Search Results: NaturallyCurly

“These are the products I use.”

FREDERICK FEKKAI – Shea Butter Shampoo

FREDERICK FEKKAI – Shea Butter Conditioner

REDKEN – Blonde Glam Shampoo

AQUAGE – Detangling cream

KUSCO MURPHY – Conditioner spray

— Actress Mary Louise Parker

(courtesy StarStyle.com“>

The Bewildered Man: Severely Straight Hair

He’s just confused. What happened to Goldilocks? She bought herself a Chi

Wow, women of America, you’ve straightened your hair. You’ve really straightened your hair. Couldn’t be any straighter. What do you call that? Limp? It’s pointy, actually. Like a headdress of chopsticks. No, we don’t hate it. It’s a little severe maybe, but it works on some level. Why aren’t you moving your head? Right, that’ll mess it up. Can we touch it? No? Okay. All the celebrities are wearing their hair like that? Reese Witherspoon. Nicole Kidman. Well, there you go: You look like a celebrity. But sort of intractable and cold, like an ancient statue —of a goddess who is pissed off. Or John Lennon. Not like you at all, really. Not like when your hair was textured, thick, soft, imperfect, and you could move it around, and you looked, you know, human. It’ll wash out in the morning, right? Whatever. Tonight, your scent is intoxicating, that dress is beautiful, and your hair, well, it’s just really damn straight.

— Esquire magazine

Seasons Greetings! The holidays are here and the new year is quickly approaching. I’ve been thinking about my New Year’s resolutions. I am trying to figure out how I want to celebrate the holidays while contributing on a grand scale. I have a lot to be grateful for this present year. I just got married to a wonderful man. I moved to a great city in a cool neighborhood. I started a new business in women’s accessories. I’ve collected more amazing friends. Things are really looking up for me, but how am I impacting the world?

A couple of days ago, I watched the HBO documentary, “I am an animal: The story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA”. If you don’t know, PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. I was amazed to see this organization’s devotion to animals. There is an animal rights movement happening right now and PETA started it all. These people do not play. No Butterball Thanksgiving turkey dinners allowed. No fur coats. No leather purses. No honey, baby. No horse tail hair weave? Hmm. I don’t know.

Anyway, PETA has inspired me to view life quite differently. Being that I am pesco-vegan (fish and veggies”> I totally understand where Peta is coming from. I stopped eating meat (poultry”> after reading “The Food Revolution” by John Robbins. This book points out the evils behind many commonly eaten foods and demonstrates the benefits of eating healthy as a vegetarian. Anybody who reads this book will surely stop eating meat, even if it’s just for a week. After seeing this disturbing, yet enlightening, HBO documentary I decided to make an early New Year’s resolution for 2008. I will strive to live a cruelty-free life. This includes but is not limited to animals, humans, the evironment and ME.

I decided to check out some of the products that I use on a daily basis for my body and hair. I was fortunate to see that most of my products I use say “No animal testing.” My rose water, my Jason’s toothpaste, my Lush grapefruit toner, my Thai Crystal deodorant and of course all my Paul Mitchell products. Yeah! I am making a small impact on the world. My motto for the new year is: “Cruelty free, the world needs me”. Ok, maybe it’s a little corny, but I like it. The affirmation is in my heart and mind. I’m really going to start paying attention to product labels and do whatever I can to live cruelty free.

The weirdest thing about this HBO documentary for me was when Ingrid Newkirk, the co-founder of PETA, stated that when she died she wanted her flesh used as barbecue. She said that when people smell her flesh burning they will know that skin is skin whether it comes from a human or an animal. WOW! Pretty drastic. Whatever floats your boat, Ingrid. When I die, I want my AFRO donated to one of the mannequins at the Mon Cherie Boutique in Milan, Italy. I think it shall make a lovely display.

Let’s Talk Hair: Every Black Woman’s Personal Consultation for Healthy Growing Hair

By Pamela Ferrell and Lurma Rackley

Pamela Ferrell’s natural hair care system has helped thousands of women grow healthy hair. You will feel like you have her one-on-one personal consultation to talk about your hair … its unique qualities and how you can care of it without chemicals. Learn beauty industry secrets and answers to all the questions you wanted to ask but didn’t know who to ask.

I have a confession to make. It took me 38 years to admit that I have curly hair.

As they say, the grass is always greener. So I spent most of my life trying to keeping my hair straight. I spent so many hours as a teenager blowdrying my hair and then re-blowdrying my hair!

There was a brief period of relief in the 80s when perms were in. But even then, straight bangs were the style. Fast forward to 2004. I am a very busy working mother that realized that I just don’t have enough hours in a day to spend doing my hair.

I saw the light. WOW! Not only did I start wearing my hair curly, but I embraced my curls and now actually prefer my curls. People say I look younger and happier with curly hair.

I’m in a unique position to work with curly children everyday, and to have curly hair myself. So I am blessed with the education of a lifetime with curls. I’m happy to share my knowledge with you!

Q: I am 14 years old. I have extremely curly hair that is very frustrating. I really need help learning how to loosen my curls so that my hair is longer and thinner, but still curly. However, I swim everyday, so I need something that I can swim with without damaging my hair. Please help me ASAP!

Cozy: Swimming every day is great exercise, but can be damaging to your hair. It is especially important for you to cut your hair regularly to remove the damaged ends. But that doesn’t mean you have to take off a lot of hair or have short hair. Frequent trimming is what is needed. Definitely use a swimmer’s shampoo that will remove the impurities and chlorine from your hair. So Cozy Green Apple Swimmers Shampoo has orange extract, which is a natural antiseptic that will purify and invigorate the skin. It also contains aloe, which soothes skin.

To help loosen your curls, try this after bathing: Instead of brushing or combing your hair, squeeze out excess water as much as possible. Get an alcohol-free gel (like So Cozy Groovy Grape”> and scrunch into wet hair with your head upside down. Work through your hair one section at a time to distribute as evenly as possible. Let dry naturally or use a blow dryer with a diffuser.

Q: How do I begin to get my daughter to care about her curls? She hates fixing her hair in the mornings. I have a fairly simple routine for her: wet her curls (they were washed and conditioned the night before”>, comb through them with a wide-tooth comb, and use mousse or gel. When she goes through this routine, it takes her less than 10 minutes. She still doesn’t want to take the time. Is there any advice you would offer a mother to give to her daughter regarding her curl care?

Cozy: You are smart for wanting your young daughter to have an awareness about proper grooming. Good grooming leads to healthy self-esteem, for which no one is ever too young! Simplifying the routine as much as possible is what is needed. When bathing at night, comb your daughter’s hair in the bath with conditioner in her hair. Use a wide-tooth comb to get rid of any knots. Do NOT rinse out all the conditioner. Leave in a little (mostly on the ends”>, and then ring out excess water after her bath. Scrunch in gel or styling cream (we like So Cozy Kooky Kiwi Styling Cream”>. Here’s the time saver: In the morning when she is brushing her teeth, wet your hands and scrunch her hair. That will re-activate the conditioner and styling cream from the night before and soften the hair. There is no need to start all over again. And if she is busy while you are doing it, she won’t even notice!

Q: My 2-year-old dear daughter has kinky hair. It’s so thick and coarse. I’ve tried different types of products in her hair. One I think was called Pink Oil. I have no idea of what to do with it. Right now, I just keep braiding it. I would like to be able to find a product that will let me keep it down without tangling too much. I don’t like the pain she goes through when I try to comb it out. Can you give me any help on what to do to keep her hair healthy and would also enable me to let down? When I used the Pink Oil, it was too thick and made combing though her hair almost impossible.

Cozy: It sounds like you desperately need to learn how to deal with your daughter’s tangles! Here is how to properly comb her hair: You take about an inch of hair and work steadily around the head, one inch at a time. We recommend doing this in the tub with conditioner in her hair (So Cozy Sweet Strawberry Conditioner is thick and creamy”> with a wide-tooth comb. With the hair in one hand, start at the bottom of the strand, working your way up slowly but surely, holding the hair at the bottom to prevent from tugging on the scalp.

For detangling at other times of the day, always use a detangler and use the same combing method described above. A great detangler is So Cozy Fruity Delight Detangler & Leave-In Conditoner. It’s like a magical potion! It contains hydrolized wheat protein and wheat starch to condition, protect and smooth the hair shaft. This makes it possible for you to comb through the tangles. Now to prevent tangles, try putting her hair back in loose styles during active times and at night for bed. She can wear her hair down for less physical activities and special occasions.

We all remember the Farrah Fawcett feathers, the Dorothy Hamill wedge and The Rachel (Jennifer Aniston’s famed look”> — the hairstyles us curlies wanted but couldn’t have.

Now add the “Pob” to that list.

Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, aka soccer stud David Beckham’s wife, recently cut off her extensions and is sporting a funky bob that now is named after her — the Posh Bob, or Pob for short. The Pob, a simple, sleek bob, is taking the country by storm.

While a bob is by no means a new hairstyle, Beckham reinvented it and gave it instant fashion status. Even best friend Katie Holmes is following the trend.

“We figure it’s probably going to be the next big one,” says Franco Peta, owner of Vancouver’s Alta Moda Hair. “Not everyone can wear it. You’ve got to have the hair and you’ve got to have the face for it. It’s courageous.”

Stylists believe almost anyone can wear the Pob — anybody except those with extremely curly hair. One stylist said curly hair forced into a Pob would wind up looking more “abstract.”

There were plenty of “fake bobs,” with hair pinned up to give the illusion of a shorter cut. And there were plenty of loose, glamourous waves. But many of our favorite curly actresses, including Kyra Sedgwick, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Minnie Driver and Debra Messing, opted to straighten their locks rather than to play up texture.

By Trisha R. Thomas

African-American advertising agency executive Venus Johnston has had enough. Enough of the painful, expensive hours spent relaxing her “good” hair and enough of her four-year relationship with medical intern Clint Fairchild, which has lasted too long without a ring. She shaves her hair to a quarter-inch stubble, tells Clint to pack his bags and spends the rest of Thomas’s empowering debut novel building a new life to match the new woman she’s become. Clint, on the rebound, meets beautiful, longhaired and marriage-ready Kandi Treboe and proposes on an impulse, despite evidence that he’s not over Venus.

Meanwhile, Venus confronts issues of sexual harassment and racism in her predominantly white Washington, D.C., firm, where she begins to receive threatening notes. The crisis at work fuels Venus’s fears that she’s not strong enough to survive her new freedom. Has she made a mistake by abandoning the security of her boyfriend and her long, straight hair? Kandi develops into a complex character, with her own set of concerns and a sense of humor about the lovers’ triangle. Her perspective provides an interesting counterpoint to Venus’s obsession with the consuming culture surrounding black women’s hair. Clint’s confusion over his choice between the two women is treated honestly, and Venus’s discovery that she has moved to new psychological territory carries emotional weight. Buy the book!

Mixed Chicks, an L.A.-based manufacturer of products for curly and kinky hair, is sponsoring the 2007 Macy Gray Big tour.

Big is largely considered as Gray’s comeback album, after a four-year hiatus since her last studio album.

A Mixed Chicks representative said, “Macy’s unique style fits with our company image. She’s classy and anything but average.”

Big has been critically acclaimed and seen as Gray’s best work yet. It features collaborations with Natalie Cole, Fergie, Justin Timberlake, and will.i.am, who co-executive produced the album with Gray.

The always edgy Macy Gray began 2007 at a concert in Barbados where she got in a bit of trouble for using profanity (which was part of the show”>, but she wasn’t aware that it was against the law in that country. She handled the situation with class, and gave a public apology that night to the fans and Barbados. March saw the release of Gray’s fourth studio album (sixth overall”>, entitled Big. Two singles, “Finally Made Me Happy” and “Shoo Be Doo”, have been released from the album. “What I Gotta Do”, another track from the album, is featured on the Shrek the Third soundtrack.

Gray recently opened up a music academy called The Macy Gray Music Academy and it was the scene of MTV’s Punk’d because of black mold in the building. Gray has been highly praised for her work with the academy, and has given underprivileged children and teenagers the chance to perform.

The Big tour kicks off in Hollywood, Fla. Aug.; 14 with about 20 dates to follow. For more information, go here.

From a Wall Street Journal article about Whole Foods’ founder John Mackey:

“He was a six-time college dropout, curly haired and casually dressed.”

Because being sloppy and unable to finish college go right along with curly hair. Grrrr.

The Estee Lauder Companies, a manufacturer and marketer of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products, has agreed to acquire the Ojon Corp., a privately held prestige hair care company based in Canada.

The closing of the acquisition is expected to occur in this month. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ojon markets and sells products made with ingredients collected by the Tawira, an indigenous community living in the Central American rain forest. Ojon, incorporated in 2003, markets its naturally-derived shampoos, conditioners, styling products and treatments through QVC; specialty retailers, including Sephora, Ulta and Nordstrom; and approximately 300 high-end salons. CurlMart also retails the line. The Ojon products also are available in limited distribution overseas.

Ojon products are made with palm nut oil produced by the Tawira people and help improve hair’s strength, moisture, shine and reduce breakage. In late 2006, Ojon also launched Rare Harvest Tawaka Collection, a three-product skin and hair care treatment line based on a wild-crafted blend of anti-oxidant rich cacao harvested in the Honduran rain forest.

To source its ingredients, Ojon has partnered with the Mosquitia Pawisa Agency for the Development of the Honduras Mosquitia (MOPAWI Organization”>, a local nonprofit group that works on behalf of indigenous communities in the region. Through its contract with the MOPAWI, Ojon purchases wild-crafted palm nut oil and other ingredients from thousands of Tawira producers. The ingredients, largely palm oil and cacao, are then sent to Originitalia, a plant in northern Italy, where they are purified and blended into Ojon products.

Ojon has earmarked a portion of profits from the sale of Ojon products to help the Tawira preserve its traditional lifestyle and protect and sustain the rain forest. It has established safety standards, scholarship funds and environmental protection measures.

Founder Denis Simioni will remain as president of Ojon, reporting to Philip Shearer. The Estee Lauder Cos. will appoint a general manager to the brand and plans to keep the company’s existing management team and headquarters in Canada and continue to operate Ojon as a stand-alone business. Ojon is expected to maintain its relationship with its current manufacturer, Originitalia.

The Estee Lauder products are sold in more than 130 countries and territories under such brand names as Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, M.A.C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, La Mer, Donna Karan, Aveda, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Michael Kors, American Beauty, Flirt!, Good Skin, Grassroots, Sean John, Missoni, Daisy Fuentes and Tom Ford Beauty.

Hairstylist David Babaii and actress Kate Hudson have combined their passion for nature and beauty to create David Babaii For Wildaid, an innovative new brand of professional haircare products and styling tools, with a percentage of the revenue from the line to benefit the global wildlife conservation organization WildAid.

With an exclusive blend of exotic natural ingredients, David Babaii For Wildaid products are free of sulfates, parabens, animal products and animal testing. For Hudson and Babaii, David Babaii For Wildaid celebrates “The nature in beauty and the beauty in nature.”

WildAid works with governments and communities of the world to reverse the devastation of our planet’s wildlife. Their mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade within our lifetimes, allowing threatened species to recover to safe levels. WildAid’s goal is a world in which local communities can improve their lives without destroying their environment, and where humanity can survive together with wildlife for generations to come.

WildAid is a non-profit organization headquartered in San Francisco with representation in China, India, Galapagos, London and New York.

“Kate epitomizes the modern woman, not only with her unique personal style, but her commitment to global concerns,” says Babaii. “She’s a dream client and the perfect partner in this project.” Says Hudson, who will be featured in the print campaign for the product, “I’ve been asked to do a lot of campaigns in the past and this feels like the perfect fit for me. David is the best at what he does and he’s put so much of himself into the development of this line.

“And the fact that we can do it in an ecologically responsible and animal-friendly manner that can help preserve wildlife is what makes this truly special.”

In addition to his longtime relationship with Hudson, David Babaii’s work as a hairstylist for many of the most glamorous celebrities has been featured on magazine covers, prestigious advertising campaigns and red carpets around the world. David Babaii For Wildaid weds his expertise in his field with his passion for wildlife conservation.

Kate Hudson has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won the Golden Globe Award for her breakthrough performance in “Almost Famous.” She has appeared in more than two dozen films, including “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “You, Me and Dupree” and the upcoming romantic action adventure “Fool’s Gold,” opposite Matthew McConaughey.

FHI Heat, the industry’s leading innovator of professional styling tools, is proud to be a partner and supporter of David Babaii For Wildaid. To learn more visit davidbabaiiforwildaid.com

By Diane Da Costa

Textured hair styles like locs, braids, twists, cornrows, and knots are all the rage, adorning the heads of celebrities, athletes, and everyday folk now more than ever before. Yet, the actual caring, styling, and maintenance of textured hair still remains a mystery to many.

Now, Diane Da Costa, celebrity stylist and master designer of natural hair, unravels the tresses of textured hair, providing readers with information on the proper care of natural hair as well as a step-by-step guide on achieving various exciting styles.

“Textured Tresses” will help you:

• Identify and celebrate the texture you were born with (whether it’s wavy, curly, very curly, or tightly coiled”>

• Keep your hair healthy and strong by using hair products and tools correctly and managing stress effectively

• Select the right stylist and salon to suit your hair care needs

• Transition from chemically relaxed hair to natural hair safely

• Experiment with color, weaves, and chemicals

• Achieve the styles you admire on your favorite movie stars and recording artists

Packed throughout with photos, illustrations, and special celebrity sections, “Textured Tresses” is a must-have whether you already twist, coil, loc, or want to learn how to begin.

Hair-care and style expert Anthony Dickey has written Hair Rules! to end the frustration faced by women with curly hair every day. Hair Rules! is chock-full of simple tips for all types of curly hair and covers everything from the best shampoos and conditioners to use, to damage-free hair-drying (dust off that hood dryer!”>, the use of natural oils, and the safest coloring, styling, and chemical relaxing techniques—as well as guidelines for maintaining healthy, gorgeous hair. Learn more!

The March 19, 2007, issue of “The New Yorker” featured a cartoon that is a curlyhead’s dream.

Curly gurls of the world unite! Sixty-five percent of women have naturally curly hair, but for too long too many of these women have either been at a loss on how to care for their hair properly or, worse, have gone through life pretending they have straight hair. No more. Lorraine Massey, a professional hairstylist and passionate proponent of curly hair, celebrates the curly gurl way of life, from hair care to carefree attitude.

Beginning with The Curly Gurl’s Twelve-Step Program (Step Three: I will accept that the scalp and hair are two different entities with completely different needs, and I will treat them accordingly”>, “Curly Girl: The Handbook” is an illustrated how-to, support group and tongue-in-cheek manifesto all in one. There are tips on shampoo (never daily”>, conditioners (use lots”>, drying, combing (only when wet and well-conditioned”>, styling, getting the right cut, and how to Heal Thy Hair after years of strong detergents and damaging blow-dryers.

There are before-and-after photographs, Curly Cues, self-help tests, confessions from curly gurls, advice to take to your stylist. And for gurls seeking their inner curl, compassion and encouragement to let their hair break free-and to put the fear of frizz behind them forever. Because from now on there’s no such thing as a bad hair day.

John Paul Mitchell Systems Co-Founder and CEO John Paul DeJoria took a turn this season as Mother Ginger in Ballet Austin’s annual production of The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker is a classic Christmas play about a girl named Clara who is given a Nutcracker doll by her uncle. At night the toys come to life. Mother Ginger is a grandmother whose skirt hides children dressed as bon bons. Different personalities in the Central Texas area play Mother Ginger each year.

Lance Armstrong, Michael Dell, Gov. Ann Richards, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and many others have donned the Mother Ginger costume in the past.

by Nekhena Evans

Nekhena Evans is a pioneer in the locked hair care industry. A master locktician, beauty consultant, nation wide lecturer, author and entrepreneur; nekhena uses her health of experience to help young and old locked hair. Hairlocking: Everything You Need To Know is one of the few books ever published and currently available on locked hair care, its history and its impact on self-esteem and self-awareness.