The Search for My Holy Grail Product

As a curly girl growing up in the 80’s, there were virtually no products for curly hair. It may be impossible to imagine today when entire sections of stores are dedicated to products for textured hair, but it was the reality for me and so many other curly people. All of the mousses and hair gels were created for smoothy, silky locks. They were designed to turn my hair into something it was not, rather than to help me embrace the 3B curls I was born with. So I spent a good part of my life beating my curls into submission with blow dryers, flat irons and curling irons, plastering my straightened hair with hairspray.

When we launched NaturallyCurly in 1998, I was dedicated to learning to love my curls and to empower and inspire others to do the same.

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    The Holy Grail Hair Product Search Continues…

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    This meant finding the right products, but it wasn’t easy. Products with enough hold left my curls crunchy and if a product had a softer hold, it was no match for Austin’s humidity. This usually meant cocktailing products that never were meant to be used together. 

    Over the past 20 years, the curly category has exploded with thousands of new products on the market. But it can still be confusing and frustrating to find an effective regimen that works together. I had shampoos for color-treated hair, moisturizing conditioners and styling products from dozens of brands crowding my cabinet. My hair often smelled like a fruity, woodsy, powdery, musky, perfumey mix of scents. Not to mention all of the products that ended up in my product graveyard, used once never to see the light of day again.

    That’s why I was delighted to discover Prose.

    It wasn’t a one-size-fits all solution. Prose created a way for me to customize my regimen with products that all work together. They are even formulated for the climate in Austin – something I have never seen.

    Prose’s New Custom Styling Gel

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    I was lucky to be a part of the development process for Prose’s newest addition, the Multi-Use Styling Gel. My wish list was long. I wanted a hair gel that had strong hold without the crunch, defined without flakes, and moisturizes rather than drying out my curls. On top of that, I wanted it to smell good. 

    It was truly a collaborative process. The product development team asked detailed questions and really listened. I had the chance to try multiple formulas, providing feedback on what worked and what didn’t.

    The final formula really reflected my feedback. It took into account the latest ingredient technology along with feedback from people with a range of textures and different needs. A woman with 4A coils who does twist-outs often wants a different product than a 3B like me who does a Wash N Go. The gel contains a combination of sea moss, okra and aloe vera to moisturize and define the hair without silicones, sulfates and alcohol that can coat and dry out strands. 

    My regimen (Prose looks at over 85 different factors to determine your custom formula) includes the Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner, and the new Multi-Use Styling Gel. I also received the Hair Oil with Argan and Shea Oil. 

    After shampooing and conditioning, I scooped out a dollop and spread it throughout my hair, scrunching it with a microfiber towel. As I diffused it with a dryer, I was excited to see defined, shiny, full curls. But would it hold up in the heat and humidity of a Texas summer day? Would my curls turn to frizz? Not only did my curls last throughout the day, I got more compliments on them than I’ve received in a long time. I met a curly friend for coffee and after touching and smelling my curls, she got on her computer and ordered her own Prose products.

    The search for my holy grail product is over!

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