When I heard Dove was releasing a line for natural hair, I was curious. They could either surprise me and the products are lit or it could be a complete fail. To be honest, I don't usually check for Dove products on wash day but I wanted to see how it would work for my type 4 hair and if it can possibly be a part of my weekly routine. Spoiler alert: Not only did it work, I liked the entire collection.
The Amplified Textures collection enhances the texture of coils, curls, and waves while adding moisture and nourishment to our hair. So if your hair likes a lot of moisture, this is for you! The line features 6 products and is made with Dove's moisture-amplifying blend of honey, aloe vera, jojoba oil, and coconut milk. Now, let's get into the breakdown of each product…
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What’s In The Collection?
Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
Amplified Textures offers six products:the Dove Amplified Textures Hydrating Cleanse Shampoo, the Dove Amplified Textures Super Slip Detangling Conditioner, the Dove Amplified Textures Moisture Recovery Mask, the Dove Amplified Textures Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner, the Dove Amplified Textures Twist In Moisture Shaping Butter, and the Dove Amplified Textures Shine & Moisture Finishing Gel.
I started my wash day by pre-pooing my hair with water and jojoba oil so I had enough moisture and slip for detangling. Then, I moved on to the Dove Amplified Textures Hydrating Cleanse Shampoo which I immediately noticed had a light floral scent and a serum-like consistency. My hair tends to soak up liquid or products with light consistency better than heavy creams can. I really like how the line starts with a product that can easily work its way into the strands. When I applied the aloe vera-infused shampoo, it gave me a lot of slip and suds very nicely so a little goes a long way. As I massaged the shampoo into my scalp and strands, it gave me moisture like a conditioner, but a very gentle clean. I washed my hair two times and moved on to conditioning.
The Dove Amplified Textures Super Slip Detangling Conditioner is very hydrating and clearly has even more slip than the shampoo! The creamy coconut milk blend provided immediate moisture to your curls softer and easier to detangle. When I applied the conditioner into my hands, it softened and moisturized my skin. It does that very same thing to your hair. I left the conditioner on until my hair was completely detangled and moved on to their recovery mask.
Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
No wash day is complete without a deep conditioner and, because dryness is a problem for me, I have to deep condition every time I wash my hair. One thing that really stuck out to me with the Dove Amplified Textures Moisture Recovery Mask is that it's recommended to stay in your hair up to five minutes. I'm used to leaving my masks/deep conditioners in for at least 30 minutes. Another thing I noticed is, the recovery mask can be used as a mask or a conditioner. Leave it in for a while if you want to or wash it out after detangling. I left the creamy honey-infused recovery mask in for five minutes to add another layer of moisture then rinsed it out and began styling.
For my style, I'm doing twist outs with the leave-in, cream, and gel method. I used the Dove Amplified Textures Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner to start styling my hair. Although the leavin-in is a cream, like its conditioners, it melts nicely into your strands if your hair is wet or damp and locks in the moisture.
Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
Next, I used the Dove Amplified Textures Twist In Moisture Shaping Butter, which is one of my favorite products out of this entire collection. This is actually the first time I used a butter like this. It's not a cream by any means, instead, it has a runny, liquid-like consistency. I'm not mad at it though, like I said before my hair soaks up liquid-based products very well. As I was applying the cream to my hair, I noticed that the butter is recommended for curls and coils; however, I think it will work well for waves too.
Lastly, I added the Dove Amplified Textures Shine & Moisture Finishing Gel. The gel is also like a serum; it has a very light hold, gives you a moderate hold, adds shine and eliminates some frizz. When I applied it after my cream, I was worried that the gel would be too much and cause flakes. I did notice small clumps after adding it to my hair, but it dried without leaving any flakes (thank God). It wasn't recommended to use after the butter cream and is labeled for only curly and wavy hair, not coily. In the future, I probably won't use it together. Instead, I would swap the gel with an oil when I'm doing twist/braid out styles. The gel would work better for perm rod styles and maybe a wash n' go.
Overall, What Do I Think?
Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
Overall, I think this is a great line to try if you need extra moisture and shine to your curls. I think this line was specifically created for those who tend to have dry hair or want the moisture in their hair to last longer. This may be too much for those with oily hair, so keep that in mind. I also think it was formulated with curly, coily, and wavy hair in mind. The line also does a good job with product consistency; it has a great mix of cream- and liquid-based products and that variety allows your hair to soak up product regardless of if you prefer creams or liquids.
The Amplified Textures collection solves the three biggest problems for textured hair: moisture, tangles, and curl definition. If you can't run out and get the line, the Dove Amplified Textures Hydrating Cleanse Shampoo,the Dove Amplified Textures Moisture Recovery Mask, and the Dove Amplified Textures Twist In Moisture Shaping Butter are the highlights of this collection. You'll still get the moisture, ease of detangling, and definition with these products. Although I liked the gel, it is arguably the weakest product of this collection and my only feedback is to have an oil instead of the finish gel. An oil could have still added shine and moisture and would be more useful than the finishing gel.
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Featured image courtesy of Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
Some women have their whole wedding planned out, from the bridal gown and venue to the bridal party and playlist. However, KJ was not one of those people. “I didn’t foresee a wedding in my future,” she reveals. “I was just gonna be the boss chick, rich auntie. I didn’t force love in my life until recently. I never had an idea of what a dream wedding would look like, it was easier for me to elope.”
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
And to many people’s surprise, that was their original plan – until Skyh brought up a valid concern. He was raised by his grandmother and thought she should be at the wedding, and naturally, that led to KJ wanting her grandmother to be there as well – then her mom – and later her sister – and, you’ve gotta invite the besties too, right? From there, the guest list continued to blossom. Much like the updo and pop of color bold red lip, she wore on her special day, which was initially on her Pinterest board as a soft glam look with her hair hanging on her shoulders, KJ is okay with changing her plan if it brings her and her loved ones happiness.
So let’s get into the wedding, which took place in Malibu, CA. The first thing you should know about the celebrity couple is that they’re non-traditional. They know, and they don’t care. So, in true unconventional fashion, they shared the morning of the wedding together.
“I woke up with Skyh, we walked our dog, had black coffee, and said good morning to the people who stayed at the venue with us,” she says.
Now, it was time for hair and makeup. While she was getting glammed up, she had Black-owned McBride Sisters wine and champagne (which ties into The Black Experience theme) on deck with her mom and friends, had her besties help rework her vows, retried on every outfit (sis is very Type-A), took photos, and ended the early-celebration with prayer and meditation. It seems very non-Bridezilla, I said.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company,” she explains. “The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
Things moved quickly, and before she knew it, it was time to line up to walk down the aisle.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company. The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
KJ Smith and her bridal party
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Since everything started with their grandmothers, the couple wanted to ensure they honored them and planned to keep an element of their wedding traditional. Although we’ve all seen the reception videos and photos online, you may have noticed visuals from the wedding itself are harder to find.
“We planned for it to be traditional, but we’re not like that, so we tried to create those moments. We jumped the broom and had a salt ceremony (where the bride and groom individually pour salt into a glass container, symbolizing their lives becoming one.) But honestly, still, nothing was traditional about it.”
She goes on to explain that her mom caught the holy ghost coming down the aisle, her glam team was on deck, and she became so nervous with excitement that she had an anxiety attack – something she struggled with for years, she explains tearfully. Her friends had to literally cheer her down the aisle because of how overwhelmed she felt until she eventually calmed down.
“Skyh was standing there with his hand on his heart; we have our own little language, and I could feel the support,” she shares.
It was surprising to hear all these emotional moments happened before the party we saw online. That is until she once again got into the backstory.
“As a Black woman actress, for so long, it was popular to be mysterious and secretive, but that’s not who I am or what I like. Plus, we both wanted to create an experience for everyone there. We are the people who always host family and friends,” she says. “Like for me, the first order of business was getting sandals for the women so they can dance all night long. We had oxtail, D'ussé, and a coffee and sativa lounge – which is part of Skyh and I’s lifestyle and routine. We wanted to bring them into our world.”
Skyh Black (L) and KJ Smith (R)
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
She went on to discuss the dance routine she did for her husband at the reception, which has taken over the internet. Apparently, that’s another thing that didn’t go according to plan. According to KJ, she had promised a performance at their joint bachelor/ bachelorette party, but her outfit got stolen from her car. So, Skyh ended up performing for her – complete with a strip tease. Still, she never forgot her promise to dance for him.
So, she hired her friend as a choreographer, learned the routine, made friends and family watch it endless times, and attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance show a few days before for a confidence boost. It ended up being a show to remember. But that wasn’t all the night offered. Lil Mo performed, and the guests received special goody bags featuring their favorite Black-owned products like journals, hair care, and more.
“We made sure everyone was taken care of all night. That kind of stuff makes us happy. I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives,” she says.
But naturally, the internet is going to internet, and while there were countless people praising the event and applauding the newlyweds, some thought it was too over the top. I was curious to know her thoughts on some of the criticism.
“It’s cool. We did what we wanted to do. I’ve decided to share my world with people. Just how I went on social media platforms and found inspiration, I want people to do the same,” she explains. “I don’t think it's fair to my supporters not to give that out. There’s so much I wanna share with brides, specifically Black brides. I love that people are adding it to their Pinterest boards."
"I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives."
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
“I’m happy with it because we did what we wanted to do. They can do what they wanna do. Don’t be cruel, though, because you will get blocked,” she said, laughing.
The more I spoke with her, the more her sense of freedom shined through. People are always going to have their opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s you who has to live your life, and it seems like the couple realizes that and embraces that power. She also stressed the importance of not living for others and the lessons life has taught her.
“I’ve been to countless weddings, and I’ve been in countless weddings. I’m a generally older bride. So when women in my demographic get married, and you and your husband are busy working people like us, you deserve to have the one you want to have,” she shares.
“This is what we wanted to do. Our loved ones love and support us. We did so much to honor them, but we also wanted to start our own tradition, legacy, and creation. I'm not going to be pulled back into ideas of the past when I’m trying to create a future with my partner. “
If you’d like to see more of the couple, you probably won’t have to wait long. Although no content is planned yet, she admits to being an oversharer. “Me being open and transparent about my experiences lets people know it’s okay to have flaws; it makes you human, and for many years, I didn’t believe that was okay. I had pressure to be perfect, and I’d crumble every time,” she explains to xoNecole.
Now, she owns her flaws and uses them as a superpower to connect with her community and feel and express her love.
“Some people give us [Skyh and KJ] a hard time because they say we just seem too perfect. I’m like, why is that a bad thing? I love the people I love. From my man to my mama, to my friends - unabashedly. We move through time and space how we want to move. If we did it another way, we’d let ourselves and our union down.”
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Feature image by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
