Diva Smooth
Exploring smoother strands, natural ingredients, and the beauty of styling versatility
By Lady Carolyn M. Summerset
Crowning Glory — Coils & Kinks
Originally published May 13, 2013 | Refreshed October 2026
Hello, my beautiful Curl Friends! 💕
Have you ever loved your natural curls and coils but occasionally wanted to wear your hair straight, smooth, and flowing?
I certainly understand that feeling!
One of the beautiful things about our natural hair journey is the freedom to explore different styles. Some days, we want our coils beautifully defined. Other days, we may want a twist-out, an elegant updo, or a sleek, straight hairstyle.
And there's nothing wrong with enjoying that versatility!
Today, we're reaching into the Crowning Glory archives to revisit a product that caught my attention in 2013: Diva Smooth by Janelle Beauty.
What Was Diva Smooth?
When I first discovered Diva Smooth, it was being promoted as a natural alternative to traditional chemical relaxers.
The idea was intriguing.
Instead of permanently changing the hair's natural curl structure with a chemical relaxer, the treatment was designed to help create a smoother appearance when used as part of a heat-styling routine.
For women transitioning away from relaxers or simply wanting occasional straight hairstyles, that sounded especially appealing.
But let's understand an important distinction.
A smoothing treatment is not necessarily a chemical relaxer.
Products containing conditioning ingredients may improve softness, manageability, and shine. However, achieving a straight hairstyle with a flat iron still involves heat, and excessive heat can damage textured hair.
A product described as natural does not automatically guarantee protection against heat damage.
A Look Back at the Ingredients
The original Diva Smooth formula advertised in 2013 included several familiar ingredients:
Honey: A humectant that can attract and retain moisture under suitable conditions.
Olive oil: An emollient that helps lubricate hair strands and reduce friction.
Sugar extract: Included in the original smoothing mixture.
Cornstarch: Used in cosmetic formulations to help influence product texture.
Lemon extract and vinegar: Acidic ingredients whose effects depend on the concentration and overall formulation.
Vitamin E: Commonly included in cosmetic products as an antioxidant.
Essential oils: Often incorporated for fragrance and other formulation purposes.
These ingredients help explain why the product attracted attention within the natural hair community.
However, individual ingredients do not tell us everything about how a finished product performs.
The complete formulation, application instructions, hair condition, and styling techniques all matter.
Archival note: These ingredients reflect descriptions of the product available during the original review period. They should not be treated as a verified ingredient list for products currently sold.
Can You Straighten Natural Hair Without a Relaxer?
Yes, ladies! Natural hair can be temporarily straightened using methods such as blow-drying, roller setting, and flat-ironing.
But there is an important difference between temporarily smoothing natural hair and permanently altering its structure.
Chemical relaxers change bonds within the hair shaft to produce a lasting straightened pattern.
Heat styling generally produces a temporary straight appearance, but repeated or excessive heat can permanently weaken the hair or alter its curl pattern.
If you enjoy wearing your natural hair straight occasionally, remember these precautions:
Start with clean, conditioned, thoroughly detangled hair.
Use a heat protectant designed for your styling method, following its directions.
Make sure hair is appropriately dry before flat-ironing.
Choose the lowest effective temperature rather than automatically selecting the highest setting.
Limit repeated passes over the same sections.
Give your hair time between heat-styling sessions.
The goal should never be achieving a beautiful hairstyle at the expense of your strands.
What About Our 3C and 4A Curls?
My beautiful ladies with 3C, 4A, and other textured hair patterns, remember that no two heads of natural hair behave exactly alike.
Some strands are fine and delicate. Others are coarse, dense, highly porous, or particularly prone to tangling.
This is why one smoothing product may work beautifully for one woman but produce disappointing results for another.
Our hair responds differently depending on its condition, previous treatments, environmental humidity, and the products used.
Before experimenting with unfamiliar products, I encourage you to examine the current ingredient list, follow the manufacturer's directions, and consider a small section test.
Most importantly, resist the temptation to judge your beautiful natural texture by how easily it straightens.
Your curls and coils are not a problem that needs correcting.
They are part of your crown!
What I Appreciate About Looking Back
One of my favorite things about revisiting these early Crowning Glory articles is seeing how much our understanding of natural hair care has developed.
Back in 2013, many of us were researching new products, experimenting with styling techniques, and discovering what our hair actually needed.
There was so much excitement surrounding products that promised smoother, softer, more manageable natural hair.
Today, I approach those promises with greater curiosity and a more careful eye.
Does the product help with detangling?
Does it improve the feel of the hair?
Can it fit into a healthy routine without requiring excessive heat or manipulation?
And perhaps most importantly, does it work for my hair?
Those are the questions worth asking.
Your Crown, Your Choice
Ladies, whether you prefer a gorgeous wash-and-go, a voluminous twist-out, beautiful braids, or an occasional sleek hairstyle, remember that healthy hair care begins with understanding your own strands.
We do not have to straighten our curls to make them beautiful.
And we do not have to avoid every other hairstyle to celebrate being natural.
The beauty is having the freedom to choose while treating our hair with care.
Our crown is beautiful in every texture, every style, and every season of our journey.
Let's Talk, Ladies!
Have you ever used Diva Smooth or another natural-hair smoothing treatment?
Did you enjoy the results, or did you discover that your curls preferred a different styling method?
And do you enjoy wearing your natural hair straight occasionally, or are you a curls-and-coils girl all the way?
Share your experiences in the comments. I would love to hear from you!
Until next time, my beautiful Curl Friends...
Happy Curls to You! 💕
From the Crowning Glory Archives — Refreshed October 2026.
© 2026 Crowning Glory — Coils & Kinks by Lady Carolyn M. Summerset. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or republished without prior written permission of the author.
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