

No matter the time of year, finding the perfect cocktail of natural hair products that enhances my curls and confidence feels like a journey. As the temperatures begin to cool drastically, weather becomes more of a challenge as I scramble to find the ingredients that will keep my coils healthy and my scalp moisturized. Searching for solutions, I’ve learned that with the change of season there should be a few adjustments and alternative hair methods that can provide moisture, encourage growth and prevent breakage during cold dry weather.
For generations, Black women have developed unhealthy relationships with natural kinks and curls due to negative words, thoughts, and feelings towards our hair. Along with a lack of natural hair care education, there’s an oversaturated market of products marketed towards ethnic hair care but made of ingredients that do more harm than good, leaving many of us feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and insecure about our hair in its natural form. It's never too late to find what works for you and with winter approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to learn of proper tools and products that will protect and maintain beautiful curly hair throughout the harsh weather.
I spoke to Dr. Gaby Longsworth, Ph.D. scientist, certified hair practitioner, biotech/pharmaceutical patent attorney, and owner of online natural hair resources Absolutely Everything Curly and CurlPlanet on how she is helping women care for their curls with our own hands. As a Ph.D. scientist, she was curious to learn why certain hair products worked well for her hair but others did not. After extensive research, reviews, and understanding of ingredients, she realized the amount of misinformation being marketed to the masses. Becoming deeply passionate about sharing her knowledge and research, Dr. Gaby created a database of all things curly, available directly at our fingertips.
For insight on how to protect your curls with the right products, moisturizing methods, and routines, keep reading for Dr. Gaby Longsworth's 10 tips on how to prevent hair breakage this winter.
Courtesy of Dr. Gaby Longsworth
Dr. Gaby Longsworth, founder of Absolutely Everything Curly, a science-backed subscription-based educational space created to help those with all types of curls discover and embrace their hair in its natural form. Subscription to Absolutely Everything Curly's content for $2.99/month on their website.
On scalp detoxes and how to clarify curly hair:
"When someone does a scalp detox, that basically means a deep cleanse of the scalp to remove debris and build-up from pollution, hard water, oils, and dead skin cells from the hair follicles and rebalance the scalp pH to improve the scalp microbiome for healthy hair. The most common detox product has apple cider vinegar as a key ingredient. Other ingredients include charcoal, tea tree oil, and peppermint. My favorite detox product is the Bounce Curl Turmeric Detox.
"An inflamed scalp can lead to hair loss, dandruff, or other issues. Healthy scalp, healthy hair. When you clarify your scalp, a clarifying shampoo is used to strip the hair of excess buildup. Because these shampoos are more drying for curlies, they are not meant for regular use. The most common shampoos contain chemical surfactants such as ammonium- or sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, and alpha-olefin sulfonate. The higher the pH of the product, the more drying it will be.
"Dry curls often lead to breakage and thinning and for that reason, most curlies should avoid sulfated shampoos. There are so many excellent clarifying shampoos on the market. My favorite brands include Ouidad, Bounce Curl, Jessiecurl and Kinky-Curly Come Clean."
On how to determine if you have low, medium, and high density hair:
"Density refers to how tightly packed individual hair strands are on the scalp. If you can easily see your scalp, you have a lower density or fewer individual hair strands per square inch. If it is harder to see the scalp, you have hair of medium density. If you can barely see your scalp or not at all you have high density hair – in other words, thick hair.
"To determine hair density, a popular test is the ponytail test, but this test is not possible if you have short hair."
On protective styles that won't cause hair breakage:
"Many protective styles are fine as long as the braids are not pulled too tightly. It is the tight tugging and pulling on the edge areas that causes hair loss. Cornrows, box braids, bantu knots, knotless braids, faux locs, crochet braids, twists, and goddess locs can all be fine, if not too tight. Extensions should not be too heavy.
"My favorite protective style is two-strand twists because they are lightweight, do not add tension, and require no heat. They also retain moisture longer and keep the hair tangle free. I also love wigs."
On her tips for how to avoid hair breakage this winter:
- Never use brushes on dry hair.
- Finger combing while detangling is best.
- If you do use a comb or a brush, it should be a wide tooth comb and only when hair is soaking wet and saturated with conditioner. If using a brush, it should be a detangling brush and used only on soaking wet hair saturated with a high slip conditioner. Divide high density hair into as many sections as possible, before detangling it with a detangling brush. Remember to be gentle in order to not break the hair strands.
- Do not use any heat on your hair. Once your hair is healthy, you can use a hooded dryer on cold air or low heat, or a diffuser. Lubricate your scalp with oil if needed, once or twice a week.
- If you have low-porosity hair, deep condition with steam or heat (such as with a thermal heat cap).
- Keep tight hairstyles or pulling at your edges to a minimum.
- Detox or clarify your scalp once or twice a month.
- Use the LOCG or LCOG (Liquid/leave-in, Cream, Gel, Oil ) method.
- At night, cover your hair with satin or silk, or put it up in a pineapple, and use a silk pillowcase.
- Choose protective hairstyles when possible.
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- Top To Bottom: 10 Tips To Strengthen Your Hair Follicles & Protect Your Ends ›
- 10 Things Your Natural Hair Needs In The Winter ›
- If Your Hair Keeps Breaking Off, You're Probably Doing This. ›
- Hard Water Natural Hair Solutions Products Damaged Curls - xoNecole: Lifestyle, Culture, Love, & Wellness ›
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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10 Moms You Should Be Following Who Are Living, Loving & Mothering On Their Own Terms
Motherhood is looking different these days, and we must say, we love to see it. From digital creators to wellness entrepreneurs, today's moms are showing up online not just as caretakers, but as the multi-faceted, multi-layered women they are.
These moms are building businesses, creating art, prioritizing their rest, healing generational trauma, and redefining what it means to raise a child while staying rooted and true to their own identities.
Most importantly, these women aren't just sharing cute baby pics (although we live for those, too!), they're giving us the real about being mothers while also being themselves, creative expression, and the blueprint for what it means to embody themselves fully.
Whether they are documenting the beauty in the chaos of parenting or making space for their own passions, the following mamas serve as reminders that motherhood is not a monolith. Keep reading for some Black moms who deserve a spot on your TL if they aren't there already.
@brookedevard
Brooke DeVard is a beauty podcaster, content creator, and style muse who’s redefining what it means to do it all, with intention and grace. Whether she’s behind the mic as the host on Naked Beautyor holding both her babies in a quiet moment of joy, Brooke shows that you don’t have to choose between your passions and your presence. Sis is living proof that you can lead, nurture, and glow, all at once.
@yvettecorinne
Yvette Corinne is a digital creator and co-founder of Hair for the Girls, who’s showing us what it means to embrace the ups and downs of postpartum with honesty, humor, and heart. Through candid reflections and style-forward moments, she reminds fellow mamas that beauty, chaos, and grace can all coexist on one’s postpartum journey. And that joy can be found in the smallest wins.
@eliserpeterson
Elise R. Peterson is a visual artist, children’s book illustrator, and host of the Cool Moms podcast who uses storytelling as a form of liberation, for herself and for other creatives. Whether she’s nurturing her son, Sargent, or curating space for honest conversations on identity and artistry, Elise is a reminder that motherhood can be a portal for deeper self-expression as opposed to a limitation of it.
@loveoffering
Josefina is a mindful artist and writer whose work feels like a warm exhale in a world that often moves too fast. Through poetic captions on healing, tender family moments, and her Substack newsletter cuídate, she offers gentle reminders that in motherhood and in life, presence, grace, and emotional connection matter far more than perfection.
@jalisaevaughn
JaLisa E. Jefferson is a Dallas-based digital creator, wife, and mom of three whose motherhood journey is equal parts joy, faith, and full-blown toddler chaos. Through honest reflections and heartfelt storytelling, she reminds us that the little things, like bedtime bribes, belly laughs, and beautifully messy routines, are often life’s biggest blessings. Her love for her life runs deep, and her gratitude shows up in every frame she posts.
@theprettygirlsguide
DeAnna Bobbi is a DMV-based mom blogger whose content brings the laughs, the looks, and the real talk about motherhood, pregnancy, and everything in between. Whether she’s giving mom hacks or documenting her 25-week Brazilian wax with zero shame and all the humor, DeAnna reminds us that honesty (with a side of style) is a superpower in this season of life.
@elainewelteroth
Elaine Welteroth is a bestselling author, former Teen Vogue EIC, and founder of BirthFUND, using her platform to fight for maternal health equity while navigating the beauty and complexity of new motherhood. In her own words, every stage of parenting feels "slow," brutal, and beautiful all at once, which is why she chooses to romanticize the little moments, even as she pre-grieves how fleeting they’ll one day feel. Her motherhood journey is both a personal evolution and a public call to reimagine care, softness, and support for women everywhere.
@designaddictmom
Stacey-Ann Blake is a home decor creator whose vibrant aesthetic is matched only by the warmth she brings to motherhood. From backyard tents in the fall to colorful corners curated with love, she reminds us that home isn’t just a space you live in, it’s an atmosphere where creativity blooms, joy is intentional, and childhood gets to feel magical. Her content inspires mamas to embrace boldness, beauty, and play in their everyday lives.
@hautemommie
Leslie Antonoff, Hautemommie and all-around powerhouse, is on a mission to inspire women, especially Black women, to live magnificently. With honesty and elegance, she shares what it means to mother with vision: to lead with softness, to nurture with strength, and to reject every outdated expectation of what motherhood is "supposed" to look like. For Leslie, motherhood is legacy work, and she wears that responsibility with grace and pride.
@latonyayvette
LaTonya Yvette is an author, editor, and creative consultant whose storytelling around motherhood is lyrical, layered, and deeply lived-in. With over 14 years of parenting behind her, she captures the tenderness of raising a child in a rapidly shifting world, reminding us that motherhood isn’t just a personal journey, but a sacred thread in a much larger, collective story. Her words are a mirror, a balm, and a reminder that presence is its own kind of legacy. If you've never come across her account on IG, we think you should start here.
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Featured image by Elise R. Peterson/Instagram