

It's no secret the hair industry seems to be more crowded than ever. But considering all of us are rocking our unique head of hair (especially in its natural state), we can never have too many natural hair products to finesse and love on our coils.
Just like Rihanna didn't let the makeup industry intimidate her from dropping the record-breaking Fenty Beauty, I'm glad these brands didn't let the seemingly overcrowded hair industry stop them from releasing their versions of the best natural hair care products that we never knew we needed until now.
Whether the new line is backed by a major company that we're all familiar with, or launched by a boss woman who is breaking the ceiling, you certainly need to get into these natural hair care lines that were released this year:
1.Curly World by Lorraine Massey
Naturally Curly
Lorraine Massey had a gem on her hands with this one. Thanks to being the brains behind the DevaCurl product line and serving as co-founder of DevaChan salon in New York City, she was a staple in the natural hair and curly girl industry long before she released her line this year.
The timing was perfect for her Curly World release because it's clearly what the people were craving. I love how 'to the point' this brand is. While there are tons of options out there to care for our hair, Massey ironically aims to get us all back to the basics when it comes to caring for our tresses with her three-step method (shampoo, condition, tone). The line consists of four products: Sham-Free Hair & Scalp Cleanser (a pre-wash), Terms & Conditions (a hydrating conditioner that can double as co-wash), Leave-In Lover conditioner, and With Or Without Hue, a conditioner for those with dyed hair.
2.Miss Jessie’s Honey Curls
roundthewaygirl.com
Miss Jessie's history speaks for itself! So when co-founder Miko Branch dropped new products this year, I knew it would be a win. Miss Jessie's was one of the first lines that showed love to our natural hair, and these new products have proven that the brand isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
It currently features five products: Curls So Fresh, which helps with those days following a wash when our hair refuses to cooperate. Gloss So Good helps those curls pop and shine like they should. Hold Me Down is the edge control that the edges of your hair might have been searching for all along. The Grow Strong MAFURA Hair Oil gives our scalp the treatment that it definitely needs. Last and certainly not least is the Honey Curls product that didn't waste any time gaining popularity as it uses honey to lock in that moisture… Gon head and get'chu some!
3.Maya Smith’s The Doux
The Doux
I can't get enough of Atlanta native Maya Smith's salute to the 90s era with her new hair care line, The Doux. The 90s were LIT, okay? And so is The Doux. For starters, the packaging is blasted with neon colors, which were really big in the beloved decade. But the products definitely live up to the hype too (and come in neon colors as well).
It's no surprise that the products are of quality since the founder has more than 20 years of working as a stylist, including transitioning thousands of clients into the natural hair lifestyle…bless her heart. She has also performed tons of extensive research to have the best products for her consumers. The Doux currently features five products: SUCKA FREE moisturizing shampoo, FRESH RINSE moisturizing conditioner, MOUSSE DEF texture foam, THE LIGHT shine mist, and a customer favorite, BONITA AFRO BALM texture cream. These products certainly stand out as they boost our hair's moisture, texture, hydration, all while canceling out that frizz.
4.Crème Of Nature’s Pure Honey
We all know Crème of Nature has come a long way over the last few years. And this year, it kicked its efforts to keep our natural hair in check up a notch with its Pure Honey line. You've probably already heard of this one but whether you have or haven't, it definitely deserves an honorable mention.
Let me start by saying that each of the items in the Pure Honey line is filled with a mix of honey, coconut oil, and shea butter; but it makes sure not to weigh the hair down and have it looking stiff. As for the specifics, there are five products: Moisturizing Dry Defense shampoo and conditioner, Break UP Breakage Leave-In Conditioner, Knot Away Leave-In Detangler, and an amazing moisturizing hair mask that can help give your hair a fresh reset.
5.FORM Beauty
FORM Beauty has mastered the art of keeping it simple while still making a statement by giving us the basic products we need to keep our hair moisturized, fly, and even selfie-ready. What I love about this brand in particular is that it has a consultation option that provides a hair routine specifically for you. It understands that each of their customers is different, even if they have a similar category of hair, and that no two heads of hair are the same. It also helps that the brand has quite a few products to offer! Besides, we all know the downside of trial-and-error when it comes to being on the hunt for products that will work specifically for us.
Related Stories:
The Lazy Girl's Guide To Natural Hair – Read More
I Tried 4 Vegan Natural Hair Products – Read More
One But Not Equal: Natural Hair Is Not The Same – Read More
6 Protective Styles For Transitioning To Natural When Twist Outs Aren't Enough – Read More
Featured image by Getty Images
Laterras R. Whitfield On What He Wants In A 'Future Wifey' & Redefining Masculinity
In this week's episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker chopped it up with Laterras R. Whitfield, host of the Dear Future Wifey podcast, for a raw and revealing conversation about personal growth, faith, and the search for love in a way that resonates.
Laterras Whitfield Believes Men Should Pursue, Not Persuade
“Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest”
Whitfield is a big advocate of a man’s role in going confidently for the woman he wants. “Men should pursue, not persuade, and women should present, not pursue,” he said. He’s open to meeting women on social media but isn’t a fan of bold approaches. “Don’t shoot your shot at me. … Let me know you exist, and I’ll do the rest.”
His ideal woman?
“She has to be a woman of God… I judge a woman by how her friends see her… and most importantly, how she treats my kids.”
Infidelity, Redemption, and the Power of Self-Control
“Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer”
Once unfaithful in his previous marriage, Whitfield has since transformed his perspective on masculinity. “Being disciplined is the most beautiful thing you can offer. That’s what true masculinity is to me now.” He has also committed to abstinence, choosing self-control as a defining trait of manhood.
Whitfield’s journey is one of redemption, purpose, and faith—something that speaks to women who value emotional intelligence, accountability, and the power of transformation.
Rewriting the Narrative Around Black Masculinity
What masculinity, legacy, and healing mean to Whitfield today
“My dad taught me what not to be [as a man] and my mom taught me what she needed [in a man],” Whitfield said. While his father wasn’t abusive, he wasn’t emotionally or affectionately present. “Since I didn’t see it, I never got it either… I would look at my dad and say, ‘I want to be a better father.’ ”
Adoption had always been on his spirit, influenced by TV shows like Different Strokes and Punky Brewster. This mindset led him to take in his nephew as his son after a powerful dream confirmed what he already felt in his heart.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
How I Found The Courage To Keep Chasing My Dreams And How You Can Too
"Don't die with your dreams."
It's a simple statement, but one I really needed to hear. After attending the live taping for The Hey, Girl Podcast's finale episode, I realized I'm not living my dream life. I have a decent job, my own place, and a great social life, but something is missing. That something? I'm doing what I'm supposed to, not what I want to do. However, shifting gears to have a more fulfilling life would require faith, taking risks, and being vulnerable—all things I struggle with. And I know I'm not the only one.
Some of us are settling for our life because we're afraid to try and fail. We're so scared to seem lost, directionless, or uncertain. We don't want to be judged or fear being misunderstood when we attempt to explain our lack of fulfillment to family and friends. We fear seeming "too old" to not have it "all together." We may also feel inclined to listen when the little voice in our head tells us we don't have what it takes to achieve our dreams or we don't deserve the joy and fulfillment that comes from walking in our purpose.
While these feelings and fears are valid, they don't reflect the reality of our situation. These feelings and fears are often rooted in stories that protect us from being vulnerable but keep us further away from our dreams.
We have to find the courage to tell ourselves a new story. One that affirms that we're exactly where we need to be and this part of life that feelings confusing, scary and uncertain is a necessary part of the journey.
Here's how we find the courage to do that:
Forgive yourself for not trying sooner.
As we get older, we may feel more pressured to settle down and play it safe when making big decisions. We may tell ourselves that we should have taken risks sooner and that it's too late in the game to attempt something new. It's hard to imagine new possibilities when we keep judging ourselves for choices we made in the past. We can wonder why the 25-year-old version of ourselves didn't make different decisions, but we can't change the past, and living with regret makes it hard for us to access our dreams. Forgiving yourself and being compassionate with yourself will allow you to access the confidence you need to be successful.
Stop comparing yourself to other people.
Reading and following the success stories of those we admire is a huge source of motivation. It can inspire us to dream big and imagine how different our lives could be if we took a risk. Unfortunately, it can also scare us into staying stuck because we'll fall into the comparison trap. We'll scroll through Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn and feel inadequate because people are further along than us. We may get discouraged when we discover people have access to funds, people, and opportunities that can help them excel faster than we can.
The truth is we don't know every detail of their story. We don't know what they've sacrificed or how scared they were when they started. What we do know is that they didn't give up. They found the courage to keep going despite their challenges, and we have the power to do the same.
Don't be controlled by what other people think.
It's natural to care about other people's thoughts because we're human. We thrive off being included and feeling connected. But we can't allow ourselves to be controlled by what other people think. Someone will always have thoughts about our decisions and desires. But we can't let the opinions of others keep us stuck and fearful. There is a difference between what we want and what others think we can, and should, have. Even people who love and care about us may attempt to limit us based on their fears and perceptions of who we're meant to be. But they don't have the final say over our lives, nor were they given our vision.
Have faith the pieces will come together.
One of my favorite lines in Paul Coelho's The Alchemist is, "when you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it." When we begin pursuing our dreams and taking steps to walk in our purpose, opportunities and experiences will open up to help us on our journey. To notice these opportunities, we have to lean into abundance. Shifting to an abundance mindset is hard when you've become accustomed to living in scarcity. There is enough money, help, opportunities, time, and resources to make our dreams a reality.
Lean into the unknown.
When we don't know the answer or something seems uncertain, we sense that moving forward would put us in danger. We figure the more we know, the less daunting the process will be and the more successful we'll be in the end. But that's not true. We can't control or plan for everything. Where we've been conditioned to see danger, we could begin to see possibility. There is a lot of joy in the unknown. Sometimes we'll need to have faith in ourselves and trust that we have what it takes to be okay wherever we land.
You have to stick with it even when it sucks.
You can't skip the hard days. Sometimes we want to reach our dreams without struggling. As soon as something undesirable happens, we question the entire process and wonder if we've made a mistake. But experiencing lows is part of the journey. It won't always be easy, even when you want something and you're meant to have something. You can take a break, rest, and give yourself space to reassess the plan. But remember, "if the plan doesn't work, change the plan, not the goal."
Make time for your dreams.
Sometimes we're so busy using our time, energy, intellect, and creativity as conduits to other people's dreams that we forget to make time for our own. We'll feel productive, but we won't feel fulfilled. We have to stop hiding behind other people's happiness and make time to create our own.
Be vulnerable.
One of the hardest things to do is ask for help. But when you have big dreams, you need a big network. You need a community of people that loves, supports, and encourages you. You also need people that share similar interests and goals. Don't be afraid to share that you're struggling and need help. Asking for help can be scary because it creates opportunities for people to judge you and question your ability to succeed, but those people likely weren’t rooting for you to begin with. People who love and support you won’t view you asking for help as a sign of incompetence.
Finding the courage to chase your dreams when you feel like you’ve waited too long is hard. But telling yourself that you’ve “waited too long” is keeping you stuck and unfulfilled. The person you are in five years will thank you for starting today. The choice is yours. But remember, “don’t die with your dreams.”
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Featured image by Ben Masora on Unsplash
Originally published on June 14, 2023