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10 Curl Creams for Natural Hair That Really Work, Really!

by Jacqueline Samaroo

It’s no lie – curl creams have to work harder than most other natural hair products. We depend on them to do so much: add shine, limit frizz, stop flyaways, hydrate, moisturize, AND nourish hair. And, we haven’t even mentioned their biggest job – enhance curly hair’s natural curl pattern and give it plenty of bounce.

Here are 10 curl creams that are sure to get the job done!

Best for Dry, Damaged Hair

1. SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
If you’re transitioning your curly hair to its natural state, then this is the curl cream you’ll want to be using. Its rich, nourishing oils give your hair the shine and bounce you’re looking for and the healthy, nutrients it needs to repair damage caused by relaxers and perms.

What’s in it? Shea butter, coconut oil, neem oil, and silk protein

2. Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Defining Cream
This leave-in defining cream packs in lots of the moisture textured hair needs for shape and definition. Its lightweight formula provides maximum hold and is made up of ingredients that help to strengthen hair, too..
What’s in it? Rice amino acids, avocado oil, quinoa extract, and tomato fruit ferment extract

Best for Type 4 Hair

3. Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter
This heavy, butter-like curl cream gives type 4 hair the moisture it thrives on. Its heavy consistency helps it stretch the tightest of coils and coat them in rich botanical oils. Use it for twist outs and enjoy the way it softens, smooths, and adds curl definition.

What’s in it? Almond milk, almond oil, honey, and pumpkin oil

4. African Pride Moisture Miracle Shea Butter & Flaxseed Oil Curling Cream
Finding the right natural haircare products for type 4 hair can be like finding the Holy Grail. That’s because type 4 is often dry and can be quite fragile. It needs the kind of moisture, hydration, and strength this curl cream gives as it styles hair into a curly, kinky miracle.

What’s in it? Grapeseed oil, Shea butter, coconut oil, and flaxseed oil

Best for Controlling Frizz

5. DevaCurl SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler
Curls plus frizz and are far from the ideal combination but it’s what most of the natural hair community is faced with. This is the curl cream to reach for when you need a super curly style without all of the distracting frizz. It softens strands, adds volume, and defines curls then throws in just the right amount of bounce.

What’s in it? Coconut oil, jojoba protein, and starch

6. Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream
Formulated for wavy to curly hair, this curl cream won’t change your natural curl pattern – just enhance it. Its essential fatty acids and antioxidants also work nourishing your strands. Possible frizzes are held in place, leaving you with well-defined curls that last for hours.

What’s in it? Argan oil and hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Best for Thick Hair

7. TGIN Twist and Define Cream
This curl cream is a popular twist out choice that keeps flyaways in their place so hair looks smoother. It gives enviable curl definition, leaving hair soft and shiny in the process. It works very well with thick, natural hair that’s in need of hydration.

What’s in it? Coconut oil and vitamin E

8. Amika Curl Corps Defining Cream
A crown of thick, curly hair can be difficult to manage but it’s a thing of true beauty when those curls are well-defined, shiny, and bouncy. This curl cream helps take thick and curly hair to the top of its game. Its frizz-stopping formula also includes plenty of protective antioxidants.

What’s in it? Tapioca starch, oat peptide, and sea buckthorn berry

Best Budget Buys

9. Afro Sheen Texture Gel Cream
For some brands, curl definition and flaking hair go hand-in-hand – that is NOT what we want! This choice may be priced lower than most but it delivers what a really great curl cream should – curl definition and lasting hold without unsightly flakes.

What’s in it? Flaxseed oil, coconut oil, and Shea butter

10. Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activating Cream
This curl cream will make both your budget and your hair happy. It’s a lightweight formula that gives hair plenty of moisture without weighing it down. It smooths, softens, and nourishes your strands as it defines curls with a lasting hold.

What’s in it? Shea butter and essential oils

Love curl creams? What’s your favorite one?

curl creams  curl creams curl creams 

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White Castle isn’t just serving up hamburgers, it’s serving up fashion looks, too. And it’s all thanks to White Castle’s new collaboration with Telfar.

In honor of the fast-food chain’s 100th birthday, designer Telfar Clemens, known for his covetable Shopping Bag, is putting his own stamp on the company’s uniforms — again. In 2017, Telfar designed uniforms for White Castle team members, but, this time, he’s expanded the range, creating four new designs for the square burger joint’s 10,000 employees. The new line includes T-shirts, polos, aprons, and visors. At the request of team members, Clemens also designed a durag, marking the first time the hair accessory is being offered as part of the official uniform, according to the company’s press release.

The designs feature White Castle’s signature gothic font and royal blue hue (though workers will have color options including light blue and black). To mark the momentous occasion for the makers of the Crave Case, some of the tops read “100 years and counting.”

To launch the new White House x Telfar uniforms, employees from various chains from Telfar’s hometown of New York City were asked to model the looks as part of a portrait series shot by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. But Jamie Richardson, a vice president at White Castle, made it clear that these uniforms look just as good off-duty.

“Telfar has taken our uniform to a new place,” Richardson said in a statement, “creating something that’s distinctive, attractive and comfortable, and something our team members will feel great in whether they’re at work or hanging out with friends and family.”

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Of course, the next question is, “Can I get some of those?” Well, kind of. Right now, non-employees can get their hands on a limited-edition White Castle collection that Telfar designed in connection with the uniform launch. Hats, hoodies, durags, and T-shirts are available to buy with proceeds going to the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Liberty and Justice Fund, which provides bail to imprisoned minors.

While this may seem like an unexpected collab, Telfar’s relationship with White Castle goes way back. In 2015, the brand asked the fast-food chain to sponsor its show at New York Fashion Week. White Castle did — and even hosted an afterparty at its Time Square restaurant. “White Castle supported us before our success and we consider them family,” Telfar’s creative director Babak Radboy said in a press release. “It’s still the only thing open after midnight in Telfar’s hood—seeing our uniforms there means something to us, and so we take it personally.” 

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Estrogen. You heard the word when your high school sex-ed class reached the “female body” portion. You’ve seen it referenced in birth-control ads on the subway and during commercial breaks on TV. You know that it’s a hormone produced primarily in the ovaries. But in case you got distracted putting a condom on a banana, this is your reminder that estrogen levels play a role in so much more than just pregnancy and menopause — and their effects aren’t limited to the internal.

When you think of estrogen declining, it’s common for menopause to come to mind — and what we’ve understood happens during that stage, like hot flashes, mood swings, and low sex drives. But did you know that estrogen plays a role when it comes to your skin, too?

If you’re under the age of 40, you might think: “I don’t have to worry about this for a while.” Turns out that’s not exactly true. Perimenopause is the two to five years leading up to menopause, and even before that, estrogen typically starts to drop around 30 and takes another nosedive at 35. As board-certified OB/GYN Uzzi Reiss, MD, writes in her book The Good News About Estrogen, it was uncommon for women in previous generations to enter menopause before 55. Now, due to environmental and epigenetic stressors, women today can be as young as 38.

We spoke to industry experts to learn more about estrogen-deficient skin, and why we’re witnessing a spike in interest from both brands and consumers within the beauty industry. Read more about it, ahead.

The Relationship Between Estrogen & Skin

Estrogen levels decline over your lifetime and diminish steadily as you get older, and this isn’t just a matter of whether you can get pregnant: Estrogen is a key factor in your overall health. There are estrogen receptors everywhere, in just about every organ in the body, from your brain to your hair, uterus, bones, and skin. 

While people are familiar with the effects of aging on the skin, they don’t necessarily correlate it with estrogen deficiency. “As women approach perimenopause and then menopause, estrogen levels throughout the body naturally decline,” says dermatologist Joel L. Cohen, MD. “Women are typically aware of vaginal dryness, but they don’t necessarily realize that these specific changes are also affecting the skin.” Says scientist and SeeMe Beauty co-founder Christi Putman, “Women tell us all the time that these menopause-driven changes to their skin catch them by surprise.”

There’s a long list of ways that estrogen is known to contribute to the skin, including wound healing, responding to sun damage, maintaining hydration, and skin thickness, among other healthy skin characteristics. As women approach menopause, they produce less and less estrogen, meaning they lose those contributions to the skin. “Low estrogen levels may be associated with slow skin cell turnover, impaired skin barrier function and pH, and decreased collagen production,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “This translates to dry, dull skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and lax skin.”

Rise In New Beauty Category

While aging and estrogen have rarely been spoken about together in terms of skin, we’re now seeing a spike of interest from both consumers and brands. Experts point to the fact that women are living longer (the average life expectancy of a woman in the U.S. is 81, according to the CDC) and, for that reason, are spending more time in menopause.

“There is a fear of the unknown, but as a society, we are ready to embrace an older demographic.”

Rochelle Weitzner, Founder and CEO of Pause Well-Aging

However, according to the pros, longer life expectancy is not the only reason for this rising interest. “Women are taking better care of their health and are more educated on the changes occurring in their own bodies,” says Dr. Zeichner. Rochelle Weitzner, founder and CEO of Pause Well-Aging, a line of products formulated specifically for hormone-deprived skin, credits the shift in what being 50 means today. “There has never before been any direct conversation about menopause. There is a fear of the unknown, but as a society, we are ready to embrace an older demographic,” she says. “Today, a woman in her 50s is Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, and Michelle Obama.”

With this shift, more brands targeted toward an older demographic are launching than ever, and some are specifically speaking out about estrogen deficiency. The brand Emepelle worked with scientists to develop its patented and clinically-proven MEP Technology, which lives within the product line to effectively address the root cause of the accelerated collagen loss and skin aging associated with low estrogen levels. For Pause Well-Aging, Weitzner was inspired by her own hot flashes, telling Refinery29, “As a former C-suite beauty executive, I knew that the customer, like me, experiencing the three stages of menopause was not being catered to.” SeeMe Beauty was founded by three Procter & Gamble employees in their 50s who didn’t want to just create products for women like them, but also provide better representation in a market filled with negative branding when it comes to aging.

Treating Estrogen-Deficient Skin 

With all these product lines on the market, it should be noted that there are still medical options (like hormone replacement therapy) that are used to treat estrogen deficiency and other menopause symptoms. Above all, if you have any questions or concerns about estrogen or other hormonal fluctuations or deficiencies, it’s essential that you consult a licensed and trained doctor. Everyone is different, and medical advice should only be taken from medical doctors.

That said, if superficial symptoms are your primary concern, topical products can help to address them. Given the more fragile state of the skin, you’ll want to stick to hydrating cleansers that won’t disrupt it, while also adding collagen-stimulating ingredients like retinol, hydroxy acids, and/or peptides to your regimen. Dr. Zeichner recommends Clarins Double Serum for its anti-inflammatory and strengthening benefits. Remember that your skin’s natural defenses are low, so you’ll want to use rich moisturizers to provide a protective layer — and sunscreen is imperative. “Estrogen-deficient skin cannot protect itself as well as younger skin can, so daily UV protection is a must,” says Dr. Zeichner.

As for accurately assessing your estrogen levels: Aside from symptoms, levels can be determined with full-screen blood serum tests, though some professionals, like Rebecca F. Dunsmoor-Su, MD, MSCE, OB/GYN, and Chief Medical Officer of Gennev, an online clinic for women in menopause, prefer not to rely on them. “Doing blood levels is generally not helpful,” she says. “We monitor and treat based on symptoms, not levels, especially during perimenopause, when levels can be very irregular month to month and are not helpful or predictive.”

Ultimately, it’s never too early or too late to learn more about the effects of aging. It’s about time the beauty industry recognizes that skin changes as a result of hormonal shifts over our lifetimes are real and prevalent — and, most importantly, that there’s nothing anti about aging.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Outfit Details:
Sleeper Dress (pink version here), Heritage Jewelry NYC Necklace, Brent Neale Necklace

I’ve always been drawn to shades of yellow this time of year since they feel so bright and refreshing, instantly setting a cheerful tone for any day. This happy color comes in so many variations, from buttery creams to a vibrant pop of sunshine.  Any time a color elevates my mood I am overjoyed, especially when it is easy to find in a variety of styles for spring and summer. Find a sunny selection of yellow pieces I’m currently loving below.

The post Spring Sunshine appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.

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As millions of people are getting coronavirus vaccinations every day, concerns have arisen around more severe side effects beyond the very common fatigue, aches, and injection-site pain. Most medical concerns have been debunked, but there is a side effect emerging that could easily — and needlessly — worry anyone getting a mammogram.

According to research conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, doctors are observing a sudden increase in mammograms showing swollen lymph nodes under the arm, which can be indicative of breast cancer. To be clear: This doesn’t mean that the vaccine is causing an increase in breast cancer; it is a side effect that, in this instance, is a sign of an immune response to the coronavirus vaccine, but in other cases, also happens to be a sign of potential breast cancer. Think about it like a dry cough — could be COVID-19, but it could also be your allergies acting up. 

Apparently, swollen lymph nodes are a common response by the body. “Swollen lymph nodes can be a response to many different vaccines, including the COVID vaccine,” board-certified OB-GYN Kelly Culwell, MD, also known as “Dr. Lady Doctor,” told Refinery29. “It is a sign of your immune system kicking into gear to produce antibodies in response to the vaccine.”

Lymph nodes play a vital role in your body’s ability to fight off bacteria and viruses. They trap and filter viruses, bacteria, and other causes of illness before they can infect other parts of your body. Your body has lymph nodes in multiple areas including your neck, your armpits, and your groin, which is all part of a larger immune system response — exactly what vaccines, COVID-19 and otherwise, try to elicit. According to the Mayo Clinic, swollen lymph nodes are rarely a sign that you may have cancer. 

“Any vaccine that produces a robust immune response may cause temporary swelling of the nodes. In my opinion, it has not been mentioned so much since we have not performed vaccines on this scale ever in history. With so many people getting vaccinated, you will hear of more effects all at once,” Nicole Williams, MD, gynecologic surgeon and founder of The Gynecology Institute of Chicago, told Refinery29.

Because the vaccine is injected into the upper arm, the lymph nodes nearest the injection site commonly swell, but since they are the nodes closer to the breasts, it makes sense that doctors would want to check it out further. The problem is that this side effect isn’t listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: The only ones listed are pain, swelling, and redness in the arm where you received the vaccine, as well as fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

“As more people get vaccinated, it’s important to allay fears and avoid unnecessary testing or treatment for conditions that should quickly resolve,” said Brita Roy, MD, an internal medicine physician and director of population health for Yale Medicine. 

The organization shared on its website that swollen lymph nodes, as well as skin reactions near the injection site, have only been found in those who received either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines — both of which use the technology called mRNA. So far, there have not been reports of these symptoms in people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. According to The New York Times, Moderna’s study showed that 11.6% of patients reported swollen lymph nodes after the first dose, and 16% reported the symptom after the second dose. Pfizer-BioNTech recipients reported lower incidences, with only 0.3% of people saying they experienced swollen lymph nodes. It was a recognized side effect in large trials of both vaccines.

So, should you reschedule your mammogram? Depends on who you ask. Dr. Roy says that swollen lymph nodes from the vaccine have been shown to disappear within a few days, but for some people, they can feel a little tender for up to 10 days. On imaging tests, they may be visible for up to a month. She advises people to still keep their mammogram appointments rather than delay, but be aware that the radiologist could ask you to come back one month later for a reexamination should something come up on the scan.

Dr. Culwell says it really depends on each individual. If it is a typical annual exam, she says experts are recommending that you either go before your first dose or wait six weeks after your second injection. “However, for some people, this would not be possible,” Dr. Culwell explained. “For instance, those that are being monitored closely for cancer recurrence during treatment. In those cases, informing the technician and radiologist of the recent vaccination would be important.”

Dr. Williams advises delaying your mammogram if possible so that you’re at least several days post-vaccination to allow for any possible swelling to go down. And if you’re still in doubt about anything? As always, talk to your doctor so that you can make the most informed decision.

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It is genuinely important that - if you can - you visit a UK shop and support it now they’re open again. Why? Because good retail offers something distinct that could easily be lost.  Let me explain the difference between a good menswear sto... > Read more

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