3 Natural Hair Influencers Share Their Thoughts On Suave's New Line

It’s a beautiful day on the beach. I’m in Miami looking out at the ocean and seeing a site you normally don’t see: a beautiful Black woman, strutting down the beach, despite the humidity, wind, and water, without a care in the world. No, it isn’t a mirage or a dream, I’m on set for Suave’s first ever natural hair commercial. The brand is launching a natural hair care line at the ending of this month and shot a commercial to celebrate and let consumers know. They picked three influencers, including Temitope Adesina and Enocha Tellus both natural hair bloggers, as well as Charlize Glass, a dancer.

The shoot takes place all around Miami, Florida, from a dance studio to the beach to a home. It was great to see the behind the scenes. Not only did they hire Black women for the actual commercial, but they had a diverse team behind the scenes as well.

There are six products in total in the launch. Naturally, there is a shampoo and a conditioner, but you know the products are for us specifically with the inclusion of a curl defining cream and moisturizing properties throughout the product like shea butter and coconut oil . I spoke with the three women to get an honest review of the products, their thoughts on the commercial, and hair advice that you don’t want to miss.

For All Our Type 4 Naturals Out There: Suave Is Launching A Haircare Line That Is Perfect For YOU  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com

TEMITOPE ADESINA: @NaturallyTemi

Hair Texture: “4B with some 4C areas.”

Temitope Adesina is quiet until the director yells, “action!” She proceeds to look in the mirror, fluff her perfectly done twist out, smile, and walk out the door. From a fellow 4B/4C hair girl, I look at her hair with envy, it’s hard to believe that she’s achieved this beautiful, thick, defined style using products that cost $5 a pop (nope, that wasn’t a typo). We have a chance to chat between takes where she admits this is her “first major, major commercial.” She is vocal about the fact they included kinky natural hair in the shoot and “not just the looser texture.” She explains, “They worked with real, natural hair women to create this line. I’m honored that they selected me as a kinky curly hair model.”

While you may see influencers in the commercial, Suave tapped over 5000 women to get the deal on what kinky curly girls really want out of their hair products. On set was Soumya Donkada, the Senior Brand Manager for Suave, who explained, “one of the things that was important to us was authenticity and the right presentation.” And don’t think that the brand was simply sending out surveys for Black women. Donkada revealed, “I went to a lot of in-home visits. I know what it takes for women to get their hair prepped. I went to women who are transitioning, women who are thinking of transitioning…for her, hair is a big part of her identity.”

Later in the day, Adesinia and I talk about loving your hair and she thinks it’s something we all need to automatically do. “When you love your hair, you want to learn your hair. A lot of us compare our hair to those with looser hair textures and when we big chop and find out our hair isn’t a looser texture, we start not to like it. You want to love and appreciate your hair. You want to find your own regime. Find what works. Our hair is not ‘difficult.’ It might take a little more time, but it’s our unique thing.”

With a shelve full of products at various price points, it might be hard to find what works. Adesinia shares with Hello Beautiful her favorite product in the line, “My favorite product is the serum. Most serums that I know of is finishing products, but this one is a defining serum and it’s a gel-like consistency. It’s very innovative to me, I haven’t seen anything like that! It really defines my curls.” This product would be great to incorporate into your twistouts and braids outs, but undoubtedly also your wash and go’s.

If you are looking for a cleansing shampoo that won’t strip your hair, Adesinia is here for Suave. “I really loved the shampoo because it really cleansed my hair. Some products that I use, I don’t really get the ‘clean’ feel.” For those of you that love to pour product on your hair, this shampoo is undoubtedly for you. She also commented that the conditioner works really well, adding, “One thing that I really struggle with is getting the perfect amount of slip and the conditioner was good for that.” It was great to be on set and see the actual product in action and be able to speak to women who have tried so many natural hair products, discuss why these products are ones to watch. Normally, when you see the BTS of commercial shoots, it’s about creating illusions. Not with Suave. They used their products, under real conditions, to produce an authentic shoot.

For All Our Type 4 Naturals Out There: Suave Is Launching A Haircare Line That Is Perfect For YOU  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com

ENOCHA TELLUS: @MissEnocha

Hair Texture: “4A, maybe some 4B, but more of a 4A.”

Upon meeting Enocha Tellus, better known as ‘Miss Enocha’ on social media, you can feel her regal spirit. I watch as she struts down the beach confidently, smiling as the cameras surround her and the director instructs her to move slower, or quicker, depending on the shot. Her hair is styled in a beautiful up-do, faux hawk type of mix and it looks so full. Her melanin is shining under the golden hour light.

Miss Enocha is done filming and we’re talking about the products. She’s dipping her hand between some TGIN Twist and Define Cream after the Suave leave in conditioner is in. One might be shocked that she’s mixing multiple brands to achieve her next look (which is to go to the airport) as she’s flying to her next commitment. Donkada, the Senior Brand Manager for Suave, had explained to me that “a core insight of the Black consumer is cocktailing. So when we made these products, we ensured everything was perfect that she can take one rom the product selection and use it, even if she’s not taking the whole line.” Brilliant. Most brands try to sell you the whole suite and you have to spend time on YouTube and Instagram to figure out what you need (or spend lots of money on your own trial and error).

As I chat with Miss Enocha, she gets candid about the products. “For me, it’s more of a ‘wash and go’ product vs a ‘set your hair with it product’.” She’s placing bantu knots in her hair as she occasionally looks at me from the mirror. “I think that it (Suave products) makes your hair really soft. It gives your hair a softness to it and moisturized feel.” This is essential for Type 4 hair that often suffers from dryness. For Miss Enocha, the feeling of her hair is key. When I inquire about her favorite product from the soon to be released collection, she states, “I like the leave in conditioner. I think that’s the product that really leaves your hair soft.”

We talk about the natural hair commercial and the type of representation it will bring. Many Black women, particularly Type 4 hair Black women, don’t see themselves in media or advertisements. “It’s sad I have to say this in this day and age. It’s nice to see girls with your hair and texture that look like you on tv. It’s great to see a product being made for our hair texture specifically.” Indeed, it is. Donkada emphasized, “One of the things that was important to us was authenticity and the right presentation. We spoke to a lot of curly girls in the space not just in terms of the product, but how they want to see themselves.” In a world where Prada is making monkey face charms and Rolling Stone Magazine is having their first Black photographer shoot a cover, ever. It’s great to see a large brand that’s invested in getting representation right.

For Miss Enocha, one thing about getting it “right,” was the affordable price point and how this product will be perfect for the newly natural trying to figure out her hair routine. “I know back in the day when I was just becoming natural, you basically just try EVERY product to figure out what works on your hair. When a new one comes out, you want to try it. It gets really expensive. $10 for shampoo is expensive. People that are newly natural and want to try a product, this won’t break the bank. If this does work, then you have something affordable!” We’re so here for it. Often times, when we see something affordable, we worry about the grade of the product. Donkada but those fears at ease by explaining, “One of the insights was this category was so overpriced. We wanted to bring something to her, particularly for Type 4 hair, at a great price. We believe in democratizing trends and bringing quality products at a great price point.”

For All Our Type 4 Naturals Out There: Suave Is Launching A Haircare Line That Is Perfect For YOU  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com

CHARLIZE GLASS: @CharlizeGlass

Hair Texture: “Coarse.”

Charlize Glass is a dancer and it’s great that Suave has included her in this commercial as sweat to Black girls and haircare is the equivalent to Clark Kent and kryptonite. While I did not get to see her BTS up close and personal, we did have an opportunity to chat via e-mail.

We dive straight into a discussion on natural hair and working out, which Glass admits, “is a lifelong struggle.” You’ll rarely see Glass dancing with her hair down because “it gets sweaty on my neck and around my face.” She adds, “It bugs me so much.” For girls’ that workout on the regular, you may want to grab the Natural Hair Define & Shine Serum Gel. Glass likes to use it when she’s dancing “because it helps control a bit more so I am able to keep my hair in a ponytail.”

Glass doesn’t give a “type” to her hair, but rather just defines it as coarse. She explains, “I have very thick hair, and a lot of it too, which makes it very challenging to keep the curls looking bouncy as well as keeping the moisture throughout all of that hair.” Like most black women, she laments, “It is truly a lot of work.” It’s all about knowing your hair and the products it desires. She reveals, “I have got to use lots of conditioner and the ‘type’ of conditioner is key.” She likes to use paraben and sulfate free products “because they don’t dry out my hair as I’ve noticed with other lines.” In case you are wondering, yes, the new Suave Naturals line has all of the good stuff and none of the bad (like sulfates) and while these products definitely lean to Type 4, it’s obvious it works on Glass’ thick, Type 3 hair.

Glass’ favorite products in the line are the Curl Conditioner and the Curl Defining Cream. She explains, “conditioner is the key to maintaining moist, soft curls.” Conditioner has always been one of the more important hair care products for Glass. She jokes, “If I could leave the house with only one item, that’s what it would be, my conditioner!”

Beauties, if you’re thinking about trying the new Suave Natural line when it launches at the end of this month, go for it. At just $5 for each product, what do you really have to lose? Plus, seeing it up close on action on three different types of Type 4 curly girls gives me confidence it will do well in my Type 4 hair as well. I’m here for a brand that is leaning into Type 4 hair vs. ignoring us. I’ll definitely be adding the collection to my haircare assortment.

When and if you try out the products tag me @TheIslandDiva and @HelloBeautiful so we can see and know what you think.

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For All Our Type 4 Naturals Out There: Suave Is Launching A Haircare Line That Is Perfect For YOU  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com