Shake!!!!

-How long have you been natural?
Most of my life actually. But when I didn’t wear it in it’s natural glamorous big fluffy state much when i was younger. It was usually kiddy styles, braided, or hot combed. I got a perm in high school and HATED it! My hair was breaking off like crazy! I stopped getting perms in 11th grade and babied my hair back to health. Sophomore year of college I cut my near rear-end length hair into a short bob because I was sick of being known as “the girl with all the hair” plus everyone said I wouldn’t! lol. so it’s all natural now and has grown most of the way back in 2 short years.

-What is your regimen?
That’s a great question. lol. Let’s see. I wash with CREAM OF NATURE shampoo (the one with the green label and yellow cap) whenever my hair feels like it needs it. This is usually once every week or week and a half. I deep condition with PANTENE PRO-V RESTORATIVES DEEP CONDITIONING MASK. I leave it in for at least an hour with a plastic cap and a warm towel wrapped around it. I should do this once a week but it’s more like twice a month. With winter here however, I will do much better with this now! I co-wash and detangle with SUAVE HUMECANT CONDITIONER as needed during the week. I love this product. Excellent slip! And I don’t rinse it out. Once out of the shower, after about 10-15 minutes of my hair being wrapped in a towel I run homemade Whipped Shea Butter through my hair from root to ends in small sections. This is about it-I don’t use many stylers unless the hairstyle that comes next calls for it. I may use: GARNEIR FRUCTIS SOFT CURL CREAM, CANTU SHEA BUTTER LEAVE IN ( I have a love-hate relationship with this one), FANTASIA IC CLEAR HAIR GEL, ALOE VERA GEL, MOTIONS FOAMING WRAP LOTION, and/or AUSSIE CATCH THE WAVE MOUSSE + LEAVE IN CONDITIONER. Then I put on a satin scarf and sleep because I usually do my hair at night unless the style is not sleep-on-able. hehe.

-What is the one thing you’d tell a newbie to help her on her journey?
PATIENCE IS KEY! If you try to rush any part of the process it will back fire. The simpler and less harsh your routine is the more your hair will thank you! Get to know yourself and your hair. Look at lots of pictures and try new things. Find what you like and stick to it. WHAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE ELSE WILL NOT NECESSARILY WORK FOR YOU! Love your hair and it will love you back. Once you’ve invited your hair and you two are happily ever after everyone else will be able to tell.

-How do you maintain length?
I do manipulate my hair a lot because my hair style changes on the daily. (Can’t help it. I love fresh and new!) But I also treat my hair like it’s very fragile and could all fall out with a wrong move! Not because I think it will, but this forces me to be gentle with my hair. It’s delicate, like a precious piece of silk. I only detangle in the shower with lots of conditioner and a wide tooth shower comb. Moisture is key! Rich humecants are a must. I swear but shea butter and henna treatments for hair. They work wonders. I had hair way down my back my entire life (until I chopped it into a cute bob sophomore yr of college) so my hair being long doesn’t amaze me. When you stop stretching your hair out everyday to see how much it’s grown you’ll see real growth! I have no idea how long my hair is until I get it flat ironed. It surprises me every time. I go months without checking then one day I straighten and am like wow! So forget about length and concentrate on health! Stretch to see length every few MONTHS not days and you’ll notice real growth. =)

-How do you preserve your curls at night?
After scrunching a bit some sort of leave in (usually whipped shea) and a bit of oil, I wear my hair loose underneath a giant satin scarf (big enough to cover all of my hair) and sleep on a satin pillow case.

-What’s the best thing about being naturally glamorous?!
EVERYTHING! We have the most options with our hair. Braids, twists, twist outs, wash n go, straight, combed out, it’s never ending! It’s big and beautiful and like no other! And the power and beauty of rocking natural, gorgeous curls and spirals is amazing. I love to see other naturals out and about. We look so proud and poised. Each person is unique and this can be seen in our hair. Everyone is different! We should stop wanting everyone else’s hair and appreciate what grows naturally out of our own head! OWN IT. SERVE IT. LOVE IT. Inspire!