Here Are The 4C Hair Products Your Kinks & Curls Deserve
We don't have to tell you how neglected 4C hair is when it comes to the beauty industry. Even though brands routinely hit the market with new launches they say were formulated to work on all hair textures, it often doesn't take long for ladies with tighter textures to refute those claims and head back to the drawing board to replicate the concoctions they've crafted over the years to cleanse, hydrate, and define their curls and coils.
More power to the beauties who have time to put in that amount of work, but we think we speak for everyone when we say 4C ladies want to hit the aisles and pick up products that work for them straight off the shelves like everyone else -- as they should. To make it a bit easier to do that, we've put together a list of the best products for 4C hair so you can take the guessing game out of shopping and ship items perfectly suited for your strands right to your home this holiday season.
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4C Only Too Easy Collection
4C Only
The name says it all when it comes to this new brand dedicated solely to cleansing, conditioning, and styling 4C textures. The Too Easy Collection is a worthwhile collection as it contains a shampoo, deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner, and styling cream designed to cut your wash and style time down to 1-2 hours per week.
Haitian Black Castor Oil Light
Reap all the moisturizing, hair-retaining, growth-promoting benefits of Jamaican Black Castor Oil but in a lighter, silkier, more absorbent form in this Kreyol Essence Black Castor Oil. Beyond the benefits to your hair, you'll also be supporting Black women in the U.S. and Haiti as the founder of Kreyol Essence is a Black woman who employs a 90 percent female staff in her native home.
Cantu Sturdy Double Lift Pick
Cantu Sturdy Double Lift Pick - 1ctEverybody knows a twist out can't pop until you pick it out. Cantu's Sturdy Double Lift Pick helps lift curls without compromising definition. And like the name suggests, it's durable enough to withstand even the thickest hair.
Aunt Jackie's Flaxseed Don't Shrink Curling Gel
Aunt Jackie's
Fight shrinkage with this fan favorite that helps elongate curls while it promotes hair health with flaxseed and wheat protein.
Ampro Pro Style Shine N Jam Magic Fingers For Braiders
Walmart
If you became a pro at doing your own braids and twists during the pandemic, you know how crucial this jam is for controlling frizz without drying out hair or adding buildup.
Morning Glamour Satin Standard Pillowcase
Macys
We don't have to tell you how crucial satin pillowcases are to hair health if you don't wear a bonnet at night. Jump on this holiday sale and score a couple to protect your hair from friction and breakage.
Kurlee Belle Kurl Defining Creme
Kurlee Belle
"Twist Out Queen Approved," this creme is made from Cupuacu, Shea Butter and Argan Oil to "melt" into hair and produce smooth, hydrated defined curls.
Mielle Rosemary Mint Growth Oil
Mielle Organics
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp and that's true for all textures. This growth oil helps nourish hair follicles to promote growth and prevent dry scalp while also smoothing split ends with its formula that's a mix of natural ingredients and essential oils to retain length.
Dreadlock Natural Hair Electric Steamer Cap
Dreadlock
A common complaint among loc wearers is that products don't penetrate their hair shaft. If that's your struggle, it's most likely time to take a step back and focus on treatment rather than touching up locs with a water, oil, or gel. This electric steamer cap, which works for all natural-haired ladies, loc'd or not, eliminates a lot of the mess that comes with other steamers while still allowing you to get a salon-level hydration treatment right from the comfort of your home.
Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother Styling Creme
Olaplex
Color-treated hair requires extra TLC and Olaplex's bond smoother is many natural's go-to for hydrating and protecting hair from the damage chemicals can ravage on strands.
Carol's Daughter Coco Crème Curl Quenching Deep Moisture Mask
Carol's Daughter Coco Crème Curl Quenching Deep Moisture Mask - 12 fl ozCarol's Daughter's Coco Crème collection was created specifically with coarser textures in mind. The Curl Quenching Deep Moisture Mask is formulated with coconut oil, coconut milk, mango butter and murumuru butter to help hydrate extremely dry textures
Featured image by Shutterstock
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
Courtesy
Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy