Do you feel like voting doesn't matter?

Are you registered to vote?

If you are registered to vote, do you plan on voting in both local and presidential elections?

If you are not registered to vote, will you reconsider registering?

These are the four questions that we asked our followers, in which 3,158 of you answered. You voiced your concerns and qualms with the political system we live in and the government which watches over us, and for good reason. We have spent countless years fighting for our rights, to be seen and treated as equal, and this Juneteenth we are remembering that our fight is not over. We are committing $4,000 to organizations that fight for the rights and representation of Black individuals, splitting the amount between the Know Your Rights Camp and the African American Policy Forum. For a brief history of Juneteenth, an open letter from our founder Ceata Lash, and how you can be part of changing this country to be equal for all, continue to read below.

Juneteenth marks when Union general Gordan Granger delivered federal orders to Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865, declaring the last remaining slaves to be freed two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Also known as Freedom Day, the celebration of this event and its telling throughout history has waxed and waned due to efforts to stop its remembrance and remove it from history books. Still, it has seen a massive resurgence as people continue to fight for their civil rights in the modern-day. Heralded by many as "America's Second Independence Day," Juneteenth is one of many civil rights-related events being reclaimed and celebrated across the nation.

A Letter From Our Founder

The PuffCuff stands in solidarity with the families of the victims of police brutality and supports the countless people across the globe who are championing the end of inequality towards Black people. This Juneteenth, we are reminded our fight for civil rights is on-going, as we stand up against police brutality and the injustices against Black people. I am a Black business owner — serving not only the Black community. It is my responsibility to use the platform I have to make changes in any way I can, by hiring and empowering other Black individuals or using it to uplift and amplify the voices of others. Social media has evolved into one of the most excellent tools of empowerment. It allows us to teach, learn, tell our stories, and create invaluable connections with one another during both good and bad times. I'm incredibly grateful to be in a position where I can hire and support a diverse staff who work both behind the scenes and in front of the camera for the PuffCuff. 

This month, we conducted a poll in which we pledged $1 per person who voted and 3,158 of you voted. We want to thank everyone involved, and we have rounded up our total amount donated to $4,000, which will be split to benefit the Know Your Rights Camp and the African American Policy Forum. You can continue to scroll to learn more about these two organizations. We hope to continue to inspire this generation who so firmly stands up for what is right in the face of adversity, fighting for equality in a system that has been unequal and oppressive for far too long. 

This November marks the presidential elections, and we deeply encourage you to continue using the momentum and energy behind this movement to cast your vote to restructure our system as we continue to make changes in this country boldly and unapologetically.

Learn more about how you can get involved and what elections are happening near you at Ballotpedia.Org, and learn how you can register to vote to make your voice heard by visiting Vote.Org.

Stay safe, be blessed, and be a blessing.

- Ceata Lash

African American Policy Forum 

Founded in 1996, the African American Policy Forum connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequalities. They work to promote the framework and strategies that address a vision of racial justice that embraces the intersections of race, gender, class, and the array of barriers that disempower those who are marginalized in society. Learn more about this organization at https://aapf.org/

Know Your Rights Camp 

Founded by Colin Kaepernick, the Know Your Rights Camp’s mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization, and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders. You can learn more about the Know Your Rights Camp at https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/

Smaller than ever but still just as big of a deal, PuffCuff reveals the newest member of the family, the PuffCuff TEENY! Adding to the already extensive family of PuffCuff sizes, the TEENY is our smallest size yet and is just as versatile as it is small, allowing even more people access to the damage-free, headache-free, and crimp-free design of the PuffCuff. The TEENY is available for presale NOW until July 13th and ships late July.

One size does NOT fit all which is why we offer the PuffCuff in a wide range of sizes, unlike elastic bands that stretch to restrict your curls, which creates damage-causing tension. The PuffCuff uses the natural fullness of your curls to gently hold them in place, with different sizes to choose from depending on your hair’s curl pattern and thickness. The TEENY came about thanks to feedback from our customers who loved our existing range but felt like even the MICRO was just a little too big. So, we took that feedback to heart and created the TEENY for those with fine, loose curls. The TEENY is also useful for those with tighter, thicker curls who want even more styling options. 

While the MICRO is 1.5 inches in diameter, the TEENY is HALF that size with a diameter of .75 inches. It’s perfect for gathering and holding loose curls or for stepping up your next ‘fro-hawk, pair of space buns, half-up-half-down, or next multi-puff style. Not sure which PuffCuff size you need? Visit our What Size Do I Need page for instructions on how to find your ideal PuffCuff, plus tips and tricks that’ll make you a PuffCuff pro!

The TEENY is available in both clear and classic black and will be available for presale until July 13th or until our available 500 packs sell out, whichever comes first. Get yours before they’re gone by clicking the button below!

 PuffCuff TEENY will ship in late July.

For us, by us? We bet you’d be surprised to learn that you aren’t supporting black-owned beauty brands when you shop some of the largest natural hair brands out there. There’s no doubt that there has been a boom of black-owned beauty brands, but if we aren’t mindful of who we’re supporting with our dollar those black businesses might never get the chance to grow. Last year we did some research to find out “Why Koreans own most Black Beauty Supply Stores.” We quickly discovered that black women spend an estimated $7.5 billion annually on beauty products, but how much of that is going back into the pockets of black-owned beauty brands? 

This sparked our curiosity to see how many of the black hair product companies that market to black people are actually black-owned, and we were surprised by how many of the most popular brands weren't. Including; African Pride, ElastaQP, Smooth ’N Shine, Ultra Sheen, Sulfur 8, Infusium 23, Mizani, Dark and Lovely, Optimum Care, Soft & Beautiful, Doo Gro, Dax, Creme of Nature, African Best, Pro-Line (Just for Me), and Dr. Miracles to name more than a few. To help support our community of black business owners, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite black owned hair care brands that you can support with your dollars.

Taliah Waajid — Taliah Waajid is a Hairstylist and the “Queen of Curly, Coily, Natural Hair Care”. Her quality products help promote healthy using natural ingredients, fruits, and herbal extracts. This brand has been killing the natural hair game for over 25 years.

PuffCuff Founder Ceata Lash with Uncle Funky's Daughter CEO Renee Rhoten Morris

Uncle Funky's Daughter - Led by Chief Curl Officer Renee Rhoten Morris, who boasts over 20 years of her own natural hair journey, Uncle Funky's Daughter offers a full line of sustainable, chemical-free hair care products that tame frizz and provide long lasting curl definition.

Miss Jessie’s — Sisters Miko and Tito opened the first Miss Jessie’s Salon in 1997. They saw a need for curly hair professionals that wasn’t being filled. Daughters of a Japanese mother and African-American father, their multi-textured hair had been mistreated for years. Until they decided the best way was to do it themselves. And offer their services to other natural and naturally curly clients. Since 2004 they’ve produced a natural hair care line for kinky, coiled, curly and wavy hair. The products range from styling cremes, moisturizers, and deep conditioning treatments.

Design Essentials —CEO and President, Cornell McBride, Sr. made millions with his first few products in the eighties. After selling to Johnson Products in 1989 he began developing The Design Essentials hair care system which was launched in 1990. Design Essential products are engineered to infuse hair with a natural balance of vitamins and protein that promote movement and manageability. They offer a variety of products for different hair types and concerns which can be found on the drugstore shelf or at the salon.

Sienna Naturals — Sienna Naturals is the product that “puts hair-care first”. The four-step, plant-based hair routine is a simple and easy way to give textured hair what it needs most. Created by Howard University grad and mother Hannah Diop when she couldn’t find products that truly nourished her hair.

The Mane Choice — Once a home-based company The Mane Choice is now a multi-million-dollar brand. The company made history as the first hair vitamin to be featured in the hair aisle at Target. The main goal of CEO Courtney Adeleye is to make sure every product she offers works from the inside out. Beautifying while improving the health of her customers.

Kinky-Curly — Kinky-Curly is a leading haircare brand for naturalistas. Shelley Davis founded the company in 2003. And has continued to offer products free from petroleum, mineral oil, alcohol, silicone, parabens, and acrylics. Their products are specially formulated to provide moisture and stronghold without drying out curls.

Jane Carter Solution — A hairstylist and salon owner for 20 years, Jane created her line after having an allergic reaction to the hair products she’d been using on clients. Disappointed by the lack of chemical-free product choices, Carter formulated a hair care line for all hair types and textures using plant-derived ingredients.

Mixed Chicks - Bringing attention to the growing number of multi-cultural people, Wendy Levy and Kim Etheredge created Mixed Chicks to fill the void of curly hair care products for those of mixed descent. Leading the multi-cultural revolution, Wendy and Kim are welcoming a new era for curls as they find themselves on each continent in the world.

PuffCuff — The PuffCuff was created by Ceata E. Lash when she changed her lifestyle and her hairstyle. As a new naturalista, she searched for hair accessories that worked with the thickness and texture of her hair. Not against it. Everything she found was created for thin, straight hair and would cause hair breakage, damage or cinched her hair to its smallest point of resistance. So she set out to create an easy-to-use styling tool that was sanitary, durable, affordable and could help create quick looks without stressing the hair. In 2014 the PuffCuff was born and it is still one of the few styling tools that can be used on the curls, waves, braids and locs of men, women, and children.

Eden Bodyworks — At 13 years old, Jasmine Lawrence couldn’t find the right products to care for her damaged hair. So she founded her own line and shared it with the world. 10 years later her line has expanded to include body and kids collections and can be found at drug stores nationwide.

Girl + Hair — Depending on the season and reason, Founder, Dr. Camille Verovic would choose a preferred protective style, such as hair extensions, crochet braids, wigs, braids, or weaves. She soon realized that there was no natural hair care product that helped maintain and grow her natural hair while it was put away in a braided protective style. So in 2010, she created Girl + Hair. Each product flows through a specially designed nozzle tip into the braided hair and onto the scalp.

The Afro Hair & Skin Co. — This British brand is a purveyor of pure plant magic. They handcraft organic hair and skin products using natural and locally sourced ingredients. The company’s Founder and Creative Director Ibi Meier-Oruitemeka is an advocate for holistic health and wellness in black women. She seeks to eliminate the common toxins that contribute to the undermining of black women's health by providing high functioning all-natural alternatives.

Hairfinity — When Tymeka Lawrence and husband Brock Lawrence, couldn't find products that were both safe and effective,  they created Brock Beauty. Their Hairfinity Hair Vitamins broke the internet when celebrities like the Kardashians and Nicki Minaj endorsed them. Since then, the brand has grown into a full-scale hair care line with shampoo, conditioner, oil, masks, and repair kits.

As a Black-owned business with a platform, it is our responsibility to help amplify the various organizations, funds, and petitions that work to help bring justice to victims of police brutality while also holding government officials accountable through our power to vote. In addition to donating $1 to the memorial funds of those recently killed by police for each person who completes our One Vote = One Dollar poll, we also encourage our followers to petition or donate to organizations seeking justice for victims of racism and police brutality.

The nation has been swept by anti-racism protests following the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police on May 25th, which has gained attention and support from countless countries across the world. As the protests continue to see momentum, they have gained the support of numerous countries, a growing list which includes Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Berlin, Spain, London, Nigeria, Kenya, Tel Aviv, Australia, New Zealand, and many more. We are encouraging our supporters to continue the momentum by voting and holding police and government officials accountable for their actions by using our voices and votes to ultimately restructure the institution that has failed Black America.

[Map of protests in solidarity with George Floyd and Black Lives Matter, provided by Al Jazeera]

The following link will lead you to a master list of resources and organizations where you can find petitions, information on where to donate to support the families of victims, resources for those protesting or those in need of mental health services, and more.

Most importantly, we encourage our followers to vote. Systemic changes are brought by a variety of movements, and voting is one of the greatest tools that we have as citizens to remove those who fail to protect us through legislation. Our voting power is so strong, that disenfranchisement has become a method used to discourage and defeat our power. As we see the rise of Black leaders who have been voted in through the power of our voices it is clear that we can make a change on all levels, from federal to local elections. 

For more information on how you can get involved and what elections are happening near you, visit Ballotpedia.org. For those seeking to register to vote or want more information on how to make your voice heard, find more information at Vote.Org.

Sources: 

Mapping Anti-Racist Solidarity Protests Around The World - Al Jazeera

Mapping of Police Killings of Black Americans - Al Jazeera 

• Stats provided by Mapping Police Violence

Join PuffCuff Inventor, Founder and CEO, Ceata and Garrett as they talk with the Co-Founder and President of Mixtroz, Ashlee Ammons about how her app is revolutionizing how we meet people at events.

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.