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Coily, curly, wavy or frizzy hair? This blog is for you!
Discover our best tips, routines and natural secrets to pamper your texture, boost your volume and love your hair every day.
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How can I prevent knots from forming?
Let's dive into one of the most common and annoying problems: the formation of knots in the hair. Sometimes detangling knotted hair can be a real challenge, so we are going to offer you a few solutions to say goodbye to knots. Choose the right shampoo: Everything starts with choosing the right shampoo. Opt for natural and gentle shampoos, such as our Stinging Nettle Shampoo or Bay Saint Thomas. These treatments cleanse and purify your hair deeply, thus minimizing the risk of knots. Condition generously: Regular use of a conditioner is crucial. Apply it from mid-lengths to ends to gently detangle and hydrate your hair. Our Sapote Conditioner will be your ally for silky and easy-to-style hair. Gentle detangling: Avoid brushing your hair vigorously, especially when it is wet or dry. Use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush to work from the ends toward the roots. This reduces tension and breakage while preserving the structure of your hair. Protective hairstyles: Before going to bed, opt for protective hairstyles. Braids, plaits, or soft buns are perfect choices. This prevents your hair from rubbing against the pillow and preserves its integrity overnight. Regular care routine: Include the Murumuru Serum in your hair routine. Regular application of this nourishing serum can do wonders for preventing knot formation and keeping hair soft and easy to detangle.
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Reveal the beauty of your hair with the special routine for afro-textured hair
Summer is here, and it’ s time to pamper your coily hair with a routine tailored to enhance and protect it from summer stressors. With our coily hair ritual, you can preserve your hair's health while letting it breathe and flourish. The routine consists of 4 essential products: Start your routine using the hibiscus solid shampoo. Its gentle formula cleanses deeply while preserving the natural balance of your coily hair. Hibiscus also provides nourishing and stimulating properties for hair that radiates health. Kalia Nature's 3-in-1 hibiscus cream will be your versatile ally for detangling, masking, and moisturizing your coily hair. Apply it generously to damp hair after shampooing to facilitate detangling while providing intense hydration. You can also use it as a mask by leaving it on for a few minutes before rinsing, or as a leave-in to nourish your hair throughout the day. For light yet effective hydration, the hibiscus hair milk is perfect. This lightweight product penetrates your coily hair easily, leaving your lengths soft and shiny. Use it before the 3-in-1 cream or as a daily moisturizer to refresh your curls and protect them from summer dryness. To seal in moisture and intensely nourish your coily hair, the hibiscus melting balm is your must-have ally. Apply a small amount of the balm to your ends and the driest areas to prevent split ends and frizz. Its light, melting texture won't leave any greasy residue, but will provide long-lasting protection against external stressors. Kalia Nature's summer hibiscus-based hair routine will allow you to enhance your coily hair while protecting it from external stressors. With the solid shampoo, 3-in-1 cream, hair milk, and hibiscus melting balm, you will have all the products necessary to cleanse, detangle, hydrate, and nourish your curls. Treat your coily hair to the benefits of hibiscus and fully enjoy the summer with hair that radiates health and beauty.
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Why avoid hair dryers and straighteners?
When it comes to taking care of our textured hair, it is essential to know the practices that can damage it. Two tools that are often used but potentially harmful are hair dryers and flat irons. In this article, we will explore the reasons why it is best to avoid them. Excessive heat leads to dehydration: Frequent use of hair dryers and flat irons can cause severe dehydration of your hair. High heat strips away the hair's natural moisture, leaving strands dry and brittle. Textured hair is often drier than other hair types, so it is important to minimize heat exposure to preserve its natural hydration. Heat damage is irreversible: The intense heat from hair dryers and flat irons can permanently damage the structure of textured hair. The cuticles, which are the protective layers of the hair, can crack and deteriorate due to excessive heat use. This leads to weakened hair that is prone to breakage and split ends. It is better to opt for less aggressive styling methods to preserve the health of your hair. Loss of natural hair texture: Hair dryers and flat irons can also alter your natural hair texture, which can be temporarily or permanently changed by heat. By using these tools repeatedly, you risk losing the natural structure of your hair, making it more difficult to manage and style. Preserving the health and beauty of textured hair: To maintain healthy textured hair, it is recommended to favor alternative drying and styling methods. - Let your hair air dry or use a gentle drying technique, such as "plopping" or "diffusing," to minimize heat exposure. - Use hair care products specially designed for textured hair, such as Kalia Nature products, to naturally hydrate, nourish, and strengthen your hair.
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Coily hair: Why is it essential to moisturize it?
Your kinky hair is unique and magnificent, but it needs a little extra love to stay in top shape. And the key to its beauty is hydration! Hair thirsty for hydration: Your kinky hair is thirsty! Its complex spiral structure makes it difficult to retain natural moisture. The result? It becomes dry, brittle, and dull. By providing regular hydration, you will bring your hair back to life, make it look radiant with health, and protect it from breakage and frizz. - Hibiscus, the magic potion for your hair: Imagine a plant with moisturizing, softening, and revitalizing properties... Hibiscus is your secret ally! Our hibiscus hair milk is a true magic potion. It penetrates deep into your hair to provide intense and lasting hydration. Bye-bye frizz, hello soft, supple, and enhanced hair! - Coconut oil, the island treasure for your hair: Let's travel to distant islands, where a treasure is hidden: coconut oil. Your kinky hair will love it! Our coconut oil hair milk is a true hair beauty elixir. It penetrates deeply to intensely hydrate your hair and bring it back to life. Admire your lengths, shiny and irresistible! Ready for a hair revolution? Incorporate these two magic products into your routine for breathtaking results. Use the hibiscus hair milk daily to revitalize your hair and maintain optimal hydration. Or opt for a dose of love with the coconut oil hair milk. It will deeply hydrate your hair and reveal its natural shine. For dazzling kinky hair, never forget hydration; you now hold the secrets to perfect hydration in your hands. So, take care of your hair and pamper it.
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The 5 essentials for your hair care routine to enhance your curly hair
Having curly hair can be a real beauty asset, provided you know how to take care of it. A tailored hair routine is essential to enhance your curls and give them all the shine and vitality they deserve. In this article, we present the 5 essentials of your hair routine to help you achieve gorgeous, healthy curly hair. Gentle shampoo adapted for curls: Choosing a gentle shampoo tailored to your curly hair is the first step in an effective hair routine. A shampoo that won't dry out your curls. Shampoos specifically formulated for curly hair are often enriched with moisturizing agents, such as aloe vera. They help preserve the natural moisture of your curls while removing impurities. Our Bay Saint-Thomas Shampoo is the ally to add to your hair routine. A moisturizing conditioner: Conditioner is an essential ally for curly hair. Choose a product rich in moisturizing agents to help detangle your curls and nourish them deeply. Leave-in conditioners are also very popular with those with curly hair, as they help maintain moisture throughout the day. Apply the Sapote Conditioner generously to your curls after shampooing, focusing on the lengths and ends, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Regular hydration: The key to healthy curly hair is regular hydration. Curls tend to be drier than straight hair, so it is important to provide them with the moisture they need. Use the Hibiscus Hair Milk to refresh your curls between washes. You can also apply a moisturizing mask once a week to intensely nourish your hair. Gentle styling: When it comes to styling your curly hair, take a gentle approach. Avoid brushing it while dry, as this can break the curls and cause frizz. Instead, prefer a wide-tooth comb or simply use your fingers to delicately detangle your curls. To prevent breakage, always start at the ends and work your way up to the roots. If you want to give your curls more definition, you can apply the 3-in-1 Hibiscus Cream or the Hibiscus Jelly to define them and reduce frizz. Protection against heat and external aggressors: When exposed to the sun, wear a hat or use a hair product containing a UV filter to protect your curls from harmful rays. In addition, avoid rubbing your hair vigorously with a towel after washing, as this can cause frizz. Instead, opt for a microfiber towel or an air-drying technique. Conclusion: To enhance your curly hair, a tailored hair routine is essential. By choosing moisturizing products, avoiding external aggressors, and adopting a gentle approach to styling, you can achieve gorgeous, shiny, and healthy curls. Remember that every curl is unique, so listen to your hair and adapt your routine accordingly.
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How to choose the right styling gel?
What is a styling gel? Styling gels are hair products primarily used to provide moisture to the hair. They are therefore often composed of moisturizing agents (which provide water) and humectants (which retain water). What are they used for? As you may have gathered, the primary function of gels is to hydrate the hair fiber. The second is then to seal in that moisture, meaning to keep it in the hair for as long as possible. Specifically for textured hair, this helps to define curls, limit frizz, and set hairstyles. How to use them? It is best to apply a gel after having applied a leave-in styling conditioner, so as to protect the hair after washing. First, divide your hair into several sections to apply the gel more easily. Then, apply a small amount of gel per section and scrunch with your hands to define your curls. Is there a difference between a hair jelly and a gel?Hair jellies are sculpting; they tend to define the curl, whereas gels are fixative; they tend to set the hair, whether it be baby hairs or hairstyles in general. And at Kalia Nature? At Kalia Nature, we have two products of this type: - The Hibiscus Jelly: It contains no essential oils and has been formulated especially for moms and children (from 3 years old). It defines the curl without a crunchy effect and provides softness and shine. - The Honey Gel: It is more suitable for wavy, fine, or low-porosity hair that needs a strong hold. It is the ideal product for hair transitions and for maintaining protective hairstyles.
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Everything you need to know about your hair porosity!
Can’t seem to keep your hair looking great despite all the care you give it? Perhaps you’ve overlooked a crucial element when choosing your products: porosity. Discover everything you need to know about it to concoct your ideal hair care routine! What is hair porosity? Porosity refers to your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. All hair is naturally permeable, but the degree of porosity varies from person to person: you may have low, medium, or high porosity hair. The specific thing about high-porosity hair is that it drinks up moisture but cannot retain it. Imagine a sponge that you soak with water and then place in the oven: within minutes, all the water has evaporated and the sponge is ultra-dry again. It’s the exact same principle! Conversely, low-porosity hair struggles to absorb moisturizing treatments. Ideally, as you might suspect, you want medium porosity: the hair is then considered "normal." What happens in high-porosity hair? To better understand this porosity phenomenon, let’s take a look at the hair structure! The core of your hair is coated in a protective layer made of tiny scales: this is called the "cuticle." It is thanks to this type of armor that it manages to protect itself and stay perfectly healthy. On healthy hair, these scales overlap like shingles on a roof: they provide enough of a barrier against external damage without preventing the hair from breathing and receiving a sufficient dose of moisture. But sometimes these scales crumble and lift: the inside of the hair is no longer properly protected from dehydration, and that is when we speak of high-porosity hair. On low-porosity hair, however, these scales are packed too tightly against each other... so much so that they let almost nothing through, not even your hair treatments! Where does this porosity come from? Beyond hair aging (during which the cuticle degrades), there is a genetic factor to consider in this porosity. Some are born with porous hair, others with hair that isn't porous enough... In short, it’s a bit of a lottery! Kinky hair is generally less porous than Caucasian hair, unless it has been subjected to poor treatment... Indeed, more often than not, hair becomes porous due to events that have traumatized its cuticle: overuse of styling accessories (brushes), heat tools (hair dryers, straighteners), chemical treatments (coloring, relaxing), or even sulfate shampoos, which are well-known for stripping the hair's surface. How do I know if I have porous hair? Recognizing high-porosity hair When you wet your hair, it soaks up water quickly. • It dries very fast after shampooing. • It looks frizzy, dull, and rough after drying. • It tends to get tangled. • Moisturizing treatments seem ineffective. Recognizing low-porosity hair Your hair has trouble soaking up water when washing. • It takes a very long time to air-dry. • It looks rather healthy and shiny. • When you color your hair, the color doesn't hold. • Moisturizing treatments cannot penetrate and remain on the surface. The water glass test Still can't identify your porosity? Don't panic, we have a little test for you! After washing and air-drying your hair, take one of your hairs from your brush or directly from your scalp. Ensure you have not applied any product before doing this test: this could skew the results. Place the hair in a glass filled with lukewarm water and wait 2 to 5 minutes. • Your hair has sunk to the bottom of the glass: you have high-porosity hair. • Your hair is submerged halfway in the glass: you have medium-porosity hair. • Your hair is floating on the water: you have low-porosity hair. How do I adapt my hair routine to my porosity? To properly hydrate your hair, it is crucial to know its porosity level. Low-porosity hair does not have the same needs as high-porosity hair at all! If you don’t take this information into account for your routine, you risk seeing no results in the quality of your hair, or even worsening its condition. It is even more important to follow this rule with kinky hair, which is naturally dry. My routine for high-porosity hair Incorporate acidic pH (< 7) treatments into your routine: they help close the cuticle scales. Also, load up on proteins, which will help strengthen keratin and fill the gaps that are too wide between the scales. Finally, remember to use fatty substances to coat the hair fiber and minimize dehydration as much as possible: opt for butters and heavy vegetable oils (e.g., coconut, castor). Always finish with a rinse of cold water or apple cider vinegar. Your daily shampoo: Hibiscus shampoo bar. Your deep treatment: coconut-spirulina hair mask. Your leave-in: the coconut oil hair milk + coconut oil melting balm duo. My routine for low-porosity hair Choose hair cosmetics with a basic pH (> 7). To optimize the penetration of your treatments, don't hesitate to use a heating cap: the heat encourages the scales to open. Avoid proteins and products that are too heavy (especially those based on coconut), which could suffocate your hair. Turn instead to light, hydrating leave-ins to restore body to your curls! Your daily shampoo: Bay Saint Thomas shampoo. Your deep treatment: the hibiscus cream + cap duo. Your leave-in: the hibiscus hair milk.
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Behentrimonium methosulfate: friend or foe to my hair?
What is behentrimonium methosulfate? Behentrimonium methosulfate (also known as "BTMS" to those in the know) is a cosmetic active ingredient that is very common in conventional, as well as natural and organic, hair care products. Do you use products for dry, damaged, or kinky hair? Take a look at their ingredients: there is a high chance you will find BTMS in them! Behentrimonium methosulfate is a wax, somewhat like beeswax or carnauba wax. If you come by to visit us at the LAB, you will see that it comes in the form of small, whitish pellets. We then melt them in a bain-marie at a minimum of 55°C before incorporating them into the fatty phase (vegetable oils and the like) of our preparations. By the way, where does BTMS come from? Behentrimonium methosulfate is actually composed of two substances: a quaternary ammonium (or "quat" for short) + a fatty alcohol (cetearyl alcohol). This is the reason why you will find it on the INCI list of your care products under the following name: cetearyl alcohol and behentrimonium methosulfate The good news is that BTMS is of plant origin. It most often comes from rapeseed oil. But beware of misconceptions: it cannot be considered a natural ingredient. The reason is simple: it undergoes some so-called "chemical" modifications before it can be used in cosmetics. But what is this behentrimonium methosulfate used for? Technically, behentrimonium methosulfate belongs to the large family of surfactants. Basically, it allows the aqueous phase and the oily phase of your care products to bond well together and form what is called an "emulsion." Without a surfactant, fat and water would not be able to mix! It also has the benefit of being self-emulsifying. In other words, it is sufficient on its own to create beautiful, stable emulsions. Normally, you would need to add other additives to get a decent result (co-emulsifier, stabilizer, acidifier, etc.). Choosing BTMS thus allows us to avoid long, drawn-out formulations with "empty" ingredients that contribute nothing to your hair. What is the benefit of BTMS for my afro hair? Behentrimonium methosulfate generally plays the role of a conditioning agent in products like conditioners, masks, or leave-ins. If we love it so much (and our customers do too!), it is because its benefits for kinky hair are undeniable. It is antistatic: it prevents your hair from becoming electric and frizzy. It has a lubricating action: it facilitates detangling and prevents breakage. It is beautifying: it smoothes, coats, and adds shine to the hair fiber. It is softening: it leaves the hair silky. Behentrimonium methosulfate vs. silicones: does it weigh my hair down? Behentrimonium methosulfate is often compared to silicones. Like them, it forms a film around the hair. This is precisely what allows it to trap moisture in the heart of the fiber, reduce its porosity, and improve the appearance of the hair. It is thus called "occlusive" and replaces the protective function of natural sebum, which kinky hair tends to lack. Did you know? No ingredient can "suffocate" your hair. Neither BTMS, nor silicones, nor anything else. Because hair, like all integuments, is by definition dead. Therefore, it does not breathe! However, behentrimonium methosulfate has a major advantage. While silicones deposit themselves on the entire surface of the hair (potentially making it heavy and greasy), BTMS is smart. It adheres only to the most damaged areas. This is because it is cationic, meaning it is charged with positive ions. The weakened parts of your hair are charged with negative ions. And you know the saying: opposites attract. Result: your hair remains supple and light! BTMS vs. sulfates: is it irritating? You have probably noticed: "behentrimonium methosulfate" contains "sulfate." Yet, sulfates have a bad reputation. They can indeed be irritating. However, BTMS is not a sulfate like the others! As you now know, it is a conditioner, not a detergent: at no point will it strip the fiber at the risk of damaging it, because that is not its role. But that's not all! Behentrimonium methosulfate has the advantage of not being an ethoxylated compound. Ethoxylation involves producing a surfactant using a very toxic and carcinogenic gas: ethylene oxide. Ingredients obtained via this process sometimes contain residues of aggressive substances, especially for the skin. It is for this reason that BTMS is infinitely less irritating to your scalp than most "classic" sulfates. BTMS vs. environment: is it polluting? Unfortunately, everything is not perfect. The process for obtaining behentrimonium methosulfate is not the most environmentally friendly. The REACH program (which regulates the use of chemical substances) considers that it poses a risk of ecotoxicity for aquatic environments. Despite this, some of our compositions include a low concentration of behentrimonium methosulfate. Simply because we do not want to make any compromises regarding your health and that of your hair. This is why we prefer it to other ingredients with similar properties, but with a significantly more concerning health and environmental impact. And that doesn't stop us from offering you safe formulas with a maximum of natural ingredients! For info: Unlike the majority of quats, such as behentrimonium chloride, the cosmetic use of BTMS is not subject to any European restrictions. Want to make up your own mind about behentrimonium methosulfate? Find behentrimonium methosulfate in 6 cult Kalia Nature products: Hibiscus Cream Coconut-Spirulina Mask Sapote Conditioner Hibiscus Solid Shampoo Stinging Nettle Solid Shampoo
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Shea butter: where does it come from?
What is shea butter and where does it come from? Shea butter, or by its botanical name Butyrospermum parkii, is the result of the valued work of Burkinabe women. It is raw in quality and handcrafted, which preserves its richness in active ingredients. Shea butter is extracted from the fruit of the shea tree, a tree that grows only in the wild in the wooded savannas of West Africa. It can reach over 12 meters in height and its trunk can measure 2 meters in width. The fleshy fruit resembles a small avocado. Its sweet, edible pulp contains a nut in its center which, once pressed, yields shea butter. This butter has been widely used for its many virtues for centuries in certain regions of Africa. The harvest is then transported to the manufacturing center where the nuts are washed and dried using an ancient traditional technique, before being crushed. A mill is used to produce a paste which is then pressed and filtered several times. Its deodorization process, through simple sun drying using a traditional and ancestral technique mastered by the village women, uses neither solvents nor steam. Thus naturally rid of its sour odor without any increase in temperature, the shea butter retains all its benefits. Main constituents Yellow in color, with a sweet, nutty scent with almond notes, this raw shea butter is very rich in active ingredients (terpene alcohols, phytosterols, latex, vitamins A and E...) which give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and UV-protective properties. It also contains monounsaturated fatty acids: 40 to 45% oleic acid (Omega 9), polyunsaturated: 5 to 7% linoleic acid (Omega 6), and 35 to 45% stearic acid, 2% to 5% palmitic acid. Properties Shea butter has the particularity of being naturally film-forming. It contains nourishing and protective properties that deeply nourish every curl, from root to tip, by sealing in moisture. Shea butter, rich in essential fatty acids, is able to penetrate the hair fiber deeply. This will make your hair soft and silky. Used as a preventative measure, shea butter will protect the hair and nourish it. It will also limit the appearance of split ends. The scalp can sometimes itch and cause an unpleasant feeling of tightness. To regain a soothed scalp, there is nothing like raw shea butter. The fatty acids contained in its formulation, which are anti-inflammatory, healing, and restorative, soothe the skin, which regains all its softness. A damaged scalp can cause flaking and then dry dandruff. In this case, shea butter is the ideal companion to reduce this discomfort and restore healthy hair!
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