Hello World! We are finally here … Houston’s sole retailer for a wide range of products and accoutrements for wavy, curly and kinky hair! We are so excited and looking forward to meeting you all and to long lasting relationships! It has been a long time coming and we couldn’t be happier. From 1999 to 2001, I wore a loose natural … yep, I remember walking down Georgia Avenue during my days in graduate school at Howard University in Washington DC and thinking to myself, “Today’s the day.” I promptly found the nearest salon, walked in, and announced, “I need someone to cut my hair off.” Traumatized by my announcement, particularly given the length of my relaxed hair, a gentleman decided that he would take on the task. Yep … it was the day of my big chop! Liberation is what I felt … I fell completely in love with my hair … every beautiful and sometimes challenging strand.
I continued on to earn my Ph.D. from Michigan State University. It was in 2002 when I moved to New York City to be closer to my now husband, Kris, while he was at Columbia University, that I decided to loc my hair. I loved it! WooHoo! I wore locs from 2001 to 2010. At that point, I decided that the time had come for me to cut off my locs and resume my “loose natural status.” My mother, Sharon, helped me to strategically cut each loc … we had decided to take them down instead of cutting them all off. After days and days of unraveling what was left of my locs, again, I felt liberated. This time, it was a strange feeling … I had no idea of how to take care of my hair.
My husband and I had decided that I would take a couple of years off to stay home with our new daughter. Zaila (Zay-la). Like many, I took to the internet and quickly realized that there is this big, beautiful, magnificent, glorious community of naturally textured women throughout the world who I could actually develop relationships with and learn from. Amazing. I also discovered that yes … YouTube is your friend (shout out to all of the YouTubers!) and seriously, to all of the bloggers … thank you and keep doing what you do.
I began thinking about what it is that I want my hair to “do” … if anything. Was I concerned about the health of my hair or was it more about obtaining a particular look? Was I concerned about curl definition, growth, length retention, etc? Throughout the process, my answer certainly changed from time to time. At one point, I stretched my hair with a blow dryer at the roots every morning to get a little more length while at another time, I wore my hair neatly tucked away with bob pins for four months to prevent split ends, etc. Yes, my mission has certainly changed from time to time but that’s part of the process of getting to know, forming a relationship with, and loving your naturally textured hair.
I also discovered … pretty quickly, actually, that no wave, curl or kink is created equal … from afar, my hair may look like yours but no … no, there’s more to it than that. How much hair do you literally have on your head per square inch? How healthy is your diet? Do you drink enough water … are you hydrated? What part of the country do you live in … dry, cold and windy or hot, sunny and dry or hot and humid? Genetically, do you have a tendency to shed more hair than others? We could go on and on from here. That was the challenge for me. I HEAVILY invested in products that were recommended by others. I purchased online because the majority of products were not readily available to me locally. After the wait and the eagerly anticipated arrival of my goodies, I was disappointed from time to time as I was not able to achieve the level of moisture or curl definition, etc. that others had achieved with specific products. It’s true. I had not had the opportunity (there were no local stores or boutiques similar to Tendrils and Curls in the area) to look a little closer at the products that I was investing in to make educated decisions about what might work best for me and my hair. Honestly, ALL OF THE PRODUCTS ARE REALLY GOOD … it’s all about what works best for you and your unique hair.
From there, Tendrils and Curls was conceived. I was staying home with Zaila and I had the time to do my homework. After chatting with other naturals about tried and true regimens, struggles with breakage and split ends and identifying what products seem to “do the job,” I came to realize that there was a gap to be filled. It was the perfect opportunity to start thinking about a new career. My mother owned a beauty supply store when I was between the ages of 7 – 10. As a result, I had always had somewhat of an interested despite my years of education in another field. My mother and I had numerous conversations about revisiting her initial career path … but this time, it would be a little different. We wanted to open a boutique that would cater specifically to those with naturally textured hair … a space that is warm and inviting … a space where you can see other fabulous curly heads and be seen, sit down and chat, compare and contrast products by touching and smelling and trying them out, and of course … shop! Essentially, a boutique that would celebrate the splendor and glory that is … naturally textured hair. We wanted to make sure that we not only carried products and accoutrements necessary for the health, maintenance and styling of naturally textured hair but of course, given our love of jewelry, bags and other accessories … we carefully chose the work of a group of both local and national artists and designers to make themselves at home in our boutique.
We are officially open for business on July 9th and our grand opening is July 14th! Can’t wait to see you all at Tendrils and Curls!
Stay wavy, curly, and kinky,
Paula
Yay! Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.
Your store opening is AMAZING NEWS! I really don’t think natural haired ladies in Houston are even aware of your shop but they sure will be when word starts to get around. You’ve got all the brands that are impossible to currently find on the ground here. I was actually about to place an online order for products from two lines you’ll have available and now I don’t have to! Thank you SO much for providing this for us in Houston and God bless you!
Thanks so much and I look forward to meeting you and all the other naturally beautiful ladies here in Houston! I’m so excited about opening our doors. We are currently in the process of “spreading the word.” Let others know about us!
Stay Wavy, Curly and Kinky,
Paula
I am beyond excited to hear that Houston will finally have our very own natural hair care boutique! As a Houston natural hair blogger and certified product junkie I am thrilled to have somewhere on the ground to get my hands on some of my favorite products. It’s nothing like being able to see/touch/smell products to allow for making a more informed decision. You will definitely have my support, and I can imagine I’ll be making plenty of stops by the store once it opens
So excited!!! Finally I can visit one place locally to get all the products I have been reading about on-line for a very long time. I came acress your website by accident. I was reading about a product and was checking to see if it was sold locally and it listed your place. I checked out your website and was happy to see the large brand selection you carry! Looking forward to visiting you store.
So excited to have you in Houston! Yey!! Can’t wait!
Wow…. Ran into a random blog and read this story. 3 words… You’re selling OYIN! I Love this line but gave it up (exp splurging months) because of the shipping costs. What a blessing to have this. This is SO about to be my next hang out spot. Can’t wait to let the ladies on Oyin’s fb fan page know. We we’re just saying how much we wanted this sold on the With! Looking fwd to the grand opening!
Wow is right! So glad you found us. Definitely spread the word
See you next week!
Stay wavy, curly and kinky,
Paula
very boring. I haven’t rellay thought of the effect it may have in Molly! I think you should do whatever you like and makes you feel good!
You will look beautiful and your girls will second my opinion! 
Cant wait for you guys to open. Ive been eagerly awaiting and I’m ready to spend!
Well we can’t wait to meet you … woo hoo … in exactly 25 hours, we will be open for business!
Yay!! Congrats Paula! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us! I can’t wait to come visit! Natural girls ROCK! Continued blessings! <3
Thank you for providing this much needed resource in Houston! Can’t wait to visit the store. Will you carry the Curl Junkie line, as well?
This is awesome. I love Bee Mine! Now I don’t have to pay for S&H!
WooHoo! Looking forward to meeting you when you come in to get your “Bee Mine Fix” …
I’m so excited! You will carry two of my favorites Oyin and Qhemet. Now, I don’t have to settle for whatever I can find at Sally’s when I run out of what my hair really loves!!! Thank you!
Hi! Thanks! Yep … we have the products right here in the store. Looking forward to meeting you soon.
Stay wavy, curly and kinky,
Paula
This is such an inspiration. I am striving to do the same in Mississippi. I pray much success to you and look forward to supporting you when I visit Houston!
Oh wow, Jelani! Thank you so much for your encouraging response. Please keep me posted and I look forward to meeting you when you visit.
Stay wavy, curly and kinky,
Paula
, I make a conscious eforft not let if get me down and work what I got. Having no hair is liberating and I think it’ll be a long time before I even begin to consider growing it back.
Visited the store on yesterday and much to my surprise I was very pleased with the attention i received and education on quite a few of the products that I wanted to know about. Very knowledgable on everything that was there.. I was so pleased i will be returning VERY soon,,, my hair adored the mixed chicks sample received with my purchase it came in handy.. I also loved the product called Zuresh detangler i was skeptical about it at first but the price was reasonable in case i didnt like it.. but very pleased after using it my hair LOVES it.. Im planning another visiti to purchase the mixed chicks deep condtioner and a few other items I saw while visiting on yesterday. Thank you so much for your time and patience with trying to help me find the best product for my hair.
Hi Rosaland … it was great meeting you! Thank you so much for the kind words and I’m definitely happy that you were pleased with the product you ultimately selected. I’m look forward to seeing you again!
Stay wavy, curly and kinky,
Paula
I stopped in your store on monday and chatted with your mom a bit about how I am so happy there is FINALLY a natural hair store in Houston and in the midst of speaking with you about how I go to grad school in long island I never mentioned I went to undergrad at Howard University and I see here you’re a fellow bison. I can’t wait to come back and spend some more money. Love your store.
Hey! Thanks so much and it is ALWAYS exciting to meet a fellow bison! See you soon!
I enjoyed meeting you at the opening…you are extremely knowledgeable about each and every product. I am also pleased that I do not have to order online and there is finally a store located here that I can see and feel the products before I purchase and all. That being said could you do some research on a product called HYDRATHERMA?
I wish you GOD’s blessing and much success and see ya real soon!
Thanks so much! Huhm … interesting. I am unfamiliar with this one but I will certainly do some research. Until next time and God bless you!
Stay wavy, curly and kinky,
Paula
Hi! I live in Houston and I’ve fallen in love with a product called NouriQue. If you could please let me know if you have this product I would be forever grateful!
Thanks a lot
-M
Hi! We don’t currently carry NouriQue at this time. Hope to see you soon so that you can take a look at what other great products we carry.
I just found out about your store 5 minutes ago! I’m so excited, seeing all of the brands that you currently have. I can’t wait to visit! No more paying shipping charges or waiting, praying that UPS or Fedex doesnt leave my package where someone might take it! No more being frustrated because I’ve tracked my package to my apartment complex, but I can’t get it because I’ve just missed the leasing offices hours due to traffic. Thanks!
WooHoo! Thanks so much! Hope to see you soon!
befo i die…i wanna go visit texas!! well i just wanna go to Houston..Dallas…and San Antonio
I am so glad I found you. I have been ordering Hydratherma Naturals online for a year now. Just found out you are only a few minutes from where I work also. I will definitely be visiting soon to restock on my favoritve products. Thank you so much for what you do for us natural sistahs!