Modern Darlings

This week’s Darling is a peach!  She’s lovely and talented, a mommy and an entrepreneur, and the go to hair stylist for every urban Hollywood actress.  I love her Kimble Hair Care Systems products and I am thrilled she and I had a moment to chat.

You’ve cared for the hair of some of the most notable women in Hollywood: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, and Kerry Washington- who else is on your A-list?

Sanaa Lathan, Shakira, Gabrielle Union, Vanessa Williams.  I provide total hair care maintenance, red carpet looks, product packaging, and tv/ film.

What are the current trends for today’s ethnic hair?

The new straightening product “Brazilian Blow-out” is all the rage.  It really helps to give ethnic hair manageability and control.  I often use it in between weaving to condition and nurture my clients’ hair.  I also use keratin on any of the hair I may leave out of the weave.  This helps to maintain its smooth and blended texture without the client having to use heat on their hair daily.

I love the Kimble Hair Care Systems products.  Was starting your own line of hair care products always apart of your big picture?

I honestly never knew I was going to create a line.  But after working in the beauty industry, I quickly learned that there weren’t any products that were nurturing for ethnic hair.  I’ve always been inspired by my grandmother and my mother who were also hair stylist.  They used nutrition on their clients’ hair.  My grandmother had what we called “growing hands”, she could take anybody’s hair and love it and care for it- taking it from damaged to long and VERY healthy!  When I set out to create my product line, I really wanted to recreate the products they used.  I wanted to create great high-end products for ethnic hair that was also affordable.

With so many hair care products available, what makes Kimble different then the rest?

The way our products are designed.  We use special detergents that are milder on the hair.  We didn’t want anything that would strip the hair of its natural moisture.  What a lot of people don’t know is- the more a shampoo suds, the harsher the materials used. A good shampoo should just give a nice lather.  Our conditioners are also infused with herbal extracts that replenish the hair.

I recently saw your Kimble Creations line, can you tell me more about it?

I’m known for extensions.  In trying to protect my clients’ hair, I started doing more extensions versus weave.  Finding the right hair to blend well with ethnic hair is so hard. I wanted quality hair that blends and matches our natural texture.  Because a lot of my clients are in the entertainment industry, their hair goes through a lot of changes.  I wanted to create hair that could outstand all the processing their hair had to go through in order to look camera-ready on a daily basis.

What would you say is the most important rule to remember when caring for ethnic hair?

Hair is hair- you have to know your texture and how to work with it. Keeping hair nourished and conditioned is most important.  You want to keep your hair hydrated, so don’t be afraid of light oils and conditioners.  And if you do use chemicals- again, the most important thing to remember is MOISTURE!

Women seem to be more at peace with the idea of wearing extensions and weaves. Do you have any advice for the up-keep to the “added” hair as well as keeping our “natural” hair healthy while wearing them?

Wearing a weave or extensions is just like wearing our natural hair.  But, because added hair gets drier than our natural hair, you have to invest in a really good detangling shampoo and conditioner.  We make a great one called, “Untangle the Shampoo & Untangle the Conditioner”. Also, use your fingers as a comb as your washing the hair. The worst thing you can do to extensions or weave is to crunch it up while your washing or conditioning it- this causes it to tangle.  And lastly, let it air dry- to eliminate any odor.

Where are Kimble Hair Care Systems & the Kimble Creations line sold?

We’re in select Target stores and the Kim Kimble hair salon. The Kimble Creations line is sold in my salon exclusively. People can go to our website to find all the textures and colors.

What advice can you give on hair care maintenance to women who can’t afford to go to the salon weekly or even bi-weekly to get their hair done?

Keep it old school.  Go straight to the fridge and the cabinets.  Eggs and mayonnaise, olive oil, avocado, vitamin e, wheat germ oil, and bananas.  I use them in my hair and even some of our products contain them. Steaming your hair is great while wearing conditioner.  Just close the door of your bathroom, turn on the shower and relax or read or book- it’s great for the pores.  And last, wear styles that you can manage yourself.

Thanks Kim! ladcda;lf;d;fa;fkad;lfkd;alfk;lkgl;g;ajjajgajlajkadlfjkdhakjfhff k No Thank you! I love talking about hair.  It’s definitely my joy and passion!

For more information on any of the Kimble products you can visit www.kimblehaircare.com