Kel Tracey’s Real Talk on Curly Hair Struggles, Self-Love, and Finding the Right Product

A Founder-to-Creator Curl Conversation: Featuring Kel Tracey of Arbez Films

Ask any curly-haired creative and they’ll tell you—there’s nothing more transformative than finally embracing your natural hair. But getting there isn’t always easy. It takes patience, experimentation, and a whole lot of unlearning. That’s why, at Flourish By Sage, we love spotlighting stories of women who’ve leaned into their texture with intention—and used their journeys as fuel for their art, identity, and confidence.

One of those women is Kel Tracey, founder of Arbez Films—a creative production company dedicated to telling bold, heartfelt stories rooted in identity, culture, and truth. From behind the camera to in front of her community, Kel brings softness and strength to every project she touches.

I first met Kel in Montclair, NJ, at a local vendor event. She walked straight over to my table, drawn in by the energy—and the curls. Without hesitation, she let me style her natural hair right there on the spot. There was an instant ease between us, like two women who had been through the same storm and finally found shelter.

After the transformation, Kel looked in the mirror and said, “This is about to change my curly life!” And it did. That moment wasn’t just about product—it was about trust, connection, and what happens when your hair finally feels seen.

From Straightening to Moisturizing: Kel’s Curl Story

Growing up, Kel didn’t see her hair as something to nurture—she saw it as something to fix. “There was a time I didn’t even realize my hair could be moisturized” she shared. Like so many of us, she was introduced early to the hot iron, the relaxer, and the belief that “good hair” meant straight hair.

She spent most of her early years—and even into high school—not knowing how to moisturize her hair, care for it, or truly understand what it needed. “My friends told me straight up: ‘You need to get your hair together,’” she said with a laugh. “But honestly, I just didn’t know how. There weren’t any resources around me, no real inspiration. At school, no one was really embracing their natural hair, so I had nothing to reference.”

That changed when she discovered Bianca Renee Today on YouTube—one of the first creators who made natural hair care feel approachable, empowering, and educational. “She was a huge part of me learning how to even begin nurturing my hair.

Still, the journey was anything but simple. “There was so much conflicting information,” Kel recalled. “Frizz was considered bad, big hair was seen as something to control, and if your curls weren’t long, they weren’t beautiful. There was this unspoken rulebook, and it made it all feel overwhelming.”

Kel had to unlearn a lot. She realized that what worked for influencers or Pinterest-perfect curl routines didn’t always work for her—and that was okay. “I had to experiment. I had to figure out what my hair needed, not what looked good online.”

In her late teens, she stopped relaxing her hair—and later, during the pandemic, she made the decision to fully commit to understanding and embracing her natural texture. “That was the first time I allowed myself to explore my hair with intention, instead of trying to change it,” she said.

That self-discovery led her to make a bold commitment: no heat since 2015. It wasn’t just a style decision—it was a statement. A promise to herself.

Over time, she began to embrace her texture in its full, frizzed, coiled, voluminous glory. “Now I love my hair for what it is. I don’t try to force it into something else.”

The transformation wasn’t just physical—it was spiritual. “This journey taught me that hair is tied to emotional and ancestral healing,” she shared. “It’s not just about the curls. It’s about trusting yourself again. Trusting your body.”

The Ritual of Self-Care

For Kel, hair care is more than just a routine—it’s a sacred practice of presence and self-connection. Wash days aren’t a chore—they’re rituals. “I literally put on a playlist and talk to my hair,” she laughed. “Especially when I’m detangling. It’s a full conversation.”

Her thick, high-density curls crave moisture, which means deep conditioners, oils, and creamy stylers have always played a central role in her regimen. But even with all those products, her routine used to feel overwhelming and inconsistent—until she found Flourish By Sage.

“If you had asked me about my routine before your product, it was all over the place,” she said. “Now, I just clarify with shampoo, and then use the Curl Power Hair Soufflé. That’s it. I put it in on Day 1 and don’t have to retouch until Day 4.”

That simplicity changed everything.

“This product has given me the confidence to stop hiding behind hair wraps and finally wear my natural hair out,” Kel shared. “And the compliments? Non-stop. People stop me to ask what I use, they tell me how good my hair smells. Doing my hair feels easy now—because I only need one product. Honestly, there's nothing this product can’t handle.”

She even had one special request: “Please make a hair perfume,” she said with a smile. “I want to carry that scent with me everywhere.”

It’s exactly this kind of transformation that drives our mission at Flourish By Sage. Our Hair Soufflés are crafted with that same care Kel felt—moisture-rich, nutrient-dense, and formulated to help curls feel both soft and supported. Because when your products truly work for you, confidence becomes effortless.

Creativity, Confidence & Camera Work

As a filmmaker, Kel understands the power of visibility. She’s intentional about the stories she tells—and how she shows up while telling them. “When I started wearing my natural hair on set, something shifted,” she shared. “People responded to me differently. But more importantly, I responded to myself differently.”

Natural hair has become a kind of armor for her—not in a hardened way, but in a way that grounds her in softness, realness, and truth. It’s helped her embrace the fact that she doesn’t have to code-switch, shrink, or straighten any part of herself—on set or off.

“I’m not going to compromise how I look to be taken seriously,” she said. “My curls are a reflection of my truth. And if I’m asking other people to show up fully in my work, I have to do the same.”

“I gain a lot of my confidence from my curls. What you see is what you get with me,” Kel shared. “When people see me, I’m always wearing a different hairstyle and outfit. Life is too short—and long at the same time—not to express what God gave me. My hair is a reflection of how I’m feeling on the inside and out.”

She continued, “The truth is, I’ve just started showing up fully for my health and well-being this year. I created an affirmation that says, ‘I take care of myself and my body takes care of me.’ I’m grateful for the wonderful support system I have in my husband and clients, but I also have to give myself grace and kindness.”

What used to be a six-hour wash day has transformed into a time she looks forward to. “Now, I get that time back to pour into myself. And the 30 extra minutes I save by not having to layer products have been tremendously helpful.”

Why Curl Conversations Matter

At Flourish By Sage, we believe storytelling is a form of healing—and that includes the stories we tell ourselves about our hair. Kel’s journey is a powerful reminder that embracing your texture is more than just an aesthetic choice—it’s a radical act of self-acceptance and love.

She’s still exploring what it means to fully love her hair, but she’s already committed to the process. “There’s no one moment where you ‘arrive,’” she said. “It’s ongoing. But every time I care for my curls, I’m caring for myself. That’s the win.”

What truly stood out to Kel wasn’t just the products themselves sharing— “There’s a million curly hair products on the shelves at every beauty supply and retail store..." She continued, "But you brought so much intention and confidence in the value you were offering. You didn’t just talk about what the product could do—you showed me. And it did exactly that. I fell in love not only with the product but with the mission and the brand behind it.”

This personal connection, the genuine care behind Flourish By Sage, is what transforms a routine into a ritual—and a product into a source of confidence and healing.

Kel’s story is a reflection of so many of us—learning to love ourselves more deeply, honoring our truth, and finding beauty in every kink, coil, and curl. At Flourish by Sage, we’re not just here to make hair care easier; we’re here to remind you that you are worthy of softness, intention, and care. Every wash day, every moment of self-investment, is a chance to reclaim your time, your voice, and your beauty on your own terms.

Because flourishing isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It’s about showing up, again and again, for yourself.

To follow more of Kel’s work, visit @arbezfilms or watch her powerful projects unfold behind the scenes.
To nourish your own curl journey, head to flourishbysage.com and take the Hair Quiz to find your match.