Maiya is Naturally Glamorous!

Please, introduce yourself!
My name is Maiya and I am 3 years natural. *everyone says, “Hi, Maiya!” like we’re at an AA meeting.* I am a 25-year-old graduating senior majoring in Biology from PG County, MD, a part-time waitress, owner of a teeny tiny business, and full-time looking for a big girl job.

What is your current hair care regimen?
My current hair regimen has recently changed. Since the weather is getting colder, I have gone back to protective styling. With or without a protective style in, I wash my hair every 2 weeks with either pure castile soap or Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo. Over the summer, I dyed my hair so I make it a priority to condition my hair each and every time I wash. I have been doing hot oil treatments with extra virgin olive oil/coconut oil/jojoba oil (put some in a bowl and pop it in the microwave), deep condition with Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque and Aussie Moist mixed together, and once a month, do a protein treatment with either ApHogee Two Minute Protein Treatment or Megatek (bought on Amazon.com). When my hair isn’t in a protective style, I alternate between blowing it out for a twist/braid/bantu knot out and doing them wet for 2 weeks setting my hair with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie in the cooler months and Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk in the warmer months. No matter how tired I am, I re-twist/braid/bantu knot my hair every night spraying just a little water and applying a little product just to remoisturize. Between washes, if my scalp begins to itch, I take a q-tip and apply 100% pure tea tree oil (bought from The Vitamin Shoppe/GNC/Wholefoods NOT CVS/Walgreens hair section!) and apply it to my scalp then give myself a good scalp massage distributing the oil all over. This also allows blood to circulate and can promote hair growth. But nothing drastic so don’t think you’re going to be Rupunzel and then blame me, lol!

What is your hair type and what works best for your texture?
I’m not big on hair typing at all but if I must be hair typed, I’d say I’m a mixture of a tiny but of 3C, mostly 4A, and possibly a tiny bit of 4B. But like I said, I’m not big on it so I may be wrong. My hair absolutely adores coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil. I use coconut oil about 75% of the time. And it loves basically the whole Shea Moisture line. And no matter what hair type you have, water is always great.

What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural?
This is my 3rd and final time going natural. The first time I attempted was the summer after I graduated from high school. I had friends who had been natural all their lives but pressed their hair so amongst my friends, I was encouraged. But my mother who permed my hair at the age of 6 told me that I should continue to perm. After about 3 months of getting my hair pressed during the summer and it reverting within an hour of leaving the salon, I gave in and permed my hair again. The 2nd time, I was 19 years old and my friends and family started to realize that I was serious about going natural. I BC’d and dyed my TWA honey blonde and loved it. Until Rihanna cut her hair and I wanted a cut like her. So after 9 months, I dyed my hair jet black, permed it, and cut it myself. It was cute though! Now, my last and final time going natural, I was 21 years old. My last perm was April 28, 2008 (the day I became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) and everyone supported my goal to finally be natural. Actually, there are 15 of us on my line and 10 of us are now natural. My grandmother unfortunately asked me one time last year if there was anything I could do to make my hair look “less nappy” but since then, she has grown to love my curls.

Did you BC or transition, if so when or for how long?
I transitioned for 5 months with braids and weaves and then BC’d but my transition was null and void because I cut my hair in a Mohawk and wore it in that style for a year.

What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?
I absolutely adore my kinks, curls, and oils because simply put, they are absolutely beautiful. And I’m not as attached to my hair as much as I was when I was permed. I secretly want to cut it all off again and rock a short cut. But I just want to see how long I can grow it 1st. Being natural isn’t a trend or even a lifestyle. It just is… Natural. How I was naturally meant to be. I straightened my hair back in September for the 1st time since I’ve been natural for 3 years and I didn’t like it. It was pretty, don’t get me wrong, but it had no life and character like my fro. I washed my hair 4 days after straightening it and smiled when I saw my curls come back in my life.

Where can we find you on the web?
Oh, gosh! Everywhere, lol!
Etsy- lovemaicurls.etsy.com
YouTube- LoveMaiCurls
Twitter- MAIchickBAD
Tumblr- ilovemaicurls
Instagram- ilovemaicurls
Blogspot- www.maibeautyunleashed.blogspot.com
I’d give my Facebook but I’m NEVER on there! You’d be bored, lol.