Search Results: Desiree Johnson
Hair spray. These two words may ignite distant memories of sticky residue and crunchy, stiff hair. The images of 80s-style hairstyles and large updos held together by this magical spray that will leave it sturdy and in place for hours are outdated perceptions that often accompany hairspray. In the years since hairspray is experiencing a resurgence that has changed how it interacts with hair. Hairsprays that hold your hairstyle are a notion of yesteryears. Instead, they have changed their formula to help protect your hair from humidity, provide a flexible hold, and give you a shiny, manageable style.
Image Source: @curly_barbie
So when did the hairspray revolution take a turn for the better? It made a quick pivot and turn after people realized that the traditional aerosol formula that most hairsprays in the 90s were causing harm and damage to our ozone layer. People wanted a hair spray that was not only environmentally friendly but could offer more versatility when styling their hair. Non-aerosol hair sprays are better for curls because they offer more hold and control than aerosol formulas’ sticky texture and fine mist. Today’s hairspray can be used as a moisturizing agent to help fight humidity and definition and give curls a flexible hold.
Here’s a roundup of hair sprays that are changing the curly game!
1. Bounce Curl Alcohol Free Hair Spray
Alcohol-free is the way to be when you are using a hairspray. Our 2020 Best of the Best hairspray winner is formulated with natural ingredients that are void of silicones, parabens, and sulfates. It is especially designed to combat summer humidity with a medium to strong hold for any curl type. A few spritzes with an ultra-fine mist, and you will be on your way to a long-lasting style you will love.
2. Curlsmith Flawless Finish Hairspray
Curlsmith is here to help you say goodbye to Humidity with their Flawless Finish’s formula is specially designed to help protect any style, even in high-humidity environments. Whether dealing with unruly frizz or unpredictable weather conditions, Flawless Finish will help keep your curls intact, giving you the confidence to embrace any occasion.
3. Morrocanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong
There’s nothing like an added oil dose to keep your curls shining all day. The Morrocanoil hairspray is infused with argan oil to fight frizz and humidity even on the hottest day. Whether you’re creating an updo or braids this hairspray is designed to give you a flexible hold without any flaky residue.
4. COLOR WOW Cult Favorite Firm + Flexible Hairspray
Nothing is better than a specially created hairspray to keep curls bouncing all day. The COLORWOW hairspray is a finishing spray that you can layer with other products without buildup or flaking. It’s lightweight, brushable, and won’t create any yellowing, darkening, or dullness to your current color hues.
5. Rizos Curls NEW Alcohol-Free Hair Spray
Rizos Curls is bringing a new formula to hairspray featuring red algae, which helps shield hair from environmental damage & pollution while nourishing & repairing weak, brittle hair. This highly popular ingredient in skincare has great benefits for hair care too!
Whether you’re using hairspray to fight your frizz or looking to add a little shine to your curls, you always want to make sure you’re selecting a product that is alcohol-free and formulated to give your hair more than just a stiff hold.
Using hairspray is also a great way to maintain your on-the-go style. What are some of your favorite hairsprays? Let us know in the comments below.
To say that Grammy-nominated artist Tyla has been heating the 2023 musical charts is an understatement. The South African Queen blew up earlier this year with her afro-beat hit, Water, quickly rising to the top 20 of the Billboard charts and racking up over 675 million views on TikTok. The infectious song has spawned thousands of TikTok dances from fans replicating her signature moves and even led to a remix with Travis Scott. What better way for her to end the year than gracing the cover of the December issue of Glamour SA?!
Rocking her voluminous ‘fro, Tyla sat down with the Glamour team to talk about her musical journey, growing up in a predominately white school, and, of course, her relationship with her hair which, she credits to Aunt Jackie’s Curls and Coils.
Image Source: @xx_niquita_xx
The artist shares, “My parents weren’t able to spend on the hair products I love because there were five of us, so as soon as I started making my own money, I spent my coins on the 3-for-2 sales on Aunt Jackie’s products.” Her daily go-to product? Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La Defining Curl Custard. When discussing her hair journey with Glamour, she cites that she loves “trying out new hacks” and that embracing her texture came after years of feeling the pressure to straighten it at a predominantly white school.
Image Source: @auntjackiescurlsandcoils
Tyla’s stylist, Kelvin Takudzwa, wanted to create an 80s-inspired look reflecting top-tier volume for her first cover. He transformed Tyla’s hair using Aunt Jackie’s hydrating leave-in conditioner and saw palmetto elixir essential oils. Her additional images put the power of her texture on display with an ornate fishtail braid, sleek swoops, and an edgy top knot bun. Each look was created to bring out her fun and vivacious personality.
Image Source: @auntjackiescurlsandcoils
Do you love these beautiful hairstyles? You can get these Aunt Jackie’s products in our NCSHOP now!
The holidays give us many reasons to celebrate, whether you’re excited for downtime with your family and friends or just ready to unplug for a few days. However, amongst all the holiday cheer is the opportunity to shop till you drop in the form of Cyber Monday. If you missed any of the amazing Black Friday deals, you get a second chance to scoop up your favorite tools and products on Cyber Monday. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck with top-tier brands that your curls, coils, and waves will love, look no further, we’ve researched for you.
Frizz+ Co
Image Source: @frizz.co
Deal: Cyber Monday Promo that is on now until November 28.
(BOGO) Buy one, get 50% off.
Bomb Ass Fro
Image Source: @bombassfro
Deal: Based on available inventory, the 15% off will be honored for Cyber Monday.
Pink Roots Products
Deal: Exclusive 30% off sitewide, along with free shipping (no code needed) as part of our Cyber Monday sales.
Be Rooted
Deal: Use Discount Code: Cyber2023 for exclusive sales!
The Mane Choice
Image Source: @themanechoice
Deal: Get 40% OFF on all products.
Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils
Deal: Buy one, get one free + free shipping!
UNice
Image Source: @unicehairwigs
Deal: 20% off Wear Go Lace Wigs with free gifts (11/1-11/30)
KISS Colors & Care
Image Source: @kisscolorsandcare
Deal: 40% off any product on colorsandcare.com!
Bio Ionic
Image Source: @bioionic
Deal: 30% off site-wide for an entire week, from 11/21-11/28! Plus, you get a gift with purchase when you spend over $150, so you have no excuse but to buy that hair tool you were thinking about trying!
Ouidad
Image Source: @ouidad
Deal: Ouidad.com is having a 30% sitewide sale from 11/21-11/27 with a 7-piece gift with purchase for anything $75+!
Edrée
Image Source: @edreehair
Deal: 30% off all hair tools sitewide with code CYBER30
Rizos Curls
Deal: Monday 11/28: Cyber Monday Sale 25% off + Free $25 Gift Card w/ $100+ Purchase
CURLS
Deal: Exclusive to Curls.com includes 40% off orders of $60+ on Cyber Monday.
Oyin Handmade
Deal: Get 30% OFF Monday-Monday, with coupon code BF30!
Bevel
Deal: 30%off services (excluding foil shaver)
Kitsch
Deal: 25-40% OFF SITEWIDE
Act + Acre
Deal: 25% OFF SITEWIDE
Dae
Deal: 11/14-11/28: Spend $85 get 25% off + free shipping + 15% off all bundles and holidae kits
Originals by Africa’s Best
Deal: Buy One, Get One Free + FREE SHIPPING
UndefinedCo.com
Deal: 11/27 – 50% off a surprise selection of Undefined products for one day only
The loulou 2-in-1 air styler
Deal: 30% off with code CYBER30 on Cyber Monday
Rebundle
Deal: 20% off the entire purchase with code BLACKFRIDAY
Flawless by Gabrielle Union (Amazon Storefront)
Deal: 20% off the entire Flawless collection on Amazon
CurlSmith
Deal: Save up to 40% off (excluding dryers), PLUS daily deals up to 50% off between November 20-26.
RevAir Cyber Week
Deal:
- $349 RevAir Reverse-Air Dryer + Free Shipping + Deluxe Packets (save $83, $432 value)
- $399 RevAir Total Package + Free Shipping + Deluxe Packets (save $162, $561 value)
- $99 Hydration Haul + Free Shipping (save $74, $173 value)
Looking to add more to your cart? Shop our Black Friday sale on ShopNC until November 28, 2023!
Tis the season for shopping and restocking on your must-have haircare products. Natural hair products can be notoriously expensive whether you have curls, coils, or waves. Seasonal holidays like Black Friday give us the chance to restock and save big. This momentary window of time gives us the chance to shop our favorite tools, accessories, and products from our favorite retailers for just a fraction of the price. While there are plenty of deals you can shop in-store, if you’re an Amazon girlie, then look no further.
We’ve combed through the best Amazon has to offer and brought you the best natural haircare products, tools, and accessories to kick off your Black Friday.
OUR EDITORS INDEPENDENTLY SELECT ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ON NATURALLYCURLY.COM. HOWEVER, WE MAY EARN AN AFFILIATE COMMISSION WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING THROUGH OUR RETAIL LINKS.
Haircare
Haircare products are the staple of our coily, wavy, and curly hair routines. They can range from cleansers, shampoos, stylers, and treatments. These are the foundation for how we maintain our hair on a daily basis and should be the first item on your shopping list. Whether you’re wanting to try an eco-friendly option, scalp treatment, or you need a restock for your tiny tot or bearded man, there’s an option for everyone!
1. SUPERZERO Solid Shampoo Bar for Curly, Coily & Extremely Frizzy Hair
If you’re in need of a hair repair, then Superzero brings a powerful and gently cleanse that can help to repair bonds and reduce frizz. As a sulfate-free shampoo it contains ingredients like moisture-rich shea butter, strengthening creation, and triolein to improve long-term hair and scalp health.
2. ACT+ ACRE Restorative Conditioning Hair Mask
The holidays are the perfect time to devote extra time to your curls, coils, and waves, and there’s no better product to help than a hair mask. Act + Acre uses a plant-based formula to help retain hydration and block out humidity which can help restore dry and damaged hair.
3. tgin Rose Water Curl Cream
tgin is bringing back their fan favorite rose water collection for a Black Friday deal you won’t want to miss. This lightweight styler is great for low porosity hair types because of it’s nourishing formula that includes acai berry and rose water. Your curls will love the definition and and moisture that won’t leave icky product buildup.
4. Fairy Tales Tangle Tamer Detangling Shampoo and Conditioner
This is the ultimate Black Friday bundle that combines a kids shampoo, conditioner, and detangling spray all in one set. You can easily transform your child’s curls to soft and silky goodness with the sulfate-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free Fairy Tales Hair Care set.
5. Not Your Mother’s Plump for Joy Jumbo Dry Shampoo (2-Pack)
Not Your Mother’s is delivering double the goodness with a dry shampoo that works to absorb oil in minutes. This spray is formulated with natural barley and rice starches and will leave hair smelling fresh and clean with scents like orange mango, wild mint, and mango.
6. Shea Moisture Beard Kit For Men
The bearded men in our life can always use a touch-up this season, whether they have a thick or thin beard. Shea Moisture is a powerful set of products that will nourish and moisturize all hair types and contains vitamins that will make skin and hair touchably soft.
7. Camille Rose Black Castor Oil & Chebe Cleanse
Bring on the cleansing! Camille Rose treats us with this oil-infused shampoo that can help eliminate build-up without stripping the hair. The African Chebe Powder and Castor Oil work together to cleanse, condition, and nourish the hair in just one wash.
8. DAE Hair Signature Shampoo
DAE’s sulfate-free shampoo is great for all hair types and works to address hair concerns like dryness, oil control, color damage, and frizz. The hibiscus flower extract blend can help promote a healthy scalp and restore elasticity to the hair follicles.
9. Flawless by Gabrielle Union Repairing Edge Control
We love a good edge control and Flawless by Gabrielle Union delivers the goodness to you on Black Friday. You can easily smooth flyaways and hold hair in place without the dreaded crunch or flaking with the help of biotin and passionfruit seed oil.
10. Mielle Rosemary Mint Growth Oil
Mielle Organics had a year with their viral rosemary mint growth oil taking off and selling out everywhere. This versatile oil can be used on all hair types and has a blend of 30 essential oils that can penetrate the scalp, smooth split ends, and prevent damage to hair.
11. Love Ur Curls Ultra-Defining Curl Kit
Simplicity is key when building your haircare routine, and this ultra-defining curl kit can help you achieve your hair goals this season. The combination of shampoo, conditioner, styler, and sea moss gel works to repair, nourish, restore, and strengthen your curls in one package.
12. Evereden Kids Shampoo
If you’re looking for a plant-based shampoo and conditioner to help cleanse your little one’s coils, curls, and waves, look no further. The plant peptides, argan oil, and shea butter are gentle yet effective on any hair type and leave hair soft and shiny.
13. Avenue Man Curl Defining Cream
Let’s add a little pizzazz to our men’s hairstyles this season. This curl cream is great for adding texture and volume, and fortifying brittle hair strands.
Accessories
14. YANIBEST Satin Bonnet Silk Bonnet Hair Bonnet
Give yourself a gift that will last all year long. A satin silk bonnet can be a game changer for your haircare routine by helping reduce friction and reduce frizz while you sleep.
15. Scunci Scrunchies Gift Set
This is the perfect holiday gift not only because scrunchies are back in style, but because this Black Friday deal is a steal.
16. FRAMAR Large Hair Clips For Women
Claw clips are all the rage this season, and Framar offers various colors and sizes to support any hair type or texture.
17. 50 PCS Satin Hair Scrunchies for Curly Hair Silk Scrunchies
Can you ever get enough scrunchies? This multi-colored pack is filled with every colorway you want for the new year.
18. Flower Hair Clips
Hair clips can be tiny but powerful pops of color to your everyday style whether you’re wearing your hair in curls, braids, ponytails, or space buns.
19. PLwelth Black Headband for Women Girls Gold Chain Padded Headband Non Slip
Nostalgia is on the menu, and headbands are having a moment. This classic yet elegant accessory can be worn with any stylish seasonal outfit.
20. Bunzee Bands Large Hair Band for Thick, Curly, Natural Hair
Say goodbye to headaches and hello to a secure and adjustable hairband that won’t snap, break, or tug at your curls, coils, and waves.
Tools
21. Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set
We’ve given you all the 411 on maintaining heatless curls; now it’s time to try them out at home. Kitsch is bringing you Black Friday savings with these gorgeous, heatless curling sets.
22. Inala Strand Smoother
We can never have enough combs and inala has a natural bamboo comb on sale that will have your curls, coils, and waves thanking you for it. It’s durable, long-lasting, and eco-friendly and can easily detangle curls and increase blood flow to your scalp.
23. Morrocanoil Effortless Blow Dryer
Say hello to simplicity and ease with this 4-in-1-Blow-Dryer Brush that is designed for all hair types and can reduce drying time. The ionic technology leaves hair frizz free, moisturized, and shiny for any style you want to create.
24. Hicober Microfiber Towel, 3 Packs Hair Turbans for Wet Hair
Microfiber towels have become a staple of the hair-drying process due to their rapid ability to absorb water without causing friction or frizz to your coils, waves, and curls.
25. Diffon Supreme
Bring on the tech this Black Friday, and it doesn’t get any better than this 2-in-1 diffuser from Bellissima Diffon Ceramic. Regardless of your hair texture, this popular diffuser is easy to use and can add hydration and shine back to your hair.
26. Arkam Beard Straightener for Men -Premium Heated Beard Brush Kit
We love a good beard comb because we like seeing moisturized and hydrated hair on a guy. This tool can help reduce frizz and provide all-day results that will make your man’s beard smooth and shiny.
27. Ionic Hair Dryer, 1800W Professional Blow Dryer (with Powerful AC Motor)
Buying a blow dryer with versatility, multiple heat settings, and different attachments for each style is always worth the investment. This professional salon-quality tool is small, portable, and a must-have this season.
28. AIMIKE Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush, Scalp Scrubber w/Soft Silicone Bristles
Scalp care has been all the rage over the past few years, with every major brand releasing their version of scalp care accessories and products. This shampoo brush can be integrated into your wash day routine and used to remove product build-up and stimulate the blood flow in your scalp.
29. BRUSHZOO Hair Brush for Curly Hair
Here’s a brush set worth investing in. Brushzoo brings an essential starter pack of brushes and combs that will work to detangle and style your hair all season.
30. SWEET VIEW 3 Pcs Slick Back Hair Brush Set
Edges don’t even stand a chance with this 3-in-1 set that can be used to part, pick, and lay down your edges at any given time.
Which Black Friday item will you be adding to your cart this season? Let us know in the comments!
Who doesn’t love the holidays? We get time off, we’re traveling, we’re resting, and we’re showing up and out with glamorous holiday looks. If you’re a parent, you’re tasked with spreading the holiday spirit throughout the family and coordinating looks for your children. Whether it’s a school play, classroom party, or family event, there’s no shortage of opportunities to create fun and festive holiday hairstyles. Whether you aim to go glam with soft curls or updo or get silly with accessories like headbands or colored hair pieces, there are endless ways to create a holiday hairstyle for your kids.
If you’re ready to get inspired, then get ready to screenshot and save these 12 adorable holiday hairstyles for your tiny tots.
1. Bubble Braids with Cornrows
Image source: @kids.hair.space
It’s giving range, dimension, and lots of accessories with the beautiful headband and silver clasps to decorate the bubble braids.
2. Half up/down with twisted crown
Image Source: @eurayzaoliveira
We love to see a wash and go with a little flair. This mom elevates the curls by twisting two separate sections to create a crown across the middle of the head.
3. Loose Curls With Pearls
Image Source: @tijeritaskids
The best holiday hairstyles are simple and this is one that you can easily replicate regardless of texture by simply including festive jewels across the top and and middle of the head.
4. Rope Twists
Image Source: @bliss.blythe
We all know that the dress and hair are the staples of traditional family portraits. A protective style like these ornate rope twists are long, beautiful, and easy to maintain all season.
5. Twist
Image Source: @_novemberlove_
Twists are a fun and simple protective style that keeps the strands moisturized and can help with length retention. Adding a little fun accessory a bow, is an easy way to dress this style up for the holidays.
6. Bubble braids
Image source: @tionneandrenae
Bubble braids have been all the rage this season because they work with any texture and can be dressed up or down with a fun part.
7. Mohawk Buns
Image Source: @ponpon_sisters
Updos are really chic ways to style any hair texture during the holidays. This mohawk bun is simple, and pretty and can be decorated with festive clips throughout the hair.
8. Braided ponytails
Image Source: @crown_couture_
Bring on the braids and beads. Ponytails are always a go-to style because you can easily section different hair pieces and tie them up with a band. This look takes that concept to the next level with blinged out jewels throughout the hair.
9. Formal Updo
Image Source: @loveisinthehairbytranese
If your tiny tot opts for a blowout or silk press, you can still rock a classic holiday hairstyle like an updo. Pulling out loose pieces to frame the face is great for adding dimension, which can be curled or left straight.
10. Space Buns
Image Source: @keyerasimona
Space buns are always fun to create with any braided style and the pop of color weaved into each bun is perfect for ushering in December.
12. Two Buns
Image Source: @_harrisjanae_
This adorable style takes a classic look like two buns and elevates it by twisting them to the front and using gold accessories for additional holiday glam.
Let these holiday hairstyles rule the season, and if you’re looking for the perfect products, check out our article on the 11 Best Natural Hair Products for Styling Kids Curly Hair.
Ava Pearl is the epitome of taking lemons and creating them into lemonade. In her case, the lemons are the curly community, and the lemonade is her first annual event, CurlyConLA, which makes its West Coast debut on November 4, 2023. As a former influencer, Ava is all too familiar with the trial and error that can come with breaching the steep learning curve of the natural hair world. Between trying to understand your hair type, texture, regimen, and which products can turn your curls from drab to fab, it can be overwhelming and confusing.
Ava identified this familiar feeling and pivoted her brand from focusing on her experience as an individual to creating an inclusive digital space for the entire community. This weekend, she’s removing the digital barrier and making her vision of community, curls, and candid conversation a reality with CurlyConLA. As one of the first major curly events to be hosted in Los Angeles, CurlyConLA invites attendees to unite and connect throughout the day with celebrity-hosted panels and live demonstrations. Celebrity hosts like Ashely Everett and Eva Marcille will lead discussions on microaggressions in Hollywood and navigating the pressures of wearing straight hair. This all-day event will also feature live demonstrations like a “Mommy and Me” panel in addition to a “Big Chop” that will bring education and awareness to universal struggles within the community.
We sat down to chat with Ava about the ideation behind CurlyConLA, her entrepreneurial journey, and what attendees can look forward to from this event.
How did you begin your hair journey?
My natural hair journey began in 2019 when I decided to do the big chop after years of damage from blowouts and bleach. I was done with the dead ends and cut it off on my YouTube channel, which led to me discovering my hair regimen and working to get it healthy. To this day, I’ve never put heat on it again. I went through all the classic naturalista essentials, like sleeping with a silk scarf, using a wide-tooth comb, and figuring out what worked best for my curls. It has been an empowering journey because our hair is important to our identity, and I feel most confident when I wear mine naturally.
What were some of the biggest obstacles or challenges you encountered throughout your journey?
“For me, natural hair is like a box of chocolates, so to speak; you never know what you’ll get. I’m not a short hair person, so when I did the big chop, I was very self-conscious and had to adjust to that new style. I needed to embrace the daily imperfections, whether it was dealing with the frizz or each curl not forming the same. It can be so tempting to straighten it or slick it back in a bun because the vision doesn’t match what’s in your head.”
What experiences did you have as an influencer that helped your development as a businesswoman?
Being an influencer/creator has been a major part of how I formed CurlyCulture on YouTube and built out CurlyConLA. As a former YouTuber, I understood all the intricacies of monetizing, developing brand relationships, and connecting with fellow curlies, which is important and helped me transition into a better businesswoman. I could hone my YouTube skills to promote the event on camera or get granular with how I wanted the event space to look.
You transitioned your channel from focusing on individual content to community topics with CurlyCulture; what inspired the name and repositioning?
I wanted a brand I could own but didn’t have to be the face of all the time. I wanted to do a play on words with interloping Cs, so CurlyCulture was born. I wanted to dive deeper into the natural hair world but didn’t know where to start. I considered making products, but we have enough on the shelves. I realized it was more important to have a platform where curlies could get together, learn, connect, and develop authentic offline relationships. Once I saw that need for community, I wanted to create a platform that could be a hub for curly hair creators. I’ve never been to an event where all of us were in the same room, and I identified a huge need for that. The more people I talk to, the more it becomes apparent that there are interconnecting experiences and stories we all share.
We’ve seen various curly events hosted throughout the country. Why is having a curly event on the West Coast important?
A curly event on the West Coast is imperative because it’s a melting pot out here between Latinas, Persians, Black women, and mixed-race families. It’s so odd because there has never been a curly event in L.A. We’re the first group tackling that. I get a lot of moms who may not be the same race as their child who approaches me wanting tips and tricks to do their child’s hair. Those interactions inspired the “Mommy and Me” panel we’ll be having with a live demonstration where we’ll be styling a young girl’s hair on the stage. She’s Black and Asian, and her mom has straight hair, so even that distinction is important to educate people about.
Many prominent figures from the natural hair community are featured on panels at this event. Why is putting influencers at the forefront of these conversations meaningful?
Many of the influencers we chose focused on hair content. I wanted people who had done the research, had the communities, and had the expertise to speak to attendees and their struggles confidently. I’m very excited about one of our panels called “Behind the Industry: “ which focuses on microaggressions that celebrities and actresses with textured hair go through on set versus other people. Eva Marcille will be moderating that panel and has her journey to share as she’s been a prominent figure in the industry since she won America’s Top Model. We didn’t want to choose any celebrity; we wanted it to be community-based.
With hosts like Eva Marcille, who wears locs, it seems you’ve intentionally been inclusive at this event. Why is it important to destigmatize the perceptions around natural hair?
I grew up in Los Angeles, a melting pot of different cultures, and initially, I had pushback around not making this centered on women of color or one specific texture. I wanted this to be multicultural, inclusive, and span the entire spectrum of hair from 2A-4C. There is a panel for every type of texture, and that was important to me because there can often be a lot of discourse online between hair types.
What shaped the topics and panels you’ve chosen for your event?
The day starts with a scalp and hair growth panel with a licensed cosmetologist who will be on hand to provide their expertise. We’ll then transition into a panel regarding choosing the right products for your hair and why understanding ingredients is so important. The next panel will be moderated by Ashely Everett, who will discuss what it’s like being pressured to straighten your hair within our community. Finally, Eva Marcille will be leading the Behind The Industry panel I mentioned earlier before we transition into live demonstrations outside.
What can attendees look forward to at the event?
The first 200 people who arrive will receive complimentary flower crowns in addition to live photo activations that will be available throughout the event. There will be complimentary frose and vegan roll ice cream and garden bars for some casual daytime sipping.
This is the first annual event for CurlyConLA; what can future attendees look forward to next year?
This year will be elevated and classy, but next year, we want to expand it and make it larger with a marketplace featuring popular curly brands and local vendors.
Missed our live conversation with Ava? Check out our Leaders in Curls chat below.
In the burgeoning world of curly hair care, tips, tricks, and advice…it can be confusing to understand what mistakes to avoid. As we all tread down the curly path of products and how-to’s, there are a few universal issues all of us curlies want to steer clear of. Whether you are new to your curl journey or perhaps you are a seasoned vet needing a refresher, we can never learn enough about how to improve our routine.
Here are 10 curly hair mistakes you want to avoid and a few influencers who are here to share their own curly blunders with us.
1. Using Too Much Heat
While many of us love to straighten or blow out our curls, there is such a thing as too much heat. Styling with heat tools like a straightener can change your hair texture and curl pattern permanently. If you decide to straighten or blow out your hair, you always want to make sure you are applying heat protectants that will keep your curls protected and healthy. Heat protectants can prevent the heat from causing permanent damage to your hair and add vital moisture to your curls.
Image Source: @domis__world
“In order for my hair to recover from the heat damage I had to completely stop using heat all together, when I first went natural I used heat every 6 months as a “treat” for rocking my natural curls. Doing this ruined the progress I made over those 6 months, now that my hair is 100% healthy it has been almost 3 years since I used heat. The biggest “treat” is seeing my curls healthy today.”
2. Detangling Your Hair When It’s Dry
To brush or not to brush, that is the question. The rule of thumb is that you should never brush your curls when they are dry. This can not only cause your hair to break but knots can form which can cause breakage. There are specialized brushes like a Denman brush or wide-tooth comb which are created to work the product through your hair while it’s wet or when you’re in the shower. Remember, when you are detangling, you always start from your ends and work your way up to the roots.
3. Skipping The Leave-In Conditioner
Leave-in conditioner is bread and butter to your curly hair routine. What makes leave-in conditioner so important is that it’s designed to give long-lasting moisture to your hair. You should be investing in a lightweight leave-in conditioner for your hair texture and applying it daily. When you skip putting leave-in conditioner in your hair, you’re robbing your curls of the nourishment that can prevent breakage, frizz, and harmful UV rays from damaging your hair. We recommend keeping a leave-in conditioner like Kinky Curly Knot Today nearby for daily use to help detangle your hair.
Image Source: @kelseynicole
“I’d say my most memorable hair mistake while being natural was with my first bantu knot. I had an event planned, did a bantu knot on soaking wet hair and applied way too much product. The style was nowhere near dry the next day and I had to quickly find a way to restyle my hair in the short amount of time I had before my event. My top tips are, “If you have thicker hair, try a bantu knot on damp or stretched, dry hair. I’m a little heavy handed for my twist outs and it’s helpful, but for bantu knots, less is more when it comes to product application. Sit under a hooded dryer. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes, that can definitely speed up the overall drying times.”
4. Over Cleansing Your Hair
There is such a thing as overwashing your hair. Washing your hair should be kept to a minimum because textured hair needs the natural oils our scalp provides in order to keep healthy curls. When you overwash your hair you can leave your scalp dully and dry, which can lead to damage and breakage. You want to use a sulfate-free shampoo like Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen and Restore Shampoo which not only cleanses your hair but is infused with castor oil and shea butter to promote hair growth.
Image Source: @cache.marchell
“I’ve been embracing my natural hair for two years now! My most memorable hair mishap has to be when I first started buying products for my hair and would mix several products before styling. I would end up with horrible product build-up and couldn’t understand why I always had flakes in my hair. Well, I did some research and learned that it was because of me applying so many products in my hair that simply don’t mix well with each other. Be sure to test the products on the back of your hand! If they mix smoothly, then it’s a mix! If they don’t mix smoothly, it will clump together and that’s your indication that it’s not a mix!”
5. Not Protecting Your Hair When You Sleep At Night
Sleep is just not sleep when you have curls, kinks, coils, and waves. You may have heard of silk bonnets, scarves, and satin pillowcases. These aren’t just fun accessories to keep on your nightstand, they help preserve your curl pattern. Cotton pillowcases or towels can rob your strands of moisture, which makes them dully, dry, and frizzy. Your curls are worth caring for and you want to make these investments for long-lasting results that your hair will love.
Source: @ms.tmarie
Having naturally curly hair can be a hassle especially if you’re just starting out your journey and you are still trying to get the hang of things. Having PATIENCE is a must, but here are a few things to avoid: “Always sleep with a satin scarf or bonnet: I know we all have our lazy nights, but it’s important to protect our hair. Doing this helps lock in all the moisture and it keeps our hair from breaking. Because of the silkiness of the satin scarf or bonnet it’s much gentler on the hair than a cotton scarf would be.
6. Skipping Out On Seasonal Trims
No matter how healthy your hair gets, you can never skip out on a visit to the salon. Seasonal trims are important to your hair health because they keep your curls healthy and growing. You don’t have to get a big chop or anything drastic, but it is essential to get rid of loose, dry ends that could be causing breakage to your curls.7. Using Products With Sulfates and Silicones
Sulfates and silicones are the double “Ss” you want to avoid in your curly hair regime. Both of these ingredients tend to weigh your hair down, which results in lifeless and limp curls. Sulfates can strip and dehydrate your curls, which means double the work because they become lifeless and frizzy. You want to always read the product labels when shopping and look for “sulfate-free” on the bottle.
8. Using The Wrong Towel To Dry Your Hair
Drying your hair can feel like an exercise when you get out of the shower, but you don’t want to dry your hair with the wrong materials. Using a cotton or terry cloth towel fabric can be too rough on your curls and result in immediate frizz. A microfiber turban or t-shirt is a great way to help maintain the form and definition. Several major hair care brands have towels, but you can also shop your favorites from our exclusive SHOP of over 200 brands.
9. Waiting Too Long To Apply Styling Products
Caring for your curls is a process, and each step you take can be the difference between frizz and damage. You always want to apply styling products to your hair when it is damp and before your frizz can set in. Styling products are the finishing touch to your hair care routine, and no matter how rushed you feel, you always have to at least apply one before your hair gets frizzy and the weather creates its style for you.
10. Touching Your Curls Too Often
While this can seem like a no-brainer, who hasn’t got done styling their beautiful tresses and then started weaving your fingers through your hair? It’s bad enough when a stranger or a friend asks to touch your hair, but you want to avoid frizz and loss of definition by playing or touching your hair. It may be tempting, but just remember your curls will thank you in the long run.
Have any common styling mistakes of your own to add? Please share them in the comments!
We love to see our favorite celebrities partner with haircare that are staples in our bathroom. Celebrity partnerships have grown increasingly popular in the past few years as brands look to grow their online presence and connect with global customers. Using celebrities that can resonate with audiences and authentically reflect the brand’s product is a tightrope that must be tightly walked.
Online audiences want to see a genuine partnership that shows the celebrity incorporating the products in their everyday regimen and glamorous red carpet looks versus a cute picture with #ad. In order to truly form a successful partnership, brands want to align with celebrities and stylist who can show and educate how a product or tool is used to achieve their signature look. Whether it’s a campaign, collection, or accessories here’s a list of the celebrity haircare partnerships that had heads turning this year.
1. Aunt Jackie’s Curls and Coil x Celebrity Stylist Antoinette x Zendaya
Image Source: @auntjackiescurlsandcoils
Aunt Jackie’s Curls and Coils partnered with celebrity stylist Antoinette Hill to create Zenday’s stunning Bulgari beauty campaign. This captivating ad saw Zendaya rocking a sleek look that concealed her ends and put her face and the jewelry front and center.
Want to recreate Zendaya’s slick tresses? Shop the Curls and Coils Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel.
2. Mielle Organics x Angel Reese
Image Source: @mielleorganics
Mielle Organics partnered with LSU breakout star, Angel Reese, as its newest ambassador. This partnership would lead the charge in bridging the gap between sports and beauty. Reese’s activation with the brand will include marketing, social media, events, and a limited-edition product bundle.
Are you looking to restock your favorite Mielle Organics products? Check out our favorite products in our online store!
3. KISS COLORS & CARE x JT
Image Source: @kisscolorsandcare
JT from the City Girls is the newest KISS Colors & Care celebrity partner blazing her own trail in the haircare lane. Her styling collection features braid bonnets, twist stylers, edge fixer wax sticks, and lashes for the ultimate protective styles.
4. Camille Rose x Jasmine Carson
Image source: @camillerosenaturals
This summer Camille Rose announced their brand partnership with former LSU Guard Jasmine Cardon who has shared her favorite products that help treat her color-treated coils. She shares insights and tips on which products are an essential part of her everyday routine.
If you’re ready to bring hydration back to your curls and coils, shop the Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate today!
5. Cantu x Angela C. Stevens
Image Source: @cantubeauty
Cantu partnered with Emmy award-winning hairstylist and TV personality Angela C. Stevens for a haircare line dedicated to protective styles. The Cantu Protective Styles collection helps to cleanse, condition, set, and style weaves, wigs, braids, and locs.
What’s a protective style without laying your edges? Ge the Cantu Shea Butter Extra Hold Edge Stay Gel now!
6. KISS COLORS & CARE x Shad Moss (Bow Wow)
Image Source: @kisscolorsandcare
Shad Moss (Bow Wow) is here to elevate the game for men and women with his custom line of durags, brushes, and twist sponges. He collaborated with Kiss Colors and Care to create more options and awareness for natural textures and to do it with his signature style.
7. Rizos Curls x Thalia
Image Source: @rizoscurls
Rizos Curls made headlines for their limited-edition Thalia x Rizos Curls collaboration that focused on key elements like wash day. As their first celebrity partner, she helped curate a collection that fostered awareness of scalp health, deep conditioning, and developing a healthy hair regimen.
Get ready to control your frizz with the Rizos Curls Deep Conditioner today!
Which celebrity partnership caught your attention this year? Let us know in the comments!
In honor of their five-year anniversary, Undefined Beauty came full force into hair care with their debut product, the R&R Scalp Serum. This innovative water-based serum hydrates, stimulates, strengthens, and nourishes your scalp. R&R Scalp Serum contains clinically proven hair actives such as Plant Peptides (Pea), to stimulate and strengthen follicle stem cells, which helps to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss and Capiyxl, a biomimetic peptide combined with a Red Clover extract that targets the main causes of hair loss. The product also contains Niacinamide, Saw Palmetto, Ashwagandha, Amla, FoTi, and Caffeine for revitalized hair wellness. Healthy, shiny, thick hair starts with a healthy, balanced scalp.
We sat down to chat with CEO and Founder Dorian Morris to discuss the brand’s newest haircare product and how it differs from traditional scalp-based products.
Congrats on your five-year anniversary, what have been your favorite entrepreneurial milestones over this time period?
I’m just proud of my ability to pivot and the power of the pivot. If you go back to the beginning of the Undefined Beauty launch in 2018, you know my focus was on the magical plant wisdom of CBD, and I still believe in the power of cannabis. But unfortunately, you know, it’s limited from a commercialization standpoint because there’s so much regulation around that plant. I’m proud that I was able to listen to my community, listen to the retail landscape, and pivot to our collection, which is what has unlocked so much opportunity and growth for me. If I had been stubborn I wouldn’t be where I am today.
You know, in over 600 Targets, Ultas, and Whole Foods, and all the fantastic partnerships that I’ve been able to secure, based on my pivot. So I think the power of the pivot and understanding the changes and reframing failure is just learning because I continue to evolve and take calculated risks.
What inspired the transition into adding hair care to your brand? Why?
I have always been a “hair bear” AKA hair enthusiast and in my previous lives, I worked on hair care brands. Going back to J&J days, I was an intern there or co-op working on Aveeno hair care which was my first foray into more mass haircare. I had this amazing opportunity to lead the Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture initiative when I was at Sundial and this was phase one of their rebrand where they had the hair care brand in Sephora. Hair has always had a very special place in my heart and I have big curly hair, as you know so I’ve tried so many products and I’m just so deep from a community standpoint in the hair care space.
Funny enough, a lot of my growth, in the beginning, was these boots-on-the-ground events and most people would assume that I’m a hair care brand just because I have such big curly hair. I thought it made sense to try and take all the plant wisdom that Undefined Beauty is about and bring that to a new category. I’m super excited that I worked really hard in this formula to really pair clinically proven actives alongside these heritage ingredients, that kind of come across culture from the Amla and the FoTi.
I know the wisdom that Mother Nature has blessed us with in one formula that’s going to work across hair types. It doesn’t matter if you have straight hair, curly hair because it is a water-based formula so it’s not going to weigh your hair down rand focuses on this universal need state because healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp.
What did you find compelling about moving into this category?
This product has been two years in the making because I have very high standards from an efficacious standpoint and in this process, I tried a lot of the the leading hair scalp serums on the market. I purchased probably all of them from Sephora just so I could understand the competitive landscape and they were expensive. I’m using a lot of the same active ingredients and realized I want to make it easy for the woman who’s shopping at Ulta or Target on a budget to also have access. People can have the prestige quality formulas at mass pricing.
What was the formulation process like?
Because for me it’s about solving key pinch points and the scalp is a universal need state. We all have a scalp and I think there’s also this ability to take the scientific aspects and really incorporate some of these skin care actives into your scalp. One good example is niacinamide is one of my favorite ingredients and lives across almost all products in the R&R collection but it also has some amazing benefits for your scalp. Specifically, if you have an oily scalp it helps with the oil production and has skin care benefits. Another nice skincare ingredient that has great efficacy from a scalp care standpoint is caffeine and so I use caffeine in my Hydro Jelly, but there’s also a place to have it within the scalp product.
I wanted to be extremely intentional with all of the ingredients so I focused on a water-based formula that’s gonna penetrate. I also incorporated some additional penetration agents and penetration-enhancing ingredients like the MSM in the formula, which is a sulfur compound that Madam CJ Walker, sulfur used as one of the major ingredients in her hair.
What are common scalp issues this product can help/solve?
Dryness, I think is a a good one because it is going to help to nourish your scalp and help with irritation. It’s a foundational step that’s going to help to hydrate, nourish, and strengthen, so that way it’s going to promote healthy hair growth.
What new haircare products can we look forward to from Undefined Beauty?
For now, it’s really focusing on this water-based scalp serum and also educating people around how you can incorporate other skin care products you might already have in your routine and your regimen.
When you hear 4A hair texture, what comes to mind? Beautiful top knots and finger coils? If you’re familiar with hair typing then you know 4A represents one part of Type 4 hair textures that help people learn their curl pattern. Understanding your curl pattern is essential to building your hair regimen, identifying which products are best for your hair, and maintaining your hair health.
Defining 4A hair textures
If you have 4A hair textures then your curls can have a spring S or O shape that is medium-sized and loosely packed. They often do not interlock and can curl or spiral away from the rest of your hair with lots of volume at the roots. Celebrities who sport 4A textures are fan favorites like Solange Knowles, Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, and Yara Shahidi. 4A hairstyles can range from free-flowing coils, updos, or protective styles like twists and braids because of how voluminous the texture is.
If you’re looking for inspiration this season and want to switch up your everyday hairstyle, we’ve got you covered with 15 options that you’ll love.
1. Frohawk
Image source: @curlsidoadore_
You can create this fun and funky style regardless of how long, short, or voluminous your coils and curls are. A Frohawk isn’t about the texture, but the attitude you bring with this edgy look, just grab your favorite gel, edge control, and hairpins and you’re all set.
2. Flexirod Curls
Image source: @njeberhart
Using Flexirods is great for 4A naturalistas looking to add a little bounce to their look without applying any heat. Heat-free damage is something we can all get behind and they create an effortless and voluminous style that can be easily manipulated into other styles.
3. Twists
Image source: @globetrottercurls
Achieving the perfect twist-out has never been easier with the right hair products and a bit of patience. The key to making this style your own is deciding ahead of time how you’ll part your hair and in which direction you’ll twist your hair.
4. Slicked Back Ponytail
Image source: @maisabel_
A slick ponytail is the perfect addition to dress up any outfit whether you’re going for an everyday casual look or a sex night out. Make sure to apply a thick gel that will keep your coils and kinks laid down and allow the pony to take center stage.
5. Twists With Beads
Image source: @razorempress
We love to see accessories added to braids, locs, or twists as they can easily elevate the look and can range in size, shape, and color.
6. Locs
Image source: @jadenikaylah
Creating locs is an easy 4A hairstyle that begins with coils and double-strand twists and then they slowly begin to lock up. Depending on the length and thickness you’re going for this can be a temporary or long-term hairstyle.
7. Claw Clip
Image source: @jay_anoka
There’s nothing like pulling your hair back and sometimes a ponytail isn’t enough so we need reinforcements. Using a claw clip is an easy way to add some life to your curls and coils, just make sure it’s thick and won’t snap easily.
8. Two Buns With Beads
Image source: @_cicimichele
There have been several variations of buns you can wear as a 4A hairstyle, but this fun look is accessorized with wire and beads. The mix of twists, buns, and accessories gives depth and dimension to this hairstyle.
9. Updo
Image source: @theesperanzamaria
Updos never go out of style and they can be an elegant way to showcase the beauty of your texture whether you want a pineapple or braided style.
10. Tapered Cut
Image source: @wanessarodriiguess
If you love an edgy TWA, then a tapered look could be your next hairstyle if you’re aiming to shorten up your curls and coils. You always want to consult with a barber before getting a tapered cut and explore the types of designs or patterns you want to accompany your hairstyle.
11. Half up/down
Image source: @slimreshae
How gorgeous are these curls? A good 4A hairstyle isn’t complete without the classic staples like a half up/down hairstyle that shows your texture.
12. Passion Twists
Image source: @damnthatschev
Passion twists are a fun, boho vibe that is fun, low maintenance, and can easily be worn over a long duration of time. Don’t forget the type of length, color, and style you want to use for your passion twists and be prepared to sleep with a bonnet or pineapple.
13. Braid Out
Image source: @candacee_renee
A braid out is a simple and easy way of letting your curls and coils shine after you’ve unraveled a braided style. They can help enhance your natural pattern and give definition to your curls and coils for a chic look.
14. Two-Strand Twists
Image source: @lynnettessilhouettes
Two-strand twists are an easy and healthy protective style that you can jazz up with barrettes or bands. They require zero heat, don’t create tension on the hair, and help you maintain moisture longer.
Looking for more hair inspiration? Check out our roundup of the creative and decadent styles from Afropunk 2023.
Kim Lewis blazed her way into the natural hair world back in 2015 with CurlMix which evolved from a DIY box set for curls into having a flaxseed gel as a it’s hero product. As a CEO and Co-founder she’s become known for her resilient attitude in an over-saturated category and entrepreneurial spirit that has landed her on the Forbes’ “30 under 30” list and getting Oprah’s endorsement for CurlMix. She’s expanded her empire with the first and only brand dedicated to serving the 4C woman and hair texture.
4C ONLY celebrates and honors the kinks, coils, and coarser textures that have often been overlooked and alienated from mainstream products. Every aspect of the brand from the messaging, products, branding, and aesthetic caters to uplifting and honoring the 4C texture in all it’s beauty. We sat down to chat with Kim about expanding her brand, why she created 4C ONLY, and how it’s products differ from what we see on shelves today.
How would you describe your hair evolution?
For much of my life, I was relaxed and my mom went natural and I saw how beautiful her hair looked. She had gotten alopecia and then went natural in her 40s I remember being in college and I had my first bout with alopecia right around 20 years old and I went to go get my hair relaxed and my stylist wouldn’t do it. She was just like “You have alopecia, I’m not going to relax your hair at this time.”
I ended up just going natural and I literally spent maybe three months growing it out and then I realized I had never actually seen my hair texture as an adult. I hadn’t seen it since I was like four or five years old, which is kind of crazy because I feel like most ethnicities do not say that, like where they don’t know what their natural texture looks like or out of their head. And so I went natural short, like in college maybe junior year, and then I’ve just been rocking ever since.
You currently own another brand CurlMix, Why was creating another brand focused on specific hair types needed?
So I have very kinky hair and some people say 4B or 4C. It doesn’t matter it’s kinky and I didn’t think my hair curled. In 2014-2015 I went to a stylist who did a wash and go on me and I was floored like, oh, my God, my hair curls. This is after I’ve been natural for several years and wearing my hair and all kinds of natural styles. I started CurlMix and the number one comment I got was “This is not for 4C hair.” Even if we would demonstrate to someone who we thought had 4C hair, they would still declare it wasn’t for their type.
With us being a direct consumer brand, the 4C woman wanted to see herself. I didn’t want to see an ad that had wavy and loosely coiled and you tell me it works for all hair textures because the truth is my hair is very different. My hair shrinks up, kinks up, knots up, and does all these different and beautiful things. But don’t tell me that the same thing that works for wavy textures will work for my kinky and coarse textured hair.
Not every kinky woman wants to wear, a wash-and-go and CurlMix is a wash-and-go brand. I always considered creating a 4C brand but thought maybe it was too niche. When I came to realize that 4C is identity, it’s not a hair type. 4C means that my hair is kinky and I celebrate and identify with that and to lump that texture with other hair types isn’t fair. It doesn’t highlight her in the way that she deserves to be celebrated.
We decided to launch 4C ONLY not as a product because that wouldn’t be enough, the 4C woman needs to be highlighted on all fronts: advertisements, photo shoots, videos, and social pages. She needs to be able to go everywhere and see herself. There was no other brand with 4C in the title which I thought was crazy because most brands know that 4C women convert 2 times higher than other customers.
What inspired 4C ONLY?
CurlMix started as a DIY brand and then we landed on flax seed gel because that was the box people kept buying. But what I learned is that CurlMix as it was the wash-and-go brand with the four-step system, I was not going to be able to fully satisfy my 4C customer and it’s because she doesn’t always gonna wear wash-and-go and she doesn’t always use her products in tools or pump.
One of the things I learned is 4C girls scoop their product, they don’t squirt it and I know it’s like a risky thing to say, but she wants to scoop her hand in the jar. She wants to scoop her conditioner, leave-in and shampoo and be able to manage how much she’s getting to be able to apply to her twist out or braid out. She’s not trying to pump 1,000 times or she’s not doing her hair in the shower necessarily so I could not fully satisfy her with the way CurlMix was designed.
In order to do that it had to be separate vibe and also it was chance for us to speak to her in the way that that feels more comfortable, real, and natural versus just like a broader brand. We use cheeky language with 4C ONLY whereas we couldn’t do that you know with CurlMix and our customer on the CurlMix side is more mature as well.
How would you describe the conversation around haircare for 4C textures?
The conversation around 4C hair is very emotional because the 4C woman has often been rejected for their hair.It can be a sensitive topic so we have to be careful with how we communicate and make sure that we’re never using language like nappy or derogatory because we always wanted her to know that she celebrated. We have like taglines such as “The revolution will be moisturized,” as a nod to the old school, Black afro power to the people, but also funny and cheeky rhymes and cheeky, but celebratory.
We address topics with a lens into the fact that we need to be considerate, thoughtful, encouraging and empowering. For example, I like to say that natural hair is formal hair, you don’t have to straighten your hair to go to a graduation or a wedding. Your afro could be worn on your date night and that’s what I want to be able to celebrate with 4C ONLY and we make that come to life on our social media. If you look on Instagram, you’ll see lots of nods to The Soul Train Line videos or retro blackness because that was beautiful in the 60s and it’s still beautiful in 2023.
How does the “Kinks Guide” help with 4C education?
The Kinks Guide helps with 4C education because it’s very specific to somebody who has more coarse, coils and kinky textures but it doesn’t necessarily mean thick because we can have finer textures as well. A misconception is that we have thicker products, but you still need more water when you’re applying it to your hair, so it’s not just about applying the thick products and it’s your one and done right? Your hair still needs to be very saturated, you still need to finger come first and then go through with the brush. It’s tailored to her because we don’t need a dimesize amount in each section or wrap your head in a towel while it’s drying. It’s not the blanket education that you might get on the back of a bottle, it’s very tailored to her experience in the shower and, going to get braids, locs, adding shea butter, you know, because there are some of the misconceptions that.
One of the benefits of being a direct consumer first is that we know exactly what people are struggling with. We would get a lot of questions in the inbox for customer service with questions like “Do I rinse out the shampoo?” so we learned we can’t assume that people know what we think we know about hair. How do we make it fun to read? How do we make something your not gonna just download and throw away that you will never reference it again. How to make it entertaining? How can we be helpful? What most brands do is they make products they think you’ll buy and that’s it. But what I have learned in my eight years of running two direct consumer brands is that what sets you apart is helping people. The more education you can give them to help figure out how to use your product, the better. It’s not just you take these millions of products and you figure out what you want to do to your hair. It’s like, let me help you achieve the happiness that you seek with your hair.
Which product do you recommend for first-time users?
It is the leave-in which is great because it gets so much slip and I use it on my little boys, because they have really tightly coiled hair. My youngest is so tightly coiled it takes me 4 hours to detangle to do the entire head before I go and braid it up. It’s super slippery and so I think the 4C girl wants slip that’s like #1.
How are your products specifically designed for 4C textures?
We made the products thick, so our shampoo is not a runny shampoo, you can scoop it. You can literally scoop it into the jar and the shampoo will sit in your hand. It has thick, marshmallowy type of texture and so people are always react like “Oh my God, what? This is crazy.” But it looks so cool and then they apply and it’s not as stringent as a clarifying shampoo. so if you were trying to really deep cleanse your hair, our shampoo is not the greatest for that, it’s more moisturizing. It doesn’t strip your hair like a lot of the oils, it cleans it, but it’s just not like squeaky clean, you know.
Our deep conditioner is really thick if you open it in the jar you turn it upside down nothing’s gonna fall out. It’s highly concentrated so for example if you took our deep condition and you rub it in your hand, your whole hand is going to be white right. Whereas if you took like a cheaper drugstore shampoo, you rubbing your head, it might end up being clear because it’s mostly water. Ours is mostly product so you have to add a lot of water to it which means it ends up lasting for a long time. We use 10 ounce jars versus your normal 8 ounces because the 4C girl is going to use more product when she’s doing her hair. We actually have a theme song “I’m too soft, I’m too slick, I’m too thick…and that was the idea was to create a brand with only the 4C woman in mind.
Are you read to try 4C ONLY? Let us know in the comments!
The love for scalp care products has been real for the past few years with some of our favorite brands debuting scalp care collections dedicated to cleaning, stimulating, and invigorating our hair. Aunt Jackie’s is throwing their hat into the ring of scalp care with their new Elixir Essentials Hair & Scalp Oils Collection. This trio includes pure blended oils formulated with special ingredients such as Biotin, Rosemary, Collagen, Tea Tree Oil, Saw Palmetto, and Jamaican Black Castor to retain hair length and moisture while supporting thicker fuller strands. The three different products ($8.99 each) each target your top hair concerns and can easily be cocktailed into your already-standing hair routine.
We chatted with Monique Salas – VP of Marketing, House of Cheatham to discuss the brand’s newest launch and the benefit it brings to consumers.
Why do you think there has been a renewed interest in scalp care this year?
We’ve really seen a huge resurgence and energy in scalp care in the past couple of years. We’re also seeing this trend trickle in from skincare. Haircare and scalp care that’s taking a page from skincare routines is on the rise and we’re here for it!
What’s the best way to use the scalp elixir oils?
The beauty of our fleet of Elixir Essentials is that they’re so versatile. It’s one of the many reasons our consumer has seamlessly integrated it into her routine. I love using the elixir as a pre-shampoo treatment and doing a whole root-stimulating scalp massage. Another way to use it is by adding it post-shower on wet or dried hair. The moisture is unmatched. We even love seeing our customers use it throughout the week when their hair feels a little dry or on braids.
Why were these ingredients chosen for the collection?
Each of the ingredients we’ve chosen to create our elixir oils is an ingredient that is known for its efficacy and ability to target the specific curls and coils of our consumers. Some of the elements such as Biotin and Tea Tree have been used for centuries and are known to help aid in the hair growth process.
What is a misconception about using hair oils?
I’ve heard consumers shy away from adding hair oils into their routine out of fear it’ll make their hair oilier. In reality, when used the right way in the proper routine for your hair it can be hugely beneficial.
What’s your recommendation for selecting an oil from the collection? Should you go based on needs or goals?
I use all three interchangeably and consistently! I always recommend buying all three and using them based on current hair goals and what you’re striving for in your routine. I’ve also seen consumers having fun and cocktailing the oils as well.
Which scalp elixir do you plan to get your hands on this season? If you’re looking to improve your hair regimen, read more on how you can decide if your scalp needs a detox.
Leader in Spain’s hair care category, I.C.O.N., has been recognized by many, especially with their mission of creating effective, yet eco-friendly products that benefit EVERY hair type. Founder and hair expert Chiara Scuderi has always been passionate about creating quality products for everyone and empowering women to appreciate their hair as is. I.C.O.N. has custom remedies for all, with development happening right here in Los Angeles, CA. Her latest launch: Power Peptides is a powerful leave-on treatment to treat hair to restore strength, and ensure flexibility, condition, and shine.
Between her passion behind her CURE line where she donated over half a million dollars to Breast Cancer research, her expertise in maintaining thicker, fuller hair after COVID-19 impacted hair growth with her 5.25 hair growth serum, and her company is made up of 90% women, Chiara is putting her dreams to life of impacting the beauty community and creating high-performance hair products backed by science, passion and ethics. We sat down to chat with Chiara Scuderi about the resurgence of Rosemary Oil in modern hair products and its benefits for hair loss.
BENEFITS OF ROSEMARY OIL FOR HAIR LOSS
1. What are the benefits of rosemary oil for hair?
Rosemary oil has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It smooths down the cuticle and heals and calms the scalp from irritation and itchiness. Rosemary oil (as well as Peppermint oil) stimulates blood circulation, promoting a healthy scalp and thereby encouraging hair growth.
2. Are there any particular textures or hair types for which rosemary oil is ideal?
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Rosemary oil is ideal for all hair types, but it is erratic (where the cuticle is open – common with curly to coarse hair) and dry textures can benefit from this oil as it smooths and soothes the cuticle.
3. Is applying rosemary oil directly to your hair harmful? Should it be diluted?
Using essential oils directly on the scalp may irritate, so you should test a small area first. It is best to mix about 3 drops of Rosemary Oil with your shampoo, conditioner, or treatment to receive maximum benefits. If applying directly to the scalp, add only a couple of drops, massage to reduce inflammation nourish the scalp, and use the remaining product from midshaft to ends working it through with your hands to seal the cuticle.
4. Which rosemary oil-rich products do you recommend?
At I.C.O.N. we have an amazing product – our detoxifying conditioner Awake contains organic oils (Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Rosemary Oil) to detoxify the scalp while protecting and moisturizing the hair. Our clients love the invigorating sensation it gives the scalp.
If you’re looking to understand how you can use rosemary oil to improve your hair health, check out our article hair loss.
What was your relationship with your natural hair growing up?
JT from the City Girls is carving her own lane in the beauty world with her newest KISS Colors & Care collaboration. As a brand dedicated to celebrating individual self-expression through high-quality hair products, JT brings her own unique style to the collection. JT’s love for different hairstyles has kept her a pro at switching up her look and vibe. Her passion for braids, stunning updos, and gorgeous locks make her the perfect advocate for the new KISS Colors & Care styling products. The new styling collection includes Braid, Loc and Twist stylers, Edge Fixer Wax sticks, and Reversible Premium Crepe Satin Hair Bonnet Super Jumbo and Braid Bonnet.
I wouldn’t describe it as nappy, but I would say brittle. My hair was so brittle because of the perms, but now that I don’t do them anymore, it is softer than ever. I have type 4c hair and it’s beautiful, soft, and it’s so cute now.
Did you have any women you looked for hair inspiration growing up?
Growing up, most of the women that I looked up to were wearing weaves which I saw with groups I loved like Destiny’s Child. Like growing up. I couldn’t get my hair like theirs growing up because they were wearing weaves although sometimes Beyoncé would do the blonde braids in the front and the curly hair in the back. That was my favorite hairstyle to get done by my stylist growing up and I wore it every year up until middle school. I really, really liked how Alicia Keys used to wear her hair with braids and the afro on the side. My stepmom used to braid hair so that was an achievable style. I couldn’t get the little Kim hair because we were on a budget but I could get the capelli hair with the blue magic hair grease and my stepmom would crochet it in.
Why did you choose KISS Colors for a haircare partnership?
Well, KISS Colors is a big, big brand and I feel like I’m a big brand as well so it was a perfect marriage. You see KISS colors everywhere from their accessories, hair products, and makeup and it was a big part of upbringing. I remember running into Walgreens shopping for hair, makeup, or lashes and really being captivated by their beauty products. It was a dream come true to partner with KISS Colors because it felt like an “I made it” moment. I love their edge control, scarves, and headbands, they were such a big part of my childhood and now I get to collaborate with them for my own collection.
What was the collaboration process like with Kiss Colors?
It was a very 50/50 process because we both came together and identified the products that would be perfect for me to collaborate on. I think my favorite segment is that they’re starting their own wig products which was the most exciting part. I personally needed more products for my braids, edges, and wigs, especially my edges which is where the edge control came into play. The apple-scented edge control is my favorite, but all of their products have a sweet smell I enjoy because there are a lot of products that I’ve tried in the past and it’s just after a while your hair starts to stink. You don’t want to go around, you know your partner or a group of friends, and then your hair starts to stink because of the product.
How do you practice maintaining healthy hair between weaves, wigs, and extensions?
Well, my hair when I take down my hair, I always get my hair washed and a hot oil treatment. I’m about to get one today and then I sew my hair in and let my hair breathe or my hairstylist always oils my braids between wearing wigs. I also enjoy a good deep conditioning treatment and make sure I trim my hair all the time.
How do you achieve a balance between wearing wigs, weaves, and braids with your natural hair?
It definitely depends on the event. If I’m not on the stage then I will wear my natural baby hairs out and put them out on a sew-in or braids. But if I’m performing and I’m not wearing braids then I have to wear a wig because of the sun and me bouncing around with my natural hair would just frizz up. The sun, humidity, and my hair don’t really get along so I have to wear a wig for performances.
You have amazing edges, what’s the secret to keeping them slick and laid down?
When wigs first came out, I don’t think we knew how to properly take them off without damaging our edges. Now I can wear a wig, take my wigs off and wear a leave-out like tonight with my real hair. I won’t have any tan lines, bald spots, or damage.
I love to lay my edges down with the KISS Color cheetah brush, it’s gonna fight the edges back. You need something that’s gonna fight back with your edges like some brushes will not lay your edges down and you’ll be swooping forever. Just came from. Personally, I love products that are light and can help my edges still maintain a natural look. I don’t like looking like I have black gel on my edges from back in the day, you always you got to keep it cute. You don’t want to be laying your edges with a Colgate brush.
We’re coming into the hotter months, what’s your ideal protective style for the summer?
I would say a wig because they are versatile and you can swap it out depending on your mood for the day. I just love to have fun with wigs because you can change the colors, flat iron them 100 times without any damage and I don’t have to commit to a certain color. Check out the new collection from KISS Colors and JT available at KISSColors.com, Amazon.com, and select Walmart and CVS stores.
If you’re interested in learning how you can use these products for your protective styles and wigs, read more from Celebrity stylist Arrogant Tae to create your ultimate protective styles.
There’s nothing worse during the hot summer season than frizzy hair and finding the right styler can be a bigger challenge with so many options on the shelf. Frizzy hair can be caused by a range of factors like dryness, lack of hold in your products, styling techniques, and humidity. While we can’t control all of these factors, we can control the types of styling products we use that need to be moisture rich. You voted and we’re sharing the stylers that won your heart this season which can help to smooth and hydrate your curls!
BEST STYLING CREAM
Best Styling Cream for All Curl Types: Melanin Haircare Twist Elongating Style Cream
If you’re looking for a buildable and lightweight styling cream, look no further than this nourishing, hydrating product that helps with detangling and manageability. As a natural styling cream, this was created for a range of hair textures with 5 nutrient-rich butters that work with thick, coarse, thin, and soft hair. You can watch your curls instantly transform into defined, shiny, and healthy textures that you will love.
Best Styling Cream for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Defining Hair Cream
Let’s maximize our definition with this cream that adds a little extra bounce to type 2 curls and waves. As a daily styler, the curls benefit from hydrating ingredients from the rice curl complex that include amino acids, enzymes, and keratin. This muti-functional product provides a range of benefits such as sealing in moisture, and adding shine, and is safe for color-treated hair.
Best Styling Cream for Type 3 Curly Hair: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream
As their best-selling styling cream Ouidad has infused anti-frizz nano technology with this product to help users achieve shiny and hydrated curls regardless of the climate they are in. The lightweight oils blended into the formula help to create a soft and flexible definition for touchable curls. It can be applied on damp curls and activated with a diffuser or by air-drying.
Best Styling Cream for Type 4 Coily Hair: Melanin Haircare Twist Elongating Style Cream
Since this was specially formulated for thick and coarser textures, it’s no secret that this is a favorite for type 4 textures. It can be easily applied to wet or dry curls and works as a vitamin-rich detangler that is highly adaptable and buildable with other products. As a vegan and clean ingredient product, this is ideal for men, women, and children and is non-toxic.
BEST ANTI-FRIZZ PRODUCT
Best Anti-Frizz Product for All Curl Types: Mizani Press Agent Smoothing, Frizz Control Blow Dry Styling Serum
Say hello to a styling serum that is here to add shine, lock in moisture, and smooth the cuticle! This layerable blowdry serum can withstand heat up to 450 degrees which can help you achieve the ultimate blowout during the summer months. It’s ideal for all hair types and textures because of its ability to tame dry hair and prevent frizz and flyaways.
Best Anti-Frizz Product for Type 2 Wavy Hair: COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment
As the #1 anti-frizz treatment that waterproofs your hair to stop frizz even in the worst humidity, it’s no secret why type 2 wavies love this product. This advanced formula leaves hair super glossy, glassy, and ultra-smooth with humidity-blocking technology that stops moisture from ruining your style. It’s an ultra-light spray, doubles as a heat protectant, and can last through 3-4 shampoos.
Best Anti-Frizz Product for Type 3 Curly Hair: Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer
Frizz does not stand a chance with this dry conditioning spray that is an instant de-frizzer for type 3 curls. As a dry conditioning spray, this tames up to 92% of frizz and leaves your hair smooth, soft, and shiny while replenishing the hair’s lost natural lipids. If you’re looking to revive your curls between wash days, this can take your dull strands to dynamic in a few simple steps.
Best Anti-Frizz Product for Type 4 Coily Hair: Mizani Press Agent Smoothing, Frizz Control Blow Dry Styling Serum
So nice we, you voted on it twice for type 4 coils, kinks, and tighter textures. The jasmine, grapefruit, and mandarin floral medley will have your hair shining as it stays sleek and frizz-free. This can be easily applied to wigs, braids, and twists, and will still help lock in moisture and prevent flyaways.
BEST HEAT PROTECTANT
Best Heat Protectant for All Curl Types: EDEN BodyWorks Hibiscus Honey Blow Dry Cream
This silky thermal protectant is an excellent choice for helping to safeguard your curls against heat damage. It provides heat protection for a variety of hair textures and helps to control frizz all day long for a sleek and smooth look you will love. As a 2019 BOB winner, it’s proved to be a consistent fan-favorite product for heat protection.
Best Heat Protectant for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Pantene Heat Protectant Spray with Jojoba Oil for Curly Hair
The moisture lock curl mist with jojoba oil is rich in Vitamin E and helps to detangle and define curls. As a hairspray, it protects against heat and allows you to use a variety of hot tools without any damage. It can be sprayed evenly on dry, styled hair and used as a finisher to help hold your style throughout the day.
Best Heat Protectant for Type 3 Curly Hair: OUAI Hair Oil, Multitasking Oil Protects from UV/Heat Damage and Frizz
As a lightweight, multitasking oil that fights frizz, prevents heat/UV damage, and delivers a super smooth finish. This product works great for medium and thicker textures and is packed with African galanga, ama oil, and Asian borage oils to keep color from fading and protect from heat damage. It can help improve split ends and has great fragrance notes like violet and gardenia.
Best Heat Protectant for Type 4 Coily Hair: EDEN BodyWorks Hibiscus Honey Blow Dry Cream
Eden Bodyworks never disappoints when it comes to protecting your curls and this hibiscus honey blow-dry cream is no exception. With ingredients like honey and hibiscus sabadariffa flower extract, tighter textures will love applying this to their hair before they add any heat.
Are you wondering how to choose the right styler for your hair? Read more on how you can Choose the Right Products Depending on The Weather.
We all know the dread that happens whenever you’re enjoying a nice long shower and then your hair starts falling out. This can happen in different ways whether it’s small pieces or long pieces, but it can be challenging to your hair all over the tub. There are several factors that can affect hair loss like styling routine, hormones, gender, and genetics, but that doesn’t stop us from wondering how much hair loss is normal. What’s too much and should I be concerned? In honor of National Hair Loss Awareness Month, we’re talking about all the ins and outs of hair loss in the shower.
How Hair Grows
Hair has several stages and phases that determine how fast, thick, long, and strong it grows. There are three stages that describe how our hair grows: Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen which break down how active our hair grows at any given time. These phases cover how our hair follicles produce individual hairs before the last phase Exogen which sheds old hair so new hair can take its place. What helps to maintain our hair health during these stages are nutrition, vitamins, reduced stress, and proper hair care.
Hair Shedding vs. Hair Loss
Before we can go into how hair loss occurs, let’s get an understanding of what is considered normal. A 2018 scientific study showed that on average a person sheds about 100 hairs a day. The American Academy of Dermatology Association conducted a study that this can only increase when you get older and that hair loss differs from hair shedding. Hair shedding is described as a normal activity we all encounter, but stressors like weight loss, giving birth, and recovery from an illness can exacerbate hair shedding. Typically hair shedding is normal and temporary and your hair will bounce back between six to nine months. Hair loss differs from hair shedding because there are factors that stop the hair from growing back such as hairstyles, genetics, or medicine that you are taking.
Celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood shares that “Hair is at its most fragile state when wet, so you find that when washing your hair in the shower, you can experience more breakage. Hair shedding is also normal in the shower if you have not detangled the hair properly before. Hair shedding is normal, but hair loss is not. You may also find that if your hair lacks protein or something is going on with your diet or stress, it can snap very easily. The hair almost becomes like a weak rubber band when it’s wet and will snap easily.”
Factors That Affect Hair Loss
While there are many factors outside of your control that are causing your hair loss in the shower, here are a few to consider.
- Water temperature: How hot or cold your water is can severely impact your hair follicles, in the same way, using heat tools can. A hot shower is great, but hot water can make your curls more susceptible to breakage and frizziness. It can also affect your scalp by drying your hair follicles which can lead to inflammation or dandruff.
- Over shampooing: You should never be overwashing your curls, but if you must, then you need to ditch the shampoo. Over-shampooing can remove your natural oils and sebum and irritate and damage your hair follicles. At best you should be shampooing no more than 1-2x a week, but anything more could be contributing to your hair loss.
- Drying with a cotton towel: Your is fragile and delicate and should be treated with care even when you get out of the shower. Using linens like a cotton towel can put stress on our cuticles and hair follicles and result in breakage and thinning. The thickness and constant pulling against your hair, when it’s wet, can gradually lead to additional hair loss over time. Try swapping out the cotton for a microfiber towel which can be a big game changer for your wash day.
Best Practices For Washing Your Hair
Now, does the shower have to be our enemy? Absolutely not. Cleansing our curls is one of the most important aspects of our hair care, but we have to start implementing practices to do it the right way.
Leatherwood shares “When you’re detangling your hair while in the shower and not using your fingers to do it, you will experience snapping and breakage. You should use a tool such as the Felicia Leatherwood Detangling Brush, to aid in detangling. Also, make sure that you are using
a really good, conditioner like the Pardon My Fro Detangler Leave-in Conditioner from root to end of the hair. Then section your hair in 4 sections with your fingers very gently/delicately and brush through and detangle from the bottom of the hair back towards the scalp towards the root of the hair. If you notice that you have two hands full of hair, then you may need to add protein treatment for remedying, followed by deep condition to add moisture. Anything more than that, there’s something more serious going on and you should see a doctor.”
Have you experienced any hair loss in the shower? What remedies worked best for you? Let us know in the comments!
Who doesn’t love a good conditioner? It’s typically the second step in your hair regime after giving your curls a good cleanse with your shampoo. Conditioners can not only add hydration back to your hair but also help to detangle, reduce frizz, and add definition to your curls, coils, and waves. Every conditioner works differently depending on its function, use, and ingredients, but you voted, and we’re ready to break down the winners of our Best of the Best awards for 2023.
Whether you’re looking for a co-wash, leave-in conditioner, conditioner, or deep conditioner, we’ve got something for everyone!
BEST CO-WASH
Best Co-Wash for All Curl Types: Eden BodyWorks All Natural Cleansing CoWash
This conditioning co-wash is excellent for detangling any hair texture due to its rich ingredients which include coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice, and shea butter. This has been a staple of any curly regimen for years because of its ability to quickly remove residue between regular washings, promote a healthy hair environment, and promote healthy hair growth. It’s affordable, thick, and very easy to incorporate into your hair regimen.
Best Co-Wash for Type 2 Wavy Hair: As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
As I Am has been bringing a game-changing co-wash to curlies for years and they aren’t stopping anytime soon. This co-wash is very gentle for type 2 wavies looking to preserve moisture and is an alternative to your normal shampoo routine. As an award-winning conditioner, it has a great blend of tangerine, coconut oil, castor oil, and saw palmetto, that works with your waves to gently remove product buildup, residue, and scalp sebum from your hair.
Best Co-Wash for Type 3 Curly Hair: Curlsmith Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash
Curlsmith is bringing us a co-wash that also includes cleaning properties that are gentle on the scalp and can melt away dirt and buildup. For type 3 curlies with medium to coarse thickness, this is great for frequent cleansing without sacrificing the natural moisture and oils from your hair. The creamy non-foaming blend of avocado oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and shea butter can be massaged into the scalp to give you a gentle cleanse you’re going to love as you transition into your styling products.
Best Co-Wash for Type 4 Coily Hair: Eden BodyWorks All Natural Cleansing CoWash
We’re eyeing our type 4 coilies looking to change up their co-wash game with this cleansing and conditioning co-wash. This is a great option to us if you rock coils and kinks because it helps to blast build-up and residue, condition hair between washes, and can be used generously. The blend of ingredients ensures a hydrating and moisturizing experience that your coils will love.
BEST LEAVE-IN
Best Leave-In for All Curl Types: Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave-In Conditioner
A hallmark product from their “leave-in” collection, this product is here to provide maximum hair hydration for everyone. The simple blend of honey, olive fruit oil, and aloe leaf juices can be applied to damp hair liberally to ensure moisture across every strand. If you’re looking to achieve soft, smooth, and moisturized hair that will protect your hair from damage, this is a product to add to your arsenal.
Best Leave-In for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner
Bounce Curl is bringing the juice with their Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner which is ultra-concentrated and works to provide the ultimate nourishment for customers sporting waves. The leave-in is blended with 5 ancient eastern Mediterranean oils Egyptian, neroli, jojoba, olive, and argan oil which provides fantastic moisture and daily protection. A little goes a long way with this product and is clinically proven to help improve shine and moisture retention.
Best Leave-In for Type 3 Curly Hair: Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Curly Hair Cream
If you’re looking for a versatile leave-in conditioner that can be easily incorporated into your routine, type 3 curlies, Curlsmith is calling your name. The silky and lightweight texture is great for finer curls because it includes lightweight ingredients such as castor oil, jojoba, babassu, and murumuru butter to provide nourishment for your texture. This product is best applied with wet curls after a wash day so the hair shaft and cuticles can easily absorb the coat the curls.
Best Leave-In for Type 4 Coily Hair: Camille Rose Naturals Honey Hydrate Leave-In Conditioner
Calling our type 4 textures with coils and kinks looking for maximum hair hydration, this product is here for your hair. The simple blend of honey, olive fruit oil, and aloe leaf juices can be applied to damp hair liberally to ensure moisture across every strand. As a hydrating conditioning base, the hair can be transformed into smooth and soft textures that can maintain moisture and be protected from damage.
BEST CONDITIONER
Best Conditioner for All Curl Types: Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner
Mielle is always a winner in our books and the Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner can help any hair type and texture achieve shiny, smooth hair with the ultimate slip and texture. This has versatile uses whether you’re looking to cleanse the curls as a leave-in conditioner, prime the hair before styling, or define the curls. Whether you have thick, fine, or curly hair, this is an excellent conditioner to help improve your texture.
Best Conditioner for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl-Defining Anti-Frizz Conditioner
Your curls take front and center with this rich oil blend conditioner that blends papaya butter and plumeria extract. For our type 2 wavies this is a fantastic product for helping to detangle, defrizz, and define your curls. It’s a very moisturizing and curl-enhancing conditioner that helps with softness and shine.
Best Conditioner for Type 3 Curly Hair: Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing & Detangling Conditioner
We love a great conditioner and that’s why Mielle Organics made the list twice! Type 3 curlies love this product for its ability to provide intense hydration with a silky feel that locks in moisture for thick and curly hair. Its detangling properties create a shiny and smooth-to-the-touch hair experience that conditions, primes, and defines the curls.
Best Conditioner for Type 4 Coily Hair: Donna’s Recipe by Tabitha Brown Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Moisturizing Conditioner
Donna’s Recipe Sweet Potatoe Pie Extra Creamy Moisturizing Conditioner has a wonderfully sweet and creamy texture full of nutrient-rich ingredients like sweet potato extract, cinnamon, and vanilla. It works exceptionally well with type 4 coils and kinks because it helps with moisture, frizz control, scalp nutrients, and shine. Customers love its nourishing hair and scalp properties that help with hair growth, build-up, and prevent dullness in the hair,
BEST DEEP CONDITIONER
Best Deep Conditioner for All Curl Types: Tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask Deep Conditioner
Let’s give a round of applause to our deep conditioner that took the prize as best for all curl types and textures. The Miracle RepaiRx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask helps to restore dry and damaged hair with biotin and castor oil. If you’ve experienced any damage due to dryness or color treatments, this is a deep conditioner to keep in your product arsenal.
Best Deep Conditioner for Type 2 Wavy Hair: amikaThe Kure Intense Bond Repair Hair Mask
If you’re looking for an intense bond repair mask, look no further than the Kure which helps to reduce breakage and prevent future damage for finer textures like type 2 waves. It was specially formulated for thick and coarser hair types and includes ingredients like mango, shea butter, and borage oil. The clinically tested and proven results are deeply hydrating and can provide significant help to dry and brittle hair.
Best Deep Conditioner for Type 3 Curly Hair: Camille Rose Naturals Black Castor Oil + Chebe Deep Conditioner
We love a rich and nutrient-filled deep conditioner and Camille Rose is bringing a hair butter that is crafted and designed to restore moisture for thicker hair textures. Type 3 curlies will benefit from the strengthening power of African Chebe Powder and Jamaican Castor Oil for healthy hair growth and maximum softness. It can be applied liberally to freshly washed and conditioned strands and be used to moisturize and set protective styles.
Best Deep Conditioner for Type 4 Coily Hair: Tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask Deep Conditioner
Type 4 coilies can look forward to improved shine, manageability, and a deep conditioner that locks in moisture and repairs damage. The Miracle RepaiRx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask reduces shedding and breakage while restoring life to any damage your hair has experienced over your lifetime. You can enjoy a deep treatment after cleansing your hair and then rinsing it out with warm water for maximum results.
Are we excited about this amazing list of conditioners? If you’re looking to improve your conditioning technique, read our article on The Dos and Don’ts of Deep Conditioning. Let us know in the comments below!
We spent all month covering the ins and outs of hair loss from how it happens, and what is normal. Hair loss occurs from a variety of factors outside of our control like genetics, immune deficiencies, and stress. Research shows that there are certain drugs and treatments that can directly contribute to our hair loss. Creatine is a controversial supplement in the hair community because it has not been scientifically proven to cause hair loss. You’ve probably heard of creatine as it’s a common muscle-building supplement to improve your body composition. Fitness is an important function of our daily lives so we decided to explore if creatine correlates with hair loss.
What is Creatine?
Creatine is a popular supplement amongst athletes and fitness enthusiasts for its ability to improve muscle mass, performance, and recovery. It can be consumed in a powder form as a dietary supplement or through meat and is an amino-acid derivative. Creatine naturally occurs in our body from our kidneys and liver after eating protein. Taking creatine helps elevate your body’s energy levels and build your muscles without bulking up. Many people who consume creatine can have an older age range because it helps to slow age-related muscle loss. Other people take it to help improve neurological functions like memory and related diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
How Creatine Affects Hair
The conversation regarding creatine and hair loss happened when in 2009 scientists monitoring rugby players consuming creatine over a week-long period saw an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a metabolite of testosterone which for males can shrink hair follicles and lead to hair loss, which can also lead to baldness but this has been determined more of a myth than a hard fact. The rugby study showed an increase in testosterone no definitive proof that consuming creatine led to any hair loss or baldness in their subjects. The short-term effects of creatine usually include weight gain since it focuses on targeting muscle growth and helping achieve greater gains.
The Verdict
At this point, creatine is not proven to negatively impact hair health or result in hair loss, but you should always do your research before incorporating any new supplements into your routine. Everybody reacts to supplements and vitamins differently, so if you’re concerned how this could affect your curls or coils, we always recommend seeking out the expertise of a medical professional. You can easily purchase creatine at any vitamin or supplement store in a powder form, energy bar, tablet, or drink mix. Since creatine is a naturally occurring substance that our body already produces, some dieticians recommend that it’s best for vegetarians who don’t consume creatine as part of their regular diet.
What are your thoughts on creatine? Have you ever taken it and seen a change in your curls? If you’re experiencing hair loss, read our latest article on Why is Hair Loss More Common for Women with Curly Hair?
