On the Couch with CC

CN: Have you always embraced your natural curls? If not, who or what inspired you?
Yes, I have always embraced my natural curls. I love them and I absolutely love the decision I made in October 2006 to transition for a year. My mom was the one that helped me make the final decision, along with several other factors (exercising, tired of perms still leaving my hair wavy, and just tired of perms). I allowed my natural hair to grow to a comfortable length for me and then decided to cut off all of the relaxed hair in October 2007.

CN: How have family, friends, and strangers responded to your curls? How do you respond to them?
My family loves my hair and I have inspired a lot of them to embrace their curls. Some of my family members have been natural all of their lives. The more the others see me the more they have jumped on the natural wagon as well. I get a lot of compliments from people that I don’t know asking me what I use and what my regimen consists of. I am always eager to inform. My dad calls me “nappy” but I don’t let it bother me at all. He is just trying to be funny but always tells me later, your hair is so pretty. I like it.

CN: What are your must have products?
My must have products, OMG, it’s too many to name. It really depends on what day it is, how long will I be out and what look I desire. I use a lot of oils- – evoo, jojoba, coconut, and Jamaican black castor oil. The other products that are must haves are Shea butter, Curl Junkie Hibiscus and Banana Honey Butter, Aubrey’s Honeysuckle Rose, henna, Eco Styler Gel, Oyin Burnt Sugar, Seba capsules, and Herbal Essence’s conditioners.

CN: Routine for the perfect curl?
I do a lot of wash– n– gos only because my schedule is so hectic and I workout a lot. If my hair is in a high bun and I want more moisture (so that my bun doesn’t look lifeless), I pick an oil for my scalp, Curl Junkie Hibiscus and Banana Honey Butter on the length, and Oyin Burnt Sugar on my edges.
If I want really big hair and soft curls, I will use a styler gel mixed with my Love, Peace and the Planet Let It Be Cherry Almond Leave-In Conditioner by TIGI, which makes my hair reeeeeally soft, or Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding and Baby Butter Cream if I want elongated curls.

CN: How do you deal with the high dew points and humidity of summer?
In the summer I deal with the humidity by using products with moisture, so that my hair will remain soft and defined throughout the day. The problem is not the humidity for me, it’s the fact that I can’t keep my hands out of my hair, messing with my curls!! AAAAHHHHHHH…..

Natural Hair straightened by me with a flatiron. You can see the henna at the end of my hair.