Curly Nikki.com -Natural Hair Care and Tips for Styling Curly Hair

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I would say I was a semi-long term transitioner. My last relaxer was in December 2008. I wanted to go longer but I could not take the two textures any longer!

CN: When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your natural hair?
I originally BC'd on September 27th, 2009, but there were still straight ends on my hair, so I cut it again on October 2nd, 2009. I was just routinely co-washing my hair, and there were tangles and knots all around my head that I just couldn't get out. At that point, I got the scissors and cut one of the knots off. Then, I just started cutting more of the knots off when I said to myself forget it...so I started cutting all my hair off!

My initial reaction was, "Oh my God, I'm BALD" lol. I could not believe that I had cut all my hair off. My hair had never been that short, and I didn't think I would look right with no hair. But, I just kept telling myself it would grow back, and be healthy finally!

CN: How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
They all liked it. When I first bc'd, I showed my brother, and he said, "what did you do"? I said, "what does it look like? I cut my hair off." Then he said, "It looks good." Everybody knew I was going natural, so they were okay with it. Now, I have strangers coming up to me saying they love my hair. Who knew?! lol

CN: What was your transition routine?
The only thing I did was a rollerset each week.That was my staple hair style. That was the only thing that would look right with the two textures. I started co-washing my hair. That's pretty much all I did the 9 months I was transitioning. The products I used were Giovanni 50/50 conditioner, Cantu Leave-In Shea Butter, and Fantasia IC Gel.

CN: How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
I used Cantu, coconut oil , and water. I also used a satin cap and pillow. Needless to say, my hair still broke at the new growth line.

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
I have officially been natural for 4 months. I was tired of getting relaxers every month, tired of my hair breaking off, and I wanted to see what my "real" hair looked like. I had been getting relaxers since I was 6 so I never knew how my natural hair looked. Now that I am natural, I love it. I can go out into the rain and not have to duck! I don't have to worry about my head burning when putting a relaxer on. It's much easier for me. I am experimenting with different kinds of natural products and seeing what works for my hair and what doesn't. I also go on youtube and forums like these to get tips on styles and products that I may want to try. I'm always playing with my hair and my "curlies". I'm glad I decided to go natural, it was one of the best decisions I have made!

Pics
1st pic : Relaxer days
2nd pic : Transition Style : Rollerset
3rd pic: 1 week after BC
4th & 5th pics : Jan 8th, 2010 -About 3 months after BC

CN: How long have you been natural?
I have been completely natural since March of 2009! I relaxed for the last time in June 2007 and transitioned for almost 2 years by gradually trimming away the relaxed ends.

CN: What is your current regimen?
My regimen is pretty simple - shampooing when my hair feels like it needs it (usually once every one to two weeks) and deep conditioning after every shampoo. My go to style since I’ve been wearing my hair natural is a twist out. I re-twist each night which allows me to go 5 or 6 days w/o re-styling. In the warmer months I like to co-wash several times a week with either Herbal Essences Hello Hydration or V05 Moisture Milks. I always moisturize before twisting, and then seal my ends with Hairveda Vatika Frosting (coconut oil). I change up hair styles from time to time and will either straighten my hair (maybe once every 3 months) or I’ll try out another style. I also henna about once every one or two months for its conditioning properties.

CN: How do you maintain length? Moisture?
For years my hair has pretty much grown to and remained at around the same length (between apl and bsl stretched) and I think I maintained that by keeping my regi simple – dc’ing once a week, moisturizing when I felt like my hair needed it, trimming regularly, drinking lots of water, and maintaining a super low manipulation style. But over the past few months I have begun to finally grow past bsl for the first time since I can remember, and I think the reasons for that is 1) I’ve learned to put the scissors down. I admit I have a problem with trimming my ends even when they don’t need to be trimmed 2)I moisturize more often (daily or every other day) and 3) I've started taking supplements that were missing from my everyday diet. Being a vegetarian and also a very picky eater in general, my diet lacks a lot of nutrients that are essential to healthy hair and body. So I think the supps help me out a lot.

CN: How do you protect your curls at night?
I moisturize and re-twist nightly (between 4-6 twists) and wear a silk scarf to bed.

CN: What would you tell a new natural or transitioning diva?
Allow yourself time to get used to your natural hair. I remember when I first started wearing my hair in its natural state, I would literally have to force myself out the door (late for work) because I wasn’t used to or comfortable with how I looked with curly hair. I was so used to wearing my hair relaxed and straightened that when I tried to wear my hair in its curly state, I convinced myself that I didn’t like it. It took me some time and a lot of trial and error with products and styles before I was able to accept my natural hair. But I’m so glad that I allowed myself the opportunity. Now when I walk out of the house, I love my curls!

CN:What's the best thing about being naturally glamorous?
My favorite part about being naturally glamorous is the versatility. I feel like I have so many more options now when it comes to styling my hair than I had when my hair was relaxed. I feel like my natural hair allows me to be a chameleon, and I haven’t been bored with my hair since going natural.

As someone who has not had a relaxer since 2003, I transitioned from chronic flat-ironing to natural. I felt like a fish out of water without my ceramic blow dryer and flat iron. I needed to figure out everything from how to enhance my curl pattern to how to keep my curly ends healthy. Here are a few of the Curlynikkiforums.com threads that have helped me:

Stylin' and Profilin' (For cute styles/tutorials)
http://www.curlynikkiforums.com/stylin-and-profilin-f2/

Products (This thread has a description of nearly every hair product ever created! Head here before buying new products!)
http://www.curlynikkiforums.com/products-f4/

Product Junkyism (If you spend more on hair products than food, this may help you save a bit!)
http://www.curlynikkiforums.com/product-junkyism-f10/

Skin Care (Most new naturals experience breakouts. These ladies have great suggestions to improve your skin regimen)
http://www.curlynikkiforums.com/skin-care-f8/

Recipe Swap (This is located under the Life topic. If you love food as much as you love your hair, head here...Like Now, Seriously!)
http://www.curlynikkiforums.com/life-f6/recipe-swap-t278.htm

Enjoy Ladies,

TerraD

Kara writes:

Do you feel that people judge you by your hair before they get a chance to know you?

We've all heard them, the ever popular, ever circulating diet myths. We're bombarded with them everyday from television, to radio, to billboards, they are absolutely everywhere. In this two part series we'll take a look at some of these myths and shine the light of truth.