Hi Nikki,
I’ve been natural for about 10 years. I started off with locs, cut them all off, and then went back to locs again. I decided to comb out my 2nd set of locs after about 2 years……a very time consuming and painful task…..and I lost a lot of hair in that process. As a result, my hair has become really fine and I have some bald spots. I texturized which was a major mistake (talk about extreme breakage).
I’ve been natural since 2008 and I love it most days. My hair has several textures….it totally takes on a life of it’s own! Sometimes I must admit that I get totally frustrated because of the lack of availability of products in Trinidad, but I make do with what I can get here, and occasionally when someone is making a trip, I’m able to order some stuff.
Right now, I’m using Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream- – it leaves my hair really soft but with a ton of build up which I’m not fond of. I’ve tried Ms. Jessie’s and Paul Mitchell but they don’t seem to like my hair very much. I’m learning that less is more… the least amount of product I put in my hair the better I guess, especially because the products are not all natural. So right now I wash my hair every weekend with any shampoo, and I use Hello Hydration as a leave in, apply a little Cantu Shea Butter, give it a shake and that’s it! Sometimes I twist, sometimes I braid…it depends on my level of patience that day. I would have to say that my protective style is a bun. Sometimes I go on youtube and try new styles, but a bun is the easiest.
I really enjoy your blog I get a lot of inspiration and hope to some day be able to have thick healthy hair. Thanks Curly Nikki Community!
My 32nd Birthday Feb 2010– I went to the hairdresser (she uses Paul Mitchell)
September 2010– I think I just used regular conditioner mixed with Carol’s daughter hair milk
At the beach with a 3 day old twist out. My hair was blowing in the wind for the first time in years!
Hi Natasha,
Love that 1st picture. Just seeing this article. Check out Afrobella's blog…She's a Trini too but lives in Chicago, IL! I'm sure she'll be glad to hear from a fellow Trinidaian
Great tips. I'm finding a lighter hand with products work better also. It's interesting to see all the diversity from the diaspora on this website. That tells me that some of the subjects we're talking about on here could be interpreted in so many different ways. Not every culture has the same experiences. Interesting.
My daughters been natural all her life actually. Love this site and your hair.
I've been natural over twelve years and so has my 16 year old daughter, we use Cher-Mere products a local brand found in T and T. I love their conditioner and use it to co wash and as a leavein as well. I've tried many others but I keep coming back, we use Lock and Twist to smooth edges and do twists when we have time.
And Yes, Your Hair is Beautiful!!!!!
Hello!! I too had locs for 8 years and took them out myself. It took a week. I lost alot of hair but no bald spots. My hair is now 6 inches is most spots after taking out the locs. I am now two strand twisting. I am looking forward to my hair growing big again. I am using Qhemet Biologics Amla & Olive Heavy Creme. Using also the ECO Olive Gel for twisting (A GREAT GEL)with Olive Oil as well. Also will be trying the Oyin products. It's nice to communicate with someone else who took her locs out instead of cutting. Take Care!!!!!
Thanks Trini2dbone. Let us know how the twist out works with Carol's Daughter. Guess I gotta check for whose travelling before the end of the year. *sigh*
Hi Wendy, as far as I know, no one in Trinidad sells Carol's Daughter or Miss Jessie's. When any one of my friends travel, I ask them to pick me up the 'hard to get' products. Either that or order online. I am going to try out Carol's Daughter Loc Butter for a twist out over the weekend…hope it works.
Body Beautiful on D'Avenue will be bringing in Shea Moisture hair products some time soon so that's something to check out.
Hey all,
Guess what- another Trini here, trying to do the natural thing and not get discouraged by the lack of products. Do yall know anywhere in Trini that sells other products such as Carol's Daughter or Miss Jessie's? I wanna try these as well just to compare with KCCC and see which look I like better.
Wow i see allyuh trinis lighting up de place. It's good to see my fellow islanders in here. I'm from St.Kitts and i've been natural for most of my adult life. CN i love your site!
Beautiful hair!!!! please post more pics of your progress..
Oops, I forgot my manners…Natasha, your hair is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for mine to look just as lovely. Already started getting the negative comments…"yuh not relaxing yuh hair"…"yuh growing it natural, how dat go look", "yuh sure that style will suit the office". I swore that last comment got me pi$$ed.
Hi all, I live in Trinidad and I am in the process of transitioning. It's still early in the game for me but I am inspired by all you beautiful people. Since I'm a newbie, I use Pantene Relaxed & Natural Shampoo & Conditioner and I use KC Knot Today, Curling Custard and IC Fantasia Gel (the black one). Products are a bit difficult to come by so I try to keep it simple. @ saf…Body Beautiful is on Ariapita Avenue opposite Venge Mange. They have the Kinky Curly line and soon to add Jane Carter. Check them out; a bit expensive but it's worth a try if you really want the products. The owner is really cool as well.
To all my fellow Trinis…Palance allyuh self!!!!!! Just a suggestion, wouldn't it be cool to have a community right here in Trinidad? A place where we can all get together, share stories, recipes, give encouragement, etc.
Where exactly is this Body Beautiful ppl? I cant bother with this ordering all the time thing. Swear i need to find some Kccc down here. On another note, I'm still on the hunt for the perfect moisturizing conditioner. Suggestions?
@kb: Im sorry about your mom. Some really tend to be like that and hold on to the good hair belief. Hopefully she'll come around. In the mean time enjoy the new freedom.
BTW: Like rel Trinis on this thing for real boy. Like alyuhself lolol
Gorgeous hair Natasha!
Another recently returned Trini. I also order online and check out Body Beautiful but like CarnivaLuva I would also be interested in other recommendations?
@kb: For me my dad and brother are not the biggest fans. I'm 9 months into my transition and since I've been back they definitely keep questioning "What am I planning to do with my head?". Apparently transitioning is not an acceptable answer. I alternate two months in, 1 month out of braids. I keep the faith and remind myself that I'm doing this for me. Hope you do too.
Thank you all so much for the support! I guess she's just gonna have to get used to the fact that I have no plans to perm my hair ever again! Because, much like Anon 11:21 pm, my mother's staunch distaste for my choice makes me even MORE determined to go completely natural!
Gosh it's so great that there are so many women going natural here in trinidad! yay! To the previous posters who mentioned that you can find natural products in trini…can u reccomend some places? I've looked everywhere and have found one place, Body Beautiful on D Avenue, otherwise I order products.
So many trinis on this blog:) Another trini right here in NY and a follower on ncc.com. OP your hair looks great. You can find natural products back home. You just have to look as another poster said and sometimes less is really more.
Hi all from a Trini in New York.
Thanks for the feature Curlynikki. I shared your blog with one of my students who is transitioning.
Love the pics Natasha, your hair looks well maintained! BTW I also love Cantu, and discovered that less is more with that product.
@kb…I thought that my mother was "okay" with my transitioning, as I had been braiding since last year. Palm Sunday she unleashed similar comments to your mum, and even suggested pressing and perms to make my hair "more presentable". This made me more determined to stay natural. Fortunately I don't live with her, so I am not subjected to her comments. Just know that you have support out in cyber land.
Peace!
Thanks for the compliments….Kb I'm sorry to hear about the reaction you're getting from your mother. I've never had those kind of comments from family because almost all of us are natural. So I've had tremendous support. But hair was never really a major issue in my family anyway.
Pray about it….your mom will get over herself soon enough.
Ooops, I forgot: Natasha, you have GORGEOUS hair!!!
Okay, since there are so many Trinis commenting on this post, I need your advice! I'm almost six months into my transition, and my crazy Trinidadian mother is PISSED about it. She keeps saying, "But your hair is so nice and long. It wasn't like that before. It was hard. It won't look nice." Or, "Natural hair doesn't look nice. Perm it, then it looks nice." Or, "Where are you going with your head looking like that???" (I was wearing a braid-out). Or my PERSONAL favorite, "Yuh betta don't put no Ras in yuh head."
So…what was it like for the rest of you when you went natural? Did you have to deal with such opposition???? I'm about to get my hair braided and I KNOW she's gonna hate that even more than my braid-outs.
HEY-I know you!!!I'M A TRINI AS WELL!!!I think we may have similar textures-but I've got one texture all through my head.I co-wash my hair sometimes as many as 5 times a week with HERBAL ESSENCES HELLO HYDRATION-I cannot live without it.Not all conditioners are made equal.I wear wash and gos everyday and sometimes add IC gel to give my curls more shine and definition.I absolutely NEVER brush my hair and comb out my hair only once a week while in the shower loaded with conditioner and armed with a wide teeth comb.I steam my hair often with HH or with virgin olive oil.My hair has never been healthier!Continue looking FLY and doing your TING.To meh TRINIS out dere -BIG UP!!!
Your hair is gorgeous, I am in the process of transistioning my hair now, and I am pretty sure I have the 4a/4b hair type. I just hope it is as pretty as yours is.
Your hair is gorgeous, another trini, and again i know what you mean with the products, but my hair is doing great with them so stick to my Shea butter, HH, ORS and Vo5 and save myself the duties and shipping fees. I so happy to see other trini's on CurlyNikki this is a great site.
I feel your pain my sister. The lack of quality products in Trinidad is rather disheartening and I also order alot of my stuff on-line. However, I have since the beginning of the year, started to use natural products. For example, you can find Spectrum organic unrefined coconut oil and other super products such as Jasons, Nature's Gate, etc right here in sweet TnT. These products work like a dream to moisturize, define, detangle…. the works really. If you are interested in more info email @ bonzaitt@gmail.com with "Afrolicious" as the subject.
Oh your hair does look gorgeous! I'm from Trini too, so I know what you mean about the lack of products here. I just end up ordering lol. It's soo good to know there are other trinis out there going natural as well 🙂
I've told Natasha on numerous occasion that she has gorgeous hair. I myself am natural but we have diffrent textures. She's my inspiration cause she's actually willing to TRY diffrent processes and products which I dont have the patience for.
Your hair is beautiful!
I think I have a crush on your hair!! GORGEOUS!!!!
Girl! I know exactly what u mean since I'm living in Trinidad as well and u know how this place heated these days. U somehow managed 2 find a way 2 keep your tresses lookin lovely I must say. Palance yuhself my trini sista! lol
Love your curls! I have slowly learned the less is more principle as well. 🙂
Gorgeous!
Pretty texture. :o)
I have a similar hair story, except instead of locking my hair I was pressing it, causing my fine hair to break and shed on and off during my 10 yrs natural. I definitely relate to the product choices… lighter definitely is better 🙂 I also use Cantu, glad you're able to make it work for your hair. It's by far the best moisturizer I've come across for my hair. Thanks for sharing your story.
Absolutely gorgeous!!! Love your curl pattern!!! 🙂