Maya Smith, a hairstylist and salon owner with 25 years of experience, has created something that’s both familiar and fresh. With hip-hop-themed product names—Mousse Def texture foam, Fresh Rinse conditioner—and a colorful ’90s aesthetic (that she designed), The Doux natural hair care line inspires the same adoration as products like Let’s Jam and Blue Magic that many black women grew up using. But unlike those products, The Doux (now sold in Target!) is formulated specifically for unrelaxed hair. “I try to create things that are special and different because I feel like people with textured hair are special and different, so I want to bring something they don’t already have to the market,” says Smith, whose Macon, GA, salon is also named The Doux. Smith launched her line at her first natural hair salon, The Honeycomb, which she opened in 2010 while living in Germany. “When I opened my salon, there was nothing like it anywhere,” she says. “We launched at a really special time in the natural haircare explosion.” Sure, Smith has been testing products on her clients for years and promises results, but The Doux ($12.99 – $15.99) is destined to fly off shelves on the strength of the packaging alone. Not comfortable working with your natural texture? Smith offers these three tips for freeing your ’fro.
1. Learn to love your hair. “I think it’s important to remember there’s nothing wrong with your hair,” says Smith. “It’s unfortunate that many women with natural textured hair are taught their hair is a problem that needs to be fixed in order for them to be considered beautiful. Begin to think of your hair as normal. Redefining that standard of beauty really does start in the mirror.”
2. Commit to regular trims. “No one wants to hear this,” acknowledges Smith, “but haircuts are everything. A well-sculpted haircut will not only manage your split ends, it will give you that shape and bounce that you want and keep your curls looking their best.”
3. Don’t worry about over-washing. Smith recommends shampooing with a sulphate-free shampoo at least once a week and she’s not a fan of co-washing (the practice of rinsing the hair with conditioner only). “My active girls who sweat a lot or have oily hair can shampoo as much as they want. There’s no rule that says women with textured hair can’t shampoo every day. Washing your hair frequently helps stimulate the natural oil production that makes your hair feel more managable,” says Smith.
By Sabrina Ford
Photos courtesy the Doux
This article originally appeared in the June/July 2018 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
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