Search Results: Shannon
After transitioning for just over 2 years I have experimented with twist-outs, braid-outs and bantu knots and admittedly, made so many errors.
Now that I have chopped the majority of my straight ends off, I can now truly enjoy twisting without the added perm rods! I decided to refresh an old wash-and-go as I felt my curls has dried out and lost their definition. To do this I decided to apply two-strand twists using a new product, Aloe Curl Enhancing Twist Cream by Hydratherma Naturals and the results were amazing. It was the best twist-out I have ever applied so I have put together some of my tips for getting the perfect twist-out.
1. Refresh an old wash-and-go with a twist-out. Your hair will be less defined for easier styling and manipulation. I find that applying twists straight after washing my hair can be a lot of work and hand strain when you have just been through detangling, cleansing and deep conditioning. #WashDayProblems
2. I started on dry hair and separated my hair into 4 sections on each side of my head. I sprayed each section that I was working on with water so that my hair was damp but not soaking wet. This helped the product to penetrate my hair and was easier for me to finger comb whilst twisting. I prefer to work with damp hair because it does not take as long to air dry, also.
3. Double up on products! If you are like me, you have thick hair and curls that dry out easily. So it is probably best to layer your products. I used the LOC method by dampening my hair, applying an oil and then a cream. This ensured my hair would still be moisturised the next day when I took down my twists.
4. Use products with hold and great natural ingredients. You do not want a twist-out that looks great to the eye but leaves your hair feeling sticky, flaky and dry. I used the Hydratherma Naturals Aloe Curl Enhancing Twist Cream.
5. Twist your hair a few hours before bed and then sleep with them under a satin scarf. This is essential if you want your twist-out to be perfect the next day! The satin wrap will help to set the style and seal in all of the moisture.
6. Remember to apply oil to your hands while taking down your twists, as you want to smooth your hair out and prevent any tension which can cause frizz.
This is what worked well for my 3b/c low porosity curls. How do you achieve the perfect twist-out? Visit Style Nook for more twist-out inspiration. And follow me on Instagram, @UKCurlyGirl
If you have a little extra money saved up for a trip to the salon this summer, why not fix that bad dye job you gave yourself last season? If your colorist uses one of these, they are nothing short of legit.
Pravana ChromaSILK
This brand includes 5 beautiful pastel shades including ‘Pretty in Pink’, ‘Luscious Lavender’, ‘Blissful Blue’, ‘Too Cute Coral’ and ‘Mystical Mint’. All great if you are looking for the Mermaid look. The pastels are also demi permanent and can be mixed for your perfect shade.
Goldwell TopChic Professional Hair Color
Looking for permanent hair colour? This brand has a range of intense colours from N shades, cool NA shades and TriFlective Naturals. The colours stay cool and even all over for long periods of time and offer 100% grey coverage.
Schwarzkopf Professional Essensity
A healthier option! This collection offers ammonia-free permanent oil colours. This range promotes healthy looking hair colours and protects against external influences resulting in natural shine and long lasting colour! The range includes 58 different shades.
Redken Color Fusion Advanced Hair Color
If you are looking for multi-dimensional hair colour this line is for you. This range has over 100 shades that can be used to lighten, darken, match natural hair colours and cover grey. Great for experimenting with high fashion shades also.
Sebastian Hair Color
Sebastian hair colour intensifies your initial hair colour giving it a boost. The colours are semi-permanent and include no peroxide or ammonia.
Joico Color Intensity
If you’re looking for dramatic hair colour this brand is for you! The Joico’s Color Intensity line has 5 new shades of blue, green, magenta and purple that are able to be mixed to create softer shades.
The test
I followed the instructions and found out that I have low porosity, great! But now what? Scientifically, low porosity hair is “‘hydrophobic’ meaning it repels water from its surface.” So, that explains why your hair might really dry out in the sun, swimming and after using chemicals. My hair was highly affected by my bleached blonde highlights.
What works for me
Diluting my conditioners with water in a spray bottle gives my hair more moisture so I like to avoid products that don’t include Aqua in the first 2-3 ingredients. I also try to apply my leave-in conditioner after washing my hair whilst I am still in the shower and my hair is soaking wet. I then wrap with a T-Shirt and begin to style after.
Rehydrating/misting my hair daily or when needed also helps to keep it soft and detangled. I have also found that my hair holds moisture more during a steamy environment. I once deep conditioned during a visit to my Gym’s steam room and it transformed my hair! This is now why I always make sure to add heat to my deep conditioners using a heat cap. The steam/heat binds the conditioner to your hair giving it maximum hydration and softness.
Pre-Poo treating my hair hours before my wash routine can benefit in a great and longer lasting wash and go! I like to penetrate my hair with Coconut oil or Olive Oil (A light oil is best for low porosity hair”>. I then detangle my hair gently and leave the oil on for a few hours or even sometimes overnight (wrapped in a shower cap, no one likes to wake up to oil stains on your pillowcase!”>.Products that help me
With these techniques I like to use products that will also add more moisture to the hair, after 2 years of transitioning I have found the following products to work well for moisturising my low porosity hair.
- Jessicurl Deep Treatment
- Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner
- Kinky Curly Knot Today
- SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
- Boucleme
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Bentonite Clay & Apple Cider Vinegar (to cleanse”>
- Big Hair Deep conditioning hair treatment
What has worked for you and your low porosity hair?
Tip: If you can’t find some of these brands in your local store, try visiting some of the larger stores in centres or in central London as they stock a bigger variety.
Dr. Bronner’s
Castile soap is a vegetable oil based soap, meaning it has no detergents. This soap is 100% natural including ingredients like olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and extracts depending on which scent you choose. I personally enjoy using the tea tree soap, as it helps to soothe my itchy scalp. One of the many uses of this soap is to wash your hair! Make sure that you follow up with a conditioner to rinse out after so your hair becomes smoother and doesn’t tangle.
Avalon Organics
Avalon Organics is amazing! The rosemary conditioner leaves your hair feeling soft and shiny after rinsing out. I also love to co-wash with this product, as it allows me to detangle my curls easily. Just like Dr. Bronner’s, they also have a variety of scents. I would recommend the Peppermint Revitalizing Conditioner and Ylang Ylang Shine Conditioner.
A’Kin
A natural brand you may have not tried but should! These hair products are highly nourishing for the hair with there healing ingredients. If like me you are ingredient conscious, this brand is for you. The 24-hour Lavender Leave-in Conditioner looks like one to try if you suffer from dryness. Along with hair products there are a few other items you can find that will benefit your hair in many ways!
Aloe vera gel
This 99% natural aloe vera gel is amazing to use as a styler for curly hair. Aloe vera actually has many uses for hair including pre-poo, moisturizing shampoo, conditioner, and hair growth! Aloe vera can unclog your hair follicles to promote growth.
This honey is another multiuse product you can find in store. It is great to add into your deep conditioning treatments to prevent split ends, buildup, and a dry scalp! Manuka honey is different than regular honey due to its antibacterial properties. It is used as an alternative medicine to treat infections, boils, and diabetic ulcers!
Coconut oil
No need to explain the benefits of this gem! Coconut oil is used for cooking, skin care, and hair. Holland and Barrett have a large selection of 100% natural coconut oils to choose from.
Have you tried these products?
UK Curly Girl gives us the heads up on 6 beauty brands in Europe that we should totally be jealous of not having on-the-ground access to.
Allura Hair Accessories
Allura provides hair accessories available in the 99p stores! They recently have introduced a dupe for Curlformers ‘Spiral Ringlet Rollers’ which is so worth a try if you need a quick fix and cannot afford a whole pack of Curlformers. You will be sure find all types of Allura ‘curly girl’ friendly accessories in your local Poundland.
Macadamia Oil Extract Conditioner
The Macadamia Oil Extract line is similar to the beloved ‘Macadamia Natural Oil’ products but less than half of the price tag as they are available in Poundland! This intense hydration conditioner includes coconut oil, macadamia nut, castor oil and olive oil.
Mellor and Russell – Argan Shine Hair Repair Mask
A cheap and cheerful deep conditioner for dry and damaged hair. This product is also available at 99p stores. I have not come across a hair repair mask at such a cheap price! The product contains great ingredients such as Argan Oil, Shea Butter Extract, Olive oil and Avocado oil.
Sleek Makeup
This amazing makeup brand was made with darker skin tones in mind! Catering from light all the way to dark ‘Sleek’ has made drugstore makeup available to brown skinned women! The affordable makeup is available at most local drugstores and superstores and creates amazing palettes for eyes, lips and face!
- Contour kit (£6.49″>, purchase online here
Superdrug Vitamin E range
Superdrug supplies there own name brand products and one that stands out is there affordable Vitamin E skin care range. Mists, Scrubs, Butters and Cleansers! This range even includes a dry oil which is suitable for use on body and your hair. Great 2-in-1 product available for just £2.99.
- Find Superdrug Vitamin E Range online here
Boots – Curl Crème
A classic for UK curlies! Boots essentials own brand of curl crème. This is a great product for those with finer/looser curly hair giving definition and hold without weighting it down. It comes in a tub, which is great for scooping up large amounts!
- It also only costs £1.99! Find it online here
Boucleme
Amazing organic, natural and cruelty free curly hair products that provide the moisture and great definition we all need! Boucleme have just 3 hair products at the moment a cleanser, conditioner and gel. These are now my favourite wash & go products giving me perfect results every time!
- The products are available in the UK from the Curly Emporium
Summer 2009
New Mom’s Handbook references Shop.NaturallyCurly.com’s children’s products.
July 2009
Woman’s Day references NaturallyCurly.com’s database of curl experts.
May 2009
Lucky names NaturallyCurly.com one of top 5 hair-care websites.
November 10, 2008
November 2008
November/December 2008
October 17, 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 22, 2008
July 21, 2008
July 21, 2008
Longview (Texas”> Daily News
Jul 17–23, 2008
July 17, 2008
July 16, 2008
July 16, 2008
July 15, 2008
Fall 2008
Celebrity Hair Styles Short Hair
Summer 2008
July 2008
July 8, 2008
dag adg ds
July 6, 2008
June 30, 2008
June 7, 2008
June 6, 2008
June 2008
May 25, 2008
May 7, 2008
May 2008
May 2008
April 2008
April 2008
April 2008
April 2008
April 2008
April 2008
April 1, 2008
March 2008
March 2008
Trendinista.com
March 2008
January 2008
October 17, 2007
August/September
September 10, 2007
September 8, 2007
I’m There for You Baby radio show
September 2007
Ladies Home Journal
September 2007
Entrepreneur
July 2007 Glamour — one of five sites listed under “Great Hair Info on the Web”
July 2007 Family Circle
July 2007 Self
May 21, 2007 The New York Times
May 3, 2007 Forbes.com
April 2007
April 22, 2007
April 2007
Cosmo
April 2007
Redbook
March 21, 2007
March 7, 2007
February 23, 2007
February 2007
January 25, 2007
January 24, 2007
SIRIUS satellite radio interview with Judith Regan on The Judith Regan Show
January 2007
January 18, 2007
January 16, 2007
Quick & Simple
December 29, 2006
December 26, 2006
December 14, 2006
November 2006
WWD Salon
December 6, 2006
December 2006
Lucky
October 2006
InStyle.com
October 5, 2006
October 2006
Quick & Simple
August 18, 2006
August 13, 2006
August 8, 2006
Quick & Simple
August 1, 2006
Women’s Day
July 2006
Good Housekeeping
July 2006
Oprah Magazine
June 23, 2006
Sacramento Bee
June 2, 2006
Ladue News
May/June 2006
Pilates Style
May 2006
Cosmo Girl
May 2006
Eyewitness News (New York”>
May 2006
Beauty News LA.com
May 2006
April/May 2006
April 2006
Parents Magazine
March 28, 2006
Quick & Simple
March 7, 2006
Soap Opera Weekly
February 17, 2006
The Hartford Courant
Quoted extensively in “Naturals At Curling”
January 2006
January 2006
Austin Monthly magazine
Feature article on NaturallyCurly.com and its founders
November/December 2005
Red Hat Society Lifestyle
December 15 , 2005
The Boston Globe
“Some good online resources for women with relaxed or natural hair: Naturallycurly.com. This site — which contains product reviews, a store filled with products for curly hair, and discussion forums — caters to women of all races and ethnicities with curly hair. It’s well represented by women of color who wear their hair natural, use texturizers to loosen their curl, or straighten their hair with blow-dryers.”
October 2005
Austin Woman magazine
Feature article on NaturallyCurly.com and its founders
May 19, 2005
The Dallas Morning News
“Check out www.naturallycurly.com, an Austin-based Web site launched in 1998 to “give girls with curls a place to get in the loop about their locks.” The site sells more than 100 shampoos, conditioners and styling aids for curly hair — complete with member reviews.”
March 2005
Shop, Etc
March 2005
Latina
March 2005
Prevention
March 2005
Cosmopolitan
February 2005
Self
Staying true to your texture saves you time and money. When you need a cut, find a specialist. Want help? Visit wwww.naturallycurly.com, a site devoted to ringlets and waves of all kinds, on which members post referrals to “curl-friendly” stylists (listed by state”>.”
February 2005
Latina
October 13, 2004
The Vancouver Province (British Columbia, Canada”>
“Click on NaturallyCurly.com to find a great,big, happy sorority of chat, product reviews, tips, tattle, contests and interviews.”
October 2004
Real Simple magazine
July 15, 2004
The Toronto Star
June 7, 2004 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia”> Berhad
May, 2004
Style magazine
March, 2004
Atlanta magazine
January 15, 2004 The New York Times
January, 2004 Women’s Day
November 14, 2003 Washington Post Express
November 5, 2003 Winnipeg Sun (Manitoba, Canada”>
October 28, 2003 Tulsa World (Oklahoma”>
September/October 2003 Beauty Launchpad
“NaturallyCurly.com has become a mecca for those searching for curl-friendly products, advice and support.”
August 2003 Children Today
July 31, 2003 The Indianapolis Star
June 23, 2003 Modern Salon June 23, 2003 New Statesman (England”>
April 11, 2003 The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC”>
March 23, 2003 Star-Gazette (Elmira, NY”>
February, 2003 Times Colonist (Victoria, Canada”>
Edmonton Journal
Windsor Star
August, 2002 Washington Magazine
July, 2002 The Arizona Republic
June 27, 2002 Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL”>
May 21, 2002 The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec
May 1, 2002 Chicago Tribune
February 4, 2002 Time Magazine
January 24, 2002 Daily News (New York”>
September 18, 2001 The State (Columbia, SC”>
August, 2001 Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (twice”>, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Denver Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Nashville Tennesean, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (thrice”>, The Times Union (Albany, NY”>, Chicago Sun-Times, numerous U.S. and Canadian radio stations
First for Women, November 6, 2000
Under Best Web sites:
“The right stuff for curly hair. For the most extensive A-Z guide of products for styling curly hair, log on to Naturallycurly.com. Then, find out which ones are worth your time and money by reading the comments made by the curly-headed girls who’ve personally tested each and every one.
Los Angeles Times, October 19, 2000
“If your hair has a bit more bounce to the ounce, check out https://www.beautycon.com. Here you can find the style that best suits your face, be it round, oval, square, triangular or heart-shaped. And for those looking for less spring and more fall, the site gives hints on straightening.”
People, August 7, 2000
Great article about us on their Online page. “Curly tops can celebrate their untamed tresses at Naturallycurly.com . . .”
Allure, April 2000
“Curl This: Those of us born with curly hair have battled it most of our lives (the war stories alone should qualify us for a veteran’s pension”>. Now there’s a Web site, naturallycurly.com, that gives the lowdown on everything we could ever want to know about curly hair — from the newest taming products to the most complimentary eyeglasses. And for the girl who’s still sadly in curl deinal, this site even details the techniques and products to get it straight and sleek.”
Sugar, March 2000
“Beauty website of the month: Did you realise that the Internet’s a mecca for fab beauty info? As a curly girl, I’ve spent the last week gathering amazing info from www.naturallycurly.com. It’s jam-packed with everything for girls with curls — great products, funny stories and top tips like this: ‘Don’t get lots of layers cut into your hair if it’s fine; it just enourages frizziness. Have it cut blunt to keep it sleek.’ So go and log on!”
Mademoiselle, February 2000
Naturallycurly.com gets the nod as the place curly girls — and wannabes — should check out for styles.
National Post, January 2000
A wonderful article about us in this national newspaper in Canada.
Heart and Soul, September 1999
In a blurb about curly hair, readers are encouraged to visit naturallycurly.com.
YM, August 1999
“Surf and learn how to deal with frizz feak-outs or wavy woes. Or just chat with other curly tops and share your own tried-and-true tress tips. The site will also recommend the best curl-friendly salons in your area.”
American Health, June 1999
In a blurb about curly hair, the magazine advises readers, “For more curl advice, check out naturallycurly.com, a website devoted to women with waves.”
Self magazine, March 1999
“CURL CRAZY
Don’t fight your naturally curly hair – flaunt it, say the three frizzy-haired creators of the Web site NATURALLYCURLY.COM, A CLEARINGHOUSE OF TIPS, TOOLS AND PRODUCT REVIEWS. Log on and discover how to tame and shape uncooperative curls. ”
And more
Naturallycurly.com has been mentioned on several radio shows and in several English and Canadian newspapers. ..
