I played around with the idea of going natural for quite some time before I decided to take a leap into the natural world. In fact, I transitioned a few times before initially going natural, however those other times always ended with me relaxing my hair due to frustration. I realized that I wasn’t informed on how I should properly care for natural hair and so that led me to stalk hair blogs and forums hoping to gain some insight to start my journey. By the time my last transition rolled around, I was armed with valuable information that I had attained from hair vloggers and bloggers across the blogosphere. I ended up transitioning for 5 months before deciding to big chop. And two years later, here I am.
Had you always embraced your texture?
In the beginning phases of being natural, I was not in love with my texture. I found myself always comparing my hair to other naturals and yearned for a texture that was looser. Now, I’m in a different space. This journey has brought me to the realization that this hair of mine is just that: MY hair and no one else’s, and for that reason alone, I love it.
How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? How did they react to the new you? What was your response to them?
When I first unveiled my big chop, I could tell that there were some members of my family who were not in love with my new look. I remember getting a few “so what are gonna do with your hair”, comments to which I would reply “my hair is done.” I’m sure it was a bit of a shock to them to see me rock just a teeny weeny afro at first, but over time it has grown on them. I’m happy to report that the fam is now all “Team Natural” in terms of support. The comments have now magically begun to sound more like “I love that style on you” or “Your hair looks nice” and I gotta say it feels good to hear.
Describe your hair. (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
I’m not sure if any other naturals feel the same, but sometimes it can be pretty difficult to sum up what my hair is like. My hair goes through so many phases of doing what it darn well pleases that I’m often stumped when I have to describe it. At its current state, my hair is very dry and thick. I try my best to keep it moisturized with at home concoctions (I make a great avocado and honey deep conditioner and it’s awesomesauce, lol) and great leave-ins.
What’s your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
My designated wash day for the most part is on Friday nights, but if I’m not feeling it I’ll wait til Saturday. My wash day routine changes from time to time depending on my hair needs, but at the moment this is what’s going down on wash day-
My process usually starts with a prepoo /detangling session. For my prepoo/dentangling process I’ll mist my hair with water until damp. I then follow up with adding a cheapy conditioner, normally VO5 Moisture Milks, and then coconut oil. I detangle and smooth out my hair and set into large twists. Once that’s done, I shampoo with Shea Moisture’s Curl and Shine Shampoo. My next step is to deep condition and for that I have a few go to’s depending on what my hair needs. If it’s moisture my hair is lacking, I’ll use Aubrey’s Honey Suckle Rose. If I feel my hair is limp and lifeless I will reach for Aubrey’s GPB Conditioner (love this stuff). Once the deep condition is complete, I wash it out and pat out excess water and apply what I like to call the greatest leave in conditioner in the world, Giovanni Direct Leave in. From there on, I style. As of late, my style of choice has been twist outs.
How do you maintain your hair at night?
How I set my hair at night depends on my style at the time. If I’m rocking a twist out then I usually retwist my hair. I’ll mist my hair with water until it’s damp, apply an oil and retwist. When it comes to twist-outs, I usually go without using a scarf or a bonnet and sleep on a satin pillowcase. Any other style like a puff or braids I’ll mist my hair with water, apply any oils as needed and tie down with a scarf.
How do you maintain healthy length?
I’ve gotta admit my hair is not at the length that I would like, but it is growing. I try my best to keep my growth consistent by staying on top of my hair care routine, which is weekly washes and deep conditions. I also try my best to eat healthy because I truly believe great hair starts with how we care for our bodies as a whole.
What’s the best thing about being curly?
You’ve probably heard it a million times over but what I enjoy the most about being curly is the versatility. The possibilities seem to be endless when it comes to natural hair. This journey has opened me up to trying so many new styles with my hair and I’m always excited to see what more creative styles I can conjure up next.
Where can folks find you on the web?
Blog: IWannaBeFierce.blogspot.com
Facebook: I Wanna Be Fierce Facebook page
Twitter: @Iwannabefierce
Tumblr: I Wanna Be Fierce
Instagram: Iwannabefierce
