By Angela Bronner, BlackVoices.com
Shelley Davis lost her cosmetic case when traveling to her homeland of St. Vincent one summer. She was stranded with no product so she had someone cook her up some "roots" with aloe to wash and style her hair. Upon her return to the U.S., everyone told her how beautiful her hair looked and she shared the recipes with family, friends and co-workers. In the summer of 2003, Kinky-Curly was born for those who crave good product for natural hair.
Hair Apparent: What are the top three things that those with natural hair can do for their tresses?
Shelley Davis: Moisturizing is the most important thing you can do for natural hair. Thick, curly hair is very prone to dryness and adding moisture is key to a healthy head of hair. Taking care when combing and detangling is also important. Use a good detangler such as my Knot Today Detangling Conditioner with a wide tooth comb and take your time when combing or it can lead to breakage. And stay away/limit your use of heated styling tools. The pulling and stretching combined with the heat of a blow dryer can ruin the elasticity of your hair. A flat iron or hot comb that is too hot can cause your curls not to revert and permanently straighten your hair. No heat protectant can protect against a 450-degree iron. The cuticle layer burns at about 150 degrees. Twist outs and braid outs are wonderful styles that produce a lovely crinkly/wavy look. When you want a straighter look roller set and then 'doobie' wrap.
Finding what works best for your natural hair is a bit of trial and error. Experimenting with different products is par for the course when you first go natural. One person's Holy Grail may end up in someone else's trash bin. Do yourself a favor and learn how to read product labels (the back where the ingredients are listed) Pay attention to what your hair likes and dislikes and don't purchase a product only based on how good it smells. You will save yourself time and money in the long run. Ingredients are listed in order of greatest to least. Beware of clever marketing that will list a rare and exotic herbal ingredient towards the end of the list - this means it is only in a small percentage of the product and will have no real effects on your hair.
Styling products are the most important as they stay in your hair longer than any other product. Styling products with synthetic ingredients can build up and dry out your hair over time causing breakage. Ingredients such as petroleum and mineral oil coat the hair shaft and seal out moisture. They attract dust and dirt particles, which cause the hair to look dull. They also do not penetrate or add any value to the overall health of your hair. If you have taken the time and gone through the process of growing out your relaxer you really should invest in products with quality ingredients. As stated above natural hair craves moisture. Look for natural moisturizing ingredients such as flax seed, jojoba oil, honey, agave, aloe, and sodium PCA .
What are three ways to care for summer hair that is texturized/natural?
Give your hair a vacation from heat: Summer is the perfect time to wear your hair in wash and go hairstyles. If you usually blow dry, press and curl and/or flatiron summer is the perfect time to give your hair a break from heat.
You will be relived that you do not have to run from humidity or worry about sweating out your hair at the club. Avoid damage when swimming: Wet hair and slather conditioner throughout your hair. Your hair will soak up the conditioner instead of the chlorine water. Always make sure you rinse well after swimming in the pool or ocean. The salt water will dry your hair out. Sun protection: If you are spending a lot of time in the sun at an outdoor concert or ball game for example wear a hat to protect your hair from the intense rays of the sun.
Why'd you start the company?
I grew tired of using products that made my hair dry and brittle after a few weeks of using them. I have always been passionate about healthy hair and was inspired by my husband Craig, who is an expert at health and nutrition. I took his favorite saying that he often asks about food/meals "are you healing or stealing" and applied it to hair care. If products were not nourishing my hair were they damaging/suffocating it?
Celebrities With Natural Hair
Goapele
Neo soul senstation Goapele, who wore her hair in long locks for many years switched it up and now can be seen with a short afro.
Lisa Lake, WireImage.com
India Irie
Singer India Arie arrives at the 2006 Annual GRAMMY Awards with double stranded twists and a nice tapered cut. Chile, we know you are SO not your hair. But if you were, you would be so very pretty.
Gregg DeGuire, WireImage.com
Jill Scott
Singer Jill Scott arrives at the BET Awards '08 Pre-Party with shaved sides and "faux" locks with highlights throughout. This is a very modern, very, sexy look for the buxom beauty.
Chris Pizzello, AP
Joan Armatrading
Some ladies still wore afros in the '80s -- when it was not quite as de rigeur. British soul singer Joan Armatrading is one of such daring divas, as evidenced in this 1983 shot.
Chris Walter, WireImage.com
Joie Lee
Joie Lee, actress, director, and Spike's baby sis has always kept a natural coif and this natural 'do taken in 2006 really takes a que from nature -- it looks very trees and branch like!
Brad Barket, Getty Images
Lauryn Hill
She's had many incarnations of natural hair, but one look we love best is when Lauryn Hill sported her budding locks in this '98 Fugees-era flick.
John Spellman, Retna
Ledisi
The oh so talented Ledisi arrives at the 38th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony with her signature locks, curled up and pinned.
Stephen Lovekin, WireImage.com
Les Nubians
They used to have dreads, but now soul duo Les Nubians both wear their naturals out in texturized 'fros. Here they perform in July '07 in the ATL.
Moses Robinson, WireImage.com
Pam Grier
Taking it waaaay back, this 1974 photo of actress Pam Grier shows that she was indeed, brown, foxy, and with the perfectly framed fro.
AP
Terry McMillan
Wildly successful author Terry McMillan sports her locks pulled up on top of her head and dyed a nice burgundy. Gotta love teh look in this 2002 photo.
J. Vespa, WireImage.com
Where would you like to see the company in three years?
Not necessarily my company but the hair care industry and the thinking/mentality of black women. I would love for more black women to realize that a relaxer is an option and not something that we 'need' or 'have to get'. No one needs a perm. "Natural hair is difficult to manage" or "I can't get a comb through my hair without a perm" are big lies that we have been led to believe. While it is true that you cannot glide a comb easily through natural hair from root to tip as with relaxed hair. I want women to know that it is simply a matter of using the right products with new techniques when learning to care for our hair without chemicals.
I am not bashing relaxers but they should only be viewed as an option to styling our hair and not something that we automatically have to do at a certain age. Our hair is so beautiful in its natural state I truly hope that my company and others will help women realize that styling options and products are available and the relaxer is not the only way to wear your hair. You CAN wear your hair without chemicals. It can be beautiful and it can be very easy to manage.
Do you wear your hair naturally?
YES since 1998. It took me two years to grow out my relaxer and I cut the ends off gradually while wearing twist out, braid out styles and the occasional 'phony ponytail' clip on to blend my new growth and relaxed ends. I love my natural hair and I want all women to do the same. Whether your hair is tightly coiled or loose corkscrews know that it is beautiful. Once WE actually believe it, then the rest of the world will too.
For more information on KINKY CURLY visit the Web site at www.kinky-curly.com
1. I am interested in going natural but I dont have naturally curly hair or anything like that and my hair is also very soft (wont hold curls). I don't want my hair to look nappy but have a curled look. So would I need to do the same steps so that my hair will go natural in a non nappy sort of way?
Jessica at 10:15AM on Jul 10th 2008