Category Archives: Hair Crush

May15

Tia’s HairStory

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Tia’s HairStory

Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
My name is Tia. I would describe myself as a very open-minded, free-spirited individual. I love to laugh, to learn and I love hard. I’m also a Pisces.

How long have you been natural and why did you chose to go natural?
I have been natural most of my life. I say most because, when I was 13, my mom gave me a relaxer because she didn’t know what to do with my puffy hair and I was tired of wearing a ponytail. However, after that first time, she never did it again and my hair has never been the same since. My once mid-back length hair is now growing in two different patterns, a “natural layer,” if you will. I am now 27.

Did you transition or big chop?
Ummm, lol. I guess, technically, I transitioned since I’ve let it grow out since 13.

What is/was your biggest hair challenge/obstacle? How did you overcome it or what are you doing now to try to address the problem?
My biggest hair challenge is breakage and retaining the length. I have 3 different textures with the coarsest being in the middle that seems to stop growing at my neck, a very fine 3b in the back that grows on and on, and a 3c in the front that stops at shoulder length. I stumbled upon Naturallycurly.com in October of 2011 and learned a lot about my curls and how they need moisture and protective styling to retain length. My hair has grown 3 inches. Yaay!!

What do you love most about your natural hair and/or about being natural?
I love that I was natural before it was considered normal. I love the versatility of it, I can be curly or straight whenever I desire.

What is your current regimen?  Has it changed in any major way since you first went natural? What are your Holy Grail and staple products?
I love WEN. I use it to cleanse, condition and as a leave-in. SheaMoisture Deep Treatment masque is my moisturizer and I use a JBCO and EVCO mix as my sealer. I love Elasta QP “Feels like Silk” gel for hold; I have been using that for years before I discovered the beauty in the naturalista lifestyle.

What is your “go to” style? Do you wear protective and/or low manipulation styles? If so, how often and why?
I currently wear my hair in a bun during the week as a protective style and then I rock a braidout or WnG on the weekends. Since birth until right before I discovered Naturallycurly.com, I wore my hair in a boring combed, brushed and pulled waaaay too tight pony (that probably had a hand in inhibiting growth).

How often do you cut/trim your hair? How do you cut it (salon, DIY, straight, curly, in twists)? Before I embraced my natural hair and knew how to take care of it, I got a press once a year. Usually, due to not knowing how to take care of it, I always had to get a serious cut (which always left my hair at my shoulders). I don’t recommend going to a salon, they always want to cut it all off and start from scratch as opposed to nurturing it slowly back to health with minor trims and deep treatments.

Has going natural impacted other areas of your life (i.e. health & fitness, style, environmental consciousness, etc.)? If so, how and in what ways has it affected your lifestyle?
Yes, embracing my natural has me working out more (circulation and growth), eating better and now I’m starting to drop this baby weight that I have been carrying for the year that my son has been here.

Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
Yes, YOU actually. lol. I love that shot of your TnC with those beautiful red highlights. I also am in love with the luscious curls of Jess Of Mahoganycurls on YT.

Who do you follow online (i.e. blog/website, Youtube, Fotki, etc.)?
Hairscapades.com, CurlyNikki.com, Hairlista.com, MahoganyCurls and HairCrush of YouTube.

Where can we find you online?
I’m new to the Naturalista game and I’m  pretty low key. So, I can only be found in two places: Tia Ellisia on Facebook and last month I joined Twitter @Curlymami43. I’m following you Shelli. lol.

What advice would you give someone who is contemplating going natural and/or becoming discouraged with their natural journey?
I’d say go for it!!!. It was the best decision I’ve made to take care of my hair, because in turn I had to take better care of my body. My hair is growing and thriving and my waistline is shrinking. How amazing being in tune and loving oneself :-D !

Anything else that you’d like to add?
Love the blog! Love the hair! Keep up the great work, you’re such an inspiration.

Mar22

Hair Crush: Candice’s HairStory

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Hair Crush: Candice’s HairStory

Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
I’m Candice. Wife. Mother (to a dog-child). Daughter. Sister. Friend. God-fearing. Natural! Aspiring personal stylist.

How long have you been natural and why did you choose to go natural?
My last perm was in January 2010. There was no epiphany or life-changing event that influenced my decision to go natural. I have always been of the mindset of, “it’s just hair” and have never hesitated to experiment with my hair. I do remember that prior to going natural, my mom had begun going organic with all of her food and beauty products. I guess you can say that somewhat influenced my decision.

Did you transition or big chop?
I transitioned for about 6 months and then big chopped when I had about two inches of natural hair. I was planning to transition longer, but got anxious about what my hair would look like. *LOL*

What is/was your biggest hair challenge/obstacle?  How did you overcome it or what are you doing now to try to address the problem?
One thing that I learned the hard way is that one person’s regimen may not work for somebody else. It’s nice to watch/read what other people do for ideas, but I have wasted LOTS of money thinking that the shine on someone else’s strands could be mine with the purchase of some miracle product.

What do you love most about your natural hair and/or about being natural?
The thing that I love most about my hair is its versatility. I love to hear people say, “I wish my hair could do that. Mine just lays here.” That line cracks me up every time. *LOL* I also love how distinctive my hair is. Although the number is increasing, I can still easily be the only natural in a room.


What is your current regimen?  Has it changed in any major way since you first went natural?
I typically co-wash every 2-3 days with a light conditioner. This week, I’ve been using Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp. I like it because I don’t have to worry about rinsing it out completely as it can also be used as a leave-in. I use apple cider vinegar to clarify about once a month in the winter and more frequently in the summer because I do a lot of playing in the pool. I use Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner when I deep condition. No matter how many other DC’s I try, I haven’t found one that makes my hair any softer. After conditioning, I usually blast my roots just a little with a hand dryer and flat twist my hair using a shea butter mixture (shea butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil melted and then whipped together using a hand mixer). It dries completely overnight if I do my twists small enough. In the morning, I untwist and fluff and I’m out the door! I usually don’t like my twist out on the first day, but after a night of pineapple-ing its more to my liking on day 2.

The main difference between my regimen now and when I first went natural is the detangling sessions. I miss not having to detangle! *LOL*

What are your Holy Grail and staple products?
Well, I am a product junkie in the truest sense of the word, but there are a few products that I always find myself coming back to: Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner (for deep conditioning), shea butter + coconut oil whip (homemade) and my castor oil (the perfect oil for my hair—not too heavy but leaves a nice sheen).

What is your “go to” style (share a picture of it, if you have one!)? Do you wear protective and/or low manipulation styles? If so, how often and why?
My go to style is a dry twist out, which is how I wear my hair most of the time. I don’t intentionally wear low manipulation styles, but I do find myself doing a high bun quite often for the sheer convenience of it. I used to do two strand twists, but don’t find that I have that kind of time to devote to my hair these days.

How often do you cut/trim your hair? How do you cut it (salon, DIY, straight, curly, in twists)? If you go to a salon, would you recommend it?
I don’t think I have let anyone else’s hands in my hair since I cut myself a bob the day of my high school graduation. *LOL*  I trim about every quarter or when my ends start to look unhealthy. I’m thinking about giving myself an actual haircut for the summer!

Has going natural impacted other areas of your life (i.e. health & fitness, style, environmental consciousness, etc.?) If so, how and in what ways has it affected your lifestyle?
Definitely don’t care about walking out in the rain or swimming anymore. *LOL*

Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
Tracee Ellis Ross! And my male hair crush is Andre 3000. Love him.

Who do you follow online (i.e. blog/website, Youtube, Fotki, etc.)?
I frequent Curly Nikki, BGLH and … Hairscapades! On YouTube I like to watch Naptural85, SimplYounique, & MyNaturalSistas.

Where can we find you online?
Yes! I have a fairly new style blog: chicsavant.com. I’m also on Facebook: Chic Savant and Twitter @chicsavant.

What advice would you give someone who is contemplating going natural and/or becoming discouraged with their natural journey?
I always tell people that being natural, especially when you first go natural, is about trial and error. As much as you shouldn’t be afraid to try something new, you also should not be so naïve that you don’t realize when something isn’t working for your hair.

Mar2

Inspiration: Sera25 aka Sera2544

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Inspiration: Sera25 aka Sera2544

I was revisiting BGLH.com’s post on Bloggers with Great Length Retention and decided to visit the Fotki of Sera25. The pictures of her journey from TWA to hip bone length are A-MUUUUHH-zing*!!! The thickness of her hair, the lushness of her twists and her length remind me of Mwedzi. Alas, my hair will never be as dense or curly as theirs, but I can enjoy the hair porn!! Sit back and prepare to drool at and be inspired by this YouTube video of Sera’s hair journey.

via Sera2544

*If you get the reference, you get bonus points in my book;).

Jan27

Meisha’s HairStory

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Meisha’s HairStory

Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
I am 25 years old. I am a very loving person and I have a very big heart. I’m very family oriented. I’m very silly, but quiet with people I don’t know. I love to watch movies and to just have fun overall.

What prompted your decision to go natural?
My mom passed away in Aug of 2007 of cancer at age 37. It was really rough for me because we were very, very close, literally best friends. So, not only did I lose a mother, but my BFF as well and, of course, I took it really hard. I didn’t realize the impact it was having on my hair. At the time, I was still getting relaxers, but not every 6 weeks like I normally would. I decided to bleach my hair blonde in March of 2008, kind of like in honor and memory of my mom.  She used to like to dye her hair blonde when it got warmer outside and March 1st is her birthday.  I’ve bleached my hair before with no problem, but never my whole head. Then I decided I “NEEDED” a relaxer 2 weeks later (or so I thought). Well, big mistake. I think with the stress of her passing, combined with the chemicals, it wasn’t a good idea. Sections of my hair fell out and it was shedding really badly.

In May, my husband and I were going to Florida on vacation, so I decided to go and just get it cut into a short style. By this time, the parts that fell out were at a decent length where I could. Of course, she had to relax it for the style. Long story short, I had been doing my research and going on You Tube and, in December of ’08, I decided to stop getting relaxers. It really made no sense, once I thought about it, for me to even get a relaxer. Because, when I got them, my hair would still be curly, but more of a relaxed curl. I was just so used to it and my mom used to do my hair, so I never thought much about it. I never realized how much the relaxer breaks down your hair. My curls now are much more fuller and my hair is a whole lot more healthier than it was then.

Did you transition or big chop? If you transitioned how long?
I transitioned, I would say.  I don’t remember the exact amount of time, but I would say 1 year. I had to cut my hair short while I was still relaxing and decided to go natural about 7 months after that. My hair was already short, so I would just cut off some of the relaxed ends as it grew out.

How do you feel now?
I feel great. I really love my natural hair. I feel like we’ve grown together. It was definitely a learning experience and I don’t plan on ever going back to a relaxer. I’m excited to see where I’ll be in the next couple of years.

What is your current regimen? Go to products?
My current regimen is pre poo overnight with coconut oil and Africa’s Best mixture of oils. The next morning, I wash my hair with Shea Moisture shampoo and Kera Care Hydrating and Detangling shampoo. I then part my hair in 4 sections, apply my conditioner, which right now is Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner, and leave that on for most of the day or no less than 1 hour. After that’s washed out, I part my hair in 2 sections and do about 5 twists on each side with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel and some oil. I put rods on the end of each twist. I usually co-wash once a week and wash with shampoo every 2 weeks depending on how my scalp is. I have a really dry scalp and it’s worse now since it’s winter. I do like to change up my color every so often, so I make sure to keep my hair moisturized.

What are your favorite styles?
My favorite styles right now are twist and curls, braid outs and messy buns. I pretty much like to keep my hair stretched, because it’s easier to maintain and easier to keep moisturized. I do straighten every couple of months just to switch it up. I like the versatility.

What are your hair plans/goals?
My number one goal for now is to reach MBL which I haven’t been since I was little. I also want to see if the front of my hair will even out with the back, which I doubt. The back and middle part of my head grows very fast and my front seems to grow slower.

I want to try Jamaican black castor oil as well as I’ve seen and heard so many great things about it and I’m also hoping it will aid me in growing my hair longer. Also to just be consistent with my regimen, because I have seen a tremendous amount of growth in this past year. I guess, whatever I’m doing, my hair likes it. LOL!

Do you have a hair crush? If so, who and why?
My hair crushes are Tracee Ellis Ross, Jurnee Smollett and Hair Crush on You Tube. They all have beautiful natural hair.

Who is your favorite natural blogger, YouTuber and/or Fotkier and why?
My favorite natural bloggers would be CurlyNikki, AllThatsGold/Cristigold, Taren916 and shortysgs03 and recently added kairox146 and HairCrush. All of them are on YouTube … I love them all!!!

Anything else that you would like to add?
I hope that more people will become more open-minded to natural hair. A lot of people say, “Oh, I couldn’t do that because my hair is nappy and wouldn’t come out like your hair; You have good hair.” I don’t understand that. I think “GOOD HAIR” is healthy hair and I always encourage people to try it and, if anything, you can always go back to getting a relaxer if you don’t like it. So, if you’re thinking about going natural, go on YouTube and the internet and research. You won’t know until you try. It can get frustrating and you must have patience, but the outcome is very worth it.

Jan26

Hair Crush: Wonder Curl’s HairStory!

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Hair Crush: Wonder Curl’s HairStory!

Okay, y’all know that I love me some Wonder Curl Butter than Love for a great TnC set. Well, I finally got the gorgeous Wonder Curl herself, Scarlett, to dish on her HairStory:)! Enjoy!

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Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
I am the creator of Wonder Curl LLC, amazing hair care products that give curlies unbelievably beautiful hair. I’m a bona fide Jersey Girl who adores big (curly) hair who was born in Haiti and is a lover of sparkly things.

How long have you been natural and why did you chose to go natural?
I’ve been completely natural (no chemicals or heat) since June 2006, however I’ve been on my ‘journey’ since 1998. I decided to stop relaxing my hair after reading an article in Essence magazine about a woman who went natural. This was my lightbulb moment and I haven’t looked back since.

texturized and pressed

Did you transition or big chop?
Big Chop! There is something so liberating about cutting off all of your hair. Not only is it easier in the morning, but whenever I see a woman with short hair, I equate her with confidence.

What is/was your biggest hair challenge/obstacle? How did you overcome it or what are you doing now to try to address the problem?
I have come to the understanding that my hair is high maintenance, no matter what. It takes me 2 ½ to 3 hours to wash and style. This has always been the case, whether relaxed or curly. Finding the cut and products that work best is key. That’s why I started my own hair care line of products. I wasn’t in love with anything on the market, nor was my hair. Now, I can style my hair and it can last up to one week and I haven’t had a bad hair day ever since.

What do you love most about your natural hair and/or about being natural?
I love the attention that my hair gets me. I get more compliments on my curly hair than I ever did when it was straight. And it’s great speaking with other curlies, helping them along their journey.

What is your current regimen? Has it changed in any major way since you first went natural?
Wash-n-gos work for me. Using my products and the ‘raking’ method gives me better results than a twist out. Depending on the products I use can dictate how loose or curly my hair can be.

What are your Holy Grail and staple products?
I use all of the Wonder Curl products. In the summer, I use Get Set Hair Jelly and Get Slick Hair Smoothie for frizz-free, defined curls and, in the winter, I mix Butter than Love Hair Pudding, Hair Whipped (on the ends) and Get Set Hair Jelly for super moisture and definition. The Pudding and Whipped also lets me wear my hair looser.

What is your “go to” style? Do you wear protective and/or low manipulation styles?
My ‘signature’ style is parted down the middle and worn loose and my protective style is a bun.

How often do you cut/trim your hair? How do you cut it (salon, DIY, straight, curly, in twists)? If you go to a salon, would you recommend it?
I go to Tameeka of JadedTresses.com (NYC) for everything hair. She is one of the few stylists who shares our passion for curly hair to the degree that she is an expert and offers seminars to other stylists looking to break into the natural hair industry. She is also one of the few who cut hair wet. The time to get a trim is when my ends are full of single-strand knots and I have to use more hair products than usual to style my hair.

Has going natural impacted other areas of your life (i.e. health & fitness, style, environmental consciousness, etc.?) If so, how and in what ways has it affected your lifestyle?
I don’t need a shower cap anymore.

Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
Shelli of Hairscapades! Seriously, I love following your tutorials and Aevin Dugas, the world record holder for the largest Afro. We’re FB friends and I stalk her page.

Who do you follow online (i.e. blog/website, Youtube, Fotki, etc.)?
My go-to sites are TheBeautyBrains, SavvyBrown, hairscapades (of course) and TheBudgetSocialite.

Where can we find you online?
www.wondercurl.com
facebook.com/wondercurlcom
youtube.com/wondercurlcom
twitter.com/#wondercurl

What advice would you give someone who is contemplating going natural and/or becoming discouraged with their natural journey?
I believe that nothing will happen until you are ready and explain to those contemplating going natural that it’s a whole new learning process, but it’s totally worth it. Everyone I know who’s gone natural tells me they wish that they had done it sooner.

Anything else that you’d like to add?
It is inspiring that we created an entire industry based on natural hair. We gather to discuss our hair, make products to meet our needs and share our experiences with each other. We didn’t wait for someone to do it for us, and now we are getting noticed for doing something that is the most natural thing…growing the hair that nature gave us and wearing it proudly.

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Thanks Scarlett!!

Don’t forget our British Curlies/Wonder Curl Giveaway this month! If you are a resident of the UK, you can enter to win a sample kit of all four products in the Wonder Curl line! Click the link for details!

Jan3

My Mom’s HairStory

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My Mom’s HairStory

Yes! You read that right! Mommy Hairscapades is in the house! LOL! I meant to do a natural hair interview with her on December 18th, when I saw her at a family get together. But, it got hectic and I never got the chance. Then, CurlyNikki re-blogged a post, Is There a Natural Hair Generation Gap? by Jor-El of Mane Man. I commented on the post using my mom as an example. That little exercise got me off the pot and on the phone with my mom and now and I have her story to share with you!

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Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
My name is Florence and I’m a child of God, 59 years young, a wife, the mother of three great daughters and grandmother to a sweet and silly granddaughter. I was a elementary school teacher in the public school system for 28 years and retired in 2010, but will always be a teacher. (Shelli: I answered this for my mom because she skipped this question! *lol*)

How long have you been natural and why did you chose to go natural?
I have had natural hair so long that I don’t remember when I went natural. I had a Jheri curl for about 20 years before I went straight for a short time (too much maintenance). After that, I think I just had an Afro.

My mom is on the couch in light blue. That’s baby Shelli on my Mom-Mom’s lap!!

Did you transition from or big chop?
I wore a Jheri curl until my hair would get too long and heavy to hold the curl. Then, I would cut my hair down to new growth. It would usually be cropped in the back and sides and longer on the top. My daughters would always ask me why did a get a curl when my hair was naturally curly. I have no idea.

What is/was your biggest hair challenge/obstacle?
As I have gotten older, gray hair is difficult to keep moist.

How did you overcome it or what are you doing now to try to address the problem?
I make sure that I don’t over wash my hair. I use a deep conditioner and change my products every couple months. My hair seems to get used to one product and it will no longer moisturize. My daughters also gives me advice on what products to try.

What do you love most about your natural hair and/or about being natural?
I am really not a hair person. I get up in the morning, look in the mirror, pick it out with my fingers, if necessary put a little moisture in, and off I go. I am not a hair person. If you don’t like your hair, buy a wig, get a weave, add extensions, you can even glue some in.

What is your current regimen? Has it changed in any major way since you first went natural?
I don’t do much of anything as a regimen. I wash, deep condition and moisturize about every two weeks in the winter, a little more often in the summer.

What are your Holy Grail and staple products?
What ever is CHEAP or what I can get from my daughters for FREE!!! I am now using Eco Styler gel with Moroccan Argan oil and S-Curl Moisturizing spray. The cold air causes my hair to dry out more than normal. The gel coats it and it stays moist for a couple days and holds the curl pattern.

What is your “go to” style (share a picture of it, if you have one!)? Do you wear protective and/or low manipulation styles? If so, how often and why?
NO!!! (Shelli: lol! She is a WnG type of lady. When it was longer, she’d wear it in a pony puff. She’d also pop on a curly ponytail in a minute!)

How often do you cut/trim your hair? How do you cut it (salon, DIY, straight, curly, in twists)?
My hair was recently cut very short in the back and sides, longer on the top. I hadn’t had my hair trimmed in over 3 years. I think that, due to the fact that I don’t handled my hair a lot, I don’t develop split ends. My hair is still thick and full. Of course, the gray doesn’t like color. I have tried henna, but it was not for me. The process was very timely and I could not get the color right. I didn’t like looking like a carrot top.

Has going natural impacted other areas of your life (i.e. health & fitness, style, environmental consciousness, etc.?) If so, how and in what ways has it affected your lifestyle?
I think my hair reflects the no-nonsense attitude that I have. It is not controlled and neither am I. It is free and I am free thinking. People are used to me having uncontrollable hair. They either like it or they don’t. It’s their problem.

Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
No!

What advice would you give someone who is contemplating going natural and/or becoming discouraged with their natural journey?
Going natural is no big deal. Many older women (50 and up) now wear their hair short and natural. If you decide you want a change, just flat iron it straight, style and go. There are many options without always using chemicals.

Anything else that you’d like to add?
Try something new and different. You won’t know what you like until you have tried it. Don’t let your hair define you, define you hair.

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Thanks Mommy (yup, that’s what I call her ;) )!! You’re the best! Love you much!!

You know, this is the second parent interview we’ve had on Hairscapades. The first was Wei’s interview with his dad. I’m loving reading these and I got a kick-out of my mom’s answers. I hope that you did too :) !

That being said, is your mother natural, transitioning, contemplating transitioning? Is/has your father watched you and/or your mother, siblings go/stay/be natural and has some opinions of his own? Well, why not grab a pen and pad, laptop, iPad … whatever … and send in your mom’s HairStory and/or your dad’s In His Eyes Interview?!

(p.s. I hope that this goes without saying, but if you’re a 50+ natural and Hairscapades follower, I want your HairStory too!! Just find the HairStory interview that works for you. However, if you think that I need more specific questions that speak to the 50+ naturals/transitioners/big choppers, drop me a line! I’m open to all suggestions!)

Dec28

Hair Crush: Le Shor’s HairStory

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Hair Crush: Le Shor’s HairStory

Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
I am a workaholic, mother of four children in the process of teaching myself not to take life so seriously and start having fun!

What prompted your decision to go natural?
I have been relaxed since I was 8 years old. As long as I had a hairstylist that was on the same page as me regarding my hair, that is to say, give me a trim, not a cut, don’t yank through my hair when combing, etc., I never had a problem being relaxed. I went natural in 2003. I made a conscious decision to grow out my hair. After about 9 months, I cut the relaxed ends off. I had about 4-5 inches of natural hair. I rocked twists and twist-outs for about 3 months. At the 3 month mark, I decided to get my hair blown out. The stylist used permanent color. I usually used rinses. Well, come wash day, I had stick straight hair in various sections. I didn’t cut my hair. I chose to wear my hair in twists until it grew out for a year. I relaxed again. After about 6 years of being relaxed. I decided to transition my waist-length relaxed hair again.

How long did you transition?
My last relaxer was May 2008. I “accidently” transitioned for 9 months. Three months passed, then six months since I had gotten a touch-up. Itching to see my natural hair, I did the BC. I have been fully natural since April 2009. I was busy being a full-time student, full-time mom to four children, a full-time job…you get the gist. I just did not have time to go to the beauty salon for 3-4 hours to get my hair done. Every time I had the itch to get a touch up I would chop more of my hair off. I had about 3-4 chops before I got rid of all of the relaxed ends. My transition style was braid-outs.

When and how did you big chop?

I decided to big chop in April 2009. I washed and conditioned my hair, got out the scissors and started cutting. I had my daughter cut the back for me.

How did you feel immediately before and immediately after your big chop?
It felt like a weight was lifted. I felt very happy, but about 10 minutes later I had a moment of “WTF did I just do!” Like I said .. a moment. LOL!

How do you feel now?
I am still happy with my decision. I am enjoying my hair much more this time around. I have discovered that my hair is schizophrenic. It has many personalities. The crown is straighter and wavy, the sides are curly like 3C, the nape is wavy like 3C, the portion between the crown and the nape ranges from 3C to 4A. Sometimes they play well with each other and other times, not so much.

What is your current regimen? Go to products?
I wash my hair once every 6-8 weeks. I co-wash every 3 days when I wear twistouts. I co-wash once a week when I do two strand twists. My current regimen is I put my hair in about 12-16 big twists and co-wash each section making sure that I am detangling my hair with my fingers. I do a thorough detangling with a wide-tooth comb and my denman brush once a month when I color my hair with Clariol’s Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution Semi-permanent Color. I detangle my hair with Aussie Moist, I use Kimmaytube’s leave-in recipe and then use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie when I do my twists.

What are your favorite styles?
My favorite styles are twist-outs and two strand twists. I was experimenting with rollersetting and Curlformers.

What are your hair plans/goals?
Now that the winter is upon us, I plan on keeping my hair in mini twists until May 2012. Every month, I will take them out, wash, deep condition and color my hair. I will probably wear my hair out for a day and then retwist in mini twists. I will style my hair using curlformers, flexi rods, bunning, etc. I want to use this New Year to retain as much length as possible.

Do you have a hair crush? If so, who and why?
I don’t have a particular hair crush. I love to look at any hair, loced, relaxed, natural, etc. that is healthy.

Who is your favorite natural blogger, YouTuber and/or Fotkier and why?
I have two favorite bloggers: Hairscapades and CurlyNikki. You guys are my “go to” websites that I frequent on a daily basis. I like to see the updates, tutorials, what’s new and poppin’! My favorite YouTubers would be Kimmaytube and SistaWithRealHair. Kimmaytube because of her scientific approach to why things are the way they are and SistaWithRealHair because of her “this is me and how I do things” attitude.

Anything else that you would like to add?
I have a Fotki at www.public.fotki.com/lbellin and I just started to document my life and hair journey at www.ALifeUncomplicated.com.

Dec13

Krystal’s HairStory

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Krystal’s HairStory

by Krystal (First Wave) aka KaliGirl1980

Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
I’m a 31 yr old who is often described as a “minimalist” by my family. Exploring my surroundings as much as possible while bringing my friends and family along for the ride is one activity that makes me really happy. I love a good laugh; especially one that comes from a dirty joke. Up until last year, I had been working full-time while going to school part-time for the last 5 years. I graduated with my M.S. in Organization Development last December and I’m just trying to figure out what to do with all of my free time. I don’t know what to do with myself :) .

How long have you been natural and why did you chose to go natural?
Technically, I’ve been natural for about 12 years in that I haven’t relaxed my hair in years, except for my bangs. I used to slap a Just for Me perm on my bangs, so that my hair wouldn’t stand up after I worked out in the morning. But I gave that up earlier this spring. This summer, I decided to stop straightening my hair with a blow dryer and flat-iron because I realized that my hair wasn’t growing the way I wanted it. I burnt the hell out of my bangs and my hair texture never recovered from it. I realized that I was avoiding things that I liked or wanted to do simply because I was worried about keeping my hair straight. I was putting in too much work to fight my hair. It wanted to be curly and I wanted it to be straight. I guess my hair won that battle. I decided in June to go curly and got the courage to do it after ordering a book called Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey, the creator or DevaCurl products.

Did you transition or big chop?
No official transition. I couldn’t afford to perm my hair in college. I discovered it was cheaper for me to buy a blow dryer and flat-iron, so I quit perming.

How do you feel about your hair now?
I feel great that I decided to accept my curls. I was a little nervous about going “curly” because I had to interview for a promotion at work after deciding to go curly. There are only a handful of blacks at work and only two of them have locs. After my interview, my senior manager made a point to tell me how much she loved my hair in its natural state (big sigh of relief). I was on Match.com when I made the decision to go curly too. I had to take pictures of myself with curly hair so that guys would know what to expect and I made a note that I would wear my hair curly the majority of the time. I was afraid that I wouldn’t get any play after that. I still got play and met my current boyfriend after I posted new pics. Yes, there is love after going curly. He is white, but has only dated black women for the past 10 years. I told him that I will only straighten my hair every few months for length checks and he’s fine with that.

What is/was your biggest hair challenge/obstacle? How did you overcome it or what are you doing now to try to address the problem?
I didn’t know what to do or how to style my curly hair. I just learned that I need a cut shaped for my curly hair. I also bought cute hair clips and got my hair colored to give it some dimension, since curly hair doesn’t reflect light and shine like straight hair.

What do you love most about your natural hair and/or about being natural?
I love that I don’t have to spend as much time on my hair when it’s curly and that it actually looks better on the 2nd day after a wash/cleanse. With straight hair, my 2nd day hair just looked sad and had no body or fullness to it.

What is your current regimen? Has it changed in any major way since you first went natural?
I shampoo once a week with Terressentials Mudwash (Left Coast Lemon) and, after rinsing out the mudwash, I spray my hair with an ACV rinse that has some oil in it. After rinsing the ACV, I use my Kimmaytube leave-in conditioner and seal my wet hair with almond oil. I co-wash midweek with HEHH or DevaCurl One Conditioner and follow the same routine as above, except that I don’t use the mudwash. I rarely use heat, but when I do, it’s to diffuse my hair to speed up the drying process. I henna once a month and I love the results. I’m in the process of getting rid of the hair products that I don’t use, because being a Product Junky is in direct opposition to me being a minimalist. It really bothers me to have so many products for just my hair.

Naked hair after Terressentials Mudwash.

Terressentials Mudwash with almond oil to seal.

What is your “go to” style? Do you wear protective and/or low manipulation styles? If so, how often and why?
I love, love, love braid and curls. My hair is always full and bouncy and shiny after I take out the braids and rollers. I don’t do a lot of protective styling, but I am trying to get better about that. I’ll probably start doing the sock bun shortly to protect my ends from the cold weather.

How often do you cut/trim your hair? How do you cut it?
I will likely only trim my hair every 4-6 months. Since I won’t be putting much heat on my hair, I don’t see the need to trim as much. Also, Lorraine Massey of Curly Girl suggested that we not cut/trim our hair as often at 6-8 weeks, since we’re not damaging our hair now that we’re being gentle with our curls. I like her rationale here.

What are you hair plans/goals?
My goals are to get APL hair by the end of this challenge and to achieve and maintain MBL hair. I don’t think I want it getting much monger than that due to the work involved. I straightened by hair on December 11th and it looks like I’m well on my way there. It’s definitely shoulder length right now. I want my hair to fill in as much as possible, because it looks stringy in some places. That could be because my hair is fine and I have medium density. That is another reason why going curly is better for me … it looks better.

Has going natural impacted other areas of your life (i.e. health & fitness, style, environmental consciousness, etc.?) If so, how and in what ways has it affected your lifestyle?
Things have somewhat changes. While I hated the thought of working out with my straightened hair, because it would get messed up, it never stopped me. Having curly hair will allow me to swim more often since I don’t have to worry about straightening it. I’ve been wanting to do a mini-triathlon, so now I don’t have any excuses.

As far as style is concerned, I’m still figuring this out. I think some of my clothes look different and my shape looks different now that my hair doesn’t touch my shoulders. This is an evolving area for me style-wise and, in terms of accepting my body type as it is. I use to be able to use my hair to draw attention from certain parts of my body that I didn’t like. Shorter curly hair seems to accentuate the things I tried to hide.

Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
I love Laura Izibor’s hair. I will never be able to get my hair like hers because of the texture difference, but I fantasize about what I would do with my hair if it was as thick and curly as hers. I have hair crushes on people who have thick, type 4a and 4b hair. I have 3b/3c, which means that I’m lusting over hair and styles that I can’t realistically achieve. 4a and 4b hair holds braid outs and twist outs really well and I’ve always wanted thick hair. I have a hair crush on Naptural85 on YouTube. I love her hair styles, her videos, her style in general.

Who do you follow online (i.e. blog/website, YouTube, Fotki, etc.)?
Shelli of Hairscapades and Whitney of Naptural85.com. I also like that both have a focus on overall health as well.

What advice would you give someone who is contemplating going natural and/or becoming discouraged with their natural journey?
Take this one day at a time and look for ways to be playful and creative with your hair. I understand that some work environments may not be completely receptive to the natural hair, so find a way to look professional while honoring yourself.

Dec2

Prepare to be Inspired!

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Prepare to be Inspired!

Four post in one day?!?! Unheard of!! LOL!! I had to do it, because I came across this video this morning while web surfing and had to share it with you guys. It’s so inspiring! I hope that anyone who is struggling with their hair now will be inspired and know that it’s possible to overcome damage that seems insurmountable with the proper care, patience, consistency and diligence. I hope that my hair looks this great when I eventually do a press and curl!

Well, without further ado, enjoy and be inspired!

Dec2

Charelle’s HairStory

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Charelle’s HairStory

Charelle (GOC Tenth Wave) is back to share her HairStory!!

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Curlformer set

Describe yourself in 100 words or less.
I’m a vibrant, loving and spontaneous 24 year-old. I am an aspiring physician and I enjoy helping others and spending time with the ones I love the most.

What prompted your decision to go natural?
I’ve been natural for the majority of my life. I begged my mom to relax my hair when I was 11 because I wanted it to be straight and flowing. Unfortunately, 6 months later, a botched relaxer made all of my bra strap length hair fall out! This was quite a traumatic experience for me and my mom braided my hair until it grew back. The second time I got a relaxer was a couple months before my high school graduation, when I decided that it would be easier to go to college with relaxed hair. Two months after I graduated college, I decided once and for all to stop relaxing my hair because I wanted my hair to be healthier and grow as long as possible.

Relaxed (5 months post relaxer)

How long did you transition?
My last relaxer was July 2009 and I transitioned for about 1 year before I cut off all my relaxed ends. I didn’t feel that it was necessary to start from scratch and I experienced minimal breakage during my transition. I was just anxious to see my curls again! I straightened my hair once a week for the whole year so no one really could tell that I was transitioning. This is probably what I regret the most, too much heat! I also trimmed my hair once or twice a month.

Transition style: Press & Curl

When and how did you big chop?
I decided to big chop in September 2010, right before my second year of graduate school commenced. I went to my hair stylist and got a fresh cut and color. I also got my hair pressed and curled.

How did you feel immediately before and immediately after your big chop?
I felt great before and after my big chop. I felt that I was overdue for a new look and I couldn’t wait to wash my hair and see what my curls looked like.

How do you feel now?
I’m very happy with my choice. My hair is much thicker and healthier. Although, sometimes I’m a little anxious about it growing, I’m just tired of waiting! I also have a huge disparity between the textures of the front left and front side of my head. One side has beautiful curls and the other side is strangely straight. This makes wash and gos nearly impossible. I’m hoping as my hair continues to grow, things will eventually even out.

What is your current regimen? Go to products?
Currently I wash my hair once a week. I use TreSemme Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner and deep treat with Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque. I then detangle with my Denman brush and Kinky Curly Knot Today or sometimes with Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner. I then apply Kinky Curly Curling Custard, wait for it to dry, and style accordingly. I also use Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Jojoba Oil to seal in the moisture. I recently bought Dabur Vatika Coconut Oil, so I’m excited to try that too.

What are your favorite styles?
Right now, I can never go wrong with a Curlformer set. I love how soft and light it makes my hair feel. I also like experimenting with twists, twist-outs and twist-n-curls too. I haven’t perfected them yet, but I’m hoping that I will in the near future.

What are your hair plans/goals?
My number one goal for my hair is to stop using my flat iron so much. I’ve worked my way from once a week to once a month, and now I’m attempting once every two months. I didn’t realize how addicted I was to my flat iron until I tried to stop using it. I’d also really like to see my hair get to mid-back length (MBL). Lastly, I would love to perfect a twist-out and twist-n-curl. My attempts at both of those over the past couple of months have been horrid! *lol*

Do you have a hair crush? If so, who and why?
I’d have to say my hair crush would be you Shelli! When I came across your page, I knew you would lead me in the right direction. I love especially how shiny and moisturized your hair always looks.

Who is your favorite natural blogger, YouTuber and/or Fotkier and why?
My favorite natural blogger would be CurlyNikki of course, for obvious reasons, and Hairscapades!! My favorite YouTubers would be Amoremusica and Allthatsgold. They have such thorough tutorials and have documented their entire hair journey from TWA to bra-strap length and beyond, such inspiration!

Anything else that you would like to add?
I’m working on creating a Fotki and maybe a Tumblr to document my experiences. However I’m much better at writing things down than using the web (I’m kinda old school) so it’s gonna take some effort!