Remember Marsha’s GOC Update last week? Wanted to learn more about her natural hair journey? Well, she wrote a song about it … wanna hear it? Here it go!! *LOL*

Describe yourself in 20 words or less.
Newly natural and celebrating 2 years post relaxer in August and 1 year post mini-chop in September.

How long have you been natural and why did you chose to go natural?
This is actually my second time going natural. I failed after I relaxed again at 1 year post BC. The picture below is after I BC’d the first time around. I had no idea what to do with my hair, so I wore a headband. I would later do a sew-in style myself to hide my hair :(.

Back then I was clueless and never did research on how to care for my hair. I also wasn’t a YouTube junky like I am now. The pictures below were taken after I relaxed again and my hair was growing nicely. I even colored the bang area.

Then my hair started rejecting the relaxer/color and started breaking again. I cut a bang and most of the color when it grew. I hated the bang and my hair was breaking even more at the crown. The picture below shows my damaged and brittle crown. Lesson learned, no more relaxers. I went natural due to hair breakage caused from relaxer, mostly at the crown of my head. The crown is the most dry and kinky area and more prone to damage. I have been completely natural since September 2010, after I cut the remainder of my relaxer.

Did you transition or big chop?
I actually transitioned for a year and a few weeks. During the transition, I would clip away stringy ends as time went. Then, I finally decided to got rid of the remainder of my relaxed ends after anxiety kicked in. I was tired of the two textures. So, one day, I got up, co-washed and started cutting. No regrets whatsoever. I felt relieved.

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 challenge is to grow my crown and what I have been doing to address this is to do scalp massages from time to time and keep my hair moisturized more. I also have problems with single strand knots, so moisturizing more often with water, then sealing my ends with a hair butter or oil helps.

What do you love most about your natural hair and/or about being natural?
I love the diversity of my natural hair. I love that my hair is not flat after a blow out.

What is your current regimen? Has it changed in any major way since you first went natural?
My regimen might change from time to time. But I try to shampoo every other week and co-wash every 3-4 days. I moisturize daily.

What are your Holy Grail and staple products?
I can’t live without Carol’s Daughter Some of Marguerite’s Magic, water, castor and jojoba oil. I love the softness and shine of my hair when I use them.

What is your “go to” style? Do you wear protective and/or low manipulation styles? If so, how often and why?
I love pinned up styles. They are my saving grace because, if I’m having a bad hair day, they’re quick and easy to do. I guess you may call this a low manipulation and protective style.

How often do you cut/trim your hair? How do you cut it (salon, DIY, straight, curly, in twists)?
I don’t cut or trim in any set or specific time. If my hair needs it, it gets done (i.e. if there are split or shabby ends). I do it all myself, either when it’s curly or straight. It doesn’t matter, because I can still see the ends either way.

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?
Not really, though I think more of what styles or products that I put in my hair now than before. This way, I’m able to maintain a more healthy head of hair.

Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
Yes my daughter. She has beautiful hair. The more I learn how to take care of my hair, the more her hair also maintains its healthy strands, because I am her hair stylist.

Who do you follow online (i.e. blog/website, Youtube, Fotki, etc.)?
Naturallycurly.com, CurlyNikki.com and too many curly hair gurus to name.

Where can we find you online?
My blog, Hairology, at http://24hourhair.wordpress.com.

(Marsha also previously maintained a blog on NC.com as part of the CurlyNikki presents Kim Coles GOC.) 

What advice would you give someone who is contemplating going natural and/or becoming discouraged with their natural journey?
Do A LOT of research on natural hair care and products first. Don’t be forced into it (going natural because everyone is doing so). Do it for you. Don’t watch other’s hair and use products based on what others use. Your hair is your hair, not the other 3a or 4c female’s hair that you saw in the grocery store or on YouTube. Do a lot of protective hairstyles until you’re ready or have achieved the length you want to wear your hair in its natural state. Don’t be discouraged (easier said than done sometimes), because it’s hair and it’s a trial and error process. Join hair blogs, you will find out that you’re not alone. Good luck!