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Curly Nikki

Ashia- Naturally Glam Hair Idol

By January 27th, 202111 Comments

Ashia- Naturally Glam Hair IdolCN: How long have you been natural?
I BC’ed September 30, 2009, so it’s been almost two years.

CN: Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I started transitioning pretty much by accident. My sister had been natural for six years when I started transitioning and every other word that came out her mouth was “fotki” or “CG method” or “4a hair” or some the other natural hair lingo that I couldn’t follow. I was convinced she was in a cult every time she went to a curly meet-up. She encouraged me to go natural a lot, but all I could remember were lots and lots of tears at even the sight of a comb from the time I was a very young girl.

In the spring of my sophomore year in college, I was taking aquatics, the summer was on its way, and I was preparing to study abroad the following fall. So I knew I didn’t want to be bothered with my hair too much, and straightening it all the time would be too much of a hassle. By mid-summer, I realized I could handle the whole transitioning thing, especially with a lot of help from my sister and my best friend (who went natural a year before I did), and I made a commitment to myself to see it through.

Ashia- Naturally Glam Hair IdolAnyway, I planned on being a long term transitioner because I’ve always had long hair and was afraid to cut it. But the more I saw new growth, the more I was frustrated with finding styles to keep my hair healthy and pretty. After a while, I was disgusted (I know that’s a strong word, but that’s how I felt at the time) with seeing the two different textures, and I wanted the perm gone IMMEDIATELY. So one night while I was abroad (without everyone at home asking why I wanted to cut my “long, pretty hair”), I made the decision to cut it all off. The next day, I walked into a barber shop, and before I knew it, one curl, two curls, three curls were gone. I absolutely have never, ever for one second regretted BC’ing.

Ashia- Naturally Glam Hair IdolAshia- Naturally Glam Hair Idol
CN: What is your current regimen?
Water is my hair’s BFF, so I condition or co-wash about three times a week. When I first transitioned, I experimented with a million and one different conditioners to see what worked for me. But now that I have my staple products, I like to mix it up. And I always, always use a leave-in. My favs are anything from Giovanni, Mixed Chicks Leave-in, Jane Carter Condition and Sculpt, Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner, and Knot Today Leave-in.

I detangle once or twice a week. I section my hair (I’m up to about eight sections now), and I just work my way from the bottom up. When I finish with each section, I braid it and leave it for the night. (I used to twist my hair after detangling, but I’m finding that I like braid-outs better than twist-outs – I never know what I’m going to get with a twist-out!)

I rarely shampoo (maybe once or twice a month, or as needed) because I haven’t found one that doesn’t dry my hair out.

Styling is pretty much whatever I’m in the mood for that day and have the time to – updos, braid-outs, twist-outs, flat twists, etc.

Ashia- Naturally Glam Hair Idol
CN: How do you maintain Length? Moisture?
I’m not so concerned about length. Actually, I’m a much happier person with short hair, and the only reason I’m growing it out now is because it’s been so long since I’ve seen my hair long and natural like when I was a kid. (The length I’m at now is pretty annoying because I feel like a 4th grader with some of the styles I find myself doing, so I’m always looking for new ones!)

In terms of moisture, jojoba oil is a God-send! If I seal my hair with jojoba oil over a leave-in conditioner or a cream, the result is always amazing – shiny and so moisturized.

CN: Night time routine?
I don’t have a very strict night time routine, except to follow the cardinal rule: Never sleep without a satin bonnet!

CN: What would you tell a new natural, or transitioning diva?
Know that there will be some rough times ahead. There were times when I just couldn’t understand why my hair hated me so much. There were times when I was so overwhelmed by all of the products, the regimens, the different kinds of brushes – literally, I used to walk through the store reading product reviews on my phone as I saw things I wanted to try.

BUT also know that there are so many more good times. Those I can’t describe to you. You have to stick with it and find out that you’re hair actually loves you.

Ashia- Naturally Glam Hair Idol
CN: What’s the best thing about being naturally glamorous?
There are so many amazing things about being naturally glam – like changing up my look so easily, and of course, not allowing the weather to dictate my hairstyle for the day! The best, by far though, is knowing that I don’t have to change a single thing about myself to look in the mirror and FEEL glamorous.

Ashia- Naturally Glam Hair IdolAshia- Naturally Glam Hair Idol

11 Comments

  • Anonymous says:

    I am transitioning and there are times I just wanna throw in the towel and just do the BC! My hair is already short, but I have a little length on the top that I'm afraid to cut. You have inspired me to keep going! You are beautiful and I can't wait to get through this awkward stage.

    Thanks

  • Ashia T says:

    Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the love and support 🙂

    Anonymous, that's amazing/hilarious how you can recognize Swat in that picture!

    And to the Ashia's, its definitely cool that we share a name… I feel like there are a million ways you could pronounce it though, so we might all say it differently!

  • Ashia Mack says:

    We have the same name!! And to Ashia Johnson up there same here! I hope you guys' names are pronounced like mine that'd be REALLY cool. 🙂

    P.S. her hair is AMAZING.

  • Annabel says:

    Beautiful story and hair! I love how calm and collected she was about doing the BC. I especially love her hair in the picture on the beach post-BC. I LOL'ed quite a few times (e.g. checking prod reviews from phone, natural hair talk sounding cultish to newbies), because I can totally identify with those statements!

  • Ashia Johnson says:

    Just wanted to say we have the same name. I hardly ever meet someone with the same name as me. Also, I love your hair.

  • Tiff aka MissKinkyCoily says:

    Yes, she is a Swattie. We are so proud of her, Class of 2011 🙂

  • Tiff aka MissKinkyCoily says:

    My beautiful baby sister. Im so glad you embraced your natural beauty. You rock it like no other. Thanks for reinspiring me.

    Love Tiffany aka MissKinkyCoily

  • Angela says:

    Lovely woman with lovely hair. I feel inspired, thanks for sharing!

  • Anonymous says:

    Great hair. I am going out on a limb, but based on the 5th pic I am going to say hi fellow Swattie (graduated many years ago).

  • Serenity Spot says:

    Her hair is so gorgeuous, I love the style in the first picture.

  • Bree says:

    great interview!!! I LOVE her hair!!! And I see her natural mama too 😉

    artofbeingcool.blogspot.com

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