Image: @prose
How many combinations of ingredients can you create with Prose’s new Curl Cream? 14,000.
For us curly girls, there is no one size fits all. Far from it! If you gather a group of us in a room and ask what we’re looking for in their dream curly styling product, you’ll get a nearly infinite range of responses.
Some of us want a strong hold while others want it lighter. Moisture is the top priority for many textured-haired women, while fighting frizz is more important to others. While many curly girls run away from products containing silicones, others seek them out.
And when it comes to the way our products smell some of us like floral, some like musky scents and some don’t want any scent at all.
The reality is that no two heads of curls, coils or waves are the same. From the tightness of our texture – 2a to 4c and often a combination of several curl types – to the hair’s porosity, density, width and length, our hair responds differently to ingredients. There has never been just one curl cream that addressed all styling concerns no matter the hair type.
So I was intrigued when I heard about the new Prose Curl Cream.
I wish I had come up with the idea to come up with a completely customized formula!
When Prose came onto the scene, it had a unique offering: made-to-order, customized hair care – “No categories that define people by hair type, gender or ethnicity.”
Given our teams experience we knew that mass produced curl products had the tendency to box an individual into a hair type which of course, can lead to major frustration,” says Faith Huffnagle, Director of Education at Prose.
Prose believes that their formulas guarantee optimal freshness people no products ever sit on the shelf waiting to be bought – a waste-free approach.
The key ingredients for the new curl cream include Pequi Oil, which combats frizz, flaxseed extract, which provides curl definition, Baobab Protein, a strength booster, and shea oil, which nourishes the scalp.
I admit I was a little cynical that they could truly come up with a system that could. It seems nearly possible. It took the Prose R&D team more than eight months to develop a curl cream that was truly flexible on all hair types and densities.
I took the consultation. In addition to detailed hair questions about my hair health, my styling and coloring habits and my ingredient preferences, it asked me everything from my stress level to my exercise habits to my zip code (they are able to adjust the formula for your location’s atmospheric conditions!”> Then it gave me a choice of scents – woody, citrusy, floral, powdery, fruity, herbal, fresh – with names like Perle and Corsica. I chose Signature, a floral and powdery scent.
So, what did the quiz come up with for me? A curl cream with professional silicone, Argan, Sacha Yushi & Jojoba Oils to nourish my curls, a professional polymer to define my 3b curls and Oat Lipid & Sunflower Seed Extract to protect my color.
Image: @prose
The curl cream arrived. The first step is a custom Pre-Shampoo Mask, followed by the Prose Shampoo and the Prose Conditioner, which were also customized..
I pumped it into my hand and applied it evenly through my soaking wet hair. Then I diffused until my curls. For a final touch, I put a drop of the Prose Hair Oil into my hands and rubbed them together and then – with my hair upside down – raked my hands through my hair.
The result: shiny, defined curls that felt moisturized. And I loved the scent!
Since my formula is specifically created for the winter weather, when the humidity is lower, it’s not the optimal formula for the spring and summer. I will definitely need a product that offers stronger hold and a touch more silicone. (yes, my hair needs ‘cones, if they’re water soluble”>
My box also contained a satin pillowcase, something curly girls use to prevent frizz while they sleep.
Prose will continue to evolve the product based on customer feedback.
“This is just the beginning- so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for what’s to come,” says Huffnagle.
