I’ve never claimed to have curly hair. Sure, I’ve caught a little ringlet here and there, but having a full head of curls never seemed like it’d be a reality for me. That was until I found this life-changing curl-defining cream! Turns out, with the proper product (and plenty of guidance from self-proclaimedTikTok beauty gurus), I could rock more ringlets than I ever thought possible.
Meredith Holser
I owe my newfound confidence with curls to none other than the SheaMoisture Smoothie Curl Enhancing Cream, which they claim is their “#1 curl defining hair cream product for thick, curly hair.” It’s meant to reduce frizz, smooth your hair, and facilitate soft, bouncy curls.
I honestly tried this product on a whim, not expecting it to any of those things for me. I mean, I definitely don’t have thick, curly hair naturally. But, knowing I’ve spotted a few curls in my hair here and there, I thought there wouldn’t be any harm in at least giving it a try. I thought it’d be nice to be able to style my hair heat-free, especially in summer. The worst that could happen is I invest a few dollars in the curl cream, and if it didn’t work, I could pass it off to one of my friends!
Meredith Holser
My first trial with this curl cream was not successful by any means. I ignored any instructions the packaging had to offer. Call me a rule-breaker!
The first go-around, I had applied a quarter-sized amount to the ends and mid-sections of my hair (post-shower) after it had dried a considerable amount. This was not the move, since it appeared to really weigh down my locks and surprisingly, added a weird texture that felt thick and oily. (Which, side note, shouldn't have come as a surprise since the cream has both coconut and neem oils in it).
The second, third, and fourth trials were really where I started to find my footing with the SheaMoisture Smoothie Curl Enhancing Cream. I slowly found that using a small amount of the product (pea-sized squeeze) worked best for me, especially on mostly-wet hair.
I would part and brush my towel-dried hair straight out of the shower, then “scrunch” the product into my wet locks as evenly as I could. From there, I wouldn’t dare touch a brush again. I would simply scrunch my hair incrementally to guide my curls as they dried, also making sure to push up around my root area for volume. And voila, they stayed in place! I had curly, bouncy, and smooth semi-curly hair.
Meredith Holser
I can’t give the curl cream total kudos to my ideal curls, though. After my hair would dry a bit using the SheaMoisture Smoothie, I would use a light layer of the amika Smooth Over Frizz-Fighting Treatment Mask to further eliminate frizzy flyaways (of which I have many), and it helped define my curls even further. Might I say, ‘power duo’?
I actually bought a 3.2-ounce tube of the SheaMoisture Smoothie Curl Enhancing Cream fromTargetfor a little under $4 since I wanted to start small and see if it worked for me, but you can also snag a 12-ounce tub of the same product on Amazon for $11 (originally $13, so buying it from Amazon is a better value).
Meredith Holser
If you don’t have naturally curly hair and want to give this curl cream a try, my best advice is to go very light with the amount you apply. I definitely recommend putting it exclusively on wet hair, ideally after you shower or drench your second-day hair with a spray bottle. From there, brushing or running your fingers through your hair is a no-go, as I found it disturbs the formation of the curls.
Amazon
The SheaMoisture Smoothie Curl Enhancing Cream has earned 4.5/5 stars from shoppers on Amazon and a 12-ounce pot is currently on sale for $11 (was $13).
Amazon
The amika Smooth Over Frizz-Fighting Treatment Mask has earned 3.8/5 stars from shoppers on Amazon and a 6.7-ounce bottle currently goes for $32.
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This post has been updated.
It's almost time to return to Cousins! The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 is coming this summer, and Prime Video just gave us a first official look at Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad. The new episodes will open at the end of Belly's freshman year of college, and in addition to seeing the evolution of our favorite characters, author and co-showrunner Jenny Han says "there are going to be surprises" in the final season. Eek!
Erika Doss/Prime Video
"There are the things that [fans] know and then there are things they think they know, and then there's going to be, hopefully, things that surprise them," Jenny Han tells Entertainment Weekly. Listen, I am a very proud member of Team Conrad, and seeing how cozy Belly and Jeremiah are in these pics (not to mention the set leak that's definitely not in the third book), I'm starting to wonder if Prime Video is teasing I should switch teams.
But no matter which team you're on, Lola Tung promises the season won't let you down.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
"The one thing I've always admired about Jenny is that every season and every decision about what's coming next is purely to serve the story," Lola says. "She's never going to do anything that doesn't make sense for the story. It's all about this beautiful world she's created and giving the fans something really, really special and giving us something really special to work with."
And that includes some sweet moments which Jeremiah and Belly, who "are, at their core, best friends," Lola adds. "That relationship is something that's so special and so unique to them, so it's exciting to see this season and how their relationship blossoms."
Erika Doss/Prime Video
But don't worry Conrad fans, we also get a look at the elder Fisher brother who "we know that he went to Stanford, and so he's continuing on his journey to become a doctor, as you can see from that white coat," Jenny says. "I think people won't be surprised to see that."
Erika Doss/Prime Video
Jenny Han also teases this image is actually a flashback, "so do with that what you will." BRB, I'm off dreaming of a beach vacation. I also can't help but point out the warm color grade of this season! The golden look makes everything feel warmer and more magical — and offers a youthful glow as Belly gets older.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
But for those of us who care more about Steven and Taylor (Sean Kaufman and Rain Spencer) than the main love triangle, we got this single crumb from the new images. And I'm more than happy about it, thank you very much.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
Belly (Lola Tung) gets cozy on campus in a hoodie and sunglasses.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
And Belly and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) get cozy with each other at a party.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
But they work as hard as they play! I have this exact outfit Belly's wearing, and you best believe I'm adding it into my fashion rotation.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
Great news! The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 will have 11 episodes instead of 7 or 8 like seasons 1 and 2 did. Stay tuned for the official release schedule.
Prime Video
The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 cast features all your favorites:
Meet The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Cast before the new episodes air on Prime Video this July!
Dreaming of longer, thicker, and healthier hair? The right shampoo can do more than just clean your scalp and strands – it can be the first step to achieving your hair growth goals!
The best shampoos for hair growth are formulated with ingredients like biotin, keratin, and argan oil, and omit damaging sulfates, parabens, and silicones. Whether you’re battling hair breakage, thinning, or just want an extra boost in volume, it’s time to pick up a reliable hair growth shampoo.
Amazon
This shampoo provides a gentle clean all while supporting hair growth with biotin, letting you locks get longer and stronger. Strengthening your strands with this pH-balanced formula will also help prevent damage!
Amazon
This shampoo's infused with rosemary and biotin, both of which are helpful ingredients in promoting hair growth. It smells amazing and doesn't strip the scalp or strands of their natural moisture. It's also one of the most affordable hair growth shampoo formulas out there at $10 a pop!
Amazon
This all-natural shampoo bar cleanses, moisturizes, and nourishes hair in a single use. It's friendly on the hair, too, since it's made without sulfates or parabens. Finally, it's good for the environment compared to traditional bottles: the packaging is compostable and plastic-free!
Amazon
This shampoo encourages hair growth by targeting the source: the scalp. It's formulated with a unique blend of biomimetic peptides and caffeine that helps nourish and stimulate the scalp for a healthier hair environment overall. This will set a great foundation for stronger, longer, thicker, and shinier hair.
Amazon
This bougie bottle has biotin, hydrolyzed keratin, and chia seed oil at the forefront to deliver "essential nutrients" to the hair, resulting in more growth, less frizz, and less damage. Plus, it's sulfate-free!
Amazon
You've heard of hyaluronic acid in skincare – now, it's in hair care, too! This fancy formula includes it to encourage more body, volume, and fullness to your locks.
Amazon
This delicious-smelling shampoo gently cleanses your scalp and hair for a thicker appearance.
Amazon
As an Amazon #1 best-seller, this hair growth shampoo + conditioner combo made with all natural ingredients remedies thinning hair. The formula is also geared toward better scalp health, moisturizing it to create a better environment for stronger, thicker, healthier strands.
Amazon
This shampoo cleanses your hair "from root to tip" with a nourishing blend of biotin, saw palmetto, quinoa protein, and vitamin E. Your hair will feel so loved by this bottle, since it's formulated without parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.
Amazon
This shampoo invigorates the scalp with a natural, nourishing mix of batana oil, biotin, caffeine, castor oil, rosemary oil, tea tree oil, ginger extract, and more. Giving your scalp some TLC will naturally encourage faster hair growth and healthier locks!
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
1923 season 2 premieres on Paramount+ February 23, and Michelle Randolph (who plays Elizabeth Dutton in the cast) is "so excited" for you to watch the new episodes — and she's been keeping up with all your fan theories!
"There are some crazy ones. I feel like the biggest fan theory thing is the family tree," she tells Brit + Co exclusively. "I've seen many different family trees and so it's like, 'OK, which one's accurate?' I actually drew my own at one point."
By the end of season 2, Michelle Randolph says "we might be able to fill in some blanks" in the Dutton family tree, which is a very hot topic for internet users! "I had to make my own [family tree] because all of the ones I saw on the internet were like — every single one was different. I was like 'I'm confused.'"
The Dutton family is made up of incredible cast members like Brandon Sklenar, Harrison Ford, and Helen Mirren, and Michelle reveals that the cast are just as close as their characters.
"There's a giant group chat called Giddy Up, which started during cowboy camp of season one," she says. "A cute little name, and I think I mean we all were on location in Montana and all in the same hotel, and we would get dinners after [filming], so I think even though our characters are very different and in different story lines like we all really did bond, which was really helpful to have each other throughout the chaos of of shooting a show."
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
And if you're a tried and true Taylor Sheridan fan, you've probably picked up on the fact that Michelle isn't just in 1923 — she also has a starring role as Ainsley Norris in Landman! But would Elizabeth and Ainsley get along if they met in an alternate universe?
"That would be a fun thing to witness. I think they would," she says. "They're very different, but the similarities between them is they're both young women who are finding their place in this world and I think that they both actually look at the world through very bright eyes and have a lot of hope, which is an interesting correlation between the two of them. I think Elizabeth has gone through so much more than Ainsley obviously, so there might be a difference there, but I think they would get along."
Check out the 8 Compelling Historical Fiction Books For 1923 Lovers and read our interview with Julia Schlaepfer where she teases the Spencer and Alex's future.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. And this post has been updated.
Leaders in the matcha industry are predicting a matcha shortage this spring. Sparked by a huge surge in demand, it’s possible that your go-to drink could be affected.
Nataliya Vaitkevich / PEXELS
Per The Japan Times, increased demand for matcha powder put an “unprecedented strain” on the tea industry last year, and the same effect is predicted to take place in 2025.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan saw a 185% increase in matcha production from 2010 to 2023 in order to keep up with demand from cafes and home baristas around the world, The Japan Timesreports.
Cup of Couple / PEXELS
Seeing that over half of Japan’s matcha is exported internationally, matcha lovers are looking toward the country for their green tea fix. Search interest for matcha has nearly quadrupled over the past 5 years, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
Olena Bohovyk / PEXELS
This year, mostly organic matcha strains will be affected by the shortage, though lower-grade varieties could face the same issues if consumers begin reaching for them in favor of organic offerings. While top-tier, organic strains like ceremonial-grade matcha are known for being sweeter and smoother, the lower-grade kinds like culinary-grade matcha are noticeably more bitter and don't have the same vibrant color.
Charlotte May / PEXELS
Matcha can only be harvested in the springtime, so though a shortage may be happening now, there’s hope for increased supply in the near future. This year’s harvest will start in April.
Polina Tankilevitch / PEXELS
Even though production will ramp up, Jason Eng of Kametani Tea in Japan, a company that produces matcha for beverage companies around the world, says: “This year will be an interesting one. We haven’t hit a point yet where we’re going to run out, but it’s going to be really tight this autumn – not just for us but for everybody. The demand is off the charts.”
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