I Haven't Straightened My Hair In 30 Days Thanks To These New Products

Since seventh grade, I've been in a constant struggle with my natural hair. Every week, I've found some way to mold my hair into what I thought it should look like—whether it was using a 400-degree straightener, blowing it out until the ends had a perfect flip, or curling it to mimic the ultrawide ringlets that I wished I had.

For years, I knew my natural waves had potential, but out of fear, I relied on hot tools and postponed natural styling for a later stage in life.

So, when I say a new product line changed my relationship with my hair, I'm not being dramatic in the slightest.

The new Aveda Be Curly Advanced line single-handedly armed me with products made for people with textured hair by people with textured hair.

Since using this line, my hair has transformed in every way—from shape to shine to volume and more. Because of this, I haven't touched a hot tool in a month—a huge win.

I learned about this new product line at an Aveda event in New York City, where I also received a 10-minute hair consultation from one of the brand's leading textured-hair stylists.

She examined my strands, which I bravely wore naturally to the event (tied back in a ponytail, of course), and provided me with a detailed routine to follow using the new line.

My routine

The first time I tried this routine, I was astounded. I thought it might be a lucky first try, but surely my waves couldn't look this good every time, right? Wrong.

This routine has transformed my waves, adding bounce, volume, and definition I've never seen before.

What's more, the shape consistency is extremely impressive. The alternating gel and cream ensure a variety of textures and shapes, yet they all look harmonious—no more straggling, half-straight strands next to bundled-up curls.

Routine vs. products

As a beauty editor who tests products for a living, I'm well aware that sometimes it's the routine, not the products, that make the biggest difference—so I put it to the test.

Without naming names, I used a few styling products that are cult favorites in the wavy and curly hair category. I followed the exact same routine, but the results were lackluster, as you can see on the "before" side below.

The other hair care products defined some waves but left my hair puffy and with a light frizz on the outside.

Looking at the photo on the right, you can see how much shinier my locks are, thanks to the Aveda products. My waves have peaks and valleys that fall together seamlessly.

Additionally, the face-framing pieces look voluminous and sculpted, perfectly hiding my early patches of thinning along the hairline.

What's inside these beautiful green bottles is just as important as their performance, and Aveda committed to a plant-forward approach with 93% of the ingredients derived from natural sources. 

The entire range is silicone-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and packed with strengthening ingredients, like kokum seed butter, plant peptides, shea butter, baobab seed oil, and so much more. 

Looking at the line as a whole, you'll see seven products—three for washing and four for styling. The line is designed for people with waves, curls, or coils, and each product specifies which textures it's best suited for.

This guidance can help shape your routine, but it's not absolute. For example, my texture expert recommended I use the gel, which was originally designed for coils, and it worked great for me.

The Co-Wash is designed for curls and coils, but it can also be used by someone with wavy hair who's prone to dryness or is trying to cut back on daily shampooing. Generally speaking, there's a lot of versatility.

If you want to see some before and after photos on a variety of hair types from curls to coils, visit the product page—trust me, they're impressive.

My top recommended products

I know that seven new products aren't realistic for everyone, so I narrowed down my favorites from the line to two: the Curl Enhancer Cream and the Coil Definer Gel. Both are so fantastic that I have them squeezed into travel bottles on vacation with me right now.