Search Results: NaturallyCurly
It’s been two months since my Brazilian Blowout, and I have really liked the results. They are not dramatic, by any means, especially compared to others who have gotten it. But it was exactly what I was looking for – less shrinkage, less frizz, a little looser.
So now, as the humidity cranks it up a notch here in Central Texas, I plan to make an appointment for a touch-up. What started as a scary experiment has turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I like the new, slightly different texture of my hair. I will be interested to see how the texture will change by doing it again, and will share my results with everyone.
I will say that one of the benefits of a keratin treatment like this is that it grows out gradually – loose curls and waves start to tighten up slowly. This is good for those of us who may tend to procrastinate about making appointments for hair color or other types of maintenance.
I’ve also been encouraged to hear about a trend in the industry to create different levels of keratin treatments to meet the needs of a variety of customers – from those like me that want to wear their hair curly to those who want a straighter look. I think it reflects a bigger trend. One size no longer fits all. Texture at all ends of the spectrum are being embraced. And options – once in short supply for us curly girls – are now readily available to us.
Thanks for letting us know what you think!
Thank you for your suggestions and comments! We will be posting the 2010 survey results on July 1st.
Since we also got 1500 participants, we will also announce the three winners* of the $100 gift certificate from CurlMart, as well as posting your 15% discount, on July 1st. Great job!
*Winners selected at random
We want to know what you think!
It’s time for NaturallyCurly’s annual Best of the Best survey. Your opinion is important to us and we’d like to know what you think about the products you use every day. What is the best curly conditioner out there? What’s your favorite gel? Tell us!
And of course, we’d like your suggestions and comments! What can we do in 2010 to make your curly world better?
Participants are eligible to win a $100 gift certificate from CurlMart. And help us get to 1,500 participants and everyone gets a sweet 15% CurlMart discount!
To find a hair salon offering eco-cuts and coloring in your neck of the woods, you may have to do some legwork as the trend isn’t quite widespread, although you should check out this article about a salon in Portland, Ore., that is seriously eco-friendly.
Inquire at salons in your area: Perhaps the easiest way to find a green salon is to call or visit some in your area and ask questions about what they’re doing to reduce their environmental impact. Questions to ask include:
- Do you use and carry eco-friendly products? Traditional permanent hair dyes, shampoos and conditioners, and other salon staples often contain a bevy of questionable chemicals that can cause health problems and environmental damage. Ask what natural and eco-friendly hair products and treatments the salon carries and uses in-house.
- Do you employ water-saving practices, such as reusing rinse water? Salons obviously require a massive amount of water to wash and rinse you hair, as well as tools and equipment. Some salons have started to reduce their water consumption by mandating water-saving practices and installing water recycling systems. Reusing rinse water is one of the most common and effective water-saving practices in salons today.
- Do you use energy-efficient equipment? Although Energy Star hairdryers and curling irons are not yet a reality, seek out a salon that restricts its energy use by employing energy-efficient lighting, graywater heat-recovery systems, and energy-saving equipment. Even better, ask if the salon is powered by solar or wind energy.
- Do you recycle? In addition to ensuring that the salon you choose recycles their plastic bottles and other supplies, ask if they use products housed in eco-friendly packaging, made from recycled-content materials.
- Do you use natural cleaning products and laundry detergents? Methods used by your salon to clean laundry, instruments, and building structures should also be green. Ask if they use natural cleaning products, laundry detergents, and pest control techniques.
- Do you offer other eco-friendly services? If you’re looking for a full-service salon, offering services such as waxing, tanning, and mani and pedis, ask if eco-friendly options are available for those services as well. Hair salons and spas often come hand-in-hand, so after that wash/cut/style session, you can unwind with a green facial, massage, or another treatment.
— Courtesy of GreenYour.com
More Green-ness
- •How To Find An Eco-Friendly Hair Salon
- •Green Hair Care Companies Offer Inspiration
- •Adrienne Clements, our Eco Expert vlogger
- •Understanding Organic: What You Need to Know
- •Hair Care Companies are Going Green
- •Eco-Friendly Beauty Blogs
- •5 Simple Ways to Stay Stylish — And Save the Planet
- •High Tech Meets Low Impact: The Eco-Friendly Nurture Salon
“Go Green” might seem like overused marketing hype these days. Everywhere you turn, especially this time of year, we are implored to “go green.”
But regardless of the hype, it’s critical that each and every one of us does our part to preserve our planet. We are killing it, and if we do not take measures to end the slaughter, the consequences will be dire.
NaturallyCurly has long touted the benefits of sustainability, from the articles we publish, to our method of communication (a web site vs. a magazine”> to our internal office practices to the products we sell.
NaturallyCurly’s verdancy was cited recently in a book by Linsly Donnelly called “The Happy-Go-Local: The Smart Mom’s Guide to Living the Good (and sustainable”> Life!
Linsly Donnelly
Author Donnelly says, “The reality is making our world —and our day to day—more eco-friendly, requires weaving together a myriad (or millions”> of baby steps. Fortunately, a virtual tribe of small companies with big ideas make that easier for us to do. The entrepreneurial drive and passion these companies— and the people who build them—bring to the sustainability problem promises cleaner living across all areas of our lives. Between earth-loving hair care, organic taste treats and toxin-free fashion gear, small businesses create a large option set for crafting your personal green path…”
We know all our wonderful members are doing your part, too, to help the planet. To give you some ideas, we’ve created this amazing Sustainability Graphic, which offers ideas for reducing your damaging impact on the planet.
Check out our interactive graphic above and then enter your “green” story in the comments area below. Tell us how you’re saving our Earth. We’ll select 10 lucky winners who will get a copy of “Happy Go Local”.
Casey James with his hair in a pony tail, the way he wore it last night.
Casey James with his hair down.
This appears to be the burning question of the moment in the blogosphere: What products does American Idol contestant Casey James use in his hair?
While James was performing last night, with his hair in a pony tail, NaturallyCurly ad sales queen Lori Kerrigan observed, “He performs better with the locks down.” So last night maybe wasn’t his best performance, but . . .
…we still like his hair. What do you think he uses in it? Have any sources at the American Idol styling staff? Let’s try to find out! Post your thoughts in the comments area below!
—Gretchen Heber
Measha Brueggergosman wows Olympic Stadium during her Opening Ceremonies
Canadian opera superstar Measha Brueggergosman rocks a most spectacular mane of textured wonder. It wasn’t only her voice that wowed the crowd during the Winter Olympic Olympic Ceremonies in Vancouver earlier this year. Many of us curlies were captivated by her stunning hair.
NaturallyCurly was lucky enough to catch up with the down-to-earth diva to ask her about her curls.
NC: How long have you worn your hair natural? Have you ever relaxed it? How did you decide to transition?
MB: Like most women with textured hair, I straightened my hair because that’s just what you did – my mom did (and continues to do so”> and I’m sure her mom before her as well. I started to grow out the straight part of my hair because I was in an opera that required me to wear braids and I liked how they looked so much that I just kept putting them in until the straight part grew out enough that I could cut it off and “go natural”.
NC: Do you think your hair adds to your already-fantastic stage presence?
MB: I think I feel confident knowing that I have a hairstyle that is a natural extension of who I am—and you’ll pardon the pun.
NC: Does your big, full hair fit in well with most of your performances and events? Are you ever asked to tame it? Have you ever been asked to straighten it for a show?
MB: I’ve never been asked to tame by hair or straighten it for a show. I think there’s a misconception within the “community of textured hair” that people will have some kind of adverse reaction to HAIR worn in its natural state. Quite the opposite, actually. I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback (and borderline jealousy”> with regard to how I’ve chosen to wear my hair. The only confusion that arises is when I put a straight weave in and people wonder how I’ve managed to grow my hair so quickly!
NC: What products do you use?
MB: I use Kiehl’scosmetics for everything from hair to face to body.
NC: Were you thrilled to get the call from the Olympic committee? Tell me what that was like.
MB: The Olympic Opening Ceremonies were absolutely incredible! It was truly a unique experience to be in a room with ten of thousands of people. all united in a common goal of respect and celebration.
NC: What made you decide to wear your hair out, full and in all its gorgeous glory for the Olympic performance?
MB: Sisters have GOT to represent. Ha! But seriously, there is no reason we can’t decide how and when we want to wear our hair—and I think wearing your hair, as God made it to grow on your head, is empowering and unique. And no two curls on any head are the same. That’s just beautiful. I’m not trying to make it political—I just want an easy hairstyle that champions who I naturally am.
Celeb stylist Giacomo Forbes offers these tips for coloring gray hair:
- Don’t use a color with an ammonia base; use pure pigment
- Go lighter than you want (i.e., light brown if your goal is a dark brown”>
- DO NOT USE BOX COLOR!!!!
- Tell your stylist to use Wella Color Touch brand, levels 5 to 7, 10% peroxide, and add highlights
Check out this video from NaturallyCurly community member Booker T’s Mama. She shows us how she does a bantu knot out.
“American Idol” front runner Crystal Bowersox is my favorite. But it seems that her dreadlocks are getting as much attention as her amazing voice. And not all of it good.
Cincinnati.com reports that “longtime viewers wondered what the “Idol” glam machine—which applies gel and flatirons to corn-fed kids and turns them into fashion-shoot-ready celebrities— would do when confronted with her ‘do.”
“I’ve had these for about four and a half years now,” she told AccessHollywood.com in March. “I do wash my hair— just so everyone knows. There’s a lot of myths out there about dreadlocks, but they’re very clean and well-kept.”
A story about Bowersox’s hair on Stylelist.com attracted comments ranging from compliments (“they fit her perfectly””> to critical (“disgusting and distracting,” “horrible” and “[she] looks like a pothead””>. One poster summed up voter expectations this way: “You keep those dreadlocks and be happy, but you won’t win ‘American Idol’ with that look—do you really think [fourth season winner] Carrie Underwood would have won if she looked like Crystal?”
Even hair professionals have something to say. “They can look way better than that,” declared Majeedah Taufeeq, a Cleveland braiding expert who conducts seminars on black hairstyles. “Her ‘locks are a mess. She needs my help!”
I am crossing my fingers that Bowersox, who seems to have a lot more spunk than some past contestants, will fight for her locs. They haven’t held her back so far!
Gretchen Heber and Michelle Breyer founded NaturallyCurly.com in 1998, and owe the site’s enormous success to its community.
It’s been 12 years since NaturallyCurly was born—at a party during another endless discussion about our curly woes. We probably don’t tell you enough, but you, our community, are the reason we’re still here, stronger than ever. You are NaturallyCurly. You all bring your unique and diverse perspectives and, most importantly, your passion. You constantly push us to be the best we can be. We can never thank you enough for making NaturallyCurly the thriving, vibrant, educational and liberating site it is today. It’s all because of our community — you.
— Gretchen and Michelle
April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring frizzy hair. Profound Beauty showed Melissa how to treat her hair properly and zap the frizz away!
STEP 1
We washed Melissa’s hair with ANATOMY 50/50 Shampoo, our most emollient and hydrating shampoo, perfect for her dry hair.
We then massaged ANATOMY 1/99 Anti-Oxidant Mask from root to tip to restore suppleness and provide intense moisture.
STEP 2
After rinsing out the Mask, we gently patted her hair dry with a towel, sectioned the hair into 4 parts, and applied HUSH Time-Out Treatment to each section.
STEP 3
We then twisted each section to prevent frizz and create a soft wave formation.
STEP 4
We applied HUSH Frizz-Zero Mousse, retwisted each section and scrunched to help prevent frizz and create soft, pliable, shiny waves.
STEP 5
We used a diffuser to gently dry the hair without moving it around too much.
FRIZZ-ZAPPING TIP: Use HUSH Frizz-Zero Spray to tame a frizzy hairline.
THE FINISHED LOOK
Melissa’s hair is soft to the touch, bouncy and of course, frizz free.
Right: NaturallyCurly.com advertising queen Lori Kerrigan meets super-stylist Kim Vo today at America’s Beauty Show in Chicago.
Michelle, right, hangs out with Miss Jessie’s Titi Branch at America’s Beauty Show.
So it’s been nearly a month, and I’m still liking the results of my Brazilian Blowout—so much so that I plan on doing it again in the summer.
I just returned from America’s Beauty Show, and several people I’d known for a while commented on my curls and asked what was different. The big comment was that my hair looked shinier and less frizzy. Because the perception is that these type of treatments straighten the hair, people were surprised that I had had one done.
One thing that has been a pleasant surprise is that I can leave the house with my hair soaking wet and not worry it will turn into a frizzy mess. When it dries, I just run some pomade through it and my curls look bouncy.
I am having to adjust the products I use because the amount of styling product I used before now is too heavy. But overall, it’s been great for me and my curls.
Our NaturallyCurly readers receive an exclusive Ulta in-store offer! Visit an ULTA store and purchase any two Abba products and receive your choice of complimentary Herbal Remedy Leave-In Treatment Spray. ($26.25 retail value”>.
Abba pure performance hair care wants to help you look your best this spring. All products within the line carry the brand’s “Commitment to Purity” seal, a pledge to produce products that are natural and pure while recognizing the brand’s social responsibility to protect the earth. All Abba products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free and free of synthetic dyes.
Offer valid while supplies last. In-store offer available from March 28, 2010 through May 1, 2010. No coupon needed for redemption.
If your browser does not redirect immediately, click here.
NaturallyCurly CEO Crista thinks Daris is darling.
Is anyone watching “The Biggest Loser” this season?
If so, does your heart melt for Daris the way mine does?
This season is “couples” season, and he’s on the show with his mom, Cheryl.
Daris has some serious curls, and lots of them.
I’ve wondered if he would lose a pound or more if he cut them, but I hope he doesn’t.
He’s staying true to his texture, rockin’ his curls and his core. Go Daris!
— Crista Bailey
