On the 2nd February 2018, Curly Cailín was born. Three years and 6 MILLION hits later, it’s time for a change, the first one being a new name. Introducing Curl Maven, a modern and holistic hair, beauty and wellness brand. Here’s why I’ve changed the name, what it means, and my plans for the future. As well as the Curl Maven Method and new discount codes.
The Journey
Before introducing Curl Maven, let’s go back to the beginning. Before the beginning even! For those of you who don’t know, I was an award-winning boho bridal and beauty blogger, Blossom Bride. I started the Curly Girl Method in May 2017, and like many people, I was very active on various Curly Girl Facebook groups.
I started commenting and answering peoples questions. During this time, I was repeatedly told I had a way of explaining things that made sense. Simplifying it to make it not only easy, but achievable. And that my recommendations, techniques, tips and advice worked!
More and more people encouraged me to start a blog, where what I was sharing would be available for people to refer back to. Rather than having to scroll through the comments on various and numerous posts to find the answers they were looking for.
So I started writing curly hair content on Blossom Bride, and it was massively popular. More than any of the other stuff I was writing about. The idea of Curly Cailín came to me in the middle of the night, that made me sit up in the bed and start writing my ideas down. And not just the name.
A full concept and five year plan of what I wanted to create and achieve! So on February 2nd 2018, Curly Cailín was born and became an immediate success, often crashing my site whenever I published new content.
Curly Cailín
Since then, I’ve had 6 million hits on my blog. Millions of monthly impressions on Pinterest. Over 42 thousand followers on Instagram. I’ve designed and made my own hair care product: Curl Maven Thermal Heat Caps, selling around the world. Created and developed Curl Clinics, which are another huge success.
Pantene Mousse, Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo, Protein Moisture Balance and my Modified Rice Water Treatment – all me. I’ve also had my content, images and entire site stolen and copied three times – that I know of!
In three years, I turned Curly Cailín into a full time, successful business which I’m massively proud of, passionate about and absolutely love! And I couldn’t have done any of it without you. So a massive thank you to everyone who’s read a post, clicked a link or given me a like. If you’ve followed me, shared my content, recommended me to a friend, bought a heat cap or booked a Curl Clinic.
It’s such an honour and a privilege to be a part of so many people’s curly and healthy hair journeys, from all around the world. It’s not something I take for granted, but I’m grateful for every day. And I really mean that! I’ve met some amazing people, made life-long friends, and heard some incredible stories and experiences along the way, as well as sharing my own.
“I’m not an influencer, I’m an expert.”
Curly Cailín was a spin on the term “curly girl” and a nod to being Irish. I was an Irish-Italian curly girl, following the curly girl method. So it seemed like a good name, or so I thought, at the time. But over the last year, I felt like I’d out grown Curly Cailín. I’m so much more than a “curly girl” now. Or a blogger, or influencer – I’ve always hated that word. But here’s the truth of it, I’m not an influencer, I’m an expert.
Introducing Curl Maven
The definition of Maven is “someone who is experienced or knowledgeable, a trusted expert in a particular field.” Which I feel much better describes who I am and what I do. The space I hold and the reputation I’ve earned within the curly hair community. And although I’ve built my brand and reputation on curly hair, I’m so much more than that. So along with the new name, I want to pivot the purpose of this platform and brand I’ve built and the content I create, just a little.
Introducing Curl Maven. A modern hair, beauty and wellness brand, with a more holistic approach. Full of knowledge, expertise, tips, advice, reviews, recommendations and rituals from me. Gabriella, a leading hair expert. Which I know will still come as a shock to many people that my name is Gabriella. Not Cailín. Or Colin. Or Caitlin – if you know, you know! This was another huge reason for changing the name.
The Intention
Although my area of expertise is in curly hair, the focus has always been and will continue to be, on healthy hair. Everyone can follow The Golden Triangle of Healthy Hair for example. No matter what hair type people have. And in keeping with the more holistic approach to self-love, acceptance and confidence. All of which is tied up in our identity, our appearance and our hair. I’m expanding into beauty and wellness with more intention, because it doesn’t just stop at hair.
I’ve seen it time and time again, it’s not just our hair that changes when we go on this healthy hair journey and transformation. It’s how we carry ourselves, the confidence, the self-love and acceptance. So much of that is also tied up in our body image, our definition of beauty, and our mental health. And that’s what I mean when I say a more holistic and modern approach to hair, beauty and wellness.
The Best is Yet to Come
I have lots of goals, products, events, education and services I want to design and create. To create real and lasting change that makes a difference, and really works, for everyone! Designed with passion, intention, purpose and creativity. Built on a foundation of quality, sustainability, authenticity, knowledge and expertise.
Changing the name from Curly Cailín to Curl Maven is just step one. I need people, my audience, readers, followers, investors and consumers to be able to say the name. And very few people could pronounce Curly Cailín correctly. (It’s pronounced like Col-een btw)
Which I get, it’s a language that’s only spoken by a few thousand people, from a small island about the same size as Indiana. An island, off an island, off the mainland and continent, on the edge of a vast ocean. So this is step one, the best is yet to come.
The Curl Maven Method
When I started the Curly Girl Method in 2017, I quickly discovered it doesn’t work for everyone. In fact, it doesn’t suit most people! Over the years, I’ve developed my own method, which I’m now calling The Curl Maven Method. And my method works, for millions of people! It’s another reason why I’ve changed the name.
Curly Cailín meant Curly Girl, I don’t even follow the curly girl method any more! I haven’t for quite some time. In fact, the day I ran a brush through my hair, or clarified or even deep conditioned. I was no longer following the strict rules outlined in Lorraine Massey’s Curly Girl Handbook. And neither are you if you do any of those things! Read this post on how to start a curly girl hair routine, according to my Curl Maven Method.
I don’t believe, support or subscribe to gate-keeping. Or limiting or defining gender. Or excluding, shaming or guilt-tripping people for whatever choices they make about their hair. The curly girl method was a great starting point, with some great principles and foundations. But it’s not a one-size fits all, that’s why it’s been modified by so many people over the years.
Just because I can’t do a perfect sun-salutation or downward-dog, doesn’t mean I’m not doing yoga. I modify it to suit me. The curly girl method doesn’t suit everyone. We are all unique and that should be celebrated. Not restricted or confined by anything or anyone. Whether that’s a book, blog, method, hairdresser, blogger or influencer.
Personally, I feel the book, author and method fail to acknowledge that the foundation, principles, techniques and knowledge were taken, inspired by and learned from the Black community and their Natural Hair Movement. Something which I’ve spoken about before on this blog.
“The Curl Maven Method is about healthy hair, first and foremost.”
I’ll publish a separate post on the Curly Girl Method and the Curl Maven Method next week. How the two are similar, how they’re different, and how to determine which method is the best for you, your hair and lifestyle. The Curl Maven Method is about healthy hair, first and foremost. And with that health will come growth, shine and whatever natural pattern and texture you have.
Through my method, tips, advice, techniques, rituals and recommendations, I want to help you achieve and maintain healthy hair. No matter what your hair type is. Allowing you to accept, love and feel confident about your hair, and so much more. Because it’s always more. First comes health, then the healing, in more ways than one. Then come the curls and the confidence!
The Caroline Hirons of Curls
There are two things I’ve been repeatedly told over the last three years. The first is that I’m the Caroline Hirons of Curls. A term first coined by British writer and journalist, Kat Brown. Kat has written for publications such as Grazia and Glamour Magazines, The Telegraph, The Times and The Mail on Sunday.
As well as appearing on BBC Radio and ITV’s This Morning. She’s also interviewed Queen Caroline herself, so this was and is a massive honour. The phrase caught on and I still get a pinch-me-moment every time someone calls me The Caroline Hirons of Curls.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Caroline, we’ve had the chats over email, DM’s and in person over the years. Caroline Hirons is a world-renowned skincare expert, and what she doesn’t know about skincare, isn’t worth knowing. She’s a huge idol and inspiration of mine. So to be compared or likened to her is a such a massive honour!
I’ve spent the last decade devouring her content. Following her tips and advice has not only changed my skin, but also taught me how to care for and understand it. I hope to do the same when it comes to people’s hair. One day, when I publish my book, I hope Caroline will write the foreword. And Kat will write the introduction. #manifesting!
Mental Health
The second thing I’ve been repeatedly told, is that although people initially found and followed me for my curl content, they stayed for my authenticity. For how open and honest I am about my mental health. How I normalize mental health issues and conversations. Break down barriers and stigma around something that’s just not talked about. Or maybe not talked about in a way that feels relatable, but also manageable and totally normal! Because it is, normal. If we would just talk about it more, we’d realise just how common and normal it really is!
So you can expect more of that kind of content on the blog, a permanent resource for people to turn to, whenever they, or someone they know, need it. Mental health is something I’m truly passionate about, because for me, on many occasions throughout my life, it has literally meant life or death.
I always get a huge and overwhelming response whenever I speak about it. I’ve come to learn that how I speak about my mental health, helps thousands of other people. And that’s powerful! The kind of life-changing, often life-SAVING stuff that has the kind of meaning and purpose I want to pursue and be a part of. And just like I’m so much more than my curls, I’m so much more than my mental health too. It’s a part of who I am, but it doesn’t define me.
Discount Codes
I’m so thankful to all the brands I love and work with who have allowed me a transition period to update this blog. And for my followers to get familiar with the new codes. So for the next three months, my old CURLYCAILIN codes will still work. But going forward, and as of now, CURLMAVEN will be my discount code across all my affiliate links and platforms.
Again, I’ll publish a separate post where you can find discounts across all the brands I work with, and how much discount you can get from each. For example, you can get $$ off Bounce Curl, Hair369, PuffCuff, LOOKFANTASTIC, MopTop, My Soigne, The Clean Beauty Edit and TréLuxe using code CURLMAVEN at checkout.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. This change is so much more than a name. It’s very close to my heart, full of hopes, dreams and intentions. It’s been so hard keeping all of this in and keeping a secret over the last few months. It wasn’t the launch I’d hoped for, I had so many amazing things planned. But for various reasons, it didn’t turn out how I imagined it, like so many other things in life right now.
But it’s a step on a journey, to a destination – not perfection. And this is just step one. Thank you for all your love, support and encouragement, I hope you love the new name and new direction as much as I do. Stay tuned, watch this space. Great things are coming and I can’t wait to share them with you. I hope you’ll come along with me for the ride!
Make sure you subscribe to the Curl Maven Collective Newsletter for exclusive giveaways and offers, new content, products and services. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more tips, advice and tutorials.
Gratitude + Support
If you found this article or any of my content helpful and would like to show your Gratitude + Support, you can click here to make a donation. I’m so incredibly thankful and grateful to everyone who supports me, my content and my platform. Thank you!
*This article may contain some gifted items and affiliated links and discount codes. This doesn’t effect my opinion or the way in which I write about products featured on this site.
