Meet Myrto from Crete! She currently lives in London and has been learning more about her curls each day that goes by! We're super proud of Myrto's curl journey and we think you will be inspired from not only her story, but her personable and conversational tone as she keeps it 100% real!
The Journey
What inspired you to return natural?
I live in London, UK but I am originally from Crete, Greece and I wear my Mediterranean curly mane with great pride :p. I was fortunate enough to live in a family with lots of curly-haired-and-proud women and despite occasionally trying to straighten or brush my hair while dry (yikes!) in primary school, very soon after that I learned to fully embrace and love my curls! However... I never really learned how to care of my particular hair type and how to enhance it. I think one reason for this is that the lifestyle of hair-care influencers hadn't really hit Greece when I was growing up and people in my family had neither the knowledge nor the time to teach me how to care for my hair and what products to use etc.
I'd shower with whatever products were available in the house and would often forget/skip to use conditioner. So I kinda kept that pattern even after moving to London and becoming an adult (still debatable for some). Quarantine, as well as starting a very emotionally demanding job (supporting survivors of sexual violence) turned my sights towards self-care and the needs of my curls.
I decided it was time to not just passively be proud of my hair but actively care for and nurture it. I'm nowhere near the end of that process - you'll see in the photos that I'm still struggling with frizziness - but we'll get there.
What were the challenges (if any) along the way of your healthy hair journey?
I think one of the biggest challenges was finding someone who has exactly the same hair type as me - this is absolutely natural of course, but when starting out on this journey, seeing countless options and influencers, none of whom exactly matched the way I identified or saw my hair. It was very daunting and chaotic... sometimes this seemed to do more harm than good as I often ended up feeling lost, not belonging (hair-wise), and guilty for not using these intricate and long routines that everyone else seemed to be so familiar with.
What is your number 1 curl tip?
If you're reading this and you share some of my anxieties about finding exactly what products or hair routine suits you best, the best thing I can say is less is more. It can be compelling to start buying every single product you see advertised and applying everything at once, but I've found that testing one product on its own each time is the best practice in order to know exactly how everything interacts with your hair. That will help you choose how and what to combine later on in a more informed way.
Discovering Flora & Curl
What made you buy Flora & Curl products? How did you hear about us?
I came across the brand accidentally while browsing on instagram. I was intrigued by the vegan, non-toxic, and plant-based ethic of the brand as well as - not going to lie - the awesome colours of F&C...
How did you see your hair change after using Flora & Curl products?
I'm still relatively new to the F&C family. I've started out with the Jasmine Oasis Hydrating Hair Mist and the African Citrus Superfruit Hair Oil. I love that both products really don't weigh down or burden my hair at all. I use the African Citrus Superfruit Hair Oil after showering and my curls are a lot more defined and shiny now. However, because of how thin my hair is, when using the oil I compromise the volume, which is something I am planning to remedy by trying out the F&C Sweet Hibiscus Curl Volumizing Foam and Sweet Hibiscus Curl Activating Lotion. This goes back to my advice for fellow new-starters to use one product on its own first to identify what it needs to be paired with.
Which Flora & Curl product is your favourite and why?
I know the African Citrus Superfruit Hair Oil is the fan favourite and I've also come to really love it! However, I like the Jasmine Oasis Hydrating Hair Mist. That is because my hair completely loses it after day 3-4 of showering. Spraying my hair with the mist and then also applying some water to my ends really helps refresh the shape of my curls.
What is your current Flora & Curl haircare routine?
Every two wash days I will use the African Citrus Superfruit Hair Oil in a pre-wash massaging ritual leaving it in for around 25 mins and then getting in the shower to wash my hair. On regular wash days I use some African Citrus Superfruit Hair Oil to gently pull and define my ends but once I start using the Sweet Hibiscus Curl Volumizing Foam and Sweet Hibiscus Curl Activating Lotion, I expect to be using the oil at the end of that routine instead.
What sets Flora & Curl apart from other brands/products on the market?
Apart from the vibrant colours of the brand (vibrand?), I really like the ethical aspect behind F&C as using non-toxic ingredients is important to me. At the same time, the fact that the brand is specifically tailored to curly hair and offers a number of tips and advice on how to start the curl-care journey or how to use each product made me feel quite excited and supported in starting to explore what works best for my hair.
Brilliant, Myrto! We are so pleased to hear that you are learning more about your curls. Thank you so much for sharing your curl journey with us! Great advice too. And can we say... we love how you mixed vibrant and brand together... VIBRAND!
Feeling inspired curlfriends?! Click here to read more Curl Journeys! Fancy sharing your journey with us? Just click here to submit your story!
Naturally Yours,
The Team at Flora & Curl
