EVENT: CURLFEST, THE ULTIMATE SUMMER PICNIC
On Sunday, June 22nd, a couple of friends and I packed a blanket and some snacks en route to Prospect Park, Brooklyn for Curlfest. Curlfest is described by the Curly Girl Collective as “the ultimate summer picnic” where you go to enjoy music, games, vendors, and the company of your friends and fellow curly girls.
With our early attendance, we received goodie bags in the signature Miss Jessie’s bags. They were filled with sample packets from Miss Jessie’s, Ouidad, and EDEN BodyWorks to name a few. The other samples included the Passion Fruit Curl Control Paste by Curls (great for laying edges down or smoothing ends for a bantu knot out), an ORS trio packet, and some SheaMoisture skincare items. The event wouldn’t be complete without some vendors. I was most excited to visit the EDEN BodyWorks table because I loved the Curl Defining Creme so much; the price for the products is what caught me. All the items on the table cost $6 except for the sample pack, which was $2. I picked up the Coconut Shea Leave-In, the Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner, the Coconut Shea CoWash, and the Coconut Shea Hair Masque all for $20. We got a couple of samples from Curls, which included the Cashmere Curl Jelly and the Creme Brule Curl Cream, which smells edible. Further down the row of vendors, I grabbed a funky headband that twists into a bow. Nick Knacks had a table full of these wired headbands ranging from $4-6, sunglasses, and other accessories.
Curlfest was definitely the place to be last Sunday. There were tons of photographers snapping photos of the event and mini interviews where curlies were asked to explain how they cared for their curls and what they liked about their hair. My friends and I were interviewed, which was cool, but my nerves got the best of me. I must have said 9 times out of 10 a billion times during my first answer (-_-), but my nerves dispersed a bit once we got into the swing of things. We were asked about maintaining moisture, what we liked about our hair, and what we liked about the event. To keep it short– I use the LOC method to maintain moisture. Water is most important, followed by a leave-in of choice, almond, EVOO, or Argan Oil, and a curl defining/enhancing cream. I also use gel to hold my curls in place. I find that my styles (usually WnG) last longer with gel. I liked how Curlfest was a planned; I loved the vibe, and it was great to see (and meet) other naturalistas. I was truly amazed at the turnout and by the many different hairstyles, colors, cuts, and shapes in attendance. It was definitely a curly girl world.
I was also able to meet my curl crush, MoKnowsHair, at Curlfest! She was one of the main reasons I knew about Curlfest because she tweeted about the event. I knew this was going to be my chance to meet her. She was super sweet and funny during our chat. She took a photo of myself and Dhaakira for a color inspiration post on the Carol’s Daughter instagram, and she asked us about color maintenance. During our chat, we asked about her time in the city and a couple of hair questions. I didn’t get my picture right away because we were thrown off, but I got one later and was all smiles.
I would definitely attend Curlfest next year. It was nothing but good vibes and inspiring to see so many naturalistas in one place. The blogger/vlogger presence was definitely felt, but it was great to see them interact with everyone in attendance. We also had a quick chat with HeyGorJess while Mo was editing our flick. She’s super sweet and down to earth as well. Aside from the free goodies, I loved the different hair colors and shapes at Curlfest. It was an amazing experience AND it was free! In my opinion, it was was the perfect start to the summer.
Until next time, Ashley, xo.
Do you have any questions about #Curlfest? If so, comment below!
