CN: When you first chopped, what were your thoughts and feelings? How do you feel now?
When I did the big chop I was nervous. My hands were sweating and I was shaking. I didn’t really know what to do with this beautiful head of hair I had been blessed with. I was worried that I would just ruin my hair like I had did before. But now since I have good products and I know how to take care of my hair I have come to love it.
CN: How did you cope with the responses from your family and friends?
Most of my family was okay with my big chop. I actually attended a family reunion that same day. I wish I would have had the products I have now then, because my hair was really dry that day. Everybody was in shock but they liked it. People seemed to like it even more when I went even shorter! I only received one negative response from a customer at my job– she came in and she said to me, “Oh no, what happened to your hair”?, then went to the girl in the next room and said to her, “Oh great, you still have your hair”. I felt so insulted but I knew it looked good, so I couldn’t listen to the haters.
CN: What are your plans for your hair?
When I first big chopped, my plans were to keep it short for the summer (and I cut it twice more). Then I started looking at pics of girls with their big hair and I decided to let it grow. It has been growing out since March 7th, 2010.
CN: Do you find it necessary to ‘doll up’ your look to feel more feminine?
I really see no need for my hair right now, but I would like to try some flower accessories when it gets a bit longer.
CN: How do you keep it moisturized?
Right now I am using a homemade shea butter and oil mixture. I spritz with EVOO and water. I also do a weekly senna treatment.
CN: How do you get your waves or curls popping?
My flax seed gel and shea butter mixture works wonders for my curl definition. After my shower and in the morning I would put in some of my shea butter mixture and spritz, comb it out, and then put in my flax gel. After that I finger comb my hair through. And voila!
CN: How do you preserve your curls at night?
At night I either sleep with a satin night cap or on a satin pillow case. Since I very rarely sleep in the same spot all night, neither work perfectly.
To make my flax seed gel I boil 2 cups of water with half a cup of flax seeds. I let it boil until it foams and start to rise. I am going to add some aloe vera gel to it to add more moisture. You can also add some essential oils or carrier oils if you want but you can look on youtube for an accurate recipe.
Flax seed gel is very easy to make and can last for about a week in the fridge. You can mix it with other things like conditioners to make creamy or whatever. Here in Central America the curly-haired women swear by it. You can experiment in using more or less water to make it thicker or lighter…It's cheap and NATURAL!!! Go to the link that CN posted and you'll find some good tips.
omg, how does the flax seed gel work? I take a tablespoon of flax seed oil everyday for health benefits but have never heard of a gel for your hair!
omg rayanne congrats on being featured on curly nikki. keep up the great work girl
I'm loving all of these summer big chops! Very lovely. :]
Your hair is lovely, with those big chunky curls. And you have great eyebrows, too. How is flax seed gel different from flax seed oil?