Dominique- Tales of a Current Transitioner

CN: Are you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I am actually a short term transitioner. Instead of the BC, I gradually cut my relaxed ends off 1-2 cuts per month. My relaxed ends are almost completely gone… yay!!!

CN: How did family and friends react to your decision to transition? What was your response to them?
My husband and my family’s response has been extremely supportive. My mom has BC’d quite a few times and hasn’t had a relaxer in years, so she was already on board. My husband is so supportive that he has become my test subject, lol…He has curly hair so he allows me to use my products in his hair, which has worked quite well. He just supports my excitement of natural hair.

CN: What is your current regimen?
My current regimen is to wash using shampoo (Shea Moisture Restorative Shampoo) twice per month. I co-wash using Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner weekly. I deep condition using Shea Moisture Deep Masque Treatment and a heat cap (amazon.com $26) for, well, I don’t really set a time, but it is usually 30 minutes to an hour, weekly. I rinse the DC out in the shower and detangle under the water, adding more of the Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner, first using my fingers to separate, then using the detangle comb (Goodies brand) to complete the detangling process. Once I’ve detangled, I put my hair into 4 braids so that it will not retangle. I then do Curly Nikki’s infamous ‘Twist n Curl’ using Shea Moisture Hair Milk along with Carol’s Daughters Loc Butter to seal my twists and this allows them to stay moist and soft..I also seal the ends with extra virgin coconut oil and 100% African shea butter (which I added pure lavender oil to-Lavender oil is great for hair moisture and I absolutely love the smell..the European Lavender is the most fragrant). I put my hair in about 20 twists or so then I use the flex rods to add curl and cover with a satin bonnet and go.

CN: What are your staple hair styles during the transition?
I usually rock the Twist n Curl or I do really small twists, which takes about 2 to 2 ½ hours using Carol’s Daughter loc butter. With each style, I usually wear some type of floral accessory or satin scarf.

CN: What would you tell a new natural, or transitioning diva?
Let your purpose for why you are going natural be a decision that you made, totally. Surround yourself with positive people who will embrace the natural you. Learn to love what your hair is and how it is and it will do the best things for you. Research so that you will find ways to rock your ‘new’ hair. If you find a product that works for your hair type, stick to it because it is soooo easy to become a product junkie..If you see a style on another natural’s hair that is a different texture than yours, recognize it, embrace how your natural will work with it or even tweak it to work with your texture, and absolutely rock it!

CN: Why did you choose to go natural?
I chose to go natural because of my research and love for herbs and organic products. I began to care about what I adorn my crown with as well as my family. And I haven’t been this excited about hair in a looooonnnggg time..