From bixie cuts and shaggy layers to healthy curl routines that actually work, textured hair is having a major beauty moment—and few understand it better than Brendnetta Ashley and Cataanda James. With decades of combined experience spanning celebrity styling, trichology, education, and multicultural beauty, the two experts are helping redefine what modern curl care looks like in 2026. In this Q&A, they break down the biggest texture trends, the products worth buying, and why healthy hair—not perfection—is the real goal. —Noa Nichol
Cataanda James, Trichologist and Dippity-Do Curly Hair Expert
You’ve worked across so many brands and decades—how has the conversation around textured hair really evolved (and what still needs to change)?
The conversation around textured hair has evolved significantly since my early years as a licensed Cosmetologist. Natural curls and coils, commonly categorized as “textured hair,” are now celebrated and top of mind. Texture is a topic during ideation, not an afterthought, in boardrooms, product development labs, and retail aisles.
I remember a time when the majority of people with highly textured hair, types 3A-4C, were on a regular schedule to chemically relax and/or “release” their curls for a straight, texture-less effect. Styling products were limited. Across the category, most options were either hair grease or pomade. There were also products like curl activators, which were used to style the hair and keep it moisturized after a perm (a curly perm). In this multi-step process, the texture was relaxed first, then set on rods to restore the curls on straight hair for a more controlled, loose curl effect. Rarely did brands develop products specifically for naturally curly hair as it grows from the scalp.
Although we have taken strides, we definitely have more work to do. We are still advocating for the CROWN Act to pass in every state in the U.S. Currently, only about half have enacted laws that prohibit hair discrimination against highly textured hair and protective styles in the workplace and schools. Additionally, only eight states have passed laws requiring students to learn all textures in beauty school.
We’ve come a long way in product offering, yet we still have a ways to go before textured hair education and efficacious, quality hair care become truly mainstream and no longer limited to a separate section in the hair care aisle. As a Dippity-Do Girls with Curls curly hair expert, I am proud to be part of a brand that leads with education, product performance, and a clear commitment to curls and coils. I am confident that with education readily accessible and consistent, it will intrigue stylists who may feel intimidated and encourage them to gain the hands-on experience needed to build real confidence and skill in textured hair. I am excited to help remove the stigma surrounding texture, curls, and coils by contributing my expertise and helping move the category forward through education and product knowledge.
“Healthy hair is the foundation of beauty”—what does that look like in a real, everyday routine?
Healthy hair is the foundation of beauty, and it looks different for everyone. Hair type, concerns, personality, and lifestyle all contribute to one’s everyday and Wash Day routine. What an effective routine is for one may not be for the next. However, three products that are key in everyone’s Wash Day routine are shampoo/cleanser, conditioner/mask- Dippity-Do Girls With Curls Moisturizing Curl Mask, and primer/leave-in Dippity-Do Girls With Curls Curl-boost Spray. These three staples are non-negotiable in your hair care lineup, no matter the curl type or texture.
First step is to properly cleanse the scalp and hair to maintain a healthy foundation for your curls to thrive. Double cleanse to be sure to cleanse away residual build up and excess oils for maximum product absorption. Dippity-Do Girls With Curls Moisturizing Curl Mask provides nourishment to the strands for manageability and healthy curls. Dippity-Do Girls With Curls Curl-boost Spray works wonders as a primer, helps retain moisture and prep the hair for styling without weighing it down.
Next, you would follow up with the styler of your choice based on your hair care concerns and desired finish. Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl-boosting Mousse provides curl definition and a strong, touchable hold for a frizz-free, moisture-rich finish.
When going for more of a creamy consistency, Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl Defining Cream is a leave-in styling treatment formulated with coconut oil, shea butter, and silk amino acids to nourish and protect, promoting softer curls, enhanced shine, and a natural bounce.
For increased shape memory and a light hold, Dippity-do Girls with Curls Curl Shaping Gelée is perfect for curlier hair types and can be used on wet or dry hair to smooth, define, and keep the frizz at bay, providing all-day hold and manageability without a crunchy gel cast.
For daily use, Dippity-Do Girls With Curls Curl-boost Spray is ideal for a curl refresh. It is hydrating and allows your styler to reset, tames the flyaways and adds shine without weighing your hair down.
For someone overwhelmed by their curl type, where should they actually start—cut, products, or technique?
For someone overwhelmed by their curl type, they should actually start at products, technique, and then the cut. Each of these elements are crucial to the end result, however, learning what products love your curls is half the challenge. Once you are keen on the product type, technique can be determined from there. Different product types and consistencies will require a specific application and technique but there is one rule that applies to any product type and technique you choose. That rule is, set it and forget it! After you’ve applied your product to your hair using the best technique to render favorable results, do not touch your hair until it is 100% dry! If you choose to diffuse your hair, strategy is key. You will need to be sure not to disturb your curls while doing so. The slightest movement or friction will create unwanted frizz.
What’s one underrated product or ingredient you swear by for curls that deserves more attention?
One underrated ingredient that deserves more attention is glycerin! It is a super humectant that promotes ease in detangle and encourages elasticity while manipulating the strands resulting in length retention. Glycerin continuously attracts moisture from the atmosphere to the strands for long-lasting hydration. This is the cheat code for high porosity and dry hair.
You’ve styled everyone and seen it all—what’s your personal go-to look when you want curls to feel effortless but elevated?
My go-to look when I want my curls to feel effortless and elevated is a Wash ‘n Go. Personally, this is my signature style. I love to embrace the personality of my curls for a more lived-in effortless effect. I unleash and let my curls flow freely and allow them to be. As for my clients, I allow them to communicate to me what their dream curly look is and then I recommend best product selection and appropriate technique to achieve the desired look. I then create the style and come up with a home maintenance routine, so they are able to maintain the style until the next Wash Day then, the fun starts all over again.
Much like skin, it is important to feel confident in your own curls, so I do whatever it takes to bring out that confidence in myself and my clients.
Brendnetta Ashley, Dippity-Do Curly Hair Expert
The bixie is having a moment—how do you make this cut actually work for curls without losing shape or bounce?
Styling is what really brings a curly bixie to life. Lightweight mousse, curl creams, or soft gels help define without weighing the hair down. For loose curls I like using the Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl-boosting Mousse. It gives volume and control without weighing the hair down. For tighter curls or coils, I like using Dippity-do Girls with Curls Curl Shaping Geléee or Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl Defining Cream. They both control frizz while adding curl definition. Diffusing at the root adds lift and keeps the bixie from looking flat, while maintaining hydration preserves that soft, effortless movement that makes the cut feel modern and editorial instead of overly structured
If curly hair had a “main character” trend this summer, what would it be—and who’s wearing it best right now?
Curly hair is about being soft and airy. What makes the trend feel fresh is that it works across curl patterns. It’s less about chasing one exact cut and more about creating a silhouette that feels soft, dimensional, and unapologetically textured.
Chase Infiniti executes this look perfectly. Her curls are soft and airy. It’s effortless main character energy!
We’re seeing a lot of ’90s nostalgia—what throwback curly styles are you loving (and which ones should stay in the past)?
I love that we are seeing curly face framing. Think 90’s cool band. What makes the look modern is the shape is more intentional with the layering and it’s not one cut fits all. The face framing is softer. A curly style that could stay in the past is crunchy curls. I like seeing a softer cast to the curls. It gives more volume and movement to the hair.
What’s the biggest mistake people still make when styling their natural texture—and your one-step fix?
The biggest mistake I still see is applying product on hair that is too dry. Curly hair needs water to help absorb the product. If the hair is already dry the curls are already set, therefore it won’t absorb the product to give you the look that you are going for. Always begin your curl routine on very damp hair this is to immediately lock in the moisture.
If you had to build the ultimate drugstore curly hair routine with just 3 products, what’s going in your cart?
Must have 3 products are the Dippity-Do Girls With Curls Curl-boost Spray, this is your leave-in to lock in moisture. Next would be the Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl Defining Cream. It gives enough curl definition without weighing them down. Lastly, the Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl-boosting Mousse. It works for all curl types to add bounce and body to the hair while reducing frizz.
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