Curls Just Wanna Have One Product that Does Everything
Being stuck at home in quarantine means lots of extra time to strategize business development and with that comes trying new products to better meet the needs of our growing clientele. Servicing curly hair has changed drastically over the years as the Curly Girl Method swept through households starting in 2001 and abruptly came to a halt this past year when Deva Curl faced a gruesome lawsuit for hair loss. It seems contradicting information is pressed into “Do’s and Don’ts” clickbait articles weekly and it can be very difficult to keep up.
The Curly Method always did feel like the Atkins diet for hair to me. Exclusively “washing” your hair without detergents can lead to scalp build up, and in some cases hair loss. Getting your curly hair the moisture it needs to reduce frizz - but not too much so that you clog hair follicles with oil - is a very delicate balance, and it cannot be ignored that some textures can handle a lot more oil than others based solely on the diameter of the hair strand.
One thing I have always co-signed was the use of a co-wash between clarifying shampoos. Also referred to as “cleansing conditioners”, co-washes are generally detergent-free and use pH balancing botanicals and essential oils to gently balance the oils on the scalp rather than stripping them. It is essential that you swap your co-wash for a clarifying shampoo every so often to prevent sebum and oils from building up on your scalp. How often you should be clarifying your hair depends on your texture and you should check in with your stylist before you begin a routine.
In my quarantine product testing, I’m happy to announce to you all the holy grail of co-washing: Deep Conditioner by Loma (You can purchase Loma here.) This deep conditioner can be used as a treatment for your ends, a co-wash for your roots, and curl definer for styling. It’s aloe-based, organic, and cruelty, paraben, sulfate, and silicone-free.
To use as a co-wash: it’s important that your hair is sufficiently wet in order to cleanse without detergents, and by that I mean absolutely soaking. Apply a half dollar amount to the palms of your hands and work it into the scalp. This part is essential - you’re going to want to do some scrubbing. Add some more water to your hair and really scrub the conditioner into your roots as if it was shampoo. It’s vital to lift some of the oil and debris from your scalp with your fingers. Aloe Vera and orange peel oil are the ingredients that will balance the oil at your scalp, so close your eyes and enjoy the citrus scent while you're massaging. Rinse well and reapply to your ends to condition.
To use as a deep conditioner: apply the product to damp hair from roots to ends. Leave on for 4-10 minutes. I recommend you do this in the shower because the steam will allow the conditioner to penetrate deeper into the hair. Quinoa proteins will work to repair the hair while Shea butter and avocado oil moisturize your curls and smooth frizz. Comb the product through.
To use as a styling product: Start by scrunching a dime-sized amount into wet hair straight after you turn the shower off. Follow with either an old cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel and gently continue to scrunch the excess water out of the hair. The fennel seed extract will give your hair structure and bounce without crunch. As you twist or set your curls, more product can be added to build more texture.