Search Results: Lauren Murray
With temperatures dropping all over the United States, our curly crowns need protection when the weather wants to act up!
With temperatures dropping all over the United States, our curly crowns need protection when the weather wants to act up!
Finding products that work for me in the wintertime has always been a chore, but recently I started relying on some tried and true favorites to bring moisture, help with manageability, and to define my curly-coily texture.
I also have color-treated natural hair, so maintaining shine is important, because it also protects my ends. These are some of my personal favorite ways to keep type 3c to 4c hair moisturized during winter.
1. Butters all day, every day
I have 3c/4a natural hair that loves a good butter. Shea butter will always be a consistent winter favorite of mine because of its thick consistency and ability to deeply moisturize each hair strand, yet thin enough to spread with ease. Almond butter Is also a great contender as it promotes moisture retention and makes a great sealant. Almond butter has a texture that is similar to a whipped shea, and like shea, almond butter can be used all-around on your scalp, hair, and skin. If you have high porosity hair, one of these butters will be your go-to moisturizer this season.
If you’re not sure what your curl pattern and porosity are, take our Texture Typing quiz.
2. Time for the oil switch-up
In a typical regimen, I would normally use a lightweight carrier oil since my scalp produces a ton of sebum. The wintertime is a completely different story though; my coarse strands cannot keep up with the harshness of below 40-degree temperatures. Avocado oil is a personal favorite of mine because it controls water loss in the hair while adding a ton of all-natural shine. Avocado oil is a monounsaturated fat that, when applied, strengthens and nourishes dry and damaged hair. Deep conditioning and hot oil treatments are saving graces during the wintertime also, so try this as a warm mask for your hair—it might just change your life!
3. Protect it with an accessory
Never one to shy away from a quick turban on top of my head, hair accessories and scarves are my saving grace during the winter months. Covering my curls after they have been sealed with the above butter-and-oil cocktail keeps my texture more manageable and moisturized, leaving me to worry about other things like keeping my body warm. I tend to stick with solid colors, but the possibilities are endless. There are also scarves and beanies lined with satin, so that you get double the protection without compromising personal aesthetic. Need some headwrap inspiration? This list has got you covered.
4. Keep the milky co-wash on deck
Winter is also the perfect time to try out all of those milky co-washes and at-home deep conditioners you have been wanting to use! Just remember to stay away from moisture-stripping sulfates and parabens, and increase your usage of your protective styles and satin pillowcases. You, too, will survive the most frigid of temperatures, and, of course, the springtime humidity will be here before we know it.
Most curly girls can attest to trying hundreds of products over the years in order to find what truly works for their curly hair. So to help take out the guesswork, each year, we poll the NaturallyCurly community for our Best of the Best Awards to share their absolute favorite products, tools and accessories they always reach for. We’re excited to share that the votes are in! Keep reading to find out the best curly hair products of 2020, that are handsdown the best products for your curls.
Shampoo: Bounce Curl Enzyme Gentle Clarifying Shampoo
This clarifying shampoo thoroughly cleanses hair without leaving it striped of it’s natural oils, yet balances moisture while adding volume. Packed with Organic black seed oil, Enzymes, Pro-vitamin B5, Biotin, Rosemary, Nobilis flower & many more herbal plant extracts & scientifically made ingredients that strengthen hair.
Co Wash: As I Am Cleansing CoWash
Fan favorite across the board! This cowash revives curls while also cleansing, increasing shine, and providing slip like none other for easy detangling. Plus, it’s great for a mild mid-week cleanser in between washes.
Conditioner: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner
This lightweight, daily conditioner restores moisture and smoothes dry hair cuticles. No more knots, snarls and tangles. Formulated with Coconut Oil that hydrates and protects hair while reducing breakage and silk protein that smoothes hair for a soft, silky feel and neem oil to add a brilliant shine.
Deep Conditioner: SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque
This intense conditioning deep treatment infuses hair with Shea Butter, Honey, Mafura, Baobab Oils and African Rock Fig to restore and lock in moisture.
Leave-in: Kinky-Curly Knot Today
Not just a detangler, but a bomb leave in also, this one is a curly holy grail. Kinky Curly smoothes the hair cuticles and removes knots in this creamy conditioner that you don’t have to rinse out at all.
Mousse: Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam
We all love good volume, and Innersense holds the candle for that! Plus, you can bet that your product will be as natural as can be thanks to Innersense’s clean formulations.
Styling cream: Bounce Curl Avocado & Rose Oil Clump and Define Cream
Bounce Curl has infused the fatty goodness of avocado & the shine boosting benefits of rose into a clumping cream that will make everyone envious. Say hello to beautiful, defined curls!
Hair Gel: Ecoco Eco Styler Professional Styling Gel with Argan Oil
Perfect for maximum curl definition or a nice slicked back style, Eco styler gel is curly girl’s must have. Their argan oil version packs a little extra with it’s benefits thanks to Vitamin E.
Hair Butter: Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter
This hair butter is perfect for those curlies who tend to fall a little on the drier side. This silky butter leaves hair soft & smooth, while nourishing the scalp & stimulating growth.
Edge Control: CURLS Blueberry CURL Control Paste
PROTIP: This edge curl not only can be used for those hard to manage baby hairs, but also makes a BOMB twisting gel for Day 3 hair & on!
New Collection: CurlSmith Scalp Recipe Line
Hair products that also infuse probiotics in them? Our heart sings! Their scalp line contains micro-organisms that strengthen the scalp’s microbiome & creates the most healthy environment for your hair follicles.
Hair Oil & Hair Growth Product: Righteous Roots Rx
Wavies, curlies, & coilies are obsessed with this oil and it makes total sense. Infused with over 12 ingredients, this oil encourages growth, reduces shedding, and detangles your hair all with ease.
Treatment: Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector
Known as a “treatment, not a conditioner”, Olaplex reduces breakage by repairing the bonds that break from heat styling and coloring the hair.
Hairspray: Bounce Curl Alcohol-Free HairSpray
This is a medium-to-strong hold hairspray. It is infused with Organic Black Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sage Extract & Boswellia Carterii Oil. The ultra-fine mister distributes hair spray evenly to provide you with maximum hod and combats frizz in the humid seasons.
Heat Protectant: Cantu Thermal Shield Heat Protectant
Made with pure Shea butter, this heat protectant prevents damage & allows you to achieve frizz free results when you want to heat style your hair.
Kids Line: CurlyEllie
Ultra gentle & made to make tears go away, we are obsessed with this kid’s line to help make wash day super easy & pain free for your little ones.
Refresher: Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray
The Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray is the ultimate go-to for keeping your curls looking stunning. Key ingredients include coconut oil, olive oil, & shea butter.
Scalp Treatment: CurlSmith Scalp Recipe Line
This scalp line detoxes your hair by protecting the skin’s first layer of defense, the microbiome. It contains live organisms that feed the scalp with all of the nutrients it needs to thrive.
Hair Tool: Denman Classic Styling Brush – D3
Fan favorite of all time! The Denman classic styler defines curls while minimizing frizz, smoothing the cuticle, and combing through knots & tangles pain free.
Value Brand: SheaMoisture
SheaMoisture is a classic brand that curlies can always rely on that doesn’t require them to break the break to achieve healthy hair. Featuring lines from curlies, coilies, wavies, etc, SheaMisture continues to create formulations that every natural is obsessed with.
Blogger: HonestLizHere
Elizabeth Alex is a curly girl from India that is a believer, curl friend, efficient product tester, stylist and entrepreneur that runs multiple businesses from her home striving to empower other women along the way by sharing her tips, techniques, product reviews and suggestions. She shares a wealth of information with her readers on her blog which is a top resource for curlies around the world, so it’s no surprise as to why she was voted best curly hair blogger of 2020!
Holy Grail: Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream
This product activates your curls, encourages clumping, adds shine, and refreshes your hair. What else can we ask for?
Which curly hair products are your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
If you have naturally wavy hair, you know the struggle of finding products that provide definition and moisture, yet don’t weigh your hair down. We know the struggle all too well and are here to help you as you embrace your waves. Wavies, we asked you to vote on your favorite products for 2020 and you delivered! Keep reading to find out the best products for wavy hair ranging from conditioners, stylers, and even frizz fighters – these are the products that keep your waves defined, frizz-free and full of bounce.
Shampoo: Raw Curls Organic Cleanser
Imagine your hair having that clean feeling you’ve been missing without stripping them of all the good stuff. With the perfect combo of gentle cleaning, nourishing plant, botanical, and fruit oils, this cleanser is what you need to give your waves and curls the TLC they deserve.
Co Wash: As I Am Coconut CoWash
As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner contains a special blend of natural ingredients for healthy hair growth and removing product build-up from your hair between regular washing.
Conditioner: Bounce Curl Super Smooth Cream Conditioner
The first ingredient in this amazing conditioner is organic aloe. This is a light weight creamy conditioner that will hydrate your hair without weighing it down.
Deep Conditioner: Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment
Deep conditioning treatments with heat really moisturize and strengthen the hair, and they’re just plain fun to do. This treatment works best with a plastic cap and left on for 20 minutes. This thick conditioner uses cocoa butter and shea butter to add some serious moisture to your hair.
Leave-in: Kinky-Curly Knot Today
A fan favorite for years! Say hello to the detangler that started it all. It’s light enough for everyday use and Pro Tip: makes an excellent leave in conditioner.
Mousse: Giovanni Mousse Air-Turbo Charged Hair Styling Foam
Say hello to big hair! Whipped with air-infused technology, this styling foam is everything for tons of volume for perfect 1st day hair.
Styling Cream: Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream
Featuring 100% Pure Shea Butter and formulated without harsh ingredients, this product restores curls & infuses moisture back into dry, lifeless hair.
Hair Gel: Jessicurl Spiralicious Styling Gel
Flake free and with a stronger hold, this styling gel is great for wavies who like defined hair that can last for days.
New Collection: Bounce Curl Avocado and Rose Oil Clumo & Define Cream
We love Avocado in everything, so of course this product wins! When you combine the fatty content in the avocadoes & the calming properties of rose, you get a luxurious styler that is perfect for wavy to coily hair.
Hair Oil: Righteous Roots Rx
Righteous Roots Rx is a hair growth serum that is formulated with essential oils that help detangle the hair and encourage scalp stimulation for hair growth. It can be used as a hot oil treatment, pre-poo, or an anti-itch serum.
Hair Growth Product: Curlsmith Full Lengths Density Elixir
Achieve denser hair with just a few drops of this luxurious, high potency scalp serum. Curlsmith is blended with follicle stimulating ingredients like Amla oil & Green Tea, as well as scalp soothing remedies such as Lavender and Witch Hazel.
Treatment: Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector
If you/re on the hunt for maximum damage repair, try out this Olaplex winner. Key Takeaway: This isn’t a conditioner, but an at-home treatment that repairs your broken bonds in your hair to provide structural repair, from the inside out.
Hair Spray: Pantene Pro-V Hair Spray
A flexible hold and alcohol free, this hair spray is perfect for those looking for bounce, body, & volume. Most importantly, it’s also completely ethanol free.
Heat Protectant: Living Proof Restore Instant Protection
For wavies that love a good blow-out, we love the Living Proof Restore Instant Protection. It is a weightless spray that helps prevent against UV damage, heat damage, and static damage. It protects from heat up to 450 degrees.
Kids Line: Kinder Curls by Curl Keeper
Talk about the perfect line for kids! Curl Keeper has made hair washing time enjoyable for your little ones with products that reactivates curls for less time styling, detangling products for easier wash days, and is ph balanced for their sensitive scalps.
Refresher: Raw Curls Anti-Frizz Spray
Completely silicone free and infused with keratin, this anti-frizz spray directly heals split ends & repairs damaged strands for swoon-worthy waves & curls.
Volumizer: Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam
Feature ingredients in this lightweight formula include Aloe Vera to encourage silky, not crunchy texture, and pumpkin seed oil for maximum gloss. Try out this volumizing foam as a styler for Day 1, 2, & 3 hair!
Scalp Oil: Righteous Roots Rx
Already mentioned for being a favorite hair oil for wavies, we’re also obsessed with this oil for scalp maintenance. It soothes dry skin and stimulates hair follicles to encourage growth & length retention.
Hair Tool/ Accessory: Xtava Black Orchid Hair Diffuser
360-degree airflow allows this tool to quick dry the hair, without disturbing your curls or waves. It maximizes your volume, without leading to frizz whatsoever.
Value Brand: Not Your Mother’s
Looking for straight to the point natural hair products that still pack a punch? We’re obsessed with this brand. Not Your Mother’s has price points anywhere from $7-15 dollars, and is completely gluten-free, contains no animal products, and without sulfates, gluten, parabens, dyes, & phthalates.
Blogger: SwavyCurlyCourtney
Leave it to Courtney for high value curl education and lots of tips & tricks! With over 50,000 YouTube subscribers, Courtney is known for her product reviews for wavy hair, styling methods & her One Brand wash day series.
Holy Grail: Curl Keeper Original
Holy grails don’t become fan favorites for nothing! This do it all frizz control product is a water-based product that reactivates dry, shapeless strands into shiny, lustrous waves without product buildup.
Which of these are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below.
Maintaing healthy and hydrated hair is important for all hair types, but especially tight-textured coily hair. Type 4 hair is often described as dense, wiry, or kinky-coily. Though coily hair seems robust,it’s actually the most fragile hair texture because it has the fewest cuticle layers to protect it from dryness. Its top concerns are maintaining moisture, avoiding tangles and counteracting shrinkage. To help you achieve your ultimate hair goals, thousands of women with glorious coily crowns shared their handsdown best natural hair products all time.
Shampoo: SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
Need a good shampoo that offers heavy duty protection for your color-treated, heat-styled hair, while also infusing balance & moisture? This Jamaican Black Castor Oil and certified organic Shea Butter combination promotes natural growth and reduce shedding.
Co Wash: As I Am Cleansing CoWash
A fan favorite since its initial launch, this co-wash provides amazing slip, gentle cleansing, and is safe enough for daily use without drying the hair. This cowash promotes growth from a follicular level for thirsty, fragile curls.;
Conditioner: SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Hydration Intensive Conditioner
Certified organic Shea Butter, Honey, Manuka and Baobab are blended into restorative formulation to help protect natural hair from environmental influences with this super rich conditioner.
Deep Conditioner: TGIN Honey Miracle Mask
Tgin doesn’t stand for Thank God It’s Natural for nothing. This Honey Miracle Hair Mask is an instant infusion of the best ingredients for natural hair (jojoba oil, honey, aloe, etc”> for instant shinier and softer tresses.
Leave-in: Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner
Featured ingredients in this stunner include silk amino acids to penetrate deep into the hair’s cortex, aloe vera to smooth the cuticle, and lemongrass to reduce shedding. Plus, leave it to this lightweight leave in conditioner to lock in all of the goodness our hair needs.
Mousse: Lottabody Wrap Me Foaming Mousse
A must-have in the NC community for a bomb roller-set or wrap style, this long-time favorite is everything for showcasing soft & smooth hair.
Styling Cream: Melanin Twist Elongating Style Cream
If you’re a protective style kind of person, try out the Melanin Twist Elongating Style Cream. It’s super lightweight styling capability makes it a breeze for a non-crunchy twist-out.
Hair Gel: Ecoco Ecostyler Professional Styling Gel with Olive Oil
Offering UV protection, an Olive Oil infusion, & the comfort in knowing its Alcohol free, the Ecostyler Professional Styling Gel provides superior hold, perfect for slicked back styles and perfectly defined curls.
Hair Butter: Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter
For those of with hair that is a little drier, a butter can sometimes be just the answer. This botanical infused twisting butter is best applied generously to wet or dry hair.
Twists/ Locs/ Braids: Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Twisting Soufflé
Another protective style dream, this Mielle Organics styling product is bomb for shiny, super defined hair with no crunch and no flake.
Edge Control: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel
Shape and smooth your delicate edges with Mielle Organics’ Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel. Biotin, coconut, and babassu seed oil, offers you the hold you need along with the nourishment your hair has been craving.
New Collection: Mielle Organics Moisture RX Hawaiin Ginger
Hello forever summertime hair with this line from Mielle. Featuring an infusion of avocado, coconut, olive oil, and ginger, this line will deeply moisturize and nourish that incredible care-free wash & go of yours.
Hair Oil & Hair Growth Product: Alikay Naturals Essential 17 Hair Growth Oil
Featuring 17 different ingredients, Alikay Naturals created this unique blend after extensive research and found a blend that penetrates the scalp to get the max amount of nutrients to your follicles.
Treatment: ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment
Experiencing brittle hair that snaps at the lightest touch? This two-step protein treatment combines magnesium and modified proteins which bond into the hair with the application of heat. The result is that breakage is drastically reduced.
Heat Protectant: Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Protectant
For those of us who don’t mind heat styling every now & again, this product gets 5 stars for maximum curl protection. Spray it onto the hair right before heat styling and it provides the best protection against harsh temperatures used to heat-style hair.
Kids Line: Cantu Care for Kids
Tiny tots & parents this is for you! Style your little one’s hair with ease with affordable, gentle line. Products include tear-free conditioner, shampoo, leave-ins, & stylers.
Refresher: Alikay Naturals Wake Me Up Daily Curl Refresher
Refresh curls in a pinch with this spray on solution. It helps revive bed-flattened, dry hair and gives your curls a little extra life to take you a couple of more days before wash day.
Scalp Treatment: EDEN BodyWorks Papaya Castor Scalp Cleanser
A healthy scalp means growth & length retention, and the EDEN BodyWorks Papaya Castor Scalp Cleanser helps with just that. Papaya provides gentle exfoliation due to its fruit enzymes, while Castor Oil helps with growth.
Hair Tool: Felicia Leatherwood Brush With The Best
The Felicia Leatherwood Brush is a master detangling tool that helps define curls & coils and make those 1 hour + detangling sessions a thing of the past.
Value Brand: SheaMoisture
Touting no singular product over $17 bucks, SheaMoisture has constantly positioned itself as a brand that is a bevy of awesome formulations, easily accessible, but most importantly, extremely affordable. Their rich formulations don’t hold a backseat whatsoever to the amazing results you can achieve, with product lines that are exceptional for us budget conscious babes.
Blogger: Naptural 85
Whitney White hasn’t’ reached 1 million subscribers on YouTube for nothing. Her styling tutorials, product reviews, & beautiful personality have made her a go-to for naturalistas around the world. Plus, she
Holy Grail: Camille Rose Naturals Curl Love Moisture Milk
The Holy Grail title does not come easily, but Camille Rose knew exactly what they were doing with this hero product to warrant the title. Curl Love is made with a mixture of vitamins that will strengthen and stimulate hair growth and boost curls.
What are your favorite products you always reach for? Let us know in the comments.
As a natural that only alternates between 3 hairstyles (bun, wash & go, & blowout”>, you bet I am constantly trying products and techniques to finesse each of my looks to perfection. Enter the blowout: I wear this stretched style about once every 2 months and over the years, I have noticed that if I don’t use a good exfoliating, buildup releasing cleanser from the very beginning, my hair is flat, flat, flat, and doesn’t move around very much. So you can definitely imagine the joy felt upon discovering my new favorite product for my first step in my hair washing regime.
Image: goop
Gwyneth Paltrow, actress, evangelist, & activist extraordinaire introduced goop to the wellness world in 2008. Seen as a hub for fitness, all of the crazy hard to imagine wellness trends, clothing, products, shoes!, products, recipes, and did I say products lol, Gywneth created a one-stop-shop for emerging clean brands to launch and also eventually formulated her own line, which I’m pretty obsessed with. After browsing the site, I came across her one hair product, the goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo and I’m pretty smitten with the results from this one.
Ingredients:
Moringa oil, Rosehip Oil, Pink Himalayan Salt, a bevy of essential oils, and Coconut Acid are all the real winners here, making this scalp detox a true sensory experience. Moringa strengthens the strands and moisturizes, while Rosehip Oil promotes hair growth. Sea Salt, an ingredient I had never tried before in my hair, is awesome for reducing acne, unclogging the follicles, balancing your skin’s ph levels, and encouraging hair growth as well.
Usage:
Yall, a little truly goes a long way with this scalp scrub. I used about a quarter-sized amount for my entire head and felt like that was still too much. I will admit I was a little hesitant to try this out at first because I thought the salt flakes wouldn’t dissolve and would get caught in my curly hair, but no traces of salt were left behind whatsoever. I also only shampooed once with this, did a nice little scalp massage, rinsed, and then went straight into the conditioner.
Image: @heyhellolauren
Results:
Cue a shiny, voluminous blow out that would have all the girls envious honey. My hair felt so lightweight after using this product and my style lasted for about a week longer than it typically does. I will admit I was a little worried that the salt would dry me out and make my hair flaky, but the infusion of the oils into the shampoo, plus the usage of my Innersense conditioner made me feel pretty moisturized without the greasiness. Overall, I would rate this a 10 out of 10 and have since recommended this product to almost everyone in my friend group. Note: If you have colored hair, I would stay away, because I don’t think the salt would play nicely with color retention.
Have you tried any of the goop products!? Drop your faves!
As the topic of natural hair in the workplace continues to grow and be a longstanding conversation for women of color, so does the conversation on what does acceptance look like for those of us who wish to rock our curly textures. Diversity & Inclusion is huge now and we often see this in the lense of race, but what if we brought hair into this equation? This past week I had the chance to sit down with the founder of the blog Corporate & Curly, Nkechi. Nkechi is an HR Manager who has worked for Fortune 5, 50, and 500 companies and in her free time, has built her platform Corporate & Curly to showcase natural hairstyles for the workplace and bomb outfits to keep your corporate wardrobe game on point. Peep our chat below and see her perspective on how we can combat natural hair discrimination in the workplace.
Image: @Corporate_Curly
**All opinions included in this article are my own and are not associated with any company or organization**
Can you share your bio? What should we know about you?
My name is Nkechi (In-Kay-Chi”>. I am a Nigerian-American blogger who loves stepping outside of normal bounds when it comes to all things including fashion and hair. Professionally, I am a dedicated HR manager who has worked for Fortune 5, 50, and 500 companies. I currently am an HR Manager at a job that I completely love which drives and develops me each day.
During my free time, I’m currently building a passion of mine, Corporate Curly. Building a brand of my own has sparked a business-driven aspect of myself that I didn’t know existed.
What inspired you to create your platform? Why focus on natural hair in the workplace?
I started Corporate Curly in an effort to provide natural hair and workwear inspiration to working women. I particularly wanted to tap into a group of women who may be hesitant and apprehensive of wearing their natural tresses into the workplace based on negative perceptions around natural hair. Since I experienced that same apprehension of embracing my own hair into the office, I wanted to help and inspire my followers on styles that I wear inside of the workplace.
I guess you could say that I was inspired by the fact that I didn’t see very much conversation around wearing natural hair to work. Conversationally, I would hear of people jokingly mention to not wear natural hair in an interview. Or even when you score the job, many people would still advise not to wear one’s natural hair on a daily basis. But as I became more comfortable in the corporate space, I began to do what made me feel comfortable with my hair and I wanted to share that online. So that drove me to begin to create content to spark conversation and inspiration around natural hair at work, particularly on Instagram. Furthermore, I began to become more inspired by women who would seek out advice and tips. And I became even more inspired by women who would try out my hair or workwear styles. Instagram has truly been an avenue for me to build and connect with women around the world simply on embracing their natural hair in the workplace.
Image: @Corporate_Curly
How do you feel about the Crown Coalition? The stats are astounding but totally believable. Is it truly illegal for a company to navigate how someone wears their hair?
There is an absolute need for the Crown Coalition. If you have not heard, the Crown Coalition is supporting Senate Bill 188 which “helps ensure protection against discrimination based on hairstyles by specifying in government code that the protected class of race also includes traits historically associated with race identification, such as hair texture and hairstyles.”
While the statistics are gut-wrenching, they are not surprising. And while I understand this shift in the perception of natural hair won’t happen overnight… Laws such as this one will ensure protection and will help change the narrative. My aim is also to help in shifting the conversation and perception of what hairstyles are perceived as being professional at work.
With natural hair acceptance still being so so in the workplace, What are some ways that women can respond when put into these situations where their hair is a topic of discussion?
Reasonable grooming standards are necessary for the workplace regardless of if your hair is straight, wavy, coily, curly, etc. And by no means is this an easy situation to be in if your natural hair is compromised, questioned, or ridiculed at work. However, I believe that it is best for women to stay true to what makes them feel their best in regards to their hair. When put in situations that may compromise one’s ability to wear their natural hair in the office, I think it’s important to stand firm in who you are. Educate those who may put you in an uncomfortable scenario on how a lack of acceptance of natural hair can cause unfairness and exclusion to some. In extreme cases, you may even need to raise attention and confide in someone that you trust or a trusted manager to resolve this situation.
Has there ever been a time when you felt like you were being called out for your hair in a professional setting?
In the past, while in professional settings, I have never particularly been called out directly for my hair. However, I have received remarks in the form of questions and comments that border uncomfortable to inappropriate commentary. In these situations, it would be so easy to “pop-off” so to say… However, as I’ve matured I always result in an attempt to EDUCATE the person who is making the comment on how that can be taken offensively.
Fortunately, no one has ever told me that I can’t wear my hair to work or that it’s inappropriate. But what I will say is that if you’re put into this kind of situation, feel empowered to ask the question WHY, and respectfully challenge if someone tells you that your hair is not professional, appropriate, or good enough in a professional setting.
Image: @Corporate_Curly
On the flip side of this conversation, there is a huge shift happening in corporate culture to be more diverse & inclusive? How can we make this conversation include hair also?
I am absolutely in love when I see organizations adopt a genuine desire to be more inclusive and diverse. I think we can make the push for our diversity and inclusion efforts to include conversations on hair in cultural awareness training and even ensuring that your organization’s dress code policies are inclusive to all hair types. And honestly, when I’ve worn my natural hair to work, I’ve simply gotten questions. And you know what, that’s a way to spark conversation. Even though it can be frustrating, and I don’t like when the focus is on my hair at work, this is a way to educate those who may ask by having genuine discourse.
I think you should wear your hair how you want. If you’ve felt apprehension in the past, JUST DO IT! One way that strides can be made is if we, one by one, shift the bounds on what’s been deemed professionally acceptable.
Ok fun stuff :”>
The top hairstyles that you love to rock in the office?
I actually really love low-maintenance styling. I’m all about what will help me get my day started quickly, and still look groomed and professional on day 3 or 4 of the workweek. I especially love a natural updo or a slick back bun, these styles are perfect because I can wear them for multiple days with minimal touch-up.
Do you have any product holy grails? Styling tips?
I’ve actually really been loving TGIN and Shea Moisture which both have been holy grail lines for me recently.
Two styling tips I can share include: one, ensuring your hair is at it’s healthiest with ingredients in products that really moisturize your strands. Two, also make sure to keep up with maintenance trims to ensure healthy ends.
Favorite account to follow on Instagram for #hairspo?
My favorite account to go to for hair inspiration is the @Black_Hair_Tutorials on Instagram. I love that there are so many videos that help with styling tips and inspiration.
Do you have a go-to song on your wash day playlist? What makes you feel like a hair boss?
So Bey does it again, with BROWN SKIN GIRLS. This song has been my absolute go-to since it was released. This song’s message makes me feel confident and is literally an anthem and motivational push if I’m feeling a “bad hair day” coming along. I’ll play it while getting dressed, and it just truly resonates with my soul to make me feel confident to rock my curls and who I truly am every single day.
Thank you so much Nkechi for chatting with me! Yall, give her a follow at @Corporate_Curly
Image: Unsplash via Curology
As someone who suffers from acne more than just my time of the month, my skincare product cabinet is pretty much just as big as my hair product one. But what do you do when your hair products are the cause of your acne? After fighting with my skin for so long, only to realize it was probably freaking out because of 1. My face cleansing only happened in the shower after washing my hair and 2. Lack of ingredient knowledge and best practices altogether, I may have found some workaround to help this bacne go away for good. Check out these top tips for keeping clogged pores at bay and say hello to clean hair and flawless skin!
Swap out your products
Clean up your regimen as much as you can if you are experiencing body or face breakouts. Often times, when we are using products that contain synthetic fragrances, any kind of silicone or sulfate, propylene glycol, etc, while it may create a bomb wash & go, it is clogging up your pores and could definitely lead to an overnight pimple too. Make the ingredients list on the back of the bottles your thing and really dive deep into finding out which ingredients are great for your hair, but not so great for your skin.
Wash Your Hair First, Then Wash Your Body
Now I never thought I would take advice from Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but in one episode Khloe talked about how she washed her body after she washed her hair, and the skincare goddess’ started singing. GENIUS! The advice is super straightforward and makes a ton of sense because you definitely want to cleanse away the oil, dead skin cells, & product buildup from your hair off of your skin and it would be a little counterintuitive to do it the other way around.
Wash your face last (or even better, outside of the shower”>
One of my major takeaways throughout this skin journey has been to wash my face last (in the shower”> if I’m in a hurry or if I have some time, to do my face regimen outside of where I washed my hair. When washing your hair, just imagine all of that buildup you’re rinsing from your scalp is going right down to your cheeks, eyebrows, etc and just sitting there and the steam from the shower is letting it sink in even deeper into your pores. I recommend washing your face outside of the area you shampooed and conditioned, using a clearing face wash (urban skin Rx has me right!”> and then heading into the rest of your skincare regimen.
Scarfs are your best friend
When I rock my curls loudly and all over the place, they tend to drop in front of my forehead and my eyebrows. After doing this for a couple of days, eventually little white bumps start to form in those areas and then I have to pull my hair up. One of the ways I can combat against these small breakouts is by tying my hair with a scarf or putting on a satin bonnet at night. I’ve also started wearing my hair up a little bit more often and putting tea tree oil in the front section of my hair to help combat any bumps that may appear.
Double-Duty Products
Finding double-duty products that take care of both the skin & hair can really be a gamechanger. Some of my favorites are Apple Cider Vinegar (for removing buildup in the hair and as a face toner”>, tea tree oil (clears dry scalp & fights breakouts”>, & anything with salicylic acid. Looking for something to try? Check out Acure, Neutrogena, SEEN, & Innersense!
Have you been experiencing body or face products and think it could be from your hair products? We want to know your story! Share your tips with us below :”>
Image: @heyhellolauren
Clean beauty is all of the rage right now, but where does that leave the hair world? Or better yet, what hair products are out there that consider themselves to be “clean”? Enter Innersense Organic Beauty. Family founded after a medical diagnosis, Innersense came to life through a spiritual awakening, holding onto faith in dark moments, and a deep desire to foster a healthy environment. Their commitment to a clean lifestyle turned into a bevy of products designed to provide max hair health while using incredibly safe ingredients and turning your hair washing experience into a time of reflection & grounding.
I’ve been on my own health journey for the past 8 months or so now, and often times my hair has suffered as a result of misdiagnoses or not practicing as much self-care as I should be. When I was first introduced to Innersense, even though I was completely smitten with their concept, the sticker shock intimidated me a little bit. Still, I just knew I needed to see what they were working with. The kicker: Try a 14-day detox from all synthetic products, use their Renew Texture Hair Ceremony and enliven my way to feathery light, defined curls.
Image: @Innersense
Hydrating Cream Hairbath & Conditioner
One of the first boxes I like to check off of my hair products is how strong the scent profile is. Too heavily scented and my eyes are burning in the shower from synthetic fragrances, so my go-to is either no scent or extremely light. In both of these, Sage & Vanilla essential oils not only help power the scent profile, creating a “tranquilizing and relaxing ceremonial experience” – @innersense and coupled with this formula’s other powerhouse ingredients turn wash day into meditation goals. My curls LOVED the buttery feel of this cleanser/conditioner combo as well, as my hair didn’t feel stripped of moisture after rinsing out. I had clean hair that still had shine and was super pliable after only one round of washing.
Hydrating Hair Masque
Flaxseed & Tamanu Oils are the stars here for building a strong nutrient base for my hair to thrive. After cleansing with the Hairbath (literally, never using the word shampoo again lol“> and then following up with the conditioner, I went in with the masque for max moisture benefits. I wear my hair in a bun 90% of the time, so when I have a wash day to rock my fro, I like to create an entire experience out of prepping my curls. After leaving this on for about 15 minutes, my hair was super silky, still didn’t have a strong scent connected to it, and the flaxseed & tamanu oils infused my strands with Omega 3s & antioxidants to encourage strength and elasticity.
Quiet Calm Curl Control
Alright. Here comes the true test. I was a little unsure of how this would perform because the texture is slightly thicker than what I typically go for, but it held its own for about a 4 days of frizz free hair and that’s through several spin classes! I was impressed by how lightweight it felt and how easily it can be combined with over products. No flakes whatsoever! I could mix this with the styling gel below or my DevaCurl Matcha Moisture conditioner and the buildup was almost nonexistent. Also major key: This product contains “Rooibos Tea [which contains] 50 times more antioxidants than green tea” – @innersense. Y’all, this brand is coming in hot with the formulations over here.
I Create Hold Styling Gel
This one was the winner of out of the entire hair ceremony for me. You know, I’m a bun girl, so anything to slick back the hair and lasts all day is a game-changer in my book. I found that with this product, I couldn’t do my typical rake method for my wash & go, so instead I mixed a small amount of the gel & curl cream in my hands and then smoothed it down my strands. This gave me soft definition, with medium hold. When it came time to put my hair up though, I felt like this product did a really great job of holding my edges down without me having to brush them a ton.
10/10 I would continue using this line, especially coupled with maybe doing a dietary detox as well for a full healing journey. Are you down for a hair detox?
My go-to on my wash days when drying my hair is is to work with a soft, cotton, t-shirt, and then prep for hair for a twist out or wash and go, and then let it dry overnight. I remember when I first natural in 2013, all of the blogs at the time mentioned that drying hair with a t-shirt was the way to go, so I rocked with it faithfully until my Naturally Curly girls challenged me to try out a microfiber towel instead. :”> Slightly skeptical to give up my old fave, I admit I was curious to see how the towel would perform in my hair, as opposed to the shirt. Microfiber towels are known for absorbing a ton of excess water from freshly washed hair, being gentle on curls, eliminating frizz, and enhancing natural curl definition, so it sounded like a winner to me. Check out my results below!
T-shirt
Before:
I typically use a t-shirt when drying my hair after a wash day, so I grabbed one of my faves and put it to the test against the microfiber towel. When drying my hair, I use the plop method and let the shirt absorb any water for about 10 minutes. I did find that when using the shirt, it didn’t absorb a huge amount of water, so I did have to squeeze the excess out of my hair before I felt comfortable putting product into it for my style. Once I did that, I was good to go. The results I achieved were pretty normal for me, big hair, with slight frizz, and minimal curl definition.
After:
Microfiber Towel
Before:
On my second attempt at a Wash & Go, I dried my hair with the DevaCurl DevaTowel Anti-Frizz Microfiber Towel, meant to decrease frizz and enhance curl shape, without increasing breakage or damaging my hair. This was my first attempt at using a microfiber towel to dry my hair, and the difference in materials definitely showed. My hair had noticeably less frizz, and a lot more water was absorbed into the towel, as opposed to when I used the t-shirt. I used the plop method again when drying my hair this time, and let the towel soak up water for about 10 minutes. From there, I went in and applied my styling products and I was good to go.
After:
So what do you think? On both of these occasions, I rocked a wash & go for my style and used the same products for each one, that way I knew I would get similar results. The day I used the t-shirt to dry my hair, I did have to use a bit more styling gel to really bring in more curl definition, but when I used the towel I didn’t have to do this. I will say though, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use the towel, and since I have purchased 3 of them (you can never have too many”>. lol, I think I have new fave when it comes to drying my hair and prepping for styling.
What do you use to dry your hair?
Let us know on Facebook!
All photos by @itspheelosophy
The perm rod set is a simple yet incredibly versatile protective style for all hair types–including transitioning–and this year, it’s making a resurgence in the natural hair community.
Image: @naturallytemi
The perm rod set is a simple yet incredibly versatile protective style for all hair types–including transitioning–and this year, it’s making a resurgence in the natural hair community. With the ability to be worn on any length, from tapered TWAs to bra strap, the naturally curly world just can’t get enough of perm rod sets. Watch how these 5 YouTube vloggers show you how to slay on a variety of different perm rods and hair types.
iMadameJay
Jay shows how she achieves her shiny ringlets with a whole lot of bounce.
What she uses
-
Orange Rods, Peach & Purple Rods
Actually Ashly
Soft, yet defined, Ashly shows us to how to achieve the perfect carefree volume on her Type 3c curls.
What she uses
-
Curlditional Love Co-Wash Poo Bar
-
Moon Moisture Slip Deep Conditioning Fertilizing Dip
-
30 Orange Perm Rods
WestAfricanBaby
West African Baby shows us to how she creates her beautifully defined perm-rod set on Type 4c hair.
What she uses
-
Sweet Essentials Cold-Pressed Argan Oil
-
60 Peach Rods
MsKenK
Ken K is killing the game with this gorgeous and funky perm rod set on her tapered cut–perfect for a girl’s night out.
What she uses
-
White & Pink Rods
JeanetteJBeauty
Jeanette highlights her blonde coils to perfection with a super-defined perm rod set.
What she uses
-
Grey, White, & Purple Perm Rods
The NaturallyCurly Editors tried 4 different types of roller sets on 4 different curl patterns, click here for their results.
In a hair rut? Follow us on Instagram for inspiration.
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Activated charcoal, the hot item in the beauty community, is the naturally occurring ingredient leading the charge on cleansing our skin, teeth, and scalp. This ingredient has actually been on the beauty scene for hundreds of years and can be found in use as far back as Ancient Egypt. Used to preserve and protect items, activated charcoal is known to brighten skin, tighten pores, and clear toxins from the body. It can be taken as an internal supplement in capsule form, or used externally in face masks, shampoos and conditioners, makeup, perfumes, and toothpaste! So if you’re curious about adding this powerhouse into your self-care routine, here are 9 beauty products that contain all the charcoal you could ever want.
BOOM Toothy Tabs by LUSH
“I never want white teeth,” said no one ever. What a perfect way to combat tooth decay and a mean coffee addiction with the LUSH Boom! Toothy Tabs. Made with activated charcoal and baking soda, this toothpaste works to rid your teeth of stains, freshen breath, and overall give you some very cool Insta stories with its momentary ability to make your smile completely black. It’s a good thing, I promise.
Sexy Hair Detox Shampoo
This color-safe shampoo by Sexy Hair is all about thoroughly cleansing the scalp to remove buildup and any impurities and give a serious shine boost to dull strands. It is even gentle enough to be used every day, perfect for those who want a non-stripping cleanser.
Pink Grapefruit Conditioner
Of course, we can’t shampoo without conditioning (well, we can, but that’s a different story”>, so here is a conditioner with charcoal inside of it! I haven’t found a conditioner formulated like this one on the market yet, so it’s safe to say I’m eager to try this out. Meant to smooth and strengthen, this conditioner is also combined with a nice lemon scent, symbolic of those citrus ingredients in there to boost shine.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo
A natural hair brand fave, the Briogeo Scalp Revival collection is all about balancing the scalp health to provide the optimal environment for hair growth. Try out this micro-exfoliating shampoo whenever you need a good thorough cleanse (ideal for after the take down of a protective style”>, and peep this full review of the other products in their activated charcoal line.
SheaMoisture Bamboo and Charcoal Scrub
We have to make sure our body is taken care internally and externally, so why not introduce a scrub to your wash day routine? Filled with bamboo and activated charcoal, this scrub by Shea Moisture helps to buff away dead skin, control breakouts, and fade acne scars. Winner.
Ubame Mascara by Milk Makeup
I became obsessed with Milk Makeup as soon as I saw one of my fave bloggers Sophia Roe join their marketing team. Milk Makeup is a dope platform, and with this charcoal infused mascara, they have shown their innovation as well. If you want a highly pigmented look for your eyes, check it out. It’s worth a glance or…like 5. :”>
Boscia Black Mask
A popular staple in the charcoal-loving community, the Boscia Luminizing Face Mask is the Queen of face masks. Known for brightening the skin and declogging pores, try this one in your skincare routine as a way to feel glowy immediately!
Kaia Naturals Deodorant
Activated charcoal in my deodorant? Yes, please! Introducing, Kaia The Takesumi Detox deodorant, perfect for balancing the underarms region, removing smells, and also removing impurities from the body. The natural deodorant train is going full speed in 2018, so try this one out for sure.
Herbivore Botanicals Charcoal Soap
Millenials everywhere are rejoicing for anything by minimalist brand Herbivore Botanicals, and here’s one more product to become obsessed with. Their bamboo and charcoal soap is perfect to pair with the SheaMoisture body scrub above for a super deep cleansing bath routine. Oh hey, clear skin!
So are you loving charcoal as much as me?
Let me know your favorite activated charcoal products in the comments or on our Facebook page!
P.S. Please do not use these if you have an allergy. Speak with your doctor first.
When you wear glasses, it can totally cramp your style sometimes and seem like such a hassle when it comes to rocking your hair. While they are necessary for your eyesight, they can definitely mess up your look and take you from feeling fab to drab in no time. From getting your strands stuck when you take them off to hairstyles that just don’t mesh well with your rims overall, it can be a cruel world for a curly girl in glasses, and sometimes you just want to rock a style that goes with your look, without compromising your vision. We rounded up some of our fav styles to help you out just for this occasion.
Here are 5 curly hairstyles for glasses to help you take back control of your look!
1. Faux Hawk
One of the best curly hairstyles for glasses is the faux hawk. You get volume on top and the look of short sides without actually having to take the plunge of shaving your hair. We also love that it can be both super informal or formal. It works well with glasses for a fun, fresh vibe, and by adding in extensions, she really elevated the style even more.
2. Twist Out
Of course, not every style for glasses wearing girls has to be an updo. Sometimes, you need to let those beautiful curls breathe! This look is one of the easiest and is great for when you want a full-bodied look to show off your texture. Us naturals love us a good twist out, so it only makes sense to highlight one of the most popular hairstyles with your brand new frames. We see you boo (pun intended”>.
3. Pineapple Style Updo
This is a classic look that helps keep your hair away from the earpieces of your glasses but still gives you some play on texture up top. Perfect for work, school, or play, this pretty style is a go-to for naturals looking to put their hair up while still leaving some strands loose.
4. Afro Puffs
Another of the best curly hairstyles for glasses wearing girls is the classic afro puff. Done in two puffs, this look is cute and youthful while keeping your hair out of your face. Try this one out with a pair of super on-trend colorful frames and turn heads in style.
5. Bantu Knots
Another classic for good reason, this is a half-up-half-down style perfect for wearing glasses without worry. This look plays equal attention to your glasses and your curls so you can create a beautiful balance for both elements of your look. You can even leave your bantu knots in to create a whole new look!
As a fellow curly girl with glasses, I am more than excited to try out these styles and can’t wait to add them to my arsenal.
Are you a curly with glasses? Let us know in the comments how you wear your hair!
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Naturals have a lot of feelings about wash day. There is so much advice floating around on the topic, it can quickly feel overwhelming when trying to figure out what is best for your curls. One of the most commonly asked questions by curlies is should I shampoo my hair twice? While this is an often-debated topic in the natural hair community, here are a few things to consider before you lather, rinse, and repeat.
Photo Courtesy of @iStock.com/stock_colors
Should I shampoo my hair twice?
The answer to this question will depend on your hair, the style you have it in, and if you have any scalp conditions. There is no clear-cut answer to say how many times you should shampoo on wash day. There are several different factors which play into this decision.
The type of shampoo
Lots of people assume that because their shampoo is low or no lather, it must not be working as hard at cleansing. The lather is not an indication of the power of your shampoo. However, not all shampoos cleanse quite the same. Some shampoos contain sulfates which aim to cleanse the scalp from oils, buildup, and styling products, and while they may be acceptable for one wash, it may be too harsh to shampoo twice. If you are using a gentler shampoo with natural ingredients free from sulfates, doubling up on shampooing is more acceptable for your curls.
How often you wash
The debate of how often to wash hair is a never-ending argument in the natural hair community. Whether you wash your hair twice a week or once every two weeks, this may play a role in how many times to shampoo. For instance, if your wash days fall two to a week, one shampoo may be best whereas a double application approach might be ideal for those washing less frequently.
How much buildup you have
Of course, the matter of which shampoo type and how often to wash is closely related to the way you experience buildup. If you are light handed with the products and aren’t prone to oily buildup in general, one wash should suffice. If you are a little heavier with your products or experience excessive buildup, you should wash your curls twice to really break it all up and get a good clean. One shampoo I really love for clarifying is the Ouidad Waterworks Clarifying Shampoo.
How dry your hair is
Another matter to consider when deciding whether to shampoo hair twice is the matter of dryness. This is actually the main reason a lot of naturals avoid shampooing twice (even when it could benefit their curls!”> since we are taught early on that dryness is our worst enemy and that over-shampooing strips us of our natural moisture. However, if you have buildup where two shampoos could help give you a cleaner, healthier scalp as opposed to one shampooing that doesn’t quite get the job done, you are missing out on better hair care. The key is to know what your hair needs and watch out for dryness. A moisture retention shampoo like The Doux Sucka Free Moisturizing Shampoo would be ideal for wash days if you are combatting dryness, or even a cleansing conditioner would suffice such as the As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner.
If you have a scalp condition
If you suffer from a scalp condition such as psoriasis or eczema the whole game changes. You definitely want to make sure that you use a shampoo that is soothing for the scalp and moisturizing, so as not to irritate the delicate skin in your scalp area. Look for one that has ingredients such as chamomile, rose, or honey, such as the Honey Baby Naturals Moisture & Scalp Balance Shampoo. All of these are known to ease itching, help promote moisture retention and decrease redness. I would also suggest only shampooing once to really make sure you are being gentle with this area.
If you wear protective styles
if you are shampooing your hair while wearing a protective style, the most common concern is will you mess up your style by using a shampoo? Because often times we can’t reach our scalp directly, it is best to use your favorite diluted with a little water in a spray bottle, so as not to cause buildup on the scalp. One of the methods I use when I have my faux locs in, is to place my favorite shampoo in a bottle with a nozzle on it, dilute the shampoo with water, squirt it in between my locs, gently massage my scalp so as not to disrupt my style and then wash out the solution with water from a bottle. If you can’t find a water bottle with a nozzle, try out the DevaCurl Buildup Buster Micellar Water Cleansing Serum. It is light enough to get the job done, and comes with a pointed nozzle already attached! I would do this once, and then follow up with a great clarifying shampoo once your protective style is removed.
What do you think about shampooing your hair now? Will you be changing up your routine?
Let us know in the comments below.
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The Naturally Curly No Sugar challenge is here, and if you all are anything like me, you’re probably thinking what the heck am I going to eat for the next 2 weeks?!?! No creamer in my coffee, no desserts, no substance!
The thing is, added sugars are literally hidden everywhere and in everything, and are keeping us from being our healthiest selves. Also, if you are anything like the typical American who is absorbed by busy-ness, we tend to go for the quickest, most readily available food option. Unfortunately for us these options are typically loaded with sugar. And when we have no energy once the clock strikes 3:00PM, you can blame the sugar ya’ll!
So let’s say goodbye to Starbucks, and hello to clearheadedness and more energy as we embark on this journey together! Reminder: please be patient with yourself during this process. Sugar has been classified to have just as many addictive properties as drugs, so you will experience detox symptoms when hitting this challenge cold turkey. I promise the world won’t end if you slip up one day but do try to stick to the plan as much as you can.
Here’s my take on a few recipes I will be trying out for my #nosugar challenge, and of course, because I can’t go without dessert for more than 72 hours, I included an option for that as well. Happy shopping, and here’s to better health!
Breakfast Options:
Photo Courtesy of @DaysToFitness
- Probiotic Protein Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup kefir
1 cup water
1 instead of the banana, substitute avocado or nut butter
1 tablespoon coconut oil
½ cup oat bran
1 scoop sugar-free whey or soya protein powder
2-3 ice cubesMethod:
Place the avocado or nut butter in your blender. Add the liquid and then the oat bran, protein powder and coconut oil. Finally add the ice cubes. Blitz on low for 30 seconds and then on high for 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth.
- Avocado Ezekiel Toast w/ Sunnyside Up Egg & Red Pepper
- Egg White Breakfast Cups w/ Various Ingredients
And for those days when you just can’t find anything quick enough, here are some grab and go foods to have in your pantry & fridge, so we can avoid that annoying hangry feeling.
Grab & Go Snack Foods:
- Frozen Berries
- Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric & Sea Salt
- Edamame
- Skinny Pop Popcorn
- Almond Butter (no added sugar”>
- Turkey & Cheese Roll-Ups
- Tuna
- Whole Grain Crackers
- Avocadoes
Lunch Options:
Photo Courtesy of @NutritionistReviews
2. Peanut Broccoli & Pork Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces lean pork chops
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 large head of broccoli, chopped
- 1/2 cup diced green onions
- 1/3 cup peanuts
- 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
Peanut sauce
- 1/4 cup peanut butter powder
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
Method:
Dice pork chops. Heat sesame oil in a frying pan. Cook pork until cooked through- about 8 minutes. Add the broccoli and 2 tablespoons water and cook for about 2 minutes. Whisk together all ingredients for peanut sauce. Toss together pork, broccoli, peanut sauce and remaining ingredients. Serve immediately or stores well in the fridge for a few days.
3. Spaghetti Squash Stuffed with Mushrooms, Spinach, Olive oil
4. Crab, Avocado “Tacos” (omit the mango”>
Dinner Options:
Photo Courtesy of @Pumpkin&PeanutButter
Ingredients:
8oz spaghetti (whole wheat, brown rice, etc”>
8 asparagus spears, chopped into 2” pieces
5 artichoke hearts, halved (I use Trader Joe’s brand”>
5-6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, (divided”>
3-4 Dorot crushed garlic cubes or garlic cloves, minced
juice of half a lemon
salt and pepper, to taste
fresh thyme (optional”>
Method:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss asparagus pieces in a 1/2 tbsp of olive oil and salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 15-20 minutes. Remove and set aside. While asparagus is roasting, boil a pot of water for pasta. Cook as directed on package. Drain and set aside. Drizzle 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet. Add in halved artichoke hearts and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove and set aside. Pour cooked pasta into this same skillet and drizzle with 2-4 tbsp of olive oil. Toss to coat. Add in 3-4 Dorot crushed garlic cubes, lemon juice, and salt and pepper, to taste. Stir to combine all the flavors. Last, add your roasted asparagus and sautéed artichoke hearts, and sprinkle with fresh thyme. Serve it up!
Dessert Option:
So you ready? You have your grocery list mapped out?
Need a list of what to/what not to eat: We got you covered! Peep our No Sugar Challenge list.
Don’t forget you can follow us on Instagram & on Facebook to see our progress with the #nosugar challenge January 5th – 19th!
Sign up to join the challenge and receive daily tips and motivation from us!
In The Curl Revolution: Inspiring Stories and Practical Advice from the NaturallyCurly Community, Michelle Breyer, co-founder of NaturallyCurly, has curated some of the best information that NaturallyCurly’s experts and community members have collected over the past two decades. Rather than focusing on one method, product, or ethnicity, The Curl Revolution tells the story of the entire curly hair industry and features many of the leading curl innovators.
One of these curl innovators is Cassidy Blackwell. Cassidy is no stranger to the natural hair community, having created a natural hair blog, worked for NaturallyCurly, and now fostered brand engagement strategies at one of the most prominent beauty and lifestyle companies for people of color. Her response to her coils:
“I am not my hair, but my hair is totally an essential part of me. It’s my crowning glory, but it’s also not something I’m super precious about. I’ve learned that hair is just hair, and it definitely grows back, so I always try to have fun with it!” – Cassidy Blackwell, Director of Brand Engagement at FORM Beauty (The Curl Revolution”>
As a follow-up to the curl journey Cassidy shared in our new book, I sat down with her to take a deeper look into her hair acceptance, and where her inspiration comes from. Follow along for more on Cassidy’s foray into her hair, as she embraces her Curl Revolution.
What made you start Natural Selection? How did it shape your approach to thinking about your natural hair journey?
The name Natural Selection was inspired by evolutionary theory and so I sought to explore the evolution of the black hair care industry and the biology of naturally textured hair. Through these lenses, I was able to find my foundation in science and build from there. My hair journey, as a result, was shaped by thoughtful experimentation and contextual learning. It was also about having fun with my hair for the first time in my life.
Did you ever feel a pressure to have the perfect hair regimen for your curls, since you have a background in natural hair content creation?
What matters to me is showing that even healthy hair is all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The better I take care of ALL of myself, the better my hair will simply be a complement to that. I definitely feel some pressure, but it’s mostly that people wonder how they can get my exact texture, which is just naturally very coily. It’s been my goal just to encourage people to love THEIR own hair vs. idolize another’s.
What does The Curl Revolution book mean to you? How does this change the game for the hair industry?
The Curl Revolution to me is the representation of an amazing dream realized. I went from being a CurlTalk junkie to being a Global Editor at NaturallyCurly, to becoming good friends with Michelle Breyer. I’ll never forget that one day we were at a hair show and she turned to me and said, “I’ve gotta write a book about all this.” And here it is!
NaturallyCurly taught me so much of what I know and I’m so excited that our texture has not only a printed celebration but an informative instructional manual to educate broadly moving forward.
Where do you see curl acceptance going in the future?
What I love about NaturallyCurly and The Curl Revolution is that it’s all about bringing together a community of curlies, coilies, and wavies. There’s so much we can learn from one another and I think that inclusivity is super important in the beauty industry today. For too long hair has been segmented by ethnicity or texture — both of which are rather arbitrary. Instead, this 360 view of the entire range of texture allows for more understanding and more opportunities for personal hair care.
Right! I genuinely believe it is so important to not get caught up in the hype over our hair and to just let it grow and flow naturally. Hair totally has its own personality. How do you feel about the understated pressures to have perfect coils all of the time, and how do you show love to your crown?
While I do have a laissez-faire attitude about my hair (I much prefer writing about it, than doing it”>, there are certain non-negotiables for me when it comes to taking care of my hair. First, I make sure to clarify my hair at least once a month. Build up = breakage and dry hair for me. Second, I always always always sleep on satin. Third, I make sure to get my ends trimmed about 4 times a year so I can prevent breakage and splits.
Ok, Last question :”> When choosing a product for your hair, what are you looking for? What is your hair obsessed with?
I look for moisture, I look for conditioners with slip, I look for products that can be super versatile in how I use them (ie. a 3-in-1 product is my dream!”>. My hair is obsessed with FORM. I shaved my head about 3 years ago and grew my hair out with FORM while we were still in development. Now my hair is beneath my collarbones and the healthiest it’s ever been!
Thank you so much, Cassidy for being a part of The Curl Revolution!
Don’t forget, you can pick your copy through SHOPNaturallyCurly. It’s our December book club pick of the month, and if you use the discount code RUSH24 right now you can get an extra 24% off!
Photos by Karston Tannis for The Curl Revolution.
With the travesty that was 2017 ending soon and the new year on the horizon, we all need a serious glo-up to rid ourselves of the stress of our day to day fabulous lifestyles! I always say that self-care is the best care, and the most important relationship you will ever have is the one with yourself, so why not check out some new self-love digs for the new year?
I highlighted some of the best self-care gifts for you and your peeps, perfect for your 2018 glo-up! From skincare to internal wellness, to even small boosts of confidence for those last minute mirror checks, I got you covered. It’s time to do you, boo and rep yourself unapologetically in the new year. Happy Shopping babes! <3
Emotional Health
When I practice self-care, I like to pay attention to the needs of my mental & emotional health first. One of the best ways for me to decompress is through a good book and a nice sensory experience. On my shelf, The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish, and she literally has me crying tears of laughter in every chapter. That paired with my Lavender infused Lush Twilight Spray and I am my best and happiest self. :”>
Physical Health
What better way to jumpstart your physical health than with taking care of the largest organ on our bodies? Our skin! It’s never a bad idea to try out a new routine, and with affordable skincare brand The Ordinary, you can do just that. Their AHA/BHA 10 Minute Facial is the perfect quick fix when you need to clear up a breakout on the fly. From there, of course, you need moisture, so check out the Face Oil, Hair Butter, & Hair Oil Gift Set from the Afro Hair Skin Nails Company, a black woman-owned brand based in the UK. It’s all plant-based!!
Internal Health
You can’t practice good physical health without also paying attention to your internal health, so what better way to celebrate yourself and really create some new habits in 2018 than through a personalized vitamin pack from Care/ Of? Pop in your needs and they create a custom vitamin cocktail just for you, perfect to pair with the Energy Reboot Kit from The Nue Co, for those days when you “just can’t even.” Finish off your day with a cute little set from The Honey Pot Co. for your lady parts, and you are in business.
Boosts of Confidence
Alright, I’m headed out the door and I know I need to slay my day, so I always make sure to wear items that will really elevate my look and make me feel good. One of my faves right is a nail polish by woman-owned brand and fellow Vanderbilt alum (#anchordown”>, Press & Hume! A quick swipe of this non- toxic, cruelty-free, handmade, and 5-free formula on my fingers, and I’m shining, shining, shining, shining, yeahhh!
And of course, I can’t leave home without my enamel pins and patches from Coloring Pins. Another woman-owned brand, peep these pins when you want to throw some subtle, black girl magic shade. Try popping them onto this cute “Strong Female Lead” tee, because duh. It’s self-explanatory. ;”>
So what do you think? Feeling a new self-care vibe?
What’s on your wishlist this holiday season?
Let me know on Facebook!
For more on how I practice self-care, follow me on ig @whatsuplauren_
NaturallyCurly is a resource hub where all curlies and coilies can come to find information on their textures, ways to style their hair, and what products they can use, among a plethora of other information about their hair type. But we also love our wavies who are in this community also! Often times, wavy recieves quite a bit of hair hate, rooted in wavies not being as curly as some of their textured counterparts, as well as the ability of their texture to achieve straight styles with ease. But what about the naturally wavy community members who want to rock their hair in its natural texture? NC Video Editor Grace (a proud wavy”> actually didn’t know her hair had texture up until last year, but has since advocated for the wavy through her media visibility. We know how much y’all love on her on YouTube ;”> so she graciously gave us insight into her hair journey, Holy Grail products, and her perception of wavies in the curly hair community and conversations.
Check out her thoughts!
Lauren: How did you wear your hair as a child?
Grace: My hair was a lot straighter as a kid. I had some bangs at one point. My mom liked my hair long, so naturally when she let me make decisions about my hair, I cut it into a bob. I also loved to do foam rollers overnight and have my mom french braid my hair. My parents never seemed overly concerned about my hair, but would indulge me if I wanted a certain style. In the fifth grade, my mom agreed to let me try at-home highlights which resulted in orange streaks that I had to get fixed at a salon. That was the beginning of my hair-coloring habit, but it’s actually been over a year since I last colored it which I think is helping with its health and texture.
When and what made you decide to embrace your wavy texture? Have you always embraced your texture?
I honestly thought my hair was straight until about two years ago. I realized one day that if I didn’t brush out my hair it actually had some texture, and since I’m lazy, I just decided to stop brushing it. At that point, it was a solid 1C (lol”>, still pretty straight with a hint of waves just because I was using a Pantene clarifying shampoo EVERY DAY on it (girl, what?”> so it was totally stripped and lifeless. I was also using a lot of heat on it — curling it or doing blowouts on it almost every week. I made the transition once I started working with NaturallyCurly and realizing what switching to a sulfate-free, hair friendly regimen could do for my hair.
What are your holy grail products? What is your hair regimen?
I really love the DevaCurl wavy line. The DevaCurl Micellar Clarifier is amazing, and the Low-Poo/One Condition are both light enough that they won’t weigh me down. Part of the problem with having fine hair and trying to switch to products that are safer for it is that not many of them are made for that type of hair, they’re made for thicker, coarser hair which can take a lot more without getting weighed down. There are a lot of gels, butters, oils, and things like that out there that are amazing for other hair types but basically make my hair go straight.
My hair regimen is usually DevaCurl weightless waves shampoo/conditioner or the Trader Joe’s tea tree tingle shampoo with the 2 Girls With Curls conditioner. Sometimes I’ll use the Micellar Clarifier instead of shampoo if it’s been a while since I’ve washed. I finger detangle in the shower, add a tiny bit of leave-in, usually Briogeo or Brown Butter Beauty, and then style while my hair is soaking wet too. I’ve found that my waviest hair happens when I use the SOTC (scrunch out the crunch”> method. I put two handfuls of LA Looks blue hair gel in soaking wet hair and scrunch it with my hands, and then scrunch it further with a towel until most of the moisture comes out. I let it sit, and it usually gets crunchy because of how much gel I put in it. When it’s dry and crunchy, I scrunch some more and the crunch comes out and it leaves me with really nice waves. The gel really reminds me of the kind of thing a teenage boy in the early 90s would use to get a nice Timberlake ‘do, but it works! Sometimes I’ll use a foam instead if I want to switch things up or if the gel is weighing my hair down. I like the DevaCurl Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam and the Design Essentials Curl Enhancing Mousse. Those don’t provide as much hold but they are a lot lighter on my hair.
I don’t really have a tried and true technique for my hair yet. I still feel like I’m at the beginning of this hair journey. Every wash day is different for me and I’m not really getting consistent results yet. I’ve definitely figured out which products I can’t use — anything with the words “butter, oil, creme” are usually out. I’ve gotten the most consistent results by using the SOTC technique but I’m still experimenting.
How do you feel about the hair hate against wavies seeking a space to embrace their textures? Do you feel ostracized?
I understand the hair hate against wavies. Wavy hair is not a hair type that has been deemed unacceptable, unprofessional, or unkempt by our society. It still fits within those “classic” European beauty standards — I see articles and videos all the time explaining how to get a “beach wave” look, which is basically what my hair type is. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely get bad cases of bed head, but I don’t experience the same kind of discrimination against my hair that I see with other hair types. I do feel excluded sometimes, but I’m not really mad about it. I try to understand where people are coming from and I think it’s unnecessary for me to try to invade certain spaces. I do love connecting with other wavies, though! It’s a unique hair type that presents interesting challenges, so it’s nice when I do get to trade tips and chat about it.
Any advice you would like to give others who are just now embracing their wavy hair?
I think that your natural hair texture is the one that looks best on you, so I like to encourage people to embrace it. I think my biggest tip for anyone embracing their natural texture is to be patient. Not every day is going to be a good hair day — there might be weeks where you only have bad hair days and your hair looks like string cheese because you decided to see what a castor oil infused hair butter would do to your strands. It’s okay. It’ll get better. Just keep trying things and seek out other people with similar hair and see what their routines are.
For more on Grace’s journey, follow her on ig @gracelhathaway, or keep up with her on the NC Youtube channel!
Want more hair journey inspo? Check out the rest of the team here!
My #metoo happened earlier this year, in a women’s bathroom. She was a family associate, someone that was supposed to be safe, and sadly in my eyes another woman, so “harmless”. Yet, it was intense, scary, and made me wonder if I had done something to lead this person on, to warrant their verbal & physical attempts to connect with my being in such an invasive way and overnight, I joined the company of so many others, who became victims to themselves at the hands of someone else.
When I saw the #metoo movement happening on social media, I must admit, at first it was triggering, but not long after my initial thoughts, it became clear. To see the solidarity in testimony was not only incredibly uplifting and empowering to hear, but the fact that so many people of all backgrounds coming forward (men included”> provided an example of how it is time to remove the stigma of shame over sexual assault & violence. It is time to hold our perpetrators accountable in the most visible of ways.
Photo Courtesy of @Time
Founded by Tarana Burks in 2006 as a response to her own sexual assault, the #metoo hashtag became a symbol of a revolution. Victims of sexual violence came together, and shared these two words over 1.7 million times on Twitter and over 12 million times on Facebook, in over 85 countries. Amidst the Harvey Weinstein’s and countless other “men” of power, we rose up hard, but did we erase this black woman from her own story?
As Time’s Magazine’s 2017 person of the year, the #metoo cover featured “The Silence Breakers”, Ashley Judd, Taylor Swift, Susan Fowler, Adama Iwu, Isabel Pascual, & a woman’s elbow (symbolizing the millions of women still in their own brave silence about their experiences”>. While I don’t agree with all who were chosen to be the first visible representation of this movement on such a grand public outlet, it would be remiss of me to say that they did not include marginalized people at all, and it is the wakeup call the world needed. Sentiments were gathered across the NaturallyCurly office over the cover choice as well, and our editors had a few thoughts to share about what Time’s representation of this issue meant to them:
“Living in a visual communication-centric world, I would be remiss in not saying that the most compelling element of the TIME Magazine Person of the Year cover is the fifth woman pictured. She’s to the bottom right of the image, and all we see is her elbow. This strategic positioning resonates with me because since the #metoo campaign went viral, I felt a bit voiceless. The reason was my past pains seemed to pale in comparison to those of individuals that have bravely come forward with stories about their loss of self, and even more profound tragedies that have yet to be told. In any event, I do see myself in the fifth woman’s elbow. She does not reveal her face; she has chosen to either share or not share her #metoo story and no matter if anyone cares to understand the nuances of her presence in this ever-widening lens of unwanted voyeurism, the fifth woman is my representative, she is my advocate. In any event, I chose not to share #metoo conversations in public forums because that is my choice. However, I will place my elbow on the table, cup my hand to rest my chin, open my ears and my heart to listen to those that do want to share with me and whoever else is daring enough to offer compassion.”- Gerilyn, Senior Copywriter
“I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, lifting up multiple different people willing to come forward about their situations was noble in that no one of us can quantify suffering more than any other in an environment of sexual assault and rampant victim blaming. However, considering #metoo was yet another powerful viral movement branded by a black woman, ten years ago in fact, it’s kind of a head scratcher that their Person of the Year was expanded to multiple people. I’m not sure when we’ll ever get to put the Tarana Burkes of the world at the forefront like we have with our MLKs and our Pope Francises—despite the fact that their work in activism isn’t done specifically for themselves. The sad thing is that there’s never an “appropriate” time to ask these sorts of questions—it’s not unreasonable to ask for a positive spotlight on the people a movement is meant to serve, and no one rolls up their sleeves for this kind of work for their own personal aggrandization, but it’s difficult not to notice whose work is known with their moniker attached and made into a household name, and whose isn’t.” – April, Copywriter
I think it is important for the focus to remain on the true silence breaker, Tarana Burke, and to make sure we aren’t erasing this black woman from her own story. So what happens next? Where does #metoo go, and who does it help? In response to these questions, Tarana offered up a few words of wisdom and a prophetic vision to explain.
“To me, 2018 will be all about processing #MeToo. The next step in the movement will be helping women navigate what happens after they disclose an experience. It’s about what happens if someone posts #MeToo and nobody “likes” their status and how to be advocates in our communities. …I’m driven by the gaps, the things that are missing, the areas where marginalized people exist — and where the least resources are available for them….We keep talking about how many millions engaged with the movement, but even if just 10 percent of those people stay committed to the work, we will have created an incredible army. Because the power of #MeToo isn’t just naming it. Naming it is just the beginning of the journey.” – Tarana Burks for Glamour Mag
Unfortunately, sexual violence will not stop happening anytime soon, yet and still, I am immensely blessed to live in a time where we are finally recognizing in a big way that women & men, but especially women, have autonomy over our own bodies, and we owe you nothing. Not our energy, our time, or a smile, and I highly suggest it’s time the world deals with its fragile ego.
