Curly Nikki | Natural Hair Styles and Curly Hair Care

Hola Chicas!

Immediately following actress and comedienne Kim Coles' decision to Big Chop, we discussed her natural hair journey and experiences, the impact it's had on her life, and her goal for healthy hair. More than anything, Kim wants to embrace her natural texture and achieve huge, 'block your view at the movie theater', healthy hair. The bigger the better has always been my motto, and thanks to the havoc the pregnancy wreaked on my body, I too am working toward healthier, stronger curls. Since we all know that healthy hair is a process, not a goal, we thought it would be fun and productive to challenge ourselves, and you gals too!

Starting tomorrow, February 1, 2011, CurlyNikki.com, in collaboration with actress and comedienne Kim Coles, will begin its six month nationwide “Grow Out” Challenge which will last from February 2011 through July 2011. This will be the perfect time for thousands of women across the U.S. to embrace their natural hair and have invaluable resources at their fingertips to help them along their journey of personal growth.

The 2011 Grow-Out Challenge evolved out of Kim Coles’ decision to embrace her natural hair, and has become an extension of her self- empowering passion project in which she is asking all women to open their G.I.F.T.S (Gratitude. Intention. Forgiveness. Triumph. Self-Love). Those who accept the challenge are encouraged to blog about their experiences at naturallycurly.com/kimcolesgrowout.

Each month of the challenge, Jessicurl will select three lucky entrants to receive a Personal Hair Prescription as well her Confidence Collection, which includes the following products: Hair Cleansing Cream, Confident Coils, Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner and a Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment. Winners also receive a Kim Coles G.I.F.T. tote bag. Over the six-month period, Jessicurl will give $4000 worth of products to 18 lucky participants. The finale of the challenge will feature a live broadcast of Kim Coles —along with thousands of nationwide participants—celebrating the accomplishments of embracing their true natural hair.


How to Participate:
You are encouraged to blog about your grow-out experiences at naturallycurly.com/kimcolesgrowout. The six-month long journey to natural hair starts Feb. 1, 2011, at midnight and will end on July 31, 2011, at 11:59 p.m.

Guidelines:

• Drink at least 64 oz of water each day (or half your body weight in ounces)
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet
• Take a multi vitamin and other beneficial supplements
• Handle hair gently at all times
• Seal your ends every time you moisturize
• Minimize (direct) heat usage
• Deep treatment at every wash session
• Develop and follow a consistent hair routine, tailored to your specific needs and desired goals
• Document your progress, observations, and frustrations on your personal blog
• Encourage your fellow curlies by sharing tips, advice, and chiming in on their blogs
• Have fun and enjoy the journey!
  

Over the next week, I'm going to share my modified hair regimen, dietary supplements, and my weekly meal plan. I'll also help you develop a solid, do-able hair routine! In the meantime, check out this post from 2008 on growin' to new lengths.

Together we will embark on the sometimes difficult, yet completely rewarding, challenge of maximizing growth potential, maintaining length, and revealing your healthiest hair possible.

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
CJ: Short term. I transitioned for 28 measly weeks. I planned on transitioning until the wheels fell off, but I couldn't deal with the two textures any longer.

How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
Most people are acting as if I cut off an arm and have gone crazy...umm...not that serious! My mom-such the jokester-has been saying that my husband is gay now because he's married to a man. What?! My husband (he encouraged me to chop) calls me bro, dog, cuz, or homie. I love him anyway. My 2 younger brothers laughed, but they were unfazed. Pops was STUNNED! Overall, people think I'm Looney Toons!



What was your transition routine?
For the first 4 months or so, I co-washed every 2 to 3 days with Tresseme's Vitamin E Conditioner and bunned or wore flexi-rod sets. The last 2 months, I wore a wig and a weave and pretty much neglected my hair after that :(


Why did you choose to go natural?
I was tired of relaxers and everything that comes along with them, and I've always loved natural hair... the bigger the better!

Dionna writes:

Hey Nikki!

I've been lurking around your site forever and while I absolutely love it haven't participated much. After seeing this link though I absolutely HAD to share it with the Curly Nikki Community! So apparently New York went natural, I'm not sure if it's a wig or not but either way she looks so great with it. I definitely wouldn't have thought she'd shed her signature straight weave, but homegirl looks fierce. Check out the link and watch her photo shoot!

Lydia writes:

I WANT A HUETIFUL HAIR STEAMER!!!
However, it's not something I can afford. So I started thinking about ways that I could get the same stellar results for a fraction of the cost. As I made my way to the gym I started thinking... Heutiful Hair Steamer... Steam room... Hummm, I wonder... Since I already pay for the gym membership I might as well take advantage of all it has to offer. It wasn't long before I started doing steam treatments after my workout sessions. I would wash and condition my hair while in the shower and then sit in the steam room for an amazing salon experience.

It’s funny how the most disastrous events have a way of bringing things into focus like nothing else can. Last summer, my then TV agent talked me into going for an audition to read news for a cable operation. Maybe it was the bump on my head I sustained trying to reach past the jeans and screen T-shirts to find a suit that still fit. Maybe it was the idea of working with people again. Whatever the case, I totally forgot the resolution I made to myself about never going back to TV news.

After a quick make-up touch-up, I found myself in-studio, microphone on and papers in hand, ready to go. But not before executives came out and tried to pat those unruly curls that fit my personality to a T, into a tight, tiny Afro. So there I sat, sweating like a hooker on nickel night, make-up melting with a perfectly round, brown helmet atop my head.

I have no qualms about saying the audition itself was a disaster. I spent two decades in TV news and yet you’d have thought the text scrolling across the prompter was in Russian. Then of course, there was the “BREAKING NEWS!” the producer dictated into my ill-fitting earpiece, which I stammered through as best I could.

As humiliating as that was, the worst was still to come. I walked into the newsroom where the woman responsible for my ‘tryout’ met me at her office door. Before I got the point of my pump inside, she pronounced, rather loudly, “That was pretty bad wasn’t it? Wow, what happened to you? I really expected to see the woman who left the morning show. You were not her!”

In my defense, it was an unfamiliar setting and the first time in four years since I’d read off a prompter. But what I really wanted to say was “Hey lady, I have been to hell and back so many times in the last four years I have a frequent user pass!” I held my tongue and instead sat there with a shit-eating grin on my face. I was embarrassed and humiliated and quite frankly, stunned at this woman’s ability to make a 47-year-old woman with two decades of broadcast experience, feel like a 21-year-old, still wet behind the ears. When it was over I managed a weak smile, thanked her for her candor and headed out.

With shoulders hunched, I began the ten-block walk toward Grand Central thankful I’d grabbed my big, black sunglasses that morning. I met Buff for a quick bite and it is times like this I’m so damn grateful for him. We shared a salad and the tears that had been hidden behind the glasses, finally spilled over. But a funny thing happened as well. I got strong, much stronger than I had ever been, and clear on what the path for me would look like as I moved forward. In that moment I realized it’s as important to know what you DON’T want to do, as it is to know what you do want. I call it ‘The Target Moment’.

Now, please know I am not disparaging my favorite store or the hard workers who toil there. But that experience made it clear to me that I would rather work in a department store, in a job far different from the one I had trained for, rather than feel the way I felt that afternoon. That woman’s words, harsh as they were, served as rocket fuel for my resolve and I dried my tears and headed home.

I’d love to wrap this up with a neat bow, something along the lines of “and then I landed a talk show where executives didn’t try to pat my hair into a helmet and they let me be myself, which is who I’m most comfortable being. There was a big signing bonus and I never had to worry about my career or money again.”

Sadly that point hasn’t arrived yet. But it’s coming. I guess I should thank that woman for putting the final nail in the news coffin. That experience for me was like thrashing wheat where only the good stuff is left behind, but it’s a violent process. I promised myself that never again would I let my hair, or me, be patted into a shape we were not meant to be.

Chavonne writes:

I was nervous about wearing my natural hair out for the big day. My hair is unpredictable and I wanted some certainty that it wouldn't look a hot mess. So I tried 3 or 4 natural hair salons trying to recreate a hair style I saw in an Essence magazine. Each time my hair came out worst than the last and to make matters worse, I would be in the shop FOREVER. After the last failed attempt, I decided I was going to get a sew in weave from a former co-worker and acquaintance of mine, who is also the cousin of one of my closest friends. I had known her a while, had seen her work, and figured I could cut out all of the time that would be wasted in a shop. It was also spring and my hair loses the fight against humidity every time. I figured a weave was my safest bet.

Well, the morning of my wedding she was no where to be found. I called her repeatedly, went by he home, and waited around until it became obvious that she was standing me up. To this day she has never apologized or offered any reason as to why she just disappeared. Anyway, I knew this day would only happen once, and I was determined not to let her or anything else rain on my parade. So I unraveled my twists, stuck in some flower pins my girlfriend brought with her, and went on my way. Looking back, I can now say things worked out for the best (at least when it comes to my hair). I can't imagine what my husband's face would have looked like when he saw me with a long weave for the first time. In the end, I looked like me when I was walking down the aisle and that's the way it should have been.

We had an amazing time... there was hair talk, sushi, a product swap, and drinks all around :) Traffic STOPPED when we stepped outside for our photo shoot at the end of the evening. Can't wait for the next one!

Lynn writes:

Some feel their natural beauty is able to stand alone, for others confidence doesn’t come so quickly, for the latter accessories are a lifesaver.

The lovely, curly ladies in the DMV are having a meet-up Saturday, February 12. We'll be talking hair, products, and everything else in between. We'll also be swapping our hearts out, since it is Valentine's Day weekend.

So, if you are in DC, MD or VA don't miss out! Come join us.

Anyone who is interested in attending can find out more in the Meet-Up and General threads on CurlyNikki.com. If anyone has questions, please contact DvaAuNaturel on CN.com.

Thanks!
DvaAuNaturel

Remember the lovely, long term transitioner Mikel Claire? Well, she snipped away the remnants of her relaxer back in October, and wants to share her journey with us!

One of the questions I’m asked most often is how I was able to do such a long transition. For me it was a fairly easy transition once I learned to handle my two textures. Here is a “how to transition” rundown of things to consider. I hope it helps!

Decide to go back to natural hair:

Definitely step one. Is natural hair really the move for you?

Some things to consider:

• Do you really want to have natural hair and why?
• What are your hair goals?
  

Determine on your Transition Length:

I chose 2 years as my transition time because I knew my hair would be at or almost at a length where I could easily pull it back in a bun.

Some things to consider:

• How long do you want your hair to be when you finally BC?
• How dedicated are you to dealing with a potentially frustrating hair experience?
  

Choose your Transition Mode:

Some modes to consider:

• Weaves, with your hair braided underneath
• Wigs, with your hair braided underneath
• Extensions/Braids, using your hair and added hair
• Your hair alone, without added hair, using styles to blend the two textures.
  

(For purposes of this article, I will only be discussing transitioning with your own hair, as that is what I have experience with.)

When choosing your transition mode - Some things to consider:

• Do you want to deal with my hair on a daily basis?
• How often will you want to snip away permed ends?
• How long do you want your hair to be during your transition?
• How often do you want to style your hair?
• Will you want to rely on your stylist?
• Will you want to find a new stylist?
• How hair savvy are you?

NOTE: When you are transitioning, you are essentially “growing out” your perm. You will have straight (or wavy) hair at the ends, and growing from your scalp will be your naturally textured kinky coily curly hair. The two textures will behave and react differently to your manipulation, products and heat. The line where the two textures meet is called the line of demarcation. The demarcation line is a sensitive area and should be handled with care so as to avoid any breakage.

Pick your Transition Styles

Assuming you’ll be transitioning with your own hair:

You will want your hair to be as uniform as possible during your transition. Meaning, you will want it to be all straight, or all curly. Easiest is all curly.
For my personal transition, I straightened at times during the cold months and wore curly styles during the warm months and most of the time.

Some styles to consider:

• Wash and go
• Braid-Out
• Twist-out
• Dry Twist-out
  
• Twist-n-Curl
• Curly Fro 1
• Bantu Knot-Outs
  
• Cornbraids
• Flat Twist-Out
• Roller Set
• Rod Set
• Flexi Rod Set
• Curlformer Set
• Flat iron
• Faux Bun
• Messy Side Bun

My personal choices were wash and gos during the first few months and after that braid-outs were my go-to style. I preferred wearing curly styles so that I wouldn’t have to straighten the natural new growth.

Get To Know Your New Growth

What we would normally call our “new growth” is what you will have to get used to calling simply YOUR HAIR. After your transition, when you do your big (or little) chop, you will have all new growth. To make the BC less intimidating it is wise to get to know your new growth during your transition.

Although you will most likely not be able to determine your “hair type” while you still have your permed ends weighing your hair down, you will be able to learn some interesting things about your natural hair.

Some things to notice:

• How does my hair react to water?
• How does my hair react to oils?
• How does my hair react to my current products?
• How does my hair feel (when wet, when dry, when dirty, when thirsty)?
• How quickly does my hair dry?
• How quickly does my hair tangle?

Create Your Regimen

This, to me, is the fun part. With creating a regimen comes a bit of experimentation with products, techniques and timing.

Some things to consider:

• How often will I wash/condition/moisturize?
• How often will I do treatments? (moisture/protein)
• What will I use to moisturize? (how does my hair react?)
• How often will I detangle?
• How much time do I have to devote to my healthy hair practices?
• How much effort do I want to put in to my regimen?
  

Stick to the Plan (or not!)

After your regimen is set and you’ve decided on your styles, your only job now is to stick to it and last until your predetermined big chop day. The longer your transition, the more time you’ll have to deal with both textures and the higher the natural hair to permed hair ratio becomes.

This requires patience among other things. If it becomes too much for you, you can always BC early, or switch your transition mode to one where you won’t have daily manipulation/styling of your hair.

BONUS:

Find Support

This is key, for those days when you’re so frustrated with dealing with the two textures on your head that a buzzcut sounds like a good idea. You will want people who are going through the same thing, or have gone through it to discuss things with and share ideas, as well as get advice. Plus, you’ll want a safe place to vent about something as important/trivial as your hair.

Some places to go for support: LHCF, NaturallyCurly, Nappturality, Curly Nikki, And you can always email me!

I hope this helped any transitioners-to-be with making your decision and hopefully now making a more informed one.

Good luck on your journey!

Hola chicas!

It's that time again! The images below are of CN readers at their flyyest...at work, on the town, and with the fam. Showing us all that natural hair is not a fad, it's a way of life...an extension of our beauty! Click on the images to enlarge them:

Susonnah Gonzalez of Naturallycurly writes:
With all the right ingredients, you can make your very own hair mask at home! Enjoy the natural moisturizing effect of bananas with this banana smoothie hair mask.

Banana Smoothie Hair Mask: Quench dry or overworked hair with this fruity concoction that will leave your strands sparkling.

• 1 mashed banana
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 5 tablespoons olive oil

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Using a wide-toothed comb, apply the mask to your hair from the roots to the ends. Let the mask soak into your hair for about fifteen to thirty minutes. The more damaged your hair is, the longer you want to wait. Rinse out the mask with cold water, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual.

For the original article, CLICK HERE!

Hi everybody! My name is Shari and I'm from Chicago, Illinois. I am a web/Flash developer by day and I also occasionally do freelance design work and I run an online t-shirt shop called Bon Bon Vie.

CN: How long have you been natural?
S: I'm a little fuzzy about when I actually first went natural because I never did a big chop, I only transitioned. I remember having a relaxer and being tired of the scalp burns and dry scalp that resulted. After about 6-8 months, I realized I had 2 textures of hair on my head and I had to make a decision! So, long story short, I went natural around late 2008.

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
S: I was definitely a long term transitioner. I just let my hair grow and I did a lot of twist outs, bantu knots and buns in the meantime. I got a few inches trimmed from my hair every few months until it was all natural.

CN: What is your current regimen?
S: My regimen is super simple. I used to be a major product junkie, but I realized that with my hair, less is more. My scalp produces a lot of oils on its own, so too many products for me = weighed down, flat hair.

I wash my hair with Trader Joe's Refresh shampoo when needed, maybe about once a week. I previously tried co-washing, but it does not work very well for removing product buildup. I then take a medium to small section of my hair and use whatever flavor of Suave conditioner I'm feeling that week, and slowly detangle from bottom to top with a paddle brush. My hair is thick and coarse and it just drinks up conditioner by the gallon. Suave has a good consistency and it's cheap, so it's my go-to detangling conditioner.

I really only have about 3 hairstyles...twists/twist-outs, wash & go's and buns.

For my twist outs, I get the best results when I use minimal product. I leave in a bit of my conditioner or use a leave-in such as Kinky-Curly's Knot Today. I then section my hair off, sometimes with a comb, sometimes with my fingers. I usually end up doing about 15-18 2-strand twists. I let them air dry for about 4-5 hours. If I have to go out, I throw a hat on or if I'm really in a rush, I'll sit under a hooded dryer. I untwist when they are still a tiny bit damp so I can keep some volume. And voila, that's it!

My wash & go is pretty simple too...I wash, detangle, leave in a bit of conditioner or Knot Today and then I also put a medium dollop of Kinky-Curly Curling Custard in my palms and distribute it evenly through my hair.

And for buns & up-do's, I distribute some Oyin Whipped Pudding or Burnt Sugar Pomade and throughout my hair and gently brush with a soft bristle brush, if needed.

CN: How do you maintain Length? Moisture?
S: The best way to maintain length is to heat style sparingly or not at all. Too much manipulation is also the kiss of death. I used to be very harsh with the way I brushed my hair and I noticed I was getting breakage in the front. I used to do bantu knot-outs pretty frequently and it was putting a lot of stress on my edges. Remember to be gentle with your hair and keep styling to a minimum. Avoid styles that pull and tug and put a lot of stress on your hair. Find styles that you only have to redo every few days or so. For moisture, I try to deep condition twice a month.


CN: Night time routine?
S: At night, I wrap my hair in a silk scarf...I just make a triangle and put it over my head and tie it at the back of my neck. I also occasionally do a high pineapple with a loose scrunchy. I also have satin pillowcases should my scarf fall off during the night.This usually does the trick for me.

CN: What would you tell a new natural, or transitioning diva?
S: I would tell all the budding new naturals to stick with it. It can be really difficult to learn how to care for your new head of hair, but it's so worth it in the long run. You will probably wonder why you didn't do it sooner, I know I did!

CN: What's the best thing about being naturally glamorous?
S: Being natural is awesome. No more worrying about getting caught in the rain or if I will sweat my hair out while exercising. I feel so much more carefree and natural hair offers me so much versatility.


CN: Anything else you want to add?
S: Everyone's hair is different, so don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you! But no matter what type of hair you have, just know that it's beautiful :)

AishaSaidIt writes:

This morning my husband asked, “What’s that smell? Is that your hair?” And then proceeded to stick his face in my hair only to find out it was (how embarrassing). Okay, first, the whole myth about being married negates you from any responsibility to “keep the sexy” (as Curly Nikki would say) is totally bogus. It just makes it harder to keep the mystery of me being the delicate flower that I am (giggles). For instance, the razors for shaving body hair, the creams for the “lady stach” removal, and other feminine products I care not to mention here, really sheds a light on what once was a mystery when I was a girlfriend vs. “The Wife”. Okay, back on topic- - that smell he pointed out was the fresh coat of a mix of essential oils I used that morning to untwist my hair. Mainly it was probably the Tea Tree oil which tends to smell like medicine when it’s not dry. I’m in the middle of a change in the way I take care of my hair, switching from Carol’s Daughter smelly goods to Ayurvedic powders and more basic products like shea butter and coconut oil. So far, it has done wonders for my hair but is it worth not smelling pretty for my Mr.? Should I eliminate the Tea Tree oil all together, should I try to mask it away, or should I just say deal with it fabulous hair has a price?