As an inventor and business owner, we often wear many hats: CEO, creative, customer service representative and more. Q-Redew inventor Co-Founder/Owner Heidi Schmid joins Garrett and Ceata Lash of the PuffCuff to walk us through her journey, from discovery and international business, to making connections and working with family all while keeping the growth trajectory moving upward!

Get your tickets for DTB2019 happening May 26 in Atlanta here.

Catch a new episode of  From Idea to Invention each Thursday at 8:30pm! Streaming live on Facebook.com/ThePuffCuff and available for download on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. 

Ditch the Band and Revitalize Your Hair! If you ask PuffCuff's inventor, Ceata Lash, about her product's origin and ultimate success, she says it all began with a single idea and a unique need. "I invented PuffCuff as a styling tool for naturally curly and thick hair. I wanted it to be easy to use, durable and sanitary. But most of all, it had to be painless, and gentle on the hair! Plus, it needed to be something both men and women could use." After six successful years, it's easy to say Ceata more than reached her goal.

This month "Ditch the Band LIVE- A PuffCuff Experience" Hair Show makes its return for a second year on May 26th at the Riverside EpiCenter in Austell, GA, from 3 to 7 pm EST. In addition to curating a great, worthwhile experience for our attendees and vendor partners, this event is about embracing and caring for your natural tresses and spreading the word about this fantastic styling tool, which continues to transform the way naturally curly hair is styled.

"When I decided to go natural and love my curls, I realized I also was going to have to find a new way to style and protect it. I wanted my hair to match my active lifestyle and my personality—fun, stylish, and free. "Styling tools on the market were just not good for curly, dense hair," says Ceata. "Up to this point, everything I used put too much tension on my scalp and edges and that caused noticeable damage. "Plus, I suffered from migraine headaches. Elastic and rubber bands produced too much tension and, what I call the 'bunny butt effect.' It was time for the PuffCuff to become real."

Instead of waiting for someone else to come up with a solution, Ceata did it herself. In 2014, she began selling the only hair clamp for thick curly or textured hair. "It's very challenging finding flattering hairstyles for my type 3 curly hair," writes columnist Kathryn Desplanque in the online magazine Naturally Curly. "I've mostly worn my hair down and unadorned for the last decade. But recently, I became curious to see if the curly community had come up with any solution to the simple challenges of wearing your hair in a ponytail for type 3hair in particular. I was delighted to discover that a solution existed in the PuffCuff! "Instead of cinching your hair with an elastic band, your curly hair is held in place with the PuffCuff… I can keep my bangs down, keep tendrils down around my ears, and end up with a looser and more romantic ponytail that stays in place all day."

Made from a durable high impact-resistant plastic, the PuffCuff is designed with a contoured fit. Its wide-opening mouth is specially designed to accommodate thick hair without cinching it. This means no tension headaches from a tight band! Instead, PuffCuff's unique teeth are designed to lock curly hair in place naturally. This unisex hair clamp will not cause hair breakage or damage, and it works with all types of thick hair— including locks, twists, and braids. So, don't allow a "band" to hold you down anymore!

End your dependency on damaging hair accessories at Ditch the Band! This spectacle of natural hair edutainment for the entire family will send you home utterly inspired with tips and tricks to make your crown shine while feeling its absolute best!

Traveling abroad is one of the most enriching things you can do in life. But travel can also take a toll on your curls and coils. When you’re a curly girl on the go you don’t have the luxury of having all of your favorite products at your fingertips. So we created the Curly Girl's Guide to Traveling Abroad. These tips will help you spend less time on your hair and more exploring new lands.

TIP #1: Before you make a flight reservation research the climate of your destination. If it’s humid bring a scarf and hair products that will help you avoid having frizzy curly hair. Heading to a dry climate? There’s no need to pack shampoo and conditioner. Instead, bring a cleansing conditioner for curly hair so that your locks don’t dry out.

YOUR MANE SQUEEZE
You’ll have to prioritize what you pack and narrow down your curly hair care product to the essentials. Include items for curly hair that give you the most bang for your buck. Sometimes that means including multi-functional products like coconut oil. Something that’s great for moisturizing the hair and body. Or pack a multi-tasking product that will help detangle condition and style.

Traveling light? Pack curly hair products that you can carry-on without them being confiscated by TSA like pomade. You can also make your own curly travel kit by filling up leak proof mini bottles with your favorite products.

CUT IT
Get a trim before your trip to ensure that your locks are luscious and healthy before you leave. If you do get a haircut go with a style that will grow with grace. Something that will look good without a trim. Ensuring that your hair won’t look a complete mess before you can return to your regular stylist. You don’t want to take the risk of going to a stylist in a different country who doesn’t have experience with cutting or styling your hair type.

TIP #2: You’ll probably be fine using the shampoo in your hotel room or buying some when you arrive. But if you’re traveling long-term your should pack a full-size bottle of conditioner for your hair type. Since every curly girl uses WAY more conditioner than they do shampoo.

AIRPLANE HAIR
The dry recycled airplane air is not good for your hair. The best way to make sure your hair looks as fresh as you do when you touch down is to add hydration mid-flight. Pack a lightweight oil or a moisture-lock spray and apply while you’re flying the friendly skies. To make sure your curls don’t get crushed while you get your beauty sleep. Try these easy hairstyles for curly hair. Use the PuffCuff to put your hair up in a loose pineapple style (very high ponytail). If your hair is more wavy than curly, do two braids and cross them over in the back. Then use bobby pins to create a crown or halo style. This will be a chic style no matter where you land. The bonus to this style is when you unbraid your hair it will look cute and crimped instead of dry and frizzy.

TIP #3: You’re always looking for the best place to grab a meal or the nearest tourist attraction when you’re traveling. The last thing you want to be searching for is your PuffCuff. Keep it in a safe place with the new PuffCuff Hardcover Carrying Travel Cases. PuffCuff offers two different case styles, a round case, and an oval case. The round case is more compact and will take up less space in your suitcase. Though the oval case has enough room to store your T-shirt Turban or a sleep bonnet.

THE NEW CURL
Don’t be afraid to try new products while traveling. You’ll be surprised at what you find. Do a little digging and figure out which ingredients are best for your hair. For example, does your hair curl better with avocado oil or Argan oil? Look at the list of ingredients on your go-to hair products then find products with similar ingredients while you travel.

TIP #4: Sleep on silk. Hotels always have cotton pillowcases, which are known to dry out your hair. Bring your own silk pillowcases to minimize frizz and keep your curls moisturized.

THE TOWEL TRICK
The towel trick, also known as plopping is an easy way get your hair to dry so that your curls are big and bouncy. Hotel towels can be harsh on curly hair. So be sure to pack a microfiber towel or the PuffCuff Double-Sided T-Shirt Turban. Keep your hair up until it is completely dry. Depending on your hair length and thickness, this can take a few hours. So it might be best to try this technique at night. When you wake up you’ll be ready to see the town with frizz-free curly locks.