX” look, or with Wayfarers for the “I’m too effortlessly cool to even deal with” look.

If you’ve never been “the hat type,” stop telling yourself that. Seriously. A wide brimmed floppy hat can look cute on almost anyone and when paired with big sunglasses, you’ll get great extra shade for your curls AND face and achieve a pulled together look with very little effort.

Hot Lips

Don’t underestimate the power of statement-making lip color like a classic red. My favorite is Lancome’s Red Stiletto, a blue based red that leans towards the pink reds, or Mac’s Russian Red, which has a coppery undertone”> or a go-anywhere bronze-nude (Yves St. Laurent Pur Shine Natural Pink 24, Nars Turkish Delight or The Multiple in Laguna”>, which can also be used on cheeks and eyelids to complete this look and you’ll be out the door in record time and ready to look hot while you’re, well, actually really hot.

Facial Mists

Keep a refreshing facial mist on hand to cool you off and keep that dewy glow? Do the same thing for your curls! Keep a travel size bottle of Ouidad’s Botanical Boost, Sun Shield, or your own mixture like DevaCurl One Condition milk and refresh and rehydrate throughout the day. I advise clients to keep a small cooler bag (the size of a purse-friendly cosmetic bag”> with the above sprays and their lipstick/gloss and store in the fridge when at home.

You can try out these tips this weekend at the Curly Pool Party! Have you sent in your RSVP for the Curly Pool Party? Don’t miss out on this curl-tas-tic event!

NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!

Ariel Maxie: My name is Ariel and I’m a senior at UT Austin pursuing a degree in marketing and in African American Studies.

(Ariel recently received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing as well as a Bachelor of Arts in African and African American Studies from UT Austin. Congratulations, Ariel!”>

NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls, or have you always enjoyed/embraced your curls?

AM: I started to embrace my curls once I got to college. While in high school, I wanted to go natural. However, my mom was still doing my hair, so that wasn’t an option. Throughout my freshman year, I transitioned twice and then did the big chop that summer!

NC: What is your current routine/regimen?

AM: My current routine is pretty simple since I decided to just rock two strand twists until graduation. I usually shampoo and condition my hair with either Creme of Nature or Carol’s Daughter. Then I deep condition my hair for about 30-60 minutes with a heating cap using either Miss Jessie’s or Carol’s Daughter. Afterwards, I detangle with my Kinky-Curly section by section, apply Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia and blow dry my hair out for more length. Lastly, I two-strand twist my hair using either Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme or Baby Buttercreme, Jane Carter Twist & Lock, or Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding. I do this routine every 4 weeks and usually co-wash once a week since I workout often.

NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?

AM: On a curly day, I either do a wash and go or attempt to do a braid out or twist out. Personally, I haven’t liked my wash-and-go’s since my 1st year as a natural because my hair grows unevenly, so I try to stick to braid outs or twist outs when it’s not twisted up.

Read More: Creating a Hair Regimen

NC: What about your hair stylists?

AM: Since going natural, I’ve only made visits to the hair stylist once a year when I get my hair pressed/straightened to get a trim and check my length. Other than that, I do my hair the majority of the time, and get my mom to do it for me when I go home to visit.

NC: What are you favorite hair styles to wear with your curls?

AM: My favorite hair styles to wear with my curls are two strand twists. I grew up wearing braid extensions and crochet braids, so wearing my hair twisted or braided is always my preference; except now with my own hair as opposed to extra help. In addition to two strand twists, I like fro hawks and braid outs. My hair doesn’t last long with twist outs for some reason, so usually when I go home, I get my mom to cornrow my hair and I’ll wear that for the week and do a braid out on the weekend.

NC: What are your must-have products and tools?

AM: My two must-have tools are my wide tooth comb and my Yellow Bird blow dryer (although I probably shouldn’t have this on my list”>. I have a Denman brush, but I don’t use it very often. As for hair products, there are so many that I like! My shampoo and conditioner is usually the Creme of Nature for dry, damaged hair. I also like Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing shampoo and conditioner. My leave in conditioners are Kinky Curly’s Knot Today and the Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia. Deep Conditioners are Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask and Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment. My top styling products are Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme, Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme, Oyin Whipped Pudding and Jane Carter Solution Twist & Lock. I’m a bit of a product junkie, yet consistent with the products I use.

NC: Did you big chop or transition?

AM: I actually had two transitions before I did the big chop. During my first semester of college, I didn’t get a relaxer. Instead, my hair always had a clip or in braid extensions. However, during winter break, I got a relaxer and then cut my hair in a shorter look before restarting my transition. The second time, I transitioned for about 6 or 7 months.

NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural, or have you been relaxer free all your life?

AM: When I first went natural, a lot of people didn’t know until about a month or so later because I got a sew-in the day after I did my big chop. However, after the sew-in and the braids I wore after the sew-in, I recut my hair and immediately received mixed reactions. A lot of people thought it was great and admired my bold move to rock my hair that short, while I had a few family members who thought I looked sick with my hair that short. However, my hair has grown on the naysayers over these nearly 3 years as a natural.

Read More: President Obama Makes a Hair Connection

NC: What do you do at night time for your hair?

AM: At night time, I sleep on a satin pillowcase. That’s usually as far as I get with a night time routine; however, when I’m not being lazy, I wear a satin bonnet or a satin scarf.

NC: What is the best thing about being curly?

AM: The best thing about being curly is the fact that I don’t fear rain messing up my hair anymore. Also, I feel that it makes me stand out more and further express my personality.

NC: How do you think having curly hair has impacted your everyday life?

AM: The way that curly hair has impacted my everyday life is that I feel more comfortable in my skin. This confidence has helped me so much especially when dealing with some of the haters.

NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?

AM: I say, just do what makes you happy. Don’t let other people’s words get to you. Also, transitioning can be a beast sometimes when it comes to dealing with two textures, but stay strong and be patient.

NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects. Tell us about your life and what you are up to!

AM: Right now, I wouldn’t say that I have any current projects, unless preparing for graduation counts! When I’m not working at TextureMedia or in class and organization meetings, I’m trying to figure out what to do with my life once I walk across the stage.

(Ariel is now a Brand Public Relations Intern at The Richards Group.”>

Read More: Forget-Me-Not: Twisted Boho Hairstyles

After talking with clients on my last trip to Virginia, we decided it was time to give the curly hair world a new word for bangs!

Traditionally, when a client comes in and needs a little change, a stylist like myself  might suggest long bangs. Unfortunately, the word bangs scares just about everyone! Then I have to describe what kind of bangs I’m talking about, which is usually met with “Okay, I’ll try it.” To minimize the time it takes to talk about the bangs we recommend, we decided to refer to long curly bangs that sweep to the side as “The Sweep.”

So far, all my clients are loving “The Sweep,” and I’m hoping it will “sweep” the nation and ease the frustration of clients when they want a little change. Hopefully it will be also be able to close the door on a lot of bad curly bang memories from the 80s!

How to Cut “The Sweep”

What do you think of when you hear “curly bangs”?

I’m a Florida baby. Before I moved to Illinois last year, I never even saw snow fall from the sky! EVER. Imagine my shock, confusion and utter surprise when I experienced my first northern winter and my hair freaked out. I couldn’t figure out what was going on with my hair! Not only was my hair perpetually dry no matter what I tried, but I was experiencing apocalyptic size dandruff flakes, even with daily scalp oiling! I headed back to Florida for Thanksgiving and my fabulous, healthy hair returned almost immediately! That’s when I realized that the hot, muggy, moist air weather that I had been belly aching about for as long as I could remember was my hair’s salvation!

Here’s the thing about Florida’s humidity: It sucks…terribly. You can take the longest shower of your life, wash your hair until it squeaks, put on your freshest outfit directly out of the dryer and still feel absolutely sweaty and stank as soon as you step out of the door. As soon as the hot, moist, air hits you, your clothes will immediately cling to your body like Saran Wrap to a glass bowl. Not sexy. Oh, and if you have leather car seats, sitting down in a skirt or shorts is NEVER pleasant in 90 plus degree weather.

However, humidity can be what separates good hair days from bad ones for me. The words humidity and hair in the same sentence can make some dolls cringe, but I find that when I layer my hair with a water based product, seal with an oil and then finish with a glycerin laden product like Juices and Berries from Oyin, my hair looks it’s best! After researching which product may be helping me maintain moisture, I found out that the glycerin in Juices and Berries works as a sort of atmospheric vacuum, sucking moisture out of the humid air and into my thirsty hair! I can never turn down a product that makes my chronically dry hair moist and happy!

Make sure you and your curls join us in Orlando for the Curly Pool Party! Have you sent in your RSVP for the Curly Pool Party?