Were you a slow transitioner or a Big Chopper & why?
I was a slow chopper. I had long, flowing, relaxed hair, but my younger sister did the big chop and went natural. I made a bet with her that I wouldn’t relax my hair while attending hair school. While in hair school I met friends that were natural that also inspired me to keep going. I stuck with it until I graduated from Paul Mitchell and passed my boards. My friends in hair school would trim it and help me detangle it. In January 2012, I chopped off all of my relaxed ends. The rest is history, I’ve been rocking a curly Fro every since. I’m in love.
Had you always embraced your texture?
My mom didn’t relax my hair until I was in 7th grade. I rocked the two Afro puffs and braids with beads for years. I begged for a relaxer because I began playing sports. All the other girls’ hair remained straight after practice but mine would poof up! I didn’t understand the beauty of rocking a puff back then.
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?
My family and friends embraced my decision with open arms. Because my texture was so thick and curly, they loved it. Some people could not believe I cut my hair. My hair was to my bra strap, flowing and straight. Me personally, I enjoy my natural hair more than I did my relaxed hair. I believe and I’m fully convinced that it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Everybody thinks it’s a wig, I just laugh. I even wrote a song about my hair.
Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
My hair is very full, thick, curly and coarse. Ninety percent of the time I wear it in a curly fro.
What’s your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? favorite products! Deets!
I wash my hair a lot! I wash my hair twice a week and I wet it every other day. I do that because I wear it curly 95% of the time. I wear my natural texture/curl pattern exactly the way it is. I don’t do many twist outs or braid outs. I wash my hair, condition it and while the hair is still wet I apply product. I wash my hair with a line called Naked, Shea Moisture Or Olive oil . I use Cantu leave in repair cream as my conditioner or Smoothing pudding by olive oil. I leave it in my hair then I blot my hair to make sure the white cream is not showing, and then my curls are ready for the world. No flakes, just curls.
I normally wear my hair in a big curly Fro. I love it that way. That’s my favorite style.
How do you maintain your hair at night?
At night I wear a silk bonnet. Some nights I forget and fall asleep. But I always treat my fro with lots of moisture and conditioner in the mornings 🙂
How do you maintain healthy length?
I maintain my length by trimming my ends, and using protein and conditioning treatments. I use Cantu in my hair daily, it’s a repairing conditioner so it helps keep my hair conditioned with less breakage and tangling.
What’s the best thing about being curly and why did you choose to go natural?
The best thing about being curly is that I’m so versatile. My curly fro stands tall and signals confidence, strength, personality and style. I can be wavy / twisted / curly / puffy / straight and healthy all within the same head of hair. I have choices. I can promote healthy hair by being a hair stylist and I can have fun in the rain! No weather stops me! Because I’m naturally curly! I wouldn’t trade one of my kinks for all the shoes in the world!
Where can folks find you?
You can find me in Blytheville, Arkansas, “the natural state,” I’m deep in the country. Enjoying: loving God, my church, family, clients and friends. I’m a hair stylist at Sheer Attractions Salon, styling under owner Dorothy Anderson. I am also a medical social worker from the University of Memphis and a Paul Mitchell School graduate. I’ll be moving to Atlanta to further my hairstyling career October! I’m excited, thank you for the feature! Xoxoxo
