Over the last few years, women the world over have been trading in their relaxers for a more natural look. And with any change in taste, comes opportunity.

Carol’s Daughter, the natural hair and beauty product company, estimates that the market for relaxers has gone from bringing in $100 million a year in sales to just $35 million. Taking advantage of such a steep decline in market share, Carol’s Daughter and other companies have created products that cater to more diverse hair textures and styles.

But while beauty store shelves were being flooded with natural hair care products, no one seemed to be thinking about educating women on how to discover and use these products. No one besides Myleik Teele, that is.

Teele, 32 is the founder and chief experience officer of curlBOX, the monthly subscription service she launched that sends members up to seven natural hair care products that have been vetted for women with multi-textured hair.

Here, Teele talks about how she launched curlBOX (her second business!), beauty industry obstacles and provides advice for other aspiring entrepreneurs.

MN: Let’s get this out of the way first. Are you natural? If not, do you think you have to have natural hair to understand this sector of the beauty industry?

Teele: Yes, I’ve been “natural” or without a chemical relaxer for a little over a decade.  I think it’s important , although not necessary, that one be natural to really understand what the subscribers are experiencing and having my finger on the pulse of what they want and need.  I’m “pre-pooing,” and finger-detangling right along with my VIP members.

MN: In a recent interview with UPTOWN magazine you said that you noticed a void in the beauty industry. Can you talk more about your epiphany moment and how you knew it was the right time for this type of product?

Teele: After working with my beauty clients and going to the World Natural Hair Show and other shows and hair “meet ups” I had an epiphany moment.  How would it be possible to package or “BOX” this experience (products & information) and send it to someone’s doorstep?  The idea hit me and wouldn’t leave.  I couldn’t even sleep at night with the thought on my mind.  I took one step and the rest is history.

MN: curlBOX seems to have been modeled after other beauty related mail-order subscription services. What made you go this route instead of launching your own natural hair product?

Teele: My expertise lends itself to this business model.  Mail-order subscription services have been around for years – remember Columbia House CD Clubs?  I’m a “what’s the latest and greatest” kind of girl and I genuinely believe that I can better serve the hair community with a sampling service as opposed to another product … I’ll leave that to the experts!

MN: How did you decide which companies to partner with for curlBOX?

Teele: [Member feedback and research].  I am a product junkie at my core and beauty obsessed so I’m always on the blogs and watching YouTube videos.  I also read the emails and take a look at the survey results and work from there.  You won’t see any products in curlBOX that aren’t personally endorsed by me.

MN: When you first made your pitch, were product companies receptive? Or, did you experience resistance?

Teele: Some brands like Karen’s Body Beautiful, Frizoff Curly Hair Solutions and Hair Rules got it right away and there were some that wanted to watch the brand for awhile which is completely understandable. 

It’s “summer, summer, summertime” (in my best Will Smith voice) which means rising temps- nature’s enemy to your hair. How can you combat the heat and humidity while still looking chic? Check out a few tips below.

Keep your scalp healthy

The high temps mean we are more prone to perspiration in our scalp. When mixed with your daily styling product(s), the combination can lead to an unhealthy scalp. And your scalp needs to breathe.

Carol’s Daughter and the TransitioningMovement.com have great tips for a healthy summer scalp:

• Wash products clean away with a cold rinse to help retain moisture and seal in those natural oils. Try a co-wash to avoid stripping hair of its natural oils.

• Water, water, water! Increase your daily intake of water – its the secret to beautiful hair and skin.

• Repair damage – with a super food for your hair – Monoi Oil. Try Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask. It makes hair 13 times stronger and reduces breakage by 96%.

• Allow your scalp to breathe. Rule of thumb: cleanse the scalp, condition your strands!

Less heat and more accessories

Excessive heat styling is always a “risk”, but during summer months the added heat can be very damaging. Take a break from heat styling and accessorize your do with fun hair accessories. There are sleek hats, scarves and styles that can take stress off of your tresses. (Let’s not forget good ol’ fashion bobby pins!) Be sure when selecting one of these fun hair accessories that the fabric is satin or one that is not drying/damaging to hair such as cotton.

There is a ton of information out there, and remember you are not alone. Ask an expert and be sure to check out the blogs and style guides such as Carols’ Daughter at http://www.transitioningmovement.com

From co-washes to organic oils to rich conditioners and lathers- you have your hair care routine down and know how to detangle and de-frizz with the best of them. But does your hair care routine really start at the roots? By this, I mean overall healthy lifestyle practices and eating habits. What you put in your body effects hair growth, and hair loss, just as much as your well-disciplined hair care routine. Your goal should be to become healthy overall and in turn you will have healthy, growing hair! Here are a couple recommendations to get you started:

Good food, good follicles

Mom always said “eat your vegetables!”, but did you know that dark green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body’s natural hair conditioner.

Pack a snack: Nuts are a great source of necessary nutrients to help promote healthy hair growth as well as prevent shedding. Pack a snack of mixed nuts in your bag for a healthy treat, hello summer swimsuit, and healthy hair nutrients. Walnuts are an excellent source of Omega 3 and Zinc. Pecans, cashews and almonds are great too!

Eggs: scrambled, fried, or over easy, eggs are a great source of B-12 and biotin, important beauty nutrients. You can also find these vitamins in your local drug store.

Whole grains: believe it or not, whole grains such as wheat bread are a great source of iron, zinc and B Vitamins. When possible, substitute your bread or pasta option for whole grain or wheat options.

These are just a few healthy eating options, but you should also integrate a multi-vitamin and exercise into your routine. A healthy you on the inside will produce healthy hair for you and all the world to see!
Remember, there is a ton of information out there, and remember you are not alone. Ask an expert and be sure to check out the blogs and style guides such as Carols’ Daughter http://www.transitioningmovement.com

Now that you have decided to transition, it is important to treat your “new” tresses with tender care- especially if you are not familiar with your natural curl pattern and texture.

The Wash
Conditioning is your new best friend. Many naturalistas find co-washing strands to be the most effective way to clean their hair and without stripping scalp and strands of essential oils. Co-washing is the no-shampoo method of cleaning hair- just “wash” with a good rinse-out conditioner.

When detangling strands, use fingers to find any knots and gently separate the hair first. Apply a good leave-in conditioner and then use a wide-tooth comb for any further detangling or styling.

Moisturizing
Natural hair is very porous, which is a great thing because it absorbs moisture like a sponge. However on the flip side, you may find yourself taking extra steps to maintain the moisture level. Beware of creams containing petroleum which serves as a barrier on strands and can make it difficult for hair to receive moisture.
Carol’s Daughter Transitioning Movement.com recommends sealing your hair after you moisturize with a layer of oil. If, for any reason, you are anti-oil, Aloe Vera works just as well.

Night Time
I am sure you cannot wait to say good bye to the nightly wrap and satin scarf, but it is important to protect natural and transitioning strands at night- even if you did the BC. Try a satin bonnet or satin pillowcase for fuss free “sleep prep.”
Styling Note: when using colorful scarves or head bands to accessorize your ‘do and conceal transitioning roots, be sure to select fabrics that are satin, smooth, and will not pull on strands like cotton. Otherwise, your maintenance and night time care will go down the drain.

So you have decided to transition to your natural hair…. Congratulations! But you may find yourself asking “now what?” Contrary to what many may think, and obviously these women never attempted the transition, this IS a big deal. Don’t get overwhelmed; we are here to help!

There are two ways to approach your transition process: the Big Chop (BC) or the Grow out.

Think you are ready for the Big Chop? The whole thought of saying good bye to pony tails and hair tosses may scare the living day lights out of you. It’s ok, put the hot comb down. The BC is not for everyone.

Ladies, before you chop, wear your hair back, up and off of your face for at least one week. This feeling of being exposed is one that you should be completely comfortable with before you chop.

If you are still alive and in one piece after completing this task, I say go for it! Make sure you have a decent amount of new growth, no less than 1-2 inches to play with before you cut your hair. This way you have an option to play with shape or go a tad bit shorter if you are feeling bold.

Also, keep your eyes open! What I mean is, if you see another fabulous BC woman on the street and you like her hair cut, stop her and ask “who cuts your hair?” There are many barbers and stylists out there, but not all of them are comfortable cutting women’s hair or natural hair. Do your research!

If the BC is not for you, roll your sleeves up and get ready to play. There are tons of great accessories for hair and fun styles that you can try to make this a smooth process and not look like an experiment gone wrong!

How to care for your new growth and old length

As you grow out your natural hair, it is important to recognize that you now have a clear line of demarcation between old and new growth. This is a delicate point along the hair shaft, and can lead to breakage and damage if hair is not properly moisturized. Take the time to deep condition and moisturize the hair- especially at this line. Also, please try not to manipulate the hair so much and pull it every which way. You will slowly find that some of your old styles may no longer “work” and it is time for new tricks.
Something new for your ‘do

There are many fun hats, scarves and styles that can take stress off of your tresses. Summer is here so find a great straw hat or pageboy cap to add a little personality to your look. Plus, this protects your strands from the sun and its potentially harmful drying effects to your transitioning hair.

Colorful scarves as headbands are also great for camouflaging two hair textures.

Flat twists and straw sets help to give the effect that you have one cohesive texture. This also gives hair a break from excessive heat.

There is a ton of information out there, and remember you are not alone. Ask an expert and be sure to check out the blogs and style guides such as Carols’ Daughter http://www.transitioningmovement.com

Source: Black America Web

If you’re thinking about going natural or still struggling to find the best products since you made the big chop, Carol’s Daughter will soon have you covered. The natural skin and hair care line is launching a specific effort to help naturals everywhere with thetransitionmovement.com, and Solange Knowles has been named the face of the new campaign.

In the 30-second clip below, Solange teases the site launch, but overall details on what all is involved in the movement are slim. According to the website, the movement is expected to drop in the spring, presumably with new products and tips on how to handle your natural tresses as you transition. A few hair bloggers feel calling natural hair a movement makes the decision seem more like a trend rather than an effort to have healthier hair—and they say it’s a tad late considering how many women have already opted to forgo chemicals—but I figure the more product options black women have to take care of their hair, the better.

Check out the clip and tell us what you think about the idea of Carol’s Daughter’s new transition movement?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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By Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond

Socially, black people in America have been called—and called ourselves—everything from the “n” word to Negro, colored, black, black-American, and African-American—with the term du jour pretty much being a catch-all for anyone of African descent. But over the last 25 years, as corporate interests have developed a deeper stake in the African-American market, and cultural shifts have become more sensitive to the nuances in black identity—bi-racial, Latino, Caribbean, African, etc—new terms have cropped up.

“Urban,”“multicultural,” and “of color” have stretched the “black” banner to identify not only the black demographic (those of African descent), but the geography (those who share the inner city experienceof many blacks) and psychographics (those who strongly identify with aspects of black culture). Steve Stoute, CEO of hair and skincare brandCarol’s Daughter, has a newer term—“tanning”—and recently authored a book on the phenomenon called The Tanning of America. None of these monikers fully capture the breadth of diversity of blacks in America, but for Stoute, tanning better reflects recent census reports and population trends.

“If you look at a lot of the census data,” Stoute says, referring to the Pew Research Center’s report that showed 14.6% of new U.S. marriages in 2008 were interracial or interethnic, “you’ve got 1 in 7 marriages now are out of race. That’s 1 in 7. That’s not even talking about kids or dating.” Stoute is encouraged by this trend, and the migration shifts that debunk myths like blacks only live in the big inner cities, or Latinos only live in in California and Florida.

“[The Latino population is] growing in North Carolina at a higher rate,” Stoutepoints out. “If you take that, and African-Americans moving from the inner cities out more towards the suburbs, and you put all that together, what you have is a great complexion of shared experiences.”

Stoute credits hip-hop for tanning America, or changing the way Americans, and American businesses, look at race. “Hip-hop—not just the music, but the culture attached to it—has done more for racial relations than anything since Martin Luther King,” Stoute asserts. “It actually communicated a lifestyle and spoke—in a universal language—to a generation… it showed that we do have a lot of similarities.”

By Gerrie Summers

In 2009 I attended a press breakfast for Carol’s Daughter. The company founded by Lisa Price had teamed up with Disney to launch a limited edition children’s bath and hair collection in conjunction with release of “The Princess & The Frog,” an animated movie featuring Disney’s first African-American princess.

I noticed that a number of Latina beauty editors were in attendance. A Latina attendant, who was working with Lisa Price on this project, addressed the editors and beauty writers, speaking about her involvement and the special hair care needs of bi-racial children. So I wasn’t surprised when two years later Carol’s Daughter launched the Beauty of Diversity campaign.