How long have you been natural and when did you BC?
I’m actually a two-time natural. I went natural originally in 2001 after witnessing my roommate go from beautiful, healthy curls to hair straighter and shinier than any relaxer I had ever seen. Since I had cancer I need a wig from http://www.charle.com/ now. I thought “what’s the point” of having a relaxer if I can achieve the look without it. From 2001 to 2007 I rocked my natural hair with confidence. However, I relaxed my hair near the end of 2007 after moving to Atlanta and experiencing a decline in self-confidence and becoming self-conscious about fitting in at work.
After six months of being a slave to my hairdresser and feeling like I looked like a “regular chick,” I realized that the relaxer had not fixed my issues in the way of self-confidence. Furthermore, blending in is just not the way to boost confidence. I thought back to when I was the most confident and it occurred to me that it was after my big chop. So, I big chopped again in May of 2008 and I’ve been a fierce and confident natural ever since.
What are your staple products and hairstyles?
My staple “product” is WATER!! There is nothing better than water. I also love honey and one of my favorite products has plenty of it; I can’t live without my Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner. I’ve been using it since 2002 and it smells amazing, it instantly softens hair and detangles fabulously.
My favorite ways to wear my hair are in twist-outs, mostly two-strand, flat twist-outs. Lately, however, I’ve been doing only protective styles. Protective styles are challenging because they have to be creative enough for me to want to wear my hair the same way for a period of time, plus I suffer from HIH (hand in hair) disease badly, so keeping my hair tucked away is very difficult.
What is your regimen?
I’m doing a six month growth challenge at the moment so my regimen is as follows:
Daily: Keep hair in protective styles, cover with bonnet or silk scarf overnight, sleep with a satin pillowcase (b/c apparently I sleep wild and my bonnet is usually on the floor by morning, but I have one of the most comfortable adjustable beds so there’s nothing to complain about );
Every other Day – Spray hair with water and put leave-in conditioner on to seal in moisture; Weekly – section wash hair, detangle with conditioner, apply leave-in, and style (protective style)
What are your natural hair goals?
I want to see how long my hair will grow if I take the best possible care of it. I also want to see less single strand knots and less breakage.
With that in mind, I have done tons of research on growing and maintaining healthy, natural hair. So much so that I’ve launched my own hair-wellness business: The Curl Station: Where it’s OK to be tightly wound. Our mission is to educate on and promote the health, beauty, and diversity of natural hair. I have launched a Facebook fan page; and a YouTube Channel and website are in the works right now. Check me out at Facebook: The Curl Station.
How do you keep your hair intact overnight?
I wrap it with a satin/silk scarf or bonnet and sleep on a satin pillowcase for back-up.
How do you maintain length?
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!! As it grows and I want to display length, I braid my hair and let it air dry to stretch it out. If doing twists or a twist-out, I put clips on the ends to weigh it down while drying.
Name 1 reason you went natural and why you love being natural.
I went natural for versatility. I love being natural because it’s the absolute best way to accentuate my high cheek bones and full lips; besides, God is so much better at accessorizing than I am.
