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As savvy consumers here at NaturallyCurly.com, we are always searching for a deal. I don’t know how many coupons co-workers have circulated throughout the offices for various clothing retailers. You can imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon this line from Daisy Fuentes for Kohl’s that will not only keep you current with the latest fashion trends, but keep your budget in-check (most tops range from about $15-$30).

There are several amazing looks from the new line from the spicy Daisy Fuentes, so we are going to show you something for the office, for running errands on the weekends, and meeting the girls for drinks at the end of the workweek. Enjoy!

Visit Kohl’s online store to learn more.

1. Naughty Secretary? Keep in the boss’ good graces with this polished look from Daisy Fuentes. The pop of color from the Cardi Wrap will set you apart from the boring black and gray standards, and who knows, this may get you that date with the cute guy from accounting!


Visit Kohl’s online store to learn more.

2. I like the night-life, baby! This combination of sexy and casual is the perfect pairing for meeting friends for drinks, or even meeting up with that special someone. We love that the boyfriend blazer is still around, so if you didn’t fall for the trend last fall, you still have plenty of time!


Visit Kohl’s online store to learn more.

3. Who said there’s no such thing as the Sexy Soccer Mom? One thing we can’t get enough of this season are booties! When adding these to a simple style such as this pattered top and textured wrap, you will be ready to be the weekend warrior we all know you can be!

The whole line is available for perusing at Kohl’s, which displays reasonably priced tops, bottoms, bags, and jewelery.

We have seen the pictures all over the Internet of women with curly hair getting their first ever Brazilian keratin treatment, but when we found out that a Marcia Teixeira Brazilian Keratin Treatment educator wanted to get his first treatment, we knew we had to see this for ourselves.

Ron Valdez runs a salon with partner Simon Brown in Austin called Estilio Valdez Salon. Ron is a regional educator for Redken as well as the Austin-based educator for Marcia Teixeira. Women and men have been going to Ron for years to get their curls clipped, as he is one of the most curl-friendly stylists in town. Some of his expertise comes from his own personal struggles with his super-coily mane.

Check out Ron Valdez’s homepage!

Roles have reversed, and Ron is in the chair explaining to me that he used to try to blow his coils out and get them as straight as possible growing up. He also told me the horrifying story of when he was in beauty school and his classmates relaxed his hair which left it completely melted off. Since then, Ron has embraced his curls and wears them proudly. After doing so many keratin treatments for women, he began to get curious about what it would look like on a man, in particular-himself.

The process was entertaining to say the least. With his hair brushed out, there were Hall and Oats references being tossed around the salon and everyone was amazed to see Ron’s hair in its natural state. The process took about the same amount of time as it would for anyone else, and Ron wore his hair flat-ironed for four days before washing the treatment out.

I came back to see Ron the next week and see what the end result was. I was shocked to find this loose-curled person standing in front of me. His whole appearance shifted because of this treatment. His hair was loose and wavy and had the most adorable “flip” in the back. Everyone was pleasantly surprised with how his hair turned out. When I asked if Ron would do this again, he said he didn’t know-he would have to see how things went over the next few months. This just goes to show that it’s not only women who are struggle with their hair!

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the keratin companies and their treatments, which are offered across the country and around the world. And as with any new procedure or treatment, there will be some adverse reactions to this sensitive topic. I know we all had flashbacks to hair-melting straightening processes and breakage when we first heard there was yet another treatment out there for curlies, and just like any other hair trend, we here at NaturallyCurly take it upon ourselves to find out the fact and fiction behind a new method or treatment.

Some people are reacting to keratin treatments as a betrayal of their curls and say that this is just another method of straightening. But another way to look at it is that keratin treatments just provide another option for curlies who might be ready for a change. Most keratin companies will tell you right away that this is not a process to straighten out a curl, but that it will eliminate your frizz and will loosen your curl. If you are a wavy-haired person and actually want your hair straight, you are probably going to end up with straight hair. However, for many other curlies, the keratin treatments merely soften the curl and reduce frizz.

Many in the natural hair community, for example, are reluctant to try a curl-relaxing product, given they probably fought long and hard to transition to their beautiful natural hair. However, Type 4s should know that a keratin treatment is not the equivalent of a harsh “relaxer”—a Type 4 should expect frizz-reduction and softening.

So why are people turning to this treatment if they are curl-friendly individuals? Options. Everyone would like to make their curls look their best at all times, and if a treatment can help you achieve your own personal hair bliss, then why not? Michelle Breyer, president and co-founder of NaturallyCurly.com, gave this insight on the controversial topic: “I love my curls. But the unpredictability, especially during the summer, drives me crazy. I feel like the keratin treatments have made my life easier because my hair is so much easier. And I’m still very much a curly. And I get more compliments. People just think I must be using a different styling product.”

I gained even more insight on the topic of keratin companies when I attended the Braziliante educational training seminar in Austin this weekend. The instructor was explaining to the stylists that the product will not change the hair like a perm or a relaxer would; it is simply coating the hair with protein, which will weigh the hair down a bit, which in turn, loosens the curl and eliminates most frizz. The stylists who attended were largely curl-embracing stylists with whom we work on a regular basis, and they soon embraced this idea as an option for some of their clients who struggle on a daily basis with their hair.

So where do we go from here? There are so many curlies out there who will never need one of these treatments done, because they love their hair exactly how it is and they wouldn’t change it for the world. There are also going to be a lot of curlies who, no matter what product they use, will have unmanageable frizz due to genetics or climate, and they will have the treatment done. Either way, we are all living in this curly world, and exploring your options seems like a very reasonable thing to do when it comes to being and staying true to yourself, as well as presenting the best possible version of yourself. In the end, we all do what makes us happy, and that is all that matters.

We all see the red-carpet updos and yearn for the ability to achieve this look without the time and cost that the celebrity population is subject to.  What options are women everywhere left with?  Until now, there wasn’t a single tool that someone could use to achieve an entire look.  Most updos require an array of bobby pins, barrettes, clips, and anything else that you can cram in there.

Goody Spin Pin

Goody has just launched their new Simple Styles collection, which solves many hairstyling dilemmas.  The collection consists of four tools, each designed to provide a different look.  We have passed these tools around the office and the Spin Pin has quickly become the favorite for everyone from our straight-locked employees to those of us with thick and unruly curls.  The Modern Updo Pin is also something that we have been hoarding at our desks because they help us achieve an effortless updo, as well as a messy looking alternative for the everyday.

I think it is safe to say that we are all fed up with promises from do-it-yourself accessories that result in sore arms, sore necks, and a bad attitude after realizing that it truly cannot be done yourself.  The Simple Styles Collection has given us a reason to renew our faith in accessories, so much so that we have dedicated a whole page to it!  Show us your Simple Styles and you could win an entire Simple Styles Collection! 

Check out this video for info about how to use Goody’s Modern Updo Pin.

Beloved curly girl Taylor Swift opted for a straighter look at last night’s CMT awards.

Ms. Swift strutted her stuff last night with a straight ‘do for the red carpet at the CMT awards.  Swift has always embraced her curly locks, but as of late has been seen sporting a straighter style. Is this slowly becoming her standard go-to ‘do, or is she simply exercising her rights to flatten things out?

You be the judge; which do you prefer on this country crooner? Tell us in the comments section below.

The Pravana Beach Wave

It’s (finally) summer time and although we are all excited about the warming trends, there is something more important that needs our attention: the hair trends. With every season comes a little something different and with beach vacations, pool parties, and everything in between, one trend that is sticking this summer season is the beachy wave. You can catch it everywhere from a Derek Lam runway show to this year’s MTV movie awards. So how do you, as a stylist, cash in on this trend? Do your homework!

Classes all over the country are being offered on a regular basis to help tame the frizzies and promote beautiful waves. Two educational endeavors that will ensure your pocket book success: keratin treatments and the beach wave.

Although many curl pro’s are leery about the keratin treatments, they really are hitting the market hard and curls of all kind are demanding the frizz-reducing treatment. So many of us curlies are at wit’s end during the humid summer months and these treatments are a saving grace! There are many different options when choosing a treatment: Braziliante, Brazilian Blowout, De Fabulous, Global Keratin, La Brasiliana, and the list goes on. The point is, research the products and understand what they offer your potential client.

As for the beach wave, this is a new spin on the “perm” which gives those of the non-curly persuasion a better option when it comes to wash-and-wear hair styles. This treatment gives clients a sense of freedom from their blow driers and flat irons, and letting them fit right in with the summer beach feel that everyone strives to achieve. The company standing at the forefront of the beach wave craze is Pravana. They offer Q&A’s on their site as well as class schedules (they will be on the east coast this summer so check out their schedule to get the nearest class information).

Need more exposure? Tons of stylists are already gaining new curly clients through NaturallyCurly.com’s advertising program. With well over 500,000 visits to the site each month, it’s a great way to grab the attention of the curly community. They will post an ad on the salon reviews section in your state so all of the curlies can find you! Make sure your salon is listed for all to find.

Crystal Wright

I am constantly speaking with stylists across the country about what they are doing in their salons to gain more exposure. I would love to hear what you are doing! Have questions about a certain brand/treatment/trend? Go ahead and email me your questions and comments!

Now to leave you all with a few words of wisdom from stylist and beauty guru, Crystal Wright about building your business and client base. I prodded Crystal for a few tips for the CurlStylist audience while at the Mizani Forum in Houston, TX. Her advice is precious, so listen up!

MD What are some of the biggest mistakes you see stylists making today?

CW: They don’t know what they don’t know. What I mean is, sometimes stylists don’t realize that they are working in a vacuum with only the limited information they have in their heads about a subject. Whether it’s working behind the scenes, opening up a new salon, adding a new employee, or choosing the furniture for your salon environment, in order to do it right it’s important to read your trades, do your homework, and seek the advice of people who know more than you and who can help you get to the next level even if it costs a little money. Rest assured that I have been penny wise and pound foolish. I’ve learned that the right book, or paying the right person for 30 minutes of advice can save thousands of dollars and so much time. I learned to call someone up and say “Can I buy 20 minutes of your time”.

MD: What is one key piece of advice you can give to someone wanting to change their lives professionally and personally?

CW: Just one! Ahh shucks. Plan to work and work the plan. That’s the advice that my sales manager at Xerox gave me over 20 years ago and it still works. The only time I falter is when I don’t have a plan. A real plan. One that’s written down on paper with a date from which you can work backwards. That date becomes an appointment that you have to keep, and it makes you accountable to yourself.

MD: Can I have two?

CW: Stop trying to fix everything that isn’t working all at once. You don’t have to do everything all at once. When you identify the things that aren’t working (personally or professionally) in your life you don’t have to fix them all next month. Fix one thing every 30 days.

Being greeted by a six-foot-something model with an amazing afro is a great way to start off your day at a hair show.  Stylists from around Texas gathered in Houston to spend their Monday learning about Mizani’s new line, True Textures.  The day was spent discussing trends, learning new techniques, and strengthening salon business strategies.  Guests were welcomed to the J.W. Marriott hotel on Monday, May 24.

Mizani technical educator and salon owner out of Memphis, Tenn., Geno Evans, opened the forum with information about the day’s activities and what each stylist had in store.  Next up, Director of Education Veronique Morrison welcomed the stylists and helped everyone find the classes that they would be visiting throughout the day.  Soon, the gorgeous and diverse models were being ushered down the runway with varying shapes and textures among them, and the room was buzzing with excitement and amazement over the natural hair designs.  Only two models had relaxed or pressed hair, which is a testament to the Mizani hair care brand.  True Textures is Mizani’s newest line of natural hair products, showcasing the natural beauty of hair and embracing multi-textured individuals.  The focus of the forum was definitely on embracing texture as a stylist and how it can affect your business.

One of the three classes was a business-building seminar for stylists wishing to gain more exposure within the beauty business. It was implemented by motivational speaker and celebrity stylist agent, Crystal Wright.  During the hour and a half class, the stylists gained knowledge on building their portfolio, presenting themselves with poise, and how to maintain current in this ever-changing business.  Wright loaded the class with tips and tricks that stylists anywhere could learn from.  The latest edition of her book, Hair Makeup & Fashion Styling Career Guide, has been a smashing success in the beauty industry, giving stylists the tools and resources to achieve their career goals.  Wright brought along her assistant and beauty-industry guru, Remmy Vasquez, to demonstrate appropriate portfolio techniques.

The other two classes offered were “Clip That Curl”, taught by Evie Johnson and Darico Jackson.  The class offered hands-on experience for each student to implement The Pequot method of hair-cutting, Mizani’s most popular of their “Trend” looks.  Stylists were also given presentations by Bizlink and Integrity Solutions to support the growing demand for an electronically compatible salon in today’s market.

True Textures by Mizani has come back into the multi-textured hair market and is making waves.