June 2013 Curl Kit Review: A Look Back at Natural Hair Products and Subscription Boxes

By Lady Carolyn M. Summerset
Crowning Glory — Coils & Kinks
Originally published June 18, 2013 | Refreshed October 2026

Hello, my beautiful Curl Friends! 💕

Today, we're opening another little treasure from the Crowning Glory archives!

If you were part of the natural hair community back in 2013, you probably remember the excitement surrounding monthly subscription boxes. It was a wonderful time of discovery, experimentation, and learning which products worked best for our curls, coils, and kinks.

One of those popular subscription services was Curl Kit, which introduced natural-haired women to products they might never have discovered otherwise.

For this throwback, we're revisiting the products featured in my June 2013 Curl Kit box, along with some of my original impressions and what the experience taught me about caring for natural hair.

A note from the archives: This article reflects products, formulations, and personal experiences from 2013. Product availability, ingredients, packaging, and prices may have changed. This is a historical review, not a current shopping recommendation.

What's Inside the June 2013 Curl Kit?

This particular box offered a mixture of styling products, conditioners, and hair-care samples. At the time, I loved having the opportunity to explore products without purchasing an entire collection.

Among the items featured were Curl Keeper, Curl Max Twisty Curly Spray, Caviar Curls Velvet Leave-In Detangler, Oyin Handmade Hair Dew, and other sample products.

Let's revisit a few of the highlights!

1. Curl Keeper: Finding the Balance Between Definition and Hold

Curl Keeper was among the products that caught my attention.

During that period, natural-haired women were searching for products that would provide curl definition without leaving their hair excessively stiff, sticky, or weighed down.

Curl Keeper was promoted as a styling product designed to help manage frizz and improve curl control, particularly in humid conditions.

What interested me most was the idea of having definition while maintaining the movement of my curls.

And ladies, isn't that one of our ongoing challenges?

We want definition, but we also want our hair to feel like hair!

Looking back: Hair texture, porosity, application technique, and the products layered underneath a styler can all influence the results. A product that performs beautifully for one woman may produce an entirely different experience for another.

2. Curl Max Twisty Curly Spray: Refreshing Those Curls

Another interesting product was Lustrasilk Curl Max Twisty Curly Spray.

The product was marketed as a curl-enhancing spray, and I was particularly interested in how a lightweight spray might work for refreshing natural curls.

One thing I've learned throughout my natural hair journey is that refreshing does not always require starting the entire styling process over again.

Sometimes a small amount of water or a suitable leave-in product is enough to help reshape curls and restore a softer appearance.

However, applying too much product can lead to buildup or unwanted stickiness.

My takeaway: Start with a little, observe how your hair responds, and add more only when necessary.

For ladies with fine natural hair, lightweight products can be especially helpful when heavier formulations leave strands feeling coated.

3. Caviar Curls Velvet Leave-In Detangler: Moisture and Manageability

Detangling has always been an important part of maintaining healthy natural hair.

The Caviar Curls Velvet Leave-In Detangler was another product featured in this box.

I was interested in its potential for helping with softness, manageability, and reducing friction during detangling.

A good detangling routine is about more than finding a product with plenty of slip.

It also involves patience, working in sections, and handling fragile strands carefully.

One lesson that continues to serve me well is that gentle handling is just as important as the products we use.

4. Oyin Handmade Hair Dew: A Lightweight Moisture Option

Now, here was a product that certainly caught my attention!

Oyin Handmade Hair Dew was presented as a moisturizing leave-in lotion, and products of this nature have always interested me.

Throughout my natural hair journey, I have found that my fine strands often respond better to liquid leave-ins and lighter oils than to heavy creams and butters.

A leave-in product that softens my hair without overwhelming it is always worth exploring.

Of course, every head of natural hair has its own personality!

What works beautifully for my hair may not be what your curls prefer.

The important thing is learning to recognize when your hair needs moisture, when it needs gentle cleansing, and when it simply needs to be left alone.

5. Exploring Other Samples in the Box

The June 2013 Curl Kit also provided an opportunity to explore other products and samples, including treatments and conditioning options.

This was one of the things I appreciated about subscription boxes.

They gave women access to different brands, textures, fragrances, and formulations without requiring a commitment to a full-size product.

But there was another side to this experience.

Sometimes having too many products encouraged us to change our routines too frequently.

And ladies, I certainly understand the temptation!

A new product would arrive, someone would post a beautiful twist-out, and suddenly we were ready to change everything about our hair-care regimen. LOL!

Over time, I've learned that consistency and understanding my own strands matter far more than collecting every new product.

What the June 2013 Curl Kit Taught Me

Looking back at this subscription box reminds me just how much the natural hair community has grown.

In those earlier years, many of us were learning about curl patterns, moisturizing techniques, ingredient lists, and protective styling through blogs, YouTube videos, and conversations with one another.

We experimented, made mistakes, discovered favorites, and sometimes spent money on products that simply didn't work for our hair.

But every experience taught us something.

Today, I encourage women to approach natural hair care with a little more patience and a lot more confidence.

You do not need a cabinet filled with products to develop a successful routine.

You need an understanding of your hair, gentle handling, suitable products, and the willingness to adjust when necessary.

More Natural Hair Care From Crowning Glory

1. If you're working on keeping your curls soft and hydrated, read 10 Ways to Keep Your Natural Hair Moisturized.

2. Wondering why some moisturizers work better than others? Visit What Is Hair Porosity? A Simple Guide to Moisture and Natural Hair Care.

3. For styling inspiration, enjoy The Ultimate 3C & 4A Wash-and-Go: Beautiful Curl Definition Without All the Frizz!.

Let's Talk, Ladies!

Do you remember receiving natural hair subscription boxes?

Were you a product junkie back in the early days of the natural hair movement, or did you find a few favorites and stick with them?

And here's another question: Have you ever rediscovered an old product and wondered why you stopped using it?

Share your memories in the comments!

Remember, beautiful hair isn't about following every trend. It's about discovering what works for your own unique crown.

Happy Curls to You! 💕

Lady Carolyn M. Summerset
Crowning Glory — Coils & Kinks
Celebrating Every Coil, Every Kink, Every Crown.

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