For
those with naturally wavy, curly hair of all coils and textures it may
seem like an endless battle to find ways to tame the mane. Some may turn
to relaxers, weekly blowouts or extensions. Others just want to master
their natural hair in whatever mood it seems to be in. To help girls get
a handle on their curls we connected with Maya Smith, founder of The
Doux salon and product line of the same name both specializing in making
the absolute most of the natural hair you’re born with. When it comes
to healthy sculptured, cool looking curls of all types, Maya’s two
decades of experience with curls worldwide makes her a true expert. Here
she offers tips on how to calm crazy waves and unruly curls.
#1: My naturally wavy hair is flat at the top and then waves start in the middle with tighter curls at the back. HELP!
Genetics
determine curl pattern and density. It’s totally normal, in fact, quite
common for several different textures to exist on the same head of
hair. These inconsistencies can cause the hair to look uneven, and are
most apparent once the hair has dried. I created The Doux’s Mousse Def,
to help define waves and curls in the less curly areas, and to combat
frizz in the areas that are tightly coiled. To balance the look of curly
and wavy hair, we recommend using a combo of a mousse on the straighter
areas, and then a balm like The Doux’s Bonita Afro Balm Texture Cream
for added stretch and control in the tighter areas. The goal here is to
keep hair shiny, touchable, and soft. If shrinkage or frizzing remains
an issue, don’t underestimate the power of a great haircut. Awesome
products combined with a professionally-shaped set of layers is my
signature Rx for accentuating curls that vary in texture.
#2:
I have curly hair and let it dry naturally. The second it rains, I get
frizzy at the roots. I find myself revolving my hairstyle around the
weather report. HELP!
Thirsty hair will try to “drink up” moisture in the air if it’s not adequately hydrated.
The
key to eliminating frizz due to humidity exposure is to make sure that
the hair is thoroughly conditioned before styling products are applied.
This exact problem is what inspired me to create a solution in the form
of a Fresh Rinse Moisturizing Conditioner, followed by The Light Shine
Mist helps to hydrate and stabilize the cuticle, making it less prone to
reversion. For added control at the roots, we apply a small amount of
Bonita Afro Balm, which is our secret weapon for keeping curly hair from
swelling in harsh weather conditions. These products can be found at
select Target stores nationwide and at TheDoux.com.
#3: I often wear my curly hair slicked back into a tight low bun or ponytail. Will this damage my hair?
Style
in moderation. Traction alopecia is a major epidemic among women with
textured hair. This is typically the result of too much tension being
applied to scalp for an extended period of time, and usually occurs due
to hair styling such as braids, extensions, and tight ponytails. To
avoid irreversible thinning of the hair, it’s important to avoid
hairstyles that place constant pressure on hair, particularly in the
temple and nape areas. Ponytails and “slicked” styles should be taken
down at night, and tight accessories, such as headbands or scrunchies
should be worn less frequently.
#4:
I wear my naturally kinky hair twisted and braided. How long could I
leave this style in and how best to shampoo my hair while in this style?
I
recommend shampooing once per week for hair with fine-to-medium
density. I urge clients with high-density or extremely long hair, not to
exceed more than 10 days without cleansing the hair and scalp. This
helps eliminate bacterial growth that causes itching, flaking, and
dandruff on the scalp. We use The Doux’s Sucka Free Moisturizing Shampoo
to remove product build-up and dead skill cells, and Fresh Rinse
Moisturizing Conditioner to soften, hydrate, and balance the hair’s pH.
We’ve incorporated Shea Butter and Sea Silk to smooth the hair shaft and
aid in moisture retention.
#5: What are some ingredients to avoid that many products for curly hair contain? Why is this damaging?
Petroleum-based
“grease,” as well as products that contain mineral oil may be
old-school favorites, but are often the cause of dry hair. Heavy
products that aren’t water soluble can coat the hair shaft, disrupting
the hair’s natural ability to retain moisture. This dryness may go
nearly undetected, because the hair is covered in product, however, the
underlying dehydration causes hair to be brittle and stubborn. We
recommend cream-based products that shampoo out easily, and allow the
hair to “breathe.”
About Maya Smith:
Maya
Smith is an International Master Stylist and Founder of The Doux Salon
and haircare line now available in Target. With over two decades of
styling experience Maya dedicated two decades to cracking the code on
curl care, maintenance and expert styling. When it comes to caring for
one’s natural hair and styling it, according to NaturallyCurly, Maya is among the best there is.
While
still in high school, Maya got her hair cutting license and graduated
from beauty school. Soon after graduating high school, Maya began
following her passion and worked as an assistant for celebrity stylist
Tracy Johnson. She learned from Johnson and progressed as a hair stylist
for celebrities and entertainers. Years later the military wife would
relocate to Germany, where Maya opened up her first salon The HoneyComb,
a mecca for textured hair care for women from all over Europe, The UK,
and as far as Africa. Maya's unique system of textured hair styling
sparked the development of The DOUX® haircare products, first launched
overseas, and distributed throughout Germany, France, Italy, and the
Netherlands.
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