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Kiara Brumfield is a Chicago-based chemist, cosmetologist and S.T.E.M mentor. A proud alumna of Howard University in Washington, DC, Kiara earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology there in 2014. Unaware of opportunities or career paths in science that could also spark her passion for hair and beauty, the Chemist returned to Chicago and enrolled in Cosmetology school. While pursuing her license along her self-defining journey, she was recruited by a Chemical Manufacturing company in the personal care industry. It was there that she began to envision how to balance beauty and chemistry.
She loved being a chemist and started looking to apply to positions that would allow her to use both her passions in one role. This is how Kiara arrived at her current position at Universal Beauty Products: Scientist/Licensed Cosmetology.
The opportunity enables her to formulate products, manage claims substantiation, evaluate product performance in the company’s salon to create high-performing hair care products. In her spare time, she loves to volunteer and speak at events to expose youth to S.T.E.M. careers in the beauty industry, such as being a cosmetic chemist. Kiara hopes her presence in her community and the industry will inspire youth, especially African Americans, to pursue careers in science.
We spoke to Kiara about her role at Jamaican Mango & Lime, and the products she’s most excited about to level up our protective styles.
Jamaican Mango & Lime have been in business for 30 years, how did you get started with the brand?
I was a Quality Control Chemist at a surfactant company when I learned about the personal care industry. I was also a licensed cosmetologist and decided to look for opportunities where I could use both my passions. I was beyond excited to see that Jamaican Mango & Lime was hiring for a chemist position. This position has allowed me to formulate and conduct performance testing on newly developed products. I’ve been using Jamaican Mango & Lime since I was a child and I’m so excited to continue supporting the brand in developing quality products.
How would you describe your Jamaican Mango & Lime in 3 words?
Original, Trusted, and Carefree.
What inspired the focus on the brand’s core ingredients?
Jamaican Mango and Lime products are inspired by Jamaican culture. We use nourishing and natural ingredients throughout our product lines to support consumers in starting and maintaining healthy locs, twists, braids, and other styles.
What are the benefits of using natural ingredients like mango and lime on your hair?
Using natural ingredients adds moisturizing, antioxidant, anti inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to hair care formulas.
What is a common misconception about using castor oil?
The main misconception I’ve heard is that Castor oil can cure alopecia. There are so many factors involved that correlate to hair growth. Castor oil cannot cure alopecia, but it can be useful for certain forms of alopecia like alopecia areata. Creating a healthy hair care regime and using castor oil as an ingredient to create a healthy environment is one of many ways castor could promote hair growth. Not taking proper care of your hair and adding castor oil will not result in growth.
What are 2-3 products that are best for creating protective styles?
1. Jamaican Mango and Lime Extra Hold & Easy Braid Jel – Braids
2. Jamaican Mango and Lime Braiding & Setting Mousse – Braids, Twist, Finger Coils, Roller Sets, Wet molds, Etc.
3. Any of the Jamaican Mango and Lime Locking Gels – Locs and Twists.
What are 3 tips for maintaining braided hairstyles?
Using Jamaican Mango and Lime Braiding & Setting Mousse, following the completion of the style, is a great way to set and ensure longevity. To preserve your style I would suggest using Jamaican Mango and Lime 6-in-1 Soothes & Revives Braid Refresher and Jamaican Mango and Lime Foams & Refresh Dry Wash to keep your hair clean and moisturized. An added benefit to using Jamaican Mango and Lime braiding line is that it has odor blocking technology in all the products to keep your braids fresh longer.
What products would be best for first-time users to use from your brand?
I would suggest our Smooth Moisture line. Smooth Moisture is the best product I’ve used to execute a silk press without using harsh chemicals. It leaves your hair flowy and smooth, with extra shine. It contains technology that has been tested in a laboratory and salon. Extensive research proved that the Smooth Moisture system prevents breakage, has great humidity protection to prevent curl reversion, has heat protection in every step, and even makes hair stronger after using the system. These products are ideal for consumers with natural hair who desire a sleek straight look without heat damage. Smooth Moisture is the perfect at home system that yields the salon look without salon prices. This system is also great for stylists to elevate their services.
Looking for your next braided hairstyle? Here are 21 to try next.
The Met Gala is one of the biggest nights for Hollywood celebrities and designers looking to showcase their talents through immaculate styling and visual concepts. True to the annual May event, celebrities flocked to the streets of New York City to honor the late Karl Lagerfeld with an array of ensembles that paid homage to his fashion legacy. Janelle Monae attended the event with an eye-catching top knot hairstyle, courtesy of Mielle Organics products. Celebrity stylist Nikki Nelms takes us behind the scenes and shares her secrets to creating this runway-worthy look.
Janelle’s super tall, structural top knot was inspired by her exaggerated tweed tuxedo by Thom Browne. “We really wanted to make this look special” Nelms said, “since this will be the first Met Gala where her hair will be visible since 2017.”
How Janelle’s Top Knot was Created
How to Prep Hair for a Top Knot
Prep for Janelle’s 2023 Met Gala hairstyle started with a calming wash using the Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo and Conditioner. This shampoo works into a luxurious lather and has an amazing scent. It cleans without stripping away moisture and pre-detangles curly hair, while the conditioner helps to achieve shiny, smooth-to-the-touch hair.
Once towel dried, I misted her hair with Mielle’s White Peony Leave-In Conditioner, and then I followed with the Mielle Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray before blow drying.
How to style the top knot
To style, I used the Mielle Avocado & Tamanu Anti-Frizz Stay Straight Serum before lightly straightening the hair.
I made a secure ponytail base to start then added wire and wrapped the hair around to create the height and structure.
After the hair was up and sleek, I applied the Mielle Rice Water & Aloe Braid Gel. It was perfect to get a nice smooth base braid.
I pulled pieces out throughout the updo and re-wrapped into knots around the pre-wrapped hair to add dimension and depth.
I finished with the Pomegranate & Honey Blend Super Hold Edge Gel to get those edges laid down.
The final look led to a tall cylinder like structure.
Want more? Check out 33 more stunning hairstyles from the Met Gala 2023.
The 2023 Met Gala was a night to remember, with celebrities showcasing their stunning looks on the red carpet. Among them was Ariana Debose, who stunned in a hair look that paid homage to Karl Lagerfeld’s iconic hair color and her own heritage.
Ariana Debose’s Met Gala hairstyle was created by Celebrity Stylist, Araxi Lindsey, who combined different ideas to create a unique look. Joseph Altuzarra envisioned the classic finger waves of Josephine Baker, while Ariana and Araxi had a vision of white ombré cornrow braids. Together, they created an edgy, artsy look, and celebrated cultural greatness.
Araxi used the As I Am Rice Water Collection to achieve this look for shampooing and conditioning. The collection is known for being light with a gentle fragrance, making it the perfect choice for Ariana’s hair. After a blow dry to smooth her hair for braiding, Araxi went for an artsy parting with a little bit of edginess.
The result was cornrows going into a fishtail braid with a tribal finish. To smooth and condition Ariana’s edges, the Araxi used the As I Am Classic Curling Jelly. The Curling Jelly added natural moisture to Ariana’s hair and allowed movement until it dried into place.
“I love the natural moisture that the As I Am Curling Jelly gives,” Araxi said. “The Rice Water Collection is perfect for keeping hair light and smelling great. I’m thrilled with how this look turned out, and I’m honored to have been a part of Ariana’s Met Gala experience.”
The Met Gala is known for its extravagant fashion and beauty looks, and Ariana Debose’s Met Gala hairstyle was no exception. With its cultural inspiration and unique style, her hair was a standout feature of the night.
Want more? Check out 33 more stunning hairstyles from the Met Gala 2023.
When Flawless by Gabrielle Union hit the shelves, it immediately set itself apart from other celebrity-owned beauty brands for nourishing ingredients and dedication to textured hair. Flawless by Gabrielle Union is starting the year off by expanding the collection from the essentials like shampoo and deep conditioning masques to stylers that will elevate your hair game. The collection is heavily inspired by the salon experience – one that allows individuals to be vulnerable, talk about issues of importance in the community, and escape the stressors of life. Flawless by Gabrielle Union wants to pay homage to this experience by also giving people the opportunity to renew their looks and spirit, which is why we are so thrilled to be introducing these new products.
Flawless by Gabrielle Union wants to pay homage to this experience by also giving people the opportunity to renew their looks and spirit
We sat down with celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims and co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union. Sims originally began his entertainment career fifteen years ago in Chicago as a professional dancer and choreographer for some of the most influential artists in music, including Missy Elliot and Sean P Diddy Combs. However, Sims always loved hair and quickly realized that is where his ultimate passion lies. It was not long before Sims started amassing his own list of celebrity clients including Gabrielle Union, Janet Jackson, Queen Latifah, David and Victoria Beckham, Christina Milian, and Mary J Blige. As the co-founder of Flawless, Larry aims to provide product knowledge and style education to everyone. Check out more from our interview with Larry below where he breaks down each new product and shares insights into how the collection was created.
What was the goal of creating these new products?
We really wanted to make sure that we got products out to our consumers and our supporters that were super affordable and on-trend. We wanted to make sure that it was affordable and accessible no matter what your social or economic status was and or is. We’re really proud to say that we’re able to still give the efficacy of the same quality without compromising our ingredients and we’re really happy.
What was the inspiration for expanding the brand to stylers?
These new stylers were an homage to what a beauty shop is and the experience people had within them growing up. There are two different experiences between a beauty shop and a salon. We wanted to create a marriage of both cultures and show that no matter if you’re in a shop or in a salon both of those experiences still warrant the quality of these new stylists that we have. We’re really proud and excited for everybody to see the campaign that’s coming out.
Let’s talk products, can you break down each product for NaturallyCurly?
5 Butter Miracle Leave-in Conditioner
First, have our 5 Butter Miracle Leave-in Conditioner ($10.99), it is absolutely moisturizing and amazing. We originally launched the 5 Butter Miracle Mask which is super hydrating and moisturizing. The goal was to build off the success we had with that product and we believe we have a conditioner that a lot of our consumers really love. The fact that we had all 5 Butters in it that was topped off with a bit of sweet honey, was amazing. That extra hydration is essential for a curly girl or guy that’s rocking their natural style hair which can be a bit drier. We really wanted to really dive into the moisture and the hydration of this leave-in, so this is really great.
Elongating Curl Custard
We originally launched with our defining curl cream rather and a lot of curlies like to cocktail it with a gel to get the elongation. We listened to our consumers and decided to create a product for them that became our Elongating Curl Custard ($10.99), which is super defining and is really shiny. It seals the cuticle. It has amazing ingredients in it and it just gives you that elongation and that definition without the flaking or drying. It does not create that crunch that is typically associated with gels so you’re gonna have a soft finish with definition.
Styling Glaze
I’ve been in this business for many years and I’ve used glaze products on so many people and one of the problems with glazes is that if you’re under lights, if you’re working long hours with heat, sometimes they can melt. It can run that. As a stylist, it was super important to come up with the right combination of ingredients so that it doesn’t perform in that way. With our Styling Glaze ($8.99) it’s great for high ponytails, buns, and up-dos. I’m really proud of Gab and I think that it probably is one of her favorite products. When we had test series and tried to figure out the components of the products she was like no I’m keeping all of the testers, so she robbed me of the testers. We’re really excited for everybody to get their hands on them, these are absolutely fantastic.
Nourishing Scalp Spray
Next is our Nourishing Scalp Spray ($10.99) for those that are rocking natural hairstyles like Bantu knots, braids, or flat twists. If you’re rocking your foundation underneath your units and you don’t want to start all over, you can really refresh your scout with this product. It has aloe, peppermint, bacuri butter, and coconut oil in it and it’s all just really refreshing. It allows you to get a little bit of longevity out of having to start over on your wash days. We did launch with. scalp soothing tonic and the difference between both products is that the scalp soothing tonic soothes the scalp, but it also gets rid of build-up from products you were using. This completely refreshes and nourishes your scalp, so you can use these two in combination.
What product would you recommend our readers try out for the first time?
From the styler line, I would say the first thing that I would recommend trying would probably be the elongating custard. I’ve noticed in the market that a lot of people have the same issues with the finish of custards, whether it be flaking, crust, or it’s not defining or elongating. This is super versatile for women that are wearing it as a wash-and-go, twist-outs, or the shingles method. It starts off with moisturizing, replenishing, and hydrating it.
Are stylers are they best used alone or can they be cocktailed?
We wanted to make sure that the line was standalone but also cocktailed in any way that fits a person’s specific needs because as we know there isn’t one hair texture or one process that works for everyone. You can’t do like a one-size-fits-all in terms of your hair. Every hair texture, routine, and lifestyle has specific needs, so we really wanted to make sure that these products could work alone or in tandem together which can be a cocktail.
Why do you think there has been a renewed interest in scalp care?
Gab has children and when you think about her own hair journey, where she has lost hair due to IVF treatments and trying to get pregnant, we specifically have gone down a very deep dive into how to grow her hair back from basically nickel size and bald spots. We tried everything under the sun, but what we realized as a company and as friends is that it really starts number one with what you put in your body and then what you do outside of your body.
Outside of your body, it starts with your scalp, so when we talk about how to get healthy hair growth consistently, I always lead with a proper diet and drinking tons of water. I encourage stimulation and exercise to invigorate your blood flow from the inside and then from the outside. You’re going to have beautiful hair, but if the scalp isn’t nurtured and taken care of, then it all goes to waste. Taraji is a good friend of ours and we support TPH by Taraji and her tagline is “healthy scalp, healthy hair.” I feel like in the space she was one of the first elected to lead the charge. She blew the horn on that and I really appreciate that as well.
What is a fun summer style that you’d love to see created with these products?
Summer is definitely coming. I feel like box braids are happening. You know, one thing that I was doing with Janet Jackson in particular is that I was adding hair to her box braids. Everybody was trying to figure out how we did it, what it was and and the method we created. I just love the fact that people can have an opportunity to protect their hair but also incorporate extra hair into their protective styles without putting any heat on their hair. I’m really excited to see that trend pop this summer.
Have you tried the Flawless by Gabrielle Union products? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Read next: 12 Ways to Style Box Braids
Davines Group was started in 1983 in Parma, Italy by the Bollati family and had been producing high-end hair care products for consumers worldwide. President and Owner David Bollati has remained committed to creating and developing products that evoke sustainability and have cutting-edge chemistry that is ethical for customers. The multi-faceted haircare line is sold in over 90 locations worldwide and features a wide range of products to serve any hair type and challenge. Their most recent launch is their curly hair line formulated and designed to help fight frizz, maintain elasticity, and leave curls bouncy and defined. We sat down to chat with the owner about their humble origins, sustainability, and curls.
Davines originated in 1983 in Parma, Italy. What has been a staple of its evolution over the years?
Founded by, and still, 100% owned and run by, the Bollati family in Parma, Italy, Davines is an international beauty company with distribution in more than 90 countries dedicated to a balance of beauty and sustainability. For the past 30 years, all Davines products have been care-crafted in Parma using the highest-quality natural ingredients and scientific rigor. As the company and environmental commitment have evolved, all product packaging is now plastic-neutral, carbon-neutral, and produced with clean energy. As a certified B Corp, the Davines Group strives to place social and environmental sustainability at the core of its ethos.
“At Davines, we believe that living a balance of beauty and sustainability, what we can “sustainable beauty”, can improve our lives and the world around us.” – Davide Bollati, President
How does your “sustainable beauty” philosophy affect your ingredients and product manufacturing?
Sustainable Beauty, the balance of beauty + sustainability, is the driving force behind our products and projects — from formulation to design to ethics and customers. We constantly push ourselves to be better and do better for the planet and our clients while creating high-performance products.
Why is having a positive environmental impact such a staple of the business?
Since becoming a certified B Corp in 2016, we have rewritten our way of doing business, looking at business as a positive force capable of generating a profit and, at the same time, creating a positive impact on people and the environment. We have also decided to align our objectives with the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the UN Agenda 2030, entrenching them into our corporate strategy.
How would you describe the ingredients sourced from the slow food presidium and included in your products?
Every Slow Food Presidia ingredient in the Essential Haircare line is cultivated by an Italian farmer who works to preserve ingredients at risk of extinction. The Essential Haircare line lets you feel good about giving your hair the custom care it craves while also helping to protect and preserve our planet’s biodiversity.
What is one piece of advice you give an aspiring entrepreneur looking to break into the hair industry?
“For a hairdresser, I would avoid the word entrepreneur altogether. I believe if you get into hairdressing to solely make a dollar, then that’s all you will ever earn. If you begin with an interest that develops into a passion, this is the correct path. I always encourage fellow hairdressers to find great mentors whose work catches their attention and learn from them, soaking every piece of knowledge they can from them and anyone else around them. Ask why, question your teachers, so you know not only how to replicate but innovate, study the history of art, music, film, fashion, and art from which catches your attention, then use all of that culture to distill into a style of work which is original to you, this will help you make a mark in whatever direction your career takes and most importantly do it for the love of the craft, not money or fame, likes or followers. If you do it for love, and there’s a good chance you’ll have a rewarding career.” – Tom Connell, Davines’ Hair Art Director
What inspired the curly hair collection?
“The desire was to experiment with the vast array of curl care and styling products available, combined with wanting to provide ideas and options for both the hairdresser and client when approaching curly hair. The lack of knowledge and fear of how to properly treat and style curls is very common among hairdressers, and we have, hopefully, addressed some of these concerns.” – Tom Connell, Davines’ Hair Art Director
A winter favorite from your collection is the “Curl Gel Oil” how would you describe its uses and benefits?
This is aCurl Gel Oil that was created for thick, coarse curls. It is an innovative gel-to-oil formula that features a gel’s soft hold and the hydration of an oil, delivering frizz-free definition to each strand, with hair left feeling natural, soft, and shiny. To achieve soft curls, apply Davines’ this is a Curl Building Serum to damp hair, then layer with This is a Curl Gel Oil and scrunch into the hair. To finish, diffuse the hair to dry. To achieve more defined curls, apply Davines’ This is a Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid to damp hair, then layer with This is a Curl Gel Oil and scrunch into the hair. Diffuse to dry, and enjoy your bouncy, defined curls!
For first-time users, what are the 2 staple products they must try from the curly hair collection?
This is Curl Building serum is a must-have product for those with curly hair. It adds elasticity and shine to the curls while blocking frizz and humidity. For wash day, our LOVE Curl Shampoo and Conditioner is perfect for those looking to control their curls, and the consumer, is sure to see immediate results.
Check out: How Young King Hair Care is Bridging the Curly Industry Gap for Young Black and Brown Men
Julissa Prado is continuing to blaze a large path for her Latina-owned business, Rizos Curls. The self-funded hair care line for curls, coils and waves everywhere founded by Julissa Prado celebrates expansion to every Ulta Beauty location by launching a National Masterclass Tour with curl experts including Celebrity Hairstylist Irinel De León.
As of April 9th, Rizos Curls will be available at all Ulta Beauty stores, making them the first Latina-owned curly hair care brand to do so. This expansion marks the growing success of the brand from their initial launch of 300 stores at Ulta Beauty in June 2021 to now being available at more than 1,350 Ulta Beauty locations. To celebrate and continue fostering community-focused experiences, Rizos Curls is launching a free Masterclass Tour with stops in Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Orlando bringing the country’s top curl experts directly to the community, including Celebrity Hairstylist Irinel De León and nationally known beauty influencers such as Viva Glam Kay! Customers can stop by their local ULTA where they can witness live curl transformations, expert tips and tricks for your waves, curls & coils, and a Q&A with Julissa!
The celebration continues with the launch of two new products from Rizos Curls at Ulta Beauty as the brand continues to expand into scalp care and styling products for curls and beyond. These two new products were designed to help users achieve healthy hair by keeping the scalp clean, balanced, and nourished. Read more about the newest additions to the Rizos Curls line up below.
The Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp & Hair Rinse.is a game-changing product that will reboot hair to receive and retain moisture for a healthy scalp and soft bouncy curls proven to help styling products perform better. Formulated with 95%naturally derived ingredients, this clarifying hair rinse removes scalp build up by gently cleansing and removing residue with its key featured ingredient – Certified Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
Made with ultra-potent, quality ingredients like Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Niacinamide, Black Tea Kombucha, Lemon Oil, Blue Agave and more. All combined to gently clarify, add shine, deliver nutrients & antioxidants.
How to Use:
- Massage a small amount to wet, freshly shampooed hair and scalp.
- Allow to sit for a maximum of three minutes and then rinse thoroughly with cool water.
- The Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp & Hair Rinse can also be used in place of shampoo.
Follow with the Rizos Curls Deep Conditioner, if needed.
The Beach Waves Texturizing Salt Spray is an easy-to-use non-drying texturizing salt spray that gives waves a fuller, thicker look while providing instant definition for heatless waves. Formulated with Sea Salt for natural texture enhancement along withBlue Agave Leaf,Aloe, andPrickly PearCactus,the Beach Waves Texturizing Salt Spray provides nutrient rich hydration all while Papaya and Passion Fruit extracts enhance natural shine.
It’s PROVEN to enhance texture, volume and shine! Unlike other salt sprays that may dry out your curls, we carefully selected ultra-nourishing ingredients including Blue Agave Extract, Red Algae & Prickly Pear Cactus to ensure that your hair is healthy, protected & flourishing.
How to Use:
Spray on damp or dry hair and scrunch to activate waves.
Air dry or diffuse.
Apply spray at mid length to ends for best results.
Can also be applied to the scalp to absorb excess oil.
Let’s give a huge applause to Rizos Curls for this amazing feat! History making moves at Ulta, a masterclass with world class stylists, and new products? We can’t wait to see what’s next!
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Coachella is the event of the spring and we’re excited to see all the stunning styles that evoked desert chic. Celebrity stylist Coree Moreno is the genius behind your favorite stars like Cynthia Erivo, Lupita Nyong’o, and Danai Gurira. As the stylist behind coveted red carpet looks, magazine covers, and reality tv, Moreno has curated fantastic braids, twists, and afros, for Hollywood’s brightest stars. This past weekend, he took his skills out to the desert for the biggest music festival of the spring.
Lil Nas X wowed the crowds at Coachella 2023 with his stunning and versatile hairstyles, all thanks to the nourishing and protective hair products from As I Am. The pop star’s hairstylist relied on the brand’s Rice Water Micellar Shampoo and Conditioner to prep his hair for the festival looks that left everyone talking.
Lil Nax X’s Braided Blowout Pony
Moreno shared that working with a pop star on-the-go requires products that can cleanse, nourish, and protect the hair and scalp. As I Am’s Rice Water Micellar Shampoo and Conditioner were the perfect choices for Lil Nas X’s Coachella looks, which included a braided blowout pony and a raver shag.
The Rice Water Micellar Shampoo was used to cleanse Lil Nas X’s hair, while the Rice Water Conditioner provided nourishment and detangling for easy styling. The hairstylist also used rice water before blow drying and in between protective styles to keep the scalp and hair healthy while braided.
The Raver Shag
“We wanted to create a variety of looks that showcased Lil Nas X’s personality and style while ensuring his hair remained healthy and strong,” said Moreno. “As I Am’s Rice Water products were the perfect choice to achieve that balance.”
What was your favorite Coachella hairstyle this year? Let us know in the comments!
Helix Hair Labs is bringing innovation to the natural hair space with their newest hair tools to protect your hair while you sleep. Rebecca Allen and Carly Stapleton are co-founders who are using research, development, and testing to the forefront of the consumer conversation around hair wellness. Their two new products, the sleep sleeve and silk slip tie, help address help protect your hair damage and help maintain any style of hair regardless of texture or hair type. The products are designed to be versatile and complimentary to any hair routine for easy maintenance and protection whether you are sleeping or exercising. We sat down to chat with the burgeoning entrepreneurs to learn more about their new business entering the market.
Why do you think there has been a renewed conversation around hair health?
I think what we observed was really that everybody was losing their hair. Specifically, through the pandemic, you know whether that was illness-related or stress related. Compounded by all of the other reasons we’re always losing our hair whether that’s life cycle related or just genetically predisposed. It’s it felt like there was much more front-facing conversation happening about hair loss because of the pandemic in part, and that that was playing out on social media as well.
What inspired the name Helix Hair Labs?
We wanted the brand to be grounded in efficacy, science, and observed reality. I think particularly in hair care, there is a lot of well-intentioned, but wishy-washy information out there. Helix alluded to the various textures of curls and the actual shape of a double helix gives shape to the hair
How is your branding process and how does it reflect who your company is?
We wanted a brand that felt fresh and organic with a futuristic vibe. We used a lot of clinical outer space inspiration like a white laboratory on the inside, a space station rather than the deep part of space. The bright clinical clean space station and bringing in organic elements to it. I wanted it to feel gender-neutral. We want our products to evolve and everybody to feel invited in. When we were conducting our initial interview series, we met with people in their 50s and 60s and we found that regardless of age, many people are experiencing the same types of hair challenges. We didn’t want to be just another Gen-Z zebra or millennial brand and focused on being as inclusive as possible.
How did taking a scientific approach to shaping your product development?
We spent a lot of time getting in the bathrooms of people with all different types of hair who were managing it in all different ways and understanding what their routines were, and what the products they were using were both web products and tools and devices. We wanted to create a comprehensive mapping of how people were cycling through their hair. Once we got into the development we had a lot of ideas about ways that we could improve points in people’s routines and provide specific tools that would either create efficiencies in their routines or efficacy in their routines. We’re rigorously making sure that these products work for everybody with a specific texture and making sure not to overlook people with 4C hair. We believe with any tools is that when you design with the customer in mind that you actually can make better products for everybody.
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What common hair challenges do your products solve?
Everything that we’re bringing to life falls into what we call the Helix code and that is that you want to grow your healthiest hair, style it with minimal damage, and then protect it. Our mantra is to grow, style, and protect with every product. What we’ve brought to life first falls into our class and protect bucket. For example, our silk slip tie is 100% Mulberry silk and it’s kind of a cross between like a scrunchy and a Hermes twilly. To customers with curly and coily hair, you can achieve whichever style you want. Similarly, our sleep sleeve is for protecting your hair at night or during exercise. Depending on your hair length, you can secure it at a different length, so it’s versatile and it’s working for a lot of different people in their preferred way to wrap and protect their hair.
What are the best ways to use your products?
I’d say for the sleep sleeve, the best way to use this is when your hair is done and you are going to bed and you want to protect it from damage while you’re sleeping, right, like friction while you’re sleeping, and also preserve your style. There’s no wrong way to tie it if that is totally personal preference. The other way that people can wear it too is if you are doing an overnight treatment on your hair and you want to just wrap it so that you’re not making a mess.
We designed little cutouts to make space for your ears and then you can wear it with the crossover in front and the logo market back should fit comfortably over your ears.
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Read next: How Entrepreneur Gabby Goodwin is Growing Her Beauty Empire at Age 15
Meet Joni Odum, President and CEO of Firstline Brands, who is a graduate of Hampton and has been a critical aspect of the evolution of Firstline Brands. As one of the first Black-owned brands carving out a lane for natural hair products, Joni has helped carry the torch lit by her father to ensure the brand offers timeless accessories and products to elevate any hairstyle. They are pioneers for brands like Evolve, WavEnforcer, Camryn’s BFF, Dri Sweat, and Sleek, which are featured in major retailers all over the world. We spoke with Joni to discuss her family’s legacy and the evolution of their products since 1986.
Can you tell us the origins of Firstline?
My father founded this business. He was a pioneer in those days because there was no dedicated space for this particular market, the multicultural textured hair care market. He filled a gap for an underserved market and established distribution years ago.
How did you get into the hair care industry?
I grew up with an entrepreneurial spirit, you know, with my dad being in this business, I spent summers working in the warehouse in our manufacturing facility at that time, loading products in acrylic bags and then preparing them for shipment, whether they were a wig cap or a do-rag. I was in the warehouse and then would spend time helping with the administrative side of the business. I spent a year at Neutrogena in LA, then a year at their corporate headquarters in global strategic marketing, and then landed at McNeil Consumer. I was managing the brand marketing expenses for the Tylenol Franchise and working so closely with the Marketing team.
How did you transition from finance to your family business?
My dad saw an opportunity for me to lead the product development side of our business, marketing, and then help gain new distribution. I was passionate about culture building at the company and inspiring others to lead, so he put me in that lane, and it served me and the company well. About 15 years later, we broadened our portfolio of brands more than we had years ago. We now have five main brands and are in distribution across many other retail stores. We’ve been in Walmart, Walgreens, and Sally Beauty for over 20 years. In recent years, we have been able to deepen our partnerships across retail chains & specialty stores nationally and in some international territories. I’m happy I had his leadership and grateful we’ve worked so closely together.
Many black-owned businesses end up getting bought out by larger brands that have to sell or, you know, cash out in some way. Why is it important to you all to remain a black-owned business?
We are 100% black-owned. It’s important to me to show leadership in that market, especially being the daughter and carrying on the legacy that my father left for my sister and me. The community matters and being that physical brand and voice you know still resonates and speaks to the customer in terms of delivering quality and excellence.
What new style and accessory trends are you seeing most popular with your customers?
We’re targeting these different patterns and prints that appeal to multicultural customers.
The pandemic created a need for alternatives to day-to-day hairstyles when going into the office. As people transitioned into remote life, we saw many opting to embrace beauty like a snack—something quick and easy that they could do instead of having to spend this long process of styling their hair. We’re trying to develop things people can use in just a few minutes to achieve a beautiful look.
What can we look forward to coming down the line, whether it’s a new brand, whether it’s new products, what can we look forward to from your brand this year?
Our focus is on creating everyday items that meet your everyday needs. We also come up with a few items that the consumer is going to love and that he/she didn’t know she needed.
What excited you about being an entrepreneur?
I love seeing people do what they love and making an impact, and our team most inspires me. You inspire them to greatness in whatever area that drives them and let them be authentic. I’m passionate about developing new & innovative products. My dad knew to put me in that space. I also love working with people. I love meeting gaps and needs for the customer.
Read next: How Young King Hair Care is Bridging the Curly Industry Gap for Young Black and Brown Men
We love a good trend and nothing has been more popular over the past few months than the “Olaplex Trend”. This trend began during the spring season as Olaplex expanded its collection and curlies were experimenting with strategic ways to use the product.
What is the Olaplex Bun?
The “Olaplex Bun” focuses on slathering your hair with your chosen Olaplex product (for naturalistas No. 3 is our holy grail”> and then creating a simple slicked back bun that allows the product to absorb into your hair.
Read next: Is K18 Better Than Olaplex for Damaged Hair?
What are the benefits of the Olaplex Bun?
The appeal is that you can maximize your Olaplex product by allowing it to penetrate your hair follicles as a deep conditioner you can leave on for a few hours or overnight. If you’re a regular Olaplex user then you know it usually can sit on your hair for 10-20 minutes and then is washed out afterwards. For new users wondering what the Olaplex hype is about, let’s break down what Olaplex is and what naturalistas love it so much.
What is Olaplex?
Olaplex is a scientific system that is designed to help repair, protect, and strengthen damaged hair regardless of your texture or type. It’s very commonly used to treat damaged hair while you are at the salon, but you can buy your own bottle from popular retailers like SHOPNaturallyCurly, Amazon and Sephora. Each bottle ranges in focus for a specific hair treatment whether it’s to repair broken bonds, eliminate frizz, treat colored curls, or help with hydration. If you’re looking for an easy way to help make your hair easier, healthier, and stronger, this is a great system to invest in. The entire line consists of shampoos, oils, and masques, but for this trend we’re going to use their popular No.3 product.
@olaplex Yoga-plex?? Yeah that works ? #olaplexbun #olaplex #yoga #workout #youcandoboth #fyp ♬ GASLIGHT – INJI
@olaplex @Cokothenatural shows us how she rocks her curls in the newest hair trend, the #OLAPLEXbun ?The trendiest way to selfcare! #olaplex N°.0 & N°.3 available @sephora & @sephoracanada ✨#hairtok #olaplex #curlyhair #curlyhaircare #naturalhair #hairrepair #naturalhaircare #hairtips #hairgoals #hairinspo #Tiptok #spring #fashionforyou ♬ Lo-fi hip hop – NAO-K
@theamandabelair Oh my god ? @olaplex #fyp #hair #hairtutorial #curly #curlyhairtutorial #olaplex #olaplexno3 #olaplextreatment ♬ original sound – ScaryMommy
Trying Out the Olaplex Bun Trend
I have been an avid Olaplex No.3 user for a few years now since I started dying my hair. It’s a small bottle that packs a tiny punch so I use it 1x a week and sparingly. Since it runs about $28(without tax”> I definitely try to make it last as long as possible, so needless to say I’m crossing my fingers about this trend’s results.
You can use the trend on freshly washed hair or second day hair so I decided to use it between my wash days. If you don’t want to use the No.3 bottle then TikTok users have also the option to use the No.6 Bond Smoother.
One of the pivotal parts of this process is having to rewet your hair and dentagle it section by section. If this is too tedious it might just be easier to hop in the shower, but if you have the time then you can work the product in section by section.
You’ll then apply your Olaplex to each section of your hair and focus on either the tips or the entire section. I noticed my hair immediately responding to the No.3 which I don’t always get to see in the shower because I’m just waiting to wash it out. Seeing it’s immediate effect on my curls was very surprising and made me hopeful.
You’ll swoop your hair into a slicked back bun and make sure to brush down your edges if you plan to keep this style throughout the day. I planned to leave it on overnight so I sprayed extra water and tried to smooth it down as much as possible since I couldn’t add any other product on top. It didn’t drip off or fall off of my scalp and was styled very smoothly with my hair. It did begin to create a soft cast on my hair towards the end of the night that made my hair a little stiff, but it wasn’t anything too alarming.
When it washed out it was shiny, detangled, and felt very strong. It really set up my hair for success for the rest of my week.
Final Thoughts
This is a great, simple, and easy trend that gives you the benefits of a deep condition without having to wait around for wash day. It was great that my hair maintained the style throughout the day so it wasn’t a hassle or inconvenience. I might just make this a weekly routine because of how well my hair was hydrated and conditioned after this experience!
Read next: 3 Types of Hair Treatments – And Who Should Use Them
We’re very excited to be hitting up our favorite stores as we’re Christmas shopping, which means it’s time to head to Target. Target has become a staple of our daily lives whether you’re looking for cute decorations, stylish outfits, or glamming it up in the beauty aisle. We’re seeing more and more legendary curl brands on the shelves of Target stores which means this is a great place to knock out your curly girl gifts. Whether you are looking for gift sets or gifting a friend with a new product, here are the curly girl must-haves to shop for gifts at Target.
1. Mielle Soothing Scalp Wash Day Duo Gift Set
Mielle Organics is bringing the holiday cheer this season with their holiday kit ($14.99″> that brings together the ultimate wash day duo. Their oats and honey formula is specifically designed for sensitive scalps, helps eliminate dryness, and provides maximum hydration for the ultimate wash day. You can shop the kit online or in stores today!
2. Rizos Curls Light Hold Gel
Rizos Curls is a Latinx brand that has been blazing the curly circuit all year with fresh formulas and vibrant packaging that grabs your attention. The light hold gel ($19.99″> is made with ingredients like aloe vera, flaxseed, thyme, and helps to achieve the ultimate hold without the crunch or flaking. As one of their newest 2022 products, it’s a must-have item for your curly girl arsenal.
3. Be Rooted Notebook Gift Set for the Fitness Lover
Be Rooted has made waves in the stationary and paper space for their innovative, diverse, and inclusive design that puts women of color front and center. For the holidays they debuted several amazing holiday sets to help empower, inspire, and invigorate your goals. Whether you’re looking to kickstart your 2023 with a focus on fitness ($14.99″> or working on your green thumb, they feature a wide range of designs and options to inspire the women in your circle.
4. CURLS Blueberry Bliss Control Jelly
CURLS is coming through with their iconic Blueberry Bliss collection that is in full stock at Target. Their control jelly ($17.99″> is here to help defrizz, define your curls, and help refresh your curls between wash day. The entire collection is designed to help repair, restore, and condition overworked curls! Each product included within the collection is carefully formulated with certified organic blueberry extract, coconut oil, and aloe leaf juice.
5. Mixed Chicks Curl Sculptor
Bounce into the holiday season with Mixed Chicks! Their Curl Sculptor ($9.99″> is a mainstay in their collection for its ability to elongate, moisturize, and fast drying abilities for textured hair. It’s fortified with B5 vitamins to help nourish the hair and can be used across a variety of textures. If you like products that are lightweight and can be used with a rod or roller sets, this multi-faceted product is great.
6. The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam
The Doux is keeping your curls fresh to death this season. This dual-use mousse ($14.99″> provides the perfect amount of hold to define your curls or control your sleek look. The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam gives definition, shine, and volume to every hair type and curl pattern.
7. Kaleidoscope Miracle Drops
We can all use a little miracle to help replenish and moisturize our hair from time to time. The Kaleidoscope Miracle Drops ($19.99″> works hair and scalp oil is filled with essential oils to combat dry scalp, aid in hair growth, and offers a lightweight shine to hair. They are infused with cooling peppermint to enhance blood circulation and tea tree oil helps to cleanse the scalp and combat dryness.
8. SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Shampoo + Conditioner Infused with Coconut & Hibiscus Hair Kit
This is a holiday bundle you just cannot miss. Three amazing products ($19.99″> to help cleanse your scalp, define your curls, and reduce frizz. Shea Moisture brings together the hydrating ingredients of silk protein, shea butter, coconut oil, and hibiscus extract to improve and strengthen your curly hair routine.
9. Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Hair Care Gift Set Shampoo + Hair Mask
We can all use a little extra TLC during the season when life slows down a bit more than usual. If you’ve been in need of a kit ($14.99″> to help repair weak and damaged hair, this is a gift you want to buy. Carol’s Daughter includes a sulfate free shampoo and hair mask to help improve breakage-prone hair.
10. Tgin Rose Water Shampoo and Conditioner
We love a great wash day duo that we can carry and pack in such a cute case. Tgin is giving you the best of both worlds with their sulfate-free rose water shampoo and conditioner ($19.99″> that is sure to liven up your wash day. If you have low porosity hair and are looking for products that are gentle and hydrating, then this duo is a fantastic gift to take with you in 2023.
Stocking stuffers have always been a sweet surprise that can help add to the holiday excitement whether you’re an adult or a kid. The challenge that comes with stocking stuffers is finding the right products that are compact and powerful enough to include with all the other fun treats we get. For the beauty lover, we don’t want candy and trinkets, we want accessories, travel sets, and sample sizes of new brands we can test out for the new hair. Look no further than our line-up below which features a wide array of options for you to consider as you complete your last-minute shopping.
1. Bevel
Bevel is a men’s grooming brand that features exciting stocking options like their On-The-Go Gift Set ($12.71″> to help keep your favorite guy fresh and moisturized all day long. The kit includes Bevel’s top-selling shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and Dark Cassis body wash in convenient travel-ready 3.4oz pouches, designed for the person that’s on the go.
2. Damn Gina
Damn Gina was founded by Sumana Jayanth and features an array of haircare products for curly hair such as the highest quality silk turbans, pillowcases, scrunchies, and other protective hair accessories. The Hair Oil Highness ($36″> is an ultra-lightweight formula that combines ingredients like prickly pear seed and moringa seed oils to help strengthen hair from within. A simple, yet effective product that you can use on-the-go to help boost your shine and reduce frizz.
3. Pear Nova
Pear Nova is a luxury vegan, cruelty-free and nontoxic nail lacquer and nail care brand that includes over 35 bold to muted shades, that complement all complexions. Its founder Rachel James wanted to help fill the void for medium to dark skin tones in the nail world and committed to bridging that gap. The holiday essentials nail set ($54″> was featured on Oprah’s favorite things in 2020 and includes 4 luxury shades and 4 top coats to complete the manicure.
4. Bomba Curls
Bomba Curls is a Latina-founded brand that helps you celebrate your natural self with products made from premium and organic super-ingredients that will not only make your natural hair bomb, but also promote hair growth. The Silky Satin Scrunchies ($9″> are a great addition to any curly regime to help protect your curls from damage and reduce breakage.
5. yFoy
Nicole Murphy is the founder and CEO of yFOY’s which features a range of clean and organic wellness products. Getting up in the morning doesn’t have to be a hassle with her Morning Energy Booster ($20″> vegan capsules. They can help to kick-start your metabolism and will immediately enhance your morning routine with its blend of Vitamin B12, Chromium Picolinate, Caffeine, Garcinia Fruit, and Green Tea extract that naturally increases energy and focus.
6. FaceTory
FaceTory offers a promise to deliver clean products researched and envisioned in California and formulated in South Korea. They are formulated to be cruelty-free and without sulfates, paraben, fragrance, synthetic colors and EDTA. The seven facial masks collection ($13.95″> can help to add hydration and balance skin, each mask focuses on a different skin concern to help boost radiance and support the skin.
7. PUR Cosmetics
Are you ready to create effortless glam eye makeup looks this holiday season in minutes? PUR Cosmetics features holiday stocking stuffers that will help add glam to your eyes with their Eye Makeup trio ($22″> which includes our Full Size On Point Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen, Fully Charged Mascara Mini, and Full Size On Point Metallic Eye Gloss – a new limited edition metallic gloss hybrid eyeshadow.
8. Glow by Daye
Glow by Daye combines two favorites for a stocking stuffer treat that you will love. The Afro Geo Print Satin Lined Shower Cap AND Afro Geo Print Satin Bonnet ($42.99″> are packaged together as the perfect gift with an African Inspired Geometric Design with reverse side Solid Black.The satin material is designed for thicker and healthier hair that can adapt to fit almost any size head, hair length, or hair thickness.
9. Common Heir
Common Heir is here to elevate your skincare game with skincare ritual to help you massage your favorite serums into your skin. Their Gua Sha Facial Sculptor ($68″> helps to stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote collagen production. As a regular ritual, gua sha rituals promote lymphatic drainage to firm and sculpt, de-puff, and release tension in your facial muscles.
10. Kitsch
Kitsch is a brand that you want to support because many of their products are created with recycled materials in order to promote sustainability and accessibility. Their holiday collection features a wide range of products to keep your hair healthy and happy such as bottle-free shampoo and conditioner bars ($13 – $99″>, luxury shower caps ($18 – $38″>, to genius hair solutions like the viral TikTok Satin Heatless Curling Set ($24″>, celebrity loved statement bobby pins ($7 – $29″>, and the pull-free hair ties and scrunchies ($5 – $14″>.
11. Senegence
Senegence is backed by science and is known for rich colors that lasts up to 18 hours. As a woman-owned and founded brand, Sengence has grown to include makeup and skincare that make customers feel empowered and beautiful. Their new holiday collection features options like Merry & Bright ($45″>: This collection includes limited edition shades: Merry LipSense, Bright Gloss, Brilliant ShimmerShadowSense, Blissful ShadowSense, and a gold mini organza bag.
12. Essence Cosmetics
Essence Cosmetics is all about making beauty fun, affordable, and high-quality whether eye shadow, nail polish, lip gloss, and eyeliner. This season they are helping bring out your natural glow with this shimmery highlighter ($4.99“>, perfect for popping in the new year. A glass (or bottle in some cases”> pairs perfectly with the nude glowing product as both will make you the highlight of the night.
13. WonderCurl
Scalp massagers have been all the rage this season for their ability to help stimulate the scalp and promote circulation to help with healthy hair growth. The WonderCurl Stimulating Silicon Scalp Brush ($15″>. It can be used with your favorite shampoo while you are in the shower or pre-wash to help remove any build-up on your scalp, the soft, silicon bristles gently massage your scalp for a relaxing and luxurious experience.
What stocking stuffers are you wishing for this holiday season?
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has become an integral part of celebrating Black legacy and history for people all over the globe. One of the hallmarks of the film is the representation of Black beauty and hair in all it’s creative and artistic forms that is very inspiring to people everywhere. Young King Hair Care is helping bridge the gap between the film and honoring the beauty of Black hair with a limited-edition collection consisting of 5 new hair products for any age.
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Infused with African essential oils, including Baobab and Marula Oils, this Wakandan Collection is designed to leave hair strengthened and hydrated, while providing those royal vibes we all deserve. The Young King brand focuses on helping back and brown young men who strive to be authentically themselves embrace their textured hair and love the skin they’re in. They seek to instill confidence and self love in young kings by advocating and promoting them to embrace and love their natural hair. Young King hair care has been featured on Shark Tank, Good Morning America, and is available at major retailers like Target, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever collection includes a cleansing co-wash, styling balm, refreshing oil spray and curl custard and special collector’s edition box. The individual bottles cost $16 each and the full collection totals at $56. As a plant-based collection customers can look forward to ingredients that will help add moisture, enhance shine, fight frizz, and provide a flexible hold for easy styling. Shop this limited-edition collection today and allow your young king to thrive with products that will truly make him feel like royalty.
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Ouidad has been the reigning authority in curly hair care for the past 30 years for their signature approach to curl care and they have just opened a new flagship location in Flatiron, New York City. Curlies can get excited for a destination that will be modern, sleek, and designed to accommodate growing clientele with a range of educational offerings for professional stylists looking to hone their skills in curl education.
Photo: @ouidad
The new Ouidad salon features a personalized experience for every curl type whether you have loose curls, waves, spirals, coils, and curls you haven’t unlocked. The salon is located in a dynamic downtown neighborhood to be more visible to a diverse community of naturalistas looking to make the beauty salon their go-to stop for hair care. This location will include 13 stations, 6 hooded chairs for color processing, and an extensive menu of services that will include core curly treatments and men’s grooming.
“We are extremely proud to announce the opening of our new flagship in such an energetic spot of Manhattan. The Ouidad experience is often life-changing, and this beautiful new salon is an important reminder of the hair magic that comes to life when you combine our professional heritage and the curl expertise of our talented stylists with curly customers,” shares Beauty by Imagination CEO, Francesca Raminella.
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The brand is excited to feature a roster of stylists skilled in a variety of curl techniques and who have been with the brand for over 20 years. Customers can expect stylists to be versed in a wide range of color services and curly cuts in addition to being licensed curl experts and Ouidad certified. Those licensed stylists looking to pursue a styling education from Ouidad can visit OuidadEducation.com to view a list of classes that are offered both at the new salon location and virtually.
“Professional education is a core part of Ouidad’s curl philosophy and this new flagship studio will allow us to better service our talented stylists. Not only are our educators passionate and committed to technical excellence, but our new space allows them to work closely and effectively with the stylists to master specific curl needs, increasing their curl confidence.” – Beauty by Imagination Director Of Business Development, Nikki Krause.
If you’re not in NYC, have no fear, the brand also features two other Ouidad flagship salons located in Santa Monica and Fort Lauderdale. Ouidad will begin rolling out the Ouidad Salon Partner Program in 2023, focusing on partnering with top-tier salons to turn them into the go-to place for Ouidad Curl Care in different communities.
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The new flagship location is now open for those looking to get healthier, happier, more hydrated curls with a custom approach to fit their unique curly needs. They are currently seeking assistants to join the amazing staff and are taking appointments at the newly opened salon. Book your visit today and get the Ouidad experience from the experts in-house at NYC.
Maxine Pittman is the Founder and CEO of Tress Obsessed Beauty Vending, a new way to shop your favorite natural haircare products in just a few seconds. As a Los Angeles native, Maxine has amassed a range of skills in customer services, marketing, public relations, sales experience, and more across various industries. Tress Obsessed originally began as an online beauty supply store before pivoting to an innovative beauty vending machine company during the pandemic. She used her experience traveling overseas to determine what gap she could fill for women of color and identified that beauty items are often overlooked and underrepresented. Her products provide travel-sized hair products for women whether they are at hotels, resorts, at the gym, college dorms, and so much more. We chatted with her during this holiday season to learn more about how Tress Obsessed was created, how she sources her products, and more.
What was your experience traveling as a woman of color?
I have had various experiences traveling. There are places that I go to where I always feel at peace and welcome, like Mexico. There are places where people look at me and are stuck up and I can tell there is a bit of racism or sexism in the mix, like in France. But, no matter how the people treat me I always have a good time because I paid to be there and it’s a vacation! I do my due diligence to follow dozens of travel blogs and travel groups on Instagram and I always try to keep myself in the diverse circles of other people of color who are traveling as well. And I feel that if you travel with a group of people that look like you, you’ll always feel community no matter where you go.
How did the challenge of not having accessible beauty products as a POC impact your experience?
This has always been a hassle for women of color, especially Black women. I feel like over the last 10, maybe 15 years, Black women are really starting to cultivate different spaces in terms of travel and experiences that a lot of us have never had before. In my experience, it was always a hassle trying to take the little clear bottles and putting lotions and shampoos and body butters and body scrubs into these little clear bottles. If you didn’t label them correctly, then I’m accidentally using lotion in my hair as a shampoo or I’m applying shampoo to my legs thinking it’s lotion and then my legs are all soapy! Those experiences are not fun when you’re just trying to enjoy your vacation and look beautiful for your photos/selfies. This is why I knew that the idea for travel-size haircare in my vending machines would be popular because it solves a problem in my community.
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When did you decide to use your experiences and convert them into a business?
Well, back in 2019 I was actually planning on opening up a beauty supply originally. When the pandemic hit at the beginning of 2020, and I had a few conversations with some of my mentors I realized that I didn’t have much money to put towards this business and I wanted to make it stretch any way that I knew how. I had to become resourceful and think on my feet quickly. I started thinking about how I could offer something creative that black women have never seen before, something for us by us. I have always been fascinated by vending machines, but when I went online I realized there were not a lot of retail brands that only offered travel-size or sample-size hair care products for ethnic hair. And that is when the idea sparked in my brain! I could offer travel size, TSA-approved, convenient sizes of hair care brands that women are already familiar with, small enough for them to fit in their purses or pack with them in their carry-on for their next vacation.
What inspired you to sell beauty products in vending machines?
I knew I wanted to do vending machines and I knew I wanted to offer something that WOC didn’t have yet. I sketched it out on paper first because I had to take it from my brain to something tangible. I realized that if a 12 oz Coca-Cola can fit inside of coils in a vending machine, so can a 3 oz or a 4 oz shampoo or leave-in conditioner, and that’s how I got started. I had never seen beauty supply products inside of a vending machine before I saw them inside of mine, but I had seen a lot of other crazy ideas in vending machines so at the end of the day I figured I would wing it and worry about the rest later.
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How did you conceptualize the design for your custom vending machines?
I hired a graphic designer, and I had several phone calls with her and sketched out my ideas telling her what colors I wanted and what kind of look I was looking for with the brand, and she sent me a few mock ups we went back and forth via email for two or three months. Just figuring out the logo and making sure that even small things like the verbiage being used and the images of the women on graphics were reflective of our demographic and who we were speaking to in our audience. I also got a website designer to start figuring out how to transform my website from a beauty supply, which was the original idea, transitioning it to a beauty vending machine company that solely sells travel-size hair products. It was a long process and very detailed.
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What challenges did you encounter sourcing TSA-friendly sizes from Black-owned brands?
There were a lot of challenges, and there still are a lot of challenges. You have to remember we started this business during a pandemic so there were supply chain issues and honestly we still run into these issues today. Some of our vendors and suppliers only sell certain brands, because they don’t have contracts with other larger brands so then you have to go out and actively find vendors and suppliers that have brands that your customers are asking for. Then, do you want to carry products that are popular but then you find out that that brand has harmful chemicals or they are going through a lawsuit or things like that for example. So, when running the company, you have to make daily decisions to figure out what is best for your customers, but what will also be easiest to get access to with your suppliers. Also, some of our favorite brands are still new brands themselves so while they may be popular in the Black community some of them don’t even offer travel sizes, so that was yet another obstacle we faced.
The beauty industry is expanding for natural hair, what determines which products can be sold in a vending machine?
Yes! And that’s a great thing. There are a lot of things that determine which products can be sold in a vending machine such as price, popularity (what will sell or what won’t sell”>, and also location – what might be popular in some climates or cities may not be widespread in others.
What is on the horizon from Tress-Obsessed in 2023?
Tress Obsessed is still a small brand and we still have a lot of growing to do. For 2023, with a possible recession on the way, we are pivoting our focus to our online presence. We will be putting a pause on any vending machine launches for the next 6-8 months, we want to focus on building out a new travel affiliate program to give the opportunity to travel agents and travel groups who want to make money promoting the brand. We also just hired a new social media manager which is very exciting! We want to grow our TikTok & Twitter audience as well as put new offerings on our website like subscription boxes and new digital products for our entrepreneurial customers.
If there’s one thing we naturalistas can’t get enough of, it’s accessories to help adorn and decorate our fabulous curls and coils. Former Bachelorette Tayshia Adam has collaborated with scünci and Conair to create a collection that is timeless, fun, and full of accessories, hair brushes, and beauty tools. The Tayshia Adams 9-to-9 collection features an assortment of 33 accessories, 5 hair brushes/combs, 1 mirror, and 5 hot tools – full of classic day essentials that easily transform into an enchanting night out ensemble, helping you secure the best 9-to-9 look with all accessories costing under $13, and hot tools under $38. These were inspired by Tayshia’s busy always-on-the-go lifestyle and includes an assortment of headbands, scrunchies, barrettes, claw clips, hot tools, brushes, hair towels, and more. These are designed to be worn for functional transition between morning to night looks. We spoke with Tayshia and tried out a few of the products to see how they hold up with natural hair!
What inspired this collection? How do these accessories reflect your lifestyle?
My lifestyle inspired this collection! It’s made for a girl on the go who wants to do it all! Work out, work, have lunch work meetings, go out to dinner or have after-work drinks, or be ready for a night out! I love to go with the flow, but I have what I need to jump from day to night easily without going home in between. As hectic as that all may seem, my style is simple but chic. Which is why I use a lot of neutrals in my looks, play with textures and have soft pops of color that honestly go with everything!
What are your recommendations for styling these with natural hair?
All of my Scrunchies and Jaw Clips are inspired to work with any texture, and also withhold physical activity. I spent a lot of time on the elasticity of the scrunchies because I personally like to work out with silk scrunchies that don’t pull or dent my hair when it’s up. So I wanted to make sure that they would stay put while I’m weightlifting, boxing, doing yoga, pilates or even going for a run! Wrap around twice to ensure there’s no hair in your face, and wrap three times to make sure it definitely won’t slip out!
Also, our jaw clips come in a multitude of sizes with different strengths! My personal favorites are the classic, large rectangular, and the cut out claw hair clips. They are super cute to use day-to-night! I just did a half-up, half-down hairstyle using the mini classic cut-out clips to complete my look when I attended the Jack Harlow concert, and to go out after to dance the night away! And guess what? I didn’t have to fix my hair clip once. They’re amazing!
How do these Scunci accessories work on natural hair?
I tried four different accessories from this collection which were primarily from her “Prep Your Look” category which focuses on clips, claws, headbands, and scrunchies. I was very impressed with the variety of colors and hues that range from hues of neutral shades like blue, nude, purple, and turquoise. The collection is massive and also features hair care tools like a paddle brush, hot rollers set, and ceramic hair dryer. I rarely wear accessories in my daily life because I either don’t have the time to use them or run into the trouble of having too much volume. We’ve all been there, a clip and claw snaps before even before secured around your hair because they aren’t designed for thicker textures, so I was definitely interested to see how these would fit my hair.
1. Tayshia by Scunci Large Rectangular Cutout Hair Clips
I decided to rock this between wash days and was very very excited that the claw fit securely around my hair and did not pop off. I was able to create a quick updo for work and style the accessory at the base of my neck securely. I only adjusted it once throughout the day and was really happy it didn’t cause any tension on my scalp.
2. Tayshia by Scunci Open Center Statement, No-Slip, Double Bobby Pins
These were very interesting bobby pins in terms of length, hold, and design. I initially didn’t know how to wear these because they were long and thick so I didn’t want to just use them for flyaways. I settled on a fun style that highlighted my wash and go as well as the design of the bobby pins. The double layered design made it a bit challenging to slide in/out of my hair but they were secure once I could pry them open.
3. Tayshia by Scunci Octopus Claw Wide-Curved No-Slip Hair Clips
These were very fun to use and convenient for on-the-go styling. They weren’t big enough to hold my hair volume so I was able to create a fun half up/down hairstyle that showcased the clip while getting my hair out of my face. I loved that these came in different colors and didn’t easily snap on my head.
4. Tayshia by Scunci Mini Clips for Fine or Short Hair
These mini clips were definitely a bit challenging to use on my hair because they weren’t big enough to secure a large chunk of hair so I was on the fence about how to style them. I opted for a fun nostalgic 90s look that pulled up both sides of my hair out of my face and smoothed down my scalp with gel. These were probably the only accessory I wouldn’t use again because they just didn’t have alot of range with my texture because of their limited capabilities.
Overall this is a fun and exciting collection that I think definitely has some great options for multiple hair textures. If you have thicker or fuller hair like mine then the claws, clips, and pins are very secure and agile with our hair. I’m looking forward to using these as the season grows!
The NaturallyCurly Leaders in Curl interview series highlights the people and the brands that are redefining the beauty industry – one curl at a time.
When Dr. Omoye Phillips started noticing hair loss in her younger children, after a series of trial and error, she decided to create her own solution. She sought out the highest quality fabrics that would help protect delicate and finely textured hair that often develops with younger children and landed on mulberry silk. As the CEO and founder of Omo Silk, Omoye seeks to provide comfort, quality, and confidence to her customers with a hypoallergenic product that is gentle for all textures. Her products are especially formulated for newborns and features a wide array of options like crib sleeves, headbands, pillow cases, and wig caps. The brand prides itself as being built on positive affirmations and and helping protect and reduce hair loss. We’re so excited to talk with Omoye about her amazing brand and how she built it based around her children.
Have you ever experienced hair loss like your children had growing up?
Not really, I was fortunate as I never had eczema or any condition that would cause me to lose hair when I was a child.
Did you go through a lot of trial and error before deciding to create your own products?
Yes I did. Although hair loss is common in babies my kids experienced significant hair loss that was exacerbated by eczema and cradle cap. I was looking for non-medicinal options to help my kids’ hair and skin thrive. I dabbled with several fabrics, satin included, but since it is not hypoallergenic, it wasn’t a viable option for my kids who suffered from many different allergies as well. So after tons of research and trial and error with the different fabrics, mulberry silk provided the best results for my kids. Its hypoallergenic nature was perfect for my kids. It is also a breathable, natural fabric that retains moisture, no tugging of hair and prevents flyaways.
After I learned that silk worked, the next problem was that I searched everywhere and couldn’t find any silk products for babies and so I decided to find my own solution. Another important call out is the elastic bands used in our products. They are engineered for comfortability.I was able to create our first omosilk product which was a pure silk headband for my daughters. It boasted comfortability, provided a thriving hair and skin environment and felt luxurious. They enjoyed wearing their headbands and sometimes fell asleep without taking them off.
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Did you use silk products or accessories growing up and what was that experience like?
While growing up, I did not because I did not know much about healthy hair maintenance. I lost my mum at a very young age of 10 and my dad did not know much about hair. So I kept my hair short and washed and let it air dry on a weekly basis and that was it.
How does your culture influence your brand?
Our brand name, Omosilk, stems from the Edo/ Bini tribe in Nigeria where I am from originally with Omo” meaning child, the inspiration for this brand.
How do you choose the color swatches for your products?
I started with colors that my kids and I liked. My 4 year old son helped pick the colors for our first launch. I told him to go for colors that ignited excitement and happiness for him.
What are the benefits of using Mulberry Silk for your products?
Mulberry silk provides a healthy environment for hair and skin to thrive. It is 100% natural, hypoallergenic, reduces friction and prevents drying of hair and skin. It is also breathable and highly recommended by dermatologists for all hair and skin types. Omosilk uses the highest grade 6A of mulberry silk too. Silk fiber comes in varying lengths, ranging from short (1A Grade”> to long (6A Grade”>. Omosilk products boast of using 6A Grade silk which is made from the longest silk fibers available. This makes the material and quality more durable and luxurious than lower grade silks.
What are the best practices for encouraging children to wear hair accessories?
Some best practices to encourage kid to wear hair accessories are:
- Provide exciting colors that make it fun to wear and bring out their personality
- Fashionable so they look stylish and it compliments their outfits
- Let them know it will help their hair grow
- Make it comfortable that they don’t even know it’s on.
Omosilk products have great prints and colors that would excite kids and adults alike. Each product is built on positive affirmations which ignite emotions like love, power, curiosity, care and more. So when I tell my daughter to wear the “Adura” headband which ignites love and power or the “Zahra” scrunchie which ignites confidence and playfulness, she always opts to wear her omosilk accessories. Additionally, the elastic specifications on each headband is engineered with a smooth appearance and does not become narrower as it stretches to ensure long-lasting comfort when worn. The reviews from both kids and adults so far have been awesome!
What can we look forward to from Omosilk in 2023?
Since our launch in June 2022, we have gained some good traction with our Los Angeles community. We started with headbands and Scrunchies and recently launched our adjustable bonnets, pillowcases, scarves, crib sleeves and wig caps. All items are available for newborns, kids and adults. In 2023, we are looking to expand and have some B2B partnerships and to launch some more hair products. We do understand the need to raise capital for the business to continue to flourish and so we plan to do some fundraising as well. 2023 should be an exciting and eventful year with more variety of colors, prints and more products in general.
The NaturallyCurly Leaders in Curl interview series highlights the people and the brands that are redefining the beauty industry – one curl at a time.
Botanika Beauty is the Latinx haircare brand looking to infuse and instill self love for all hair texture within the Latinx community. Aisha Ceballos-Crump is the founder and CEO of Botanika Beauty who started developing beauty products and haircare formulas after graduating from Purdue University with a degree in chemical engineering. She’s been working for over a decade as an entrepreneur with her first haircare line, Honey Baby Naturals debuting in 2016. Botanika Beauty debuted in 2019 after Aisha realized there was a gap in the haircare market that lacked products for the Latinx customer. She wanted to create products that broke stereotypes, provided hair remedies for common problems, and could cultivate a community similar to the one’s Latinx people experience everyday. We sat down to speak with Aisha about the inception of her brand, her expanding entrepreneurial pursuits, and filling the gap for Latinx people.
What prompted you to pivot from chemical engineering to the beauty industry?
I’m a first generation college student so when I was deciding the type of degree I wanted to pursue I was looking at job stability. I landed on chemical engineering which I didn’t love, but I learned to appreciate that we can take a substance and make it better. We use our brain and critical thinking skills to innovate and create products. I knew I didn’t want to pursue engineering as a career which led me to working in sales and then becoming a mother. When I was ready to pivot to an industry more aligned with my beauty passions, I ended up selling chemicals for the beauty industry. I worked for a company called Croda which was the number 1 manufacturer of specialty chemicals where I would teach chemists in the Chicago area about formulating products. Engineering is critical thinking that I used to get my feet in the door within this industry and I use it even now to innovate better products.
Who were your entrepreneurial inspirations as you were building your career?
I was very lucky that I got a chance to work with Croda for 5 years where I watched the Luster and Gartner families create multi-million dollar empires in ethnic hair care. I worked with a variety of brands for so long and eventually switched to contract manufacturing. I had so many people like McBride from Design Essentials who were legacy brands that were cheering for me. When I decided to jump all in 2016 with Honey Baby Naturals, I had a village behind me to encourage me, uplift me, and support me.
Why do you feel the Latinx community has been overlooked in the haircare industry?
I’m a 100% Puerto Rican, puro Boricua who grew up in a primarily Black community which is even reflected in my name. I’ve spent the majority of my life trying to prove my Latinidad because of my hair texture, skin color, and the same thing happened in this industry. When I was initially pitching Botanika Beauty to buyers in 2020, there was no interest. I remember Target doing a series on minority entrepreneurs and all the founders were Black. They didn’t understand that Latinas aren’t a monolith, we’re multi-faceted with varying textures and stories. I was already in Target and Wal-Mart with my first brand, it was being pitched as a Black brand because my children were Black and I could never get featured for being a Latina entrepreneur. I was always categorized as multicultural. I was the first Latina to have a natural hair care brand and skincare brand in Target, but that wasn’t reflected in the branding.
I was inspired to create a whole new brand which is when I started pivoting to Botanika with the Latinx culture being at the forefront. It’s called Botanika because when we came to this country we didn’t have healthcare and you would go buy your herbs and remedies from the local botanica in your community. I added the “k” into the name because all of my children’s names start with a “k”. I wanted to put some sazon, adobo, and everything magical into this brand to make it Latina as possible. Unfortunately I launched right before the pandemic and that put a wrench in alot of my promotions with Wal-Mart. To this day we’re still fighting for placement, visibility, and support for the Latina consumer.
Read next: Bask & Bloom is the Caribbean-Inspired Curl Brand You Need to Know
What are misconceptions people have about Latinx hair?
People don’t understand the textures versus thinking it’s all about race. Your hair is not about being Puerto Rican or Mexican, it’s about understanding your texture. I have a lot of white, mixed, Jewish, and Black women who use my haircare. The shelves are still very segmented and that continues to push this ideal that you need to shop for products by your race. You need millions to win in this space and many small businesses learned during the pandemic how challenging it could be. Our manufacturers are not us and most minority brands are not self manufactured. I’m trying to change that and build a manufacturing facility to gain control over my supply chain. I’m not giving up, I’m determined to make this work.
What type of ingredients did you decide would be staples of your products?
Everything that you would find in a kitchen: avocado oil, sage, basil, garlic, mango butter. We wanted to mix science and nature, I wanted ingredients my Abuelos had growing up. I don’t just have herbs and water, I’m a scientist and I want a balance between that culture and chemistry in the products.
How do you support your local “Botanika”?
Unfortunately there are very few left in Chicago. In Humble Park there are some apothecaries we do pop-ups in, but botanicas are few and far between. I have a dream to eventually source and supply my ingredients with products from local neighborhoods in Chicago.
Which products are essentials for first time users?
The Mender protein treatment helps to reinforce strength, balance, and can be used on any damaged hair. I would follow that up with a Revitalizer deep conditioning mask that is buttery and thick to soften the hair. The names of the products reflect the power of Latinx people like “La Madre” “The Lifter” “The Enhancer”. You will always get innovation from Botanika Beauty and I’m excited to create more products in the future.
I’m not just putting a product on the shelf. My staff is minority women, I source from minority suppliers, I’m creating jobs. I’m trying to create something bigger than a brand that evokes legacy for myself and the people in my organization.
Looking for your next Holy Grail? Here are 12 Latinx-Owned Curly Hair Products to Add to Cart
