Meet Elle from Southern California! She has been on her curl journey for two years now and we think that she is doing such a great job at letting her curls blossom the way nature intended. 

The Journey

What inspired you to return natural?

Hello, my name is Elle and I'm a curly-haired girl from Southern California! I've been on my natural hair journey for two years now. What inspired me was the constant struggle of figuring out what to do with my mixed-race hair. Both sides of the family have different hair than mine so no one knew what to do with my corkscrew curls.

I tried going to different salons and they never knew what to do with my hair. There were times they'd cut it and give me crazy uneven cuts that dried horribly. They even tried relaxing my hair which caused chemical burns on my scalp. I tried so many things to try and make my hair easier to manage. I wanted to look like women in magazines.

Eventually, I just gave up. I would braid it every day and ignore it. But that didn't feel great either, so, I began searching to find out more about my hair and how to work with it. I discovered an entire community of people that had the same issues as me and I have managed to make my curls beautiful and healthy. It gave me so much hope and FINALLY got me to start taking proper care of my curls. I'm finally loving my hair.

What were the challenges (if any) along the way of your healthy hair journey?

My main challenge has been finding products that work for my hair. I have low porosity and thin hair strands that are easily weighed down. So it was a lot of trial and error to figure out what would work for my hair. I also finally started to realise that I needed to cut my hair instead of going to a salon. This has made a big difference. 

What is your number 1 curl tip?

Don't buy products or stick with products just because they're expensive or popular. Really pay attention to what you're using.

Discovering Flora & Curl

What made you buy Flora & Curl products? How did you hear about us?

I found Flora and Curl on Instagram. There was a curly girl that I followed for tips and tricks and she used the products. I'd tried many other brands and was a little burned out because I never really got the results I wanted. But, these products sounded lovely and the packaging was beautiful! So I bought some to try from Ulta and was hooked. 

How did you see your hair change after using Flora & Curl products?

The products are so light, they don't weigh my hair down or leave it greasy. They are gentle and work so well. However, the change I saw that was the most exciting was my skin. I was having breakouts on my arms, neck, back, and chest until I started using a full regimen of Flora & Curl. My skin cleared up. Honestly, I'm never going back to the old things I used, even though they claimed to be natural and clean. They weren't. Flora & Curl is the real deal. 

Which Flora & Curl product is your favourite and why?

The Rose Water Detangling Lotion is so good. It smells amazing, it's so light and fresh, it actually makes it easier to comb my long curls, and the bottle looks great sitting on my counter, what more could I want?

What is your current Flora & Curl haircare routine?

Currently, I wash with the Coconut Mint Scalp Refresh Shampoo to nourish my dry scalp and I condition my curls with the Rose Water Cream Conditioner. Once I get out of the shower, I use the Rose Water Detangling Lotion followed by the Sweet Hibiscus Curl Activating Lotion and finally the Curl Defining Gel to add some protein to my hair. 

What sets Flora & Curl apart from other brands/products on the market? 

It's clean. Truly clean and so fresh. I love it. There is no goop, no slime, and nothing slick, it just feels so good. 

We're forever grateful to hear your curl journey, Elle. You'll be inspiring hundreds as I am sure there are a lot of soon-to-be curlies that feel a little overwhelmed with how to care for their curls. It's not all doom and gloom. It can be daunting, but just like Elle, you can find a way to embrace your curls naturally and love your beautiful locks! Don't forget that you can reach out to our Curl Specialists at hello@floracurl.com to get help on where to start! We've got you curlfriends and we want you to love you for you!

Feeling inspired curlfriends?! Click here to read more Curl Journeys! Fancy sharing your journey with us? Just click here to submit your story! 

Naturally Yours, 

The Team at Flora & Curl