Author: Olivia Nwanne

You already know aloe vera as a skincare and health ingredient, but did you know that this wonder-plant can work miracles on your hair, too? Aloe has excellent hydrating properties that can quench your parched curls leaving them hydrated, bouncy and shiny. There’s a reason that aloe is our first ingredient in our formulas… read on to find out how we infuse aloe into our hydrating formulas.

What is Aloe Vera?

When you think of Aloe Vera, you may think of aftersun gels or even aloe juice. This clear, soothing gel comes from the aloe succulent plant. Originally found in hot, arid climates, aloe vera is able to retain moisture in even the most dry conditions. For this reason, people have been slathering themselves in this super-hydrating beauty ingredient for centuries. The well-known moisturizing properties of Aloe vera make it the perfect foundation for your curly hair routine!

How Does Aloe Vera Help Dry Hair?

Hydrates The Strand
For your best ever curls, hydration is key. The benefits of hydrated hair – ie, hair that is able to absorb and retain moisture – is hair that is smoother, shinier and less prone to breakage. As curly hair is more prone to dryness, hydrating ingredients are a top priority in a curly hair care routine.

Aloe-infused formulas can aid in moisture absorption and help define your strands. This lightweight, long-lasting hydration makes aloe a crucial ingredient in any step of your curly hair care routine.

How To Add Aloe To Your Hair Care Routine

Start Strong With Shampoo & Conditioner
Your best ever curls start in the shower. For wavy hair, the trick is to harness as much moisture as possible without overloading the hair. Our Lightweight Curls + Flaxseed Shampoo and Conditioner infused with aloe and flaxseed provide miracle hydration and lightweight moisture. The result? Clean, defined, hydrated waves that aren’t weighed down.

For curly or coily hair that could drink endless water, opt for wash day products that are more rich and creamy. Our Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo and Conditioner starts with Aloe vera as the first ingredient and is also infused with coconut oil and creamy papaya extract. Curls are left feeling soft, shiny, and hydrated.

Long Lasting Leave-Ins
The perfect time to apply leave-in products to your hair is when it is still wet after the shower – all that extra moisture can be locked in to encourage soft, shiny curls, coils or waves. A curl milk or smoothie, like our Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie, provides extra nourishment and hydration. Your hair is tangle and frizz-free, and your curls are defined and bouncy.

#AloeForCurls

Your hair deserves the very best hydration, which is why we’ve created moisturizing formulas infused with aloe vera and other hydrating ingredients. From the perfect wash and style, to refreshing your locks on the days in between, there’s an aloe infused product for every step and curl type!

Sources:

1. https://saudijournals.com/media/articles/SIJAP_51_1-8.pdf
2. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7949363/benefits-of-aloe-vera-for-hair/

So, you’ve used a hair product to fight the frizz, but now your curls feel crunchy? Don’t worry, your quest for defined curls with natural hair doesn’t have to end there. With the right products and technique, you can find the balance between frizzy and crunchy to achieve soft, bouncy curls worth showing off.

The key to defined curls that last is to nail your wash day. Your hair is at its most absorbent and smooth when wet, making it the perfect time to let any products do their magic. As well as finding the right products for your curl type, there are some techniques that can encourage your curls to dry with definition and bounce. Here are our top tips and products to get defined curls, without the crunch.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCT

Whether you have waves, curls, or coils, natural hair requires both moisture and hold to achieve frizz-free curls. Moisture locks in hydration for healthy looking hair, and hold encourages curl definition while taming flyaways. Our styling products have a combination of both moisture and hold in formulas that range from lightweight to rich.

For fine hair or curls that are easily weighed down, a lightweight mousse like our Flexible Hold + Coconut Milk Curl Foam Mousse is your new BFF. The gravity-defying formula contains aloe and coconut milk and helps soften and moisturize hair while encouraging volume and definition.

If your hair is thick, coily or needs more hydration and hold, consider a styling gel. Unlike the dry, crunchy gels of your curly-haired nightmares, our Shea Butter Elongating Gel will leave your hair feeling soft, shiny, and totally frizz-free. Enriched with aloe vera, shea butter and coconut oil, your natural curls will be on their best behavior.

HOW TO CREATE CRUNCH-FREE CURLS

While the right product can do wonders for taming your curls, the application technique is just as important to ensure you get all of that definition, none of the crunch. This next technique is our favorite way to apply any curl product. First, make sure to shampoo and thoroughly condition (or deep condition) your hair in the shower, and follow these steps on dripping wet hair:

1. Apply Product
If you are using a leave-in conditioner, like a curl milk or smoothie, apply that first. Then, apply your curl styling mousse or gel thoroughly and evenly to the lengths of your hair. When we say apply it to wet hair, we mean it! You may need to tip your head over the bath or sink to avoid dripping all over your bathroom

2. Comb Through Product

If you’ve ever noticed a lack of curl definition on certain parts of your heat, it may be from not properly coating each section. Use a wet brush or wide toothed comb to work the product through – this is the perfect time to detangle!

3. Upside Down Scrunch

Here comes the first scrunch – one of our favorite ways to boost your natural curl pattern and boost volume. By scrunching the product into wet hair flipped upside down, you are working all the nourishing ingredients from the products into the hair strand, as well as encouraging the curls to bounce back after washing and combing.

4. Don’t Touch

Letting your curls dry is the ultimate test of patience! Whether you’re air drying or diffusing, the key to avoiding frizz is to keep your hands off. If touched when drying, the curl pattern can be disrupted, leading to frizz and flyaways. If you’re using a diffuser, dry each section gently and slowly. Wait until your hair is completely dry before touching… you’ll thank us!

5. Scrunch Again

Now comes the second scrunch, and the ultimate crunch-busting trick. You’ve been incredibly patient in letting your hair dry, and now it seems… crunchy? Don’t worry, this is actually a sign that the styling product has done its job.

The way that many gels or mousses work is to create a layer of product, or cast, around each curl to fight frizz and boost definition. It’s this layer that makes your hair feel crunchy, and the good news is that it’s easy to fix! You want to “break” the cast on each curl without disrupting the curl pattern, so gently scrunch your hair in sections up towards your roots. Keep cupping and scrunching until there is no more crunchiness, and your curls are free, soft and bouncy.

6. Refresh

The best part about healthy-looking, defined curls is that they let you go longer between washes. On the days in between you can use a gentle, hydrating spray or mist to reinvigorate your curls and encourage any flat sections to bounce back up. Our Lightweight Curls + Flaxseed Curl Refresher Mist  contains a hydrating blend made with aloe and flaxseed to help revitalize your curls and give your natural hair life. Simply spray and scrunch in sections to bring your curls back to life!

No longer must you choose between frizzy hair or crunchy curls! Like with anything curly, it can take some experimentation to get your perfect routine down. However, with the right products, a gentle scrunch and a bit of patience, your natural curls will be soft, bouncy and shiny in no time!

If you have curly hair, chances are that you’ve seen shea butter listed as an ingredient in your favorite hair care products. This rich, creamy ingredient packs a serious moisture punch, leaving your hair quenched, bouncy and soft. Shea butter can help revive and hydrate parched strands, making this wonder ingredient an all time fav for dry or damaged curls.

WHAT IS SHEA BUTTER

Shea butter is a plant-fat extracted from the nuts of the Shea Tree, a species native to West Africa. It has a buttery consistency, is white or ivory in color, and has a mild nutty scent in its raw form. While this natural product can be used for cooking, it is most widely known and adored as a beauty ingredient for both skin and hair. Ultra-moisturizing, softening and soothing from head to toe, shea butter deserves its place in your shower and on your beauty shelf.

HOW DOES SHEA BUTTER HELP HAIR 

ADDING SHEA BUTTER TO YOUR CURLY HAIR ROUTINE

SHEA EVERY DAY