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Top 10 Edge Tamers for Natural Hair- ‘The Slick Back’

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From wash and go’s to stylish updos while temperatures climb, or for slicked back ponytails for a polished 9 to 5 look, sleek edges are the cornerstone for many of the most chic natural hair styles. Taming curly, kinky, and coily edges can be a daunting task, but luckily these 10 products are up for the job. Decide what level of hold you’re looking for and find the one that will work for you!

**Soft Hold Products
If you prefer a softer, more natural looking hold, these products are for you. Get some extra mileage from them by gently spritzing your edges with water first before applying:

1. Qhemet Biologics Aethiopika Hydrate and Twist Butter – $14.00
Based in olive oil, mango butter, and rice bran oil, this omega and ceramide rich blend provides perfectly soft sleekness while nourishing your edges. Especially great for edges prone to thinning or breakage.

2. Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp and Tamanu Grow & Strengthen Edge Taming Taffy – $11.99
Full of shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil, this nourishing taffy provides hold and softness for any style.

**Flexible Hold Products
If you prefer the best of both worlds, these products will work wonders for you. They are versatile enough to slick your hair up for the day, and shake loose for a wild look (with polished edges, of course) at night:

3. Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Edge Control Gel – $8.99
With coconut oil and aloe vera, this edge control gel will provide medium hold and maximum hydration. A must-have for edges sensitive to styling products. Oh, it also won the Best of the Best Awards!

4. Curls Passion Fruit or Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste – $12.00
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with these two. Both contain yummy extracts great for natural hair, and provide touchable hold free of stickiness. If your edges are in need of moisture and hold, opt for the Passion Fruit variety that contains glycerin, castor oil, mango, jojoba, and more. To strengthen your edges while adding hold, the Blueberry Bliss option adds keratin, quinoa, and silk amino acids to the mix.

Palm, neem, and vitamin E oils feed the hair while this herbal-based balm provides shine, hold, and sleekness.

6. Creme of Nature with Argan Oil Perfect Edges – $4.99
Blended with glycerin, castor oil sweet almond, and argan oils, this medium hold edge tamer will provide sleekness, shine, and nourishment to your edges. The added bonus of keratin and protein will help strengthen edges to make sure they’re here for the long haul!

**Strong Hold Products
Feel like nothing works to hold your edges in place? Give these 4 mega-sleeking options a try:

7. EcoStyler Gel with Argan Oil – $2.75
Good ol’ Eco. If you’re looking for a budget friendly, alcohol-free gel to slick back edges, this is the one. It can harden and form a gel cast, so mixing it during application with your favorite oil will help hold back the crunchies.

8. Design Essentials Honey and Shea Edge Tamer – $11.99
Packed with glycerin and castor oil, this edge tamer will hydrate, protect, and hold edges in place for the long haul.

9. As I Am Smoothing Gel – $8.00
Versatile enough for edges and styling, this gel will provide super sleek edges and hold without hardening and drying alcohols. For maximum slickness, gently spritz edges with water before applying.

10. Obia Natural Hair Curl Enhancing Custard – $15.00
Another curl defining and edge controlling favorite, this thick custard will give your curls and edges desired hold without making them crunchy. Enriched with grape seed, argan, and olive oils, the custard will provide hold, shine, and hydration.

As always, when it comes to your edges, remember:

  • MIND your ingredients. Steer clear of drying alcohols, and products with petroleum and mineral oil that will clog your follicles. 
  • LESS is more.If you can, slick your edges back with your hands instead of a brush. To lock them in place, tie a satin scarf over them while you finish getting ready.
  • AVOID tight pulling and style repetition. Leave buns, ponytails, and updos a little loose to avoid too much tugging and pulling. If you can, move them around from time to time to avoid repetitive stress to the same area (high bun, low pony, etc.)
  • SLEEP on satin.Pillowcases, scarves, and bonnets all reduce friction between your hair and pillows or sheets. Be sure to protect your edges before tying up hair too!
How do you smooth your edges? What’s your favorite product and regimen?

This article was originally published on June 2014 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.

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(Video) MUMU FRESH – “MY WHY” @maimounayoussef

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Grammy-nominated Washington, D.C.-based singer/songwriter/emcee Mumu Fresh presents her new single “My Why”. Produced by Carvin Haggins and Johhny Smith, “My Why” will appear on The Healing, Mumu’s forthcoming album which will also feature contributions from DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nile Hargrove, 14KT, Daniel Crawford, Vidal Davis, DJ Dummy and more. Mumu has collaborated with Lil Wayne & Tech N9ne (stream “Too Good”), Busta Rhymes, Salaam Remi & Black Thought of The Roots (watch the music video for “No Peace”) and Common (watch Mumu Fresh and Common perform “I Used To Love H.E.R.” live) and Tobi Nwigwe (watch the music video for “Tundah Fiyah”). Mumu has performed on two separate NPR Tiny Desk concerts (watch Mumu Fresh featuring Black Thought of The Roots & DJ Dummy on NPR’s Tiny Desk) and has performed worldwide at events like the Essence Music Festival, Montreux Switzerland’s Jazz Festival and Dubai’s Sole Fest DBX. “State of Emergency” marks another chapter in a career of self-described “art activism” for the Baltimore native who has performed and given lectures within the US prison system, The Congressional Black Caucus, I.M.A.N. Central in Chicago & Atlanta, The W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation and The Indigenous People’s Movement. Mumu is co-creator of the Recording Academy’s “Best Song For Social Change” trustee award which went live in 2023 at the 66th GRAMMY awards show and was presented by The First Lady, Jill Biden. The winner of Indigenous Music, Washington Area Music (WAMMIE) and Urban World Music Video awards, Mumu has served as Musical and Cultural Ambassador for the US State Department, Ambassador of The Black Music Collective and is a former elected governor of the DC chapter of The Recording Academy. Mumu describes “My Why” as “a tribute to that person(s), place, or thing in your life that is your “WHY”. Your reason not to give up. Your reason to keep trying and to push a little harder than you thought you could. You why reminds you of what you’re made of and brings out the best in you.” The Healing drops April 19.

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Santa Sallet X Nemizzo (MSP) – “Big Hands”

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DMV-based rapper/producer Santa Sallet and France-based producer Nemizzo are MSP, presenting their new single “Big Hands”. Sallet has been busy showcasing his brand of East Coast braggadocious rap across a slew of recent singles like “Camouflage” (watch on Youtube), “I Get Money” (watch on Youtube), “Championship Ring” (watch on Youtube) and “Chinese Funk” (watch on Youtube) in preparation for the release of Plutography, Sallet’s forthcoming album which blends salsa beats, southern trap, and eastern jazz with classic and conventional rap samples, reflecting Sallet’s international upbringing across South Africa, Dominica and the US. Sallet is planning a series of full-length releases, among them C.R.E.A.M. which recounts his journey from broke to financially free, and Women and R.A.P. which describe his pursuit of success in relationships and the music industry respectively. “This is the song that really started MSP Tunes,” Santa says. “Nemizzo had laid down his verse and I was like, let me try something on this and I just talked about what I knew. What I think is funny, the outro is actually me recording a bunch of potential beat tags. There was a miscommunication and Nemizzo extended the beat and made it the outro. I like it though lol.” Check out Santa Sallet merch here.

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Big YBA Releases Highly-Anticipated ‘Definition Of Living’ [Deluxe]

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Upping the ante, NC representative Big YBA unloads the Deluxe edition of his most recent album the Definition of Living. Featuring five new tracks including “New York,” “For Your Love,” “Rap Assassin,” “Rebellious,” and “Cut ‘Em Off,” which was premiered by way of popular live performance platform Off The Curb, the enhanced body of work accents the original flawlessly.

Three months removed from his “Swag Surfin'” sampling collaboration “Hypnotic” featuring Rich The Kid signee SetitOff83 and the strategic seeding of LP standouts “30, “Rookie, “Lord Forgive Me,” “Venting Session,” “Mercy,” and “DOA,” the now 20 track collection of songs includes a lone guest appearance from GetRichZay while production duties are handled by Jozzex, KH Beatz, Maineestreamm, Prod No Heart, and Trippy XVI.

Raised in Durham, Big YBA is rapidly emerging as one of the most electrifying young artists from the Carolinas. With a brand built on authenticity, his versatility and melodic sound have allowed him to break through the industry release after release. Determined to experience success outside of his hometown, he views his personal and professional growth as motivation for listeners with similar ambitions.

Stream the Definition of Living (Deluxe) via Nu Nation / Vydia as well as watch his Off The Curb performance visual for “Cut ‘Em Off” after the jump.

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