so1913!!!!

-How long have you been natural?
My last relaxer was December 2002. It was around April of 2004 that I finally cut all of my relaxed ends off.

-What is your regimen?
I do not follow any strict regimen, however, I am a regular no-poo washer, using cleansing creams such as Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream, and more recently Miss Jessie’s Creme De La Curl Cleansing Cream. I rarely use regular shampoo outside of clarifying once every 1-2 months or so….whenever I “feel” necessary or in the mood for a deep cleansing. I conditioner wash anywhere from 3 to 5 times a week, but during the winter am doing like 2-3 times a week. I am getting back in the habit of doing a deep conditioning treatment once a week with a treatment made by the last stylist I went to called Chocolate or Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery Treatment. For styling I use Fantasia IC Gel with Sparkle-lites and/or Miss Jessie’s Stretch Silkening Creme and usually diffuse dry. For maintenance I’ve been using Hairveda CoCasta Shikakai Herbal Hair Oil, but for the colder months I use Miss Jessie’s Buttercreme.

-What is the one thing you’d tell a newbie to help her on her journey?
Be PATIENT. That is the key…you must have patience to hang in there long enough to find what works best for your natural hair. It definitely took me some time, but I stuck with it and finally reached a point where I’m comfortable handling my natural hair and know what works and doesn’t. LISTEN TO YOUR HAIR. I always say “I do what my hair tells me to, and we get along just fine.” It can be frustrating getting there, and there are times in the early stages where you may want to give up, but just keep your eye on the prize and remember your long term goals…keep experimenting (safely of course) and asking questions…you will get there!

-How do you maintain length?
Well, for someone like myself who is scissor happy and seems to always cut as soon as she gets some length, this is a funny question to answer, lol. My last hair cut this November was a styling decision, but as a person who wears her hair loose on a daily basis, I am very susceptible to getting those knots on my ends. The key for me is REGULAR trimmings (every 3 months) and to keep those ends moisturized and conditioned. Usually if I go longer than that, my next trim ends up being more of a cut…so when I want to keep length, I make sure I get those knots trimmed off regularly before they get out of control. Every one’s hair is different, so only you can decide the timing in between trims, just pay attention to your hair. Those who wear twists regularly or do more protective styling can probably stretch trims longer, but as soon as you notice an abundance of knots, frayed, or dry ends, trim those suckers off, or do what a lot of people refer to as “dusting”.

-What’s the best thing about being naturally glamorous?
My hair is unique to only me, so its part of my personal style. It also gives me flexibility to go straight when the mood is there, but go back to rocking my curls. It allows me to maintain optimal hair health. It is the best hair decision I’ve ever made.