CurlLee!!!!

-How long have you been growing your hair out?
Well, the last time I got a haircut was in late July / early August of 2007, so it’s been a little over a year now. Pulled straight its about collar bone length in the back and chin length in the front and sides.

-What is your regimen?
Well I still consider myself a bit new at this, so as far as products I’m still in the trial and error stage. But in general here is what I do:
I find it best for me just to detangle and wash one a week, which may or may not have to change as my hair gets longer.
But, I let my hair run under the water for about one or two minutes. First I take a thick conditioner (Herbal Essence hello hydration or Totally Twisted) and finger comb my hair with it saturated with conditioner. Then I may or may not follow that with a wide tooth comb depending on the time. After combing I scrunch my hair for a few minutes, before rinsing it out. Then I take my second conditioner (Pantene ProV r&n or Tresseme Curl Moisture) and scrunch my hair some more, the majority of my shower time is due to scrunching. Also I have a 4a curl pattern on the sides of my head, and for those sections I twist in the beginning of the process, if I want it to blend in with the rest. Last step is adding the leave in (Garnier Fructis hydra curls/curl and shine). Finally air dry ~ diffuser in the winter. Now I hear people adding stuff after they are out of the shower, but with my hair, I can’t do very much once I’m out of the shower. I have to wait until it’s somewhat dry. Otherwise the curls break apart.

My fro- I usually do this after the wash and go style of day one, so that the curls can stay pretty defined when I fluff it out to make it bigger and rounder. The fro is how I wear my hair 4 or 5 days out of the seven day week.

-What is one thing you’d tell a newbie to help him/her on their journey?
I believe all the women on your site have it just right for your female readers. So my message is more so for the guys since there aren’t many of us out there rock’n the curly fro. Basically, keep your head up, don’t let outsiders with negativity influence your decisions about your hair. As much as we try and play it off, it can hit home a bit. (when are you going do something with your hair? You need to cut it. You need to comb it) It all comes with the territory. But, I’ve learned, just as there are people who will hate, there are many that will love it. Now actually talking about hair, if anything, make sure your hair has moisture. You don’t have to worry too much about 100 different products, detangling and styling if that’s not your thing, as long as it’s not dry.

-How do you maintain length?
Honestly that is due mostly in part to good genes. I take after my mom’s side and everyone pretty much has a full head of hair, my grandfather is in his 70’s and still has a full head of hair. I don’t really do anything like protective styles or anything; I usually wear my hair out, except twisting it a couple times. I stopped pic’ing out my hair constantly since about July of this year. Other wise I just make sure that my hair is moisturized. That major factor seems to help me maintain my length.

-What do you do to preserve your curls at night?
All I do is fold my pillow in half, to keep my hair off the bed, sleep on the edge of the pillow with my hair hanging off, and hope I don’t slip off during the night. That’s what I do for a wash and go style. If I have my fro, its the same thing, but I wrap a bandana around the front to raise the hair from off my face, and again hope I don’t slip off the pillow, lol. Was a bit uncomfortable at first, but I got used to it. Maybe I’ll invest in a silk/satin pillow case one day. My hair is not long enough now, but I don’t ever see myself doing a pineapple.

-How do you get those curls to pop?
Scrunching is all I can say. When my head is fully of conditioner while in the shower, I scrunch a lot, probably more than I need to, but I do.

October 2008
Pic’d out slightly shrunken fro

September 2008

August 2008

April 2008