by
Christina Patrice
7. Kurlee Belle
Backstory: Kurlee Belle founder Terrinique Pennerman has always had a love for beautiful hair. Growing up on a small island in The Bahamas, she spent countless hours on Saturdays in the local beauty salon with her mom. As she sat in the salon, she would witness dozens of women getting their hair chemically and heat straightened in the name of beauty. What she, nor anyone else understood at the time was the amount of damage these processes cause. When Terrinique finally decided to embrace her natural hair, she discovered that there were no products on the market that were made from natural ingredients, or that even worked. She began seeking out natural ingredients that were familiar to her on the island in early childhood – like honey, aloe, avocado, and eggs. Her primary focus was making deep conditioning treatments and moisturizing creams to keep hair nourished. When Terrinique launched Kurlee Belle in 2009, she did so with research, recipes, and products inspired by The Bahamas.
Benefits: The Kurlee Belle product line is driven by high quality ingredients and integrity. They do not include parabens, sulfates, paraffin, phthalates, mineral oil, PABA, DEA, synthetic color, propylene glycol, or petroleum. Kurlee Belle products are also vegan and gluten-free.
Best Sellers: The Thirsty Kurls Leave-In Conditioner ($14) is the #1 Kurlee Belle seller. Many naturals and popular bloggers call it their holy grail leave-in, and one of the best products of 2013. I totally cosign on the leave-in. It is absolutely divine in terms of providing moisture and softness to the hair. But for me, the holy grail must have of the Kurlee Belle line is the Banana Nut & Avocado Deep Treatment ($16). To date, it is the best pre-poo product I have ever used. It has amazing slip, leaves hair soft, shiny, and makes detangling a breeze. It was so amazing, I almost didn’t want to rinse it out of my hair. And I definitely almost shed a tear when I used the last of the jar.
Where to Buy: Kurlee Belle products are available exclusively online at www.kurleebelle.com.
Backstory: The Camille Rose Naturals line of hair and body products was inspired by two major driving forces – her grandmother, Camille and alarming stories from her husband. Her grandmother was the original ‘Mixtress’ of the family, creating natural, home-made treatments to care for and improve the health of loved ones. Janell’s husband, an oncologist would come home with stories about different cancers – which led her to believe there must be a correlation between what we put in/on our bodies and how we feel. Inspired by the natural hair revolution and the extreme humidity in Louisiana, Janell founded Camille Rose Naturals in 2010 with the aim of developing handmade hair and body products for modern natural hair sophisticates who care about their total health, beauty, and wellness.
Benefits: All Camille Rose Naturals products are handmade, which is pretty amazing considered the widespread availability (you’ll know what I’m talking about soon). All Camille Rose Products are free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, propylene glycol, petroleum, and other synthetic ingredients. Because Janell herself is a dedicated vegan, her products are vegan as well.
Best Sellers: Popular Camille Rose Naturals products include The Algae Renew Deep Conditioner ($20), Curl Maker ($22), Fresh Curl ($14) and Almond Jai Twisting Butter ($17). Admittedly, I am a total fan of the Algae Renew Deep Conditioner and Fresh Curl. The Algae Renew makes an amazing pre-poo or deep conditioning treatment. It left my hair super soft, and my curls were springy and defined. It also made my hair feel like it was infused with moisture that was built to last for a few days. Paired with the Fresh Curl, my hair was in moisture heaven. Although the consistency of Fresh Curl seems light and unassuming, it packs a moisturizing punch making it a great leave-in or moisturizer. It’s actually in my hair right now and I can’t stop touching it! It also has pretty good slip, and can be used for mid-week detangling sessions.
Where to Buy: Camille Rose Naturals is probably one of the more accessible small business brands. You can purchase online at Amazon.com, www.camillerosenaturals.com or in select Target and Whole Foods stores. Click here to see if the line is available in a major retailer near you!
64 Responses
Thank you for caring!
Very good website. Thank you so much.
Excellent article
Thank you for this article. And as a customer who has indulged in many of these companies, I can attest they have wonderful products. My absolute fave is Natty Naturals by All Things O’Natural!! They have amazing products that work, surprisingly, for all hair types. They have the best packaging and their customer service is the BEST. I can definitely see why so many sing their praises. And not only that, they have the most beautiful family who focus on an overall healthy lifestyle. My faves from their line are the cupuacu & rhassoul deep conditioner, the natty moist and the natty butter.
This line was created to help black women create their own natural hair care line and it’s called PLM Cosmetics (private-label-minerals.us) I found them researching ways to create my own hair care line and they have a lot of info on how to start your own natural hair product line and are apparently a manufacturer for some of the lines that got in target. Love their products and will absolutely be using them to create my line. HIGHLY recommend the Private Label Minerals company. plmcosmetics.com or private-label-minerals.us.
Also, Rockin’ Naturals is a black owned natural hair product line that I have had a lot sucess with for my 4b hair. rockinnatural.com
I looked at Kurlee Belle and her products does contain like 4 sulfates in them. This article is somewhat misleading.
Water (Aqua), Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamide MEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Apple Cider Vinegar, Polyquaternium- 10, Polyquaternium-7, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-150 Distearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum).
Please don’t forget to include my favorite brand, Belle Butters. I sing this company’s praises not only because my hair loves the products, but because the gardenia scented whipped shea butter helped my mother to feel more comfortable in the final months of her life.https://www.bellebutters.com/
I love camille rose naturals! the curl love hair milk makes my hair so soft.
We have a Natural Indian Hair Oil that works great with curly hair! It’s called Darshana and was inspired by our travels to India. It helps smooth, moisturize, and condition hair of all types but is particularly helpful with dry, damaged, or curly hair. Its blend of natural oils contains antioxidants, omega 3-6-9, and vitamins which makes your hair healthier, smoother, and more manageable.
You can check us out at and email us with any questions:
http://www.DarshanaBeauty.com
http://www.facebook.com/darshanabeauty
Thank You!!
Shana
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Aspen3.jpg[/img]
I love Camille Rose Naturals brand and their ingredients. Their products are very moisturizing and they brought my hair back to life!
Peace everyone! since this article is about supporting black businesses, although this isn’t a hair business, I would like to put out there the name of my kemetic teacher and temple. http://www.akerukhametictemple.info + http://www.queenmotherimakhu.info if anyone here is interested in the Kemetic legacy and learning more about it please feel free to check out these sites! Hotep!
The PJ Arises— that’s the name of the movie that will showing in my house after reading this article. The problem is so many good products from black owned companies and so many of them work on my natural hair.Qhemet is a long time favorite (the Burdock root cream). Just tried camille rose—loves it. Shescentit products is another wonderful hair company. ( I am really praying that that company is black owned. ) not a lot of info on them, but i love the products. I gave up the asian shops a long time ago. I am glad i did. I dont want to disparage any group of people, but to spend all of my hair care dollars outside of my community just ain’t right. Plus, I got some tainted product from them one time and the shop owner acted as if it were my fault. No more
kind of like camille rose curl maker for my edges. plus it smells really good. the ingredient list contains natural stuff.
I hope Oyin Handmade will be included in the second list. Of the ones that are mentioned, I love Qhemet Biologics; the ingredients are stellar. However, I must admit that I have been very disappointed in the fact that they have not had a sale in more than two years. To top it off, free shipping is only offered sporadically and when it is offered, you have to spend at least $70.00 to qualify. Costumers are loyal to Qhemet because their products are great, but the company should give back to its costumers more often.
Hi Sandy! Oyin Handmade made the first list 🙂 Peep it here: https://bglh-marketplace.com/2013/08/8-incredible-black-owned-natural-hair-businesses-to-support/
Great article. I have been using Qhemet Biologics since April of this year and those products are amazing. I have naturally dry 4c hair and these products prevent me from worrying about hair moisture, which was once my number one problem with my hair. It’s not listed in the article, but my holy grail product is the Coco Tree Detangling Ghee by Qhemet Biologics. That stuff is a miracle! It makes detangling my hair very easy. Can I just repeat that I have the absolute tiniest spring-like 4c curls on the planet? I’m talking more than 70% shrinkage, and thus I get major tangles even with stretched hair! The Coco Tree Detangling Ghee is the QB product I use the most. It is a great leave-in conditioner and detangler. It softens hair, moisturizes and adds great slip to the hair. Yet it’s light enough to use as a leave in. The rest of this post will just be a review of the other QB products that I’ve tried. I think their entire line is fantastic. All of their products are staples of mine. I just wish they had a wash out conditioner.
Egyptian Wheat Grass Cleansing Tea: Fantastic sulfate-free shampoo that really cleanses the hair without stripping it. I find that the QB oils and leave-ins I use for styling act as a “pre-poo” for my hair. So, when I use this cleansing tea, my scalp gets super clean, but my hair still has a small amount of oil to protect it from tangles.
Castor and Moringa Softening Serum: This serum is wonderful. It really softens hair and gives great shine. It’s nice and light on the hair. It’s the lightest oil-based product in the line I think.
Honeybush Tea Soft Gel: This is my favorite gel I’ve tried. I like it better than even flax gel. It provides a very light hold. Great for slick styles. Unfortunately, they are discontinuing production of this 🙁
Olive and Honey Hydrating Balm: Fantastic! The consistency is very thick, like honey, but this product seals in moisture for days!! If you like to use oils rather creams, this is definitely a product to try. It works best on dry hair or very, very lightly dampened hair. Remember, oils on wet hair don’t really work b/c oil and water don’t mix. A cream is better on wet hair. Oils can seal moisturized, yet “dry” hair.
Aethiopika Hydrate and Twist Butter: This butter will actually absorb into the hair, rather than sit on top and weigh it down (*cough* shea butter *cough*). It makes the hair very soft and it’s also great for sealing in moisture for braided and twisted styles or updo’s.
Amla and Olive Heavy Cream: This cream is so strong in performance that I use it as body lotion. So if you have dry hair, get this stuff and stop walking around with that dry mess on your head! It is great if you like to use creams to seal in moisture, rather than oils.
Burdock Root Butter Cream: This serves the same purpose as the Amla and Olive Heavy Cream, but it is not as oily or heavy. However, I still use this as a body lotion if I have it rather than the Amla and Olive HC. You definitely don’t need to have both creams at the same time. They serve similar purposes.
Your website is by far the best I have seen. I have recently been battling with the idea of stopping weaves altogether, but my own hair is weak and not very manageable. I have started looking at natural products to grow my hair but it is very rare to find any on the market. I am even considering importing the goods myself and setting up a shop where people can but natural hair products! Thank you for sharing!
I am obsessed with Qhemet Biologics! It is the only product I will use in my hair! My 4c hair can’t survive without it! I recommend it highly for 4c hair! Everything they make is FANTASTIC!
Loved this list! I’ve tried a couple of these and I love combining the leave In of one line with the shampoo of another as well as butters and styling gels.(Tell tale signs of a PJ right? lol) Right now I’m using products only from smaller black owned businesses. http://www.edensheart.com is one of them too. love their leave in and their cleansing smoothie. They should be on the next list like this one.
I love these series of list on Black-owned Natural hair businesses but oh Lord it’s waking up the pj that sleeps in me. Very hard to resist the call with such beautiful products names, benefits and backstories.
good article and great resource – but I have an issue with the prices. Nothing is under 10 dollars (now I may have gone too fast and missed one) but to me its too expensive.
Hi Nylse, I totally understand. I consider myself a bargain shopper, but I’m discovering by and large that for the most part, you get what you pay for. These products are made with incredibly high quality ingredients, and in my eyes are well worth it 🙂
i use qb amla cream. it is the best.
however, the prices keep going up. products are not always in stock. the online store closes periodically – for long stretches. and the service, even when you try to address something with the owner, is not great. she is argumentative.
but yeah, these are very good products. i think she stays in business because of the quality of her product.
I’ve never had a problem with their customer service and I’m a repeat customer.
Wow. That’s unfair. She raised the price on one product by 50 cent. Everything else is the same price and she’s always been kind and helpful. When she does close, she makes her products available through other websites. She also offers college scholarships several times a year.
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Congratulations to everyone who made the list! I hope Hairitage Hydration will make the list next year. I also hope to see Coco curls on the list and Honey Chile hair love.
Hi Sheena!!! Thanks for the heads up on Hairitage. Checking them out now!
My thing is; I wish black people were SELLING the products. I hate having to go into the hair shops. I don’t even bother asking them any questions because they never seem to know anything! And they don’t care because they don’t have to – we go in there and buy the products anyway.
I don’t get it! You don’t see black people owning shops selling products targeted to Asian people?? I go into the hair shops – they own it, I go into the food shop to buy my carribean produce – they own it! What’s happening with us?! I’m actually surprised they’re not DOING our hair & selling me my curry goat and rice at my local takeaway!!
If any of the London, UK readers know of any black owned hair shops, let me know please!
There is a small black owned hair shop in south london – west croydon, she hasn’t got much natural products but its getting there, she has all the other stuff though and I think she is natural her self.
Love Qhemet. It’s been my staple for 4 years now.
Hi My name is tim smith I just read these articles why are black women always complaining why this is why the Koreans will always be far ahead we never want other black to move forward.if you have a complaint contact the owner black women are always making trouble n yes I am a black male
please take a seat, thank you
lol.
black women who are naturals have helps some of these business succeed. why do you think more are trying to come into the game?
if someone wants to say on a blog that a certain business owner or product has done a poor job, that’s cool.
it’s called social media. some of these business owners ought to know that if people have poor experiences, they may be posted in some sort of public way. if there’s is a business that struggles with service, i want to know. rather than stew over being put on blast, take it as a lesson and improve yourself.
get over it and get your business together.
btw, why not tell us which business you are associated with?
if you have a problem dealing with black women in business, don’t establish companies whose main product will be us. get over yourself.
finally, make use of some periods or commas or something, will ya?
have several seats timmy boy.
preach
hahaha omg you are the worst troll ever
There’s a brother o_0
Yes, I could tell by the bad grammar.
The issue with all these companies is you can only buy majority of them online!! I prefer to co into a store and buy hair products. I can read the label, smell the product, see the consistency and return it with no hassle if need be.
yeah but they all gotta start somewhere.
I agree with both Rayven and Deb that most are only online and need to start somewhere. The thing with handmade and/or small businesses is that because of the natural ingredients and their high quality, products are a little bit more expensive and the shelf life is way different from those laden with chemicals preservatives.At Rayven, you want to smell the product, see the consistency and return it with no hassle if need be; that’s fine but don’t forget that once the product is open, the spoilage starts and for those small businesses it means a lot. Would you buy a foundation that somebody else has opened and touched? I won’t for sure. Why? Because of the expiration date. You don’t know when the product was open right? but also because of the germs. You ignore if the person who opened and dug her hand in the product had clean fingers or not. This may sound crazy but it’s more common than you think especially in the Beauty section of most stores. The easiest way to go is to ask for samples. I know we have big thirsty hair and a sample is not enough but yet it is because it’s meant to be tried on a small section of hair to be compared with your regular products. If there are no samples available online, call the business owner and offer him/her to buy the sample. They seldom say no because they know it is a good way to attract customers.
Most foundations and other make up that I buy are sealed, there is no way for someone to drag their fingers through it!
FYI..I worked retail before and returns on cosmetics are not returned to the shelves but destroyed.
Bee Mine products is another one.
I may have to try them all. *don’t judge me*
Right now I’m lovin’ Oyin Handmade, Camille Rose, and Qhemet Biologics.
I’ve been wanting to try My Honey Child, Honey and Horsetail Reconstructor.
Omg I love this new feature. OOO but in the next one can you mention kimmaytube’s luvnatural’s line. I know she isn’t popular on the blogs, but I’m sure we can all agree that she has made youtube natural hair guru history. She introduced even more science and so much stuff to the community. It’s great to see our own making huge strides in the buisness world. I have yet to try her products tho, bc i’m have so many others. Can’t wait!
I tried the kimmaytube conditioner and the detangler. The ingredients were nice but I didn’t get enough softening nor slip from either product. I think it’s more for 4a’s and looser. They probably work better for finer strand thickness too. OTOH Quemet is too heavy and oily for me and just sits on my hair.
Sigh American naturals are so lucky. Here in South Africa we are not so lucky. What I would do to get my hands on these products 🙁
Tell me about it 🙁
Does anyone know if any of these stores are 100% percent organic?
I’m not going lie but post like this may turn me back to my product junkie ways. CURSE YOU PEOPLE. You gonna make a girl relapse
Sorry Mimi! I used to be a recovering PJ, lol. I gave up, and just embraced the fact that I love the experience of new brands and products. But to keep me from going bankrupt behind products, I gave myself a “PJ Budget”, which coincides with my “Small Business Pledge” budget. I am allowed to spend $25 a month on products from any of the small businesses I come across 🙂
I know, right? Thing is, there’s a big part of me that wants to buy all my staple products from black-owned companies. I just need to find conditioners and DCs that will do as good of a job as my beloved mainstream stand-bys…!
You should review the Koils By Nature line. My personal favorite is the leave in.
Nevermind. I saw it in the previous list you made.
LOVE this list. You showcased some of my favorites. Really got to get up on Sweet Eddie. I have a 2oz of their light moisturizer and people with fine texture would love this.
I love the list! I tried to go to the Camilla Rose website but it seems to have a virus or My Kapersky doesn’t seem to like it! Can you let them know? I want to visit the website!!!
It’s Kaspersky itself; I had it a while ago, and it flagged Wells Fargo as a harmful website.
But these sites look interesting; I will do some investigation.
LOVE THIS LIST, NEVER HEARD OF EDDIE’S NICE TO KNOW LOVE THAT THIS WAS ALL NATURAL COMPANIES FEATURED. LUCKILY I ALREADY HAVE MY STAPLES AND CAMILLE ROSE IS ON MY LIST. I WILL SAY THAT YNOBE SHOP HAS A TERRIBLE OWNER WITH A RUDE ATTITUDE AND SENT ME EXPIRED SMELLY PRODUCTS. NEVER AGAIN SMH. AND THAT NATTY LADY LIKES TO ACT STANK TO
Have you tried contacting the owner of this company with your issues? That doesn’t seem like something she would do. I know her personally and she is very customer service friendly.
I DID DIRECTLY AND SHE GOT STANK WITH ME
It is usually proper etiquette to voice a complaint with the owner directly rather than a third party. Your situation may be isolated but others will think it’s the norm and that will affect their business. Shame on you.
myob
I have NEVER ever heard anyone complain about either of these companies and I follow a ton of pages. And I definitely never heard All Things ONatural having any negative comments about them, their business or their pages, so I’m not sure what your issue may be. .but it’s seems you are the common denominator in the equation. And as momoflv stated abovr, the proper thing to do is voice negative remarks directly to the owners in an email. And I also noticed you spoke about’ stank attitudes’…have you actually ever supported or used the products. .another factor I’ve never heard about either company, ‘bad products’?
STOP SCREAMING