In embracing my natural curl, I have dramatically changed my methods of taking care and styling my hair.

If you are not familiar with the No-Poo, water-soluble silicone, air drying, no brushing, deep conditioning, cool final rinse, finger scrunching, hair plopping, and hair clipping terms associated with the “Curly Girl” Method, I have some good reading for you.

“Curly Girl,” by Lorraine Massey: A great introduction to the entire concept and theory behind the correct way to manage your fabulous curls. Massey is the Queen when it comes to the curly girl method. (more…)

If you’re anything like me, you have a generous helping of sample size products bursting from every nook and cranny. Sometimes I get them as GWP(gift with purchase) items, sometimes it’s  those extras from my Sephora order, and sometimes I receive them from companies who want me to try out what they have to offer. The fun part about this is that I get to try all sorts of new items I might not otherwise, but the downside is that with a tiny sample you can rarely get a solid idea of how a product will perform in the long run. I don’t have enough information for a well formed opinion or an entire post after one use, right? Rather than let these tiny gems go to waste, I’d like to share my very cursory thoughts about products based on only a few uses.  After all, if you don’t like the sample enough to at least look up the full size bottle, that’s probably a sign, no? (more…)

In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are seven hair and skincare products that I truly adore…  Big hearts, whistles and hugs!

• Morrocan Oil Hydrating Cream ($28.95 – BeautyChoice.com) - Meredith from http://www.dailydosecoffee.com/raved about Moroccan Oil’s Hair Masque, and although I love everything I have sampled from this line, I particularly became fond of their hydrating cream.  I use it as a leave-in conditioner, the argan oil smells a bit like baby oil, does not leave my hair feeling greasy or weighed down, and my hair looks and feels so wonderful while using it!

HYDRATING STYLING CREAM FOR ALL HAIR TYPES FROM THE MOROCCAN SERIES This leave- in styling cream eliminates frizz, adds definition and brilliant shine, while the pure argan oil conditions and hydrates the hair. An effective and versatile product for all hair types. Usage: apply a small amount of styling cream to damp or dry hair and style as usual.

• Jessicurl’s Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner ($12.75) is just what my thick, dry and curly hair craves.  This conditioner is infused with Lemongrass, Nettle, Burdock, Kelp, Marshmallow Root, Horsetail, Basil, Bay Leaf, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint, Sage, and Thyme; Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Avocado Oil.  For finer haired individuals, Jessicurl’s Daily Aloeba Conditioner ($12.75) is a great choice as well.
• Baby Quasar and Baby Blue Photo Light Device - After consistent use this photo-rejuvenation device for six weeks, I noticed that the Baby Quasar significantly helped diminish my skin’s redness and increase my skin’s overall evenness and clarity.   I noticed more firmness and softened lines around my eyes, mouth and forehead.  I also noted that my pigmentation issues have improved and are less noticeable on my cheeks and chin. (more…)

Until the rest of 2008, you can receive 10% off your entire order at Jessicurl!

Jessicurl’s Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner ($12.75) is just what my thick, dry and curly hair craves.  This conditioner is infused with Lemongrass, Nettle, Burdock, Kelp, Marshmallow Root, Horsetail, Basil, Bay Leaf, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint, Sage, and Thyme; Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Avocado Oil.  For finer haired individuals, Jessicurl’s Daily Aloeba Conditioner ($12.75) is a great choice as well.

My nine-year-old daughter Sarah recently asked while creating her holiday wish list, “Mom, what’s the name of that stuff that makes my hair feel so silky soft?”

I replied, “Jessicurl’s Too Shea Conditioner.  Why do you ask?”

Sarah grinned shyly, “Because that is what I want for Christmas.” (more…)

It’s pretty well established that Marini Lash lives up to the hype. Just a few weeks to fuller, longer lashes the likes of which you never thought possible.  I’d love to show you pictures, but an annoying case of pinkeye (thanks to my children and their friends) has left my eyes in a sad state.  Suffice it to say, if you have the $125 and a few weeks, you’ll be very happy.

Now you can get the same thick, full Marini Lash results for your hair from Marini Hair revitalizing conditioner. After shampooing and conditioning as usual you spray sparingly to your roots and massage over your scalp. The initial result is immediate, tons of body and volume. I had a second bottle in my possession, so I did what any loving beauty blogger would do: I gave it to my awesome hairstylist so she could pass it on to her most worthy customer.  She chose a woman who is experiencing early thinning of her hair and who is desperately seeking help.  4 weeks later I returned for the verdict.  It was an overwhelming success!  My stylist was amazed with the results, honest to goodness thicker, healthier hair. According to my stylist, who is VERY good at what she does, the immediate results along with the long term benefits make this unlike any other hair rejuvenation product out there.

Such exclusivity and results come with a price.  That price happens to be $170.  Obviously it’s not just for your average Jane’s hair issues.  But for any woman, or man, experiencing problems with thinning or chemically damaged hair, it’s worth every penny.  Think of all the money you spend on specialized shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and styling products.  Once you add up the cost of all those items I think you’ll find that Marini Hair isn’t much more of an investment, while being much more effective. (more…)

Here is another fabulous Jessicurl product to add to your must have list: Jessicurl’s Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment. You don’t have to have curly hair to benefit from this product either.

Summer is particularly harsh on hair. My kids and I have been spending a ton of time at the pool, and between exposing our hair to the chlorinated water and intense sun, our hair is feeling dry and damaged. In the craziness of summer activity I have been forgetting to give my hair a weekly deep conditioning treatment! After wondering why my hair wasn’t looking so great, I decided I better use some of my Jessicurl’s Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment and feed my hair.

Just follow these deep conditioning directions at the post: Deep Conditioning: How to Feed Your Hair.

You will be blown away how healthy and soft your hair will feel after using this deep conditioner. I also used Jessicurl’s Weekly Deep Conditioner on two of my daughters because of how dry and tangled their hair had become. Before using it I couldn’t get a comb through their hair without yelps of pain from them. Little Sarah and Naomi loved how soft and tangle free their hair became after using this conditioner. Naomi even requested to use some a few days ago, “Put the stuff that makes my hair so silky soft again Mom.”

Here is a little blurb from Jess about her Weekly Deep Conditioner:

I’m a big fan of weekly deep treatments with heat. They really moisturize and strengthen the hair, and they’re just plain fun to do. This treatment works best with a plastic cap left on for 20 minutes. This thick conditioner uses Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter to add some serious moisture to your hair. For an even more intense treatment, use it with our Micro Heat Cap.

In the summer months, you simply apply your conditioner and a plastic cap and sit out in the sunshine as your heat source for 20 minutes. The heat from the sun works great and really helps the conditioner fully penetrate the hair shaft. After the 20 minutes let your hair cool off for 5-10 minutes, and rinse and style as usual.

So, if your hair is feeling a bit on the crunchy side, it might be time to feed that hair!

You can purchase Jessicurl’s Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment at the Jessicurl website for $12.00.

Here is a recent curly hair distress call from my dear blogging friend Tracy: 

“Hey Jen, I know you have curly hair too, and I know you’ve talked about it before- can you point me in the right direction for curly hair products and tips?”

I decided to delve a little deeper: 

“For people with curly hair, the http://www.naturallycurly.com website is a great resource. They suggest several drug store and salon brand products and the hair forum is incredible.

Tell me more about your hair and what are your specific issues?”

Tracy’s response:

“Oh, and fuzzy. And ugly. Can you help with Ugly?”

Tracy, Tracy, Tracy!  My favorite Dandelion Mama believes her hair is ugly.  Ugly?!  She went to the naturally curly website and determined her hair type, she is a very smart woman. 

“I’m a 3A on that curly site. I need some suggestions for drugstore brands, as I’m a little light on the cash right now. I didn’t see that there- it was all specialty products.

I have a hate-love-hate-hate cycle with my hair. I always feel messy and unkempt and it’s not uniformly curly. It’s really curly around the underside and my face, but looser at the crown. I hate it. Help me.”

Wow!  That is quite a statement, and can I also say, you are not alone Tracy!  Curly hair is a very misunderstood and undervalued attribute.  As God is my witness, Tracy you will learn to love, love, love your curly hair!  By using the curly girl method, some better products, a good curly cut, and time and practice, you will love your hair I promise.

• First, run down to the library and check out Lorraine Massey’s “Curly Girl” book (a very quick and easy read), and I would also suggest watching the demonstration videos at the Jessicurl web site.  Copy the Curly Girl Commandments and post them next to your bathroom mirror.
• Second, hide your hair dryer and brush.  Forget about them.  You don’t need them any longer!
• Do not get your hair cut until you can find a stylist that has some curly hair sense.  If your stylist attempts to use a razor or thinning shears on your hair, RUN AWAY!  Ask them to give you a dry cut.  The Naturally Curly website does list people in your area with curly hair expertise.   If you do not have someone in your area, give a trusted stylist specific instructions about what you want, and ask if they would consider learning a bit more about the curly girl method. 
• Understand the nature of your curly hair.  Our hair shaft is significantly different than our straight haired friends.  Curly hair is very porous and not only take in things rapidly, it looses moisture rapidly.  Without enough moisture sealed in your hair shaft, your hair will fuzz, frizz, and even be less curly.  Finding the right products takes patience.  It might take a while to find the right combination of moisture and hold so that you can achieve your optimum curl.   Some conditioners may be too heavy for your hair, others might not be conditioning enough.  Gels should help add definition, hold and shine, but you don’t want your curls to feel too crunchy or stiff when they dry.  The ideal look for me is soft, controlled definition with very little frizz.  However, a bit of frizz can be sexy!
• Only use hairstyling products that use water soluble silicones.  Because curly hair is porous, build up is a big issue and that will weigh down your curl and make it appear dull.  There are several good inexpensive options at your drug store, and here are a few suggestions:

Conditioners for Washing or Co-Washing:

• Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner
• VO5 Vanilla Mint Tea Conditioner
• VO5 Moisture Milks Passion Fruit Smoothie
• L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner
• Garnier Fructis Curl and Shine Line

Styling Products:

• Aussie Awesome Volume Gel
• Herbal Essences Body Envy Gel
• Herbal Essences Totally Twisted
• L’Oreal Out of Bed Weightless Texturizer
• L’Oreal Studio Line Fx Out of Bed Hair Putty
• TIGI Curls Rock Amplifier
• Generic Value Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam

I used my Suave Natural Conditioner this morning to co-wash my hair and finished with a cold water rinse.   I styled using only my fingers and used a quarter-size portion of Jessicurl’s Rockin’ Ringlets  and Confident Coils Styling Potion.  I used a microfiber towel to softly scrunch my hair, twisting a few small portions of hair around my crown, and placed hair clips close to the scalp around the crown to create volume and lift.  Once my hair is positioned the way I want it, I did not touch my hair until it is completely dry.  When my hair is completely dry, I used my fingers to loosely tousle my hair from underneath.

The Suave Natural Conditioner smelled great, but I felt like it wasn’t as moisturizing and didn’t penetrate my hair like my favorite DevaCurl One Conditioner.  If I could recommend one hair product to spend money on, it would be a high quality conditioner.   My current favorite conditioners are Jessicurl’s Too Shea and DevaCurl’s One Conditioner, and they could be used as both your everyday conditioner and your deep conditioning treatment. 

I predict that with a good cut, products, and styling techniques, in about 3 weeks, you should start noticing more curl, a lot less fuzz, and improved shine and softness of your hair.   And then, I want pictures Tracy, before and after 3 weeks!

Would you like to learn how to “Plunk“ your hair? Would you like to know what in the world “plunking your hair” even means? Want deliciously fragrant natural hair products that result in frizz-free soft and gorgeous locks? Jess covers all of this and other invaluable curly hair techniques in her free online videos. Jessicurl is what you have been searching for.

In October, Jess was featured on the ever popular Rachael Ray show! Take a look at Jess’ segment from the RR show on how to make a “homemade hair mask.” Tres Cool Jess!

Name:  Jess McGuinty
Position: founder, CEO and product formulator of Jessicurl
URLs/links: http://www.jessicurl.com/
Business started in: September 2002.

Jen:

Please Jess, introduce yourself. What lead you into starting your hair care company Jessicurl?

Jess:

I’m Jess Mcguinty, 31, and live in beautiful Humboldt County, California. When I was 14, my fairly straight hair grew more and more coarse and eventually started to curl. I was mortified. Everything I tried just made it bigger and fuzzier. I didn’t know what to do. My peers called me names like “crusty” and “helmet head” because I’d wet my hair down in between classes to keep it from getting bigger.

I hated my hair, and that didn’t stop when I grew up. Finally, I figured there’s gotta be a better way and I did an Internet search for “curly hair.” I was amazed to find an entire online community of curly haired people who had the same struggles. Who knew?

I immersed myself in the message boards at http://www.naturallycurly.com/. We traded hair tips and horror stories and talked about products. I tried any product that someone raved about, but I didn’t like my hair any better. Most of them made it worse. Then I found a recipe for hair gel made from flax seeds, and I tried it.

The result wasn’t great, but now inspiration had grabbed me. I knew which natural ingredients were good for curly hair, so I added them to that recipe. For this long-suffering curly head, the results were a miracle. My hair finally looked like I wanted, and I had made the product in my own kitchen!

I had no thoughts about starting a business. I just wanted a product that made my hair look great. But after I shared my recipe on the message board, the e-mails flooded in. People wanted to buy some from me. In September of 2002, Rockin’ Ringlets Styling Potion was born.

Jen:What is your typical day like?

Jess: Every day is different. I have a great staff that now makes and ships the products, so my focus now is on the customer service, marketing, sales, PR, quality control and public speaking. There are the day to day tasks, such as tracking down lost packages, taking orders on the phone and answering customer questions via email. Lately we’ve been working on launching a white chocolate candy bar flavored with the coconut, vanilla and orange that make up our popular Island Fantasy scent. That has been a fun project to work on (I have to test candy for work!!), but the best part is that it will raise money for our local food bank, Food For People. I’m often asked to speak to students at Humboldt State University as well as other local community groups about my experiences starting Jessicurl and why our business model is so important to me. And since I’m always raising money for something, other days are spent organizing fundraisers, most often for the North Star Quest Girls Camp for whom I was the Fundraising Co-Originator this year. I’m also the newest board member of our local Small Business Development Center, so there are the occasional meetings for that.

Jen:

What led you to start your “Women Around the World“ program and what have you learned from your experiences with this project?

 

Jess:

Once I realized that this business was actually going to work, I knew that I wanted it to be a socially responsible business that contributes to different charities. At the time I thought that had to wait until we were making a certain amount of profit. Two things happened that made me change my mind about the timeline.

First, I saw Dr. Katherine Hamlin on Oprah. She has dedicated her life to curing women in Ethiopia of fistulas, a horrible condition that can happen during obstructed childbirth. She opened the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in 1974 and has treated 25,000 women. I cried while I watched that interview and decided that when we were able to start donating money, I wanted that hospital to be the first recipient.

Soon after that, I saw an interview with Michael Franti, lead singer of the band Spearhead. Spearhead is known for their socially conscious lyrics and for speaking out about injustice in the world and their music is basically the soundtrack at the Jessicurl factory. Franti referred to the band as a “human rights organization.” He caused a major shift in my thinking. I thought, “If a band can be a human rights organization, can’t my business?” All of a sudden, Jessicurl became about a lot more than hair! I wanted to start donating money to the Fistula Hospital right then.

We settled on 5 percent of our May gross revenue, and then came up with an idea to take it even further. We built a feature into the shopping cart so customers can make direct contributions, and as a thank you we give them a discount on a future Jessicurl purchase. Since starting the program in May 2003, we’ve raised thousands of dollars for a variety of different causes. In addition, we donate products to about a dozen different fundraising raffles every year, and help sponsor the annual Food For People holiday fund drive.Jen:Who were your childhood heroes? Who are your heroes now?Jess: When I was a kid I was really into gymnastics, so my big heroes then were Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton.

Now my biggest hero is Michael Franti, for reasons stated above. I also really admire Gayle Abramson, who founded the North Star Quest Girls Camp, for which I volunteer. NSQC is for girls going into 6-8th grade, and focuses on building confidence, positive body image, healthy relationships and other issues important to creating strong, smart and bold women. It’s very close to my heart and I’m so thankful there are women like Gayle out there working to help girls with these issues.Jen:That is really awesome Jess. I have always been a huge fan of women’s gymnastics as well, Nadia and Mary Lou are big 10’s in my book. The Girls Camp sounds incredible, it makes me so happy that you are working with girls at this critical time in their development.Okay, back to business.What do you think the biggest mistake women make when it comes to their hair? How could they go about changing that?Jess:

I think in general many women don’t understand their hair, and that tends to go double for curly haired women. We are not born knowing that our hair has different care instructions than straight hair, and many of us were told by our exasperated mothers to “just go brush your hair!” That’s pretty much the worst advice for curly hair. I get so many emails from curlies who complain about frizzy, poofy hair, but when they describe their routine, tell me about washing twice daily with drugstore shampoo and brushing it to try to “flatten it out.” So in my opinion, it comes down to education and information. On my website I offer tons of tips for creating well defined curls that don’t frizz and even have product demo videos that show users the best way to handle their curls. I’ve heard it over and over again that when people change their routine and follow these tips, they’re much happier with their hair. I love that!

Jen:

 

If you were stuck on a desert island, what 3 beauty items would you not be able to survive without?

Jess:

Well, since I’m so hair obsessed, they’ll all be hair related. I’d say my Gentle Lather Shampoo, since it can also be used as body wash, so it would serve two purposes. Also, my Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner, since it’s SO moisturizing and I imagine I’d be getting a lot of sun on that desert island. I guess in that case, practicality dictates my third should be a sun screen, shouldn’t it? I like Clinique Sun-Care UV Response #30, as it doesn’t make my face break out but keeps me from getting burned.

Wow, how incredible to get this opportunity to interview you Jess. I personally started using Rockin’ Ringlets and your Confident Coils Styling Solution soon after I decided to embrace and convert to the naturally curly routine. I am also a huge fan of all your demonstration videos!

That “Island Fantasy” chocolate bar is calling my name! Jess you are an inspiration by your willingness to build a business with real hair smarts as well as having compassion for so many people in your community and beyond. Many thanks and best wishes for continued success at Jessicurl!

Shortly after submitting my post on curly hair, a fellow blogger confided to MBB about her hair frustrations:

[Your] post is right on time as my hair is driving me nuts. I used to have straight hair (even though my both parents have curly hair), then a few years ago my genes finally decided that I should have curly hair. And right now.. I have both. The most annoying combination: the layers on the surface are straight, and the hairs underneath are curly!!! So I just straighten it all which is really damaging. I want my curls back!- Cosmetics Aware

I replied to CA’s comment that I also suffer from combination curly hair. For years, I had blown dry and straightened all my hair in response to this disharmony with my locks. The result, blow fried, extremely parched, dry, frizzy hair! I was so upset about it this year, I searched and scoured the library and Internet until I found Massey’s book, Naturally Curly.com, and the rest is history.

My first recommendation for women who are wanting to repair and heal their damaged or dead hair is to deep condition or “feed” your hair. The method is fairly straightforward, there are some small differences depending on who you are talking to, but I will do my best to describe and get you started.

What you will need:

Time — About an hour. I usually deep condition in the late evening when I don’t have to be anywhere anytime soon.

A Deep Conditioner — I really believe that you should invest in a high-quality NaturallyCurly.com recommended deep conditioner. There are several to choose from. I personally love DevaCurl’s One Condition, and have also recently tried a deep conditioner from Mixed Chicks, which I also really loved. Drug Store Brands like Aussies 3 Minute Miracle, Suave’s Humectant Conditioner and Curl Line Conditioners come with good recommendations as well.  Another fabulous deep conditioner is Jessicurl’s Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment.

Plastic Cap — 25 cent cheapo plastic shower cap

Heating Unit — Hot Water Bottle, Heating Pad, Blow Dryer Cap, or a Micro Heat Wrap

How to Deep Condition your hair:

1. If you wish, you can wash your hair first. I simply rinse it out well and gently squeeze out the excess water.

2. Generously apply your deep conditioner to damp hair, and focus on the ends. Work through with your fingers, or use a wide toothed comb to work through your hair. This is the only time I ever use a comb or brush on my wet conditioned hair. Otherwise, only use your fingers.

3. Place the shower cap over hair, and then put the heating device on your head for a full 20 minutes. You need to 20 minutes to allow the hair cuticle to open fully, and let the conditioner completely permeate and feed your hair. After 20+ minutes or longer, (you could leave the conditioner on at this point, even all night after heating), take off your cap and let your hair cool for at least 5 minutes. This allows your hair shaft to close again.

4. Rinse hair with warm water until about 80% of the conditioner is rinsed out.

5. Do a final rinse with the coldest water you can stand. This is important to seal your hair shaft and get all the benefits of your deep conditioning treatment.

6. Apply a leave-on conditioner and allow your hair to air dry.

7. Do not wash your hair the next day. Give your hair a break after a deep conditioning for at least 24 hours.

I suggest deep conditioning weekly. Sunday evenings are a great time for me. By doing this, your hair will will become healthier and shinier. It will regain its softness. Moisture-robbed hair is more subject to breakage and unmanageability.

For other great hair tips and products, check out the Naturally Curly website.

Remember to love and feed your hair!

In creating this blog, I wanted to discuss beauty products, but I also wanted to address the environmental impact and biological concerns created by their use.

Earlier this month, I focused on this topic in a post called, “What’s all the fuss about Parabens?” Parabens were created as a preservative and are used in most of the skincare and cosmetic products we use everyday. There is some evidence that much of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies. Parabens have been linked to development of breast tumors.

Yikes! Well, here is another news story that hit MSN.com this morning on the use of DIOXINS. Dioxins are found in most of our hair shampoos, hair dyes, and whitening agents.

You can find this story and other carcinogens to scare your pants off at: http://health.msn.com/centers/breastcancer/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100170347&imageindex=13

Nothing like a good dose of “spook” to wake you up in the morning!

BTW: Here is another great reason to check out the organic hair products at Anita Grant LTD. I am waiting to receive her “Whipped Butter” conditioners, and will report on this and some other items I try. They include free Global Shipping with purchases over 50 Pounds (which is about $75 USD)!