Finn Partners and Strength of Nature’s Global Marketing Director Charlene Dance made it Jamaica for hair-care experts Pamela Hogan and Felicia Leatherwood and a host of 31 internationally renowned editors, marketing mavens and bloggers. The four-day hair-care retreat at the Royalton White Sands Resort in Trelawny kicked off with a Strength of Nature-hosted Beauty, Breakfast & Press Briefing on Friday, March 6.

With a range of 14 affordable lines of products all designed for male and female hair, there was a lot to look, touch, feel and experiment with. Your Under the Dryer squad was on location and shares the deets.

(PHOTOGRAPHER: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

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Finn Partners Senior Partner Helen Shelton paused for a snapshot with House of Neahlis designer/hairstylist Lisa McIntosh-Aris.

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Strength of Nature’s Global Marketing Director Charlene Dance (left) shared the spotlight with (from second left) Strength of Nature international educator Pamela Hogan, celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood, and House of Neahlis designer/hairstylist Lisa McIntosh-Aris at last Friday’s Beauty Breakfast Press Briefing.

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Rock designer/hairstylist Lisa McIntosh-Aris flashed a smile for our photogs alongside Ebony magazine’s Associate Beauty and Grooming Editor Jackie Yates.

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# 7550 Strength of Nature’s Global Marketing Director Charlene Dance is captured during her welcome address and later in the Q&A session.

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The ladies sample products from the Strength of Nature hair system.

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International educator Pamela Hogan explains the contents of her Beautiful Textures Management Kit.

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Fab beauty blog editors (from left) divasanddorks.com Editor-in-Chief Christen Rhoden; TV host, producer and editor-in-chief at kelaskloset.com Kela Walker; and gorgeousingrey.com Executive Editor Ty Alexander.

# 7545 Pamela Hogan

International Educator/Licensed Trichologist

With over 30 years’ experience in the hair industry, licensed cosmetologist and educator Pamela Hogan knows all about hair. The sought-after stylist — with the application of a few Beautiful Textures products — slicked back Ashley Miller’s edges and brought full moisture to her ombré mane.

While styling Miller, Hogan shared a few tips on general ‘mane’-tenance:

* As mammals we are inclined to shed 80-100 strands of hair each day. If it is that you do not comb your hair regularly, and decide to comb on any given day, you will find that your hair breaks and falls out. It’s a part of the body’s natural growth cycle.

* Natural hair is sometimes harder to manage than weaves or wigs, so before going natural ensure your readiness to ride the wave.

* Never compare your hair to others. We are all unique; try to accept your flaws, but if there’s anything you dislike, find me! Hair textures are all different, so though it may be tedious and time-consuming, it’s necessary to undergo a process of trial and error in efforts to find the product that is right for your hair type.

For Miller, the process was minimal. Hogan applied the Beautiful Textures Instense Moisture Curl-Defining Mousse to the hair, followed by sectioning the hair and applying dabs of the Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner to add sheen, then adding the Edges to End Silkener to smooth and soften the strands along the hairline.

Ashley Miller

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Hogan checks out Miller’s hair after applying the Beautiful Textures treatments.

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Ashley Miller flashes a smile of approval.

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Miller’s rejuvenated and redefined curls.

# 7597 Felicia Leatherwood

Celebrity Hairstylist

Top celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood – fresh from her March 4 debut on The Real television show – runs her hands through Watson’s hair and immediately knows what’s missing: moisture! Leatherwood shares her styling tips below:

– Before retiring at night, place two drops of Soft & Beautiful Botanicals’ Ultra Nourishing Coconut Oil in the palm of your hands, then apply to the hair. Use sparingly.

*Tip* Do NOT apply hair products to the scalp, as doing so will clog the pores and prevent growth.

Steps to achieve Toni Watson’s updo:

– Take a dab of the Beautiful Textures Rapid Repair pomade.

– Smother on fingers.

– Pull sections of the hair and dab on and around the sections.

– Run hands through the strands.

– Add two drops of Soft & Beautiful Botanicals’ Ultra Nourishing Coconut Oil to the hands; massage, then apply to the hair.

– Twist pulled section.

– After twisting four sections, combine twists in pairs and wrap and twist all the way to the crown.

– Apply steps above, followed by wrapping hair into coils at the forehead.

– Pin hair to tidy up the look.

Ways to moisturise:

– Add 4 tbsps of the Soft & Beautiful Ultra Nourishing Leave-In Conditioner to a 6 oz spray bottle.

– Follow with 2 tsps of Olive Oil, and then fill the spray bottle with water.

– Apply to hair until evenly saturated.

– Wrap hair with a wrap of your choice.

Toni Watson

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Toni Watson’s new hairdo.

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Braiding complete, Leatherwood uses bobby pins to secure the coils.

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Leatherwood twists Toni’s locks.

Jackie Yates

Associate Beauty and Grooming Editor,

Ebony Magazine

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“I think I just came from Winter Wonderland and stepped into true paradise.”

Under The Dryer (UTD): What is the relationship between Ebony magazine and the Strength of Nature brand?

Jackie Yates (JY): I didn’t realise that the Strength of Nature brand had so many different products. This forum is a great way for us at Ebony to spread the message to the masses about Strength of Nature’s line of products, to strengthen the economy, and show African Americans (yes, men included) how Strength of Nature products can detangle their hair dilemmas.

(UTD): As Ebony’s associate beauty and grooming editor, what is your role at the retreat and what do you take home to your readers?

(JY): This is one of the many hair retreats I’ve been a part of internationally. We find ways to incorporate Strength of Nature products in our Ebony hair tutorials, so a part of my job is to find out what beauty products are on the market and inform our readers, letting them know how best these products can help them.

Charlene Dance

Global Marketing Manager

Strength of Nature

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“I want women to feel good about their mane and embrace and realise how many options exist today to be naturally beautiful!” – Charlene Dance, Strength of Nature’s global marketing director; the face behind award-winning Strength of Nature beauty brands designed for all women with focus on women of African descent. On her third trip to the Rock, Dance tells Under The Dryer that her favourite Caribbean islands are Jamaica, Guadeloupe and Curaçao.

(UTD): What inspired the Strength of Nature brand?

Charlene Dance (CD): We wanted to ensure that we created products that not only worked for our consumers but products that are also easy to read and comprehend.

(UTD): What does being global marketing director entail?

(CD): As the global marketing director for Strength of Nature my job is to export goods for product development and do the marketing strategies for the 14 Strength of Nature brands.

(UTD): How did the Beautiful Textures brand evolve?

(CD): For us, the evolution was about building tradition. We realised that the natural hair trend was growing significantly and though there were so many products on the market geared towards our natural girls, we found that they weren’t very educational so we designed our products to inform our customers as to what exactly they were using in their hair.

(UTD): How is branding and marketing in Jamaica?

(CD): We have a local distributor that spreads our products across the local markets, so you will find the products all over the island. However, we have a heavy distribution in Kingston, so if you go in your typical beauty store in Kingston you’ll be sure to find Strength of Nature products, which include: Elasta QP, Dream Kids, Soft & Beautiful, Soft & Beautiful Classic, Soft & Beautiful Botanicals, Relax Refresh, ProLine, TCB, Smart Perm, Protectiv Growth Renew, Beautiful Textures, MegaGrowth, and African Pride.

(UTD): What can you tell us about the Strength of Nature brand, and where do you see Strength of Nature in five years?

(CD): Good question! I think that we’ve grown very, very fast, let me start by saying that. It’s been 15 years and running. We recently celebrated our 15th anniversary as well, so it has been succesful. Once you’re a part of the market, you’ve shown growth and your product has been fully distributed, your lifespan becomes a question of sustainability and so, for me, I think the next five years will be a true test of skill to really be able to let the market know that we’re here, we’re relevant and to keep our packaging in lead, our performance in lead and our marketing strategy in tip-top shape. We have to create the strongest marketing campaign that will push us beyond any place we can imagine in the next five years. We’ve come a long way and we’re doing great, so the next step is to let our customers know that Strength of Nature is still a leader in African hair-care products.

(UTD): Final words

(CD): I’d like to thank the Travel Jamaica Tours. This has been a great partnership and I hope that the consumers will read your article and know enough about us to spread the word.

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“The press briefing with Strength of Nature was yet another eye-opening and learning experience for me as I continue on my natural hair journey. As someone with coarse, kinky, and ‘coily’ hair, I am always looking for new products, tips, and tricks to make styling and caring for my hair a little easier. Celebrity hairstylist Felicia Leatherwood and hair educator Pamela Hogan introduced the group to easy hairstyles that looked glamorous and sophisticated, which each took only a few minutes to complete. I am most excited to try the Texture Manageability Systems offered by Strength of Nature as soon as I return home to New York City. Overall, I am so happy to have had the opportunity to network with my industry peers while discussing hair and beauty in Jamaica.” – Candace Amos,

Style & Beauty Writer at Us Weekly.

photo: BrandeVictorian

“I love that the Strength of Nature brand provides a range of products for every woman, so if you’re transitioning from relaxed to natural or vice versa, the transition is easy. I’m enjoying my Jamaican experience.” – Brande Victorian, Deputy Editor, MadameNoire.

Felicia Walker Benson

Editor-in-chief

thisthatbeauty.com

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“I love the name: Under the Dryer; it’s catchy!”

Under The Dryer (UTD): What do you take back to your readers?

Felicia Walker Benson (FWB): I will say the presentations exceeded my expectations. I love learning about new products and a brand’s marketing strategy. I also enjoy learning the DNA of a brand and how they strategically select a target audience. Also, how the products are created for affordability so that every woman can have access.

(UTD): This was quite the learning experience for a few of the other ladies. What have you learnt?

(FWB): I’ve learnt that there’s so much research and so much study that goes into creating the products, which blows me away because they’re so affordable and achieves great results. I like that the brand achieve great results for all different kinds of women because we’re all different kinds of women: different styles, different lengths, different aesthetics, I like that the brand addressed that.

(UTD): What do you take back to your readers?

(FWB): I have many takeaways but the one that hit home the most is that it’s possible to have quality effective products at an affordable price point. I really appreciate the realisation – from the demonstrations – that the Strength of Nature line of products is far more effective than a number of products geared towards African hair texture.

Janee Bolden

Deputy Editor

Bossip.com

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(UTD): What have you learnt from the press briefing?

Janee Bolden (JB): I learned a lot of different things that I was unsure about regarding the Strength of Nature brand. I was able to get a better understanding of the company’s branding architecture and the different lines of Strength of Nature products.

(UTD): What will you take back to Bossip readers?

(JB): For my own hair care I took away some tips and tricks that I can use daily. I really enjoyed the presentation and watching Felicia do the updo on the model. I’m going to try the twists that Felicia did and continue with the moisturisers Pam used in my hair because I actually have quite a few of those products but wasn’t really sure what to do with them. I feel like I’ve added another look to my natural hair regime.

(UTD): What have you enjoyed most about the retreat?

(JB): I think what I like most about my trip is the fact that there’s such a diversity in women; the fellowship, meeting other ladies from their respective outlets; and getting to talk to each other about one common factor: hair.

Patrice Grell Yursik

afrobella.com

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Trinidadian-born Chicago resident Patrice Grell Yursik, creator of afrobella.com, represented the blogosphere at the Strength of Nature press briefing, joining the ladies for a five-day beauty retreat.

Under The Dryer (UTD): What have you learnt from today’s forum?

Afrobella (AB): I found out that the products that Charlene and the ladies debuted can also be used on your skin. It was a ‘wow’ moment because I love a multi-usage product. I cant wait to try them.

(UTD): What were your thoughts during the presentations?

(AB): I love and appreciate the fact that Strength of Nature has adopted legacy brands that we grew up using in the Caribbean and revamped the lines. When Charlene said that they are responsible for the TCB brand, I was like, ‘I remember growing up in Trinidad and watching infomercials with TCB on TV all the time’ and Soft & Beautiful is another brand I grew up with as well, so it’s a beautiful thing. We’re all coming together from all these different cities in America that we live in to come to Jamaica and celebrate each other!

(UTD): What are you taking away from this experience?

(AB): It has been an invaluable experience; I’m so happy to be in Jamaica. I just love the diversity and range of our people and the fact that Strength of Nature caters to all the needs we have as black women.

(UTD): What will you share with your ‘Bellas’ about today’s press briefing?

(AB): When I run my coverage of today’s event on the blog, I will talk about all things hair, of course. But more importantly, I will note that we, as Caribbean people, need to appreciate and celebrate each other instead of staying separate.

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“Today’s activities were very interesting and educational because I didn’t know about all the Strength of Nature products and how much of a powerhouse the brand really is, you know. I learned a lot today. I came in thinking it’s just a bunch of hair products; I didn’t know they had something for everyone, every colour, every texture, every kink. I’m really impressed that the team has such a strong business portfolio. What’s also interesting is the fact that the products work for weaves as well, and that’s important because we like to be versatile. It’s so reassuring to hear that we’re unique; you can’t just put us in a box. When you say black woman you have to think about the woman with the kinky hair, the woman with the curly hair, the woman with the straight hair; you have to think about the black woman in all her glory and that’s special for me.” – Yvette Caslin, executive editor, rollingout.com

Strength of Nature 2015 Hair Trends

Crimped Couture

Crimped ponytails made their way down a few runways this season. You can get the natural version of the look and use Kanekalon or Marley hair to create big, bold looks with crochet braids. Trust, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Add a little Soft & Beautiful Botanicals Ultra Nourishing Oil Treatment to a bottle with a nozzle tip to help moisturise your scalp every day or on a weekly basis.

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Babylights

Babylights gained momentum this past season and they’re characterised by tiny bursts of honey blonde or soft amber on the ends of dark hair. Think of babylights as an intro to the ombré trend. If you’re not so daring to take on the full ombré look, this spring trend is for you! Use Elasta QP Soy Oyl Moisture-Rich Conditioner to keep your colour-treated hair moisturised and healthy.

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Summer’s Edge

Soft waves and big, bountiful curls seem to make their way back into summer trends every year. Take a cue from the iconic pop star Donna Summer and don large waves (done through a protective sew-in) and use Olive Miracle 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner to keep tangles at bay and easily prep for styling with a few sprays of Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Leave-in H2 Conditioner.

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80s Sleek

Straight, sleek hair with a distinct, nostalgic side-swept hump is gaining popularity as we head into more humid months. Use the Beautiful Textures Texture Manageability System to straighten natural or relaxed hair and slide on a dab of Beautiful Textures Edges to End Silkener to tame edges and smooth hair.

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