Like many of us, Ann Marie McIntosh leads an incredibly busy life. As a registered nurse and pediatric case manager for a children’s hospital in West Palm Beach, FL — and a single mother of three — Ann doesn’t exactly have a ton of free time to invest in styling her hair. So when a co-worker with natural hair recommended she try Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic Curl Stimulator a little over a year ago, Ann was initially a bit reticent to go the natural route.
“I told her ‘My hair is so coarse. I don’t think my hair can curl like that’,” Ann recalled. “And she said ‘Oh, all of us black people have curly hair — we just don’t realize it!’”
In addition, Ann had to take her skin condition into account. She’s long dealt with eczema and skin irritations, and believes the issues were exacerbated by trying so many products in her search for a long-term hair care solution.
A chronic inflammatory skin disorder, eczema is thought to be the second-most common skin ailment in the African-American community. While there is no known cure for the condition, it can be caused by several differing factors, including allergies, genetic history and climate.
“Like every other woman, I probably tried everything everybody told me to do,” Ann shared. “It was a ridiculous amount of products, and nothing ever really quite worked.”
Fortunately, Ann’s friend was able to assuage her concerns. That afternoon, they sat down and ordered Ann’s very first bottle of Curly Magic together, and she has been a proud and loyal Funky Junky ever since. In that time, she’s also come to love the Thirsty Curls Leave-In Curl Revitalizer to keep her style looking fresh. She’s proud to report that both products have completely reshaped the way she deals with her hair and skin.
“I don’t do anything but spray my hair with Thirsty Curls and I’m on the go. It’s much faster,” Ann explained. “And I’m not breaking out all over my face anymore. This stuff really helps, in terms of dealing with my eczema.”
Overall, Ann’s journey exemplifies that it’s never ever too late to transition to a natural hairstyle. And perhaps even more importantly — that with the right product and routine, you can accomplish more with your beauty than you ever thought possible.
“Anybody’s hair can curl up — I don’t care what kind of hair it is,” Ann emphasized. “Maybe the curl is going to be different. But it’s going to curl.”