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Editor's Pick

OurX TeXture Stories: Camille

OurX

August 22, 2024 - 1 min

Is Your Hair Ready for Color?

Johnny Wright

August 05, 2024 - 2 min

Get Your Hair Vacation-Ready

OurX

August 15, 2024 - 1 min

Hair Education

Scalp SOS: Identifying and Addressing Common Scalp Conditions

OurX

July 15, 2024 - 2 min

Hair Education

Never Go to a Stylist Who Does These 4 Things

OurX

July 15, 2024 - 3 min

Hair Education

5 Tips to Master Your Fall Curl Routine

Jennifer Barthole

August 15, 2024 - 3 min

Culture

On Texturism, and the Deep Roots of Hair Typing

Eartha Hopkins

August 05, 2024 - 3 min

Hair Education

Want Hair Growth? Understand the Hair Growth Cycle

OurX

August 15, 2024 - 1 min

Latest Topix

Culture

7 Natural Hair Creators to Follow for Endless Styling Inspiration
Culture

7 Natural Hair Creators to Follow for Endless Styling Inspiration

It can be a scary world out there for naturalistas, mind boggling multi step tutorials at every turn, conflicting theories about what oils are safe to use and in what order. When it comes to maintaining, protecting and rocking your gorgeous natural hair, finding the perfect style can begin to feel overwhelming. So here’s a fabulous (but not extensive) list of natural girlies that you can follow to get your styling inspo fix. Whether hair is the focus of their content or not, one thing about these folks? The hair is gonna hair™️. 1: Yana C @goldynaps Yana is your traditional DIY girlie, wanna learn how to do boho braids? Still trying to master your 2 strand twist? Always wanted to do your own silk press at home? Yana has got you covered, with over 73 vids in her Hair Tips & Tutorials series on Tiktok, there’s sure to be a style perfect for you no matter how you’re wearing your hair that day. 2: Antoni Bumba @antonibumba The icon, legend and moment herself, Antoni Bumba is that girl™️. Known for setting trends, of the BBL nature or otherwise. If you’re lucky enough to be following her you’ll definitely spot her sporting the hottest protective styles, wigs and headscarves. Start following Antoni for the hair and fashion looks she serves and stick around for the fabulous chaos that is her life. 3: Grey Prince @rugratsinparis Artist, homecook, witchy wife and dog mom, Grey Prnce has many skills and talents, a major one? Their gorgeously voluminous hair. Up until recently, Grey had a fluffy caramel highlighted ‘fro, last month they nearly broke the internet after getting their very first haircut and color. Like many of the folks on this list, Grey’s hair is probably the least interesting thing about them but man is it marvelous 🤩 4: Victoria Styles @thevicstyles Victoria Styles is an influencer in the very best sense of the word. She artfully shares slices of her world from beauty and fashion to her podcast and work in the cannabis industry. A little over a year ago she began her loc journey and has taken her followers with her along the way on her Instagram and her Youtube. 5: Shereen Mohammad @shereenmuhmmad Just about everything Shereen Mohammad shares on her instagram is art. From the picturesque tableaus, romantic vignettes, breathtaking vistas and stunningly chic looks. Her cloud-like hair, worn in all its triangle shaped glory is the cherry on top of her Pinterest worthy daydream of a feed. 6. Manouska @manouska_jay Let’s just say I saw Manouska cut and undo the ends of her braids so I cut and undid the ends of my braids. A bright bright light on the internet, Manouska has a rich career in the fashion and beauty industry and can almost always be seen on her feed donning beautiful braids of varying lengths, colors and sizes. 7: Hannah Mussette @mussette Hannah Mussette is an angel faced model and dj with an absolutely heavenly fro. A casual scroll through her insta will show a host of truly iconic hair looks from slick buns to braids to high pony puffs. Hannah is proof your hair can be as multi hyphenated as you are.
Jacynth Serrano Rodriguez

August 05, 2024 - 2 min

What You Need to Know About the Crown Act.
Culture

What You Need to Know About the Crown Act.

The Crown Act stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, is a bill that advocates for Black people with textured hair to stop getting discriminated against in work and educational spaces. Hairstyles like braids, twists, locs, Bantu knots, cornrows, and Afros have been discriminated against to the point where people have not been able to go to school, get jobs or get fired from jobs or barred from competing in competitions, and so on. In the words of Toni Morrison, “the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.” Since there have been so many incidents of people being barred from completing tasks or learning, the Crown Act has been the solution to discrimination. The Crown Act is also challenging the notion of what is considered to be professionalism which is often equated to whiteness. Introduced in 2019 by Senator Holly Mitchell, the Crown Act has now been enacted into law in 18 states which include California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, Washington, Connecticut, Delaware, New Mexico, Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon, Illinois, Maine, Tennessee, and Massachusetts. The hope is that the bill would be passed at a federal level if approved by the Senate, making it a law for all 50 states to protect Black people who wear their hair in natural hairstyles. Originally the Crown Act was passed solely in California and it was the first legislation passed to protect against hair discrimination — so big strides have been made, and it should keep going further. The impact of hair discrimination may have gone unnoticed for some time but what needs to be understood is that it can not only undermine a young person’s self-esteem but also shatter the opportunities and potential that Black people have and have had for centuries. In a study by Dove in 2019, co-founder of the Crown Act coalition, it says that hair discrimination can start as early as five years old and 100% of Black girls in majority white schools experience hair discrimination at 10 years old from detentions, suspensions, being asked to leave; the Crown Act is in place to protect against these exact experiences and ensures that they won’t happen again. Black people with textured hair have believed that to be deemed professional in corporate work spaces they would have to change their hair, whether it be to straighten it, cut it, or wear wigs in order to “fit in the office.” In the same study it was found that Black women’s hair was three times more likely to be seen as unprofessional. The importance of the Crown Act may seem trivial to some but again it’s a waste of many people’s time, Black people, to have to worry about the significance of their hair to other people’s subjection while just trying to learn or earn a living. It is now a vital source of protection and should be in place in all 50 states.
Kerane Marcellus

August 05, 2024 - 2 min

On Texturism, and the Deep Roots of Hair Typing
Culture

On Texturism, and the Deep Roots of Hair Typing

In the 1990s, Emmy Award-winning hairstylist Andre Walker wisely decided to capitalize on his growing fame for his work with Oprah Winfrey by creating innovative ways to promote his own line of hair care products. With clients ranging from Winfrey to Halle Berry (the man behind her signature pixie cut) to Barbara Bush, the Chicago native set out to attract a wide range of customers. So he created what has become known as the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. The system classifies hair into four categories - straight, wavy, curly, and coily - then assigns three sub-categories, labeled A-C, to indicate the amount of texture the hair either has naturally or can hold based on styling and product. By Walker’s model, the straightest hair is a 1A, and the hair with the tightest curls is a 4C. The system was intended to help consumers identify which products would work best on their hair. And it quickly became a helpful guideline even outside of Walker’s products. “Hair types help predict and describe how different chemicals and processes might interact with hair,” explains Star Donaldson, the senior social media editor at Byrdie and host of the site’s Black hair history series Crowned. “This system also helps us set expectations surrounding hair health, but it’s important not to confuse hair type and hair health.” There’s very little to criticize in a vacuum about the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. As natural hairstyles have become more prevalent over the past 10-15 years, it has become an easy standard used by beauty influencers and brands to help their target audiences and consumers learn how to care for and style their hair. But the Walker Hair Typing System does not exist in a vacuum. It is nestled in the history that has seen African American women, especially, often convinced that proximity to whiteness was the most desirable beauty aesthetic. Walker’s chart arrived after years of conks, relaxers, Jheri curls, and presses. It exists in a space where, despite the prevalence of Black hair care products, ads with women rocking natural hairstyles or celebrities taking to red carpets with intricate braids or short afros, appearing in certain settings with natural hair is still considered bold. Hair typing also has its own racist historical predecessors. “One of the earliest hair typing systems was invented in 1908 by Eugen Fischer, a German Nazi scientist, who created the ‘hair gauge,’ to determine Namibians’ proximity to whiteness based on their hair texture,” Donaldson explained in her series. Another similar example is the Apartheid Pencil Test, which stated that no one holding a pencil in their head could be classified as white in South Africa. Many have also drawn comparisons between the Walker Hair Chart and the Brown Paper Bag test, which even people of color infamously used to deny access to darker-skinned Black people in the U.S. The term that has evolved around maintaining certain hair textures as desirable, easier to manage, or better than others has become known as texturism. And while Andre Walker himself has stated that his intent was never to rank hair textures but rather to create a code by which to identify them, there is a ton of evidence in pop culture and in the hair and beauty community that points to the fact that his intent has been subverted. Tutorials directed towards women with 4B and 4C hair tend to center around ways to “stretch” or “define” their hair. And while, according to 99% Invisible, the consumption of hair relaxers is down 30% since 2011, the desire for women of color to loosen or “improve” their hair texture is evidenced by the number of styling products for textured hair promise to do just that. The Walker Hair Typing System has become tainted by the attitudes about Black hair, skin, and beauty that remain just below the surface, ingrained in American culture. And for many who buy into these constructs, texturism has become an unconscious bias. Those who seek to manipulate their 4B or 4C hair to achieve a looser curl pattern likely don’t realize that they are subconsciously buying into the idea that kinky, coily hair is less desirable. The same can be said of those who go to great lengths to “lay their edges down.” The fact that texturism is undeniably a thing doesn’t mean there is no validity or usefulness in the Walker Hair Typing System. It does still remain a great 101-level guide to understanding how to care for your hair. But that should always be the goal of using such systems: learning to properly care for different hair textures and understanding which products are better suited for your hair. However, those who use the hair chart as a guide should be mindful of the end goal when making choices for themselves; what message they might be sending to others, be it consumers, audiences, or even the next generation of people with textured hair. Throughout history, Black people have used hair as another way to express their personality, communicate their heritage, or even praise a higher power. So it’s very possible that some are seeking to stretch or loosen their curls in search of a different look. In that regard, it would be no different than coloring or cutting your hair. The abundance of products available for people with textured hair in today’s market is a blessing. But like all other -isms and unconscious biases, it is important to remember the history that led us here… and continue the dialogue around texturism.
Eartha Hopkins

August 05, 2024 - 3 min

Hair Education

Myth Busting: You Can Reverse Heat Damage
Hair Education

Myth Busting: You Can Reverse Heat Damage

Let’s set the record straight: heat damage is permanent. However, with the right tips and hair hacks, you can temporarily repair and protect your curls from further damage.

October 01, 2024 -

How to (Effectively) Stop Dandruff When You Have Textured Hair
Hair Education

How to (Effectively) Stop Dandruff When You Have Textured Hair

Whether you have textured hair or not, dandruff can be an embarrassing and frustrating thing to deal with. But due to the amount of product we can often use (and our natural proneness to drying), those with textured hair have a specific relationship to finding flakes in our hair that can not only impact your confidence, but ultimately the health of your hair as well. What is dandruff, actually?  Essentially, dandruff is a mild condition that sees the scalp start to itch and flake — a common result of skin cell build-up on the scalp that appears flaky and white. If we want to get really technical? Dandruff is a form of seborrheic dermatitis, which is a type of eczema typically found on the scalp. What causes excessive dandruff? From your environment to how you style your hair, there are seemingly endless causes of dandruff, far more than just assuming your hair is “unkept” or “dirty.” Dry and cold weather (winter months!) Tight hairstyles Infrequent washing Excessive or overproduction of Sebum Hard water (shower water with a high-mineral content) Drying and stripping products (these tend to have alcohols, sulfates, and excess oil) Psoriasis Excessive product build-up How do you avoid dandruff altogether? While many factors — some external! — contribute to dandruff, there are a handful of things you can do to make the condition less likely and/or less noticeable. Incorporate exfoliation into your weekly hair care regimen. Opt for gentle shampoos and/or cleansers that detox the scalp and strands rather than strip them under the guise of a “squeaky clean” finish. Let your hair breathe! Take a break from heavy stylers at least once a week. When taking out a protective style, allow your natural hair (and scalp!) some time to recoup before installing a new one. When you don’t do this, you are blocking air from reaching your roots which can cause the accumulation of natural oils on your scalp that lead to dandruff. Incorporate a nourishing hair mask into your regimen on a consistant basis to help keep your scalp and hair moisturized, This will reduce dandruff — and eventually eliminate it all together. 
OurX

August 15, 2024 - 1 min

How Often Should You Really Be Washing Your Hair?
Hair Education

How Often Should You Really Be Washing Your Hair?

It’s long been understood that those with textured hair — especially those with thicker hair types — don’t require the same daily cleansing that someone with looser textures does. However, that doesn’t mean that hair should be left unwashed for weeks at a time as has become a common peer-to-peer regimen suggestion for decades. So where is the balance? While OurX subscribers receive personalized wash instructions and schedules within their personal hair regimens, a best practice across the board for textured hair types is to cleanse the scalp and hair at least once a week. Ultimately, your exact curl pattern and texture — along with lifestyle preferences and habits — will always play the largest role in determining how frequent and thorough cleanses should be for optimal results. For example, if you’re on the tighter end of the spectrum, your hair is more prone to overt dryness, In which case cleansing your hair more than once a week could result in even drier and frizzier hair. In that case, focusing on hydration in-between wash day becomes key. On the finer end of the spectrum? Cleansing 1-2 times a week can be helpful in removing oil from the scalp which can quickly lead to irritation and build-up. Want to finally understand your best wash day schedule? Take the OurX assessment here.
OurX

August 15, 2024 - 1 min

How To's

Myth Busting: You Can Reverse Heat Damage
How To's

Myth Busting: You Can Reverse Heat Damage

Let’s set the record straight: heat damage is permanent. However, with the right tips and hair hacks, you can temporarily repair and protect your curls from further damage.

October 01, 2024 -

How to Determine Hair Porosity — And How to Care For It
How To's

How to Determine Hair Porosity — And How to Care For It

Porosity describes the measurement of your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. While like most factors, porosity is largely determined by genetics, it’s important to remember that your hair porosity can change due to external factors within your control, from heat to continual hair dyeing or chemical processing. When measuring your hair porosity, you’ll likely fall into one of three common categories: low porosity, medium (or “normal”) porosity, and high porosity. How do you test hair porosity at home? Thankfully, you don’t need to make any appointments to determine your hair porosity, and doing so at home is fairly simple. While they might not give you an exact result, there are a handful of quick tests that will help you become familiar with how porosity works and where you likely fall on the spectrum — below is our OurX favorite. The Float Test: For this, all you’ll need is a clear glass of water and a strand(s) of hair. (Instead of plucking hair out of your head for this specific purpose, comb your hair to release shed-prone strands.) That said, it’s also recommended to try this specific test after washing any product and build-up from your hair to get the most accurate at-home results possible. Grab a clear glass of water and a strand(s) of hair. Drop strand(s) of hair in water. Hair with low porosity will float at the top of the water. Hair with medium porosity will float, and slowly settle to the middle glass, and hair with high porosity will sink to the bottom immediately. What are the characteristics of low porosity hair? Hair with low porosity is known to be moisture resistant — so while it may be difficult to get moisture into the hair, you’ll have an easier time maintaining that moisture and won’t have to worry as much about your hair getting too dry too fast. When it comes to maintenance, you’ll want to use richer products less frequently, or use in sparring amounts, as low porosity hair can be prone to excess product build-up. Opt for lighter products and serum-based stylers to keep the hair from feeling weighed down. What are the characteristics of medium porosity hair? If you have medium porosity hair, you’ll have the easiest time maintaining your hair health and day-to-day styling, as the type features a looser curl cuticle, which allows for a consistent flow of moisture penetration. With this type, maintenance is really the goal. You’ll want to prioritize using products that will keep moisture continual (think leave-ins!), and avoid frequent coloring, and chemical processes that can alter your hair’s porosity. What are the characteristics of high porosity hair? Those with high porosity hair are more likely to experience severe dryness, frizz, and breakage. This is because this type features a porous cuticle that can easily absorb water but can’t retain it. Naturally, high-porosity hair benefits from excessive nourishment and moisture, so look into prioritizing richer, moisture-boosting products to help lock in hydration. As with all things hair,
OurX

August 15, 2024 - 2 min

4 Reasons to Use a Custom Haircare Regimen
How To's

4 Reasons to Use a Custom Haircare Regimen

From experience, we know that textured hair is not a one-size-fits all. With so many hair care products on the market, it can be challenging to find the right one that works for your hair type, lifestyle, and current needs. This is where a personalized hair care regimen comes in. In this blog post, we’ll explore why you should consider using a personalized hair care regimen and how it can benefit your hair. What is a personalized hair care regimen? A personalized hair care regimen is a customized approach to hair care that takes into account your hair type, texture, and specific needs. It involves using a combination of products that are tailored to your hair’s unique needs and instructions for use on what order to use them in, what days to use them, and how much of each product to use. Why should you use a personalized hair care regimen? 1. Address your hair concerns: A personalized hair care regimen allows you to address your specific hair concerns. Whether you’re struggling with dryness, breakage, growth, or scalp issues, a personalized regimen can help to target these concerns directly. 2. Optimize your hair health: By using products that are tailored to your hair’s unique needs, you can optimize your hair health. This means that you can improve the overall condition of your hair, making it healthier, stronger, and more hydrated. 3. Save time and money: Using a personalized hair care regimen can actually save you time and money in the long run. By using the right products for your hair, you can avoid wasting money on products that don’t work for you or cause damage to your hair. Plus, a personalized regimen can streamline your hair care routine, making it more efficient and effective. 4. Boost confidence: When your hair looks and feels its best, it can give you a confidence boost. Using a personalized hair care regimen can help you achieve your hair goals, whether it’s to have more defined curls or to reduce breakage. When you’re confident in your hair and how to take care of it, you can feel more confident overall. How to create a personalized hair care regimen?  Creating a personalized hair care regimen involves a few steps: Identify your hair type and concerns: Start by identifying your hair type and specific concerns. Do you have curly hair that tends to frizz? Or do you have dry hair that needs extra moisture? The OurX hair assessment will walk you through how to answer these questions. Choose the right products: Look for products that are formulated for your hair type and concerns. This might include a shampoo, conditioner, leave-in, and styling products. While OurX custom regimens are wash day products, your Hair Coach can provide additional tips on what ingredients to look for and avoid in your styling products. Experiment and adjust: Once you’ve selected your products, it’s important to experiment and adjust as needed. Pay attention to how your hair responds to each product and adjust your regimen accordingly. Check in with a dedicated Hair Coach to ensure you stay on track with your goals and your regimen can adjust as your needs change. In conclusion, using a personalized hair care regimen can benefit your hair in many ways. By addressing your specific hair concerns and using products that are tailored to your hair’s unique needs, you can improve the overall health and appearance of your hair. So take the time to create a personalized hair care regimen that works for you and enjoy the benefits of healthy hair.
OurX

August 15, 2024 - 2 min

Ingredients

Ingredient Deep Dive: AHA’s + BHA’s + Hair
Ingredients

Ingredient Deep Dive: AHA’s + BHA’s + Hair

Welcome to Ingredient Deep Dive — an OurX-led look into the skincare-beloved ingredients that have proven to be just as powerful in the world of haircare. In this article, we dive into the world of AHA’s and BHA’s, and why they were formulated as hero ingredients within our treatment assortment. Chances are if you stay in the loop on beauty trends and buzzy ingredients, you’ve come across the acronyms AHA and BHA — and have probably heard they’re good for both your skin and hair. But what do these plant-based exfoliants actually do, and why should you care? Let’s get into the basics. What are AHA’s and BHA’s? AHA is short alpha-hydroxy acid, which is a type of water-soluble acid most commonly obtained from fruits with a high sugar concentration (think citrus fruits and tomatoes). Alpha-hydroxy acids are known to: Exfoliate and remove the outer layer of dead skin cells Help encourage smoother, more pliable skin — a huge plus for those with dryer hair and tighter, easily irritated scalp Promote the rate of cell turnover BHA is short for beta-hydroxy acid, an oil-soluble acid most commonly derived from willow bark and is ideal for oilier skin types. BHAs are known to: Help remove excess dead skin cells from the skin Help remove sebum and unclog pores Reduce inflammation Why are AHA’s and BHA’s so popular within beauty? Aside from being plant-based (and thus viable for those who like to follow clean hair care regimens), both AHA’s and BHA’s are powerful yet gentle when it comes to exfoliation. With that, they’re both known for their ability to help reduce inflammation, exfoliate dead skin cells, and unclog pores. How do AHA’s and BHA’s support hair specifically? The exfoliating nature of AHA’s and BHA’s make them a prime candidate to aid in the overall wellbeing of the scalp, and thus hair care — especially when it comes to tightly textured hair that is frequently prone to build up, oil, and dirt.
OurX

August 15, 2024 - 1 min

Ingredient Deep Dive: Niacinamide + Hair
Ingredients

Ingredient Deep Dive: Niacinamide + Hair

Welcome to Ingredient Deep Dive — an OurX-led look into the skincare-beloved ingredients that have proven to be just as powerful in the world of haircare. In this article, we dive into the world of Niacinamide and why its been formulated as a hero ingredient within our treatment assortment. What is Niacinamide? Also known as nicotinamide, niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3, and is both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient. Niacinamide is known to: Improve blood circulation Help brighten and refresh skin and hair by helping to retain moisture Help regulate oil on the skin/scalp How does Niacinamide support hair specifically? This versatile vitamin is particularly beloved for growing long and strong hair, due to its ability to help boost circulation, which is ideal for those with hair loss and regrowth concerns or goals respectively. In this process, niacinamide brings oxygen and nutrients to the hair’s follicle — protecting hair and skin from environmental damage as a bonus. Niacinamide also improves the texture of hair that has been physically and/or chemically damaged by helping to build keratin, a protein known for its ability to aid in hair growth. Are there any potential side effects of using a Niacinamide on hair? While niacinamide is generally considered safe for all when applied topically, those who have a sensitivity to allergens — or already have preexisting allergies — may be more likely to experience an allergic reaction using products with the ingredient, as it can cause your body to release histamine. If you fall into this category, always consult a Board Certified Dermatologist or do a patch test before using in full. Where you’ll find Niacinamide within OurX treatments: OurX Scalp Serum
OurX

August 15, 2024 - 1 min

Ingredient Deep Dive: Hyaluronic Acid + Hair
Ingredients

Ingredient Deep Dive: Hyaluronic Acid + Hair

Welcome to Ingredient Deep Dive — an OurX-led look into the skincare-beloved ingredients that have proven to be just as powerful in the world of haircare. In this article, we dive into the world of Hyaluronic Acid and why its been formulated as a hero ingredient within our treatment assortment. What is Hyaluronic Acid? Unlike many popular beauty ingredients, Hyaluronic Acid is a substance found naturally in the human body, though it can also be made synthetically. A water-absorbing humectant, its super power lies within its ability to absorb and hold onto water. Its important to note that as a humectant, hyaluronic acid is not a moisturizer. Instead, it benefits the hair and skin by: Hydrating the hair and scalp Reducing frizz Plumping the hair Reinvigorating dry, high porosity hair How does Hyaluronic Acid support hair specifically? The humectant-binding properties of hyaluronic acid get to work on hair fibers similarly as it does on the skin, empowering hair to retain and seal moisture from products to extend the appearance of plump, volumized, and hydrated hair. Additionally, after usage on hair, one may notice frizz is reduced significantly and porosity is more equalized. Even when applied directly to the scalp, you’re likely to notice it’s more hydrated to prevent dry and/or irritated scalp. Are there any potential side effects of using a Hyaluronic Acid on hair? While there are no major side effects attributed to the topical application of hyaluronic acid, the ingredient is best used when hair is wet. For best results, you’ll want to keep the hair wet so that the ingredient can bind together, thus forming a coating to help trap moisture in for the best — and long-lasting — results. Where you’ll find Niacinamide within OurX treatments: OurX Pre-Cleanse Oil | OurX Scalp Serum
OurX

August 15, 2024 - 1 min

Our Voices

OurX TeXture Stories: Whitney
Our Voices

OurX TeXture Stories: Whitney

My name is Whitney Osei-Akintaju, and I am an Operations Consultant for OurX. I'm originally from Ghana but grew up in Atlanta. I’m fortunate to split my time between both places throughout the year. Before joining OurX, I spent years working with startups and founded an e-commerce marketplace that helped African CPG brands sell their products to U.S. consumers. This experience ignited my passion for operations, particularly within the startup beauty space for communities of color, which ultimately led me to OurX. Q: What’s Your Texture Story? My texture story is filled with challenges. Growing up, I didn't have the means to visit salons, so I had to rely on my stepmom’s limited knowledge of caring for my coarse, kinky 4C hair. This made hair days painful, and I often experienced hair breakage and damage. There weren’t many products or education tailored for natural 4C hair back then. Once, a relaxer was left on my hair for so long that it resulted in scalp burns the size of quarters. It wasn’t until I became a mother that I started learning more about haircare to take care of my daughters’ thick, coarse hair. I now prioritize easy, natural hair-friendly protective styles like braids for all of us. I also make sure to treat my hair properly when it’s out of braids, and I prioritize salon visits to ensure my hair gets the care it needs.  Q: What do you like to do in your free time? In my free time, I love to travel, spend time with my family, go out to eat, and share knowledge through different platforms. This could be creating video content, participating in podcasts, or simply engaging in conversations over lunch. Q: What’s Your must-have OurX Product? My favorite OurX product is the Scalp Serum. Since I frequently wear protective styles like braids, it’s essential to keep my scalp nourished. This serum helps soothe my scalp, keeping it refreshed between washes and preventing itchiness.   Q: Who are you listening to right now? I’m currently listening to Show Dem Camp. "Palm Wine Music Volume 2" is one of my all-time favorite albums. Palm Wine music is a genre originating from West Africa that combines aspects of highlife and Afrobeat. If you like Tems, you’ll probably enjoy Show Dem Camp as well.

October 23, 2024 -

OurX TeXture Stories: Jamilah
Our Voices

OurX TeXture Stories: Jamilah

My name is Jamilah. I'm from Atlanta, but LA is my chosen home. I grew up with a social studies teacher as my mother, which helped shape my curiosity about the world. I’m both left- and right-brained— a creative ballerina and chemical engineer. This is why beauty is such a perfect fit for me— a culmination of science, art, and anthropology. Q: What’s Your Texture Story? For my texture story, I am used to wearing a silk bonnet or scarf. I definitely grew up using a hot comb and keeping my hair straight. Braids were not a thing in my household, but I’ve embraced them as an adult. I also straighten my hair significantly less now and only opt for a blowout when it’s time for a trim or new braids. Like a lot of people, I used to use products that had sulfates, but now I’m very meticulous about the ingredients I use on my hair and scalp. For the longest time, Fructis Garnier was a go-to in my household. However, with Shea Moisture and many other brands that focus on moisture for textured hair, my products and hairstyles have evolved. Now, I try to keep my hair up for several days at a time and opt for twists, braids, or braid-outs.   Q: What’s Your must-have OurX Product? I’m obsessed with the I Intensive Conditioning Compound! It’s so heavily concentrated that it reminds me of a butter. I love it! It’s thick, full of moisture, and with a bit of water and running my hands through my hair, the slip just gets better and better.   Q: Who are you listening to right now? I am currently listening to Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, which is kind of surprising for me because I’m usually more into very slow R&B.

September 24, 2024 -

OurX TeXture Stories: Camille
Our Voices

OurX TeXture Stories: Camille

Hello! I’m Camille, OurX Marketing and mom of 2 young kiddos. I’m originally from Chicago but currently live on the east coast. In my spare time I love to workout, Netflix & Chill, and hang out with friends and family. I’m obsessed with all things beauty, especially haircare- but it wasn’t always this way! Q: What’s Your Texture Story? Like many other Black girls, I didn’t love my hair growing up. My mom was amazing. Did everything she could to validate how healthy and gorgeous my Type 4 hair was, but I still wanted to straighten it at every chance I got.I grew up in the 90s so we had very few products to choose from (I can still smell the Luster’s pink oil!). I wanted hair like my besties - long straight, and flowy. When I was 13 my mom finally gave in and let me get a relaxer. I felt like a new person! I loved how it bounced and flowed, but I was on the swim team, so over time my hair broke off. Fast forward to my mid 20s , finally went natural and fully embraced my texture! It took a while to get here, but I just love the versatility of my hair now. I can style it in so many ways depending on my mood (and how much time I have!) and today there are so many products to help me achieve different looks while maintaining the health of my hair. OurX has been a game changer for me. I’m pretty skeptical when it comes to hair products, but this line has worked wonders for the health of my hair. It feels and looks stronger and softer. Q: What’s Your must-have OurX Product? The Pre-Cleanse Micro Oil hands down. It’s an instant scalp soother and it makes detangling my hair so much easier and I do it in half the time. I also love the Intensive Conditioning Compound and Treatment Leave-In Treatment. My hair soaks up both products and feels so soft and healthy afterwards! Q: Who are you listening to right now? I listen to a lot of different artists, but I currently have Ari Lennox, Tems, and Kaytranada on repeat! Q: What Would be your dream OurX Product? An edge tamer & twisting butter!
OurX

August 22, 2024 - 1 min