I marvel at today's curly generation, armed with social media tutorials on ways to style their curls and written online content that goes into the history, acceptance, and celebration of natural hair. It’s something I didn’t have growing up in the 90s. Up until I was 22 years old, I would regularly see my hairstylist for 18” weaves and relaxers, a chemical treatment that would straighten my 4A coils and curls for six weeks at a time. Being heavily influenced by the media, I learned that straight hair was king. Even my favorite Black actors at the time were always shown with bouncy, shiny straight hair—furthering the belief that straight hair was the only acceptable and beautiful texture out there.
When I started working in corporate America, I became conscious about how much space my hair took up on the days I didn’t wear it straight. I worried that I wouldn’t be taken seriously if I wore braids or a teeny-weeny Afro. Although dress codes don’t require employees to have straight hair, history has taught us that straight hair is the professional style of choice. It’s the very reason why some Black children and adults can be sent home from schools and work settings. Without the support of the natural hair movement, growing up it didn’t seem like we had options to change our hair without being subjected to discrimination and unfair treatment.
Thankfully, after years of manipulating my curls I decided to reclaim my natural hair and culture when I did the big chop in 2018. That cut began my journey to embracing my spirals and coils and helped me to ignore public scrutiny. Now, friends refer to me as the hair chameleon as they see my hair go from box braids, Sengalese twists, sew-in weaves, buzz cuts, textured pixies, and anything else my heart desires.
My favorite part of my hair is the fact that it can be styled in a variety of ways. But, my 4A curls and coils have a life of their own, and finding products to match that same energy has been a lesson in trial and error. Some are formulated for curls, porosity, frizz, volume, and hydration. Because my hair has varying porosities and curl patterns throughout the year, I have come to lean into the wide range of offerings available at Ulta Beauty.
Whenever I shop for products at Ulta Beauty, I don’t feel like I have to make a decision or provide an explanation about how I choose to wear my hair on any given day. The store doesn’t make you define your hair. Instead, it provides solutions for a variety of hair types and styles. They have gels, puddings, custards, pomades, shampoo and conditioners, leave-in conditioners, hair masks, styling tools, bonnets, and more for all types of curls. Equally as important, their expert sales associates range in diversity, furthering the trust I have in the brand. I love getting recommendations from a person that not only looks like me, but also has a similar curl pattern.
Although I cycle through many of their curl products, here’s a look at my current favorites:
- The Pattern Mist Spray Bottle is the very first step in my daily routine. Due to the nature of spiral curls, it is harder for my hair to get moisture—making it paramount to soak it with water. With my spray bottle, I’ll add in lukewarm water and a touch of rosemary oil (for growth) each morning to refresh my curls. I use this spray bottle when styling my hair as well to make sure it stays hydrated.
2. On wash days, I apply Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Miracle Hair Elixir before shampooing my hair. I also like to sleep with the elixir to allow it to really penetrate and restore the shine in my hair.
3. I’ll typically detangle my hair in the shower while the conditioner is sitting on my hair so I can access the water when my hair starts to dry out. I detangle it with my fingers or a brush and use Kitsch Blow Dry Clips to section my curls while detangling and styling.
4. After detangling, I’ll use Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner to replenish the moisture and eliminate any frizz that might occur when I start styling.
5. Although listed as a mask, Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Masque is my styling product of choice when I finger curl my hair. I apply a generous amount from root to end to help with curl definition and overall appearance.
6. Once my hair is dry, I round out my routine with Kenra Professional Shine Spray for a glossy finish. The entire routine takes anywhere from 30 to 65 minutes and keeps my curls in tact for five to seven days.
I’m grateful for Ulta Beauty’s existence and dedication to curl products and POC-founded brand offerings—it takes the guesswork out of styling and caring for natural hair. It’s important to have access to products that are expertly curated specifically for curls, and that’s exactly what Ulta Beauty offers.