How One Writer’s Trip to Jamaica With SheaMoisture Led Her to the Soft Life
SheaMoisture’s new Bond Repair line celebrates the versatility of Black women.
Dragging my suitcase to the car through 25 cm of snow makes the promise of a few sun-filled days with SheaMoisture in Montego Bay, Jamaica, even more alluring. Dubbed a #sheacation, the hair- and skin-care brand’s first international media preview was hosted at the famed Round Hill Hotel and Villas, the five-star estate that was the lush backdrop for the 1998 hit How Stella Got Her Groove Back. It remains a destination for royals and celebs to date. (Fun fact: Usher was spotted on the beach the day before I checked in.)
With an itinerary designed to celebrate the multi-faceted modern Black woman while building community, the highlight reel includes a whine dance class, a market visit to support local vendors, an afternoon catamaran cruise and a lavish farewell dinner with a musical performance by Skip Marley, grandson of Bob. Our group also got a firsthand look at Bond Repair, the recently launched four-step hair care collection from Shea Moisture.
“Black women are versatile. We want to express ourselves as freely as possible,” says Maureen Kitheka, the marketing and engagement lead for the brand in Canada, “Today, we [may] want our natural curls out, and tomorrow a protective style. The next day [it] a silk press, and the day after that our hair is up in a bun. SheaMoisture can support you across your entire regimen.” The new shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner and multi-use hair oil is formulated to help, because switching up your hairstyle can contribute to damage, whether that’s chemical, heat-related or from the mechanical nature of detangling and styling. Amla oil, common in South Asian beauty culture, is the star ingredient.“It’s really known for not only nourishing but strengthening hair,” she says. “Alongside the fair trade shea butter that we use for its moisturizing qualities, [this] an incredible combination of ingredients.”
Being treated to a one-on-one styling session with Lacy Redway is a standout moment. The brand’s celebrity hairstylist, whose star-studded roster includes Iman, Ayo Edebiri and Pamela Anderson, calls my 3C-4C curls the perfect candidate for the restorative line. This is (steel drum) music to my ears. After ending a long-term relationship with relaxer, I’ve embraced my natural texture for over a decade, but contending with brittle ends that are prone to breakage has always been my biggest challenge. “While textured and damaged hair can behave similarly, a telling sign for damaged hair is breakage,” explains Redway. “Your hair can snap off at various points on the hair shaft, and it can lack elasticity, meaning if it’s stretched it may not return to its original shape.” I zero in on the lightweight leave-in conditioner and quickly discover that Redway reaches for it the most, too. “It allows me to lock in moisture before blowdrying, and to hydrate braids before styling them. It’s a quick way to refresh strands,” she says.
My parched hair soaks up the SheaMoisture Bond Repair formula, and the immediate impact is undeniable. My texture looks revived, but more importantly, it feels more resilient. The real surprise comes days later. After all my fun in the sun, with my hair thrown up and brought back down, drenched in the Caribbean Sea and air dried, my curls mirror the feeling that’s been stirred in my soul—they stay notably nourished. I leave Jamaica with the intention to infuse my future with this taste of the soft life, in every way possible.
Ingrie Williams is a freelance beauty writer and editor based in Ontario. She is also the co-founder of The T-Zone, a digital beauty platform she runs with fellow Canadian freelancer Emily MacCulloch. Since achieving a double major BA in Communication Arts and Women’s Studies at York University, Ingrie has contributed style content to the country’s top outlets, including FASHION, Elle Canada, Chatelaine, The Globe & Mail, The Kit and VITA magazine. Known for her signature big curls, she is a long-time yoga enthusiast who also has her sights set on completing a 10k race. Raised with the practice of a hot sauna and cold plunge, Ingrie is elated to see her most beloved self-care ritual take up space in the wellness realm.
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