The easy way to wash and detangle curly hair

Sometimes washing curly hair can be a real task. When I had relaxed hair, I never washed my hair myself. I would go to my stylist and let her deal with it. Since I have been natural, I have saved a ton about $2,080 per year. Unfortunately, those wallet savings transferred to time. Natural hair can take a lot of time to wash, detangle and style but my hair hasn't been healthier or looked better. Here are simple steps that should save time during the washing and detangling process.

1. Before washing separate the dry hair into 4 sections. 2 on each side in the front, 2 in the back. (If your hair is hard from products spray lightly with water and detangle with fingers.)

2. Braid each section or use butterfly clips to separate.

3. In the shower, tilt head upwards and let the water run through the hair.

4. Shampoo each section separately by loosing the braid. Rinse and re-braid.

5. Apply a leave-in conditioner to each section and detangle with fingers or detangling brush. Re-braid loosely or apply butterfly clip.

6. Style as usual by section.

I hope this helps!

What to look for in cleansers, conditioners and curl cremes.

Do you care what you put on your hair? Well you should. Here is a simple guide that will help you when searching for products. 

Cleanser (Shampoo)- Sulfate-free products only please. Ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate should be avoided. These ingredients are harsh chemicals found in detergents that strip the hair. Would you wash your hair with Tide or Gain? I hope not.  

Conditioner/ Curl cremes-  Look for conditioners that contain emollients, humectants and moisturizers. Products that contain high concentrations of plant based ingredients are a keeper.  

• Emollients soften the hair and reduce frizz. Look for words like shea butter, vegetable oils, olive oil, walnut oil, jojoba oil, cetyl ester and wheat germ. 
• Humectants absorb water and are critical for conditioned hair. Look for words like panthenol, vegetable glycerin and sorbitol. 
• Moisturizers add softness and controls curls. Look for words like amino acids, aloe vera, olive oil, balm mint extracts and propylene glycol. 
• Avoid Silicones: this is a synthetic material that repels water and is not biodegradable. Essentially preventing the hair from absorbing moisture. 
• Avoid Petroleum/Mineral Oil: this accumulates on the scalp, clogs the hair follicles and encourages dirt and build up. Petroleum is a temporary solution to making the hair look healthy and shiny. It's like spanx. They make you look slimmer but when you take them off your back to square one. :) 

Please note: Ingredients are listed in order of concentration. The product contains more of the first ingredient listed on the label than the last listed ingredient. 

THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE.

Check out my girl Elle Youtube Channel! She has great info and is the go to Naturalista for the best products! In her current video she is wearing the "Kurlee Girls Rock" T-shirt! #teamnatural

To grease or NOT to grease the scalp?

I would suggest the latter....never grease or oil the scalp. First of all, the scalp does not need our help when it comes to moisture. The sebaceous glands are responsible for providing the necessary oil that your scalp needs. You may think your getting rid of dandruff or dry scalp but your really just covering it up with grease and oils. Actually, greasing the scalp with petroleum products can cause dandruff as the petrolum forms a layer over the scalp that clogs the follicles and increases buildup.  What we should do is try to keep our scalp clean so that the hair follicles can breathe which will result in hair growth. This includes not putting products like creams and conditioners on the scalp. These products should only be applied to the hair NOT the scalp. 

DO apply oils, creams, and conditioners to the hair strands. Mainly focusing your efforts on the ends, which are the oldest and most delicate parts of the hair. Lubricated, moisturized and healthy ends equals Maximum Length Retention.  

Hot Nail Polish Trends for Naturalistas

A Naturalista's style is not only defined by her beautiful locks but her overall look. To help complete your look we've found the HOTTEST SPRING nail colors. Check out this selection of blues, greens, pearls, oranges, and reds that can make your outfit POP!

Blues

Greens

Oranges

Hot Pinks

Beachy Yellows

Pearls

Red

Purples

What is your favorite nail polish brand? OPI, China Glaze, Rimmel, etc?

What's in your COCKTAIL?

Stylists have done this for ages. Mixing a bunch of different products to yield a certain result. In a recent story, I read that some stylists mixed relaxers with conditioners to tame Naturalista's curls without their approval. Crazy stuff right?

Many of us Naturalista's have become our own hair's expert to the point where salon visits are an option not a necessity.  In getting to know our hair we have mixed special cocktails and in some instances given them a name. Mixing oils, conditioners, butters, gels, and brands to produce the perfect curl. 

Cocktailing pulls together a concoction that structures the curl by adding definition and hold (creams or gels), giving it shine (oils) and manageability (conditioners). 

Are you a natural born cocktailer? Let us know what you use to produce the perfect curl.

A Kurlee Girl that Rocks: Brittany Bradley

Brittany Bradley is the WINNER of our Kurlee Girl Rocks T-shirt Giveaway.

We asked Brittany about her natural hair journey and here is what she had to say. 

1. How long have you been natural? Did you do a Big Chop or Transition?

I've been natural all my life. My grandma would always say "Don't you let nobody put those crazy chemicals in ya hair!" However, I didn't start wearing my natural curls until my freshman year in college (4 years)

2. What is your favorite natural hairstyle?

Sad to say that I haven't experimented too much but I love wearing my hair all out, no pins, no twists. Now that I have layers, the curls just fall into place. It's a little big and messy, but I like that. 

3. What is the one product you cannot live without? Why?

I CAN'T live without Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning! I used to wear my hair straight all the time because I thought my curls were the devil's doing! I couldn't pull a comb through them and I didn't know what to use to manage my curls without damaging my hair. This product did just that for me. It moisturizes, detangles, and just makes my hair easier to style.

4. Does your hair have a name? If not what are the characteristics of your hair eg. type, personality?

I call my hair Chaka Flocka (like Chaka Khan and Waka Flocka). I got the name from my line sister because my hair can get really big and crazy when I leave the curls out and it has lots of body. My hair demands a lot of attention and does what it wants to do no matter what I say! My hair's crazy, but beautiful, so I think the name fits! haha

5. Do you have a special or daily hair care regimen?

When I wear my natural curls I use Pantene Relaxed and Natural Shampoo and Conditioner...I make sure to comb through my hair with the conditioner still in it. I rinse and pat it down with a towel. After, I apply Cantu Leave in Conditioning. I blow dry it just a little, but leave it damp for the most part. 

6. Who is your favorite natural you-tuber or blogger?

 I just started follwing Melissa Chanel's blog! She's pretty cool 

Thanks for participating Brittany!

To purchase a "Kurlee Girls Rock" t-shirt visit http://kurleebelle.blogspot.com/

Blonde's, Red's, S-Shaped Braids, Pompadours, and Side Parts are this Spring's Hottest Hair Trends. #teamnatural

Do Blonde's really have more fun?

Messy Red Waves say: Come here Rude Boy!

S-Shaped Braids are cute and a great protective style.

The Pompadour is Janelle Monae's signature style. It looks great on blondes hair too.

Side parts frame the face and are a good way to show your hair "Who's the Boss".

5 Hair Care tips for your Curls!

#1 Cleanse but do not over wash your hair! (Co-wash and/or washing once a week is fine to get rid of buildup and dead hair.)

#2 Nourish hair by conditioning often. (Condition once a day by using leave-in conditioners or oils.)  

#3 Be gentle at all times -WET or DRY. (Never brush or comb dry hair. Never apply pressure or pull wet hair.)

#4 Your ends are the oldest and most delicate part of your hair protect them by adding moisture.

#5 Spray frequently with water. (Think of your hair as a plant. If you don't water the plant it won't grow.)

Kurlee's did you know that we were taking over the world?

Check out these photos of Kurlee's that ROCKED the Runway and were sighted for their GLAM HAIR in Glamour Magazine's April issue! Most Glam List......

This Kurlee Model struts her stuff as she rocks this season's hottest trends: Big Bangles and Coral

 

Four Kinky, Kurlee, Wavy Models looking Fab in this season's hottest trends.

Most Glam Haircut #7: Yaya Dacasta Gorgeous Natural Volume

Most Glam Haircut#8: Janelle Monae Retro- Chic Pompadour

Had to include this cute photo of Jay and B! Most Glam Couple according to Glamour!

To Blow Dry or Air Dry? Which is better?

A lot of us face the dilemma of whether to blow dry or let our hair air dry. If your like me, I prefer to avoid heat at any cause but sometimes the blow dryer is the more convenient option. Even though I feel a bit guilty afterwards. Here are some facts and tips on blow drying vs. air drying. 

Blow drying requires packing on the heat and may damage the natural curl pattern but it provides loads of volume. If you are in a rush and need to blow dry your hair make sure that you hold the dryer at least six inches away from the hair. If the dryer is held too close to the hair, the concentration of heat can damage your strands which will cause them to break easier. Never blow dry your hair when it is soaked. Blot dry with a towel, being careful not to rub the towel over the hair because the friction will cause breakage and can suck nutrients from your strands. Do not blow dry your hair until it is completely dry. Stop when the hair is damp. Damp hair retains moisture better.  

Air drying is NOT the most efficient way to dry hair but it is the healthiest. I don't know about you but my hair looks better when it air dries. Especially my "braid and curls" and "twist outs". On average air drying takes up to 8 to 10 hours. Braids and twists may require a much longer time. When styling the hair while it is wet, keep in mind that your hair is in its most fragile state. So when styling your hair be extra careful not to pull too hard on your tresses. Using a detangling conditioner and wide tooth comb or detangling brush is a great way to get the water dripping from your hair. 

Wet or Dry you should treat your hair like it is a MILLION BUCKS!

The Healthy Hair Diet

Salmon- This fish is rich in high quality proteins and vitamins. The main ingredient in salmon that improves your hair's health is omega 3-fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential for a healthy scalp. A deficiency of Omega 3's can result in dry scalp and dull looking hair. Salmon is also very easy to cook. Check out this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Glazed-Salmon/Detail.aspx

Dark Green Vegetables- Veggies like broccoli, spinach and swiss chard contain Vitamin A, and C which helps the body produce sebum. Sebum is the oily substance secreted by the hair follicles that acts as the hair's natural conditioner. We all know well-conditioned hair is healthy hair. 

Beans- Kidney beans and lentils contain a lot of protein, iron, zinc and biotin that promote hair growth. 

Nuts-Nuts are a delicious source of alpha-linolenic acid, omega-3 fatty acid and zinc. Eating nuts aid in conditioning the hair and reduce shedding. Good sources are: walnuts, cashews, pecans and almonds. Nuts are also a healthy snack that you can eat during the day to satisfy those cravings. 

Eggs-Eggs are delicious and high in protein which aid in hair growth. Other nutrients that make eggs the ultimate beauty drug are biotin and vitamin B-12. My favorite breakfast food. 

Whole Grains- Whole grains like whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals are loaded with zinc, iron, and B vitamins. These foods are a great source of energy and taste great. Good news is you probably already eat lots of whole wheat bread...just another reason to have a sandwich. 

Low-Fat Dairy Products-Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt are great sources of calcium, which is essential to hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources.

Skim Milk along with whole grain cereals is the ultimate hair growth combo. 

Carrots-Carrots are a good source of vitamin A which promote a healthy scalp and better vision. Adding carrots to a salad, or eating them straight from the pack will leave your hair well conditioned and shiny.