Cheyenne- Naturally Glam Hair Idol

CN: How long have you been natural?
I’ve been natural for almost 3 ½ years now. It seems much longer than that. I big chopped my freshman year in high school because my sister and I both hated getting relaxers, so my mom gave up the relaxer on our hair. Thank you Mom 🙂 Even though I’ve always had long hair, until the big chop (which I loved!), my hair has retained length speedier than when I was relaxed. Before going natural, I’ve never seen what it really looked like. All the pictures my mom kept were of my hair in a really thick bun (my mum and dads favorite hairstyle on us girls), lol. The bun was my favorite hairstyle until I went natural. Now I love wearing it wild and free!

The day I big chopped, I walked up to my mother and declared I am cutting my hair off right now. Her response was do it then, lol. I was expecting a no, but my mother has always said to us it’s not what is on your head, but more importantly it’s what is in your head. So I did it! I snipped away to a flying curly fro. I loved it soooo much. I was light headed though because my hair was always heavy and past my back. Lol. My dad said I looked adorable and like Anglea Davis. All of my family loved it, and eventually my mom went natural. I had school the next day, and I was going to reveal to the world my new self (that’s how I felt, like a new person). My peers couldn’t keep their hands out of my hair, they didn’t believe I actually did it. Some of the little boys were shocked and told me to straighten it…”eh no…not for you”, was my response. The funny thing about this is, my hair eventually grew on everyone. I attended one of
the most diverse high schools in Atlanta. The girls with naturally straight hair were so inspired by my hair that they went out and got curly perms. Bahaha. I couldn’t help but to laugh. I was voted Best Hair for the yearbook too! Most of my friends eventually went natural too!

Sorry it was long, I can write for days. My hair is somewhat like my bestfriend. It’s showed me how to be confident with who you really are. I’ve noticed such a huge difference in myself. I became an individual, and a showstopper, lol!

CN: What is your current regimen?
Hmmn. Regimen? I’m not sure if It should be called that lol. It’s extremely simple…now lol. In the past it’s been really complex and time consuming, but I’ve realized when I don’t do much, my hair looks better, and thrives.

I shampoo and condition my hair every 4-5 days. With every wash I deep condition (available
conditioner, honey and olive oil). I sit under the dryer for 25- 45 minutes. Sometimes I exceed that amount because I end up falling asleep under the dryer. Ha! While I wash the deep conditioner out I detangle in four sections with my Denman brush. I then rinse my hair with cold water, and leave some of the conditioner in. After that in four sections I use a little gel. Sometimes I skip that step depending on how big I want to wear it. No gel= extremely huge. Gel= tamed, lol.

Shampoo- Anything cheap, or that’s around (Pantene relaxed and natural line, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration…etc.
Conditioner- Paul Mitchell The Detangler, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration, or Patene Relaxed and Naturals line.
Gel- Eco Styling Gel, or IC Fantasia.
Styling tool- Denman Brush
Hair refresher- Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum

CN: How do you maintain length? Moisture?
I leave my hair as is. Curly. Wild. And Big. I straighten my hair two to three times a year. I trim myself, curl by curl. I don’t manipulate my hair much. Winter time I leave it in two strand twist, and for that I use sheabutter sheamoisture. Other than the twist, my hair is pretty much out on a regular basis. I’ve tried looking for the perfect product, but I realize my curls are not going to look like the next persons, they are naturally frizzy, and that’s how they shall stay, and how I like it. So any conditioner is fine.

CN: How do you protect your curls at night?
At night I pull my hair up into a high ponytail. I never cover my hair because it’s just too big. In the morning, I take it out of it’s ponytail and shake shake shake. I use a dab of Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum and concentrate on my ends, and shake shake shake again. I do this everyday until wash day. Saves me time, and only takes 2-5 minutes.

CN: What would you tell a new natural, or transitioning diva?
Find information on natural hair, it will do you justice. Search forums, fotki, naturallycurly.com,
curlynikki….etc. Just treat your mind, before you give in and treat your hair. Natural hair is so versatile!
You have so many styling options, if you are a chameleon when it comes to hair. Natural hair is just freeing. Don’t look at other people’s natural hair, and expect for yours to be like theirs. Most likely it won’t happen that way. Be happy with the beauty of your own. That is what’s going to keep you on your journey to team natural.

CN: What’s the best thing about being naturally glamorous?
Eyes. Eyes watch everywhere. I feel I go someplace, and people recognize me because of my hair. It’s truly funny. Every day is unpredictable, I’m never assured as to how my hair will look the next morning, but I make it work. It’s an adventure! Since being natural, my personal style has shot out of the roof. I’ve found what I like, and what I don’t like, through my hair talking to me. It’s become sort of like a second mind. I feel more confident, I’ve become more open, and less judging. Everyday, I found myself walking as if I’m on a runway just to feel my gigantic fro bounce. If you catch me in Atlanta ( I’m really not hard to miss – think fro and runway walk) say hey to me.

CN: Anything else you’d like to add?
I love being natural, it’s so much a part of me. And Nikki, your site is the extremely dope! And shout out to all the College curlies!
Add me on twitter! @ CheyEuphoric
Thanks guys!