CN: When you first chopped, what were your thoughts and feelings? How do you feel now? I felt awesome! After a few hours I had buyer’s remorse. Even though my hair was long, it had totally broken off from the battle of the textures. Now I’m back to the initial feeling of….AWESOME! I love my hair. I have never seen my hair in its natural state (I have been relaxed since the age of 2….yeah, shocking!).
CN: How did you cope with the responses from your family and friends?
My cousin is on the journey with me so I have someone close by that is riding out the journey with me. My grandmother likes it. My dad was like “thank goodness” when he saw it because he hated the styles I wore when I was transitioning. My bf’s mom HATES IT! She’s from the West Indies and straight is best for her. She thinks I’m growing dreds, which I’m not.
CN: What are your plans for your hair?
I’m just enjoying working with it and trying different styles. I am a subscriber to Nikkimae on youtube, her hair is about my length so I try out a lot of the styles she comes up with and I must say they are working out great so far.
CN: Do you find it necessary to ‘doll up’ your look to feel more feminine?
In a way, yes. My hair is a severe change from the norm. I work in corporate America and it has been a task figuring out how to look presentable and not too extreme in the office. However, I do wear big earrings and super girly clothes to combat the edgy hair. I’m also a makeup junkie, but that illness was there before the BC.
CN: How do you keep it moisturized?
I’m still working on that. I have been co-washing like a mad woman. I find that my hair tends to lean more on the dry side. So I have been trying various concoctions to battle the desert. I live in NY and winter is fast approaching, some of my fellow New Yorkers would say it’s already here, so I need to find something fast.
CN: What products and techniques do you use to style? How often do you style?
I tried a wash and go but didn’t like how my hair looked dry, it was waaaay too short for my liking. I have been rocking a twist out in various forms. I co-wash and style every 3-4 days.
CN: How do you achieve definition?
The curls are popping automatically, surprisingly. I just co-wash and there they are. Little springs of deliciousness all over my head!
Totally off subject but you could be my twin! lol I can't stop looking!
Thanks Ladies and Thank You Nikki!!!!! I transitioned for 13 months and @ rhytm&drama…i just wash my face with Clinique soap and exfoliate with a face cleansing brush every few days. I also moisturize with Clinique Moisturizing Gel. Definitely want to try Qhemet Biologics.
How long did you transition?
I recommend Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Cream sealed in with oil. It is wonderful. I found their heavy cream too heavy even though many people use it for winter time.
Congrats! Your hair looks great! 🙂
Oh and great hair by the way! Also you have fab skin. What's your routine skin care routine?
kimmaytube leave in
I'm a newbie too so take my advice with a grain of salt. I recently tried a deep conditioning treatment with Hello Hydration by Herbel Essence and mixed in Pure Coconut Oil. My hair loved it. It was soooooo moisturized. I then put Garnier Fructise leave in conditioner on. Sealed with Coconut oil and used pure shea butter on my ends. My hair is fluffym full and moisturized, yet has movement with this combo. Even on second day hair (and I rebraid and follow the same leave in and seal routine on dry hair at night) it still comes out great. I have a fabulously moisturized and pretty braid out! Hope this helps 🙂
Oh, how I remember those NY winters. Sealing is my best method for keeping my hair moisturized. On soaking wet hair, I use my hair milk of the moment (which is currently Karen's Body Beautiful), and then I layer on a quarter- to half dollar-size amount of oil (EVOO or Castor Oil). I don't comb it through; just section roughly and then palm it onto my hair. My hair is around the same length as yours. This has been working well for me for the past several months.