Search Results: Whitney Garcia-Devers

There are many factors that contribute to the health of your hair such as the weather, diet and the amount of manipulation your hair receives. Some of these factors cannot be influenced by external factors, but most can be adjusted through changing your diet. I find that the quickest way I see lasting results for my hair care is by altering my diet and drinking the delicious benefits from a fresh juice recipe. Here are a couple of my faves below!

Beetroot With An Orange Twist

My mother loved to make this juice for me when I was little. “This is great, especially since you have an iron deficiency” she would always say.

Beetroot improves your blood circulation, which enables your body to transport minerals through your body. Here are the ingredients:

• 66 grams of beetroot
• 2 oranges
• 2 big carrots

Pineapple-Kale juice

This juice is super delicious! The essential ingredient is the kale leaves, which contains vitamin A, C, B6, and calcium. It also contains a high amount of magnesium.

• 250 grams of pineapple

• 2 celery stalks

• 6 large kale leaves

• 1 green apple

Red Pleasure

I love this juice, however, it tends to be a bit sour. To combat the sourness, I like to add a tablespoon of honey, after I have successfully juiced the ingredients.

• 100 grams of strawberries

• 50 grams of raspberries

• 50 grams of blackberries

• 1 tablespoon of Manuka honey

Onion Juice

You may be a little repulsed by the idea of drinking onion juice, but drinking this can strengthen your hair and provide your follicles the nutrients it needs. This juice is great for those who have damaged hair who searching for an internal cure-all.

• 1 onion

• 2 big oranges

• 2 big carrots

• ½ lemon

There are few things that are important to keep in mind when discussing our hair: 

1. Your hair is primarily composed of protein, specifically keratin. Consuming protein is one of the essential steps towards the growth of your hair and nails. There are also minerals that are essential for the health of your hair. Potassium, silica, sulfur, and manganese should be part of your diet.

2. Don’t forget also that vitamins A, B, C, E, K, and calcium also improve the health of your hair. Green (leafy”> vegetables are often sources of the vitamins mentioned earlier. 

In order to make my juices, I use a slow juicer. Due to the juicing technique of these machines, the minerals, vitamins, and taste are preserved.

So how do you juice for hair health?

We would love to know!

Image: @janibellrosanne

You were probably drawn to this article, because you are either considering to transition your hair or you are already transitioning your hair. The transitioning process is both challenging and rewarding. It is a phase filled with hurdles and achievements. One of the decisions all transitioners must make is whether you will do a big chop or if you will let the relaxed grow out of your hair. The difficulty lies in the fact that both options require a trade-off. When doing a big chop, you will lose your length. On the other hand, your patience will be tested.

Let the Relaxer Grow Out

Personally, I had difficulties with doing a big chop. I was not afraid of losing length; however, I cared too much about the opinions of others. I was following beauty ideals instead of making the right decision for myself. Moreover, I believed that I could not rock short hair. Hence, I decided to let the relaxer grow out of my hair.

I’m not going to lie: letting the hair grow out was frustrating to me. At some point I became quite impatient because I felt that I had bad hair days daily. After my hair grew more than 5 inches, my hair looked quite awkward. It looked like I had been trying to straighten my hair, but got tired along the way. Eventually, I always stuck my hair in a bun and I did not invest much effort in my hair care. There were some things I could have done in order to make the process of growing the relaxer out easier.

Protective Styles

For instance, I should have taken advantage of the length and experimented with protective hairstyling, such as cornrows, box braids and faux locks. There are so many different types of protective styles, I’m sure they would have kept my impatience at bay.

Find a Routine

One advantage of letting the relaxer grow out of your hair is that you will gain loads of knowledge. At some point you will have to find the perfect routine, which will meet the needs of your relaxed strands, as well as your natural roots. Finding the right routine will trigger your creativity in finding ways to define your curls.

Even though the process of letting the relaxer grow out was challenging, I waited for the hair to grow 13 inches before doing a semi-big chop, this way I would retain some length.

Why Big Chop?

Doing a big chop is a big step, but it is the only way to get rid of your relaxed strands quickly. Some of my friends have done a big chop; a few of them shaved their hair. Most of them indicated that they have mostly struggled with getting to know their hair. It was not only challenging to find the right hair care products, it was also difficult to find the right hair care routine. Often the hair is too short for finger coiling but eventually the coiling sponge was invented, which took care of that issue.

Doing a big chop can be overwhelming as well and this is not surprising as your appearance changes quite lot. But doing a big chop enables you to get used to your hair texture much faster. Moreover, you will feel empowered when you see your hair in its natural state. Lastly, in contrast to those who transition their hair, people who do a big chop have better product results.

Which one do you prefer? A big chop or naturally transitioning? Let us know in the comments. 

Image by iStock/Kiuikson

The afro pick is making a major comeback. Many women are afraid to grab one, in fear of breakage and frizz; however, despite the possibility of a little frizz, there are ways you can achieve the illusion of fuller and thicker hair, while reducing frizz on a wash and go or twist out, all while using an afro pick! Here’s a technique by @Bwatuwant showing how she gets her amazing volume.

1. Start with washed, 100% dry hair. Select your preferred, frizz-free areas that need more volume.

There are certain spots where women prefer their hair not be frizzy. To avoid this unwanted frizz, do not pick the areas of hair around the temples (baby hairs”>. Instead, separate your hair by using sectioning clips.

2. Grab your desired hair pick

There are two types of afro picks: plastic and metal ones. Some curlies prefer the metal ones, because of the thickness of their hair. However, using the plastic ones might be more comfortable, because the teeth of the pick are softer, and won’t snag on your curls.

3. Lower your head, and pick from the roots

When picking your curls, you should not comb your hair from roots to ends. Only comb from the roots, as far as two to three centimeters down. Consequently, your roots will frizz a little, but this will result in more volume.

4. Shake your hair, and pick around your crown area

The last step consists of adding some volume to the areas you missed when holding your head down. Add the desired amount of volume, and you are done!

How do you add volume to your hair? Don’t forget to share your favorite techniques with us in the comments below!

This article was originally published in 2016 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.

Image:@myriannascimentoo

Preferences with regard to curly hair product and care differ around the world. Some curly hair products are very popular in certain countries; however, they are often not sold worldwide. Moreover, the demand for certain hair care products is often triggered, because of social media and online reviews.

We have searched the web to identify the most popular products in five different countries: The United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, Dominican Republic and the Netherlands. We even found shops, which sell natural hair products in these countries.

The United Kingdom

The most popular hair care products in the UK are Boucleme, SheaMoisture, and Cantu.

Boucleme is a British hair care brand. Their product range consists of 0% sulphates, silicones, mineral oils, petroleum, propylene glycol, PEGs, parabens, and artificial fragrances and colours. Also, the brand has a beautiful initiative: for every 300ml bottle sold they will plant a tree. This way you will contribute to making the planet a greener place.

SheaMoisture is one of the most popular hair care products in the UK. The brand aims to offer sulfate free products, without parabens and other types of chemicals, which your curls may dislike. It’s safe to say that around 2011 the brand did not cross the UK borders. As soon as ‘the curly revolution’ grew, the demand of the brands products increased.

Cantu…you either hate it, or you love it. Many seem to love it and happily recommend these products via instagram and blogs. Cantu has expanded its offerings the last couple of years and when we read the reviews, we see that the brand mostly receives positive reviews.

There are many (online”> shops, that sell Curly Hair Products.

Brazil

If you search #Cachos on Instagram, you will see that Brazilian curlies are rocking their curls too. This triggered our curiosity about the hair care products used by UK curlies. What do these curlies do to rock their curls? We found out that Novex and nuNAAT are popular brands in Brazil.

Novex hair care is a Brazilian company, which aim to provide hair products for women from different ethnicities.They offer great hair care products and the sizes of their products are often huge.

nuNAAT believes that with the right combination of natural ingredients, everyone can have beautiful hair. One of the most popular products of nuNaat is the is probably the Brazilian Keratin Mask. This product is not suitable for all curlies, if your does not lack protein, than it is better to avoid using this product. If you have high porosity hair, than this product may be the solution you have been looking for.

We have searched for shops, which sell natural hair products in two of the biggest cities of Brazil: Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro:

São Paulo

• Ludovicus Total Beauty Supply
• Sephora

• Drogaria Iguatemi Shopping Market

Rio de Janeiro

• Granado
• Empório Body Store
• Tonicha Cosméticos e Cabeleireiros

Mexico

Many Mexican beauties are rocking their curls too! The favorite haircare products of our fellow curlies from Mexico are SheaMoisture, Bouncecurl and Kerastase.

Bouncecurl is founded by Merian a few years ago. In the meantime, the products are being sold in many countries across the globe. The aim of Bouncecurl is to encourage all curlies to embrace their curly hair.

We found the following store, which sells natural hair care products.

Mercado libre

Netherlands

The Favorite hair care products of many Dutch curlies are SheaMoisture, Cantu and KinkyCurly. SheaMoisture and Cantu have been described earlier in the article. But KinkyCurly has not been explained yet.

The natural products of KinkyCurly are formulated to add moisture to your strands, while protecting it. Besides, the products do not consist of silicons, parabenes, alcohol, mineral oils etcetera.

The following shops sell natural hair care products in the Netherlands:

Online

• MeGorgeous
• Afro Indian Market
• MyHairShop.nl

Shops

• Yari
• MeGorgeous
• Kruidvat
• Trekpleister
• Afro Indian Market

Dominican Republic

The favorite hair care products of many Dominican Curlies are SheaMoisture, KinkyCurly and Mielle.

Mielle Cosmetics offers 100% natural hair care products, which are tested and proven toxic-free. The brand believes that non-toxic ingredients will result in healthier hair and skin.

We have found a great webshop in the Dominican Republic, which is Afroliterd.com!

Did not we mention your country? Let us know where you come from and what your favorite hair care products are!

Who wants to wake up early and return to work after an amazing vacation? Not many of us!

Luckily, there are many hair care products with scents that will immediately give you wonderful flashbacks to those sunny days. These products are also effective at keeping your hair moisturized during summer months – which we can all appreciate.

1. Aloe Berry Styling Gel by Alikay Naturals

The LOC or LCO method works for many; but since every curly head is different, some prefer a different route. Replacing the oil with a jelly is great alternative. This gel is especially effective for coilies to achieve more definition and long-lasting results.

2. Blueberry Bliss Twist-N-Shout cream by CURLS

This product will give you terrific braid-out and twist out results. Craving some moisture and definition? Definitely give this a try!

3. Almond Jai Twisting Butter

We love this product as a moisturizing sealant. Divide your hair into sections and finger detangle your hair while applying the product. This way, the styler will completely coat all of your strands.

4. Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque by SheaMoisture

Due to seawater and exposure to the sun, your hair may be feeling dry and brittle. A deep conditioner will help you restore the strength of your strands, while also moisturizing them.

5. Mango & Shea Butter Ultra-Moisturizing Shampoo by Creme of Nature

Many curlies find they have the best luck when they use a gentle shampoo like this biweekly to retain the natural oils in their hair. We recommend a pre-poo before shampooing for the best results.

6. Mango & Shea Butter Ultra-Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner

When applying this product, do not forget to finger-detangle your strands for the best results. If you notice that your hair is dry and brittle you may want to try this product.

7. Cleanse Me Co-Wash by Lottabody

Cleansers have the ability to remove dirt while also moisturizing your hair. When you want to give your hair a break from the potential drying effects of shampoos, you can cleanse your hair with a co-wash.

8. Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme by EDEN BodyWorks

The name says it all! This product is perfect for defining your curls. The main ingredients are coconut and shea butter, and the aroma will transport you to a tropical paradise.

9. Moisturize Me Curl & Style Milk by Lottabody

Try applying this product prior to applying the Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme by EDEN BodyWorks. Seal the hair with a jelly and enjoy the results!

10. Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Smoothie

Jamaican black castor oil is perfect for dry hair because it works to hydrate the hair and scalp. This shea butter blend moisturizes the hair, which results in more definition and less frizz.

What are your favorite tropical products? Leave a comment and let us know!

The transitioning process is challenging. Often, the ends of your strands are straight while your roots are curly. As a result, wearing your hair down might look a bit odd. But you also want more hairstyle options than a bun, right? Do not worry! NaturallyCurly has prepared the top 10 hairstyles suitable for transitioners. ### 1. Fake ponytail A simple but easy solution to the awkward transitioning stage is wearing a fake ponytail. It is important to choose a hairstyle that helps your curly textures look more like they match. In this case I knew that I was able to brush my hair until it becomes sleek. Therefore, it was safe for me to purchase a straight ponytail. However, if you have difficulties achieving a straight look at your roots, it would be best to purchase a curly ponytail. Photo courtesy: @WhitneyFromTheBlog ### 2. Roller sets These are a great technique for guaranteed bouncy curls! These were my favorite hair tools during the transitioning process. I always used flexi-rods, since these matched my curly hair type. But different types of roller sets work better for different hair types, so make sure to pick the right tool for you!

Photo courtesy of @Modelesque_Nic

### 3. Hair wrap When in doubt, hair wrap! This is probably the easiest style for transitioning. There is low effort needed and the results are always unique. Hair wrapping looks different every time, so here’s some inspiration for ways to tie yours!

Photo courtesy of @WhitneyFromTheBlog

### 4. High puff Updos look great on all curly hair, and the high puff is your simplest option. This style requires that you slick back your roots and edges and let your more textured edges curl freely, which is perfect to mask the line where your hair is transitioning.

Photo courtesy of @Modelesque_Nic

### 5. Faux-hawk This is probably one of my favorite hairstyles at the moment and it is easy to achieve. I’m no longer transitioning, so my faux-hawk has consistent curls all the way through. But during your transition if you use a roller set, you can easily achieve the same results. This article explains how you can fake a mohawk!

Photo courtesy of @Modelesque_Nic

### 6. Twists Twists are protective hairstyling and a guaranteed success! The advantage of protective hairstyling is that you will protect your hair from breakage. Moreover, it provides you some time advantage during the mornings. There are so many different varieties of twists, including Marley, Havana, Senegalese, and more, so make sure to read about them all and pick your favorite!

Photo courtesy of@Laurenlewiss_

### 7. 2 stitch braids w/curly ends This fun hairstyle is a twist on your basic braids to give you some extra length. You can add a few accessories like gold string and cuffs like NaturallyCurly Managing Editor Alexandra did!

Photo courtesy of@Hairby_Tara

### 8. Faux locs Always wanted locs but afraid to commit? This is your chance! Now, you can wear faux locs! Though you won’t be making dreads with your actual hair, there are still some things to keep in mind to properly install them and and maintain them for longevity. Here is a tutorial that takes you through the whole process!

Photo courtesy of @NatashaLeeds

### 9. Crochet braids During the transitioning process many cannot wait to finally rock big natural curls! There is no need to get impatient when it is possible to wear crochet braids!

Photo courtesy of @valerieeguavoen

10. Wigs Rock a wig! The great things about them? If the wig consists of 100% human hair, you can easily switch hairstyles without worrying about damage. You can rock curls one day and the next day you can wear the hair straight.

Photo courtesy of @KrissyKakess

__Which hairstyles are you going to try?__

Image: istockphoto

Curlies love their hair oils. They can be an economical and effective way to care for our curls using what you have in your kitchen. And one oil most of us have in our kitchens is canola oil – but have you ever considered putting it on your hair? Canola oil is the unknown nephew of other popular oils, such as coconut, castor and olive oil. Canola oil is a vegetable oil, which is derived from rapeseed. Often, the oil is used for cooking, but depending on your hair needs it can also have benefits for your hair. You may be tempted to nod and click away from this article, or perhaps you’re interested in learning more.

Benefits

• Due to its texture canola oil has the ability to fully penetrate into the strands, leaving the curls moisturized. This is beneficial for curlies who have dry hair.

• It is the perfect sealant; it is known that canola oil does a far better job than other oils. Consequently, moisture will be locked in your hair.

• Canola oil contains sterols, which recover damages cells. This means that canola oil can help you get rid of your split ends.

• Canola oil consists of vitamin E, which helps reduce hair loss.

Now knowing the benefits, you may want to know how you should use canola oil. It really depends on your curly hair need, but you can use the oil as a hot oil treatment, as a pre-poo or as a sealant. Personally, I do not like using the oil as a sealant, because a jelly would work better for me. But I like using the oil as a hot oil treatment. I have noticed that after applying the oil consistently my regained its strength and versatility.

How to Use Canola Oil

There are many ways to apply canola oil to your hair, but below methods are my favorites.

When you want to treat your dry hair, then you should definitely try this method. Mix three tablespoons of canola oil with three tablespoons of tea tree oil (or any other loved oil”>. Heat the mixture until it gets lukewarm and then apply it to your hair. Cover the hair with a shower cap and leave it onto your hair for 1-2 hours. Wash it off with a gentle shampoo and enjoy the moisture!

Do you prefer a hair mask? Then you will like this ingredient! Mix the canola oil with mashed bananas. Add one tablespoon of honey and put it together in a mixer. Blend until you have a smooth substance. Apply the hair mask onto your hair and cover it with a cotton cloth. Leave it untouched for 45 minutes and rinse with water. This hair mask will moisturize your hair and it promotes hair growth as well.

To achieve the best results there are some things you must do and some habits you should avoid.

Dos:

• Be consistent if you want to see results. This means that if you do a weekly hot oil treatment you should apply the oil every week.

• Be patient. You will not see the results after two weeks. It will take a while, but eventually, your patience will be rewarded.

• Purchase pure canola oil. Some retailers offer canola oil, which is cheaper as it is not pure canola oil. Carefully read the ingredient list and place the bottle back, when you see that rapeseed is not the only ingredient.

• When doing a hot oil treatment, beware of the oil becoming too hot. This can lead to serious burns.

Donts:

• Do not skip an allergy test. You can apply one drop of canola oil on your skin to see whether you are allergic. It costs less than a minute of your time and you will be safe rather than sorry.

• When doing a hot oil treatment wait until the oil is lukewarm

• Do not overuse the oil, do not include the oil in every part of your routine. If you have done a hot oil treatment, it is not necessary to use a hair mask, which consists of the oil.

Purchasing the oil does not require a high investment. It is worth a try since it is a great moisturizer!

Image: @gigibellaa

I’ve lost track of the number of times that people recommended that I relax my hair because my hair shrinks too much. Just a few weeks ago, a hairdresser suggested that I try the keratin treatment to lessen the shrinkage.

“Your hair will be very beautiful, it will be very long and soft,” she said.

You cannot imagine how many times people have told me that it’s a shame how much my hair shrinks. But is shrinkage something I should really be fighting? Hell no. This is why.

What is natural hair shrinkage?

Shrinkage is the decrease in length from when your natural hair is wet to when it dries. Depending on the hair type and hair porosity, curly hair can shrink up to 90% when it dries. Not only is it completely normal, it is actually a sign of healthy hair; it shows that your hair is properly moisturized and has good elasticity. We cannot change a phenomenon that is a key characteristic feature of curly hair. Not to forget, shrinkage is the main ingredient of the uniqueness of our curly crown. To emphasize the importance of shrinkage, I want to remind all curlies that without shrinkage, our hair would not have its texture and definition. Hence, I think we should be doing our best to unlearn the perception that shrinkage is a negative trait of curly hair.

I used to hate shrinkage, but eventually I realized that not accepting shrinkage was a hurdle to getting to know my naturally curly hair.

I used to hate shrinkage, but eventually I realized that not accepting shrinkage was a hurdle to getting to know my naturally curly hair. When I finally accepted and embraced my shrinkage, I was able to make great hair care decisions. For instance, I was able to do a second big chop for the wellbeing of my hair.

Image: @strawberricurls

Accepting our hair shrinkage

It may be difficult to accept shrinkage at first. But there are ways to facilitate the process of acceptance. It all starts with self-acceptance… accept your own hair type and do not try to set your curly hair goals based on the hair texture of your favorite blogger, celebrity and/or loved one. Often, their porosity, density, width, or curl pattern may be completely different from yours. Secondly, the aim of your natural hair journey is to get to know your curly hair, learn what routines work best for you and what products you should avoid. You will facilitate this journey by doing what is necessary to keep your natural crown beautiful. This includes accepting all characteristics of your curls, including shrinkage.

What if you want to lessen shrinkage?

Some curlies find that stretching out their curls simply makes their lives easier by preventing tangles or matting. If you do want to lessen your shrinkage, changing some habits in your curly hair routine can save you time later in your regimen. Just to name an example, I admired curly hair influencer Sunkissalba and there was a time that I wanted to have the same hair type as her. Therefore, I started using the same hair care products as her. Little did I know that these products weren’t fulfilling my curly hair needs. When I switched to different hair products that were specifically for my hair type and porosity, I immediately noticed less shrinkage. I’ve found that certain ingredients also decrease shrinkage, such as flaxseed, bamboo milk, shea butter and mango butter. Lastly, there are some curly hairstyles which will stretch your curls. You should always be careful since these hairstyles often come with a risk of breakage, which will lead to more frustrations.

Accepting your beautiful crown as it is is far better than continuously fighting it. You should own your unique features rather than hiding it.

How do you embrace your shrinkage? Let us know in the comments below.

This article was originally published in 2018 and has been updated for grammar and clarity. 

Image of Felicia@hif3licia

Every season brings benefits and disadvantages to your curly hair. In the summer, exposing your hair continuously to the sun runs the risk ofsun damage. The sunrays penetrate into your hair scalp and scatter the melanin. Consequently, the color of your hair will change. Lastly, the sun dries your hair; this results in an increasing amount of holes and gaps in the outer cuticle of your hair. Hence, moisture will quickly leave your hair, leading to brittle and frizzy strands. But do not worry, there’s something you can do about that!

As you know, water is the core of curly hair. Keep your hair moisturized and you will have healthy hair. Steaming your hair is an effective way to bring moisture back to parched hair.

Whether they realize it or not, many people are already giving themselves a steam treatment when they cover their hair with a plastic cap during a hair treatment. The cap traps your body heat and the warmth with your wet hair creates steam. When you are steaming your hair you are using the moist heat to open the follicles of your hair to enable better absorption of moisture. You can steam your hair when refreshing your hair or when you are deep-conditioning.

Refreshing Your Curls

Your hair needs moisture in order to remain healthy, but when you are washing your hair too often you are removing natural oils from your scalp. Consequently, your hair will be frizzier and you will experience more breakage. Steam is a solution, because it does not involve the use of shampoos or other types of cleansers. Therefore, the natural oils won’t be removed.

Steaming your hair is not difficult. You can either purchase a steamer or you can replicate a steamer, the choice is yours.

Using a Steamer

A handheld steamer like Q-Redew may require some investment, but the benefits are worth the trade-off. As mentioned earlier, steaming your hair will open the follicles of your hair enabling the deep conditioner to fully penetrate into your hair. The conditioner will moisturize and strengthen your strands. Additionally, it will add a protective layer on your strands, which will prevent your hair from shredding.

After shampooing and conditioning your hair, you can start the steaming process. Make sure that your hair is fully detangled. Divide your hair into sections and apply the deep-conditioner to each section. Make sure that the deep-conditioner reaches all strands by finger detangling while applying the product. Pull each section into a bun and you are ready to start the steaming process.

Please note: Steaming your hair for over 30 minutes damages your hair.

After the steaming process, you need to rinse the deep-conditioner off and style your hair as usual.

Replicate a Steamer

I personally really like this option, because it is a cheap and easy alternative. To replicate a steamer you will need a hairdryer, a plastic cap and a towel.

After washing your hair, apply a deep-conditioner thoroughly by finger detangling your curls. Before purchasing a deep-conditioner you first need to figure out what your curly hair needs are by doing a porosity test. When having a deep-conditioner, which matches your curly hair needs you will notice that the detangling process will be much easier.

Dampen a towel and place the towel for 30 seconds in the microwave. Please be careful, the towel needs to be lukewarm, not hot! When placing the towel when it is too hot, you risk serious burns. Wrap your hair in the towel and place your plastic cap on top of the towel. Afterwards you need to get under the dryer as soon as possible to prevent the steam from escaping. Remain for 25 to 30 minutes under the dryer. When finished, rinse the deep-conditioner off and style your hair as usual.

Have you already tried steaming your hair? Let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s note: This is a dynamic list; we’ll update and amend as necessary.

Anionic surfactants are mixtures, which removes dirt, product build-up, and pollutants. These mixtures break down the interface between water and oils and remove dirt.

Safe Anionic Surfactants

• Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
• Sodium Xylene Sulfonate
• TEA-dodecylbenzenesulfonate

Anionic Surfactants To Avoid

• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
• Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate/Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
• Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
• Sodium Myreth Sulfate
• Ethyl PEG-15 Cocamine Sulfate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate

In general, amphoteric surfactants have antibacterial properties, low toxicity and a high resistance to hard water. They also have great compatibility with different types of surfactants.

Safe Amphoteric Surfactants

• Coco Betaine
• Cocoamphoacetate (Safer than Sodium Laureth Sulfate”>
• Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
• Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate
• Lauroamphoacetate
• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Amphoteric Surfactants To Avoid

• Cocamidopropyl betaine (Please note some people have allergic reactions to this ingredient”>

Cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds used to provide conditioning, some detergency, & emulsion stabilization.

Mild Cationic Surfactants

• Behentrimonium Methosulfate
• Cetrimonium Chloride
• Dicetyldimonium Chloride
• Cocotrimonium Chloride/li>
• Hydrogenated Palm Trimethylammonium Chloride
• Dihydrogenated Tallow Dimethylammonium Chloride (not vegan friendly”>
• Laurtrimonium Chloride
• Stearalkonium Chloride
• Dihydrogenated Tallow Dimethylammonium Chloride
• Hydrogenated Palm Trimethylammonium Chloride
• Laurtrimonium chloride

Harsh Cationic Surfactants

• Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride
• Behentrimonium Chloride
• Benzalkonium Chloride
• Tallowtrimonium Chloride
• Quaternium-15 (can cause irritation”>
• Tallowtrimonium chloride
• Quaternium-18 Bentonite

Unknown

• Dicetyldimonium Chloride
• Dicocodimonium Chloride
• Dihydrogenated Tallow Dimethylammonium Chloride
• Quaternium-22

Nonionic surfacants are used for gentle cleansing and for emulsion stabilization.

Mild Nonionic Surfactants

• Decyl Glucoside
• Laureth-10 (lauryl ether 10″>
• Laureth-23
• Laureth-4
• PEG-10 Sorbitan Laurate
• Polysorbate- (20, 21, 40, 60, 61, 65, 80, 81″>
• Sorbitol (prevents cosmetics from drying in their containers”>
• Steareth- (2, 10, 15, 20″>
• C11-21 Pareth (number between 3 and 30, the higher the number, the more water soluble and higher the hydrophilic portion”>

Harsh Nonionic Surfactants

• PPG-1 Trideceth-6 (contains Ethylene Oxide, which is banned in Europe and Canada”>

Unknown

• PEG-10 Sorbitan Laurate
• C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester

An emulsifier consists of a water-loving hydrophilic head and an oil-loving hydrophobic tail (think of a drop of oil in water”>. These types of ingredients enable the mixture of water and oil. Emulsifiers have the ability to interact with other ingredients and they are often mild ingredients.

Emulsifiers

• Caprylic/capric/diglyceryl Succinate
• C10-15 Pareth-(2,4,6,8″> Phosphate
• C14-16 Glycol Palmitate
• C18-20 Glycol Isostearate
• Ceteareth-(4-60″>
• Cocamidopropyl Lauryl Ether
• Deceth-(3-10″>
• DIPA-hydrogenated Cocoate
• Dipentaerythrityl Hydroxystearate
• Dipentaerythrityl Hydroxyisostearate
• Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprate/Caprylate
• Dodoxynol-(5,6,7,9,12″>
• Nonoxynol-(1-35″>
• Octoxynol-(1-70″>
• Octyldodeceth-(2,5,16,20,25″>
• Palm kernel glycerides

Preservatives are natural or synthetic ingredients added to products in order to preserve these. Research is lacking about whether parebens are harmful, however it’s agreed that it is more harmful to use products with no preservatives in them than products with these in them.

Mild Preservatives

• Butyl paraben
• DMDM Hydantoin
• Imidazolidinyl Urea

Medium Preservatives

• Ethyl Paraben
• Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (avoid this ingredient in sprays”>
• Methyl Paraben
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone
• Phenoxyethanol
• Sodium Benzoate

Harsh Preservatives

• Diazolidinyl Urea
• Isobutyl Paraben
• Propyl Paraben

• Aluminum stearates/ Isostearates/ Myristates /Laurates/Palmitates
• Glycol Distearate
• Hydrogenated Castor Oil
• Hydrogenated Castor Oil Hydroxystearate
• Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate
• Hydrogenated Castor Oil Stearate
• Hydrogenated Castor PEG-8 Esters
• PEG150 Distearate

These are used to thicken the product.

Naturally Derived Polymers

• Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethyl Cellulose
• Carboxymethyl Hydroxypropyl Guar
• Cellulose
• Ethyl Cellulose
• Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose
• Hydroxyethylcellulose
• Hydroxymethylcellulose
• Lauryl Polyglucose

These are used to attract water to the hair to keep the moisture content high.

Mild Humectants

• Dipropylene Glycol
• Glycerin
• Hexylene Glycol
• Panthenol
• Phytantriol (enhances moisture-retention, increases absorption of vitamins, panthenol, and amino acids into hair shaft, imparts gloss”>
• Sodium PCA
• Glucose
• Fructose
• Polydextrose
• Potassium PCA
• Urea
• Hydrogenated Honey
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Inositol
• Hexanediol Beeswax
• Hexanetriol Beeswax
• Hydrolyzed Elastin
• Hydrolyzed Collagen
• Hydrolyzed Silk
• Erythritol
• Capryl Glycol
• Isoceteth-(3-10, 20, 30″>
• Laneth-(5-50″>
• Steareth-(4-20″>
• Trideceth-(5-50″>

Medium Humectants

• 1,2,6 hexanetriol
• Propylene Glycol
• Sorbitol
• Triethylene Glycol
• Polyglyceryl Sorbitol

These are positively charged polymers that provide silkening and smoothing effects by adhering to the surface of the hair due to the hair’s overall negative charge.

Cationic Polymers

• Polyquaternium-10
• Polyquaternium-7
• Polyquaternium-11
• Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride

Silicones are used to add shine and gloss to hair, decrease combing friction and tangling, provide conditioning, and act as humectants.

Mild Silicones

• Amodimethicone (not soluble in water by itself”>
• Amodimethicone
• Trideceth-12
• Cetrimonium
• Behenoxy Dimethicone (sparingly soluble in water”>
• Cetearyl Methicone (not soluble in water”>
• Cetyl Dimethicone (not soluble in water”>
• Dimethicone Copolyol (Water soluble”>
• Dimethiconol (not soluble in water”>
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane (water soluble”>
• Trimethylsilylamodimethicone (not soluble in water”>
• Stearoxy Dimethicone (sparingly soluble in water”>
• Stearyl Dimethicone (not soluble in water”>
• Trimethylsilylamodimethicone (not soluble in water”>
• Lauryl methicone copolyol (water soluble”>

Medium Silicones

• Cyclopentasiloxane (low risk on cancer – not soluble in water”>
• Dimethicone (not soluble in water”>

Low Hazard Organic Oils

• Paraffin/li>

Medium Hazard Organic Oils

• Mineral Oil
• Petrolatum

Proteins

• Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Hair Keratin
• Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
• Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Silk
• Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
• Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
• Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids
• Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
• Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Keratin
• Hydrolyzed Keratin
• Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
• Hydrolyzed Silk
• Hydrolyzed Silk Protein
• Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
• Hydrolyzed silk protein
• Hydrolyzed soy protein
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
• Keratin
• Potassium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen
• TEA-cocoyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein

Medium Proteins

• TEA-cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen

Vitamins

• Retinol, Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A”>
• Tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E”>

Cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds used to provide conditioning, some detergency, & emulsion stabilization.

Mild Emollient Ester

• Butyl Myristate
• Butyl Stearate
• C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
• Cetyl Octanoate
• Cetyl Stearate
• Cetearyl Stearate
• Decyl Oleate
• Glyceryl Stearate
• Glyceryl Adipate
• Glyceryl Arachidate
• Glyceryl Arachidonate
• Glyceryl Caprylate
• Glyceryl Citrate / Lactate / Linoleate / Oleate
• Glyceryl Diarachidate
• Glyceryl Dibehenate
• Glyceryl Dierucate
• Glyceryl Dihydroxystearate
• Glyceryl Diisopalmitate
• Glyceryl Diisostearate
• Glyceryl Dilaurate
• Glyceryl Dilinoleate
• Glyceryl Dimyristate
• Glyceryl Dioleate
• Glyceryl Dipalmitate
• Glyceryl Dipalmitoleate
• Glyceryl Diricinoleate
• Glyceryl Distearate
• Glyceryl Erucate
• Glycol Stearate
• Isocetyl stearate
• Isopropyl Myristate
• Isopropyl Palmitate
• Isopropyl Stearate
• Isostearyl stearate
• Octyl Palmitate
• Octyl Stearate
• Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
• Sorbitan Benzoate
• Sorbitan Caprylate
• Sorbitan Isostearate
• Sorbitan Laurate
• Sorbitan Tristearate
• Stearyl Stearate
• Tocopheryl Linoleate

Medium Emollient Esters

• Dimethyl Lauramine Isostearate
• Glyceryl Caprate
• Glyceryl Cocoate

Harsh Emollient Esters

• Glyceryl Behenate

These are emulsifying agents, emulsion stabilisers, surfactants, & viscosity controlling agents.

Mild Alkanolamides

• Acetamide MEA
• Propylene Glycol
• Stearamide MEA

Medium Alkanolamides

• Cocamide MEA
• Lactamide MEA
• Lauramide DEA
• Linoleamide DEA
• Linoleamide MEA
• Linoleamide MIPA
• Linoleamide MEA
• Linoleamide MIPA
• Myristamide DEA
• Myristamide MEA
• Myristamide MIPA
• Oleamide DEA
• Oleamide MEA
• Soyamide DEA

Harsh Alkanolamides

• Cocamide DEA
• Lecithinamide DEA

Amines are emulsifiers and conditioning agents.

Mild Amines

• Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Isostearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Lauramidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Myristamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Oleamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Palmitamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Palmitamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Tallamidopropyl Dimethylamine

Harsh Amines

• Behentamidopropyl Dimethylamine

These are typically used in very small amounts to balance the product.

Mild pH-adjusters

• Ascorbic acid
• Citric acid
• Sodium hydroxide

Medium pH-adjusters

• Triethanolamine

Often used to enhance thickness (viscosity”> of the product.

Mild Salts

• Calcium chloride
• Magnesium chloride
• Magnesium sulfate (has been found to add volume to hair, used to enhance curls”>
• Potassium chloride
• Potassium glycol sulfate
• Sodium Chloride

Alcohol does not necessarily damage our hair. Fatty alcohols provide an emollient effect, lubricity and/or emulsion stabilization. The ingredients below have been scanned and show zero to low health concerns.

Fatty Alcohols

• Behenyl alcohol
• Cetearyl alcohol
• Cetyl alcohol
• Isocetyl alcohol
• Isostearyl alcohol
• Lauryl alcohol
• Myristyl alcohol
• Stearyl alcohol
• C30-50 Alcohols
• Lanolin alcohol

The following alcohols are used as a solvent. However, these can be damaging for your hair.

Harsh Alcohols

• SD Alcohol 40
• Witch Hazel
• Isopropanol

UV exposure can affect the strength and elasticity of your curls, therefore, you should use a good leave-in conditioner that contains a UV filter.

Mild UV Filters/Sunscreens

• Benzophenone-2, ( or 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10″>

Medium UV Filters/Sunscreens

• Benzophenone-2
• Benzylidene Camphor Sulfonic Acid
• Bornelone
• Ethyl Cinnamate
• Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (octyl methoxycinnamate”>
• Octyl Salicylate
• Phenyl Ketone
• PEG-25 PABA
• Polyacrylamidomethyl Benzylidene Camphor

Harsh UV Filter

• Benzyl Salicylate
• Octoxynol-40, -20
• Oxybenzone

These provide emolliency, conditioning, & add shine. All are natural and do not harm your hair.

• Coconut Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Olive Oil
• Palm Oil
• Safflower Oil
• Sesame Seed Oil
• Shea Butter
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Wheat Germ Oil

Amine oxides are used to help disperse dyes in product. The following oxides have been scanned and show zero to low health hazards:.

Amine Oxides

• Cocamine Oxide
• Lauramine Oxide

Chelating agents are used in small amounts to react with metal ions present in the product or in the water in order to improve stability or performance of the product.

Mild Chelating Agents

• Diiospropyl Oxalate
• Disodium EDTA
• Disodium EDTA-copper
• EDTA
• HEDTA
• Potassium or Sodium Citrate
• TEA-EDTA
• Tetrasodium EDTA
• Trisodium EDTA
• Trisodium HEDTA

Medium Chelating Agents

• Disodium EDTA-Copper
• Oxalic Acid
• Sodium Oxalate

Fatty Acids are used as emulsifying agents & emulsion stabilizers.

Mild Fatty Acids

• Arichidonic acid
• Capric Acid
• Coconut Fatty Acid
• Lauric Acid
• Linoleic Acid
• Myristic Acid
• Palmitic Acid
• Pantothenic Acid
• Stearic Acid
• Isostearic Acid
• Capryleth-(4,6,9″> Carboxylic Acid

Harsh Antibacterials

• Glyoxal
• Triclosan

Cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds used to provide conditioning, some detergency, & emulsion stabilization.

PEG-Modified Materials

These are esed as emulsifiers, surfactants, humectants, and to make non-water soluble molecules more water-soluble. The following PEG-modified materials are approved for use. However, these ingredients do have moderate health hazards:

• PEG-150 Pentaerythirtyl Tetrastearate
• PEG- 2, -3, -4, -6, -8, -12, -20, -32, -50, -150, -175 Distearate – also used to thicken the product
• PEG-10 Castor oil
• PEG-10 Cocamine
• PEG-10 Cocoate
• PEG-10 Coconut Oil Esters
• PEG-10 Glyceryl Oleate
• PEG-10 Glyceryl Pibsa Tallate
• PEG-10 Glyceryl Stearate
• PEG-10 Hydrogenated Lanolin
• PEG-10 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine
• PEG-10 Isolauryl Thioether
• PEG-10 Isostearate
• PEG-10 Lanolate
• PEG-10 Lanolin
• PEG-10 laurate
• PEG-10 Oleate
• PEG-10 Olive Glycerides
• PEG-10 Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate
• PEG-10 Propylene Glycol
• PEG-10 Sorbitan Laurate
• PEG-10 Soya Sterol
• PEG-10 Soyamine
• PEG-10 Stearamine
• PEG-10 Stearate
• PEG-10 Stearyl Benzonium Chloride
• PEG-10 Tallate
• PEG-10 Tallow Aminopropylamine
• PEG-100
• PEG-100 Castor Oil
• PEG-100 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
• PEG-100 Lanolin
• PEG-100 Stearate
• PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-60
• PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Distearate

There are many and they are used for a variety of purposes.

Miscellaneous Polymers

• Carbomer: Polymer used to provide thickening
• Dodecanedioic acid/cetearyl alcohol/glycol copolymer: Polymer used to provide thickening
• Hydrogenated C6-14 olefin polymers: Polymer used to form films on hair surface in hair styling products
• Hydrogenated ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer: Polymer used to form films on hair surface in hair styling products
• Polyacrylic acid: Polymer used to provide thickening, emulsification, binding, and film forming on hair
• Polymethyl methacrylate: Polymer used to form films on hair surface in hair styling products
• Polyvinyl acetate: Polymer used to form films on hair surface in hair styling products
• Polyvinyl alcohol: Polymer used to form films on hair surface in hair styling products 
• PPG: Polymer used to provide thickening and to stabilize emulsions
• PPG-25-Laureth-25: Polymer used to provide thickening and to stabilize emulsions
• PPG-5 Pentaerithrityl ether: Polymer used to provide thickening and to stabilize emulsions
• PPG-75-PEG-300-hexylene glycol: Polymer used to provide thickening
• PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone”>: Polymer used to provide thickening
• PVP/VA (polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer”>: Polymer used to provide thickening
• Sodium carbomer: Polymer used to provide thickening
• TEA-carbomer: Polymer used to provide thickening
• Poloxamer (100-407″>: Polymers used as emulsifiers (emulsion stabilizers”> and surfactants (detergents”>
• Poloxamine (followed by a number”>: Polymers used as emulsifiers (emulsion stabilizers”> and surfactants (detergents”>
• Polyacrylamidomethylpropane sulfonic acid: Polymer used to form films on hair surface in hair styling products
• Polyethylene terephthalate: Polymer used to form films on hair surface in hair styling products

Anti-static agents reduce static charge build-up and fly-away hair. There is not much data on whether the following ingredients are dangerous for the health.

Anti-static Agents

• Apricotamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
• Apricotamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Lactate
• Cocamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
• Cocamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Lactate
• Lauramidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
• Lauramidopropyl Ethyldimonium Lactate
• Linoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
• Linoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Lactate
• Myristamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
• Myristamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Lactate
• Oleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
• Oleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Lactate
• Stearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
• Stearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Lactate

This article was originally published in 2004, and has been updated for clarity.

If you have clicked on this article you are probably on the hunt for the perfect hair care product. Perhaps, you are curious what products are loved by your fellow curlies. Whether your hair will love a certain product depends on many factors, such as your hair type and the porosity of your hair. It is always good to get inspired by someone who has a similar hair type as you do. In this article five beautiful curlies share their favorite hair care products with you! And the best thing of all…all the different curl patterns have been included in this article. This way everyone can get inspired!

Chevera Goed – Type 2 aka @Chvraa

“My favorite hair care products must be the ones from NAK, which are produced by an Australian company. I love the leave-in moisturizer (the pink bottle”> and the Kurlcreme (the purple bottle”>, because it does not weigh down my hair. Moreover, thanks to the products my curls are soft and moisturized. The wash results last at least five days.

If you have the same hair pattern as me, then you should definitely try these products. I think that the products are suitable for all curl types! I have been using the products for four years already and I have never been disappointed.”

Mindrys M. – Type 3A aka @CurlyMindy;”>

“I would not be able to point only one product as my favorite, because every product works different on my hair. For instance, if I would like to achieve lots of definition I would apply a heavier styling cream on my hair, such as the Crème Brule by Curls. While, if I want to have more volume I would use a light leave-in conditioner by NYCcurls.

To seal my curls I use the Ultra Defining Gel by DevaCurl or the Climate Control Gel by Ouidad. I love applying the NYCcurls leave-in conditioner and one of the jellies, because my hair is voluminous and defined.

My advice to everyone is to keep trying products, because eventually you will find the perfect match!”

Caressa Martin – Type 3B aka @Kroelenboll;”>

“My two favorite hair care products are The Curl Maker by Camille Rose Naturals and Knot Today by Kinky-Curly. The Curl Maker by Camille Rose Naturals has been my favorite sealant for years now, because it eliminates frizz and defines my curl pattern. Also, when applying just a bit of the product I achieve excellent results.

Knot Today by Kinky-Curly is another favorite of mine. I have been using it for approximately a year and I still love the results. The product is protein-free, which is great for my low porosity hair. The product cause any build-up and does not weigh my hair down. Not to forget, it is a good detangler and moisturizes my hair.”

Leal Alexander – Type 3C aka @CurlyGallal;”>

“There are a couple of product lines, which go really well with my hair! First off, my hair fell in love with Boucleme, which is a UK born and bred company. The products do not include any silliness, such as silicones, sulphates, parabens, mineral oils, fragrances etc. Instead, the brand includes vitamins, omegas and antioxidants in their products. Their intensive moisture treatment really penetrates into my strands and nourishes my curls. Consequently, the detangling process is much easier. Their conditioner can be used as a rinse out or a leave in, I find that it works well as both. It has great slip and great water content, which makes it super moisturizing, lightweight and great for detangling. I always seal my curls with Boucleme’s gel, which does not weigh my hair down. The product really hydrates my curls when they need an extra quench. Now I need to share these products, since my boyfriend – who has 2b/c hair – is also enjoying the benefits of these products.

Personal tip: If I’m feeling like I need a heavy hold I grab my Olive Oil Eco Styler. It just works for me. But it can be weighing so use sparingly.”

Jasmine – Type 4 aka @Jaiologie;”>

“My all-time favorite hair care products are from Bask and Bloom Essentials. I love these products, because they consist of natural and organic ingredients. Therefore, I am confident that I am not sacrificing style over health. These ingredients work very well with kinky hair like mine. The product meets all promises communicated on its packaging. Also, the creator/owner is an Afro-Carribean woman, who I absolutely love!

I would have to pick my favorite, I would pick the Brahmi Root Masque, because it detangles my hair very well and makes my curls very soft.”

What’s your Holy Grail product? Share yours in the comments!

Did you know there are approximately 200 nationalities in the Netherlands!? There is so much diversity in the Netherlands and for me not a day goes by without admiring all of the diversity I see when other nationalities rock their curly hair. Since 2011, an increasing amount of naturals are leaving the relaxers on the shelves in order to embrace their curly hair.

While conducting research for my graduation assignment, I noticed that many are not aware of the diversity within the Netherlands, so I decided to showcase these curly Dutch beauties and introduce them to you!

Caressa Martin | @Kroelenboll

“My parents are both originally from Suriname and moved to the Netherlands where I was born. During my childhood there were very few products available for curly hair. Consequently, I always wore my hair in a bun or braids. However, there were many others who were wearing their hair naturally. Thus, I never felt out of place. This also had to do with my mother who always tried to encourage me to embrace my natural hair. I started relaxing my hair when I was 12 years old. I thought curly hair was too much work and straight sleek hair would be much easier to handle. My mother tried to talk me out of it and told me many horror stories to indicate that I would regret it. However, she gave in eventually.

The last time I applied relaxer was when I was 16 years old. I thought about quitting relaxing for a while because I got tired of the whole process. Going to the salon every six weeks, sitting there for a whole day, never being able to wet my hair, washing and drying my hair. I figured maintaining my naturally curly hair must be much easier than that and less time-consuming. I transitioned a long period of time because I did not big chop. The hardest challenge was to make my hair look “good”. It was hard to choose between straight hair or curly hair because of the different textures my hair had and neither one looked very good. My hair was usually in a bun or a ponytail and I just decided to be patient. I also cut my hair regularly but keeping it at a reasonable length. It was a challenge to transition in the period of time when I did because there were hair care products for my hair type available in the Netherlands, but I’m glad I did.”

What hair tip would you like to give to your fellow 3a/3b curlies?

“Love your own hair. A lot of us make the mistake by comparing our curly hair to someone else’s and that can lead to a lot of frustrations. What makes curly hair unique is that it cannot be compared with each other. The more you love your own curls, the easier your journey will be!”

Kimberley Marchena | @Kimberley_Marchena

“Both of my parents are from Curaçao, which is a small island in the Carribean. I do not really recall much from growing up with curly hair. My mother started relaxing my hair at a very young age. Before having relaxed hair I mostly wore my hair in braids or twists. What I do remember is that washing my hair was time-consuming and painful! I started relaxing my hair when I was 9 years old. I used the relaxer for children, but it caused breakage. After that I started transitioning and replaced the relaxer with a texturizer. But that also damaged my hair. Thus, I started relaxing again until I was 17 years old. My hair [became] very thin and fragile. And I had a lot of hair-loss when I was washing my hair. I wanted my hair to be thick and healthy again, I couldn’t even remember how my own hair looked like. So at that very moment, I decided to stop relaxing. I switched between braids and weave for a year and after that, I did the big chop.

In the beginning, the biggest challenge was to keep my hair moisturized. Just after washing my hair and applying products, my hair looked great. As soon as my hair dried it looked like I did not use any hair products. Eventually, I found a good routine to keep my hair healthy. At the moment, my biggest challenge is to retain length. I finally found a routine to keep my hair moisturized. I wash my hair with a co-wash every week. I shampoo my hair once a month or when I have product build-up. I detangle my hair with a good conditioner and a wide tooth comb. Also, I use a mask/deep conditioner. Recently, I started to pay attention to the ingredients of all hair products. I try to use ‘Curly Girl’ friendly products only. Lastly, to retain length I use hair vitamins.”

;”>What hair tip would you like to give to your fellow 4a curlies?

“Try to find a routine that works for you and stick to it. It’s important to take good care of your hair continuously. Do not try to compare your hair to someone’s else hair. Everyone’s hair is different!”

Amber Leemans | @amberleemans

“I am mixed: my dad is Dutch and my mom is from Aruba, which is a small island in the Caribbean. Growing up with curly hair in the Netherlands was sometimes really a struggle. Luckily, I have never been bullied. However, I never really knew how to properly take care of my hair. My mom and I would use the ‘basic’ products, such as ORS olive lotion and Palmer’s coconut butter. Back then, there low availability of curly hair care products. I always loved how I could have so many different hairstyles, in contrast to girls with straight hair. My biggest curly hair challenge would be the fact that the texture of my hair changes often. A few years ago my hair was not as curly as it is now. Due to the frequent change of texture, it remains a challenge to seek for the products, which work for me. I am always looking for products, which do not weigh my hair down. Currently, my hair is long and light-weight products help me achieve more volume. Moreover, I need these types of product, since I have low porosity hair.

In the Netherlands, we have so many people with natural hair, but in regular shops, there are barely any curly hair care products for us, I have always found this very disappointing. The only ‘curly’ products that are being sold are filled with sulfates, silicones, and other bad stuff, which just shows that people really do not know anything about curly hair needs. I got all my knowledge from watching YouTube, reading blogs and reviews.

I now have found multiple products that I know work great for my hair and I tend to stick to these. Although I always like to try something new, I always go back to my valued products and routines. To achieve the volume I want, I always make sure my hair is 100% dry after diffusing it. I always massage my scalp and shake my roots. This increases the volume of my hair without affecting my curl pattern. I don’t really use an afro-pick because it tangles my hair. I have to discover how everyone uses their pick without getting their strands tangled.”

;”>What hair tip would you like to give to your fellow 3a/3b curlies?

“I have one golden tip, not only for 3a/3b curlies but for others too: If you want to achieve the best results, you should invest in your hair! So get regular haircuts, buy natural products without silicones and deep-condition your hair frequently. Deep-conditioning is key to healthy hair!”

Valerie Broere | @ValerieJosie

“I am a Dutch (Well I have some Norwegian roots”>! It is actually quite funny because I had her very long hair with little waves until I was 13. Once, I cut my hair the structure of my hair changed. I really liked it, because I really like the texture of my hair. At the time I noticed that I was one of the few girls with curly hair. Many had blonde, straight hair. I have always felt special and I always stood out from the rest! Especially now, because I have dyed my hair gray. I think that curly hair is every day a beautiful struggle! How they will look like will always be a surprise. But I do not really have bad hair days. My diffuser [is a part of my solution for good hair days]. I really cannot live without it. I always take my diffuser with me when going on holidays. Besides, my always have my mousse and Lee Stafford wax. When I really have a bad-hair-day I wear my hair in a bun.”

What hair tip would you like to give to your fellow 2b wavies?

“To make my wash-day results last I always wear my hair in a pineapple bun. Consequently, my hair curls last longer. Many curly girls wear their hair in a bun, but this causes knots in their curls.”

Do you want to follow our hair journey? Then you should definitely follow us on Instagram!

For more on my hair journey, follow me @WhitneyFromTheBlog!

After experiencing some damaging effects to my natural Type 3 hair, I had to change up my curly hair routine. Here is my new routine which my 3C curls really love. Some of the challenges I face are detangling my hair and dealing with the density of my curls, but with my new routine, I am able to target both of these issues.

A few months ago I went to the hairdresser because I noticed that it was becoming increasingly difficult to detangle my hair, and she noticed that my hair has a lot of volume, but also a ton of product build-up. I learned from this visit that I was using the wrong hair care products and because of the density of my hair, my detangling efforts were in vain. The first challenge was easy to solve; however, to manage the volume of my hair I had to adjust my curly hair care routine.

Step 1: Shampooing

I shampoo my hair once a week now to get rid of the product build-up. I shampoo my hair with warm water since it allows the dirt and product build-up to escape the pores in the scalp and be rinsed away. In the past, I used to shampoo my hair bi-weekly, because I wanted to prevent frizz and breakage. Little did I know that I was damaging my hair, instead of protecting it. By shampooing my hair more frequently, I prevent product build-up and aid in a healthier scalp.

Step 2: (Deep”>conditioning

I dyed my hair a few months ago and but my hair still needs protein to recover from the harsh chemicals. Now, I deep condition my hair twice a month with the Keratin 2-Minute reconstructor by Aphogee. Since I started doing this, I noticed that my hair has much more definition and resilience. When I do not apply the ‘Keratin 2-Minute Reconstructor’, I apply the ‘Balsam with Protein’ by Salerm. Before I used these products my hair was damaged and brittle, now I notice that the health of my hair is improving.

Before applying the deep-conditioner I divide my hair in four sections. I finger detangle each section while applying the deep-conditioner. Consequently, the deep-conditioner is evenly distributed and reaches all the strands. In the past, I overlooked my roots often when applying the conditioner, but now this problem is solved.

Step 3: Two-step detangling

As mentioned earlier, I finger detangle my hair when applying products. After finger-detangling each section, I comb the section with a styling comb. The hairdresser recommended me detangling my hair with a styling comb because with a wide tooth comb not all strands get detangled.

Step 4: Rinsing with cold water

I then rinse the deep-conditioner out of my hair with cold water only, because the low temperature seals the moisture in the hair. Consequently, the hair is less frizzy.

Hair Tip: Rinsing your hair with cold water closes the cuticles of your hair. Therefore, your curls will appear shinier.

Step 5: Applying leave-in conditioner

Currently, the ‘Omega 3, 6, 9 Rescue+Repair Curl Defining Smoothie‘ by SheaMoisture is my favorite leave-in conditioner. It softens my hair and I notice that my curls are easier to manage. I finger detangle my hair when applying the product to make sure that I reach all strands.

Step 6: Sealing

The last step is sealing the moisture in my hair. I apply the ‘Curlmaker’ by Camille Rose Naturals, which is a curl defining jelly. The texture of the product also makes it a great sealant. When sealing my hair I do the prayer hands method to boost definition.

And I’m done!

Want more of my curly hair routine? Follow me on ig @whitneyfromtheblog! :”>

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Like many curly girls, I developed an anxiety for hairdresser visits after having a bad experience at a hairdresser.

During that visit, the hairdresser thinned my hair out and I lost my gorgeous, natural hair volume.

It took a while for me to gain the volume back and therefore I have been avoiding the hair dresser altogether because of this experience. Consequently, I started cutting or dying my hair myself, even though I was inexperienced.

I am blessed with thick hair and tiny curls. However, wash days are sometimes hell for me, because of the difficult detangling process which sometimes takes more than an hour. Consequently, I was postponing wash days and I was not detangling my hair as often as I was supposed to. Besides, if I would spend a lot of time in the shower I would give up on the detangling process. I also started wearing my hair down less often.

During this time, I started considering going to the hairdresser in order for my hair to become strong again. After researching Morango Curls on the Internet, I called them to book an appointment. The owner of the hair salon is the only hairdresser who has a DevaCut certificate in the Netherlands. 

After waiting for two months, I finally went to visit Morango Curls. I was very nervous because I was afraid that she might thin my hair out. As soon as I sat down on the chair she indicated that my hair was damaged and matted. Her employee washed my hair with love and care. After a deep-conditioning treatment, two employees started detangling my hair and I received some great curly hair care tips.

The longer I was sitting in the chair the more I regretted not going to the hairdresser earlier. If I had gone earlier, I would have realized sooner that my hair needed much more time and effort. Even though I thought I was taking great care of my curls, I was definitely unconsciously neglecting them. I thought my hair care products were great because I had seen the results I wanted to “see,” but if I would have visited an experienced hairdresser earlier she would have informed me that the products I loved so much were causing a lot of build-up, and due to the build-up, I was having horrible knots in my hair which made the detangling process even more difficult. After visiting the hairdresser my hair became much more manageable.

So how can you find an experienced hairdresser?

1. Use the NaturallyCurly Salon Finder, join Facebook groups, or look up hair blogs for women who have naturally curly hair. The members of these groups often share curly hair tips or great hairdressers. You can also ask the members if they know great hairdressers within your area.

2. Research the hairdresser online and go through their social media. Often they share before and afters of their customers. Some also tag their customers on the pictures and you can see how the customer’s cut looks a few weeks after the visit.

3. Do you like what you see? Call the hairdresser in order to make an appointment.

How do you feel about hairdressers now in your curl journey?

We would love to know! Share your thoughts with us on Facebook!

Did you know that milk is great for your natural crown? Milk is a protein and during the last hundreds year or so milk has been used to infuse the hair with vitamins. All different kinds of milk can be used on hair, but being that I am vegetarian, I tend to use plant-based proteins or organic milk since the cows have been treated humanely.

But what exactly are the benefits of a whole milk rinse for your hair?

For high porosity hair

The impact of a milk rinse is great, especially for high porosity hair. When having high porosity hair the outer layer of your hair is very open, and your hair’s natural oils escape very easily. Essentially, moisture leaves your hair faster than it stays in and therefore it causes dry hair. Moreover, when the cuticles are open light falls differently on your hair making it appear less shiny.

High porosity hair is often the result of damage and in order to restore the health of your hair, a milk rinse would be the perfect solution.

Softer hair

Milk contributes to exfoliating and removing product build-up, therefore aiding in softer hair that can breathe. A few weeks ago, I visited the hairdresser and it turned out that I had a lot of product build-up at the roots. My hair was super matted and really hard around this area. This would have been the perfect time to use this treatment in order to remove the build-up and restore my roots.

A great leave-in

Is your hair very brittle? Then you may be interested in a temporary leave-in treatment. Grab a cup and pour ½ cup of milk in it (any kind will do”>. Depending on your hair’s needs, you can also add in an oil. For instance if your need more moisture, you can add two tablespoons of coconut oil or almond oil. In order to improve the fragrance of the product, you can add a few drops of lavender oil as well. Shake the bottle and spritz on your hair as a leave-in conditioner.

Overall, the main benefits of a whole milk rinse are that it restores the shine and strength of your hair due to the infusion of vitamins.

What do you think about a milk rinse for your hair? Share your thoughts with us below!

Until a few years ago it was quite challenging to find natural hair care products in Europe. The supply of the products was quite low and many naturals had to rely on mainstream brands. When I started the transitioning process,  I started visiting a hair care store in Rotterdam, one of the very few available. Slowly this store decreased its offerings for straight hair and increased its assortment of curly hair care products. However, for those who recently started embracing their natural hair texture it can still be challenging to find good hair care stores, so here are my top 6 stores for natural hair products in Europe.

Photo Courtesy of @WhitneyFromTheBlog

1. Yari

Yari is my go-to-hair care store in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The owners manage to meet the demand of products and update their assortment frequently. During the last couple of years, they opened a few more stores and looked into goods other than curly hair care products that naturals may need, such as oils, accessories or tools for protective hairstyling.

2. Beauty by Zara

Products like Camille Rose Naturals are quite difficult to find in Europe: it is either sold out and/or pretty expensive. Thus, what I mostly like is that the shop offers products that are trending in the United States, but quite unknown in Europe. Beauty by Zara is a (online”> shop from the UK, but they have worldwide shipping.

3. Beauty Bay

I love this store! There is free shipping above 18 euros and the assortment is incredibly broad. They also carry products in different price ranges, so it is not only for those who have a high-income level.

4. My Natural Curls

My Natural Curls is a Dutch online shop that ships products to countries within Europe. The website offers products at different price ranges also, which makes it super accessible and perfect for naturals who want a lot of product variety, but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg. The delivery of products occurs quite quickly and they have received a ton of positive feedback on their customer service.

5. British Curlies

British curlies is another British website that offers worldwide shipping. The website is both a blog as well as online web shop.They provide you with a hair care typing system also, that helps you pick your products easily. Their website format is also a super clear lay-out and showcases their assortment of hair care products very well.

6. SHOP NaturallyCurly 

NaturallyCurly’s online shop is another outlet I use to look for some of my fave products. They offer international shipping, a huge plus for those of us who can’t find certain products. By joining their online marketplace, you can buy many American-made brands, and they even offer 15% off for new members. Check out their online shop as they are constantly updating their inventory with new brands!

Do you know any other natural hair care shops in Europe? What are your favorite places to buy your hair products abroad?

Share your favorite stores and lines with us on Facebook!

Shrinkage is one of the characteristics of curly hair that can also be a key characteristic in determining the health of the hair for tighter curly patterns. Not every curly loves it though, as it makes your hair appear shorter than it actually is often leading to the question of “Oh, did you get a haircut?”

It can also often triggers the curiosity of others, which leads to many questions and (unwanted”> touching. Yet, shrinkage is a sign of healthy hair natural, as it shows that your hair is properly moisturized and has good elasticity. Often coming with a bad rap though, shrinkage is definitely a positive. So here are 13 photos of unbelievable shrinkage that can shed some light on your healthy hair journey!

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Sometimes you may get the impression that your hair is not growing and this may contribute to you not appreciating what shrinkage is really reflects. The tighter your curl pattern, the more shrinkage you will experience. You probably heard a hairdresser saying that bouncy curls are happy curls, which is really a fact. Whenever, you have suffered ‘heat’ damage you will notice straight strands. Immediately, all alarm signs go off, because at this point you realize that the road to recovery is a long journey.

I was one of the girls who would hate shrinkage. I would spend hours searching for tips on how to prevent my hair from drawing up when it dried. I invested time and effort in hairstyles that would make my hair appear longer. At some point, I stopped trying to stretch my length and started embracing myself, tight curls and all. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what matters most to me is that I should be happy and proud of the characteristics of my hair.

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In order to embrace my own hair (above”> I started wearing it naturally. Sometimes, I would apply fewer products to my hair, which would eventually lead to more shrinkage. Besides, I taught myself that accepting the shrinkage would lead to the best wash day results – manipulating my hair solely leads to a lot of frizz and awkward hairstyles. Nowadays, I enjoy my curls in all its shapes of shrinkage.

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So how do you feel about shrinkage? Love it? Hate it? We want to know your thoughts!

Follow us on Facebook, and share your shrinkage photos.

A few years ago I did not realize how useful it would for me to get to know my hair porosity. I was wasting both time as well as money, which could have been utilized more efficiently if only I had known this one piece of information. I could have used the money for hair care products, which would be cheaper and meet the challenging needs of my hair.

I have low porosity hair, which I like to call my beautiful struggle. Low porosity hair has a bit of trouble absorbing moisture, but once your hair is moisturized your strands do not have difficulties retaining the moisture.

“How so?” You may wonder…

Well, your hair has three layers: the cuticle (the outer layer of your hair”>, the cortex and medulla. Yes, it does sounds like some dinosaur species, but we are definitely describing hair. When you have low porosity hair, the cuticles of your strands are pretty flat. By this layer being flat, it is quite challenging for the moisture to go through this very tiny gap and therefore you need to invest quite some time and effort during your washing days.

I know that curly hair can be very stubborn, but my hair was hitting rock bottom. It was dry, very difficult to detangle and the results of washday would not last for more than two days. I did the porosity hair test and realized that my hair was low porosity, and I realized I was taking care of it as if it was high porosity hair. Here are the things I learned about low hair porosity:

1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Your hair wants moisture; it makes your curls come back alive. In the past I solely used a leave-in conditioner and oil. However, I learned that it would be better if I used a leave-in and a cream for extra moisture.

2. The Magic of Time

In the past, I tried to shorten the time I stood below the shower as much as possible. However, I learned that I should allow the water to really penetrate into my strands. I go through my hair section by section and imitate the praying hands method on my strands, as the water runs down my curls.

3. In love with the CoCo

My colleagues, friends and family often tell me that I remind them of a delicious, tropical cocktail. My hair often smells like coconut and I learned that this is one of the best ingredients for my hair. Coconut oil is a great moisturizer and penetrates deeply into your strands. Therefore, I use it as a hair mask or I use the coconut oil infused EDEN BodyWorks Curl Defining Cream.

Regardless of how stubborn your hair may be, there is always an opportunity for you to increase your knowledge of your hair care routine. Besides, curls are amazing and should definitely be enjoyed.

Need help figuring out your porosity level? Try out our porosity test!