Tessa Thompson’s Tight Curls

What do the talented stars of Tyler Perry’s newest film For Colored Girls have in common? A number of accomplishments and talents to be sure – but being the devoted curly hair fans that we are at Ouidad, what caught our attention most was all of the impressive curls. Each one of the twelve main stars is naturally curly!

In fact, we’ve already turned the spotlight on a couple of these curly clad stars for rocking their lovely locks with that curly confidence that Ouidad loves—like Kerry Washington and Janet Jackson. But with so many different styles of beautiful curls in this impressive cast, we wanted to highlight these talented names and curls to our list:

Thandie Newton’s loose curls

Kimberly Elise’s soft waves

Loretta Devine’s fabulous spirals

Whoopi Goldberg’s lovely locks

For Colored Girls tells the story of nine different women, as they move in and out of one another’s lives. The all-star cast also includes Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Hill Harper and Omari Hardwick.

If you’re as proud to show off your natural curls as much as these stars are, Ouidad can help.  Ouidad products are formulated to shampoo, condition and style tight and kinky curls with the care that African-American curls deserve, so you can love to wear your curls too!

Images via: thirstyroots.com, naturallycurly.com, connect.in.com, thirstyroots.com, and cbsnews.com

The Holidays are in full swing again, a season thanks and reflection. And leave it to Ouidad to put a curly twist on the holidays – reminding us to be grateful for the bounty of our beautiful twisty curls!

Even with the unpredictable weather it brings, this is a beautiful time of year. But the transition to colder, dryer days is rarely a smooth one for curly hair; the alternating cold, wind, fog, frost and snow are enough to confuse anyone’s curls.

However, there are plenty of good hair days this time of year, when you sport kinky curls. In a time when everyone is shampooing less and protecting their hair more, kinky curls can really stand out and look fabulous!  Here are some reasons to be thankful for your kinky-curly locks:

• Less is more when it comes to shampooing. Ouidad says that it’s unnecessary to shampoo your kinky curls every day; in fact one shampoo a week is advised. Just be sure to use a moisturizing formula like Ouidad’s Curl Quencher to moisturize, soften and protect your delicate kinky curls.
• Wearing hair in protective styles can prevent damage caused by cold, windy and dry weather.  Kinky hair always looks good in braids, twists, and locs—which all protect hair from the severe environmental elements.
• Curls look their best when they are left to dry naturally. Kinky hair can soak up moisture better than other curl types.  And when you need to blow-dry, use Ouidad’s air diffuser to provide a steady source of gentle heat.

Kinky curls are truly something to be thankful for!

Ouidad fans everywhere would agree that Ouidad’s personal success is quite a story of female empowerment. After all, pioneering and leading the curly hair industry requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and style.

We see some of that same hard work and dedication in Melanie Brown, the former Spice Girl, who has been just as successful on the stage as she has been on the screen and in the recording studio. Melanie has got some serious curly girl power of her own!

After a stint on Dancing with the Stars (season five), Melanie returns to the spotlight in the new reality series Mel B It’s a Scary World airing on Style Network.  The show chronicles Mel B’s family life and business affairs, and not unlike our very own Ouidad, you’ll see that Mel B is a savvy businesswoman, loving wife and mother. (And even though she sports a temporary blowout on the show, we are impressed with how she transitions her hair from curly to straight. Looks like someone’s been taking advice from the Queen of Curls!)

If you are also tempted to temporarily try the straight look (if you must!) you should take Ouidad’s straighten-up-if-you-must advice too.  After all, it’s the only way to not cause damage and breakage.

And knowing that your fabulous curls will return as soon as you shampoo will help you keep up your confidence, and remind you that you, that like Mel B, that you can have some serious curl power of your own!

Image via womensbeautylife.com

The smart way to deal with dullness and spruce up your curls for that star-quality sheen is to identify the reasons why your hair may be looking so dry. You need to consider the effect that daily hair care habits can have on our curls—like heat styling and excessive product build-up.  Just remember Ouidad promotes that “less is more” and that it’s best to keep it simple.

So don’t overuse product, and keep your curls well hydrated; and to help keep that dry look away to keep curls radiant, day in and day out, try Ouidad’s trouble-free Shine Glaze serum method: simply rub two or three drops of serum between your palms and evenly apply the product to your hair (damp or dry), paying special attention to ends and outer layers of your hair. Done.

You just can’t beat a finishing product from Ouidad to help turn dull days into great hair days, so that you can shine everyday!

You might recognize Kerry Washington from the Academy Award winning films Ray or The Last King of Scotland. No matter where you’ve seen her, it’s her great curls that always steal the show!

A Screen Actors Guild Award nominee, Washington has definitely proven her acting chops alongside some of Hollywood’s greatest stars.  She’s also a political activist and did her fair share of campaigning during the recent presidential race. So with a busy schedule of acting, modeling and political involvement, we know she’s not just another pretty face…but what a face, and what curls! Many of us would like to try those curls on for size, so, let Ouidad show you what you need to get a movie star quality coif.

Begin with a great starter kit, like our Curl Quencher Collection.  The moisture rich shampoo and vitamin packed conditioners will keep any set of curls looking healthy and vibrant. Plus, the curl defining gel hydrates your locks and maintains their style all in one. Then, just follow along with our step-by-step style guide to achieve your perfect look!  Voila!  Now you’ve got Kerry Washington-worthy curls, ready to go out and conquer this curly world!

Image via hubpages.com

Let’s get one thing straight; Frizzy hair is dehydrated hair.  And the three keys to healthy, luscious curls are: moisture, moisture and moisture! If your hair is dry and malnourished, your hair will undoubtedly frizz. And while it’s true that your frizzy hair might be hereditary (for example, if your mother has always had frizzy hair, it’s likely that you too are used to taming the frizzies) there are other reasons that frizzies occur.

If you are not careful to protect your hair from environmental elements like the scorching sun and the arid winds, hair can easily become dry and frizzy. For this challenge a nourishing leave-in conditioner can be used.

Likewise, regular blow drying, brushing or over-handling your hair can disturb your natural curl pattern and create frizz.  Remember that curly hair should never, ever be brushed—whether it is wet or dry. And opt for an air diffuser over heat styling to ensure healthy, beautiful curls no matter the weather or whatever curly inheritance your mother gave you!

Image Via kimmyles.com

There’s no doubt Myles’s hair always look great, whether she’s donning a dark-colored ‘do or a bright, highlighted look. She proudly wears her bountiful curls with style and confidence that shines as much as the curls!

Image Via dispatchevents.com

Like Ouidad, Myles began her career as a successful hair stylist. According to Myles, “visual expression is how you show the world who you are, whether it’s your home or your hair.” Beautifully put; and that fits in to our Ouidad Curly Philosophy so nicely! Her vibrant style and perspective proves that Myles of Style also has miles of curls worth spotlighting.

No one adores curly hair as much as we do! And Ouidad herself wants nothing more than for you to love your curly hair every single day. So we have compiled a fun list about people, when they truly love their curls!

You know you love your curls when…

You are the first to notice when a television commercial or magazine ad does not include a representative from the curly-haired camp.  (And you can’t help but wonder why).

You cannot remember the last time you straightened your hair. And you don’t have plans to ever do it again!

You own a t-shirt or other accessory that boldly states your curl coolness. (Comes in handy, and is more practical than simply announcing it to everyone you meet)!

You can spot another naturally curly-haired person practically a mile away—if not even further!

You can’t wait to jump into the water, even when everyone else is trying hard to avoid it.  After all, you know that moisture is a curls’ best friend.

You can’t help but smile at your curly image yourself—whenever you catch the reflection of your beautiful locks in the mirror!

So, do you have as much curly confidence as we think you do!?

There are few stars we love to watch reinvent themselves on the big screen more than Janet Jackson. Over the course of her lifelong career as a singer and actor she has, with stunning fashion, kept up with all the latest style trends.  And in her latest role in Tyler Perry’s current film, Why Did I Get Married Too, Jackson lets her hair down and shows off a bountiful crown of cascading curls. Here at Ouidad we love the look so much that we just had to spotlight it.

Image Via thehairstyler.com

As you know, Jackson is no stranger to curly hairstyles. We’ve come to expect a stylish new look with each exciting venture she brings to the screen.  Whether it’s a super curly updo on the red carpet or a bold new color for a musical tour, she’s always able to bring a fresh face to that great curly hair!