Curly Journey
Making curly hair care education accessible and empowering
Project overview
Timeline: Aug 2023 - Apr 2024
Role: Sole UX designer (undergrad capstone)
Tools: Figma, Dovetail, Illustrator
Project scope
35+ high-fidelity screens
UI component library
Brand style guide & marketing pieces
Gallery installation with 100+ visitors
From confusion to confidence
My own struggles with curly hair led to a surprising discovery: I wasn't alone. Interviews with 5 women (ages 18-31) revealed a deeper truth: this wasn't just about managing curls—it was about confidence and self-image.
View full journey map in FigJam
“I want to know not just what my curl pattern is, but why it matters." - Malini, 18
These insights became my north star for simplifying complex hair care information.
Simplifying the complex: redesigning the curly hair quiz
The key to building confidence was making hair education accessible. Here's how the curl quiz evolved from technical overload to clear, actionable guidance:
Initial version: Information overload
Key issues:
Technical jargon dominated the experience
"Confidence level" metric confused users
Results lacked actionable context
“I don't need a quiz to know how confident I am. ” Iman, 20
Final version: Clear, digestible results
Key improvements:
Direct results: "You have a 3a curl pattern"
Expandable sections for deeper learning
Beginner-friendly explanations
Accordions simplifying curl terms on the results page
Innovation through emotion: Curl tracker
The journey map revealed how emotions fluctuate throughout the hair care process. This insight led to an daily curl tracking feature.
Why this approach works:
Combines practical tracking with emotional support
Uses playful animation to form an engaging interaction
Provides encouraging feedback based on user response
When users report a challenging hair day, they receive:
"Fingers crossed for better hair days. Your responses have been saved to help track any patterns with your hair over time."
User impact: 5/5 participants were delighted by this supportive response.
Crafting a cohesive experience
The hair quiz and tracker are supported by 3 key features:
Product recommendations
Organized by wash day routine
Curated for user's curl pattern
Ability to save products to “My Routine”
Profile: Everything in one place
Daily curl tracking
Educational hair guide
Quiz results & retake option
Supportive community forums
Welcoming, user-friendly writing
Filtering by curl type & concerns
Safe space for sharing experiences and advice
Brand identity: From digital to physical
Building trust required a brand that felt both professional and approachable:
Accessible brand identity using psychology-backed color choices
UI component library ensuring consistent, professional experiences across 35+ screens
Digital marketing materials highlighting key app features
3D-printed brand elements and stickers to enhance gallery experience
Gallery exhibition and impact
The project culminated in an interactive gallery installation where:
100+ visitors engaged with the prototype
The concept resonated for its empowering approach to hair care
Visitors praised the prototype's intuitive, easy-to-follow flow
“I feel like you encompassed it all ... people don’t know that curly hair is a process." - Nada, 23
Final prototype
Key learnings
Simplify without sacrificing depth
Removed unnecessary features (like confidence level)
Added contextual education where it mattered most
Balance function with emotion
Digestible educational content builds understanding
Supportive language fosters confidence
Interactive elements makes the brand memorable
Design for the journey
Created clear progression from learning to daily use
Built features that aligned with direct user needs