Search Results: Stacey Biro

Best Travel Size Products for Curly Hair You Need in Your Bag

By Stacey Biro · Published June 12, 2019

Travel sets are the easiest, most convenient way to keep up with your regimen when on the road (or in the air”>. Besides being sealed and less likely to spill all over the place while in transit, they are the perfect size for the limited space available in your luggage and in hotel showers. The smaller-sized bottles also mean that you can take a moisturizing product in your carry-on for touch-ups before and after flights. According to the TSA rules for 2019, bottles should contain 3.4 ounces or less. Try these air travel-compliant sets below for smoother boarding, and shinier, softer curls.

Jessicurl Confidence Collection Travel Set

Specially formulated for curl patterns 3C to 4C, these hydrating, luxurious products will keep your curls and coils looking great no matter where your adventures may take you. Everything you need to cleanse, moisturize, and style is in a compact set that contains:

Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream (2 oz.”>. This gentle conditioning wash will get your hair clean without stripping it of beneficial moisture.
Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner (2 oz.”>. If you want a leave-in to provide you with extra hydration for the softest, most manageable hair, this is the perfect product for you.
Jessicurl Deep Conditioning (2 oz.”>. For deep, restorative moisture and repair, this conditioner may be your next holy grail. The trial-size gives you a chance to sample this five-star favorite.
Jessicurl Confident Coils (2 oz.”>: This is a styler that creates excellent curl definition and provides strong hold to stand up to even the highest humidity.

Curly Hair Solutions Loose Curl Kit

Girls with waves, looser curls, or a combination of the two, this is the kit for you. With three products for cleansing and definition, you can hit the beach with bouncy hair that won’t be weighed down. These lighter products will leave you with plenty of volume and shine. This kit includes:

Curly Hair Solutions Treatment Shampoo (3.4 oz.”>. For a deep clean, look no further than this shampoo that gets out all the dirt and oils that would weigh your hair down. This shampoo contains silk amino acids and panthenol for stronger, more resilient strands.
Curl Keeper Original (3.4 oz.”>. Curl Keeper Original can provide you with frizz-free defined waves and curls that have gorgeous shine and bounce.
Curl Keeper Gel (3.4 oz.”>: Panthenol provides you with extra hold and support in this non-flaky gel.
Curl Keeper Slip (3.4 oz.”>: Detangle with ease with Slip. It contains aloe and chamomile to help seal and smooth the hair and prevent flyaways.

Many Ethnicities Beautifully Blended Box Sampler

If you have several different curl patterns on your head, you know that it can be a challenge to give every curl what it needs, especially when you can’t pack all of your products. This lovingly-curated kit can help you out. These moisturizing, gentle products are perfect for all curl types, and can work well in any climate. This sampler includes:

Many Ethnicities Invigorating Shampoo (2 oz.”>. This curly girl friendly shampoo contains ingredients to keep your hair strong and healthy, and your scalp cleansed, including hydrolyzed pea protein, argan oil, avocado oil, and algae extract.
Many Ethnicities Moisturizing Conditioner (2 oz.”>. Follow the shampoo with this extra-moisturizing conditioner for frizz-free, defined curls and coils.
Many Ethnicities Leave-In Conditioning Cream (2 oz.”>. If moisture-retention is a struggle, you will love this rich, creamy leave-in that will not weigh your hair down.

DevaCurl Travel Kit for All Curl Kind

For stunning yet effortless curls that feel and look their healthy best,

DevaCurl is the travel companion you will want in your life. This travel kit contains all you need to cleanse, condition, and style your hair, including:

DevaCurl No-Poo (3 oz”>. This gentle yet cleansing creamy co-wash will leave your hair in great condition.
DevaCurl One Condition (3 oz”>. If you love multi-purpose products, this one ‘s for you. It can be used as both a leave-in and a light daily conditioner.
DevaCurl Light Defining Gel (Formerly AnGEL 3 oz”>. With a light hold, and a fresh summer fragrance, your curls will smell as lovely as they look.
DevaCurl Styling Cream (3 oz”>. For moisture, definition, and curl-elongation, this styling cream is the go-to for curlistas in the know. Plus, if you’re a coily they’ve got just the travel kit for you to keep your hair moisturized on the go.

Curl Keeper Original Multipack

The gel for all-seasons is available in minis in this must-have multipack. It contains three 3.4 oz. bottles that are just perfect for air travel. You can use one for touch-ups in transit, one for your hotel stay, and one for your return.

Jane Carter Solution Natural & Curly Hair Essential Travel Kit

This citrus and floral scented collection is filled with all your favorite products. It contains:

Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo (2 oz.”>. This stimulating shampoo will cleanse your scalp of excess sebum and debris while leaving your hair soft and shiny.
Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner (2 oz.”> Even the driest, most thirsty tresses are revived with this rich, nourishing conditioner.
Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner (2 oz.”> Bring your curls and coils back to life with a leave-in that will protect your hair from the sun’s harsh rays.
Wrap & Roll (2 oz.”>. Use this setting styler to create gorgeous waves and curls that last.
Nourish & Shine (1 oz”>. You can use this one product as a pomade to enhance shine and texture, or as a moisturizer that will leave your skin super soft and smelling like lemons, oranges, and honeysuckle.
Curl Defining Cream (1 oz.”>. For definition and hold without stickiness or flakiness, this curl defining cream is a necessity.

What are your favorite travel products? Let us know in the comments.

For more favorites to take along with you on your next adventure, see below:

Top 5 Gels for Curly Hair to Use for a Frizz-Free Summer

By Stacey Biro · Published June 5, 2019

Girls with curls on the go need a gel that will work from coast to coast (and in between, and beyond”>. These five trusted gels will help your hair hold its shape in the driest desert air to the highest humidity. Stock up now for all of your summer adventures.

1. Curl Junkie Pattern Pusha

Top 5 Gels for Curly Hair to Use for a Frizz-Free Summer

This specially-formulated favorite was created to withstand high and low humidity, both of which can wreak havoc on our hair. It has naturally-derived ingredients, so it is a good choice for those with sensitive scalps. With a medium to thick consistency that feels slippery, it is easy to apply to fully saturated hair, or you can easily scrunch it into loose curls and coils for a bit more definition. You will love how it makes your hair feel soft and conditioned, yet it will give it the hold it needs to look gorgeous from sunrise to sunset. It has a fruit and hibiscus fragrance inspired by the tropics.

2. Jessicurl Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion

For juicy, hydrated, bouncy curls, this gel is a popular summer staple. It has a thin consistency which allows for easy and effective product application. It also rinses out with water, and does not build up on the hair. Fans of this favorite say it is their tried and true because it gives them light hold without the powdery and flaky residue that some gels leave behind. Its island fantasy scent will leave you dreaming of palm trees and ocean waves.

3. Camille Rose Naturals Aloe Whipped Butter Gel

If you want moisture and hold, this butter gel is what you need in your life (and your luggage”>. With an all-star lineup of ingredients like aloe, macadamia seed oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil, and cetearyl alcohol, it will leave your hair soft and moisturized. Green tea and vitamin E will keep your scalp in optimum condition, and vitamin C will protect it from free radicals. This gel will give you plenty of support for all of your favorite beach-goer styles. For more on butter gels, click here.

4. Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic Curl Stimulator

No matter what your curl pattern, porosity, or density, Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic Curl Stimulator will give you the all-day hold and definition you desire. It provides moisture like a leave-in, too. When you first apply it, it will lock your curls into shape by forming a hard gel cast. Breaking the cast will leave you with soft, defined curls. If you are looking for a one styler routine for travel, this is a perfect pick.

5. Soultanicals Curl Blaze Hair Glaze

Glow up those curls with this shine-enhancing get that will leave your curls smooth and hydrated. Blue malva and marshmallow root help to create good slip, and allow for thorough product distribution. Acacia honey provides moisture to eliminate frizz. Blaze Hair Glaze works well on a variety of curl types, and it pairs well with other stylers in your regimen.

Which of these gels is your favorite travel go-to? Let us know in the comments. If you want to know about the science of hair gels, click here.

I Tried the Pura d’or Moisture Protect Cleansing Conditioner

By Stacey Biro · Published June 4, 2019

I Tried the Pura dor Moisture Protect Cleansing Conditioner

After admiring the trending stacked A-line curly bobs with a fringe, I decided to take the plunge. With a newly-sheared style, the opportunity to make my lazy summer routine even easier presented itself. I had a goal of replacing some of my wash days (which are comprised 1-2 conditioning treatments and a vigorous shampoo”> with one step: a co-wash. Easy, right? The problem is that summer in the Southern California desert region where I live it is dry and hot, and we have hard water that can leave hair crispy and lifeless. I save my cleansing conditioners for the winter months when the air indoors is dry, but there are a lot of rainy days. However, short hair can take you on new adventures and mine led me to finding the Pura d’or line of products. The cleansing conditioner is Curly Girl friendly, vegan and cruelty-free, and without common allergens including gluten. It does contain many curl-strengthening and nourishing ingredients including:

Aloe to provide hydration and sheen. Aloe soothes the scalp, and smooths the hair shaft
Argan Oil to make your curls look and feel healthier and smoother. It reduces flyaways and split ends.
Apple Fruit Extract to minimize hair loss and encourage hair growth.
Oat bran extract to optimize scalp heath.
Coconut oil to add shine and strength to curls.
Behentrimonium Chloride for cleansing and conditioning.
Lavender and geranium oils for fragrance. They are also antifungal and antimicrobial to help with scalp flaking and dandruff.

First, there are a few things I really love about this cleansing conditioner, including the following:

It cleanses well without leaving a residue. My hair felt clean after one application, and when it dried, it had a lot of bounce and body.
It has a wonderful scent, thanks to the essential oils and orange peel extract.
It really soothes the scalp and reduces tension.

However, I cannot really say that this is the once and done product I was looking for. It does not have good slip for detangling, nor did it completely moisturize my hair. Both of these issues were easily remedied with leave-ins, though. Since I always use a leave-in, even after deep-conditioning, this was not a deal breaker.

Another thing I would note is that the instructions provided probably would not work for most curlies. The label states that you should massage it in, let it sit on the scalp, comb through, and then rinse.

Because of the afore-mentioned lack of slip, I recommend rinsing out the product, and then detangling with a cream-based leave-in.

Lastly, this has been a great product to use as a base for a rosemary scalp massage. Rosemary essential oil can help improve hair growth in part by increasing circulation to the scalp. When combined with the cleansing conditioner, it can turn your wash day into a spa day.

Rosemary Scalp Massage

Materials

a bayalage board and a hair color brush
3-4 drops rosemary essential oil
3-4 pumps Pura d’or Moisture Protect Cleansing Conditioner

Method

Place the cleansing conditioner on the bayalage board, and then sprinkle the rosemary oil over it.
Mix the two together with the hair color brush.
Fully saturate your hair and scalp with water, and apply the cleansing conditioner mixture to your scalp using the brush.
Massage the mixture into your entire scalp for five minutes, and then wait five minutes before rinsing it out. You can then apply a leave-in or a light daily conditioner, and then detangle.

What new products have you tried this summer? Let us know in the comments. For more about rosemary, click here.

How to Determine What Your Curly Hair Needs

By Stacey Biro · Published May 31, 2019

How to Determine What Your Curly Hair Needs

Image Source:@nnoorxo

Curly hair, by its very nature, is an ever-evolving entity that is sensitive to changes in temperature, moisture in the air, products, technique, and styling practices. This is what makes it unique and beautiful… and also frustrating and temperamental. I cannot tell you how many hair shots I have seen floating around the internet with accompanying statements about its failure to cooperate in some way. I realize that these self-perceived problems occur because many of us don’t know how to read our hair. In time, we learn to pick up its subtle to startling cues, and this makes all the difference in its care. The tips below will help you identify if your curls need:

More or less moisture
More or less protein
Clarification
A trim
Different products
A visit to a dermatologist

If your hair needs more moisture:

This easily-identified common problem has a few key indicators: hair feels dry and rough to the touch, is frizzy, and sometimes has pieces reaching into the air. Sometimes, the curl pattern has completely opened up leaving the hair without curl definition. It will look frizzy-straight. It will lack sheen, and have a matte finish. In extreme cases, like when the hair is damaged from heat and chemicals, it will break and/or lose its curl pattern entirely so that it cannot be restored with water.

What to do: if your hair is generally in good health, is well-maintained, and is just a tiny bit dry, moisturize it with a refresher spray. If you wake up to a head of dry frizz, a co-wash is usually in the cards. For more extreme dryness, look to a deep conditioning mask. If you really want to get maximum hydration, try a professional steaming treatment.

This is offered in some salons that specialize in curly hair. It generally involves coating your hair in a rich conditioner, covering your head, and sitting you under a steamer which finishes with a cool shot in order to seal in maximum hydration.

If your hair needs less moisture:

Moisture overload is something that can happen easily and without warning. It can occur because of constant co-washing, conditioning, deep conditioning, oils, butters, and balms. Over-time, this all builds up until one day the hair just revolts. When this happens, it will feel any combination of the following: greasy, sticky, spongey, mushy, frizzy, and weighed-down. It might stick to your head when you comb through it, so you need to detangle your hair with your head upside down.

What to do: Clarify, at least once or twice a month. Also, swap out some of your co-washes with gentle cleansing shampoos that do not contain a lot of oil. Finally, make sure that any conditioner you use contains some hydrolyzed protein.

If your hair needs more protein:

If your curls are spongy-soft, and lacking definition, more protein in your regimen might be the key. In extreme cases, like when hair is severely damaged by chemical processes, it will be substantially over-elastic. It will stretch significantly before breaking. It will stick together and be difficult to comb through. It will break easily, sometimes at the root.

What to do: For the first scenario above, a protein-rich conditioner can restore the protein moisture balance. In cases of severe damage, it is best to consult your hairdresser. Often this type of damage requires Olaplex treatments to rebuild the hair’s broken disulfide bonds, or if they are un-repairable a big chop might be in order.

If your hair needs less protein:

If you have ever heard the phrase protein-sensitive, too much extra protein is an issue. Most conditioners contain some protein, but if the conditioner you are using is making your hair feel stiff, hard, and dry, it is not the right one for you.

What to do: ditch the protein-heavy conditioner for one that is moisturizing. Look for words like hydrating and moisturizing on the label. Avoid strengthening conditioners, and ones that contain an abundance of protein ingredients.

If your hair needs clarification:

Everyone needs to clarify their hair periodically, even if water-soluble products are being used. Besides product build-up, hard water deposits and environmental toxins mixed with sebum can also build up on the hair. This will cause it to have any of the following reactions: greasiness, lifelessness, frizz, lack of curl pattern, resistance to moisturizers and conditioning treatments.

What to do: clarify with a quality clarifying shampoo or treatment at regular intervals.

If your hair needs a trim:

Do you find yourself doing a lot more to the ends of your hair than the roots? Do you have to spend extra time massaging in moisturizing conditioners, only to have the ends of your hair dry frizzy? If so, it may be time to snip them off. Other telltale signs that a trim is in store are: ends that refuse to clump, a looser curl pattern at the bottom of your hair, excess shedding, hair that feels itchy on your skin, and wet hair that is resistant to detangling.

What to do: get a trim.

If your hair needs different products:

Even those of us who have been at the curly girl method for a while can have a hard time figuring out if a product will work for us without road-testing it for a few times. In general, though, if your hair is showing any of the indications that it has too much or two little protein or moisture as described above, the products are the culprit. Other issues that you might experience are healthy hair that is constantly frizzy, or a scalp that is breaking out or inflamed.

What to do: If your hair is frequently frizzy, and you live in a climate with extremely high or low humidity, you may want to avoid products with humectants in them, particularly glycerin. If your scalp is breaking out, is red, or irritated, or showing any other signs of an allergic reaction, stop using the product (s”>. To find products that are right for you, start taking note of the ingredients in products that you like and check the labels on new products to ensure they contain those ingredients.

If your hair needs a visit to the Dermatologist:

Technically, it would be your scalp that would need to be inspected by a Dermatologist if any of the following are happening, but anything that affects your scalp can and generally does affect your hair, including:

Hair loss on the top of the scalp, in patches throughout the scalp. Diffuse thinning throughout the hair should also be evaluated.
Excessive itching, flaking, sores, cysts, oozing, crusting, or scaling.
Tiny pimples at the hairline.
Any signs of an infection including pain and tenderness.

What to do: find a Dermatologist that specializes in hair related issues such as alopecia.

When you read you hair, what does it tell you? Let us know in the comments. Check out this great article about protein moisture balance.

Can You Have Both Low and High Porosity Curly Hair?

By Stacey Biro · Published May 28, 2019

Can You Have Both Low and High Porosity Curly Hair

Image Source: Getty Images/Deagreez

When we think about porosity, it is usually in terms of three distinct types, low, medium, and high. High porosity hair has a raised cuticle that easily receives, and then releases moisture. Low porosity hair, conversely, has a cuticle that lays flat. Low porosity hair is more of a challenge to moisturize than other types due to its cuticle structure, but once it is moisturized, it tends to stay that way. Where normal porosity falls in all this is a bit more nebulous. I’ve heard it defined in numerous ways, but the clearest one is this: if you can detangle your hair with shampoo, you have normal porosity hair. I contend that there is actually a fourth porosity type: multiple porosity. It is this type that can make identifying your hair’s porosity a challenge. It stumps you when you drop a few clean hair strands into a bowl of water, because it will often stand straight up rather than float or sink. Multiple porosity hair is common for several reasons that I’ve listed below.

Hair’s porosity changes as it grows, generally from low to normal/high, and then to low again.

All hair grows out of our scalps as low porosity, and as it gets longer, it is exposed to environmental stressors such as dry indoor air, hard water, and sunlight. It generally experiences some damage, and tends to undergo a change in its porosity. Some hair, however, is less resistant to this damage, and is, consequently, less likely to see a change in its porosity. This is wholly determined by genetics, so if you see someone on YouTube with coarse, straight, thick, tailbone-length hair that reflects light and is rarely prone to breakage, don’t think they have a miracle regimen. They got it from their mama.

For most of us, as our hair grows out, porosity will increase, but still remain in the normal range. When we wait a little too long to get a trim, suddenly, our ends will become frizzy and difficult to manage. They will become resistant to hydration from conditioners, and not want to clump. They will want to pull away from each other, too. The mid-shafts of the hair, however, will be heavy, as they are of a higher-porosity, so they will readily accept the moisture that is provided (think of a sponge absorbing water and weighing more when it is fully saturated than when it is dry”>.

Chemical damage in certain areas of your hair can alter porosity.

Transitioning hair is a great example of this. You might have beautiful, healthy new growth, and then below it older chemically processed hair that is dry, frizzy, breaking, and resistant to hydration. This hair won’t reflect your true curl pattern, and you will likely find that you need to set it to get it to blend it with the new growth. Another common scenario for an alteration of hair’s porosity in certain spots is when you get highlights on virgin natural hair. This bleached hair is generally thinner, finer, straighter, and frizzier than its neighbors. If it has incurred a lot of damage, it will be stretchy, spongey, and possibly even sticky.

Sun damaged hair can have a higher or lower porosity than the rest of your hair.

For many of us, there is one area of hair that is drier, frizzier, and less likely to curl than the rest. For me, that area is the back of my head. This section tends to tangle and break easily, and is hard to moisturize.

Silver strands can have a higher or lower porosity than the rest of your hair.

It is often said that gray hair has a coarser and more wiry texture than the other hairs on your scalp. With it, one would assume a lower porosity, however this is not always the case. Many glitter-blessed gals have noticed their silver strands are more porous than the rest, not less.

Lastly, naturally high porosity hair can be mixed with other porosity types.

Hair that is naturally high porosity is more affected by the environment than other types. This does not mean that it is damaged, or unhealthy. It does tend to be fine, delicate hair that loses moisture easily and does not respond well to over-manipulation. It can easily become over-processed when color-treated. Damage on naturally high-porosity hair tends to be very noticeable: dry, hard to condition, and prone to breakage.

If your hair has multiple porosities, you may find it a challenge to find a one-size-fits-all hair strands approach to caring for it. Know that you DO NOT need to have a different regimen for the different areas of your hair. Follow these tips to keep all your hair healthy.
Don’t skip the trims. They are the best way to avoid split, frayed, frizzy ends. Snipping them off will allow your hair to spring up and have more life and bounce.
Get serious about steam. Ideally, get regular professional hair steaming treatments for maximum moisture. Many curly hair salons offer this service. It involves using a steamer to open the cuticle, applying conditioners, and then sealing with a cool shot. This will provide maximum hydration to your curls without weighing them down. Alternately, use a hothead when doing deep conditioning treatments. This handy cap uses the heat of your head to provide a toasty, steamy environment to help moisturize your tresses.
Massage conditioner into your ends. Regardless of their porosity, the ends of your hair can benefit from a little extra moisture. High porosity hair will only absorb as much as it needs. Low porosity hair will benefit, too (just make sure you applying the conditioner right after you have rinsed out your shampoo with warm water”>.
If you have any high porosity hair that is sticky, or stretchy like spaghetti, this is an indication of serious damage that requires help from a professional.
If you have predominantly low porosity hair, avoid protein-heavy treatments, and instead opt for conditioners that supply hydration along with a very small amount of hydrolyzed protein.
Read product reviews. Chances are, that if a product works for reviewers with different curl patterns and porosity types, it will be a good choice for you.

Some multiple porosity best picks include:

How do you care for your multiple porosity hair? Let us know in the comments. For more on porosity, click here.

5 Smoothies Recipes to Promote Hair Growth

By Stacey Biro · Published May 28, 2019

5 Smoothies Recipes to Promote Hair Growth

Image Source: Getty Images/Urbazon

Who doesn’t love smoothies? Full of fresh seasonal or frozen fruit, seeds and other superfoods, they are perfect for breakfast on the go, or whenever you need an energizing pick-up-up. These five smoothie recipes, when added to a healthy diet, can help aid in growing out that big chop. My favorite tip for curly girls on the go is frozen smoothie packs. This is prepping and chopping all the fruit you will need for a week’s worth of smoothies, putting the fruit in labeled baggies, and then freezing it. When you are ready to use it, let it defrost slightly before throwing the baggie contents into a blender and whirling away with the other ingredients. All of the fruit in the recipes below freezes well, except for the avocado in the Biotin Berry Blast which will need to be sliced and added fresh.

1. Berry Biotin Blast

We all know how helpful biotin can be for hair growth, but for some of us, biotin supplements can cause acne and other skin problems. If this is your situation, or you just want to enjoy the best of the summer berry harvest in a glass, try this smoothie.

Ingredients:

¾ cup blueberries
¾ cup blackberries
¾ cup strawberries
¾ cup almond milk
1 tablespoon shelled hemp seeds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
¼ of an avocado

Method:

Blend the berries, hemp, avocado, and almond milk until pureed, and then add the chia seeds.

Pulse once or twice to incorporate the chia seeds into the smoothie, and then serve.

2. Vitamin C Crush

This smoothie is rich in antioxidants which protect your hair and scalp from free radicals. It will also provide you with lots of Vitamin C, which is what you need to help you absorb the iron that is contained in the pea protein. The iron stores in your body, otherwise known as ferritin levels, need to be in a healthy range for optimal hair growth.

Ingredients:

¾ cup fresh pineapple
¾ cup strawberries
¾ cup orange juice
¼ cup mango
½ scoop pea protein powder

Method:

Blend all ingredients until smooth, and then serve.

3. Oats and Omegas Smoothie

Overnight oats and superfood seeds form the base of this creamy, rich, smoothie. The omegas encourage healthy hair growth and help to prevent brittle and breaking strands.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons rolled oats
1 cup oat milk
¼ blueberries
1 banana, sliced
1 tablespoon each shelled hemp seeds, ground flax seeds, and raw shelled pumpkin seeds

Method:

Soak the oats in the oat milk overnight in the refrigerator.

The next morning, blend the oats and oat milk with the rest of the ingredients, and then serve.

4. Green Growth Smoothie

If you want to crank up your hair growth, while combating scalp inflammation and redness, this smoothie is a great addition to your diet.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon matcha powder
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1 banana, sliced
¼ cup fresh spinach, and or curly kale, washed, de-stemmed and chopped
2 fresh peaches, pits removed and cubed
2 dates, pits removed

Method:

Blend all ingredients, and then serve.

5. Maqui Mane Miracle

Move over acai, there’s a new super-berry on the block. Maqui is cram-packed with antioxidants to keep your tresses looking their healthy and shiny best.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon dried maqui powder
½ cup sliced strawberries
½ cup sliced blueberries
½ cup seedless watermelon chunks
1 cup cherry juice
the juice of ½ lemon
½ teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

Method:

Blend all ingredients, and then serve.

What are your favorite smoothie recipes to get your hair growing? Let us know in the comments. For more fruits to add to your morning mix click here.

The Shopping Guide for Vegan Cruelty free Curly Hair Products

By Stacey Biro · Published May 27, 2019

For vegans, there has never been a better time to go curly. We now have amazing plant-based, cruelty-free products to nourish our hair with botanical extracts, essential oils, and natural moisturizers. This article will provide you with tips on shopping for them (what to look for, and what to avoid”> and some tools to help you in your search. If you need some inspiration from fabulous new finds to old favorites for creating an eco-friendly regimen that both your hair and the environment will love read on.

Tips and tools

Spot the symbols on product labels. There are a few different vegan symbols, like V-label from the European Union (always check ingredients with this one since it can denote both vegan and vegetarian products”>, the Vegan Society vegan trademark, and the certified vegan symbol. The vegan bunny means that the product is both vegan and cruelty-free.
Vegan often, although not always, means cruelty-free (and vice-versa”>.
If you want to ensure that a product does not test on animals and this is not indicated on the label, check the company’s website.
Avoid animal and insect derived ingredients such as: beeswax, honey, lanolin, collagen, gelatin, elastin, keratin, silk proteins and amino acids, carmine, oleic acid, squalene, guanine, casein, glycerin that is not listed as vegetable glycerin, and casein.
If a product lists wax as an ingredient, verify that is palm-derived carnauba wax.
Check out PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies search tool to find cruelty-free, vegan hair products.
Use the search tools in our Shop. You can use our filter option to find perfect-for-your-curls cruelty-free products.

Best New Vegan Products

While there are lots of great options to love already, these new releases are sure to guarantee your curly hair journey will be a smashing success.

The Shopping Guide for Vegan Cruelty free Curly Hair Products

Briogeo Curl Charisma chia + flax seed coil custard: Briogeo’s much-loved line has a new addition with this rich, creamy, decadent custard that will provide moisture to the thirstiest curls while leaving them soft, defined, and full of sheen.

Camille Rose Naturals Lavender Fresh Cleanse: This gentle lavender shampoo will gently clean your hair while balancing its pH. Its antimicrobial properties will help keep your scalp in tip top shape, too.

Camille Rose Naturals Herbal Tea Seal & Soften: Here is a leave-in that every curly in your home will want to get her (or his”> hands on. It has hair-loving herbs like nettle, marigold, sage, and patchouli which work together to help strengthen your hair and sooth your scalp.

More Vegan Favorites

Puracy Shampoo and Conditioner

This is the perfect combo for sensitive scalps as these products do not contain any harsh chemicals or irritants.

Yarok: With a mix of curly favorites and new offerings, Yarok’s product collection is worth exploring.

Love Beauty Planet: Besides its widespread availability, Love Beauty Planet offers a wide-array of vegan, cruelty-free products. Their coconut milk and white jasmine shampoo and conditioner will give you bouncy, fragrant curls for days.

Pacifica: 100% vegan and cruelty products that won’t break the bank are on every plant-based curlista’s hit list. Pineapple Curls is a perpetual favorite.

Which are your favorite plant-powered products? Let us know in the comments. For more vegan lines, click here.

My Summer Curly Hair Routine using Elucence Products

By Stacey Biro · Updated May 28, 2024

My Summer Curly Hair Routine using Elucence Products

Image:@curlicue_lu

With warmer, carefree Summer days ahead, it is a great time to ditch the diffuser and multi-layered regimens for one that gets you out the door and into the office or onto the beach in less time. We are talking minimal effort, maximum impact (as in curls for days”>. I love and use Elucence products all year, but now is the time they really get to shine, as they provide moisture without weighing my curls down. Many of them are glycerin-free, too, which is helpful if you live in an extreme climate like I do. A lighter routine means no gel cast to scrunch your way out of, and you can refresh without a struggle. In the basic routine below, I’ve added a lot of details in case you need them, but really it is just a wash regimen with plenty of moisture. You can clarify and add a protein treatment once a month or more if you need to, but if you don’t, or your hair is protein sensitive, skip these.

Products Used and Their Descriptions

Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo: For light cleansing, moisturizing, and a peach and apricot scent that fills your senses, this is the summer shampoo you need in your life.
Elucence Clarifying Shampoo: For a deeper clean, like when you want to get rid of product buildup or sand and debris from a dip in the ocean, count on this shampoo to leave your hair clean and full of volume.
Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner: This conditioner can be used as a leave-in, a co-wash, a daily replenishing conditioner, and a refresher spray (when mixed with water”>.
Elucence Silk Hydrating Elixir: Add strength to your strands with this protein-rich conditioner.
Elucence Volume Designing Foam: For voluminous curls with roots that won’t fall flat, this foam is a great go-to.
Microfiber Towel: Dry your roots in a snap and be on your way with the towel that’s head and shoulders above an old tee-shirt.
A detangler comb: Remove knots and tangles quickly and easily without causing breakage.
Curly Hair Solutions H20 Water Bottle: Saturate and perk up your curls without drenching them. This sprayer even sprays upside down.

Basic Routine

Thoroughly saturate your hair with warm water. Apply approximately a quarter-sized amount of Clarifying Shampoo to your roots and thoroughly massage your scalp. Working in sections and being cautious to avoid causing excess tangles, work the shampoo to the mid-shafts of your hair. If you have longer hair, you may want to do this step with your head flipped over. Rinse thoroughly, allowing the shampoo to reach your ends.
Apply the Moisture Benefits Conditioner to your hair starting with the driest section first (for me, it is the back of my head”>. Start with a small amount of conditioner and gradually add more as needed (a little goes a long way”>. Work in the product from the mid-shafts to ends of your hair. Detangle your hair using your fingers and the detangling comb. Do not rinse out.
Use the comb to part your hair as you would normally wear it (optional”>. Scrunch and/or shingle your hair to encourage curl formation.
Using the microfiber towel, scrunch your roots to remove excess water, and then scrunch with your hands. This will keep your roots from drying flat.
Allow your hair to air dry. When it is completely dry, flip your head over and scrunch out and fluff your roots.
At the end of the day, if some of your curls have lost their shape, mix together 25% Moisture Balancing Conditioner and 75% water. Lightly mist any frizzy curls, and then reshape them. Allow your hair to fully dry before following your usual sleep routine (satin scarf, pineapple, etc.”>.
The next morning, take down your hair and mist any frizzy, undefined areas with the conditioner and water mixture. Detangle any large knots with your fingers. If you are taking a shower, do so before the next step, as the steam will cause a bit of frizz.
After your shower, if any curls have lost their shape, touch them up with a small amount of Volume Designing Foam.
On subsequent days, repeat steps 6, 7, and 8 until your roots are greasy. At this point, a co-wash is needed.
To co-wash like a boss, massage some Moisture Benefits Conditioner into your dry scalp for 3-4 minutes using the pads of your fingers to break up and remove any dead skin cells, debris and oils. Rinse thoroughly, and then apply a small amount of the same conditioner to your ends and shingle and style as usual.
Continue repeating steps 6,7, and 8 until you need to wash with shampoo, and then you can either start at step 1, or clarify and strengthen as follows.

Clarify and Strengthen (optional”>

Thoroughly saturate your hair with warm water. Apply approximately a quarter-sized amount of Clarifying Shampoo to your roots and thoroughly massage your scalp. Working in sections and being cautious to avoid causing excess tangles, shampoo the mid-shafts and ends of your hair. If you have longer hair, you may want to do this step with your head flipped over. Rinse thoroughly, allowing the shampoo to reach your ends.

Rinse your hair, and then applying the Silk Hydrating Elixir to the lengths of your hair starting at an inch below the roots. Massage it into your ends, and then let it sit on your hair for 5-10 minutes, and then rinse completely.

Apply the Moisture Benefits Conditioner as outlined under Basic Routine, and then continue with the rest of the steps.

What is your favorite Summer routine? Let us know in the comments.

How to Refresh Fine, High Porosity Curly Hair

By Stacey Biro · Published May 10, 2019

How to Refresh Fine High Porosity Curly Hair

Image Source: @naturallycurly, of @quirkycurlsbylm

Are you one of the many fine-haired curlies who need to completely saturate your hair on a daily basis to get back your curl definition? Up until about a year ago, I was, too. I watched countless videos of perfect ringlets tumbling out of satin scrunchies four days after being washed and thought that either 1. a great lie had been perpetuated on YouTube, or 2. my hair was more difficult than other curlies’. It took me a while to realize my regimen was undermining my second-day and beyond hair attempts. If your refresh results are currently less than stellar, one or more of the following things is likely the culprit.

1. Your styling routine is too heavy for your hair.

There are two common recommendations that I see for high-porosity curls that tend to frizz or easily lose their shape: a heavier hold styler, or sealing. Both are good tips for creating brilliant, bouncy day-one curls, but the next day is a different story. If you use the LOC method, for example, to seal your hair, the following morning you will most likely awaken to hair that is both weighed down and frizzy at the same time. When you try to refresh, the product you use will not be able to penetrate the oil barrier on your hair, will lay on top of it, and leave you with weighed-down ringlets. Heavy, hard-hold stylers that form a strong gel cast can be problematic, too because all of the scrunching and picking required to make your curls crunch-free can lead to a loss of curl definition.

Hair fix: Lighten up on your routine by using just a small amount of water-based products. If your hair is in good condition, yet tends to get easily weighed down, you may do fine with a wash day that is comprised of shampoo, and then a cream-based leave-in. If you need a bit more hold, scrunch in some volumizing foam.

2. You are using a refresh product with too many oils in it.

Refreshers with oils listed in the first five ingredients on the product label can wreck your refresh. Besides blocking out water-based products and weighing hair down, they can cause scalp itching and flaking, as well as flat and greasy roots. Even if you just place the tiniest bit of oily refresher on your parched ends, it will find its way to your roots (especially if you tend to manipulate your hair throughout the day”>.

Hair Fix: Choose a water-based, light refresher spray that will provide you with a small amount of moisture and hold. Some great choices are:

3. You are starting the refresh on curls that are too open.

This is a common practice and it almost always leads to failure. If your hair is picked out and possibly frizzy before you go to bed, it has lost a significant amount curl definition and moisture. No matter how well you orchestrate your pineapple, when you take it out your hair you will have very little curl to work with.

Hair Fix: Moisturize your hair about an hour before going to bed. To create a DIY moisturizer, fill a fine-mist sprayer with 75% water and 25% leave-in conditioner. Mist this from the mid-shafts of your hair to the ends, and then use your fingers to detangle any large knots and tangles. Scrunch and shingle your curls back into shape. Allow your curls to dry completely, and then pineapple them or don a satin bonnet for sleeping.

4. You are sleeping on cotton pillowcase.

If you are sleeping on a cotton pillowcase it will suck all the moisture out of your hair, and rough up your hair’s cuticles leaving you with next-day frizz that no amount of refreshing will calm.

Hair fix: Get yourself some silk or satin pillowcases for a hair-loving slumber.

5. Your pineapple is stretching out your roots.

If you have longer hair, putting all of it up into a pineapple will leave you with a lot of fullness at the roots which is desirable. Medium-length or shorter hairstyles, or ones with higher-layers or bangs can be difficult to pineapple without tension. Tension equals stretching, which leads to hair with straight roots and curly ends.

Hair fix: Pineapple only the section of your hair that tends to tangle. For many of us, it is that section just below the crown. Gently pick up the curls, and secure them lightly with a satin scrunchie. The curls should just be resting inside the scrunchie. You should avoid your roots taut.

6. You have tried to use dry shampoo to freshen your roots.

I know that people use dry shampoo and love it. I have seen video evidence of it. It leaves my hair looking like I stuck my head inside a chimney. (I suspect it is because my scalp does not tend to get greasy.”> Dry shampoo smells great, though, so I can see (or rather smell”> why some users would enjoy it.

Hair fix: If after misting your hair with a refresher spray, it still needs a little bit of fragrance, lightly spray some rosewater at your roots.

7. You are fighting the steam of the shower.

Does your morning shower ruin your curls? If so, do you try to avoid this by keeping your hair in a pineapple or perhaps putting on a shower cap? While these methods can work for some of us, more often than not they can lead to frizz and flyaways.

Hair fix: Starting with hair that was moisturized the night before, spritz a refresher spray very lightly over the mid-shafts to the ends of your hair. Detangle your hair with your fingers wherever it needs it. If your hair is long and you don’t want to get it wet, put it up without stretching it. Shorter hair can be left as is. As you shower, the steam will open the cuticle. When you get out of the shower, apply some mousse to any curls that have become frizzy or lost definition using the praying hands method. Smooth, and then shingle those curls if needed.

What are your favorite refreshing techniques? Let us know in the comments. For more great refreshers to perk up your morning click here.

10 Vegan Foods to Eat for Healthy Hair

By Stacey Biro · Published April 30, 2019

Image: Getty Images

The popularity of veganism is growing exponentially every year. Proponents cite a love for animals, a desire to help the environment, and a need to resolve health issues as reasons for choosing a plant-based lifestyle. Well-planned vegan diets that center around whole foods are associated with many health benefits including improved cardio-metabolic markers, lower BMIs, and more stable blood sugar levels. Your doctor or a nutritionist can guide you if you are thinking of making the switch to this or any new diet so that you can ensure you are giving your body everything it needs. Adding these ten vegan foods to your diet as well will help promote the health of your hair.

Algal oil

You can find this algae-derived, omega-3 powerhouse oil in a variety of vegan fish and shellfish substitutes and in supplements. It is also a neutral cooking oil. Omega-3 helps to reduce inflammation, nourish hair follicles, and encourage longer, stronger hair growth. Additionally, algal oil contains key nutrients including iodine which promotes thyroid health.

Hemp seeds

Just a few teaspoons a day of these super-seeds sprinkled on your morning oatmeal, on salads, or whirled into your favorite smoothie can provide you with lots of hair-building protein. They contain vitamin E, zinc, and other vitamins your scalp needs to be healthy. They also provide the optimal ratio of omega 6: omega 3 fatty acids, too. While whole hemp seeds contain soluble fiber, the shelled versions (e.g., Hemp Hearts”> are nuttier and milder.

Almonds

Almonds are high in vitamin E and magnesium. Vitamin E nourishes the scalp and helps to keep it supple. Magnesium is crucial for hair strand health and growth, and can also help reduce the risk of scalp calcification.

Image: Getty Images

Leafy Green Vegetables

Leafy greens such as kale, collard, mustard, and micro greens, swiss chard, cabbage, and broccoli should be a staple for every vegan. They are cram-packed with nutrients, anti-oxidants, and fiber. Some crucial hair-helpful vitamins they contain are iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Iron carries oxygen to the hair follicles, vitamin A helps to create sebum, and vitamin C protects the hair from destructive free-radicals.

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional Yeast, or nooch as it is lovingly referred to in the vegan community, is a savory seasoning that is full of B vitamins that are otherwise difficult to obtain through other foods and supplements. It has a cheesy flavor, and for that reason it is often used in sauces and savory dishes (I like to sprinkle it on plain popcorn, along with a little sea salt”>. It can help relieve stress, which is associated with some forms of hair loss.

Legumes

If you want strong hair, you need adequate amounts of protein. Legumes are protein-packed gems. There are loads of choices of legumes, too: lentils, beans, and even hummus can help you meet your daily protein needs.

Pumpkin Seeds

This once-humble snack is now on every healthy-foodie hotlist. Besides providing important nutrients for hair growth, they also contain beta-sitosterol which quells the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is implicated in pattern hair loss.

Acai

In California, you can (almost”> find an acai bowl on every corner. Flavor-wise, acai is kind of like a strawberry in a bad mood. However, acai has loads of benefits for the hair and skin, which include protecting against free-radicals, reducing scalp inflammation, and nourishing the hair.

Raw Cacao

Not to be confused with cocoa, raw cacao is a bitter powder that is rich and magnesium and other nutrients, the most important of which is sulfur. Sulfur can help to nourish and invigorate the hair follicles, which encourages healthy hair growth.

Avocados

We love them, and they love us back. Whether mashed into guacamole, sliced onto a salad, or blended into a batido, avocado is rich in fatty amino acids. It can help your hair retain its moisture. Avocados prove that healing foods are delicious.

What are your favorite vegan foods for hair health? Let us know in the comments. For great vegan hair care products to try, click here.

What Older Women Want the Hair Industry to Know

By Stacey Biro · Published April 22, 2019

In the words of Curl Queen Lorraine Massey, “Curls are for life.” Somehow, though, this sentiment is not reflected in the hair industry, where older women are seldom represented in marketing and advertising, nor are our specific age-related hair and scalp challenges adequately addressed. Consider the following rough statistics: as of 2018 there were approximately 674,874,638 women in the world over age 55, and an estimated 65 percent of them have curly or wavy hair. This is a community of significant purchasing power, yet it is a demographic that goes unseen for the most part. This site, which embraces and celebrates inclusiveness, and Lorraine Massey’s book Silver Hair: A Handbook are ahead of the curve when it comes to helping curly women over 50 care for their hair. Doing a robust Google search on the topic “older women curly hair” will retrieve vast collections of bad haircuts and hair toppers. On the rare occasion there are products marketed to myself and my age cohorts phrases like “anti-aging”, “age-defying”, and “gives a more youthful appearance” abound. I asked myself “Haven’t we earned the right to rock our silver crowns?”, and then I consulted my female curly friends over age 50 online and IRL on this topic and more. What we want the hair industry to know follows.

We would be thrilled to see ourselves represented in advertising.

Who says that hair can’t be healthy and beautiful at any age? I mean, is there anything more glorious than silver and white 4C coils, or a bouncy head of curls with a few streaks of nature’s glitter peppered throughout? We want our 50-plus hair to look the best that it can look, and showing models in our age group with healthy hair of all curl types encourages us to buy.

We want natural, curl friendly products to address thinning hair concerns.

By age 50, more than half of all women will experience hormone-related hair loss. Unlike other forms of this problem that are often (although not always”> temporary, the type of hair loss older women experience due to menopause, androgenic alopecia, tends to be permanent. Shampoos and topicals that are used to treat it are often not the best things for curly hair, as they are often loaded with harsh sulfates, drying alcohols, and other harsh chemicals. Healthy, robust hair follicles should not come at the expense of the hair that we have worked so hard to care for.

What Older Women Want the Hair Industry to Know

Image Source: @thetenillelife

We want stylists and other hair professionals to understand fading, gray, silver, and white hair and embrace it.

Hair that is losing pigmentation may become drier and more porous than it was, and we would appreciate having stylists who know how to care for it and educate us on it, rather than cover it up with hair dye. Treatments that impart moisture into thirsty curls and leave them shiny and hydrated should be on every salon menu.

Just because we’re over 50 doesn’t mean that we want a haircut that has been around since we were born.

We don’t need or want flat-ironed pixie shags. We prefer cuts that make the most of the texture that gives us effortless volume. Shape our curls and coils so they can show the world how beautiful they are.

Please don’t hurt our hair. We want it to be healthy.

Keep the heat styling tools, chemical relaxers/keratin treatments, bleach, and harsh shampoos away from our heads. Treat our hair as with the delicate care that you would treat fine silk. We will leave the salon happy, and you will have a repeat customer.

If you are a stylist, don’t push products on us that we don’t want.

Most of us enjoy trying new products and will support a quality brand. However, know that not every product is for everyone. There are very good reasons that we avoid certain ingredients. Respect the wisdom of our experiences.

What would you like the hair industry to know? Let us know in the comments. To get your best hair after 50, click here.

How Yoga Can Keep Your Scalp Healthy

By Stacey Biro · Published April 15, 2019

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India, and was brought to the west by Swami Vivekananda in the late 1800s. There are six main schools of yoga: Hatha, Raja, Bhakti, Jnana, Kriya, Karma, and several different styles which derived from these schools. Despite the vast variety of yoga styles and trends (everything from aerial yoga with silks to goat yoga”>, the core of what yoga is remains the same: it connects your mind, body, and soul. This meditative practice can calm anxiety, relieve depression, improve your overall physical health and mobility, and optimize the health of your scalp in numerous ways which I will discuss below.

Image Source: @yogi_goddess

Yoga reduces stress

Between work, family responsibilities, and all the bad news bouncing around social media, most of us are walking around with more stress and anxiety than we need. While the fight or flight response is crucial when we might have to, for example, outrun a bear, it is not so good for the hair follicles. The body releases specific neurotransmitters and neurohormones when under stress that can impact the hair growth cycle. Psychological and emotional stress can even trigger alopecia areata, a condition that results in patchy hair loss of the scalp and/or other areas of the body. Read more about stress and the hair follicle here. All styles of yoga can encourage relaxation and a respite from stress.

Yoga improves circulation

Through a variety of poses, or asanas, yoga helps to increase circulation, bringing oxygen and vital nutrients to body tissues. This provides nourishment to the scalp and hair follicles, leading to stronger and more resilient hair.

Yoga improves digestion

With today’s fast-paced, eat-on-the-go lifestyles, it is no wonder that many of us are suffering from digestive issues such as chronic constipation, IBS, and heartburn. A regular yoga practice can help the digestive tract heal and work more efficiently. Good digestion combined with a nutrient-rich diet can help maintain scalp and hair health. Click here for more on yoga and digestion.

Yoga can help optimize thyroid health

Thyroid health is a critical factor in overall health. In fact, a common test that a doctor will perform when a patient complains of hair loss is a thyroid function test that measures, among other things, the level of TSH in the body. High levels indicate a problem. Yoga helps to lower TSH levels, which reflects a more optimally functioning thyroid.
With all these benefits and more, you might just want to jump into a yoga practice. Before doing so, please consult with your doctor to ensure it is right for you. When you are ready, follow these tips:

Find an accredited yoga teacher or yoga therapist, particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions.
Avoid asanas that could potentially cause an injury such as head stands and shoulder stands.
Start with slow fifteen or twenty-minute sessions, gradually working up to classes of a longer duration and higher intensity.

How has yoga impacted the health of your hair and scalp? Let us know in the comments. In this article, Cristina shares with us how she practices self-care with restorative yoga.

Is Your Curly Hair Routine Hurting Your Scalp?

By Stacey Biro · Published April 11, 2019

Even if we have the best of regimens (and intentions”>, our scalps can become dry, irritated, and inflamed. Some of the reasons why may be out of our control, such as changes in the weather, hard tap water, hormones, and forced air heating. Others, though, can be caused by certain common practices seen in curly hair routines across the internet. Regardless of the reason, if you are experiencing any of the following, please see a Doctor for an assessment and treatment:

excessive itching not relieved by a regular shampoo.
scabs, bumps, cysts, pus, or bleeding (all these can be signs of an infection”>
hair thinning or hair loss
waxy scaling
redness and/or pain or discomfort

To limit flare-ups of pre-existing scalp conditions, and to grow longer, stronger, healthier hair, examine your curly hair routine, and then eliminate the things that might be sabotaging your efforts. Below I’ve listed the questions you should ask yourself, and provided some tips to keep both your hair and your scalp happy.

Is Your Curly Hair Routine Hurting Your Scalp

Image Source: @naturallycurly

Are you overdoing it?

By overdoing it, I mean doing your hair every single day. I am not referring to refreshing, or putting your curls up in a messy bun, but rather doing the entire routine, from shampoo, to finishing mist, every morning. While your curls may look their bouncy best, your scalp is not going to be happy. It may take it a while to protest, but when it does, it won’t be pretty.

A good curly hair regimen is meant to make your life easier, not more complicated. If you are just discovering the Curly Girl Method, learn ways to work with second day hair. Try refresher mists, techniques, and super cute updos. If you are transitioning, know that in time your curls will retain their shape much more consistently so that second-day and beyond hair is much more easily achievable. Until then, go easy on your scalp.

Are you failing to remove excess sebum from your scalp?

Sebum is an oily, waxy substance that prevents moisture loss from the scalp. It also contains anti-microbial properties that fight off pathogenic bacteria. Sebum in and of itself is not a bad thing, but it can become problematic when it is allowed to build up often along with dirt, dead skin cells, oils, and styling products. What we refer to as blackheads is actually oxidized sebum. As you can imagine, sebum build-up can clog hair follicles, leading to inflammation, and in severe cases, hair loss. In the video below, there is a magnified view of this, and its removal.

Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaGq3TP6OFE&t=197s

While extra gentle co-washes, and cleansing conditioners have a place in most regimens, most of us do need a scalp care regimen that includes scalp exfoliation in addition our hair care routine. Fortunately, there are a number of great products available to optimize the health of your scalp and hair follicles. Two of my favorites are Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo which removes dirt, dead skin and other impurities, and sooths the itch and Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Peppermint Oil Cooling Jelly Conditioner which cools the scalp and provides all-over hydration.

Are you introducing too many new products at once?

If you have ever gone to the salon and walked out with every single product the stylist used to create your Gram-worthy look, this is for you. Your scalp can easily react to ingredients in products, resulting in everything from flaking to blistering. Some examples common allergens in hair products include: fragrance, propylene glycol, certain alcohols, sorbitan sesquiolate, benzoic acid, cocamidopropyl betaine, and silicones. Unless you have used the products regularly in the past, it is best to trial each product individually for a few weeks, particularly if you are prone to skin allergies. When each product proves to be safe for your skin, move on to the next.

Are you creating an environment for dandruff to proliferate?

Dandruff is caused by the fungus Malassezia globosa which feeds off of sebum. It thrives in warm, moist environments, for example, those created when plopping. Wet hair combined with the heat of your scalp can really exacerbate dandruff issues. Likewise, sleeping on wet hair, or pulling your wet hair up can be problematic as well. The fix here is to dry your scalp as much as you can with a microfiber towel, and then diffuse until dry on a no to low-heat setting.

What are your biggest scalp woes? Let us know in the comments. For more scalp care products to love click here.

I Tried the Color Wow Coconut Cocktail Bionic Tonic

By Stacey Biro · Published April 10, 2019

Recently, I was introduced to ColorWow’s Coconut Cocktail Bionic Tonic. This light treatment gave my curls life, bounce, and serious hydration. The product was created to help restore the damaged lipid layer on the hair’s cuticle, a common-problem for curls that have been color-treated. As soft, shiny, and moisturized as the product left my hair, I expected that it would have come with the usual negatives (greasy, straggly, limp ends”>, but it did not. This is a product that helps fine hair look fuller while still retaining curl definition. Based on these unexpected results I took Coconut Cocktail on a serious trial run, trying it in numerous routines as I’ve outlined below, and it passed with flying colors.

Leave-in

Used as a leave-in, the product is different from what you might be used to. It is much lighter than a cream-based leave-in, making it perfect for finer textures that still require a lot of moisture. I recommend applying it to fully saturated, detangled hair, starting with the drier sections first. Using your fingers, work the product into any extra-thirsty ends. You can then follow up with your styler (s”>. Although the product works with heat, you can achieve good results without it.

I Tried the Color Wow Coconut Cocktail Bionic Tonic

Image Source: Color Wow Hair

Moisturizer and Refresher

I regularly mix leave-ins with water at various ratios depending on their consistency. One of the challenges with some products is that they will lay on top of the hair shaft unless the hair is soaking wet. While this does not pose a problem in warmer months, or when, on rare occasions, I diffuse my hair, it can be inconvenient when I just want to quickly refresh and go. With a 50/50 mixture of Coconut Cocktail, water, and my trusty fine-mist sprayer, I am able to lightly spritz the curls that crave moisture or that have lost their shape, and they spring back up. I like to mist my hair about an hour before going to bed, scrunch it, and then allow it to dry. Afterwards, follow my normal pineapple routine. The next day, I am able to quickly and easily refresh with a few more sprays of this mixture.

Double-Cocktail: A Lighter Version of the LOC and LCEG Methods

A double-cocktail can help you seal in moisture into fine, low-density, high-porosity hair without weighing it down. To do this method, you will need the Coconut Cocktail, a rich cream-based leave-in (for example, Tgin Green Tea Super Moist Leave In Conditioner“> and a water-based, medium-hold gel (for this method, I like Curl Junkie Pattern Pusha“>. On wet, detangled hair, apply approximately a quarter-sized amount of the Coconut Cocktail to your hair, starting with the sections that need moisture the most. Work it through the hair, massaging it into the ends as you go. Make sure that it is evenly distributed. Next, mix a cocktail of 50% gel and 50% leave-in. The amount you use is dependent on your hair’s density and length. I prefer to use a nickel-sized amount of each of these two products. Emulsify, and then apply this second cocktail to your hair using the praying hands method, ensuring that the mid-shafts to the ends of your hair are covered. Scrunch and shingle your hair, and then dry it as you normally would.

Have you tried Coconut Cocktail Bionic Tonic? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. For more information on Pattern Pusha and other great gels to double-cocktail, click here.

Stylist, Brandie Kekoa, Shares Her Holistic Approach to Nurturing Curls

By Stacey Biro · Published April 5, 2019

Picturesque, historic, Temecula is located in Riverside, County, California, an hour’s drive from San Diego. As a popular tourist and wedding destination, it welcomes visitors from around the world who come here to experience its warm weather, magnificent sunrises, unique restaurants, and award-winning wineries and vineyards. The morning mist carried in by the Santa Ana winds creates the perfect micro-climate for the many varieties of grapes grown to create wines of the highest caliber. Recently, it was named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations of 2019.

Temecula is also the place for curlies to come to refresh, recharge, and care for their hair. The region is home to hair healer, Brandie Kekoa, owner of Be Kekoa in Old Town Temecula. I caught up with Brandie this week for this interview about her salon, the Be Kekoa product line, and her holistic approach to nurturing curls.