Search Results: NaturallyCurly
NaturallyCurly: How did you become interested in working with curly hair?
Michelle: Having curly hair myself, I was never happy with the cuts I got from people. They didn’t understand my hair, and I would always end up with a shelf. It wouldn’t fall right. And everybody was always trying to blow dry my hair straight, and I liked my curls.
NaturallyCurly: How did you learn how to work with curls?
Michelle: I grew up in new Jersey, which is very multicultural. I worked with a lot of different hair textures. I’ve taken classes specializing in curly hair., and tweaked what I’ve learned to get the best results. Every head of hair is completely different. I prefer to cut hair wet to put balance in and get the general shape, and then I finish it up when it’s dry.
NaturallyCurly: Did you always love your curls?
Michelle: When I was growing up, I chopped my hair off because there were no good products and nobody knew how to cut my hair. I ended up cutting my own hair because I hated what other people did to my hair. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I started playing with the curl and realizing what kind of curl I really had, and I began experimenting with different products to see what worked best with my hair. I really started enjoying my curly hair.
NaturallyCurly: What are your favorite products for curly hair?
Michelle: It depends on the curl. I really love AG re:coil for coarse curls. I’ve been playing with the Kevin Murphy line for finer curls, and really like a product called Motion Lotion. I also really love Sebastian’s new Whipped Creme. It has a lot of conditioning agents, and it keeps the curls really smooth and separate without frizz.
NaturallyCurly: Do you have any tips to help curlygirls work with their hair?
Michelle: Don’t be afraid to experiment. There are so many products to try. Always apply products when your hair is soaking wet to prevent frizz. To get volume on top, scrunch your crown when your hair upside down. You might also want to try texturizing to get the weight out and let the curls take the shape they want to take.
NaturallyCurly: What is your philosophy behind cutting curly and kinky hair?
Michelle: Don’t fight it. What’s natural is beautiful. Embrace what you have!
Re:coil shampoo and conditioner
Since its development five years ago, Re:coil Curl Activator has ranked first out of the 44 hair products sold by Canada’s AG Hair Cosmetics. Since the product’s introduction, the company has gotten consistent requests to develop a shampoo and conditioner to go along with the curl cream, which has become a “Holy Grail” product for many curlies.
AG responded.
As AG has done in the past, the company went directly to the source. Last fall, AG posted a survey on NaturallyCurly.com to help it develop a curly shampoo and conditioner worthy of the styling product. Out of 6,500 respondents, 100 people were selected as testers.
“One of the reasons (Re:coil”> has become so successful is because, from the onset, we engaged the experts on NaturallyCurly.com to help us develop the styling product,” says John Davis, CEO and co-founder of AG. “We’ve done the same with the new Re:coil shampoo and conditioner, which will help build the foundation for luscious, healthy curls.”
The result of this effort is new Re:coil Curl Activating Shampoo and Re:coil Curl Activating Conditioner, which launched Sept. 1 — exactly five years to the day after the introduction of the Curl Activator.
The shampoo is a mild sulfate-free formula designed to retain the curl. The conditioner is designed to smooth and detangle curls. Both products contain AG’s C3* curl creating complex — a combination of rice amino acids, biofermented fruit acids and fatty acids.
Some of the information gleaned from the surveys was surprising, says Tatiana Jovic, spokeswoman for AG. For example, curlies said they would be willing to spend more on a sulfate-free shampoo. Tester feedback resulted in changes to the consistency and fragrance of the products.
AG is a big believer that you’ve got to listen to your customers. Customer input was the impetus for the creation of Re:coil Curl Activator. Davis says the company was hearing from curlies that they wanted a styling product especially for them. In doing its research, the company came across NaturallyCurly and became involved in discussions online. Samples of the company’s soft-hold cream were sent out to members to test, and adjustments were made based on their feedback.
“The rest is history,” Davis says.
A behavioral study that recently aired on “Good Morning America” found that employers are more likely to hire a woman with curly hair than a woman with straight hair. When GMA reporter Taryn Winter Brill, met with job recruiters with her hair worn naturally curly, those experts described her as being more “intelligent, articulate and displaying a higher level of confidence” than when she mirrored the interview but only altered her hairstyle to straight. Why is that? The recent study suggests that people with curly hair are thought of as “low maintenance, independent, self starters, trustworthy and go getters” — all qualities that make up an ideal job candidate.
This is no news to the proclaimed “Queen of Curls”, curl expert and author, Ouidad, who says, “My clients are strong, independent women who aren’t afraid to show their individuality. Curls give my client’s the confidence they need in today’s competitive workplace!”
With today’s dismal economy and rising unemployment rates, finding a job can be a daunting task. If curls increase one’s hire-ability, then let the ringlets take center stage.
See our recent article on curls in the workplace.
Jenn Stuczynski
8/22/08
Earlier this week, U.S. pole vaulter Jenn Stuczynski vaulted to a silver medal, her brown curls flying behind her. Stuczynski holds the American women’s record, jumping 16 feet, 1.75 inches.
CJ Bruton
8/21/08
The Australian basketball team may have lost to the powerful U.S. team Wednesday in the quarterfinals, but at least Aussie C.J. Bruton had winning hair. Bruton shows off his texture in all its glory, whether it’s in cornrows, twists or a big bushy ‘fro.
<8/19/08
BEIJING – The hair is unbearably short now. It is curly and cropped close to his cauliflower ears, the victim of a scissor-happy barber in Beijing. The woman wouldn’t stop cutting. Before Ben Askren knew it, 5 inches were on the floor.
This is how badly Askren wants to win a gold medal — he shed his coveted locks, his trademark — because the international guys like to pull on them when they wrestle. Unfortunately, the haircut didn’t help him accomplish his goal.
Ben Askren couldn’t get past veteran Ivan Fundora in Wednesday’s 74kg freestyle match. Fundora wins the first period 3-1, and the “USA” chants can’t help Askren. He falls behind 2-0, then 4-0.
He stands with his hands on his hips when it’s over and the Cuban moves on.
“I don’t know what you want to hear from me,” Askren says. “My dreams are crushed. I just wasn’t good enough.”
Two weeks, and he’s done in two hours. Askren says he doesn’t know where he’ll go from here. There has been talk that he’ll try mixed martial arts, but his coach, Shawn Charles, is sure Askren will be back. He couldn’t end it this way.
Read more about Askren.
Source: ESPN.com
8/17/08For the second time in two tries, Venus and Serena won the doubles gold medals at the Olympics, beating a team from Spain on Sunday at the Olympic tennis complex. But this time, the Williams sisters sported newly natural ‘dos. Venus is wearing her hair in a short ‘fro, while Serena has a curly bob.
When Venus first unveiled her new ‘do, she explained: “I’ve nominated not to straighten it. It’s very, very ‘70s.”
Source: FedCup.com
Margaret Hoelzer churns her way to a spot on the podium Thursday night. (AP photo”>
Hoelzer’s curls look cute and carefree. (AP photo”>
8/15/08
United States curly swimmer Margaret Hoelzer earned a bronze medal in the 100-m backstroke event in Beijing Thursday night, and proudly showed off her curls in a quick but cute upswept podium ‘do.
And while the two-time Olympian may wear a bathing camp in the pool, her trademark curls have made it onto a T-shirt.
A specially designed shirt reading “Can’t Hoelzer Back,” with the curly-haired swimmer doing the backstroke, has been created for her fans to wear. The proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt go to the National Children’s Advocacy Center, a charity supported by the Huntsville, Ala., swimmer. The T-shirts are $20 and may be ordered by calling 256-327-3780.
Emanuel Rego
8/14/08
Even Beijing’s humidity was no match for the curls of two-time world champion beach volleyballer Emanuel Rego — the original “King of the Beach.”
Speedy Swimmer is Known for his Curls
Ryan Lochte
8/13/08
Ryan Lochte is one of the stars of the men’s Olympic swim team. He swam the third leg of the 4×200-meter freestyle relay Tuesday, helping the United States smash the world record by 4.68 seconds. But to hear his fans talk about him, while his swimming skills are find and dandy, they’d prefer to discuss his curly good looks. Just check into some of the recent chatter about him on message boards around the world:
“There is something about Ryan’s curly hair that gave him this sweet innocent angel look.”
“He’s a curly-topped dish.”
“Aww, I love Ryan Lochte’s curly hair.”
“I like the big old curly mop look on him. Well, he does need a little trim.”
Curly U.S. Fencer Gets the Bronze
Becca Ward
8/12/08
U.S. Olympic fencer Becca Ward wins the bronze in sabre. She helped the Americans sweep the individual sabre event. Fencing helmets obviously weren’t created with curls in mind.
— Source: Wire services
Korean Medal Winner Gives Curls Special Treatment
Park Tae-hwan
8/11/08
Park Tae-hwan, who won the first swimming gold for Korea in the men’s 400-m freestyle competition at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday, takes special care to protect his curls from the chlorine. Park Jung-ryool, the owner of “She Jak,” (a hair salon”> has taken care of his hair for about three years. “He seems to pay as much attention to his hairstyle as other young men. He often has hair and scalp treatment because he has curly hair and his hair is often damaged by the water in the swimming pool.”
— Source: Wire services
Breaking Olympic News: Ben’s Hair is History!
8/10/08
It won’t exactly be Samson and Delilah, but a haircut of Olympic proportions will be performed on former Missouri wrestler Ben Askren in the next few days in the athletes’ village.
“I’ll do it in one of the free barbershops,” said Askren, who will compete in freestyle wrestling Aug. 20 at 163 pounds.
Other athletes are under consideration for face of the Games. Askren had a chance to be the hair of the Games. But barring a change of heart, he’s taking himself out of the running.Askren’s long, curly hair has been his trademark, as have his freewheeling wrestling style and the swagger that comes with it. But the hair became so symbolic that high school wrestlers and fans at Mizzou matches came dressed in wigs.
But reality set in at the World Cup in February, when Askren faced a Russian named Denis Tsargush. “He grabbed my hair,” Askren said. Tsargush beat him.
— Source: Wire services
When Venus first unveiled her new ‘do, she explained: “I’ve nominated not to straighten it. It’s very, very ‘70s.”
Source: FedCup.com
NaturallyCurly was featured in the August 2008 issue of Justine magazine.
See Curlisto’s video for getting fabulous curls!
Check out Curlisto‘s video for styling loose, wavy hair.
See Curlisto‘s video for styling super curly hair.
See a video all about DevaCurl.
Victoria Beckham
Forget the stick-straight bob that Victoria Beckham — aka Posh Spice — had been sporting for the past two years. It looks like she’s decided to rock her curls. And we love the look!
Christo tells you how to get the look.
If you have loose curl, you have to have a cut with long diagonal layers. First part the hair into five sections. Add gel or mousse to each section. Diffuse. You can use a curling iron to re-purpose curls.
If you are starting with straight hair like Beckham, prepare the hair with a glaze to protect against heat styling products. Dry the hair 100 percent. Then you should start with a 1 ½-inch ceramic ionic curling iron, which is healthier on the hair. After you use the curling iron, spritz some Structura Spray to keep the curl in tact. After you finish curling all your hair, let it set. After five minutes, run a finger through the curls for a more natural look.
Sheryl Crow
Growing up, Sheryl Crow has vivid memories of gymnasts Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci and figure skater Dorothy Hamill competing in the Olympics.
“I wanted to be a gymnast, but there was no place in a tiny town in Missouri to take gymnastics,” says the singer, who will watch the Beijing Games with son Wyatt on her tour bus next month. “But I did go and get my hair cut in a Dorothy Hamill wedge, which was unfortunate for me because that hairdo didn’t really work so well with curly hair.”
Crow is showing her support for this summer’s Olympic athletes with a new song. The Grammy winner’s tune, “So Glad We Made It,” will appear on the AT&T Team USA soundtrack and during TV broadcasts of the Summer Games.
July 21, 2008, “The New Yorker”
Satire is defined as wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly. That was the goal of cartoonist Barry Blitt in his cartoon on the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of “The New Yorker.” He portrayed Michelle Obama with an Afro and an AK 47 machine gun and and Barack Obama in a turban doing the fist bump.
While the cartoon is meant to make of fun of the scare tactics and misinformation being lobbed at Obama, it, at the same time, reinforces negative stereotypes about both Muslims and natural hair.
“Does afro=angry militant?” asks CurlTalker Frau. “I wear an afro sometimes.”
Other women, including those with natural hair, liked the cartoon and what it stands for.
“My initial reaction was ‘that’s wrong and inappropriate,'” says CurlTalker Webjockey. “Then I looked at his other work. He just likes to show the absurdities of opinions. I can dig that.”
We’re all for exposing the stupidity of fear mongering. Playing on people’s stereotypes and insecurities is not a positive trend for a democracy.
But many readers may miss that point.
“I like it very much but I wish it wasn’t on the cover,” says CurlTalker Frau. “There are many people who won’t read the article or understand it as satire as they’re walking quickly by newsstands. I can imagine that picture being a catalyst for imprinting negative views about the Obamas.”
NaturallyCurly appreciates Blitt’s attempt at satire, but we fear the image will be used as fodder for close-minded individuals who don’t understand the cartoon’s true purpose. We are also disappointed that Blitt lumps curly hair in with assault rifles and flag-burning.
Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone sported a new curly ‘do at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Alan Cumming presented Sharon Stone with GLAAD’s Vanguard Award Saturday at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco. The award honors media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
We thought she did a good job of bringing increased visibility to curls!
NaturallyCurly was featured in Self magazine in July 2008.
NaturallyCurly was featured in the USA Weekend July 6 issue.
NaturallyCurly was featured in the USA Weekend July 6 issue.
NaturallyCurly was featured in “Celebrity Hair Styles Short Styles” Fall 2008 issue.
