Gretchen Heber

Hand Dry Hair Glove

One of the more interesting, not to mention fun-to-use, innovations for the curly world has to be the Hand Dry Hair Glove.

Invented by Patti Coyne, a stylist-entrepreneur from Toronto, the gloves offer a great way to dry curly hair and scrunch shape and volume into it at the same time.

Having heard about all the various drying methods from different curl experts, and having a couple curl experts on her own staff at Delineation salon, Coyne said she knew “there had to be a better way” than paper towels or t-shirts.

“I was in the right place at the right time, and saw the perfect fabric,” Coyne said. She bought the fabric and sewed the first prototype herself.

She had stylists in her salon try the gloves. They loved using them and customers loved the results. Coyne’s mother-in-law helped her sew additional test units, using them in the salon for close to a year before manufacturing and selling the gloves at her boutique, website and other select locations.

Patti Coyne

Coyne recommends clients apply their styling products first, then use the glove to gently wick out excess moisture.

How do the gloves absorb the water but not the freshly applied styling product? “Water is a larger molecular structure so it absorbs out faster,” Coyne asserts. And what about the deep-pile fabric? It doesn’t rough up the cuticle, causing frizz? “It’s fluffy and doesn’t disturb the cuticle; it smooths it down,” says Coyne.

Customers love it: “I have been using the hand dry hair gloves for 2 weeks now, and my hair feels more amazing then ever, and I am not the only one noticing it. My curls feel so healthy, now that I have stopped using a blow dyer and switched to the gloves, which take the same amount of time!” writes Jenna Lebert.

Industry leaders, too, are adopting the glove. Says Jonathan Torch of the Curly Hair Institute, “The Hand Dry Hair Glove is perfect, especially on those cold winter days. The Hand Dry Hair Glove made such a difference; it reduced drying time by half. As you know that drying speed is a great issue for curly hair styling. It was quick and easy to use.”

Coyne recommends using the gloves to dry the hair about 75% through, then air drying or diffusing the rest. “Low heat and low air flow” on the dryer, she reminds us.

“I have a lazy curl, so I was good candidate. My hair would get so matted.” The gloves seal the cuticle and prevents the matting,” she says. “Second day, you can comb out your hair with a wide-toothed comb, rehydrate with your favorite hydrating product. Then re-scrunch with the gloves and your curls are re-perked!”

One of the beauties of the glove is that it allows you to style your hair while you’re drying it, Coyne says. Cleaning the glove is a cinch, too: just throw it in the washer and then let it air dry.

See the Hand Dry Hair Glove in Action!

With the change in seasons sometimes comes the need for a new skin care regimen. What worked for summertime temps and humidity levels may not work come fall.

If you and your skin are feeling the need for something new, something to protect your skin from the winter wind, you might want to check out the Gentle Cleanse Kit from Clinical Care, available at BeautyShoppe.Biz.

Clinical Care Skin Solutions is a skin treatment program formulated by Charlotte Bates, a pioneer in the medical aesthetic field. For more than 25 years, her products have successfully treated thousands of clients for acne, wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems.

The Clinical Care Gentle Cleanse Kit

The Gentle Cleanse Kit includes The Green Stuff Facial Cleansing Gel, for cleansing and removing makeup; Clinical Care Splash Ginseng and Chamomile Toner, which protects and calms normal and over-sensitive skin; Clinical Care Destroyzit Zinc, a product whose high concentrations of Sulfur and Camphor clear blemished skin; Later Alligator Vitamin C Day/Night Moisturizer, a cream containing grape seed oil and Vitamin C, which provide the ultimate protection from devastating and aging effects of free radicals.

One customer who recently purchased the kit said she could feel a difference in her skin. “It definitely feels much more moisturized. The night cream smells awesome — it has a citrus smell and my skin feels so great when I wake up,” she writes.

Clinical Care Acne Care Kit

If you’re battling acne, Clinical Care has another great designed just kit for you. The Clinical Care Acne Care Kit is a mild, anti-bacterial gel designed with amino acids and anti-inflammatory properties, gently and effectively removes excess oil, environmental impurities and make-up. Its cleansing action revitalizes and restores a healthy appearance to oily, acne or combination.

The kit contains Clinical Care Cleanzit Foaming Acne Cleansing Gel, amild, anti-bacterial gel designed with amino acids and anti-inflammatory properties that gently and effectively removes excess oil, environmental impurities and make-up; Clinical Care Destroyzit Zinc, a product whose high concentrations of sulfur and camphor clear blemished skin; Clinical Care Tonezit Oil/Acne Toner, a reviving formula that offers antiseptic properties, which help soften the epidermis, clear clogged follicles and regulate the activity of sebaceous glands; and Controlzone Oil Control Moisturizer, a creme that has astringent, anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-inflammatory and healing properties.

Clinical care products are packed with natural ingredients with a variety of extraordinary benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, softening and invigorating properties.

Soldiers and military spouses at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, were treated to an inspirational day of beauty and motivation yesterday, featuring two of the hair industry’s biggest names.

John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems, and Geno Stampora, salon owner, trainer, author and industry icon, thrilled the crowd with motivational stories and much gratitude for the audience members’ sacrifice for their country.

Geno Stampora wowed the crowd with his humor and his positive message.

“We have here spouses and those in arms. It is a privilege to go in front of you to thank you for your service,” said DeJoria. “You all help preserve the American dream.”

Stampora, who had the audience doubled over in laughter much of the time, told the crowd, “You make the moment matter. You make the day matter.” Heads nodded along as he said, “This base is not a place for ego; it’s a place for heart.”

DeJoria, who revealed he is an admiral in the Texas Navy (who knew Texas had a Navy?), echoed Stampora’s positive message, “We feel that success unshared is failure.” He added to the military spouses, “You’re already doing it. You’re already giving back.”

John Paul DeJoria blesses and thanked audience members for their service to country.

DeJoria mentioned the Paul Mitchell brand will have “more unique products coming out” in the coming year, but didn’t provide details. He said that Paul Mitchell hasn’t raised its prices in a couple years — “America doesn’t need that right now.”

In addition to the speeches, the approximately 300 audience members were invited to fill their NaturallyCurly-donated tote bags with oodles of products provided by a variety of hair care companies, including Aquage, Paul Mitchell, Conair, Circle of Friends, Paul Brown, Sorme and Spornette.

Students from the Paul Mitchell School in Austin were available to offer product consultations.

A Paul Mitchell School student, right, offers product advice to a military wife.

It’s time to celebrate International Curly Day!

It’s a day to celebrate! In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the first day of fall, a day that — symbolically, at least — ushers in cooler temperatures and lower humidity.

It’s the day we here at NaturallyCurly have decreed International Curly Day, a day to celebrate waves, kinks and curls — textured hair of all types.

In honor of this day, we’re announcing the winners of our Bathroom Cabinet Contest — the contest where we asked you to throw open wide the doors to your previously secret stash of curl products.

The entries were so fun — curlies are very creative as to where they store their product! Who knew there were so many possibilities?

Without further ado, we are pleased announce ~mixedchick~ as the winner in the Most Organized category, and empressri — with her empressive series of no less than 7 images — wins in the Most Chaotic category.

We offer our deepest thanks to all the Bathroom Cabinet Contest participants.

Each curlygirl receives a $50 gift certificate to CurlMart and a $50 gift certificate to The Container Store. Have fun shopping, ladies!

So while ~mixedchick~ and empressri definitely have something to celebrate, so do all curlies, everywhere! Take pride in your gorgeous textured hair. Treat yourself to an ice cream sundae or to a new styler — just treat yourself. You rock, your curls rock — shout it from the rooftops, proud curlygirl!

Watch our fun International Curly Day video!

Jeff Lewis, right, stars with Jenni Pulos on Bravo’s “Flipping Out.”

Has anyone caught Chaz Dean, creator of the Wen line of products, on Bravo’s “Flipping Out”?

Dean has hired the star of the show, obsessive-compulsive house-flipper Jeff Lewis, to renovate the Chaz Dean Studio, a cluster of bungalows in Hollywood that serve as the celebrity stylist’s salon.

The storyline made its debut Sept. 1 and will continue for a few weeks, with the big reveal occurring Oct. 13 or 20, according to Dean spokesman Omar Cunningham. “Ratings have been high,” says Cunningham, so he wouldn’t be surprised if the studio’s reno makes an appearance next season.

Chaz Dean

“Chaz is amazing, I have tremendous respect for him and his product. Jeff and Chaz are similar, they are both extremely talented but want things done a certain way,” writes the gorgeous curlyhead and Lewis sidekick Jenni Pulos on her BravoTV blog.

Three 1920s-era homes — one of which once served as Dean’s home — make up The Chaz Dean Studio. Work on renovating the house that is now the reception area began in January and is the focus of the “Flipping Out” episodes now airing. Lewis continues work on the other two houses, says Cunningham, and episodes featuring work on those buildings may be a part of Season 4.

“Flipping Out” airs Tuesdays at 10 eastern/9 central.

Does your cabinet look like this?

In honor of International Curly Day, we’re having a contest!

Until now, only you and your roommates/partner/spouse have seen the dirty depths of your bathroom cabinets. Well, now we’re asking you to throw open wide those cupboard doors, take a photo, and offer it to the world to see!

Take a photo of your bathroom cabinet — the one packed to the brim with your secret stash of curl products — and upload it to our special gallery . Write up a little blurb about why your cupboard looks the way it does — are you a neat freak? Is “chaos” your middle name? How’d you get the way you are? How’d your cabinet get the way it is? Has the Health Department ever come calling? Are you a candidate for TLC’s Clean Sweep TV show?

We’ll have two prizes — one for the neatest, most-organized shelves, and one for the most chaotic. We’ll reveal the winners on September 22, International Curly Day, here on NaturallyCurly. The winners will receive a $50 gift certificate from the Container Store and a $50 gift certificate to CurlMart.

So head on over to the CurlPix area and upload your photo. Be sure your NaturallyCurly profile has your most current email address, so we can get in touch with you if you’re the winner!

Tyra Banks

Supermodel-turned-TV-star Tyra Banks has announced she will leave her weave behind — at least temporarily — when she launches the new season of “The Tyra Banks Show” in early September.

“This season on ‘The Tyra Show’ we’re taking it to the next level and getting more real than ever before by encouraging women everywhere to own and rock what they’ve got and be proud,” Banks said in a statement. “For the Season 5 premiere, I will be doing just that — no fake hair, I’m rocking my REAL hair.”

Tyra is hoping her de-weavement will encourage others to show off their natural ‘dos.

“This will all be going down on September 8, 2009, which we’re declaring National Real Hair Day,” Banks’ statement continued. “We welcome everyone to go natural with me!” And NaturallyCurly, of course, welcomes this wonderful lead-up to International Curly Hair Day on September 23.

CurlTalkers offer a mixed view of Bank’s announcement.

Alice_42 writes, “You don’t get cool points for going one day/episode without a weave, Tyra.”

But CityGirl81 contributes, “Natural” women get such a bad wrap it’s nice to see she is willing to let her “soul glo,” even if for one day.”