CurlyCon LA made its grand return to the City of Angels on Saturday with new panels, more hair care brands, and an even bigger audience. Debuting in 2023, founder and CEO Ava Pearl launched CurlyCon, a one-day convention inspired by her digital media community, Curly Culture. The event fosters a welcoming space for all curl types and textures through educational panels, beauty activations, hair care demos, and brand showcases.
Sponsor displays from Pattern, Curlsmith, LUSH, Cantu, and others engaged with guests, offering free samples and expert advice on products tailored for every curl pattern. Shea Moisture, Rizos Curls, and LA-based curly hair salon Curls One on One captivated audiences with live demonstrations, where hair care professionals styled event attendees’ curls using various products to refresh and enhance their natural beauty.
We spoke with hair care experts at CurlyCon to gather some of their best tips for maintaining lively, healthy curls year-round.
Find a Good Cleansing Regimen
At the Maui Moisture booth, hairstylist Uriel Ben-Levi emphasized the importance of incorporating a clarifying shampoo into your routine.
“A lot of people are afraid of clarifying shampoos, but they can be a curly girl’s best friend,” Ben-Levi explained. “Our hair often gets dry and brittle because we keep layering products without properly cleansing. A good clarifying shampoo removes impurities and buildup, allowing moisture to penetrate better.”
Keep Your Curls Moisturized
“All curlies are trying to fight frizz, and the best way to do that is by keeping curls moisturized—whether you have waves, curls, or coils,” said Monica King, Brand Education and Training lead at Rizos Curls.
King highlighted the benefits of Rizos Curls’ natural ingredients, including aloe vera, shea butter, flaxseed oil, and beeswax. “Our products help keep curls defined, hydrated, and frizz-free year-round, no matter the humidity or weather conditions.”
Have Seasonal Check-ins
International hair expert and LUSH product creator Sarah Sango encouraged attendees to adapt their hair routine based on their environment.
“Have in-depth consultations with a hairstylist to understand your hair’s unique characteristics, which will determine its needs throughout the year,” Sango advised. She also recommended choosing products with fresh, high-quality ingredients that are safe for ingestion, as they tend to be gentler on the hair and scalp.
Avoid Harmful Alcohols
During the “Decoding Curl Chemistry” panel, celebrity curl specialist Christin Brown and fellow experts Javon Ford, Sarah Sango, Tonya Lane, and Manessa Lo broke down the best and worst ingredients in hair care.
“Put an asterisk next to ‘alcohol’ because not all alcohols are bad,” Ford explained. “The ones to avoid are linear alcohols, like ethanol and SD alcohol 40B, which can dry out the hair.” Lane added, “I also avoid isopropyl alcohol, which falls into the drying category. If I see that on a label, I typically stay away.”
Panelists advised attendees to steer clear of alcohols beginning with “SD,” while noting that fatty alcohols (which often end in “-yl”) are safe and even beneficial for hair. With expert insights and hands-on experiences, CurlyCon LA once again proved why it’s an essential space for curl lovers to learn, connect, and celebrate their hair journeys.