To really understand Shakira, you have to understand her hair. The famous Colombian singer is well known for her long, curly hair that almost looks like it moves with her when she dances. But until recently, no one really knew how she took care of those curls.
Now, with the release of her new hair care brand called Isima, Shakira has shared her hair secrets. She has been using these products herself for four years but is only now letting the public try them. “This line is for me, but I’m happy to share it now.”
I met Shakira one warm Friday in May at a hotel in New York City. She was dressed all in soft pink—from her pants to her top and even her makeup—but I couldn’t stop looking at her hair. Her curls were perfectly shaped but still soft and natural.
They were very long—long enough that she could sit on them, and she even showed me that! Her hair had beautiful honey-colored highlights that didn’t look orange at all, though she said she sometimes struggles with her hair turning a little orange.
Many celebrities create beauty brands, but Shakira seemed especially excited about hers. She talked about Isima with the same love and pride she shows when she talks about her two sons.
These products are very personal to her. At one point, she put some of her hair oil, called Delicia Reparative Hair Oil, into my hand and asked me to try it. She looked a bit nervous to see if I liked it—and I did!
Shakira explained why Isima is so important for the Latin community. She also shared how she takes care of her hair after performing and why her hair often causes her trouble.
About her relationship with her hair:
Shakira said her hair is a “love-hate relationship.” She loves it and needs it, but it also causes her a lot of pain and tears because it can be so hard to manage. Over the years, she has tried many different styles and colors—she has been brunette, blonde, red, straight, wavy, and curly. She has used all kinds of heat tools like hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons. On stage, she uses her hair a lot in her dancing. She joked, “I end up literally sweeping the floor with my hair like a mop.”
On confidence and hair:
Shakira said she can’t imagine herself with very short hair. She tried short hair once and called it the “worst mistake” of her life. She believes many women feel confident and sexy because of their hair. But many of these women don’t have good products to help keep their natural curls healthy. Instead, they often get damaging chemical treatments. Shakira can’t use those treatments anymore because her hair is too fragile.
How Isima was created:
Shakira and her team worked very carefully and slowly to create these products. She tested everything herself because her hair is very complicated. Her hair has been through a lot, and she needs real solutions. She said she is the kind of woman who sometimes leaves the salon crying because her hair is damaged and stressed. Being blonde is especially hard to maintain, and she has overdone it in the past.
For many years, Shakira made her own shampoo and conditioner by asking a pharmacist to mix ingredients for her. But she realized that wasn’t enough. So she got a professional team to help make the products perfect. She gave lots of feedback to make sure everything was just right before launching Isima.
Why Isima is special for Latinas:
Shakira said many Latin people have hair that is hard to care for and don’t have many good product options. Latin hair is very diverse, with different textures and curls. This line is inspired by that diversity and made to help women like her who want healthy hair. For Latinas, hair is very important because it is part of their identity.
Shakira repeated an American phrase, “less is more,” but said for her hair, “more is more.” She needs more care and more products.
Her hair care routine after a show:
After performing, Shakira uses a strong shampoo and a nourishing hair mask called Super Bomba. She explained that a healthy scalp is very important because that’s where hair health starts. Her products also help fix the bonds inside the hair, making it stronger and healthier.
Her hair care before a show:
Right after showering, she uses a curl cream called Curls Don’t Lie. She loves this product because it defines her curls without making them hard or stiff. It makes her hair soft, bouncy, and shiny while also repairing it. She also puts on some of the hair oil.
She lets her hair dry naturally, then braids it in four braids. Later, she takes the braids out and adds more oil to reduce frizz. Sometimes, her stylist uses a curling iron for final touches. The oil also protects her hair from heat damage.
On fragrance:
Shakira talked about how the scent of hair products is part of feeling confident and feminine. She loves the smell of Isima products, which include peonies, freesias, vanilla, musk, kumquat, and apple blossom. She says she gets many compliments on how good she smells. She believes smelling good is as important as looking good.
The meaning of Isima:
The name Isima means “more” or “the most.” It comes from Spanish words like “lindísima” (very pretty) and “guapísima” (very beautiful). The product names are also fun and cute, like the shampoo called Riquísima (rich) and the conditioner called Suavísima (soft). Shakira chose this name because the line wants to offer more solutions to real people with real hair needs.
