Back on the Couch with Yvette Nicole Brown

I still love the aloe vera leave-in by IC Fantasia. And you know what? I’m scared that I just said that again on your site because it has been impossible to find lately. Especially at Sally’s! Are all the awesome curly girls that frequent your site buying up my favorite product? Is that what’s happening?! I’m praying that’s the reason and it’s not that it’s being discontinued. I don’t think I’d recover from that.

I also love the new Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner by Creme of Nature. I’m learning that my hair adapts to products very quickly. If I don’t switch it up from time to time my curls look at me like, “what’s that supposed to do?” I use the Creme of Nature line from time to time to keep my hair guessing.

As for the best thing I’ve “discovered” lately, that would be WEN. The ENTIRE line. It really does moisturize and soften your hair on contact. It makes detangling so much easier. The WEN line is pretty much all I use these days. I know other curly girls who swear by it too. Holly Robinson Peete initially introduced me to it. She loves it and put it in a gift bag. I’m hooked!

What’s your current routine?

My routine…when I have the time…is exactly the same as before. I’m a little long-winded so I’m not going to subject your readers to a long re-hash, but I’m doing pretty much the same stuff when I wash my hair as before. And I still haven’t started sleeping with a satin pillowcase or bonnet. That is my greatest shame.

How are you keeping your situation moisturized and healthy?

I don’t really know that I am, actually. Again, I won’t know until March when we finish this season of the show. Fingers and toes will be crossed until then. The awesome hair department on “Community” takes excellent care of my wigs but I don’t really stick around after our 16 hour days to let them tend to my actual hair, though I’m sure they wish I would. Janet, the head of our hair department, cut a couple of inches off my ends about a month ago and my hair looked fluffy, healthy and happy to be free. But March will tell me for sure.

Any message for the CurlyNikki community?

I recently had a conversation with my cousin, who’s been growing her relaxer out for about 3 months now. She’s seeing her natural hair for the first time and she was being really hard on herself and her hair because it wasn’t doing what she thought it should be doing. She was concerned with doing it all “right”. I had to tell her that there’s no right way or even one way to go natural. It’s all about individual preference and what you and your lifestyle can handle on your journey. I think we, as black women, already put too much pressure on ourselves in other areas of our lives. The decision to go natural and how we do it shouldn’t be another point of stress. I told her that there’s also no inherent “virtue” in going natural. I didn’t want her to think that if she chooses to go back to a relaxer someday or even use a texturizer now during her transition that she’s failed in someway. And that’s the same thing I’d say to your readers. Going natural or not is a personal decision. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for anything you do today, next week or next year to your hair. If natural, awesome. If relaxed, good for you. I think we all need to make the decision that works best for us. Own your right to “do you” and allow others their right to the same. And please go easy on yourself in the midst of the natural transition, if that’s your choice, and every other transition in life. That’s my two cents!

Do you ever feel like you’re over looked or not given the recognition that you deserve? You’re a gorgeous curly, on prime time television, on a popular show… I just feel that I should hear your name a lot more often. What are your thoughts?

No, I don’t feel overlooked for a couple reasons. One, I don’t need or want a lot of recognition. The amount I get is more than enough. I’ve always just wanted to make a living doing what I love and I’m doing that. Being a household name was never the dream or goal. Shoot, I’m series regular on a network comedy! For a girl from East Cleveland that’s like winning the lottery! And two, there’s a lot of talented black women in Hollywood. I learned that the industry is designed to only let one or two of us in any genre through at a time. I made my peace with that long ago. I celebrate everyone as they have their moment and thankfully, they kindly do the same when it’s my turn. But that said, there’s always been enough work to go around and that’s all that has ever mattered to me. I’m grateful.

Any new projects in the works?

I’m finishing up the third season of playing Shirley on the comedy, “Community” on NBC and the second season of voicing Cookie on the cartoon, “Pound Puppies”on the Hub Network. I also recur as a guest-star on the sitcom “Victorious” on Nickelodeon. All of that keeps me pretty busy.

Thanks so much for letting me catch your readers up on what my hair is doing now. It’s always an honor to be featured on “Curly Nikki”! God Bless!