-How long have you been natural?
I BC in November 2004. My hair was about 2 inches long. Since, I have had two less drastic cuts in June 2007 and September 2008.
-What is your regimen?
I don’t follow a strict routine. The majority of the time, I do what is feasible with the little time that I have. That being said, here’s what I’ve found to work for my hair lately. I co-wash twice a week using Pantene R&N hair mask or VO5 and DT once a week using henna or a mixture of conditioner, primarily TIGI MM, olive oil/honey. I finger comb my hair in the shower while it is saturated with conditioner. On rare occasions, I find that I need to use a wide tooth comb or a brush. Once out of the shower, I apply my leave-in conditioner to soaking wet hair. My favorites are Beauty Without Cruelty leave-in conditioner and Blended Beauty Curly Frizz Pudding. I would follow with KCCC for a wash-n-go style or Jane Carter Nourish-n-Shine for protective styling.
-What is the one thing you’d tell a newbie to help her on her journey?
Being natural is a beautiful and freeing experience. It is not a care-free lifestyle as I’ve heard it described at times. Our hair still requires care and a great deal of attention (at first). Take the time to learn what your hair responds to. While there may be many similarities between all naturals’ routines, there still are major differences between the products that are effective for each. Learning your own hair will also keep you from forming realistic expectations of what your hair is like and what you can expect from it.
-How do you maintain length?
I try to focus on the health of my hair and length follows. In the beginning I used to obsess over my length, but now I allow my hair to grow at its space and just focus on keeping tangles away and keeping my hair moisturized. I also find that protective hairstyles prevent me from dealing with tangles and knots, which in turn reduces how much breakage I have.
-What’s the best thing about being naturally glamorous?!
Versatility!!! I have so many options with my hair and the best part is that none of it is permanent (afraid of hair commitment). I am no longer afraid of wetting my hair in the shower or the dreadful visits at the salon. I learned to care for my hair myself and I am an expert at my own hair. I can change my hair up at a moment’s notice without doing anything drastic or irreversible to it. Natural hair is just amazing!
Very pretty!